Do you remember playing King of the Hill when you were younger? I do! Right now I am mentally playing Queen of the World in my head. If I were Queen of the World what would I do?
If the children weren’t playing well together and were constantly fighting, I would send them to their rooms and isolate them. This practice involved making sure that the children didn’t share a room.
Well the same principle could work in international affairs. Right now we are on the edge of calamity in the Middle East. The children aren’t playing well together. With the Israeli and Palestinian people both seeking solutions to problems, violence has played a role in the problem resolution/escalation.
If both children had their own room, then they could be separated and isolated until they could deal with each other without violence.
The Palestinian areas are impoverished places to live. According to the CIA the Gaza strip has a 40% unemployment rate and 70% of the people are impoverished. If I believed my children were without hope of surviving, I would be angry. The Palestinians, need freedom from Israel. Obviously sharing room doesn’t work for them
Israel has to sleep with a gun beside them for fear of attacks. Obviously sharing a room isn’t working out for them either.
The objective of compromise is for each side to give up something in order to gain something they really want.
Both sides need to give up claims to land just like my children had to give up claims to disputed toys. At the same time, Palestine gains freedom and real hope to develop their country. Israel gains a greater sense of security and hope that their children can walk the streets safely. It is a win/win situation.
Mothers in both countries could celebrate brighter futures for their children.
If I were Queen of the World, I would send them to separate rooms.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The media and politics
Words are frequently spoken that we wish we could pull back. They come back to haunt us. All we can do is apologize and keep going forward. Sometimes we speak out of ignorance and sometimes we just get our words crossed up. Politicians have to be very careful that they don’t do the first and when they do the second they are crucified by the press.
So far in my blog I’ve talked about the poor choices of politicians. As I’ve stopped to ponder the poor choices we have in the election pool this year, I believe that anyone with integrity would absolutely refuse to run for public office. The media creates images of people by playing and replaying mistakes and goofs as if the person running for an office is an imbecile. The media has a lot to answer for in the failure of our political system.
With great efforts the media idealizes or demonizes candidates and potential candidates. Every misdeed going back to birth is exposed. Family issues which are best left private are revealed and speculated about. Who in their right mind would run for office and face the sensational media circus that follows candidates.
I respect the media and believe that they should report events and news accurately. Their job is to keep us informed. They should continue to do so but they should stop all this speculation, sensationalism and replaying of unimportant stuff. Their job is not to make the news, only to report it.
So far in my blog I’ve talked about the poor choices of politicians. As I’ve stopped to ponder the poor choices we have in the election pool this year, I believe that anyone with integrity would absolutely refuse to run for public office. The media creates images of people by playing and replaying mistakes and goofs as if the person running for an office is an imbecile. The media has a lot to answer for in the failure of our political system.
With great efforts the media idealizes or demonizes candidates and potential candidates. Every misdeed going back to birth is exposed. Family issues which are best left private are revealed and speculated about. Who in their right mind would run for office and face the sensational media circus that follows candidates.
I respect the media and believe that they should report events and news accurately. Their job is to keep us informed. They should continue to do so but they should stop all this speculation, sensationalism and replaying of unimportant stuff. Their job is not to make the news, only to report it.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Talking too much
My youngest son didn’t learn to talk during the first two years. He had been very sick when he was a new born and as he approached two years old without speaking, the doctor speculated that the speech center might have been affected. I took him to the developmental evaluation center and they confirmed that he couldn’t speak.
Every day I prayed “Dear God, please let Charlie speak!” God has a good sense of humor. Charlie’s first words were in a sentence and they were obscene. I faced the same challenge most parents face at one time or another - do I beat him or do I praise him? I praised him. After that, I bribed him to talk.
We tend to create our own monsters. Today, Charlie can’t shut up. He talks constantly and I nod as he talks. I don’t understand a fraction of what he talks about but I listen anyway. When I get tired of listening, I go to another room and close the door. I think he is still secretly waiting for my approval and praise as he talks.
Politicians have the same problem. They talk constantly. The more nervous they are, the more they talk. They want our approval. Unfortunately, like my son, they talk too much and they don’t listen or take action very often.
Republican Senator Voinovich said that republicans have been blocking a vote on a small business bill since July. In an interview with the Washington Post, he said that the GOP's opposition "didn't have anything to do with the bill," but was about political "messaging." The republicans are more interested in playing party politics and talking about what needs to be done rather than taking action and doing what is best for the people. Good for Voinovich. He isn’t interested in just talking about taking action. He is willing to separate himself from the political machine that is still sitting on idle while the country goes down the drain economically.
Likewise, Democratic Representative Glenn Nye of Virginia broke with President Obama and stated that he would vote to extend the Bush tax cuts to everyone and not just families making less than $250,000 per year. He said that he was voting the way his constituents wanted him to vote. Imagine that! A politician has heard the alarm bells ringing and has stopped talking in order to listen to the desires of the people who elected him.
Other politicians need to stop talking and start listening. The voters will be heard.
Every day I prayed “Dear God, please let Charlie speak!” God has a good sense of humor. Charlie’s first words were in a sentence and they were obscene. I faced the same challenge most parents face at one time or another - do I beat him or do I praise him? I praised him. After that, I bribed him to talk.
We tend to create our own monsters. Today, Charlie can’t shut up. He talks constantly and I nod as he talks. I don’t understand a fraction of what he talks about but I listen anyway. When I get tired of listening, I go to another room and close the door. I think he is still secretly waiting for my approval and praise as he talks.
Politicians have the same problem. They talk constantly. The more nervous they are, the more they talk. They want our approval. Unfortunately, like my son, they talk too much and they don’t listen or take action very often.
Republican Senator Voinovich said that republicans have been blocking a vote on a small business bill since July. In an interview with the Washington Post, he said that the GOP's opposition "didn't have anything to do with the bill," but was about political "messaging." The republicans are more interested in playing party politics and talking about what needs to be done rather than taking action and doing what is best for the people. Good for Voinovich. He isn’t interested in just talking about taking action. He is willing to separate himself from the political machine that is still sitting on idle while the country goes down the drain economically.
Likewise, Democratic Representative Glenn Nye of Virginia broke with President Obama and stated that he would vote to extend the Bush tax cuts to everyone and not just families making less than $250,000 per year. He said that he was voting the way his constituents wanted him to vote. Imagine that! A politician has heard the alarm bells ringing and has stopped talking in order to listen to the desires of the people who elected him.
Other politicians need to stop talking and start listening. The voters will be heard.
Monday, September 13, 2010
There is nothing like a hurricane
Since Hurricane Camille, I become a little revved up when a Category 3,4 or 5 hurricane is announced. There is something about the anticipation of danger that intrigues me at the same time that it frightens me. My children tease me about recording the weather channel during hurricane season. I do like to keep track of what is going on in the tropics.
I also like to keep track of what is going on in the economy and the political sphere. As we approach the November election, it feels more like the approach of a cat 5 hurricane than it does an election. The problem with category 5 hurricanes is that they cause unbelievable destruction in their path if they land in heavily populated areas or come in at high tide. Their destructive power is felt inland as tornadoes are spawned and floods occur. Camille was felt all the way to Nova Scotia.
The frustration in the US with elected officials is developing a tremendous storm surge and the winds of distrust of elected officials are gaining momentum. American citizens are tired of riding the waves of corruption, party politics as usual, meaningless rhetoric, and name calling. If the electoral storm momentum continues to gain force, citizens will vote in record numbers for a mid-term election and in January the American citizens will watch a new congress sworn in. The storm will damage existing political stalemates, create a mess with for good old boys who are running things in both political parties and call attention to the fact that the people can still get their point across.
I also like to keep track of what is going on in the economy and the political sphere. As we approach the November election, it feels more like the approach of a cat 5 hurricane than it does an election. The problem with category 5 hurricanes is that they cause unbelievable destruction in their path if they land in heavily populated areas or come in at high tide. Their destructive power is felt inland as tornadoes are spawned and floods occur. Camille was felt all the way to Nova Scotia.
The frustration in the US with elected officials is developing a tremendous storm surge and the winds of distrust of elected officials are gaining momentum. American citizens are tired of riding the waves of corruption, party politics as usual, meaningless rhetoric, and name calling. If the electoral storm momentum continues to gain force, citizens will vote in record numbers for a mid-term election and in January the American citizens will watch a new congress sworn in. The storm will damage existing political stalemates, create a mess with for good old boys who are running things in both political parties and call attention to the fact that the people can still get their point across.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Party of "NO"
Mr. Obama calls the republicans the party of “NO.” It doesn’t matter what he suggests, they say no. He’s right. Although I frequently disagree with Mr. Obama’s economic decisions, he has had a contentious time with the Republicans.
We are in a fragile state of politics now. Mr. Obama wants to change everything and the Republicans want to change nothing. It reminds me of when my children would fight over a toy. One didn’t want to play with it but he/she didn’t want the other one to play with it either. I still remember the mulish looks on their faces as I had to intervene.
When neither child would give in, there was ongoing trouble at home. The same can be said about our political parties. If neither side is willing to give in and negotiate, then the problems that loom over the country can’t be resolved. In this situation, only the voters can intervene. We need to change some things, but change needs to be carefully considered looking at all other factors. What we need is thoughtful people who are more concerned about the needs of the country than they are about personal interests and party politics.
It doesn’t matter whose toy it is, if the other child decides to break it out of spite instead of sharing.
We are in a fragile state of politics now. Mr. Obama wants to change everything and the Republicans want to change nothing. It reminds me of when my children would fight over a toy. One didn’t want to play with it but he/she didn’t want the other one to play with it either. I still remember the mulish looks on their faces as I had to intervene.
When neither child would give in, there was ongoing trouble at home. The same can be said about our political parties. If neither side is willing to give in and negotiate, then the problems that loom over the country can’t be resolved. In this situation, only the voters can intervene. We need to change some things, but change needs to be carefully considered looking at all other factors. What we need is thoughtful people who are more concerned about the needs of the country than they are about personal interests and party politics.
It doesn’t matter whose toy it is, if the other child decides to break it out of spite instead of sharing.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
It's going to be all right Billy
When I was in my early twenties, my parents were going to have a barbeque and they decided to barbeque a goat. We went to a farmer’s house to buy the goat. The farmer’s wife hugged the goat and petted it. As she loved on the goat for the last time she said “Everything’s going to be all right Billy.”
She knew were going to cooking that goat the whole time she spoke reassuringly to him.
Since then, if someone tells me that everything is going to be “all right” I think about Billy.
When President Obama gave his speech last Tuesday and spoke briefly about the economy I was reminded of the farmer’s wife talking to “Billy.” Mr. Obama’s tone of voice was hesitant and he stuttered as he talked about how the economy was slowly recovering. Like the farmer’s wife he didn’t believe what he was saying.
Last Friday, after President Obama’s speech, the announcement came that the unemployment rate grew as the temporary census jobs ended and the private sector didn’t produce jobs.
Mr. Obama, please don’t tell me that things are going to be okay. Don’t speak about a jobs bill that doesn’t mean anything other than more government spending. For small business to grow, it is essential that the scheduled tax increase planned for January be stopped. Small businesses are not going to hire while a growing tax burden is placed on them.
Most small business feels like Billy before the barbeque. They know change is coming but they aren’t sure what it is. The whispering of smooth words does not remove the fear and the real danger the economy is in.
She knew were going to cooking that goat the whole time she spoke reassuringly to him.
Since then, if someone tells me that everything is going to be “all right” I think about Billy.
When President Obama gave his speech last Tuesday and spoke briefly about the economy I was reminded of the farmer’s wife talking to “Billy.” Mr. Obama’s tone of voice was hesitant and he stuttered as he talked about how the economy was slowly recovering. Like the farmer’s wife he didn’t believe what he was saying.
Last Friday, after President Obama’s speech, the announcement came that the unemployment rate grew as the temporary census jobs ended and the private sector didn’t produce jobs.
Mr. Obama, please don’t tell me that things are going to be okay. Don’t speak about a jobs bill that doesn’t mean anything other than more government spending. For small business to grow, it is essential that the scheduled tax increase planned for January be stopped. Small businesses are not going to hire while a growing tax burden is placed on them.
Most small business feels like Billy before the barbeque. They know change is coming but they aren’t sure what it is. The whispering of smooth words does not remove the fear and the real danger the economy is in.
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