Monday, December 27, 2010

My troubling America

My view as a socially liberal 34 year old American is troubling at best. In recent years I have listened and watched debate after debate, conversation after conversation to people and organizations make a case for not helping people. Statements like 'why should I give my hard earned money to lazy people who don't want to work' and 'welfare only motivates people not to work'. But even more troublesome to me is the growing anger over religious freedom. In an ironic way I think the two are related. Let me recap a recent conversation I had with a conservative, I think it will illustrate my point very well.

I receive an email claiming Obama refused any religious decorations on the White House Christmas tree. In the email it goes from the ornament thing (the entire thing is proved incorrect at snopes.com) and makes the huge leap that Obama is destroying Christianity in America and want to make it godless. 

I tell the person who sent it to me that the email is false and the guidelines have not changed as to Christmas ornaments on the Christmas tree in the White House.

The conversation then shifted to the idea that the larger point that over the last decade there is has been a war on religion that has resulted in the rise in teen suicide.

Offered as proof wikipedia does state that the teen suicide rate has risen in the last decade. It however does
not state the reason is erosion of religion in the US.

Ok, so let's recap what just happened there. A concocted email is sent out and circulated making false claims about Obama and Christmas. Conservatives are OUTRAGED. The email is proven to be false. Here is where the truth rears it's ugly head. They really do not care about Obama per say. There point is a larger one and part of an agenda. They want Christianity shoved down our throats. So they attribute every social ill to things like prayer being taken out of schools and people suing to have government funded nativity scenes taken off the public square.

What they really want is America to be declared a Christian nation and for Christians to be elevated above everyone else and dictate laws and social policy. I think this flies directly in the face of what out founding fathers wanted. Conservatives are all about majority rule, mostly because they are the majority. I think it would be a different story if they were not. This troubles me greatly, especially for the future that my children would have to live in, if in fact I have children someday.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The teacher and the Hadj

I'm sure most people have read or at least heard of the teacher in the Berkley school district by now that was denied 3 weeks unpaid leave to participate in the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

Because this is America I try to look at issues such as these and make sure things are equal. It is silly and naive to think this woman is being discriminated against. She is asking for 3 weeks leave! All be it she wants it to be unpaid. The schools would not have to pay her but would have to pay and arrange for someone to fill her position. I see a few things unreasonable with this. She is a full time teacher. Having grown up in a family of educators I have a little insight into the educational system. My first thought is about her students and her responsibility to them. I know what it is like when a teacher is out a few days. There is a relationship between teacher and student. Sure she could leave for 3 weeks and they could find someone to fill in for her. But the class would suffer. No matter how good a substitute is it is not the same as the regular teacher. If this was some something she knew she wanted to do then she should have saved her vacation and used it to take the trip. Even if she did not have a full three weeks maybe she could have only had to ask for 1 week unpaid. In every job I have ever had I could not have even thought about asking for 3 weeks off that I did not have! Paid or not! It is just the way it is. To cry discrimination is just plain silly. Understanding that this is a religious request does make it a bit more touchy. But that does not take away from the fact. If this was so important to her then I would suggest she quit her job and go do what she needs to do. If she is a qualified teacher then she stands a good chance at securing another job. She needs to address this need for 3 weeks off every year for her trip. It is one thing to have an understanding with a potential employer about such things and springing it on them with no prior discussion. It is just common sense. I just don't see it as anything more than an unreasonable request. Certainly not some huge example of Muslims being treated unfairly. 

Thoughts?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

A Swift justice

"I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child, well nursed, is at a year old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout."

~Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal~

 On a daily basis I am subjected to opinions from almost every angle. From local issues concerning things in the small town I grew up in (I am currently re-acquainting myself) to Wikileaks to news from Europe to the Middle East.

I find it both sad and laughably true that it would not surprise me a bit to wake up one morning and see the first paragraph blazoned across the front of FOX News. You know, the fair and balanced people. Of course all this can be avoided. Just ask them. If all the lazy people in the country would just get off their butts and get their college degrees, so they can make loads of money, we would not have to squabble about welfare or tax hikes. The problem is, these lazy people just want to FEED off the government because they enjoy living in poverty and don't want to work, produce what? Yep.........kids that  want to FEED off the government because they enjoy living in poverty and don't want to work.

In summary.......wake up America! Before the haves start eating the have nots babies.

:-)



     

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Beirut Lebanon

I get it all the time. You went where on vacation?! I reply, Lebanon, you know Beirut. Most of the time I then would get a lot of questions. They would start with, what was it like? How was the food? Then I would have to explain that even though Lebanon is a middle eastern country it is not a barren wasteland full of sand as far as the eye can see. Quite the contrary, it is a beautiful country, complete with beautiful beaches and incredible mountains. I would then offer a few selected pictures I have on my Blackberry as proof. At this point there would be silence and puzzled look of consternation on the face of the questioner. And then.........as sure as the sun will rise and set.  Was it safe? Did you see any guns or bombs go off? Were you looked at funny? My reply: Yes, I was very safe. Yes, I saw some guns....on the police, army guys, and municipal police. You know, the guys that should have guns. No, I was not looked at funny, whatever that is supposed to mean. I mean as far as walking around  Bourj Hammoud or Baalbek, I did not get any "funny" looks. I know that was not what they meant. What they really wanted to know, was I treated bad by any...........you know.....Muslims. Again, the answer a resounding NO! I was even traveling with people who are Armenian Orthodox Christians. As I mentioned before we spent the day in Baalbek, a Hezbollah controlled town. Not so much as a glance in my direction.
The ignorance in this country is astounding. I have heard all the clever comments: Be sure to take your flak jacket. See you on CNN. Cover your head when the rockets start falling. All made as if they were joking, but I know there was more than just a little seriousness in there. The truth is, Lebanon is full of beautiful people just trying to live their lives and raise their families. It is a beautiful country full of potential but caught in the crossfire of middle eastern politics and the fight against Israel. Ruled by politicians that are ruled by outside influences. It is sad in many ways. The ones paying the price have the least to say in the matter. With all this being said, I will go back. Sooner than later. Because there is just something about the place and the people that make whatever risk present, worth every second.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

TSA Scanners and Pat Downs

I am so sick and tired of hearing all the whining and complaining about the new TSA procedures. I do believe I have heard it all. I listened to almost 5 hours of talk radio yesterday and heard everything from "it is violating the constitution" to "the search was so invasive I almost had a nervous breakdown" Come on! Really? The biggest complaints come from people that have either seen or heard about the 8 year old boy that had to endure a life altering pat down at the hands of a, no doubt, evil TSA agent ( <-----sarcasm) What would these people like us to do? Announce we will not search children at all? Just how long do you think it would take for our enemies to strap a bomb to a child and cause some serious damage to a plane? I say months. I was traveling from the south to the north, a southern gentlemen called into a local radio station and made this brilliant comment "my wife and I were stopped to be searched while 2 middle easterners walked right on through security! This is my country!" I would have loved to ask this guy just how he knew for a fact these people that walked on through were middle easterners. Because there skin was darker? Because they were carrying something other than the bible? Or perhaps simply because they "looked" like middle eastern people. The fact of the matter is, chances are, they were also American citizens just like the red neck on the phone...........Ugh.  To round out the most popular argument, it had to be "we need to learn from Israel and go with the strict and well trained interview system along with profiling" Right, comparing the massive U.S. civil aviation system to the tiny Israeli El Al fleet is laughable. Think lines are long now? Try putting in place the Israeli interview system.....that deafening sound would be the airline system coming to a screeching halt. These same people would then really have something to be mad about.
So now that the word is out, no one has any more excuses. It does not say anywhere in our constitution that air travel is a right. Nor do we as citizens, have the right to decide what is acceptable security guidelines. What you whiners do have control over is whether you CHOOSE to buy a ticket for an airplane ride. Don't like the security requirements? Hop on your car and hit the gas!
One prominent conservative radio host said "i am not for these invasive scans and pat downs, I say we try something else, if it doesn't work, then I am all for the scans and pat downs" Incredible, so let's skip these scans and pat downs until a plane full of people goes down in flames........then it is a good idea. Idiot.
So, what do you think is the answer?

Monday, November 22, 2010

Lets try this again

Several years ago, when blogging was new, I gave it a shot. I quickly realized I really had nothing to interesting to say. Years have passed and times have changed. I have decided to give this a go once again. A lot has changed from my first attempt to present day. A marriage, a divorce. A 12 year career that ended just recently. A trip to New Zealand, a trip to Lebanon. I most certainly do not claim to have any answers. But, I certainly do have plenty of questions. I am interested in entertaining any point of view that may enhance my knowledge of said questions. I do believe that conversation and spirited debate are essential to shaping views and cultivating a healthy world  view. So, shortly I will give this a try, again.

By the way, anyone that can identify the inspiration to my blog name ( will get........ummm.........a virtual pat on the back. :-)