Who does Scott Walker think he is, anyway?? For starters, he is the Gov of Wisconsin, and he is doing exactly what he campaigned on in the fall---to balance the budget. That's his number one job, and it's not going to get done by "kicking the can down the road", as so many politicians do. So, give this man a little credit for courage, and a little more for integrity and then a dollop extra for plain common sense. He has actually asked the teachers and other union employees to pay a little more towards their pension funds and to kick in a little for their health care, which up to now has been a free benefit for teachers. On top of that, he has requested an end to collective bargaining, a highly controversial issue. What?!! How can he do this? Isn't that tantamount to taking the power away from the people? There are those who say that, and some Democrats are even threatening to bring "blood" to the streets to fight this "outrageous" threat to the unions.Doesn't sound like very civil talk, does it? But civility goes out the window when one's livelihood is challenged, and that is evidently what is happening here, though shrouded in "principle" and "worker's rights".
The problem is that there appears to be no other way to prevent the state of Wisconsin from going broke. Something had to give, because the alternative will be massive lay-offs and/or higher taxes for everybody. The "people" in this case are the citizens of Wisconsin, including many who are not union workers. So, who's rights need protecting, and is it right for the private sector, the non-union members in Wisconsin, to have the weight of the broken budget placed more so on their backs? But doesn't that mean that "Joe", the non-union worker pays twice---once, for his own tax contribution, and then again for his neighbor's union perks via taxes? Is that fair? Not really, but life isn't fair sometimes, and the money has to come from somewhere to support the unions, which supposedly protect "the people"---but wait, in this case, "the people" are the people of Wisconsin, not a big, powerful corporation. The day of reckoning appears to have arrived----there's no money left in the till. The bad news is---Wisconsin is just the tip of the tipping point. Indiana and New Jersey have already managed to cut their budgets by reducing union expenses. California,New York, and many other states will have to soon face the same reality---budgets have to be trimmed, and much of the budget goes to unions.
Don't look for this issue to get resolved without a fight from the unions, their members, or the Democrat party. President Obama , himself,who one would hope would show a little presidential restraint and tend more to his own budget crisis, has weighed in on the Wisconsin battle saying that "it seems like an assault on unions". And to be honest, he and all Democrats have motivation to protect and defend the unions--for they are one of the heaviest contributors to Democrat party election coffers. Which also, in a very convoluted way, means that all of us, both private and public employees, are contributing to the Democrat party, like it or not, by virtue of the taxes paid to help support the unions.
So, keep an eye on Wisconsin and those who are leading the charge for change---it's a huge change, and one which could spread across the country and tip the balance of power---away from the people? Or is it really perhaps power back to the people and away from unions which have become too big not to fail? Paradoxically, unions, which originally were formed as protection against big business greed and employee abuse--have increasingly become their own big business with their own form of greed and employee oppression,not to mention that they have become a huge financial force within the Democrat party. Labor spent 400 million to elect President Obama in 2008. They are still very much needed for balance and fairness, but forcing workers to be union members, funneling union money into one political party's campaign funds which, by the way, bears a striking resemblance to money laundering of public and private taxes, and enforcing strikes against the welare of the public, has become too heavy handed and contrary to American ideals. The polls are showing a decided slant against government union power. When the "gimmees" exceed that which is actually available, then the game may be up for union leaders, who like all the rest of us, must learn the same lesson---moderation in all things, and in cases of busted budgets, serious sacrifices.
The 14 Democrat Senators from Wisconsin who left the state in order to avoid the process of voting on this issue, should be reprimanded and perhaps relieved of their duties---have they not heard that their first obligation is to "the people" of Wisconsin? That would be all of the people, not just the union members. Showing up would be not only admirable, but should be obligitory for keeping one's job---or are they more concerned about 2012, than actually putting in a good day's work? Oh, I get it---it's whatever pleases the party that gets one voted back into office that's really necessary. Yes, that is called survival and sometimes, unfortunately does trump a true work ethic, regardless of the fact that a Senator is a public servant-- and that's what gives politics such a dirty rap.
Will this be the public union's moment of truth----a waterloo that's been a long time coming, and an example of one of the ways this country will finally pull itself away from the cliff of extreme entitlement generosity at the expense of the private sector? Keep watching---before posting this blog, the Wisconsin Republican Assembly passed the Governor Walker's bill---without the presence of the 14 boycotting Senators. Now it goes to the Senate--where there are troubled waters ahead. The fat lady hasn't sung yet on this one---when she finally does, one hopes reason, fairness, and balance will have been restored.
Beware of the media's tendency on this issue---which is to dramatically and incorrectly compare it with what's happening in Egypt and other mid eastern countries. Those are struggles for democracy against unscrupulous dictators and extreme living conditions. What's happening in Wisconsin is a critical budget matter, plain and simple---and it's happening all over the country. Most Americans agree that unions are an important part of our democracy, and to accuse others of trying to dismantle them is wrong and disingenuous. What is right and honest, is that the unions too, must learn to live within their means, that being the state in this case---so that they may continue to guard and protect, not bully and rule, in this very troubling time of financial crisis. Wisconsin today---who and what's next?
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Doin' the Washington Two-step to the Budget Blues
It's dirty work, but somebody's gotta do it. We are bleeding internally from a horrendous debt load, and it must be stemmed. We need a courageous leader to do the job, and Obama seems reluctant to be so. In his budget speech on Monday, Obama stated that he will use a scalpel, rather than a machete to make the necessary initial cuts. How very careful and astute sounding---careful not to strike the first blow, and astute so as not to get blamed or blown away. Those are the words of a man not ready to take on the burdensome task of slashing and cutting programs and entitlements and special interest group monies.
It's apparently just too much to ask of any one politician, including this president, to take dramatic, possibly vote losing steps to ----save a country from possible financial ruin and future woes. But it would be so admirable and refreshing if he had. Instead, his thinking seems to be that there will always be time later, and for now, we can hope that things will turn around, and that the "investments" we make will actually make money for us in the future. In addition, the president plans to gain thirty nine trillion in taxes----and spend forty six trillion. You don't even have to do the math. But he is banking on heavy spending on education, clean energy innovation, and infrustructure to pay big dividends later. One of his pet projects appears to be a high-speed rail transportations system, similar to Japan and parts of Europe. Seriously? Obama has already allocated eight billion dollars toward this dream train. Would someone please tell Obama that we are not Europe, our geographics are not at all conducive to such a plan, it will take years , way too much money to install, and many think it will never get done. Nor do we fancy ourselves giving up our cars---I'm sorry, but this is not a people who are going to go backwards in time. Find another idea---like allowing more deep well drilling in our own country---that might make a difference right now. So would assuring big business that the government isn't going to continue to over regulate and over tax them. The market must be allowed to flow again, not be so restrained by fear of reprisal; and yes, we must take a chance on them once again. We are a capitalistic society, and cannot allow it to be choked by overzealous politicians, some of whom seem to threaten the very core of our historical success and identification---self motivation, and less government intervention.
There was little mention in the president's speech of entitlement cuts, especially medicare and social security---these have to be addressed, but like a duo holy grail, they remain so far, untouched--and that's because it will hurt everyone, and nobody wants to take responsibility. But it appears it must be done. On the other hand, the military was curiously mentioned as a target of cuts. Even taking into account the plan to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, it seems, in this era of terrorism, a questionable tactic to downsize our defense finances.
But President's budget speech was just a preamble or a curtain rising on much further debate and deep, painful digging into potential areas of spending elimination. President Obama is nothing, if not clever, and he is no doubt waiting for others, such as the Republicans to introduce the more unpopular, machete cutting topics, thereby relieving him of the duty. He will stand aside, with his scalpel, and claim he is doing more important, larger picture, but less invasive work---and let someone else do the more serious surgery---which he knows must be done. We all do--but who wants to go first? The Republicans, perhaps even more so than the president, must be held accountable to do what they were mandated to do---stop all unnecessary spending. Will they have the courage, or will they too do the Washington two step?
In the meanwhile, too many people are still out of work, the housing industry is still on its knees, and, and our debt is not going away or even getting smaller. The budget recommendations given by the president's own budget commission are not being heeded; because in spite of our predicament, political heads will rule over common sense. How dare they ignore all the screaming warning signals for their own political future? China is rising and racing fast. It has now surpassed Japan as the second largest economy in the word, and indeed owns most of our debt. Time will tell, and we are using that up as well--the American people do not like indecision, procrastination, and much as we like to live well, we are also learning quickly to live within our means. It's time for the U.S. government to do the same, and stop catering to those groups who insist upon doing business as usual. These are not usual times , and we no longer can afford to oil every wheel that squeaks----nor can special interest groups put their interests above all others.
There are those who fear the budget cutting will be done at the expense of the middle class and the poor. Much of this is political rhetoric, designed to villianize the Republicans, but it is precisely the poor and middle class who are hurting the most now, due to unemployment---which will not begin to show true improvement until we get the wheels of commerce turning again, which will not happen until commerce has incentive to produce and hire, and people once again have faith and confidence in a financially stable country. The jobs will then hopefully follow,and slowly we will begin to dig ourselves out of this close to depression recession. It's the old dominoe effect, much of which is psychological, but mind over matter can be powerful medicine and the road back to true health is never done by avoiding the problem. The president and congress can begin to make us,the patient,feel better by giving us a more realistic budget, and a pathway to if not where we were, a launching pad to better times.
This is crunch time for President Obama, Democrat, and Republican leaders. We are quite frankly, broke. For the benefit of all of us, put away your differences--- take off your party hats, and get out your pens to scrap the truly unnecessary, and save only that which we really need to survive and thrive. We and future generations are depending upon you. Higher and more taxes? Maybe and probably, but not before we've done everything we can to avoid it. Taxes have never been known to spur economies.
Scalpel, please? According to the newly released report from the Congressional Budget Office, the president's new proposals are projected to increase the national deficit by 2.3 trillion dollars more over a period of ten years. Not only is this way over what Obama had predicted, it's incredibly careless sounding, if not downright outrageous. Pass the machete---and the Manichewitz.
It's apparently just too much to ask of any one politician, including this president, to take dramatic, possibly vote losing steps to ----save a country from possible financial ruin and future woes. But it would be so admirable and refreshing if he had. Instead, his thinking seems to be that there will always be time later, and for now, we can hope that things will turn around, and that the "investments" we make will actually make money for us in the future. In addition, the president plans to gain thirty nine trillion in taxes----and spend forty six trillion. You don't even have to do the math. But he is banking on heavy spending on education, clean energy innovation, and infrustructure to pay big dividends later. One of his pet projects appears to be a high-speed rail transportations system, similar to Japan and parts of Europe. Seriously? Obama has already allocated eight billion dollars toward this dream train. Would someone please tell Obama that we are not Europe, our geographics are not at all conducive to such a plan, it will take years , way too much money to install, and many think it will never get done. Nor do we fancy ourselves giving up our cars---I'm sorry, but this is not a people who are going to go backwards in time. Find another idea---like allowing more deep well drilling in our own country---that might make a difference right now. So would assuring big business that the government isn't going to continue to over regulate and over tax them. The market must be allowed to flow again, not be so restrained by fear of reprisal; and yes, we must take a chance on them once again. We are a capitalistic society, and cannot allow it to be choked by overzealous politicians, some of whom seem to threaten the very core of our historical success and identification---self motivation, and less government intervention.
There was little mention in the president's speech of entitlement cuts, especially medicare and social security---these have to be addressed, but like a duo holy grail, they remain so far, untouched--and that's because it will hurt everyone, and nobody wants to take responsibility. But it appears it must be done. On the other hand, the military was curiously mentioned as a target of cuts. Even taking into account the plan to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, it seems, in this era of terrorism, a questionable tactic to downsize our defense finances.
But President's budget speech was just a preamble or a curtain rising on much further debate and deep, painful digging into potential areas of spending elimination. President Obama is nothing, if not clever, and he is no doubt waiting for others, such as the Republicans to introduce the more unpopular, machete cutting topics, thereby relieving him of the duty. He will stand aside, with his scalpel, and claim he is doing more important, larger picture, but less invasive work---and let someone else do the more serious surgery---which he knows must be done. We all do--but who wants to go first? The Republicans, perhaps even more so than the president, must be held accountable to do what they were mandated to do---stop all unnecessary spending. Will they have the courage, or will they too do the Washington two step?
In the meanwhile, too many people are still out of work, the housing industry is still on its knees, and, and our debt is not going away or even getting smaller. The budget recommendations given by the president's own budget commission are not being heeded; because in spite of our predicament, political heads will rule over common sense. How dare they ignore all the screaming warning signals for their own political future? China is rising and racing fast. It has now surpassed Japan as the second largest economy in the word, and indeed owns most of our debt. Time will tell, and we are using that up as well--the American people do not like indecision, procrastination, and much as we like to live well, we are also learning quickly to live within our means. It's time for the U.S. government to do the same, and stop catering to those groups who insist upon doing business as usual. These are not usual times , and we no longer can afford to oil every wheel that squeaks----nor can special interest groups put their interests above all others.
There are those who fear the budget cutting will be done at the expense of the middle class and the poor. Much of this is political rhetoric, designed to villianize the Republicans, but it is precisely the poor and middle class who are hurting the most now, due to unemployment---which will not begin to show true improvement until we get the wheels of commerce turning again, which will not happen until commerce has incentive to produce and hire, and people once again have faith and confidence in a financially stable country. The jobs will then hopefully follow,and slowly we will begin to dig ourselves out of this close to depression recession. It's the old dominoe effect, much of which is psychological, but mind over matter can be powerful medicine and the road back to true health is never done by avoiding the problem. The president and congress can begin to make us,the patient,feel better by giving us a more realistic budget, and a pathway to if not where we were, a launching pad to better times.
This is crunch time for President Obama, Democrat, and Republican leaders. We are quite frankly, broke. For the benefit of all of us, put away your differences--- take off your party hats, and get out your pens to scrap the truly unnecessary, and save only that which we really need to survive and thrive. We and future generations are depending upon you. Higher and more taxes? Maybe and probably, but not before we've done everything we can to avoid it. Taxes have never been known to spur economies.
Scalpel, please? According to the newly released report from the Congressional Budget Office, the president's new proposals are projected to increase the national deficit by 2.3 trillion dollars more over a period of ten years. Not only is this way over what Obama had predicted, it's incredibly careless sounding, if not downright outrageous. Pass the machete---and the Manichewitz.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
TRUE LOVE??
Years ago, when Bing Crosby crooned "True Love---I love you Samantha, and my love will never die" I thought, "get out of town", who could possibly feel like that? Later, I started to feel it a little when I heard Elvis Presley sing "Love Me Tender,"---okay, I get it--- but, really?? Years rolled by, and still I felt---nothing. If this apathy continued, I thought, I must be missing something--possibly the "true love" gene. Then one fine day, it happened. It took only one look, ---Hello, Love, I've been waiting for you. You are everything I've ever heard about you--- including an achey break-ey heart. And that was that. Years passed, along with many proposals and pretenders, but none rang true. Then,one fine day, as if by appointment, and right on time ---he swept me down the aisle in a flurry of romance, roses, hope, and commitment--- and I thought, there, finally---I'm one of those who loves and is loved, like Bing and Samantha, and that must be that. Wrong.
A year later, it happened again---a young man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and slight dimple in his chin, stole my heart away forever. I'll never love anyone else like this, I thought--
About five years later, much to my surprise, a new love arrived on my scene---this one had very little hair, beautiful hazel eyes, and was so easy, sweet, and fun to be around. This was true love at first sight. My love would never die---
Then, quite unexpectedly, only eighteen months later, I came face to face with the most charming guy--he was a little on the short side, but had brown curly hair, blue eyes almost the color of mine, and he made me laugh--I loved that, and him like nobody else.
And so, you see, love can happen not at all for the longest time, and then it can keep happening over and over again---even when you least expect it or don't think you want or need it. Of course, you must know I have been speaking of my three children---each one loved in a different way. And you have all probably heard the age old question from your children--- " But which one of us do you love the most?" They never believe the answer we all give, do they? "All the same, my dears. but different, and my love will never die--- no matter what." But it's true---true love.
Love can even happen while your're in love with someone else other than your children or your spouse---a good friend who's been married for a long time one day took another love into her life---shocking! She glows whenever she speaks his name, and seems so happy, that you can't help but be happy for her. Her new sweetheart's name is "Maurice"---he's an Havanese puppy (that is, from Havana) and if I could, I'd steal him away from her---would that make me "the other woman"?
Of course, this sort of thing can happen outside of dogs---we all know of second and third marriages. So--- does true love really go the distance? Some do, some very lucky few. If you are among those, you chose wisely and well the first time--- or maybe the second or third time! If his of hers is still the music that makes you dance, you are even luckier, because sometimes love changes into more of a commitment, an obligation, or even a habit. Maybe that's why we promise to stay together till death do us part---we take vows, sign cerificates and pre-nuptial agreements---hedging our bets just in case love dies---and often, it does. Forever is a long time, and the heart never lies----it can only surrender, refuse to, resign, break, or choose to do nothing---always a heart, never a valentine.
The best sort of love is the rare gem of a love that goes on even after the first blush or gush is gone, and what remains is a deeper feeling---yes, the songly "my love will never die" version, but more than that, the "I'm here, by your side, I'll always love you, and I'll never leave you---no matter what" kind. It sparkles and shines even after years of use. If you have it, hang on to it---it's true love. If you don't---well, you're not alone. There are now more singles in this country, than there are married couples. But it may be worth the wait, or the hunt---regardless of changing mores, we still long for that one true love.
"How do you know if it's the real deal?" One of the above mentioned children once asked me. "If you can't imagine life without that person." was the best I could come up with at the time. But, I wanted to add---"It's still a crap shoot, Baby--cross your fingers, follow your heart, with your head not far behind, and then---Happy landings!"
Happy Valentine's Day everyone---may your love never die. And if you are already somebody's Samantha, or Bing--- may you return the favor.
Now, to those purists who think I can't mix a little politics with this week's romantic blog--- watch me! This is an exercise in chatty, stimulating, informative, and highly entertaining conversation, not an editorial or even a love letter! It may be Valentine season here, but the planet keeps turning and hurting. Can we not pretend just for a little while,that what the world and all us really need is, you got it---true love. Oh, come on, lighten up---that may be terrribly lame, and not at all true, but it sure sounds good about now.
So, here's to you, too, Egypt, with love---May you find your true destiny, and may it not break your hearts.
A year later, it happened again---a young man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and slight dimple in his chin, stole my heart away forever. I'll never love anyone else like this, I thought--
About five years later, much to my surprise, a new love arrived on my scene---this one had very little hair, beautiful hazel eyes, and was so easy, sweet, and fun to be around. This was true love at first sight. My love would never die---
Then, quite unexpectedly, only eighteen months later, I came face to face with the most charming guy--he was a little on the short side, but had brown curly hair, blue eyes almost the color of mine, and he made me laugh--I loved that, and him like nobody else.
And so, you see, love can happen not at all for the longest time, and then it can keep happening over and over again---even when you least expect it or don't think you want or need it. Of course, you must know I have been speaking of my three children---each one loved in a different way. And you have all probably heard the age old question from your children--- " But which one of us do you love the most?" They never believe the answer we all give, do they? "All the same, my dears. but different, and my love will never die--- no matter what." But it's true---true love.
Love can even happen while your're in love with someone else other than your children or your spouse---a good friend who's been married for a long time one day took another love into her life---shocking! She glows whenever she speaks his name, and seems so happy, that you can't help but be happy for her. Her new sweetheart's name is "Maurice"---he's an Havanese puppy (that is, from Havana) and if I could, I'd steal him away from her---would that make me "the other woman"?
Of course, this sort of thing can happen outside of dogs---we all know of second and third marriages. So--- does true love really go the distance? Some do, some very lucky few. If you are among those, you chose wisely and well the first time--- or maybe the second or third time! If his of hers is still the music that makes you dance, you are even luckier, because sometimes love changes into more of a commitment, an obligation, or even a habit. Maybe that's why we promise to stay together till death do us part---we take vows, sign cerificates and pre-nuptial agreements---hedging our bets just in case love dies---and often, it does. Forever is a long time, and the heart never lies----it can only surrender, refuse to, resign, break, or choose to do nothing---always a heart, never a valentine.
The best sort of love is the rare gem of a love that goes on even after the first blush or gush is gone, and what remains is a deeper feeling---yes, the songly "my love will never die" version, but more than that, the "I'm here, by your side, I'll always love you, and I'll never leave you---no matter what" kind. It sparkles and shines even after years of use. If you have it, hang on to it---it's true love. If you don't---well, you're not alone. There are now more singles in this country, than there are married couples. But it may be worth the wait, or the hunt---regardless of changing mores, we still long for that one true love.
"How do you know if it's the real deal?" One of the above mentioned children once asked me. "If you can't imagine life without that person." was the best I could come up with at the time. But, I wanted to add---"It's still a crap shoot, Baby--cross your fingers, follow your heart, with your head not far behind, and then---Happy landings!"
Happy Valentine's Day everyone---may your love never die. And if you are already somebody's Samantha, or Bing--- may you return the favor.
Now, to those purists who think I can't mix a little politics with this week's romantic blog--- watch me! This is an exercise in chatty, stimulating, informative, and highly entertaining conversation, not an editorial or even a love letter! It may be Valentine season here, but the planet keeps turning and hurting. Can we not pretend just for a little while,that what the world and all us really need is, you got it---true love. Oh, come on, lighten up---that may be terrribly lame, and not at all true, but it sure sounds good about now.
So, here's to you, too, Egypt, with love---May you find your true destiny, and may it not break your hearts.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
THE EGYPTIAN QUESTION
The Egyptian uprising is more of an exclamation than a question----they made their point very clear---'we want change, and we want it now!' President Mubarak has no choice but to step down, the sooner the better or risk the consequences. The people have spoken and once again shown the universal thirst and quest for liberty and individual rights against a dictatorship,however benevolent it may have been---and however tied to U.S. interests it was. To Mubarak's credit, it has not yet turned into a blood bath, as it could have---perhaps because it was so sudden, large,and unpredictable. Happening on the heels of a civil riot and change of President in Tunisia, this outbreak seemed to echo the age old cry---free us from our misery, or we will burn the house down. Indeed, they have much to complain about, with unemployment at staggering levels, illiteracy rampant, and poverty the standard of living, they were a pot ready to boil over. But the question is, where and how do they get to a different place? And will that place be worse than the last?
Democracy, or even something similar, is not easily born or put quickly into place---particularly without any clear leader or order. Who will fill the vacuum left by Mubarek is the real question. There seems at this point to be no obvious answers. Egypt is a mix of forces, including the military, the ruling regime---and the questionable group known as "The Brotherhood of Muslims", a supposedly non-violent Islamic group, with ties to Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization. If they do grab the reigns of power, we have much reason for worry---thus, the reticence of Obama to finally ask Mubarek to step down, which Obama has done, but only because it seemed he had no choice in the matter. We had supported his regime, because he was the lesser of other evils in the mid east, and because he supported Israel and our own oil interests in the region. But in the end, the tide of events driven from sources we may never know about were too strong to push back. Our involvement was too little, too late---and now, we await the outcome. Could this be the beginning of more extreme Muslim control in the middle east, thereby tightening their grip on oil and promotion of anti-American sentiment? That is the concern, the almost unspoken fear that we face, and it is real. It is even terrifyingly more real for Israel. With Jordan also beginning to shake in terms of a changing of their cabinet and policies, Israel stands warily looking on, as their future hangs even more untenably in the balance.
Nobody knows where this latest development will lead, but it seems that as a worried world watches, huge, possibly cataclysmic events are beginning to shape a far different political landscape. Who are the real architects, and if they are only the masses, without a common focus or organization, who will they choose to rebuild, and what will their country and lives look like? More important to us, what will we look like if we choose to do nothing more than observe or go with the flow? The complexity and balance of a world free from religious tyranny, oppression, and terrorism is hard to come by, and in this case can we adhere to a policy of hands-off? To allow those who would attempt to go it alone, is to risk not only their failure, but also the fragility of emerging democracies to be hi-jacked by those who seek their own self serving power and stifling agendas---and the effects of that could be devastating to many other nations, including ours.
President Obama's plate is full---but it is about to overflow. Is he ready for the challenge? Are we? We do not wish to inject ourselves into the affairs of others---but to remain removed and uninvolved may be too dangerous, not only for us, for all of the middle east. That is but one of the dilemmas as Egypt cries out, and we answer in Obama's words--"we hear you". Interestingly, those were the exact words of President George W. Bush, as he stood atop the 9/11 rubble and spoke into a bullhorn Though he was speaking to the rescue workers, he was really speaking to all of us, as we cried out in anger and anguish at the destruction and murder of our people. He went on to say that the terrorists would hear from us soon. They did, and we have been furiously debating those decisions ever since. It is not an easy task to do the right thing at the right time, in these days of civil unrest, changing allegiances, and fluid power plays---to say nothing of terrorism. Stay tuned---and say a prayer---the future is unfolding at an almost alarming pace, even as this is being written. The battle for freedom and passionate struggle for a better life are ancient and mighty, but so too are the forces for power and agendas of those who wish to rule and dictate. Diplomacy is needed, wisdom is key, but the tipping point will come from strength,will,and an organized hand---may it be the hand of democracy.
Long ago, in the land of Egypt, there were a people who cried out---"Let my people go"---they were the Jews, and they finally found their freedom. Ironic that now, in the land of Israel, they and we who guard it, face a threatening Egypt once again.
Democracy, or even something similar, is not easily born or put quickly into place---particularly without any clear leader or order. Who will fill the vacuum left by Mubarek is the real question. There seems at this point to be no obvious answers. Egypt is a mix of forces, including the military, the ruling regime---and the questionable group known as "The Brotherhood of Muslims", a supposedly non-violent Islamic group, with ties to Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization. If they do grab the reigns of power, we have much reason for worry---thus, the reticence of Obama to finally ask Mubarek to step down, which Obama has done, but only because it seemed he had no choice in the matter. We had supported his regime, because he was the lesser of other evils in the mid east, and because he supported Israel and our own oil interests in the region. But in the end, the tide of events driven from sources we may never know about were too strong to push back. Our involvement was too little, too late---and now, we await the outcome. Could this be the beginning of more extreme Muslim control in the middle east, thereby tightening their grip on oil and promotion of anti-American sentiment? That is the concern, the almost unspoken fear that we face, and it is real. It is even terrifyingly more real for Israel. With Jordan also beginning to shake in terms of a changing of their cabinet and policies, Israel stands warily looking on, as their future hangs even more untenably in the balance.
Nobody knows where this latest development will lead, but it seems that as a worried world watches, huge, possibly cataclysmic events are beginning to shape a far different political landscape. Who are the real architects, and if they are only the masses, without a common focus or organization, who will they choose to rebuild, and what will their country and lives look like? More important to us, what will we look like if we choose to do nothing more than observe or go with the flow? The complexity and balance of a world free from religious tyranny, oppression, and terrorism is hard to come by, and in this case can we adhere to a policy of hands-off? To allow those who would attempt to go it alone, is to risk not only their failure, but also the fragility of emerging democracies to be hi-jacked by those who seek their own self serving power and stifling agendas---and the effects of that could be devastating to many other nations, including ours.
President Obama's plate is full---but it is about to overflow. Is he ready for the challenge? Are we? We do not wish to inject ourselves into the affairs of others---but to remain removed and uninvolved may be too dangerous, not only for us, for all of the middle east. That is but one of the dilemmas as Egypt cries out, and we answer in Obama's words--"we hear you". Interestingly, those were the exact words of President George W. Bush, as he stood atop the 9/11 rubble and spoke into a bullhorn Though he was speaking to the rescue workers, he was really speaking to all of us, as we cried out in anger and anguish at the destruction and murder of our people. He went on to say that the terrorists would hear from us soon. They did, and we have been furiously debating those decisions ever since. It is not an easy task to do the right thing at the right time, in these days of civil unrest, changing allegiances, and fluid power plays---to say nothing of terrorism. Stay tuned---and say a prayer---the future is unfolding at an almost alarming pace, even as this is being written. The battle for freedom and passionate struggle for a better life are ancient and mighty, but so too are the forces for power and agendas of those who wish to rule and dictate. Diplomacy is needed, wisdom is key, but the tipping point will come from strength,will,and an organized hand---may it be the hand of democracy.
Long ago, in the land of Egypt, there were a people who cried out---"Let my people go"---they were the Jews, and they finally found their freedom. Ironic that now, in the land of Israel, they and we who guard it, face a threatening Egypt once again.
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