What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy? - Ghandi
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Here is a great post (Letter to the editor) from the Holland Sentinel
The debate over health care took an ugly turn when it turned on America’s “untouchable” caste. In doing so we betrayed our most basic values.
The untouchables were the despised lowest caste in India’s class system. They were essentially non-members of society, but their labor was used to benefit others.
America now has an “untouchable” caste. It is derided with the label “illegal alien.” They live among us but have no security. Deportation often causes separation of families. They live under the radar.
But let’s check the facts. We allowed them in. If we had really wanted to keep them out, we could have. We gave them jobs cleaning our homes, harvesting our food, picking blueberries and apples, working in dangerous occupations such as meat packing and occasionally as strikebreakers. Being “illegal,” they are excluded from worker protection laws. Many are paid sub-minimum wages, and occasionally they are not paid at all. With no day care their children often work beside them in the fields. If they complain of mistreatment, they risk being deported. Meanwhile, we pay less and we benefit. They are our useful untouchables.
A society that pledged itself to have no caste system has again betrayed its ideals. We have done so with African Americans, women, gays and “illegal aliens.” They broke the law, and so did we by using them.
The “outrage,” mainly from the conservative right, leading to refusing to include them in our health care system is a low moment in our history. Illegal aliens are part of our society. They are the “strangers at our gate.” Maybe, just maybe, God has placed them here to test our compassion. We have failed the test. We say to them, “we’ll let you in and give you low-paying jobs so we can be richer, but if you get sick, you are on your own. We do not care if you die: We have used you for our ends; now go home”
But their home now is here. How can we, one of the richest countries on Earth, not provide reasonable health care to the least among us?
Such animosity was evident in the health care town hall meeting at Evergreen Commons with Rep. Hoekstra. We have betrayed our American and Christian values. I asked at that meeting and I’ll ask again: “What kind of people are we?” What would Jesus do?
Source: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/opinions/x381221072/LETTER-Undocumented-aliens-are-America-s-untouchable-caste
The debate over health care took an ugly turn when it turned on America’s “untouchable” caste. In doing so we betrayed our most basic values.
The untouchables were the despised lowest caste in India’s class system. They were essentially non-members of society, but their labor was used to benefit others.
America now has an “untouchable” caste. It is derided with the label “illegal alien.” They live among us but have no security. Deportation often causes separation of families. They live under the radar.
But let’s check the facts. We allowed them in. If we had really wanted to keep them out, we could have. We gave them jobs cleaning our homes, harvesting our food, picking blueberries and apples, working in dangerous occupations such as meat packing and occasionally as strikebreakers. Being “illegal,” they are excluded from worker protection laws. Many are paid sub-minimum wages, and occasionally they are not paid at all. With no day care their children often work beside them in the fields. If they complain of mistreatment, they risk being deported. Meanwhile, we pay less and we benefit. They are our useful untouchables.
A society that pledged itself to have no caste system has again betrayed its ideals. We have done so with African Americans, women, gays and “illegal aliens.” They broke the law, and so did we by using them.
The “outrage,” mainly from the conservative right, leading to refusing to include them in our health care system is a low moment in our history. Illegal aliens are part of our society. They are the “strangers at our gate.” Maybe, just maybe, God has placed them here to test our compassion. We have failed the test. We say to them, “we’ll let you in and give you low-paying jobs so we can be richer, but if you get sick, you are on your own. We do not care if you die: We have used you for our ends; now go home”
But their home now is here. How can we, one of the richest countries on Earth, not provide reasonable health care to the least among us?
Such animosity was evident in the health care town hall meeting at Evergreen Commons with Rep. Hoekstra. We have betrayed our American and Christian values. I asked at that meeting and I’ll ask again: “What kind of people are we?” What would Jesus do?
Source: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/opinions/x381221072/LETTER-Undocumented-aliens-are-America-s-untouchable-caste
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Taxes - a different point of view
Recently we have been hearing a lot about the Michigan business tax and local tax abatements. It was an issue that was brought up when Governor Granholm was here visiting a business here in Holland. According to our business community and Peter Hoekstra the Michigan business tax and local taxes drive business s away.Let s look at this from another point of view. Taxes are like a membership fee. For example, any sports club needs these dues to operate and so do the (individual) states and its communities. Local taxes and business taxes are part of doing business. As a business expense they are factored into the final product and paid by everybody that buys this product /service, independent from where the purchaser is located – in the community, the state, the nation or anywhere else in the world.
The localities that collect the taxes are using these taxes to run the government, provide government services, build roads, offer education, operate airports, make sure that utilities are available, clean roads in the Winter, uphold law and order, provide supporting service for businesses etc. Without the service of local and state government there wouldn’t be any environment that allows business to operate efficiently. Since all our businesses take advantage of the service provided by local government, shouldn’t we expect them to pay their fair share of membership fee – say taxes? All the purchasers of the goods and services should pay small fee for the local government (the people) to provide these services.
Just recently the Supreme Court decided that corporation and businesses should be treated like individual when it comes to political campaign contributions. Why should the not pay their fair share of taxes. W e are not living in the dark ages anymore when only the peasants were taxed and the owners of the land and the members of government were privileged to receive taxes.
We the common people should expect from everybody to pay their fare share. The schools that we pay for with our taxes not only pay for our kid’s future, they also provide a well educated work force for the local business / corporate community. The roads are not only used to allow us to go to work and delvier our labor skills, they also allow the local companies to move their products to the final destinations and the paying consumer, and last not least, they allow the member of our government to take a pay home to feed their family.
Let’s face it, taxes are necessary and they are not the evil that many want them to be. The evil is with the people that politicize government for their own advantage or squander the taxes due to incompetence.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Do we ever learn anything when it comes to govern ourselves?
More than and a half centuries ago Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770 -1831) wrote: “"What experience and history teach is this-that people and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it."
Whenever I look at the people that we elect to govern us, I always feel our situation is getting worst as time goes by. It appears that nothing changes to the better – rather the opposite is happening. But, as we can see from above quote, there is nothing new to our frustration. It has been known for centuries and Hegel should be credited for being able to summarize it short and brief
What can I take form Hegel’s quote? Do I have hope? As a scientist I always believe that once a problem is recognized you can solve it or work towards a solution. When it comes to politics and government, I feel like all hope is draining from me. We believe that we are given a soul and mind by our creator that can help us to move mountains. Our creator modeled us after his image. How come that we so helpless when we deal with our own problems? We live in a democracy that is supposed to be the best and only form of government that respects the rights and dignity of the individual. How come, that we do not assert more power over the leaders that we elect, based on what we can learn from history? Are we powerless or are we simply part of the problem.
History is a great teacher. If we study history and put the needs of others and society in front or our individual needs, we should be able to change the world and make it a much better place. I truly believe that we made progress over the centuries past. The world has changed and is a much better place today that ever before. If we look back and see slavery to be gone, individual rights to be protected, the recognition of inalienable human rights, the Geneva convention, the retreating number of wars, the much reduced casualties in the wars we fight etc. – the times have changed to the better, But, we can learn so much from history and make the world even better. Why don’t we? I think most of the people simply have not learned yet to put their own needs and behind the needs of others. If we can learn to think first about our neighbor before we think about ourselves, we can move on and start to learn from history. If we can learn to first decide what is right or wrong and best for society before we think what is best for us, we can see the world become a brighter place.
My mom always told me:” With everything you do, think about how it will a affect others first before you do it”.
I thought this was just the teaching of a friendly old lady. Now I recognize how powerful this statement really is.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Age versus Youth - Experience versus Energy
I had an interesting conversation that made me think about the innocence of youth.
I was reading”Animal Farm” by Orson Wells. My son saw me reading and asked if I had never read this before. I did read it in school, I said, more than 35 years ago. I tried to explain that way back then, I read the book with the objective of it being a school project. I was prepared to answer questions from the teacher and possibly write a book report about it. That was it – no further motivation to read the book. This time I read it out of interest on the subject. I wanted to read it and see how it applied to the real world.
My son asked me why I would look at it differently. It was still the same book as 30 years ago. I tried to explain that I had seen a lot of changes in this world over the last thirty ears. I grew up in Germany with communist countries that were our neighbors. They were there when I was born and we studied them and followed them. I saw them grow and eventually deteriorate and disappear. The presence of this governments and their disappearance was part of my life. I saw governments rise and fall in other parts of the world. I thought it would be interesting to read the book and look back how I think it would apply to what I experienced. Also, I understood much better now that Orson Welles grew up as these communist countries were born and revolutions took place.
I tried to explain to my son that when I was young I did understand what the book was all about, but I did not have the additional three decades of life experience. My son did not understand the difference. He thought it could not make any difference in my comprehension of the book and what the writer wanted to express.
It was amazing to realize that my son could not comprehend how much I had learned in these thirty years. He could not understand that this would make a difference when reading a book. He could not fathom that the thirty years I walked this earth since I read the book, I not only was on this earth in physical presence, but I took in all the things around me and I am still processing them . What I saw, felt, heard, read etc. made me what I am today.
Teenager think that the know everything. They have this great energy that drives the world. They suck up the knowledge and the wisdom around them like a sponge, but they do not understand – yet – that this accumulation of knowledge gives the older generation something they don’t have yet. It makes them grow and change over time. It will make them refine the person they are now. Now I understand why they often dismiss anything and everything we (the older generation) do or say. They simply do not comprehend the basis on which we make our statements and our decision.
It is hard for a loving parent to understand this and live with it. But then, we did the same when we were young. What was our right back then is the younger generations right today. Also, it has to be that way to keep the world moving. Sure, the older generation has accumulated more wisdom (so we believe) but this very same wisdom might be a handicap of progress. The controversy among the generations helps to refine the different ways of thought and propels us forward to progress.
As hard as it is to live with the young generation and to accept their criticism, as hard is it to live with the older generation when you are young. All we can ask for is mutual respect for each other and be partners in learning. Let us carry out our controversies in a humble and respectful way and we will both win.
I am proud of my kids, even when they oppose me. It makes me feel good that they have developed their own strong opinions that will lead them into the world. From there on out it is up to them to succeed. But, they will need to understand that they older generation is not always wrong, just like they are not always right.
So many times do I not understand the young generation – but how can I know that they are right. If they are right – then I am wrong. Shouldn’t I be right because I am older (and call myself mature)? If they are wrong – then what did I teach them. If they are wrong – is it my fault. After all, part of me is in them.
I was reading”Animal Farm” by Orson Wells. My son saw me reading and asked if I had never read this before. I did read it in school, I said, more than 35 years ago. I tried to explain that way back then, I read the book with the objective of it being a school project. I was prepared to answer questions from the teacher and possibly write a book report about it. That was it – no further motivation to read the book. This time I read it out of interest on the subject. I wanted to read it and see how it applied to the real world.
My son asked me why I would look at it differently. It was still the same book as 30 years ago. I tried to explain that I had seen a lot of changes in this world over the last thirty ears. I grew up in Germany with communist countries that were our neighbors. They were there when I was born and we studied them and followed them. I saw them grow and eventually deteriorate and disappear. The presence of this governments and their disappearance was part of my life. I saw governments rise and fall in other parts of the world. I thought it would be interesting to read the book and look back how I think it would apply to what I experienced. Also, I understood much better now that Orson Welles grew up as these communist countries were born and revolutions took place.
I tried to explain to my son that when I was young I did understand what the book was all about, but I did not have the additional three decades of life experience. My son did not understand the difference. He thought it could not make any difference in my comprehension of the book and what the writer wanted to express.
It was amazing to realize that my son could not comprehend how much I had learned in these thirty years. He could not understand that this would make a difference when reading a book. He could not fathom that the thirty years I walked this earth since I read the book, I not only was on this earth in physical presence, but I took in all the things around me and I am still processing them . What I saw, felt, heard, read etc. made me what I am today.
Teenager think that the know everything. They have this great energy that drives the world. They suck up the knowledge and the wisdom around them like a sponge, but they do not understand – yet – that this accumulation of knowledge gives the older generation something they don’t have yet. It makes them grow and change over time. It will make them refine the person they are now. Now I understand why they often dismiss anything and everything we (the older generation) do or say. They simply do not comprehend the basis on which we make our statements and our decision.
It is hard for a loving parent to understand this and live with it. But then, we did the same when we were young. What was our right back then is the younger generations right today. Also, it has to be that way to keep the world moving. Sure, the older generation has accumulated more wisdom (so we believe) but this very same wisdom might be a handicap of progress. The controversy among the generations helps to refine the different ways of thought and propels us forward to progress.
As hard as it is to live with the young generation and to accept their criticism, as hard is it to live with the older generation when you are young. All we can ask for is mutual respect for each other and be partners in learning. Let us carry out our controversies in a humble and respectful way and we will both win.
I am proud of my kids, even when they oppose me. It makes me feel good that they have developed their own strong opinions that will lead them into the world. From there on out it is up to them to succeed. But, they will need to understand that they older generation is not always wrong, just like they are not always right.
So many times do I not understand the young generation – but how can I know that they are right. If they are right – then I am wrong. Shouldn’t I be right because I am older (and call myself mature)? If they are wrong – then what did I teach them. If they are wrong – is it my fault. After all, part of me is in them.
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