I grew up in the south, and moved north for work. Dealing with the winters up here was a major adjustment. When working outside in the winter, caps just wouldn't keep me warm enough. So I would take a scarf and wrap it around my head, tucking the ends inside my coat.
After 9/11, I stopped wearing a scarf that way. I didn't feel safe doing it. Someone who hated Muslims could drive by and, not knowing me or that I'm Christian, would see the scarf and target me or my kids.
What kind of country are we when we can't feel safe from intolerance? When one has to change their appearance to avoid becoming a target for hatred?
Friday, February 24, 2017
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Strikes Have Consequences
Last week, as a response to the new administration's immigration and refugee ban, there was a nationwide call for immigrants to strike for one day. Some companies told their workers that if they did not come to work on that day, they would be fired. Those companies made good on their warning, and many workers have found themselves without a job.
Today I saw a Facebook post that seemed to indicate the workers got what they deserved, saying that strikes have consequences.
Yes, strikes have consequences - for which I'm very grateful.
Without strikes, I would not have the right to vote. Without strikes, I would not have the right to hold property in my own name or make decisions about my property. Without strikes, I would not be able to have a paying job outside the home much less one that brings in a salary somewhat comparable to a man's for the same job. Without strikes, I would not have the right to any say over my own body within my marriage.
Without strikes, African-Americans and other non-whites would still legally be treated as second-class citizens.
Without strikes, most workers would never be paid enough to be able to retire. There would never have been a sizable middle class, only the few wealthy and the many poor. Without strikes, safe working conditions would not exist and many more people would be injured or killed on the job.
Without strikes, many issues would never see the light of day.
Yes, strikes have consequences.
Not striking has consequences, too.
Silence in the face of injustice allows injustice to continue. Silence allows the worst of human behavior to continue. Silence allows what this country stands for to be corrupted.
As long as those striking are peaceful and respectful, they bringing attention to issues that need it.
Today I saw a Facebook post that seemed to indicate the workers got what they deserved, saying that strikes have consequences.
Yes, strikes have consequences - for which I'm very grateful.
Without strikes, I would not have the right to vote. Without strikes, I would not have the right to hold property in my own name or make decisions about my property. Without strikes, I would not be able to have a paying job outside the home much less one that brings in a salary somewhat comparable to a man's for the same job. Without strikes, I would not have the right to any say over my own body within my marriage.
Without strikes, African-Americans and other non-whites would still legally be treated as second-class citizens.
Without strikes, most workers would never be paid enough to be able to retire. There would never have been a sizable middle class, only the few wealthy and the many poor. Without strikes, safe working conditions would not exist and many more people would be injured or killed on the job.
Without strikes, many issues would never see the light of day.
Yes, strikes have consequences.
Not striking has consequences, too.
Silence in the face of injustice allows injustice to continue. Silence allows the worst of human behavior to continue. Silence allows what this country stands for to be corrupted.
As long as those striking are peaceful and respectful, they bringing attention to issues that need it.
The Importance of Faith
(Please note: This is not a post on religion)
There are many aspects of our lives that rely of faith.
For instance, take our money. U.S. dollars use to be backed by precious metals. Each paper bill could be redeemed for the equivalent in gold. One consequence was the government was limited on how much it had in circulation. To remove this limit, the dollar's value was detached from precious metals. For this to work, though, people using the dollar had to believe the paper had value in and of itself. Without that faith, the U.S. monetary system would not work.
Another area of faith is in our democratic institutions. Without faith in a free press, in an independent justice system, and in our election processes our democratic government is in peril. Yes, there are some 'news' outlets that publish lies - but certainly not all, or even most, of the major ones. There are courts that interpret laws in light of their own beliefs - this is why there is a system to appeal rulings. There are voter rolls that are out of date and some people who abuse the right to vote - but not millions of illegal ballots.
The people of this country have the right and the means to look at each of our democratic institutions to make sure they live up to the faith placed in them. Transgressions should be investigated, and by ensuring such investigations are properly and impartially conducted, the democratic institutions of our country are strengthened. But to believe blindly when they are called corrupt is to weaken them. By all means, when such charges are leveled, look into them. But also look equally closely at the ones making the claim.
Portraying these democratic institutions as failing or corrupt may not seem a major issue. But these are the foundations of our country. Look at the dictatorships and authoritarian regimes around the world. These countries do not have an independent press, court system, or ballot box. They were lost when they were undermined and then replaced by those in power.
The ability to know what our elected official are doing in our name, the ability to call to account those whose actions are questionable, and the faith in our democratic processes that such scrutiny allows are what keeps this the greatest nation on earth.
There are many aspects of our lives that rely of faith.
For instance, take our money. U.S. dollars use to be backed by precious metals. Each paper bill could be redeemed for the equivalent in gold. One consequence was the government was limited on how much it had in circulation. To remove this limit, the dollar's value was detached from precious metals. For this to work, though, people using the dollar had to believe the paper had value in and of itself. Without that faith, the U.S. monetary system would not work.
Another area of faith is in our democratic institutions. Without faith in a free press, in an independent justice system, and in our election processes our democratic government is in peril. Yes, there are some 'news' outlets that publish lies - but certainly not all, or even most, of the major ones. There are courts that interpret laws in light of their own beliefs - this is why there is a system to appeal rulings. There are voter rolls that are out of date and some people who abuse the right to vote - but not millions of illegal ballots.
The people of this country have the right and the means to look at each of our democratic institutions to make sure they live up to the faith placed in them. Transgressions should be investigated, and by ensuring such investigations are properly and impartially conducted, the democratic institutions of our country are strengthened. But to believe blindly when they are called corrupt is to weaken them. By all means, when such charges are leveled, look into them. But also look equally closely at the ones making the claim.
Portraying these democratic institutions as failing or corrupt may not seem a major issue. But these are the foundations of our country. Look at the dictatorships and authoritarian regimes around the world. These countries do not have an independent press, court system, or ballot box. They were lost when they were undermined and then replaced by those in power.
The ability to know what our elected official are doing in our name, the ability to call to account those whose actions are questionable, and the faith in our democratic processes that such scrutiny allows are what keeps this the greatest nation on earth.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Advice To My Kids - Who's Right?
Being a parent is the hardest thing I've ever done. I've learned a lot and I've changed a lot. I wish I could take my hard-learned life lessons and put them directly into my kids' heads, but everyone has to learn on their own.
When they're ready, I have some advice:
Who's Right?
You're not always right.
Sometimes, your sister or brother is.
Sometimes, even when you are right, it's not always good to make them see that.
Sometimes, you have to let them be right, even when they're wrong.
Most times, there is no 'right' or 'wrong', only compromises between your 'right' and their 'right'.
There is something more important than who's right or wrong.
That something is Respect.
Allow them to be them, not a copy of you.
Allow for their way of doing things, or thinking things.
And show them how they can do this for you.
We can't all be identical.
Life is much more interesting when people are all different.
When you let them to be who they are, you can learn so much from them.
You don't have to change to be like them.
You can change how you look at things.
You can learn to see things from their perspective.
Not to leave your perspective behind, but to add theirs to yours.
And when you add to your perspective of life, you grow.
That is what you need to do your entire life.
Grow.
And change.
As I've had to change, and am continuing to change, to be a better parent.
It's not always easy.
Or fun.
And a lot of people can't do it.
It can be pretty scary to admit to yourself that you're not always right.
Or the best you can be.
And it's hard to accept that the world isn't black and white as defined by your beliefs.
That it is, instead, all those shades of compromising grey.
(Originally written in 2012)
When they're ready, I have some advice:
Who's Right?
You're not always right.
Sometimes, your sister or brother is.
Sometimes, even when you are right, it's not always good to make them see that.
Sometimes, you have to let them be right, even when they're wrong.
Most times, there is no 'right' or 'wrong', only compromises between your 'right' and their 'right'.
There is something more important than who's right or wrong.
That something is Respect.
Allow them to be them, not a copy of you.
Allow for their way of doing things, or thinking things.
And show them how they can do this for you.
We can't all be identical.
Life is much more interesting when people are all different.
When you let them to be who they are, you can learn so much from them.
You don't have to change to be like them.
You can change how you look at things.
You can learn to see things from their perspective.
Not to leave your perspective behind, but to add theirs to yours.
And when you add to your perspective of life, you grow.
That is what you need to do your entire life.
Grow.
And change.
As I've had to change, and am continuing to change, to be a better parent.
It's not always easy.
Or fun.
And a lot of people can't do it.
It can be pretty scary to admit to yourself that you're not always right.
Or the best you can be.
And it's hard to accept that the world isn't black and white as defined by your beliefs.
That it is, instead, all those shades of compromising grey.
(Originally written in 2012)
One Wish
If there were only one wish I could ever be granted, it would be the wish of empathy for everyone.
If someone doesn't have it, they get it.
If they do have it, they get more.
If you see the other side how can you hate?
If someone doesn't have it, they get it.
If they do have it, they get more.
If you see the other side how can you hate?
Open Letter to All Americans
I have never
before written to any of my elected representatives. But concerns I have had in the past about our
government are now becoming fears about its future. So, in my own way, I'm going to become more vocal.
There are
many factors that make this the greatest country in the world. It is a democracy, where its citizens
determine how they are governed and who leads that government. It has a system
of checks and balances between the different branches of government. Is has a
free press that reports on the government’s actions. It has guaranteed rights
for its citizens and for those living within its borders.
But our
government is under threat. Not from an external force, but from within.
The last
several decades have seen an increase in partisanship attitudes in all levels
of government. It no longer matters what
an idea is. Anything the other party
proposes is to be blocked. Any problems are the other party’s fault. Compromise
is not to be tolerated. This has caused gridlock in our government and has
encouraged the same behaviors by the citizens in each party’s base. This
hyper-partisanship is extremely detrimental to our country. Differences of
opinion become insurmountable divides and then reasons for hate.
Now we have
leaders in our government who call into question the truthfulness of our
mainstream media. Who deny fact based analysis
in favor of conspiracy theories. Who question the validity of our election
process and its results. Who deny what they are being told if it does not match
their version of reality. Who have encouraged divisiveness and championed
intolerance as patriotism. Who shield
their past and present actions from public scrutiny. Who attack the validity of
our independent judges and courts.
Look at
totalitarian regimes around the world, and you will see the same factors in
play there. The same foundations that
allow those regimes to exist within their own countries are being laid down
today within our own.
I write today
to ask you to defend that which makes this country great. Honesty. Transparency. Respect. A willingness to reach out others, even if
they are different from our race, religion, gender, nationality, or political
party.
For our
future and the futures of our children and grandchildren, do not let the
country that lit the beacon of democracy for the world falter and fall.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Observations
Where ever there is power or money, there will be people doing everything they can to get it for themselves. Just look at politics.
The President is not omnipotent. Congress is at least as responsible for what does or does not happen.
By the time an issue reaches the political level, it is not simple and will not have a simple solution.
The higher the political level a problem rises to, the more complex the problem and the solution are.
The easy solutions are usually not the best solutions.
The laws we live by (secular and religious) should be the 'low bar' of our personal moral aspirations.
The President is not omnipotent. Congress is at least as responsible for what does or does not happen.
By the time an issue reaches the political level, it is not simple and will not have a simple solution.
The higher the political level a problem rises to, the more complex the problem and the solution are.
The easy solutions are usually not the best solutions.
The laws we live by (secular and religious) should be the 'low bar' of our personal moral aspirations.
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