“A man who does not think for himself does not think at all.” Oscar Wilde

"A man who does not think for himself does not think at all." Oscar Wilde

Friday, January 27, 2017

The True Cost of a Border Wall

As a child I remember playing baseball in open lots. A throw together game where we chose teams and played for hours. No different than kids anywhere in the U.S.A. Ah! But wait ... it was different we were playing across the border in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, just a quick bike ride away from home in Laredo.

There really was no difference between the two cities with the exception one was in the United States and the other in Mexico. For generations people went back and forth across the Rio Grande and that continues today. For families live who on both sides of the border visiting back and forth all along the 1,954 miles.

On any given day you can see people from the U.S. shopping in Mexico and Mexicans coming across to shop in America. The economy is evident watching semi-trucks and trains travelling in and out of each country. But, now much of the foot and car coming from Mexico has slowed immensely due to the uncertainty of President's plans that will adversely affect both nations. The peso has dropped and Mexico's economic future is uncertain.

U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, recently attacked President Donald Trump’s immigration and trade plans as a threat to the North American economy and described the president’s reasoning for building a wall on the southern border as “racist.”

 “In my lifetime, and I’m 44 years old, we’ve never had such a serious situation at our U.S.-Mexico border in our bilateral relationship with Mexico, and if it continues, it’s going to be deeply devastating to the state of Texas,” O’Rourke told reporters outside the Texas Capitol in Austin.

Now, with recent events, credible economic forecasts, the cost of our new President's plans many of his own party are having second thoughts about the wisdom of such actions.

Yes, many people are still crossing illegally. They always have and they always will. But, majority of those, often risking their lives to get here, are searching for a better life, a safe life and are productive. Those with criminal intent are a true minority and like kind can be found among our own citizens.

In so many ways a wall will create more problems than it will solve for both countries. They will range from moral to economic and changing the way border cities and towns have been for generations. Those who sit on Capital Hill and walk past the statuary lining the marble halls should actually spend time walking the streets from McAllen to El Paso, Texas and across New Mexico and Arizona to San Diego, California. To truly see and experience the people. And remember how our nation flourished not because of walls or rich, old, white men but because of welcoming all who came in search of a better life and the strength brought by the diversity,

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Censorship and Prejudice in The Land of the Free?

The earliest record of censorship dates back to 399 BC when Socrates defied the Greek state to censor his teachings. Subsequently, he was sentenced to death by drinking a poison.  History is filled with examples of censorship from then until now. Ten years before our country was born Sweden became the first nation in 1766 to abolish censorship by law.

Discrimination has been recorded almost since the written word. If someone were different by virtue of their race, religion or beliefs history records a myriad of events. Many founded in religious differences or gender equality. Probably the first example affected women. In ancient times women were counted only as mere tool or servant.

The rational for censorship may be different for the various types of information censored. They may fall into the categories of: moral, military, political, religious and corporate. One description of political censorship is for it to occur when governments hold back information from their citizens.This is often done to exert control over the populace. The most memorable in modern times was the persecution of Jews under Hitler's regime. But religious censorship can also include the time when armies of Christians from western Europe answered Pope Urban's call to go to war against Muslim forces.

Transparency  has always been a hallmark of America's democracy. We elected our officials to represent us and they work for us. We pay their salaries through our taxes and we must demand openness and fairness in their governing. The obvious exception being that of national security.

Reading today's headlines reporting what President Trump has done regarding a media blackout of various government agencies and his idea of closing our borders based on one's country of origin and religion are contrary to what made America great. Perhaps the Washington Post and New York Times banner headline should read: "You are President not King!"

Saturday, January 21, 2017

A Historic New Day

Today has been a historic new day. It is the first full day of the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.

During President's Trump's inauguration speech he noted he wanted to unite our nation but I wonder if the today's marches and demonstrations held all around the world were what he meant by unification.

In our nation's capital an estimated a half a million people packed the streets in solidarity to show support for Women's Rights, Health Care, Equality for all people amopng other things  and to send a strong message to the new president.

They descended on Washington, D.C. arriving by car, bus, train and airplane. Tens of thousands of women from across the country, of all ages, and races and jobs and religions. Union workers and retirees, ER nurses and college students and such celebrities as Madonna and Cher. Many were accompanied by male friends and family and other supporters.

Not only did their fervor for basic human rights ignite a spark that reached cities and towns across America but traveled around the globe. The Women's March on Washington ignited solidarity of both women and men in cities like: London, Berlin, Paris, Mexico City, and Sydney. Sister marches took place in 70 countries spread across the continents.

Many were protesting the messages of the election campaign when Trump was seen misogynist, racist and hateful by many. Pink hats adorned the heads of many around the world. Women brought their daughters and men their sons to, as one man said: "I want my son to have positive male role models in the world, and I worry about the impact of a man like Trump, whose said the things he has about women, on young men growing up."

I doubt very much this is the unification President Trump spoke of yesterday. But, perhaps he knows and understands the power of anger or of providing a common ground for people to rally around to bring them together. Maybe, just maybe, he is crazy as a fox. We know he is intelligent. We know he is now the President of the United States. Regardless of your personal thoughts, we should also know enough, to at least give him a chance.