This week's post will be a short one as I will comment on just a few things and call it a night. In the week that was we were treated today to comedian Steven Colbert testifying before Congress. No that is not a mistake, a comedian, IN CHARACTER, was brought in to testify before congress. The mid-term elections are 39 days away, the dems and repubs couldn't get "don't ask don't tell" repealed despite support from both party bases, unemployment stands at 9%, the country remains in a recession and congress.... brings in a comedian for their entertainment.
Can someone please explain what was the value that Colbert added? Cuz I don't see it.
Speaking of 9% unemployment, what is with the National Bureau of Economic Research declaring that the recession is over? Not only do they declare that it is over, but that it has been over since June 2009?! Almost everyone from all political angles disagree with this announcement and are shocked at the huzpuh it takes to even try and pass this off. As far as I can gleam the NBER bases their data on GDP per capita and note that as of June 2009, it stopped going down and has since risen, but still isn't quite to the level it was prior to the recession. Thus far it has climed back a little over 2%. It will need to continue to climb another 3% for us to reach that pre-recession level. This can be reached but it should be noted that should the Bush tax cuts be allowed to expire and the Congress moves forward with cap and tax that it will be significantly shortened.
A note on disaffected people of both political classes. A lady who spoke of being "exhausted" in her defense of Obama and all the change he promised but has not delivered has highlighted the ugly side of the left yet again. Obama has been a pretty big disappointment for many who voted for him and this is evident in his sinking approval numbers, last listed at 46%. It shouldn't be too far of a reach to think that such a person such as this lady would remind Obama of how much he has come short, but those on the left seem to be completely oblivious to the reality that is this man they elected President. They have called this lady a plant, accused her of being a fraud etc etc. None of them have ventured to ask themselves just what the hell Obama has done that is of any good to anyone in this country since he took office. Folks, sometimes you run into people who "gasp" can think for themselves and express something known as opinions. If you disagree with them than it is proper for you to disagree with their ideals while still respecting their independent thinking process. To leap to such conclusions on this lady, IMHO, only highlights the narrow ideology of many on the left. Disappointing, but sadly typical of both the left and right today.
Lastly Republicans gathered recently to publish and announce their support for a new contract with America. As can be expected the central themes of this pledge is to cut spending, taxes and for all spending to be conducted in a respectful manor. This is a policy that should be expected from our policymakers IMO and so I support it and I do humbly hope it becomes a reality following the elections.
That's all for now kids. Catch ya next week.
-Zach
Friday, September 24, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Book Review: Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson
I just finished reading "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Overall the book is a very compelling read of the difference one determined man has made to tens of thousands of children in the remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He literally through his own commitment has allowed for tens of thousands of poor children to receive a education at a cost that is extremely low making his accomplishments all the more remarkable. One negative for me though, would be the one sided nature of the talk of the US war on terror and my disagreement with this notion that through the promotion of peace and building schools alone, that somehow this will win the war on terror.
The book starts out with a story of Greg before he started his humanitarian work. He was a avid climber and was taking on K2, in Pakistan where he hoped to honor his recently deceased sister by leaving her necklace at the peak. Unfortunately as fate would have it Greg was unable to complete the climb and through a series of bad turns of luck ended up wondering into a Balti village by mistake. The village takes care of Greg and seeks help to guide him the rest of the way down the mountain. While there Greg, a son of teachers and humanitarians, asks to see the towns school. He is shocked to see that there is no school and children are unable to obtain an education. He promises the village elder that he will have a school built for the school.
A very big promise considering at the time the guy was broke and living out of his car. Without detailing it too much, Greg through a lot of hard work, and some luck returns to the village a year later with the building materials ready to complete his promise. Once he's there he is told that while a school would be appreciated the village is in need of something more important... a bridge. For whatever reason Greg never considered just how he was going to get the supplies to the village. Lesson learned. Through his contact with a wealthy supporter Greg is able to have the bridge built and three years after his initial promise the school is completed.
Finding he has a passion for helping the poor in Pakistan Greg's wealthy supporter establishes a non-profit organisation called the Central Asia Institute, hires Greg as the director, and endows it with a million dollars before passing on. Greg accomplishes much with little, and with the story of what his organization does gaining more national attention the CAI gets generous donations from many Americans making it a great success. According to the CAI's website, as of 2010, CAI had successfully built 145 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan and that these schools had provided an education for 64,000 students with an emphasis on girls education. Simply incredible.
A few negative notes though. The book was a very enjoyable read except for the last few chapters as the book covers the US war in Afghanistan. Greg admits that he initially supported the war but currently does not approve of the conduct of the war after hearing of many civilian casualties along with a lack in US interest in rebuilding the country. Not sure exactly where Greg gets the bulk of his info on the civilian casualties, but in what war did he ever read about where there were none? The US does do it's best and it never targets civilians deliberately, but at the same time casualties are going to happen and it's a fools task to try and fight a war where you're singular biggest worry is civilian casualties. Throughout this section of the book it is rife with anecdotes on how accommodating people can be who Greg meets while lamenting a Washington that doesn't care about the effect it has on these people's lives. While Greg's work is very impressive it should be noted that during his work in Pakistan the Taliban grew and took over Afghanistan. Madrassa's went up near the towns where he worked offering a militant education to a ignored mass. If it weren't for the US military's actions Greg would be unable to work in Afghanistan and it would not be possible for him to have made the gains he has made there. Lament our lack of cultural understanding all you want, but don't act like it's the only thing that will turn back terrorism, you will need security as well.
The only other negative is the author, and I imagine this is more from Relin than from Mortenson, takes a rather melodramtic view to events that make them fail the BS test. In an early account Greg is getting school supplies for the first school and the whole bazaar of Rawalpindi is watching as this great Angrezzi gathers up the supplies and they gasp at his graciousness and for one fleeting moment they appreciate America and this man and think nothing but good will and good thoughts. Yeah right. Anyone who knows anything about Pakistan and Afghanistan I think had a good chuckle or rolled their eyes at parts like that. Otherwise though, the accomplishments of the CAI are very real and should be supported. If you wish to learn more about the book or how you could donate to this worthy cause, please click on the link below.
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/how-to-help/
-Zach
The book starts out with a story of Greg before he started his humanitarian work. He was a avid climber and was taking on K2, in Pakistan where he hoped to honor his recently deceased sister by leaving her necklace at the peak. Unfortunately as fate would have it Greg was unable to complete the climb and through a series of bad turns of luck ended up wondering into a Balti village by mistake. The village takes care of Greg and seeks help to guide him the rest of the way down the mountain. While there Greg, a son of teachers and humanitarians, asks to see the towns school. He is shocked to see that there is no school and children are unable to obtain an education. He promises the village elder that he will have a school built for the school.
A very big promise considering at the time the guy was broke and living out of his car. Without detailing it too much, Greg through a lot of hard work, and some luck returns to the village a year later with the building materials ready to complete his promise. Once he's there he is told that while a school would be appreciated the village is in need of something more important... a bridge. For whatever reason Greg never considered just how he was going to get the supplies to the village. Lesson learned. Through his contact with a wealthy supporter Greg is able to have the bridge built and three years after his initial promise the school is completed.
Finding he has a passion for helping the poor in Pakistan Greg's wealthy supporter establishes a non-profit organisation called the Central Asia Institute, hires Greg as the director, and endows it with a million dollars before passing on. Greg accomplishes much with little, and with the story of what his organization does gaining more national attention the CAI gets generous donations from many Americans making it a great success. According to the CAI's website, as of 2010, CAI had successfully built 145 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan and that these schools had provided an education for 64,000 students with an emphasis on girls education. Simply incredible.
A few negative notes though. The book was a very enjoyable read except for the last few chapters as the book covers the US war in Afghanistan. Greg admits that he initially supported the war but currently does not approve of the conduct of the war after hearing of many civilian casualties along with a lack in US interest in rebuilding the country. Not sure exactly where Greg gets the bulk of his info on the civilian casualties, but in what war did he ever read about where there were none? The US does do it's best and it never targets civilians deliberately, but at the same time casualties are going to happen and it's a fools task to try and fight a war where you're singular biggest worry is civilian casualties. Throughout this section of the book it is rife with anecdotes on how accommodating people can be who Greg meets while lamenting a Washington that doesn't care about the effect it has on these people's lives. While Greg's work is very impressive it should be noted that during his work in Pakistan the Taliban grew and took over Afghanistan. Madrassa's went up near the towns where he worked offering a militant education to a ignored mass. If it weren't for the US military's actions Greg would be unable to work in Afghanistan and it would not be possible for him to have made the gains he has made there. Lament our lack of cultural understanding all you want, but don't act like it's the only thing that will turn back terrorism, you will need security as well.
The only other negative is the author, and I imagine this is more from Relin than from Mortenson, takes a rather melodramtic view to events that make them fail the BS test. In an early account Greg is getting school supplies for the first school and the whole bazaar of Rawalpindi is watching as this great Angrezzi gathers up the supplies and they gasp at his graciousness and for one fleeting moment they appreciate America and this man and think nothing but good will and good thoughts. Yeah right. Anyone who knows anything about Pakistan and Afghanistan I think had a good chuckle or rolled their eyes at parts like that. Otherwise though, the accomplishments of the CAI are very real and should be supported. If you wish to learn more about the book or how you could donate to this worthy cause, please click on the link below.
http://www.threecupsoftea.com/how-to-help/
-Zach
Friday, September 10, 2010
It's okay for Americans to be offended, but not terrorists?
Recently the Imam behind the ground zero mosque gave an interview to CNN. In the interview he defended the continued building of a mosque near ground zero because, according to him, if he didn't do that than the "terrorists would win." Apparently the logic behind this is that terrorists abroad are paying attention of the American outrage surrounding the building of this mosque and if it is stopped they will utilize such a thing to promote bad PR on America and swell their ranks.
What a load of crap. Even should this mosque be built terrorists such as those that make up the ranks of Al Qaida and the Taliban are not going to tone down their rhetoric against America and whatever they don't use from the ground zero mosque they will simply make up in front of the ignorant masses. The blocking of this building would have about zero impact, but this is the excuse this guy has for ignoring causing such an offense to Americans and continuing to push for the building of this mosque.
Lets delve into that a little more. He is well aware that Americans are offended by the building of this mosque and yet continues to justify it by saying it will be offensive to other's abroad. Never mind that other muslim religious leaders in the US and abroad are against this, to go along with the 70% of Americans that are against this, it is that retarded minority that we have to be concerned it. Our anger is understandable, but really, it's not as important as the others.
To top this off the Imam again has been offered decent outs and compromises to this situation and he is continuing to balk at any of these offers. A respected muslim scholar commented for a CNN article recently in which he made his opposition clear, but also noted a sympathy for the Imam's position. Still, even he said a good compromise that would bolster the Imam's position as a diplomat would be to walk away from the building and act as a sort of ambassador to Pakistan as it deals with it's current flood crisis. No word has come out on if the Imam even considered this. The reverend of a small church in Florida has suspended plans to hold a kind of Koran bon fire after assurances that the mosque would be moved. Faced with this the Imam again balked, apparently "muslim" terrorists are better to appease. Lastly and most recently it appears that Donald Trump has offered to buy the holding share of the rights to the property where the mosque is to be build, offering 25% above what the holder paid. No word on the Imam's response but a lawyer for the stakeholder blasted it calling it a "pathetic attempt at PR" and again out and out disrespecting what should have been viewed as a respectful way to resolve this dispute.
In closing I will say that I hope that Americans are more angry and more fired up, as I am, following the Imam's interview. This is ridiculous, it needs to be stood on it's head and shown for the ugliness that is the Imam's disregard and disrespect for those that oppose this mosque. As I said before, this man claims to be a diplomat and a man that seeks peaceful solutions to bitter situations, well time to put up or STFU.
The link below is to the referenced CNN article.
-Zach
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/08/profile-imam-feisal-abdul-rauf-the-man-behind-the-nyc-islamic-center/?iref=allsearch
What a load of crap. Even should this mosque be built terrorists such as those that make up the ranks of Al Qaida and the Taliban are not going to tone down their rhetoric against America and whatever they don't use from the ground zero mosque they will simply make up in front of the ignorant masses. The blocking of this building would have about zero impact, but this is the excuse this guy has for ignoring causing such an offense to Americans and continuing to push for the building of this mosque.
Lets delve into that a little more. He is well aware that Americans are offended by the building of this mosque and yet continues to justify it by saying it will be offensive to other's abroad. Never mind that other muslim religious leaders in the US and abroad are against this, to go along with the 70% of Americans that are against this, it is that retarded minority that we have to be concerned it. Our anger is understandable, but really, it's not as important as the others.
To top this off the Imam again has been offered decent outs and compromises to this situation and he is continuing to balk at any of these offers. A respected muslim scholar commented for a CNN article recently in which he made his opposition clear, but also noted a sympathy for the Imam's position. Still, even he said a good compromise that would bolster the Imam's position as a diplomat would be to walk away from the building and act as a sort of ambassador to Pakistan as it deals with it's current flood crisis. No word has come out on if the Imam even considered this. The reverend of a small church in Florida has suspended plans to hold a kind of Koran bon fire after assurances that the mosque would be moved. Faced with this the Imam again balked, apparently "muslim" terrorists are better to appease. Lastly and most recently it appears that Donald Trump has offered to buy the holding share of the rights to the property where the mosque is to be build, offering 25% above what the holder paid. No word on the Imam's response but a lawyer for the stakeholder blasted it calling it a "pathetic attempt at PR" and again out and out disrespecting what should have been viewed as a respectful way to resolve this dispute.
In closing I will say that I hope that Americans are more angry and more fired up, as I am, following the Imam's interview. This is ridiculous, it needs to be stood on it's head and shown for the ugliness that is the Imam's disregard and disrespect for those that oppose this mosque. As I said before, this man claims to be a diplomat and a man that seeks peaceful solutions to bitter situations, well time to put up or STFU.
The link below is to the referenced CNN article.
-Zach
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/08/profile-imam-feisal-abdul-rauf-the-man-behind-the-nyc-islamic-center/?iref=allsearch
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Ground Zero Mosque
Well once again I have been neglecting my duties to all my fans by not posting regularly on my blog. Their have been a number of incidents that have happened over the past few months which I would have liked to comment on, but for the purpose of this post I will focus on the controversy surrounding the islamic center which is currently planned to be built around two blocks from where the World Trade Center stood. First off let me say that I am completely against the building of this Islamic center because of the location and also because of the very odd and questionable behavior of the Imam and his supporters who are funding this project.
The first thing I want to dismiss is this ridiculous notion that America is somehow islamophobic and that if you oppose this particular mosque it is because of religious intolerance. For anyone to claim such a thing they have to ignore a large amount of evidence to the contrary, the biggest one being that a consistent 70% of Americans oppose the building of this mosque. Are we to believe that 70% of Americans are religiously intolerant or could they, oh I dunno, have reasons other than religion to oppose this building? The next thing these guys have to ignore is that there are currently around 1209 mosques in America, 140 of them being in New York. Think that number is low? Well to put it in perspective that's more mosques than are in some Muslim majority countries such as Egypt. Lastly on this issue it is worth noting that the US is spending 6 million of our tax dollars to help build and renovate mosques in 27 different countries. If anyone still some sort of islamophobia in spite of this I hope they can at least back it up, but typically people who make such claims never plan on presenting any actual evidence of their claim. They simply yell it out, use some obscure reference they hope bolsters their claim and then hope their shouts drown out other more reasonable voices.
The real reason that people like me oppose this building has little to nothing to do with Islam, but the site of the building. I couldn't care less about someone going to their place of worship and praising God as they see fit. It is good that they have this right and I would want to do nothing to stand in their way. However, they want to build this Islamic center two blocks, or around 60o feet (two football fields) from a place where over 2500 people lost their lives in an act of terrorism committed by islamic terrorists. It doesn't get much more inappropriate than that and while they may have the right to practice their religion, I and others maintain our rights of free speech to call them the assholes they are for building such a thing so close to ground zero.
Still though, the media focuses on some supposed religious intolerance. Today in USA Today I find a front page article about a Muslim woman who lost her son in the 9/11 attacks. He was a EMT who when into the World Trade Center and unfortunately lost his life when it collapsed. The paper goes on to describe the reaction in America as a wave of islamophobia. I guess the paper feels that people should be more understanding when 3000 people are killed. The paper than tries to paint the picture that a supposed large amount of muslims were killed on that day stating that "hundreds of muslim families where affected" but later lists the number of muslims killed at 60 noting that it was much more than the "19 hijackers" but not noting that it amounts for all of 2% of the victims that day. I do feel sorry for this mother's loss. It shouldn't be trivialized but frankly this article was pathetic and just another example of a media reporting on a incident without even fully understanding why there is such strong opposition to the building of this center. It has nothing to due with religious intolerance or a hatred of islam, it's about location.
The last thing I want to point out with this issue is the lack of engagement by the Imam behind the building of this mosque. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has written three books concerning Islam in western society, ever notice you don't see many books concerning Christianity in the modern middle east? I digress. Imam Rauf is a well respected Islamic Scholar and appears to have earned a reputation has someone who seeks a peaceful outcome to many of our current conflicts with Islamic extremists. He has even gone so far as to refuse to denounce Hamas as a terrorist organization stating that doing so would preclude any ability on his part to act as a intermediary. He further claims that the point in building the islamic center is to rebuff extremism and to hopefully have the effect of bringing communities together, promote dialogue and improve Islamic relations in America. It's fair to say right now that this center has had the opposite effect. No one views this center as a rebuff of extremism. They view it as a mocking victory marker. It hasn't improved dialogue between faiths, it's made it worst. In fact, and this is something I find as galling as the building itself, the supporters of such a mosque have been absent from the discussion over this building. They have refused to meet with NY Gov. David Patterson when he sought to resolve the issue and they have refused what would be seen by most peacemakers as a great opportunity for dialogue. To appear on TV to discuss the positives of your faith. To lament the loss of life on that day and to create a visual image for those of you absolutely condemning the actions of those on 9/11. All this has been rather arrogantly dismissed and instead they simply call those who oppose the building bigots and leave it at that.
Why is it that a man can claim to want to be an intermediary between Hamas and Israel, and yet when it comes to easing the minds of Americans and allowing for discussion on this issue that so many find painful he turns a deaf ear? Why is it that a man can claim to want dialogue and yet clams up when given the opportunity?
In the end there are many reasons to oppose this mosque, none of which has to due with an intolerance of Islam. So I close hoping against hope that the American discussion on this issue begins to focus on the location itself and the appropriate pressure is applied until the plans for the building are eventually moved to a better location.
-Zach
The first thing I want to dismiss is this ridiculous notion that America is somehow islamophobic and that if you oppose this particular mosque it is because of religious intolerance. For anyone to claim such a thing they have to ignore a large amount of evidence to the contrary, the biggest one being that a consistent 70% of Americans oppose the building of this mosque. Are we to believe that 70% of Americans are religiously intolerant or could they, oh I dunno, have reasons other than religion to oppose this building? The next thing these guys have to ignore is that there are currently around 1209 mosques in America, 140 of them being in New York. Think that number is low? Well to put it in perspective that's more mosques than are in some Muslim majority countries such as Egypt. Lastly on this issue it is worth noting that the US is spending 6 million of our tax dollars to help build and renovate mosques in 27 different countries. If anyone still some sort of islamophobia in spite of this I hope they can at least back it up, but typically people who make such claims never plan on presenting any actual evidence of their claim. They simply yell it out, use some obscure reference they hope bolsters their claim and then hope their shouts drown out other more reasonable voices.
The real reason that people like me oppose this building has little to nothing to do with Islam, but the site of the building. I couldn't care less about someone going to their place of worship and praising God as they see fit. It is good that they have this right and I would want to do nothing to stand in their way. However, they want to build this Islamic center two blocks, or around 60o feet (two football fields) from a place where over 2500 people lost their lives in an act of terrorism committed by islamic terrorists. It doesn't get much more inappropriate than that and while they may have the right to practice their religion, I and others maintain our rights of free speech to call them the assholes they are for building such a thing so close to ground zero.
Still though, the media focuses on some supposed religious intolerance. Today in USA Today I find a front page article about a Muslim woman who lost her son in the 9/11 attacks. He was a EMT who when into the World Trade Center and unfortunately lost his life when it collapsed. The paper goes on to describe the reaction in America as a wave of islamophobia. I guess the paper feels that people should be more understanding when 3000 people are killed. The paper than tries to paint the picture that a supposed large amount of muslims were killed on that day stating that "hundreds of muslim families where affected" but later lists the number of muslims killed at 60 noting that it was much more than the "19 hijackers" but not noting that it amounts for all of 2% of the victims that day. I do feel sorry for this mother's loss. It shouldn't be trivialized but frankly this article was pathetic and just another example of a media reporting on a incident without even fully understanding why there is such strong opposition to the building of this center. It has nothing to due with religious intolerance or a hatred of islam, it's about location.
The last thing I want to point out with this issue is the lack of engagement by the Imam behind the building of this mosque. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has written three books concerning Islam in western society, ever notice you don't see many books concerning Christianity in the modern middle east? I digress. Imam Rauf is a well respected Islamic Scholar and appears to have earned a reputation has someone who seeks a peaceful outcome to many of our current conflicts with Islamic extremists. He has even gone so far as to refuse to denounce Hamas as a terrorist organization stating that doing so would preclude any ability on his part to act as a intermediary. He further claims that the point in building the islamic center is to rebuff extremism and to hopefully have the effect of bringing communities together, promote dialogue and improve Islamic relations in America. It's fair to say right now that this center has had the opposite effect. No one views this center as a rebuff of extremism. They view it as a mocking victory marker. It hasn't improved dialogue between faiths, it's made it worst. In fact, and this is something I find as galling as the building itself, the supporters of such a mosque have been absent from the discussion over this building. They have refused to meet with NY Gov. David Patterson when he sought to resolve the issue and they have refused what would be seen by most peacemakers as a great opportunity for dialogue. To appear on TV to discuss the positives of your faith. To lament the loss of life on that day and to create a visual image for those of you absolutely condemning the actions of those on 9/11. All this has been rather arrogantly dismissed and instead they simply call those who oppose the building bigots and leave it at that.
Why is it that a man can claim to want to be an intermediary between Hamas and Israel, and yet when it comes to easing the minds of Americans and allowing for discussion on this issue that so many find painful he turns a deaf ear? Why is it that a man can claim to want dialogue and yet clams up when given the opportunity?
In the end there are many reasons to oppose this mosque, none of which has to due with an intolerance of Islam. So I close hoping against hope that the American discussion on this issue begins to focus on the location itself and the appropriate pressure is applied until the plans for the building are eventually moved to a better location.
-Zach
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)