Like many people I started watching the coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics this past Friday. I thought it interesting that the only reason Iran participated in the march of nations was because Ireland separated them from Israel.
This got me to thinking. The whole concept of the Olympics is to bring the nations of the world together for friendly sport competition, with the hope of avoiding actual physical confrontations on battlefields.
The same is true of the major religions of the world. All of them preach the importance of peace and harmony. Yet most of the wars that have been fought have called upon a god to lead them to victory against an enemy who is usually either a pagan or infidel.
It is a sad commentary that over the thousands of years of recorded history, of the years technological advances, that man has still not evolved beyond the greedy little child he has always been who wants things his way now.
If the spirit of the Olympics could last more than two weeks maybe there could be hope. However, this morning there is a report that NATO troops in southern Afghanistan killed 12 civilians in a rocket attack that went wrong. Hard to call for peace and harmony when innocent people are killed by accident.
Too bad the world couldn't solve its differences on the playing fields of the Olympics.
Finally, just a reminder to offer a silent prayer for Nodar Kumaritashvili of the Republic of Georgia and his family, in addition to those who lost their lives in world wide fighting this past week.
Maybe if we can use our prayers to God for the common good rather than our selfish designs, the world could truly become a better place.
Its Common Sense!
Showing posts with label World Peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Peace. Show all posts
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Random Thoughts on President Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize
Clearly as surprised as the majority of the world, President Obama was selected to be this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Newly elected to office, he has not done anything yet, although in the time between being named the winner and going to Oslo to accept the prize, he did order another thirty thousand combat troops into Afghanistan. As for the withdrawal from Iraq, I am unclear if it is moving on schedule or not.
To his credit, President Obama shared his surprise and then gave what I considered to be a fairly good acceptance speech, which followed along the lines of St Paul's just war theory.
However, the bottom line is, he should never have even been a candidate for the prize. One has to wonder about the motives of the selection committee. Were they so happy to see President Bush replaced with a younger, perhaps more opened and more world visioned individual? Did they think the United States deserved some kind of an award for electing a bi-racial president?
I don't know. I just wish they had selected someone else, because now there will be additional unneeded pressure placed on Obama to prove he is truly a peacemaker.
With our current economic situation, the unemployment rate, the debate over health care and the two ever present wars, Obama in having enough trouble trying to keep the peace within the United States, much less through out the world.
A side note, totally unrelated, but something that has been bothering me, is the First Lady's taste in clothes. The off greens and weird yellows just do nothing for her. Call me a traditionalist but I think she looks much better in a single colored gown of black or dark red. These combination colors or the whole yellow to beige group needs to be thrown out.
Doesn't she have consultants? Let's hope her wardrobe improves.
I know, that's my opinion and means very little, but I needed to get it out.
As for the President and peace, we will just have to wait and see if the strategy he has formulated will play out the way he hopes. If it does not, then its back to the drawing board and yet another new war strategy. Let's hope this one works, after eight years we need to get things finished once and for all and bring our troops home for good.
Its Common Sense!
To his credit, President Obama shared his surprise and then gave what I considered to be a fairly good acceptance speech, which followed along the lines of St Paul's just war theory.
However, the bottom line is, he should never have even been a candidate for the prize. One has to wonder about the motives of the selection committee. Were they so happy to see President Bush replaced with a younger, perhaps more opened and more world visioned individual? Did they think the United States deserved some kind of an award for electing a bi-racial president?
I don't know. I just wish they had selected someone else, because now there will be additional unneeded pressure placed on Obama to prove he is truly a peacemaker.
With our current economic situation, the unemployment rate, the debate over health care and the two ever present wars, Obama in having enough trouble trying to keep the peace within the United States, much less through out the world.
A side note, totally unrelated, but something that has been bothering me, is the First Lady's taste in clothes. The off greens and weird yellows just do nothing for her. Call me a traditionalist but I think she looks much better in a single colored gown of black or dark red. These combination colors or the whole yellow to beige group needs to be thrown out.
Doesn't she have consultants? Let's hope her wardrobe improves.
I know, that's my opinion and means very little, but I needed to get it out.
As for the President and peace, we will just have to wait and see if the strategy he has formulated will play out the way he hopes. If it does not, then its back to the drawing board and yet another new war strategy. Let's hope this one works, after eight years we need to get things finished once and for all and bring our troops home for good.
Its Common Sense!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Iran - How should the USA respond?
The last week has shown some amazing images come out of Iran, those that escaped the censors. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, is suddenly a very public figure to the entire world. For most of the us the Supreme Leader was always someone in the shadows, the great spiritual leader, whose goal is supposedly to bring his country closer to God.
This past week shows that not only has he not been successful, but that he may be forcing his countrymen to take sides in what could turn out to be a civil war. For thirty years the Ayatollahs have ruled from behind closed doors, making all the major decisions and having a figure head to be their public voice. That has now changed. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came forth and told the people not only were they not to question the election results, but that they were not to protest, they were not to question and they were not to have their own thoughts.
What century is this man living in?
Those who are protesting are the intelligentsia of Iran. Students, the middle class, those who know what is going on in the world. These are people seeking a true democracy and all that comes with it.
Iran has suffered since the mid-50's when the CIA help the Shah take power, when they had no rights, and then after the '79 revolution they have suffered at the hands of extremists clerics.
The Iran people want their freedom and I hope they get it. But, it is important that they get it on their own. No help, especially from Western nations who will call in the debt. I may not agree with President Obama on many things, but I think he is right on course on this issue.
The USA can comment that the election looked rigged, hell that's obvious. But it is the people of Iran who have to fight to get their freedom. For too long they have been held down by one form of tyranny or another. Its up to them to raise the cry of freedom and make it their reality.
Its Common Sense!
This past week shows that not only has he not been successful, but that he may be forcing his countrymen to take sides in what could turn out to be a civil war. For thirty years the Ayatollahs have ruled from behind closed doors, making all the major decisions and having a figure head to be their public voice. That has now changed. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came forth and told the people not only were they not to question the election results, but that they were not to protest, they were not to question and they were not to have their own thoughts.
What century is this man living in?
Those who are protesting are the intelligentsia of Iran. Students, the middle class, those who know what is going on in the world. These are people seeking a true democracy and all that comes with it.
Iran has suffered since the mid-50's when the CIA help the Shah take power, when they had no rights, and then after the '79 revolution they have suffered at the hands of extremists clerics.
The Iran people want their freedom and I hope they get it. But, it is important that they get it on their own. No help, especially from Western nations who will call in the debt. I may not agree with President Obama on many things, but I think he is right on course on this issue.
The USA can comment that the election looked rigged, hell that's obvious. But it is the people of Iran who have to fight to get their freedom. For too long they have been held down by one form of tyranny or another. Its up to them to raise the cry of freedom and make it their reality.
Its Common Sense!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Year's Resolution
In approximately 12 1/2 hours we will say good bye to 2008 and begin our journey into 2009.
Some things apparently will not be changing.
Israel has refused to enter into a a cease fire against Hamas.
The governor of Illinois selected a former state comptroller and attorney general, who happens to be black, to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. Of course this is in defiance to the Illinois legislature and the US Senate. It will be interesting to see if this turns into a racial issue, rather than a power struggle issue between a governor accused of corruption and a legislature who wants to take control.
Iraq and Afghanistan show no signs of improvement.
Pakistan is facing internal problems with the Taliban and Pakistani insurgents, as well as problems along its border with India.
China is reaching out, heading to fight Somali pirates, and just maybe attempting to influence life on the African continent.
With all of this occurring its hard to feel there is much hope for the world. Yet, I think there is.
I believe that there are a lot of young people through out the world who have not been blinded by hate and corruption, who have positive attitudes, and who want to make a positive difference.
So my New Year's Resolution (in addition to trying to lose a few pounds) is to do what I can to assist the world youth, and our future, to achieve their goals. Whether it is contributing to some scholarship funds, mentoring or simply praying , I figure anything we can do to positively inspire our youth will be beneficial to all of us in the long run.
Let's enter this new year with a positive out look. Let's smile more and criticize less. Let's share more and hoard less. Let's listen more, compromise more, and be less demanding and obstinate.
Let's become the person we always wanted to be, the shining light for all to see.
When people see we are positive about ourselves, we inspire them to be positive about themselves.
Its Common Sense!
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!
Some things apparently will not be changing.
Israel has refused to enter into a a cease fire against Hamas.
The governor of Illinois selected a former state comptroller and attorney general, who happens to be black, to fill the US Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama. Of course this is in defiance to the Illinois legislature and the US Senate. It will be interesting to see if this turns into a racial issue, rather than a power struggle issue between a governor accused of corruption and a legislature who wants to take control.
Iraq and Afghanistan show no signs of improvement.
Pakistan is facing internal problems with the Taliban and Pakistani insurgents, as well as problems along its border with India.
China is reaching out, heading to fight Somali pirates, and just maybe attempting to influence life on the African continent.
With all of this occurring its hard to feel there is much hope for the world. Yet, I think there is.
I believe that there are a lot of young people through out the world who have not been blinded by hate and corruption, who have positive attitudes, and who want to make a positive difference.
So my New Year's Resolution (in addition to trying to lose a few pounds) is to do what I can to assist the world youth, and our future, to achieve their goals. Whether it is contributing to some scholarship funds, mentoring or simply praying , I figure anything we can do to positively inspire our youth will be beneficial to all of us in the long run.
Let's enter this new year with a positive out look. Let's smile more and criticize less. Let's share more and hoard less. Let's listen more, compromise more, and be less demanding and obstinate.
Let's become the person we always wanted to be, the shining light for all to see.
When people see we are positive about ourselves, we inspire them to be positive about themselves.
Its Common Sense!
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Bush's Farewell to Iraq
One of the big news items today is that George Bush in in Baghdad, showing his appreciation to the Iraq government for working with the United States for bringing peace and stability to their country. (Whether that is true or not is a whole other story.) More importantly, I believe that Bush is there to thanks the troops for all of the sacrifices they have made in what is turning out to be another unending war.
As Bush's time comes to end (thank God) I think some reflection on what he has done, positive and negative is important. I do not believe that George Bush is a bad person, in truth I believe him to be a good hearted man, a patriot and unfortunately a man who listened to a lot of bad advice and allowed himself to be be guided by a group of short sighted, ambitious men and women who had their own interests first rather than the the interests of their country.
I agreed with Bush when he wanted to send troops into Afghanistan after 9/11. I thought he should have sent a lot more and that he should have tried right from the start to get a strong coalition of European and Arab States to join us.
I was amazed when I learned of all of the funding Bush made available in Africa to help fight AIDS and hopefully give thousands of people a chance at some kind of better life. I do not understand why Bush's PR people are not doing more to push that image of the President, rather than letting the public continue to see his failures.
Now, I want to state that I do not believe the economic crisis in the United States is George Bush's fault. Unfortunately, after years of build up the collapse unfortunately came on his watch. I find it embarrassing that today his staff are still trying to find a way to bail out the Big 3. Let them and the UAW work a solution out among themselves. They can save themselves and their jobs if they put their heads together and make some sacrifices. It is not the president's place to try and come up with the solution for them.
Of course the biggest error of the Bush Administration and the one we the people will be paying for during the years to come is the war in Iraq. We never should have gone. Of course hindsight is a beautiful thing but I never understood the rush to go in the beginning and I never understood why Congress never requested more in depth proof of the supposed violations committed by Saddam.
It is interesting that both Bush presidents had wars fought in Iraq during their administrations. If George Senior had allowed his army to march into Baghdad and dethrone Saddam at that time, the current war would never have happened. Of course we have no idea of knowing what the removal of Saddam at that time would have had on the stability of Iraq.
Lots of questions to ponder, lots of theories to offer.
The reality is that George Bush will be leaving office as one of the least admired presidents in the history of the United States. We can only hope that his successor will be able to leave a more impressive legacy.
What do you feel were the positive accomplishments of the Bush Administration over the past eight years? Do you feel that there were any positive accomplishments?
Voice your opinion so others can hear.
Its Common Sense!
As Bush's time comes to end (thank God) I think some reflection on what he has done, positive and negative is important. I do not believe that George Bush is a bad person, in truth I believe him to be a good hearted man, a patriot and unfortunately a man who listened to a lot of bad advice and allowed himself to be be guided by a group of short sighted, ambitious men and women who had their own interests first rather than the the interests of their country.
I agreed with Bush when he wanted to send troops into Afghanistan after 9/11. I thought he should have sent a lot more and that he should have tried right from the start to get a strong coalition of European and Arab States to join us.
I was amazed when I learned of all of the funding Bush made available in Africa to help fight AIDS and hopefully give thousands of people a chance at some kind of better life. I do not understand why Bush's PR people are not doing more to push that image of the President, rather than letting the public continue to see his failures.
Now, I want to state that I do not believe the economic crisis in the United States is George Bush's fault. Unfortunately, after years of build up the collapse unfortunately came on his watch. I find it embarrassing that today his staff are still trying to find a way to bail out the Big 3. Let them and the UAW work a solution out among themselves. They can save themselves and their jobs if they put their heads together and make some sacrifices. It is not the president's place to try and come up with the solution for them.
Of course the biggest error of the Bush Administration and the one we the people will be paying for during the years to come is the war in Iraq. We never should have gone. Of course hindsight is a beautiful thing but I never understood the rush to go in the beginning and I never understood why Congress never requested more in depth proof of the supposed violations committed by Saddam.
It is interesting that both Bush presidents had wars fought in Iraq during their administrations. If George Senior had allowed his army to march into Baghdad and dethrone Saddam at that time, the current war would never have happened. Of course we have no idea of knowing what the removal of Saddam at that time would have had on the stability of Iraq.
Lots of questions to ponder, lots of theories to offer.
The reality is that George Bush will be leaving office as one of the least admired presidents in the history of the United States. We can only hope that his successor will be able to leave a more impressive legacy.
What do you feel were the positive accomplishments of the Bush Administration over the past eight years? Do you feel that there were any positive accomplishments?
Voice your opinion so others can hear.
Its Common Sense!
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