An American Identity Crisis

One of the purposes of this blog is to present various sides of issues so we can see different perspectives, and from that insight, hopefully, become better decision makers.

Below are two popular perspectives recently posted by Bruce Walker posting on the American Thinker.

“…Some believe that America is a unique nation, a nation built upon extraordinary and good moral values, and a country which is a microcosm of what the world should be. These people need not be Americans. Churchill, for example, was an unabashed admirer of America.

Other people believe that America is simply a very arrogant country, a nation inhabited with bumpkins who believe too much in God, and because of its religious faith and confidence, the antithesis of what the world should be. This animus flourishes outside America, but it also has a strong camp following in America.”

It certainly explains the differing approaches in policy we’ve seen over the years, including foreign affairs, economic policy, national defence, even on issues of health care.

Which one reflects our current leadership?

Which are you?

The Message from Fort Hood: Remeber the Balkans!

The massacre at Ft. Hood has been labeled as the first terrorist attack on US soil since 9-11. As more information continues to build about the influence of his Muslim faith and ties to terrorist sympathizers a message that must ring out more clearly is, “Remember the Balkans.”

Yugoslavia, the former dominant country of the Balkan Peninsula, was once one of the great nations of Europe. In the 90’s the country imploded becoming a killing field of neighbors that turned on and did the most horrific things to each other.

Take for example the country of Bosnia-Herzegovina. A country made up primarily of Croats, Serbs, and Bosnians and now governed by not one but 2 (TWO!) governments. Where once they shared the land, co-existed, shopped together, shared coffee, schools, playgrounds; in an instant began killing and torturing each other. A quick visit to the capitol Sarajevo, once a proud Olympic city, one will notice amongst the rich diversity of the Central European and Middle Eastern architecture, shops, restaurants and churches, a number of fresh cemeteries as a lingering reminder of their past.

What happened there that would not only turn neighbor against neighbor, but also turned people into less than animals, was among other things, paranoia.

The leadership and warlords knew exactly what to do to raise up the minions, to divide and conquer. There was an enemy, and that enemy was within, only not clearly defined, only an ideal, a culture, and they were going to kill you and your family unless you did something about it.

What followed was chaos and mayhem. Who was right and who was wrong became quite difficult to determine and therefore incredibly difficult to stop. Even those who tried not to get involved, not willing to give in to the craziness, got pulled in by either becoming victims or eventually victimizers out of need from protection.

This is the very definition and goal of Terror, the ultimate destruction of a society from within propagate by fear.

The US, like former Yugoslavia, is a land of many cultures. It is a country that celebrates its diversity accepting people of all cultures, races, and creeds. It is the most successful country in the history of the world, the most diverse, and the most progressive in integrating that diversity. Of course, it hasn’t always been that way, and it still has a long way to go, but it is very difficult to name a close competitor.

And although that diversity makes it unique and strong, it also, as in the Balkans, makes it vulnerable.

The US is not without internal conflict. As with most societies there are sharp divisions between political and ethnic groups, religions, schools, towns, families, even conflicts between music affiliations, genders, and pet owners. Yet these conflicts, regardless of their intensity remain isolated and controlled under the strength of the social fabric that holds the overall society together.

That social fabric has held the country strong for its existence, strengthening during times of external conflict, weakening during times of internal. Regardless, it has held strong, last being tested in the LA Riots and again on 9-11. Sadly for the former Yugoslavia, that net was proven to be fragile and therefore completely obliterated by paranoia/terror, the result of which was the physical and moral destruction of their once proud country.

In the recent aftermath of the Ft. Hood tragedy, information continues to pile up about the assailants ties to Muslim radicals and enemies to the US.

Most frightening is that an al-Qaeda leader published in an on-line magazine not a week before the attack calling for jihadists to conduct easy attacks on targets in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, as well as in Western nations "at war with Islam." They were to use easily accessible weapons and explosives and to not "waste a lot of time finding the materials."

Even if more information comes out about Maj. Hasan’s relationship to the Muslim world, terrorism and those seeking the destruction of the US. Even if the Ft. Hood incident is followed up by other’s like Hasan, who sympathize with the United State’s enemies, and even if more American-Muslims take up that call to attack, remember what happened when the Balkan people allowed that social fabric to wear down, to give in to paranoia, to let chaos take over.

How can this be avoided?

The social fabric of any society is held together by a sense of security and rule of law. The populace needs to know that they have a law that protects them and more importantly that law enforcement is on their side.

Therefore after each and every incident needs to be followed by swift and decisive action taken to restore order. Secondly, to restore a sense of security, the populace needs to believe that this was an isolated incident meaning: 1) steps are being taken to prevent this disaster and 2) The leadership of the affecting parties needs to speak out against the action.

In the case of Ft. hood and any “Terrorist” Action , 1) immediate action needs to be taken by law enforcement to not only deal with the incident, but to act strongly and swiftly against any criminal acts that take place in retaliation. 2) That needs to be paralleled with immediate words of assurance from both the US and Muslim leadership.

A lack of both will foster paranoia unfortunately against the Muslim community in the US and also in Europe and cause chaos in all respective societies. These steps have been the immediate response to all incidents from all US and UK leadership till now. If it doesn’t continue, terrorism wins. The leadership in Yugoslavia wanted their wars and took the LACK of steps necessary to see that happen. How has the current leadership responded?

Be warned, remember the Balkans.

A Nobel Acceptance Speech

The decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to First Term US President Obama has made the Nobel committee an international laughing stock. The decision for the President to accept the award has done the same for him, especially directly following the Olympics fiasco.

Yes, it wasn’t his decision to be named as this year’s award winner. But it was his decision how to respond. With it, he was given a great opportunity to win political points at home and abroad for both him and the US.

Here is what he should’ve said:

“I’d like to thank Nobel Committee for acknowledging the efforts WE in American have been making to encourage peace and democracy within America and around the world. This for the most part has always been our understood mandate.

Since it is apparent that both the Nobel Committee and the US share these similar values, we would like to recognize those who have not only strived and sacrificed, but also succeeded in their efforts.

Therefore we will accept this award in the name of …….”

At this point, the president could name any number of deserving people at his discretion and who embody issues he would like to raise attention to. Here is an example with the person who many believe really should have won:

“Therefore we will accept this award in the name of an incredible accomplished woman fighting for the well being, rights, and democracy of her own people in Afghanistan, Dr. Sima Samar. Dr. Samar, the Chairman for the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Dr. Samar was forced to flee after her husband was arrested. He was never heard from again. In Pakistan, Dr. Samar worked to set up medical services for Afghan refugees. In 1987, she helped open the first hospital for women, staffed by women in Quetta, Pakistan. In 1989, she established the Shuhada Organization, a non-governmental and non-profit organization committed to the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan with special emphasis on the empowerment of women and children.”

Now he would have been in a position to win points AND create support to do what he needs to not only conclude the war in Afghanistan but also attack its corruption.

To outright reject the award, although appropriate since it was undeserved, would have been greatly damaging and embarrassing the Nobel people. Instead, simply deflecting the award to worthy candidates would not have only boosted his dignity but also the issues that are dear to him.

It would be nice to see Obama's administration take a page from Reagan's who kept as a working principle: There is no limit to what can be accomplished if you don't care who gets the credit.

But alas, it seems the NOBEL has lost its nobility

A Sickness of Change Revealed in the Healthcare Debate

The US is currently debating health care reform. And after listening to the President’s national address on the issue, realized a common ailment that exists in most change initiatives.

Although, it is widely agreed that there is a need for healthcare reform in the US., Americans are generally happy with the healthcare they receive. Which in fact is among the best healthcare in the world.

So, the problem and therefore the focus of reform should not be in the service, but in access.

Access to healthcare is primarily limited by cost. The very little that we know about the Health Reform Bill that the President is pushing is that it will increase access to healthcare by lowering cost to the public.

So what’s the problem?

The problem is a sickness that pervades most development/reform/change programs around the world. There is an addiction in development in treating the symptoms, rather than working on cures. Is it not about WHAT will be done, but about HOW.

The symptom in healthcare is high cost. Therefore the solution should include ways to deal with the REASONS for those costs. The current bill does not. It merely addresses the issue by simply finding more creative ways to pay for it. In other words, a glorious way to simply throw money at it.

Problem solving, healing, and real change means getting to the core of the problem, and dealing with it at its source. Can one deal with poor education by lowering test standards? If one gets a rash on their skin, should they just cover it with make-up? If there are problems at home, is it solved by drinking? You and your spouse are fighting a lot, is the answer simply not speaking? If you’re over-weight, should you just take a pill? (although, that would be nice)

Once, I was involved in a program to deal with drug problems among teens in a local community. After research, I proposed a program that dealt with core issues: a lack of role models, a lack of future prospects, lack of constructive activities and support in which to develop strong social skills, coupled with cooperative law enforcement. It was cost affective, used resources currently available in the community, sustainable and therefore long term. However, the plan was rejected because the quota was for an anti-drug program rather than a community development program which mine appeared to be.

On a separate issue, I was asked to work on development for a crime-laden area. After research, the proposal came back as a socio-economic development program for the entire region. But again, rejected because the quota was slated for dealing with the “problem people” and my program dealt with the community at large.

In working to improve educational standards in another developing country I was met by resistance from educators who simply didn’t want to do more work.

Recently, a friend kept complaining about her weight, yet refused to do anything about it that constituted sacrifice or sweat.

Change is a good topic, but the sickness lies in the denial to do what is really necessary. Why? Because real reform takes work, real growth comes from pain, real change means removing that which currently holds power. It is not always nice, it is not comfortable, it is never easy.

If the President is really serious about Health Care Reform, it should address malpractice lawsuits (tort reform), rising insurance costs, separating medical insurance from work, and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

Want to increase an economy? Encourage companies to invest and grow and limit government to regulation.

Want to improve education? Deal with the teacher/education unions and keep teachers accountable.

What to lose weight? Adjust your eating habits and EXERCISE!

Involved in community development? Do the research, instead of simply copying a program from another culture.

Unfortunately for most development, instead of doing the work, it’s a lot easier and more popular to take it easy and just throw money at the symptoms.