When you get right down to it, we, the people who inhabit this continent now, and who benefit from its riches, are nothing more than accidents of history. Our predecessors came here out of a variety of needs, escaping religious discrimination, drought, or other horrors, and when they arrived here, they found a safe haven.
In the meantime we all have benefited.
Today, as the richest people on earth, we face a truly moral dilemma. Is the accident of history that placed us here a God-given right?
I think not.
I think that who we truly are, and what we ought to do next, is better represented by looking at the world at large.
The world at large is still a very poor place. Over half of the people on this planet do not have cell phones, laptops, or even enough food to eat.
Yet we are all of the same substance. Rich or poor, we are all made of the same stuff. Who is rich or poor today is not a matter or merit but of history that none of us living had anything to do with, one way or the other.
Probably the better sides of all of us would like to even this out. How can we do that?
That is the main question facing us, morally, not all of these silly political divisions in America. It is not about Obama. It is not about Gingrich. To pretend the choice is socialism or corporate welfare is specious.
Much more is at stake. It's a much larger debate. I just wish that we could get that started.
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
FDR's Speech When Japan Hit Pearl Harbor
I think to properly understand the complex relationship with the Americans and the Japanese in modern times, we have to revisit the President of the United State's speech after what happened 70 years ago tomorrow:
To the Congress of the United States:
Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
To the Congress of the United States:
Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.
Christmas Lights
Rounding a corner, and driving down a narrow street in the Mission, I see a black plastic bag tumbling slowly. It assume the shape of a prehistoric bird about to lift off, as I pass.
Picking up kids for choir practice; an early-morning ritual. By noon, a return trip to pick up my youngest son, who stayed home sick with the flu.
Hours later, back again, for pickups of the other two, and dog-walking duties.
Then, tonight, after dinner and a few hours of TV, back again so they can sleep at their Mom's before another school day tomorrow.
Yesterday, on the bus going downtown, a black woman in the back is talking loudly to no one in particular. There's a certain narrative to her babble, one picked up on by a black man in the front, wearing raggedy clothes and a perpetual smile.
He understands her code. "Waitin' in line at the drug store. That be taking your ID, yep."
An Asian man got on and swiped his card but the sensor beeped three times, meaning it was invalid. "You gotta do that again, sir," said the bus driver. "It has to beep once."
He gets up, swipes the card again with the same result and sits down.
"Again," said the driver. The man appears to barely understand English, but he gets up again, tried again, with the same invalid result.
Then he sits down again, apparently not comprehending, or perhaps not caring to comprehend what the driver is telling him.
The driver shrugs and gives up.
My youngest son, now the principal dog-walker, is sad that one of the dogs has aged and no longer has the energy she had even just a few months back. She has trouble climbing the stairs to her house, taking one step at a time, ever more slowly.
He mourns her loss of energy, the sense of her life slipping away.
His sadness is a daily event, as the younger dog still has plenty of energy and wants to run freely while the older dog seeks only more and more chances to rest.
"They're pulling me in two different directions," he complains to me.
Life and death. The daily struggle facing us all. We're all somewhere along that spectrum, on the upswing or the down. It may be sad, in many ways, but it is also life's natural cycle.
Caring about animals can help a young person deal with far harder experiences yet to come...as well as for as-yet unrealized joys
My granddaughter started crawling yesterday.
Driving back tonight, in the darkness, a yellow cat passed just before my car; he was never in danger, I was driving slowly.
The temperature is falling; it's winter.
-30-
Picking up kids for choir practice; an early-morning ritual. By noon, a return trip to pick up my youngest son, who stayed home sick with the flu.
Hours later, back again, for pickups of the other two, and dog-walking duties.
Then, tonight, after dinner and a few hours of TV, back again so they can sleep at their Mom's before another school day tomorrow.
Yesterday, on the bus going downtown, a black woman in the back is talking loudly to no one in particular. There's a certain narrative to her babble, one picked up on by a black man in the front, wearing raggedy clothes and a perpetual smile.
He understands her code. "Waitin' in line at the drug store. That be taking your ID, yep."
An Asian man got on and swiped his card but the sensor beeped three times, meaning it was invalid. "You gotta do that again, sir," said the bus driver. "It has to beep once."
He gets up, swipes the card again with the same result and sits down.
"Again," said the driver. The man appears to barely understand English, but he gets up again, tried again, with the same invalid result.
Then he sits down again, apparently not comprehending, or perhaps not caring to comprehend what the driver is telling him.
The driver shrugs and gives up.
My youngest son, now the principal dog-walker, is sad that one of the dogs has aged and no longer has the energy she had even just a few months back. She has trouble climbing the stairs to her house, taking one step at a time, ever more slowly.
He mourns her loss of energy, the sense of her life slipping away.
His sadness is a daily event, as the younger dog still has plenty of energy and wants to run freely while the older dog seeks only more and more chances to rest.
"They're pulling me in two different directions," he complains to me.
Life and death. The daily struggle facing us all. We're all somewhere along that spectrum, on the upswing or the down. It may be sad, in many ways, but it is also life's natural cycle.
Caring about animals can help a young person deal with far harder experiences yet to come...as well as for as-yet unrealized joys
My granddaughter started crawling yesterday.
Driving back tonight, in the darkness, a yellow cat passed just before my car; he was never in danger, I was driving slowly.
The temperature is falling; it's winter.
-30-
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Going Viral
As this weekend ends, this music video is approaching 20,000,000 views...Now You're Just Somebody That I Used To Know.
How do friends and lovers become strangers? The disconnecting process is one of the oddest facets of human culture.
People walk away from one another as if they believe they have a better future, once freed of the connection.
Thing is, it doesn't work that way.
Some of us may have a better future; all of us share the past.
And unless you have resolved your past, you will have no better future. This song reminds me of this eternal truth. It apparently appeals to many other people as well.
-30-
Friday, December 02, 2011
Newbies
When the year started, these youngest two hadn't even arrived yet. How do you measure a year? Perhaps no better way than the start of new lives. So, 2011 will always be the start point for Sophia and Oliver.
Human babies have enormous curiosity about each other, and a lot of innate gentleness and kindness. Of course, they have other traits as well, some less benign.
But good parents strive to bring out the good parts, and these two little ones have very good parents.
During this century as it unfolds, I can feel confident the world will be a better place with them in it.
At the other end of the age spectrum, rather than waking up to a new world, one can feel the shadows approaching that presage shutting down, hopefully gradually, but stages of life, once they settle in, are unmistakeable.
The past year a lot has changed, some for the worse, some for the better.
But these two little arrivals are among the very best 2011 has had to offer.
-30-
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