Comic Relief Or Is It?

As Charlie Sheen and his sodden ego speed toward who knows what, nothing good, and the people of the mid-east are dying in their attempts to overthrow their dictatorial governments while the west dithers, it's nice to know that things of real importance are also being covered in the news.

Naturally it would have to do with sports, right?  After all entertainment had it's night last night.

I read yesterday and passed over the news that there is controversy over the logos chosen for the Russian Olympics.  They've been called everything from plagiarism to just plain  bad taste.

The mascots that actually make sense that have been passed over are a depiction of Father Christmas and a snow flake.  Prime Minister Putin's favorite,  a snow boarding snow leopard, became the favorite as soon as it was known. I wonder if he's partial to Mac. Snow Leopard is its current operating system.  Nah.  It's probably because he sees the snow leopard as very macho.  No one asked me, but I think all of them are cute and not being the illustrator, I could care less who created them because after the Olympics are over they'll soon be forgotten.

AP Photo

Not wanting to be left out, since all the action has been elsewhere lately, the Iranians decided to pick on the logo for the London Olympics.

They claim the logo is racist because it spells out Zion, therefore referring to the city of Jerusalem.  It's no secret how the President of Iran feels about anything Israeli! Actually the design designates "2012" which is clearly apparent with a second look.  You have to reach a bit to see "Zion", but then the Iranians do know how to reach when it comes to reality.

I'm sure the snow leopard is going to prevail in Russia and "2012" in London.  I'm certainly glad both have been settled upon without bloodshed.

Still, even dicey letters and cute animals can't escape the wrath of those who feel wronged.  I wonder if anything will ever satisfy anyone!

Too Little Too Late

I can't get the "Nero fiddles while Rome burns" image out of my mind as the Obama's party hearty with the Motown crowd at the White House. I know they like to entertain and do so often and lavishly but somehow as the middle east is crumbling before our eyes, I find the image troubling.

Today much is being made of the sanctions we're going to impose on Libya. Just what Libya are they going to impose them upon? Forget that sanctions don't work. Look at Iran. They may feel a bit of a crimp but it certainly isn't making them come around to our way of thinking.  There are other countries that fill in many of the gaps.

Libya is even worse. With the major cities falling to the protesters, all that will soon be left is Tripoli and a mad man, Gaddafi, if he doesn't take himself out or someone does it for him.

Ever since the people of the middle east have started taking on their repressive governments, we seem to have been behind the curve on responding and when we've finally gotten around to it there seems to be no passion to it. Of course it may have something to do with our having made pacts with all these devils and, yes, for those of you who think I'm picking on Obama, I know most recent administrations share the guilt.

No matter. We have to live with what's past. Hopefully as new governments form we won't make the same mistakes. Still, I'd like to see some outrage, some emotion regarding the despicable acts that are taking place.

With all that's going on in the world, the image of Joe Cool doesn't portray leadership. It portrays detachment. Either not understanding the gravity of the history unfolding or not caring or not knowing what to do about it.

I fear for us if it's the last.

Children And The Cultural Divide

I was pleased to see a blow against Sharia law in this morning's paper. An Iraqi man living in Phoenix was convicted of second degree murder for having run over and killed his daughter in an "honor killing." She refused an arranged marriage, had the audacity to go to college and had a boy friend. She was 20 years old. Her life should have been ahead of her.  Her father thought she had "dishonored" her family.  Now she is dead.

Did you ever disappoint your parents when you were young?  Embarrass them?  Anger them?  I surely did. I was not the best kid on the block. My biggest problem was I questioned everything, including authority. And often challenged it. Had it been against the inbred tenants of my father's religion I'd have long ago been dead under Sharia law. Catholicism was bad enough. I'm sure I'm doomed to at least purgatory for near eternity for my life's choices.   If it exists.  Which I doubt.  See?  I haven't changed much.

Take religion out of the equation, we, as what we consider as civilized people, tend to love our children. Through thick and thin. I read a column written by a local psycho therapist, telling of a "boot camp" for parents he'd be conducting for those at their wit's end with problematic children. No, I never drove my folks to quite that extreme. But kids do. And parents don't kill them. They try to do everything they can to help them. Raising them to be happy, educated, productive citizens is a religion of it's own to most parents. Forget the headline grabbing horror stories we are witness to. I'm talking about the millions of others who never make the headlines because they're too busy trying to do right by their children.

Of all the things that make us different from those who follow Islam,  I think the ability to kill  your own child explains it all.  Children are supposed to be created out of love.  You bear them, they are born.  You cherish the experience and the wonder of a new born.  You nurture them, feed them, support them and guide them.  They are your flesh and blood.  You do not encourage them to put on a suicide belt and go out and blow themselves up in the name of your religion or the hatred of another.

And you don't run over them with an SUV because they didn't choose to be what you wanted them to be.  In our culture we tell children they can be anything they want.  Hard work and focus help.  And we try to help them get there.

That is the cultural divide.  It is one to which there will be no compromise.  At least not from our side of the divide.  I'd not have it any other way!  Unfortunately, it seems, neither will they.

The Jolly Roger Isn't So Jolly When He's Somali

I always feel bad when someone following their passion in life loses it in the pursuit. Such it is with the four Americans killed today by Somali pirates.

That being said, I can't help but wonder what ever possessed them to leave the relative safety of a flotilla in waters known to be swarming with pirates. It's not like these incidents never occurred.

What makes it even worse is the fact that U.S. Navy forces were trailing the captured yacht. Isn't it time to get more aggressive with the pirates? They've gotten smug in their attitudes because most often they get the ransoms they demand. Fortunately, few hostages are murdered. It was not to be the case this time and I wonder if it will embolden them further. After all, it takes a chunk of change to keep the hostages alive and well during negotiations which cuts into profits!

I also wonder if because the sailors were maritime missionaries they felt they would not be harmed. What a naive way to think when dealing with the unscrupulous, and certainly non-God fearing, pirates.  Or maybe they felt safe because the waters are heavily patrolled.  Considering it's vastness, still naive.

Of one thing we can be sure.  The Somali government is not going to fall to the demands of it's people.  There is no government.  That being the case perhaps it's time for the international community to re-examine the manner with which these thugs are handled.

All the sailing skill and bibles on board in the world are not going to save you from the determined and equally skilled pirates when the good guys, four warships and an aircraft carrier, can do no  more then follow as a deterrence.

Nineteen pirates were involved in this hijacking.  Thirteen were "detained".  I wonder what, if anything, will happen to them.  The one pirate we've managed to charge, convict and sentence to 33 years in prison must be smiling.

Ethics? What's That?

ethics |ˈeθiks|

plural noun1 [usu. treated as pl. ] moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior : Judeo-Christian ethics.• the moral correctness of specified conduct : the ethics of euthanasia.2 [usu. treated as sing. ] the branch of knowledge that deals with moralprinciples.

I was actually surprised to find this word in my online dictionary.  Any dictionary for that matter.  It seems to be all but forgotten in the mess unfolding in Wisconsin.

The situation there has gone far beyond whether or not you are pro-union.  It's dealing with ethical behavior on all counts.  First the legislators for running out on their obligation - tending to the business of the people.  Think what a mess the entire country would be in if every time one party or the other skipped town because they didn't have the votes to get their way.  It's bad enough as is.


Then there are the teachers who are breaking the law by calling in sick so they can attend the protests rather than teaching.  I've already had my say about what their actions are teaching the children under their charge. 


Now there is a new wrinkle.  Doctors have arrived on the scene to write notes for the protesters verifying they are indeed ill.  By most counts that constitutes fraud but when questioned some of the more smug have ready answers and challenges for the reporters.  One being the consultations are between doctor and patient and therefore privileged.  Never mind neither have seen the other before nor are likely to again! 


The other being that the protesters are obviously under stress which could be considered a medical condition.  I'd be under stress too if I were blatantly breaking the law and worried about who might see me.


Every once in awhile happenings occur which make me feel every bit of my age and very much out of step with today's world.  This is such a case.  The doctors' actions are the final straw.  I cannot find any reasonable explanation that makes any of the above behaviors acceptable.


It makes me wonder where this country is headed.  Law makers who hide rather than stand up for what they feel is right, win or lose.  Teachers who lie.  Teachers who walk away from their students.  Doctors who are willing to commit fraud openly and publicly.  No wonder there is so much in medicare!


Ethics.  With so many new words becoming common place in our vocabulary, wouldn't it be nice if there was still a place for some old classics?  Twitter.  Tweet.  Social networking.  Somehow, to me, they lack the good solid feel of a word like "ethics".  Say it.  See what you think.