The Great Equalizer!

I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon looking for an illustration of the Swine Flu virus. Variations of the same theme kept coming up - a combination of the swine flu paired with the avian flu. It also illustrates when you should take this post seriously.

The poor maligned pig. For some time now pigs, along with their fellow barn yard companions, are being blamed for our noxious gas problem. Now they carry a flu strain, along with one carried by another of it's barn yard companions, that's creating havoc around the world. In the name of differentiating it from the "bird" flu, researchers dubbed it the "swine" flu.

Who ever would have thought a name would cause such an uproar! Even more, who would ever have thought doing so would have given the United States common ground with both the Muslim and Jewish communities! An Israeli health official wanted to rename it the "Mexican" flu, not so much because it has been the area hardest hit, but because both the Jewish and Muslims consider pigs unclean and are forbidden to eat it. This was perceived as an insult! I don't quite get the connection, but then, that's me! Needless to say the Mexicans weren't too keen on the idea; they're taking it on the chin pretty hard as is with their drug wars.

Then the good old US of A chimed in. Realizing it was not a good idea to besmirch entire nations, they found themselves in a quandary. You see, by calling it the swine flu it could have devastating effects on our pork industry especially when people are having a hard enough time bringing home the bacon. What to do!

In their infinite wisdom they cam up with a pretty innocuous identifier. H1N1 . There is an H and an N in all flu viruses and the fact that there is already a human strain H1N1 makes things a little confusing, but then who's asking?

Maybe I've been underestimating the power of the Obama administration's silvery tongue. Change the name, fuzzy up the context and put everyone at ease. I expect it will work as well as changing the term "Global War on Terror" to the "Overseas Contingency Operation." Change the name, fuzzy up the context and put everyone at ease.

Nope. Won't work. Think "Freedom Fries"!

Judgement Call

Every one is weighing in on Obama's first 100 days in office. Many have said give the guy a chance. Others have said they still have high hopes. How well did we do in the first 100 days of our jobs, and so on.

I'm having a problem with all of that, and yesterday's little photo op stunt over New York does nothing to ease my mind. Here are a few thoughts on why.

Let's look at the photo op first. The administration seems to be fueled by them. He's here, he's there. Who's tending the store? I've had people tell me nothing happens of which he is unaware. If that's so we have a problem. Forget about the stupidity of the stunt without making sure everyone who needed to be notified was notified. Let's just look at the cost of it in dollars and cents!

I've complained about this before. Obama is like a kid in a candy store when it comes to flitting around in Air Force One for his photo ops. Yet the administration is putting restrictions on everyone and everything in the name of financial solvency. Well, how do you explain even considering updating your PR files by flying Air Force One and an F 16 fighter around the skies of New York City? It costs about $50,000 an hour to fly an F 16 and $68,000 to operate Air Force One. The White House has said, "Oops, sorry. It won't happen again." Sorry, not good enough. Little things do count.

Beyond that, he has not chosen the best and the brightest for his cabinet positions. They have been, in many cases, payback for support. Sebelius, Napolitano, Vilsack, Salazar and yes, Clinton. The number of his appointees that have had issues also bothers me. Would any of his appointees that had tax issues have paid up had they not been nominated? He cut Richardson loose for the sake of appearances; why not the others?

I am glad Obama is articulate. He's proving to be quite skillful at side stepping issues. I like his wife, his kids and his dog. I suppose it's nice the tabloids have dubbed him "hip" and a "hunk". I guess I'm too old to appreciate or be impressed by that. It has nothing to do with how I feel about how he's doing his job as President. He campaigned for the job for two years. He knew full well going in what the problems were going to be.

I don't like the heavy handed way the administration is insinuating itself into private enterprise. I don't like placating the unions while every one else has to sacrifice. I'm uncomfortable with so much being piled on the plate. There was dish like that which was popular in Rochester restaurants when we lived there. It was called a "trash platter".

I don't like living in a constant state of angst. I want to know there is substance behind all the manic activity. So too does the rest of the world. King Abdullah of Jordan, in an interview on Meet the Press, indicated there had best be some substantive agreement on the Israeli/Palestinian peace process after Netanyahu's upcoming visit with Obama or other nations would begin finding their own solutions.

The time for pacifying speeches is over. It's time to put the pom poms in the closet and roll up the shirt sleeves. There will be plenty of time for the rah rahs and pom poms when something has actually come to fruition. Don't let Michelle's garden be first.

As for those first 100 days on the job and how did I do? If I had done no more than talk a good story, I'd have been fired. I was not.

Dread, The Book, Versus Fear

On April 22 Jon Stewart's guest on The Daily Show was a mild mannered professor from Hunter college by the name of Philip Alcabes. As with many of Stewart's guests, he was there to promote his book, Dread.

Mr. Alcabes specialty is Epidemiology, the study of controlling infectious and communicable diseases. His book is about how our complacent, easy lifestyles has led to our susceptibility to over reaction of happenings in our lives. It could not have been a more timely interview had only the administration watched the show or read the book prior to the outbreak of the new strain of swine flu. It exemplifies perfectly his premise.

I'm not downplaying the seriousness of the flu. I am saying the government and the media are creating a frenzy regarding an outcome that has yet to be known. Consider how much of the news is filled with nothing but people walking the streets wearing masks. How many news cycles will this last?

Realizing we have yet to have a new Secretary of Health and Human Services, I do have to ask why the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, has been the designated spokesperson. Is it because the disease has had a huge impact in Mexico? Is the implication that it is being carried across the borders by the illegals? This woman who misspeaks on so many issues, from returning veterans being potential terror threats to thinking the 9/11 bombers entered this country through Canada, is not the person I'd have put forward. What she knows about homeland security is questionable at best. What she knows about health issues is even more suspect! Why not someone from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)? At least I'd be more comfortable thinking they may actually know the facts.

The military is monitoring the situation, we're told. Should they or should they not release their stockpiles of vaccine? Should the border be closed? The EU is advising against travel to the U.S. and Mexico, Russia is going to check every incoming flight from the U.S., and on and on it goes.

The fact that three strains of flu virus have morphed into a new one is true. Testing has really just begun on people who have the flu to see which strain they actually have. At the moment there is no definitive answer.

You have to listen closely to learn that only 40 cases have been identified in the United States. You have to listen even more closely to hear that only one has been hospitalized and that all the others have recovered. There are no details about the one hospitalized either. Old, young, frail? What?

We criticized the Bush administration for governing by fear. This one is doing the same thing on an even larger scale. Fear that the banks will fail, fear that the auto companies will fail, fear that if we aren't already we'll soon be out of our homes. And yes, fear that we all are going to perish. It's almost becoming the "Fear of the Week" administration.

We all might do well to curl up with a nice warm cup of tea and read Mr. Alcabes book. Don't forget to first wash your hands.

Footnote: For those of you interested in this, follow the link to Philip Alcabes Website. You'll find it interesting reading. Thank you to Judith Baumel for the heads up!

Just What Are We NOT Abandoning?

I love this graphic by Arthur Hochstein that appeared in Time . It's as ambiguous as the headline that reads Clinton To Iraqis: US Not Going to Abandon You .

What do I see in it? One of two things or maybe a combination of both. One, the Americans pulling the last of their assets from the war torn country or the final putting in place of a long time presence Neither is ideal.

We already know we've built a kazillion dollar embassy complex that's larger than the Vatican. It's unlikely we're going to abandon it. Even without the diplomatic corp in place, merely the manning of it will take a huge American presence. Plus the military contingent that will be assigned to protect it.

On the other hand, we've vowed to keep to our time table on combat troop withdrawal. Clinton did indicate our future involvement would wear a different face. One of reconstruction more so than destruction. It will matter little. One side will continue to destroy what the other builds.

This was in response to the Iraqi government's concerns now that it's evident that their security forces aren't yet up to the task before them. That in itself is disturbing considering all the manpower and money we've invested in training them. Either they are very slow to lear, they don't want to learn or we are lousy teachers! We've been at this how long? Yet, who can blame them? Enlistment in any form of national security entity is inviting an early demise!

Perhaps it has to do with the fact that Iraq is still a divided nation at best. We had to "buy" Sunni co-operation. The Shia led government continues to sabotage their efforts to gain a modicum of equality in not only governing, but defending what too is their country. Then we have the "al Qaida in Iraq" influence that reaps the blame and the glory for everything that is not comfortably explained away with other rationales.

The suicide bombings are escalating once again, some of the more rash citizens fear the withdrawal of our troops for they know full well what's coming. Lot's of very learned people have warned of this for a very long time.

When Secretary Clinton says, "There is nothing more important than to have a united Iraq. The more united Iraq is, the more you will trust your security services. The security services have to earn your trust but the people have to demand it."

Sheesh. This is right out of "Idealistic Outcome 101" from the school of "How to Successfully Withdraw from a Mess of Our Own Making" .

Just once I'd like to see an administration, any administration tell it like it is. These people do not want peace, they want power unto themselves - all sides. The same scenario is gelling in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Has Obama learned anything? The indications are that he has not.

Clinton's vision may not be a pipe bomb; it is a pipe dream!

We're Shortchanging Our Students!

Just this past week there was news that the University of Idaho sweetened the pot to finally be able to hire a new President. His salary will be $337,000 dollars a year. The football coach at Boise State earns $806,998. What's wrong with this picture?

Universities are raising tuition and cutting budgets and programs to the bone but to what end? And how many athletic programs have been cut in concert with educational cuts? Not nearly enough and not only do the students lose, we, as a nation also lose.

I was stunned to read in this morning's Spokesman Review that Idaho State was cutting four language courses. I was especially shocked to learn which languages were involved: Chinese, Arabic, Russian and Latin. Okay. Latin is hardly a necessity in today's world, but the other three are vital. That there aren't enough students to justify these courses is also distressing.

While French, German and Spanish are also vital, I'll question why only a minor in Japanese is available? Shoshone? In lieu of one of the others? I can only ask why?

Okay, in the interests of local culture, I can tolerate Shoshone. For a University, however, that offers a curriculum in International Studies, exclusion of the others is derelict.

From the University's own web site, I quote:

"We find it too easy to stay in familiar environs and too easy not to sample other cultures, languages, and politics." and "The world is truly an independent place. What happens in any part of the world impacts the lives of people in every other part of the world."

The powers that be need to remind themselves of their own propaganda. As anyone who travels the world knows, once off the beaten path, finding English speaking natives can become difficult if not impossible. China and Saudi hold tremendous amounts of our debt. Who doesn't have an electronic device and/or a car made in Japan? How many opportunities does one have to speak Shoshone?

If I were an employer looking at graduates for jobs in the international arena, I'd not give Idaho State even a passing glance. If they're shortchanging language, I'd suspect other areas of the curriculum may also be lacking.

I've always felt you cannot know a people without understanding their culture. You also cannot know a people if you can't communicate with them. Even "football" means different games in different countries!