Each of is a Sovereign Individual with inherent, unalienable Human Rights. Before we were Americans, or French, or German, or Chinese, or Japanese, we were divided into smaller tribes. How many of have ever heard of, or still feel allegiance to, the Goths, or the Alamani, or the Carpi? The system of nation states is not working. Our problems are global. Solutions must be global. Nations that respect Human Rights can continue to exist if they wish. Nations that do not respect Human Rights are not legitimate. Smaller or larger groups can be formed. For instance, why not a United Arab States, with each of the current Nations becoming the equivalent of a State in the United States. Israel could be included, since I assume before the Jews were Jews they were Arabs. Iran could also be included, since religious freedom as well as the freedom of movement would be enjoyed by each Sovereign Individual. The UN is vital because it is the only global forum we have. Of course it can be made better, but recreating a global forum would be a daunting challenge. We must keep our eyes on the prize of inherent, unalienable Human Rights for every Human Being everywhere in the world. Terrorism is just a tactic. The enemy is Fundamentalism, in any form, from Islamic, to Christian to Free-Market. Fundamentalism means that you already know all the truth there is to know, and everybody should believe what you believe. There is little room for dialog. Reasonable Human Beings can find solutions without resorting to violence. As Dear John said, there are no problems, only solutions…
Republicans v. EPA
Watch the video of the House “debate” on April 5, 2011 over Climate Change. It is a memorable event, like the Church v. Galileo, or the Scopes Monkey Trial, an epic, age old battle between science and reason on one side and fundamentalism on the other.
Rational people try new things to see if they work. They are always open to learning.
Fundamentalists believe that they already know all the truths there are to know and they have nothing more to learn. They also believe everyone else should think just like they do.
It is easy to be a fundamentalist. It takes no thought at all.
Being rational takes some consideration; it (ironically) is a bit more conservative.
Since it is easy, though, many people fall in with fundamentalists, if for no other reason, than it gives them a place to belong. Fundamentalism is hypnotic.
Rational people cannot, however, let it stand in the way of what reason tells us we must do, especially in so vital a matter as Climate Change.
How can a fundamentalist be in Congress, the “greatest debate in the world?” Fundamentalists do not debate. How can someone who does not believe in government do a good job at designing a good government? Did they take office in order to destroy the very entity they swore to serve? What does that make of their oaths? And isn’t there another word for someone who actively seeks to destroy the nation?
Republicans Are Anti-American
I hope the Republican Budget Proposal makes it clear to the People of America that the Republican Party is not concerned with the health of the United States of America. Their proposal ignores the health of our Nation and seeks to enrich friends of the Republicans (Big Oil, etc.). The recent Republican attempt to “deem” a law passed without having been passed by the Senate or signed by the President, is so blatantly unconstitutional, it should be proof of the Republican’s breach of their vow to uphold the Constitution and evidence of their bad faith. Anyone who signed it should be removed from office and indicted. They must have thought that if we would let confessed torturers go free, then anything goes…Do not think they are stupid. Over the past 30 years or so, the Republicans have achieved all their objectives: tremendous wealth moved from the Middle Class to the top 1%; giving corporations the power to influence elections through unrestricted campaign contributions; breakiing the Unions; perpetuating the current Oligarchy by eliminating estate taxes; and generally letting business operate unfettered, like Wall Street did, bringing on the current Depression. The Republicans have been successful at the cost of the American People. The Republican Budget Proposal makes no sense if one’s goal is American prosperity, but is consistent with the long-term Republican strategy and makes perfect sense if you want an American Oligarchy.
Human Rights versus Stability: A False Dichotomy
Quote For the Day:
“We have badly mistreated our [own] people,” a Soviet prisoner told his German interrogators, “in fact so bad that it was almost impossible to treat them worse. [But] you German have managed to do that… Therefore we will win the war.”
From Niall Ferguson, “The War of the World”
Only States that respect Human Rights are stable.
Seven Generations
I don’t care what “government” is used as the tool for the process, but I believe the World has enough resources and wealth to provide all Human Beings with a baseline decent life and the “work” we chose to do beyond that could be for a variety of personal motivations, from wealth creation, to spiritual development, to time with our families and neighbors, to art, to science, to furthering Human evolution. People who love what they do are not motivated by money. I pray that my descendants 1,000 years from now have better things to do than just make money, and that the concept of “earning a living” has become as passé as have our feudal obligations.
Rights
Do people equate “Constitutional Rights” including “Unenumerated Rights” with “Human Rights?”
Inhumanity
How far is it from saying a Human Being is “unworthy of life” because they are not Aryan, to saying a Human Being is not worthy of Human Rights because they are not American? How far is it from killing one Human Being with a gun, to killing millions of Human Beings by pumping poison into the atmosphere?
The People United Can Never Be Defeated
We Are All Tunisians
