Fave Run - PIT

On of my favorite places to run is the Montour Run Trail, near Pittsburgh, PA. Whenever you can catch it on a beautiful fall afternoon, like the one we had today, it can't be beat for a place to click off some miles and unwind after work. The trail section that I use whenever I'm in town follows the run (a creek to us Southerners) past wooded hills, over a rail bridge and through a train tunnel. The surface is near perfect, the grade near flat, and you almost always cross paths with fellow runners, cyclists, dog-walkers cross-country teams or power walkers. There are parking spots interspersed along the trail for easy access. I always hope for decent weather just so I can run here.

Update: Added photo

Superbike Family

I'm looking forward to watching this...

Motorcycle Show 1953

Impressive riding...

Real Estate Woes... or Cash is King

For all the news about the simultaneous meltdown of the financial and housing markets, it is still sometimes difficult to know which precipitated the other. Both were clearly out of control. The resulting mess is doing just what it is supposed to do, bring rationality to the market. That will happen without government programs, bailouts and superfluous regulations. Politics aside, the current market is an excellent opportunity to buy, if you can manage it. Bargains abound, especially in the foreclosure market. My wife found this property by chance really, while visiting a friend. Kudos to our agent, Mary Spillman, who worked very hard to help us pull this deal together. You can email her here if you’re in the market.

The house that we recently purchased is an amazing value as we only paid 62% of its appraised value, and that appraisal was rather harsh. Granted, the home needs extensive repairs, but I fully expect the home to appreciate another 60-70% once the renovations are complete. I don’t intend on selling the home, but it is nice to have a long term investment make such impressive short term gains. It builds my confidence and motivates me to do the work knowing that at least on paper, I’m earning a good return on my work. The short term payoff for me will be the 35% loan to value ratio, the improved cash flow from having a mortgage payment that is one-fourth my current home and a home that I hope to own free and clear within 7 years.

The greatest challenge was arranging the financing because contrary to government bailouts designed to improve lending, the market has other ideas. Excellent credit scores and low debt qualified us for the loan with 5% down, but once it came time to underwrite the loan, we ran into problems. First, no one believed that we are actually intent upon moving from a recent 3100 square feet home down to a 1700 older one. We had to write letters to describe the hows and the whys of our decision. Next, no company would underwrite the mortgage insurance (MI) despite the fact that we fully qualified in every way. It was impossible to get, either private or FHA. Our only solution was to put 20% down, bypassing the MI market completely.

Of course, putting that kind of cash down drained out reserves and took money that we had planned to use for the repairs. Speaking of repairs, as condition to receiving the loan, I had to write more letters promising to do certain ones within 2 weeks of closing to appease the lender. Despite all of the headaches though, our loan officer, Keith Johnson, was great. He always kept us informed and updated on the process and helped smooth the way.

At the end of the day, we ask ourselves if we made the right decision, if the potential payoff is worth the risk. Only time will tell, but for now I am excited about the future possibilities. On NPR this morning, they reported that the sales of foreclosed properties is on the rise. This is good news if we’re ever going to turn the housing market around. It’s simple Econ 101, supply and demand. Forget the news and the pundits, capitalism is alive and well. It isn’t always pretty, but it is the best possible way for individuals to determine their own destiny. Markets work if we let them, and I, for one, would not have it any other way.

Indigestion?

You are what you eat, so the saying goes. In a sense, that is true. We are in a very real way the sum result of our choices. We are all free to choose, but we are not able to choose the outcomes, the consequences of these choices. Certainly, people make choices based on assumed outcomes, even hoped outcomes, but unless those outcomes are based on reality and truth, the outcomes can vary vastly from our hopes.

How do we judge the value of a person? The things that give our lives value, are those actions, freely given, which have a positive impact on the lives of others.

I write this as a preface to a recent decision that my wife and I made to buy a new house. Our goals were fairly simple. We wanted to reduce the amount that we spent each month for our mortgage with the expected outcome being a home that we pay off much quicker than 25 years remaining on our current home. We expect that we can pay for this home in 7 years and still reduce our monthly mortgage payment by a few hundred dollars each month. A primary outcome we want is a home that we own outright that provides physical and financial security no matter what happens in the future.

Another goal was to simplify our lives, consume less, use less space and energy. We expect to lower our overall energy consumption by living in a smaller space, especially if we install more efficient HVAC equipment. By freeing up income, we expect to be able to renovate the home and make the living space pleasant by adding upgrades that we would never be able to afford in a larger space.

Another primary goal is to be able to spend more money on the things that are most important to us. Travel, hobbies, activities for our children, charity and other worthy causes that make life more valuable.

The end analysis was that we are currently spending too much for the house we are in now, and that it makes more sense to be housed more modestly, in order to live more richly. Why do we choose the house and the neighborhoods that we choose. In part, it is the status we perceive of living in a particular place that influences our choice. Society pushes us towards these choices because we perceive social status as power. I resist the idea that status determines a person's worth and value, both on a individual and communal basis. The great thing about the US is that we are still free to make our own choices, even if far too often we allow others undue influence in the process.

So, Jacqueline and I have decided to back up our words, and the values that we claim, with action, and with our pocketbook. We are risking our life savings by purchasing a house. I hope you’ll join us as we go through the process of turning it into our home. Hopefully,we didn't bite off more than we can chew.

Freedom and Education

Article IX of the Constitution of the State of North Carolina recognizes the importance of education in maintaining a free and healthy democratic society.  Section 1 reads:

Section 1.  Education encouraged.

Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, libraries, and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.

Section 9 of that same section reads:

Sec. 9.  Benefits of public institutions of higher education.

The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of The University of North Carolina and other public institutions of higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense.

 While the state has done a good job of creating a good system of Universities, Community Colleges, public schools and libraries, the General Assembly needs to do much more towards fulfilling their duty in regards to section 9. Tuition prices have risen, often dramatically out-pacing inflation over the decades, putting high quality  education out reach for many citizens of our great state. No citizen of our state should be required to graduate from an institution of higher learning with a mountain of debt. The high cost of education places an even greater debt on society. First of all, the expense often discourages people from seeking additional education. The lost opportunities and lower capacity to improve productivity carries with it real economic costs. Moreover, the middle class is especially hurt by the high cost of education because they are often ineligible for government aid offered lower income families and also unable to pay for higher education from their own funds.
Another burden resulting from the high cost of education is increased poverty. Despite the many opportunities for student aid, many poor families forgo higher education because they are intimidated by the cost. Instead of seeking more ways to decrease the cost for the poorest students, the General Assembly should hold to its mandate of encouraging education forever through free and extremely lower cost education. By fostering a culture of education wherein all citizens are equally encouraged and provided with the means of improving skills, gaining knowledge and increasing wisdom, the General Assembly will increase hope, reduce poverty and promote general peace. Everyone knows that as the general population becomes better educated, many social ills decrease.
Education could then become the centerpiece for nearly all of the social programs run by the state. Non-violent offenders should be offered opportunities to go to college or to learn a trade rather than go to jail. Welfare aid should also carry family requirements for the pursuit of education. As individuals and families focused more on education, they would have greater earning power in the marketplace. The need for aid would diminish and tax revenues from a healthy innovative economy would increase.
Free and low cost opportunities for post secondary education would alleviate citizens from the crushing weight of debt that accompanies today's graduates. Ever-increasingly, student loans are crushing the ability of even professionals to meet their families' needs. Debt for education offers diminishing returns as graduates are often unable to practice in their fields of expertise because of interest payments. High personal debts, even for education, create a drag on the economy. In fact, because of student loans, higher education may be a fast track to more poverty.
All communities should band together to pressure to the state to fulfill the mandate of our forefathers. Our hopes for a free and prosperous society rest upon access to good education. Wise founders of our state understood this. That's why the University of North Carolina was the first state university in the US. Let's leave a legacy of education for our children and our children's children forever. Make education free.

The Swiss vote to ban minarettes...

The Swiss people recently voted to ban the building of minarettes. People in western nations are waking to the fact that we are at war. This war is not with Iraq, Afgahnistan, or even Iran. This war is against political and radical Islam. Western nations have long accepted Muslims seeking political and religious freedom. What the Swiss have declared with their vote is that while they are willing to accept Muslims in their country (it is after all their country), they are unwilling to accept an Islam that would alter traditional Swiss political and social values. The expectation is that if you move to Switzerland, you are expected to adapt to the Swiss way of life. You are not precluded from worshipping God however you wish, so long as you do not expect to alter the larger society to conform to your ideals.

This complex issue demands more discussion and debate. I am among the last people who would dream of restricting someone's right to live and worship as they please. However, that being said, no one religion has the right to impose their political views on the larger society, whether we are talking about Evangelical Christians, Radical Islam or Humanists. In a democratic republic, the majority rules. There are sufficient protections to preserve the rights of any minority without granting them Super-rights and special privileges. Once that happens, you no longer live in a democracy. The Swiss democratic tradition dates back over five hundred years. That's why the Swiss people went against the advice of their own political elite. They understand that if they do not stand against political Islam, their own traditions will be no more. For over 1000 years, this has been the way Islam has spread - by forcing others to accept their "superior" society, and once their numbers permit, by the point of the sword if anyone dares to dissent. I was talking with an Iranian friend this week who taught me this lesson. The Muslim invaders, he told me, took political control from the native Persians, then over the next several decades, systematically forced the people to adopt Islam. While he finds great beauty in many of the teachings of Islam as a way of life (there are many similarities with my own beliefs), he is much less enthusiastic about a society where the political rule is sharia law. This is, I think, the distinction the Swiss voters are trying to make.

Check out this article in the Christian Science Monitor for more perspective on the Swiss vote.
CSM Article

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Bag Check

XKCD - Bag Check

Being employed in the airline industry, and a frequent flier to boot, I got a good chuckle from this cartoon. The mouse over is especially good. (If you're not familiar with xkcd go check it out here. Whenever the mouse hovers over the picture, additional text pops up.) Sadly, I have resigned myself to both the absurdities and the indignities of airline travel. Putting the Federal government in charge  has done little to make us safer. Nothing against the men and women who work hard, day in and day out, at the TSA, but quite frankly the rules are absurd.

Just this week, I had my water bottle confiscated going into work in Philadelphia. Silly me, I forgot to remove it from my backpack. If only I had thought to avoid the security line completely by using my ID badge to access one of the secured doors to the airport. I could have carried in my bottle of Evian.

Part of the problem with airport security is the fact that screeners will typically miss the dangerous items that are rare, like guns, knives and bombs. On the other hand they will almost always catch the water bottle and the 4.6 ounce tube of toothpaste. Studies have shown that it is very difficult to train for the rare occurrences, but people become very adept at finding the things they see often. Moreover, security personnel expect to see water bottles and such household contraband, which serves to reinforce their ability to find it. All of the hype over these common items actually detracts from the overall effectiveness of bag searches.

Another failure in airport security is the refusal to use profiling techniques that allow security personnel to more easily identify potential security risks. Similar to they way we restrict water bottles and small tools, choosing to randomly search the entire population instead of a more targeted approach actually reduces the odds that law enforcement officials will be able to identify potentially dangerous individuals attempting to pass through security. The current security system is politically expedient, and it is politically correct, but like many bureaucracies, it isn't very efficient or effective.

Like the guy in the cartoon, I used to chafe at the inconsistencies of TSA rules. They have my life history on file, updated regularly, along with my fingerprints, address, phone number, passport information and I expect that they'll be asking for DNA next, and yet security is a hassle. As the years go by, I have resigned myself to suffer in silence, and dream of a day when such things will no longer be necessary. I'm not going to hold my breath.

It is a sad fact that in the past twenty-five years, we have gone from being able to freely access an airport and walk onto an airplane, to subjecting ourselves to removing shoes and other articles of clothing, random searches of our person and property, and seemingly arbitrary rules about carrying a bottle of water with you to work. As we look to the future, how far are we willing to go as a society, to remain safe? How much are we willing to abandon, before the price exceeds the benefits? And in the end, will the sacrifices really make us safer? In the meantime, we should demand better water dispensers in airports.

Religious Freedom

I just read this speech on religious freedom and wanted to post a link to it right away. This is a topic that I want to explore with greater detail soon. Dallin H. Oaks is an Apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, and also a former justice of Utah State Supreme Court. Any person, of any faith, who values religious freedom should read this speech.

I'm thinking that perhaps I should rename the blog, or start another one. Does it really matter what I call it? As any reader can see, Constitutional issues and politics dominate my thoughts right now. Two of my favorite classes in college were taught by Dr. Dennis Dorin and both focussed on Constitutional law and the Supreme Court. I have always had a keen interest in history and politics. As a young boy I would read about world events with fascination. When I try to delve into my earliest memories, there are two things that I have always believed and known to be true. First that God is real, He lives and He is mindful of us. Second, that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness... From the time I first heard these words, they matched the values in my heart, and I have known that this country is founded upon true principles of personal freedom.

While much can probably be said about the education that I received in rural North Carolina in the early 1970s, one of the greatest gifts I received was from Mr. Ronnie Benton who taught, among other things, US History in the 7th and 8th grades. Mr. Benton spent several weeks with our class reading the U.S. Constitution, along with all of the Amendments, and we delved into the various articles, and the their purpose. We explored the background and reasoning - the guiding principle that the Founders followed. He prepared me for Dr. Dorin, whose insights and insistence on Socratic thinking helped deepen my understanding and appreciation for the application of correct principles in government.

I believe that many bad decisions in government are born out of a desire to accomplish some good in the world. However, many others are the result of those who seek to gain power, money or some advantage over others. Our Constitution is the single greatest protection of individual liberty, not only in the US but around the world, and above all, the human soul yearns to be free. If I have a hope for America today, it is that we awake to the fact that our beloved Constitution, and by extension our liberty, is under attack from both side of the political aisle. Let us save it before it is too late. God Bless America.

Robert Palmer

Watched this music video tonight. This song is one of my all time favorites. Heineken used it for several commercials in the 1980s in France. One in particular, I found to be particularly moving. I was hoping to find it on Youtube, but no luck yet. Anyways, check out the soulful vocals of the late great Robert Palmer. The man sure knew how to dress.

Nobel Geopolitics

I have a brother-in-law who works for the Canadian Intelligience Service. Some years ago, he pointed me towards a newsletter by a private intelligence firm. It didn't take long to realize that these guys are dialed in pretty well to what is going on in the world. In addition, they provide insightful analysis of events, and what to expect next. I particularly enjoy reading an article from Stratfor, then hearing about it in the news a couple of weeks later. Moreover, Stratfor's insights are straight forward "spin-free" analysis based on the realities of geopolitics. Dr. George Friedman, the head of Stratfor, had some interesting comments on why the Nobel Prize was given to President Obama. Check it out here.

Real World Politics - Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter

Stephan is a mild-mannered, wiry Frenchman with shortly cropped iron-gray hair and boundless energy. A career army officer and diver, later he moved over to the Gendarmerie (French National Police) where he served as a Captain. Below the calm exterior, his blue-gray eyes belie a determination accustomed to confident command and control. Always looking constructive ways to burn off some energy, Stephan started a charitable organization that bought a sailboat in order to give under-privileged children opportunities to experience new adventures. It was during his tenure with the Gendarmerie that he made his first voyage to Vietnam. The love affair was quickly established. Stephan increased his charitable zeal with renewed gusto. He organized fund-raisers back at home and made multiple trips to Vietnam providing medical supplies to hospitals and clinics. His eyes shone especially bright as he described poor village schools, and the delight of children as he provided them with books, paper, pencils and such. Obviously, the man has a soft spot for the poor and needy.

After retiring from the military, Stephan went to China and began learning the ropes of the Chinese antique business. Over the next few years, he imported furniture and decorative objects – from tiny vases to massive gates – and sold them in antique shows around the country. On one of his many trips around the world, he met the chairman of a group running an elite school in Madagascar. This boarding school takes many of the best and brightest children from around the island nation in hopes of preparing them to be future leaders with the skills necessary to lift the country out of intense and pervasive poverty. Stephan was hired to lead the school and provide the students with adventurous activities on weekends and holidays. His lovely wife, a school teacher, was also hired to work in the school. While the job didn't work out (unfulfilled contract terms on the part of the educational organization), Stephan recognized the great opportunities, and the great needs, in this island paradise. Of course, he fell in love with the people, especially the children. He is still there making contacts and working for economic development. He is trying to teach the people the skills necessary to be competetive in today's global economy. He also had some acerbic comments on the dealings of the United Nations on the Island.

UNESCO and UNICEF have a significant presence in Madagascar in an attempt to alleviate the poverty and human suffering. The UN websites give glowing accounts of small successes – a new well at a school and new educational initiatives – while highlighting the continued plight and suffering of the people. Lest we forget, the organizations are working tirelessly to address the problems. Stephan tells slightly different tale. He described to me a UN project to construct a new school. The “school” turned out to be little more than a rustic, open-air shelter with benches and a chalkboard. The local workers were payed a pittance to build the structure out of simple materials. Meanwhile, UN officials and local politicians through lavish parties (costing much more than the school itself) to celebrate the accomplishment. Far from being an isolated incident, Stephan says that this is the norm. The UN spends extravagantly on junkets and political “events” while occasionally allocating a little on a “project” to help those really in need. He told of one local worker, happy to have a “good” job, yet unable to provide more than a one room cardboard hut for her extended family. The disgust in Stephan's voice, as he recounted the story, was startling. The system is designed, he says, to maintain a steady flow of donations and protect the personal fiefdoms of both the local politicians and the UN bureaucrats.

Sad to say, yet another example of the failure socialist programs to alleviate real human tragedy. You would think that after having witnessed decades of the abuses of power by supposedly well-meaning socialists in Eastern Europe and China, we would wake up to the fact that any system based on these failed (read false) principles cannot successfully lift humanity out of poverty and servitude. Yet we continue to rush headlong into the gaping hole, sacrificing our liberties in the name comfort and safety. In the words of Richard Stallman, the creator of the GNU licensing system for free software, "If you won't accept an inconvenience to save your freedom, you're headed for the gutter." Transparency in government, individual liberty and personal responsibility lead to wealth and freedom. There are ample illustrations of where the alternatives lead. Unless something changes quickly, better put on your golashes.

Dr. Walter Williams - An American Patriot

It's rare when you find another person who can express so many of your own ideas in such an eloquent way. Years ago, I discovered Dr. Walter Williams, and I have been reading his columns off and on for about fifteen years. In many ways Dr. Williams is what I should have been. He's an economics professor (I nearly became an ECON major in college), and he has a keen insight on the Constitution of the United States of America, and of the principles upon which the greatness of our land is based. I encourage all to visit his site at George Mason University and to read through some of his syndicated columns, especially for 2009.

Dr. Williams correctly understands that the success of our society depends upon freedom, and that our freedom depends upon strict limits on the power of the government, especially the Federal Government. He is sounding a warning voice that our way life is under assault, and that assault is directed squarely upon the Constitution. His comments on race in American politics are especially important because he can place race in context of principles and politics without fear of being labeled a racist.

Former President Jimmy Carter, and others, recently stated that opposition to President Obama's policies are driven by racist attitudes. I find these comments outrageous and offensive. While I disagree with many of the policies of the Democratic party, I must say that I felt a great deal of pride in America that a black man could be elected by a white majority. In my opinion, it says a great deal about the progress we have made as a nation. Bigotry is no longer an accepted norm. I am happy to follow a black man as my leader, I just wish it was a different black man with political principles and values that I could support. Therefor, when politicians claim that opposition is based on race instead of policies, they are attempting to deflect attention away from the true source of the opposition, mainly the speedy assault on the remaining vestiges of individual liberties in America.

So, thank you Dr. Williams for defending America with your words. I salute you as a man worthy of the esteem I hold for the Founders of these United States.

Posting again

After a weak start, I've decided that I really need an outlet to express dome of my thoughts and ideas about things going on today. So, I have recommitted to writing the blog. Hopefully, it will engender some discussion whether you agree with me or not .

Entitlement

After some encouragement (goading?) from a friend, I have finally found the motivation to write. Thanks, Julie.

When a child gets a nasty cut, he or she typically wants to avoid the stinging pain associated with washing the wound. Yet, a responsible parent knows that unless the wound is cleaned, it will get infected and the pain will be worse in the long run. Why then, do perfectly rational adults try so hard to avoid the painful choices that must be made for themselves?

I have recently been reading some materials from a Constitutional Law course I took years ago, along with passages in the constitution and the Declaration of Independence, from which I quote, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Jefferson goes on to explain that the ends of government are to secure these Rights.

We are entitled then, to these three things - life, liberty and the opportunity to pursue our own vision of personal happiness. Our blessed country was then founded upon this notion that everyone deserved, at a bare minimum these ideals. Later, the Constitution of the United States of America provided for a system of government that would unify the States and make the country strong without taking upon itself so much power that it would some day impede on these sacred Rights. The Founders understood that government is brute force, so they sought the means to harness that force. The Constitution therefore, assigns a very specific role to the national government, and reserves all other rights to the states, and ultimately to the people where they really reside. While there are so many pertinent topics of discuss that could flow from this opening, the one that strikes me hardest is this notion of entitlement.

In today's society we hear the word entitlement everywhere. It seems that countless interests are entitled to government money. The poor are entitled to assistance that brings their standard of living to an "acceptable" norm. Corporations are entitled to government aide in order to compete or overcome hardship. CEOs and executives are entitled to obscene pay packages even as they dismantle companies and fire workers. We are all entitled to health care, to live in nice homes and to drive nice cars. We're entitled to have a life of ease, a better life than our parents. New Orleans is entitled to government money for reconstruction. Owners of North Carolina beachfront property are entitled to programs that rebuild beaches and homes and reduce insurance premiums. Like spoiled teenagers, we reach out our hands, asking for more. It has become especially noticable in these tougher economic times, as individuals, corporations and governments are required to reduce their spending, that we believe that we somehow deserve something more, something better. We are, after all, entitled to it.

Well, what we are entitled to is Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The first one is fairly obvious. The Right to Life means that no one can deny your existence, nor can they take that away from you without consent and reason. Life is sacred; we are bound to preserve it; we are free to protect it. Without life there can be no other rights. The second, Liberty, means that we are free, individually and collectively, to choose our own sort, to come and go as we will. We accept and assume responsibility for our own fate. Finally, the pursuit of Happiness is just that, a pursuit built upon the ideal that once a man or woman has Life and Liberty, then they are free to purse whatever course in life they wish in the pursuit of fulfillment as they alone can determine. The only restrictions that ought to be placed upon that quest is the prohibition of success at the expense of another's basic rights and a responsibility to fulfill a civic duty to uphold the framework which guarantees that these Rights persist. In other words, I have to help defend my neighbors' rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness against all threats, foreign and domestic, just as they must defend mine. These ideals are the basis of the social, or moral contract of citizenship.

What I have noticed is that on so many levels, people do not wish to take responsibility for their choices and actions. They want to avoid the unpleasant consequences. We are not entitled to avoid the consequences of poor choices, and attempts to avoid painful consequences typically result in even more pain. In practical terms, this means that we solve our own problems - first as individuals, as families and as communities. It isn't up to the government to fix every ill. When was the last time that we as individuals saw something amiss and said, "I can fix that" or at least, "I can be part of the solution." There are many issues that arise when the Federal Government seeks to be the solution to all of society's problems, not the least of which is that it causes citizens to disengage from being part of the solution. After all, what responsibility do I have as an individual if we've turned problem-solving over to the government. Moreover, once the government has taken more of my money to solve the problem, I have less time (since more is needed to make up the loss) and money to apply towards helping other. In addition, people learn to be assisted, are robbed of self-dignity and are no longer independent. They become entitled to assistance, therefore no longer responsible for themselves. Once they surrender this responsibility, they are no longer free. As Thomas Jefferson remarked, any government that can give you everything you want, can take everything you have.

The attitudes of entitlement are the antithesis of democracy and liberty. The Law of the Harvest is eternal and cannot be denied. I am not saying that as a people we shouldn't help those in need. We should all be actively engaged in good causes that improve the lives of others. My point is that more often than not, these efforts are most effective when conducted by private citizens, individually and in groups. Turning our civic duty over to the government fosters a sense of entitlement that poisons Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Eventually, the infection requires a solution that is much more painful than soap and water. That was a primary lesson from the birth of our Nation. We are entitled to live free. How much is it worth to you?

Freedom in Iran

I watched the video of the college girl shot by security forces in Iran. She was just a bystander with her father. I'm not linking to it, but it is easy enough to find. The poignant words and images from Iran make me want to cry, and yet they also cause hope to swell in my heart. The human spirit yearns for freedom - agency - the ability to decide one's own fate, to freely expess one's thoughts. I salute those Iranians who are bravely and boldly speaking out for their liberty because the government no longer represents the will of the people. Furthermore, the people perceive that they no longer can rely upon the government to redress their grievances. The situation has many parallels to the events leading up to the American Revolution. Now, I'm not saying that Iran will follow the same path, but the yearning, the desire, is present. The people are using all means at their disposal to pressure the government for justice. Our ancestors found themselves in much the same situation. After exhausting all political means available to them, the founders of our great nation found it necessary to take arms against their own government in order to obtain liberty.

After establishing the Constitution to provide for effective government while making every effort to protect individual and states rights, a debate arose over the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in order to explicitly enshrine and protect certain rights. Many argued the effort unnecessary since any right not explicitly granted to the Federal Government is understood to be held by the states and the people. Experience has taught us though, that governments naturally tend to take more authority than they rightfully have. A quick review of US Supreme Court rulings will make it obvious that even these supposedly obvious rights can be anything but. Understanding that power craves power, that government is power, and that it tends to supress indiviual rights, we have the Bill of Rights. It is no accident that the first of these rights is the most important. The freedom of speech, religion and assembly is basic to liberty in the human existence. Without it there can be no other liberties, and we are witness to a great struggle between a people yearning to express themselves and a government trying to repress and extinguish this very expression in Iran.

The very next article in the Bill of Rights is second, in my opinion, because it is the second most important in the list. Individuals have a right to defend and protect their freedoms. The citizens of the United States were concerned that the Federal government could potentially grow so powerful that it would usurp state and individual rights. The struggle with Britian had shown that even a free and representative government can become oppressive. They knew that the ultimate protection from tryanny is the ability to fight against it. In order to provide against the day when the Federal government would become violently oppressive, the second amendment guarantees that the people have the right to keep and bear arms and that the states can maintain militias to protect themselves against a Federal Army bent upon tyranny. It wasn't that each state would maintain a standing army. Most people abhorred the idea of standing armies, Federal or State, but that every citizen would be fully armed against the day when the government no longer honored the Constitution.

As I watch the people of Iran being murdered by their own government as it supresses their rights, I am grateful for the 2nd Amendment in our Constitution as a buffer against tyranny, and my heart goes out to the people in Iran as the struggle for liberty.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Lessons of War and Peace

My apologies, I've put off this post for too long so I decided to tap this out on my iPod. It will send it out as soon as I get to a hot spot

Now, two unrelated world events caused me to reflect on the lessons we should have learned from history, but apparently have not. Last month, Israel launched a military offensive into Gaza to stop the continous rocket attacks launched by Hamas. In Sri Lanka, the government has mounted an offensive against the Tamil Tigers, who have been waging a terrorist war for decades. In both cases, there has been a lot of talk and political pressure brought to bear in attempts to stop the fighting. The media's parade of civilian tragedy is a primary tool in mobilizing support for the so-called peace efforts. While I wish to generally advocate peace, peace can only exist were there is political will to create peace.

I both cases, and others around the world, the terrorists/rebels/freedom fighters depending on your point of view could not exist without a significant measure of public support. Hamas, which has clearly demonstrated itself to be a terrorist organization whose stated goal is the utter destruction of Israel, has been elevated to fill the role of the government in Gaza. Can it be any less ambigous that the people of Gaza condone Hamas? By electing a terrorist group to become the government, the Gazans must accept responsibilty for the consequences when Israel acts to defend itself. The facts clearly demonstrate the lack of political will in Gaza for peace and until something happens to shift that will there cannot be peace. The obvious hope of the Gazans is that Hamas will be able to inflict sufficient damage that Israel will either be defeated outright or that they will otherwise make significant consessions. Of course, the Israeli government's responsibilty to protect the life and liberty of its citizens.

Similarly, the Sri Lankan government is fighting a civil war against a group that has often resorted to terrorist tactics in an attempt to gain major concessions.

Setting aside the morality of using terrorism for political gain, or even the moral rights a people to fight for a government that represents their interests, viewed in purely geopolitical terms, the attempts to stop the fighting at all costs are short-sighted and only serve to aid the weaker side to prolong their war by strengthening their political will.

After the death of Charlemagne, the heart of medieval Europe was divided into three parts - roughly present day France, Germany, and Lorraine, each ruled by one of Charlemagne's sons. When the ruler of Lorraine died, the other brothers fought for control of the territory, and this began a cycle of war and peace that lasted several hundred years. One of the wars is actually known as the Hundred Year War. After a brief respite, the Kaiser decided to finish the fight for good and invaded France, which became the horrible site of destruction and the death of literally millions. The Allies eventually pushed the Germans back to there own lands, and all sides, tired of war and the flu pandemic agreed to an armistice to stop the fighting. The terms were harsh for Germany, acerbating an already fragile economic situation, heaping on national shame without actually having suffered an invasion and experienced "real defeat". Historians commonly agree that the armistice helped set the stage for the rise of Naziism and the Second World War only a few short years after "The War To End All Wars". Fortunately, the second time around the Allies settled for nothing short of total and complete uncomditional defeat. There could be no further question in the minds of the Axis powers, the political will and the physical capacity to wage war was eliminated.

One important lesson that we should take from history is that the decision to go to war is political, and typically the only way to settle the dispute once war has become an option for the parties involved is for war to take its natural course and determine a victor and a loser. That is the truth of geopolitics, and until one side is no longer capable, they will continue to rearm and wage war. If Hamas, or the Tamil Tigers or any other warring faction for that matter, are not completely and unconditionally defeated the world will not know peace. So pick a side, pick a righteous cause and see the job through to the end, or else your children's children will have to find the courage to do it for you.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Chinese buffet...in France

Yes, it's true. The ubiquitous strip mall Chinese buffet has made its way to the land of Brie and fois gras. As my son says, it is somehow reassuring to know that it is the same all over the world. There were nonetheless remarkable differences. Frog legs, lightly battered and fried, took the place of chicken wings. There were four different salads including a type of slaw made with long tender strands of cabbage. Most of the sauces were spicy rather than sweet, the Calamari were hotest but the lemongrass beef was divine. The fried dumplings were a disappointment (I love dumplings). There were ten different fruits on the dessert table and a freezer with a dozen different flavors of quality ice cream. Sorry, no Jello. Other notable absences included General Tso's chicken, sweet and sour anything, and fortune cookies. We had thirty-nine people at the table, some of whom hadn't been together for years. In the French tradition, we spent about three hours at the table eating and talking. French meals fill the soul as much as they fill the belly. As my nephew put it, none of the food was especially appetizing, but it fills you up. I'm glad to see that some rings never change.

Mobile Blogging from here.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Joyeux Noël

When in Rome, or France as the case may be... Christmas was celebrated last night with a long dinner with lots of family and friends. The menu consisted of oysters, fois gras, salmon, nems, salads, special cold cuts, cheeses, wonderful bread, cakes and more chocolate than a person should eat in a month. There were traditional carols and less traditional foodball tournement. On Christmas day we drove up high in the Alps for a snowshoe hike. Most of all it was a time to enjoy each others' company. How I hope we can carry some of the love of the season with us throughout the year.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Traveling Abroad

Posted from my ipod

I spent hours in London Gatwick airport on Wednesday, but I couldn't bring myself to pay 9.95 £ for about three hours of Internet access. Now I'm visiting family in the French Alps and thank goodness for wifi, my new ipod touch and a little app called iBlogger that makes it easy to publish to the blog.

I love traveling abroad. I know that Europe is similar to the US in many ways, but there are enough differences to take you out of your comfort zone. The French Alps are covered in snow, and there is a rocky river rushing by about ten meters behind the house. Think chalet, small village, good friends and good food. There is a different feel in the air. Makes you realize that there's more than one way to experience life. I always come away with a new resolve to really live it to the max.

Isn't that what a vacation is for anyway?

Ciao mes amis

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]