The news today spoke about Iran and as I was watching I wondered why the United States continues to make enemies. What are we doing to make other people so angry. Is it really the fact that we are a very wealthy country that causes nations such as Iran to despise us? I do know that a lot of resentment in the middle east comes because of the US's unflinching support of the nation of Israel. Why do we need to go about creating hate beyond that?
I usually have nothing against President Bush. I don't think that he is the best president ever but I also don't think that he is the worst. I do not agree with the statements he made about forcing Iran to halt their nuclear enrichment program through more sanctions and more pressure. This statement was made after a US intelligence report that said that Iran halted their nuclear weapons program in 2003. We have some sort of "proof" that Iran is not currently seeking nuclear weapons. Now that the Iranians can let their guard down and stop being afraid of a US attack Ithink we should be using this time to patch relations with Iran. Not further sanction them.
If the world was a playground the US would be the bully who is holding Iran upside down trying to get lunch money from them. Then after it is apparent that the kid has no money we punch him in the gut until he tells us where he gets his food and demand that he give us his food. Now in this example the good that we want isn't food but our own security but I don't know when it has ever been a good idea to punch people to get their food. It generally just causes more resentment and so far that mentality has caused serious tragedies.
I, in no way, condone Harris and Klebold's actions on April 20, 1999. Killing another human being who is not trying to kill you is wrong. Killing innocent students is very wrong no matter how angry someone may feel. That being said, i would like to point out the similarities between what happened at Columbine and what is happening in the world.
1) Harris and Kelbold felt like they had been picked on by the bigger, stronger, and more popular crowd. -- Terrorists see America as their big, strong, and popular bully.
2) Harris and Klebold felt that what they were doing was important to make a statement and get revenge for perceived or actual offenses committed against them. --Terrorists (often coming from countries like Iran) also would like revenge for years of perceived or actual offenses committed by America.
3) It is easy for guns and weapons to get into the wrong hands ANYWHERE.
4) No matter how much the juvenile courts tried to correct the symptoms of Harris and Klebold's problems they were never able to root out the core of their issues. The punishments just caused them to become more subversive. -- Attacking more countries and "bullying/sanctioning" them is just going to cause more deep seated hatred of the United States.
The United States of America needs to stop and accept responsibility for it's actions. We need to express sympathy for what has happened and come to the table to work things out with our smaller co-inhibitors. If we can use this time to admit we were wrong about Iran's nuclear program then maybe they will help us to restore order to Iraq. We could work out a deal with Iran that they would police their borders and stop the influx of weapons and foreign fighters and we would be able to aid in keeping peace in Iraq.
If I was a bully and I wanted to benefit myself i would find it much more beneficial to befriend the small nerdy kid on the playground because the chances are that that kid has wealthy parents who would take me out places and be just delighted to have me around. I would be pleasant in their house and respectful to their son. Let us befriend Iran. Let us work together. Could it really be that hard? I find it difficult to believe that there is no way to work things out with this country which we consider our enemy.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Broken Brakes or Broken Face?
I have always considered myself someone who can fix most things. It came to my attention lately that i needed to change the brakes on my car. Having few tools of my own i waited for a chance to go to my parent's house. Thanksgiving (happy turkey-day everyone!) gave me a good chance to pull off the old pads and replace them with new ones.
Having driven my car into the garage, with all of the necessary tools for the job at hand, I proceeded to take the lugs off the tires. This is a simple procedure that I have performed a multitude of times. This time things were different. I applied my weight to the tire-iron and the lugs wouldn't budge. I jumped up and down trying to force them but they were stuck good. It was clear to me that i needed to approach this with a little more ingenuity. I grabbed a steel pipe placed it over the handle of the wrench and applied force to release the bolt. The lugs were still stubborn. I ended up bending my only lug removal tool. I took my dad's tire-iron out of his car and used that. It straight away broke.
It was time for a trip to Big-O-Tires to have them removed by the professionals. they removed and replaced them for free and then we drove it home for a second try. All but one of the lugs loosened easily on each of the tires. I was trying to take the last left front lug off. Applying pressure with a newly purchased multi-headed, tire-removing monster. As i was pushing down the integrity of the metal failed me again. anyone that has ever jumped up and down on something that breaks knows that acceleration soon follows. My head accelerated right towards the hood of my car. After a really fat lip, a bloody nose, and 3 broken wrenches I surrendered. my plan to save some money had failed and I, having been humbled, humiliated and hurt, took my car back into Big-O-Tires to have them put new breaks on my car.
I hereby relinquish my self-acclaimed title of handyman. i will now join the slew of shlubs that pay people when anything needs to be fixed.
btw. Righty tighty, lefty loosey. I know the rhyme and i was definitely twisting to the left. the left should have loosened the lugs.
Having driven my car into the garage, with all of the necessary tools for the job at hand, I proceeded to take the lugs off the tires. This is a simple procedure that I have performed a multitude of times. This time things were different. I applied my weight to the tire-iron and the lugs wouldn't budge. I jumped up and down trying to force them but they were stuck good. It was clear to me that i needed to approach this with a little more ingenuity. I grabbed a steel pipe placed it over the handle of the wrench and applied force to release the bolt. The lugs were still stubborn. I ended up bending my only lug removal tool. I took my dad's tire-iron out of his car and used that. It straight away broke.
It was time for a trip to Big-O-Tires to have them removed by the professionals. they removed and replaced them for free and then we drove it home for a second try. All but one of the lugs loosened easily on each of the tires. I was trying to take the last left front lug off. Applying pressure with a newly purchased multi-headed, tire-removing monster. As i was pushing down the integrity of the metal failed me again. anyone that has ever jumped up and down on something that breaks knows that acceleration soon follows. My head accelerated right towards the hood of my car. After a really fat lip, a bloody nose, and 3 broken wrenches I surrendered. my plan to save some money had failed and I, having been humbled, humiliated and hurt, took my car back into Big-O-Tires to have them put new breaks on my car.
I hereby relinquish my self-acclaimed title of handyman. i will now join the slew of shlubs that pay people when anything needs to be fixed.
btw. Righty tighty, lefty loosey. I know the rhyme and i was definitely twisting to the left. the left should have loosened the lugs.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Jobs Are Like Girlfriends
Jobs are like girlfriends. I had a friend get laid off today and it reminded me of how it felt to get laid off. The only thing i could think of was that it was just as if i had been dumped by a girl. my heart was sad, I lost my appetite, and all i wanted to do was to get revenge on my employer for kicking my butt back on the street. Yep....just like getting dumped.
The Rebound
Another funny thing is that in order to get over being laid off you need to go get another job. so you take the first offer that comes up. For our purposes here lets call it..."the rebound" you most likely wont like this job very much but it is comforting to have something stable that will comfort you. of course there is baggage left over from your last job. You are always afraid of being fired again at the whim of the economy. You cling to the job you dislike like it was the only thing worthwhile for you. At this point one of two things has to happen: you can either learn to enjoy your new job and stay with it, or you come to the realization that it is never going to work out and you are just using the job for comfort. You then leave that job, most likely to the regret of your employer, and start a search for a better match.
The approach i most often use.
I prefer to stay in bed for a few days after losing my job. After 3 or 4 days of sulking in the dark abyss of my bunk bed i emerge to see the sunlight. Then i pretend like everything is normal as i look for new work. I am ultra cautious for the first little bit never wanting to commit to any job for fear that I won't love it as much as my last job. Sometimes, I just pretend like i don't even really want a job. I play it cool for a little while hoping to maintain the image that i don't care. Eventually as I go unemployed i actually grow accustomed to not having a job and actually enjoy myself for a while. then i run out of money or the ability to endure and start searching for good employment.
In Conclusion
I could go on forever but i am sure people are bored as it is. I welcome your comments and additions to my analogy of how jobs are like girlfriends. (boyfriends...if that is what you are into)
The Rebound
Another funny thing is that in order to get over being laid off you need to go get another job. so you take the first offer that comes up. For our purposes here lets call it..."the rebound" you most likely wont like this job very much but it is comforting to have something stable that will comfort you. of course there is baggage left over from your last job. You are always afraid of being fired again at the whim of the economy. You cling to the job you dislike like it was the only thing worthwhile for you. At this point one of two things has to happen: you can either learn to enjoy your new job and stay with it, or you come to the realization that it is never going to work out and you are just using the job for comfort. You then leave that job, most likely to the regret of your employer, and start a search for a better match.
The approach i most often use.
I prefer to stay in bed for a few days after losing my job. After 3 or 4 days of sulking in the dark abyss of my bunk bed i emerge to see the sunlight. Then i pretend like everything is normal as i look for new work. I am ultra cautious for the first little bit never wanting to commit to any job for fear that I won't love it as much as my last job. Sometimes, I just pretend like i don't even really want a job. I play it cool for a little while hoping to maintain the image that i don't care. Eventually as I go unemployed i actually grow accustomed to not having a job and actually enjoy myself for a while. then i run out of money or the ability to endure and start searching for good employment.
In Conclusion
I could go on forever but i am sure people are bored as it is. I welcome your comments and additions to my analogy of how jobs are like girlfriends. (boyfriends...if that is what you are into)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)