The old joke about Chinese Food is that you eat, and an hour later you are hungry. The same may be true for China. Over the last few months the Chinese have been quietly eating up, buying, American companies. China is the world's largest holder of US Dollars.
As the dollar has been devalued, China faced a big decision. Should they sell dollars or use dollars to buy America. Selling dollars would have led to futher decline in the global value of the dollar and made their remaining dollars worth less. Instead they have decided to spend dollars to buy US companies or buy stock in US Companies. China was a big investor in the newly formed VISA Corporation.
Globalization takes many strange turns and increasingly the things we believe to be "American" are becoming multinational. Likewise, things we always thought of as foreign are being produce in America. The best example of this are the BMWs produced in South Carolina...not in Germany. That Visa card in your wallet is owned by the folks in Beijing.
It's time to begin thinking less about what defines America in terms of physical things and more about what America really is all about. From our beginning America was about ideas. We are an extension of a philosophy that began in Europe and took root in North America. These basic ideas about freedom and government are the foundation of America.
Today, people are protesting the Chinese Olympic torch relay in San Francisco. People, many who were not born here, say that China is wrong in the handling of Tibet. Protest is an American idea. It would seem that China has bitten off more then it can chew and in the process of buying America it is helping to spread America, the idea, globally.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
40 years later and how much has changed?
It was 40 years ago today that the Rev Martin Luther King was shot in Memphis, Tenn. Reverend King was an important leader in the civil rights movement largely because he offered a non violent alternative to the teachings of Black Supremacist, like the Black Panthers. In short, King was acceptable to white America due to his non violent approach and he was acceptable to Blacks because he promoted equality and justice. You may not remember the riots or the call by Black Panthers to kill white Americans. Martin Luther King was a much better alternative to Eldridge Cleaver.
Kings efforts changed America for the better and created true equality for Blacks who had been living a second class life throughout the South. Today, Black voters have exercised these rights to install Black Politicians in numerous offices. Barrack Obama would not be running for President today had it not been for Martin Luther King. This is just one of many examples of how King's life changed America for the better.
Regardless, of the profound positive change, Black America still has not cast off the "victim mentality" promoted by many Black Leaders. Today, 40 years later, there remain many within the Black community who see themselves as victims of prejudice. The reality is that some prejudice does remain but Blacks are no longer victims and they need to move on, to fully realize the King Legacy.
Most white Americans are just plain tired of hearing about Blacks as victims of prejudice, or racial profiling. The harsh facts are that Blacks are no different then any other minority who have experienced similar prejudice. The Italians, the Irish, the Chinese, and Hispanics have all faced similar situations. Regardless, they all have worked to become mainstream participants in the greater society. Today, there are no "special" circumstances for these groups. No National Association for the Advancement of White or Asian People. No Miss Chinese America pageant, or White Entertainment network. These minorities have become mainstream while holding on to their ethnic background. Black America needs to cast off the victim mentality and become mainstream.
So why, after 40 years of incredible social change haven't Blacks become mainstream? The answer is complicated, and very simple. They don't want to be mainstream. They like playing victim and insisting of special treatment. And, if you discuss this subject, you are a racist. They cry about racial profiling and then create "gangsta rap" videos that promote racial stereotypes. They will call each other "nigga" but if a white person says "nigger" those are fightn words. In short, they want it both ways. They want R E S P E C T but refuse to address critical social issues of crime, drugs, and illegitimate child birth within their own community.
Martin Luther King significantly improved equality for Black America. It is time, 40 years after his death, for Blacks to reject the victim ideology and become mainstream.
Kings efforts changed America for the better and created true equality for Blacks who had been living a second class life throughout the South. Today, Black voters have exercised these rights to install Black Politicians in numerous offices. Barrack Obama would not be running for President today had it not been for Martin Luther King. This is just one of many examples of how King's life changed America for the better.
Regardless, of the profound positive change, Black America still has not cast off the "victim mentality" promoted by many Black Leaders. Today, 40 years later, there remain many within the Black community who see themselves as victims of prejudice. The reality is that some prejudice does remain but Blacks are no longer victims and they need to move on, to fully realize the King Legacy.
Most white Americans are just plain tired of hearing about Blacks as victims of prejudice, or racial profiling. The harsh facts are that Blacks are no different then any other minority who have experienced similar prejudice. The Italians, the Irish, the Chinese, and Hispanics have all faced similar situations. Regardless, they all have worked to become mainstream participants in the greater society. Today, there are no "special" circumstances for these groups. No National Association for the Advancement of White or Asian People. No Miss Chinese America pageant, or White Entertainment network. These minorities have become mainstream while holding on to their ethnic background. Black America needs to cast off the victim mentality and become mainstream.
So why, after 40 years of incredible social change haven't Blacks become mainstream? The answer is complicated, and very simple. They don't want to be mainstream. They like playing victim and insisting of special treatment. And, if you discuss this subject, you are a racist. They cry about racial profiling and then create "gangsta rap" videos that promote racial stereotypes. They will call each other "nigga" but if a white person says "nigger" those are fightn words. In short, they want it both ways. They want R E S P E C T but refuse to address critical social issues of crime, drugs, and illegitimate child birth within their own community.
Martin Luther King significantly improved equality for Black America. It is time, 40 years after his death, for Blacks to reject the victim ideology and become mainstream.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Geert Wilder
In the last five years there has been considerable debate regarding "What to do about radical Islam". Here in the United States, Muslims are a small portion of our society. In Europe this is different. Just as America has experienced an influx of immigrants from Latin America, Europe has had a similar migration of Muslims. Like in the US, these unskilled workers came to fill jobs that nobody wanted. It is common to see Muslims working in foodservice and lodging in all European cities just as it is common to see Hispanics in the same jobs in America.
The good news for America is, our illegals are Christians. Europe has been flooded with Muslims who have taken nearly all the unskilled jobs and become a critical part of European society. Worse, this group is discriminated against by many Europeans as not being white or European. The response has been increased violence between traditional Europeans and the new immigrants.
It is therefore of no real surprise that Europe is very sensitive to the "War on Terror". In part this is why they did not embrace the Iraq invasion. They do not want to alarm or incite their own Muslim communities who may well raise up against their French, German or Dutch neighbors. In Holland, [The Netherlands] this situation has reached a boiling point. You may remember the Cartoons drawn to show the Prophet Mohammad and the riots that followed. Recently, a new crisis has developed regarding a film by Geert Wilder, a Dutch member of Parliament.
Try to keep in mind that Europe has been VERY ethnocentric in the last 500 years. Here is a short aside: The English and Irish have been fighting each other for 400 years and the are both lily white. The Germans and French fought two World Wars in the last 100 years over something that nobody can recall. If you live in an area, say in Holland, it is very different from America. Everyone around you in Dutch and they all speak the same language. Or, they did for the last 1000 years until the new Muslims showed up and refused to speak Dutch. Resentment and prejudice is everywhere but it is really strong in Europe. Again, Germany killed 6 million Jews because they were different.
By comparison, America is much better at handling multicultural and multi ethnic societies. Any major city in America is 12% Black and 20% Hispanic. Of the so called "white" people there are Irish, German, French and Italians. With few Norwegians and Russians thrown in. On the West Coast, or here in my neighborhood, Asian make up the majority of the population and they include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai. Only Paris is similar in diversity among European cities.
So Europe has a large Muslim population who are treated badly by native Europeans. This would just be a bad case of discrimination except for......Osama Bin Laden. In the last five years European Muslims have become militant. Remember the 911 Hijackers came from Hamburg, Germany. Europe is under constant fear that some wrong move by their government will spark a local terror attack. London and Madrid have both had such attacks.
In Holland, they have had enough. The new film "Fitna" is a 15 minute indictment of the Quran. The premise is that Islam is a violent religion and anti Western. Passages from the Quran are used to point to examples of intolerance and violence. The film can be seen on the Internet by Goggling Fitna. Geert Wilder is being called crazy and a provocateur by his follow Dutch. His life is in danger and the lines have been drawn between the native Dutch and the new Muslims in Holland.
I agree that it is time for all rational people to take a position on radical Islam. This includes all Muslims. You are either supportive of the violence, or you stand against it. Geert Wilder is brave to point out the situation and demand a resolution. Western civilization is depending on the answer.
The good news for America is, our illegals are Christians. Europe has been flooded with Muslims who have taken nearly all the unskilled jobs and become a critical part of European society. Worse, this group is discriminated against by many Europeans as not being white or European. The response has been increased violence between traditional Europeans and the new immigrants.
It is therefore of no real surprise that Europe is very sensitive to the "War on Terror". In part this is why they did not embrace the Iraq invasion. They do not want to alarm or incite their own Muslim communities who may well raise up against their French, German or Dutch neighbors. In Holland, [The Netherlands] this situation has reached a boiling point. You may remember the Cartoons drawn to show the Prophet Mohammad and the riots that followed. Recently, a new crisis has developed regarding a film by Geert Wilder, a Dutch member of Parliament.
Try to keep in mind that Europe has been VERY ethnocentric in the last 500 years. Here is a short aside: The English and Irish have been fighting each other for 400 years and the are both lily white. The Germans and French fought two World Wars in the last 100 years over something that nobody can recall. If you live in an area, say in Holland, it is very different from America. Everyone around you in Dutch and they all speak the same language. Or, they did for the last 1000 years until the new Muslims showed up and refused to speak Dutch. Resentment and prejudice is everywhere but it is really strong in Europe. Again, Germany killed 6 million Jews because they were different.
By comparison, America is much better at handling multicultural and multi ethnic societies. Any major city in America is 12% Black and 20% Hispanic. Of the so called "white" people there are Irish, German, French and Italians. With few Norwegians and Russians thrown in. On the West Coast, or here in my neighborhood, Asian make up the majority of the population and they include Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai. Only Paris is similar in diversity among European cities.
So Europe has a large Muslim population who are treated badly by native Europeans. This would just be a bad case of discrimination except for......Osama Bin Laden. In the last five years European Muslims have become militant. Remember the 911 Hijackers came from Hamburg, Germany. Europe is under constant fear that some wrong move by their government will spark a local terror attack. London and Madrid have both had such attacks.
In Holland, they have had enough. The new film "Fitna" is a 15 minute indictment of the Quran. The premise is that Islam is a violent religion and anti Western. Passages from the Quran are used to point to examples of intolerance and violence. The film can be seen on the Internet by Goggling Fitna. Geert Wilder is being called crazy and a provocateur by his follow Dutch. His life is in danger and the lines have been drawn between the native Dutch and the new Muslims in Holland.
I agree that it is time for all rational people to take a position on radical Islam. This includes all Muslims. You are either supportive of the violence, or you stand against it. Geert Wilder is brave to point out the situation and demand a resolution. Western civilization is depending on the answer.
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