Well, what can I possible add to this terrifically heartwarming story? It's a real, industrial-strength miracle.
But, this morning when I saw a miner who is 63 and has emphysema being lifted up, I also heard that he's been working in the mines since he was 12.
It made me think about all the miners and the other workers who do the dangerous and grunt work of mining, refining and manufacturing that makes our very comfortable lives possible. We surely don't think about them often or stop to say "thank you" or offer a prayer for their health and safety. But, we all should. They are the real backbone of our modern society - these poorly educated, underpaid, and grossly undervalued workers. And, we "can't afford" to pay them for the risks they take, not only the spectacular ones like the Chilean miners, but also the men and woman who work in areas where toxic chemicals and dust are inevitable and whose health suffers for it.
So, thank you, Lord, for this beautiful event and, please, help us to remember the men and women who make so much possible for the rest of us.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Chamber of Commerce Debacle
President Obama has hit America where it hurts this time. We all know about the many good works and local development efforts undertaken by the Chambers of Commerce all over the United States. We know the Chamber supports the thousands of small and large businesses that make America tick. Even my Swiss husband, who's never been to the United States, knows about the Chamber of Commerce. He belonged to a local Chamber in Switzerland when he was active in his business.
To suggest that somehow the Chamber of Commerce is subversive or bent on overthrowing our country, or even insinuating that it may be in cahoots with sinister foreign interests, is really the last straw for me. And, to add to the insult, Obama and his press secretary finally had to admit that they have absolutely no evidence for their outlandish accusations.
Perhaps if the President had more practical political experience, he would have anticipated the backlash that his comments provoked. Perhaps if he had advisers who actually believe in the integrity of the American people and their institutions, they would have foreseen the political suicide they were letting him engage in. Perhaps if he and they were more in tune with America, they would quit bashing it and all of us Americans, we who disagree with their out-of-step opinions.
But, the truth is that Mr. Obama does not understand us or care about our opinions. He's like the doctor who says, "Take this. It's good for you," when the patient has taken the medicine before and knows it will make him even more ill.
We Americans know we're ill. We know we need to get our arms around the problems we've collectvely created. We know the task will be long and difficult. But, telling us that we're following politicians who are being financed by occult foreign interests will not cure anything. It will only make us more determined to get back to our roots, to re-establish our traditional values and to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
The work will not be started by Mr. Obama, because he doesn't see the real problem or any of the jobs needing to be done.
And, he certainly took a step in being left behind last weekend when he attacked the Chamber of Commerce.
To suggest that somehow the Chamber of Commerce is subversive or bent on overthrowing our country, or even insinuating that it may be in cahoots with sinister foreign interests, is really the last straw for me. And, to add to the insult, Obama and his press secretary finally had to admit that they have absolutely no evidence for their outlandish accusations.
Perhaps if the President had more practical political experience, he would have anticipated the backlash that his comments provoked. Perhaps if he had advisers who actually believe in the integrity of the American people and their institutions, they would have foreseen the political suicide they were letting him engage in. Perhaps if he and they were more in tune with America, they would quit bashing it and all of us Americans, we who disagree with their out-of-step opinions.
But, the truth is that Mr. Obama does not understand us or care about our opinions. He's like the doctor who says, "Take this. It's good for you," when the patient has taken the medicine before and knows it will make him even more ill.
We Americans know we're ill. We know we need to get our arms around the problems we've collectvely created. We know the task will be long and difficult. But, telling us that we're following politicians who are being financed by occult foreign interests will not cure anything. It will only make us more determined to get back to our roots, to re-establish our traditional values and to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
The work will not be started by Mr. Obama, because he doesn't see the real problem or any of the jobs needing to be done.
And, he certainly took a step in being left behind last weekend when he attacked the Chamber of Commerce.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Obama and the Generals
Bob Woodward has been on a lot of TV programs in the last week, touting his new book, "Obama's Wars" and the picture he paints of the relationship between the White House, the Defense Secretary, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff is not pretty. Woodward had access to all the major players, including the President and Generals Petraeus and Mullen. He was free to read memos and to talk to everyone.
What he learned was that the generals have not been giving Obama the full picture about Afghanistan or Pakistan. That is, they won't give him options but present their view as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. This was at least true about how many troops were needed in Afghanistan and what their role would be. Add to this the fact, noted by Woodward, that the President does not like war, has no feel for it, and would prefer to do the minimum at all times, and you have the picture.
Vice President Biden has better relationships with the generals than does the President, he cultivates them on a personal basis, something Obama does not do, and Biden gets options out of them that are not offered to the President. In fact, Woodward says Biden often has the better solutions. In addition, Defense Secretary Gates has the position of power because if the President doesn't like his suggestion, he offers to resign and Obama immediately defers to him.
The result is that Obama and his staff don't have viable options and, therefore, cannot make the best decisions. Woodward says Obama is not a good wartime president and probably does not understand how to be one.
We are all sympathetic to the President's not liking war. Nobody does. But, he made the decision to send more troops into Afghanistan and he did so with incomplete information and no alternatives.
It makes you wonder who is watching out for the US troops on the ground in harm's way and what orders they actually receive. Woodward mentions some of them but you should read the book to get those details, which are also not pretty. I note here only the fact that one of the generals said in a public meeting that he does not know what the goals in Afghanistan are or how we are going to achieve them.
It makes me remember President Truman and General MacArthur during the Korean "war." MacArthur was insubordiate in not following the President's orders and he was fired, even if his opinion was probably the correct one. In 2010, we have the picture of a president whose general officers are insubordinate for not agreeing to give him alternatives and stonewalling when he asks for them. Should they be fired? Probably. But, the President is afraid to do this because he has nowhere else to turn.
If these Woodward disclosures, fully available to the President before publication, don't make you lose sleep, nothing ever will.
What he learned was that the generals have not been giving Obama the full picture about Afghanistan or Pakistan. That is, they won't give him options but present their view as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. This was at least true about how many troops were needed in Afghanistan and what their role would be. Add to this the fact, noted by Woodward, that the President does not like war, has no feel for it, and would prefer to do the minimum at all times, and you have the picture.
Vice President Biden has better relationships with the generals than does the President, he cultivates them on a personal basis, something Obama does not do, and Biden gets options out of them that are not offered to the President. In fact, Woodward says Biden often has the better solutions. In addition, Defense Secretary Gates has the position of power because if the President doesn't like his suggestion, he offers to resign and Obama immediately defers to him.
The result is that Obama and his staff don't have viable options and, therefore, cannot make the best decisions. Woodward says Obama is not a good wartime president and probably does not understand how to be one.
We are all sympathetic to the President's not liking war. Nobody does. But, he made the decision to send more troops into Afghanistan and he did so with incomplete information and no alternatives.
It makes you wonder who is watching out for the US troops on the ground in harm's way and what orders they actually receive. Woodward mentions some of them but you should read the book to get those details, which are also not pretty. I note here only the fact that one of the generals said in a public meeting that he does not know what the goals in Afghanistan are or how we are going to achieve them.
It makes me remember President Truman and General MacArthur during the Korean "war." MacArthur was insubordiate in not following the President's orders and he was fired, even if his opinion was probably the correct one. In 2010, we have the picture of a president whose general officers are insubordinate for not agreeing to give him alternatives and stonewalling when he asks for them. Should they be fired? Probably. But, the President is afraid to do this because he has nowhere else to turn.
If these Woodward disclosures, fully available to the President before publication, don't make you lose sleep, nothing ever will.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
European Terrorist Alert
There have been armed military and police in French train stations, airports and tourist sites, especially in Paris, for almost two weeks now. The alert here in Europe was given after the first bomb scare at the Eiffel Tower. Tourists and workers were evacuated and the entire area was searched for an explosive device. None was found. The same thing has since happened at a very busy Paris train station and again at the Eiffel Tower. Britain published an alert at almost the same time, as did Germany. It seems that the threat is directed principally at France and Germany.
European news media are reporting that telephone taps have led to two Britains and six Germans, all of whom they say are in Pakistan along the Afghanistan border. That was the reason given for the US military drone attack into Pakistan several days ago. One of the Britains was allegedly killed.
And now the United States State Department is advising all Americans to be careful when traveling in Europe and to avoid tourist sites.
I haven't heard of any special alert status for the USA, but I suppose there is one.
I was in Europe the last time such an American alert was given for US travelers in Europe. It was in 1991, as the first Iraq war began. People were panicked and fled Europe like lemmings.
This time its feels very different. The French government says it has the situation under control. The Germans are quiet. Britain is advising its citizens living or traveling in continental Europe to be careful and watch for anomalies. Americans interviewed on the streets of Paris are smiling and saying the alert won't affect their plans at all, while military patrols dressed in camouflage gear and carrying what look like semi-automatic weapons are circling behind them.
It seems we've become used to terrorist threats over the last 15 years. That could make it a lot easier for the terrorists to strike. I hope we don't become too blasé.
European news media are reporting that telephone taps have led to two Britains and six Germans, all of whom they say are in Pakistan along the Afghanistan border. That was the reason given for the US military drone attack into Pakistan several days ago. One of the Britains was allegedly killed.
And now the United States State Department is advising all Americans to be careful when traveling in Europe and to avoid tourist sites.
I haven't heard of any special alert status for the USA, but I suppose there is one.
I was in Europe the last time such an American alert was given for US travelers in Europe. It was in 1991, as the first Iraq war began. People were panicked and fled Europe like lemmings.
This time its feels very different. The French government says it has the situation under control. The Germans are quiet. Britain is advising its citizens living or traveling in continental Europe to be careful and watch for anomalies. Americans interviewed on the streets of Paris are smiling and saying the alert won't affect their plans at all, while military patrols dressed in camouflage gear and carrying what look like semi-automatic weapons are circling behind them.
It seems we've become used to terrorist threats over the last 15 years. That could make it a lot easier for the terrorists to strike. I hope we don't become too blasé.
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