DIVERSITY
Now we have it on good authority: we folks don’t care for diversity whether forced upon us by the government or by some busybody college administrator. The authority is Prof. Robert Putman of Harvard, a card-carrying liberal academic by his own statement who, after a study of thousands of people countrywide and a long period of checking what he found revealed the distasteful news to his colleagues last June. It was summarized in a three thousand word piece in the (online) Boston Globe by Michael Jonas August 5th, 2007
The Prof has creds and data too valid to ignore. His news carries meaning for our country in this time of disagreement over immigration policy. Putnam concluded that people function better as social beings where diversity DOES NOT prevail. It’s too bad that it takes an authority to inform us: We prefer to live with “our own kind.”
This must come as a shock to those many, those thousands who have been coaching us otherwise. Were the government to stop preaching and enforcing the benefits of ours being a diverse country how many jobs, good-paying jobs in government, academia and the legal fields would disappear at once? It might throw us into recession!
The presence of 11,000,000 immigrants in our midst has probably changed the discussion already. It may now be accurate to say there is no longer any “difference” to be overcome in residential or job settings amoung white people. The Diversity folks have carried the day.
Racially- black and white- we’re in a terrible mess. Most of the feeling remains subsurface until a Jena, LA or a Duke University situation comes up and Jessie and Al Sharpton enter. Then we see what we were missing before unless we were working in a place where many men of both races work, like a UPS or USPS center. In truth, the Great Society was a failure and we who live in a place like Boston need only read our daily Newspaper to see the evidence. Ah, but that’s a blog for another day.
AHMADINEJAD AT COLUMBIA
President Lee Bollinger of Columbia University set up his school and his country for some un-needed publicity (read: embarassment) by inviting President Ahmadinejad of Iran to speak at his school last week. His motive was one understandable to a few people in academia, I can only guess.
The University and all of us were made to look ungracious when Bollinger, apparently suddenly aware of his mistake or perhaps under pressure from superiors chose to compensate by trying to humiliate his guest in his opening, introductory remarks.
The little guy to his credit stood up bravely. His speech that day and others all week were nonsensical, of course but, by George, the little hostage taker kept smiling as he got to say his words at Columbia, the UN, and 60 Minutes. He returned home unscathed to general praise, according to an AP item in today’s paper.
Where coutesy to a guest is important, which would include most of the Middle East the United States has suffered a bad mark on its image.
(Note to Karen Hughes: Plan on OT this month.)
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT–9/11/01
Reading of the tragedy involving two firemen at the West Roxbury restaurant there came to mind a thought I had at September 11, 2001. I was not a blogger at that time. Has anyone ever questioned the judgment of the first responders’ leaders? Let’s say you are the chief of the first group to arrive at the scene.
Whatever else you know you know that there’s fire on (was it?) the eighty first floor. Naturally you immediately dispatch a team in that direction. Within fifteen minutes, whatever you may have learned from the media, your dispatcher and from survivors exiting, you are hearing from your men that climbing stairs in the face of hundreds scrambling down is exhaustingly difficult.
The second and third responder groups arrive and come to coordinate with you. Media reports of the day suggested that the new troops were sent in and upward. Clearly, a wiser tactic at this point would have been to keep the new feet at ground level ’till the situation became clearer.
Maybe there’s a whole lot more to the story, but I’ve not heard any discussion on the point I have just raised. Before I release this hypothesis to you, dear friends, I promise I’m going to do the most thorough Google, Wikipedia, New York Times archives search of which I am capable.
THE LONG WAR (2)
THIS CONTINUES AND CONCLUDES THE EARLIER POST ON THE WAR VS. RADICAL ISLAM
OTHER NATIONS
My comments will of necessity be brief and limited to only a few key countries. I’ll leave it to the experts to do the in depth thing. My limit may even help us focus on the big picture; also, at this point let’s say again that we trying to plan 50 years’ strategy in a changing world. Maybe a lot of precise expert comment would be a waste of time.
EUROPE. Although we’ve not had the support we wanted in Iraq it seems these countries now understand clearly they share our problems in the broader conflict. In fact given the bombings in Spain, England and Italy and the civil unrest in France as “multiculturalism” is laid to rest we can expect even more cooperation from Europe. They and we will watch each others’ tactics in an effort to understand what works well. But, make a bold note: we must never again trust France.
It is unfortunate but true, in fact scary that any EU citizen with a valid passport can enter our country with next to no screening. Washington should make it a priority to change that policy. Too, Canada has a mostly open door policy for immigrants, especially those requesting asylum. They can get off a plane and walk around at liberty while their claims are examined (years).
A final interesting development out of Europe: just last week Pope Benedict XVI declared “in” to our Long War. Welcome! 
PAKISTAN. Would that we here could help with a contribution to the policy dilemma. How should our relationship with General Musharref continue and what will we do when he’s gone? Don’t forget Pakistan is a member of the Nuclear Club. Today Pakistan is a safe haven for the Taliban and is hindering our Afghanistan effort but we seem uncertain of how to deal with the problem.
Major areas of the world have memories of a militaristic powerful
The discussion may have already begun. The stunningly brave article by Stephen Walt of Harvard’s
Continuing on the
An Israel Day parade can’t expect to outdraw a Gay Pride parade in
Whenever we choose to exit we’ll leave behind a sizeable military contingent. We must leave our embassy and it’s staff and the troops to protect it and perhaps the entire Green Zone To do otherwise would say “VIETNAM.” We’ve earned better than that and so have the Iraqis who have helped us. In the final analysis we’ll have to be satisfied with a lesser result than we have sought.
In summary this will be a long war fought on many fronts, some military. As in Iraq we’ll have to learn as we fight. Our military is good and getting better at improvisation. We’ll do our best if we can present a consensus between responsible liberals and conservatives. We can almost certainly expect attack on our home ground (again) so let’s not be disccouraged when it occurs.
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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THE WAR AGAINST THE JIHADISTS
This writing has gotten to be a bit lengthy; so I’ll offer it in two shorter posts for easier reading. Bookmark or RSS feed me, please.
Here comes some ideas which in total may be a useful approach to the Long War in which we are now engaged against radical Islam. We’ll keep in mind the “Cold War” (remember that term?) It took seventy years for us to prevail.
We’ll be recalling the cast of characters in the American political system in that conflict whereas some of them are now reappearing in their previous roles. I refer to the Democratic Left Wing of course. Can you recall when the same characters were calling Ronald Reagan “Cowboy” and “Warmonger” when he was doing the things that led to our victory? Survival wisdom does not reside in those people. We must survive.
It is wonderful to notice the relative quiet of the past six years. And it is difficult to understand where to place the credit. Our enemy has the money, the intent and the soldiers to deliver harm to us at home. Credit to Homeland Security and the FBI. I guess. President Bush has probably pushed legality beyond the limit in his electronic surveillance effort. That may the principle reason for our safety to this date but the Surveillance Program has been weakened again and again. We’ll give the guy credit; but don’t forget that he’ll be gone from office in seventeen months.
Absent another event of the September11 type it will be difficult, perhaps impossible, to involve our people in the challenge. We are a different people than we were seventy years ago. Other than the bumper stickers (by the way, where have they gone?) Mr. & Mrs.
We have much work to do when it comes to homeland security and much of that work is well under way. But our borders, North and South, are nowhere near tight. We have a Supreme Court that will support a war effort but the politicians in Congress really worry me.
Folks, we will have to yield some of our precious privacy! I have the confidence our constitutional system is capable of bending without breaking. AND. . . please, PLEASE stop this talk about closing Gitmo! Our Military has said they want it and need it. If you think some uptick in “international opinion” is more important. . . . . . you and I disagree. Moreover, in the Long war we’ll need to house thousands (!) more dangerous characters.
THE BATTLE WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTRY. Pres. Bush appointed his aide Karen Hughes to an ambassador-level post and the task of improving our country’s image. The
efforts thus far have been thoughtful and well-executed. However, we should be directing PR efforts at the young people-potential salafi-jihadists- who present the main threat to our homeland rather than foreign governmments and NGO’s. Two ideas on that: We are the World Champion of internet creativity. I’d like to see a whole army of geeks, privately organized, devoted to attacking those sites where the jihadists present themselves, preach and recruit. Attack those sites! Disrupt them. Replace their ideas with our own. Take names and other clues from the discussion forums. Anyone who is interested in this subject illw gain a lot of understanding by reading the New York Police Report “RADICALIZATION IN THE WEST”. Google it and download; get into a comfortable chair. It addresses our homeland situation in a writing that is clear.
Before this paper ends I intend to comment on a number of foreign nations we should be thinking about. As well, we must consider closely the re-design of our military as it emerges from
Donelley discusses the country’s needs in terms of:
What Is The Mission
What Kind of Force
How Much Is Enough?
The Cost
On the cost Donnelley estimates $200 billion/year depending on our choices and notes that $200B is but 1% of our Gross Domestic Product, concluding “. . The question is not whether we can afford adequate land forces , but whether we will choose to have them. In simple terms, the task is to restore the Army and the Marine Corps to the levels at the end of the Cold War.”
More to come
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DINNER AT KENNEBUNKPORT
To: Nicolas Sarkozy
Mr. President:
I know only what I read in the Reuters/Crispian Balmer piece in yesterday’s paper. I hope there is more to the story. If there is will you please make it public along with your apology to the Bush family. The behavior of your wife is beyond rude.
Politics aside, we here have deep respect for the entire Bush family and for the little courtesies that make life in a rude world more tolerable.
Unless significant new news emerges, please do not bring Cecilia to our country again. She will not be welcome.
Mbloggerguy2.com
MASSACHUSETTS
As Steven Syre noted recently in his blog certainly Boston is currently enjoying a commercial real estate boom. I worry about another aspect of my states’ property, however.
The “troubled” area that was Roxbury/Dorchester has widened according to police crime records. Reading the daily papers, Brockton seems to have a lot of crime nowadays. (old news there) I note that living in Randolph is frequently somewhere between exciting and dangerous.
When I traveled the state widely a few years back to visit either Holyoke or Lawrence was to visit a third world country. This week we learn that little Dudley (population 14,000) is showing the familiar symptoms of crime and boarded up abandoned buildings. Where will it end?
Would that there was at least discussion on Beacon Hill or in Washington about the changes that underly these problems.
LIBBY PARDON/RICH PARDON
There has been a lot of discussion recently among politicians, pundits and especially bloggers about Pres. Bush’s pardon of “Scooter” Libby. Hillary has had to face questions about that issue vs. Bill’s pardon of Marc Rich. With no choice she has talked reasonably freely. As usual, the media has been as kind as they can be toward their candidate. (If you can believe it, PBS opened its offering with a lengthy quote by Joe Wilson!)
Here’re two points you should consider before accepting the old equivalency thing:
- Rich was a FUGITIVE! I won’t go into it here, but the charges were serious.
- Clinton took CASH! for the pardon in the form of a $70K donation to Hillary’s Senate Campaign and $450K donated to a “Library Fund” As well, there were other cash issues as I recall- something received by Hillary’s two brothers. That should tell you all you need to know about that President.
My research revealed a factoid that was interesting. In the leadup to charges against him, Rich’s attorney, trying/failing to negotiate a plea bargain was Libby!
In the sidebar here I promised to give you idea pieces that will sharpen your thinking and your conversation. I hope I have delivered this time.
IRAN DARES US
General Kevin Bergner addressed a press group in Baghdad this week to say that we have conclusive evidence that Lebanese Hezbollah people are training Iraq militiamen to fight us. They are doing this in Iran with the full knowledge of the rulers there and under the supervision of the secretive Quds group, a part of the Revolutionary Guard.
To date, this July 4th I’ve not heard what our response has been or will be. Whereas the news came out at the time of the Kennebunkport meeting, I presume Pres. Bush has had time to understand how much support we can expect from Russia.
It seems that nothing short of a massive military response will suffice. Certainly we want to avoid a ground battle with Iran, so we might want to use air power to destroy whatever facilities we know to have been used. including the Quds soldiers there.
At lunch yesterday, discussing this, my friend suggested that a blockade might be preferable and will be more acceptable to our allies in the Middle East and Europe. I’m less interested in that aspect than he is but the risk of a full scale war with Iran would be less with a blockade than with an air attack. We have two naval Strike Groups in the Persian gulf, the Nimitz and the Stennis, which will provide power for either option. Trouble is blockades take effect only slowly and are usually very leaky. American soldiers are dying NOW.
If there is disagreement among our parties it the Commander-In-Chief’s job to make it understood that in this military situation it is the military’s choice to make. Sorry Condolezza. Sorry Mr. Ambassador.
This week, please, Mr. President.
THINKING THIRD PARTY
MY REPUBLICAN QUANDARY
Is it possible that it is time for another third party effort? (Note: I always think that others think as I do. They never do, of course) I’m so disgusted with happenings in Washington that I may for the first time sit out the coming election.
My party no longer exists!
As a young man I easily adopted my Dad’s Republicanism. Later, I called myself a Conservative at a time when a tough stance against the Soviet Union seemed appropriate The home front events of the Viet Nam episode moved me further to the Republican right.
Today that party has changed so drastically as to no longer reflect my thinking The Republicans’ conduct of their recent congressional majority was so disgusting that it will be a long time before they return to power. Best Example: uncontrolled spending. The incompetence of George Bush suggests that Iwill be betting on a loser untill I leave this fold.
I’ll try to state my case more clearly, while recognizing that any candidate adopting my thinking fully would not make it to first base. Pick and choose as you will.
First, I really don’t want (ever) to hear another word from the LIFE folks! I’m all for a woman having full choice when it comes to her body, and for family members having the right to pull the plug on an unconscious relative when they decide that person is not going to recover. Assisted suicide? Yes. The death penalty? Yes. Stem cell research on real fetuses? Bring it on! (WOW! MR Death, I guess)
Candidates in both parties have found it nearly impossible to distinguish themselves from the pack Articulating some or all of my platform will get attention, if nothing else. Unlike when Perot or Nader did the third party thing, there need be no concern about being a spoiler for his party. There’s nothing to spoil. Republicans are going to loose at least the next two elections
We hear that Mayor Bloomberg has the financial muscle to give it a try and that he may be getting ready. We’ll want to know a lot more about him, of course.
