Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Friday, September 02, 2005
Ground Zero Memorial: Part II
You might remember my blog on the Ground Zero Memorial. I linked to a June 8 article in the Wall Street Jounral noting that an "International Freedom Center," would be built and filed with anti-American exhibits and things that have nothing to do with 9/11.
What will be placed in the center? Well, at present many hunman rights groups are contemplating exhibits on Jim Crow, the Holocaust, the genocide of American-Indians, and pictures from the Abu Ghraib scandal. Why these seemly unrelated topics? We have to understand why all these events occurred in order to gain insight into why we were attacked. Seminars will be held at the IFC, presumably explaining how America brought 9/11 on herself.
Think of this -- the International Freedom Center is to be by far the largest tenant at the World Trade Center Memorial Cultural Complex. It will cover approximately 300,000 square feet, amidst a designer part with foliage, waterfalls, and retail shops. And the location of the 9/11 Memorial Center? Well, that will be squirreled away underground, in an area of only 50,000 square feet: one-sixth the size of the Freedom Center. Even more alarming, one will have to pass through the IFC and all its propaganda to get to the 9/11 Memorial.
What will be placed in the center? Well, at present many hunman rights groups are contemplating exhibits on Jim Crow, the Holocaust, the genocide of American-Indians, and pictures from the Abu Ghraib scandal. Why these seemly unrelated topics? We have to understand why all these events occurred in order to gain insight into why we were attacked. Seminars will be held at the IFC, presumably explaining how America brought 9/11 on herself.
Think of this -- the International Freedom Center is to be by far the largest tenant at the World Trade Center Memorial Cultural Complex. It will cover approximately 300,000 square feet, amidst a designer part with foliage, waterfalls, and retail shops. And the location of the 9/11 Memorial Center? Well, that will be squirreled away underground, in an area of only 50,000 square feet: one-sixth the size of the Freedom Center. Even more alarming, one will have to pass through the IFC and all its propaganda to get to the 9/11 Memorial.
United States Deficit
Did you know:
The deficit of $412 billion, or 3.6% of GDP, in the most recent fiscal year. The deficit this year will narrow to $331 billion, but under some plausible assumptions about congressional budget-making, America's deficits will average about 3.5% of GDP over the next decade. By 2014, they project, America's public debt will amount to 55% of its GDP. By 2030, on present trends, debt could reach 139% of GDP.
The deficit of $412 billion, or 3.6% of GDP, in the most recent fiscal year. The deficit this year will narrow to $331 billion, but under some plausible assumptions about congressional budget-making, America's deficits will average about 3.5% of GDP over the next decade. By 2014, they project, America's public debt will amount to 55% of its GDP. By 2030, on present trends, debt could reach 139% of GDP.
Secession and Unequal Treatment in Hawaii
So what is up with Hawaii? Well, next week the U.S. Senate is to consider a bill, S. 147, that would "provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity."
And what does that mean you ask? Well, exactly what this would entail is unclear, but its seems to allow the one quarter or so of Hawaiians who can show native ancestry to choose to be governed by a different set of laws from their neighbours (One might ask why since median household income is $52,000 making them slightly better off than white Americans).
The bill's author, Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka, says that native Hawaiians have been denied the degree of self-determination that has made Native American reservations such happy places. But unlike Native American tribes, which have been separate political entities since before the American Constitution was framed, native Hawaiians live intermingled with those whose ancestors arrived more recently (Statehood was not imposed on native Hawaiians by force. In 1959, they voted for it by a two-to-one margin). So, under the new system, could you have two shops side by side, one of them paying taxes, and one exempt because its owner has a drop of native blood (Back in 1984, only 4% of native Hawaiians were classified by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as pure native Hawaiian)? Asked that question by a caller to a Hawaiian radion station, Robert Klein, a lawyer for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which is promoting the Akaka bill, replied: "I don't know. We would need to see how that will play out in the negotiations."
Although it seems the bill would violate the Constitution of the United States, supporters say it would help improve racial hormony. "The opposite is more likely," says Rubellite Kawena Kinney Johnson, a local academic and prominent native opponent of the bill. "Different laws for different races," is a system with an inglorious history. It could also pave the way for other ethnice groups to demand new rights based on perceived historical injustices. Latinos could make a case that they would be better off had the United States not beaten Mexico in the war of 1846. And don't even get started on blacks.
In an unguarded moment, Mr. Akaka admitted that his bill could lead to independence for native Hawaiians. Amid the ensuring uproar, he retreated, while carefully keeping that option open. The threat of secession could help the new racially exclusive native authority squeeze more concessions out of the federal or state government.
And what does that mean you ask? Well, exactly what this would entail is unclear, but its seems to allow the one quarter or so of Hawaiians who can show native ancestry to choose to be governed by a different set of laws from their neighbours (One might ask why since median household income is $52,000 making them slightly better off than white Americans).
The bill's author, Hawaii Senator Daniel Akaka, says that native Hawaiians have been denied the degree of self-determination that has made Native American reservations such happy places. But unlike Native American tribes, which have been separate political entities since before the American Constitution was framed, native Hawaiians live intermingled with those whose ancestors arrived more recently (Statehood was not imposed on native Hawaiians by force. In 1959, they voted for it by a two-to-one margin). So, under the new system, could you have two shops side by side, one of them paying taxes, and one exempt because its owner has a drop of native blood (Back in 1984, only 4% of native Hawaiians were classified by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as pure native Hawaiian)? Asked that question by a caller to a Hawaiian radion station, Robert Klein, a lawyer for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which is promoting the Akaka bill, replied: "I don't know. We would need to see how that will play out in the negotiations."
Although it seems the bill would violate the Constitution of the United States, supporters say it would help improve racial hormony. "The opposite is more likely," says Rubellite Kawena Kinney Johnson, a local academic and prominent native opponent of the bill. "Different laws for different races," is a system with an inglorious history. It could also pave the way for other ethnice groups to demand new rights based on perceived historical injustices. Latinos could make a case that they would be better off had the United States not beaten Mexico in the war of 1846. And don't even get started on blacks.
In an unguarded moment, Mr. Akaka admitted that his bill could lead to independence for native Hawaiians. Amid the ensuring uproar, he retreated, while carefully keeping that option open. The threat of secession could help the new racially exclusive native authority squeeze more concessions out of the federal or state government.
Hurricane Katrina: How to help
This is one of the worst natural disasters in United States's history. The Gulf Coast was pounded with winds of over 145 mph. On some estimates thousands of people were killed in Louisiana and Mississippi. Alabama and Florida were also affected. New Orleans, which is under sea level, suffered severe flooding when two levee's were breach.
I say all of this to point out (if you haven't watch TV lately) that there are many people in need. What is needed is money. The following are organizations that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says are collecting donations:
Adventist Community Services -- 800-381-7171
American Red Cross -- 800-HELP NOW (435-7669)
America's Second Harvest -- 800-344-8070
B'nai B'rith Internationsl -- 888-388-4224
Catholic Charities, USA -- 703-549-1390
Christian Disaster Response -- 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee -- 800-848-5818
Church World Service -- 800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope -- 417-823-8998
Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund -- 202-606-6718
Feed the Children -- 800-525-7575
Lutheran Disaster Response -- 800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service -- 717-858-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response --888-256-5886
Operation Blessing -- 800-436-6348
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance -- 800-872-3283
Salvation Army -- 800 SAL-Army (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention - Disaster Relief -- 800 -462-8657, ext. 6440
Union For Reform Judaism -- 212-650-4140
United Jewish Communities -- 800-462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief -- 800-554-8583
I say all of this to point out (if you haven't watch TV lately) that there are many people in need. What is needed is money. The following are organizations that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says are collecting donations:
Adventist Community Services -- 800-381-7171
American Red Cross -- 800-HELP NOW (435-7669)
America's Second Harvest -- 800-344-8070
B'nai B'rith Internationsl -- 888-388-4224
Catholic Charities, USA -- 703-549-1390
Christian Disaster Response -- 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee -- 800-848-5818
Church World Service -- 800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope -- 417-823-8998
Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund -- 202-606-6718
Feed the Children -- 800-525-7575
Lutheran Disaster Response -- 800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service -- 717-858-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response --888-256-5886
Operation Blessing -- 800-436-6348
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance -- 800-872-3283
Salvation Army -- 800 SAL-Army (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention - Disaster Relief -- 800 -462-8657, ext. 6440
Union For Reform Judaism -- 212-650-4140
United Jewish Communities -- 800-462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief -- 800-554-8583
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Quote of the day
"During the last few decades, the terrorist grew to believe that if they hit America hard, as in Lebanon and Somalia, America would retreat and back down .... So now they're trying to break our will with acts of violence.... Their goal is to force us to retreat.... We will stay on the offense. We'll complete our work in Afghanistan and Iraq. An immediate withdrawal ... would only embolden the terrorists and create a staging ground to launch more attacks against America and free nations. So long as I'm the President, we will stay, we will fight, and we will win the war on terror." -- President George W. Bush, speaking to National Guard soldiers, Idaho, August 24, 2005
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