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An Open and Honest Discussion

Sunday, January 29th, 2017

I shared a meme. It’s something many of us do, have done, and perhaps we’ll do it again. This meme was a reworking of a famous poem by German Pastor Martin Niemöller.

A message was then posted which questioned the post. I almost replied that the post was only shared, and not mine. That reply would have been disingenuous at best. I shared it because I agreed with the idea that we need to be both aware and caring. I have not identified the writer although I have put a part of his reply in quotes. I have left him anonymous, one because he’s a friend and this is not a personal issue. It’s a discussion. My second reason is that I hope that we can always approach things in a civil manner. If we lose the ability to communicate, we will eventually lose ourselves.

His reply was, “But what specific policy since Obama left has been anti-Jewish? What anti-Black? What anti-Muslim, all Muslims? What anti-all Mexicans? What anti-gay? Hoist on your own petard.”

I have not presented a petard to be hoisted upon. Trump’s campaign and his ongoing assault on propriety, common sense and your constitution are the problems before the world. What Trump will do to the world is the issue we will all face. Trump is like an elephant is musth. He seems to have little focus, nor any clear direction or objective. The ongoing blind destruction of policies and relationships nor the trampling of enshrined rights, don’t seem to be an issue for some Americans.

The first steps to repeal the Affordable care Act, to roll back hard-won advances for LGBT rights, to imperil women’s rights and health, to continue racial profiling, to deny climate change, to either defund or muzzle critical government services, to deny sanctuary to those in need, to violate treaty in order to violate both the environment and human dignity, and to smugly demand that UN member nations lock step with ill-considered and provocative statements. None of these things that have been put on paper, tweeted, broadcast, or signed as executive orders, should surprise anyone who has followed the campaign and has an inkling of the current administration. Governments disappoint us, but they usually parcel the pain out over an entire term.

Pastor Martin Niemöller’s original poem has been referenced, and to be fair trotted out, numerous times in response to a variety of issues both political and social. Is it apt here? It is pertinent only in as much as one chooses to look at the situation, and consider, “what next?”

As long as we keep the lines of communication open, we have a chance. My greatest fear is of extremists on both sides who use any excuse to further an agenda. They spend more time shutting down discussion than considering their, and other, opinions. Here in Indonesia, we have some fairly radical organizations that shut down discussion through intimidation and by using the political and legal clout of highly placed friends. A local governor has been charged with blasphemy and there have been a number of large protests against him. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/27/indonesia-court-blasphemy-trial-ahok-jakarta-governor

That the governor is Chinese and Christian does not still well with the leaders of these groups. Their organizations are in turn being used to further the political ambitions of a few highly placed, and somewhat convenient, friends of more recent vintage.

If America does not reinvigorate and safeguard its freedoms, its media, and its education system, with open and honest discourse then the world stands to lose a powerful instrument for positive personal, national, and global rebirth and innovation. America has been called the most powerful nation on Earth. The American President is regarded as the leader of the free world. He must be tasked to do better, for America and for the world.

Leadership is a responsibility, not a perk. We must all demand more of our leaders. We must hold our leaders to a higher standard. Whether we are American, Canadian, Japanese, German, European, British or Indonesian we must live deliberately in this moment. When we allow ourselves to be divided along religious, racial, national, economic and ideological lines we hasten the moment when we can be drawn and quartered along more personal lines.

https://qz.com/702497/the-famous-poem-by-an-anti-nazi-pastor-rewritten-for-donald-trumps-america/

https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007391

https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007392

Nestlé sucks

Friday, July 22nd, 2016

https://actions.sumofus.org/a/kathleen-wynne-stop-nestle-from-sucking-ontario-dry/?akid=20998.5611426.MeOJiN&rd=1&source=fwd&t=2

Big Water and your future

Saturday, March 7th, 2015
Big Water is sucking the life out of a precious natural resource for a pittance, and government is only too happy to allow the Greedy Gulp to continue. This isn't necessary, and the situation can be made to work ... [Continue reading this entry]

Writing,inspiration and creativity

Sunday, January 25th, 2015
http://teflindo.hubpages.com/hub/Drawing-a-blank-or-not

Should be a simple task

The screen blinks at me with all the disinterest its electronic existence is able to bring to the task. Therein lies the problem. If writing were a task like cutting glass or painting ... [Continue reading this entry]

For the year ahead

Thursday, January 1st, 2015
Happy New Year everyone. Please make it a good year. Be kind for the sake of kindness. Be good for the sake of goodness. Be honest, be careful, be fair, and be prepared to say sorry. Be unafraid to make mistakes, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Privatization of Water

Thursday, December 25th, 2014
As we allow individuals and private entities to control resources, we bring forward the day we will have little or no access. This is an obscenity. The misuse of public trust and resources by individuals and corporations is a world-wide and ongoing ... [Continue reading this entry]

Raffles and the British Invasion of Java by Tim Hannigan

Tuesday, September 9th, 2014
Raffles and the British Invasion of JavaRaffles and the British Invasion of Java by Tim Hannigan My rating: 5 of 5 stars Raffles and the British Invasion of Java, by Tim Hannigan, is a ... [Continue reading this entry]

Water … a basic human right

Monday, August 11th, 2014
Clean water is a basic human right. Everyone knows that and only an absolute moron would disagree. Our knowledge doesn't explain why water sources continue to dry up and water prices continue to climb. This site ... [Continue reading this entry]

Fanbox: Best to avoid

Thursday, May 29th, 2014
Started an account with Fanbox. Initially I was enthusiastic. I was warned and cautioned. I pressed on. I was wrong. Please do not waste your time and money on this. I was hoping to make a bit of ... [Continue reading this entry]