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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

Hope for the Year Ahead

Saturday, December 31st, 2016

Happy New Year.

May the year ahead offer health, happiness, prosperity, purpose and fulfillment.

All the best, Wayne, Emily, Adryan and Wyatt

Carrie Fisher

Wednesday, December 28th, 2016
The smile was only the beginning This is the Carrie Fisher I knew, which is to say I never knew her. 19fk32sw3nt1wjpg She had a substantial contribution to the creation of characters that were part of the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Seasons Greetings

Friday, December 23rd, 2016
[caption id="attachment_1656" align="alignnone" width="710" caption="Christmas Wishes"][/caption] Save

Spookylicious Halloween

Friday, October 21st, 2016
Join Little Chefs for a Spookylicious Halloween Saturday 29th Oct 2016 at 10am - 11.30am Lenmarc Mall Ground Floor Surabaya Halloween is coming...!!! [Continue reading this entry]

Ekonid’s Oktoberfest at Sheraton Surabaya

Monday, October 17th, 2016
Another successful and enjoyable celebration. Ekonid's Oktoberfest celebration at Sheraton Surabaya Ekonid's traditional German celebration, presented in Cooperation with Wisma Jerman and Sheraton Surabaya. Another amazing evening thanks to Birgit Steffan, Christian Kyriss, Sheraton ... [Continue reading this entry]

Sponsorship Opportunities for CEC 9th Annual English/Mandarin Competition

Wednesday, September 28th, 2016

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A growing business is always looking for new customers, so this will be of interest to you.

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We have booths available at Ciputra World during Canadian English Course’s 9th Annual ... [Continue reading this entry]

Oktoberfest 2016 at Sheraton Hotel … presented by EKONID

Monday, September 26th, 2016
OKTOBERFEST Dear EKONID Oktoberfest Fans! 450 tickets for our EKONID Oktoberfest @ Sheraton Surabaya are now ready to be sold! Please contact Birgit (Birgit.steffan@ekonid.or.id) or Retno (retno.pamungkas@eonid.or.id) for your ticket purchase! Contact info on EKONID FaceBook page [Continue reading this entry]

Happy Canada Day

Friday, July 1st, 2016
Canada Day/Fête du Canada Happy Canada Day/Joyeux Jour du Canada

CEC: Canadian English Course

Thursday, August 14th, 2014
http://teflindonesia.com/about_files/logocanadian.jpgCanadian English Course is a language center that focuses on English language training for a variety of purposes and for all ability levels. Wordle: Canadian  ... <a href=[Continue reading this entry]