--I had an unexpected move from El Paso, Texas back to Reno, Nevada on the 15th of this month. I just couldn't cope with the need to speak Spanish there. I've been to El Paso many times over the past 10 years, but this time it became a necessity to speak Spanish--at my downtown residence, at my downtown Senior Center, where I ate, and generally, about town. I encountered El Paso as a Mexican city! And my Spanish is lousy, though I tried.
--I've been working on the item "The Demise of the Western World" under the Social Change topic. So far, I've put together three themes within the scope of the item: A. Regional Dominate Nation; B. Outsourcing; C. Ecological Edicts' Compliance. The item is complex, to be sure; but very important. I think these themes cover the dynamics of the item; and as the item focuses upon a world-wide change (hopefully, for the better), I don't think I should look for further themes, though I'm certain they exist within its range. Comprehendez? Now, please explain what I've just written to me, the author!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
al-Sadr, where are you?
Well, I attended a lecture on the Middle East, speaking Professor Robert Wren.
I came away convinced by the things he said and by my own deliberative processes, that Iraq needs a strong leader. The country is a hodgepodge of diverse cultural elements, for too many years at each other's throats. The central government in there now is practically non-functional in such ways as supplying electricity and clean water; keeping the streets clean.
I think England would admit it simply pieced elements like in a jigsaw together to form a nation; but a nation at odds with itself.
So, al-Sadr, where are you?
I came away convinced by the things he said and by my own deliberative processes, that Iraq needs a strong leader. The country is a hodgepodge of diverse cultural elements, for too many years at each other's throats. The central government in there now is practically non-functional in such ways as supplying electricity and clean water; keeping the streets clean.
I think England would admit it simply pieced elements like in a jigsaw together to form a nation; but a nation at odds with itself.
So, al-Sadr, where are you?
Purpose of the EU
I started attending the lecture series offered through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Texas at El Paso. I use the lecture and the QA afterwards as a way to stimulate my thinking on a topic.
On February 14th, Professor Kruszewski talked on the European Union. The points he made got me thinking that the EU was established to facilitate travel among member nations--by persons desirous of visiting relatives in some nearby country and by persons in need of a job! This apparently was an early attempt at contemporary globalization, whereby workers flow from country to country, thereby keeping wages lower than they otherwise would be. Business is always looking for the cheapest labor that will do the job it intends.
I think the Professor mentioned that Germany was hoping more would come from the organization. After all, a currency was put into circulation, one in which the United Kingdom still has reservations, preferring to back the English pound. No wonder poorer countries in Eastern Europe and in Northern Europe want to join the Union. But I think the Europeans, e.g., France, were disappointed when their countries became flooded with Moslems from all over! Clearly, as I mentioned in the QA session, the EU will never accept Turkey as a full-fledged member for that reason.
On February 14th, Professor Kruszewski talked on the European Union. The points he made got me thinking that the EU was established to facilitate travel among member nations--by persons desirous of visiting relatives in some nearby country and by persons in need of a job! This apparently was an early attempt at contemporary globalization, whereby workers flow from country to country, thereby keeping wages lower than they otherwise would be. Business is always looking for the cheapest labor that will do the job it intends.
I think the Professor mentioned that Germany was hoping more would come from the organization. After all, a currency was put into circulation, one in which the United Kingdom still has reservations, preferring to back the English pound. No wonder poorer countries in Eastern Europe and in Northern Europe want to join the Union. But I think the Europeans, e.g., France, were disappointed when their countries became flooded with Moslems from all over! Clearly, as I mentioned in the QA session, the EU will never accept Turkey as a full-fledged member for that reason.
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