--For reasons I can't go into, but this is probably one of the more important days in my life; and I'm 77!
--Anyway, I am working on Christian Pragmatics in the Didactics series, Part II of the Pragmatics. It's surprising in that I explain some enigmatic Scriptural texts; and represents an apology for William James' The Varieties of Religious Experience. I don't expect any of today's readers of the Pragmatics will understand what I'm writing about, but in 200 years or 500 years readers should be able to get it. Theological treatises take that long to finally be understood!
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
XIII. Countries Making Friends with Equals
You probably know of the student exchange program; and several exchange programs in the professions. The Rotary Club has something similar: a club corresponds regularly with another club elsewhere in the world. Well, this WHACK-O Theory is a take-off on that idea!
In my writings, I've been working on trying to encourage Nigeria to assume a responsible role in African affairs for the sake of the Continent's Development. Then, this idea popped into my head! What if there were a country similar in size, etc. that could be a pen partner or even an occasional on- site visitor? Maybe they could exchange ideas on how each country develops its social, political and economic strategies. A simple exchange of ways each country handles its problems and challenges. In the case of Nigeria, I was thinking of Mexico--even though on another Continent--would be a good mix.
For example, how does each handle immigration; what's each country's tax structure like; how is each handling education of the youth? There's any number of topics that they might want to consider. It's all about the future of their two countries. What their hopes and aspirations are.
I think if globalization is to work effectively, there must be dialogue where two countries in similar circumstance can exchange plans and hopes. Globalization, that is, must cross regional and nation-state differences; but also geographical areas.
In my writings, I've been working on trying to encourage Nigeria to assume a responsible role in African affairs for the sake of the Continent's Development. Then, this idea popped into my head! What if there were a country similar in size, etc. that could be a pen partner or even an occasional on- site visitor? Maybe they could exchange ideas on how each country develops its social, political and economic strategies. A simple exchange of ways each country handles its problems and challenges. In the case of Nigeria, I was thinking of Mexico--even though on another Continent--would be a good mix.
For example, how does each handle immigration; what's each country's tax structure like; how is each handling education of the youth? There's any number of topics that they might want to consider. It's all about the future of their two countries. What their hopes and aspirations are.
I think if globalization is to work effectively, there must be dialogue where two countries in similar circumstance can exchange plans and hopes. Globalization, that is, must cross regional and nation-state differences; but also geographical areas.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
--I've started the Globalization series Didactics blog. Doing the research at the library, University of Texas, El Paso location, even this very day!
--I'll be starting the Memoirs series in the What's Up, John? blog come September or October, while I am taking a course in Creative Writing at El Paso Community College.
--After that unpleasant experience of leaving Las Vegas last month, I've settled down here in El Paso, once again. I've been coming to El Paso for (I figure) the past 15 years, and leaving for a time, only to return. This time will probably be more permanent because of age, certainly not because of decrepitude. Maybe short trips to Phoenix or Houston--places around here; maybe, Atlanta.
--I'll be starting the Memoirs series in the What's Up, John? blog come September or October, while I am taking a course in Creative Writing at El Paso Community College.
--After that unpleasant experience of leaving Las Vegas last month, I've settled down here in El Paso, once again. I've been coming to El Paso for (I figure) the past 15 years, and leaving for a time, only to return. This time will probably be more permanent because of age, certainly not because of decrepitude. Maybe short trips to Phoenix or Houston--places around here; maybe, Atlanta.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Governor Perry's Last Straw Mistake!
I've been to Austin and couldn't believe a city would treat its poor with so little respect and acknowledgement by the community.
At that moment in time, as I stood on Congress Street, watching the yuppies enjoy their youthful and flagrant disregard for adult responsibility, I withdrew my support for Governor Perry for President.
But his attempt to virtually put an end to the state's particular effort at monitoring its own activities in order to maintain a government free from corrupt influences by his withdrawing funding of its watchdog agency is an outrage. It makes me suspect there is more going on in state politics than the usual "I'll do this for you, if you do that for me!" syndrome. Evidently, being in the governorship for so long has given Perry a political cushion on which to ride a merry trail without much to track his path. This watchdog agency should be funded and its vital work continued, as an independent agency of state government.
At that moment in time, as I stood on Congress Street, watching the yuppies enjoy their youthful and flagrant disregard for adult responsibility, I withdrew my support for Governor Perry for President.
But his attempt to virtually put an end to the state's particular effort at monitoring its own activities in order to maintain a government free from corrupt influences by his withdrawing funding of its watchdog agency is an outrage. It makes me suspect there is more going on in state politics than the usual "I'll do this for you, if you do that for me!" syndrome. Evidently, being in the governorship for so long has given Perry a political cushion on which to ride a merry trail without much to track his path. This watchdog agency should be funded and its vital work continued, as an independent agency of state government.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Having to pay for a soup kitchen meal
---Here in El Paso, I frequently have my dinner at the Salvation Army Family Center. The meals are delicious and well-balanced; and free.
--In times past when I lived in El Paso, I would occasionally go to the Rescue Mission for dinner. It's fairly close by. Then, I could'nt go there for dinner because they no longer served to people in the area who are poor. Only to persons residing there overnight.
Now, I understand they've reopened the soup kitchen to people in the El Paso area, but they charge $1.50 per meal. I could never afford to eat there for any length of time! The idea of a soup kitchen meal is to my mind that people who don't have much have at least a free meal! I would hope the Rescue Mission here in El Paso would come to see it that way once again. Also, they still have in effect that the diner must first hear a sermon.
--In times past when I lived in El Paso, I would occasionally go to the Rescue Mission for dinner. It's fairly close by. Then, I could'nt go there for dinner because they no longer served to people in the area who are poor. Only to persons residing there overnight.
Now, I understand they've reopened the soup kitchen to people in the El Paso area, but they charge $1.50 per meal. I could never afford to eat there for any length of time! The idea of a soup kitchen meal is to my mind that people who don't have much have at least a free meal! I would hope the Rescue Mission here in El Paso would come to see it that way once again. Also, they still have in effect that the diner must first hear a sermon.
About the Iraqi Challenges
--I'm really glad General Dempsey is holding to a policy of limited US military engagement in Iraq. There's an obvious civil war going on among the Islamic internal and external factions occupying the country. By permitting the Kurds their own provincial governance, thus extending to them the status of virtual independence from the rest of the country, the US has through the years promoted the notion of a tri-partite land. Now, it seems inevitable that such a land configuration will become reality. The only way to re-instate a unified government, to my way of thinking, is through a strong military dominance throughout the nation. But by favoring the Kurdish Republic, with its own military organizations, the US makes such a plan unlikely to work in the short run.
--It seems that the Iraq political situation through the last 8 years is similar to what was encountered by the Egyptian military when Morsi was in power. Just like Prime Minister Iraqi al-Maliki, Morsi favored the political faction he was a leader of; and put his cronies in top governmental positions. Maliki has not only stacked the government with Shiites, he's made his cronies the benefactors of goodies bestowed upon its military generals and high ups--firing Sunni generals as needed by him.
But Egypt's military toppled that corrupt government, whereas the US has permitted 8 years of Shite favoritism in Iraq. It can't be erased easily; and moreover, the Sunnis have yet to find their own leadership in the Baghdad government.
--It seems that the Iraq political situation through the last 8 years is similar to what was encountered by the Egyptian military when Morsi was in power. Just like Prime Minister Iraqi al-Maliki, Morsi favored the political faction he was a leader of; and put his cronies in top governmental positions. Maliki has not only stacked the government with Shiites, he's made his cronies the benefactors of goodies bestowed upon its military generals and high ups--firing Sunni generals as needed by him.
But Egypt's military toppled that corrupt government, whereas the US has permitted 8 years of Shite favoritism in Iraq. It can't be erased easily; and moreover, the Sunnis have yet to find their own leadership in the Baghdad government.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Move the water around the USA!
I was at a lecture last night at the El Paso Art Museum and a good deal of the discussion was focused on the global warming effect at the North and South pole regions. It's certain that as the glaciers melt, there's going to be leashed an avalanche of water that could engulf the land areas of the world.
I pointed out that Netherlands has offered to show the US, particularly the Army Corps of Engineers, how to deal with the problem of severe flooding, which could also become an opportunity for watering arid lands around the world, if the waterways in the world were more tightly controlled.
Anyway, the idea emerged in discussion, why not pipe water from the areas of over-abundance, where there's problems in what to do with the water, to areas arid and dry? We pipe oil around the country; why not water? Right now, from the Mid-West and Atlantic Coast, areas experiencing heavy rainfall, to Texas and Arizona?
I pointed out that Netherlands has offered to show the US, particularly the Army Corps of Engineers, how to deal with the problem of severe flooding, which could also become an opportunity for watering arid lands around the world, if the waterways in the world were more tightly controlled.
Anyway, the idea emerged in discussion, why not pipe water from the areas of over-abundance, where there's problems in what to do with the water, to areas arid and dry? We pipe oil around the country; why not water? Right now, from the Mid-West and Atlantic Coast, areas experiencing heavy rainfall, to Texas and Arizona?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)