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According to Amy Tan in her book, "The Bonesetter's Daughter," and I quote: "It is very bad luck to separate a man's head from his body!"
The world WAITS.
If we are looking for peace, war is most cirtainly not the way about receiving it. Yes, there are people in the middle east who are far from pleasant. But it is not these individuals that we should be concerned about. once again, like evrey faithful American supporter, the numbers "9/11" come up in this dispute. Are people aware that this was almost cirtainly a set-up? There are meany reasons for this, which can be found in numerous places, and so I do not feel the need to post them here; they can be found easily enough if one searches.
Are people also aware they are supporting a president who treats his Citizens in much the same respect as he would treat his enemy? Are people also aware of the fact that it is America who is, in actuality, Destroying these civilizations, not helping them? Yes, many are appreciative of the Americans dispersion and termination of these 'Tyrant Leaders'. But a Tim Hortons? Call Centers? Wal Marts? McDonalds? These have an even more devastating effect than any suicide bomber could ever manage.
I also see that it is the Americans who seem to be lapping up all of the credit for the 'Helping' of this Nation, when it was not them alone who helped take these leaders down, but the combined effort of MANY nations.
Once again I stress the point: We are not going about this the right way. We should not be attempting to destroy the problem; we should attempt to destroy the CAUSE of the problem. It is like trying to put a fire out. One does not attack the flames themselves, but rather the BASE of the flames.
Hi Craven,
With respect to Wal-Mart and McDonald's, these are businesses owned and operated by private citizens. The reason they do so well is because other private citizens continue to purchase their products. It's true that some businesses sometimes replace other businesses as time goes on which can result in job loss, but that is the nature of capitalism. As old jobs go away, new jobs spring into existence in even greater numbers. Unless you are proposing that the government should step in and somehow destroy these businesses, there is really nothing that can be done nor should it. Let me know what you think,
Jeff
I am proposing that these TYPES of business be removed, as a first step towards peace. Yes, those "Old" jobs are replaced by these newer jobs, but it is not the jobs I am specifically speaking of. It is the very livelihood of almost every citizen in the middle east I am speaking of.
Would you choose to replace your current job, for one that paid pennies? Would you choose to replace your current job, with one in which you are stuck on a phone, in front of a computer screen all day, everyday, in a cubicle which spans a maximum of 3 feet wide? Would you choose to replace your job with one in which almost every American who ever speaks to you, does so with the utmost disrespect, and you are able to neither say, nor do anything about it?
A family owned business, which relies on the sales of local products, is replaced by a business which extorts its workers, and basically forces them to work. The profits made by this, go to the companies, and the Government. If only people knew exactly what happens within these company walls, which, I must include, are repressed by a Confidentiality agreement signed by the worker, which must be signed before they begin working. With no other places to really work, then they are forced to sign these agreements. These agreements are present in North American Based versions of these companies as well.
I have personally heard, spoke with, and worked with these people. I have also been on the same line at the same time an American must speak with one of these Technicians, countless times. I can firmly, and truthfully, say that these people Are treated EXACTLY like the dirt we walk on.
Are you referring to jobs in the Middle East on in the US? The poor job conditions you are describing sound like those Chinese assembly line types of jobs where the workers get paid extremely low wages for a hard day of work. I definitely could not afford to replace my job with one that only paid pennies as this would not even pay for my gas costs! I did work for a big Insurance company many years back where I shared a small cubical and worked about 9 hours a day working on computers. It was my first job out of college, so I was actually very happy to be working there. I had all these dreams that I would rise through the ranks and eventually become a top executive with my own office overlooking the city. I ended up switching to new better paying jobs, upgrading my benefits, and eventually I started my own small business which is what I do now. Back when I was a teen ager one of my jobs was working at a grocery store where I bagged groceries and broke down boxes for recycling. I was getting paid minimum wage, which at the time was about $3.75 per/hour. It wasn't much by today's standards, but I was very happy with these wages especially since I was able to supplement my income doing seasonal type jobs like working at a boat yard and Christmas tree lot.
I'm curious to know about these slave labor type of jobs you are referring to... Do people have other alternatives or are they pretty much stuck? Aren't there other jobs that pay better, or is it feasible for people to perhaps start a small business? The job market in the US right now is very good and the unemployment rates have been at record lows (about 4.4%). I consider working for Wall Mart or McDonald's an entry level type of job here in the US. McDonald's certainly is not the type of job with which you can support a family, but it's a good place to start working if you are single and in high school starting out with relatively low expenses. One unfortunately problem is that many teen agers end up making some very bad decisions and end up having kids at an early age... many times because of poor parenting. This is unfortunate because education is the first thing that suffers, and without a good education it's much harder to get a good paying job.
Thanks for the post. Did you see this today in the NYT: (it's so hard to trust these people, don't you think?)
WASHINGTON, July 26 — The director of the F.B.I. offered testimony Thursday that sharply conflicted with Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales’s sworn statements about a 2004 confrontation in which top Justice Department officials threatened to resign over a secret intelligence operation. . .
The director, Robert S. Mueller III, told the House Judiciary Committee that the confrontation was about the National Security Agency’s counterterrorist eavesdropping program, describing it as “an N.S.A. program that has been much discussed.” His testimony was a serious blow to Mr. Gonzales, who insisted at a Senate hearing on Tuesday that there were no disagreements inside the Bush administration about the program at the time of those discussions or at any other time.
The director’s remarks were especially significant because Mr. Mueller is the Justice Department’s chief law enforcement official. He also played a crucial role in the 2004 dispute over the program, intervening with President Bush to help deal with the threat of mass resignations that grew out of a day of emergency meetings at the White House and at the hospital bedside of John Ashcroft, who was then attorney general.
In a separate development, Senate Democrats, who were unaware of Mr. Mueller’s comments, demanded the appointment of a special counsel to investigate whether Mr. Gonzales committed perjury in his testimony on Tuesday about the intelligence dispute. The Senate Judiciary Committee, meanwhile, issued a subpoena to Karl Rove, the White House senior political adviser, and another presidential aide, J. Scott Jennings, for testimony about the dismissal of federal prosecutors, another issue that has dogged Mr. Gonzales. . .
White House officials said the Democrats had engaged in political gamesmanship. (haha -- Monica Lewinsky???) . . .
The conflict underscored how Mr. Gonzales’s troubles have expanded beyond accusations of improper political influence in the dismissal of United States attorneys to the handling of the eavesdropping program, in which Mr. Gonzales was significantly involved in his previous post as White House counsel.
“I had an understanding that the discussion was on a N.S.A. program,” Mr. Mueller said in answer to a question from Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Democrat of Texas, in a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.
Asked whether he was referring to the Terrorist Surveillance Program, or T.S.P., he replied, “The discussion was on a national N.S.A. program that has been much discussed, yes.”
Mr. Mueller said he had taken notes of some of his conversations about the issue, and after the hearing the committee asked him to produce them.
An F.B.I. spokesman declined Thursday night to elaborate on Mr. Mueller’s testimony.
In a four-hour appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Mr. Gonzales denied that the dispute arose over the Terrorist Surveillance Program, whose existence was confirmed by President Bush in December 2005 after it had been disclosed by The New York Times. Mr. Gonzales said it centered on “other intelligence activities.”
Brian Roehrkasse, a spokesman for the Justice Department, said Thursday night that Mr. Gonzales had testified truthfully, saying “confusion is inevitable when complicated classified activities are discussed in a public forum where the greatest care must be used not to compromise sensitive intelligence operations.”
The spokesman said that when Mr. Gonzales had said there had been no controversy about the eavesdropping operation, he was referring only to the program to intercept international communications that Mr. Bush publicly confirmed.
“The disagreement that occurred in March 2004 concerned the legal basis for intelligence activities that have not been publicly disclosed and that remain highly classified,” Mr. Roehrkasse said.
The four senators seeking an inquiry into Mr. Gonzales’s testimony sent a letter to the Justice Department saying “it is apparent that the attorney general has provided at a minimum half-truths and misleading statements.”
The senators asked for the appointment of a special counsel. While the Justice Department is not obliged to act on their request, the letter reflected the chasm of distrust that has opened between lawmakers on the Judiciary Committee and Mr. Gonzales. . .
Similar requests are routinely sent to witnesses after hearings, but Mr. Leahy’s pointed language underscored his view of the seriousness of the dispute over Mr. Gonzales’s veracity. . .
Interesting to watch history in the making. Remembering that this is indeed what we are doing while feeling free to express our opinions as well as those of others ~ not like some other countries. In the long run though, we are not able to judge while emotions run rampant and we should be aware of this. Some religionists would remind us of the bible quotes, for example.....
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/1506/sins.htm
Dear Amiee,
We've known his middle name was Hussein since before he decided to run for the nomination. His name was never said on Fox news with out the Hussein in there, "Barak Hussein Obama". And the fact that Hillary thinks it would be irresponsible is sort of silly -- he's her opponent, she's not going to say, "Hey, that guy's so smart I think he should be president". And the article referred to him going to countries to visit, with China being proud if a president visited and losing face if he didn't. I didn't hear him say he'd visit countries. I heard him say he would meet with the leaders. For all I know they'll get together at Hooters and shoot the bull . I don't even have a television and I know this -- but I can stream. And I can read. It's just spin. And don't forget who owns the WP. Freedom of speech no longer exists in this country, alas. And the news is privately owned by people with agendas -- for instance Westinghouse owns CBS. Westinghouse makes nuclear plants. Don't be expecting to see any deep investigative journalism about the danger of power plants from that news source. So forth and so on.
I don't quite get the connection between this article and free speech. I would like to hear from you on it more though-- seriously. Thanks... Bela
Well it was news to me about his name. Duh! And about your comment: "miss the metaphore" That's so cute. It's a Chinese belief, custom or superstition that to separate a person's head from his body is bad luck. Sadaam's head was separated from his body as you know and so The Chinese don't think much of the good old usofa. Don't worry if you miss the metaphore~~it's all connected. I should tell you about my dream of Sadaam's sons. It's a puzzlement to me.
Thanks Amiee,
I slightly guessed that's what you meant -- about Saddam's head -- but wasn't sure we were on the same page, which evidently we were. The whole thing was so gruesome and definitely not a good plan (as it were) . There is born another 1,000 fighters (or 20,000) -- or Muslim radicals -- or martyrs, or contras, or freedom fighters -- enemies -- depends on who is telling the story it seems.
There's another Chinese saying that's so true, "I don't know why you hate me, I never helped you!" Hah. Sort of like no good deed goes unpunished.
Thanks for the answer! You're fun to follow
Bela
When I refer to bad job conditions, I am refering to China, India, the Middle East, and other Asian countries. American Capitolism has taken a huge toll on these countires poor, whether directly, or indirectly. Yes, those jobs you speak of; Wal Mart, Mcdonalds, are far from the worst jobs one could get here. But it is not the jobs HERE I am speaking of. This is why many people are unaware of what happens in other places; because they see conditions in North America, and think that this must be how things are everywhere.
I remember, while working in this call center, people complaining about their work conditions. The cublicles were small, the employees were always grouchy, they pay was barely good enough for the job, as a person spent 8 hours a day every day speaking with people who could barely turn their computer on, and turned angry when we had to show them how. The majority of call centers are outsourced. There are Two in Canada, none in America, for this particular company. The Canadian ones get the best treatment from America, but only because most of them think they are speaking to an American (English speaking, some figure out the Canadain accent). This attitude can change instantly when they figure out they are speaking to a Canadian, even if the previous 40 minutes of the call went fine. Yelling, screaming, all of this, and the employess HAD to take it. There is not one day where you could walk down the hallways and not hear of every other employee complaining about "The last call I had".
However, even if the American is speaking to a Canadian, but this Canadian has even a SLIGHT Indian accent, they become hostile to the point of abuse. Over nothing. Even if they speak english fine, with only an accent, they still receive unwarranted abuse.
Our particular contract was shown a picture of work conditions over in india, with the caption (You think you've got it Bad?). In this picture, sit thousands of these people. Cubicles? No, I wouldnt call them so. They are a little smaller than a bathroom stall.
Imagine, if at all possible, working in this work environment, listening to not just screaming, but some of the worst verbal abuse you could imagine, being paid next to nothing, and an employer who could care less if you died or became ill. Of course, the job requirements state a person MUST sell a cirtain amount in a month, MUST make a cirtain amount of offers a month, MUST have a cirtain amount of Completely Satisfied Customer surveys a month (next to impossible if you work in an outsourced call center), and have no choice but to work here, because there is no other jobs that can hire this many people (Yes, there are still small businesses, but there is no way these could hire the amount of people who work at these centers, if they decide to leave). Even if you become sick, without some sort of legal document saying you are sick, even just a stomach flu, you can be fired.
Because the Majority of these people decided to work here in the first place (Usually by false asdvertising, such as the call center I worked at.), at the time of these companies implementation, all of the other businesses died. Hundreds, thousands of business destroyed, all for the implementation and working of one business; in which almost all profits leave the country. Keep in mind this; If all of these small business die, and a massive population of people are in these call centers, how could they leave? where would they go? How would they make the money to start up their business again? What happens when no profits go to the citizens and country? It becomes even more impoverished.
In regards to McDonalds, this company is a joke. A restaurant that sells fast food for cheap, with a mascot as a clown, who donates money to children charities, and aims their adverising of this grossly unhealthy food, at children? It is funny they would do this, considering that there are probably more people who become obese, or sick from this food, than those they save with this 'Charity'. That would be like a person donating to cancer research, and at the same time, selling cigarettes by the truckload. And then this company claims to be 'nice', 'helpful', 'generous'. But of course, with the clown as their mascot, how could they NOT be so?
American Capitolism does not allow these countries to become integrated properly. All Capitolism cares about is the maximization of profits, no matter what, even to the very last cent (Im not exagerrating here either). If this means the exploitation of millions OUTSIDE of the home country, why not? no one here will know, or even if they do, they wont care.
If a country is to claim that their primary goal is Freedom of rights, then it should be supporting it throughout the world, not JUST where the public eye is (Iraq), and not JUST in their own country. This isn't a form of human rights; this is an attempt at world domination, destroying or exploiting the countries noone cares about, or noone sees. Out of sight, out of mind. China? yes, this country is horrible for its use and treatment of workers, but it is the country doing this to THEIR OWN workers, not to the workers of a completely differnet country.
Having these companies in large cities, or wealthy countries, is not so bad. These places can handle, and actually welcome, this capitolism. This is how many modern-day, first world countries survive with a population in a "we-want-it-cheap-and-fast" mindset. But this attitude does not, and cannot, be applied to these third world countries. They will get it cheap. They will get it fast. But at the same time, they get a disease that kills along with it. Sounds like a bad case of 'The Hookers' to me.
