DRDoubleYou

Isn't that what critics do?

In what might be the most OBVIOUS statement I've read from a national news source, the slug line for today's headlining story on Fox News says: "President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates say the move was made in large part because the latest intelligence out of Iran showed a greater threat coming from short- and medium-range missiles, and the prior plans were developed with long-range, intercontinental ballistic missiles in mind. Critics disagree."  Well... DUH - of course critics disagree... But, let's do a little more digging to find out what some of the people are saying:

Senator John McCain: "This decision calls into question the security and diplomatic commitments the United States has made to Poland and the Czech Republic, and has the potential to undermine perceived American leadership in Eastern Europe." But, I ask: why is it that Republicans only want to INCREASE governmental spending when it is war-related.  However, when an administration wants to spend money on its PEOPLE, we are wasting tax-payer dollars? Also - why do we need to be leaders in Europe? Are we a conquering power?

Czech Republic has only pledged 340 soldiers to the fight in Afghanistan (compared to US pledging nearly 30,000 – JUST TO Afghanistan). Poland has pledged only 2,000 (Source: www.Nato.int; ISAF troop contributing nations).  These nations are depending our the United States to build and fund missile protecting throughout Europe for a war they are not even supporting on their own.  This seems a little counter-intuitive.  However, we are a proud country. So, we won’t leave the Europeans empty handed.

Guardian.co.uk reports: “Yevgeny Miasnikov, a senior research scientist at Moscow's Centre for Arms Control, said the US administration would now consider ways of assuaging the Poles and Czechs, which might include providing Poland with Patriot interceptors capable of shooting down short- and medium-range missiles.

‘Obama has taken a step in the direction of improving US-Russian relations. This will definitely help build a partnership,’ Miasnikov said. ‘Russia will also now make some concessions, maybe on strategic talks over nuclear arms reduction or maybe over Iran.

‘Moscowwill try to catalyse the process of improving US-Iranian relations and will facilitate dialogue between the two sides. I don't think threatening Iran is the way to solve this problem.’”

Additionally – we are pledging to continue training and providing Patriot missiles for the Czech Republic and Poland for their safety and defense.  

Now – let’s examine the other side of this argument:

Are we backing down?  Are we hiding? Are we spending our international political capital (what little we have left) on a hope that there will be some safety and assistance provided by the Kremlin?  If so, I think we could all use a history lesson.  The Russians have not been historically kind to Americans.  Our empires clearly do not make good allies.  After the second world war, there was a differing opinion on everything from how to divide post-war Europe for its reconstruction and economic expansion to The Cold War to Russia invading our European Allies.  However, over time, we have been driven as a country in no small part due to our strained relationship with Russia.

In 1969, we landed on the Moon.  This is not to say we would have never landed on the moon, but we were in a Space Race that culminated with a moment of American Pride that will have a hard time being matched to this day – or any day in the future.

We also learned, as a country, the art of compromise.  The Reagan administration worked with the Kremlin to start a new era of peace and help establish trends that we see today.

HOWEVER – all of the marked improvements in our international standing (with Russia or other eastern European states) could all come to a crashing halt if we make mistakes at a critical point in our history.  Americans need to know we are working towards a common good – at home and abroad.  We need to know our politicians have learned from the mistakes of the past. We need to know that politicians look at issues with tomorrow in mind, not just today.  I think once we get to that point, we can then all cast our stones at every idea.  Until then, we have to give change an opportunity.  Don’t we? Or – are we just heading down the same paths?  Stay tuned…

Editor’s note: I have read several very closed-minded points of view so far today, and I think it is interesting that people are so short-sighted.  Poland fails to remember that America and Russia BOTH helped liberate them from Hitler’s war regime.  Since then, the US has been looked at as an ambassador of peace.  We reserve the right to seek our own path.

Until next time...

The daily concern: Division (not math)

I was just reading an article about Obama's visit to Ohio GM plants and some meetings with AFL-CIO members.  Feel free to take a look: Obama Visits Auto Plants

You can read it for yourself, so I won't bore you with summaries.  However, it got me thinking.  Why are we so divided as a country on what seem to be inarguable points?

1) The economy is in shambles.  This is a fact.  Recession, depression, whatever you want to call it.  We are in a mess that started (prepare yourself if you're a right winger) LONG BEFORE OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT.  Lehman Brothers shuttered their doors a year ago - when there was another administration in the White House.  So - it might be someone else's fault - or... it might not be the fault of the government at all.  MAYBE there are too many greedy people on Wall Street taking from the poor and giving to themselves that it's creating a free-for-all where the power is in the hands of the rich, not the figure-heads that are our political leaders. 

Ok - the first part is true, the second part (anything after the word MAYBE) I kind of got carried away.  Sorry about that.

2) The war isn't over. I don't care who you voted for... I just have one question: Why haven't I heard anything about the war since January 20th?  As a citizen of this country, I think we have a right to know what's going on.  However, to our chosen news sources, it's not deemed 'news-worthy', so we don't hear about it.  Messed up, right? I think this should speak VOLUMES about the "No-Spin Zone" etc that we see on TV.  They tell us what they are ready to help us believe, not what we should or WANT to hear.

3) Political parties are more about distinguishing their differences than getting things accomplished.  It is a sad day when Ted Kennedy passes away only to have articles written about how we lost one of the last aisle-crossing gentlemen. (read here: Ted Kennedy: The Great Aisle Crosser). We used to be a proud nation of open-minded people.  Now, it seems we are focused so deeply on our DIFFERENCES, that we cannot find any common ground.  And - the people who used to share the values of continued success through compromise are exiting their public offices left and right due to passing, or being voted out by people who prefer partisan politics.

4) At some point it became ok to lose respect for your fellow man.  Whether it's Kanye West getting on stage and parading around during Taylor Swift's moment, or a Senator screaming "YOU LIE" while the President of the United States of America is speaking to the nation.  We have all lost a little of the reverence and respect that at one time made this a proud country.  The media-spun story lines and the over-informed / under-educated society that we live in has become so self-involved that we no longer care about the thoughts and feelings of others (think about this in terms of international politics, mass media, or even your neighborhood bar-b-que).  We've lost our way. 

I would like to think that as this blog matures, I will continue to hit on some of the ridiculous points made by BOTH sides of many arguments and help people return to making EDUCATED and PERSONAL decisions - ones that THEY truly believe in and support.  We shall see.  Day 3 of Blogging is starting to produce some writing with feeling.

Until next time.

THAT'S ENOUGH, Kanye West

In a rare moment in celebrity gossip - rare because I actually decided I cared about it - Kanye West stole Taylor Swift's "moment" on stage as she won Female Video of the Year... or Female of the Year... or Chick making a Video To Get An Award From A TV Station That No Longer Plays Music Videos.  Either way, Kanye West took it upon himself to take over her time on stage and ruin it for her.  Take a look at the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtYLANCE1Kg&feature=related.

Now - I will have to take a minute and expose some of my on personal opinion: Taylor Swift is infectious.  Like her or not - and chances are, if you are over the age of 15, NOT - her tunes of common power chords and catchy teeny-pop lyrics are non-offensive and easy to listen to.  That may be her downfall to people like Kanye, but it's her niche - and she's working it like a season veteran (probably because her TEAM is made of veterans in the industry).  Ok... that being said, I have to sound off:

WHO DOES KANYE THINK HE IS?  I am not going to say it is about his love for a specific type of music or his misunderstanding of the Country Music genre, but I will rant as if it is.  FIRST: There are millions of musicians in this world.  They are all influenced by different styles of music, different singers, songwriters - maybe a guitar, or a turn table, or a saxophone.  However, any musician should be able to tell you there's no such thing as BAD MUSIC.  Just because it doesn't fit YOUR lifestyle or musical preference does NOT make it bad music. 

Does he not like country music? Chances are, no. But, for an R&B artist who has found some success on both the R&B and mainstream top 40 charts, he should respect the value of a Cross-Over artist. Taylor Swift's music has made her a fan favorite with her chosen demographic (much like Kanye's), so for ANYONE to second guess that is heartless.  FURTHER - hampering someone's personal enjoyment of reaching what some consider the PINNACLE of their musical career is not only selfish, but rude and unjustified.

Those few points aren't well made, I know - but here is a dominating concern:

The separation in this country over ideals and personal preferences has done nothing but manifest upon itself to the point where one side feels it is acceptable to bash others PUBLICLY. We live in a great country where we are free to do whatever it is we choose - until practicing those rights hinder the rights of others.  Now, we are so insanely attached to our own rights, we take the rights of others into account less and less.  There is no thought of affection or appreciation for others differences - when, in fact, it was those differences that created the power in this nation.

The societal division in this nation has a likelihood to tear this country apart.  There is a pompous attitude and close-mindedness that is ruining people's spirit.  Let's get it together.  Open our minds a little bit. Share in each other's joy and sorry.  Be a TEAM.  And GROW as one.

And, if you have something negative to say, Kanye, say it to Lady Gaga or whoever is sitting right next to you.  I bet the rest of the country doesn't share your heartless disdain for others.

That's ENOUGH, Kanye West. Sit down. We'll get to you in the part of the show where we discuss self-indulgent douche-bag rappers.

A new dawn, a new day, a new life - for the blogging world...

Credit where credit's due:  I can't say this was wholly my idea - Kari made the recommendation after I spent about 115 minutes of a 120 minute car ride home the other day writing her an e-mail just airing my own thoughts and ideas about... well... nothing and everything.

It's been a while since I have forced (or allowed) myself to sit and write.  And, while I easily have enough to say kept me off track, it feels good to be in a situation where I can write and maybe even be heard. 

Over the next few months and years, I will likely post about political views (I might even start reading up so I make educated posts); comical points (there's nothing better than a guy getting hit with a wiffle ball hit on a line drive from his 6 year old son); family (the bigger they are, the harder they fall); and plenty of other dramatic, fun, and interesting topics.

I encourage you to stay tuned - grow with me (and my semi-over-priced blog).  Who knows - you might have something to add.  And - I promise this won't be like Facebook.  This will be MUCH more real - and interesting!