Aug

31

Hurricane Katrina: Incredible Destruction

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The Associated Press has reported the following:

“NEW ORLEANS – The governor of Louisiana says everyone needs to leave New Orleans due to flooding from Hurricane Katrina. “We’ve sent buses in. We will be either loading them by boat, helicopter, anything that is necessary,” Gov. Kathleen Blanco said. Army engineers trying to plug New Orleans’ breached levees struggled to move giant sandbags and concrete barriers into place, and the governor said Wednesday the situation was growing more desperate and there was no choice but to abandon the flooded city.”

Since August 21st (and even now), I do not have sufficient internet, television or newspaper access. In other words, I am somewhat disconnected from the world and haven’t been able to effectively follow world events.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is shocking. The incredible destruction is something to absorb and, more importantly, act upon.

The Red Cross, among other relief organizations, is working on sending assistance and aid to the Gulf Coast region. If you can help in anyway, then please do so.

Aug

29

At UC Merced and Lovin’ It

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First and foremost: I made it to UC Merced. I have SO MUCH to talk about, but I don’t have much time at the moment. Things are moving so fast it’s crazy. The key word is flexibility.

I have three words to describe the new UC Merced campus: wow, hot, amazing.

More to come in the future after I get a stable internet connection in my dorm room.

Aug

20

A little over 24 hours to go

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In about 30 hours, I’ll leave my humble home in Southern California for the rich farmland of the Central Valley. Wow.

I spent the last week conversing with all my “peeps�? at Cerritos College. I encountered several perplexed faces asking, “Wait, aren’t you supposed to be in Merced.�?

“Yeah, I leave on Sunday but came by to say bye,” I’d respond.

It’s remarkable to reflect on a life here. I’ll be sure “not to be a stranger.”

Aug

15

Gaza Strip Withdrawal Starts

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In 1947, the state of Israel was created. Since then, a handful of wars, assassinations, terrorist bombings, and death have gripped the region.

Today, August 15th, marks the first stage of Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

The Associated Press writes:

“For most of his political career, Sharon had led Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank and Gaza. As recently as two years ago, he said Israel would not give up even small, isolated Gaza settlements.

“But the changing reality in the nation, region and world made me change my mind and change my position,” Sharon said in his address Monday. “We cannot hold Gaza for good. More that a million Palestinians live there, doubling their numbers every generation.”"

This first step is incredibly painful; however, it is necessary.

Only a democracy would recognize the ills and costs of war and take such a step. Today represents more than a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. It represents what people within a democracy are capable of and that is taking the steps necessary to ensure peace and stability.

Aug

12

AP: “Federalism Emerges as Deal-Breaker in Iraq”

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With less than 3 days for the Iraqi constitution to be completed, it appears as if the Kurds in the North and Shiites in the South are pushing for a more fragmented Iraq.

The Associated Press reports: “BAGHDAD, Iraq – As the deadline neared to approve an Iraqi constitution, Shiite and Kurdish leaders agreed on the name of the country, Islam as the state religion and what to do about Kurds displaced from the ethnically-mixed city of Kirkuk, a Kurdish legislator said. But Sunni Arab politicians were pessimistic of reaching a deal by the Monday deadline, with one, Saleh al-Mutlaq, saying discussions “need divine intervention.”

With an arbitrarily imposed deadline, I don’t expect the constitution to be the constitution to end all constitutions. However, the deadline is producing much needed political participation.

The Sunnis, located predominately in Central Iraq, are the minority. Fearing that their interests are being squelched, they contend that the constitution will not be accepted by the people. Sunni politicians are encouraging their fellow Sunnis to take an active role in the next elections: the elections that will decide the first constitution of post-Saddam Hussein Iraq.

As more people, and in particular the Sunnis, recognize their stake in the future Iraq, they will participate. The writing of the constitution is inspiring more people to get involved and participate in their political system. The more people participate then the more legitimate the government will be considered later on.

What constitution presented on Monday by the Iraqis will be something to marvel at.

Aug

11

East West Ice Palace Party and Broom Ball, So Much Fun!

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Before I even talk about what happened, I must thank/congratulate Joelle for her over 3 months of planning and managing to keep it a secret. This has “raised the bar” for future birthday parties.

Ok, so what happened? Well, my good friend Kenny’s birthday is on Sunday. So, to celebrate, Joelle, his girlfriend, rented out the East West Ice Palace in Artesia so we could play broomball (hockey without skates and sticks with a “broom” at the end).

But before broom ball, we had to get Kenny into one of the locker rooms. We coaxed him in by saying that one of our friends (Alex) fell and got hurt while skating. As the concerned person Kenny is, he rushed to the room. But, to his surprise, the room what filled with over 20 friends (a total of 40+ showed up throughout the night) and relatives!

Moreover, throughout the night, I took about 200 pictures! Therefore, I plan on creating a slideshow of the best pictures for people to view/download! Below are just a fraction of them.

Surprise! #2

We Need Teams for Broom Ball!

I'm ready! Bring it on!

As I stood there, I told myself: “This is what life is all about.�?

Regarding the broom ball game: 6-1. It was fun and exciting. I think everyone slipped and slid on the ice at one time or another. Both teams played their hearts out!

Yours truly got a hat trick (3 goals).

Aug

8

Inclusionary Politicking a Must

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Today, the Los Angeles Times’ Ronald Brownstein published an articled titled “Republicans Run the Political Risk of Becoming Too Self-Reliant.�?

Brownstein argues that due to a Republican majority in both the House and Senate, the amount of discourse occurring among Republicans and Democrats is limited and this will cause Republicans to become “too self-reliant.�?

Several pieces of legislation were approved by Congress, such as the comprehensive highway bill or free trade agreement with Central American; much to the liking of Republican (and some Democrat) legislators and their constituents.

I believe legislation should not just be evaluated on what it provides to an individual legislator and their constituents, but what is provides to the American people, regardless of Party affiliation, as a whole. The majority does rule; however, majorities are creations of the prevailing political winds and the winds of America’s political landscape are shifting.

Brownstein closes with “Republicans are talking mostly to each other now. But to maintain power, they may need to broaden the conversation before long.�?

Not only must the conversation broaden, but inclusionary politicking (the accounting of the minority’s interests) must take place in order to meet the needs and wants of more Americans.

Aug

7

AP: “ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings Dies at 67″

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The Associated Press reported about 10 minutes ago that long-time ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings has died at 67.

Jennings was a remarkable reporter. Just this past week I commented to myself, “Why isn’t Jennings on the air?” Unfortunately, I now know why.

Best regards to a man who was a constant of evening news and to millions of Americans and people around the world.

Aug

6

Today Marks the 60th Anniversary of the Atomic Bomb Drop on Japan

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Today, Saturday, August 6, 2005 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Atomic Bomb Drop on Japan by the United States during World War II.

I believe it is important to recognize such defining events in our human history. As I mentioned elsewhere before, we should never ignore the past, for if we ignore our past, then we are fated to lose forever what we should have learned.

Visit Wikipedia’s Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki page for more information.

Aug

6

Web Posts Get 27 Fired

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The Associated Press reported that the Automobile Club of Southern California recently fired twenty-seven employees after recieving a complaint from an employee about “feeling harassed by the comments, which were written by employees on the MySpace.com Web site on their own time at home.”

The Automobile Club Spokeswoman Carol Thorp stated: “”This isn’t a free speech issue. You can’t just go on and say anything about anybody — and keep your job.”

Due to the fact that corporations are private entities, they can enact and enforce policies that attempt to control the behavior of their employees. The rationale for such a policy is two-fold.

First, if a person is an employee of the corporation, then he or she is also a representative of the corporation. Moreover, a corporation seeks to maintain a good reputation with the public because it relies on the public to make business. For example, if employee John Doe of XYZ Inc. is sending spam with the signature “John Doe, Employee of XYZ Inc,�? that will reflect not just on Mr. Doe, but XYZ Inc. as well.

The second reason a corporation would want to control the behavior of their employee is because the employee doesn’t just represent a specific corporation, but an entire industry. Using the previous example, if XYZ Inc. is an energy company, then the entire energy industry will be negatively recognized because of Mr. Doe’s spamming.

In sum, we are taught that stereotyping is wrong, but we must also remember that our behavior is reflective of us, as an individual, AND the group we associate ourselves with.