Bower's Blog (The Oceans Geography 2305): Global Warming - Solar power

Bower's Blog (The Oceans Geography 2305): Global Warming - Solar power

WHERE DID THE AMERICANS GO?

I'm a bit confused. In fact, I'm a lot confused. I remember being told stories by my uncles (and aunt) about World War II. What it was like in the Philippines and in Europe and in the service during that time. Dad was too old for WWII and too young for WWI. Was he mad about that. But that's another story.

Today's (3/31/07) newspaper has an article in it stating that the "Latino" vets from WWII are bothered that their efforts and sacrifices were not prominent in the movie "The War". It's going to be shown on PBS sometime in September. The local American G.I. Forum (a Hispanic vets' organization) chief says it's "disgraceful". OK, I can understand why he may feel slighted, but I have no sympathy with organizations like La Raza and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. They were not there. Most of them could not name five important battles, neither in Europe nor the Far East. They were not there, but there grandparents probably were.

Our local PBS affiliate plans to run the documentary and "sandwich" local programs highlighting the actions of Hispanics during the showing (thus effectively interfering with what the film makers are trying to give us) and sucking up to be "politically correct". It's sad to see the vets lowering themselves to this level. Maybe because I learned a fair amount of the history of that war in school and from my relatives.

(Sidebar: I have questioned about half a dozen fairly recent graduates of various high schools here concerning what they learned of WWII in school. Blank looks were the standard response. They mumbled about wars fought long before, but were ignorant of either World Wars. Most of those I questioned were Hispanics.)

I also had the good fortune to spend time in the Philippines when I was in the service. I learned from the Filipino men and women what they and the American troops went through. I heard, many times, that the Filipinos wouldn't object if they became an American possession. But that's another story.

When I was growing up, it was simple. You were either American or you weren't. It was a clear cut dichotomy. If you were a good guy the Americans helped you study for your citizenship. And many immigrants went to the movies constantly. And listened to the radio. And watched American television. They learned English from these activities. And they got high school credits as well as citizenship from their efforts. They became Americans. Not hyphenated Americans, but real, honest to God, Americans. And they took pride in that, as well they should have. It wasn't handed to them on a platter, they had to work to earn it. And they did, and they did, and they did.

I was a little kid, so maybe my recollections are blurred by the years. And very likely not.

I remember a lot of my playmates, though. My family came from German and Dutch stock (Kraut). I played with, and got along fine with kids who were Jewish (Jew). A girl and some boys who were black (Negroes). Boys who were dark skinned (Italian). A red haired girl I loved madly (Irish). Two girls and a boy who had shiny black hair (Mexicans). There were many others, but I do not remember which tribes they came from. If other kids didn't want to get along with us we had a simple solution that worked. We just didn't play with them. The point is this:

WE WERE AMERICANS.

We could not have cared less about where our parents or grandparents came from. There was no such thing as being a hyphenated American. Childhood does have a lot to do with our life and beliefs. Today, I have no time to listen to gripes about "mistreatment" in the past. I'm not interested in the wars our ancients fought with Indians. (They are getting their revenge, however. I leave a deposit of my money when I go to an Indian Casino.) My great, greats didn't own slaves (they came from Wisconsin, never a slave owning state as far as I know.) The Jewish kids and the Italians had parents who loved to feed me goodies. (I spent a fair amount of time in their kitchens.) We didn't talk about religion, either. The Mexican kids taught me about tacos and burritos. (Yum.) Mexico was an exotic place to me. And anything the little red haired girl did or said was hunky-dorey with me.

Growing up as I did, I carry absolutely no guilt about anything that happened in a past I had no input into. I contributed, in writings and cash, to helping correct social injustices, later in my life.

Sometimes I wonder about today's kids. Are they being taught the things that create racial hatred? Where are they learning about it, then? Are they being taught about antique and ancient hatreds in school or at home?

But I guess I'm kind of hard line when it comes to being an American. Please note, I am NOT a German-American.

I, world, am an AMERICAN.

OUR GOVERNATOR AND JON STEWART

Bill Richardson was a guest on the Colbert Report on the Comedy Channel the other day. Jon Stewart, the host of the show, is well known for his straight faced put ons of pompous personalities. He had a ball with the Governator. Bill said things he should have thought about before he answered, but, like many politicians, he didn't. In fact, he was like a whale sounding. Straight down to the lower depths. Bill made a point about his "qualifications". Both of them. He's qualified, he said, because he's got foreign policy experience. He also pointed out that he had national security experience. The meat was on the table and Jon remarked: "You negotiated with Sadam Hussein, you negotiated with the Taliban, you negotiated with North Korea. Those worked out very well for us." Then Bill Richardson also remarked that we had to have better schools (New Mexico ranks very high in number of drop outs). And he said he wanted to help the middle class. New Mexico is losing its middle class so fast you can almost hear them passing out of existence. Now, other than in the Colbert Report, Bill has come up with "solutions" for the fact that illegal immigrants need to be stopped. Here's a few of his ideas:

• "Most undocumented immigrants come to the United States to work low-wage jobs which few Americans want, such as picking crops or cleaning toilets. Our economy creates demand for at least 400,000 new low-skill illegal immigrants per year, but only about 140,000 are allowed to enter legally." That seems to be a Congressionally mandated number. Our forefathers did not want the county's economy destroyed by horrendous floods of immigrants. Wise men.
• "Yes, we are talking about people who knowingly have broken the law. And they should be held accountable, like all lawbreakers. But we also are talking about people who are economic refugees, and who contribute significantly to America's economic success and to the economic and political stability of their home countries -- with the billions in remittances they send home to their families every year." Ah, I see. We should forgive those who have knowingly broken the law. I suspect that can be expanded to murders, child molesters, drunk drivers, etc., etc. After all, he states that the illegal aliens contribute significantly to our economic success -- by sending billions of American dollars "home" to their families.
• "Al Qaeda took decades to find a way to hit America hard and terrorists are still out there, probing, plotting, and preparing for their next attack. I know that full well from my diplomatic experience. If there's a way for them to get into this country and attack us again they will find it. We need to stop them, and border security is essential to doing so." Of course we all realize that terrorists wouldn't be smart enough to infiltrate or follow the illegals entering America.
• "This is what we should do: immediately put enough National Guard troops at the border to keep it covered until we can secure it with Border Patrol officers. That should take no longer than three years. If it takes another year, let's do it." It seems to me that I've heard about short term "policing" somewhere else. Where was that?
• "Under present conditions, the Mexicans just don't have enough incentive to give us the help we need at the border. Mexico needs to do more to stem the flow. But if we create a reasonable guest worker program and provide a path to legalization for illegal immigrants already here -- there is every reason to expect Mexico to do its part to create more jobs in Mexico and to help us with border security." Oh My God. How stupid I am. We just have to surrender to the illegals, and take the word of the Mexican President, who is closely allied with Venezula's President, that he will do his part. We buy oil from Mexico (at horrble prices and send them millions of dollars regularly. President Calderon has already made it plain that he hates America. And consider that Bill wants to create a path to legalizing the illegal. Does that include shooting and maiming American citizens Bill?
• "As suggested by Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a leader on immigration issues, we should implement a system of "informant visas" and cash rewards for aliens who provide law enforcement with information on human traffickers and document forgers." There's a beauty. New Mexico is a beehive of document forgery. And we should also pay illegals for turning on their jackals. While they have family and friends living in gang ridden Mexico. Who will probably want to use jackals to get into the States. Something about this screams that it has not been thought out to a logical conclusion.

I understand there is a place in Washington called "Foggy Bottom". So there is a place in the capitol for you Bill. Somewhere near the White House, I think.

WHAT AMERICA WANTED IN IRAQ

want

The Bush Administration, the One Worlders, the NeoCons, the Military, the Religious Right, a number of other groups really had no idea what we, the American Public, wanted to happen in Iraq.

We did not want what we got. We did not want a dragged out, let's not try to hurt anyone, slow moving, profit making, our tax money spent to fatten corporations war, nor what seems to be becoming an eternal war.

WE WANTED REVENGE. Plain and simple, we wanted these half smart assassins to pay a price that would preclude any further need for our military intervention anywhere in the world. We wanted them to understand that any further acts of terrorism would bring only death, destruction and horror to any country that dared to challenge us. We didn't want incompetent "leadership", nor half baked generals who had to consider what was best for the Industrial Complex, our tax money being thrown down a bottomless pit, our soldiers being maimed and killed because of inadequate and incompetent planning. Simply put, we wanted the results of World War II on a smaller scale.

What we got was another Vietnam, another Korea. But on a much larger scale. Yes, there have been fewer men killed and wounded than in those wars, but we are also fighting a much smaller and more confined war.

The Republicans didn't get it right. Now, the Democrats aren't getting it right. "Surge" isn't the answer. Withdrawal isn't the answer. The only answer that will regain American's trust in their government is all out warfare. A very good general once said that "the purpose of armies is to smash, destroy and bring the enemy to their knees."

I may not be Jewish but it seems to me the Israelis have the answer that will solve our crisis. It seems to work like this: For every weapon you fire at us, we will fire a hundred at you. There will be no mercy. If you hide in populated areas we will retaliate far beyond your capabilities. If you do not hide, the results will be devastating.

It's time, sir. It is time.

NO PARTICULAR REASON

There's no particular reason for this picture, I just thought it was hilarious.

Well, wait a minute. It just reminded me of the present administration, Attorney General Gonzales and the eight fired attorneys. Sort of: "If you put your hands in too deeply, they probably are not going to smell nice when you take them out."

Firing United States Attorney David Iglesias is leaving an aroma that is not only unpleasant but very noticeable and confusing.

To make matters worse, he worked here in New Mexico. And the deeper people put their hands into where they shouldn't be, the more it seems to becoming putrid. Two of our Congressional delegates, Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Representative Heather Wilson (R-NM), apparently made phone calls to him concerning sealed indictments involving local Democrats.

I wonder why, and how a sealed indictment could have come to their attention? You don't suppose the AG contacted them, do you?

To add to the confusion, Iglesias was nominated for the job by Senator Pete.

Maybe Party loyalty came into play here. But my question has to be "What inspired, or forced Gonzales to fire him?"

NO VERITAS IN THE NEWSPAPER

Our illustrious newspaper, The Albuquerque Journal, has a big photo story on the front page today (3/28/07) purporting to show a "heroine" who supposedly "saved" a newborn in the University Hospital parking lot.

According to a source at the hospital, it ain't true. The woman who is credited with this life saving act, really didn't do anything except find a security officer. The security officer, reacting automatically, radioed into the emergency room, alerting the staff to the situation. The "heroin" was in a state of panic asking what to do. The officer instructed her to use a blanket from the back seat of the car and wrap the baby in it. The officer then turned to the birth mother to see how she was doing. The mother, worn out from the strain of birth, needed to be seated. The security officer saw to that and then returned to the newborn who gave the sign that everyone wants to hear. The baby cried.

Now, the only thing I can think of to explain the actions of the hospital administration (in proclaiming what was basically an onlooker as a "heroine") is that they wanted to play politics and make people feel more secure than they are at University Hospital. Maybe it will help them get more money from our state legislators. Maybe they thought that if it was a security officer who was the heroine, it would reflect badly on their staff. (The "heroine" was too busy carrying on and wringing her hands to be of much use.) The security oficer, who has been trained to handle situations such as this said the actions taken were "almost automatic".

In my opinion, the true story needs to be told and the real heroine needs to be honored.

Shame on you, University Hospital. Shame on you, Albuquerque Journal.