Category: Commentary

Times When History Breeds Change

 

There are times in history when unexpected events suddenly open up the potential for amazing, much needed change.  The enormity of the event leaves a void that cries out to be filled by a reaction of equal enormity that moves civilization forward.  Sometimes the potential is acted upon, sometimes not.

The tragedy of the 9/11 attacks were one such point in history.  They opened a yawning void that could have been filled not just with striking back, but also with the creation of a daring initiative that would have strengthened our nation.

With courage and vision George Bush could have moved heaven and earth (and Congress!) to institute a two-year public service requirement for every high school graduate.  They would serve in any capacity they chose – working in national parks, in nursing homes, as teachers or in the military.   By serving in this way they would earn their first two years of college or vocational school.

Bush had the perfect opportunity to appeal to our better natures; instead, we were urged to buy more consumer goods and go to New York City and see some musicals.

Yes, we pulled off immediate retaliation against the Taliban and Bin Laden in Afghanistan, which was totally appropriate; but then we went off on a tangent in Iraq, and allowed the momentum in Afghanistan to swing back to the Taliban.  An historical chance had come….and been wasted.

Cardinals seated before the pope at the Vatican
The Vatican

To my way of thinking, the Catholic Church is at such a point now.  Pope Benedict suddenly changed the ground rules in retiring, the troubles the church is going through are overwhelming, and the possibilities are there for the election of a reformer.

Even greater possibilities open up if a reformer is elected.  No one would argue with the fact that the worst shame hanging over the church today is the sexual abuse of young boys by priests.  Allowing priests to marry (gulp) would solve two problems at once; child abuse would end, and more men would become priests and fill the many pulpits that are empty today.

After all, married Episcopal priests are allowed to change faiths and join the Catholic Church as priests; why the dichotomy?  And if priests are allowed to marry, how about women priests (gulp GULP) ?  Currently the Catholic Church is missing half the talent available to it.  It’s amazing how much common sense this all makes, even if the odds are against it happening.

A Pox on Both Their Houses!

Don’t know if this was said about about Romeo and Juliet or the Hatfields and McCoys, but I’m reserving it for the House and Senate of the United States.

Here we are, a week from March 1st, and thanks to stubborn refusal to compromise on BOTH sides, we have no “Grand Bargain” and therefore sequestration will be upon us in a week; that is, if they don’t put off dealing with it and “kick the can down the road” yet again.  I am SICK of hearing that expression.
party-animals
Everyone in their right mind agrees that sequestration (with its across the board 10% cuts) is the dumbest possible way to deal with our financial crisis.  It was meant only to hold legislators’ feet to the fire so that they would reach an agreement as to how to cut the deficit, so sequestration would never occur.

No one wants to see what happens when we have fewer air traffic controllers, meat inspectors or airport security agents; nor do we want to see those who are old and sick lose their home health providers and have to move into nursing homes.

Obama let us down in the first administration by not using the Bowles-Simpson deficit reduction plan to force on both houses the realization that each must accept compromise.  Now Obama is in a much greater position of strength than he was then; his win in the elections was substantial, and the message from the voters to both the President and Congress was:  DO SOMETHING TO BRING THE DEFICIT DOWN – NOW.

Democrats need to cooperate on cutting entitlements back so they can realistically be there for those who come after us.  Retirement age must regress upwards.  Unions should not be allowed to block compromise.  WE HAVE BEEN LIVING BEYOND OUR MEANS – IF WE  WANT TO CHANGE THIS WE MUST AGREE TO CUTS.

Republicans need to agree to means testing for both Medicare and Social Security.  Imposing a 30% minimum tax rate on those with INCOMES over a million dollars doesn’t seem excessive.  They need to lead the way with tax and subsidies reform, and concentrate on smarter, not just smaller, government.  They need to accept a smaller military now that we have left Iraq and are leaving Afganistan.

REPUBLICANS NEED TO STOP BEING AGAINST EVERYTHING AND BE PROACTIVE IN REACHING A GRAND BARGAIN.

Yes, as you can tell from the “we” and “they,” I am a Democrat, but not one who feels their party is blameless in this standoff.  Senate Majority Leader Reid strikes me as a glorified funeral director.  House Majority Leader Boehner is handcuffed by ultra-conservatives.  The President is standing by, waiting to point fingers of blame.  This won’t do, folks.

TAKE US SERIOUSLY.  TAKE YOUR WORK SERIOUSLY.  DO SOMETHING – NOW.

 

Book Talk, Military Women

Guests at Over the Moon bookstore reading party
Guests at Over the Moon bookstore reading party

Over the Moon

Thanks to friends and strangers who showed up for my book talk about “Never Ask Permission” at Over the Moon Bookstore in Crozet on the 23rd. You braved some serious cold to turn up, and not only listened but bought the book! Thank you, as well, to Anne and Laura, the sister owners of Over the Moon, for inviting me to give a book talk there.

Women in Combat

I was intrigued this week, when Secretary of Defense Panetta announced that women in the military would now be able to serve in combat positions. Their inability to do so up until now has understandably worked against their promotion; the rationale has been that they could not meet the physical requirements that men have to meet, especially in upper body strength.

Apparently, under the new rules, women will have to prove that they are capable of doing the job they would like to have, without down grading the physical requirements; a key to having men accept their presence.

Since I’m reading “Living with Honor” by Sal Giunta, who received the Medal of Honor in 2010, I immediately wondered if a woman would be strong enough to carry the SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) gun that can fire 900 rounds per minute. This was Giunta’s heavy assignment, made heavier still by the steep terrain of the Afghanistan mountains. Carrying commo equipment also requires unusual strength.

I’m all for the women who aim high. It strikes me, though, that while in this transition the military see/saw will go through some wild swings before it achieves a balance that men serving with women can accept.