Big Talk

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Suppose you wanted a refugee and asylum system which followed the principle of "we can't take in everyone, but we can and should take in our fair share." What would be America's fair share of the world's refugees and asylum seekers?

I suppose one opinion I have is that there should be at least a rough location parity in the system: that is, the location where people apply for refugee or asylum status should not make a big difference in how their application is treated.

An article about Harris I liked:

https://prospect.org/politics/2024-07-29-member-congress-worked-kamala-harris-katie-porter/

A post about Harris I liked:

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/kamala-harris-made-feel-seen-no-one-else-looked-rcna167341

The most important thing to me about Harris and Walz, and Biden, is that they are normal politicians, who will say and do things that normal politicians say and do.

Things such as:

1) "The children are our future. In this coming economy of ours, nothing is more important than a good education."

2) "We will work to strengthen our alliances with NATO and in the Pacific. America works best when we work together."

3) "We can disagree without being disagreeable. Give and take is essential in a democracy."

4) "We will work to make sure that the future is less racist than the past." 

5) "The poor ain't so bad."

I liked Harris calling out the politics of division and distraction. I also liked Walz referring to Trump as a "robber baron", or "just another robber baron", putting Trump in historical context, and suggesting what the appropriate policy responses to him might be.

I am neither thrilled nor outraged by the use of the word "weird". I suppose I am a bit glad that the Democrats have found their courage, the courage to point out that the emperor is a little bit starkers, and a little bit barkers.

It is perhaps worth pointing out that there is a good weird, and a bad weird.

Good Weird is The Biggest Ball of Twine In Minnesota:

https://emschumacher.com/the-biggest-ball-of-twine-in-minnesota/

Bad Weird is sending out blast faxes along the lines of,

                                          "COWARDS, 

                                           We have cast the pearls of truth before swine.

                                            Damn you all!”

According to Al Franken's book, this is an actual fax sent by messieurs Olson and Southwell of the Northern Michigan Regional Militia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh_Is_a_Big_Fat_Idiot_and_Other_Observations

The weird discussion did remind of two movie scenes, one from Rubin and Ed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL1wl8ZL7Bo

and one from Good Morning, Vietnam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rew_Ts1d7zY 

"Dick, I've covered for you a lot of times, because I thought you were a little bit crazy. But you're not crazy. You're mean. And this is just radio."

If a nation has issues with its immigration system, those issues can be fixed. If there is a shortage of affordable housing, those houses can be built. But the damage that comes from having people caught up in a mob mentality chanting "mass deportations now" might never be fixed. I don't think you have a right to do that to people.

It reminds me of some things Al Gore said in his Abu Graibh speech:

https://www.wagingpeace.org/remarks-by-al-gore/ 

"young soldiers were put in an untenable position. For example, young reservists assigned to the Iraqi prisons were called up without training or adequate supervision, and were instructed by their superiors to “break down” prisoners in order to prepare them for interrogation.

To make matters worse, they were placed in a confusing situation where the chain of command was criss-crossed between intelligence gathering and prison administration, and further confused by an unprecedented mixing of military and civilian contractor authority.

The soldiers who are accused of committing these atrocities are, of course, responsible for their own actions and if found guilty, must be severely and appropriately punished. But they are not the ones primarily responsible . . .

 . . . the Judge Advocates General within the Defense Department were so upset and opposed that they took the unprecedented step of seeking help from a private lawyer in this city who specializes in human rights and said to him, “There is a calculated effort to create an atmosphere of legal ambiguity” where the mistreatment of prisoners is concerned."

"Our world is unconquerable because the human spirit is unconquerable, and any national strategy based on pursuing the goal of domination is doomed to fail because it generates its own opposition, and in the process, creates enemies for the would-be dominator."

"Listen to the way Israel’s highest court dealt with a similar question when, in 1999, it was asked to balance due process rights against dire threats to the security of its people:

“This is the destiny of democracy, as not all means are acceptable to it, and not all practices employed by its enemies are open before it. Although a democracy must often fight with one hand tied behind its back, it nonetheless has the upper hand. Preserving the Rule of Law and recognition of an individual’s liberty constitutes an important component in its understanding of security. At the end of the day they (add to) its strength.”

I'm not sure I've read a discussion about how the Israeli norms on how to respond to a terrorist attack have changed, and gradually gotten worse, over the past twenty-five years? 

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Little Talk

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How Much Waking Up Does A Man Require?

My current answer:

1. wake up

2. stare out the window a bit

3. get ready, make the bed. Possibly have a book to accompany you, during the long minutes of ready-getting and bed-making.

4. Un-tether the phone, if not un-tethered already. Check whether the sky has fallen.

5. ???

6. read the newspaper, if you want

7. one last, long, lingering look at the phone, before the re-tethering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZttdKu6acLc

8. profit!

I remember being impressed by Papa's morning routine in Stranger Things 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=037yf6iJkjQ

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Next post: March 1, 2025