Foolhardy

Yes, this is April Fool’s Day. No, this blog is not playing a trick on you, the reader.

Instead, I am letting loose on several topics that individually are major issues in need of solution. Taken together, they represent a catastrophic threat in need of immediate attention. Oh, there will be those who argue one topic or another is not dire, maybe not even a problem in the long run. But I will counter that any problem left unresolved is a threat to our future. And that leads to my first topic.

1.       Not willing to take action: in our own personal lives, corporate careers, and community affairs, we put off solving problems all the time. Some issues are worked on and solved. Some are merely addressed but not managed a twit. But most of the time we talk about issues but do nothing to fundamentally change the danger of those issues. Why is that? why do we shirk from taking responsibility to make the world, our lives, better, friendlier and less dangerous? That question deserves an answer. How do we turn this around?

2.       Not keeping up to date on current events, emergent problems: we used to have public media that informed us of emergent issues and news. Today, that news is mostly about the weather or acts of violence and crime. We have allowed the media to become a political toy for politicians so they can manipulate election results. It is up to us, not them, to demand and get a free press that is not biased and willing to examine issues in full whether the full story can be told or not. Examining life fully is a good thing. Eventually finding answers to mysteries is a desired outcome. So, let’s do this and stop ignoring the real problem. We must know what is happening in the world and at home so we can live fully and responsibly. Actions of ignorance only earn us more danger to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

3.       Not treating international relations as job 1: if we all got along, on our neighboring blocks, towns, regions and states, that would solve a lot of problems. Getting along among nations is even larger. At home we have the luxury of debating the ins and outs of our own philosophy. On the international stage, such debates can quickly turn into war. In the nuclear age, that is a recipe for global extinction of mankind. Getting along internationally is a must if we and the planet are to have a future at all. What does China intend to do? What about Russia? What does America want the world to look like in 50 years? Do we think we should be in charge? Ought we to think so? Or should we be managing foreign relations as a joint, communal project in which each nation has rights and responsibilities to get along without war? America can defend herself. In the final moment, we can annihilate the world with our nuclear weapons. So can China and Russia. So where do we go from that point? How do we reduce the threats and get along with each other? There are no second chances to get this right.

4.       Global Warming: scientists tell us this is real. I believe them. We need to act to save the planet. That will provide us with a planet healthy enough to support our continue lives. It is as simple as that. Yes, it will cost real money and time to fix. But we deserve it. So does all of animal life on the planet. If we fail, there will be little, or no life left to us.

5.       Not encouraging voters to vote, exercise their rights and be accountable: I have voted in every election ever presented to me except one primary election missed because the boss asked me to go on an emergency work trip. I don’t understand all the issues or candidates on the ballot. That is my bad. I am up on most of these, however, and I work on doing that year-round, election year or not. Encourage and nurture everyone to vote in every election. Help them understand the issues. A free, unbiased press will help accomplish this.

6.       Women’s rights, ERA: are you kidding? Women should have the same rights as men. Period. No arguments. They not only deserve it, even more so than a lot of men, but their humanity is basis enough to demand equal rights. Those of us who are male, also have females very close to us – sisters, mother, wives, daughters, grandmothers, aunts and all the in-laws. Why would we restrict their rights? For any reason?

7.       Minority rights: the same goes for minority rights. They aren’t minorities. They are people. They have the same rights as you and I. Our constitution says so. Our heritage says so. Logic declares it so. Why is this still a problem?

8.       Separation of Church and State: church is private. State is public. All of us own our governments. We are responsible for them and are accountable to them. And vice versa. Churches are different. They deal with very private thinking and believing. They have no authority over our corporate or governmental lives. Voters should decide on policies and candidates in open and fair elections. Churches do not apply. Neither do corporations. They are both private and privately owned.

Whew! All of these issues are critical to our future. It is time we did something meaningful about each one.

April 1, 2024

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