Ever wonder why people act the way they do? I have. Looking at both individuals and groups, there seemed to be precious little in common that explained their actions. Person A might react to a situation in a wildly different way than person B. Same stimulus. Different responses. Same choices to make. But different outcomes.
Reading through philosophical, political, and religious texts did not provide me with the answers I sought. Turning finally to psychological theories, I found one that has had a profound effect on my way of thinking. It was developed by Abraham Maslow.
Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) is best known for his theory of human motivation and personal development. His original work, known as the Hierarchy of Needs, hypothesized that there are five distinct stages through which humans develop, and is represented most often as a five level pyramid, but here represented, due to the usage of an eight year old MAC with only TEXT/EDIT capabilities, without the pyramid shape!:
-----TOP OF THE PYRAMID-----
SELF ACTUALIZATION (creativity, personal growth)
ESTEEM (status, achievement, respect)
BELONGING (family, friends, work group)
SAFETY (security, stability, freedom from fear)
PHYSIOLOGICAL (air, food, water, sex, shelter)
-----BASE OF THE PYRAMID-----
Maslow believed that these needs have become ingrained in humans over many thousands of years of evolution and remain constant across racial, gender, and ethnic differences. Survival possibilities were enhanced by those who followed this pattern of development and therefore their reproduction was likewise more successful than was those who did not.
People move both up and down the pyramid as a person's life undergoes both positive and negative changes. As a child, one's physiological and safety/security needs are hopefully met by one's primary caregivers. This permits movement into, and exploration of, the social (belonging) stratum. A cohesive family structure provides one part of belonging to a group. In school, the child develops additional group identities, such as being a member of their particular grade level, spelling bee team, soccer team, or crossing guard group. Once the child feels secure at the social level, he begins to strive for ego fulfillment - being recognized for individual achievements and achieving status within the group. Running faster than his peers, or being the best at multiplication tables may raise his status. Once this level of need is fulfilled, he can reach for the very top of the pyramid: self-actualization. This can include artistic self-expression, challenging oneself at the highest level of one's chosen field of interest, or the exploration of abstract fields of philosophies, arts, or sciences. Working on a special science project in a field he enjoys may provide the requisite accomplishment for achieving self-actualization.
Maturing from a child to an adult does not alter the way development evolves and devolves. When young adults leave home to live on their own for the first time, there is a realization that while parents had been providing for their physiological needs up to that time, a realignment in considering need fulfillment would now have to take place. Rent, utilities, insurance, et cetera now rush to the forefront, de-emphasizing the exploration of ego and self-actualization needs. The memories of those former need achievements may provide an additional impetus for again reaching the top of the pyramid.
Take the instance of an adult who is comfortably within "self-actualization" and has taken up, for example, oil painting and a musical instrument as means of self-expression. Suddenly he suffers a catastrophic illness that results in his losing his life savings, selling his home, and declaring bankruptcy. His free time, formerly spent self-actualizing, will now be spent with safety/security, or even some physiological needs. Perhaps he will need to take a second job, pawn his saxophone, and put his oils and canvases into storage. He will spend time worrying about fulfilling his basic needs. Gradually, he will move upwards again toward the top. This movement is most always gradual. However, if circumstances permit, and he were to come into an inheritance, then his oil painting could resume in a much more rapid fashion.
The factors that motivate movement up the pyramid include basic physiological and survival needs at the lowest steps followed by social or group interactivity and finally the need for individual fulfillment. The completion of one level motivates the individual to move to attempt similar completion of the next level. Development upwards through the hierarchy 'ends' with the self-actualization stage. However, that should not suggest stagnation. If a person's self-actualization involves being a writer, he may evolve that stage further by exploring music. Horror writer Stephen King and political satirist Dave Barry are examples. Both became very successful writers, and then decided to put together a rock band as well.
At this point, you might be asking yourself, "What about 'starving artists'? Are they an exception to Maslow's theory? It seems that all they care about is their 'art' - not about the more basic needs." Not necessarily.
Maslow's theory requires development into why 'starving artists' can apparently leapfrog past several levels and remain at self-actualization while ignoring more basic drives. This group is defined as those who remain in the self-actualization stage while apparently not fulfilling one or more intermediary stages. Literally, a starving artist will use her limited resources to purchase art supplies while ignoring bills for rent and food. How can such an individual continually self-actualize while bypassing safety/security, social, and ego needs as well as often those physiological needs that the vast majority of us respond to on a daily basis?
There is a great deal of difference in the amount of satisfaction a person requires before considering a specific need fulfilled before advancing to the next need. This may make it appear that a drive level has been bypassed when, in fact, the individual has fulfilled it with minimal apparent effort. Some actions, while seeming to fulfill just one need, may fulfill two or more. As an example, in agrarian societies, people grow their own crops and raise farm animals. This action fulfills both physiological (food) and safety/security (economic) needs. If a particularly successful harvest is brought in, it may even gratify social and ego needs. There are also individual differences in terms of how much discomfort a person can withstand before they decide to pay attention to that need. Perhaps the aforementioned artist can ignore some of her more basic needs while reaching for self-actualization. Another possible explanation is that she had, earlier in her life, an abundance of basic need fulfillment, and can therefore draw upon those memories during her current phase.
Let's look at another, related group - the political activists of the 1960s and 1970s. During the social upheavals of those decades, people who hungered for political and social change often chose courses of action and ways of living that put much less emphasis on individual needs and more on the wellness of the group. Experimentation in communal living was one such example. To the mainstream observer not versed in the philosophy of this movement, it would appear that the ego stage had been bypassed. Cultural blinders would have prevented the recognition that this lifestyle included the facet of a temporary voluntary suppression of the ego stage, as most communes ultimately disbanded for various reasons, and Maslow's hierarchy re-asserted itself.
From a political perspective, it can be seen how Maslow's ideas have, either consciously or unconsciously, influenced public policies around the world. Governments are accepting responsibilities for providing for their citizens' needs in areas that had been provided in the past, if at all, by the individual, family, or religious institutions: food stamps, rent assistance, publicly funded hospitals, halfway houses, public education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and so on.
The list does not end with attempts to fulfill the physiological and safety/security needs. Public funding of art exhibits, arts and crafts classes in local communities, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, are a few ways governments assist their citizens in the self-actualization realm.
Some criticize this as big government over-reaching its true function. I see it as recognition of people's needs, wants, and desires, and sincere attempts to help individuals develop their potentials to the maximum. As a result, all of society benefits.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Israeli Killings of Civilians in Gaza Detailed
A New York Times article about the killings of Palestinian civilians by Israeli soldiers during the recent military incursion into the Gaza Strip should concern us all. The reasons for Israel's invasion are not at issue here. The history of civilian casualties on both sides since 1948 is not at issue here. What is at issue is the way Palestinian civilians have been viewed, and killed, by some Israeli soldiers during this most recent warfare.
The following indented paragraphs, from the article, are especially noteworthy. click here to read the entire article
- Now testimony is emerging from within the ranks of soldiers and officers alleging a permissive attitude toward the killing of civilians and reckless destruction of property that is sure to inflame the domestic and international debate about the army’s conduct in Gaza. On Thursday, the military’s chief advocate general ordered an investigation into a soldier’s account of a sniper killing a woman and her two children who walked too close to a designated no-go area by mistake, and another account of a sharpshooter who killed an elderly woman who came within 100 yards of a commandeered house.
- When asked why that elderly woman was killed, a squad commander was quoted as saying: “What’s great about Gaza — you see a person on a path, he doesn’t have to be armed, you can simply shoot him. In our case it was an old woman on whom I did not see any weapon when I looked. The order was to take down the person, this woman, the minute you see her. There are always warnings, there is always the saying, ‘Maybe he’s a terrorist.’ What I felt was, there was a lot of thirst for blood.”
- The testimonies by soldiers, leaked to the (Israeli) newspapers Maariv and Haaretz, appeared in a journal published by a military preparatory course at the Oranim Academic College in the northern town of Tivon. The newspapers promised to release more such anecdotal accounts on Friday, without saying how many.
- The academy’s director, Dany Zamir, told Israel Radio, “Those were very harsh testimonies about unjustified shooting of civilians and destruction of property that conveyed an atmosphere in which one feels entitled to use unrestricted force against Palestinians.”
- Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio that he believed such incidents to be exceptions, adding, “The Israeli Army is the most moral in the world, and I know what I’m talking about because I know what took place in the former Yugoslavia, in Iraq.”
- Amir Marmor, a 33-year-old history graduate student in Jerusalem and a military reservist, said in an interview with The New York Times that he was stunned to discover the way civilian casualties were discussed in training discussions before his tank unit entered Gaza in January. "Shoot and don’t worry about the consequences,” was the message from the top commanders, he said. Speaking of a lieutenant colonel who briefed the troops, Mr. Marmor said, “His whole demeanor was extremely gung ho. This is very, very different from my usual experience. I have been doing reserve duty for 12 years, and it was always an issue how to avoid causing civilian injuries. He said in this operation we are not taking any chances. Morality aside, we have to do our job. We will cry about it later.”
- Some 1,300 people were killed in the Gaza war, but how many of them were combatants remains a matter of controversy. Israel lost about 10 soldiers in Gaza, some because of fire by its own forces.
- One of the soldiers’ testimonies involved the killing of a family. The soldier said: “We had taken over the house, and the family was released and told to go right. A mother and two children got confused and went left. The sniper on the roof wasn’t told that this was O.K. and that he shouldn’t shoot. You can say he just did what he was told.”
Leaders set the atmosphere, philosophy, direction, and culture of their organizations. These organizations range from businesses to cities to departments of governments. Need I say more?
And what of the "defenses" used to excuse the killing of a Palestinian family by an Israeli sniper on the roof of the family's house?
- Defense #1: The family turned left instead of right after they were released from their house.
- Defense #2: "You can say (the sniper) just did what he was told."
Where have we heard Defense #2 before?
The "I was only following orders" defense was used, most prominently, by Nazi SS Lieutenant Colonel Karl Adolf Eichmann at his trial in Jerusalem in 1961. While serving in the SS, he had been in charge of the mass deportation of Jews to concentration camps in World War II. Eichmann was convicted, and executed, in 1962.
The following indented paragraphs, from the article, are especially noteworthy. click here to read the entire article
- Now testimony is emerging from within the ranks of soldiers and officers alleging a permissive attitude toward the killing of civilians and reckless destruction of property that is sure to inflame the domestic and international debate about the army’s conduct in Gaza. On Thursday, the military’s chief advocate general ordered an investigation into a soldier’s account of a sniper killing a woman and her two children who walked too close to a designated no-go area by mistake, and another account of a sharpshooter who killed an elderly woman who came within 100 yards of a commandeered house.
- When asked why that elderly woman was killed, a squad commander was quoted as saying: “What’s great about Gaza — you see a person on a path, he doesn’t have to be armed, you can simply shoot him. In our case it was an old woman on whom I did not see any weapon when I looked. The order was to take down the person, this woman, the minute you see her. There are always warnings, there is always the saying, ‘Maybe he’s a terrorist.’ What I felt was, there was a lot of thirst for blood.”
- The testimonies by soldiers, leaked to the (Israeli) newspapers Maariv and Haaretz, appeared in a journal published by a military preparatory course at the Oranim Academic College in the northern town of Tivon. The newspapers promised to release more such anecdotal accounts on Friday, without saying how many.
- The academy’s director, Dany Zamir, told Israel Radio, “Those were very harsh testimonies about unjustified shooting of civilians and destruction of property that conveyed an atmosphere in which one feels entitled to use unrestricted force against Palestinians.”
- Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio that he believed such incidents to be exceptions, adding, “The Israeli Army is the most moral in the world, and I know what I’m talking about because I know what took place in the former Yugoslavia, in Iraq.”
- Amir Marmor, a 33-year-old history graduate student in Jerusalem and a military reservist, said in an interview with The New York Times that he was stunned to discover the way civilian casualties were discussed in training discussions before his tank unit entered Gaza in January. "Shoot and don’t worry about the consequences,” was the message from the top commanders, he said. Speaking of a lieutenant colonel who briefed the troops, Mr. Marmor said, “His whole demeanor was extremely gung ho. This is very, very different from my usual experience. I have been doing reserve duty for 12 years, and it was always an issue how to avoid causing civilian injuries. He said in this operation we are not taking any chances. Morality aside, we have to do our job. We will cry about it later.”
- Some 1,300 people were killed in the Gaza war, but how many of them were combatants remains a matter of controversy. Israel lost about 10 soldiers in Gaza, some because of fire by its own forces.
- One of the soldiers’ testimonies involved the killing of a family. The soldier said: “We had taken over the house, and the family was released and told to go right. A mother and two children got confused and went left. The sniper on the roof wasn’t told that this was O.K. and that he shouldn’t shoot. You can say he just did what he was told.”
Leaders set the atmosphere, philosophy, direction, and culture of their organizations. These organizations range from businesses to cities to departments of governments. Need I say more?
And what of the "defenses" used to excuse the killing of a Palestinian family by an Israeli sniper on the roof of the family's house?
- Defense #1: The family turned left instead of right after they were released from their house.
- Defense #2: "You can say (the sniper) just did what he was told."
Where have we heard Defense #2 before?
The "I was only following orders" defense was used, most prominently, by Nazi SS Lieutenant Colonel Karl Adolf Eichmann at his trial in Jerusalem in 1961. While serving in the SS, he had been in charge of the mass deportation of Jews to concentration camps in World War II. Eichmann was convicted, and executed, in 1962.
Friday, March 13, 2009
President Obama's Legacy Assured By a Pen Stroke
March 9, 2009. President Obama signed an Executive Order. Restrictions on federal funding of stem cell research, put into place by former president George W. Bush, are eliminated.
In so doing, President Obama's legacy has been guaranteed. If he does nothing else of significance, history will remember him for this one simple act. He has allowed the United States of America to join with other nations, such as China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Switzerland, Spain, France, et cetera in researching and developing not just treatments, but permanent CURES for numerous debilitating diseases and conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer's, heart disease, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, stroke, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and even severe burns. Stem cell research holds that much promise, and perhaps even more.
Here is the full text of President Obama's speech on the day he signed the Order:
"Today, with the Executive Order I am about to sign, we will bring the change that so many scientists and researchers; doctors and innovators; patients and loved ones have hoped for, and fought for, these past eight years: we will lift the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research. We will vigorously support scientists who pursue this research. And we will aim for America to lead the world in the discoveries it one day may yield.
At this moment, the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown, and it should not be overstated. But scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand, and possibly cure, some of our most devastating diseases and conditions. To regenerate a severed spinal cord and lift someone from a wheelchair. To spur insulin production and spare a child from a lifetime of needles. To treat Parkinson’s, cancer, heart disease and others that affect millions of Americans and the people who love them.
But that potential will not reveal itself on its own. Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research – from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit – and from a government willing to support that work. From life-saving vaccines, to pioneering cancer treatments, to the sequencing of the human genome – that is the story of scientific progress in America. When government fails to make these investments, opportunities are missed. Promising avenues go unexplored. Some of our best scientists leave for other countries that will sponsor their work. And those countries may surge ahead of ours in the advances that transform our lives.
But in recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research – and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.
It is a difficult and delicate balance. Many thoughtful and decent people are conflicted about, or strongly oppose, this research. I understand their concerns, and we must respect their point of view.
But after much discussion, debate and reflection, the proper course has become clear. The majority of Americans – from across the political spectrum, and of all backgrounds and beliefs – have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research. That the potential it offers is great, and with proper guidelines and strict oversight, the perils can be avoided.
That is a conclusion with which I agree. That is why I am signing this Executive Order, and why I hope Congress will act on a bi-partisan basis to provide further support for this research. We are joined today by many leaders who have reached across the aisle to champion this cause, and I commend them for that work.
Ultimately, I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures we seek. No President can promise that. But I can promise that we will seek them – actively, responsibly, and with the urgency required to make up for lost ground. Not just by opening up this new frontier of research today, but by supporting promising research of all kinds, including groundbreaking work to convert ordinary human cells into ones that resemble embryonic stem cells.
I can also promise that we will never undertake this research lightly. We will support it only when it is both scientifically worthy and responsibly conducted. We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse. And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society.
This Order is an important step in advancing the cause of science in America. But let’s be clear: promoting science isn’t just about providing resources – it is also about protecting free and open inquiry. It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it’s inconvenient – especially when it’s inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda – and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.
By doing this, we will ensure America’s continued global leadership in scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs. That is essential not only for our economic prosperity, but for the progress of all humanity.
That is why today, I am also signing a Presidential Memorandum directing the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision making. To ensure that in this new Administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisors based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions. That is how we will harness the power of science to achieve our goals – to preserve our environment and protect our national security; to create the jobs of the future, and live longer, healthier lives.
As we restore our commitment to science, and resume funding for promising stem cell research, we owe a debt of gratitude to so many tireless advocates, some of whom are with us today, many of whom are not. Today, we honor all those whose names we don’t know, who organized, and raised awareness, and kept on fighting – even when it was too late for them, or for the people they love. And we honor those we know, who used their influence to help others and bring attention to this cause – people like Christopher and Dana Reeve, who we wish could be here to see this moment.
One of Christopher’s friends recalled that he hung a sign on the wall of the exercise room where he did his grueling regimen of physical therapy. It read: “For everyone who thought I couldn’t do it. For everyone who thought I shouldn’t do it. For everyone who said, ‘It’s impossible.’ See you at the finish line.”
Christopher once told a reporter who was interviewing him: “If you came back here in ten years, I expect that I’d walk to the door to greet you.”
Christopher did not get that chance. But if we pursue this research, maybe one day – maybe not in our lifetime, or even in our children’s lifetime – but maybe one day, others like him might.
There is no finish line in the work of science. The race is always with us – the urgent work of giving substance to hope and answering those many bedside prayers, of seeking a day when words like “terminal” and “incurable” are finally retired from our vocabulary.
Today, using every resource at our disposal, with renewed determination to lead the world in the discoveries of this new century, we rededicate ourselves to this work.
Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America."
On a personal note:
In 2004, I lived in Chicago. Illinois State Senator Obama did not know me when I supported him in his race for the U.S. Senate.
In 2007, U.S. Senator Obama did not know me when I volunteered as an Obama precinct captain in Nevada during his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President.
In 2008, U.S. Senator and Democratic Presidential nominee Obama did not know me as I continued to support his candidacy for President.
In 2009, President Obama does not know me. He does not know how this Executive Order has moved me to the very core of my being. But in his heart, I suspect he knows how many lives he has touched.
And I know him. He is a man of vision and honor, and represents hope on so many levels.
Thank you, Mr. President. At the risk of being overly repetitive, your legacy - personal, local, national, and international, is now assured.
In so doing, President Obama's legacy has been guaranteed. If he does nothing else of significance, history will remember him for this one simple act. He has allowed the United States of America to join with other nations, such as China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Switzerland, Spain, France, et cetera in researching and developing not just treatments, but permanent CURES for numerous debilitating diseases and conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer's, heart disease, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, stroke, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and even severe burns. Stem cell research holds that much promise, and perhaps even more.
Here is the full text of President Obama's speech on the day he signed the Order:
"Today, with the Executive Order I am about to sign, we will bring the change that so many scientists and researchers; doctors and innovators; patients and loved ones have hoped for, and fought for, these past eight years: we will lift the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research. We will vigorously support scientists who pursue this research. And we will aim for America to lead the world in the discoveries it one day may yield.
At this moment, the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown, and it should not be overstated. But scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand, and possibly cure, some of our most devastating diseases and conditions. To regenerate a severed spinal cord and lift someone from a wheelchair. To spur insulin production and spare a child from a lifetime of needles. To treat Parkinson’s, cancer, heart disease and others that affect millions of Americans and the people who love them.
But that potential will not reveal itself on its own. Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research – from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit – and from a government willing to support that work. From life-saving vaccines, to pioneering cancer treatments, to the sequencing of the human genome – that is the story of scientific progress in America. When government fails to make these investments, opportunities are missed. Promising avenues go unexplored. Some of our best scientists leave for other countries that will sponsor their work. And those countries may surge ahead of ours in the advances that transform our lives.
But in recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research – and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.
It is a difficult and delicate balance. Many thoughtful and decent people are conflicted about, or strongly oppose, this research. I understand their concerns, and we must respect their point of view.
But after much discussion, debate and reflection, the proper course has become clear. The majority of Americans – from across the political spectrum, and of all backgrounds and beliefs – have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research. That the potential it offers is great, and with proper guidelines and strict oversight, the perils can be avoided.
That is a conclusion with which I agree. That is why I am signing this Executive Order, and why I hope Congress will act on a bi-partisan basis to provide further support for this research. We are joined today by many leaders who have reached across the aisle to champion this cause, and I commend them for that work.
Ultimately, I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures we seek. No President can promise that. But I can promise that we will seek them – actively, responsibly, and with the urgency required to make up for lost ground. Not just by opening up this new frontier of research today, but by supporting promising research of all kinds, including groundbreaking work to convert ordinary human cells into ones that resemble embryonic stem cells.
I can also promise that we will never undertake this research lightly. We will support it only when it is both scientifically worthy and responsibly conducted. We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse. And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society.
This Order is an important step in advancing the cause of science in America. But let’s be clear: promoting science isn’t just about providing resources – it is also about protecting free and open inquiry. It is about letting scientists like those here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it’s inconvenient – especially when it’s inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda – and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology.
By doing this, we will ensure America’s continued global leadership in scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs. That is essential not only for our economic prosperity, but for the progress of all humanity.
That is why today, I am also signing a Presidential Memorandum directing the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision making. To ensure that in this new Administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisors based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions. That is how we will harness the power of science to achieve our goals – to preserve our environment and protect our national security; to create the jobs of the future, and live longer, healthier lives.
As we restore our commitment to science, and resume funding for promising stem cell research, we owe a debt of gratitude to so many tireless advocates, some of whom are with us today, many of whom are not. Today, we honor all those whose names we don’t know, who organized, and raised awareness, and kept on fighting – even when it was too late for them, or for the people they love. And we honor those we know, who used their influence to help others and bring attention to this cause – people like Christopher and Dana Reeve, who we wish could be here to see this moment.
One of Christopher’s friends recalled that he hung a sign on the wall of the exercise room where he did his grueling regimen of physical therapy. It read: “For everyone who thought I couldn’t do it. For everyone who thought I shouldn’t do it. For everyone who said, ‘It’s impossible.’ See you at the finish line.”
Christopher once told a reporter who was interviewing him: “If you came back here in ten years, I expect that I’d walk to the door to greet you.”
Christopher did not get that chance. But if we pursue this research, maybe one day – maybe not in our lifetime, or even in our children’s lifetime – but maybe one day, others like him might.
There is no finish line in the work of science. The race is always with us – the urgent work of giving substance to hope and answering those many bedside prayers, of seeking a day when words like “terminal” and “incurable” are finally retired from our vocabulary.
Today, using every resource at our disposal, with renewed determination to lead the world in the discoveries of this new century, we rededicate ourselves to this work.
Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America."
On a personal note:
In 2004, I lived in Chicago. Illinois State Senator Obama did not know me when I supported him in his race for the U.S. Senate.
In 2007, U.S. Senator Obama did not know me when I volunteered as an Obama precinct captain in Nevada during his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President.
In 2008, U.S. Senator and Democratic Presidential nominee Obama did not know me as I continued to support his candidacy for President.
In 2009, President Obama does not know me. He does not know how this Executive Order has moved me to the very core of my being. But in his heart, I suspect he knows how many lives he has touched.
And I know him. He is a man of vision and honor, and represents hope on so many levels.
Thank you, Mr. President. At the risk of being overly repetitive, your legacy - personal, local, national, and international, is now assured.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Exploring Abu Dhabi
In February, 2009, I posted an article entitled Bye Bye, Dubai?. In the course of researching it, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), I learned about a region of our world that I, as well as most in the Western world, knew virtually nothing about. Nothing, except for stereotypes promulgated by TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Screaming headlines designed to sell airtime and advertising space.
Therefore, once a month, I intend to explore this region further, in an effort to understand the area that includes what we often refer to as the Cradle of Civilization. These posts will not serve as traditional history lessons. Just my own personal impressions based on reading as much as I can. However, I will include brief modern histories as background information.
Since I began with Dubai, one of the seven Emirates that comprise the UAE, I will continue with the remaining Emirates, in alphabetical order.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Loosely translated, "Abu Dhabi" means "Father of the Gazelles." Gazelles and oryx roamed the desert. What's an 'oryx'? I had to look it up myself. An oryx is a species of large antelope that prefers an arid environment and lives with virtually no water for long periods of time. If you happen to come across an oryx in your travels, you better stay on good terms with him. His horns are lethal weapons. Oryx have killed lions with them.
The @llo' Expat website has a short history of Abu Dhabi. These are a few excerpts:
"The Portuguese were to remain in the region until 1633. By then, the British began to make their presence felt, exercising their naval superiority and prowess in the Gulf. However, at that point in time too, a local power, the Qawasim also decided to make their presence felt, much to the consternation of the British, and by the 19 th century, had built up a fleet of 60 large vessels. Sensing a serious threat to their influence in the Gulf, the British launched 'corrective' raids against the Qawasim. In 1820, the British consolidated their influence in the Gulf by destroying and capturing Qawasim vessels. Based on devious claims that the Qawasim were involved in piracy, the British imposed a General Treaty of Peace on nine Arab sheikh doms, resulted in the area being called 'The Trucial States'."
"Abu Dhabi began exporting crude oil in 1962 and with revenues growing steadily as oil production increased, became the richest emirate from being the poorest. With its new found wealth, Sheikh Zayed (Zayed the Great's grandson, not to be confused with the great man himself!), who was chosen Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, continued to increase contributions to the less fortunate emirates through the Trucial States Development Fund, which was established a few years earlier by the British."
"In 1968, the British announced that it has had enough and intended to leave the region in 1971. The announcement came as a shock to most of the ruling sheikhs. However, having recovered from the initial shock, Sheikh Zayed, along with Sheikh Rashid, took on the initiative of calling for a federation that would not only include the seven emirates which made up the Trucial States, but also Bahrain and Qatar. However, following a period of negotiation, agreement was reached between the rulers of six of the emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah and Ajman). Thus on 2 December 1971, the Federation, to be known as the United Arab Emirates was formally established. The seventh emirate, Ra's al-Khaimah, formally acceded to the Federation on 10 February 1972."
I found that combining research with my own emotional responses and personal memories of similar surroundings and events, resulted in an almost exhilarating experience. These are a few:
Abu Dhabi has a portion of the Al Hajar Mountain range of which to point with pride. My reaction to reading of this mountain range was not only a memory of seeing the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada, but also visiting Mt. Charleston near Las vegas. Initial impressions of my trips rushed back, and warmed me. I learned that the Al Hajar Mountains are made up mostly of Cretaceous limestone. This triggered memories of certain buildings in my hometown of Chicago, built mainly in the late 1890s and early 1900s, of limestone quarried from an area just southwest of the city. I wonder if there are similar limestone block buildings in Abu Dhabi?
Sand skiing, anyone? I read that the Abu Dhabi sand dunes are a major tourist attraction. My first reaction was a memory of visiting the lovely Indiana Dunes State Park in Indiana, and marveling at the dunes. How peaceful they were. Nature had sculpted flowing works of art from uncounted particles of sand. This memory not only connected part of my childhood to that of what children in Abu Dhabi must experience, but tugged at me to visit there - to compare the dunes of Abu Dhabi to the dunes of Indiana. Feel yet another common bond between countries and peoples so seemingly unlike, but sharing experiences and emotions as a result of something as basic to this planet as sand.
I learned that from March 17-22, 2009, the 19th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) is being held. The promo included:
"Now in 2009 with over 500 exhibitors from 51 countries, growth in space, new venues for events and a large range of services to exhibitors, visitors and the press, the ADIBF continues on its path of growth. Organised by KITAB, a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has made one more considerable step towards becoming the hub for the Arab book markets and for worldwide business."
Reading is a passion of mine. The ADIBF brought back a very fond memory, formed in the 1970s when I lived in a cramped studio apartment near the University of Chicago (No - I was not a student). A street that cut through the center of the University, 57th street, contained three used book stores. They were each housed in old, large, delightfully rambling buildings. Just thinking about them brings back the scent of millions of aged pages and leather covers. You could sit there and read for hours with no pressure to purchase anything. I wonder if there are people like me in Abu Dhabi who have had similar experiences with books? If so, I'll bet they'll be at the ADIBF this year.
This post could go on and on. But I will conclude it with another concern that all citizens on this planet will face: pensions. Gulfnews.com published an article on June 19,2008 entitled, "Pensioners in Abu Dhabi to get faster and more efficient service":
"Abu Dhabi: Pensioners in Abu Dhabi will receive faster and more efficient services as a result of a progressive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday.
The MoU was initiated by the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund and signed by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior and Commander of Abu Dhabi Police, and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund.
Both government entities agreed this was a positive step forward for pensioners and for cross-Government collaboration. They hoped it would be the first stage in a close and on-going relationship, which will see a significant improvement in services to the people of Abu Dhabi.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: "The MoU’s aim is to develop and facilitate procedures to increase performance and improve services for pensioners. Two key elements are reducing the time it takes to process payments and minimising the costs involved."
"It also aims to improve the protection of confidentiality and privacy of information and documents, especially when information is shared via the internet and other media." Click here to read more
Before reading of this initiative to better serve older Abu Dhabi citizens, I had no idea how, or even if, the people and government interacted on the issue of pensions. It was good to read that pension concerns are being opening dealt with, and reported. Yet I wonder if the citizens there feel as insecure about their upcoming retirement years as I do, given the current recession and collapse of stock markets in so many countries. I hope, for their sake, that they are secure and without worry. Are people there who are over age 60 treated with respect? If so, we in the United States could take notes and move more in that direction.
I want to know more about all these things. Imagine visiting Abu Dhabi and sharing experiences with an Abu Dhabi family. Person to person - building bridges of understanding. Learning and sharing replacing misunderstandings and false divisiveness. Maybe that's what it will take for the ultimate goal of world peace. Not nations battling nations. Individuals talking with, and respecting, other individuals. Butterfly wings flapping here impacting cultural climates there, and vice versa. But not chaos theory - compassionate reality.
Therefore, once a month, I intend to explore this region further, in an effort to understand the area that includes what we often refer to as the Cradle of Civilization. These posts will not serve as traditional history lessons. Just my own personal impressions based on reading as much as I can. However, I will include brief modern histories as background information.
Since I began with Dubai, one of the seven Emirates that comprise the UAE, I will continue with the remaining Emirates, in alphabetical order.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Loosely translated, "Abu Dhabi" means "Father of the Gazelles." Gazelles and oryx roamed the desert. What's an 'oryx'? I had to look it up myself. An oryx is a species of large antelope that prefers an arid environment and lives with virtually no water for long periods of time. If you happen to come across an oryx in your travels, you better stay on good terms with him. His horns are lethal weapons. Oryx have killed lions with them.
The @llo' Expat website has a short history of Abu Dhabi. These are a few excerpts:
"The Portuguese were to remain in the region until 1633. By then, the British began to make their presence felt, exercising their naval superiority and prowess in the Gulf. However, at that point in time too, a local power, the Qawasim also decided to make their presence felt, much to the consternation of the British, and by the 19 th century, had built up a fleet of 60 large vessels. Sensing a serious threat to their influence in the Gulf, the British launched 'corrective' raids against the Qawasim. In 1820, the British consolidated their influence in the Gulf by destroying and capturing Qawasim vessels. Based on devious claims that the Qawasim were involved in piracy, the British imposed a General Treaty of Peace on nine Arab sheikh doms, resulted in the area being called 'The Trucial States'."
"Abu Dhabi began exporting crude oil in 1962 and with revenues growing steadily as oil production increased, became the richest emirate from being the poorest. With its new found wealth, Sheikh Zayed (Zayed the Great's grandson, not to be confused with the great man himself!), who was chosen Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, continued to increase contributions to the less fortunate emirates through the Trucial States Development Fund, which was established a few years earlier by the British."
"In 1968, the British announced that it has had enough and intended to leave the region in 1971. The announcement came as a shock to most of the ruling sheikhs. However, having recovered from the initial shock, Sheikh Zayed, along with Sheikh Rashid, took on the initiative of calling for a federation that would not only include the seven emirates which made up the Trucial States, but also Bahrain and Qatar. However, following a period of negotiation, agreement was reached between the rulers of six of the emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm al-Qaiwain, Fujairah and Ajman). Thus on 2 December 1971, the Federation, to be known as the United Arab Emirates was formally established. The seventh emirate, Ra's al-Khaimah, formally acceded to the Federation on 10 February 1972."
I found that combining research with my own emotional responses and personal memories of similar surroundings and events, resulted in an almost exhilarating experience. These are a few:
Abu Dhabi has a portion of the Al Hajar Mountain range of which to point with pride. My reaction to reading of this mountain range was not only a memory of seeing the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada, but also visiting Mt. Charleston near Las vegas. Initial impressions of my trips rushed back, and warmed me. I learned that the Al Hajar Mountains are made up mostly of Cretaceous limestone. This triggered memories of certain buildings in my hometown of Chicago, built mainly in the late 1890s and early 1900s, of limestone quarried from an area just southwest of the city. I wonder if there are similar limestone block buildings in Abu Dhabi?
Sand skiing, anyone? I read that the Abu Dhabi sand dunes are a major tourist attraction. My first reaction was a memory of visiting the lovely Indiana Dunes State Park in Indiana, and marveling at the dunes. How peaceful they were. Nature had sculpted flowing works of art from uncounted particles of sand. This memory not only connected part of my childhood to that of what children in Abu Dhabi must experience, but tugged at me to visit there - to compare the dunes of Abu Dhabi to the dunes of Indiana. Feel yet another common bond between countries and peoples so seemingly unlike, but sharing experiences and emotions as a result of something as basic to this planet as sand.
I learned that from March 17-22, 2009, the 19th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) is being held. The promo included:
"Now in 2009 with over 500 exhibitors from 51 countries, growth in space, new venues for events and a large range of services to exhibitors, visitors and the press, the ADIBF continues on its path of growth. Organised by KITAB, a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has made one more considerable step towards becoming the hub for the Arab book markets and for worldwide business."
Reading is a passion of mine. The ADIBF brought back a very fond memory, formed in the 1970s when I lived in a cramped studio apartment near the University of Chicago (No - I was not a student). A street that cut through the center of the University, 57th street, contained three used book stores. They were each housed in old, large, delightfully rambling buildings. Just thinking about them brings back the scent of millions of aged pages and leather covers. You could sit there and read for hours with no pressure to purchase anything. I wonder if there are people like me in Abu Dhabi who have had similar experiences with books? If so, I'll bet they'll be at the ADIBF this year.
This post could go on and on. But I will conclude it with another concern that all citizens on this planet will face: pensions. Gulfnews.com published an article on June 19,2008 entitled, "Pensioners in Abu Dhabi to get faster and more efficient service":
"Abu Dhabi: Pensioners in Abu Dhabi will receive faster and more efficient services as a result of a progressive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday.
The MoU was initiated by the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund and signed by Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior and Commander of Abu Dhabi Police, and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund.
Both government entities agreed this was a positive step forward for pensioners and for cross-Government collaboration. They hoped it would be the first stage in a close and on-going relationship, which will see a significant improvement in services to the people of Abu Dhabi.
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: "The MoU’s aim is to develop and facilitate procedures to increase performance and improve services for pensioners. Two key elements are reducing the time it takes to process payments and minimising the costs involved."
"It also aims to improve the protection of confidentiality and privacy of information and documents, especially when information is shared via the internet and other media." Click here to read more
Before reading of this initiative to better serve older Abu Dhabi citizens, I had no idea how, or even if, the people and government interacted on the issue of pensions. It was good to read that pension concerns are being opening dealt with, and reported. Yet I wonder if the citizens there feel as insecure about their upcoming retirement years as I do, given the current recession and collapse of stock markets in so many countries. I hope, for their sake, that they are secure and without worry. Are people there who are over age 60 treated with respect? If so, we in the United States could take notes and move more in that direction.
I want to know more about all these things. Imagine visiting Abu Dhabi and sharing experiences with an Abu Dhabi family. Person to person - building bridges of understanding. Learning and sharing replacing misunderstandings and false divisiveness. Maybe that's what it will take for the ultimate goal of world peace. Not nations battling nations. Individuals talking with, and respecting, other individuals. Butterfly wings flapping here impacting cultural climates there, and vice versa. But not chaos theory - compassionate reality.
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