Greatness

Sometimes greatness comes in different forms.

  A song.

A speech.

We know it when we see it because it inspires us to be better than what we are.  If we let it.

Out of Africa

No, not the movie.  :) We have been discussing migrations of people for some time now in the comments section and I just ran across this documentary about the first people of Europe.  It seems to debunk some earlier theories of how our human ancestors developed, and is a good illustration of what could happen with the movement of massive amounts of people.  So I thought you all might want to take a look if you have an hour to spare.

Who We Want to Be

A while back I did a post on who we are, or perhaps, who I thought we were. Maybe the more appropriate question is who we want to be? In years past we have fought a civil war, we have fought for voting rights, we have fought for woman's rights, we have fought for civil rights. My readers and I have been arguing in the comments section for weeks now about immigration and what should be done in various countries to alleviate some of the problems caused by mass immigration. It is during the times of greatest stress that people are forced to examine themselves and their country's values.

I finally got around to watching a movie that had been recommended to me a while ago. It is based on a true story which took place during the United States civil war. It is a story I hadn't heard before, and I suspect neither have many others. It takes place in Mississippi and follows the events that occurred when a small group of people decided they didn't like what was being done to them in support of the Confederacy. They began to fight what amounted to a guerrilla war against the southern troops who were conscripting people and supplies for their war effort.

Even long after a war is won, it is still being fought. This really is a case of voter fraud.

Everyone struggles within themselves to find the right path, even with the small things. When it comes to the larger tests in life it becomes a true test of character.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. 

Abraham Lincoln

Mosul Update

While we have been distracted with our domestic politics the world beyond our shores has continued on its path.  It's time to visit Iraq again, I think.  The battle for Mosul rages on in the western area of the city even as the eastern half starts to awake from the long nightmare that descended on the city with the advent of Daesh ( Islamic State) three years ago.

In this first video we have a native of Mosul who is returning to visit after a long absence.  His friends give insight into life under Daesh and also the fears that many in Mosul feel for the future.

But it is not a simple matter to remove the militants who have ruled Mosul, as this video makes clear.

And for many in the city there is still the pain and horror of a war that still burns red hot.

This war will not end with Mosul.  But perhaps, as the last scene in the first video shows, a new future can begin with Mosul.

The Fix...that was

In the last post I talked about the problems the world faces with climate change.  In this post I thought I would visit what some people, and I emphasize some, have been working on to try to deal with the problem.  This video is from 2011, so obviously some things are out of date, such as our Energy Secretary, and our energy policy.   And that is partly why I found this so interesting, and sad.  It was a time when the US was still intent on retaining a place in the race to future clean energy.    

The rather poignant part was regarding the current residing place of one of the solar panels Jimmy Carter used to have on the White House, which Ronald Reagan had removed.  It seems rather prophetic.  If you have a rainy day, like I have here today, you may want to check it out for nostalgia's sake.

Meltdown

This past week Donald Trump made the decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Accord, an agreement reached by the majority of nations on the planet to attempt to fight climate change.  His reaction to the many voices that rose in objection was a statement that read:  "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris".  For some reason Donald Trump apparently believes that the future of this planet is not of concern to the people of Pittsburgh.  

I realize that the Paris Accord may not have been a perfect agreement, but it was a start to at least attempt to address an issue that will affect everyone, and I do mean everyone, on this planet.  That our president in his infinite wisdom doesn't seem to understand that is of great disappointment.  

This video is an illustration of various scenarios of what the future may hold.  I am greatly relieved that I will not be around to see it.  But I feel very sad for those who will and complete disgust at those alive today who have deliberately contributed to it.

Last Hope Island

I don't usually recommend a book that I haven't read yet, but I am going to make an exception now. It is Memorial Day weekend again and I have in the past done posts that have revolved around the US and our experiences. This year I am going to do it a little differently and pay tribute to one of our close allies, the United Kingdom, and all those who found haven on her shores during a time period that was pivotal in the world's history. With the bombing in Manchester it has been a tough week for our friends across the pond and I think it time to acknowledge and remind those who need reminding of how special this relationship is and how important the intangibles of life really are. Intangibles such as hope.

When the second world war broke out in Europe many countries were scrambling to respond and find some footing in a world turned upside down. Where do you go when someone stronger than you steamrolls over your country? How do you not lose everything that makes your country what it is? While there may have been missteps along the way during this time it was the United Kingdom that in the end stepped up and acted like an oasis in an ocean of chaos. It provided refuge for those seeking a safe haven and a staging ground for those who were fighting to regain that which they had lost. In effect the UK became the “Last Hope Island” for a Europe that was on the brink of losing the freedoms and rights that Europe and America had struggled so hard to create. Their actions, and those who lived under their umbrella, were an integral part of the war effort, helping the allies to prevail in what was a massive struggle for survival.

If you would like to visit a time in the world's history that helps us understand the complexities of our relationships and our need for friends in times of trouble then give  Last Hope Island a read.

When the Nazi blitzkrieg rolled over continental Europe in the early days of World War II, the city of London became a refuge for the governments and armed forces of six occupied nations who escaped there to continue the fight. So, too, did General Charles de Gaulle, the self-appointed representative of free France.     

As the only European democracy still holding out against Hitler, Britain became known to occupied countries as “Last Hope Island.” Getting there, one young emigré declared, was “like getting to heaven.”