DARK MOMENTS IN HUMAN HISTORY

I have just returned from the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Its proper title is the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

 

I toured the three floors of the permanent exhibit. The exhibit methodically traces the Holocaust from the rise of Hitler to those who were lucky to survive. In between were evil acts of inhumanity committed on a massive scale.

 

Six million Jews murdered.

 

There is little I did not know of the Holocaust. I am and have been a student of history all my life. One thing I did learn today makes the six million number appear even larger. If it can. In all of Europe when Hitler commenced his mass extermination, there were only nine million Jews. Hitler effectively eliminated two thirds of a people.

 

For years, I have heard ".....never forget!" One cannot.

 

What bothers me is that Hitler's intentional extermination of the Jews was not the last such occurrence.  There have been many more since the end of World War II.

 

All over the world. Places such as Armenia, Bosnia, Darfur, the Congo, Cambodia, Sudan and Iraq. It is thought by some that Syria may be ripe for mass killings.

 

There is one mass killing I would be remiss if not mentioned.  Though not since World War II. I refer specifically to the American Indian. Native Americans to use the correct terminology. Subjected to annihilation because of the United States' Manifest Destiny concept at the time..

 

There was a bit of a quirk that I had to figure out. The Jewish extermination is referred to as a holocaust. All the others mentioned, genocides. What is the difference? Is there a difference?

 

Both terms are very close In meaning. A holocaust involves fire. Perhaps the cremations following the gassing gave rise to the term. Genocide is simply mass killing in any form. From my perspective, both are the same.

 

The purpose of today's column is not merely to recite my trip to the Holocaust Museum and how terrible the Nazis were to persons of the Jewish faith. I have a broader and deeper thought to convey.

 

Six million Jews killed during World War II. Millions more in the genocides set forth earlier. I believe man likes to kill. It is inherent in his nature. Some where, some time, there will be another holocaust/genocide going on. Man's inhumanity to man prevails. It never ends.

 

I apologize if I offend some. The record is clear, however. Man keeps doing it. Killing his fellow humans on a mass scale.

 

Think back in history. Recall Roman days when Christians and others were killed in the Coliseum by lions. The only difference between now and then is that man no longer uses lions. He does it himself. 

HYPOCRISY

Do as I say, not as I do. A simple example of hypocrisy. Formally defined, a hypocrite is one who expresses zeal for those virtues which he neglects to practice.

 

My Church is guilty of hypocrisy. The Catholic Church. Specifically with regard to its positions on birth control and abortion.

 

The Catholic Church rejects contraception under any circumstances. Most recently with regard to Obamacare. The Church was opposed to Obamacare's provisions which would provide contraception coverage. Directly or indirectly. Even where Obama acceded to the Church's initial protestations and said that birth control would be paid for by the insurance company. In effect, the insurance company would provide the coverage free.

 

The Catholic Church rejected the President's solution. Instead the Church has gone to court claiming that any provision regarding contraception violated the Church's beliefs. Its religious beliefs. The court matter is in its early stages.

 

The Catholic Church uses as a primary spokesperson the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. The Council's present chairperson is Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the New York Archdiocese. The Cardinal recently was on the short list for election as Pope.

 

The Obamacare fight thus far has been limited to contraception. Abortion not an issue. It goes without saying that the Church abhors abortion.

 

A recent article by Sharon Otterman in the New York Times uncovered the factual basis warranting the hypocrisy charge. The article brought forth that the Archdiocese of New York for twelve or more years had been providing coverage to certain union medical employees for contraception. Also for voluntary pregnancy termination. A delicate way of referring to abortion.

 

Shocking! The same Archdiocese now headed by Cardinal Dolan. Who is also chairperson of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. The organization in the forefront of the Obamacare contraception battle.

 

A Church spokesman suggested that the Archdiocese succumbed and accepted a union contract containing the contraception and abortion coverages under protest.The issue at the time was providing health care or violating the Church's religious beliefs. It was thought better to provide the coverages. It was said by the Church spokesperson that the issues of contraception and abortion would be left to the conscience of individual employees.

 

More than ten years later, the Church's position has become that the Obamacare provisions are unprecedented, intolerable, and a government intrusion on religious liberty. Where were these arguments back when the union contract was on the table? How can what passed muster years ago now become a horrible imposition on Catholicism?

 

The Archdiocese is not the only institution that has permitted contraception coverage. Fordham University is a Catholic institution. It provides contraception coverage not only for it employees, but also its students. Since 2002, New York State mandates agencies with standard commercial insurance to provide coverage for contraception services. Many Catholic agencies fall under the mandate.

 

Where was the Catholic Church when Fordham University did what they did? Where was the Catholic Church when New York State issued its mandate?

 

I have my own thoughts.

 

I believe the Catholic Church has become politically active to an extent never before experienced. The United States Council of Catholic Bishops has a budget of $26.6 million. Such a sum would better be spent feeding and sheltering the poor and homeless.

 

I suspect also that the Catholic Church has been goaded into and has become an ally of the Republican religious right. It has been reported that the Bishops became involved in the Obamacare fight only after consultation with the group.

 

I cannot get out of my head that Catholic Church hierarchy now seek the spotlight of the public pulpit. Enjoyably so from where I sit.

 

Something else sticks in my craw. What happened to free conscience? My Catholic upbringing taught me man has free conscience. God sets the rules. Man has the ability to follow the rules or not. In the exercise of free conscience.

 

Interestingly, free conscience was one of the reasons/excuses claimed for not vehemently protesting the contraception and abortion coverages to certain union employees many years ago. Provisions that remain intact to this day.

 

I still subscribe to the Church setting the rules. Then it is up to the laity to decide what rules they wish to follow. It is not the Church's role to go public as it has. Religion and government must remain separate. Salem witch hunts are a thing of the past.

 

I say to the Catholic Church.....Take care of my soul, not my laws. Leave it to me to judge issues and make judgments in the exercise of free conscience. The free conscience given to me by God.

THREE DISGRACES

Our government is dysfunctional. Especially Congress. I tell you nothing new. We are all aware.

 

From the multitudinous wrongdoings, I have selected three stories. Each is an example of the government's erroneous ways.

 

The first involves Major Nidal Hasan. The U.S. Army officer and psychiatrist who went berserk at Fort Hood in 2009. The Major was a Muslim.

 

Major Hasan for no reason and without provocation began shooting up the base. He killed 13 and wounded 30. Most U.S. Army soldiers.

 

As he was shooting, Major Hasan was shouting in Muslim, God is Great.

 

It is now 2013, four years later. Major Hasan is well and alive. He sits in jail awaiting a trial.

 

The disgrace.....Major Hasan is receiving full pay while he waits trial. $70,000 a year. So far, $278,000.

 

Two reasons are involved.

 

First, Major Hasan, who is also an American citizen, is innocent till proven guilty. Second, someone in government, whether Washington or the Army itself, has labeled the shooting workplace violence. Both situations legally mandate that Major Hasan continue to be paid.

 

There are three classifications involved when our soldiers are killed or wounded.  One is workplace violence. The other two require the incident be as a result of terrorism or combat. Whoever did the classification, decided to call it workplace violence.

 

Workplace violence carries negative affects beyond Major Hasan being paid while awaiting trial. The thirty wounded are not entitled to disability awards if their wounds warrant such. Nor are they entitled to Purple Hearts.

 

So Major Hasan sits in a cell doing nothing and gets paid $70,000 a year. Whereas, the injured are not entitled to disability benefits nor a Purple Heart.

 

All because someone high up classified the shooting as working place violence rather than one of the two other classifications.

 

Why? I am not sure the classification was an accident. It would be interesting to know who decided to go with the classification which assisted Major Hasan rather than one that would have helped those wounded. What behind the scene forces were at work?

 

The second situation involves Congress and the Affordable Care Act. The Act is popularly known as Obamacare. It has been law for approximately three years.

 

Republicans now control the House of Representatives. They keep trying to repeal Obamacare. They bring up the repeal vote with full knowledge that it will never see the light of day in the Democratic controlled Senate. And , if it did and was favorably passed, the President would never sign it into law.

 

Congress recently voted on repeal. Again. For the 37th time in three years. The same bill. With full knowledge it is going nowhere.

 

Perhaps a publicity stunt. Maybe to appease the far right. Could  be an attempt to convince the American people that they are protecting their interests by constantly beating a dead horse.

 

The scenario is outrageous for a number of reasons.

 

First, it is a waste of time and money. Once was enough. That is all it takes. There is a cost involved. Thus far, Congress has spent $1.5 million in conducting 37 votes. At a time when the United States is in desperate economic straits. The Republicans are the ones who shout cut, cut,cut, eliminate wasteful spending. They fail to do that which they preach.

 

I have an additional concern.

 

Thirty seven votes on the same thing where one would have sufficed.There are important social issues facing the United States. Like gun control, immigration, and tax reform. These issues are never brought to the floor for a vote.

 

Crazy.

 

The third disgrace involves the great American corporation Apple and its avoidance of $102 billion dollars in taxes. All perfectly proper. All legal. Off shore accounts were used.

 

Ireland is a glaring example. Apple has neither buildings nor employees in Ireland. It merely has a mailing address. Apple saves $12 billion using this gimmick.

 

All perfectly proper. All legal.

 

Apple's CEO recently appeared before a Congressional committee on the issue of tax avoidance. He was open and above board in his responses. His position a simple one. The law permits everything they do. Everything is within the law. They pay only taxes they are legally required to pay.

 

Apple's CEO is correct. Apple is without sin.

 

Who is the culprit? Simple. The Congress of the United States. Laws have been passed over the years granting big tax breaks to major corporations. Congress did the dirty deed and now is searching for a scapegoat.

 

There is none, except for themselves.

 

There are two ways we can get out of this tax avoidance situation. First, cut out all tax loopholes permitting this type activity. Second, pass a law lowering the corporate tax rate. We will lose no money. Probably take in more revenue. Without loopholes, corporate America will be paying taxes on ALL income earned. Such a scenario should provide more tax income than is being received now. It is a win win situation for corporate America and the United States.

 

I have pointed the finger at Congress and government in general. Deservedly so. Our elected representatives have become beholden to corporate America. They expect and rely on substantial contributions to their political war chests. They enjoy a trip here and there to some exotic place at corporate America's expense. Expensive dinners. And whatever else.

 

We should expect more from our elected representatives. We deserve more. Congress must dig in and do the right thing. Unfortunately, they have neither the courage nor desire to do so.

STAY OUT OF SYRIA

Syria is not where the United States wants its ground troops. We have had enough of Middle East wars. The United States is not prepared emotionally and economically for another Iraq or Afghanistan.

 

Syria's is a civil war. A religious one. Sunni versus Shia. Especially the Alawite segment of the Shia. Assad is an Alawite.

 

The war began in March 2011. Actually, it is the same war that has been fought for centuries. One religious faction against another.

 

The rebels are known as the Free Syrian Army. Extremist jihadis became involved on the side of the rebels. Now Al-Qaeda.

 

Both sides are guilty of horrific wrongdoing. No one is without sin.

 

President Assad's military beheads the opposition. Seems to be a Middle East way. The group also has no respect for the children of rebels. Their 2-11 year old's, male and female alike, are being gang raped by Assad's followers.

 

The rebels behead also.

 

Assad's men are generally beheaded when captured. Many times by rebel children. Rebel forces have young ones wield the sword.

 

Recently, a film appeared on the internet. It was all over the internet. Difficult not to view. It graphically depicted Abu Sakkor, a rebel leader, cutting the heart out of an opposition soldier and then eating it. The crowd could be heard cheering Sakkor in the background. Allahu Akbar.....God is Great!

 

Russia has recently come into the conflict big time. Not with foot shoulders. With very sophisticated anti-cruise missiles. The purpose of the missiles is to keep foreign ships away from the Syrian coast. Foreign vessels that might supply armaments to the rebels.

 

I suspect President Obama misspoke when he said if chemical weapons were being used by Assad that the United States would get involved. He may have to back off that statement. Fortunately, he is investigating thoroughly any claims that chemical weapons are being used. His caution is credible.

 

The old men in the United States Senate cry out for American involvement. We are compelled to help the rebels we are told. I say let those Senators be the first to land on Syrian soil. It is time we stop sending our young men and women to foreign shores to fight other people's battles.

 

There is a thrust to this article. It involves helping a people who behead and eat the hearts of their enemy. Not our kind of people. And if history is any teacher, some day those we help today will be our enemy and use the knowledge and weapons provided against us.

 

I must stay with the Senate's old men who cry for United States involvement. I wonder how they would feel the first time American troops are captured and beheaded. Do not say Americans will not be beheaded. They will. It is the way in the Middle East.

 

More importantly, what would the American people say?

 

Let's not get to that place. Stay out of Syria!

 

 

AVALANCHES, A TSUNAMI AND HOT WATER

That which follows is the result of global warming. Man has screwed up his planet. Greenhouse gases must be limited.

 

First, avalanches. They are on the rise. World wide. Each year more than the previous. Tons of snow flowing down a slope damaging man and his world.

 

This spring alone there have been reports of increased avalanches on the French side of Mont Blanc and in the States of Colorado and Washington.

 

Global warming is the recognized culprit. The warming causes the snow to become softer and melt sooner. The snow loses its adhesion, breaks away and flows rapidly downward.

 

We are warned that massive avalanches are growing in frequency.

 

Barbara Turnbull is an avalanche researcher at the UK's University of Nottingham. She reported in the Journal of Physical Review Letters that climate changes may be contributing to the strength of avalanches.

 

Christian Huggel of the University of Zurich wrote in the Journal of Inside Sciences that ".....warming in high mountain areas is likely destabilizing slopes."

 

Scientists generally agree that global warming causes rapid swings in temperature which in turn are responsible for the bigger and more frequent slides.

 

Next to be addressed are tsunamis. Those extremely high waves which come in swiftly from the sea and run over the land. One high wave. Generally 20-50 feet high. Killing hundreds and destroying all property in its path.

 

There has been a recent warning. The east coast is at a tsunami risk. From New Jersey up through New England.

 

Strange that there is a concern for a tsunami coming in from the Atlantic Ocean. I had always assumed it was a Pacific ocean problem. China, Japan and some Pacific islands were at risk. At its worst, maybe the west coast of the United States.

 

Not so. It is suggested the wall of speeding water will occur on the east coast.

 

Why?

 

There have recently been 15 earthquakes 170 miles east of Boston.Out in the ocean. Except for the scientific community, no one took notice or concern. The reason is that the earthquakes were well below water at the edge of the Continental Shelf. None was greater than a 4.0.

 

Apparently there is no problem with a 4.0 underwater earthquake. There would be if the quake went to 7.0. Scientists are in general agreement that an earthquake of that magnitude would be a problem.

 

A tsunami wave of gigantic proportions would rise to the surface and make its way to the east coast of the United States. Most also agree that warning time would be only 15 minutes.

 

The earthquakes and possibility of the big wave are the result of global warming.

 

Artic and Antarctic ice have been melting and shrinking for years. Glacial lakes are disappearing. The ice at the two poles and in glacial lakes have held the earth's crust firm. With less ice, the earth's crust is flexing. Above and below water. A movement so minute it cannot be felt.

 

The flexing causes earthquakes to occur. The result of shifting earth and rock formations. Mother earth shakes and an earthquake occurs.

 

Water temperature also comes into play.

 

It was recently announced that the ocean waters from North Carolina to Maine are the warmest in the 150 years they have been recorded.The warm waters reach out to the end of the Continental Shelf.

 

The warming water off the east coast is the result of what is happening in the Artic.

 

The Artic is heating at two times the rate of the rest of the planet. Ice loss is occurring rapidly.

 

The Artic affects the entire planet. It helps regulate the global climate system and influences weather patterns across much of the northern hemisphere.

 

With less ice, more water gets warmed. Solar energy makes the ocean warmer.

 

The ice lost is needed. Artic ice helps to regulate climate by reflecting sunlight back into space. As the ice diminishes, more sunlight is absorbed into what is swiftly becoming a more open ocean. The result is warm water.

 

The bottom line is frightening. The echosystem changes. At some point dramatically. Fish life is disturbed. Some will disappear and others moved around. Artic animals such as the polar bear and walrus will disappear. The warmer water combined with other global warming disruptions affects the entire planet.

 

Everything is cause and effect. Greenhouse gases contribute significantly to global warming. Unless and until the corporate world is reigned in, the path to disaster is clear.

 

I fear that what is being done to correct global warming is a mere drop in the bucket. Being critical of the United States alone, I cannot in the reasonable future envision Congress doing what is necessary to reign in the excesses of the corporate world.

 

Note that HOT is used to describe warm in the title. The reason is that we are all going to be in hot water if we do not correct the ravages of global warming.

 

MAN AND HIS CHANGING WORLD

This column is being  written on Friday, April 13. The Boston bombings have occurred and the search for the perpetrators is underway. One was killed last night. The other is still sought.

Several suburban Boston communities are in shut down. Which means the police have told everyone to stay inside with their doors locked. It has just been reported that portions of Boston are also in shut down. More than 1 million people are affected by the shut down.

Boston area colleges and universities are closed. Mass transit is not running.

The streets are crowded with all sort of police officials from the FBI down to the small township police officer. All appear ready to do war. Most are wearing thick bullet proof vests. All are carrying weapons.

There is also military. Huge war type vehicles carrying soldiers and police are seen every where.

America has neither seen nor experienced what is going on in the search for the desperadoes. Never. Well, maybe one time. When the British were occupying New York City during the Revolution.

Two thoughts occur which I would like to share with you. How I view what is happening.

First, the Boston Marathon bombings are a reflection of man's inhumanity.

The two men now known to have been involved constructed home made bombs. Bombs containing carpenter nails, small ball bearings, nails and small knife type objects. The two knew the blasts would kill and maim. The result was intended. They even stayed around to see the result of their handiwork after the bombs went off.

The present toll is 3 dead and 174 injured. A young boy was killed, his youngest sister lost a leg, and his mother's brain was impaled with some sort of flying metallic object. The mother required immediate brain surgery.Two brothers each lost a leg.

Man likes to kill. He enjoys it. From almost day one. Genesis tells us Adam and Eve had two sons. Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy.

Since then man has been engaged in killing, maiming and hurting his fellow man one way or another.Think of all the wars down through the centuries. Genocides in addition. Happenings such as the Inquisition and Holocaust.

In last one hundred years, the United States has been involved in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Granada, Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is rare if there has been a time when there was no war or massive killings in some part of the world.

Top it off with the gun killings in the United States. Thirty thousand a year.

Killing, maiming and causing pain are inherent in man. Whether we like to admit it, it is part of man's nature.

The second thought of which I have been mindful as the events of this week unfolded is that the world is changing. It dramatically did with 9/11. It continues to change with the Boston bombings.

Since 9/11 we have airport security checks, a new Federal Department of Homeland Security, etc.

Now as a result of the Boston Marathon bombings, the streets of Boston and its surrounding area appear a war zone. Similar to a military occupation. Police authorities and soldiers everywhere. Guns in full view. Military vehicles. More than 1 million people told to stay home behind lock doors.

The scenes on television remind me of cities during World War II that were under Nazi occupation, as well as photos and videos we have seen of our soldiers fighting in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

It is a precedent. We have never seen anything even close to this in the United States in the past.

There will be heightened security from this point forward. Even after the accomplice to the Boston bombings is captured. We will have gone to another level of security which will remain with us for many years. Just as airport security has since 9/11.

The world has once again changed. It will continue to change.

SCREWED AGAIN

Corporate America/big business has no reluctance to do whatever is necessary to enlarge its bottom line. To profit as much and as long as possible. Even to the detriment of the American people.

 

An example in point involves pharmaceutical companies. Big money! Any one who purchases prescription drugs on a regular basis knows. Expensive!

 

A company discovers/creates a new drug. A twenty year patent kicks in. Which means simply that no other company can produce that drug till the end of the twenty year period. At that time a cheaper but same drug can be sold under a another name. The duplicated drug is known as a generic. As contrasted with the company that discovers/creates the drug which is known as the brand company.

 

Brand companies get paid exorbitant prices for their drugs. The reason claimed is that it takes years of research and development. The originator of the drug should be adequately compensated. Whereas a generic company has no research and development time involved. It merely produces the same drug under a different name. Thereby enabling the generic to be sold at a considerably lower price. The difference between the brand drug and generic generally being 80-85 per cent.

 

A business arrangement has developed between the brand and generic companies. An arrangement that works to the detriment of the purchasing public.

 

Generic companies have the right to challenge the legality of a patent.They do so. If the generic wins, that means the generic can start producing a particular drug immediately.

 

The brand companies do not wish such to occur. It would cut into the gigantic profit the brand company is making. A custom has developed where the brand and generic companies sit down after litigation has occurred where the generic has won. They negotiate a deal. The brand company will pay x number of dollars in a lump sum to the generic company not to begin production of the generic drug for a specified number of years.

 

Both sides make out.

 

The brand company makes so much money, it can afford to throw a few million the generic's way. The generic receives a windfall up front. More money than it could make if it went out and sold the generic drug.

 

This works out well for both sides. It does not work out well for the third party involved. The purchasers of the drug. The purchasers keep paying big dollars for a particular drug when it could and should be paying less. Were it not for the agreement which the brand company and generic company entered into.

 

This may soon come to an end.

 

The Federal Trade Commission has the right to test the legality of such settlements. They decided to do so with regard to a particular prescription medicine. The case was heard recently before the United States Supreme Court. The issue was whether such deals as described are legal.

 

Involved is Ando Gel. An erectile dysfunction remedy. It requires a man to spray the medication on his chest once a day. In due course, erect ability is supposed to return. Apparently it does. Sales are $400 million a year.

 

$400 million breaks down to a cost to the individual consumer of $250-300 per month, if there is no insurance. If there is insurance for the brand product, the cost to the consumer is $20-40 per month. If the product was generic and insurance available, the cost to the consumer a mere $5-10 per month.

 

Andro Gel's patent was attacked by a generic firm. The generic won. Andro Gel made a deal to pay the generic company $42 million a year for 9 years if it did not exercise its right to produce Andro Gel under another name. The $42 million a year for 9 years is substantially more than the generic company could have earned if it was actually selling the generic.

 

A good deal for Andro Gel. Its yearly profit would be $400 million, less $42 million a year. Still a tidy sum.

 

For whatever reason, the Federal Trade Commission decided to test the waters. The commission took the position such an arrangement was illegal. The case was recently heard by the United States Supreme Court. A decision will be rendered in due course.

 

I have no idea who will win. I am excited however that the issue is before the Supreme Court. Chicanery of this nature is to be attacked when ever and where ever it occurs. Transparency is required. Get everything on the table for all to see and understand. The big guys have to cease screwing the American public.