Theoretically speaking there should hardly be doubt that religion is a force for good.
Unfortunately I'm afraid it has, to a large degree, not been the case over the ages.
No matter what the religion - perhaps with the odd exception - more than a few atrocious atrocities have been committed since the dawn of time by warring factions in the name of one's chosen God.
What a striking and sickening contradiction it is that humanity should have arrived in the 21st. century with religion still being so deliriously divisive when not an outright violence-driving powerful tool!
Factional fighting is an ongoing daily feature in many parts of the world where religion is a readily used argument to whip up feelings of distrust and hatred.Usually to suit immediate political, economic, social or other less visible yet obscure gains of a few promoters.
In such a context it is hard to file the motion statement under a yes or no.
No amount of pious sentiment - genuine or not - can blind us from the perils caused by misplaced and overblown religious beliefs.
Christianity which seems to have arguably evolved the most from its own period of darkness is still beset by internal issues not addressed to full consequence.
Despite religions sitting on akin core values of goodness, forgiveness and evenness the fact remains that over the centuries on balance it is not at all clear whether or not they have served man's earthly causes best.
Maybe there will come a point in time when we can positively be agreed on a statement as authoritative as this one.
Until such time I am compelled to pass on the voting but not on the debate.
quinta-feira, 14 de outubro de 2010
TEc - "United they stand" Ghosts and sequels from the past remain but ahead is as one.
Very interesting brief overview of Germany's internal divide that is likely to endure longer than optimists might have hoped for.
Back in 1991 I made it a point to travel through 'East Germany' after visiting the Western part of the recently reunited country.
I could quickly tell a long time and massive investment would need to follow before Germany became homogenous in infrastructure, the economy and general standards.
20 years is not long enough to overcome the issues and challenges of old and new presented by unification.
Germany is the best example of the pains and difficulties of balancing sister regions with woefully uneven levels of wealth.
Despite there being no cultural or language divide two strikingly opposing economic systems produced 'two' nearly distinct countries within one.
On an upbeat note The Economist failed to capture in writing one crucial fact from the infograph shown:
GDP per capita in the 5 eastern Landers has doubled from 1991 while in western Landers increases have been, as might be expected, much lower.
On that meaningful economic indicator former East Germany is fast catching up.
Those massive financial transfers are making a difference but the challenge to eventually achieve balance remains.
Understandably.
Back in 1991 I made it a point to travel through 'East Germany' after visiting the Western part of the recently reunited country.
I could quickly tell a long time and massive investment would need to follow before Germany became homogenous in infrastructure, the economy and general standards.
20 years is not long enough to overcome the issues and challenges of old and new presented by unification.
Germany is the best example of the pains and difficulties of balancing sister regions with woefully uneven levels of wealth.
Despite there being no cultural or language divide two strikingly opposing economic systems produced 'two' nearly distinct countries within one.
On an upbeat note The Economist failed to capture in writing one crucial fact from the infograph shown:
GDP per capita in the 5 eastern Landers has doubled from 1991 while in western Landers increases have been, as might be expected, much lower.
On that meaningful economic indicator former East Germany is fast catching up.
Those massive financial transfers are making a difference but the challenge to eventually achieve balance remains.
Understandably.
BBC Blog Network "Chile miners rescue" My reaction as the operation works its way through...
Not at all in Chile, quite far away from it actually - Lisboa, Portugal is my end.
Coordinates cleared, it has been one of those events live TV makes it feel like I'm nearly there in the middle of the action.
Following the rescue operation as much as possible from the first two winched up to hopefully the very last one when his turn comes.
From day one post-accident management appears to have been carried out seamlessly in every way - now crowned by a so-far highly successful and technically flawless rescue operation.
Expectations management was especially superb since the very early days following news that the miners were alive and safe.
Only trapped 650m down.
When it is all over Safety related issues must be closely investigated. Improvements across every mine in the country should be pursued from a higher level of knowledge and adopted safety standards.
A country that owes so much of its wealth to the bowels of the earth must ensure the men who bring it to surface are well-looked after.
Despite inherent risks some of which cannot be eliminated altogether.
Lastly, these 33 men have shown a team spirit, resilience, discipline, commitment and faith that calls for no further words.
Positive collective human behaviour contributes powerfully to positive outcomes in the face of the greatest odds.
Coordinates cleared, it has been one of those events live TV makes it feel like I'm nearly there in the middle of the action.
Following the rescue operation as much as possible from the first two winched up to hopefully the very last one when his turn comes.
From day one post-accident management appears to have been carried out seamlessly in every way - now crowned by a so-far highly successful and technically flawless rescue operation.
Expectations management was especially superb since the very early days following news that the miners were alive and safe.
Only trapped 650m down.
When it is all over Safety related issues must be closely investigated. Improvements across every mine in the country should be pursued from a higher level of knowledge and adopted safety standards.
A country that owes so much of its wealth to the bowels of the earth must ensure the men who bring it to surface are well-looked after.
Despite inherent risks some of which cannot be eliminated altogether.
Lastly, these 33 men have shown a team spirit, resilience, discipline, commitment and faith that calls for no further words.
Positive collective human behaviour contributes powerfully to positive outcomes in the face of the greatest odds.
BBC Blog Network "How should tax money be spent?" Wisely but not miserly, thoughtfully but not wastefully.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that a chunk of taxpayers' money is grossly misspent.What the size of that chunk is would pretty much be anybody's guess depending on country and the proven quality of its leadership.A fair number of other background factors such as culture/strength of civil society and its bodies and past practices also play a defining role.
Spending it better will come about forcefully out of governments left optionless or naturally when a country's leadership finally ratches up to a higher standard of public duty and service.
Lately what is being witnessed has regrettably more to do with the former than the latter.
The role of government in free-market economies is to ensure the transparency of markets and a level playing field for private business to operate in.
Under no circumstances should governments back away from useful intervention if - and only if - it should contribute to improve and safeguard the interests of the vast majority.
To my mind this is fully compatible as much as it is direly needed long before the appalling practices in the run up to the financial meltdown became known.
Reaching a fine balance is a permanent challenge for responsible government. A quest for the win-win formula that weds private and public interests.
The last question is not an easy one to answer until such time as sound politics takes centre stage again.
Skeptical and suspicious of politicians as people are does not detract from the overriding requirement that governments fulfil their obligation.
By definition.
Delivering for the people - the greatest number at all times - measuredly and effectively by smartly pulling together and managing every conflicting interest in a given society.
Spending it better will come about forcefully out of governments left optionless or naturally when a country's leadership finally ratches up to a higher standard of public duty and service.
Lately what is being witnessed has regrettably more to do with the former than the latter.
The role of government in free-market economies is to ensure the transparency of markets and a level playing field for private business to operate in.
Under no circumstances should governments back away from useful intervention if - and only if - it should contribute to improve and safeguard the interests of the vast majority.
To my mind this is fully compatible as much as it is direly needed long before the appalling practices in the run up to the financial meltdown became known.
Reaching a fine balance is a permanent challenge for responsible government. A quest for the win-win formula that weds private and public interests.
The last question is not an easy one to answer until such time as sound politics takes centre stage again.
Skeptical and suspicious of politicians as people are does not detract from the overriding requirement that governments fulfil their obligation.
By definition.
Delivering for the people - the greatest number at all times - measuredly and effectively by smartly pulling together and managing every conflicting interest in a given society.
BBC Blog Network "Is France's treatment of Roma too harsh?" There's more to it than meets the eye or hits the ear!
It is still early days in this ongoing row over Gypsies/Travellers/Roma between France, the EU and the street where opinion ranges from inflamed broad support to inflamed astonished outrage.
After all it is France of all nation-States!
After all it is a human problem most can connect to, triggering feelings from excitement to indignation.
Most often than not to hyped valuation according to own views on 'the other'.
Roma people have indeed been an unresolved social problem across most of Europe calling for targeted public policy.
Nothing that can be sorted out from one day or one year to the next.
Yet the nuisance created by these Roma - newly arrived from the far edges of Eastern Europe - pose everyday issues no organized State represented by the government of the day can simply overlook indefinitely.
It could be likened to social dumping whereby Romania and Bulgaria transfer thousands of their underclassed citizens to a wealthier EU State.
Gypsies/Travellers/Roma ought to be treated with respect everywhere but their case is much wider than emboldened statements of political correctness would let us believe.
Hopefully for Gypsies/Travellers/Roma some good will arise in the longer run out of the current uneasy situation.
I just wish Nicolas Sarkozy is not using 'the other' to prop up his popularity.That would be so utterly wrong!
After all it is France of all nation-States!
After all it is a human problem most can connect to, triggering feelings from excitement to indignation.
Most often than not to hyped valuation according to own views on 'the other'.
Roma people have indeed been an unresolved social problem across most of Europe calling for targeted public policy.
Nothing that can be sorted out from one day or one year to the next.
Yet the nuisance created by these Roma - newly arrived from the far edges of Eastern Europe - pose everyday issues no organized State represented by the government of the day can simply overlook indefinitely.
It could be likened to social dumping whereby Romania and Bulgaria transfer thousands of their underclassed citizens to a wealthier EU State.
Gypsies/Travellers/Roma ought to be treated with respect everywhere but their case is much wider than emboldened statements of political correctness would let us believe.
Hopefully for Gypsies/Travellers/Roma some good will arise in the longer run out of the current uneasy situation.
I just wish Nicolas Sarkozy is not using 'the other' to prop up his popularity.That would be so utterly wrong!
BBC Blog Network "Can the new Australian government last?" I think so...
I feel good that the deadlock has been broken and a new government for Australia is in the offing.
In a democracy there is always room for negotiation and compromise when voters dictate so by not delivering clear majorities to any single party.
The ball has been and will continue to be well inside the court of politicians who've finally reached that magic 76 backing Labour.
It is of course the slimmest of margins, indeed a combination that could have just as easily swayed the Coalition's way had the Independents opted differently.
Going forward Julia Gillard's political skills will be fully tested.
Unless rocked by internal dissent I do not see why her government should not last the full term.
If Labour closes ranks uniting behind the leadership likely to be under permanent scrutiny then the current arrangement will be made to work.
The new government's main priorities relate to a fair tax on mining companies' profits - a national wealth that should benefit all Australians - a coherent, workable climate policy with increased input from the underrepresented Greens and reform of the electoral system.
The financing arrangements at Federal and State level concerning health and education is likely a policy priority too.
In a democracy there is always room for negotiation and compromise when voters dictate so by not delivering clear majorities to any single party.
The ball has been and will continue to be well inside the court of politicians who've finally reached that magic 76 backing Labour.
It is of course the slimmest of margins, indeed a combination that could have just as easily swayed the Coalition's way had the Independents opted differently.
Going forward Julia Gillard's political skills will be fully tested.
Unless rocked by internal dissent I do not see why her government should not last the full term.
If Labour closes ranks uniting behind the leadership likely to be under permanent scrutiny then the current arrangement will be made to work.
The new government's main priorities relate to a fair tax on mining companies' profits - a national wealth that should benefit all Australians - a coherent, workable climate policy with increased input from the underrepresented Greens and reform of the electoral system.
The financing arrangements at Federal and State level concerning health and education is likely a policy priority too.
sexta-feira, 1 de outubro de 2010
TEc - "India's surprising economic miracle" - The country is set to outpace China's growth but India is truly special...
A refreshingly upbeat article on India that does justice to all that is good with the country without dwelling negatively on its downside.Many of the comments posted address the latter from a generally well-captured view of India's gruelling reality for the majority.
Such is the very nature of the country that it can just as easily arise contradictory feelings from the awesome to the disgusting.India's promise while unfulfilled has come a very long way. Importantly, as The Economist rightly points out, going forward there are many positives placing the country on a rather strong and hopeful footing.Comparisons with China become inevitable but it would still be best to assess the country on its own merits. Setting them against a reasonable timeline, headstart if any and historic background.
I have come to believe India has, besides every other, mainly a set of core issues that it alone can tackle and overcome.
With the economy booming thanks largely to private sector businesses base conditions have improved dramatically but do not suffice to efficiently address those issues.
That requires political as much as societal will from a large enough section of the population.
The upcoming Commonwealth Games of course do not define the country and the diversity of its multiple realities.But it certainly does provide an insight into the daily workings of India. A pretty accurate one at that.
All failings tallied up when the party is over, if rightfully acknowledged, could spawn a new sense/attitude in Indians - those who matter and who can push change - geared to improving general standards across the board across the country.
A massive ongoing challenge, predictably a permanently unfinished job, a never-ending journey towards building a modern country that delivers objectively for its own citizens in the first place...
Such is the very nature of the country that it can just as easily arise contradictory feelings from the awesome to the disgusting.India's promise while unfulfilled has come a very long way. Importantly, as The Economist rightly points out, going forward there are many positives placing the country on a rather strong and hopeful footing.Comparisons with China become inevitable but it would still be best to assess the country on its own merits. Setting them against a reasonable timeline, headstart if any and historic background.
I have come to believe India has, besides every other, mainly a set of core issues that it alone can tackle and overcome.
With the economy booming thanks largely to private sector businesses base conditions have improved dramatically but do not suffice to efficiently address those issues.
That requires political as much as societal will from a large enough section of the population.
The upcoming Commonwealth Games of course do not define the country and the diversity of its multiple realities.But it certainly does provide an insight into the daily workings of India. A pretty accurate one at that.
All failings tallied up when the party is over, if rightfully acknowledged, could spawn a new sense/attitude in Indians - those who matter and who can push change - geared to improving general standards across the board across the country.
A massive ongoing challenge, predictably a permanently unfinished job, a never-ending journey towards building a modern country that delivers objectively for its own citizens in the first place...
Subscrever:
Mensagens (Atom)