Another 3 great books

I've just read "True Enough" by Farhad Manjoo, an extremely enlightening and yet disturbing book.  What's disturbing is captured in the subtitle: "Learning to Love In A Post-Fact Society".  

On a related note, I'm about halfway through "Ethics for the Real World" by Ron Howard and Clinton Korver (full disclosure: Clint is a friend of mine), and it is a very useful book, providing motivation and help in developing your personal code of ethics.  I'm glad I've read these books in close proximity, since I will now incorporate some appoach to truth into my code of ethics.  That's harder than it seems like it should be.

The third interesting book is "This I Believe", a collection of essays that you can hear on NPR.   This inspiring and sometimes amusing collection motivates me to write down what I believe.  Gee, maybe those would be good blog posts.  Or maybe not, but I may post them anyway for my own benefit!

BTW: There is now available for purchase "This I Believe 2".  Have to order that soon... or perhaps after I've written my own.

All three of these books are excellent for expanding thought and reassessing our own perspectives.  Enjoy.

Two Good Men

I just listened to the end of John McCain's RNC acceptance speech.  I've liked him for a long time, though not so much recently.  Tonight he sounded just a bit more like the "old McCain."  But there a few times where he said something that was inspiring, but contradicted either his own policies, or my views.

He said "think of something larger than yourself."  I'm game.  I'm on three nonprofit boards, have a day job, and a family.  So, um, why do we want to continue to give a free pass to the top 1%?  Aren't they supposed to "think of something larger than themselves"? Death tax?  If you die with less than about $2M, you don't have to pay any tax.  That covers most folks.  And you can't take it with you...  But although McCain spoke of equal opportunity, he wants to pass every penny of those millions to the middle-aged heirs who either already know how to take care of themselves, or somehow never learned how and so depend on getting more than the 60+% that would survive the estate tax.  This is the so-called Paris Hilton Benefit Act.  McCain also talked about freedom and equality for all, but opposes marriage for some people.

He also said something like this: "I've fought for my country, and I will fight every day of my life."  I think he's telling the truth.  But that's not me.  I want to WORK for my country, and for people not in my country.  I don't think it's always about fighting.

Just as I tuned in, McCain was talking about being blessed by early adversity that taught him to think beyond himself.  Now, he was the son of an admiral, so he had some privilege, but unlike his pal W, he made real sacrifices.  So I can see how John was both privileged, and at the same time, signed up for sacrifice well before being shot down over Vietnam.

That does not mean that his opponent, Barack Obama, has had it easy.  Barack was born in 1961, when the US had 50 states, in the newly minted state of Hawaii, but before many of the Civil Rights acts were passed.  My stepfather was Hawaiian born of mixed race.  I don't believe mixed raced children had an easy time in the US in the 60's, or in particular in Hawaii.  Barack Obama is much younger than McCain, but he even so, he was born at a time when his parents' marriage would not have been recognized in Virginia.

Barack Obama talks a bit about his past.  John McCain talks about his.  Both of them had their struggles.  Both of them talk about change.  One of them really represents change for me, and if he is elected, it will represent dramatic progress for this country.

Only in this time, when the standing president has an approval rating in the cellar, that our nation could realistically choose its first African-American president over another good man, a good man who just happens to espouse nearly identical policies to the standing president.  I suppose that we can, at least, thank George W Bush for creating a context for this historic opportunity.  It now depends on Americans to make the choice.  For the most part, the same Americans who chose Mr Bush over Mr Kerry four years ago.

Interestingly, it is not entirely the same America.  A few Americans who voted in 2004 have passed away, or lost the ability to vote.  A few other Americans have gained the right to vote.  Most of those younger voters are likely to vote for Obama.  (I should provide a link, but this is left as an exercise for the interested reader.)

Y'know... the race seems fairly close.  If it were not for the 4 year shift in the voter roles, McCain must might pull out a win, despite supporting the lion's share of unpopular policies.  That is the nature of things.  Each generation brings change.  The old guard resists, but change is unavoidable.

Two good men.  Two Americans.  Both have experienced adversity.  Both want the best for this country.  One will be chosen to lead.  

Next time you get the flu... Celebrate!

I woke up one morning a few days ago. Right away it's clear: something's wrong. Throat's a little sore. Aw, no! Did I shout last night? No, that's not it. Well, bummer, I've got a cold. Blame it on the kid in preschool.

Then I start to move. Urg. Achy ache. Yeah. "Flu-like symptoms." Joy of joys. Man, there's so much to do. Heck, I can put the patio furniture together next weekend. But will I miss work? How bad will it be if that Appropedia work waits for a couple days?

I take a couple of over the counter pills with water, put the glass on the night stand. Right next to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "Half of a Yellow Sun" that was recommended by my buddy at Kepler's. I think for a minute about what it's like to get the flu for the other half of the world's population.

Okay, so, I'm going to feel pretty lousy for another few minutes until those pills kick in. Then I'll move a little slow for a day or two. I won't go hungry. If I call in sick for a couple days, I won't lose my job. My wife and son won't starve. Also, I know it's the flu. I mean, I know it's not TB or typhoid or a hundred other diseases that just don't happen here because we've got a pretty thorough public health program.

Wow!

Am I a lucky sucker or what?! I've got the flu...in one of the rich countries of the world!