Why the USA is fighting in Libya.

Nice title, eh?

So, the question is: Why are we (the United States of America) intervening with military action in yet another foreign country's domestic matters, i.e. Libya?

You tell me, because I'll be darned if I know.

Our country's founding was based on the premise that the people of the country have the right of self-determination in the matter of their own form of government, and if the people did not like that government, then the people of the country have the right to change or abolish that government. Poorly worded, but I think you get my drift in paraphrasing our Declaration of Independence.

Okay, I understand that some Libyans are unhappy with their government and want change. And, the Libyan people as a group have the right to do so. That is the Libyans have that right, not America. It seems to me that the United States of America has injected itself into the internal affairs of many countries over the past 50 years. It does not matter to me whether I agree with the form of government in another country; it is not my country; it is up to the people of the other country to have whatever form of government they want.

Oh, wait. I seem to remember something about a country called Viet Nam. Now, what is it? Oh, yes, now I remember, We lost our military intervention into that country's civil war, as did France before us, and we (the U.S.A.) got our asses kicked. Now, the very same government that we opposed in Viet Nam apparently has full trade with the USA as I see many products on American retail shelves with the label "Made in Viet Nam." Lesson learned: Why is the United States of America fighting in the civil war (if that is what it is) of Libya?

Wisconsin: Leading The Charge of Contemporary Anti-Union Laws

I find it interesting that the Republican Governor and the Republican controlled state legislature of the State of Wisconsin are foolishly rushing to squash the collective bargaining rights of their public employess. They cite the state deficit, the current poor economy, and collective bargaining as reasons for not being able to afford the continued wages and benefits of the state's (including local political subdivisions) political employees; and then use that as the reason to strip public employee unions of collective bargaining rights.

I say what a bunch of cowardly, mismanagement, nonfeasance, 'blame-the-other-guy' syndrome! Why do you have to strip the unions of collective bargaining rights? Why not assume the responsibility and accountability of good public management? Tow the line, hang tough in negotiations, and stay with the bottom line management offer regarding wages and benefits. Oh, poor management! That would require them to work. So, those yayholes of Wisconsin Republican politicians decided that serfdom would make for a better workforce and is the better way to manage the budget.

Oh, and the latest (as of the date of writing this Roland Hansen Commentary) on the Republican bulldozing anti-union legislation is that a judge has temporarily blocked the law from taking effect; read about that by clicking here.

If you wish, you may look at this in order to find and read more current information about Wisconsin anti-union law.

Public Breastfeeding

We adults eat while out in public all the time. Our children also eat while in the public eye. Our infants are publicly bottle fed. But what of the breastfed infant? For some strange asinine reason, many people are abhorred at public breastfeeding.

My mother breastfed all seven of her children. Human breast milk is good for human babies; it is healthy. Human breast milk is the natural way to feed human babies; it is as God intended. Female breasts are there for the primary purpose of feeding human infants. So, why are so many people hung up on breastfeeding in public? People can be so stupid!

Do you want to know what got me started on this topic? It was the blog entry post Breast Feeding in Public from Judy's Jewels.

Several web sites and/or pages that I recommend people click over to explore are:
007 Breasts
Breastfeeding in Public
Breastfeeding Laws
Breastfeeding in Public Images
Breastfeeding in Public Videos

I'm telling you the general American public is as dumb as rocks. People confuse nudity with sex. People view human female breasts as sex objects which they are not; a human female breast is no more of a sex object than is an ear lobe! I have seen and heard so many ads in the print and broadcast media about the use of K-Y jelly for sexual pleasure, condoms for sexual safety and pleasure, male erectile function products, recruitment of female subjects for scientific studies delving into female "intimacy" dysfunction, and on and on and on. These things are on billboards, in the newspapers and magazines, on radio and television. Apparently, all that is acceptable for public display; but for some strange reason, breastfeeding in public still remains pretty much taboo. Go figure!

I believe it is acceptable to eat in public; and, therefore, I support public eating. That applies to adults, children, and infants.
Ergo,
I am a strong advocate of breastfeeding; and, I strongly support public breastfeeding.

What's It All About, Charlie?

I sometimes have to wonder about people? Why do some folks feel it is necessary to write or say mean-spirited things about other people intentionly and with malice for no apparent reason other than to try to inflict harm and to cause hurt feelings.

At the moment, I am thinking of my own 22-year-old adult niece, Charlie (Charlotte) Hansen, who has taken it upon herself to lambast me on the internet, especially on Facebook, on my own Roland's Ramblings blog, and in instant messages amongst her friends and even with other members of my own family. I have always treated Charlie kindly. I had never said an unkind word to her and I have always acted friendly towards Charlie. I had thought we had a good relationship; that is, until just a few weeks ago when she began to openly malign me from out of nowhere. I see no rhyme or reason for her written attacks upon me.

Why such disrespect? Why such vicious venom? What does this say about me; or, better yet, what does this say about her?

Well, perhaps, I should take a clue from Charlie. Back on January 28, 2011, I posted the following on my Facebook wall:
Respect. That is a seven letter word. What is your definition of the word "respect?"
To that posted comment, Charlie wrote on my Facebook wall two responses on January 30, 2011:
"Respect is not something your born with; it's something you earn. So many people need to realize that just because you have a few wrinkles on your face, and your skin is starting to sag, your word is not supreme. Damned snowbirds..."
"Do take care and maybe consider showing your family a bit more respect. As from the many conversations I have personally held, many family members already have no respect for you."

For a bit more about some of my thoughts on all of this, just go on over to read a few entries from my Roland's Ramblings blog:
Napoleon Complex; Short Man’s Syndrome
Sticks and Stones
“Ignorance is bliss.”

Modern electronic communication technology is fantastic. However, it seems to me that with the advent of e-mail, "texting," internet social networks, and all that ilk, our modern society is losing the intimacy and social graces of the courtesy and respect that are all part of interpersonal, face-to-face, communications.

Given that these electronic media of communication to which I reference do not allow for nonverbal communication and body language cues or for an instant exchange of meaningful feedback, I pose the qhestion:
What's It All About, Charlie?

On a brighter note, I suggest you read Judy's Jewels blog entry:
What’s It all About……Alfie

Learn From Mistakes

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

Every one makes mistakes. Even me. But all too often, others rush to judgement when it comes to the other person who has made some mistake.

A smart person will learn from his or her own mistakes. However, a truly smart person will not only learn from his or her own mistakes, but will also learn from the mistakes of others. That is why I so much appreciate a recent blog entry of As the Spirtit Moves Me by Nina Amir.

Click on over to read the blog entry:
Lessons learned from Christina Aguilera’s Super Bowl Mistake.

Glenn Beck: Savior of the Jewish people?

I have previously written of Glenn Beck on more than one occasion.

Well, Glenn Beck is back on my radar again. Rather than a whole bunch of commentary from me, I would like to request that you click on each of the following title headings below to read the contents of each and then return here.

PUPPETRY by Hendrik Hertzberg, The New Yorker, November 29, 2010.
Open Letter to Glenn Beck, RabbiJason.com, Rabbi Jason Miller, January 28, 2011.
Rabbis sign on to Jewish Funds for Justice battle with Beck, Fox News, by Ben Harris, JTA, January 31, 2011.
Rabbis to Rupert Murdoch: 'Sanction Glenn Beck', posted by Wolfman, SwampBubbles, January 28, 2011.

I certainly hope you took the time and made the effort to read those cited references.

Now, on to my ever-so-brief commentary after all that.

It seems to me as though Glenn Beck fancies himself as the Savior of the Jewish people. Personally, I believe he is the Pretender to that descriptive title, sort of like the antichrist in that regard.

It is way past time for Glenn Beck to hang it up, hang his head down in shame, and head off to other pastures far, far outside of the public sphere.

Discourse in American Politics and Everyday Life

I find Tim Higgins' Just Blowing Smoke... Civil Political Discourse to be very interesting reading. While I believe mi amigo, Tim, has made some very poignant comments in regards to the subject of discourse in American political commentaries, discussions, and dialogs, I also believe the same may be true of most interpersonal communications in America.

And true enough, the mass media seems to have become the regular and acceptable forum in which to incite and inflame. The traditional mass media has taken root in sensationalizing people and trivializing issues in almost every part of our lives for one very simple reason; it sells readership, viewership, and listenership. People love to gossip and badmouth others and they love hearing others do the same --- that is, if they are in agreement; otherwise, it is terrible of the other guy to say or write all those nasty things.

With my line of thought in that regards, I now see that local and national television programs have taken to using facebook and twitter into their programming in such a way as to encourage the audience to make comments that are then read on the air. Hey, it works; so many people want their minute of fame on television and they get it with irresponsible broadcast entertainment masquerading as journalism news and current events.

Would it not be ideal for all of us to be able to express ourselves in a well presented manner to others without the fear of being lambasted, harassed, harangued, ridiculed, or whatever? Dream on!

Now for some real discourse, taking my lead from television news programs, all I can say is: "Coming up, breaking news, obviously, right?"

Censoring Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer

Haven't you heard the latest in censorship? Are Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer really personas non grata? Is it a sign of the times? Are we to re-write history and novels to be politically correct?

I think Jack has it right when he took the subject up in his Mad Jack's Shack blog entry to write Rant: Censorship. (Click on that entry title to read the whole thing.)

Obama, Hitler, Nazis, and Jews

"As Hitler and World War II recede into history, the term “Nazi” has for too many Americans become a descriptive for someone, like President Obama for example, whose political views offend those employing the term. This is an insult to the president and a bigger insult to the many whose lives have been marred in some way by evil inflicted by those who wore the swastika."
- Excerpt from Not Just a Jewish issue, The Berkshire Beagle, December 28, 2010

I wonder how extremist Obama bashers defend their views when comparing Barack Obama, our President of the United States, to Hitler and to Nazis.

Note: I did write extremist Obama bashers; this is not a reference to Obama bashers in general.


Side note: I found an interesting place on the internet - I Hate Obama Bashers.

Follow The Money

The rich get richer taking their money elsewhere creating a downward spiral wherein the poor get poorer. Meanwhile, the moderate income taxpayer continues to get the squeeze.

Click over to Judy Hansen Commentary: Bankrupting Michigan.