Friday, February 27, 2004
The ultimate Valentine
I know a man who nursed his wife almost full-time for the last four years while she slowly died of cancer. He refused to put her into a home, because of his love for her.
I know a woman who nursed her husband for many years while he gradually slipped into the no-man's world of Alzheimer's Disease. I have an uncle who is doing the same for my aunt. It is hard. Bloody hard. And sometimes it all seems like too much. He gets irritable, and it's not surprising. But he loves her, and he won't abandon her. Sometimes it is only a sense of duty that keeps him going. That might seem like an old-fashioned concept, but isn't it a wonderful thing when it produces something so deeply compassionate. It defines humanity in a way that few things can.
This is my salute to all the amazing people who do this day in, day out. You are heroes whom the world will probably never give a medal, but without whom we would be sadly diminished.
Your loved one probably never gave you a Valentine's card this year. I think that one day God will reward you with the ultimate one. If anyone can be said to deserve Heaven, it will be people such as yourself.
I know a man who nursed his wife almost full-time for the last four years while she slowly died of cancer. He refused to put her into a home, because of his love for her.
I know a woman who nursed her husband for many years while he gradually slipped into the no-man's world of Alzheimer's Disease. I have an uncle who is doing the same for my aunt. It is hard. Bloody hard. And sometimes it all seems like too much. He gets irritable, and it's not surprising. But he loves her, and he won't abandon her. Sometimes it is only a sense of duty that keeps him going. That might seem like an old-fashioned concept, but isn't it a wonderful thing when it produces something so deeply compassionate. It defines humanity in a way that few things can.
This is my salute to all the amazing people who do this day in, day out. You are heroes whom the world will probably never give a medal, but without whom we would be sadly diminished.
Your loved one probably never gave you a Valentine's card this year. I think that one day God will reward you with the ultimate one. If anyone can be said to deserve Heaven, it will be people such as yourself.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
Falling fertility starts to bite
The consequence of the present generation's decision not to have babies is starting to bite in Australia.
Australia's baby boomers have been told many will have to work well past the present retirement age of 65.
In a stark assessment of the future facing the nation's rapidly aging population - a consequence of the falling fertility rate - Treasurer Peter Costello yesterday announced new policies to keep baby boomers in the workforce.
The aim will be to enable people to keep working into their 70s, and to encourage new generations to save for their retirements.
Without major changes, tens of thousands of Australians will eke out their final years on a pension equivalent to one-quarter of the average wage - now about A$19,600 ($22,130) a year for a couple.
Recent studies suggest this is A$10,000 below the minimum needed to stay above the poverty line.
Costello said that to maintain even this while keeping pace with an over-65 population that will almost double over the next 40 years, Australia was faced with four choices.
It could increase income tax by up to 40 per cent, slash Government spending by the equivalent of total present expenditure on health, run huge Budget deficits or boost the size of the economy.
The consequence of the present generation's decision not to have babies is starting to bite in Australia.
Australia's baby boomers have been told many will have to work well past the present retirement age of 65.
In a stark assessment of the future facing the nation's rapidly aging population - a consequence of the falling fertility rate - Treasurer Peter Costello yesterday announced new policies to keep baby boomers in the workforce.
The aim will be to enable people to keep working into their 70s, and to encourage new generations to save for their retirements.
Without major changes, tens of thousands of Australians will eke out their final years on a pension equivalent to one-quarter of the average wage - now about A$19,600 ($22,130) a year for a couple.
Recent studies suggest this is A$10,000 below the minimum needed to stay above the poverty line.
Costello said that to maintain even this while keeping pace with an over-65 population that will almost double over the next 40 years, Australia was faced with four choices.
It could increase income tax by up to 40 per cent, slash Government spending by the equivalent of total present expenditure on health, run huge Budget deficits or boost the size of the economy.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Same-sex marriage debate hots up
President Bush has announced his support for a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage in the United States.
Citing "defiance of the law by local officials," Bush said, "Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass and to send to the states for ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife."
Efforts in Congress to pass an amendment have intensified in the wake of the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision that only full and equal marriage rights for homosexual couples will pass constitutional muster in the state. Under the decision – and barring a constitutional amendment – same-sex weddings will begin in Massachusetts in May.
President Bush has announced his support for a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage in the United States.
Citing "defiance of the law by local officials," Bush said, "Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass and to send to the states for ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife."
Efforts in Congress to pass an amendment have intensified in the wake of the Massachusetts Supreme Court decision that only full and equal marriage rights for homosexual couples will pass constitutional muster in the state. Under the decision – and barring a constitutional amendment – same-sex weddings will begin in Massachusetts in May.
From the "Postmodernism Bible"
And God said to Joshua, "When you enter the city of Jericho, I want you to respect the human rights of the indigenous people. Remember that your culture is not superior to theirs, and neither should you impose your beliefs on them. Do not proselytise or assert that your truth has any more relevance than their truth. If you break this injunction, the wrath of the United Nations shall be on your head. For verily, the Jerichoans are a people of equal dignity and worth to your people and deserve to have their human rights respected. Above all, do not expect them to acknowledge me, your God, or to bow down to me. For yea, I have attempt to speak to the God of the Jerichoans, and I cannot get him to even acknowledge that I exist."
And God said to Joshua, "When you enter the city of Jericho, I want you to respect the human rights of the indigenous people. Remember that your culture is not superior to theirs, and neither should you impose your beliefs on them. Do not proselytise or assert that your truth has any more relevance than their truth. If you break this injunction, the wrath of the United Nations shall be on your head. For verily, the Jerichoans are a people of equal dignity and worth to your people and deserve to have their human rights respected. Above all, do not expect them to acknowledge me, your God, or to bow down to me. For yea, I have attempt to speak to the God of the Jerichoans, and I cannot get him to even acknowledge that I exist."
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Dang that democracy!!
Quote of the day:
"It's very difficult for Maori people to get into local government because of the so-called democracy of one person, one vote."
~ Tariana Turia, New Zealand's Associate Minister of Maori Affairs, blowing off about how pakeha can leave the country if they don't like Maori being given special privileges.
Quote of the day:
"It's very difficult for Maori people to get into local government because of the so-called democracy of one person, one vote."
~ Tariana Turia, New Zealand's Associate Minister of Maori Affairs, blowing off about how pakeha can leave the country if they don't like Maori being given special privileges.
Monday, February 23, 2004
Apocalypse Now??
In an article reeking of imagery from the Bible's book of Revelation, The Observer (UK) claims that climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters.
A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.
The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.
'Disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life,' concludes the Pentagon analysis. 'Once again, warfare would define human life.'
The Four Horsemen ride rampant through the scenario, which is enough to strike panic into the average mortal breast if the predictions are accurate.
But there's the rub. Until they happen, we can't know. The Bush administration in the USA sides with those scientists who say global warming is not proven. It is interesting that The Guardian provides a link to Bjorn Lomborg, who claims that gobal warming is overstated. He says many predictions are based entirely on worst-case scenarios, and don't provide a balanced view. He also says: "global warming will not decrease food production, it will probably not increase storminess or the frequency of hurricanes, [“there is no general agreement yet among models concerning future changes in midlatitude storms (intensity and frequency) and variability,� and “there is some evidence that shows only small changes in the frequency of tropical cyclones.�
Unfortunately, even if global warming is a fact, and the Pentagon's scenario is correct, there is now insufficient time for any measures under the Kyoto Protocol to take effect. Perhaps now is the time to take heed of the other advice provided in the Book of Revelation - turn to the author of the book.
In an article reeking of imagery from the Bible's book of Revelation, The Observer (UK) claims that climate change over the next 20 years could result in a global catastrophe costing millions of lives in wars and natural disasters.
A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.
The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.
'Disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life,' concludes the Pentagon analysis. 'Once again, warfare would define human life.'
The Four Horsemen ride rampant through the scenario, which is enough to strike panic into the average mortal breast if the predictions are accurate.
But there's the rub. Until they happen, we can't know. The Bush administration in the USA sides with those scientists who say global warming is not proven. It is interesting that The Guardian provides a link to Bjorn Lomborg, who claims that gobal warming is overstated. He says many predictions are based entirely on worst-case scenarios, and don't provide a balanced view. He also says: "global warming will not decrease food production, it will probably not increase storminess or the frequency of hurricanes, [“there is no general agreement yet among models concerning future changes in midlatitude storms (intensity and frequency) and variability,� and “there is some evidence that shows only small changes in the frequency of tropical cyclones.�
Unfortunately, even if global warming is a fact, and the Pentagon's scenario is correct, there is now insufficient time for any measures under the Kyoto Protocol to take effect. Perhaps now is the time to take heed of the other advice provided in the Book of Revelation - turn to the author of the book.
