"Don't have a cow, man!" - by Hénock Gugsa

"Don't have a cow, man!" *
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by Hénock Gugsa   For many years now, Bart Simpson, that incorrigible brat from TV, has regularly and irreverently told everybody: "Don't have a cow, man!" It seems to me that this is the mantra we should adopt when faced with seemingly insurmountable crises and dilemmas in life. The only exception could be if we were somehow personally and individually responsible for creating those situations in the first place. However, we can and perhaps should show a modicum of sincere empathy and concern for all serious situations all the same.

- So, a bridge collapses and kills 13 people. Should the immediate reaction be to find somebody to blame? No, the tragedy has already occurred. As a citizen, I can only mourn the loss of lives, and hope that a proactive investigation is done that will be instructive enough to help us correct the avoidable human mistakes.

- A government adopts wrong-headed policies and stubbornly executes them in the face of so much opposition, then grapples with the predictable disasters that ensue. All I can do is vote against those responsible ... the incompetent and unworthy elected officials. It should not matter what party they belong to.

- Someone somewhere loudly and passionately writes in support of his political party, and bemoans and besmirches the demurrers as liberals, neocons, libtards, democRats, republitards, lefties, righties, commies, fascists, pro-American, anti-American, traitors, fundies, wingnuts, gay lovers, homophobes, hypocrites, zealots, racists, sexists, bigots, neanderthals, progressives, reactionaries, bolsheviks, mensheviks, etc. But what does it all mean? Why even discuss any issue if everything can be settled by just name-calling, labeling, and pigeonholing?

Conclusion: I think that all of us (i.e. each and everyone) are really more complex in our thoughts, our beliefs, and our actions. Even the most "so-called" die-hard capitalist can, at some point, succumb to moments of humaneness and give in to compassion and charity. Hence hope and optimism always stay unvanquished for the nation.

Our country has numerous unsung heroes who have sprung from all walks of life, and they are always doing wonderfully good deeds. But these folk don't advertise their good work. They are quiet, they stay under the radar, and they like to keep it that way. Maybe they are the true practitioners of Bart's philosophy. They try to right a wrong, to mend the broken, to feed the hungry, and to love the unloved.

Have a cow? No, not them! 
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* "Don't have a cow, man!" ~ © Hénock Gugsa  ( ሄኖክ  ጉግሣ ) - 04/07/2010

Quality Republicans - by Hénock Gugsa

Quality Republicans *
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by Hénock Gugsa

Recently, I heard someone use the term  "quality republicans", but he did not quite give a good explanation of what that meant or represented.  Presently,  I do not think that the term refers to any established or existing group.  I shall, therefore, attempt to submit my take on what the term implies or how it can materialize.  First, however, let me make an a priori apology in case some  feathers are ruffled, and sensibilities perturbed. My motive is simple: posit a point of view on what I think it will take to be a "quality republican".

As we all know, the Republican party is in a big fight not only for survival but also for future resurgence and grandeur. The Grand Ole Party needs a serious overhaul, and this should be an exciting time for the institution just for the challenges alone if not for anything else.

What needs to be done?

- Retain your core philosophy which separates you from the democrats? But, be more moderate and tolerant of opposing views. Compromise when common sense demands it.

- Don't form a passive government that serves only corporate interests.

- Put out competing ideas on how to improve health care, the environment, and education. Follow Arnold Schwarzenegger's example.

- Curb or cure neophobia, fear of the new.

- Curb or cure tropophobia, fear of change.

- Do a balanced and objective self-analysis. Are you too offensive? Are you too defensive?

- Are you flexible and open to any political eventuality (crisis)?

- Will you consider and accept the logic behind the majority/minority power allocations. The current argument, (the "fear") that a one-party domination in Congress and the White House is a bad or dangerous thing, is without merit.

The nation is fed up of gridlock and a do-nothing government. Let one party take over for a while. Let's see how they do in two years? If they fail, they will have no excuses and will be voted out by the voting public. Finger-pointing and blame game would make sense when one party is in total control of the government.

A minority party can always state on the record its opposition to the majority, alert the voting public and actively develop and promote the differing position for acceptance.  Those republicans that do all of the above are, in my humble opinion, indeed "quality republicans."
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* “Quality Republicans” ~ © Hénock Gugsa  ( ሄኖክ  ጉግሣ ) - 04/06/2010