2011 Forecasts

If only I had a crystal-ball to foresee the future…

But since I don’t, I will have to rely on what my vision captures, add a zest of optimism and there we have it: a nice forecast.

Forecasts are practically a wish. So here’s my wish-list for 2011:

• People will have a broader understanding about the meaning of emigration and immigration [Emigrants must comprehend that migrating to another country signifies doing so legally; it means respecting the host country’s history, traditions, language; and remaining legal. Legal immigration is more than welcome. Illegal immigration poses a huge problem (which needs to be ethically tackled); however we shouldn’t allow bigots to use this issue as a means to spew their venom].
• The Western economy will start to grow. Jobs will be created (although not at a desirable rhythm yet). The middle class will start spending again and banks will wake up and re-start doing their real job (i.e. lending money against collaterals).
• Fareed Zakaria will pause the fear mongering and admit the truth: China is an investor, not a banker.
• Europe will tone down the ultra-nationalist rhetoric that threatens to re-emerge. Any form of persecution to Jews, Muslims, Gypsies, gays and any other minority group, will not be tolerated.
• Moderate Muslims will start to openly fight Islamists and show signs that they can win (since the rest of the world will support them). The Arab world fights for democracy and will begin to reform its society (i.e. separation between state and church; education for all; bestow civil rights upon women; yield to basic civil freedom & liberties and liberalise its market). 
• Africa will wake up and smell the coffee. It’s time to ride the horse of development and for that to happen despotic governments must be brought down; democratic administrations must invest heavily on peace, health, education and infrastructures.
• Nations, worldwide, will finally realize that the world has changed and that reforms (on every level) are urgent. Old strategies, old tactics, the ancient way of thinking and doing things do not, and will not, work any longer.

Final forecast: 2011 is the year of change. So let’s be brave and embrace it!

You are invited to check LS' ability to read the Crystal-ball...Here.

One Two Three

One
Ricky Gervais is an awesome comedian: cheers, mate!
I didn’t know that celebrities were such sensitive and humourless creatures. I mean, one strives to be a public figure; it does things that damage its image; its whole life is exposed on magazines (being, thus, the theme of many dinner parties...for some odd reason); and then it doesn’t want to be the target of comedians?
When I was younger, I remember looking forward to watching the Oscars; the Grammys, the Emmys etc (for they were funny, entertaining and beautiful)...but since the 9/11 it seems like people feel guilty for being alive and celebrating things. This being said, award ceremonies, since then, have been boring to death. Then, came the Golden Globes 2011 and Gervais: naughty, provocative, intelligent and extremely hilarious (I laughed to tears all the way through it).
I thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for such a good time.

Two
Congratulations to Tunisia and Algeria: “A tous les dictateurs – dégagez!!” [1]
It is about time that the people rise against dictators and corrupt leaders. Hanging on to power for 23/33 years is anti-democratic (obviously) and, more importantly, shameful.
Now, I spent the weekend listening to political commentators saying that these events are not a sign of change in the Arab World; however I completely disagree with them: these uprisings are exactly a sign of change in the Muslim world. I’d even go farther by saying that it is a sign that the Arabs want democracy, under a model similar to the West’s.
The internet, text-messaging systems and cell-phone communications made it much easier to exchange cultural, social and political experiences; therefore, people know how Westerners live and, although not perfect, the West at least has a better version of freedom and liberties.

Three
As a right-wing ethical capitalist I’d like to briefly address China’s economic success.
China is not superior to the United States (not today, not ever). Nowadays it is posh to pretend that the US is afraid of China because the latter invested $900 billion in US Bonds (Japan invested, during the 80’s, $264.4 billion in US Bonds – and it was the economic monster at the time) however if the US plays its card correctly it will remain the most powerful nation.
If the US would decide to stop trading with China: this country would lose +$300 billion/year.
If the US and Europe would persecute the traitors that relocate their business to China (leaving their country-men without jobs, many facing foreclosures and misery; just because they want to practice savage capitalism and brainwash us into believing that we need €1 clothes, shoes, toys, toothpaste, appliances etc – cheap product [in every sense] that poison us), if traitors would start being patriotic and investing at home, then where would the Chinese economic superiority go? Down the Red Dragon drain.

1,2,3...just to be brief. 

[1] French for: “To all dictators: sod off!!” 

Patriotism vs Nationalism

War by Delacroix

What is patriotism? It is:

• Knowing and respecting the Patria’s symbols: the flag and the national anthem.
• Being proud of one’s nation: its history, accomplishments and evolution.
• Defending the country’s interests and basic traditions,
• Having the courage to criticise it whenever appropriate.
• Being worthy of serving the nation and vouchsafing for its security.
• Seeking intellectual nourishment and/or professional training to contribute to the country’s development and, thus, enrichment.
• Developing and feeding spirituality, as a means of contribution to societal order (spiritual paths offset human impulses).

Patriotism comprises a deep love and respect for a nation. Such sentiments lead patriotic citizens to comprehend that many times their territory must be shared with foreign citizens (for these help generating economic, cultural, social and spiritual wealth).

Diversity within unity is welcomed by patriotic folks. 

Patriotism is being put on the scaffold to perish.

What is nationalism? It is:

• Obsessing over national symbols: the flag and anthem.
• Being proud of the oppressive segments of the nation’s history; of the shameful parts that led to eventual accomplishments and behavioural devolution.
• Rejecting cultural enrichment by neurotically holding on to any tradition.
• Denying any form of criticism towards its political line of thought.
• Serving the nation for the wrong reasons (i.e. persecuting minorities; torturing opponents)
• Seeking to exploit minorities in order to develop and enrich the country.
• Claiming that its religion is the only one true and acceptable, and deciding that members of other belief systems should be put to death.

Nationalism embodies hate and utter disrespect not only for the country, but mainly for human beings. Such negative emotions lead nationalists to be ignorant, act as imbeciles, whenever they attack immigrants, gays; change...in summa: difference.

Sadly enough (due to Islamic extremism), nationalism is coming out of the grave under the flag of national protection.

Nationalism is racism, xenophobia, homophobia disguised as patriotism. 

Comment: Attending College Past vs Present

Gábor Bethlen among his scholars (Sketch) by Géza Dósa

Once upon a time attending college meant belonging to an intellectual elite: people were informed, cultivated and interesting to listen to.

Back then, being ignorant was an anathema.

Members of the elite wouldn’t offer an opinion upon a certain subject unless they were absolutely sure about the facts.

Once upon a time, when someone ignored something, it wasn’t afraid or ashamed to ask and learn from its companions.

Back then, people seemed to ooze intellectual sophistication.

Reason reigned. 

Presently, attending college is a political-economic tool and not a path to intellectual nourishment.

In fact, attending college has become so banal that many individuals seem not to be bothered by being uninformed, uncultured and annoying to listen to.

Today, being ignorant is something to be proud of.

Nowadays, most folks are so opinionated: they often offer opinion upon things they know little about. Holding the facts is not interesting because facts and propaganda (+ demagoguery) do not match.

These days, one has to give the impression of knowing all. God forbid that others realise how little information one holds; and thus the answer is to wear the “smart-a**e” mask, as a defence mechanism. 

In present times, most people seem to exude irrationality.

Emotions reign. 

I'm Forever Learning

I am still learning by Francisco de Goya

Children are great teachers.
Adulthood does not mean having all the answers and knowing everything despite the amount of experience accrued over the years. People are constantly learning, even when they ignore it.

How many times have we heard folks saying “Oh, hush child! You’re too young to know what you’re talking about!”? This imperative has always confused me, because I regard children as a well of knowledge:

• They transmit their inner thoughts; that although simple (since conveyed in basic language) expose very complex truths (making us wonder about the source of such veracities).
• Their innocence is a beam of light upon our corrupted adulthood.
• Their existence reminds us that we are liable for the future of mankind: thus, moulding children means not manipulating them to our own image; but it signifies to work with their nature and aid them to ethically develop.
• Their childishness teaches us how not to behave. Adults can be childish too (due to their hidden wish to be “forever baby”) and children represent a deterrent to such behaviour; since grown-ups, when looking at them, are intrinsically reminded of the duty to shape them.

Now, if we borrow the mystical view of reincarnation, the statement “you’re too young to know what you’re talking about!” can be made redundant for we may very well be looking at a 5 year-old infant with a 500 year-old soul, who recalls pretty well his/her past experiences. We may be 50 years old, have a 100 year-old soul and not even remember what we had for lunch yesterday. Who do you think knows more (by not only having a better memory of the past but also by making better use of it)?

Adults should respect children more. They should respect their intellect and emotions more.
Nevertheless, adults should teach them hierarchy (even if knowing more, the ones who were born first have always priority in the road of life), discipline and manners.
Allowing children to run wild and being too respectful towards their nature, intellect and individuality is irresponsible and a sign of neglect.

Children are beams of light however adults are retro-reflectors (who reflect light back to its source with a minimum scattering of light).