Reality Check

I can't believe what a big deal is being made over former Pres. Clinton and Bush joining together to raise funds for Haiti. Do the people in the press actually think the majority of the American people are so stupid to believe that either party, Democrat or Republican, has all the RIGHT answers or is 100% right?

This is part of the problem in politics. If either side doesn't get things 100% their way they blame the other party for shortcomings and outright failure. The American people would be much more confident in government if they saw less finger pointing. It should not be a shock or history-making to have former presidents from different parties working together. Stop making out to be!! it is a good thing but should not be unexpected.

CNN Opinion

I was watching Anderson Cooper's reporting on the tragedy in Haiti. One of the reporters implied rescuers were not assisting the poor but focusing on victims in a "posh" hotel. SHAME ON YOU!!! How dare you make this into a bigger tragedy by saying the people who went there to help are selecting who they help by reviewing their economic status first!!! There is no doubt in my mind there are many, many poor people suffering alone in places far away from the main focus of relief efforts. I do not believe this is due to people selecting those being helped based on social status. Aid is not reaching many of those in need. This happens for a variety of reasons, some of which are out of the control of those trying to help. There is no need to turn this into a "Jerry Springer" moment by playing on the emotions of people in crisis.

When I went to the site to leave a comment on the blog I noticed comments had been closed on several posts. It seemed as though it was as soon as there was disagreement with the politically correct view. One in particular was about profiling. Say what you wish, profiling is a tool that works!! It is not PC to support it and many times those in authority pass up opportunities to verify status just so they do not get into trouble with civil liberties, etc. The Ft. Hood shooter is a perfect example of people knowing he was crazy but not wanting to appear "racist." They did nothing!!!

Let's stop being so worried about being politically correct that we lose the chance to avert tragedy. It would be nice to have people who are not politically motivated sit down and objectively look at the systems in place now and streamline policies. It is for the protection of ALL.

Racism

Although I don't think I am racist, no doubt someone will say I am. I just heard Soledad O'Brien say young (3 - 5 yrs old,) non-white children who selected the white doll as the food doll over the dark skinned doll were racists. Furthermore they are racist because of television and society's influence. Give me a break!! I taught elementary school for 17 years. She is wrong. You wish you could influence children so young that directly and profoundly with subtle messaging. I remember my three year old son commenting a man was "dirty" when we were in line at a store. The man was Hispanic. I was upset and explained the error to him. He was OK with that and did not grow up racist. I did not plant the idea in his head back then either. We had no reason (or so I thought) to even discuss the difference in skin tone. There are many shades.

What about the grass is always greener on the other side? I know many white people who wish they had the ability to dance like black people they see. I know, there are probably white people who dance well but seriously I think black people are better dancers generally speaking. I don't mean that to be a dig. It's something I envy!! White people often go to tanning salons or lay out in the sun to get tan. No they don't get "black" but that isn't because they are racists.

All people need to stop overreacting to comments that were not made to insult or demean. I realize racism exists. Some of the things we do to fix the situation are I understand there were slaves and that was wrong. It was however the way things were years ago. Black people were selling other black people to white people. I don't want to be blamed for mistakes made 100's of years ago and I am tired of excuses being made for the lack of progress. Yes people of color have had a harder road but thing have changed for the better. Now you find examples of reverse discrimination. I seriously doubt white people will be able to use the same excuses for not getting where they feel they should be 100 years from now. AND THEY SHOULDN'T! We learn from the past and try not to repeat it. Civilization has evolved. Christians are no longer used for entertainment by being throw in with lions. Most countries have changed punishment for crimes to be more humane.

The world is not made up of one culture, one religion, one race. There are differences and each country, religion and race should take pride in their individualism. The best way to prove racists wrong is by achieving more or performing better than those who put you down.

Profiling?

It will be unpopular but profiling is going to happen. Stereotypes have developed because of trends. The fact is TSA workers randomly select people they know are not terrorists just to keep people from complaining about being profiled. My 91 year old father was pulled aside and given a full body search. Because of his hearing disability he was treated like a criminal. I had to keep telling him to calm down. He did not understand what was happening. You cannot convince me any TSA worker truly believed he was a threat. I have traveled plenty with my children. I have been singled out because my flight was cancelled and, since my new flight arrangements were made last minute, marked for additional screening measures. I did not choose to make my flight arrangements last minute. The airline did it but I was still selected. I remember one screener asking what was in a box and requesting we unpack it. You could see it was a model of a ship. We had been to Europe on a cruise. I thought he was an idiot but I did not complain. If I were someone other than a white female I could have made a stink and claimed "profiling." Personally I believe you need to have profiling. If TSA were paying any attention they would have stopped the Nigerian for NOT HAVING LUGGAGE on a transatlantic flight. Think about whether or not the workers felt they would be "profiling" a Nigerian for additional security checks and passed him along so they would not be ridiculed. Honestly I don't think that was what happened but some lawyer will no doubt use an excuse similar for the complete failure to use common sense!

Airline Security

The system is fine - PEOPLE FAILED!!! Stop making excuses by saying we need better machines. People need to GIVE A DAMN!! Let's start doing our jobs well. TSA workers are often on power trips stopping Grandma for a lighter or four ounces of perfume. This is making me completely crazy. His father warned the right people and THEY DID THE WRONG THING or DID NOTHING!! Be serious. Pouring more money into a training program for people who don't want to do ANY job well is pointless.

Airline Security

I am sure we all wanted to believe we were somewhat safer on flights since 911 and the new security measures were implemented. How many times were you patted down, asked to step aside and be further screened, lost a small bottle of mouthwash? You were led to believe this made us safer. Now the TSA cannot deny they have not been doing their job properly. Yes they caught the grandmas, hurried parents and busy travelers but they failed to stop a wannabe terrorist from attempting to blow up a plane. Even after being warned by the parent of the suspect and having him on a "watch list." I want to know who didn't do their job. Not because I want to assign blame. We need to know where the breakdown occurred so it can be corrected.

I believe the blame can be placed on a few people who just didn't do their job the way they knew it should be done. Anyone who was aware of the warning sent by the father or was instructed to put him on the watch list SHOULD have followed up. We need to raise everyone's awareness to the level which people realize they can make a difference in the outcome. By not thinking they made any difference or what they do made no difference, regular employees just past the info on to the next person and assumed they would DO THE RIGHT THING!!! We all should be doing the right thing.

911 Again

Another 911 operator from the same area in Florida didn't do her job properly. After being notified there was an unresponsive man off the side of a road no one was sent to investigate. There is a bit more to this. Apparently the person reporting could not provide an exact street address but gave turn by turn directions to the operator. She said "our system doesn't work that way." Her system does provide for her to notify someone else however. It also provides for her to look up road names that were similar to what the caller was saying. Fifteen hours later the same caller returned to the scene to find the man still there.

One of the comments I received about this event made the excuse "What do you expect from someone paid minimum wage?" I expect them to do the right thing!! I know that is not the norm. We have lowered our expectations and some people are happy to stupe to a lowered bar. This operator was being paid $35,000 per year. I am not convinced making more money would motivate people to do a better job. We seriously need to look at how we handle our personal responsibilities. Every job needs to be done well. If you don't want to put effort into your job, quit!! Someone else will. What really gets me is I am fully aware that when you have one person who puts little or no effort into their job someone else is doing twice as much to make up the difference. This is not limited to employment.

Although 911 operators have made news lately for being irresponsible, they are not alone. More training is not going to get people to do the right thing. You either understand the importance of doing your best and caring about the effect your actions have on others or you don't.