Sunday, February 29, 2004

It happens, occassionally

I am as shocked as you are, but I just read a great Op-ed in the NY Times. Thomas Friedman occasionally comes out with a well-reasoned op-ed that has a terrific point. In this op-ed, 30 Little Turtles, Friedman defends globalization. His essential point is that by outsourcing low-wage, call-center jobs to countries like India and Pakistan, we are improving the world.

His best example is when he goes through the comments of several of the Indians in this training center. They want to be entrepenuers, they are learning self-confidence and independence. They admire Bill Gates. And Then he writes:

I was in Ramallah, on the West Bank, talking to three young Palestinian men, also in their 20's, one of whom was studying engineering. Their hero was Yasir Arafat. They talked about having no hope, no jobs and no dignity, and they each nodded when one of them said they were all "suicide bombers in waiting."


Friedman's ultimate point is that through allowing globalization and a free market (my words, not his), " we make not only a more prosperous world, but a safer world for our own 20-year-olds. "

Friday, February 27, 2004

Good News

I received some excellent news today: I was admitted in to the Ph.d program at ASU to complete my doctorate in philosophy. This is very exciting!

Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Marriage Amendment

Foxnews: Bush Backs Amendment Banning Gay Marriage.
President Bush said Tuesday that the Constitution must be amended to bar gay marriage because he said the nation must defend "the most fundamental institution of civilization."


1) I don't think marriage is the "most fundamental institution of civilization." I'm not sure what I'd say was, but this is not my primary objection to this movement for an amendment.



2) I see no need to give the federal goverment, or any more local government, any further power to ban consenting actions between adults. I don't think the government should be in the business of dealing with marriage anyway. This is is private matter and the government's role should just be enforcing aspects of the union between individuals. E.g. a contract enforcer.



I just don't get why this is such a big deal. Two people love each other and want to committ to each other -- why should the particular form of their sex and gender matter?