I am an avid reader of The New York Times and on Saturday read a story of limited significance to us in the United States perhaps regarding tens of thousands of protesters who have protested in Madrid notwithstanding a ban on such protests. The Times states, "Fueling the demonstrators' anger is the perceived failure by politicians to alleviate the hardships imposed on a struggling population". In addition, the protesters demand improvements to the judiciary, ending political corruption, and revising the electoral system of Spain to permit the selection of candidates by the people, much like the primary electoral process in the U.S.
The most powerful part of the article, however, was the quotation of several of the banners raised by the protesters:
"The voice of the people can never be illegal" and
"We are not against the system but the system is against us".
Thought provoking.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Finger Pointing In Milan
In Bowling Green Park near Wall Street stands what has become known as the Charging Bull, which is sometimes referred to as the Wall Street Bull or the Bowling Green Bull, a 3,200 kilogram (7,100 lb) bronze sculpture by Arturo DiModica, standing 11 feet (3.4 m) tall and measuring 16 feet (4.9 m) long. The oversize sculpture depicts a bull, the symbol of aggressive financial optimism and prosperity, leaning back on its haunches and with its head lowered as if ready to charge. The image is iconic and has served as the backdrop for financial reports, news programs, films, and documentaries, and has been used to represent the resiliency and strength of the American people, as well as the strength and unpredictability of the financial markets.
Italy has taken a different path. Outside of the bourse in Milan is Italy's equivalent of Wall Street's Charging Bull, a 36-foot white hand displaying its middle finger called "Il Dito" (The Finger). Perhaps it is a national response to the financial crises which have wreaked so much global havoc, or perhaps it is a physical manifestation of Italy's reputation for expressiveness. In any event, I believe that the symbolism is reasonably clear.
Milan, I salute your spirit, your brazenness, and your sense of decorum. Message received. Bravo. Molto Buono.
Italy has taken a different path. Outside of the bourse in Milan is Italy's equivalent of Wall Street's Charging Bull, a 36-foot white hand displaying its middle finger called "Il Dito" (The Finger). Perhaps it is a national response to the financial crises which have wreaked so much global havoc, or perhaps it is a physical manifestation of Italy's reputation for expressiveness. In any event, I believe that the symbolism is reasonably clear.
Milan, I salute your spirit, your brazenness, and your sense of decorum. Message received. Bravo. Molto Buono.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
"Detroit, Detroit, A Hell Of A Town . . ."
Life is stranger than fiction. You just can’t make this stuff up. This is why they pay Michael Bloomberg the big bucks.
A humorous excerpt from:
Bloomberg: U.S. Should Make All New Immigrants Live in Detroit
Published May 01, 2011, FoxNews.com.
Detroit needs residents. Immigrants want to live in America.
Michael Bloomberg says he's got a simple solution for both needs -- send all new immigrants to Detroit.
In a novel approach to immigration reform, the New York City mayor said Sunday that if he could have his way, he'd use the immigrant workforce to jump-start the Motor City's economy by requiring Detroit residency.
"The population has left. You've got to do something about that," Bloomberg said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "And if I were the federal government, assuming you could wave a magic wand and pull everybody together, you pass a law letting immigrants come in as long as they agreed to go to Detroit and live there for five or 10 years. Start businesses, take jobs, whatever.
"You would populate Detroit overnight because half the world wants to come here," he said.
Bloomberg has long advocated for changes in immigration policy. He said Sunday that America's "superpower" status depends on its ability to continue letting immigrants in.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/01/bloomberg-make-new-immigrants-live-detroit/#ixzz1LIZaDyEJ
Detroit needs residents. Immigrants want to live in America.
Michael Bloomberg says he's got a simple solution for both needs -- send all new immigrants to Detroit.
In a novel approach to immigration reform, the New York City mayor said Sunday that if he could have his way, he'd use the immigrant workforce to jump-start the Motor City's economy by requiring Detroit residency.
"The population has left. You've got to do something about that," Bloomberg said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "And if I were the federal government, assuming you could wave a magic wand and pull everybody together, you pass a law letting immigrants come in as long as they agreed to go to Detroit and live there for five or 10 years. Start businesses, take jobs, whatever.
"You would populate Detroit overnight because half the world wants to come here," he said.
Bloomberg has long advocated for changes in immigration policy. He said Sunday that America's "superpower" status depends on its ability to continue letting immigrants in.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/01/bloomberg-make-new-immigrants-live-detroit/#ixzz1LIZaDyEJ
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