I have a big problem with the most recent criticism of the US. The international community is saying thatwe are being too stingy in our aid to the Tsunami victims.

In 2003, The States spent $15.79 billion in humanitarian aid, much greater than any other country [numbers] . Also, private donations are huge, some people giving as large as $10,000 or more, and companies in the millions. For the tsunami victims, we’ve already pledged $35 million. There is an argument though; while we’re ranked 1st by support in dollars, we’re only ranked 22nd with respects to GDP.

1. China, supposedly the next super power, isn’t even in the list. I’ve yet to read an article criticizing their support.
2. The greatest percent of GDP put towards aid is still less than 1%. Therefore, the argument is over tenths or hundredths of percents.
3. Being the most powerful country in the world, we apply the most (in dollars) by a good $6.5 billion. Yes, we have a lot of money, but come on.
4. The money in question is the government money that needs to be spent. GDP is private money. The argument is over the wrong pile of money.
5. Stop tying this statistic to Iraq! I agree, we were wrong for going to Iraq, but these topics are separate issues.

Now, I agree that Bush should have made a statement publicly rather than continuing his 8-year vacationing, but that’s not what’s bothering me. And I believe wholeheartedly in humanitarian relief (human rights are included in animal rights). But we are being criticized for not increasing our funding. While the world is hating us (for justifiable reasons, but aside from that), they still expect us to give greater aid. Either be hate us, or like us. Either want us to be isolationist, or let us be a bigger country.

See, I can defend Republican spending sometimes. Ask me about my thoughts on the minimum wage.

Over the past week, I’ve grown to hate the phrase “that’s just who I am.” I have trouble excepting it as an inevitable end of self-experimentation. It seems to be an overtly lazy conclusion that suggests fate.

Fate is a fairy-tale.
Fate is the acceptance of mediocrity.
Fate is empty faith.

The more optimistic approach would be a permanant free-will that fades with age. In the beginning 5 years of life, you accept everything you hear. The next 5, you develop the ability of questioning. The next 10, you experiment. The next 5, you stabilize your beliefs and opinions. From that point on, you move on to skepticism. You know what you know, and it’s hard to move from that. But it is still possible, given the large enough conversion events.

I hate people that say “that’s just who I am.”
Because I hate when people are not open to new thought.
Because I hate when people let everything happen to them.
Because I hate when people just give up.
Because I hate when people give in to mediocrity.
Because I hate when people don’t stand up for themselve.
Because I hate apathy, irresponsibility, and laziness.

But maybe that’s just who I am. Ugh.

CNN had an interesting piece on diamonds today. Specifically, the $300 million ad campaign by diamond manufacturers that have engrained in every mans mind that they must buy a diamond that are worth two months’ salary, even though there are other precious gems out there.

The average man gets married at 27.
The average 27 year old man makes $30,000/year.
The average diamond ring should be $5000.

Brilliant. Remember, “a diamond is forever.”

Lately, I’ve been feeling like I really don’t know where I stand with some people. Unreturned phone calls are mostly to blame, as well as events that seem hypocritical in comparison to what they’ve told me. Let’s assume that these aren’t just in my head, and that I’ve done something to offend someone, or make them question our friendship. In these cases, I prefer confrontation–someone to just come out and say it to me. Usually, people hate/fear confrontation. For those that do, here are the rules I usually follow.

Rules for Confrontation

1. Think everything out beforehand. You’re going to send mixed signals if you aren’t sure where you stand on the subject. Try to figure out what the different reactions could be, and decide how you might handle them. Finally, be positive that you’re not at fault.

2. Go through with it completely, or not at all. Halfhearted confrontations often leave both parties confused in the end, and then both of you won’t know where each other stands.

3. Be calm, civil, and understanding. When you’re having the talk, make your voice of a natural tone. The last thing you want is for them to feel cornered or attacked. Similarly, don’t come off as rigid in your decisions (be prepared, as I said in #1, but be open to compromises to different reactions by them).

4. Have a conclusion. If you walk away from one of these without a clear conclusion, then you both will be left confused. Confusion is awkward, and lead to more confrontations.

I decided to take a change of pace from my newfound love for CNN. Watching FoxNEWS at 2:30AM, watching these men argee about teaching, “under God,” and rights, it hits me what the both sides are missing.

First, an opinion or circumstance of the past does not necessarily apply to an item in the present. What worked then, might not work now. It can, but this is more rare than they realize. We have amendments. We have change: social, physical, medicinal, law, etc. We make progress, as a society, by change.

Second, you can and should teach fact, but it is wrooooong to teach opinion. At this point, some will chime in… “isn’t that a little hypocritical of you, VEGAN boy?” … allow me to expand. Teachers of any grade or level should present facts with as little bias as possible. Then, it is the student’s role to apply a personal opinion to what they have been taught. As for animal rights, I present the facts I’ve learned to the curious party, and my opinions about the facts only if first asked.

What? 9-11?
Fear! Chemicals! Iraq, huh?
Misguided trust faith.

USD dropping.
The world is not your oyster.
Think for once, Dubya.

Bye bye strong dollar.
Jobs overseas: Why invest?
Yay for big business.

Bush economics.
Tax breaks and increased spending.
No need for summit.

Hey “Baby Boomers”
What’s social security?
I don’t know either.

Where’s North Korea?
“Don’t worry–not near Homeland.”
Thanks Republican.

THIS IS BAD FOR YOU
PC Police aren’t so bad.
Wrong? Be active then.

I read your background.
“Secure Our Econ. Future?”
Since when do you care?

You are right Tucker.
Keep Rep sex lives off the news.
More Grand Ole’ Parties!

Here is a big idea:
McDonald’s in Hospital?
It’s great for business!

Monster Thickburger!
Cholesterol, Fat, Hormones.
Here’s to death by food!

Big Mac Attack! Yum!
Cardiologists! Save Us!
Die hypocrisy.

Death by fat is myth?
Tobacco and government,
You guys are crafty.

McCain and Stewart,
Please run in 2008.
We’re dying out here.

Since 9/11, the federal government has wreaked of 1984’s fear tactics.

Enter BioShield ($5.6 billion). VaxGen has been contracted to manufacture a public-use vaccine for Anthrax. We do NOT need this. Even worse, the vaccines cause other diseases, and the manufacturers are not held accountable for these. Our immune systems weren’t meant to withstand chemical weapons. There will be side-effects. [more information]

I wouldn’t trust scare tactics even if there was a democrat in the White House. But…

Dear President Bush,
No more debt or quick fixes!
Give peace a try, jerk.

I watched Supersize Me for the first time.

The made a strong point, which at first seems to be normal until you think about it. When you see someone smoke, you feel compelled to question their decisions, if you’re a non-smoker. The logic: smoking causes disease (including but not limited to cancer), the person is your friend, you want them to live longer, you talk to them about their problem. This is now socially acceptable. What about eating? Similar health effects including disease, reduced lifespan, addiction (one atypical example that they cited was caseo-morphines, the addicting components of cheese). Yet, we do not find it culturally acceptable to confront these people on their weight issues.

Origins of this may seem to be from a mental connection to wealth. Sickly thin people are usually an indicator of poverty; fatness is a sign of glutinous wealth.

I think this is part of a larger problem for Americans though. As Jon Stewart often points out, no one is held accountable for their actions. If you are fat, YOU are to blame for your fatness. Same goes for tobacco & drug abuse. Same goes for frivolous lawsuits. Same goes for grades, and why you hate your job (you chose your career and education, therefore you accept the bad with the good).

Maybe someday this will change. More thoughts to come.

For now, check out this video. C-Span’s Jon Stewart Interview (taken the day after the third presidential debate).

Without much warning, at 3AM, I’ve realized how deep the inherent flaw of the education system extends. This flaw is that your progress is measured by being able to make it to the next step. Elementary, Middle, High, College, Work. How do you move on, successfully, to the next step? Standardized testing, grades, participation. Bubble this in, attend this meeting, see the tutor, and do all these things to standards.

The problem is that there is so much pressure built around these systems. (Maybe the pressure is stronger in other countries; I’m not disputing that. But my concern comes from what I can see and feel–America). The ones that accept this system (knowingly or unknowingly) are held captive by it. There are varying degrees of toleration, but its affects are seen in most anyone.*

Today, I note the symptoms.

I take my last final. I feel pressured to succeed. I know that the my classmates didn’t doing well, and that there will be some grade adjustment, but that is of no comfort to me. I walk out of the exam, and wonder about how I did in comparison to the others. I want to succeed in this exam.

This is tolerance for the way things are.

*I do note, however, that there is a dettachment phase that people go through. You would think that this would be senioritis, but there is still an underlying pressure felt after that. It is my current understanding that this usually happens gradually after you enter the job market.

As a general rule, I must note that this is the first post in this weblog. This is not my first online journal, given, but this is my first one of a professional stature. Online free journals can only do so much. However, for friends, I’ve created a livejournal syndicated account. Which means, if you have a livejournal, you will be able to read what I say here on your friends’ list. Just add this to your friends list. However, if you’d like to comment, please do it on my website.

Exams didn’t go as well as I had hoped, but we’ll see how everything turned out in a week. Wish me luck. Saying goodbye to friends, especially the close ones, was and is equally as hard. In about 36-hours, I will move back home for a few weeks.