And I am Suppose to be Afraid of Refugees?

Ten men with weapons have attacked Paris. They killed and wounded a few hundred people. This is a new development for Dasche, but not unlike other terrorist attacks throughout the world over the last 3 decades. Beirut, Israel, Spain, Rome, Japan, Atlanta, Germany, Oklahoma City, New York, London, Mumbai, Russia, China, Paris, Lebanon and Mali off the top of my head. Small groups can attack unarmed civilians with awful results. They are no match for a well trained military. That is why they attack the innocent.

We live in a country of 300 million citizens, police in every city, an army, a coast guard, a navy, marines, special forces and an air force. And I am suppose to be afraid of refugees running from war?

No, my conservative values tell me to welcome others because they bring more growth and joy to our lives. New foods, new ideas, new styles and energy to work hard starting new businesses. People like Steve Jobs are the children of immigrants. My grandparents and great grandparents came from somewhere else. So did your relatives. All good people from are from everywhere.

My work, my church and my home look like the UN. I like it. New refugees? They are welcome in my neighborhood, my street and my church.

Personal note: The birthday boy is enjoying a long weekend rest from his stressful job he thankfully has. Too many friends and family looking for work.

Wishing everyone a great holiday if you are in the US. We can't be grateful enough to remember how good our life is. Praise God. 

Take time to pray for those who are suffering in this world, and think what action you can take to help.

Advice for Parisians and Other Targets of Terror

Have experience with Centennial Park Bombing during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Was a spectator and was enjoying the park after midnight. There was a band across the street talked my friends into going over to see. They weren’t very good/interesting, and I was feeling restless. Felt like it was time to go. Really wanted to go and didn’t know why. We left to get food.

Took a half hour to go through traffic to a bar/restaurant to get food/drink, but they were shutting down. Why? Someone had blown up a bomb in Centennial Park. 2 deaths and 111 injured that night. Walked within 50 feet of where the bomb exploded.

How did we handle it? The Olympics Committee decided the games should continue. The park was closed for one day and reopened the second day. Went out of my way to be sure to walk through the park again the morning it opened. Not going to let someone keep me from living.

Terrorist want two things: Fear and government overreaction. They believe fear gives them power over you. Your government wants to protect you, but extreme invasive procedures can lead to government being overthrown. Power and no authority to stop them is the dream of terrorist/radicals.

The odds of being in a terror attack or violent events are very small in Western Civilization. Actually most countries are reasonably safe. War has actually been decreasing during the last 50 years. 

The best way to honor the victims and flaunt the terrorist is to simply live life without fear. Then terrorist have no power.

Stopping Shootings

This is off topic for a business problem solving blog. The shooting at schools like Umpqua Community College is a problem not being solved. Look at cities that have shootings every weekend.

Lets not make light of this. Any shooting is a tragedy to someone. Am praying for the victims and their family & friends. No one knows the pain they are feeling.

This is a good example of how people react versus thinking. Lets make a law. Has anyone ever checked if laws work? One of the cities with the strictest laws is Chicago. 2,332 shooting victims by October 2^nd. Detroit is another disaster with strict gun ownership laws. Neither city is a place would want to live.

How about the safest city in the US? No guns right? Wrong. Plano has high gun ownership with liberal carry laws. Challenges the ban all guns assumption in some proposed laws.

Lived in Texas when the new permits were being issued. Predictions were blood in the street with hundreds of shootings. What happened? Crime went down 10% each of the first 3 years. In the 3^rd year there was a shooting involving an owner with a permit. A classic case of self-defense where the permit holder tried to back away from someone intending to harm them.

What is missing here? The pundits were sure more guns meant more deaths. Reality is the problems are complicated, not straightforward, and causes not well understood. Proposing solutions without research does not work.

Look at potential causes: Disaffected males, gangs, drug money, mental health, lack of male role models, recruiting by terrorists, and suicide.  

Suicide is one of the major causes of gun deaths, and often used to inflate gun violence statistics. One thought is some public attacks may be males who want to commit Suicide by Cop.

Disaffected males are probably the main cause of violence. They may be unsuccessful with jobs and relationships. Mental health issues may be a cause or result of isolation.

Isolated or disaffected males are vulnerable to recruiting by gangs and terrorists. The lack of adults, particularly men, in their lives have them looking for alternative families. Predators will recruit them to support their cults.  Lone wolves are the hardest for law enforcement to stop.

The financial element cannot be ignored for these organizations. The incentive of big money and power draw young men into crime cartels.

What can be done to prevent violence?

First care about and talk with people. Get involved with young adults. The most difficult and unlovable person probably needs someone to talk with the most.

Evil can be prevented by letting people know their ideas are not healthy. They should not consider making people pay for their sins. Most criminals slowly graduate from small crimes until they graduate to major crimes. Interventions do stop misbehaviors from growing to crimes committed.

Mental health care has to lose its stigma. Stressed out people do not make good decisions. Have seen estimates 20% to 25% of adults experience mental illness. That makes it normal. First responders have to be trained how to keep mentally ill calm and get them into treatment.

Start by greeting everyone you can today, and being a role model for others. Talk with people different than you - age, color, dress, hair, politics and religion.  Anyone you meet. Kindness, listening, and caring have to be our calling card.

If someone is a danger to themselves or others, don’t hope it will go away. Intervene and notify authorities if necessary. It is up to us to make this world safe.

Terrorist Ruin Good Days

Today another terrorist tried ruin a good day in Boston. Patriot’s Day is a Massachusetts Holiday. People were vacationing, running, and watching their family and friends finish.

We need to pray for the victims and their family. We need to grieve. Then we need to live our lives like this never happened. Be aware when things don’t look right. But go ahead and live your life anyway.

I do understand. I was there in Olympic Park about 45 minutes before the bomb went off in 1996. Probably walked within 100 feet of the explosion site, or closer. The park was closed for a day while the police investigated. When it was safe, the authorities reopened the park. My friends and I made sure to go back the first day it opened. No bomber is going to ruin a great event like the Olympics.

Terrorist want people to panic. To destroy the government by ruining your trust. They think we want anarchy.

No we want civilization and people to care for each other. We do not think violence is the answer.

How many anarchists do your family know? None. We don’t pay attention to violent characters. Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi are worth remembering.

Few attacks succeed. Many more attacks have been tried. Hard work by good people, law enforcement, and a little luck as prevented most of them. But many more people die from car accidents. The odds of you being a victim are very small.

So grieve today. Then honor the victims by living the life you want. Change the world by doing good.

Frankly go back to Back Bay. Run in a race. Watch family and friends at events. Live more good days for the rest of your life.


Lyrics from the Beatles Revolution

“We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right”