SCHMID - LOOKING BACK FROM THE LEFT COAST: JUNE 18, 2018
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Friday, June 17, 2011
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Schmid makes so me interesting observations today. First, reaction to flood disasters. The folks of North Dakota are contrasted favorably in their response to these emergencies. While it is true that people up here in the Northern Plains tend to be fairly stoic, the circumstances are slightly different. In North Dakota most people have their own transportation. We are mostly rural and we are also somewhat homogeneous culturally. We don’t have a serious urban crime problem and we have a customary “help your neighbor” outlook. New Orleans’ flood was not the result of predicted snow melt. It was the aftermath of a violent hurricane which whipped the city first and then failing levees. It is true that the levees were probably not adequately monitored beforehand, but by the time of the storm there was little opportnity to react. People who live in many parts of a city such as New Orleans rely on public transportation and don’t own cars (they have no place to park!). I would say that the public officials really betrayed the people of New Orleans in many ways, not the least of which was in not providing ways for pedestrian populations to escape. We all remember the yards of flooded school buses and people left to perish. My own belief is that officials expected to get brand new replacements for however many were “lost” to the flood. One person who displayed a bit of “up-North” spunk was the teenage boy who commandeered a school buss and loaded it up with people trying to escape and drove it to safety in Texas. I don’t know what happened to him, but maybe we should run him for president.
Another, perhaps related, matter is that of “xenophobia”, which is rapidly joining its first cousins, “bigotry” and “racism” in handy epithets. “Xenophobia”, or fear of foreigners, suggests a baseless fear. Did the Poles exhibit “xenophobia” relative to the invasion of the Tatars? Did the Czechs have “xenophobia” when the Nazis marched in? Was it “xenophobia” on the part of the Hungarians when Russian tanks rolled into Budapest? “Xenophobia” is a conditioned response, I would suggest.
On the other hand, “wisdom” and “judgment” enjoy positive connotations, meaning “good” things, the ability to made a wise decision based upon an understanding of what is true and just, enlightened by knowledge. By over-using the term “xenophobia” we distort one’s perceptions. It is xenophobia if there is no basis in knowledge or experience, to “fear” foreigners or outsiders. It is not xenophobia to prefer one’s own values and culture, however.
Schmid has pointed out a most pertinent fact that should be part of the discussion - the very real problem of jihad. Right now we have a large army in the field, fighting and dying in response to this. These 20 young Muslim men who are there will take lives of our people - or they will try their best to do so. Or they may return to our country and kill here. How SHOULD we, as Americans react to this? If we answer that it is xenophobic to object to their being here, training here, organizing here, then by all means, bring our soldiers home and forget about “jihad” If we are all to get along we should capitulate now, before more blood is spilled here or abroad.
On the other hand, if we place any value on the way of life our forefathers bequeathed us, of freedom, then we need to exercise caution in whom we admit to our homeland. It is schizophrenic to employ agents at our airports to conduct invasive and insulting strip searches of Americans traveling in our own country if there is no threat. If there is a threat, it is not “xenophobic”, but merely “wise” to put a moratorium on immigration. This debate will go on and in some communities it will be public. In Grand Forks it will be hampered by the press, but this censorship will only drive the problem deeper.
Schmid praises the people of North Dakota for their constructive, self-reliant and courageous battle with Nature in our floods. He takes a dim view of the less well-equipped folks of New Orleans. Perhaps this is “xenophobia” or “bigotry” or maybe it is just honest observation. We must concern ourselves with the point so properly highlighted by Schmid - the problems associated with this flood if immigration - and not be put off by accusations of “xenophobia”. Let’s stay focused on being truthful and not on how our honesty is misperceived or misinterpreted by others. Thanks for some thought-provoking items, Schmid!
We need to use our logic, knowledge and experience to inform our opinions and reactions to issues. Immigration is no different in this regard. Observation of the experiences of others, knowledge of Islam and history, and logic in applying
Schmid should remind and report on the upcoming Feland disciplinary hearing. Maybe Steve Cates could remind us of Time and Place.
DakotaBeacon