Dangerous ‘isms’
Dangerous ‘isms’
None of the belief-isms have ever been obliterated — not slavery by the Civil War; nor Nazism and imperialism and fascism after WWII; not communism after the Korean or Vietnam Wars; radicalism after the fall of Saddam; or any that you would name or contrive.
So what we have is a continuous tug of war by each “ism,” and when we consider just the sheer numbers of people, then good has a chance.
However, even in equilibrium too much evil reigns, and in present times, when money influences the results, the good is overwhelmed and the masses become oppressed.
Herbert Hoover called it out in the 1930s; the seeds were planted. He writes about this in his memoirs (1952). While we were being schooled in civics and history (1960s, ’70s) the influences of communism and fascism grew within our leadership structure, which has delivered us to these turbulent times: the greatest transfer of wealth from the masses to the wealthy; the greatest public debt to the benefit of the few elites; and the continual wars to the profit of a few, at the peril of the many.
The end will come when the external costs of evil are borne by the perpetrators and not laid at the public treasury. The U.S. Treasury was raided by elected officials (2008-14) at the behest of crony capitalists, and no one really noticed.
John Begg
Pahoa
Aloha in Hilo
This is in response to Mr. Brandenburger’s letter (“Lack of aloha,” Tribune-Herald, Aug. 21).
Being ignorant and reckless is not the same as lacking aloha. A very thoughtless golfer is the devil here. And I do hope that the individual apologized to you and offered to pay for damages to your car. That would be aloha, if he did.
I wonder if a shopping wagon ran into Mr. Brandenburger’s pickup truck in the Safeway parking lot, would he immediately think that the incident was racially motivated? It would have had nothing to do with race. Like it or not, doo-doo happens to us all, whatever our skin color. If just happens.
I am Caucasian and have lived in Hawaii for a long time. I have never heard it said that any one particular race was lacking in respect more than any other race.
However, just yesterday, at the gym, I was the only white person among 10 or 12 “locals” (or non- Caucasians). As always, we all get along, share equipment, and respect each other. Being a minority has taught me that I have to blend in, and if I do, chances are I’ll be accepted. Pretty simple.
Aloha is here in Hilo, and, Mr. Brandenburger, if you hear any more stereotypical talk that we “non-locals” are disrespectful, please just consider the source and move on.
Richard Dinges
Hilo