McCarthyism

The world can be a scary place, especially after reading this essay Orson Scott Card writes about journalists who are lying to us. Flat out lying. Really, a lot of this isn't terribly surprising. The French press lied about Israel. Well, they hate Israel, so that's understandable. The same for the Palestinians who staged the murder. And the fact that an American reporter twisted a quote to serve his purpose isn't surprising. but being presented with this concrete evidence and having the consequences laid out before you is scary. It's easy to just put it off when you're reading the newspaper. But Card has pieced it all together and opened my eyes to the implications. The press can destroy lives with the power they have. That is scary.

"It does not respond to what the American people want." - Senator Kennedy

What's more important senator? What people want or what is right? Are you such a slave to public opinion that you will abandon millions to civil war and terrorism simply because some wealthy, ignorant Americans don't see the light? It seems so.

Victory, Mr. President? - Independent

Pull out?

All those who want to pull out of Iraq now seem to want one thing: to protect their own hides. How is pulling out going to help the Iraqis? Didn’t the mosque bombing clue them in? These terrorists aren’t fighting a war against America. They are fighting a war against any form of freedom; freedom which the Shiites currently support; freedom that has taken power away from the minority Sunnis. And it’s not even the Sunnis. It’s a small faction within the Sunnis, combined with foreign terrorists. These are the killers in Iraq.

The fact is, no war is won by setting an end date. Every war is won by setting a goal, no matter the time or cost involved. Our goal should be a stable and democratic Iraq. This is Bush’s goal. The Democratic goal seems to be to beat Bush and the Republicans. I know no one is innocent here. There are lies, scandals, and partisan politics on all sides, but if I put that behind me and think of the Iraqis, I wonder what choice we have. Will we let petty politics condemn these people to losing their chance at freedom? Getting our troops out is a bad objective, if it simply means setting a timetable. It is a wonderful objective if it means making the war more effective by uniting behind the cause of a stable and democratic Iraq. It will require time, money, and, worst of all, lives. But freedom has always required lives. This should not shock anyone. It is hard, it is undesireable, but is unavoidable.

Forget the past for now. Finish the war. Unite and do what it takes to rid Iraq of the insurgency and allow our troops to leave the country. Then, and only then, when Iraq is stable and our troops are back home, should we look back and say, what can we learn from this? Doing it now is distracting us, diverting resources and support, and will drag us down in the end. I am not against questioning our government. I am against questioning our government at times when it will hinder such a delicate and vital process.

Guys with Heart

Check out Café Hayek. After reading just a few of their posts, I’ve found that they are smart men. And they aren’t just smart, they care about people. They aren’t political for the sake of argument. It seems that they really want what they say to make a difference in this world. Check it out. The link will permanently be in the sidebar.

Rational War

Sunk costs are irrelevant. This is a significant part of economics. It means that decisions made in the past should not affect decisions made now because you cannot change those decisions. What matters is the consequence of the decision that will be made now. So, if I am deciding on whether to write this post or do my homework, the fact that I chose to play computer games yesterday instead of doing homework shouldn’t affect my decision. Yes, the fact that I didn’t do homework yesterday means I have more homework to do today, but the fact that I chose to play computer games yesterday does not weigh into my decision today. The only things I consider are the importance of doing my homework now versus the importance of writing this post.

You’re probably wondering what I’m babbling on about. Well, I am saying that sunk costs are irrelevant and this applies not only in my private decisions, but also in the national and international arena. Many Democrats are calling for a set date to pull out of Iaq. They attack Bush on the muddled reasoning for invading the country. These two issues have nothing to do with each other. Whether or not we were justified in entering Iraq, the fact is, we are there and this country depends on us if it is to rise out of this mess without falling into civil war. Joe Leiberman wrote an excellent editorial regarding this subject. We are in Iraq and have an opportunity to save millions from tyranny. We are a nation founded upon this principle of freedom and we must unite to support it. We have made mistakes in Iraq. We made mistakes in every war, though. Our government and military are man-made institutions. If we look for flaws, we will find them every time. If we concentrate on those flaws, we will miss this opportunity and these people will once again lose hope.

Pulling out of Iraq is not an option. Yes, it will save our lives, but it will condemn millions to a life they have a chance to leave behind forever. If we back down from this challenge out of our own selfishness and pride, the blood of those people will be answered upon our own heads. Every life has a cost, but when that life is lost in fighting for freedom, than that life is not lost in vain. I salute the thousands of U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq, attempting to bring one of the most precious of American ideals to a foreign land – freedom.

The Sombrero Galaxy. Funny name, but this picture (it is an actual picture taken by the Hubble Space Telescope), stirs deep emotions within me. It is a picture of an object to immense and so distant, it is beyond imagining. And it is beautiful. Within it a billions of stars and wonders that we can hardly imagine. Perhaps there are planets within with life, with intelligent life. WHat is in the depths of that galaxy? I'll probably not know in this lifetime.

Victory! For Now...

We did it! The US is retaining control of the internet. A forum has been set up for world governments to have their say, which will ease some pressure, but not much. People tend not to like to just say words. They want to have control. Understandable. Having the interent so heavily dominated by the U.S. does make it difficult for those who don't speak English, but this isn't because of our government. It is because the internet grew up here. Of course we influence it heavily. Of course other languages are less common. The only thing stopping these other languages from becoming common on the internet is the fact that people that speak other languages haven't started using it. If the tools are provided, these languages will become common because businesses will find it more profitable to use the internet. As they begin using, they will innovate and discover ways to make it easier to use their language on the internet. We need time, not some international government agency to force it to happen. If world governments provide the freedom for businesses to operate on the internet, the growth will occur and this amazing tool will become the multilateral network they want it to be. Be patient!

College Life

This is the college student's perfect excuse.

Capitalism

I am a capitalist. I support free-markets as the best way to manage the economy. So what? I have been reading some scary things in the news lately coming from socialists and those who believe government can best manage the economy. Let me begin.

Riots

The story begins in Paris. Two weeks ago, two boys were electrocuted in a Paris suburb. Since then, there have been constant riots in the Parisian suburbs and they have spread throughout the country. Why would the death of these two boys spark such chaos? I believe it has a great deal to do with economics. Joel Kotkin, writing for the Wall Street Journal, provides the evidence for this argument. France's socialism, and Europe's in general, is strangling its immigrants. In the suburbs where these riots are occuring, the homes of a large portion of France's immigrants, unemployment looms around 40%. No wonder they are rioting. Though they are only hurting their cause, they are a frustrated people who have found no help from a prejudiced and selfish nation.

Multilateralism?

The next danger has to do with the medium through which I am communicating. Perhaps the greatest miracle of communication, the internet, faces a danger that threatens to destroy its vitality and openness. There has been a proposal made for the UN to govern the internet. This is dangerous. I support Mr. Coleman's view in this editorial that giving control of this powerful tool to an organization which is being heavliy influenced by those who stand to lose from a free internet is a stupid idea.

The argument is that the internet is influenced too heavliy by the US. I would have to agree that it is heavily influenced by the US, but that is changing and will continue to change as the internet grows. Currently, the US government has little control over the internet. The majority of the internet is controled by private firms. This means that private firms from anywhere can have a say in governing the internet.

Is this happening? Not yet. A communications tool that grew to maturity in a country will be heavily influenced by that country and the companies that fostered this growth. As the internet spreads, however, companies in other countries are and will continue to enter the markets that shape the internet, giving the international community a say in how it works.

Handing the internet over to a bureau is asking for politicization of the internet. If it happens, we will probably watch the internet become a tool for the various governments as they regulate out what they don't like and regulate in the propaganda that support their actions.

The Heir Apparant

We may never be rid of the lies of communism. Just as China begins opening up to capitalism and as we wait for Castro to die, Castro's ideological heir rises up in Venezuela. Hugo Chavez supports the same communist lies that caused the economic ruin of Soviet Russia, China, North Korea, and virtually every country that has tried it before. He is tearing his country apart, destroying the only hope it has for economic progress. Yet his people believe in him. Why? For the same reason they follow any revolutionary demagogue: he provides new and different lies. There is hope in his words. Capitalism, for whatever reason, hasn't worked in South America. Rather than propose solutions, Chavez is successfully diverting the people's anger towards the wealthy and successful. Rather than encourage them to work hard and publicly discuss solutions to Venezuela's and South America's woes, he offers a seemingly quick and easy path to prosperity. Just as for anything worthwhile, there is no quick and easy way. Economic progress, except for notable exceptions, is slow and steady. As Chavez diverts his people's attention from markets and working to achieve prosperity, he will drive the economy into the ground. Look forward to yet another starving and struggling country.

The Answer

I do not believe markets hold all the solutions. Markets can be just as dangerous and devestating to people as the government. And the government is needed to make up for the market-system's shortcomings. But in all these cases, people want to rely heavily on the government. This strategy will not succeed. The combination of the market and a limited government, as the US and other market driven economies have substantially proven, brings economic growth and prosperity. It leads to efficiency and innovation such as the internet. Turning towards government places your freedom to act in the hands of fallible human beings. Be wary of the government and the attempts around the globe to extend its powers. I support capitalism and my freedom to choose how my life will be. I have no desire to place that power in the hands of a government.

Prayer

I had a wonderful experience today. It began, surprisingly enough, with algebra. I was in my math lab, struggling through a problem. Frustration started to get the best of me. After a good half hour on the problem, I finally finished it. Then I decided to check my e-mail. Nothing. I started to feel angry. No one was writing me. What was the deal? Didn't anyone care? By this point it was time to go to my next class.

As I was walking by anger was building and I was feeling pretty lonely. Then I remembered an important fact: I am never alone. There is always one being who is always waiting to hear from me and speaks to me whenever he has the chance: our Heavenly Father. So, while I was walking, I said a little prayer to him, sharing my frustrations with him and thanking him for always being there. During this prayer a wonderful feeling of peace spread through me. The feelings I had had just a moment before melted away.

Prayer is real and there is nothing more comforting and helpful. Our father in heaven is waiting to hear from us everyday, just as our earthly parents eagerly await every phonecall and e-mail. And he will share with us his love. Nothing is of greater comfort and you will never find a better listener. I know this through experience. I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Engrained

I'm stuck in Blogger. Ok, not stuck, but my loyalty is with Blogger. MSN Spaces looks fun, but it's not for me. I don't care about posting pictures and the other things you can do with it. I like the less structured feel of Blogger.

Prepare

In kindergarten, my class performed a little experiment. We put a few caterpillars in a plastic terrarium and watched for a few weeks to see what would happen. At first, there was nothing terribly exciting. The furry little bugs just crawled around and ate leaves. The biggest change would be that the leaves would get smaller. Then, a couple weeks into our observation, something did happen. The caterpillars started to wrap themselves up in thin, silky thread. We watched one caterpillar spin the thread about itself. After a short time, it was completely enclosed and cut off from the world.

What was going on? These ugly little bugs were shutting themselves up? Wouldn't they die in there? Though all of us knew ahead of time the miracle that would occur, it was still a wonder that these bugs would do something so seemingly foolish. But we continued to watch for ages, it seemed. Finally, after what was probably only a week or two, something happened. We watched as out of this cocoon emerged one of God's daily miracles: a butterfly. THis delicate insect had come out of that restrictive cocoon, the same cocoon that had before held an ugly caterpillar. Now it emerged, ready to finish its life and perform its most important task: continuing the species so that this earth may be continually blessed with these amazing creatures.

It's a common misconception that wrapping oneself in a protective cocoon is restrictive and dangerous; that the cocoon will smother the person. After all, how is one to learn if they have rules that stop them from truly living life? I ask, how are we supposed to become the amazing beings we have the potential to be if we don't wrap ourselves up in that cocoon?

At my young age I have vast potential. I have reached adulthood and can, theoretically, take care of myself. Legally, I can live on my own, get a job, and abandon all the restrictions I've been raised with. But, what if I'm not ready? I've been raised in a cocoon, protected from the many dangers out in the world. Is it time for me to emerge? Am I ready to face the world?

No, I don't believe so. If I try to break out now, I'll come out an underdeveloped being, without the ability to use my wings. I need more time in my cocoon. I need more time preparing for that dangerous world out there. If I come out now, with my wings still growing, I won't have what I need to fly away from the dangers that the cocoon currently protects me from.

Perhaps that's what my mission is most important for: it is the point when I can begin, under the guidance of the Lord, to break free of that cocoon. Then I can begin to spread my wings and practice using them. When I return home, I'll have dried off my wings and I'll be ready and poised not just to fly from danger, but to fly towards those gardens and flowers where I can find beauty, safety, and nourishment. I'll be ready to seek out all that I need for happiness and joy that will last an eternity.

MSN Spaces

I'm exploring my options right now as far as blogs go. I think I may have found something I like better than Blogger. I'm looking at MSN Spaces. The things I like about it are that it is easier to post pictures and you can put up music and other things. It kind of combines Myspace and Blogger. I like it and I'm going to keep testing it. So, for a day or two, things might get a little redundant and i might switch back and forth. It's probably a good thing to do it now, though, before too many people are reading my blog. if you have any comments about which one you like to read better, let me know.

Just kidding.

Charade and Wait Until Dark. They don't do mysteries or suspense films like that anymore. If you haven't seen either of these movies, I suggest you rent and watch them ASAP. They are two excellent movies that will make you think. That is something few movies do anymore. Neither of these movies are at all predictable. Well, there is one scenario that they may be: if you've seen a lot more mystery movies than I have. But either way, they will still entertain. Especially Charade. Even without the suspense, it has humor, romance, and just plain good dialogue.

Suspense...

We had a dance tonight. People said I danced well. I never thought I would hear those words. It's so fun! I can't describe how much I love dancing. i think it may be a hobby of mine from this point on. Waht a crazy night. I was soaked in sweat. i know, gross detail, but how else are you really going to appreciate how much I was moving? One girl's comment was, "Steve, you just don't stop moving!" I didn't think I had it in me. Maybe its all the pent-up energy from being so mellow most the time. I don't know. But I can say, I love dancing and I'm really looking forward to the next one.

Read On

People are reading my blog! To the observant, you'll notice that I've been posting (on and off) for two years. But the past two weeks people are actually mentioning that they read it and posting comments. That's pretty exciting. I think I may be a little more consistent from now on.

I'm trying very hard at the moment to have deep thoughts. They are so much more fun to write about than normal everyday things. give me a sec...

So, why aren't the normal everyday things as fun to write about? Can't they be deep? I believe they can. So, I'm going to contradict myself. Maybe the everyday little things are what I need to concentrate on so that I can have my deep thoughts. As Nephi says, "By small means the Lord can bring about great things." So, these everyday things can mean quite a bit.

So, what could I write about? Today I bought a new journal. It's my sixth journal, I think. As you can probably tell, I like to write. I started my first journal in seventh grade, I think. I can't check. All my journals are packed up back home. But I started it around age twelve or thirteen. I've recorded a lot of thoughts and feelings in my journals. They have been a great help in organizing my thoughts, expressing my feelings, praciticing my writing skills, and helping me remember important things. Basically, journals are good things. if you don't have one, I suggest you start writing.

My journals will be of great worth to me in later years and to my posterity. I can just imagine how they will feel reading about the days of their father, grandfather, and so on. I wish I could read about my grandfather's life. It would be an amazing journal. He lived quite a life. I won't live a life like his. The world is very different. I hopefully won't fight in a world war. I won't live off the land in Alaska, surveying for the United States government. I won't run a small farm in Idaho. But my life will be unique and I will have messages and lessons to share. And whether or not my journals are ever of worth to anyone, I love to write, so I'll continue to do it.

Rolling down leafy hills is fun. Try it sometime. It's kind of relaxing.

Website

I made my own website. It was quite fun. I like knowing html. The url is www.geocities.com/ckmgtnr. It's so amazing that I can share so much so easily. Just by knowing how to type a few things, I am able to share with all my friends and family my thoughts and my experiences. I love this technology. Unfortunately, it's not perfect. I won't rely on it too much, because it truly is fragile. People put a lot of faith in the internet, but the media giants are battling over what the future of the internet will look like, and I don't think that future is quite like the present. These media and internet giants have the capability of killing and strangling the net as we know it. It probably won't happen, but they could transform it into...who knows. And the stability of the infrastructure supporting the net isn't a guaruntee, either. All it takes is a few power outages in particular areas and 50% of the net is gone until the power is back up.

Sorry, this isn't exactly cheery. Maybe I'm a little gloomy because I'm dead tired and not in bed, yet. It's probably a good idea to do that.

Is there something on my nose? 

Using html

Today I learned how to use html. I should have been in math class. I know, it's not very good, but math is mostly review and html is all new to me. Learning new things is a lot more fun.

I learned some fun tricks.

This is the site that I learned it on. I still have a lot more to learn, but it's pretty simple. I can start experimenting now. Well, I guess I already have, haven't I?

I better go now. I really do need to get my day started.

It's been a few days. Sorry for anyone who's reading this. I wonder, what do you think of me? If you have gone back and read all my previous posts? Probably a little weird, huh? Well, I like to think about those kinds of things, so I hope it's bearable.

Tonight I tried to finish watching a movie with my friends. It didn't work because the laptop battery died, so we ended up watching the stars and talking for a while. That was fun. I got to lay back and just wonder at the vast expanse above us. It's been a long time since I've done that. I just find it incredible that there are so many stars up there. Watching them fills me with wonder and a desire to visit them.

I've been a big science fiction fan all my life. Something about stars just captures my imagination. Could you imagine traveling to another planet? Meeting an alien race? They don't have to be alien even, considering there probably aren't any aliens, just other children of God, other humans. Just finding a new people, a new civilization. Wouldn't it be amazing? What would it be like? I like to think of Stargate. Humans spread out all over the galaxy, all with very different civilizations and technologies, all at different stages of development.

Well, I could continue, but I need to get to bed.

I don't know what it is about Calvin and Hobbes. The comic strip is just brilliant. Nearly everyday is another great comic. Too bad Bill Watterson doesn't write anymore. It's actually kind of depressing. Oh well.

Just wanted to write, since I said I would start again. Plus, now that I have a link to it on my MySpace, people will probably actually start reading this.
The question is, what do I write? Do I write about my day? Do I analyze the news? Any of you who have read my previous posts know I like to do that. But that was when nobody read my blog. Of course, I don't know that anyone does now. I guess what I write is up to me.
I love being here at BYU. Yesterday in Book of Mormon, the professor summed up our doctrine of salvation and how we are different from other churches. The Catholics believe that taking the sacraments will save them. Protestants believe confessing Christ will save them. We believe that both are necessary. I like the way this Calvin and Hobbes strip puts it. Hobbes about sums it up.
Well, I have homework to get to. As much as I'd like to procrastinate more, I've done plenty of that already. Moderation in all things, right?

I'm in Provo now and having a great time at BYU. I'm going to try to put consistent posts here, but I can't promise anything. Right now I need to get to Econ homework, though, so I better go.

Remind me again why so many people praise Europe's social welfare?

Problems in Asia, twofold.

Cinnabon good! 

Ok, there's this quarky little piece of quantum physics that can be slightly disturbing when you think about it. Reality isn't reality unless we're looking at it. Otherwise it's a mess of every possibility possible . The computer screen you're looking at? It's not really there all the time. It's only there when you look at or touch it because reality merges together and focuses into one reality when we sense it. So, I may be completely misconstruing this, but as I see it, we make reality. We really do. Every possibility is made through us. The computer screen is there because we expect it to be there. We want it to there. So if we wanted it to be a flat-panel LCD, could it become one? I think so. I think that makes perfect sense. If we had the willpower, if we had the ability to believe that strongly, if we had a perfect faith that it could happen...
So, we really can move mountains. If we believed strongly enough in a reality that put this mountain over there, it would move over there. Sounds pretty simple, huh? There's just a couple of qualms about everyone else perceiving that move and the fact that as far as we know, no mountain has ever been moved. Well, I figure there is a reason for this. It's not that complicated, either. This is God's universe. He has the ultimate say in how things end up, so a necessary factor in the equation is faith in God. If you believe in him, too, he will help make that possible reality the reality. Everyone will be part of it and only those with honorable intentions will have enough faith in God to do it.
It makes sense to me, but I could be completely wrong here. I could have my understanding of quantum physics wrong and there isn't much to go on as to why faith moves mountains, so I'm not setting my belief in stone. In fact, quantum physics is so complicated and I know so little, I'll place my bet on me being wrong.

Ok, I'm returning to my blog. Why? Because I think it will be important for college. I'll need to keep in touch with everyone. Well, I'm going to go to bed. Meanwhile, you can write me at ckmgtnr@yahoo.com. Those of you who have my personal e-mail, don't get confused. I don't want that one getting out. I don't like spam much.