Well, here goes.
I don't know yet if I have established a new principle in determining whether or not a nation is a security risk if it is not interested in global issues of Peace and Security. This might certainly help to refocus attention under a new rubric: "global". This also goes much beyond the current heading of "nations supporting terrorism" that pose the security risk and makes every nation technically eligible to be a security risk.
I also just want to mention that I have been watching the G20 Summit in London and am very impressed at Medvedev, the Russian leader and his proposal to engage in talks aimed at reduction of nuclear armaments. He
has now moved to establish himself on his own terms apart from Putin. With this proposal, Russia is no longer " problematic" but is now "major co-operator" on issues of Peace and Security. This does not necessarily mean that all of the difficulties with Georgia have just disappeared; it means that the Russians want to work things out diplomatically. If they actually do go through a phase of reduction of nuclear arms, we, the world citizens, are the winners. We may not be winning very much in this global recession so far; but we are winning in this security battle.
These are my thoughts for today.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April 1, 2009: Kuching, Sarawak
Well, here goes.
I am in this place, Kuching, Sarawak, only because I was a Peace Corps Volunteer here in the 60's and left suddenly because my father had died unexpectedly and suddenly of either cardiac arrest or an aneurism in the left brain area. I had not seen him for such a long time because of being away at college and then in the Peace Corps Malaysia VII. When I left Kuching and my Group with the Peace Corps, I felt like I had not had the chance to come to closure emotionally. This is a major problem in my life, being pulled out of countries and programs without being able to come to closure on certain issues. Now, in my retirement, I am hoping to be able to do this, to bring to closure on these issues. This will expand my own freedom of choice that has been so severly damaged in my life time.
This place is definitely not for me and I fully understand that now. I don't have to listen to a mind that prattles away endlessly of bullshit that is of no significance for me but a huge waste of time. I have gained much respect for both the Indian and Buddhist (Mahayana)doctrines of stilling the mind through self choice and exercise. Now, when I go back to Nepal or Cambodia or Thailand, I will have a clean slate and a silenced mind. Now, my mind will start to prattle away at something else, but at least I am prepared and understand the insignificance of it all.
In the beginning, I did an assessment where I stated that Malaysia is a "drop out" nation, and, yes, I hold to that. This is a state that exists for itself; it is not interested in "global" issues of peace and security. I even asked some people in Kuching, who agreed with me. Does this mean that Malaysia is a security risk? This is a very good question. Malaysia is a largely middle class society with a lot of material wealth but no depth of community. Many sub-sets of minorities that live peacefully side-by-side because they are allowed to continue certain cultural practices to keep each little community together. This is so different from Florida. Everybody considers each other to be "American" or "Floridian", but not "Hispanic Floridian" or "retiree Floridian" or "worker Floridian". This is not answering the question of whether or not Malaysia is a security risk.
If a society is not interested in global issues of peace and security, I guess it is a risk.
These are my thoughts for today.
I am in this place, Kuching, Sarawak, only because I was a Peace Corps Volunteer here in the 60's and left suddenly because my father had died unexpectedly and suddenly of either cardiac arrest or an aneurism in the left brain area. I had not seen him for such a long time because of being away at college and then in the Peace Corps Malaysia VII. When I left Kuching and my Group with the Peace Corps, I felt like I had not had the chance to come to closure emotionally. This is a major problem in my life, being pulled out of countries and programs without being able to come to closure on certain issues. Now, in my retirement, I am hoping to be able to do this, to bring to closure on these issues. This will expand my own freedom of choice that has been so severly damaged in my life time.
This place is definitely not for me and I fully understand that now. I don't have to listen to a mind that prattles away endlessly of bullshit that is of no significance for me but a huge waste of time. I have gained much respect for both the Indian and Buddhist (Mahayana)doctrines of stilling the mind through self choice and exercise. Now, when I go back to Nepal or Cambodia or Thailand, I will have a clean slate and a silenced mind. Now, my mind will start to prattle away at something else, but at least I am prepared and understand the insignificance of it all.
In the beginning, I did an assessment where I stated that Malaysia is a "drop out" nation, and, yes, I hold to that. This is a state that exists for itself; it is not interested in "global" issues of peace and security. I even asked some people in Kuching, who agreed with me. Does this mean that Malaysia is a security risk? This is a very good question. Malaysia is a largely middle class society with a lot of material wealth but no depth of community. Many sub-sets of minorities that live peacefully side-by-side because they are allowed to continue certain cultural practices to keep each little community together. This is so different from Florida. Everybody considers each other to be "American" or "Floridian", but not "Hispanic Floridian" or "retiree Floridian" or "worker Floridian". This is not answering the question of whether or not Malaysia is a security risk.
If a society is not interested in global issues of peace and security, I guess it is a risk.
These are my thoughts for today.
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