This subject entered my consciousness by stages. I’d become vaguely aware of the application of laws regarding apostasy, blasphemy and heresy in many of the Islamic states over the past several years. Visions of women being stoned, men being put to death or imprisoned for various offenses come to mind. Then the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini calling for the death of Salman Rushdie for having the temerity to publish Satanic Verses, which is presumed to have blasphemed Allah, in some fashion, further framed the issue in my mind. I thought it strange, even a little “other worldly”, but paid it little heed because I thought Salman would advisably lay low,...
My father died on the day my first grandchild was born. His death and her birth are all of a piece. He had always been in my life, but I didn’t know him well, at least not as a son should know a father. Throughout most of my adult life I more or less ignored him. Of course, I did the obligatory things that one does, but with little interest or feeling. His gentle nature and lack of apparent drive or ambition had caused me to conclude that he was, at his core, a weak person. I, on the other hand, had already achieved things that he could never understand (or so I thought). We had no basis to relate, except that biology and my mother had conspired to...
Sadly for our country, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was defeated in the Senate last week. No, it actually wasn’t defeated, because it never came up for a vote. There were fifty two senators who wanted to pass this important piece of legislation but couldn’t because of the intransigence of a few who refused to allow debate to be ended and a vote taken. There’s that nasty Senate Rule 22 again. For those of you who haven’t followed closely, this is all about defining a process to deal with the children of illegal immigrants who were brought into this country by their parents. I know, I know… some of you (and many...
After having spent almost three weeks traveling in China, and having visited spots frequented by that unusual species, Touristicus Americanus, I feel compelled to offer some rules of the road to my enlightened and inquisitive readership. My motives are pure. I simply do not want you to ever run the risk of being mistaken for one of the herd when you are abroad, Asia or else where. Some of the rules are for your safety and some are for you well being, but all are important if you care to strive for that exalted status of Enlightened American Traveler. I suggest you commit these rules to memory or at least put them on a small laminated card that you can carry...
I learned 25 years ago and have relearned on this trip that perfect enlightenment with respect to Asia comes only in the understanding that you will never really understand. Actually, Churchill said it first and said it best in referring to Russia. It is “…a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. I’m now convinced, again, that his insight applies perfectly to China as well. I probably should have waited for a little soak time after the trip before opining as I’m now getting ready to do. Maybe my views would have mellowed a bit, but events have overcome me, and I can wait no longer. The trigger event was a trip out of Xian to see the Terra...
After 30 years in the world of big business, Gary “retired” to pursue long ignored interests. While continuing his involvement in the corporate world by serving as a director of several public companies, he has, among other things, traveled the world in pursuit of the perfect bird photograph, served national and local charities as a director and donor, developed a personal web site as a platform for his writing on subjects of personal interest, and, occasionally, taken time to smell the roses.
Gary and his wife Sandra, shuttle between their condo in Dallas and their farm in Fannin county, Texas where they indulge themselves in organic gardening, long walks and entertaining friends and family.
