Friends,
I have started a new blog called BE MORE. The purpose of the new blog is to share insights and inspiration to empower people, companies, communities and organizations to do and BE MORE.
Thank you for visiting A Responsible Way. I hope you will visit the new blog soon!
Be well,
Tracey--
It's that time of year again, when images of the attacks on 9/11 hit the airwaves, video sharing sites, newspapers and blogs.
Images of the horror our nation endured will always remain vivid in our minds. We still talk at the dinner table and among friends about where we were, who we were with, and how we felt at the time of the attacks. It's part of this generation's American experience.
One of the images that comes to my mind is of people from all walks of life with varying religions, ethnicity, political affiliations and viewpoints coming together united as a nation. We were kind to one another. Supportive. Tolerant. Patriotic. We hugged, cried, laughed and worried as a nation. Our bonds as Americans held us together. We were one.
Unfortunately, one of the best lessons we learned that day about ourselves has gone away. In is place is hatred, intolerance, impatience and pettiness. We've grown leery of people who are different than we are. We talk over those who have a different opinion and no longer listen. We blame others even when we look in the mirror. There are communities where flying the American flag is banned, and schools no longer begin the day with the Pledge of Allegiance. We no longer care.
Pastor Terry Jones caused a lot of fervor this week when he announced his church in Florida would burn the Koran in protest. Although he has the freedoms to do this, I am glad he has canceled the event. Instead, he intends to meet with the Imam working on plans to build a Mosque and community center at Ground Zero. Hopefully they will talk about peace and tolerance, and doing the right thing for us as a people. Hopefully they will listen.
As we commemorate the 9th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11, I hope we remember that we are all Americans and as citizens of this country, need to be united in purpose. That unity will always carry the day - always. May God bless us.
There are stories circulating about a line item in the Defense budget for Gulfstream 550 jets for Members of Congress. According to Glenn Thrush at Politico, the House Appropriations Committee put money in for three jets to be used for congressional delegation trips. The Air Force has only requested one. That's a cost of $200 million of taxpayer money to be spent on Congress to fly private jets.
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) has vowed to kill the line item in the Defense bill. That is good. In today's economic climate, many Americans take issue with needless spending on the Hill. Senator McCaskill is quoted as saying, "While American families are tightening their belts there is no way we should be buying extra executive jets. No wonder so many people think we don't get it." She sums it up well.
I applaud Senator McCaskill's concern over the executive jets in the Defense budget. She's being fiscally responsible and I hope she convinces her colleagues to do the same.
On March 25th, the Senate Judiciary's subcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights announced a hearing regarding the future of the BCS - college football's premiere reward for the best team in the country. According to a statement released by the subcommittee, the current system "leaves nearly half of all the teams in college football at a competitive disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for the millions of dollars paid out every year." The hearings were called for by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and took place last Friday. Utah, in addition to Boise State, went undefeated in the regular season and was not invited to play in a championship bowl game.
The BCS, which ranks teams based on two polls and six computer rankings is not perfect. It is, however better than it was. Calls for reform occur each season, especially when a team or teams go undefeated but don't have an opportunity to play with the big guys.
I'm not questioning the inadequacy of the BCS - there is definitely room for improvement - however I am questioning why the Senate is dealing with this now. It seems to me there are other more important issues for our government to focus on than college football.
SOURCE: ESPN
When Barack Obama was running for office, one of the priority messages of his campaign was promoting public service. Since taking office, the President has continued to promote increased volunteerism among Americans. I am pleased with the President's focus to help others, especially as we are known for being one of the most generous nations in the world.
Last week, the House of Representatives passed the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act - known as the GIVE Act. The cost of legislation is still under review however initial estimates place it at $6 billion over five years*. It is expected to create 175,000 new service opportunities under AmeriCorps, bringing the number of participants in the national volunteer program to 250,000. Under the existing AmeriCorps model, volunteers who are enrolled in the National Service Trust are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or a stipend after completing their term of service+.
I commend the efforts of the President and House members to want to promote change in our country, especially initiatives that focus on giving back to our communities. I am concerned however that this legislation is the antithesis of altruism.
Shouldn't the real reward for community service be the satisfaction of knowing that you've helped others in need? If we monetize community sevice, what message does that send to today's youth?
Doing a little good in your community shouldn't cost you anything nor should it be mandated. It should come from the heart because it's the right thing to do.
*SOURCE: Fox News
+SOURCE: AmeriCorps
53% of Americans say it is likely the U.S. will enter into a depression similar to the 1930's in the next few years*. That's a large percentage of Americans.
If you're like me, you try your best not to let the current economic situation take hold of your every day life. I have wondered however how our society would respond to a crisis as bad as a national or global depression. How would this impact your life?
We are a very different society today than we were in 1929 when the Great Depression first began. For one thing, neighbors helped each other and communities rallied together to sustain their way of life. Do you even know your neighbor?
We are consumed with our individual lives and material goods in an unhealthy way. Many Americans, especially younger generations, have never experienced personal crisis nor have they had to sacrifice to save money, to survive.
The United States of America is a giving nation - a kind nation. In tough times, we have always come together for the betterment of our country and our communities. The crisis on September 11, 2001 is a recent example of Americans coming together to help others in need. In an economic crisis, I hope we'll continue this American spirit.
We should never forget to give - of ourselves - for each other.
*Source: Rasmussen Reports, March 2009.
Yikes! $787 billion is an unfathomable amount of money. Ten percent of that is an unfathomable amount of money. Yet today, the House passed the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, a plan to resuscitate the U.S. economy with over $787 billion in tax cuts and government spending.
The bill passed 246 - 183 without any support from Republicans. Four Democrats opposed the bill. The act, which boasts 1,071 pages, was delivered to House members late last night without much time to read, comprehend and analyze its contents. According to House Minority Leader, John Boehner(R-Ohio), "This legislation falls woefully short. With a price tag of more than $1 trillion when you factor in interest, it costs every family almost $10,000 in added debt. This is an act of generational theft that our children and grandchildren will be paying for far into the future."
On the other side of the aisle, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi(D-Calif.) had this to say about the bill: "By investing in new jobs, in science and innovation, in energy, in education ... we are investing in the American people, which is the best guarantee of the success of our nation."
Is this theft? Is the bill a good investment for the citizens of this country? Economists are on the fence regarding the impact the bill will have on stimulating the economy any time soon. Only time will tell.
Source: Breitbart
What a historic week! It was awesome to view the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. I lived in Washington, DC and attended the last two inaugural events - I missed being there for this one! It was still inspiring nonetheless.
I'm hopeful that the new year, new Administration and 111th Congress will provide a positive outlook for us as Americans. There's been too much negativity, action and non-action and discord in our country. Whether you voted for him or not, President Obama represents a sense of renewal for our country at a time when we need it most. It's up to us to make a difference and reinforce the ideals that have made us a great nation.
In President Obama's inaugural address he stated the following:
"Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship. "
We are all responsible for ourselves, our communities and our country. I sincerely hope these ideals will endure not only during President Obama's administration, but well beyond.
It's this thought that gives way to the purpose of this blog - I hope you will join the discussion.
Marketing and communications strategist with experience in brand marketing, public relations, strategic philanthropy, cause marketing, consumer products and licensing.
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