Can you say sweet! I always new Sportster’s were the sweetest ride around. In 2003 Jim Victor, an artist from Philadelphia, created a 1957 Harley-Davidson
Sportster out of chocolate at Nestlé USA’s Burlington plant for the ChocolateFest 2003. Looks yummy.
It is our duty as American citizens to separate the truth from fiction. And it is not an easy undertaking anymore. Sometimes I have to sit back and get back to the basic questions of what I believe in. Defining moral opinions is no easy task. Pre 9/11 it was easier for me, perhaps I was being simplistic, but I could list a few items with some self assured concept of being correct. Now I cannot.
I never spent a lot of time contemplating or comparing my religious beliefs with others. I felt that my moral ideals served me well and that it was not necessary or expected that I explain myself. Now I find myself looking at all religion as a prelude to violence. I never questioned my belief in my country. A strong country, a country with possibilities of equality, a country where I did not wake up with knowing that someone, from somewhere else might blow me up just cause. Timothy McVeigh made us aware of our vulnerability from home grown discontents but 9/11 – that was another thing. I did not follow just because a political idea was popular, I never voted straight party line, I voted on each issue on it’s merits.
The truth is:
This leaves me a left of center flag waving confused citizen. It would be easy and safe to take a atavistic view point over an enlightened one. Now if I could figure out what I think about what is on the news . . ..
Another puzzle is completed. This one was more challenging than the last one. The next puzzle has been started. This puzzle managed to get completed without Annie snitching and eating any pieces.
My major point of contention in this deal is not that the company is UAE owned but that it is NOT USA owned.
A private company in Britain has managed major ports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. Now, a UAE-owned company called Dubai Ports World is buying the London Company, which will put Dubai Ports World in charge of the U.S. ports. I wrote about the effort to repeal the Jones Act (Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 requiring that all cargo moving between U.S. ports be carried in ships which are U.S.-owned, -built and -crewed) in the 90’s. What I believed then still holds true for me today. We need to stop the outsourcing of our country to the highest bidder.
We are not considering who gives us tech help, who made the shirt we wear; we are discussing a major method of transportation of goods, services, and military supplies for our country. There is an inherent danger in this decision. Call me an alarmist if you wish, but, control of our ports is essential to our economy, security, and military capabilities. Our ports are vital to our economy and to the international economy. That makes them top terrorist targets. We do not outsource military and law enforcement operations and duties. Why hand our port operations over.
As far as the UAE and Dubai go, I do not know much about their country. Dubai is the second largest emirate and commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates. The capital of UAE is Abu Dhabi, the largest emirate; the other members of the federation in addition to Abu Dhabi and Dubai are Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Known until 1971 as the Trucial States, each of which had separate treaty relationships with Britain, the seven emirates came together to establish a federal state officially entitled Dawlat al Imarat al Arabiyya al Muttahida (State of the United Arab Emirates). Each of the component emirates of the Federation already had its own existing institutions of government and to provide for the effective governing of the new state, the Rulers agreed to draw up a provisional Constitution specifying those powers which we re to be allocated to new federal institutions, all others remaining the prerogative of the individual emirates. The new federal system of government included a Supreme Council, a Cabinet or Council of Ministers, a parliamentary body, the Federal National Council and an independent judiciary, at the peak of which is the Federal Supreme Court.
Here are a couple of pictures from The Dubai International Convention Center web site. I can not come to know a people by looking at pictures and web sites but it is a start to understanding.
If only I could recreate in such a place
Here is a flash presentation with a map from the site.
The DP World team is set to explain that the P&O business controls only the leases of container terminals at the ports. It says security at the ports is mainly the responsibility of outside bodies, including the US Coast Guard. News FT.com
All Arabs are not terrorists. All American’s are not like Timothy McVeigh. Regardless, it is not in our countries best interests, to allow our ports operations be handled by a foreign country. It is a legal failure that needs to be dealt with.