[Suki]

RPR I liked how you answered. When one looks at things internationally and REALISTICALLY one has to realize that not every human being on earth will be able to live the LIFESTYLE of the USA. Even the regular, suburban lifestyle. OXFAM among other sources of studying world hunger and basic resources such as water, and air pollution, etc. all conclude that if India, China, and most of Latin America and Africa and Asia would all have two vehicles, spend gas, consume a la Americana style....there would be really grave consequences. People can desire many things. One can desire to be a billionaire. Less than a thousand human beings are billionaires on Earth vs. 6 billion non-billionaires. Why can't we all be BILLIONAIRES. That is a choice in lifestyle aint it? No, it is not a choice. Not when it represents a tiny fraction of humanity and that tiny fraction has more power than huge tracts of land and dozens of world gov't budgets. That is retrograde thinking. One has to have a sense of being satisfied with something realistic. Period. What is realistic and HUMANE above all else? Making sure babies don't die because they don't have clean water. Making sure the youth got minimal standards of health care and education and that the adults in every nation can sustain their families and themselves without compromising their humanity to do it.

When sex workers in the Red Light District in Calcutta and New Delhi can only offer their children a legacy of sex slavery and indignities, and violence because they are so desperately incapable and poor and live their short lives in degradation and misery and death of the mind and the spirit first and then the body----one has to question if there is a real choice in wanting something at what expense? Because as I was telling my young son this morning that if one wants to accomplish something in life one has to sacrifice something for it. Work, effort, something. And if it comes for free without effort it is usually not worth much anyway. And RPR how many people from other nations who want the American way of living can realistically have it? Do you think 400 million Latin Americans most who live in abject poverty will be taken on by the 50 states and that is how one solves international problems? hello people come to the USA and go for the elusive American Dream. Can't do that. The Americans can't even bring peace to Iraq. For the 94% of humanity that doesn't live in the mainland USA, one has to accept that they have to forge their own dream. The Dominican Dream, The Mexican Dream, The Puerto Rican Dream....etc. Because if they can't the USA can't do it for all of them.

And for many, the American Dream is never realized anyway. Have you ever read Pedro Pietri's "Puerto Rican Obituary"? You should if you haven't read it. It is about just how FALSE that American Dream really can be. The best solution for all the people who can't live under a gov't that is corrupt, and an economy that is collapsed and oppression that is intolerable is to fight. Fight for something better. ANd that happens in the USA and in every nation with HUMAN BEINGS in it. Gotta fight for something better wherever you find yourself. You will be surprised RPR, many people live highly meaningful lives living in the cultures they live in. They just don't like to deal with the really bad situations they find themselves in. But who creates the problems? Other human beings. Usually the selfish ones. That is why I say---you be the change you want to see in the world. Don't wait for someone else to provide the dream for you. Do it for yourself. And do it for your ethnic group....because if you don't do it....who will? Will non-Puerto Ricans really care about the Puerto Rican experience? No. They are too busy dealing with their own reality. That is why colonialism and absentee landlord a la USA won't work in the long run. How can you give the best of what you got to people who's histories you don't share, don't know and who's language you don't speak and who's sense of self determination you don't value? You can't.

You sow what you reap in this world. If you sow inequality what fruit do you expect? It is just a natural law. The Golden Rule is always best. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Would the USA like to have Puerto Rico make the USA Puerto Ricans by default but not let them vote in Puerto Rican elections and every time the Puerto Rican nation goes to war with some other nation recruit USA soldiers to fight and die for Puerto Rico but not allow the Puerto Ricans a senator that can vote in Puerto Rico. To not let the USA make trade agreements with other nations...etc. etc. Palau after obtaining its independence from the USA in 1994 ratified in its constitution no nuclear weapons allowed on its tiny territory (Palau has only 21,000 people) and they believe 100% in democracy. The USA said that they would not allow the Palauans their independence unless they allowed NUKES on their land. The Palauans gave in but fear if there is a leak or something they will have to lose the only land they know. Is that fair? No. Is it the USA way of doing business? Strong arming little nations. Even ones who are very smart!! Lol. It doesn't speak well of the USA.

Don't be naive, self-interested or ignorant. Not everything that is shiny is gold. It could be all an illusion. Most of this pie in the sky stuff is just that. Pies in the sky. What is not pie in the sky? Love. Hard Work. Dedication. Persistence. Preserverance. Embracing Adversity. Struggle. And SACRIFICE. That is what gets people to where they want to go in life. ANYWHERE THEY LIVE IN ALL NATIONS. Not bullcrap invented by some slick ad agencies and promoting a lifestyle that many are abandoning anyway because it is getting unsustainable as practiced.....think forward.

Hope I left you some food for thought RPR

RPR do you honestly think that the USA is the only nation on Earth who can provide a decent living for their citizens? And have you thought about why so many Puerto Ricans leave the island. Why they can't stay? Something aint working. Something wasn't working in Ireland during the Potato Famine, something wasn't working when so many Scots had to leave Scotland, and Jews had to leave and etc. etc. peoples had to leave. Because people are looking for something better and they think they can find it in some UTOPIA. Whether it is called USA, or the promised land. All human beings are essentially the same allover the world. They just need to stop treating the ones who are poor, and illiterate and desperate as if they are pariahs. They aren't. They are YOU and I and all of us. If we can't see our common humanity in other nations and in other peoples then we have to accept that the cause of our search for something better is in vain. We will be playing musical chairs as Miranda stated in the Immigration Issue thread....until we sit down and realize, let us respect all nations. All people. And let us give them a life of dignity. Not a life of ostentation and opulence. But of human dignity. Let us stop being unrealistic and fantasizers and LIARS to ourselves. We have to set limits and know the differences between legitimate needs and childish wants. We have to stop being children in terms of our desires as a species. We must become adults. Parents. As a parent I am going to give my child what he needs. Not necessarily what he or she wants. He might want shiny toys and instant gratification, but what he needs are patience, skill, and the tools for survival and the means to thrive.

A drug addict might want a drug. Is it what he wants more important than what he needs? He needs to stop the addiction and start resisting the wants. He needs support and help. He needs to fight realistically one day at a time till he regains his self control and his self respect. It is the same with consumerism and wanting what is unsustainable and doesn't bring long term happiness anyway. Todos vamos al mismo sitio en este mundo. Tanta vanidad tanta hipocresia todo para acabar en una tumba fria. Life is ephimeral and very precious. Why waste it on vanities? I want health care, education, housing, good employment and dignity for ALL. For all. Not just a few lucky percentages of humanity. But to be inclusive one has to stop wanting more than what is realistic for all. And that is what I believe RPR. Thanks for listening to me.