tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post1341439361453608260..comments2023-10-29T05:29:58.599-04:00Comments on Right-Side-of-Lowell: Transportation Security TheaterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-68013991012283536712010-01-03T22:05:27.502-05:002010-01-03T22:05:27.502-05:00Greg
I think you are absolutely correct. There w...Greg<br /><br />I think you are absolutely correct. There was a comment made in passing about a week ago which I just loved. It was after Christmas Eve Mass and John Cox and I passed by each other and he and I were both exchanging greetings with others and with each other and he said Merry Christmas to me and then said, frankly, in the nicest sort of way, in a very Christmas sort of way: "You were a bad boy this year." I took that to mean that some of the things I did were crossways with his own agenda. At the same time, I felt no animosity in what he said. I took it as a indication of some respect that he would joke about it in that way.<br /><br />And, specifically to your point, there was an article by Air Force General Steve Lorenz, Commander of Air Education and Training Command (AETC) in the Association of Graduates magazine. In it he talks about how tough it was for him to get an appointment to the Air Force Academy and then to make it through the four years of academics. But, he used the motto "Never, ever give up" and it worked for him. He is now a four star general.<br /><br />There are a lot of "blow ins" doing very well in Lowell, and just as important, for Lowell, including on the City Council.<br /><br />Thanks for the comment. And you too, Neal and Joanne.<br /><br />Regards — CliffC R Kriegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10563658418464959198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-29374530389945990092010-01-03T16:12:35.838-05:002010-01-03T16:12:35.838-05:00Multiple-layered irony noted here -- the very same...Multiple-layered irony noted here -- the very same credentialed leftist who can wax eloquently about why anti-terrorism profiling is bad sees no inherent contradiction in welcoming any person of overseas birth to Lowell with open arms, but uses a derisive label to describe those of us who were born somewhere else in the U.S. and made it here in some roundabout way. <br /><br />I've finally realized the point I've been trying to articulate to you, Kad Barma, and others in the blogosphere. I'm going to parallel John McWhorter (Losing the Race, Authentically Black) who argues that although racism exists in the U.S., it's not an overwhelming obstacle to whatever dreams an individual person of color might have (i.e. to become an astronaut, heart surgeon, trial lawyer, President, etc.) <br /><br />I see something similar here. YES, I will concede, there are some people who will never accept a Lowellian who is not a native and whose parents didn't both go to Lowell High School. Fine, point conceded.<br /><br />But my next question -- is nativism here strong enough to prevent non-natives from attaining whatever their goals are? <br /><br />My argument -- no, it isn't. <br /><br />If I define my goal as becoming a *player* in local events (extremely loosely worded by design, as that could accomodate an almost limitless number of paths), then I don't see how not being from Lowell can stop me.The New Englanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06201310505648616855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-36255011658335667112010-01-02T14:44:01.605-05:002010-01-02T14:44:01.605-05:00Well Cliff I am sure glad that you are a "Blo...Well Cliff I am sure glad that you are a "Blow In". Happy New Yearjotrudnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046628493283608233.post-16188623521169498492010-01-02T08:48:59.122-05:002010-01-02T08:48:59.122-05:00One major correction to your blog Cliff.......the ...One major correction to your blog Cliff.......the system DIDN'T work......the kid WAS able to get a functional weapon on board the flight....but like TSA....he fumbled the USE of the weapon thus doing more harm to himself than anyone around him. In short.....the system didn't work......luck was just with us.<br /><br />Why is it that boarding a plane in Israel gets you a thorough pat down especially when you meet "a profile." Nobody complains there......and if you do...you simply do fly.....ever again.<br /><br />In defense of very targeted profiling......."TOUGH." Not all Arabs are terrorists, but so far, all terrorists are Arabs. I would think that there is a clear message there. And if the Arabs who aren't terrorists are offended....as they surely will be if only because it is great racial and cultural theater.......then I would suggest to them that the rid the maggots from their midst....as only they can do. Put another way.......if you are Muslim......and you are offended by being clumped together with extremists of your faith and culture......you are either with them, or actively against them...there is no conditional gray area.<br /><br />If we play stringently against extremists, they will endeavor to "break the code" and come at us from another angle. OK...and when they do.....perhaps we will have discovered it in time using HUMINT that simply doesn't exist today because of American PC.....and if we discover it when it is implemented, we'll change our game accordingly.<br /><br />Fighting terrorism is not the domain of "community organizing."ncrosslandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01667362872097065210noreply@blogger.com