What about you? What issues are most important to you in the coming election? What specific policies do you see as critical? What particular candidates support your policies? I want to hear from you. Please post your comments or drop me a line.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond.

Several points come to mind:

1. Campaign finance reform is an absolute must. Without it, we cannot have executives and legislators who make responsible decisions on behalf of Americans, completely independent of the special interests. This is the most important issue facing politics and the key to true reform.

2. Reduce and eventually eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. We must have independence to preserve our autonomy, our national security, and our economic stability. Americans should have the same right to drill for oil and other fossil fuels in the Gulf of Mexico and in Alaska that foreign companies currently enjoy. Simultaneously, we must develop alternative energy to ween ourselves off fossil fuels. American innovation in this area have been impressive, not to mention the advances innovated by scientists and engineers in foreign countries. We must engage and foster such innovation to secure our advancement in environmental stewardship,

3. Get the federal government out of public education. The biggest obstacles to teachers being able to teach children must be removed, or our children will not be competitive, independent citizens. Among these obstacles is No Child Left Behind, which ties teachers’ hands in the classroom. Education is supposed to be in the hands of the state government, and administered by each school district. Standards are fine, but not when they come from the federal level, and not when they force teachers to “teach to the test” rather than provide true instruction to our students.

4. China is not our friend, it is our adversary. Our trade imbalance with China exceeds $500 billion each year. That’s half a trillion dollars in goods we buy from China, which they do not buy from us. Interesting that we continue to feed the dragon, while China persists in its human rights atrocities, its oppression of Tibet, its rejection of intellectual property laws, which tacitly endorses software piracy and trademark violations throughout its 1 billion-plus population. Meanwhile, China owns a sizable portion of our national debt. We must lead an international effort to hold China accountable to a free-market economy, including a valuation of the Yen currency that is tied to market forces. To continue to let China decide the value of the Yen is whatever Beijing says it’s worth is contrary to international banking and capital markets. It has to stop if we’re to compete with China on a level playing field.

5. Unbundle health care from employment. I am not suggesting a national health care insurance program. The government shouldn’t be in that business. I am advocating a guarantee of coverage to every American citizen (not illegal aliens). I say, let the individual pay for their own insurance premium, but do not allow insurers to pick and choose their insured clients by excluding pre-existing conditions and other factors. We already do this within employer group policies; let’s do it nationally. A great example of this is the Illinois Comprehensive Insurance Program, which you and I already know as residents of Illinois.

6. Cut pork from legislation coming from Congress. Whether this means a line-item veto from the President or a moratorium on such the practice of loading up pet projects on unrelated bills. Pork projects cost the taxpayers billions of dollars every year.

7. Balance the budget by cutting spending first. This includes better accountability by bureaucrats, but it also means holding Congress to finding the money to fund their legislation. Unchecked, Congress has no mandate to balance income and expenses. The budget deficit is out of control. We have to operate on a balanced budget to run a sustainable government, a more responsible budget.

Mark’s account of the encounter between Jesus and Pilate

Luke’s account of the encounter between Jesus and Pilate

Matthew’s account of the encounter between Jesus and Pilate

Historian Flavius Josephus’ near-contemporary account

The Pontius Pilate Inscription, an artifact corroborating Pilate’s status as governor under Tiberius Caesar

Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” (John 18:33-38, NIV)

Now, Pilate is an educated Roman. He likely would have been well versed in the philosophers of classical Greek and Roman traditions. On the other hand, Jesus’ followers have created quite a buzz throughout Judea, and the young rabbi is known for his ability to relate to common folk while dissecting complex theological issues with the intellectual and religious elite. Pilate obviously has heard of Jesus, of the rumor that he claims to be the “king of the Jews.” He uses this title in a direct question to Jesus. Pilate probably even knows that crowds of people have followed Jesus throughout the countryside. Now that the Nazarene is in Pilate's own courts, Pilate cannot resist engaging him in conversation.

I am fascinated that Jesus does not take the opportunity to beg for his life, or otherwise defend himself against his accusers. Instead, Jesus confronts the governor with his identity and purpose. By plainly saying he is a king of a realm “from another place,” Jesus seems to be playing into Pilate’s hands. But he also demonstrates that his rule is not in conflict with Caesar’s. Pilate is likely accustomed to hearing those brought before him grovel for mercy, hoping he will spare their lives. Instead, Jesus offers Pilate a choice—to accept or reject him, in terms Pilate would understand.

Jesus knew who he was. He understood why he was born and he knew what he would do before leaving the world and returning to his Father in heaven. Certainly he knew he would be crucified and within days be resurrected in fulfillment of the Scriptures. It is this knowledge that makes his demeanor at the trial so noteworthy. In the face of unjust accusations and hatred, Jesus is ministering to his accusers and now, to his judge! Throughout the trials before Herod and Pilate, Jesus is resigned and placid. Indeed, in his account of the encounter, Matthew records that Jesus makes no reply to the charges, “to the great amazement of the governor.”

And so, Christ gives Pilate an ultimatum; if you are on the side of truth, you will listen to me. Pilate’s response, “What is truth?” betrays his lack of belief in objective truth, a point that may have precluded him from accepting Jesus’ claims. Though it becomes clear that he does not intend to believe in Jesus, it’s also obvious he does not want to condemn him to death, and he says so to those assembled in the courtyard outside: “I find no basis for a charge against him.” Pilate orders soldiers to scourge him instead, thinking this will satisfy the crowd’s bloodlust and quell the potential rebellion stirring among them. But after Jesus’ tortuous scourging, his accusers are all the more incensed, and demand his death with such passion and hatred that Pilate reluctantly hands Jesus over to the mob, preferring to condemn an innocent man rather than risk a riot. Jesus’ message is just as relevant today, and he still demands an answer to the one he asked of his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”

Today I challenge you to persevere.

Whether a personal or professional goal, or one centered on your person, your family, or business, you must persevere to achieve it. But perseverance is a discipline, one you must cultivate regularly to one day bear fruit.

Yes, perseverance is a discipline, and it is far from a natural gift. Perseverance is never innate. No one is born disciplined. In fact, the word “discipline” comes from the Latin disciplina meaning training that corrects, molds, or perfects mental faculties or moral character. It is the practice of controling your attitude and activity. To possess discipline, we must continually practice it. Perseverance demands a willingness to focus our efforts and activity around the goal.

Leaders constantly face distractions, those would-be priorities that compete for our attention. Centering, even meditating, on our core values and repeatedly committing action to them can help us discipline ourselves to respond in such situations. Delegating tasks, deferring activities, and minimizing time-wasters are only some of the techniques available to us, so that we may focus on the real priorities.

Hey, I’ll admit it: My temptation is to watch TV, and I’m capable of watching it for hours at a time. How much progress will I make toward my goals if I’m wasting hours in front of the tube? I have to make a conscious choice to focus every moment of every day, or I may give in to my temptation. The practice of discipline, for me, begins and ends with time management.

Funny thing about discipline. The more you exercise it, the more habitual it becomes. I read somewhere that if you do something each day for 21 days, you will continue doing it out of sheer habit. And it affects everything in life, from physical fitness to building a business, to family life and child rearing. None of it is possible without discipline. Every day is my opportunity to exercise it.

Just as dreaming is necessary to visualize what is possible, so discipline is required to realize it. Some people like to dream big, but often are unwilling to follow through. As George Bernard Shaw says, in the above quotation, to achieve progress, one must be “unreasonable.” Only by shaping the world around our vision can we hope to progress toward that vision. But vision without discipline equals frustration and disappointment.

Let me encourage you to work on your inner self so that you can be better equipped to persevere. Force yourself to focus, because you weren’t born with that ability. Avoid complaining that you’re just not “wired that way”—no one ever is. Do it one day at a time. Try to tell yourself you’re to focus your efforts for just one day. The next morning, remind yourself, just one day. You might surprise yourself when, in three weeks’ time, you’re doing it by habit.

Even discipline, as good a thing as it is, can be distracting. Everyone has a need for the occasional break. I call mine a “mental health day;” it’s sort of like a sick day for the mind. When you need to take a day to rest, contemplate, and reflect, don’t waste your energy beating yourself up over it. In fact, often such a day allows you the perspective you need to re-frame a challenging obstacle and formulate a game plan. The trick is to resist the inertia to stay in that place. The only way I know is to get back in training the very next morning.

Mothers Day on the Net is dedicated to the holiday.

The Holiday Spot lets you send moms screensavers, wallpapers, poems, greetings, and more.

Wikipedia’s article documents several holidays throughout the world celebrating motherhood.

Mothers Day Central is a one-stop shop for the holiday, its international scope, and much more.

What we celebrate today as Mothers Day began among the festivals honoring the titan Rhea, mother of the ancient Greek gods. Centuries later in England, early Christians dedicated the fourth Sunday of Lent in their liturgical calendar to honor Mary, the mother of Christ. Subsequently, another Christian community expanded the holy day to include mothers everywhere, dubbing it Mothering Sunday. Today, people the world over celebrate what has come to be known simply as Mothers Day. Each country has its own set of traditions and customs, by which they honor mothers with tribute and recognition. The idea of dedicating a day to mothers is a timeless one that crosses lines of language, nation, and religion.

Despite what I might think of my Mom at times, she has chosen, over and over again, to put aside her own needs to provide the love and support I needed. She sacrificed much so that she could see her children grow into adults. She deferred pursuing her own interests because she was watching me pursue my own. Both my parents worked part time shifts (in not-so-nice places) in addition to their full-time jobs, just so they could provide for us kids. Mom’s unconditional love was her gift to me, and I’m going to thank her for it today.

If your mom is alive today, today is an opportunity to connect with her. Prepare her favorite meal or take her out to her favorite restaurant. Get a simple greeting card and put down in words how you feel about her. Pick some flowers and put them in a vase for her home. Make her feel, even for just one day, that she is the most important woman in the world. If you can’t be there in person, even a simple phone call will be appreciated. And if your mom has passed away, surely you could find another mother who needs affirmation, whose children won’t be seeing her today.

So many mothers are raising their kids alone today, and I can’t imagine how they manage to do it. It has to be the toughest assignment anyone could receive. Those moms need support, too. Think about your circle of friends and the single mothers among them. Are their kids too young to know how to honor their moms today? Maybe you could help those families celebrate in a creative way what makes mothers feel special. Single moms are doing the job of two parents all by themselves, making them doubly worthy of praise.

How about you? How are you celebrating Mothers Day this year? Post a comment, or drop me a line and share your story.

Experian:
(888) 397-3742

Trans Union:
(800) 680-7289

Social Security Administration:
(800) 269-0271

Advocate Accounting & Business Services contributed to this article.

Don’t Sign Your Credit Card

We’re programmed to sign our new credit cards as soon as they receive them in the mail. The credit card companies have trained us well, insisting that when you sign your card, you are protecting it from unauthorized use. But how many times have you paid without the merchant verifying the signature on the card? Credit card companies are working to develop better security in light of rising costs related to fraud. The increase in ID crimes is forcing society to adapt. More and more cardholders are taking back control by refusing to sign their cards. Instead, they print the phrase, “PHOTO ID REQUIRED.” This practice is growing in popularity as consumers become aware of identity issues.

Merchants often don’t bother asking for a photo ID, so your unsigned card may remind them to check. Even if the thief has your photo ID, such as a drivers license, your photo won’t match their face and the merchant could refuse payment. Sadly, most clerks do not take the time to perform even a cursory check. You can remind them by asking, “Would you please check my photo ID before processing my sale?”

Keep in mind, credit card purchases made on the Internet, over the phone or at the gas pump don’t require a signature because the card is not presented in person. A thief needs only your credit card, the expiration date, and the CVV number printed on the back.

My CPA says the practice of not signing your card is wise, and that most merchants will honor the card, while some may refuse, unaware that this is an perfectly acceptable. He hastens to point out that any merchant has the right to refuse service without reason, but that few will risk losing the sale. A friend informs me that merchants always accept his (unsigned) card without complaint.

Catalog Your Wallet Contents

In case your wallet is lost or stolen, you will need to have quick access to the numbers to call to report the crime and mitigate any potential damages. One way is to maintain a list of account numbers and phone numbers of the credit card companies. An easier way is to simply photocopy the contents of your wallet, front and back. Place as many cards as you can fit onto the copier glass, make a copy, then flip the cards over and make another. Keep these copies in a safe place. When traveling, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of your wallet and your passport in case they’re lost or stolen.

Missing Card or Wallet? Here’s What to Do

1. Contact your credit card companies to report your cards stolen. They will cancel the account and document your call with their security and fraud departments. Once a cardholder reports a stolen card, most credit card companies will not hold him/her responsible for unauthorized charges.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your cards and/or other documents (e.g., driver license) were stolen. This documents your actions, should there be an investigation into the matter.

3. Place a fraud alert on your name with all three national credit reporting agencies and the Social Security Administration. This ensures that any company checking your credit knows that your information was stolen, and prevents a thief from opening new lines of credit in your name.

What tips can you offer about identity protection? What have you done to protect yours? Post a comment, or drop me a line and let me know.

David Pogue’s video tributes to iPhone include a musical number and some jabs at Apple product release paranoia.

Steve Jobs’ keynote address announcing iPhone.

Newsweek’s N’Gai Croal’s musical analysis of the iPhone’s prospects.

NBC News reports on iPhone in this video newscast.

Wired’s story about Cisco suing Apple over the “iPhone” name, which it trademarked in 2000.

Wired’s Pete Mortensen sees the iPhone as a shift in Apple’s center of gravity, away from Macintosh.

Wikipedia’s article on the origins, evolution, and eventual demise of Newton.

Gizmodo provides a PDF download link to this iPhone papercraft model that you can print, cut out, and tape together until the real phone comes out in June.

If you’re wondering what this new product has to do with a PDA from a decade ago, perhaps I should explain. Apple created and marketed Newton in the early 1990s, before Blackberry or Palm or Windows CE were a glimmer in their respective fathers’ eye. Newton was special, being the only pen-based organizer that didn’t suck. In announcing it, Apple’s then-CEO John Sculley coined a new term: “personal digital assistant.” In fact, Newton was quite a capable assistant, it inspired third-party software development, and it sold lots of units. Plus, they were indisputably cool. The iPhone bears a not-so obvious resemblance to Newton, one that begs comparison. I think Newton is the obvious progenitor of iPhone, from its clever form factor, to the touch screen interface, to the integrated applications and robust operating system.

In corporate branding, as in mythology, names have ineffable power. Apple fans will recognize this interplay in the company’s product names. When Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started selling computers in that famous garage, their logo was Sir Isaac Newton sitting under a tree, an apple falling from above. “Macintosh” is a variety of apple and the name of its most successful product. And “Newton” pays homage to Sir Isaac. Given the importance of names, the moniker Apple has chosen for this new device seems woefully inadequate.

When I finally do buy an iPhone, I can’t imagine using it without recalling a product that arrived well before its time, to a market that wasn’t quite ready for the connectivity, communication, and collaboration it would bring. So when I do get one, I think I’ll simply call it Newton.

The Halloween Safety Guide
offers tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents.

American Greetings
has e-cards you can send to friends and family this Halloween, and throughout the year.

During the 9th Century, the Christian church created (though some would say “co-opted”) a festival on November 1, one that celebrated the lives of saints,—Christian ancestors who had lived especially holy lives in devotion to God. Dubbed “All Saints’ Day,” this new holy day (or “holiday”) was also known as “All Hallows’ Day” (Hallow being another word for holy folk. Often, holiday feasts lasted more than a single day, so the evening before the holiday became part of it. Hence, “Christmas Eve” accompanied Christmas Day, and All Saints’ Day was preceded by “All Hallows’ Eve,” which eventually became simply Hallowe’en.

By the time the church established All Saints’ Day on November 1, the people had become Christians. However, many of the Celtic customs survived from their pagan traditions. As a result, people incorporated the old pagan customs into their observances of the Christian holy day. For example, many would leave a lantern or candle burning in the window of the home, so that the dead could find their way home for the night to impart their secrets to the living. Others would leave food out for their ancestors, so that they would be nourished upon their arrival at the family hearth. My mother recalls a moment from her own childhood, when her family food on the hearth and table before going to bed. The belief persisted that the living and the dead can visit with one other at this season.

Halloween is celebrated in many different ways today, having borrowed from many different cultures elements of their distinctive values, beliefs, and customs. Particularly in the United States, the holiday has devolved from its spiritual significance, becoming largely a day of secular festivity and costumed parties. Children go around trick-or-treating, and it’s fun and games all around.

I can’t help but think we’ve lost some of the magic and the wonder our ancestors felt, the deep mystery of this seasonal change. The abundance of summer gives way to the cold dearth of winter. Vegetation dies and with it, the crops. Inland streams and rivers freeze solid. Many creatures slip into a deep sleep, mimicking in hibernation the finality of death. Even daylight is abbreviated, robbing us of precious sunlight. To the ancients, it must have seemed as if natural law was suspended each year. In their myths we are reminded that our existence is precarious, dependent upon delicate balances we would do well to honor.

Personally, I reflect at this time of year on my dependence upon God for what He gives. The seasonal change reminds me of His love and provision, and of how precarious my existence really is. Modernity tempts me to overlook Providence. Modern inventions provide creature comforts. Clever technology affords me protection from the elements and the very nature of want. Supply lines bring food to sustain us all winter long. We insulate our homes from the cold and adjust temperature and humidity to suit individual taste. Our ancestors would think us gods for the control we exert over our environment. But to think ourselves gods would demonstrate hubris and arrogance. We live under the mercy of God, and we would do well to remember that.

Don’t get me wrong—I like the comforts and conveniences of modern life. I just recognize that comfort is a sweet distraction from the perspective of our ancestors. The Celts understood that their existence was fragile, and this is reflected in their rituals and customs. The medieval Church understood that the celebration of life extended beyond this world into the afterlife, that we could connect with it in the here and now. I believe that we can all benefit from this perspective, to observe that we are creatures influenced mightily by prayer and magic, and that we can recapture the understanding that, despite our technology and prosperity, we continue to exist under the benevolent hand of the Almighty, and we are dependent upon his provision.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports annual figures on U.S. trade with China.

This About.com article explains factors behind the U.S.-China trade imbalance.

The Institue for International Economics spells out the U.S.-China balance sheet.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports to the record 2005 U.S. trade deficit.

CFO Magazine's business perspective on trade between the U.S. and China.

The L.A. Times reports on the International Monetary Fund’s assessment of the U.S. trade deficit.

The Washington Post profiles an American importer and an Asian exporter.

CNN explains how Washington’s partially to blame in its trade deficit with Beijing.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provides an excellent, if slightly dated, background on the underlying factors.

The China Daily News offers the Chinese perspective.

One episode that really spoke to me focused on a young man, who once worked as a computer programmer in the United States. Having lost his job to an outsourcing company in India, “Chris” accepts the challenge of living with an Indian family in Bangalore for a month, during which he tries to gain employment in his chosen profession.

Chris is surprised to find that he lacks the local-industry experience to qualify for a programmer job, so he reluctantly accepts a job in a call center, where dozens of Indian nationals answer customer service calls from customers of U.S.-based companies. Before he gets started, he has to attend classes where his fellow workers learn to speak with an American accent, master frequently asked questions, and generally providing the illusion that callers have reached a call center based in a U.S. city.

Despite the excellent production values, this episode really upset me. I am just one example of an American worker whose job was once sold out by an American corporation, so you’ll forgive me if I have a skewed point of view. But even if I am biased, foreign outsourcing is bad for America, and that's bad for the world.

American companies claim they are just trying to remain competitive by controlling their labor costs. But I would argue that for every American worker who loses a job, the economy loses a consumer. And that’s simply not sustainable.

Another reason to oppose foreign outsourcing is that workers in less developed countries have little or no protection under fair labor laws. Labor standards here in the U.S. and other industrialized nations have evolved over centuries, and the labor movement has resulted in a set of expectations we have come to expect from employers. These include laws against practices that are tantamount to indentured servitude or slavery. Those values come at a price, one that has been absorbed into our cost of doing business. To allow foreign workers to labor under inequitable conditions is to endorse a system of oppression and to profit from it.

When U.S. firms send their factories, call centers, and other operations outside the U.S., they commit a form of treason that threatens to upset our way of life. In justifying such exports, corporations say they are simply getting a better deal on labor, an arrangement that allows them to remain competitive. But in reality, they hurt the American worker, whose taxes finance the system of government under which those companies enjoy protection and security. If not for American taxpayers, those corporations could not exist. After all, the American worker cannot possibly compete with foreign workers, who live under an inherently cheaper cost of living.

I sympathize with foreign companies’ desire to compete with American firms. However, we cannot continue to pretend that it’s a global marketplace. The trade imbalance between cheap labor/cheap products/abusive labor practice nations and the U.S. is compelling. China stands out as the America’s worst trade partner. We import more than $200 billion dollars’ worth of goods from China than export every year. All told, Chinese goods account for about 26% of the U.S. trade deficit. The myth of a global marketplace is a convenient lie, one that sells out our own nation's workforce to build up another’s.

This deficit is not limited to an imbalance of commerce. Rather than exporting the ideals and values that made America strong, we are importing the values of regimes that dismantle the individual rights. By rewarding firms that export jobs, factories, and industries abroad, the U.S. government betrays contempt for its people. Inequitable trade erodes the value of the American dollar, the dignity of American workers, and the innovation of their spirit. We deceive ourselves to believe it will stop there; for as the U.S. goes, so goes the world.

Every day soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coasties sacrifice so that we may enjoy the privileges of liberty, and they ask nothing in return. No one worthy of the uniform wears it for financial gain or personal glory. They wear it because they believe in something bigger than themselves. It is the idea behind the great experiment that is America. When troops say they love their country, it is not mere politics or institutions they hold dear. When troops salute the flag, it is not mere fabric dyed red, white, and blue; it is the values behind the symbol, values for which they fight and sometimes die to defend.

To honor veterans is not the same as advocating war. Surely, we can stand for peace and still support veterans. Those who are among us we can affirm personally. For those who have passed, we can honor their memory. For me, the whole point of dedicating a single day to their memory is simply a call to pause, acknowledge, and come away a little more appreciative.

May God’s blessings keep you this Memorial Day, and may He guide us all along toward lasting peace.

Nuba Vision is a free newsletter for justice and democracy in Sudan.

Amnesty International’s coverage of the 2003 arrest, detention, and torture of Nuba advocates

Meyer describes the Nuba’s response to the threat of famine and military assault by the Sudanese armies in the area, who in an effort to conquer have threatened the very existance of the tribe, who pose no threat to them. Their offense is simply a desire to continue in their traditional way of life.

The plight of the Nuba is just another example of that faced by so many isolated, indigenous peoples around the world, people virtually invisible to encroaching societies, who stand in the way of so-called “civilization.” What is happening in Sudan is, in part, similar to the persecution of Native Americans and Australian Aborigines: one culture imposing itself upon another, often displacing it or obliterating it in the process.

Who can speak for a people in danger of losing everything in the face of tyrrany? If I may paraphrase Mr. Meyer: “Their very invisibility gives the perpetrators a free hand.” The persecution of the Nuba is entirely possible in a world that is largely ignorant of their existance. These human rights atrocities must be opposed by so-called civilized nations. We cannot stand by and do nothing, for the story of the Nuba is common to all times and places, to many peoples. Genocide is murder not only of individuals, but of an entire culture.

Though we may feel helpless to stop it, we are not powerless. Take action right where you are. Don't focus on what you cannot do. Begin by doing one thing today, a simple but important thing: Call or write to your elected officials about the Nuba, and the larger issues in Sudan. Hold your government and industry responsible for the choices they make that lead to land-grabs and instability, to economic and political gambits that threaten the safety of ordinary people.

Posterity will know us by our actions and our failure to act, and our descendants will rightly condemn us for not defending those who cannot defend themselves. It is a moral choice to speak, to act, to advocate for any person who is victimized, much more so an entire people. Both as individuals and as a society, we cannot limit our outrage to those moments when our own political or economic interests are threatened. To make the moral choice means to be blind to such extenuating circumstances; it demands that we face the unspeakable horror, to see it through eyes of compassion and justice; we can no loger remain blind.