Topic: "Problems?" (4)
Frodo, not unlike most of us, is very fond of certain words and phrases, for they often appear in his writings and in his words. "Independently inventing the wheel," is a phrase he often uses to demonstrate the arrogance of those who seem to feel that they are unique in all the world. Frodo, on the other hand, happens to believe that there is no problem confronting man or Hobbit which appears for the first time today. Somewhere, at some time in the more than 10,000 years of upright bipedal locomotion, it has all happened before. That, of course, gives rise to the saying, "He who does not learn from history is bound to repeat it."
In Spain, the government has submitted a plan to fight soaring unemployment (now at 6.1% in the US of A) by shutting the door on foreign workers. The Labor Minister announced this week that the number of work visas granted abroad to workers eager to get low-skill jobs in Spain will "get close to zero." Critics argue that the plan is "mean-spirited and futile." Frodo kept looking to see what words of wisdom some Spanish Lou Dobbs might potentially offer to the controversy. Amid the silence, Frodo did note that Spain borders only Portugal and France, with Morocco staring across the Pillars of Hercules into Europe. Frodo assumes therefore that Moroccco is the source of the Spanish problem.
Frodo wonders what the Spanish word for "wetback" is, when applied to African emigres. If, as most conservatives would note, the government simply refused to legally recognize tempoary workers, then there would have to be a prescription for the subsequent problems to follow. Following in the current American tradition, the Spaniards will probably build a wall, and issue firearms to any citizen demanding the right to defend home and hearth from the infidels.
What is inherent in the Spanish situation is the fact that, since the legislation only addresses "low-skill" jobs, then it must imply that there are "Two Spains." There is a Spain which basks in the good life of a civilized and fruitful society, and there is another Spain in which society fails to deliver on the promise of a happy and productive existence. There is, quite likely, a barrister somewhere in Spain who speaks of this, while seeking a potential political career. He is probably under observation by the Spanish-language version of the "National Enquirer."
There are, of course, many parallels to be drawn in this analogy, and it could very easily be compared to present situations in Great Britain (Turks), Germany (Eastern Europeans), or even China (Sunni Muslims). To add even greater perspective, it is not obstreperous to examine the flow of Chinese into the American West and Arabs into the American South, all for the purpose of constructing railroad beds during the 19th century.
These parallels ought to be providing our leadership with some greater insight into the peaceful reconciliation of problems in today's world. Simply because what we face to day doesn't differ much from that which happened in other places, at other times.
The problem with the past eight years was that nobody took the time, or suffered the indignation, to ask questions. The cowboys in charge were "afraid" to stop and ask directions.
Now what is the difference between a "maverick" and a "cowboy?" Despite "Brokeback Mountain," the answer is not "lipstick." Note, dear reader, that the similarity between the two is much greater than the differences. Neither is noted for operating logically, rather it is as if they were inventing the wheel, for the first time. Let us hope that history does not condemn us to a repetition of the circumstances which have brought us to the very caverns of Mount Doom.
