✽ A Cornish sailor found 24 hungry Pacific Islanders on Kanton Island. He called the UK Coastguard at Falmouth. They called the US Coast Guard in Honolulu to arrange for a food drop. International cooperation. The UK and US have historically shared oversight of the Kanton Atoll which is halfway between Hawaii and Fiji, although it is technically a part of the Republic of Kiribati. ~ link✽ Tell me that we're not experiencing some kind of climate
✽ They're expecting a high turn-out for Monday's presidential election in the Philippines. ~ link
✽ A short history of Arizona's most recent bout of paranoia. ~ link
✽ Sometimes it is not so much about what you say as it is about how you say it.
3 comments:
What's that last item about, "Sometimes it is not so much about what you say as it is about how you say it"? Did you omit a link?
The context is the previous item and the immigration debate. The new Arizona immigration law really doesn't change much in terms of actual police practices. But Hispanics are feeling intimidated because of the rhetoric surrounding it.
If the authorities had a good track record and had worked to develop relationships with the legal immigrants Hispanics would not feel so threatened -- and they wouldn't need to. But because of all the rhetoric it makes them feel like they are under attack.
Thanks. That's what I suspected you might mean.
To add to your point: Another consequence of immigration laws is what the laws say not just to immigrants, but to the majority of citizens. I think part of the role of a leader is to prepare the people for what comes next, to teach the people how to think about it so that the people have the right reactions and do the right thing. When times of stress approach, it's important for leaders to help the people with attitude control: thankfulness and trust in God, so that we're ready to please God with the way we extend grace and hospitality. This is true for both political and religious leaders. Politicians can reap support by painting outsiders as enemies; or they can speak to the majority in a such way as to discourage resentment.
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