Shared Power?

On 9/13,a deal was struck that would allow President Mugabe to keep power but the opposing party inZimbabwe would be granted more positions of power.

I am not really sure what this will do. It seems like Mugabe has been the non-officially-recognized Dictator of Zimbabwe for awhile now. How is putting the opposition party in seats of power going to change what a dictator does?

What exactly will this do for the economy? To enhance the ability to help those who need food and medical care? I was interested in seeing what others would say about this in the press. Widespread caution among commentators over how this will fare was the overwhelming response. Exactly how quickly the deal could end the crisis or persuade Western powers - deeply opposed to Mugabe - to step in with massive financial support to aid recovery?

There is still much to be done but I am not sure this is the right next step. Mbeki is next it seems....

Whatever Happened to Visionary Leadership

Looking at the landscape of Africa, I think we see a dearth of leaderhip to say the least. Non-profit organizations, usually groups from outside the continent, have taken the lead in distributing food, medicine and other essentials of life.

This got me thinking about what leadership truly is. At one point, it was a visionary person who had an idea that somehow, someway people believed in. The common practice of leadership is the leader convenes a group, gathers ideas from the group and lets the group set the course. Is that really leadership?

If I remember my research correctly, humans in a group score six points lower on intelligence tests than individuals. Does group think dumb down ideas?

In my experience, it does.

Visionary leaders needed. Does anyone have a job description?

A New Hockey Mom Sheriff is in Town

I was interested to see what Sarah Palin was going to say last night. While I missed some of the best lines of the night walking the dogs, I think she proved herself to be a formidable force in the McCain campaign. I chuckled out loud a few times and thought she made some good points.

Unfortunately, some of her good points could be pointed directly back at her. Especially her criticism of Obama as a person who doesn't have the experience to lead.

What did everyone else think? Did you like her or her ideas better?

Marriage and Bristol Palin

First and foremost, I want to say that I am a big fan of marriage. After getting married this past February, I cannot imagine my life without being married to Marybeth. She is patient, kind and caring (she had to be to, in her words, "hitch her wagon to my star". I am not saying marriage is easy but it is totally worth it!

Reading the media coverage about Bristol Palin's pregnancy, I don't want to concentrate on her pregnancy because well, that is already done. What bothered me was Sarah Palin announcing that Bristol and the boyfriend(Levi?) would be getting married. I didn't read a date announced on that though.

What?

While the birth of a child is a wonderful event no matter the circumstance that surrounds the birth, a child, at least in my opinion, is NOT a good enough reason to get married especially at age 17!

Two of my friends were seriously dating and she became pregnant. He proposed and she said no because she wanted to make sure he was going to be faithful to her before she would get married. I think she had the right idea.

I hope Bristol Palin gets married because she loves her boyfriend not because of being pregnant. Marriage is wonderful and difficult and should be entered into soberly not as a reaction.

The Unintended Consequences of Zimbabwe

I read an article today about the number of sex workers skyrocketing in the countries around Zimbabwe. The reason why this is happening is because citizens in Zimbabwe are leaving their country and moving to the surrounding countries where they have trouble finding a job. When they have trouble finding a job, becoming a sex worker becomes one of the very few options available to them.

I wonder if the Mugabe regime understands how many men, women and children have had their lives uprooted and changed (not always for the better) by their actions. And what the ramifications of the changes in these lives will be for the next generations.

I still have hope for Zimbabwe. Call me a delusional optimist...my wife does!

Double Jeopardy?

I promise I will get back to Africa soon....

In the American legal system, you cannot try someone twice for the same crime. And on that note..

I heard last night that Hilary Clinton will be nominated for President by the Democratic Party even though Obama will accept the party's nomination.

Shouldn't we all be spared the double jeopardy?

And yes I do know that the Democratic Party is honoring her for winning over 20 primaries but if you are trying to win an election, shouldn't the focus be on your candidate?

If the Democrats want to win this election, put your attention solely on Obama and his platform. (Have we really heard that yet? From either candidate?) As we all saw in the last election, just attacking the other candidate is not good enough.

Not Exactly Africa....

Many moons ago when I was in college, I walked into one of my friend's room. Greg "Ox" Haigh and Allen Borden looked at me to continue their discussion asking: "Who do you think is the better catcher Carlton Fisk or Johnny Bench?" Anyone who knows me knows I love baseball and can argue the stats of the game for hours upon end.

I responded "Wow, I don't know which one is better." Ox looked at me and said "That is worse than choosing Johnny Bench". We know who he thought was the better catcher....

Barack Obama did exactly the same thing in his responses at Saddleback Church. For those of you who missed the news, McCain and Obama were invited to come to Saddleback Church and the pastor there, Rick Warren who is a popular author, asked them questions. The interviews were back to back, not at the same time.

One question was essentially: when does a fetus become a baby? McCain immediatey said upon conception. Obama's response was troubling to me. He said that this answer was "above his paygrade".

That answer seemed more like a dodgeball to me than an actual answer. And if Obama does become president, what else would be above his paygrade?

Granted this would not be on the same level as Bench vs. Fisk, but then what is?

For the first time in this election, I am leaning toward one side. That side is the man who answered the question not the one who was concerned that an answer to a difficult issue is above his paygrade.