Don't Be an Ostrich

Don't Be an Ostrich

During Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, I served as the platoon leader of a communications unit in a Field Artillery Brigade. After a staff meeting, my commander emphasized the importance of understanding the conflict, the events leading to the invasion, and the history of Middle Eastern countries. Although I was already an avid reader, following the Junior Officer reading list and studying history, foreign events, and domestic issues, his advice reinforced the need for a deeper understanding. My library, filled with books on history, sociology, economics, and other subjects, reflected my desire for a deeper understanding of humanity.

I’ve spent much of my adult life single, so reading and attending school became my hobbies. I pursued a double major and two minors, all noteworthy areas of study. However, the more significant point is this: our country faces many concerns, and we cannot live in isolation.

As citizens, it’s our responsibility to understand the causes of problems like weather patterns, environmental issues, health crises, and global conflicts.

We need to understand the complexity of the refugee crisis and how our policies impact both our country and the world. Short-term solutions like deporting undocumented workers fail to address deeper immigration issues. Without practical, long-term immigration policies, the problem will persist.

We must also understand why natural disasters are becoming more frequent and destructive. It is crucial to recognize that infrastructure repairs alone won't solve the issue—long-term solutions are necessary. While they may not offer immediate political victories, short-term fixes often lead to long-term problems.

It doesn’t matter if you believe in climate change. You don’t have to think that mankind is contributing to global warming. You can still understand the need to minimize the impact of oil spills, deforestation, and air and water pollution.

We must comprehend the dangers of allowing Russia to dominate Ukraine’s ports, which would harm not only Ukraine but also Europe and the U.S. This sets a dangerous precedent for other nations to invade their neighbors and seize land.

The drug war has fueled violence and exacerbated poverty both in our country and abroad. At the same time, uncontrolled corporate practices by companies like DuPont and Exxon have devastated the environment, leading to death, disease, and deforestation.

We need to understand how our consumerism has also negatively impacted the environment and the global economy, with trade agreements benefiting us but worsening poverty in places like Mexico and our own country.

We need to stop and think that, for example, overeating isn’t just harmful to our health. It has a social and economic impact on the world economy as large agricultural businesses push out small farmers in our country and other countries.

We should ask ourselves if we need another TV, a new couch, or clothing. We must donate, not just throw away things we no longer need or want. Instead of fixing things, we throw items away and replace them with a newer, shiner item.

We need to understand how a lack of regulations on gun sales has contributed to international gun trafficking. Gun lobbyists believe that a lack of regulations increases profit for gun manufacturers. It's not solely about safeguarding the Second Amendment. It is also crucial to comprehend how and why our country evolved into one where guns have become a central part of our culture.

We need to understand that while lobbying is legal and recognized as a part of the democratic process, there are concerns about the disproportionate influence of wealthy corporations and individuals in our government policies. Corporate lobbyists have played a significant role in contributing to our soaring prison population, the ongoing failure of our drug war, and the dearth of public transportation options such as rapid trains, subways, and commuter trains. They established an atmosphere that permits money laundering within our banking system. Corporations are facilitating the infiltration of dark money into our politics, leaving us uncertain about its source.

Finally, private prisons continue to thrive thanks to policies that ensure they remain full and profitable, often imposing harsher penalties for nonviolent offenses. Understanding these issues is crucial for addressing our country's more profound problems.

I remember when we could depend on the news to report the facts. However, even during this time, biases existed, and the portrayal of events sometimes reflected the perspectives of the predominantly white, male-dominated newsrooms. Issues like the civil rights movement, the women and equal rights movement, the Vietnam War, and Watergate challenged the media's role in maintaining objectivity. News sources are no longer reliable; we must scrutinize non-partisan sources and confirm their factual rating. Finding sources that are as close to biased or unbiased as possible is impossible, but we can help with facts. Facts are facts.

While I understand that not everyone has the time or interest to read and study as I do, we mustn’t rely solely on information from news media or social media platforms like Facebook when understanding our government policies. We need to check the facts using reliable sources. We must stay informed for our own benefit and our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, our communities, our country, and the world. Making informed decisions is essential for creating a better future.