Chiune Sugihara May have Saved One in a Thousand Jews

   Who saved the most lifes in history? Who reached out with an act of heroism to rescue the most people from the clutches of death?
   It seems Chiune Sugihara, who you've never heard of, would be somewhere on the list. Since tomorrow marks his birth date, and since he is a most heroic figure, let us pay him tribute this day.
    We mentioned how you've never heard of him? Well, most of his neighbors where he died probably did not know of his legacy in history until a large delegation from around the world showed up at his funeral. Sugihara was said to be virtually unknown in his country, Japan. Nor did the world know much of Sugihara, at least not perhaps until 1985, the year before he died.
   In 1985, Israel bestowed on him its "Righteous Among the Nations" honor, which it has awarded to thousands who rescued Jews from the Holocaust. So, then it is, one of the largest genocides in history, was the backdrop for one very large rescue. It is said 6 million Jews lost their lives in the Holocaust. And, it is said 6,000 lives were saved by Sugihara's heroism. That's one life saved for every thousand lost. The actual number of lives Sugihara saved is not known, with the figure of 6,000 being but one speculation.
   Sugihara served as vice consul for the Empire of Japan to Lithuania during World War II. Horrified at what would happen to the Jews in that country, he used his position to issue thousands of visas to an estimate 6,000 people. With some of these visas going to families, it has been suggested Sugihara might have saved as many as 10,000 lives. Some who received the visas, though, unfortunately, never used them in time to escape the Holocaust.
   Did Sugihara save enough lives to make some kind of top 10 list? I don't know. I know men and women of medicine are credited with saving millions of lives. And -- how's this? -- Sugihara doesn't even top the list of rescuers from the Holocaust. At least one person is credited with saving more. Traian Popovici, the mayor of Cernauti, Romania, is said to have saved 20,000 Jews of Bukovina. Polish diplomat Henryk Slawik is said to have saved 5,000 to 10,000 in Budapest, Hungary. Among others who saved a large number of Jews is Oskar Schindler, he of  the movie Schindler's List. How many did Schindler save -- 1,200 of his Jewish workers?
   Where many lives are endangered, as were in the Holocaust, there becomes a field where many can be saved. So, it was. Those who saved many during the Holocaust perhaps all would rank high on a list of those whose bravery and heroisam have saved the most lives in history.

To be a Great Nation, Study Politics

   So, supposing it is true that if a nation is to be great at science, it should devote more time to studying science than do other nations. Same with basketball, music, computers, or whatever. My thought has been, if you want to be great at whatever endeavor, train your people in the subject. If you practice and train more than your competitors, you probably will be better than your competitors
  (Your thought probably is, No kidding, Einstein. No big revelation there. So, be off with you.)
  Just the same, I will continue the line of thought, and take it to politics. I say, if a nation would be great in how it governs its people, how it treats its citizens, a little training is in order.
  Or, a lot.
   We being a nation that likes to think we, the people, have a hand in government, would we be a better governed nation, would we come up with better public policy, if we trained ourselves, if we studied the issues as a people?
  (I can hear that No-kidding-Einstein thought coming from you, again.)
  If we would be the best-governed people, we would do well to be the most reflective society. If a nation is to be great, it must take time to reflect on what is best for its people. That reflection -- taking time to consider and ponder what is best -- can also be considered a form of training. But, more. That nation must educate its people in the history of the social issues. It must educate them in social sciences. Should we have gun control? Well, what do the studies say of the impact of guns? Should we allow abortion? What are the effects? What are the benefits and what are the losses?
   Now, when people only learn one side of the issue, it limits them. Rather than being in position to be reflective, they are only in position to argue their own side. Better that they learned both sides of the issue.

A Conversation Between Christmas and New Year's

   If Christmas and New Year's could talk, I think I know about how the conversation might go.
   "You know, New Year's, I think there's something I could learn from you."
   "Oh, and what is that, Christmas?"
   "Well, seems to me my day has drifted a bit, from what it really could be."
   "Yes?"
   "Yes. Oh, giving gifts can be fine enough. The thing is, the stress of getting something for everyone, the stress of not having the money to do it, and just that the money element isn't what my day is truly all about got me thinking how I really ought to take a lesson from you."
   "Go on. Exactly what could you learn from me?"
   "Well, if we were to mix the two days together . . ."
   "You mean, take the best of our two days and combine them?"
   "Yes. That's is precisely what I mean."
   "Well, Christmas, what would the day end up being, if they were one and the same? What would you take from New Year's that would make your day a little better?"
   "You've got that New Year's resolution thing, don't you?"
   "Yes."
   "Well, it's just that I was watching this cute little video the other day."
   "Yes."
    "Yes. And, the narrator started off saying something about how some people think my day has become too commercialized."
   "Yes."
   "About then, the actors started fighting over the presents. Chaos right there on the stage."
   "Oh, my!"
   " 'But it doesn't have to be that way' " the narrator cried. 'But it doesn't have to be that way! the narrator pleaded a second time.' "
   "Oh, my! Did they stop fighting over the presents?"
   "They did. Then, they cleared the stage of the cash register. They reset things up. Had the actors come back with a new set of gifts."
    "Yes?"
   "This is where you come in, Father Time."
   "Yes?"
    "This is how I think I could learn from you."
   "Yes?"
   "Yes. You see, in the video, they each went and put a new gift on the table. As they did, they announced their gifts."
   "Yes?"
   " 'This year for Christmas, I'm going to say I'm sorry more,' said the first, placing a nicely wrapped box on the table."
   "Oh! That's a wonderful Christmas present!"
   "This year for Christmas, I'm going to play with my kids more,' " said the next. Then, one after another the actors offered such gifts. 'I'm going to help the old lady next door with her garden,' said one."
   "Wonderful!"
   "Yes. It was wonderful. And, soon the table was full with all these wonderful gifts."
   "But, I don't see what this has to do with me, Christmas. I thought you said you could learn something from me?"
   "Yes! Of course!"
   " 'Yes, of course' what?' "
   "New Year's Day, my friend. You are all about New Year's resolutions. That's the feel-good, do-gooder thing about New Year's. Just like one of my good sides is giving gifts."
   "Yes. I do like it when I can get people to make New Year's resolutions."
   "Yes. Things like resolving to say you're sorry more, and playing with the kids more. And helping the elderly lady next door."
   "Yes, but I'm afraid most of the resolutions on my day don't quite go like that."
   "Resolving to lose 10 pounds can be good. I'm not saying quit resolving to improve yourself. I'm just saying, if we took that part out of your holiday and moved it over to mine, we'd have people resolving to do good for others."
   "Maybe, Christmas, my friend. I could learn a little from you, too. Like you say, it doesn't mean we have to let go of  the resolutions on self-improvement, but we could also make resolutions to help others."
   "Yes. Our two holidays come one after another. It's all the same season. Being so close, we can share in some of what we do."
   "Merry Christmas, then, and happy New Year!"
   "It's a single phrase. We mix our two holidays together, already. What could be more wonderful than mixing them some more?"
   At this point, the conversation between Christmas and New Year's was about to end, when Christmas bowed his head, and quietly said, "New Year's, my old friend, I've one more thought."
   "Yes."
   "I just don't want to go away from this conversation without mentioning Christ."
   "No, of course not!"
   "I mean, it's what my day is all about."
   "Yes!"
   "Well, I like to think we share something there, too."
    "Yes? Well, I suppose we do, if you are thinking what I'm thinking."
    "Yes?"
    "Yes, yes! After all, I number my years. There was 2012 and 2013 and so forth."
   "Yes."
   "And, the idea is that the years commenced from when your Savior was born. It all got its start with the birth of the Savior."
   "The birth of the Savior, then. We really do have that in common."
   "Yes. We share a beginning point."
   "All the more reason to mix our seasons a little more, and to take the best of each fit them together."
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd6d9Qq9Wmk
 

Thinking Must Follow Education

   If a nation would be great, it must be taught how to think. It is not enough, alone, to be educated. Though education and training are key to greatness, thinking must follow that education, or the process will come up short of what it could.
   Isaac Newton acknowledged those who educated him, but it was clear his own thinking allowed him to take that knowledge he gleaned from others and build upon it, as is evidenced by his famous quote, "If I saw further than other men, it was because I stood on the shoulders of giants."
   Accordingly, it can be argued that things that teach the art of thinking should be part of a student's education. It can be argued, for example, that the game of chess should be a standard class. In chess, the student must think ahead, considering possible moves his opponent might make. This game teaches the art of considering different scenarios of what might happen.

How I Would Argue Against Shelby's Decision

   If I were the lawyer, I think I might argue the appeal against Judge Robert J. Shelby's decree on same-sex marriage this way:
   1. By pointing to and driving home the significance of a study by Mark Regnerus. Released in 2012, the study indicated children have been at a disadvantage if raised by parents who at some point have had same-sex encounters. Now, hasn't it always been said that our rights end where another person's nose begins? If we are harming another person, his or her right trumps our right.
    And, who would want to harm a child? It is simple: Regnerus's study does show harm. You can argue, it is not significant harm. You can argue, the study was flawed. You can argue, the disadvantage to the children is not inherent in being raised by parents who have had same-sex, but in the stigma the children face in being raised by them, and that that would change once society accepts same-sex parenting. But, whatever you argue, the study remains. It does show harm. It is recent. It is timely. It is under attack, but anytime someone opposes something, they look for flaws in it. I would review the methodology and explain to the court why it was good, solid, factual study.
   2. The Fourteenth Amendment cannot be considered in a vacuum.  We cannot take the provision that all people deserve the same privileges and immunities and apply it to same-sex marriages and not apply it to anything else. If it applies to same-sex marriages, then it applies to many of our entitlements. Why should one person get a government grant because he or she chooses a life path of college while another very diligent person seeks instead to start a business? If we are not in the business of picking one life style above another, because of the privileges and immunities promise in the Fourteenth Amendment, then that applies to picking work instead of college the same as it applies to picking same-sex marriage instead of heterosexual marriage.
   3. I would argue, there is a difference between saying gays and lesbians do not have the right to live together and saying we are not going to recognize it as a marriage.
   4. I would argue, gays and lesbians should be treated with love and dignity. I would argue, there should be no law that calls for the ridicule of another person. But, there is nothing in Utah's Amendment 3 that calls for mocking or degrading or ridiculing those in same-sex marriages. I would argue that it is this type of discrimination that is wrong, this type of treatment that abridges their rights. That they do not have such things as tax benefits places them in a category with many others, and no one has regarded it as discrimination until this point. Government should be allowed to encourage some life choices, but it should never legislate ridicule. We realize ridiculing is wrong, is a treatment that cannot be institutionalized by government, and we have not taken that path with our Amendment 3.

(Post updated and edited 1-2-14, and 3-28-14)

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/files/utah-ssm.pdf

It is the Industry of its People that makes a Nation Great

   If you would to be a great nation, remember, the most industrious nation wins.
   A week ago, I blog of how if you would be great in science, or medicine, or basketball, or whatever, you should train your people in those things. Common sense, that is. You can't be great at something if you do not prepare to do it well.
   It follows, then, that the lazy nation falls to last. If it is the nation that trains, that prepares, that wins, then it is the nation that busys itself training and preparing. Training and preparing take time. If the citizens are spending too much time watching television or movies, then that is time away from studying and learning, time away from training and preparing.
   Never a great football player was there who didn't practice. Never a great musician who didn't devote time to becoming great.
   The danger of alcohol and drugs to a society? This is one. The danger of TV and movies? They can inspire and lift and those watching can learn creativity through what they watch. But, if watching movies is but a way of passing time, they are not the way to success.
   Idleness is not industry.
   That nation whose people spend time training themselves is the nation that will have the advantage. If the people of that nation train in science, they have chance to be great in science. If they train in soccer, they have chance to be great in soccer. It follows then, that the more citizens who train in various endeavors, the greater will be that nation.
   It is the industry of its people that makes a nation great.

The Peace of the Soldiers, the Miracle of the War

   'Twas 99 years and a day ago that what some refer to as a miracle occurred. Which, means, of course, next Christmas Eve will mark the 100th anniversary of an event very special in American history.
   Soldiers laid down their guns and refused to fight. Peace broke out where war was suppose to be. Here it was Christmas Eve, and these soldiers were expected to be killing each other? It didn't sit well with some of them, so the simply refused to do so, at least for the moment.
   More than that, they ventured from their trenches to meet each other, shake hands, and join in a game of football or soccer or such. They, well, fraternized with the enemy, a thing their commanders were sharp in condemning, of course.
   It is known as the Christmas Miracle, and, perhaps more commonly, the Christmas Truce of 1914. A number of popular songs were inspired by the event, and at least one movie. Perhaps next year, on the 100th anniversary, someone will be wise enough to bring that movie, "Joyeux Noel," to town for a playing. Perhaps, next year, along with all the other music, people will be playing some of the songs. I doubt it, but it would be nice. Notice Garth Brooks sang one of those songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lktY_pDauY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJi41RWaTCs

Here's a cover of that song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWiCs7b_h1M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT0ysO58KXE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRaLGq3F2_4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buJ2DZZHHAI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjXa7DnaGjQ