WHO BUILT WHAT ON LABOR DAY?

The remarks of Elizabeth Warren, made last year,who is running for the Office of Senator for Massachusetts, seem especially appropriate for Labor Day 2012.

"There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own-nobody !" she said. "You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear: You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for; you hired workers the rest of us paid to educate; you all were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for...

"You built a factory, and it turned into something terrific or a great idea? God bless. Keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is, you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next next kid who comes along."

A NEW MOVEMENT UNDERWAY?

Here, around the country and the world, nature has played topsy-turvy with the weather. Lack of rain has turned the Mid West into a dust bowl killing crops and obliterating streams and rivers. Even the great Mississippi has been reduced to a dusty "road" which has curtailed river traffic and commerce. How do we deal with it?

Some people in St. Louis have come up with the solution to stop human and natural abuse of the environment.

On one of the hottest, three digit days this summer, they organized "The World Naked Bike Ride." People were invited to turn off the air conditioners, and "come as bare as they dared to protest our dependence on oil." Some decorated their bikes. Some wore outrageous hats. All looked as if they were having a good time.

As serious as environmental concerns are, it did seem to me these folks may be onto something. Maybe "The World Naked Bike Ride" could really take hold.

ANATOLIA, ROOTS OF LANGUAGE?

Language and what influences it has always fascinated me. I have always wondered how infants learned to talk and understand words in many different tongues. I know there is scientific, environmental and biological theory about how children's senses are awakened, but where did the language come from?

The New York Times, August 24, reports that a new attempt is being made to prove that much of the origin of Indo-European languages originated from Anatolia, in modern-day Turkey. Yet another Study places the origin of language in the steppes of modern day Ukraine and Russia, North of the Red Sea. Each Study reflects geographical and cultural character of the area.

I was intrigued by both theories though neither really explained how children are able to master more than one, sometimes many languages from around the world while even English sometimes defeats me.

MIDDLE EAST DILEMMA: COMMENTARY

The Middle East Dilemma reminds me of what families go through when a distant cherished member becomes ill. It is often difficult to make a decision about what should be done.

Here in America, families and friends are often unable to discuss reasonably and without rancor the stalled peace initiative between Israelis and Palestinians. Family members become accusatory, questioning legitimate concerns and disparaging others about what to do next.

Unlike my fictional example of what happens when a distant beloved family member becomes ill, the Israeli Palestinian dilemma is real, yet in many ways it is distance and experiences that separate our opinions about how to proceed.

One thing I am sure of, calculated political rhetoric helps neither nations or people when less than constructive behavior is exhibited. It does seem unsavory and destructive to me when politicians use such a situation as fodder for their election.