The big discovery is “the United States is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee its workers any paid vacation or holidays. As a result, 1 in 4 U.S. workers do not receive any paid vacation or paid holidays. The lack of paid vacation and paid holidays in the U.S. is particularly acute for lower-wage and part-time workers, and for employees of small businesses.”

What does it say about American culture, a culture of workaholics or what? Do we really work harder and longer but enjoy less than Europeans? Sounds like Americans are more like merry-go-around money-generated beings. So pathetic! At best for the poor only.

See the original article, “European Economic and Employment Policy Brief,” http://www.etui.org/research/Media/Files/EEEPB/2007/3-2007

Their positions are:
Down with Obama’s healthcare reform
Down with big government
Down with federal spending
Down with anything seemingly un-American
Down with almost anything the president proposes and represents…

The funny thing is we never see such a huge gathering when billions of dollars went down into war efforts like the two wars waged by Bush. Guess money spent killing Iraqis and others were worthwhile.

Obama has demonstrated the greatest political courage to fight for public welfare at the risk of losing the chance of winning second term of presidency. He gives full energy to causes that he believes, even if it could mean political suicide. That was a rarity in politics.

One salient redeeming feature of American society is its openness, allowing its door widely open to everybody around the world who are willing to give their best to America. That’s why America has garnered most of the Nobel Prizes. That’s why American political stage has the largest non-white representation among white-dominated western nations. It counterbalances the conservative and reactionary forces in American culture. This is the only promise of American society, not the 9/12 Taxpayer March or anything of this nature. Otherwise, America will go downhill at a much faster speed than the Roman Empire.

Leaving the monitor room, I entered a room filled with cancer patients, most of them being senior citizens. A feeling of sadness overwhelmed me as I reflected on the words of the monitor. It is a rather sad reality when you think of the fact that for most people, they work hard all their lives and finally they can afford to retire, a disease like cancer strike them down, rendering them incapable of thinking of anything but how to stay alive.

One might be wondering why people do not retired earlier. Don’t they work hard all their lives and should be able to afford an early retirement? There is no doubt that most Americans work hard. As a matter of fact, it is a known fact that Europeans work less and enjoy more vacation than Americans do. A report from International Labor Organization reveals that Americans worked 1815 hours in 2002 while French 1545, Germans 1,444 for that year.

I can come up with two explanations for this– either most of Americans do not make much for their work or they spend more than their earnings. Considering the material-oriented American culture, I am more gravitated toward the second explanation. That is, Americans, being the most improvident people of all, work hard and spend harder than they are at work, saving nothing but garage trash for their advanced years. It makes zero sense when a man toils his life away for a huge house, a giant car, and other superficial materials, but never has the time, the health and the state of mind to enjoy. It is more like a life of slavery of our own material possessions. How much can you expect of civilization existing on this lifestyle?

For my children and my dear readers, life should not be made up of this endless toil and moil. It got to have some joyful meaning. Work is only a means to an end, whatever the end may be. We will definitely be able to enjoy more of life with early retirement if we can value time more than material possessions.

The same idea was articulated in 9/14/09 posting.

On the one hand, the strong pro-life fundamentalist voices who backed fully behind Bush’s power usurpation give people an impression that these seemingly pious Christians love God-giving lives above anything else, even before their birth.

On the other hand, the majority of the same people have supported wars, the killings in thousands. Their support is indicated by the 4/2003 poll conducted by the Washington Post and ABC News, showing 72% of Americans supporting the Iraq War, despite finding no evidence of chemical or biological weapons. Love of God-giving life and the act of aggression and adoption of the most efficient way of killing innocent lives — all in one people, one culture. All this defines a culture of hypocrisy of the highest degree!

It is equally disturbing to see those against the war were only concerned that the war has not been worth its financial cost, placing money above human life. If the majority of people sincerely value human lives as they claim, they would not have supported the Bush wars or would have stage strong protest against wars as it is. Well, you can say it is un-Christian without war. That’s how we got the word of Crusade. Alas, the practice of hypocrisy makes every killing possible and anything good impossible.

As with LBJ-Vietnam, so down will be Bush-Iraq and Obama-Afghanistan, together with the culture behind them all. Yes, I know how people hate to be told that they are hypocritic, even if it is true. Because nobody likes ear-stinging truth and nobody cares.

P.S. Early this morning, this piece of news came in the air, “The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples.”

This is a confirmation of Obama and a denunciation of his predecessor from international community, a victory for Obama supporters and a slap in the face of his opposers. Now whether or not he will go down in history as one of the great presidents depends on his handling of Bush wars, economy and health care, other matters being totally irrelevant.

I was hoping Chicago would be kicked out and Rio would win when I learned of the President’s appearance in Copenhagen. I thought the trip was an unwise step, even if he felt he had to go for political expedience. I was wondering if he had already known that this trip was so futile, like a waste move in a chess game. If anything, this president is very flexible and resilient. He seems very capable of bouncing back after each faux pas. Probably he had no other choice, politically.

Ability to host the game is like the symbol of a country’s political and economic status and approval rate by world community. It means so much to a country that has never hosted before. It’s like coming of age, being accepted, the kind of feeling that US does not really appreciate.

It is a privilege rewarded by an international organization, which US deserved nothing of this kind. If anything, by denying Chicago, IOC sent a clear message of disapproval of US past behavior, two wars over UN rsolution and environmental records.

OMG, I sound so unpardonly unpatriotic. Oh well, let truth be.

It beats my limited brain to try to understand why people go through such a torture cramming down their necks so many hot dogs. I can never drag myself through this eating process unless my head is absolutely empty and all my brain power has been put off.

I read it somewhere as a true story that some Americans truly believe the only America has 4th of July. This story always shows up in my mind during 4th of July.

By the way, my son came back on 7/3 and will be leaving next Monday. The nephew also came back for the long weekend. The house has been full of life and laughter ever since.

Happily ended a 4th of July Saturday.

First, with money and world-scale fame, he could have made a monumental difference and touched the lives of millions of people; like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (gatesfoundation.org). When you have this sky-high potential to do good for the mankind, it was border-line idiotic to turn away from it.

Instead, he bought in 1987 a 2,800-acre property northwest of Santa Barbara for $14.6 million, naming it Neverland after Peter Pan movie, attracting thousands of children to come and entertain him. Can you think of anything more bizarre than this? Once again, his limited brain power got him into a multi-million-dollar lawsuit for molesting young boys and other indecent behavior issues. How far-away was he from being sane and sensible when he squandered millions like this? Light years away. I cannot think of a single good word for him now. In fact, I am better off keeping all my bad opinions to myself.

Second, it was a great pity to see a cute decent 5-year-old black boy (I saw a very old picture of him) being transformed into a snow-white, long-haired stranger with multiple plastic surgeries.

Third, there was an obvious absence of a wise and sensible adviser or guide who might helped him stay on a normal track. People around him giving him advice and influencing his decision must either have an IQ of a third grader or deliberately lead him to go to his ruins for their own interests. I am sure there are tons of people who were eager to capitalize on his talent.

The list of great pities could be endlessly long and I could write a long posting on this super-star, but I decided against posting every single word of criticism. A lesson heavy enough for all of us to learn!

From then on, I have observed this and found out people always never say NO to your offer. “Can I help you?” a salesperson asks you. “I’m fine” should be the answer instead of “I don’t need your help.”

Another incident, I brought something delicious to the office and told one of my co-workers to try it, “I’m good” was the answer, instead of telling you “I’m not interested” or “No, I don’t want to try.” They don’t want to hurt your feeling by giving you a direct NO. Such a civilized polite answer! From such a considerate heart! Yes or no. I have no explanation.

All these statement — “I’m fine.” “I’m good.” “I’m okay” means NO, or leave me alone, I am good without your bothering me, I don’t want your offer, etc.

More on the language of refinement. Instead of saying the child is stupid, an idiot, a parent describes her retarded child as “mentally challenged”, “mentally handicapped”, having “mental disability”, or an 18-year-old having an IQ of a 5-year-old. So lovely and humanely put it.

I have observed people are very much non-confrontational to each other, another feature of American culture. When they have something unpleasant to say, they choose not to say it in front of you. As soon as you are out of sight, the behind-back talk or gossip begins. Passive aggressiveness, a rampant practice from some over-fertile minds.

After being in this land for 1/4 of a century, I cannot say I have got used to it and become part of the practice. I can say I am comfortable with non-face-to-face confrontation. Without realizing it, putting on a polite and happy mask has become my second nature.

Don’t wanna be an American idiot
Don’t want a nation under the new media
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America

[refrain]
Welcome to a new kind of tension
All across the alien nation
Where everything isn’t meant to be okay
Television dreams of tomorrow
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow
For that’s enough to argue

Well maybe I’m the faggot America
I’m not a part of a redneck agenda
Now everybody do the propaganda
And sing along to the age of paranoia

[refrain]
Don’t want to be an American idiot
One nation controlled by the media
Information age of hysteria
It’s going out to idiot America.

[refrain]

Thus ends the song of idiot America or American idiot and the day of a happy idiot.

When you expect people to become sweet and mellow, reconciled with the world, as they reach age 88 and are ready to say goodbye, unfortunately not with this one who has harbored a lifelong hatred against Jews, blacks and any non-white beings.

When we chased madly for terrorists aboard, we expect least hate-crime terrorists dangerously living among us — anti-abortion (George Tiller), anti-gay (Matthew Shepard), anti-nonwhite, and who-knows-what-else. It is so disturbing to see what people, even at this age, would do simply because they believe the world is wrong from their perspective. Once again, never under-estimate the power of belief.

This incident often leads me to think about the assumption that our actions and behavior are all driven and controlled by our free will, at least that’s what we like to believe. Nobody wants to admit that they are subject of herd mentality or herd behavior. “I am my own master. I do what I want to. I don’t do it because everybody else does it.” I can even hear people protest like this.

In fact, that free will is a pure illusion. Every time I hear people say — It is cool. It is supposed to look like this. You look dorky. — I say to myself, who determine what is cool or what is not? Why do people allow themselves to be the slaves of the group opinion? Why do people do what those around them do, like smoking and drinking, regardless of their damaging effect? Why don’t people follow their own style instead of adapting themselves according to the fashion? I often challenge my daughter with these questions. What about those pants that shamelessly show to the world part of their butt crack, that most of the pretty girls wear? It’s so cool, so sad. Why?

Ever think of this?

What actually happened is not any claim of pro-life but the claim for your life if you don’t listen. If you don’t live by their rule, they will terminate your life. How dreadfully absurd and perverted!

Pro-lifers had been threatened Tiller’s life all the time. He must be a rare courageous fighter not to change his career! Can’t we go by the simple rule — live and let live? Can’t we be more tolerant? Guess not.

Finally, imagine what his family has to go through now!

The Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, with these equally exciting words:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
To some Americans, the words of Emma Lazarus, 1883.

So nicely put at that time. Yet, the year before that, this country of immigrants witnessed for the first time in its history the passing of The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the very first time that a legal act was so flagrantly named and targeted at one single ethnic group. Today, this group becomes one of the most highly educated groups in the country, thanks to the long-cherished Chinese tradition on education and hard-working. My son told me Asians makes up one-third of student body at MIT and Harvard, huge one considering they only make up four percent of the total population.

So much progress and so much have accomplished, guided by the dream, the promise and the hope of equality, freedom and democracy, since the days of the first uttering of those unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. This is the best part of America.

I have told my children that history, more than anything else, always makes us appreciate what we are today, put us in a broad perspective, raise us above and fills us with hope and dream when we face today’s challenge and beyond. No matter what you will engage in, grab a book of history and read… whenever you have a moment.

OMG. Today is the first day of the last month before half of 2009 is gone. Time’s zooming away.

You see, your IQ doesn’t define you. Your salary doesn’t define you. Likewise, your level of fitness, your current career position, and your number of friends don’t define who you are either.

Rather, greatness does exist within you. Incredible ability is there, just waiting to be tapped. You’re on the cusp of realizing fantastic achievements. And it’s all within your mind … and it’s all within your reach!

So the question has never been ‘Do you have the skills, the talent, and the ability to be great?’ The question is … ‘How will you begin to reveal your greatness RIGHT NOW?’
— ”

What followed is asking you to buy something from them. What interests me is “multiple degrees lining your office walls.” It brings up what I often see in doctor’s office. Very often, I ask myself, “Why do you hang them up there? Just for people to see how old you are when they see your college graduation year is 1969 or how young and inexperienced you are when your date is 2009? We all know that degrees mean no more than your past effort and your major. It is our daily behavior and interactions with people that most thoroughly reveal us.

I learn that health care is one of the most undefined hierarchical fields all because of “multiple degrees lining your office walls,” with doctors’ parading most — four-year college degree, four-year medical school degree, three-year resident certificate, three-year fellowship certificate, board exam certification, and so on… A person with a RN title can act like 100% snobby highbrow. I have some RN being kind enough to enlighten me with a high-pitch voice, “Education is very important. You should at least have high school degree.” Indeed, without bragging around, I am considered a high school dropout. Worse than this, that person’s behavior betrays her as even less schooled than a middle-schooler.

Health care field is also the place where passive-aggressiveness is most practiced. Being there and having experienced it, now I know why. What’s my point of knowing it all? Forget your environment if it is negative, find the gift and the greatness within you, without spending a dime if you can. Enjoy this last beautiful May Saturday.

With this president, we are expecting epochmaking event everyday, not exactly. Physics Nobel Prize winner Steven Chu, an Asian American, the first of its kind for this position, was confirmed as his energy secretary early this year.

If the president looks for the really brilliant with empathy, look for them among Asian Americans. I know many Asian Americans go into law practice. The day will not be far away when the first Asian American will get nominated for the highest court of the land. How exciting, well, the thought of it!

When I first arrived in America, Waco, TX to be exact, a kind-hearted Christian lady tried to show me how to eat apples. Indeed, people from Beijing have no idea how to eat apples. Trust me some readers truly believe it. She was such a darling.

Also in Waco, Texas, I had to call a manager to get a meager service from two southern girls. They always made me think of Gone with the Wind. Everything, brain and bread, seems to be gone except their southern pride.

Once I had an interesting conversation with an extremely nice American lady. After that, she thought I was hugely “complimented” when she told me, “You are so Americanized” without asking me if I ever wanted to be Americanized. Nice people like her simply take for granted that every foreigner wants to be Americanized or consider it a bliss to be Americanized. Such assumption is like a sweet dream in a wrong time or rubbing my back where it does not need rubbing.

To be sure, I have been so much blessed by ever meeting people of great heart and kind intention, filling my heart with fuzzy warmth. Still, I would think it takes some intelligence to recognize the intelligence in people. And this intelligence is so sorely missing.

Who could expect Iowa becomes the first Midwestern state and the third state to legalize same-sex marriage, after two New England states? This is surprising when you expect coastal states to be the bellwether or less provincial to first legalize gay marriage. Or, if it ever happens, it should be one of the more advanced European countries.

What difference does it make to both sides? I am not sure as I have not done any reading on it. Yet, I know it will certainly have impact on the children living in such a household. A lesbian couple gave an account of their effort to find a daycare for their child. I don’t remember where the child came from, though. I only remember when the daycare teacher was asked something like this — suppose the children were asked to talk about his or her family in a group, would you allow my child talk about his family? — the answer is no. “Your child will not join the group. He will sit by himself.” Because legally this child does not have a family defined by law and thus is not allowed to talk nonsense. Talk about discrimination! So fair to the child. This happened in Iowa.

Now, the teacher cannot exclude this child from talking about his version of family, recognized by law at least. Hurray for tolerating diversity. Well, what will happen in reality? I don’t know. And no one can guarantee there will not be another Matthew Shepard or another hate crime. So much for the progress in human civilization, tolerance, mutual acceptance and peaceful co-existence. Dream on.

This number is greatly dwarfed by the number the Iraq Body Count organization provides — between 91,466 and 99,861 lives lost. And we see no end of its increase. All men are created equal and every life has its intrinsic value — American or non-American life.

Even with this conservative count, I am already choked with sadness, seeing with my heart thousands of families crying over the loss of their loved ones, too ugly to describe and too horrified to put myself in their position.

Ever since the killing started with the war, I have been troubled with confirming the existence of justice of morality. To be sure, it goes without saying that it is morally wrong to kill and hence we expect justice to be done regarding the morality of our action, that is, reward us if our action is moral while punishing us if otherwise. With such a large scale of murdering caused by the war, surpassed only by Hitler and WW II Japanese, do we ever see justice this time? Or is there a justice at all? Puzzled and confused, at the same time, I feel depressingly hopeless when I imagine myself living in that beautiful ancient land of Baghdad, where I read so much from my youth day — stories from Arabian Nights.

Yes, I don’t have to imagine and I am too numb to feel the pain of their loss. I wish.

I said to my daughter, “Things like these seldom get my attention. Because I am too busy to be bothered with such a trivial.” My daughter told me something like this, “You can make some non-committal comments, without hurting anybody, but do not shrug it off as if you are superior, so above small talks. If you do, you will be isolated. And people will not talk to you.”

Make sense. What my daughter said reminds me of a Chinese saying. It goes like this “A pond will be void of fish if the water in it is too clean. A man will be friendless if he is too smart (or calculating).” I am sure she has not learned of this saying, but she certainly knows how to teach her mom to do in Rome as Romans do, on the surface at least, so that people can co-exist peacefully and happily ever after, if that’s one of the ways to keep your job during the season of downsizing.

P.S. I used to tell my children, if you have nothing good to say, say nothing. Now she is telling me to say something either good or bad. It is up to me to figure out what that means. What a challenge!

To be fair, children are a lot more respected as individuals in America than in China. I learned that some Chinese teachers make improper judgements of the students on their class weblogs, commenting some are smart or not so smart without being anonymous. Corporal punishment is still practiced in some parts of Chinese schools, where the belief “Spare the rod, spoil the child” is widely held true. Those teachers have no idea what defamation or libel means.

Parents often act so naturally in a disrespectful manner. e.g. at gathering with friends, instead of talking with the children, many Chinese enjoy talking about them right in front of them. Ouch, it hurts, that is, hurt their self-respect. Some parents even cannot understand how it can hurt the children.

To be sure, Chinese parents on the average devote more time, energy and money to the welfare and education of their youngsters, the level of this devotion is not matched among American parents. It is normal for a Chinese kid to have more than two extra-curriculum activities. Imagine the cost of all the educational investment.

Yet, this level of devotion is not good all the time. Some Chinese parents view their children more as their private property than individual human beings with their own wills, to the extent that the parents make decisions for the children without even consulting the children.

An example is given by one of the relatives coming to our house. The boy was 23 years old when his parents and his uncle decided that he came to study here. This results in a marked missing of responsibility and independence on the part of the children, well, adult children, enjoying a prolonged childhood into 20s or even 30s.

The world would be really bright if we can magically combine the strengths of the two cultures.