“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It’s people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages.
“As a precaution to ever committing major acts of evil it is our solemn duty never to do what we’re told, this is the only way we can be sure.”
Banksy. Wall and Piece, 2005.
“I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the world. We respect your faith. It’s practiced freely by many millions of Americans and by millions more in countries that America counts as friends. Its teachings are good and peaceful, and those who commit evil in the name of Allah blaspheme the name of Allah.
“The terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to hijack Islam itself.
“The enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends. It is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is a radical network of terrorists and every government that supports them.”
George W. Bush, September 20th, 2001
Just a reminder.
Big Idea #1
What if currency was made out of food? We’ve heard about the gold standard and the silver standard, but those things are only valuable because they say we are.
I vote we use the food standard. More specifically, I’m envisioning something like apples. Maybe kumquats.
The new national currency on the left, the old on the right. Source: BabyCenter.com
Three arguments:
-We’ll never have to worry about stagnant markets again, because your money will rot if you don’t spend it quickly enough.
-There will be less of a tendency to hoard money because, again, your money will rot if you don’t spend it quickly enough.
-It’ll no longer be necessary to cut trees to print money because money really will grow on trees.
Big Idea #2
What if there was a bank that had no fees?
On a more serious note than kumquats, during my time with the Americorps organization City Year, I met a wonderful janitor at the Timberland headquarters. Every time I asked her how she was, she would respond, “I am happy. And you?”
Yet my old boss once told our corps of how every time she received a paycheck, the janitor had to spend $3 to have it cashed — which can amount to a lot when you don’t have a lot.
We hear every day of people having to take new loans to pay off the interest on old loans, maxing out credit cards, or simply not being able to get an account.
So again, what if there was a bank that had no fees? It didn’t charge to cash a check or use an ATM, or issue anything but debit cards so you couldn’t overdraw your account. It wouldn’t give you any interest on your account, nor would it expect any interest on your mortgage or a loan, and would specialize in micro loans. It wouldn’t sell debt, nor invest your money in other companies.
It would be called the National Mattress, since under it the entire nation could comfortably hide their money.
Hampton Beloved Community Team members Robin Thomas, Ryan Ouellette, Spencer Tate, Jeni Foshey, Brittney Cross, and Michelle Harding.
City Year New Hampshire is a non-profit AmeriCorps program designed to provide mentoring for the middle school age group at a time when important lifetime choices most often surface. This year, six City Year members wearing the signature red jackets offer a familiar presence in the halls of Hampton Academy. Although they come from different parts of the country and were strangers when they began working together in September, the common thread connecting them is a desire to pool their efforts in the spirit of community service.
Ryan Ouellette is the team’s Service Leader. His situation is somewhat unique since his hometown is Raymond, but he is responsible for the team members and the planning and leadership days. Other members include Robin Thomas of Ohio.
“I was accepted to college,” Robin said. “I’m deferring for a year just to broaden my horizons,” he said. When Robin attends Stanford University, he will be enrolled in the Navy ROTC there…
“City Year Rocks!” said sixth-grader Dylan McManus. “It’s a fun program that gives you the opportunity to do awesome stuff.”
…Seventh-grader Logan Johnson shared the same feeling about the program and its leaders.
“It’s cool,” Logan said. “They’re cool. It gives you something to do…”
Mike Gravel Speaks at Philips Exeter Academy, in Hampton, NH
Mike Gravel, a Democratic Presidential contender, spoke with students at Exeter Academy in January of 2008, shortly before the New Hampshire Primary Election. I had an opportunity to speak to Senator Gravel about national service:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFz9LEp-csc
More to come!
Call him premature, but former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) has found himself a runningmate. No, he isn’t a few months early… he’s years early!
On Saturday morning at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, Foster’s Daily Democrat photographer John Huff captured 2008 Presidential candidate Huckabee running (Far R) alongside ServeNext member and 2024 Presidential candidate Robin Thomas (Far L)…
…Some quick numbers on the day:
- Thomas and Huckabee finished their 5k in under 30 minutes.
- 8 ServeNext members braved the cold and ran on Saturday morning.
- Huckabee has lost over 100 lbs. since he started running in 2003.
- As of 11/11/2007, 416 people have joined the Thomas for President Facebook group.
- If elected President, Huckabee will expand AmeriCorps by 100,000 members!
Talawanda High School seniors Robin Thomas…and Matt Rupel have been named National Merit Finalists in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program. They now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth a total of approximately $32 million, that will be offered this spring.
Talawanda seniors Robin Thomas and Rosa Hand began their education at the same preschool and soon they will say goodbye at graduation.
Between preschool and high school their paths separated, only to be reunited when they both enrolled at Talawanda High School. Last month, the two were honored during Senior Awards Night.
Thomas was honored with the Alton D. Rudolph Principal’s Service Award. Hand received the Principal’s Leadership Award. Both students exemplify the awards they won.
“She’s done so many things for the school,” Thomas said of Hand’s accomplishments. “She was President of [National Honor Society] this past year…Rosa’s really good at taking charge.”
“Robin is [a] very enthusiastic guy,” Hand said of Thomas’ accomplishments. “He was active in so many clubs at school and was enthusiastic in all of them.”
After four years of high school, Thomas was accepted into Stanford University, but will be deferring for a year to pursue a passion. Thomas has joined AmeriCorps to work in the City Year program.
City Year is a program that unites young people of all backgrounds, ages 17-24, for a year of community service and leadership development…
“Talawanda High School senior Robin Thomas, 17, was elected to Secretary of State at Buckeye Boys State, a nine-day hands-on experience designed to teach young men how the state government operates…
“Founded in 1936, Buckeye Boys State is the largest Boys State program in the nation with an attendance of 1,400 young men annually.”
