FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
THE BEACON’s purpose
This website was launched some one-and-a-half decades ago with the aim of presenting articles on international topics that were topical and interesting but also factual and reliable in their content. THE BEACON is intended to be a valuable asset to anyone seeking a balanced view of international issues and concerns; recent international events and international institutions. Now, many years after its initial publication, these aims and intentions remain true to THE BEACON’s purpose.
What has changed?
THE BEACON has not published any new papers or information in the last eight years or so. During that time, the world has moved on through new political dramas; armed conflicts, weather crises and a world-wide pandemic. Or, has it moved on? As the original articles were reviewed for this new website design, it is felt that many of our original articles remain relevant to anyone wanting information or an idea of past events that have lead to the present problems.
Some of the retained articles are informational such as what ‘rule of law’ actually refers to, and when one hears of ‘international law’ is it referring to public or private international law? How is international law enforced? Other original articles are historical such as what happened with the chemical weapons Syria had and did they ever sign the Chemical Weapons Convention? Has Israel ever charged any of their military leaders for war crimes in past wars/conflicts with Hamas?
Personally for The Beacon, the current (and past) Author ran out of time to write or read others’ articles. The Beacon actually disappeared to even the Author’s surprise when the wonderful man hosting it over the years (from New Zealand) closed it down. The new host and IT web designer has now strongly suggested that the time has come for a redesign so here it is (thank you, Dan!).
Basically, there are still things to say so we are starting up once again on a new journey. Please join us as we move forward.
Why The Beacon continues to be Relevant.
As discussed above, many of the articles that remain on THE BEACON’s website were written more than ten years ago. They continue to remain relevant because they provide clarity and insight as to why many issues and problems continue today. They are not new problems or concerns.
These articles and the new ones being written are listed on the ARTICLE list. We will continue to expand the BOOKS section in the future. The last section is the extensive LINKS section. It will be checked regularly to ensure each link is working although a 100% success rate can be elusive.
As a final word, we very much hope that you continue to visit THE BEACON for reliable information and recommendations. We are here solely to present information and clarify issues for everyone who has the curiosity and desire to learn more about the world and what is happening in it.
The View From Here
Where to start; what to say after only some 16 months into a 48-month sentence for the United States? Donald J. Trump’s return to presidency started with a bang and a flurry of Executive Orders by which he runs the country. Congress has been so effectively silenced in the face of the Executive Branch’s onslaught that I am wondering if they should even be paid for doing little or nothing for the country (or for their constituents). There are and have been multiple attacks and insults issued from President Trump’s lips (or fingers for his social media account) to individuals, to states, to allies, to countries presently under attack by Russia, by Israel and by the United States. For a lawyer who cares about the law and all its positive aspects including oversight and checks and balances, it’s a difficult time. These protective measures are needed in a democracy to ensure that those with money and power are not above the law. They protect individuals, consumers, taxpayers and small businesses against overreaching, market trading using insider information, fraud and corruption. But, they have been seriously weakened by the Trump government. These are the days that I wonder if we, that is, the ‘We’ that is the country, will survive? With Congress not stepping forward to use its powers to object to the injustices, it seems that it is down to we, the people. The time is now for standing up for the United States and its founding document, the United States Constitution.
In thinking about our present president’s personality, his actions in the past months, and his choice of vice president and Cabinet members,
two things have come to mind. The first comes after finding my psychology notes on the traits of sociopaths and psychopaths. This topic will be discussed in a later article. The other thing I’ve been reminded of by Donald Trump’s actions is a story from Greek mythology called, “Pandora’s Box”. My memory of it was only that certain dark, negative things came out of this box.
Pandora’s Box was a gift from Zeus, the King of Gods, given to Pandora, the first mortal female. It wasn’t a gift but a curse to mankind who had been given ‘fire’ by another god, the brother of Pandora’s husband. The box was filled with the evils and miseries of the human condition in the world. I think the reason I’m reminded of Pandora’s Box now is because of what President Trump has inflicted not only on the United States but also on the World (USAid comes to mind.
Although Pandora is warned not to open the box, her curiosity (given to her by Zeus’s wife) is too strong. When Pandora opens the Box, all these evils and miseries fly out:
– Greed
– Envy
– Hatred
– Pain
– Disease
– Hunger
– Poverty
– War
– Death
I believe I can give examples for each of these evils as instigated by Donald Trump or by those around him in the past months. To these, I would also add “Vengeance” and “Fear” to our “Trump Box” while equating corruption with “Greed”.
The most important thing in Pandora’s Box was added later, at the bottom. This is HOPE. Hope which enables us mere mortals to endure in the face of hardship while seeking a better future. It is true that we cannot immediately control everything that happens to us or to our country but we each have something we can do to change the now into a better future. There has been much in the news this past winter about how Minnesota residents reacted to thousands of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agents by supporting their neighbors when they were being mistreated, even killed, by these federal agents. What can you do if you disagree with something the Federal Government is doing? Here are some thoughts: go on-line for reliable sources; sign and forward petitions; verbalize your views to others; write your Congressional representatives to complain or praise; go to coffee to chat; talk to your friends or relatives who support your thinking and then talk to those who don’t agree; write the US president; contribute to state candidates who are running for office who believe in the law. There are so many groups that have been formed because of the shocking behavior of the US government. Where can we live right now but in Hope (and action)?
The End
Articles
A Short Overview of Donald Trump’s First 15 Months of his Second Term as President… Leading to the Conclusion that Donald Trump is a murderer, a convicted felon, a habitual liar and a bully.
Download this article Goodness! Every single day brings more news about how the current American president is breaking the laws of the United States including,
With Many Lies Being Told–Including By World Leaders–How Can We Tell?
Download this article When I trained as a psychologist over three decades ago, we were told there were certain behavioral signs or ‘tells’ indicating that
The Failure of the Iran Nuclear Agreement & the Leader Most Responsible
Download the article One of the many campaign promises that Donald Trump made before the 2016 US presidential election was that if he became president,