I would be amiss if there weren't a practical application for fostering the will and desire to promote the core qualities 

that I found inspirational, useful practical and a core of modern day co-existence, in the footsteps of giants

(men much larger than most of us: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Booker T. Washington,

Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Srdja Trifkovic. William Packard, Mahatma Gandhi 

all having one common underlying postulate (milosrdje, Gemilut Chasidim, loving charity, mercy)

to which I wholeheartedly subscribe. However they are equally in favor of strong defensive measures and a firm mindset.

1.One way this can be accomplished is to follow the example of ADL: The Anti-Defamation League

("ADL") was founded in 1913 to combat the anti-Semitism and discrimination against Jews that was

prevalent at the time. Fairly soon after its establishment, ADL's mission expanded to include the

eradication of bias and discrimination against people of all races and religions. Amicus curiae,

literally "friend of the court," briefs have proven to be one of the most effective means of achieving

this goal. Such briefs are filed by groups which are not parties to a particular dispute but nevertheless

have a stake in its outcome. As a civil rights organization with a stake in many different types of civil

rights litigation, ADL has filed amicus briefs in cases involving issues that range from the separation

of church and state to racial discrimination to censorship.

1. The other way to impact the greater public is best described as a PR approach to local communities

and their local publication. Indeed a fairly large network of contributors would be required, but this is

a rather worthy goal, so I have no doubt that such a network can be formed. It is common knowledge

that most community papers will accept and publish well-written articles irrespective of the topic. Even

the New York Times has a guideline that any (750 words or less) article, may be selected for printing

in their OP-ED pages.

If the like minded individuals are to have an impact, some degree of organizing is going to be required.

What is most prominent today is the threat of Islamic expansion. Much of the unrest during the last

decade of the 20^th Century, and the early years of the 21^st Century, have been marked by some sort

of confrontation where Islamists were principal combatants. This trend does not need to continue. Next

century might be different. The uniting force has to be the underlying idea of liberty with milosrdje, loving

charity, Gemilut Chasidim, mercy. These qualities are strong enough for any oppressing thought, restrictive

Law, inequitable ideology, unfair Government, hate-inspired religion-cult, no matter where or when it comes from.

London double-decker                 Parque Maria-Luisa, Sevilla      Victoria Falls - Zambezi river, Africa

For kicks and giggles:

Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from
it's death throes? He has a new book, and here are some excerpts.

Lee Iacocca says:

Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's
happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming
bloody murder.

We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right
over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind,
and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a
hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and
nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course'

Stay the course?

You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned
'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums
out!' You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my
rocker and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly
recognize this country anymore.

The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the
guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq, the Middle East
is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is
waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not
the promise of the 'America ' my parents and yours traveled across
the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're
not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.

The Biggest 'C' is Crisis!

Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of
crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and
talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've
never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead
when your world comes tumbling down.

On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any
other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us
out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess. So here's where we stand.
We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and
no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the
history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to
Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by
health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in
power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble.
Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed
every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.

But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the
leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators?
Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence,
and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think
you get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than
making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo?
We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and
all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane
Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the
response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the
decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't
happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with
it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how
we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would
have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three'
referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more
important, what are we going to do about it?

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying
down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the
health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the
crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle
class dry.

I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on
your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is
being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity.
What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News
will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show
some spine for a change?

Had Enough?

Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here.
I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope;
I believe in America. In my lifetime I've had the privilege of
living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also
experienced some of our worst crises: the 'Great Depression',
'World War II', the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination', the
'Vietnam War', the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent
years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this:
'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for
somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car
or building a better future for our children, we all have a role
to play.

That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to
'Action' for people who, like me, believe in America . It's not
too late, but its getting pretty close. So let's shake off the
crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough. Join
National Write Your Congressman (www.nwyc.com). We the people can
make a defense. '

Make a 'real contribution' by sending this to everyone you know
and care about......our future is at stake!

Rene R. Ortiz

Piping Tech - BP Project

Foster Wheeler USA Corp.

Houston, Texas 77077

281.597.3000