Managing the Integration of Millennials With Baby Boomers

The Millennials, born between 1981 and 2000, and just entering the workforce, pose some significant challenges while integrating effectively into Baby Boomer led organizations. This generation values civic responsibility, is self-confident, and has a respect for diversity of all sorts. Millennials are experts at multi-tasking, always looking for ways to balance hobbies and volunteer activities with work.

To effectively integrate Millennials, it is important to understand the context that shaped them. Millennials grew up in a child-focused society, with information technology, violence and terrorism at all time highs. They are the product of parents who think they can do no wrong. This generation tends to be "street smart," adaptive to change, comfortable with new technology, confident, achievement oriented, globally connected, and communal. Such core values present themselves at work through the need for independence and autonomy, challenge and variety, entrepreneurial efforts, continual development of skills, distrust of hierarchy and authority, lack of loyalty and unwillingness to commit, desire for a fun and collective workplace, and most importantly, their need for work-life balance.

Examine your own beliefs about Millennials

To effectively integrate Millennials into your workforce, first think about your own beliefs including any stereotypes, biases, etc. you may have about them. Consider some of the common thoughts about Millennials: they are self centered, disloyal, looking for the easy way to get it done, lack work ethic, etc. Examine your thinking if these are the phrases that immediately come to mind for you when you think about hiring them. Each generation has its advantages and disadvantages and many of the differences can contribute positively to an organization if we understand them.

Become a more active listener and teach active listening skills

Millennials are so used to hyper-tasking that focus on one person while visibly demonstrating active listening skills is a foreign concept. These are the kids who grew up texting while playing a computer game while doing homework! Don't take it personally if they don't seem to pay a lot of attention to you, but do teach them active listening skills including why those skills matter to the other generations.

Explain Your Conversational Intent

Begin your interactions with a concise statement of your intent. This allows others to mentally prepare for what is to come. Most of us have good intentions, but somehow our words can get misconstrued especially when there are generational differences. Rather than catching someone off guard, this technique helps minimize putting the other person on the defensive.

When a member of an older generation is speaking to someone younger, it is common for the listener to feel as if they are being spoken down to no matter what the true intentions might actually be. State your intentions up front (i.e. "I am mentioning this to you because..."). Millennials do not like to be talked down to; acknowledge their value and encourage them to continue to think "out-of-the-box" when you can.

Remember that it is highly likely you will feel as if a Millennial is implying your view or opinion is outdated when they speak to you no matter their intention, so try to suspend your assumptions in this regard and coach them to state their own intention up front as well.

Express yourself clearly
Although this may seem like an obvious point to be made, cross-generational conversations can pose a significant challenge because each generation has strong preferences for the type, frequency, and style of communication used. While members of your own generation will likely understand the connotations of your words, differing generations may have trouble understanding and worse still, may be offended by your harmless intentions.

In general, you can speak faster to the Millennials than any other generation. They have been exposed and become accustomed to hyper speed in communications. Work hard to eliminate differing interpretations of what you say by stating your intentions upfront and presenting clear, concise information including your conclusion or recommendations. Minimize your use of slang and clichés. These differ greatly by generation. "Fat" and "phat" mean very different things! Use "I" statements. Discuss what the topic/decision means to you and why. This helps others relate to you even when their view might be completely different.

Teach the Millennials what is important to others

Be sure to present and discuss basics about the other generations in the workplace with Millennials. Outline key differences in the generations and the worth of diversity in age and perspective as well as the other types of diversity they more naturally value. They have grown up in a world that is mostly about them, so their understanding and awareness of other approaches and styles is likely to be low.

Provide feedback

The Millennials live in a world of social networking where feedback is just a way of being for them. The frequency in which they provide it to others varies dramatically from previous generations. Millennials crave positive reinforcement and seek to validate their value to an organization more than any other generation. Integrate recognition and ongoing team improvement opportunities into weekly team meetings to meet some of their needs.

Unfortunately, although Millennials participate in feedback a lot, they are not necessarily skilled at how to provide effective feedback. Their connection to others electronically does not necessarily equate to quality face to face conversations. Millennials are likely to give feedback up, across and down whether it is part of the culture or not, so it is best to prepare them through building skills on doing it well.

Demonstrate appreciation & learning opportunities
Provide daily acknowledgement of their contribution or redirect them immediately if they need to do something different. Don't hold any feedback for Millennials until your next scheduled meeting. They will be in your face to get as much feedback as they can get.

Millennials will not embrace the traditional training methods. Instead it must be fast-paced, using real life application (real work product). Make their orientation, assimilation and training fun and challenging or you will lose their interest quickly.

Based on watching their parents work excessively, they are more inclined to seek outlets to relieve their stress. Consider subsidizing gym memberships, rock climbing and extreme sports venues as well as community events and participation. Time-off and flexible work hours are highly valued. Their belief is "tell me what to do, let me figure out how to do it and get out of my way (and don't bog me down with silly rules that are not relevant to my productivity)." They enjoy and expect to multi-task so construct their role to do so.

General communication tips for connecting to Millennials

• Don't force utilization of the chain of command
• Use your language to paint clear pictures of the future that are compelling
• Use action verbs to challenge them
• Don't talk down to them - they will resent it
• Demonstrate respect of their skills and abilities through your written and body language
• Use e-mail, instant messaging and voicemail as primary communication channels
• Constantly seek their feedback and input
• Use humor - reassure them that you don't take yourself too seriously
• Encourage them to break the rules (appropriately & within some parameters) to explore new paths or options

Don't forget

Generational understanding and adaptation does not take the place of addressing the needs of the individual. Never forget that not all 20-somethings are the same, just as not all 50-somethings are the same. Knowledge IS power, and effective leaders and managers find out what the desires, wants and needs are for employees on an individual basis, not just generationally.

Consultant, Author, Speaker
Holly Green is the CEO of THE HUMAN FACTOR, Inc. (http://www.thehumanfactor.biz) She has over 20 years of executive level and operations experience in FORTUNE 100, entrepreneurial, and management consulting organizations. Experiences include working for multinational corporations such as: The Coca-Cola Company, AT&T, Dell Computer, Bass Hotels & Resorts, Expedia, RealNetworks, Microsoft and Google. She was previously president of The Ken Blanchard Companies & LumMed, Inc.
Holly is a frequent keynote speaker for numerous corporate and professional associations as well as for Vistage, the world's largest CEO membership organization. Her book, More Than A Minute: How To Be An Effective Leader & Manager In Today's Changing World (http://www.MoreThanaMinute.com) lends voice to her corporate experience and goes beyond the theory of leading and managing by providing practical action oriented information.
She is currently on staff at Webster University where she teaches courses in the graduate program. Holly also teaches for the University of California San Diego, Rady School of Management in the executive education program.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Holly_Green

By Holly Green

God For President

I told God that I needed a counselor, someone I could talk to who could relate to me and my problems and understand what it's like to be a divorced, single parent of two teenagers, with over one hundred thousand dollars in student loan debt. I told God to send a counselor who can give me a fresh perspective and insight on how I can reach the next phase of my life goals and dreams without feeling angry, stuck, depressed and bitter. I told God to make sure that this person is wise, smart, compassionate, down-to-earth, and sincere; and most importantly God; I told Him-make sure that my counselor is an African American woman. Yes. I reminded God that He is in heaven and He doesn't have the opportunity to come down to earth much-but race and gender matters here on earth where I come from-- and I need someone who knows what it feels like to be a big, dark-brown, woman in a society that values small, petite and white skin. God, I need someone who could understand what it feels like to be a minority from a working class family in a racist, white male dominated society.

I called around to various services until I could find an African American, female counselor who accepted my health insurance. Finally at last, I found a counselor who resonates with my values, background and belief system. I couldn't wait to meet her. The first question that she asked me was did I have a church home. Church home? I told her that I meditate, pray, that I read Wayne Dyer, all of the Conversation with God books by Neale Donald Walsch, and Gary Zukav's, The Seat of the Soul, books by Sanaya Roman and that Iyanla Vanzant's book "Value in the Valley changed my life. I told her that I consider myself to be a spiritual person, but not a religious person. I don't fit in with organized religion but I believe in God and angels. She asked me, whether or not I was concerned about my salvation and eternally burning in hell. I told her that I didn't believe in hell. She looked at me with pure disdain and disgust. She stopped writing and looked at me as if I had just raped and killed ten innocent children and said I will pray for you. She told me to read the bible; gave me a list of black churches in the community; and said that she didn't think that we were a good match.

I didn't let her see me cry, but I felt like someone had stabbed me in my heart with an afro pick a million times. I sobbed while driving in my car and yelling at God, asking Him how could He play such a cruel joke that made me question my race, ethnicity and identity. I reminded God that I am black, my ancestors were slaves and from a spiritual, historical perspective, I had suffered enough through my people. The African American, female counselor's facial expressions and comments made me feel small and more insane than I thought I was. I told God to get it right next time and send me a woman counselor. That's it, I need someone who knows what it is like to have a menstrual cycle, stretch marks, understand motherhood and have a full-time job.

It was much easier to find a "woman counselor," I dare not tell the receptionist to make sure that she wasn't an African American, I was open, I had faith that God would send the right woman this time. I met my new counselor a white female, who appeared to be in her late sixties, gorgeous white hair and pearl earrings. She looked classy, accomplished and worldly. I let out a sigh of relief, because I knew that this time it was going to work. During the initial interview, she asked me about my five college degrees and how did I balance work, school and motherhood. I told her stories about how I would bring my kids to the library with me and push the chairs together for them to sleep when I had a long research paper due. I took my kids to class and work with me when I could get away with it, but one of our favorite hangouts was the 24 hour Kinko where I could type papers and drink free coffee. Another favorite hangout was Barnes & Noble Bookstore, this is where I could read for my classes while my children could play and read in the children's section of the book store. I explained that my children's daycare provider was concerned about why my kids were always so sleepy during daytime activities. The truth was they would be up all night with me, while I worked on various projects for school. My mother asked me if it would be okay for her to keep my children during the week so that they could have more structure such as a regular bed time and more nutritious meals while I completed my graduate degree. I agreed to pick my children up on the weekends until I finished school.

My white female counselor, had tears in her eyes and she said, "That must have hurt deeply. I can't imagine letting anyone raise my child unless, I couldn't breathe. Motherhood is precious; you can never get that time back. How do you feel about yourself, sacrificing your children's early childhood experiences for a piece of paper?" A piece of Paper? I was devastated by her question, I felt judged as a woman. I told her, I love my kids and that's why I wanted what was best for them-which was living with my mother who loved them as much as I did. It was terse between us after that question and I knew before the session ended that I was never coming back to see her. I concluded that even though we are both women it did not make us kindred spirits.

The nerve of her I thought, maybe I don't need a counselor. A few months passed, and one day I was browsing in the Crazy Wisdom book store, I saw an ad for a "spiritual director" with a brief definition. I decided to call out of curiosity. I had no expectations or lists of characteristics, I just liked the fact that the main focus was on maintaining a relationship with God. Wow, I thought no rituals, rules or procedures-an informal person to talk to about God-sign me up. When I called to make an appointment it sounded like a white male, but at this point I was more interested in what the sessions would be like.

A short, white male with a beard, who appeared to be in his late fifties who walked with a limp, opened the door and said, "Welcome my friend." He asked me to take off my shoes before entering, offered me a cup of tea, and asked "where would you like to start?" He didn't have a pen or a notepad; and there were no forms to fill out. I told him that I had been doing some meditation exercises to clear my third chakra. We combined our chants and meditated together. I didn't notice that my counselor was a male or had white skin; the only thing I knew that day was that we were kindred spirits who believed in the same God whom we asked for his blessings and guidance after each session. Thank you God, I cried after the first session with my spiritual director. Thank you God, I yelled for sending me someone who helps me focus on the good in my life and not what makes me bitter.

When Hillary Clinton stated, "Wouldn't it be great to have a woman for president?" she couldn't hear me yell back, "It would be 'great to have a great president 'who is honorable, respectable and shares my value system." I don't care who you vote for because this is not what this article is about, I am asking you to write down the three most important issues to you as a human being-not a republican or democrat. Next, I would like for you to research both candidates as if the survival of your family and our nation depends on it. Don't ask your friends, or news pundits or political groups who to vote for. If you believe in God, based on your belief system ask Him who is the best candidate that represents your value system. If you don't believe in God, ask your higher self which candidate resonates with your highest self and the collective good for all. I have learned that who I am and what I need as a human being extends beyond my race, gender and culture.

Dr. Cassandra George Sturges MA, MA, is a mother of two teenagers, a full-time psychology instructor, advice columnists for Today's Black Woman Magazine, Seminar facilitator, author of "A Woman's Soul on Paper" ISBN: 0595171435; The Illusion of Beauty: Why Women Hate Themselves & Envy Other Women; Men Interviewed Tell: 101 Things Women do to Turn Men Off; Success & Beauty is an Attitude: A Woman's Guide to Academic and Life achievement.
Email me: authentikbeauty@yahoo.com, visit me at http://authentikbeauty.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cassandra_George_Sturges

By Cassandra George Sturges

Privilege Dies Hard, Even After the 2008 US Transition

By Helen Fogarassy

The departing US president in his last press conference a week before the white industrialized world's first non-white president would be inaugurated summed up the historic 2008 US transition. He said he saw people crying on TV after the election saying, "I never thought I'd see the day when a black person would be elected president."

He also said there would always be work to do to deal with people's hearts. "It's going to be an amazing - amazing moment," he said of the swearing into office of the new president.

With a black woman as his Secretary of State, the departing white president could not be a racist. Yet the contrast between his eight-years in office and the projected administration shaping up under the newly elected president could not have been more symbolic of the global overhaul of values set in motion by the outcome of the 2008 US election.

The departing president had assumed office through the intervention of the United States Supreme Court at a time when the American economy was booming. America had little interest at that point in the world after it had failed so abjectly in the 1994 Somalia intervention.

The greatest attack against America on American soil occurred in the ninth month of the departing president's tenure. The administration's sole aim after that was to make war on the world and issue warnings about "enemies."

Deregulated, the domestic economy ran wild and then ran aground until the conservative party's policies were soundly routed by the American electorate. To do that, the country had to rally quickly and jump the hurdle of racial prejudice. The motivation for that historic step was mixed. Some Americans had faith in the fresh new leader. Others saw him as a last-ditch possibility for curing the illness that had befallen a land blessed by any measure of economic prosperity or social opportunity for its people.

Even as the country as a whole considered the radical concept of electing a non-white leader, the departing president's "inner circle" remained unchanged. Few minorities were represented in his administration other than the Secretary of State. His wife was a quiet librarian out of the limelight by and large. His daughters were noticed when they "acted out," as the president had reportedly done in his youth.

By contrast, the man about to become America's first non-white president was married to a Yale Law School graduate. She had written a thesis at Princeton on the racial divide in America. It was based on her experience as an American black a mere 24 years before. Their two young daughters were as comfortable in front of the cameras as he, as were other members of their widely mixed family.

Once America cast its vote, the outgoing regime was accorded much credit for its "gracious" assistance in making the transition America had chosen. It was in that long three-month period when the degree of change coming to America became evident.

The new administration taking shape demonstrated inclusiveness of both gender and race, including of "mutts" as the president-elect referred to himself during his first news conference after the election. The old administration going out mounted a gathering campaign of vindicating its actions during its eight years in office.

The "racial divide" that had ripped apart the young United States throughout its history died on election night in 2008 and was laid to rest on January 20, 2009. It had died after a long illness in which America watched its fortunes decline, its standing wither and its economic dominance shrivel.

The steady voice of the new candidate had dealt the overdue blow to inequity based on race. The internet had fueled the effort, manned by the young mixed blood America had needed for its transfusion. The outcome was the guiding principle for humans at every level. It "felt right." Centuries and millennia had come into focus. World social order had slipped into the "right slot."

America has not been alone with its struggle to end a "racial divide." South Africa's brutal policy of "apartheid" only ended in 1994 when intense global pressure forced the ruling white minority to relinquish its hold. Segregation, separation and exclusivity were the policy's aims. Economic restrictions and deprivations of basic human rights were its tools. The rule of law was its enforcer, just as it was throughout the history of slavery, segregation and racism in the United States.

As the world celebrated the outcome of the 2008 US election on inauguration day, the unprecedented security was a reminder of hearts still needing to be won. Nearly half of America had voted to continue the doomed policies that had led to the death of America's "racial divide." There was no instrument for gauging the level of the "white privilege" factor in the vote, let alone corollaries such as bias, superiority or downright hatred, resentment and even envy.

Helen Fogarassy is a Hungarian-born American internationalist writer working with the United Nations for nearly 20 years. She is the author of a suspense novel, The Midas Maze, about murderous hijinks in UN/US relations. She is also the author of The Light of a Destiny Dark, a novel about the Euro-American cultural gap through Hungarian eyes, and a nonfiction eyewitness tribute to the UN's work, Mission Improbable: The World Community on a UN Compound in Somalia. All are available on the major web bookstore sites. E-mail her at helfog@aol.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Fogarassy

Israel, Jews, Arab-Palestinians - Historical Facts! - UN's Open Double Standards

By Aaron Kolom

Contribution Jews/Israel to the World - 2nd to US in Techno-Medico-Developments:

- Nobel Prizes, (although only 1/10th of 1% of World Population and only100th smallest country in the world): Medicine - 28%; Chemistry - 20%; Economics - 42%; Physics - 26%; Literature - 12%;
- Medical Research: biological pacemaker; DNA nana-computer detects cancer cells - then releases combating drugs; stem-cell technology to regenerate heart tissue; pill-camera, tiny, examines small intestine; first full computerized diagnostic instrument for breast cancer detection; development of heart pump synchronization device; etc.
- Pharmaceutical Research: treatment of Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, etc.;
- Microsoft and Cisco companies - only R&D facilities outside the US - in Israel;
- Microsoft-Windows operating system - Israel designed;
- Pentium Microprocessor - Israel designed and produced;
- Voice mail - developed in Israel;
- Aircraft Security System - developed in Israel;
- University degrees, highest % of workers, per capita;
- Museums, zoos, orchestras, home computers - highest %, per capita;
- Only country in the world - more trees at start of 21st Century than at the 20th;
- All the above achieved in its 60 years of life while defending itself in four major wars resisting combined Arab armies, plus attacks by terrorists: PLO, Hamas and Hezbollah against Israeli civilians: buses, schools, malls, markets.

History - Land of Palestine and Israel; Claims of Jews and Palestinians:

- Jews, termed Israelites and Hebrews, the people of the Bible (Apiru, in ancient Egyptian artifacts), associated with the land for 3700 years;
- The name Palestine derives from Philistine, a sea-going Aegean (non-Arab) people living on the Mediterranean coast in biblical times;
- No Arabs live in the land until the 7th century - Muslim religion then established, followed by their invasion and conquest of Europe and Mid-East;
- The entire area becomes part of Byzantine Empire, lasts four centuries; then taken over by Ottoman Empire (1553-1922) - no Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq or Palestine;
- Relentless persecution by Christians of Jews in central and eastern Europe throughout recorded history;
- Theodore Herzl, in 1897, reacting to French anti-Semitism and the Dreyfus Affair, establishes "Zionism" and the goal of a homeland as a refuge for persecuted Jews in the Holy land - called Palestine - although largely undeveloped, deserted and arid.
- Waves of Jews begin emigrating to the land after pogroms in Russia and Poland (others go to America); with little individual wealth, communal developments are established (moshavim and kibbutzim), planting farms, groves, creating small businesses, establishing schools, clinics, an orchestra;
- Records show that most of the land in the future Israel was bought from absentee Arab landlords;
- As Jewish communities are developed, nomadic Bedouins/Druze/Arabs settle nearby for work opportunities;
- As a result of Jewish persecution throughout the ages, with no homeland for refuge, the Balfour Declaration is affirmed in 1917 by conscience-stricken society - "The British government views with favor the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine."
- British Mandate, 1922 - Britain and France divide the Middle East into mandates Great Britain overseeing Palestine, TransJordan and Iraq; the French, Syria (The US Ambassador, opts not to become involved).
- Great Britain, however, in 1922, reneges on its promise and responsibility, giving 80% of the Palestine Mandate area to the Arabs (Jordan, none for the Jews);
- As Hitler rises to power in Germany, the threat to European Jews becomes ominous - an Evian Conference is convened in 1938 by 34 (concerned) countries - conclusion: no country would provide refuge to the threatened 11 million European Jews (Note: The US and Great Britain each accept a token 20,000 Jewish children);
- The danger to Jews is typified by a shipload of 1000, desperate to escape Europe, who travel to the US on the USS St. Louis (Movie "Ship of Fools") - only 22 are permitted to land - the rest are returned to Europe and the "death camps" - no country will offer sanctuary to Jews;
- Germany (ironically, one of world's cultural leaders) holds the Wahnsie Conference in 1942, convening scientists (eight PhDs) and military officers - to plan the most-efficient means of murdering all their European "unwanteds", primarily Jews, but also homosexuals, Seventh Day Adventists, Poles, Slavs, etc. (but only the Jews are marked for total annihilation);
- Six million Jews (40% of the 15 million world total) are murdered: children, women, men - killed in cold-blooded, assembly-line fashion (first mass shootings, then poison gas, ovens); (Note: A shocked and angry Gen. Eisenhower, on liberating a death camp, forces neighbor-city Germans to walk through, takes photos - trying to preclude exactly what is happening today - denial of the Holocaust by many world and religious leaders). (Note; Now, three generations later, the Jewish people have still not recovered numerically - only fourteen million Jews live today.)
- Roosevelt and Churchill, although aware of the death camp, refuse to allow Allied bombers to bomb the rail-tracks leading to Auschwitz - even though bomb racks were full - on returning home from "scratched" bombing raids to Germany - thousands of helpless Jews were therefore killed so these world-leaders could avoid accusations of "fighting the war to save the Jews"!)

History - State of Israel - Established by United Nations, 1948

- The United Nations, in 1948, votes to give the remaining Jews of the world a place of refuge, their own homeland - they divide the remaining 20% of the Palestine Mandate, into approximately equal portions between Jews and Palestinian Arabs;
- The Jews accept, naming their tiny country (about 10% of the original Mandate area) - Israel;
- The Arabs reject the offer for a separate country for the Palestinians (in addition to the 22 other Arab countries) - dogmatically rebuffing the concept of any homeland at all for Jews;
- Five Arab armies attack tiny Israel from all sides;
- Records of statements by Arab leaders: Palestinian Arabs are exhorted to leave the war zone for their own safety; wealthy Palestinian leaders flee with their families, leaving poor Palestinians without leadership; complaints by Palestinians that the Arab armies had abandoned them; complaints by Palestinians that Arab propaganda about Jewish atrocities at Yeir Dassin was back-firing, Palestinians fleeing in panic. All these facts are readily verifiable, yet the propaganda claims by anti-Semites persist today - "occupied territory".
- Against tremendous odds, miraculously, with desperate, defending forces largely comprised of death camp survivors, tiny Israel is victorious, defeating the combined Arab armies;
- About 800,000 Palestinians had lived within what would become the borders of future Israel; many would become "refugees" by the fighting, fleeing for various causes (listed above); 150,000 who remained in Galilee and Negev (70% Muslim, 20% Christian, 10% Druze) would become Israeli citizens; after the war, they would comprise one-fifth of Israel's population. (Note: Today, six decades later, Arabs are still one-fifth of Israel's 7.3 million population - due to large immigration of Russian Jews; also 150,000 Palestinians were given citizenship when Israel annexed East Jerusalem in 1967. Israel's current Arab population is about 1.4 million.)
- Contradicting the mega-million myth, the total number of 1948/9 Palestinian refugees was 320,000. Records show that 800,000 Arabs resided within the "Green Line" before the 1948/9 War; 170,000 Arabs remained in Israel following the war, and an additional 100,000 were absorbed by Israel. Also, 100,000 middle and upper class Arabs were absorbed by neighboring Arab states, and 50,000 migrant laborers returned to their states. About 50,000 Bedouins joined Jordan and Sinai tribes and an estimated 10,000-15,000 were war fatalities. Thus the total Palestinian refugees = 320,000.
- Those Arab-Israelis who remained in the country, are presently full citizens of Israel, walk the streets of Jerusalem, etc. in perfect safety, elect their own representatives in the Knesset (Parliament), have full freedoms, medical treatment, education, and living standards that are higher than 95% of their cousin Arabs who live in even much wealthier Arab countries. (Note: This is never commented on by the critics of Israel.)
- At the same time, 820,000 Jews were forced out of their homes in Arab Mediterranean countries (some having lived there for generations) - and generally penniless, most emigrated to Israel where they were absorbed - they were NOT considered refugees by the UN : the rest were resettled in other non-Arab countries.
- After the 1948-49 war, Jordan annexes the West Bank (70% of Jordanians are genetically Palestinian Arabs), and Egypt annexes Gaza, no Palestinian claims are made against them - only against Israel (Example of "double standards" applied to Israel - in the Arab world, in the UN and in the minds of "liberals").
- Seven years after the 1948-49 war, armies from neighboring Arab countries attack Israel again, then again, and yet again: 1956, 1967, 1973. The preamble to every war was political and military provocations: closing of Straits of Tehran, of the Suez Canal, Arab military build-ups at Israel's borders, the sneak attack on Yom Kippur, etc.; aggression and support by the entire Arab world plus world "liberals". Somehow, every war is won by Israel (the first loss would have been Israel's last - and the demise of Israel);
- As Arab armies lose on the battlefield, international pressure always builds up for an immediate armistice to prevent Israel from retaining land for protection against future attacks; Israel twice giving back land won in battle: Suez, Sinai, Golan Heights (no other country ever doing so - ignored by Israel's critics);
- Losing in military conflicts, the PLO and terrorist Arab groups like Hamas and Hezbollah have always resorted to attacks upon Israeli civilians, blowing up buses, malls, schools, The UN and "liberal" leaders in the Western world do little to restrain such attacks upon Israeli children and civilians, but constantly criticize Israel for retaliation (the Arab terrorists always mounting attacks in the midst of or shielded by Palestinian children, hospitals, schools - so any Israeli retaliation causes collateral civilian casualties. The UN is always on the side of the Arabs.
- Meanwhile, refugees elsewhere in the world, were also in need of a homeland - Ethiopians (claiming Jewish heritage and being descendants of King Solomon and Queen Sheba) - desperate thousands of Ethiopians, Beta Israel or Falasha - gather in Sudan, Africa, hoping to be rescued from starvation. Despite Arab world-wide protests upon discovery of the plans, Israel sends fleets of commercial plus military escort aircraft on three separate operations to rescue these refugees, to bring them to Israel and to give them a "life"; Operation Moses (15,000 rescued, 1985), Joshua (800 more, 1985), Solomon (14,324, in 1991 - 36 hours non-stop, 36 transports, Jumbo Jets and C-130 transports). No UN "refugee" money is given to them or to help Israel - Israel just absorbs them.
- To counter continued attacks, Israel establishes defensive settlements in the midst of Arab communities (as America had during the Indian wars), after attacks from Lebanon, and the Golan Heights. Afterwards, however, Israel has always been forced to withdraw, bowing to UN and international pressure - only mild criticism is voiced against the Arabs and their terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians;
- In 2000, during "Peace" negotiations, Palestinian Arabs are again offered their own separate state - again they refuse;
- In 2006, seeking peaceful coexistence, Israel relinquishes Hebron, the burial place of its Patriarchs and Matriarchs, to the Palestinians.
- In 2008, Israel withdraws from Gaza, after 38 yrs occupation, forcibly removing Israeli settlers. Immediately, the Palestinians vote Hamas terrorists into power - immediately rockets are launched into Israel, with civilian casualties, terrorizing communities. Israel retaliates with a three-week military incursion to destroy the Hamas organization; followed by world-wide condemnation of Israel;

The UN's Refugee Record Reveals the Truth - Blatant Double Standards!

- Between 1933 and 1945, in the run-up to World War II, UN data record about 79 million refugees around the world;
- In the aftermath of World War II, there have been over 100 million refugees, world-wide;
- The United Nations has established two "High Commissions for Refugees": UNHCR handles all refugees, world-wide, EXCEPT for the Israeli-related Palestinians; UNRWA - the largest UN agency (25,000 employees) - handles ONLY Israel-related Palestinian refugees.
- The differences between UNHCR and UNRWA are striking: "rights of return" apply ONLY to Palestinian refugees, covering all descendants without generational limitation; however, the non-Palestinian refugees (although many peoples are in desperate situations), have no such "rights". Also, while UNHCR (for non-Palestinians) has been rewarded for its humanitarian achievements in reducing the number of global refugees by finding places for their settlement, UNRWA (for Palestinians) has been rewarded for the EXACT OPPOSITE - for NOT resettling Palestinians - thus perpetuating and aggravating their plight, and ever-increasing the number of - Israel-related Palestinian refugees, creating a politically-disastrous "powder-keg".
- Arab refugees from Arab countries also get special treatment: 300,000 Palestinians were expelled from Kuwait - due to PLO's collaboration with the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait; 800,000 Yemenites were expelled from Saudi Arabia - due to Yemen's support of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait; over 500,000 Christians fled Lebanon - as a result of a series of civil wars ignited by the PLO and Syrian occupation; 10,000 PLO members were killed and thousands of Palestinians were expelled from Jordan - due to PLO terrorism and attempts to topple the Hashemite regime. No UN claim, let alone the "right of return" is demanded by the UN and the international community for any of these - since they are not Israel-related Arab refugees - Israel cannot be blamed!
- In recent years, the Middle East (Israel) has been the subject of 76% of country-specific UN General Assembly critical resolutions; 100% of the Human Rights Council resolutions; 100% of the Commission on the Status of Women resolutions; 50% of critical reports from the World Food Program; six of ten Emergency sessions. (A token admission - the Human Rights Council was widely criticized in 2007 for failing to condemn other human rights abusers - besides Israel.)
- Of note is Resolution 3379 (1975) stating that "Zionism is racism"; it was rescinded in 1991.
- Israel is the only member state of the United Nations that can NEVER become part of the Security Council.

Aaron Kolom qualifies as a "rocket scientist" with over 50 years aerospace engineering: Stress Analyst to Chief of Structural Sciences on numerous military aircraft, to Corp. Director Structures and Materials, Asst. Chief Engineer Space Shuttle Program through first three flights (awarded NASA Public Service Medal), Rockwell International Corp.; Program Manager Concorde SST, VP Engineering TRE Corp.; Aerospace Consultant.

Aaron L. Kolom - from Brainwashed* and Miracles**

The Perceived Mind-Set of the Secular Elite re Darwin Evolutionism!

To Believe in Them - Have Faith - In Science and Logic!

Visit website at http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=46416 to learn a bit about Science vs the Bible, from conflict to confirmation.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aaron_Kolom

RAM - Random Access Memory

By Logan Rokwild

The word ‘memory’ is commonly used in computer parlance to refer to RAM. When you start an application, say a game, your computer stores some of the data required to make it work in the RAM so that it can be easily and speedily accessed. There are several forms of memory in the computer (for example the hard drive, is also a form of memory). RAM, however, is of foremost importance, since it is the first place where the data is directed to when an application is started. Only after passing through RAM is any data stored in any other storage device.

We can compare the function of RAM with a real life situation in order to understand it better. If you are giving a lecture before a large audience, chances are, you will commit important portions of it to memory so that you may remember or access it as a when required. If you were to search in a book or other research source each time you wanted to make a key point, it would take too long and you would your lecture would come to a halt each time, until the information was found. Similarly, each time a command is entered on the computer, the CPU processes it and instructs the hard drive to load it into the memory. This enables it to get to it more quickly when required. RAM keeps all the information just before the computer needs to use it.

Computers are able to process information uninterrupted as long as all the information needed is available to it in the RAM. If the RAM is not enough to store the information, the computer will search for it in an alternative storage device such as a hard disk or floppy, transfer it to RAM and then continue processing. The more such interruptions, the slower the computer becomes. Hence, as a general rule, more RAM means faster computing and processing.

Not so long ago, the maximum memory a computer needed was 1 or 2MB (megabytes). Today at least 64MB RAM is required to run even the most basic applications. Ideally 256MB is needed for most applications. And if the user is using a lot of graphics, music or gaming applications, then 512MB RAM is essential.

In short, the mantra for memory is more is great; less is bad.

Logan writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, the bio remains, all hyper links remain intacked and the rel="nofollow" tag isnt added to any links. Thank-You Please visit http://your-personal-pc.info for mro einfo.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Logan_Rokwild

America the Agile in the 2008 Transition

By Helen Fogarassy

Winston Churchill had a great sound bite for a world he wouldn't recognize today. In a poignant moment, he said success was the ability to go from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.

America was failing hugely at the bottom line of economics when it chose to make history instead of continuing on a downward spiral. In the 2008 election, the prudent America known for no-nonsense practicality chose the only rational way forward. It elected to stop the hemorrhage of its resources from the middle class to the upper, where the nutrients after eight years of an outmoded and unenlightened administration only bred a nexus of tumors in the world.

The 2008 US election electrified the world in one of the gloomiest moments to which the US itself had led the way. World society was still choking after the election, but the door had been thrown open. Fresh approaches to old world solutions were at hand.

The depth of the global economic crisis was the barometer of the complex, new and interconnected quantum of the modern world that few understand. The phenomenon, however, was an outgrowth of history, just as the communication superhighway began with earlier breakthroughs in radio and television.

The enthusiastic global response to the outcome of the 2008 US election shows that the world sees America as capable of curing the economic woes it had created. They believe in the new leader's fresh approach, which is to simply put people first while recognizing institutional and historical constraints.

Raised unconventionally and yet rooted in American Ivy League tradition, America's president-elect is the essence of the American spirit. Like America, the world sees him as "able to leap over tall buildings" simply because he has dealt a death blow to racism.

America, the former British colony that began as a product of European expansionism, has redeemed its old-world forebears. In the process, America has proven itself as worthy of being world leader.

In the 600-odd years between the discovery of America and the 2008 US election, little of the world was untouched by European aggression and ambition. The Incas were wiped out by Spain, India wore the British yoke just like the Middle East, Africa was trampled by competing European interests and the world took part in two global-level wars continued by a cold war one that entangled and set the world's countries and regions against each other.

The 2008 US election realigned that history by making the "racial issue" a historic artifact. That accomplishment opened the way for America to expand into a global consciousness. The world for America could now become a unified society joined together in an economic crisis while fighting pockets of international terrorism intent on disrupting the global social and economic order that was concertedly aimed at development and growth as an integral unit.

The significance of the 2008 US election had yet to sink in to both America and the world during the transition between administrations. The long three-month period in 2008, however, served a dual purpose.

As the sitting US president and the president-elect performed respective functions in the transition, America and the world were given the opportunity to compare and contrast. They were also afforded the time to acclimate to the enormous change taking place in the world.

Revolutionary overturns needing time to assimilate, non-whites during the transition no doubt adjusted to vindicated relief. The formerly elite whites, during the same time, undoubtedly juggled mixed responses to the perceptual adjustments about race they needed to fast-track.

In both cases during the 2008 transition, image seemed more effective than logic. As America reeled under the bleak economic outlook for the coming years, a clumsy sitting white president responsible for the fiscal mess stood as a lingering obstruction to the new approaches a young non-white family would bring to the old-world ways not working anywhere in the world.

Hungarian-born American internationalist writer Helen Fogarassy has worked with the United Nations for nearly 20 years. She is the author of a suspense novel, The Midas Maze, about murderous hijinks in UN/US relations. She is also the author of The Light of a Destiny Dark, a novel about the Euro-American cultural gap through Hungarian eyes, and a nonfiction eyewitness tribute to the UN's work, Mission Improbable: The World Community on a UN Compound in Somalia. All are available on the major web bookstore sites. Email her at helfog@aol.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Helen_Fogarassy

Chatting With Great People

By Donovan Baldwin

In his excellent little book, "The Art of Thinking" (1928), Ernest Dimnet offers this thought,

"It is impossible to spend an hour in a room with a man approaching greatness without feeling the contagiousness of distinguished thinking."

He continues,

"Such men cannot always be found, or our chances for meeting them may be limited. But anybody with an average knowledge of the history of nations, literature, philanthropy, or art, not to speak of the history of great religionists or saints, can people his imagination with groups of superior men in every realm."

Obviously, in today's world, Abbe Dimnet would have made reference to the great female thinkers and writers as well, and we can only regret that the bias of his day clouded his vision on this matter.

The idea of conversing with great minds by way of reading and study is not new. Even in antiquity, for example, Plato felt that the discussions, argumentations, and discourses of Socrates were important enough to be studied by those who wished to improve their power of thinking and judgment. On another note, it was not too long ago that then first lady, Hillary Clinton, revealed her conversations with Eleanor Roosevelt. A common sign today that using guidance and wisdom gleaned from leaders is acceptable is the inscription WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) which can be found in all sorts of places in hopes of reminding the observer to have a mental discourse with Jesus, or with himself or herself about the preaching and philosophy of Jesus, in order to discern the proper path to follow in difficult times and circumstances.

It is not strange that many of us turn to others whose opinions we respect for guidance on the proper course to take, attitude to espouse, party to vote for, or even which clothes to wear. We cannot all have original thoughts on all subjects at all times. It is not uncommon for those of us with plenty of valid thoughts and opinions of our own to be aware that those thoughts and opinions are based primarily on our personal experiences and our limited ability to interpret their importance or relevance.

Having an idea of where we want to stand on an issue is usually easy for us. Many of us, however, realize that the decision we would probably make, while possibly acceptable in itself, perhaps could be better. We even go so far as to say that perhaps our thinking could be better.

This is where education, conversation, and other factors of intellectual growth are of value. However, for most of us, a daily return to the college campus, even if we have had the chance to be there previously, is impossible. Our conversations and discussions are often with people as confused as we are about the world around us and the events in it. So often we think we know where we stand on a subject only to find that a new piece of data, or a night's sleep, changes our opinion. Nor is it uncommon, having experienced one conversion, to find ourselves wavering back and forth on the subject once we have seen that there may be more than one view.

This is the time that it would be wonderful to be able to talk the situation over with a "great mind"...perhaps even several. In fact, it might even be better to begin having those conversations before the seemingly unanswerable questions are upon us.

These conversations are easy to have. You simply go to your local library and check out some books and read them! However, while reading science fiction novels and mysteries has enlightening aspects, normally the great minds you wish to contact will not be found in those genres. This is not to say anything against that type of material. Anyone who has read some of the works of Herbert, Asimov, Le Guin, McCaffrey, or Heinlein is well aware that these people put large quantities of thought into their works, and the thoughts did come from great minds. It is nearly impossible, for example, to read Herbert's "Dune" or Asimov's Foundation Trilogy without gaining some insight into the workings of societies and the fluctuations of history...past or future.

To really get enlightened, however, you will eventually have to move past those entertaining and enlightening works to enter into the minds of great men and women. Don't be daunted by this. You will not have to learn Greek, nor will it be absolutely necessary for you to read dusty tomes penned with quills dipped in ink and printed on parchment. You can pick up plenty of thought on modern topics in any decent library or second hand book store. The author does not have to be Aristotle. The name on the spine of the book may be Churchill, Cronkite, Gore, Limbaugh, Obama, Carter, Grisham...the list is endless.

The issue is NOT that these people are RIGHT...or WRONG, for that matter. The issue is that these are people of thought who have a clearer view of many problems and events than you and I will ever have. They communicate and converse amongst themselves and with others on subjects that you and I normally only get to discuss at the water cooler or at halftime or between innings of the game, if we are not in the kitchen getting another piece of pizza and a beer. In fact, it might be said that it is better to read the thoughts of those with views opposite to your own because they will either confirm you in your beliefs and opinions or open your eyes to a reality you were not aware of. That is what dialogue and discourse is about.

Biographies are also of value because they not only show the thoughts and opinions of great people but how they were formed. Biographies also often show us that the "great person" was only a regular guy or gal who had a "great purpose". If they can do it, so can we.

So trot down to the local library or bookstore and pick up some new thoughts from some old pros. Guys, I also heard chicks dig guys with brains. Might be wrong on that one, but just maybe....

Donovan Baldwin is a Texas writer and a University of West Florida alumnus. He is a member of Mensa and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. In his career, he has held many managerial and supervisory positions. However, his main pleasures have long been writing, nature, and fitness. In the last few years, he has been able to combine these pleasures by writing poetry and articles on subjects such as health, fitness, yoga, writing, the environment, happiness, self improvement, weight loss, and pets, of all things. You may view many of his most current articles at http://www.myspace.com/donovanbaldwin where he invites you to join his group of friends. He also invites you to visit http://cat-and-kitten.com where he provides useful information about cats.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donovan_Baldwin