GUEST columns October
GUEST columns October news frenzy is cause for hope, caution, frustration “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” – Steve Jobs Steve Jobs October began with the passing of Steve Jobs, a great American whose legacy puts him in the ranks of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. He changed the way the world works, plays and communicates. His technological and business leadership during life is unrivaled for its brilliance and success. But it was through the news coverage of his death that we learned about his clairvoyant approach to life. We’ll never know for sure how his approach, the essence captured in Michael G. Sarafa SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS the quote above, improved his faith, family and business life. But it obviously did. As one of the richest men in the world, he may be the best example ever that material goods do not accompany you to your resting place. Detroit Sports The week of October 9 was one for the local sports history books. It was emotional and physically exhausting for sports fans and non-fans alike. That Sunday, the Lions had an exciting win over the Bears and the Tigers were rained out. The next day, however, the Tigers lost game 2 of the ALCS in 11 innings, returning to Detroit for a three-game home stand down 2-0 to the Rangers. Four days later, they were knocked out of the playoffs in a week that included another 11-inning game. The Tigers and their fans were spent. But what a season and what great fun in the playoffs! By October 15, the Red Wings were off to a 4-0 season start and the Spartans and Wolverines were getting ready to rumble in East Lansing. The Economy No doubt that the sports environment has contributed to a positive mood in Michigan but there are other signs of improvement too. Michigan’s unemployment rate is coming down, the auto companies are profitable and the state budget is in the black thanks to greater than expected revenues. Franchise companies are showing renewed interest in southeast Michigan while office occupancy rates seem to have stabilized. In Detroit, Dan Gilbert and his various enterprises are almost singlehandedly creating another downtown rebirth. Whether these and other efforts prove sustainable remains to be seen. But lots of good stuff is happening and the important indicators are moving in the right direction. Most importantly, there is a change in attitude of our corporate, civic and business leadership. Detroit News columnist Daniel Howes put it best in a recent column in a line that sounds like he’s referring to Jim Schwartz and the Lions. But he’s really talking about something more important. “For what I see, and the growing evidence supports, are entrenched institutions finally burying denial and apathy, passing through resignation and arriving at renewal. New leadership is managing the broken pieces of the past that has ‘chronic loser’ written all over them, and their people are no longer playing not to lose.” Wayne County This new attitude is apparent everywhere except in the Wayne County’s Executive office. A story that started 18 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2011
with an overly generous and imprudent severance package has evolved into a potentially major scandal. As history has shown us over and over, the cover-up appears to be worse than the crime. The daily dose of media stories and the frenzy surrounding Robert Ficano and his staff reminds us all of an episode that the city would rather not be reminded about. Just when it seems we can move on, we get another poison brew of authority, entitlement and cozy relationships. I am sure some of what has been laid out is unfair and maybe even untrue. But I am also sure we have not seen the end of this saga. At a time when people are feeling a little better and things are looking up, the Wayne County Executive needs to resolve this situation, quickly, transparently and decisively. It’s very frustrating to the citizenry. We deserve more and better. But in the end, it’s not that big of a deal. We are already naked. Michael Sarafa is the president of the Bank of Michigan and a co-publisher of the Chaldean News. When voting, look at the big picture Many in our community view the issue of abortion as a struggle between good and evil. For some, the antiabortion stance of a politician is the sole criteria for voting for the candidate. They assume that if a politician claims to be anti-abortion, he or she must be good enough to vote for. But, what if a politician adopts an anti-abortion position, simply to gain more votes, while at the same time, advocating wars or military expansion? What if he disregards issues of social fairness and justice? What if a politician’s true motive is not the preservation of life, but merely to garner financial support and campaign contributions? How do we know if such a politician would not seek to obtain an abortion for an unwed teen daughter? N. Peter Antone special to the chaldean news We should examine a candidate on every issue and see if the position he or she espouses truly reflect our values in other respects as well. We should be concerned about being taken advantage of by those whose sincerity we can never be sure of. No one I know, including many who are pro-choice, enjoys or celebrates abortion. Most people agree that in any instance, abortion is a tragedy. Should we not open dialogue with those politicians with whom we might disagree, but who are willing to adopt policies aiming at reducing unwanted pregnancies, such as by improving education? In any case, regardless of one’s position, we need to watch politicians who claim to be against abortion only to gain votes and support, when in their own private affairs and in many other positions, they act in ways opposed to Christian values. The way to do that would be to judge Be concerned about being taken advantage of by those whose sincerity we can never be sure of. our politicians not on a single issue, but on their overall stands and on the content of their character and their actions. N. Peter Antone is an immigration attorney in Farmington Hills and an adjunct professor of Immigration and Nationality Law at Michigan State University School of Law. NOVEMBER 2011 CHALDEAN NEWS 19
