Neeve’s ‘tree’, the good ice and a family Easter meal
Chicago Tribune
The U.S. relationship with China? It’s complicated. The two sides are economically entwined yet geopolitical adversaries in the Pacific, where China’s ambition to project power risks colliding with the U.S. commitment to keep peace.
The biggest potential flashpoint is nuclear-armed North Korea, a rogue state that exists in almost complete isolation — except for its tight relationship with China.
North Korea is utterly reliant on China for energy and other forms of trade.
As we write, North Korea is rumored to be preparing another test of a nuclear bomb, and a U.S. Navy carrier strike group is cruising off the Korean coast to send the North a message to keep its finger off the trigger.
If only the U.S. could compel China to drive North Korea to the negotiating table over its nukes program.
That hope’s been around for a long time and has done little but provide the North with time and space to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. China doesn’t consider North Korea a military threat and, more to the point, isn’t wishing for the sudden demise of Kim Jong Un’s regime because the collapse of North Korea would create chaos on the border with China.
Curiously, there are hints of common ground between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping over North Korea, though plenty of reason to be skeptical. After Trump and Xi met in Florida and spoke again by telephone, Trump sketched out a potential deal in which China reins in North Korea in exchange for trade benefits. “I think he wants to help us on North Korea,” Trump said of Xi at a Wednesday news conference. Yes, well, that would be great. But Trump is new to the job of president, a neophyte on global affairs and inclined to look at danger zones the way he approached the real estate game: He believes desirable outcomes are just a matter of negotiation.
Trump acknowledged his thin grasp of Korean issues when he told The Wall Street Journal in a Wednesday interview that Xi had provided him with an illuminating overview of China-North Korea relations.
“After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it’s not so easy,” the president recounted. “I felt pretty strongly that they had tremendous power” over North Korea, “but it’s not what you would think.”
There you have some bad news about Donald Trump’s unusual presidency: At times he doesn’t even know what he doesn’t know.
The good news, maybe, is that coming in fresh provides the opportunity for a different approach.
Trump says he considers himself flexible on many issues, and proved it by doing an about-face on previous criticism of China.
As a candidate, he attacked China on trade, declaring the Chinese “the greatest currency manipulators ever.” He told the Journal never mind, they aren’t.
Putting aside prickly trade disputes with China appears to be a big part of the deal Trump envisions reaching with Xi. He said at the news conference that he told the Chinese, “The way you’re going to make a good trade deal is to help us with North Korea, otherwise we’re just going to go it alone.”
There’s foolishness in Trump’s hurtling from position to opposite position, yet there’s cleverness too. His three immediate predecessors lackadaisically watched as North Korea became a nuclear menace.
If Trump can work with Xi to defang Pyongyang, we wish him every success. Thanks to decades of American dithering and denial, Trump inherited no better option. From The Kansas City Sta
Complain our way or don’t be heard at all. Fox News channeled this message after a story broke alleging that famed host Bill O’Reilly has a long history of sexually harassing women.
Whether you love or loathe O’Reilly’s style and politics, the unfolding saga deserves further scrutiny.
About three out of four people who are harassed at work never report it to a supervisor, manager or union rep, according to a government study. Even fewer — 6 to 13 percent — make a formal complaint. Some of the reasons why are evident in the O’Reilly story. The New York Times recently reported that either O’Reilly, Fox News or the cable network’s parent company had paid $13 million to five women.
The money was supposed to keep the women quiet, precluding them from suing or talking publicly about their allegations detailing O’Reilly’s behavior.
21st Century Fox issued a statement saying, “no current or former Fox News employee ever took advantage of the 21st Century hotline to raise a concern about Bill O’Reilly, even anonymously.”
So Wendy Walsh did. Once a regular guest on Fox, Walsh called the hotline and posted a video of the phone call to YouTube. Apparently, that finally moved Fox.
Several days later, 21st Century hired a law firm to further investigate the claims against O’Reilly, who has since announced an extended vacation.
Walsh told her story to the Times, but she was not among the women who received settlements. She says O’Reilly retaliated when she rebuffed his advances, which ended her appearances on the network. Walsh is not looking for cash. There is no lawsuit. She simply wants her allegations to be taken seriously.
In that desire, Walsh mirrors many women who are reluctant to go through corporate channels that often inadvertently dissuade, rather than encourage, workers who are considering filing a complaint. Employees calculate the potential damages first.
What will it cost, career-wise and personally, to make an allegation? If their risks appear to be high, they will keep quiet. Or they move on and find other work. This solves nothing. Businesses must cultivate an atmosphere where employees believe they will be heard and have confidence that even the powerful will be held accountable. That has to be backed up by action, with messages delivered by senior-level people and in ways that go far beyond words in antiseptically curated press statements.
Stopping the behavior — not mitigating damages or buying silence later — is the goal. Fox News may well lose its highest profile host in this imbroglio.
But the O’Reilly story, unfortunately, is a well-publicized example of issues that are poorly managed in many workplaces.
Easter Sunday was a good one. It started out with a church service where everyone looked their best in all their Easter finery. I think Easter’s one of those days that people try to look especially pretty since you’re sort of expected to wear nice colors and you’ll be taking family photos, most likely.
At our church, like at many others, there’s a simple wooden cross which represents THE cross. On Easter Sunday, just before the service begins, all the kids come up and place beautiful flowers all over the cross, transforming it into a colorful symbol of life and rebirth. Some adults hold their babies up to the cross to add their little flowers and it’s a very sweet tradition.
By the way, I’ve heard that sunrise services on Easter morning are simply beautiful, but for the life of me I’ve never been able to wake up early enough to go to one. So I go to the 11 a.m. service.
Anyway, after the last hymn is sung, Neeve turns to me and says that the flowers are so beautiful, that she’d like a family photo in front of the “TREE.” She said it twice. By “tree” she means the symbolic cross upon which our Lord and Savior was crucified.
The family has a history of mislabeling things: one time Kook referred to the computer’s modem as the “Internet box” and gasped when someone knocked it over as if she was afraid the Internet would come tumbling out of it. But I digress. We take photos in front of Neeve’s “tree” and then head over to Kook’s to have our family Easter meal. She’s hosted the last few family gatherings on account of her having the big table and because she takes great joy in having everyone over.
A few days prior to this, Kook had sent out a group text message making sure everyone knew what they were supposed to bring. Readers may recall that for the Christmas meal group text message, Neeve thought she had included cousin Traci’s number but that number was, in fact, owned by a complete stranger in Jasper, Georgia, who was only too happy to be included in the text message and sent us photos of all his alcohol. So we nicknamed him the ‘drunken stranger’ since we have no idea what his actual name is.
Well, Kook used the same group message thread as the last time so the drunken stranger was once again invited to a family gathering, SEVERO AVILA Paul Zanetti, Australia Mike Lester, Washington Post Writers Group and said he’d bring “dill pickle juice and bunny eggs” as his contribution.
I made sure to explicitly ask cousin Pam to bring the “good ice” she brought at Christmas. It’s that kind of ice you get at places like Zaxbys and Chick Fil A — those small little chewy ice pellets that are a gift to mankind from the baby Jesus himself.
Cousin Pam did not disappoint and brought two large coolers full of the good stuff.
We had barbecue and slaw and baked beans and chips.
Cousin Freda made these massive cookies with Nutella and brown butter and salt and chocolate chips. It was heavenly.
Cousin Traci brought her specialty which I look forward to at every family get-together. It’s sort of a moist angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream and it’s delectable.
I guess by now you realize that the food is one of my favorite parts about days like these. But as we sat around the big table talking and laughing and enjoying the meal, I glanced around and was struck by how lucky I am to be surrounded by good people who love me.
Frank and Billie Sue (Neeve and Kook’s mama and daddy) are doing well. I love talking to Frank about animals. You can name any critter in the state of Georgia and I guarantee he’s got a personal story about one.
Zoodie looks good. That’s Billie Sue’s sister. She usually cooks most of the food for family gatherings.
Julie and Barton were, as usual, late. They are always the last ones to arrive at any gathering. They got there when we were all having dessert. Neeve’s girls are growing up fast. It’s strange to think that I used to play with them when they were just tiny little babies and now one’s 16 years old.
And Kook is doing very well. Thank y’all for all the prayers. She is stronger than I will ever hope to be and we appreciate all the prayers and support that have poured in since her most recent cancer diagnosis. She won’t ever let that disease keep her from having everyone over at the big table ... mainly because she doesn’t want Neeve to “win” their hosting competitions.
We couldn’t gather at Pawpaw’s in Esom Hill this year, but the big table over at Kook’s is just as good. I hope your family is healthy and happy and had a wonderful Easter.