Welcome To My Mind

Sometimes you just have to throw words on paper (or in this case, on a computer), without regard to how it might sound to others....Enjoy?


There is no greater feeling than being moved by words so much so that as paragraphs pass and pages turn, one’s level of empathy towards a situation in which he was previously unaware confounds in him deeply until he is living in the shoes of a person thousands of miles, multiple generations, and a sea of languages apart.  There is no greater gift than being able to universalize a cause through the use of words; words which can be readily accessed, and thus from which, emotion can subsequently be derived to fill a void that one was never aware existed.  The power of striving to understand that which does not apply to one’s own life is what connects individuals in remote and deserted areas with those who call the world their playground.  It’s what connects the bigoted conservative to the close-minded liberal.  It’s the purveyor of excuses for murderers, thieves, and militants, no matter which side of the war they fight on.  It is the creator of sympathy and compassion.  It supports the logic of the cliché saying, “Everything happens for a reason,” by instilling reason into traditionally nonsensical acts.  It is the idea that even the most violent and corrupted enemies were once the same as you and I.  After all, we are all born of the same blood and fabric, varying just slightly in the composition of our DNA. 

Where then, does evil lie? 

Is it instilled in the heart at conception, or does it appear over time when one’s upbringing becomes a one-sided battle against adversity and hopelessness?

One should love thine enemies, for inherently, they are no different than you or I.  Nor are the white man and black man any bit dissimilar.  The same can be said about the Jew and the Buddhist.  Or even the rich man and the vagrant.  It is when we decide to find differences among all that connects us, that evil and hate shine their ugly faces.  But remember once and for all, whether colored, conservative, gay, obese, short or dim-witted, we are all the same.  We are simply victims of our own circumstances, and for that very reason, no one holds any claim to life above that of any other man.  

Why American Exceptionalism Is Anything But Exceptional

Through moments of turmoil and moments of triumph, there is never a shortage in this country of people, mainly politicians, reminding the world that America will always be its preeminent power.  Disturbingly enough, naysayers are often called anarchists, making it all but impossible for one who expresses concerns over America’s status as a world leader to reach elected office.  But aren’t these naysayers the ones we should be looking to most in times of crisis?  The business-as-usual, laissez-faire type attitude that the majority of electees exhume during government stalemates only add to my worry, as an American citizen.  Is being honest and expressing worry during uncertain times truly frowned upon by the public?  If we don’t admit that there is a problem to fix, what’s to stop political crises and shutdowns from becoming the norm?

Now I’m not running for office, but even if I were, I’d be invalidating the integrity behind democracy if I didn’t profess that America is no longer the preeminent power in the world, and hasn’t been for the better part of three decades.  Even making the argument that America deserves the ambiguous title of “Best in the World” is impossible given the fact that the US ranks 20^th and 24^th respectively, in OECD rankings amongst 16-24 year olds for literacy and numeracy rates.  The latter statistic ranks the US dead last in the countries included in the study, while the former puts the country in front of only Italy and Cyprus, two of the most corrupt countries included in the rankings.

Why does the US fare so poorly in youth education rankings?  Could it be our overindulgence in military spending, which earmarks dollars for camouflage rather than classrooms?  Finland, South Korea, the Netherlands, and Japan, the only countries to rank in the top-5 for both literacy and numeracy rates, maintain military budgets per capita of $683, $630, $586, and $466 respectively.  The US, on the other hand, spends a whopping $2,154 for each one of its nearly 317 million, which is just $211 per person less than the combined total of the four aforementioned countries.  We have come to prioritize bombs, drones, and tanks over books, laboratories, and libraries.  And instead of contributing to sparks in the minds of our youth, we have become consumed by creating explosions by way of bombs.  This, will most certainly contribute to our demise as a world leader, as other nations outpace us in education and technology while we prepare for the non-existent Cold War II. 

Now that we’ve established that American-bred children aren’t inherently more intelligent than their foreign counterparts, we can breathe a quick sigh of relief in acknowledging that for now the American university system is still the most highly-touted in the world.  The reason for this?  I personally believe its success can be attributed to the healthy competition between private and public universities, and the system of meritocracy that awards scholarships and incentives to the nation’s and world’s highest achievers.  While there are flaws in the system, including favoritism towards legacies, and sometimes counter-productive affirmative action policies (centered around race rather than wealth), America’s collegiate and university system remains the foremost system of higher-education in the world, with six US universities ranked in the top 10 global rankings.  The problem, thus, isn’t attracting top talent to the US, but retaining that talent.  As a byproduct of the flawed ideology behind American Exceptionalism, foreign graduates of MIT, Stanford, Harvard, and Yale find themselves working for Samsung, Airbus, Siemens, and Toyota rather than Apple, Boeing, GE, and Ford as a direct result of outdated immigration/visa policies.  Very few American companies are willing to sponsor work visas, and those who do still find their foreign-born employees struggling to get green cards allowing them to stay in the US longer.  So while the world’s best and brightest come to US shores to take advantage of the many educational opportunities, nearly all take their newfound knowledge to their home countries after getting the boot from Uncle Sam.  Rather than contributing to American GDP, innovation, and supremacy, these foreign geniuses are forced to take their talents elsewhere in the globe, with many countries welcoming them with open arms. 

Adding to the United States’ idiotic self-obsession is its promotion of the USD as the “world’s reserve currency.”  Over 62% of foreign exchange reserves held by foreign countries are US Dollars, which in short means a boatload of US currency is sitting idle in the vaults of foreign countries, artificially inflating the value of the USD, due to countries’ high, albeit declining, demand for the currency as a reserve currency.  Modern monetary policy does little to account for this phenomenom, making it appear as if the USD is actually worth what it is currently trading it.  Due to its artificially high value, US manufacturers (the few that are left at least), find it incredibly difficult to export their products abroad.  Sure this benefits US consumers who find foreign-made products cheaper than those domestically, but it’s a major dagger in the side of any American manufacturing resurgence.  If any good comes out of the latest Capitol Hill standstill, maybe it will be that countries decide the USD is no longer stable or liquid enough to keep as a reserve currency.  I‘m sure GM and Ford would appreciate that bit of news.

Democratic Irony

I, like every other person on this earth, have my own beliefs on controversial issues facing the world.  While my convictions may be strong on certain issues, I wouldn’t dare to challenge another person’s right to an opinion.  Doing so would inhibit freedom of speech, which in my opinion, is the cornerstone of societal understanding and progression.  This is why I was shocked when the mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino, issued a public letter to Chick-fil-A a year ago, stating that the chain wasn’t welcome in the city, and that he would personally make it very difficult for them to receive the permits needed to operate in Boston.  So much for the idea of a free-market economy, and allowing consumers to decide where their money goes.  God forbid a private fast food chain’s ownership doesn’t support gay marriage.  Do you think the mayor’s letter to the chain served its purpose in attempting to incentivize people to support gay marriage?  Absolutely not.  In fact, I think it’s safe to say that it polarized and enraged a large group of people who share similar views to those held by the ownership of Chick-fil-A.  Benjamin Franklin once famously stated, “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”  Rather than stressing tolerance and acceptance in the promotion of gay marriage, the mayor took a major jab at a very large and successful restaurant chain because of their ownership’s view on a controversial issue, deliberately impeding an organization’s right to believe what they wish.

Less than 30 years ago, the Missouri branch of the KKK attempted to exercise their right to broadcast their views on a public television station in Kansas City.  Understandably enraged, the city council voted to eliminate the public television station, so as to not have to worry about any repercussions associated with selectively denying freedom of speech to a single organization.  Well, the intentions of the city council were obvious enough to the Federal Court that heard the case brought by the KKK against the city, and the issue was settled out of court before the court even had to render an official decision.  The public television station, thus, returned to air and the KKK broadcasted only a single episode due to the Kansas City population’s overwhelming support of racial equality, epitomized in their election of a black mayor.  When society is able to formulate a dialogue around controversial issues, progress and civility always succeed.  When censorship in any form attempts to rid an entire perspective from existence, we all lose, with one side feeling marginalized, and the other robbed of democratic forum.

I support the allowance of any man or woman to marry whomever they may choose, regardless of their partner’s gender.  Nonetheless, I recognize that forcing my personal belief onto others will only lead to animosity and divisiveness.  John Adams once ruled that, “Democracy is the tyranny of the majority.”  A truer statement may have never been spoken, but in order to have democracy, two (or more) sides must be able to engage in a thoughtful and open debate without attacking the other’s right to an opinion. 

So you may be wondering by now why I bring up this issue today, just about a year from the time that Mr. Menino wrote his heated letter to the corporate leaders of Chick-fil-A.  Well it turns out that he’s at it again, this time issuing a public letter to Rolling Stone Magazine, criticizing their decision to put a picture of one of the Boston Marathon bombers on the cover of the magazine’s most recent edition.  Shortly after this letter came out, major national retailers, including CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Kmart, said they would not sell the magazine edition in their stores.  This ladies and gentlemen is what censorship looks like in the 21^st century.  It’s actually quite sad too, because the underlying article appears to have very big motives in analyzing the factors that may drive someone to extremism.  While the aims of modern-day terrorists are many, one major desire is the attempt to silence an opinion that the terrorist organization vehemently opposes.  How ironic is it that we deem it necessary to censor an analysis of those who wish to censor us?  We can’t preach freedom of choice and opinion if we are going to intentionally block those ideas that we find distasteful or disagreeable.  I actually admire the Rolling Stone article’s purpose because I believe it asks a formidable question that we all need to consider: What motivates one to practice extremism, and how do we counteract the violence associated with this dangerous idea?  Ignoring the issue of extremism altogether is certainly not the answer to combatting its vicious effects.  When we analyze the problem of murders in our country, is it wise to simply invest all our resources in the process of investigation and holding murderers accountable?  Or is it beneficial to attack the problem at its root, seeking to be proactive in the battle against murders?  To express my point in an overtly colloquial manner, all things happen for a reason (or many reasons).  Happy people don’t kill other people, and thus, it is important to engage in the process of analyzing why people think and act in certain ways.  If we want to truly combat any issue, whether obesity, sexual assault, or terrorism, we have to implant ourselves in the minds of the obese, the pedophile, and the terrorist.  Not to offer too much credit to the magazine article, but I believe this conversation could serve as a major catalyst to societal progression, contrary to the inhibitive qualities of censorship.

So Mr. Menino, I sympathize with you in the devastating loss of three precious lives, and the physical and emotional injury of countless others.  But promoting the dismissal of a worthwhile discussion will not repair any of the harm done by these two extremists.  Quite to the contrary, your letter only serves to enrage and marginalize.  Rather than promoting one-sidedness, let us promote openness and serious dialogue.  And let us remember that where dialogue ends, conflict begins.  For the danger lies not in the idea, but in the preemptive dismissal of said idea.

Today

Today, I will be the first person in my entire family to have ever attained a college degree.  This extends beyond my parents, and includes aunts, uncles, grandparents, and anyone else with even remotely similar genes.  While today the eyes will lie on me, it belongs to those whom have sacrificed so much to have even made this opportunity fathomable.  Today belongs to the ancestors that gave up everything they knew to venture to a new land, seeking opportunity.  It belongs to my caring grandparents, those both dead and alive, who turned this opportunity into excellence.  And most of all, it belongs to my parents, the tireless protectors that have given me every emotional and physical need I could have ever dreamed of.  So while in an hour or so, “James Robert Lago” will be projected from the speakers, the credit belongs to those who go unannounced. 

90% of where I am today is because of someone else.  I cannot help but feel selfish to be the sole receiver of credit, when in fact I don’t deserve even a sliver of that which has been given to me.  I didn’t choose to enroll in a top-notch school system on my own accord.  I certainly did not come into this world with the belief that compassion trumps ignorance, or that learning is never complete.  My parents have gone above and beyond the standard requirements in raising a child, and have told me time and time again how proud they are.  I couldn’t have asked for a more caring and devoted set of role models, and I’m not sure that anyone in this entire world will ever be as lucky as I have been in that regard.

They cheered and supported me through countless football practices, school concerts, sick days, days of sorrow, and days of hope.  They smiled with me after victory, and taught me to be resilient through moments of failure.  They reminded me that there is always tomorrow to achieve that which could not be had today.  They each worked two or three jobs to make my life enjoyable, and contrary to what they may believe, I saw the insurmountable obstacles they battled.  The overwhelming majority of the lessons they taught me were through action, not spoken word.  Life was not always kind to their ambitions, but when hardship arose, they buckled down and charged forward.  It’s hard to imagine that in addition to the investment they put into myself and my sister, there were additional external struggles they had to battle.  The reason this is so hard to believe, is because they did so flawlessly, without reluctance or complaint.

Four years ago, they stood with me as I received my first college acceptance letter.  Last year, they saw me off to four months of unparalleled adventure and excitement in Europe.  Today, they live with me through the proudest moment of my life.  They’ve collectively leapt across oceans and ran through fire to hand the torch to me for an easy stroll to the finish line.  While I may be the one to cross the line, the difficulty of my run is nothing in relation to the progress achieved in theirs.  Congratulations Mom and Dad.  You did it.

My Creed

I believe in education as a means for action. 

I believe that integrity and justice are the building blocks of civility and progress.

I believe in humanity and the sacrifices that must be endured in order to allow all humans, wherever dispersed around the world, the right to a voice, an opportunity, and a sense of security.

I believe in the ability of democracy and openness to foster coexistence and recognize the power of diversity.

I believe in fellowship and benevolence as means for working in unity towards a common good.

I believe that empathy is the world’s greatest emotion; that it alone can overpower evil, and that compassion can sustain the threat of injustice.

This is my creed.  My testament to the world of what I value most, and what my mission in this life entails.  After reading Passion Capital by Paul Alofs, I became inspired to define my role in society through the formulation of a creed.  Most forward-thinking and entrepreneurial organizations have one, and they serve as foundations for sustainable, lasting entities.  Time may pass by, products may change along with consumer tastes, but the core values of an organization remain steadfast.  Look to Johnson&Johnson for a creed that has withstood the test of time.  As I've mentioned in a previous post, companies that define themselves by the products they sell become prone to extinction.  On the contrary, companies that distinguish a purpose for existence through a greater cause do remarkably well in terms of innovating with the times.  Look at Boeing, Apple, and Amazon for businesses that seek rewards beyond simple monetary profit, such as social innovation and global empowerment.  To an individual, a creed exemplifies that external conditions may vary throughout one's lifetime, but the internal mission and values that one holds himself or herself to remain strong and constant.  For without a purpose and meaning to life, there is no life to be lived.