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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Just got back from Honduras late last night, a trip including a coup, curfews, demonstrations and strikes blocking roads and bridges, and an intense time getting my team through a clogged airport.
So, I've missed a couple of weeks of posts and threads. What are the ones I REALLY need to read?
We take a lot for granted in the USA. This 4th of July will be reminder of how well off we are and why. |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Welcome back Paul!
There's no better feeling than stepping back onto American soil. I'm sure that our global members feel the same about going 'home'.
Did you get any sense of the populations general attitude about the coup? |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Glad your back safely |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Welcome home. There is no feeling quite like stepping back onto US soil. Did you bring back any mahogany? |
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November 2007
Posts: 1486
Location: Cincinnati | Welcome back, Paul. How did you manage to stir up so much trouble in 2 weeks? Glad you made it back safely. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Welcome home!
We argued a lot over the sucky selling prices, excellent buying prices and the fact that many of us are layed off or have kids going to College. Even Beal only golfs every other day.
Fender hasn't done anything amazing, we can't keep up with Dave Witko's latest login name and Moody still doesn't see the need of anything past the fifth fret!
You know, same ol stuff...
I'm glad to see the saints come back to reload Paul! |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Glad you and all are safe and welcome back home Paul...I've been caught in the middle several times on overseas trips...probably not quite as you were however... |
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October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Welcome home! |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Thanks for the welcome, my Ovation-loving online friends.
The issues are certainly political, and thus there are many Hondurans on both sides. The media has focused on the political ambitions of the deposed president, Zelaya. He wanted to amend their constitution to allow a second term for president, which isn't a bad idea (it works here). However, he resorted to an unconstitutional method.
From what I gather, Zelaya is a reformer who raised minimum wage to above poverty level. I think 70% of Hondurans live in poverty. He has challenged multinational corporations and has worked for a more equitable distribution of the wealth from exports that have traditionally flowed into the hands of the rich, the corrupt, and as big profits to North American companies.
Thus he becomes labeled a socialist. I think that is a caricature, because economic justice for the poor can't be reduced to an economic system or just a name.
Now you know what I know, or think I know. I tried to get more news down there but CNN ran endless hours of stories about Michael Jackson...
Back to music: I did take down some nice Yamaha gear and installed a sound system in a church. Now people IN the church can hear over the traffic noise outside and when it's cranked, the taxi drivers will hear them too.
I got to snorkel in the Caribbean for a couple of hours, and the church cook who was in charge of meals for my team had been trained on cruise ships. Best mission trip food I've had by far!
It was a good trip, I'm glad to be home, and I get to continue to mull over the question of providence that has to do with why I was born in the USA and not in a 3rd world nation. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Paul Blanchard:
I tried to get more news down there but CNN ran endless hours of stories about Michael Jackson... CNN ≠ news.
Welcome home! |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Welcome back. MWoody's assessment is spot on. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Originally posted by Paul Blanchard:
It was a good trip, I'm glad to be home, and I get to continue to mull over the question of providence that has to do with why I was born in the USA and not in a 3rd world nation. That was the theme of our daughter's commencement address at University of Portland, one of the highlights of my Spring, and possibly my life. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
[/qb] That was the theme of our daughter's commencement address at University of Portland, one of the highlights of my Spring, and possibly my life. [/QB]
Hmmm... no small statement for an Ovation playing, Porsche driving attorney. I'm interested in knowing more of what she had to say. |
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Back from Honduras