(Since there was a request for the English version for the previous post, here it is. I did say in my first post ("Welcome!") that it was “Spanish Thursday,” but I must agree that it’s better to have a translation. FYI – The language is slightly different and a little awkward because of the translation (which I must say isn't entirely verbatim, because I wanted to make it a little more coherent)).
Unfortunately, the “Brazilian invasion” is still on the SHU College Republicans site. Therefore, I’m going to talk (a little) about President Bush’s speech (“State of the Union”) yesterday.
He talked about a lot of issues, for example: immigration, Social Security (and the option of having private accounts), health care, the environment, education, and especially the importance of freedom in the world (against terrorism). Bush also said that it’s necessary that we have a “culture of life” in our country. I was very proud that President Bush said that we are not going to destroy lives to try to save others’ lives. At last!
There was an Iraqi woman there whose name is Safia. Her father was assassinated by Saddam Hussein about eleven years ago. She participated in the elections in Iraq on Sunday. To have someone who has lived in Iraq and now, she wants to express her appreciation to the U.S. for liberating words – Ay, I don’t have words to describe my feelings. I cried when she hugged the mother of a marine who was killed recently (I think in Fallujah). I’m not sure, but I think that the mother gave Safia a bracelet (maybe to remember her son?).
Of all the issues Bush talked about, one of the best was Social Security. Bush is correct to create accounts for young people to decide how they want to invest their money. It’s not fair for us, citizens of the U.S., to depend on the government to control our futures when we are old and sick. While she was living, my grandmother received very little money from the government even though my grandfather (who died eleven years ago) worked for almost forty years, and my grandmother should have received more money from the government, with which she could have lived comfortably. She was lucky because she lived very close to my family and my parents could pay for her care. Her story is an example that we need to manage our money ourselves, without the “help” of the government. (I remember that the principles of the U.S. didn’t include socialist forms of health care.) Bush said that in the year 2018, we are going to have serious problems with Social Security and in approximately 2042, the system is not going to have money for anyone. Therefore, Bush wants to change the system little by little before these dates, to avoid problems that are going to be certain without effective changes in the future.
Hey,
First, thanks for translating your last blog, I really appreciate it :) Second, I have to agree with you about the social security thing. Not long ago a friend of mine, who is slightly older, said something about saving money now, so that we have money for when we retire. I think its kind of scary to think that far ahead and possibly seeing little or no hope. That would be nice if all of Bush's plans work out. When I worked at a grocery store as a cashier, I always felt bad for the little old ladies that had trouble buying things because they got very little from their social security checks. Hopefully Bush will keep that from happening someday. :)