This weekend I saw the movie "The Visitor", and it is one of my favorite films ever. "The Visitor" is a reminder that one's life can be forever altered in a moment, simply by meeting people in the most unlikely of ways. The main character of this movie, Walter, is a Professor of Economics who, upon making a business trip to New York, stumbles upon unlikely friendships. The film is about relationships, love, friendship, cultural differences, and the underworld of illegal immigrants. It is a touching film that will surely make you laugh, cry, and speak out against deportation of some illegal immigrants. The cast of characters are wonderfully crafted, intertwined, and unusual.

Many illegal immigrants are simply seeking political asylum or a better economic future for themselves and/or family. Should we deport every illegal immigrant? No, only those who commit crimes and/or have ties to terrorist activity. Often, illegal immigrants risk their lives to come to the United States, with the hope that they will have a better life. Let's provide ways for illegal immigrants to earn a legal income and gain education, so they can have access to a better life.

That being said, the "bad ones", those illegal immigrants who commit crimes, need to return to their home country, where they can be locked up in prison. Why should our prison system be burdened with illegals, while our tax dollars are spent supporting their incarceration? Send them home. On the other hand, as I've stated, let the moral and law abiding immigrants flourish and prosper.

Remember, somewhere down your line, your family immigrated here too, legal or not.

Have you ever wondered what the world would look like without people? This coming Monday night, January 21st, the History Channel will premier "Life After People", a 2 hour movie painting such a scenario. Similar to "Earth Before People", an article in Discover magazine (2005), the movie portrays a world where people disappear and, as a result, nature and wild animals take over. In order to create a realistic setting, the movie was produced with the help of expert engineers, archeologists, geologists, botanists, ecologists, climatologists, and biologists.

Over the course of centuries, civilizations have disappeared because of diseases, like the Ancient Maya in Guatemala, or because of "accidents", like Chernobyl. In fact, the area around Chernobyl is a strong illustration of what the world would be like without humans, even after 20 years. "From a distance, you would still believe that Pripyat is a living city, but the buildings are slowly decaying," says Ronald Chesser, director for the Center for Environmental Radiation Studies, "The most pervasive thing you see are plants whose root systems get into the concrete and behind the bricks and into doorframes and so forth, and are rapidly breaking up the structure. You wouldn't think, as you walk around your house every day, that we have a big impact on keeping that from happening, but clearly we do. It's really sobering to see how the plant community invades every nook and cranny of a city."

I find the concept for this movie a bit harrowing and pessimistic, though there seems to be growing rhetoric that the world would fair better without so many humans populating the earth.

What do you think?

In the documentary, Dr. Robert Hare draws frightening parallels between a psychopath and the modern corporation, including:
* Callous unconcern for the feelings of others
* Incapacity to maintain enduring relationships
* Reckless disregard for the safety of others
* Deceitfulness: Repeated lying to and deceiving of others for profit
* Incapacity to experience guilt
* Failure to conform to the social norms with respect to lawful behaviors

Corporations will do whatever it takes to save money and achieve their goals. With no conscience, they are ruthless in their pursuit to reign. My advice: Don't place your faith in a corporation, no matter how good, stable or enticing it looks. They'll be your friend one day and ignore you the next. Who needs a "person" like that in one's life?

Think about it. What has your experience been? Do you think corporations have your best interest in mind? Why or why not?

Go buy the movie here.

I just rented Amazing Grace, the inspiring story of William Wilberforce, a Cambridge graduate turned politician and philanthropist, who tirelessly advocated for the abolition of slavery in England during the late 17th century. During college, he became friends with William Pitt, who later became the future Prime Minister. In 1780, both Wilberforce and Pitt joined the House of Commons and four years later, Wilberforce became a Christian. Passionate with the rights and justice for all men, Wilberforce became a strong voice for African men, women and children who were forced into a life of servitude and abuse by English plantation owners. Although he contemplated leaving politics, William Pitt and John Newton, a former slave trader turned abolitionist minister and the one who penned the song "Amazing Grace", convinced Wilberforce to remain and to become the chief parliamentary abolitionist speaker. This single decision to stay in politics and advocate for slaves became his lifetime legacy.

Not surprisingly, Wilberforce's campaign to destroy the slave trade in England was wrought with opposition, especially by those who feared an economic and political collapse of their beloved country. Wilberforce fought this battle with faith, courage and a conviction; he believed that every human had a God given right for freedom and dignity. Just three days before his death on July 29, 1833, Wilberforce received the glorious news that the Emancipation Bill was passed by the House of Commons. He lived to see his years of work change the course of history.

Fast forward more than 170 years, the world is still plagued by slavery. Studies show that modern day slaves number 27 million, including men, women and children. The Amazing Change is the call to action today.

In closing, I'd like to remind you of the words to the song that inspired Wilberforce's call to justice:

AMAZING GRACE
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

"Amazing Grace" is a well-known Christian hymn. The words were written late in 1772 by Englishman John Newton. They first appeared in print in Newton's Olney Hymns (1779), which he worked on with William Cowper.