"OH, GOD"

WHEN I READ OR LISTEN TO THE NEWS I HEAR MY MUEZZIN CALL. MY PRAYER USUALLY INVOLVES THE MANTRA, "OH, GOD." OH GOD, WHY DO WE NEED A SPECIAL POLICE TASK FORCE TO SERVE WARRANTS AND INITIATE A BLANKET CRIME SWEEP AND DRUG RAID? I THOUGHT THE EVERYDAY JOB OF OUR SERVANTS "IN BLUE" IS TO SCOOP THE CRIMINALS OFF THE STREETS, MAKE ARRESTS AND MAINTAIN VIGILANCE. BUT SUCH A PIECE OF LOCAL NEWS IS NOT NEWS; IT IS AN ADMISSION OF LASSITUDE PREVALENT NOT JUST AT POLICE AND SHERIFFS' DEPARTMENTS, BUT IN MANY SERVICE SECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY.

OH GOD, WHY DO WE NEED AFTER-SCHOOL READING PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATORS LIKE TO BRAGG ABOUT, WHEN WE PUMP MONEY INTO BAD SCHOOLS WITH OVERPAID TEACHERS IN WHICH STUDENTS DON'T MASTER BASIC READING SKILLS? AGAIN, SUCH A FAILURE TO SERVE SEEMS TO CHARACTERIZE BUREAUCRACIES, TOP-HEAVY WITH ADMINISTRATION AND LIGHT ON PERFORMANCE.

OH GOD, WHY DO AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES STAFF THOUSANDS OF LAWYERS TO SERVE THEIR NEEDS? THE SHEER NUMBER OF THESE LAWYERS, BY THE WAY, IS TWENTY TIMES THAT OF GREAT BRITAIN. OH GOD, ARE THEY REALLY NECESSARY TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS? FOR EXAMPLE, TORTS HAVE BEEN FILED AND CASES WON WHICH PROVE THAT SCHOOLS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THEIR STUDENTS. LAWYERS PLUS MONETARY REWARDS WILL NEVER BALANCE ON THE SCALE WITH PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMON SENSE. THE GREEK GODDESS THEMIS IS APPROPRIATELY BLIND TO THESE SHENANIGANS OF THE SHYLOCKS.(SHAKESPEARE’S LAWYER IN THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.)