Hi John and Thread, why does Intel do business in Colorado and Washington?
Two Washington State Reps. Walk Out . . .
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
WASHINGTON — ... Attendance is spotty for the daily prayer, which is given at the opening of each Senate and House floor session by someone selected from a broad range of clergy by Associated Ministries of Thurston County.
McMahan said she did not oppose having a Muslim
deliver the prayer but did not remain in the chamber because "the religion is the focal point of the
hate-America sentiment in the world."
"It's an issue of patriotism," she said.
"The Islamic religion is so ... part and parcel with
the attack on America. I just didn't want to be there, be a part of that," she said. "Even though the mainstream Islamic religion doesn't profess to hate America, nonetheless it spawns the groups that hate America."
Kathy Erlandson, director of the ministerial group,
said she was disappointed but not surprised. "It makes me embarrassed to know that some of our legislators can't even treat someone with that common respect," she said. "He's an American citizen and he's praying for their work, then how can it be an act of patriotism to walk away?"
"They're unable to distinguish between Islam as religion and way of life, and bad Muslims," ...
foxnews.com
Since when did the government start mixing religion with government?
Obviously, McMahan has to be removed from office. I think Intel should cut all funding to the Thurston County, except for a creation of tolerance education that:
intel.com
that "encourages women and minorities to enter technical careers." Sarcastically speaking, Intel would be much better off giving these students a bus pass out of Thurston County and to Silicon Valley.
On a serious note, the educational program is definitely needed and shouldn't be removed, but the program for recruiting women and minorities (appears to be) missing one rather huge and incredibly critical ingredient to ensure successful recruitment & retention: "tolerance education."
Tolerance education could be the biggest requirement for recruiting & retaining women and minorities in the sciences. Girls & minorities get math & science, but they don't get intolerance - and they shouldn't have to - tolerance should be taught to the community. Intolerence pushes women & minorities out. How ironic if companies are focused only on women & minorities, while not educating tolerance to others - when that's needed too.
I believe intolerance to educ or work differences is what pushes minorities and women out, not a lack of mathematic/ science abilities. There are studies that show women are present in large numbers in the earlier years of math/science courses (and in fact, studies show they score higher than men) but then suddenly they fall out in later grade-school years during the years where studies show a correlation between teacher-to-student air-time gender inequality (which is called an 'intolerant' event; or subtle unacceptance of style differences in diversity of individuals.) The issue isn't a lack of math/science abilities, but is more related to classroom retention, which is probably related to intolerance, such as instructional air-time gender inequality and other correlated gender and cultural instructional events.
Intel's educ program into the community should add a focus on tolerance education.
Also, from a business perspective, consider how it's discussed that a group of top Intel performers were driving to work in Colorado and while enroute they were threatened by a group of white men because the managers happened to look non-white. And when you consider how some muslim and non-white Intel folks appear to have trepidation with Colorado from a safety perspective, it makes you wonder why Intel is in Colorado in the first place?
Community education programs on tolerance are needed. If I were in charge of Intel, I'd fire off a note to the political leaders of those concerned areas and demand a) all local high schools teach tolerance in school - with close interactive involvement from high-tech minorities, b) demand stepped-up police enforcement on racism, as well as ensuring the routes between any airport & Intel don't harbor racist car draggers waiting to harrass workers at stop lights. (Non-whites should lock your car doors when in Colorado during these sensitive times.)
I think Intel should throw their weight around and threaten the local politicians with the removal of funds & tax revenues unless they improve their local standards - specifically, police enforcement against racism & a mandate that high schools educate for tolerance.
In some small town in Oregon, there was an innocent muslim-looking kid helping his Mom out at her grocery store, and when they departed, he was attacked (in front of his Mom) and the perpetrators shouted racist comments and broke his nose. Even though the act was racist, the police released the perpetrators on a token $100 bond (can you believe it?). The Oregon police of that particular precinct didn't declare it a racist act even though it was -- meanwhile, compare that incident to how Silicon Valley handles racist attacks - a local white woman kicked a muslim tax driver because he looked muslim and Silicon Valley police correctly put her in jail for her racist act. Night and day.
Given that 25% of all VC capital is now reportedly being plowed into the semiconductor businesses in Silicon Valley area, Intel should take initiative to encourage community outreach, high-school tolerance program in Colorado so they don't risk losing their attractiveness for some of their top engineering talent.
Startups have the good sense to grow their businesses in what appears to be racially tolerant areas such Silicon Valley, Arizona, or Folsom, etc. - and avoid any community locale that may make some of their engineers be concerned. 50% of all the startups in Silicon Valley are founded by minorities.
Regards,
Amy J |
