Tony Curtis Dies At The Age Of Eighty-five

Watch him eat up the screen in this scene from Some Like It Hot with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe.

Of all the people I could wish would never grow old, it’s the people that made us laugh.

James Pilant

Business Ethics – India

I wish there were more direct references to business ethics in the speeches of our politicians, and not just our politicians, the voices of the pulpit and law office are too often silent in this regard.

The is from a speech by the President of India, Shrimati Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

Finally, I would like to mention that business is for profit but it cannot be divorced from ethics. This basic principle should be the guiding principle for business houses and their management. For corporate India to become a credible partner in India’s progress, a trust based relationship between – government, organizations and society at large, is a must.

Forbidden Business Transactions – The Teachings Of Islam

One of my good friends suggested I look at a short (20 page) article that is basically a lecture by Shaikh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan. (Yes, that’s all one name. Shaikh” is a title given out of respect to any scholar or elderly person in Arabic. His name is “Salih” and “bin Fawzaan” means the son of Fawzaan.)

This is a great summary of the teachings of Islam as applied to business ethics. It is most impressive. This civilization has a lot to say about what is a legitimate business practice, and they don’t shy away from the concept of right and wrong.

Listen to this -

Also, the scholars of Fiqh have stated that what falls under Najash is when a seller tells his customer: “I bought this item for such and such price”, lying about the price, so that the buyer may be fooled and buy the item at an increased value. Or it is when the seller says: “I was given this product at this price” or he says: “I received it for this much”, lying about the price. He only wants to fool the customers into bidding the price up to reach this alleged and false price, which he claims he spent for the item. This is from the Najash, which Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) forbade. It is a treachery and deception of the Muslims, and it is lying and disloyalty, for which he will be accountable for before Allaah. So what is obligatory on the seller is that he reveals the truth if the buyer asks him how much he got it for. He must tell him the truth and not say that he attained it for this much money, lying about the price. What also falls into the definition of An-Najash is if the people of the marketplace or the storeowners agree to not outbid one another when an item is presented for sale, for the purpose of forcing the owner to sell it for a (discounted) cheaper price. So therefore, they are all participating in this act, which is Haraam. And this is from An-Najash. It is also a form of taking the people’s money unjustly.

Where do we in this culture have the courage to call the continuous wall of “PR” lies and distortions, treachery and deception? That’s wonderful teaching. Now there is much in this that is not in accordance with the common beliefs in the United States, but is not every single branch of the Christian religion committed like the religion of Islam to avoid the things of this world and not to be worldly? Is that not repeatedly stated in the New Testament?

A dose of of the business ethics teaching of Islam would not be to the detriment of this country, it would be a blessing.

James Pilant

Net Neutrality – Where Is The President?

During the campaign two years ago, Obama repeatedly stated his support for net neutrality – Watch!

Did you hear that – “I will take a backseat to no one.” Backseat! He might as well be in the trunk for all the help he’s been.

“I am a strong supporter of net neutrality.” Okay, that’s good. How about NOW? Where is he?

“I’m a big believer in net neutrality.” Still nice, but how about saying something now?

“I remain firmly committed to net neutrality.” Is he still? I don’t have anyway to know.

Okay, guys, probably you’ve seen enough. I can find more clips. I’ve already seen them. The open internet is under attack right now at the FCC and in Congress. A bill was considered a few days ago, that would have essentially ratified the agreement between Google and Verizon dividing up the internet and giving broadband to corporations. The attacks are well funded and continuous. The President referred to the danger of large companies getting control in his many speeches.

Where is he now? Where is the President of the United States? Where are all his pretty words? If he doesn’t speak soon, he will only be commenting on the division of the web into corporate sectors after it’s done.

If there is no net neutrality, this web site may become so slow as not to be viable or simply not deemed worthy of band width. Under the new rules, the FCC cannot issue any regulations but can hear complaints. Thus, if I am treated wrongly I will be able to complain to the FCC and should they decide in my favor after months during which my audience has gone away to other sites approved by the great media companies, that will fix everything, right? I’ll be all whole and returned to where I was. Right?

There are tens of thousands of sites like mine. And these voices cry out for advocacy for the poor, or the environment, etc.., some cry out for political action, …., some broadcast every crazy theory you can imagine, … and some are people just crying out that they are there – they are significant – they are important – they plead for attention and recognition.

And soon, these voices will be silent, their bandwidth divied up for movie companies and media channels and, of course, the occasional lapse where they allow a semi-independent voice to speak.

Pretty words are not the same as action. Eloquence is not the same as standing up for your beliefs. Political expedience cannot be an excuse of inaction where action has been repeatedly promised.

Where is the President? Did he mean any of that stuff he said? Is there time left for him to do or say anything?

James Pilant