public Variable getVariable(String name) {
		if (variables.containsKey(name)) {
			return variables.get(name);
		}
		Variable ret = null;
		if (parent != null) {
			ret = parent.getVariableSafely(name);
		}
		if (ret == null) {
			ret = new Variable();
			variables.put(name, ret);
		}
		return ret;
	}