Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Monday, July 11, 2005
The place where you keep all the darkness you need.
Ralph Bunche was really an amazing man. I feel like no matter what I do, no matter how much I accomplish, I'll never manage to do anything truly amazing, ya know? But damned if I'm not going to try.
I've been personally and professionally frustrated lately. I'm going to be taking steps to remedy my frustration, but such things are never easy.
Worthwhile things rarely are though, eh?
I've been personally and professionally frustrated lately. I'm going to be taking steps to remedy my frustration, but such things are never easy.
Worthwhile things rarely are though, eh?
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Does it mean anything to you?
My Thoughts on London:
I am utterly stunned by the responses to what happened in London. I shouldn't be. I'm a genocide scholar. People get up in the morning, have a cup of tea, read the paper, and head off to work. I get up in the morning, brew a pot of coffee, and begin my day by reading the three newspapers I have delivered, while I have the news on in the background, and then when I'm done with that, I pour myself another cup of coffee and start reading a wealth of online news sites. The news is my job. What does that mean exactly? It means that my job is to sift through global events, summarize them, and then contextualize them, and determine trends. I spend my days mired in unbelievable cruelty. I'm used to it.
There seems to be this need to perpetuate the mentality of "us and them", "victim and victimized". It's as if somehow by denying the very humanity of the "enemy", we're relieved of our responsiblity toward them, the responsibility of our shared humanity. The irony of the situation is that the very humanity of all parties is what makes it so fucking messy in the first place.
There is no justification for acts of terror. We can explain them, and to some extent we can understand them, but we can't justify them. Any attempt to justify such things is futile - and beyond that, it's an abomination. There is never an excuse for mistreatment (real or perceived) engendering further mistreatment. That old expression, "fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity" rings true in such instances.
We tend to toss about terms like "rights" and "civil liberties" quite a bit at such times. In a political sense, there's a distinct difference between a right and a privilege. We do have inalienable rights, but not as many as we like to think we do. Freedom from terror should be a right, but it isn't. It's a privilege. Why? Because people can take that away from us. As we've experienced today, and not for the first time.
We tend to marginalize people. European muslims are so marginalized it isn't even funny. They are often discounted within their own communities as being "too western", while the western world largely writes them off as being "too foreign/muslim/too extreme". This marginalization fosters considerable anger and resentment and creates an environment and a mentality ripe for exploitation by extremists. What's ironic about this is these marginalized people, who speak out against the west, are actually quintessential representatives of western values. How? They are taking advantage of the cival liberties (freedom of expression, etc.) granted to them as citizens of western countries. Does that excuse it? No. Justify it? No. What it does is illustrate our collective responsibility.
I once heard the analogy that "Islamic Extremism is to Islam what the KKK is to Christianity". I think that's a very good analogy. Extremists are a small, but very vocal, minority. They aren't representive of the majority, but they garner the majority of media attention. In the absence of vocal moderates, it's understandable that we start to view these extremists as representative of their countries/faith. That explains it, but it doesn't justify it.
Because we don't see moderates speaking up, speaking out against the extremists, we respond - and we're only responding to the extremists. Who suffers? The average person. The moderates. What happens? We turn moderates into extremists and we give the extremists exactly what they want. We foster such resentment that potential allies turn against us.
It's impossible to explain away an attack. Period. There isn't enough rhetoric out there for it. Political spindoctors have been attempting to do so for years, and they have yet to experience success.
Dragging colonial injustices into the situation as an excuse is asinine. If I thought it would improve matters, believe me, I'd be the first one talking up the injustices of colonization - but dragging history into it only serves to exacerbate an already volatile situation. There comes a point when people need to take responsibility for their circumstances - and not blame everything on the proverbial "past". Part of being a grown up is not blaming mommy and daddy anymore. It extends to political sovereignty. If you get caught up in a historical "tit for tat" no one is going to win. The situation isn't going to improve.
There is a time and a place for debating colonialism and imperialism, and the effects of them - but this isn't it.
Oscar Wilde said, "the worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity". The people who are responsible for this crap are fanatics. There is no reasoning with a fanatic - the very mark of a fanatic is unfailing, unreasoning devotion to their cause.
The sad fact is, bad things happen. The victims of terrorist attacks, the victims of war - they are almost always innocents. They are people who get caught up in the machinations of governments, zealots, fanatic - and they get fucked over. It's wrong, but that's how it works.
We can sit here and we can speculate about the causes. We can sit here and we can cast blame. We can sit here and ruminate on how unfortunate it is. All of those avenues are open to us, but none of them are productive.
We can sit here and bemoan the sad state of affairs. It's certainly a hell of a lot easier than being proactive, and actually doing something.
In a world where more than a billion people survive on less than a dollar a day, and several billion more survive on less than three dollars a day, where a woman can't get antibiotics for her child because a simple course of antibiotics costs more than she makes in a month, in a world where $16 dollars can clothe and send a child to school for a year, in this world it's so easy to just throw our hands in the air and give up. It's overwhelming. So rather than do something small to make a difference, we do nothing at all.
There's plenty of blame to go around. If we ever hope to improve things and prevent something like this from happening again we need to acknowledge our own culpability.
I am utterly stunned by the responses to what happened in London. I shouldn't be. I'm a genocide scholar. People get up in the morning, have a cup of tea, read the paper, and head off to work. I get up in the morning, brew a pot of coffee, and begin my day by reading the three newspapers I have delivered, while I have the news on in the background, and then when I'm done with that, I pour myself another cup of coffee and start reading a wealth of online news sites. The news is my job. What does that mean exactly? It means that my job is to sift through global events, summarize them, and then contextualize them, and determine trends. I spend my days mired in unbelievable cruelty. I'm used to it.
There seems to be this need to perpetuate the mentality of "us and them", "victim and victimized". It's as if somehow by denying the very humanity of the "enemy", we're relieved of our responsiblity toward them, the responsibility of our shared humanity. The irony of the situation is that the very humanity of all parties is what makes it so fucking messy in the first place.
There is no justification for acts of terror. We can explain them, and to some extent we can understand them, but we can't justify them. Any attempt to justify such things is futile - and beyond that, it's an abomination. There is never an excuse for mistreatment (real or perceived) engendering further mistreatment. That old expression, "fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity" rings true in such instances.
We tend to toss about terms like "rights" and "civil liberties" quite a bit at such times. In a political sense, there's a distinct difference between a right and a privilege. We do have inalienable rights, but not as many as we like to think we do. Freedom from terror should be a right, but it isn't. It's a privilege. Why? Because people can take that away from us. As we've experienced today, and not for the first time.
We tend to marginalize people. European muslims are so marginalized it isn't even funny. They are often discounted within their own communities as being "too western", while the western world largely writes them off as being "too foreign/muslim/too extreme". This marginalization fosters considerable anger and resentment and creates an environment and a mentality ripe for exploitation by extremists. What's ironic about this is these marginalized people, who speak out against the west, are actually quintessential representatives of western values. How? They are taking advantage of the cival liberties (freedom of expression, etc.) granted to them as citizens of western countries. Does that excuse it? No. Justify it? No. What it does is illustrate our collective responsibility.
I once heard the analogy that "Islamic Extremism is to Islam what the KKK is to Christianity". I think that's a very good analogy. Extremists are a small, but very vocal, minority. They aren't representive of the majority, but they garner the majority of media attention. In the absence of vocal moderates, it's understandable that we start to view these extremists as representative of their countries/faith. That explains it, but it doesn't justify it.
Because we don't see moderates speaking up, speaking out against the extremists, we respond - and we're only responding to the extremists. Who suffers? The average person. The moderates. What happens? We turn moderates into extremists and we give the extremists exactly what they want. We foster such resentment that potential allies turn against us.
It's impossible to explain away an attack. Period. There isn't enough rhetoric out there for it. Political spindoctors have been attempting to do so for years, and they have yet to experience success.
Dragging colonial injustices into the situation as an excuse is asinine. If I thought it would improve matters, believe me, I'd be the first one talking up the injustices of colonization - but dragging history into it only serves to exacerbate an already volatile situation. There comes a point when people need to take responsibility for their circumstances - and not blame everything on the proverbial "past". Part of being a grown up is not blaming mommy and daddy anymore. It extends to political sovereignty. If you get caught up in a historical "tit for tat" no one is going to win. The situation isn't going to improve.
There is a time and a place for debating colonialism and imperialism, and the effects of them - but this isn't it.
Oscar Wilde said, "the worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity". The people who are responsible for this crap are fanatics. There is no reasoning with a fanatic - the very mark of a fanatic is unfailing, unreasoning devotion to their cause.
The sad fact is, bad things happen. The victims of terrorist attacks, the victims of war - they are almost always innocents. They are people who get caught up in the machinations of governments, zealots, fanatic - and they get fucked over. It's wrong, but that's how it works.
We can sit here and we can speculate about the causes. We can sit here and we can cast blame. We can sit here and ruminate on how unfortunate it is. All of those avenues are open to us, but none of them are productive.
We can sit here and bemoan the sad state of affairs. It's certainly a hell of a lot easier than being proactive, and actually doing something.
In a world where more than a billion people survive on less than a dollar a day, and several billion more survive on less than three dollars a day, where a woman can't get antibiotics for her child because a simple course of antibiotics costs more than she makes in a month, in a world where $16 dollars can clothe and send a child to school for a year, in this world it's so easy to just throw our hands in the air and give up. It's overwhelming. So rather than do something small to make a difference, we do nothing at all.
There's plenty of blame to go around. If we ever hope to improve things and prevent something like this from happening again we need to acknowledge our own culpability.
I saw fireworks from the freeway.
I watched The Great Dictator last night and was reminded of Chaplin's genius. The film uses humour to lombast authoritarian government, and the dehumanizing aspects therein. The speech he gives at the end of the film is absolutely stunning. Stunning.
The full text of the speech,
"I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor - that's not my business - I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair". The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish... Soldiers - don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you - who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate - only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers - don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty. In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written " the kingdom of God is within man " - not one man, nor a group of men - but in all men - in you, the people.
You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers - in the name of democracy, let us all unite! Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting - the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality. The soul of man has been given wings - and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow - into the light of hope - into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up."
Genius.
What boggles the mind is that Chaplin's words continue to ring true.
My God. "The way of life can be beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls -- has barricaded the world with hate -- has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost."
That's fucking amazing!
The full text of the speech,
"I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor - that's not my business - I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost. The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair". The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish... Soldiers - don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you - who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate - only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers - don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty. In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written " the kingdom of God is within man " - not one man, nor a group of men - but in all men - in you, the people.
You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers - in the name of democracy, let us all unite! Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting - the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality. The soul of man has been given wings - and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow - into the light of hope - into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up."
Genius.
What boggles the mind is that Chaplin's words continue to ring true.
My God. "The way of life can be beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls -- has barricaded the world with hate -- has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost."
That's fucking amazing!
I remember all the feelings, and the day they stopped.
I watched Naked on recommendation of a friend. It was dark, disturbing, violent, and really good. Mike Leigh is one warped mofo.
With the exception of their love of Neil Young's music, I'd say this particular friend of mine has impeccable taste, which explains why they have yet to steer me wrong with their recommendations.
I know some of you are wondering why I haven't written about the recent events in London. I will, eventually.
With the exception of their love of Neil Young's music, I'd say this particular friend of mine has impeccable taste, which explains why they have yet to steer me wrong with their recommendations.
I know some of you are wondering why I haven't written about the recent events in London. I will, eventually.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
The old woman behind pink curtains...
I am absolutely fascinated by this organization. Evidently they are privately funded, and have no religious or political affiliations.
Nothing left to subtract.
I watched this program last night called something like, "Do Europeans Hate Us?" Us being Americans.
It was interesting. The journalist spoke to people all over Europe - Germany, France, England, etc. He'd attended Oxford in the 70s as a Marshall scholar, and so he got together with a group of American Marshall/Rhodes scholars attending Oxford. One of the students commented that, "There is a feeling of disenfranchisement. People tell me they want to vote in US elections because our elections effect their daily lives more than their own government does". What makes Europeans think they are so politically savvy? It isn't as if European governments are so fantastic - they have just as many problems as the US government, moreso, because at least the US doesn't have the EU to contend with.
It was interesting. The journalist spoke to people all over Europe - Germany, France, England, etc. He'd attended Oxford in the 70s as a Marshall scholar, and so he got together with a group of American Marshall/Rhodes scholars attending Oxford. One of the students commented that, "There is a feeling of disenfranchisement. People tell me they want to vote in US elections because our elections effect their daily lives more than their own government does". What makes Europeans think they are so politically savvy? It isn't as if European governments are so fantastic - they have just as many problems as the US government, moreso, because at least the US doesn't have the EU to contend with.
Monday, July 04, 2005
What shall she do when midnight comes around?
Does anyone remember when W signed the $417 billion dollar defense spending bill and told the nation that, "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we"? That was August of last year, and I don't know, but it seems to me that he was telling the truth.
We are the sacrificed.
People are concerned about the protest in Edinburgh. Once again fingers are pointing to Black Bloc. Okay, fair enough, they aren't coming out and saying Black Bloc. They are blaming "black-clad anarchists" or "black-clad protesters". Whatever!
Black Bloc, as we know it, has been around since the 80s in Germany. All that speculation about whether it would survive Genoa was laughable. Maybe most people didn't become familiar with it until Seattle in '99, but it's been around, it's still around, and until the problems of capitalism, the state, and war are settled - Black Bloc won't be going anywhere.
Perhaps what bothers me most about the accusations against "black-clad anarchaists" is that people assume there is some organization. It's a tactic, not an organization. Not every bloc is violent, not every bloc participates in the destruction of property.
I don't know, I actually think the tactic of unarresting is pretty damn cool.
Black Bloc, as we know it, has been around since the 80s in Germany. All that speculation about whether it would survive Genoa was laughable. Maybe most people didn't become familiar with it until Seattle in '99, but it's been around, it's still around, and until the problems of capitalism, the state, and war are settled - Black Bloc won't be going anywhere.
Perhaps what bothers me most about the accusations against "black-clad anarchaists" is that people assume there is some organization. It's a tactic, not an organization. Not every bloc is violent, not every bloc participates in the destruction of property.
I don't know, I actually think the tactic of unarresting is pretty damn cool.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
You are far and away my most imaginary friend.
I've been reading Mahan's The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 again. It never ceases to amaze me how one little book did so much to shape the world we live in. I wouldn't suggest reading it, as it's actually rather dry and technical in nature. I just happen to be a masochist and a history major (not that there is much of a difference between the two).
In other news, this is tripping me out. According to Reuters, "2.2 billion litres of vodka was sold in Russia in 2003, the equivalent of 15 litres per person". That is simply stunning.
Do you suppose there will ever be peace in the Balkans? Once again, Kosovo is dealing with politically motivated violence. I wish I could say I'm surprised. Sucks for the UN though. It seems the UN is between a rock and a hard place these days, in places where they were formerly a welcome presence they are now being blasted.
What a wonderful world, eh?
In other news, this is tripping me out. According to Reuters, "2.2 billion litres of vodka was sold in Russia in 2003, the equivalent of 15 litres per person". That is simply stunning.
Do you suppose there will ever be peace in the Balkans? Once again, Kosovo is dealing with politically motivated violence. I wish I could say I'm surprised. Sucks for the UN though. It seems the UN is between a rock and a hard place these days, in places where they were formerly a welcome presence they are now being blasted.
What a wonderful world, eh?
Polar.
This is quite amusing. Evidently the guy believes he can use his "God given" talents to make a difference and touch people's lives - by wrestling professionally. Ah well. Sure, it takes all sorts.
This absolutely horrifies me. Going after the aid workers is stupid. Just plain stupid. It is like these asshats that target children. In the immediate sure, it will get attention, but ultimately it will be the death of any possible support. When you target children and aid workers the attention you'll receive will be negative - completely unsympathetic. No one is going to say, "Oh, it must be awful for these poor people if they have to kill children and aid workers!"
What a world, eh?
This absolutely horrifies me. Going after the aid workers is stupid. Just plain stupid. It is like these asshats that target children. In the immediate sure, it will get attention, but ultimately it will be the death of any possible support. When you target children and aid workers the attention you'll receive will be negative - completely unsympathetic. No one is going to say, "Oh, it must be awful for these poor people if they have to kill children and aid workers!"
What a world, eh?
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Imagine that.
There are actually tolerant and progressive Catholics in the world. Rock on. Take that, Mr. Ratzinger!
I really love it when progressives kick the asses of narrow minded conservatives. It makes me happy. So, yay Canada!
I really love it when progressives kick the asses of narrow minded conservatives. It makes me happy. So, yay Canada!
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
More.
I am so utterly sick of hearing about weapons of mass destruction. I suspect I'm not the only person who smirks whenever the term gets bandied about. And now this. Just what we need. America has a lot of problems, but one thing it always had going for it was the civil liberties and freedoms awarded to citizens. In a post 9/11 America evidently we're more willing to tolerate the loss of those liberties and freedoms. Sure, there are people speaking out against the Patriot Act, but those people seem to be few and far between.
America. It's an interesting place really. This is a quite well-written assessment of the current push for a flag protection amendment. I'm probably one of maybe a dozen people who read government sites for fun, and yes, I realise how warped I am. I find the following to be so incredibly irritating, I can barely express that irritation.
From:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 10, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AUTHORIZING CONGRESS TO PROHIBIT PHYSICAL DESECRATION OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES -- (House of Representatives - June 21, 2005)
"Our flag, with 50 stars and 13 stripes, represents the history, culture, and ideology of democracy for the world. Millions of Americans throughout our Nation's history died defending our flag and the ideals it represents. To burn a flag is to disrespect America and disrespect democracy. For our enemies, those who embrace terrorism, communism, and totalitarianism, burning the American flag is a sign of defiance, because freedom threatens the existence of tyranny. For our soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, our flag is motivation to keep fighting, to move ahead, and reason to liberate a people from fear of oppression, as it has been in every conflict in which our Nation has fought."
Phil Gingrey of Georgia's 11th district is responsible for the above. I'd really like to poke him in the eye. He's on the list, along with Hillary Duff and Bono. Yup. They need to be poked in the eye Three Stooges style. (And no, I'm not saying I'm going to poke them in the eye, in no way is this a threat, it's simply an expression of dislike. Please don't sic your goons on me. I'm a nice law abiding citizen, honest.)
I remember a few years ago, the speech made by Ashcroft regarding a flag desecration amendment. He said, "As a national emblem of the world's greatest democracy, the American flag should be treated with respect and care. Our free speech rights do not entitle us to simply consider the flag as 'personal property', which can be treated any way we see fit including physically desecrating it as a legitimate form of political protest."
Yeah. Because Ashcroft was such a huge supporter of The Bill of Rights. Uh huh. Really.
I remember reading this story about Madeleine Albright visiting some eastern European countries just after they had thrown off communism.There were people waving American flags - flags with 48 stars. American soldiers had passed out flag when they had helped liberate these countries during World War II, and the people had preserved the flags a representation of democracy, even through Soviet oppression. And that's cool, it really is. I'm all about democracy (even if America isn't actually a democracy - it's a republic). But the flag is a symbol. A symbol. Yes, it's a powerful symbol, but that's all it is.
Do I like swastikas? No. Do I like the "confederate" flag (which wasn't actually the national flag of the confederacy)? No. Do I absolutely support the right to display them? Yes. Believing in and supporting the Bill of Rights, and in particular the freedoms of speech and expression means supporting those freedoms even when we whole-heartedly disagree with what they are being extended to.
There is a reason the framers made it so difficult to amend the constitution. They didn't want people doing so foolishly, and without serious consideration.
You know, if the states ratify this amendment I'm really going to have to get my ass out of this country before I land that same ass in jail. And you know, I'm rather partial to my ass.
America. It's an interesting place really. This is a quite well-written assessment of the current push for a flag protection amendment. I'm probably one of maybe a dozen people who read government sites for fun, and yes, I realise how warped I am. I find the following to be so incredibly irritating, I can barely express that irritation.
From:
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.J. RES. 10, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AUTHORIZING CONGRESS TO PROHIBIT PHYSICAL DESECRATION OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES -- (House of Representatives - June 21, 2005)
"Our flag, with 50 stars and 13 stripes, represents the history, culture, and ideology of democracy for the world. Millions of Americans throughout our Nation's history died defending our flag and the ideals it represents. To burn a flag is to disrespect America and disrespect democracy. For our enemies, those who embrace terrorism, communism, and totalitarianism, burning the American flag is a sign of defiance, because freedom threatens the existence of tyranny. For our soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, our flag is motivation to keep fighting, to move ahead, and reason to liberate a people from fear of oppression, as it has been in every conflict in which our Nation has fought."
Phil Gingrey of Georgia's 11th district is responsible for the above. I'd really like to poke him in the eye. He's on the list, along with Hillary Duff and Bono. Yup. They need to be poked in the eye Three Stooges style. (And no, I'm not saying I'm going to poke them in the eye, in no way is this a threat, it's simply an expression of dislike. Please don't sic your goons on me. I'm a nice law abiding citizen, honest.)
I remember a few years ago, the speech made by Ashcroft regarding a flag desecration amendment. He said, "As a national emblem of the world's greatest democracy, the American flag should be treated with respect and care. Our free speech rights do not entitle us to simply consider the flag as 'personal property', which can be treated any way we see fit including physically desecrating it as a legitimate form of political protest."
Yeah. Because Ashcroft was such a huge supporter of The Bill of Rights. Uh huh. Really.
I remember reading this story about Madeleine Albright visiting some eastern European countries just after they had thrown off communism.There were people waving American flags - flags with 48 stars. American soldiers had passed out flag when they had helped liberate these countries during World War II, and the people had preserved the flags a representation of democracy, even through Soviet oppression. And that's cool, it really is. I'm all about democracy (even if America isn't actually a democracy - it's a republic). But the flag is a symbol. A symbol. Yes, it's a powerful symbol, but that's all it is.
Do I like swastikas? No. Do I like the "confederate" flag (which wasn't actually the national flag of the confederacy)? No. Do I absolutely support the right to display them? Yes. Believing in and supporting the Bill of Rights, and in particular the freedoms of speech and expression means supporting those freedoms even when we whole-heartedly disagree with what they are being extended to.
There is a reason the framers made it so difficult to amend the constitution. They didn't want people doing so foolishly, and without serious consideration.
You know, if the states ratify this amendment I'm really going to have to get my ass out of this country before I land that same ass in jail. And you know, I'm rather partial to my ass.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Brilliant!
I am beyond impressed with this fantastic new device. It just goes to show that sometimes simple things really are best. We get so caught up in major medical advances and technological breakthroughs that we lose sight of the importance of simple, user-friendly, resources for developing countries.
In other news, God, I really hope Brazil breaks the patent. I know some people are saying that it would set a dangerous precident, but ffs, Brazil is one of the few countries really making an effort to provide antiviral meds to everyone in need of them. If the major drug companies don't pull their heads out of their asses and quickly we're going to see Brazil's middle age vanish just as we've seen Africa's vanish.
Man. I just have to say how impressed I am with Brazil right now. First they basically tell Microsoft to get bent, and now they are taking on the drug companies. Woo woo!
In other news, God, I really hope Brazil breaks the patent. I know some people are saying that it would set a dangerous precident, but ffs, Brazil is one of the few countries really making an effort to provide antiviral meds to everyone in need of them. If the major drug companies don't pull their heads out of their asses and quickly we're going to see Brazil's middle age vanish just as we've seen Africa's vanish.
Man. I just have to say how impressed I am with Brazil right now. First they basically tell Microsoft to get bent, and now they are taking on the drug companies. Woo woo!
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Now I've seen it all.
My word. We've found a way to make everything a competition. Having a social conscience is a good thing, right? Evidently it's more important to be sexy person with a social conscience than just an average person trying to "do something". I love that it's supposedly about people with "passion and compassion. Hah! I'd say the majority of people on that list are vegetarian because it's much easier to maintain a skeletal size 2 dress size when you aren't consuming meat than it is when you are.
What a wonderful world.
What a wonderful world.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Insert suitably clever title here.
This is seriously messed up. Geez. Isn't the Patriot Act bad enough?
And we wonder why the rest of the world despises us.
And we wonder why the rest of the world despises us.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Dare now to be tragic men, for ye shall be redeemed!
Nietzsche. Gotta love it.
So, this weekend I've been reading My Life by Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton's Living History. I enjoyed her book more than I did his. It was better written, and you know, not 900+ pages. I know that it would absolutely horrify my family but darned if reading her book didn't increase my already profound admiration of the woman.
I learned a new two dollar word today:
recondite adj.
1. Not easily understood; abstruse.
2. Concerned with or treating something abstruse or obscure: recondite scholarship.
3. Concealed; hidden.
I was talking about the "brain drain" in Africa with a friend recently. It's really quite sad, but it's difficult to imagine a solution. It seems to be a relatively common occurance with former colonies. There isn't much of a future of graduates so they leave the country - taking any hope for home-grown improvements with them.
I wonder sometimes about a world where families sell their children as slaves because they are so destitute they feel there is no other option. Is redemption possible for such a world? How can we sleep soundly at night knowing about such horrors?
But, in happy news, Brazil has basically told Bill Gates to get bent. Rock on Brazil! What chance do developing economies really have in the world of technology when the cost is absolutely prohibitive? The open source movement is really where it is. Open source enables the creation of software to specifically address the needs of the users. Instead of attempting to tweak your software to do something it wasn't created to do, you are given incredibly broad creative scope.
So maybe there is hope afterall.
So, this weekend I've been reading My Life by Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton's Living History. I enjoyed her book more than I did his. It was better written, and you know, not 900+ pages. I know that it would absolutely horrify my family but darned if reading her book didn't increase my already profound admiration of the woman.
I learned a new two dollar word today:
recondite adj.
1. Not easily understood; abstruse.
2. Concerned with or treating something abstruse or obscure: recondite scholarship.
3. Concealed; hidden.
I was talking about the "brain drain" in Africa with a friend recently. It's really quite sad, but it's difficult to imagine a solution. It seems to be a relatively common occurance with former colonies. There isn't much of a future of graduates so they leave the country - taking any hope for home-grown improvements with them.
I wonder sometimes about a world where families sell their children as slaves because they are so destitute they feel there is no other option. Is redemption possible for such a world? How can we sleep soundly at night knowing about such horrors?
But, in happy news, Brazil has basically told Bill Gates to get bent. Rock on Brazil! What chance do developing economies really have in the world of technology when the cost is absolutely prohibitive? The open source movement is really where it is. Open source enables the creation of software to specifically address the needs of the users. Instead of attempting to tweak your software to do something it wasn't created to do, you are given incredibly broad creative scope.
So maybe there is hope afterall.
Indignation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4104680.stm
This is the kind of crap that just pisses me off. IVF is lame. It's lame because having a difficult time getting pregnant is nature's way of telling you "thank you for not breeding". There's a reason for it, and for as fantastic as science and medicine are, I think there are certain advances that aren't exactly advantageous.
When you look at the population boom in India and then consider the millions of dollars spent each year in the west on IVF and other fertility treatments - it's a frightening thing. Just what we need, more people!
I just keep thinking, "cane toads, cane toads, cane toads". Scientists have this way of just rushing forward, patting themselves on the back for brilliance, and not really considering the long-term.
The world is so incredibly fucked up. You have Japan, with a steadily declining birth rate, India with a rapidly inclining birth rate, and Africa - with a rapidly shrinking middle age. The estimate is that by 2010 there will be 40 million AIDS orphans in Africa alone.
So what do we do? We spend precious research funds on lame ass IVF.
Sometimes I really hate people.
This is the kind of crap that just pisses me off. IVF is lame. It's lame because having a difficult time getting pregnant is nature's way of telling you "thank you for not breeding". There's a reason for it, and for as fantastic as science and medicine are, I think there are certain advances that aren't exactly advantageous.
When you look at the population boom in India and then consider the millions of dollars spent each year in the west on IVF and other fertility treatments - it's a frightening thing. Just what we need, more people!
I just keep thinking, "cane toads, cane toads, cane toads". Scientists have this way of just rushing forward, patting themselves on the back for brilliance, and not really considering the long-term.
The world is so incredibly fucked up. You have Japan, with a steadily declining birth rate, India with a rapidly inclining birth rate, and Africa - with a rapidly shrinking middle age. The estimate is that by 2010 there will be 40 million AIDS orphans in Africa alone.
So what do we do? We spend precious research funds on lame ass IVF.
Sometimes I really hate people.
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