Liberia.

For those Americans in the crowd who like to view American foreign policy through rose colored glasses, have a look at this. The US really screwed Liberia over, and they are still getting screwed over.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

There are some scary ass people in the world.

As proof I offer http://www.rainbowprimates.com/

wtf?

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.

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.

Tears are not enough for this.

You know, it's funny. I always tell my students one thing. I tell them that once they truly understand it - they will understand almost everything. They will know why things are the way they are, they will gain a new perspective. I tell my students, "money equals power".We think we understand the power of money, but ultimately we barely even brush the surface. We don't even begin to see te depth of that truth.Money is power. Money is the power to do - or not do. Money is the root of all conflict. ALL conflict. Why is Africa in so much trouble? Money. And not even the contemporary power struggles prompted by economic instability. Africa got the short end of the stick when the grand push of empire arrived on her shores. When Britain looked around, realised that the economic security it had maintained for long was being threated. All those other countries (the US, Germany, Italy) were industrializing, Britain no longer had such an enormous advantage, and because part of their policy was to have self-sustaining colonies so British citizens wouldn't be financially responsible for empire - they realized they needed more colonies, and Africa was a rich opportunity.Money gave them the power. The quest for even more money gave them the motivation.Current global economic policy is a big fat sham.The world is going to hell and we're sitting here watching it happen. Why? Because we don't fully understand nor appreciate the power of money. The power of money as motivation. In some ways we're back to the industrial revolution. We're back to the very world that prompted the writings and political theory of Marx and his kind. Simply on a much larger scale. It is a world of "haves" and "have nots". But the gap is ever widening.I think you'll find this article interesting. Have you ever read Paul Ehrlich's "The Population Bomb"? I'm not suggesting you do, it is enough to do your head in. Basically, be predicted that there would be such a rapid growth of population that all available resources would vanish - be outstripped. A lot of it is crap. But basically, this other guy comes along, Norman Borlaug. Norman is the father of the Green Revolution, which was an agricultural revolution that took place in the 60's and 70's. Norman won a Nobel Prize for his work - and perhaps his greatest legacy is dwarf wheat. Standard wheat was top heavy, which meant it fell, rotted, and there wasn't a sufficient yield.In the end, the reason it was crap, is because the concept of finite resources doesn't take human nature into consideration. Human nature. The human condition. Advances in technology. Our skills at adapting. Things become scare, costly, and we seek alternatives.How do we do that? Money. Money gives us the power to do that, further widening the gap between the haves and have nots. Alright. I could go on forever about this, so this seems like as good of a place as any to end my tangent.

Musical Selections.

This week I've been listening to:

1. Liz Phair - Self-Titled
2. Interpol - Antics
3. Throwing Muses - Limbo
4. Tori Amos - The Beekeeper
5. The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God

It's been an interesting week.

To Be.

Ich bin. Du bist. Wir sind.
I am. You are. We are.

Is this where I reference the cogito or something?

I don't know what it is to be.

Perhaps Sartre was right. Perhaps it is existence vs. essence. Perhaps essence is determined by existence. Perhaps only man can determine his purpose and the method and means to achieve that purpose. Perhaps Nietzsche was right. Perhaps we must all surpass our humanity. Perhaps this "human condition" really a state of stagnation. We're doomed to rot unless we seek to be more than human. Perhaps it really is about transcendence. if humanity is a limitation, and it does seem to be, then this view that we must move beyond it doesn't seem too out there.

So what is it that I'm looking for? What is my purpose?

Waxing Philosophical.

Most things are a process. I was attempting to describe happiness to a friendthe other day. We were having a totally insane conversation about sandwiches and sausages. I told her that I don't consider happiness to be this ideal - a state. I don't believe in the "Land of Happy" as it were. In fact, I kind of consider happiness to be like cake. It's great once in a while, you enjoy it, but if you ate a steady diet of cake - you would end up fat, unhealthy, you would absolutely cease to enjoy the cake, and chances are you would die of a massive coronary. Happiness is something you enjoy when you have it, but you have to experience other things to be able to sustain that enjoyment.Grief is the same really. Not that you enjoy grief, but grief is cathartic - actually allowing yourself to go through the process and end up on the other side. You can learn some amazing things about yourself, gain insight, perspective. No, I wouldn't wish grief on anyone, but having experienced quite a bit of it myself I do know that there is an "other side". It isn't easy to get there, but it is worthwhile.Grief is a healing process. At first it's a gaping wound, it scabs over, you move to soon and it cracks open, maybe gets infected... but evetually it scars over. You'll always have a reminder of that pain, but you'll never experience pain like you did at first. Eventually you'll just feel a dull achey throb every once in a while. The memories of the intense pain will fade, if you dwell you can recall it, but you get to a functional point where you don't need to dwell anymore. You realize that dwelling, feeling that pain, it doesn't make a difference. But surrendering to the grief it isn't going to change the situation, it isn't going to bring them back.I suppose it is a matter of time. If we stay in that place, the "Land of Grief" as it were, we don't have to move on. Moving on is often the most difficult part. Grief sometimes seems to be the last state we shared with them/it/that part of ourselves, and we don't want to let it go. But we have to or we stagnate and die.

Sometimes you just have to do it. You just have to put yourself out there and see what happens. I know it's impossible to run away really, but there is something to be said for a change in circumstance giving you a new perspective. I'm sure you've seen Dead Poets Society. We've all seen Dead Poets Society. You remember the scene involving standing on the desk, and the change in perspective? I think moving on is like that. Sometimes you have to remove yourself from the norm in order to make the changes that you need to make.

So, here is to moving on.

Marital Bliss.

If it takes shit to make bliss, well I feel pretty blissfully.

Seriously, what is up with the marrieds?

I spent the weekend being the support for a friend of mine who is almost a married. It was one drama after another, culminating in a 3am phonecall and many tears.

Yesterday my doorbell rang. It was a married friend of mine, who stepped into my house, and then promptly burst into tears.

Had it not been for a bit of a flare up, today would not have been much different. Instead I spent the day in bed. I wasn't asleep, so I did get to spend quite a bit of time thinking about all of this.

People always look around at the situations their friends are in and say "if it were me, it would be different. My relationship isn't going to be like that". In some cases I know that's true, but every relationship - marriage or otherwise - is destined to have problems. So perhaps it isn't about the problems. Perhaps it is about how those problems are dealt with.

Stranger.

Today's Musical Selection: Bran Van 3000 - Everywhere.

Oh the humanity!

Today I was a participant but felt more like an observer. I was in a bridal shop to pick up my gown for my friend's wedding. While I was waiting for them to bring it up from the back I was watching the action taking place. Large groups of women - mothers, daughters, friends. It was always easy to spot the bride in the group. I don't know what it is about engaged women in bridal shops but there does seem to be some sort of aura surrounding them.

Bitter is state of mind.

Musical Selection: Manic Street Preachers - Little Baby Nothing

My arm feels like it is going to fall off.

I'm about a third of the way into Hitler Youth. It's pretty good. It's nothing new really. None of it ever is. It's the same thing over and over again. When they promise a "new perspective" it's crap really. Sixty years later the majority of perspectives have been covered. So why keep writing about it? Haven't a clue. Why do we still read about it? I don't know that either. This is one of those "bah! why do I bother studying what I do?" moments. I have them from time to time. I suppose I'm just bitter and resentful about current trends within Holocaust Genocide scholarship. Last year alone more than 30 works were released dealing with various aspects of the Holocaust. Most of these were touted as "brilliant" giving the reader "valuable new insight", etc. However the majority of works released last year dealing with genocide were largely journalistic in nature - they were not of a scholarly nature. This isn't meant as a criticism of the works themselves, but my question is - where are the scholars?

One exception to this would be Samantha Powers' A Problem From Hell. If you haven't read this, go out and get yourself a copy right now. It is a stunning work.

Paper and Ink.

This week I'm reading:

Hitler Youth by Michael H. Kater
Imperial Reckoning by Caroline Elkins
A Public Betrayed by Adam Gamble and Takesato Watanabe

Yeah, uplifting selection.

Amusement.

Things that have amused me today:

Finding my Porn Name

Becoming an instant Pope

Go and be amused.

It only hurts when we burn our eyes.

Relaxation is for sissies.

"Icarus, I advise you to take a middle course. If you fly too low, the sea will soak the wings; If you fly too high, the sun's heat will burn them. Fly between sea and sun! Take the course along which I shall lead you. " Ovid, Metamorphoses

What if Icarus knew what he was doing? What if he would have rathered to soar for just a moment than to coast along in mediocrity for a lifetime? What if he knew that the safe road his father presented wasn't the right one for him? What if he needed a chance to shine, even if it meant his light would all too soon be extinguished?