I was on the METRO listening to this older white guy wearing his Jeans shorts entirely to high barely holding in his burginging stomach, and those glasses that confirm what could be summized from the rest of his outfit sexually repressed republican.
What made this scene so tragic was the indoctrination of his adopted South American boy. He was going on about the leadership and good qualities of Reagan and reliving the events around the death.
"Ever heard of supply side economics?"
Not that I think 7 is to young to learn about the underpinnings of our society. But it was sad because I could see this dark skinned boy being paraded around the Republican Convention years from now expousing these same psuedo economics of supply side as a means to further his own greed.
All I can hope is that this child stays true to his more humbler roots and rebels soon. Shouldn't there be a screaning our process for these types of things? I guess I can be thankful the little boy wasn't black.
“These instruments can teach, they can illuminate, and yes, they can even inspire; but they can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use them towards those ends. … Otherwise,they’re merely wires and lights in a box.” — Edward R. Murrow, October 15, 1958
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Slurpees
Let me first Preface this by saying I don't like to get personal... I decided when I started this to not make it personal or like a diary... I have had to many bad experiences with having those violated. But I must get personal here, I love slurpees...
Slurpees are really addictive. I mean slurpees... Sure your Icees or slushees are ok but they are no slurpeess.
Let me set the scene:
Last night we go to Screen on the Green on the Mall in DC. It rains when we get there, although I have a rain jacket after being rained on for 3 hours, it really does nothing to propel water... (we can discuss why I sat in the rain for 3 hours to see a movie I don't really like when I can do it next Monday another day)
Then the movie starts and the wind starts to blow and I am freezing... FREEZING... Then to the metro with the air conditioning on my nice soaked clothes and I am cold.
So what do I want when I get home? Thats right I have a taste for a slurpee... I needed one, and so I walked, in new dry clothes for a midnight slurpee run...
I think my addiction to coffee was so much better
Slurpees are really addictive. I mean slurpees... Sure your Icees or slushees are ok but they are no slurpeess.
Let me set the scene:
Last night we go to Screen on the Green on the Mall in DC. It rains when we get there, although I have a rain jacket after being rained on for 3 hours, it really does nothing to propel water... (we can discuss why I sat in the rain for 3 hours to see a movie I don't really like when I can do it next Monday another day)
Then the movie starts and the wind starts to blow and I am freezing... FREEZING... Then to the metro with the air conditioning on my nice soaked clothes and I am cold.
So what do I want when I get home? Thats right I have a taste for a slurpee... I needed one, and so I walked, in new dry clothes for a midnight slurpee run...
I think my addiction to coffee was so much better
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
TERRORISMOn-Time Delivery
Sometimes The Bush Administration still amazes even me:
According to an article in The New Republic three weeks ago, a White House aide told a Pakistani official last spring that "it would be best if the arrest or killing of [any] HVT (High Value Targets) were announced on twenty-six, twenty-seven, or twenty-eight July," or the first three days of the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Well, they were one day late, but the Bush administration will probably take it: Yesterday, July 29, "just hours before US presidential candidate John Kerry delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston," Pakistani officials announced they had captured Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, one of the United States' 21 most-wanted terrorists. The arrest is good news, but the timing of the announcement is raising questions, especially considering "Pakistani officials say Mr. Ghailani was captured last Sunday."
According to an article in The New Republic three weeks ago, a White House aide told a Pakistani official last spring that "it would be best if the arrest or killing of [any] HVT (High Value Targets) were announced on twenty-six, twenty-seven, or twenty-eight July," or the first three days of the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Well, they were one day late, but the Bush administration will probably take it: Yesterday, July 29, "just hours before US presidential candidate John Kerry delivered his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston," Pakistani officials announced they had captured Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, one of the United States' 21 most-wanted terrorists. The arrest is good news, but the timing of the announcement is raising questions, especially considering "Pakistani officials say Mr. Ghailani was captured last Sunday."
Sunday, July 04, 2004
4th of July
I was listening to NPR and I heard something I never thought of before:
“The celebration is not of a successful battle or conquest, but rather of liberation of the minds by paper, by words. Our revolution is that of a declaration of freedom.”
What a testament to our country, to our forefathers that our day of liberation is that of the mind, not that of an army. Something I think people of all political persuasions forget.
Many people like to proclaim their love for this country, drench their body in a flag and send young men and women to war to “liberate,” while never facilitating the most important liberation, their minds.
Others talk about anti-war, and anti-globalization and have so much disdain for the symbols, anthems and country that gives them the political and equally important economic freedom to do so.
Both sides miss the point. This country is great because of its ideas, not just because of those who are willing to die for all of our freedoms but also those who are willing to die for its promise.
When I see the flag, I remember my parents and grandparents. Not just because my mother and grandfather serve in the armed services and were sent to war for me. But because my parents and grandparents were willing to march to bring me those freedoms they put their lives on the line for. Because my father had the guts to say no to Vietnam and instead serve orphaned children in NYC. Because my grandmother was willing to go to college, when all that could be expected was servitude to an inequitable society.
When I think of the 4th of July, I think of Crispus Attucks being the first to give his life for this idea of a free country, did not include freedom for him.
I am thankful for this country cause for all its faults, its great its diversity. Where we must constantly confront the changing makeup of our society. While other nations are fragmenting by their ethnic differences, we demand that our society incorporate them.
I always remember Abbie Hoffman, Chicago 8 said (paraphrase) the reason he spends so much fighting this country is because he loves it so much and wants it to be all it can be.
“The celebration is not of a successful battle or conquest, but rather of liberation of the minds by paper, by words. Our revolution is that of a declaration of freedom.”
What a testament to our country, to our forefathers that our day of liberation is that of the mind, not that of an army. Something I think people of all political persuasions forget.
Many people like to proclaim their love for this country, drench their body in a flag and send young men and women to war to “liberate,” while never facilitating the most important liberation, their minds.
Others talk about anti-war, and anti-globalization and have so much disdain for the symbols, anthems and country that gives them the political and equally important economic freedom to do so.
Both sides miss the point. This country is great because of its ideas, not just because of those who are willing to die for all of our freedoms but also those who are willing to die for its promise.
When I see the flag, I remember my parents and grandparents. Not just because my mother and grandfather serve in the armed services and were sent to war for me. But because my parents and grandparents were willing to march to bring me those freedoms they put their lives on the line for. Because my father had the guts to say no to Vietnam and instead serve orphaned children in NYC. Because my grandmother was willing to go to college, when all that could be expected was servitude to an inequitable society.
When I think of the 4th of July, I think of Crispus Attucks being the first to give his life for this idea of a free country, did not include freedom for him.
I am thankful for this country cause for all its faults, its great its diversity. Where we must constantly confront the changing makeup of our society. While other nations are fragmenting by their ethnic differences, we demand that our society incorporate them.
I always remember Abbie Hoffman, Chicago 8 said (paraphrase) the reason he spends so much fighting this country is because he loves it so much and wants it to be all it can be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)