isany1listening

I come from a big family, well a big extended family.  My mom is the oldest of eight.  As far as I can remember, we have had breakfast every Sunday at my grandmother’s and grandfather’s house.  Since my grandmother passed away a few years ago, we still keep the tradition.  Some Sundays, only a few family members show up, but some almost everyone does.  It can be hit or miss, but regardless of the number, there is never a dull moment.

Today was an exceptional Sunday when half of the family was there.  Lots of conversations, eggs and sausage, pancakes, little kids running around and of course the new puppy made an appearance.  To any outsider, especially those who wish they had a big family, it would be quite a warm and friendly site.  Who wouldn’t want to have breakfast on the weekend with their family?  A chance to spend time with those who you are closest to and love the most.  And for someone like me, it is a great free meal.

But make no mistake, as much as I can say about the benefits of the family breakfast, there is also some disadvantages.  The fights that break out, the yelling that happens, and the kids running amok!  Why do I torture myself?  This is the question I ask every other week, but truth be told it can be fun, especially when you are not in the middle of the drama.

Money, politics, religion, there is no topic that goes without comment at the table.  Today we spoke briefly about politics and then as more and more of the little ones arrived, things descended into chaos.  I spent more time taking my two year old cousin by the legs and hanging him upside down, then anything else.  Of course that was not half the fun as two of the little ones and myself piling on top of my brother who was exhausted and trying to sleep on the couch.  Regardless, the emotion in the room reached an excess and no fights broke out.  The state of the Catholic church and Catholic education was discussed at length, but I did not pay much attention.  What can I say, I just wasn’t that into it.  My interests were in the little kids and chasing them around, giving me the chance to act like I was five again and I enjoyed every minute.   Of course with the Thanksgiving Holiday coming up, dinner and desserts were discussed in detail.  Something to look forward to: turkey, stuffing, pumpkin and pecan pies!

I guess there is no real point to this post, except to share a bit of my family life with the rest of the world.  I thought it would be nice to change up the topic a bit.  Amidst the changing world we live in, the election, and the failing economy, it is nice to take a small comfort in the chaotic reality of my family.  It is a double-edged sword, and for those who hate their families, I am sure they think this is pointless.  But for those who like their families this may be slightly amusing.  Either way, for me it is bittersweet and I take what I can get.   Happy Sunday!

The news has been reporting for the past few days that Hillary Clinton has been offered Secretary of State in the Obama Administration. There has been no confirmation from either camp, but the rumor is out there that she was offered and considering it. Since the news broke people have been laying out the arguments on whether or not it would be a good thing for the President-elect to have Clinton present. So let me highlight what has been the buzz about SOS Clinton.

Pundits have weighed in and I keep hearing the same couple of things over and over. On the one hand, having Hillary in the Cabinet makes her part of the team and puts her in a position that she has experience with. It also takes her out of the Senate. And what has been repeated over and over, is that Barack Obama is taking the Abe Lincoln approach to surrounding himself with his opponents and people of differing viewpoints so he can make better decisions. On the other hand, she could be in that position and be running a parallel government as I heard from one person on cable. There is also the Bill Clinton factor and he comes as part of the package always, along with those pesky secret foreign business deals. Not to mention Obama’s own critique of Clinton’s experience and her vote on the war from the Primary season.

As for me, I don’t quite know where I sit on this issue. I always thought Clinton would make a good Supreme Court Justice someday. And I do think John Kerry would be great for SOS since he has foreign policy experience and speaks various languages. Oh and the whole war veteran thing. Seriously though, I think I need to see how this story unfolds and think about what it would mean for the new Administration. It is a smart move and one that was a bit unexpected, but no one has accused Obama for being stupid. I guess we will have to wait and see. But I would be interested to hear what other people have to say on this issue. Is any 1 listening?

After seeing Keith Olbermann’s comment a few nights ago on “Countdown” I sat down and began to think about the infamous Proposition 8.  I guess I should state from the beginning, like Keith, that I am straight, but I do have friends, many of which I would call family, who are gay.  So my position on this issue does contain personal bias, but I am only human.  However, as much as a supporter of gay rights that I am, I wanted to take a look at what the other side had to say about this and try to be fair and objective in putting my thoughts together.

My search for information led me to a website called protectmarriage.com, which deals with protecting children in relation to this issue.  Now they list three points why people should have voted yes on Proposition 8.  The first point discusses that Californians voted on this issue before  (in 2000) and approved that marriage in California was defined as pertaining to a man and a woman, and only that marriage was valid and recognized in the state.  The second point argued that four “activist” judges decided to overturn the law and ignore “the will of the people.”  Let me stop here and say that these first two points appear logical and can be engaged from the opposing side in a variety of ways.  So I give the supporters on this website credit for making two rational arguments, which I myself could take issue with in a logical manner but will let it alone for now.  I say this because it is the third point that made me want to react.

In order to properly discuss their third point I want to be sure that I quote them directly and not improperly cite them:

“It protects our children from being taught in public schools that “same-sex marriage” is the same as traditional marriage, and prevents other consequences to Californians who will be forced to not just be tolerant of gay lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs”

Okay, first while I recognize the fact that this group is concerned with protecting children, let me say as a person who does not have children, this argument holds no water.  In fact, I feel discriminated against because I do not have children and am being forced to tolerate the views of people who do.  I am just saying here people… Now normally I would not continue to address the first part of the statement, since I do not have kids and why should I care what other’s people kids are taught in schools, but being a tax-payer whose taxes theoretically fund public schools in general, I will say this: kids needs to be taught diversity.  If we stopped teaching the future leaders of this world about tolerating differences, then we might as well revert back to a nation of slaves.  We are living in the 21st Century and children need to know history and they also need to know about the real world that they live in, and I am sorry “protectmarriage” people but that includes the homosexuals.  Third, the second part of the statement discusses how Californians will be forced to tolerate gay life styles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of personal beliefs.  Well as someone who is tolerant of gay life styles and supports gay rights, am I not now forced to comply with a law that is against my personal beliefs?  Isn’t this statement already inherently discriminatory against those who are not just gay, but supporters who disagree with you but have to live under laws that you feel are “right”?  And how do you come to the definition of marriage?  I would hazard the guess that it is based on religion.  Fine, I understand.  We live in a country that has freedom of religion.  But freedom of religion also means there is a freedom to not have religion.  So as an atheist, I feel that the oppressive religious rhetoric and beliefs that infuse politics and laws, which discriminate based solely on religious beliefs, which are personal, automatically discriminate against me and a majority of other Americans I presume.

So who is right here?  This is the point where I would invoke Olbemann and say that we have a country who had laws in some states up until about the 60’s that banned interracial marriage.  Should we go back to those laws because some Americans would say races should not mix, and they would use religious propaganda to make their point?  I don’t think so.  I find it hard to by the argument of the “sanctity of marriage” when every 1 out of 2 ends in divorce.  You can get married through a drive-thru window in Vegas for crying out loud.  Are we seriously still having this discussion that marriage is so sacred and needs to be only defined as being between a man and woman?  For me personally, I don’t care who loves who and who marries who.  Frankly, it is none of my business and none of the state’s either.  I would say outlaw marriage altogether because I feel the state has no place in anyone’s relationship or bedroom.  And for those people who feel oppressed because they have to tolerate gay life styles even though it is against your personal beliefs, I have a newsflash for you and a different spin.  Since children were brought up in this discussion let me say this: When I go to a restaurant or a store, and I am trying to enjoy myself and I have to see your kids screaming and making a scene that distracts me and keeps me from having a good time, I feel oppressed because you as a breeder had to bring your reproduced monstrosity of yourself and inflict it upon those who have chosen not to replicate ourselves and now have to deal with your screaming and misbehaved child.  But I must tolerate it because some people have kids and are allowed to bring them to public spaces.  Well I guess I am forced to comply even though it goes against my own beliefs.  I have to get over it.  So for those who are hating the gays, and you feel like you have to tolerate a life style that you don’t personally believe in, here is the newsflash: GET OVER IT.  Christianity is supposed to teach compassion, perhaps you should get a clue and read up about it.

My final thought is this, we could all be a bit more tolerant of people who are different from us.  We should be open to those whose beliefs do not necessarily coincide with ours because it is the only way for opposing parties to learn anything.  It is really the only way to advance tolerance.  I hope Californians will keep this in mind as the battle rages on.  My love and support to the gay community and I wish you the best of luck in the fight!

Since I started to kick writing my dissertation chapter into high gear, I have been left out of the loop in terms of politics for the past few days.  So you can imagine my surprise when I turned on the television and also browsed my favorite news sites and heard that on Fox news Sarah Palin was open to running for President in either four or eight years.  With this startling revelation, I could not help but ask this question: Sarah Palin, are you still here?  Seriously?

After watching her, well very few interviews, and feeling embarrassed for her, and now hearing those McCain aides dish about how stupid she really was, I thought she would have some self-respect and fade slowly back into the Alaskan shadows.  Clearly she was not ready for the national stage and may never be.  This is not to say that the woman is a total idiot.  On the contrary, I think Sarah Palin is very cunning and that requires at least half a brain.  But after what the world witnessed of her, seriously, she is not going gently into that good night?

My problems with Sarah Palin are her true politics: religious right-wing conservatism.  The same politics that once she became the GOP Vice Presidential nominee, she conveniently forgot to mention in her stump speeches around the country.  We saw traces when there were “real” parts of America, but still her love of Jesus did not play so prominent a role when asked about climate change, stem cell research, gay rights and abortion.  Her whole claim to being a maverick actually was rooted in her utter shedding of her political beliefs in order to get elected.  Frankly, I would have had more respect for her if she would have come out and said what she believed, even if it was entangled with hyper religious rhetoric, instead of letting it fall by the wayside so she could be a true politician.  There is nothing independent in Sarah Palin.  And to be fair, I don’t understand what she is saying half the time.  She cannot put words together and form coherent sentences.  If you cannot deliver a message on the simple grammatical level, then you have a problem.

After everything, Sarah Palin still has political aspirations.  I am not surprised, but she was a train wreck.  A disaster.  The GOP has begun to turn on itself.  The fact is, I want my President to be smarter than me.  I don’t want someone who I could out do at a spelling bee.  Hey Sarah, I can see Canada from where I live, do you think I can be VP too?  Do I have the foreign policy street cred that you do?  We live in a complex world and need people who can think complexly to deal with them.  Furthermore, we need people who can actually speak in clear sentences. People who can actually think.

Sarah Palin, please take the cue, see the writing on the wall, and just stop embarrassing yourself.  Let it go.  Not everyone is meant to be a politician on the national stage.  Not everyone is meant to be President, and I mean based solely on intelligence.  I know G.W. got your hopes up, but take a look around, nobody likes him and he is going down in history as the worst President in history.  It is not your turn and after this historic moment, and someone like Obama who is incredibly bright, there is no chance.  Stay in Alaska and do whatever it is that you do there.  We have seen you and we have heard you.  Now here is what the nation had to say: Thanks, but no thanks.  Seriously.

Since the historic election that occurred last Tuesday, there has been one question circulating around in the media, in classrooms and even at kitchen tables—is racism in America over? Or, to be more precise, with the election of Barack Obama, are we now living in a post-racial time?

I pose this question to everyone out there. It appears on the surface to be quite a simple question. And with the election of the first black President, the answer can easily be thought to be a resounding yes. However, I am much more cynical about America and Americans. I wish that we have arrived at a place and time where racism would cease to exist in this country, but I think the mere articulation of the question is premature and even thinking such thoughts has just begun. Make no mistake, I, along with millions of other Americans, voted for Barack Obama because I do feel he possesses the abilities to bring about the possibility of real change. I think he will do some good things for this country, especially the middle and working class families. But does this mean that America is at the point of looking beyond a person’s race? I am not so sure.

While this election has brought the promise that we can get past race, we are not quite there yet. This country has a very complicated history and wounds are only beginning to see healing. Furthermore, until all minorities are not prejudiced against, i.e., Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, Arabs, etc., we cannot address this question. It is only when we truly embrace the idea that all people are created equal in its totality, that we can seriously discuss whether or not we are past racism. I only hope I can believe to witness such an event.

It is very important to celebrate this historic moment in America. We should be proud that we have, as one of my favorite TV comics Jon Stewart put it, fulfilled the promise of our creed. We lived up to our word that all men are equal and in America there is the possibility for us to achieve anything and become more than we are. Yes, we need to pause and really wrap our minds around what this means. But at the same time I have to be cautious and really think that we have so much farther to go in terms of issues of race. So as we move forward, we must never forget our stained past and try to go toward the future with more sensitivity and with more courage to overcome the many obstacles that are ahead.

I created “Is Any 1 Listening” to have a forum that would give me the chance to express my views on the current political climate. There has been a major shift in American politics with the election of Barack Obama. Over the next days, months, and years, his new Administration will be closely scrutinized, commented upon, and of course sharply critiqued (either fairly or unfairly). With the dawn of this exciting times, I wanted to have an avenue that could not only air my own thoughts and take on what will unfold, but also have a chance to engage others who have similar, and hopefully different views on situations. This is a space to have an intelligent conversation about the politics and issues that affect everyone. I encourage people to respond, always in a respectable manner, and I look forward to embarking on this journey, with the intention to achieve a healthy exchange of ideas and opinions.  So with any luck my main question will be answered in the coming days: Is Any 1 Listening?