isany1listening

One of my favorite television shows is “The West Wing.”  I love Sam, Toby, Josh, Leo, C.J., and of course President Bartlett.  There are moments when the President has a great attitude of “I don’t take crap from anyone” and it leaves me with the feeling of awe and wonder.  It makes me think why can’t our President behave that way in real life.  Why can’t the President, as leader of the Democratic Party, march on up to the Hill and lay down the law for the reforms and bills he would like to pass?  I guess that real life, unlike dramatic television, gives us limits and we can only do so much.  But just once, oh just one, what I would like to see President Obama lay down that law to the Dems….

 These thoughts cross my mind on a daily basis concerning Health Care Reform.  A few weeks ago, I travelled with two busses to Washington D.C. for the Health Care for America Now rally.  I heard polticians, labor leaders, and ordinary citizens speak to a crowd of thousands.  It was a wonderful experience.  Truly amazing.  I then got to lobby in the Capitol Building and I am still recovering from that spectacular feeling.  You know, the feeling that comes when you participate in something and know you are making just the slightest difference.  For me that always comes in politics and I have never felt more proud to be an American than on that day when I actually had a chance to participate in the political process up close and personal.

What is the point of this particular blog entry?  Well my point is that I believe in a firm Public Option on Health Care, and I don’t think we can have real reform without it.  The time has come for change and that is what we elected Congress and President Obama to accomplish.  If it doesn’t happen now, it never will.  I had hope, but after some weeks have passed, I am seeing the President waver just a bit on the Public Option, wanting the bill to be bipartisan.  But Republicans will never vote for his Health Care Reform, so the time has come to say screw bipartisanship.  And I think he has reached that moment.  It came today in a speech he gave, and I think more forcefullness is forthcoming. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I think we should all work together and have consensus.  I know this first hand from my academic and student poltical experiences.  But there comes a time, and it is only every so often, where you have to draw a line and take a stand.  You have to fight for what is right and even if you are in the minority, you fight with everything you have and sometimes you even end up winning because you gain people’s respect.  I have had those moments, and trust me, they are delicious.  They are rare, but are they good.  This is what we need for Health Care.  Enough is enough.  Bipartisanship be damned, the majority of Americans, from recents polls, have said loud and clear that we need a viable Public Option.  And if Republicans want to be the Party of No, then let them be that. 

For me the issue is so simple.  I think of young kids who are sick and have no health insurance because their parents have lost their jobs or just cannot afford it.  Those kids end up dying and receive the lowest possible quality of care because of money.  If I were in Congress, I would think about this and ask myself, do I want to contribute to one more day of young children dying needlessly due to HMO’s needing to turn a profit?  Do I really want to be responsible for killing sick kids?  Now this may seem oversimplified and a tad melodramatic, but I don’t care.  The time for debate is over and we need real reform.  Because this is the reality and if we need to put it in such simple terms, then so be it.  If that is what gets quality affordable health insurance for all passed, then that is what must be done. 

I still have hope that real change can happen.  It has to happen because if not, then I feel we ended up with the same old type of politics: fancy rhetoric, empty campaign promises and no real change.  I hope the President gets it done.  I hope he tells the Senate Finance Committee the way things need to happen.  And he must since the majority of us are telling everyone including Santa Claus that we want change and we want a Public Option.  Get it done Washington, otherwise you will not be so lucky when your terms are up.

I admit that I subscribe to Twitter.  It does give everyday people a certain sense of importance and I guess I would agree that it is pretty self-indulgent.  But my criticisms of such a social network as Twitter have changed dramatically in the past few days. 

While the government of Iran has ordered a blackout, and major networks have been denied access and filing of stories, the Twitter revolution has taken over and given eyewitness accounts and reported what is going on in the country.  It also seems to help organize the protests.  What I know from the tweets on my phone (via Tehran Bureau and a correspondent for ABC News), which have been non-stop for the entire morning are that people have taken to the streets.  Riot police and military have been installed to quel protestors and take control.  Tear gas has been used and helicopters puring boiling water on crowds has also been tweeted by several sources.  Gun shots have been fired and people are being injured and/or killed.  Clinics have been closed, but embassys are taking injured people in. 

It seems there is a lot of chaos and a lot of action.  CNN has started to report these events as they are trying to confirm them.  The news organizations cannot keep up with latest developments because of the blackout.  While there can be some skepticism of tweets on Twitter, even from those who claim to be “news” sources, the rate that everything is happening and being “tweeted” is astounding.  And as I said now networks are picking up these tweets and confirming them.  It is a scary time for the people there who are amidst a possible revolution. 

I hope the bloodshed and violence will end soon.  Innocent people are dying in horrific ways because they are exercising a right of protest.  I have so many emotions simply from the updates I am receiving.  My final thought is that I am grateful for a social network like Twitter that has been able to inform and help those in Iran organize and try to find safety in numbers, and alert them to what is going on in various parts of the city.  Again, my heart goes out to the people of Iran and hope the violence that is being done to them ends soon.  The violence and murder of people must stop.  If you are a person of faith, pray for them.  If you are not spiritual whatsoever, take a moment to think about them and their suffering and wish them well, or just be aware and spread the word.  That is what these people are asking for across the ocean: for prayers and to spread the word.  My heart is with them.

Upon hearing news that Hugh Hewitt and Rush Limbaugh have called for a boycott of GM, just so President Obama can fail, I thought I would air a few thoughts.  Well not a few thoughts, as much as join in some of the consensus that this is Anti-American.  For a group that is so concerned with morality and “Christian” values, it is disturbing to say the least that the same people would want to force more American workers into unemployment.  Where is the morality in that?  Where is the concern and care for your fellow man?  These are real questions for me.

The statements made by these political pundits are nothing short of petty partisanship.  Of course both sides of the spectrum have people who are petty.  But sometimes one goes too far, and this is certainly the case.

Hoping President Obama fails and criticizing his policies is one thing.  This is a country of free speech and that means we get to have our opinions, but we also have to hear the people who disagree with us.  I am down with that and think these men should be able to say what they want when it comes to how they view the President.  Although, it is ironic that when people criticized Bush, these same people wanted the country to stand behind the President, but I digress.  However, when you start to support a boycott that would cost thousands of Americans their jobs, and ultimately wanting them, not President Obama, to fail, then you have a serious problem.  I guess these are easy statements to make and actions to take when you make a ton of money and do not have to face the prospect of losing your job, your home and not providing for yourself or your family.

My hope is that conservatives and right-wing evangelicals will see through this and realize what a boycott would really do.  I hope they see how Anti-American and nonsensical this really is.  I am an avid supporter of President Obama and a staunch left-leaning Democrat, but I would never want to see my fellow American, regardless of their party affiliation or ideology actually lose the life they built.  That is not what this country is about.

I say buy GM and Chrysler, buy, buy, buy.  Keep as many of our fellow Americans employed.  And help President Obama succeed in trying to help save jobs and rebuild the economy.

It was just announced that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is changing his political party affiliation from Repblican to Democrat.  I just read his speech on Politico.  This is a shock to me.  He has been in the Senate so long, serving as a Republican, I never thought I would see the day when he changed his party.

I don’t want to get bogged down with the politics of this decision.  That is to say, that I don’t want to waste space by throwing it in the GOP’s face, and warning that this may be a sign of other serious things to come.  I feel there is nothing gained from it.

Instead, Senator Specter’s statement gave me something to think about.  He said, “While each member of the Senate caucuses with his Party, what each of us hopes to accomplish is distinct from his party affiliation. The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation. And no Senator, no matter how loyal he is to his Party, should or would put party loyalty above his duty to the state and nation.” 

I think Specter hits on something very important.  Our country is in a real crisis at the moment, and the President and Congress are trying to put out multiple fires at the same time.  It is important that our leaders keep in mind that the people of this country are not concerned with the politics and partisanship of how it gets done, but just that it gets done.  That is there job after all.  This is a time when our elected officials should be concerned with how to fix our problems, and the last thing that should be on their minds when making decisions, is party loyalty.  The loyalty for any politician or elected official should be to the office they hold and the people they serve.  This is not about backroom deals and trying to smite the other party.  We need serious people and leaders who are committed to finding solutions, not to vindictive politics. 

I support and applaud Specter’s decision and not because I am a Democrat and feel that we have “won” something.  Rather, I respect him for acting according to his conscience and helping the people of his state and his country.

There have been reports circulating for the past couple of weeks on the issue of President Obama and the Armenian Genocide.  The L.A. Times recently published an article discussing how the President could waver on his position during the campaign where he once stated “The Armenian geoncide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence…America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides.  I intend to be that president.”  However, with his upcoming trip to Turkey, the declaration that Obama once promised could be in jeopardy.  Despite the uncertainty of the Administration’s next steps concerning this issue, the House of Representatives is putting forward a resolution that declares the actions committed by the Ottomans in 1915 against the Armenians to be a genocide.

It will be interesting to see how the President will react as these events begin to unfold.  While I am no expert on the subject of the Armenian genocide, I have found that there is a plethora of information readily available.  What has been most astounding to me is that there is reportedly 1.5 million people who were killed.  In fact, it is also known as the Armenian Holocaust, and from what I discern, that is a legitimate title.  What shocks me is that this is still in debate about being called a genocide.  I cannot list all of the facts here on this blog entry, and would suggest teaching a class just on this subject.  However, I encourage you to find out more information and you can start by looking on the Armenian Genocide website (www.armenian-genocide.org).

What I would like to discuss and reflect on is how historical events still play such an important role in contemporary politics.  We cannot deny that the Armenian Genocide happened.  It is fact, but what we can do now is not officially declare it a genocide because it could effect our relations with Turkey.  They are valuable allies and we need them especially in the Middle East, just as we need Israel.  But I have to wonder when we stop playing politics and start living in accordance with humanity.  What I mean is that countries need to claim responsibility for their historical actions, specifically in terms of crimes against particular groups of people based on race, ethnicity, religion and/or gender.  They cannot remain indifferent and claim non-culpability, because you become culpable the moment you deny the atrocity. 

Recognition is needed to bring peace, and begin healing.  The prime example is South Africa.  While the Truth and Reconcilliation hearings were problematic and punishment was exchanged for full disclosure, it helped people in the healing process and aided in a country to move on from the horrific events of Apartheid.  Pehaps that is what is needed for the Armeninans.  I can’t say, but I think that these issues and examples of other genocides need to be explored before making decisions based purely on politics.  All sides need to be thought through and examined.  I hope Obama can be the leader we need and be able to keep alliances while at the same time recognizing a genocide.  I hope he is willing to listen to all parties involved.  I am happy with the House for bringing this resolution to the floor.  It shows how we live in a time where humanity needs to come before politics and policy.  People are worth more than alliances for military gain.  All we can do is wait and see what will happen in the next few weeks.

President-elect Obama has expressed concerns over the civilian deaths of both the Palestinians and Israelis in Gaza. Of course there are many news agencies reporting this, and of course the internet blogs have people coming out of the woodwork to denounce Obama as a Muslim concerned only with the Paelstinians. Truth be told, this whole situation sickens me. There have been over 560 deaths on the side of the Palestinians and only 4 friendly fire deaths on the side of the Israelis. Where is the balance? And how can you accuse someone who is concerned with the deaths of over 560 innocent people a terrorist supporter? Where has humanity gone?

The conflict between Palestine and Israel has been going on for years. The U.S. has always been a staunch supporter of Israel. And, unfortunately if you dare to critique Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, then you are labeled an anti-semite. However, being an intelligent and free thinking person, I believe that every state is open to criticism, especially criticism that comes from a logical and reasonable place. I will go out on a limb and say that the situation in Gaza makes me want to cry. The fact that innocent civilians, Palestinians, are being killed left and right, is completely immoral and unethical. Israel knows that Hamas is using the civilians as human shields, and yet it does not deter them from trying to massacre everyone, making no clear distinction between the guilty from the innocent. Where is the justice? For me, there is no justification.

The Palestinians were given the right to elect their own government in Gaza and they elected Hamas. The U.S., among others, was not happy with the election. Well, when you allow democracy to happen in a valid way, you open yourself up to having people elect representation that you may not like. If the election was legal, and you didn’t get the result you wanted, well too bad. True democracy allows citizens to elect those they want to elect and they choose who they feel will best govern them and attend to their needs. What can we do? The fact is, that when the Israelis committ what appears to be genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians in their state, and deprive them of basic human rights, well when a small area gets independence of course they will choose the party of terrorists who are telling them they will stop the genocide. They have no where else to turn. What do we expect?

I have one last point, and one that may get me into trouble, but I will put it as mildly as I can. All genocides and holocausts are terrible. This means what happened in Europe, Rwanda, Cambodia, Armenia, etc. The list goes on. But if you, as a member of an ethnic group, are a victim of such a terrible event, it does not give you the right to later become the victimizer of another ethnic group and claim your victimhood as ethical reasoning. It is completely unethical and inhumane to do this. No genocide, ethnic cleansing, nor holocaust can ever be justified. I don’t think I have to emphasize this further.

My concern is for the innocents who are dying in this war, and is always for the innocent victims in any war. It is ugly. It is unfair. And unfortunately it is the way of the world. I hope someday we can change. And I hope that we will always be allowed to criticize states who engage in such actions, especially our own, and the support we give to states who are wrong. This doesn’t make you anti anything, except anti-war, and it makes you a logical person who has a heart and cares for all of humanity. No exceptions!

It was only a matter of time.  At least that is what I believe.  It was only a matter of time before the Kennedy legacy resurrected itself once again.  This time the resurrection comes from the last living member of the JFK branch: Caroline Kennedy.  After years of living a very private life, Caroline Kennedy is now ready to enter the realm of politics by way of Hillary Clinton’s vacant Senate seat in New York.  This is not news today, at least not for those of us who have not been living under a rock for the past few days or so.

Now the critics have come out and have said she is inexperienced, has no political chops, and would be a poor choice because she is simply not qualified.  To all those naysayers out there I will reiterate my title: But she’s a Kennedy!  Ah, that name still brings a moment of wonder and amazement, even for me.  And to sweeten the pot, she is the Kennedy—daughter of our beloved JFK.  Please don’t misunderstand, I am not mocking the dead, nor the Kennedy legacy.  I wouldn’t say I was praising it either, but being Irish, I can’t help myself on both accounts.

I think people underestimate the sway that the Kennedy name still holds in politics.  Then again maybe they don’t, because let’s be honest, if she wasn’t a Kennedy, she would not be considered.  She would not be news.  And let’s face it, the fact that her father was JFK only makes her all the more appealing on that wonderous level, and I would go further and say, it makes her magical.  Our hopes of reviving the JFK legacy were tragically dashed with the untimely death of  JFK Jr., but perhaps it can recaptured with the rise of Caroline, a most unlikely source.  I am just saying.

After all this time, what would make Caroline want to enter the political arena and follow in the footsteps of many of her family members?  Perhaps it is President-elect Obama who has given hope back to Americans.  Perhaps it is the illness of her beloved uncle who is the last of the clan to carry the big torch of the family in politics.  We may never know.  But whatever her reasons, and despite her inexperience and maybe even though she may not be the most qualified candidate for the job, don’t underestimate the power of the Kennedys.  Even after all this time.  How many of us were ecstatic when they endorsed Obama and anointed him the next JFK?  Come on, you can admit you were one of them.  The name carries the weight and the star quality even today.  And the fact that she is the little girl of JFK gives her all the more star power, political clout and appeal.  She may be the right person.  She may be the wrong person.  But she is a Kennedy and that alone is enough to take her to the top.  Mark my words…Hillary you now have competition in 2016 in your next bid for President, and it is serious competition because Americans, whether they admit it or not, would love to see another Kennedy in the White House before another Clinton, especially one that is the child of our beloved JFK.  I am just saying…

Over the weekend, at a press conference in Bhagdad, Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi hurled his two shoes at President George Bush.  He was arrested, criticized by some, and hailed a hero by others.  In my opinion, George W. could have been the victim of a lot worst.   Zeidi yelled at the President that he was a dog.  Again, worst things could have been said, and done.

I have read a lot of articles and comments by people on this story in the past 24 hours.  Some have argued that Zeidi would have been killed for his actions under Sadam.  This very well may be the case, but no one can deny the disasterous state that Iraq is in.  And it is not a surprise that someone finally expressed a differing opinion to Bush himself in front of the media.

Perhaps those who have said this is another example of us being greeted as liberators is true.  Ironically of course.  But can you blame the Iraqis for being a little more than pissed at the current situation that they are living in?  Sectarian violence, civilians being murdered, basic utilities operating discontinuously, the list goes on.  Should they be a grateful nation?  The problem with Iraq is that Bush acted before he thought, which again is no surprise to anyone in the world at this point, but people cannot ignore that his thoughtless actions have brought serious consequences.  The worst of which is not hurling shoes.

The actions of Zeidi are a manifestation of the frustration of what this unnecessary war has brought to the doorstep of Iraq.  It is symbolic of what people not only there, but all over the world feel for Bush and how he went about to destroy a nation.  This of course is not something new and I am no genius to make this case.  But I was amused that this happened and wanted to comment on it.  Like I said in an earlier post, we reap what we sow, and Bush has reaped a lot and should sow a lot worse than hurling shoes.  Again, just my two cents worth.

I have been wanting to write this post for a long time.  With the political news slightly dragging this week, I thought it might be a perfect time.  Let me begin by saying that I am a student of literature and philosophy.  And I love mythology and I love epics.  I even love Greek tragedy.  What this says about me, I still have yet to figure out, but I digress…

One of my favorite pieces of work from the Ancient Greeks is Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad”.  It is the story of the Trojan war up until the burial of Hektor, the Trojan hero.  If anyone saw the awful movie “Troy” you may be vaguely familiar with the characters, not necessarily the events as told by Homer in the poem.  It is also the story of the Greek, or Achaian warrior, Achilleus, who I have to admit is one of my favorite figures in literature.  His ability to stand up to Agamemnon, who dishonors him in front of the army, and tries to stand for the honor code among warriors is incredible. 

Who among today’s soldiers would ever question a figure of authority, especially in a time of war?  Today, soldiers are taught to follow orders or they will die.  You do not question authority.  I am not arguing that there is not some need for this, of course there is.  In a time of war and in the military, there needs to be rules of order, and these rules need to be followed in order to maintain security.  But I have to say, there must also be a time to question, and room for someone to speak up when there is wrong being done.  The past eight years under Bush are evidence enough for that. 

See my point about Achilleus, and don’t get me wrong, there are some pretty awful things he does throughout the poem, but it is the fact that he feels bound by an ethical duty to call the “king” on his violation of common valued codes and laws.  Achilleus is bound by ethics and by honor, and therefore, feels he can trangress the chain of command and break with the authority figure.  And he is right to do so.  Now of course it is more complicated and I am boiling down the events and the ethos behind it for the blogosphere, but be that as it may, my point can still be made.  There are no more Achilleus in this world.  And that is unfortunate.

No one wants to take a hard stand against what is wrong, and no one wants to question authority.  Sure now that we know the abuses of Bush’s power and the days of it are numbered, we can all come forward and be critics.  But where were we when he was elected?  Where were we when he led us into an unnecessary war?  Where were we when we elected him a second time?  My point is this, we can sit back and blame 9/11 and the dangerous time after where if you spoke any criticism against the government you were labeled unpatriotic.  But that is just an excuse.  We let Bush and his team manipulate us into following whatever he wanted to do in terms of the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, torture, the failure to act after Katrina, etc.  We allowed them to dictate policy based on fear and terror, whether it was real or imaginary. 

No one stood up.  No one questioned authority.  No one said enough.  There was no Achilleus among us.  You can say it is different, for we do live in modern times and politics and society are much more complicated.  But cowards are still cowards, the weak are still the weak.  Our country is circling the drain.  We are fighting two wars, the economy is in the tank, the auto industry is about to go bankrupt, and still we seemed to be more concerned about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s kids than about anything else.  No one can be bothered to act on behalf of the Greater Good, to stand for something more.  And this is how we have operated in the past eight years and now our country is falling apart and people are terrified, and they should be when they are losing their jobs and their homes.  But you know what, we have no one to blame but ourselves, because we let the government put us in this position.  We didn’t say no and we didn’t stand up for what was right.  We let Bush take us here and to be frank, now we are reaping what we sowed. 

We need to read stories, myths, epics, like “The Iliad”.  I think they can give us perspective on how we can act as individuals.  They can guide us and show us a time where there people who stood for something, who acted and took the risk despite the consequences.  There was a time when people stood for a Greater Good, had ethics, and lived by them.  We need just a little bit of that.  Obama needs a little bit of that.  And it is our responisibility to have that in us so we don’t continue on the path we are on, and let ourselves be fooled again.  We cannot be ruled by our fears and we cannot let people play on them.  We still need the Ancient Greeks, to show us that although it may be difficult, it is not impossible.  But that is just my two cents.

The bailout for the auto industry failed this week.  The blame appears to be focused on the GOP—big surprise.  The GOP blames the UAW and Democrats for allying with the union—again, big surprise.  So what does this defeat tell us about our government and our unions?  Is it white collar vs. blue collar?  Is it a matter of class warfare?

For me this question begins long before the economy began to tank.  The question really does date back to Pat Buchanan and the “Culture Wars”.  But class warfare became a hot button issue, front and center, in this Presidential campaign cycle, with the help of Sarah Palin.  When she decided to declare that there were parts of America that were “more American” than other parts of the country, the line was drawn.  But we cannot hold Sarah Palin to the fire by herself, because many people bought into the line she was selling.  Small town Americans, thinking that there small town values, were more American and more patriotic.  Cosmopolitan and big city dwelling Americans, looking down on the red-neck hillbillies for believing they were more American than them who are far more sophisticated.  Every American, no matter where they lived, had something to say about Palin’s comments, and everyone chose a side, including myself.  I don’t care where you live—big city or small town—it does not make you more or less of an American, but what the hell do I know?

After the election and with the economic crisis increasing, it appeared that we were all equal and in this country together.  No one was more patriotic and we would all suffer as one nation.  But alas, that is not what has come to pass.  After bailing out Wall Street and trying to restore confidence to the credit markets, the auto industry is now facing huge job losses.  And now that the white collar workers have been given a life line, the blue collar workers are looking to the government to do the same for them.  Except this time, it is tough luck.  And now what are we left to ponder: class warfare.

I know this is a sticky issue.  And I am in graduate school, so automatically people lump me in the “elite” category.  But let me say, I belong to a union and I have to work two jobs, and take out loans just to scrape by every month.  I don’t know what is “elite” about that, but whatever, I get it.  But I do come from a family of proud card carrying union members and have been raised with the idea that unions are good.  I still hold that opinion, and while I see that there are problems with unions, and ways in which things could be done better, at the end of the day, I could not cross the line.  It just wouldn’t be right.  My working class background is embedded in my soul.

So for me, I do see a bit of class warfare in the decision by Congress.  Of course, I am not surprised by the GOP’s actions.  Why would any of them want to help any working class person?  But here is my bigger question for our representatives: if you bailout Wall Street hoping to restore confidence in the markets, and help Americans get credit and keep their homes, but you deny the auto industry the same advantage, which results in huge job losses and unemployment rates skyrocketing, which apparently defeats the purpose of the initial bailout in the first place, are you not declaring class warfare?  Are you not saying that you will only help out the white collared Americans, while screwing the blue collared Americans at the same time?  Have you not just undid whatever you were trying to do with Wall Street by denying Main Street?  How can people keep their homes, purchase food and goods, if they have no job to earn money?  And who will help those people then when they hit rock bottom?

How did we get here?  This is a real question and not rhetorical in the slightest.  How did we get here?

Class warfare has resurfaced and things will get ugly.  There is no doubt.  Questions will be raised and not many answers will be given.  Unfortunately, we are circling the drain and there is little hope that we can avoid slipping down it.  I don’t know how we can survive if the auto industry tanks, and not just economically, but the symbolic and psychological hit the average American will take.  I just hope the GOP sleeps at night.  I am sure they sleep like babies since they do not feel any hit to their wallets.  Like I said, the working class part of me is embedded in my soul.