isany1listening

Can we move beyond Carrie Prejean and Donald Trump now?  Seriously, this is what the news is focused on?  Torture, tanking economy, health care reform, Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, and what we are talking about is this?  Seriously?  The only intelligent comments I can make on this circus, is that when you are in a public forum, and you are in the spotlight, you can say what you want, but you also have to be responsible and accountable for what you say.  When you are not responsible, then you get hit with a firestorm, and you should.  It is not about silencing people who speak from their heart, it is about integrity, honesty, and accountability.  It is not even about gay marriage because when you strip away the Christian rhetoric, I do not believe this young woman would have another reason.  And when it comes to law, Church and State are two separate entities and must be separated.  Once you start invoking God on any issue, I stop listening because that holds not weight.  And while so many of our relatives fought for freedom of speech, they fought for separation of Church and State, Civil Rights, the Right to Privacy, Equal Protection under the law, the list goes on and on.  Now can we get back to listening to rational and intelligent people on important issues?  Please.

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.

Ah, the Holidays…..They are here in full force. I spent yesterday venturing out to the mall to get Christmas gifts. Now I know what you are going to say: It is the Saturday before Christmas, of course the stores are packed and you have to expect a certain amount of annoyance to accompany your shopping experience. And you are right to advise me of that. But still, I can not help but say what I need to say: I hate the Holidays. The long lines, the picked over merchandise in stores, the crowds and the screaming kids. It makes for the most awful of events. Parents, if you kids are not well behaved and don’t want to be dragged from store to store, do us all a favor and leave them home. Get a babysitter. My biggest complaint this year is the myriad of screaming kids everywhere! Look if your son or daughter is prone to throwing temper tantrums, they really should not leave the house. I am of the school that children should be seen and not heard, and if I ever did in public what I have seen done, my parents would give me a good spanking. And they would be right! So please, please, please, I am begging you, leave your ill-mannered monsters at home.

Sorry that could not be helped. And no I don’t have kids, but I am smart enough to know that I should not reproduce the monstrosity that is me. But there are children that I do like and there are plenty of well behaved kids out there. And they can go shopping, but the constantly scremaing ones, I am not a fan of.

Okay, I have harped on that long enough. The Holidays. The commercialism, all of the fake happy people, all of the happy happy people, it is all too much for this lonely heart to bear. This year it seems even more unbearable than previous. When you are single, or just plain lonely, this time of year sucks. And the happy people of the world do not make it any better. It makes it that much worse. Yes, we can take comfort in our families who are obligated to love us anyway, but sleeping alone this time of year, is just awful. Now I am trying to find the real Christmas spirit, I really am. And I do love being around my family and seeing the holiday cheer spread around, but those moments when I am fighting the crowds and the nights when I am alone, it is terrible. And loneliness seems to cut even more this time of year. That is all I wanted to say. I feel for all of us out there who are going through the same things. I guess we can take comfort in the fact that in our lonlieness, we are not alone, because there are many of us out there, admittedly or not, who feel the same way.

So before I go and put a fake smile on my face, and pretend that I am in the holiday spirit, I just wanted to let out one last sigh, and say to all of the unhappy and miserable people out there: it is okay to not be happy this time of year. Take your misery and hug and hold it dear. Then put on the smile, be merry, and complain about it to anyone who will listen. Meeting of the Unhappy People Club and the People who Hate the Holidays Club adjourned.

Happy Holidays!

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.

Today is December 1st, World AIDS Today.  It is a day to stop and think about the disease that has affected so many throughout the world, especially in the countries of Africa.  As someone who has been involved in the ONE campaign for years, I don’t think I will be ever be able to understate that there is still more to be done when it comes to AIDS, particularly in Africa.  It is always heartbreaking to me when people who cannot afford to get the medication that is so readily available in the U.S. and Europe, cannot access it so easily.  Fortunately, there are organizations out there who aid African countries, and plenty of people working for this cause—Bono comes to mind as one among the many.  But still it is not enough, there is always more, particularly when there are countries whose politics prevent the treatment of its people.  My request for anyone who reads this post today, is to stop and think about what it means to have a World AIDS Day, and how many people are affected by HIV and AIDS.  Think of the many children who have contracted the disease.  Think about those who go untreated because they do not have the access or the money for medications.  If you want to do more than just reflect, go out and buy some RED products.  Today you can go to any Starbucks and purchase a drink and part of the proceeds will go to the RED cause.  I encourage you to at least buy a cup of coffee and participate in helping to further the solution of this epidemic.  We can make progress and we can all help and do our part!

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!

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!