There is Nothing Quite like Hope

"The only way you can get Americans to notice anything is to tax them or draft them or kill them" -John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany

Sometimes I hate politics... sometimes I lose faith in democracy. Sometimes I think I'm an arrogant ass, sometimes that those around me are morons. Most of the time I just wish people would take a bit more interest in politics, that they would just care a little more. Care to take the time to do some research, to vote on the issues and not the personality of a candidate, to vote on more than one issue. Sometimes the system depresses me, and what depresses me more is that I have no real solution to any of the problems inherent in it. Yet, this isn't one of those times... for once, I just feel happy, because after what seems like an eternity I feel like I have won. I feel there is something to look forward to, for once I have hope.

Barrack Hussein Obama is President-Elect, defeating a craggy old candidate who I liked so much more when he was just a Senator from Arizona and who I have a feeling I will like a lot more now that he's just that once again. I don't really think that the Washington establishment will change, but that was never why I wanted Obama to win in the first place. But at least there is a little hope for once.

I'm not going to go through his platform and explain why I voted for him, but just enjoy the moment. For now I just want to say that on election night I felt optimistic again. Seeing the scenes from all over the country, from all over the world of people jubilant was amazing. To see so many people happy because they believed something great had happened, voting for something positive, rather than because they were afraid.

The United States has taken a huge step toward wiping away the remnants of slavery and segregation. But it is bigger than just that, what I am most proud of is that this is a resounding denunciation of the idea that "American" means WASP or hick. Yes, the goal is that someday we will be able to elect a black man and that won't be anything special, but we are finally on the right path. For once the President is something more than a white Christian male. Someday we'll elect a woman, a Muslim, or an Atheist. And someday none of those categories will matter.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hopefully this election truly is the resounding defeat of the Christian Coalition that it seems and that social conservatism will die with them. Hopefully the Republican party can transform into something more akin to what it once was, can transform into a party focused on a capitalism tempered by The New Deal. While I doubt I'll agree with such a party much, at least I'll be able to respect it.

Someday maybe Owen Meany will be wrong, that people will look around themselves and care more than what is effecting them that very instant. We as a people, need to fight for what we believe in again and stop the infringing upon our freedoms. I truly believe that November 4th, 2008 was a huge step in that direction. We have a long way to go, but I have never been prouder of this country.

Battle Hymn of a Loser

(I had prepared this post in the unfortunate event that Barack Obama were to lose the Presidential Candidacy.  For my entire adult life I've known only one man as President and only now do I breath easily and thank god.)

"Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide."
- John Adams

We were promised the world and today we lost it. But things could be much worse. We lived through Bush and plenty of others lived through Nixon. And that’s where I’m at now: ready to live through Nixon and the Vietnam War.

Friends of mine have told me that if the Democrats lost this race they’d leave the country. To each one of them I asked the same question, “when?” When you’re done with school? When you have the money? When it gets a little worse? It’s an unrealistic threat they make.

How much of our anger is real? As much as we may complain about the Bush administration and the U.S. government we didn’t riot in the streets in 2000 when the election was stolen- we were a civilized group of losers. We played into American mythos and to the thief went the spoils.

It should come as no surprise that we’ve been indoctrinated but there’s something about our sense of Democracy that seems genuine- inherent in us as Americans. Which is why it’s so upsetting when our Democracy fails us.

It’s unrealistic (and un-American) to abandon a burning ship. We’re Americas and no mater how fast our ship might sink to us the rest of the world is a sea full of rats. We stand by our flag until the end and fill ourselves with rage and cynicism. And I’m ready for that anger. I’m ready to live through Nixon and come out the other side, more aware than ever of the lies we’re told and the brown people we’ve killed. I’m ready to become Thompson and Ginsberg and the Beatles fueled by injustice and absurdity. I want to suffer all the slings and arrows of this once great nation. I want to feel alive if not through jubilation and joy than through suffering and martyrdom.

Even now if Bush were to apologize I’d forgive him. If America were to apologize I’d forgive them too. And if not… Well, by 2040 it’s expected the whites will be a minority race, the country will be hot and ugly, with luck California will be gone to Arizona Bay and if not maybe we’ll have at least found some way to fix Ohio once and for all. And I’ll still be here, 55 years old and angry as hell.

“He piled upon the whale’s white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart’s shell upon it.”
-Herman Melville

Back from the Banned

Hiya folks.  Yesterday marked the end of the ALA's (American Library Association) Banned Book Week 08.  This is late and I hadn't planned on doing anything at all about it this year bug with the low coverage I've experienced around the event I figured late was better than never.  

I was overjoyed when while visiting a local small business book store this past week to see the shelves filled with a scattering of historically challenged and banned books on display each accompanied by a note card describing the specific case.  Among these books were classics like The Catcher in the Rye, Leaves of Grass, and Of Mice and Men.  

The ALA's website has a list of the Ten Most Challenged writers of 1990-2004.  If you haven't the time to read their disgusting and obscene trash have no fear, BSD is happy to offer the condensed gist of their grossest of works.

1. Alvin Schwartz

2. Judy Blume

3. Robert Cormier

4. J.K. Rowling

5. Michael Willhoite

6. Katherine Paterson

7. Stephen King

8. Maya Angelou

9. R.L. Stine

10. John Steinbeck

As for me I spent my weekend relaxing with a bit of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, the cheeky fucker.

"Well, the kids have to learn about Tek Wars sooner or later."

CML

My letter to Wendy

"Wendy's International,
Inc.
One Dave Thomas Blvd.

Dublin, OH 43017

Dear Wendy’s Corporation,

Tonight, at 11:50 P.M., I attempted to walk through the drive ‘‘thru’’ at one of your locations and was denied service. When I asked if my money was no good at the establishment for some reason I was told that no, it was in fact very good, if only I were in a car. After asking to see a manager this point was reiterated to me through a closed drive ‘thru’ window with no further explanations.

Several minutes later, after walking a short half-mile home, I got into my car and drove myself back to your restaurant. After waiting ten minutes in line I paid, with exact change with US bills issued by the Federal Reserve, $3.81 for a Spicy Chicken Sandwich. I also asked to speak to the restaurant’s manager. When the manager opened the drive ‘thru’ window to me I informed her that I had twenty minutes earlier been denied service a the location because I was not in a car and asked her why this was. She informed me in turn that I was denied service because of two safety risks: 1) A footed drive ‘thru’ costumer posed a risk of robbery to the store, and 2) that a footed drive ‘thru’ costumer posed a danger to themselves (as they could be hit, run over, or crushed by other automotive endowed patrons of the drive ‘thru’.)

To these explanations several question has arisen in my head to which I would appreciate your answers. 1) Can I not also rob or “hold-up” one of your Wendy’s locations in a car instead of on foot? Is a footed robber more dangerous than a robber who posses a vehicle which allows for both a speedy get away and the protection of a fortified mobile crime headquarters? 2) If I am struck while on foot or on bicycle while in your Wendy’s location drive ‘thru’ am not I the one at fault? Or better yet for my situation is not the operator of the vehicle that struck me at fault? To that I will also add the clause of point 2.5) If your corporation is at fault when I am struck by a vehicle while standing idly waiting in your drive ‘thru’ are you also at fault when I am rear ended or rear end another patrol of your location while I am in a vehicle myself? If you are at fault for this I think you should consider obtaining a better cabinet of lawyers because I am afraid you are being taken advantage of.

And 3) what am I supposed to do if I do not own an automobile? I consider myself lucky enough to own an automobile and live in this great country where instead of walking a short half-mile to the nearest Wendy’s location I can instead drive myself there. But I must wonder about those poor people who do not share this same luxury as you and I do. The manager of your Wendy’s location informed me that the dinning room in open until 10 o’clock. Are patrons who do not own a car unable to eat at your restaurants after 10 o’clock P.M., is there money ‘no good’ after a certain point in the evening? (I would like to point out as well that this very day I paid more for a gallon of gasoline [$4.17] than I did for the Spicy Chicken Sandwich I bought from your restaurant [$3.81]. However, this a price I am wiling to pay for the deliciousness of the soggy chicken and white welted lettuce of your restaurant’s chicken sandwiches. While I did wait in the drive ‘thru’ line for ten minutes I made sure to turn off my engine as I did because while I do not mind paying the price in money to drive to your restaurant I do mind the ecological impact it may have on the planet.) It is for this reason that I would also like to add the clause to my third question of question 3.5) Are you in anyway associated with ‘Big’ automotive or ‘Big’ automotive lobbyists?

And my fourth and final question: Would you walk somewhere you could drive?

Thank you.

C.M., private citizen"

The Audacity

How does something like this happen? Where do Republicans like Mr. Rove get their balls? From where does this grossly incompetent and unbridled audacity come from? Somehow, once again, a presidential election is turning into game of spin and hypocracy. Remember when the Bush people were able to turn John Kerry's war record against him? Here we see it again...

“Even if you never met him, you know this guy. He’s the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by.”
-Karl Rove on Barack Obama

How is it that rich white men the country over are able to misconstrue intelligence, integrity, and poise as arrogance.   Oh how far we've come that a black man raised by a single-mother and married to a woman from south Chicago can too be an elitists.

God bless this land of opportunity.

-cml

appendix:
"Quote"

God's Country

It should firstly and plainly be said that I move in all those most respectable circles which all other atheist do as well.

I got up early this morning so that I could go out while the sun was still rising. It’s very often that I’m still awake when the birds begin to chirp but not so common that I’m actually awake and moving about outside with them as they do. I took a bike ride around the neighborhood and ended up down at the corner store. Everything looked fresh and clear in the morning-wet air. A crystalline blue sky filled full with misty cloud-whispers covering a heavy and damp dew humid air. It’s so clear out though. The sun is up but not out yet, not yet high enough to shine over the thicker clouds that coat the Midwest horizon in faux white cap mountain peaks.

Traffic is only a low rumble still and the loudest noise around me is the hydraulics of a truck cab and the hum of it’s refrigerated load. “Rolling Rock” it says in big beautiful letters above a panoramic blue-green rocky mountain scene I’ve never been to. I’d like to go out west, to the real west that lies past this old thought Midwest. I don’t especially like the idea of the West Coast, but I’d very much like to see the Pacific Ocean and those mountain ranges. The idea of the ocean doesn’t particularly impress me because of its size and grandeur, the great lakes ruined that for me at a young age. Never again will any body of water be anything more than a lake to me; I’ve peered out across lakes and seen nothing but more lake on the other side. And, I’ve done it from both Chicago and West Michigan looking back across at myself. I’d like to see the Pacific Ocean because of the name I imagine. I’d like to see a peaceful sea and imagine the orient on its other side. Worlds divided I guess. I’ve seen the Atlantic Ocean already and when I did I had all the salt that’s ever been a part of it stuffed right up my nose and down my throat. When I swam in it I was still so young that I had trouble opening my eyes underwater and it sure didn’t help me any. It was nice though, like going to a grandparent's house; someplace you know your family came from, seeing where your father slept and shared a closet for a room with his brother, seeing that vague place where your mother’s mother’s mother sailed over and on. In all the pictures I’ve seen of the west the mountain line in the background is what strikes me the most. Frontier land doesn’t stretch out forever in every direction; it’s cut up by ridges and pitfalls as far as I can see. Seeing pictures of those blue and white mountains is deceiving when you’re a child; there isn’t any way to tell where they end and because of that every town you see can give off the impression that it’s in a cradle of American bounty, set up and protected in a basin of God’s country’s very own best rocks. Where I grew up things looked to be in a basin themselves, surrounded on all sides by old industry. Steel mills, salt hills, burning blue-flamed oil towers; after a while it starts to look like the rest of the land, like it too was thrust up from the soil and rocks when the earth was still young and eons cooling. It’s hard to say if it’s any older than the rest of this place, especially when it was all already here by the time I showed up.

I rode my bike back home and left it in the garage on its kickstand. Looking at the red-lined clouds is like looking at the delicate red blood veins in a milky white eye. Everything just looks so clean and clear before that. The sky is infectious and all the air in my world is the same muted pale blue it’s been all morning and I start to wonder, “Is this God’s country?” Walking back inside I notice one last thing: those same road side gnats I picked off my shirt last night after running are stuck all up and down my arms now in the red blond downy hair. I pick them each out, one by one flicking them back in the direction of the road before I walk back inside and begin taking off my shoes in the front room of my parent's house. Oh happy new day.

caleb

Religion? Pfft

The following was written by the good friend of the blog Eli, and thanks to my laziness and forgetfulness it's been languishing in some god forsaken folder on my computer. So here it is, in all it's glory. Thanks, Eli... I'm sorry this took so long.

'There is a resolution in the House of Representatives currently that attempting to create an "American Religious History Week.” Specifically, the aim is to affirm "...the rich spiritual and religious history of our Nation's founding and subsequent history and expressing support for designation of the first week in May as 'American Religious History Week' for the appreciation of and education on America's history of religious faith." In this resolution is a list of ties between church (specifically the Christian church) and state over the history of this country and the forming thereof. This list seems to be provided as evidence that since in the past there have been ties between the Christian faith and government that this trend should continue.

Three Points of Idiocy in this Resolution:

1) The first amendment CLEARLY states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." This resolution clearly respects the establishment of Christianity... simple as that.

2) Not only does it respect the establishment of a religion, it respects the establishment of ONE religion. Besides being in violation of the first amendment, it also discriminates against everyone of a minority religion, or those without religion.

3) The resolution also states that Thomas Jefferson "urged local governments to make land available specifically for Christian purposes, provided Federal funding for missionary work among Indian tribes, and declared that religious schools would receive the patronage of the government," this coming from the man that was a firm believer in separation of church and state. Therefore, either this statement is false, or Jefferson was a huge hypocrite. Either way, this does not change the first amendment.

The same is done throughout the entire document. There is a list of violations of the first amendment or presidents and other major figures speaking of the good religion has done. Instead of providing a list of evidence for the creation of an "American Religious History Week," this creates a list of the many violations of the first amendment. It is as though the authors of this resolution mean to say, "Well, there's a history of violating the first amendment, so it must be OK to continue this trend." To this, I say: Well, there is a significant history of gun violence in this country, so it must be OK to continue this trend... someone get me an Uzi.

We must first realize that even if the statements made are true, this does not make them OK. Just because TJ supposedly said that Christian schools would receive the support of the US government does not justify the continuation of this behavior in any way, because last time I checked, the first amendment is still in the constitution.

We must also remember that separation of church and state is a part of the US constitution for a very good reason. If we have all forgotten our US history, many of the early settlers in the US fled their country because of religious persecution. Before that, many people were tortured and died because of differing religious views in medieval periods. Separation of church and state prevents the kind of control that the church wreaked on Europe for centuries. The writings of Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau were at least in some part inspired by the oppression of a political church they witnessed in their lifetime. This liberal revolution is the basis for our current government. The liberalness I speak of is of course the protection or individual rights and self-preservation, not a present day Democratic Party sort of liberal (just in case there is any confusion). It is a simple conclusion then that to believe in this country’s constitution and the principles that are behind it is to believe that the state should in no way endorse or respect the institution of religion, as a whole or an individual institution.

I realize there is a strong argument that the US is basically a Christian nation already because of the overwhelming percentage of Christians that make up this country. I agree that a large portion of our culture in the US has been shaped by the Christian religion. There is still a big difference between what has been ingrained socially through time, and what is supported by the government through laws/acts/bills. Just because the majority of the nation is Christian does not make it OK to pass bills respecting the establishment of Christianity. The same goes for the passing of bills that would support any other religion.

I want to make clear that I do no suggest this bill would have devastating effects, especially relative to past religious debacles. Actually, the bill most likely will not even make it to the floor of the House. I would also like to clear up the fact that while my personal views differ from that of the Christian religion, and for that matter any religion, I find nothing wrong with religious views and believe everyone is entitled to their own views. My point in writing this is that I seriously question the quality both of the electorate, and the people they are electing. Anyone with half a brain that read the first amendment could figure out that this bill is disgustingly unconstitutional. I believe the people writing this bill know that (at least I hope), and they are shamelessly attempting to push their beliefs onto everyone else.

This brings me to my next point that the religious right cannot be allowed to translate their beliefs into legislation. There are many religious beliefs that coincide with reason, and are laws because of reason, not religion. Other issues, such as gay marriage, are argued on a purely religious level, and homosexuals are denied basic rights because of an unconfirmed belief. On a separate note, I believe it is in the Christian religion to love they neighbor and the golden rule, to do unto others as you would have done unto you… or something along those lines. It seems as though a golden rule would trump any other quotation pulled from the bible that it would come into conflict with. I seriously suggest the religious right consider this closely they next time they think about the way they treat others, because no logical person would have themselves discriminated against. The conclusion I come to here is that everyone in the religious right is either illogical, an enormous hypocrite, or they are simply using the Christian doctrine and bending it to suit their personal vendettas.

I know this was a somewhat scattered and vague train of thought, but thank you to those who read the entire thing.

P.S. This is the link to the House Resolution:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:1:./temp/~c110oHeu9f::'

"The Jewish Giant at Home with His Parents in the Bronx, NY, 1970"

by Diana Arbus

Liberal Media Bias

I have always stayed away from politics here, and I’m not sure why… it’s not because I’m scared of stirring up controversy or driving readers away. I don’t really care, and I’ve always spoken my mind about everything else here. Maybe it’s just the fact that politics really annoy the fuck out of me. They are exciting at times, I suppose, but only if you get to the root of the matter, not the smoke that the media and politicians are trying to blow up everybody’s ass. It’s really hard for me to care about a candidate when I don’t ever feel like I know their real views, just what they think will get them elected. I guess I can’t even blame them; honestly, it’s simply the political culture that America has fostered. But before this turns into a rant about a different subject, I’m not going to move away from “politics, and just ramble on about “political science”.

What no one seems to get is that “liberalism” isn’t just a political buzz word. I’m not even sure how it gained the negative connotations, but every time I hear it used as such, a little part of me dies. Liberalism is an idea, an ideal, a philosophy… it is what The United States was founded upon, everything that it stands for and one of the greatest achievements in human history. It is “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, “We the People” and “Give me liberty or give me death”. It is the topic of every great speech in American history, and everything that is great about America. Most of all, it is all those freedoms, those “inalienable rights”, and the progress towards something better.

When my grandfather mentioned how one of my cousins was, “too liberal” the other day, I asked him what exactly he meant. His response was pretty amazing, and honestly hurt me. “She’s just against everything that I am for.” He went on to complain how colleges warp people’s minds and he wouldn’t want his children learning that sort of stuff. I never really even found out what he meant, but when we actually discussed it thoroughly, I found that his beliefs weren’t really very far off my own. I’m not even sure who to blame for this insanity… The media? The Republicans for villainizing one the founding principle of the nation? The Democrats for not doing anything about it? The average citizen for being an idiot? It’s probably too late to even recover from it, but it’s just a shame.

Liberalism really is everything that makes America great. It is simply the belief in progress, individualism, the goodness of humanity and civil liberties. Do you really want to argue with me about whether that is right, because I will fight for it to my death bed. Because that is what I think of when I see the American flag, not all the dumb shit that the U.S. has done over the years. It is the principles that make this country great, it is freedom and progress and the little guy standing up for what he believes in because that is all he has and overcoming everything to achieve what he knows is right. It is Locke and Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Henry and so many more. It’s Madison’s federalism, the Anti-Federalists, and Athenian democracy. I’m not sure if the public perception of liberalism will ever change, but I’ll yell from my soapbox, try to be patient and listen to the great Thomas Paine.

He wrote at the beginning of Common Sense that “a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.”

Half-Mast

A flag stands for so much. History, culture, government, peoples, countries, ideas… It satisfies the universal human need for symbolism, a need to define the intangible with the concrete. It represents so much for so many people.

The flag, the star spangled banner, possibly symbolizes more than any other. It is truth, justice and the American way personified. It’s the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the National Anthem. It’s the 13 Colonies, and all those states. The red, white and blue are the colors of our forbearers and those who helped us gain our independence, and it represents the blood we shed against and with them. It is the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, to the freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion and thought. It is capitalism and liberalism, and the republic. It represents the new School of Hellas. It is imperialism and philanthropy, struggle and triumph, poverty and prosperity, war and peace. It stands for all those who died under it, and all those who died for it. It means so many things to so many people, at home and around the globe and it means so much to me.

There are few things more stirring than seeing the stars and stripes waving against a bright blue sky. It’s a sign of protection, a sign of power, and a sign of right. To me, it symbolizes everything that this country was meant to be, everything I know it can be, the nation’s true soul. I’m not talking about those banal displays of patriotism that you see every day: the cheap plastic flags flying from mini-van windows, the signs stuck in lawns, or the gaudy political bumper stickers. I never found any of that to be honest, or pure. The flag flying high upon a silver pole with a bronze orb perched atop, though, that is purity. Watching those colors flying overhead gives me hope for the future, and a pride at being part of something wonderful. I may not believe that everything the government has done or will do is right, but I believe in what this nation is meant to stand for. There is a difference between a patriot and a fanatic. A love for one’s country and jingoism are not the same thing, and there is not a fine line between them. It’s not the politics I follow, but the ideals espoused by Washington, Jefferson and Adams; it’s simply “We the People... “

Lately, though, old glory hasn’t been flying so high. Lately, it has been languishing at half-mast. Whether it’s for the death of a President, the loss of a soldier, or the mourning of a national tragedy, the flag has been laid low often these past few years. It shows the vulnerability of the flag, of the country itself, and the despair of the people in these times. I know that I for one cannot look at the flag at half mast without getting a hollow feeling in my stomach, without my head falling and my heart sinking. It’s an entirely different language that the flag is speaking in this condition, one of sorrow instead of pride. I believe that it is important to remember what the flag represents, and be affected by what it is telling us. We cannot get desensitized to the sight, because we must look back to remember and mourn, but we must also look forward and create change. We the People... together.