1. Don't use your Democratic House and Senate majorities to pass health care reforms. Spend so much time attempting to be 'bi-partisan' that every progressive element gets stripped out of the health care bill... and still end up without any Republican support.
2. After watching the Democratic Party completely fail at getting a Democrat elected in one of the most Democratic states in the country due to gross incompetence, say this.
3. In a year in office, make no substantial steps toward getting rid of Don't Ask Don't Tell and DOMA.
3a. Stand idly by while Cindy McCain (wtf?!) becomes the new face of the marriage equality movement.
4. Continue Bush-era policies like bailing out Wall Street (to the tune of $1 trillion) and sending tens of thousands more troops to Afghanistan.
5. Promise to close Guantanamo Bay and make very, very little progress.
6. Publish an article in Newsweek that says this: "For decades, America's leadership has been founded in part on the fact that we do not use our power to subjugate others, we use it to lift them up—whether it was rebuilding our former adversaries after World War II, dropping food and water to the people of Berlin, or helping the people of Bosnia and Kosovo rebuild their lives and their nations."
Mr President, you know darn well that's not true and I don't believe that you're even buying your own bullshit.
Yet despite all of this, I think Frank Schaeffer's column is absolute rubbish. Yes, we on the left are frustrated and disappointed in the Obama administration. And yes, many on the left in Massachusetts stayed home, resulting in the Brown election. But to act as though we are impatient - as if an entire year wasn't enough time to accomplish more than the Obama administration has (especially in regard to health care!) is just plain false. Heath care doesn't need to be 'perfect now' as Schaeffer asserts - but something should be passed by now! And saying that Obama hasn't moved quickly enough on gay rights (he hasn't) because of the mess he was left by Bush only serves to convolute the issues - these two political agendas (gay rights and cleaning up Bush's mess(es!)) are not intertwined. Perhaps one is further up Obama's political agenda than the other (as is obviously the case), but it is certainly within the realm of possibility to pursue both at the same time!
I was rooting for Obama, I really was (see my posts from after the inauguration for proof). As a 'lefty' and progressive I really, really wanted him to do well. I wanted CHANGE. One year on - there isn't enough for me. Maybe I'm being greedy, but I was promised more.
That all being said, had I been able to vote in the Massachusetts election I absolutely would have went to the polls for Coakley - because I accept that despite my disappointments, this is reality. The 37% of people in this poll who reportedly voted for Obama, said that Democrats in Washington DC aren't doing enough to challenge Republican policies and then voted for Scott Brown (a Republican!) are clearly off their rockers... and those who stayed home (39%) should realize that rather than become apathetic, using their frustration and anger to get more Democrats elected would be far more productive.
I'm going to end here because my battery died after writing that last sentence, it's now 2 hrs later and I don't remember what was coming next... but rest assured there will be more to come!
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Peace Train
Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun
Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come
Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again
Today is Martin Luther King Jr day and it's gotten me in quite a contemplative mood. I find it immensely frustrating that the US seems to have taken so many steps forward in some respects but has regressed in others. Electing a black President must have been absolutely unfathomable during Dr. King's lifetime and having Barack Obama in the White House is truly the fulfillment of Dr. King's most famous dream. Other dreams, however, have yet to be realised - the Cat Stevens song above, written 3 years after Dr. King and Robert Kennedy's assassinations, is shockingly (and disappointingly) prescient. I've been listening to a lot of Cat Stevens lately and it really gets me wondering where the good music of this generation is... but I'm getting off track! I'll save that rant for a different entry.
Back to Dr. King... another area in which we have regressed, other than the war (as that's not actually what I wanted to write about but Cat Stevens and Peace Train is in my head and on my ipod so it just kind of ended up there inadvertently!), is social justice.
This article starts to outline Dr. King's focus on social justice as a means to racial equality. The famous March on Washington at which Dr. King delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech was actually called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Dr. King spoke equally about economic justice as he did racial equality. Of course as school children we were never taught that Dr. King was anti-capitalist - the horror! - and held a second march on Washington in 1968 as part of the Poor People's Campaign, which advocated for societal transformation, not just economic reform. A few days before his death Dr. King spoke in Memphis to sanitation workers who were striking for better wages and working conditions. He said to the strikers:
This dream - of economic equality and social cohesion - still has a long, long way to go. I wonder what Dr. King would say today about the state of race relations and (black) poverty in the US. I wonder if he would say that his worst fears had come true - most people will give praising platitudes to his work and talk about how America is entering a post-racial era, yet the underlying racism that leads to ghettos filled with under-educated, malnourished black children goes unchecked and instead the poor are qualified as lazy and undeserving of the 'productive' citizens' tax dollars.
You are demanding that this city will respect the dignity of labor. So often we overlook the worth and the significance of those who are not in professional jobs, of those who are not in the so-called 'big jobs.
But let me say to you tonight that whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth.
You are reminding not only Memphis, but you are reminding the nation that it is a crime for people to live in this rich nation and receive starvation wages.
This shameful attitude has manifest itself recently in regards to the hurricane that hit Haiti a number of days ago. As much as it pains me to write about facebook (and believe me, it does), there has been going around a 'status update' that implores others to re-post in their own status concerning a benefit concert hosted by celebrities that was raising money for the hurricane victims. It states:
Shame on you America: the only country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed medication, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations. 99% of people won't have the guts to copy and re-post this.
Firstly, I will offer up a rhetorical question: would the (all white) people who have posted this be doing so if the Haitian earthquake victims were not black?
Moving on, I don't really understand why someone would be compelled to post such a thing - surely they can try to improve their own community (volunteer, pay for an elderly neighbor's expensive prescription, host a foster child, etc.) while still giving $20 to help the thousands of people made homeless and children orphaned by the earthquake?
Yet the general sentiment is exactly what Dr. King was fighting so hard to avoid - the illusion of racial equality that leads to the masking of economic inequality and want of opportunity. One may wonder if it's really possible be people to be so devoid of compassion. Yet when the overriding American myth, which is also transferred onto non-Americans, is that people are poor by virtue of their own actions (and not due to factors outside of their control - like US involvement in the case of Haiti) and therefore undeserving of charity or empathy, it becomes fairly unsurprising.
As a school child I, like the rest of America, only learned about Dr. King's history insofar as he dealt with racial equality. This is regrettable, as this vision was meant to go hand-in-hand with his economic vision; a manifesto that is ever-relevant and ever in the shadows.
Moving on, I don't really understand why someone would be compelled to post such a thing - surely they can try to improve their own community (volunteer, pay for an elderly neighbor's expensive prescription, host a foster child, etc.) while still giving $20 to help the thousands of people made homeless and children orphaned by the earthquake?
Yet the general sentiment is exactly what Dr. King was fighting so hard to avoid - the illusion of racial equality that leads to the masking of economic inequality and want of opportunity. One may wonder if it's really possible be people to be so devoid of compassion. Yet when the overriding American myth, which is also transferred onto non-Americans, is that people are poor by virtue of their own actions (and not due to factors outside of their control - like US involvement in the case of Haiti) and therefore undeserving of charity or empathy, it becomes fairly unsurprising.
As a school child I, like the rest of America, only learned about Dr. King's history insofar as he dealt with racial equality. This is regrettable, as this vision was meant to go hand-in-hand with his economic vision; a manifesto that is ever-relevant and ever in the shadows.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Once upon a time I had a blog?!
Well, suffice it to say I'm not very good at blogging. Nearly a year since my last post I'm getting back on the wagon, but only because I've got the writing bug again... I'll try for some more consistency this time around but if I'm being realistic you may not hear from me again until 2011. (I don't know why I'm writing as if people actually read this... I'm pretty sure they don't).
Anyway, I have two things to discuss, but I'll break them into separate posts so I seem more productive. The first is a book review (fun!). I read The Alchemist during my Christmas holiday (in Malta! 20 degrees Celsius on Christmas day? Yes please!). After hearing rave reviews from lots of people and then finding it for a couple of quid in a charity shop I figured it would make a good holiday read. I was wrong
I have never hated a book so much in my life.
One reviewer on amazon said:
I wish I could kiss that person.
Anyway, my top 4 reasons why The Alchemist sucks big time:
1. In the version of the book I have, Paul Coelho wrote a prologue in which HE claims to have studied alchemy for 11 years...
What?!
Interesting fact: do you know who else was an alchemist? Albus Dumbledore.
2. "It's true; life really is generous to those who pursue their destiny"
Yes, that's really a quote from the book. What utter rubbish. I can see why this book may appeal to people who have the means to 'pursue their destiny' and that when their life turns out to be relatively successful and they achieve some goals they may see this as affirmation of the original point.
However, in this situation one should refer to the saying 'Post hoc, ergo proptor hoc,' which, for the nonWest Wing watching Latin speaking readers, means 'After, therefore because of it.' Just because you achieved some goals or traveled to some far away place doesn't mean you fulfilled a destiny. If this were the case, we would have to assume that poor people (and by poor I don't mean 'I-can't-afford-an-ipod-poor', I mean 'I-live-on-less-than-a-dollar-a-day-poor') are either not trying hard enough to fulfill their destinies or were just given really shitty ones.
Not only does The Alchemist insinuate that alchemy is actually real (honestly, I'm still not over this), it mocks people who are really struggling in life. Not everyone has the privileged position to leave their life (and all of the responsibilities that go with it) to go frolicking through Arabia in search of their mystical destiny. The insinuation that if you aren't happy with your life it's because you either haven't worked hard enough or don't deserve it is supremely insulting.
3. This book is chock-a-block full of latent Christianity. Coehlo tries to pass it off as new age-ish mysticism, but he's not fooling anyone (or at least not me). I don't have a problem with religious books - had I known this was one I wouldn't have chosen to read it - but if people want to write religious books then go right ahead. Just don't try to disguise it by talking about the 'Soul of the World' because it's a) annoying (Soul of the World - really?), b) disingenuous and c) amateur.
4. My last (major) reason for hating this book: Coehlo's placement of women. The basic message of this book is: 'your purpose in life is to pursue your destiny. If you do this, the world will 'conspire' to help you and you will be blessed.'** So, as a woman I give it a big fat middle finger!
An actual quote is: "The desert was full of men who earned their living based on the ease with which they could penetrate to the Soul of the World. They were known as seers, and they were held in fear by women and the elderly."
WTH, Coehlo?! As if the first 3 points weren't enough to start making me want to kick every person who recommended this book in the shin, this last makes me want to kick them in the shin AND pinch that tender piece of skin on the under side of their arm really hard. Blech.
Well, that's all for my review - I hope you're convinced to either never read this book or do so with the expressed purpose of masochistically enjoying its many failures (I would like to note, that even with my myriad criticisms I didn't touch one bit on the lack of literary merit of the book, which could have filled an additional blog post).
In any case, you've been warned!
**Applies to men only
Anyway, I have two things to discuss, but I'll break them into separate posts so I seem more productive. The first is a book review (fun!). I read The Alchemist during my Christmas holiday (in Malta! 20 degrees Celsius on Christmas day? Yes please!). After hearing rave reviews from lots of people and then finding it for a couple of quid in a charity shop I figured it would make a good holiday read. I was wrong
I have never hated a book so much in my life.
One reviewer on amazon said:
I wish I could kiss that person.
[in the introduction] the author discusses his amazement at the popularity this book has gained. It is equally astonishing for any reader who is able to endure more than five pages of: "The Soul of the World spoke to the Heart of the Boy as he prayed to the God of the Dessert who commanded the Spirit of the Wind..." I found myself praying to the God of Literature that the boy's beloved sheep would stamped and trample him to death, sparing me from the Demons of Boredom.
Anyway, my top 4 reasons why The Alchemist sucks big time:
1. In the version of the book I have, Paul Coelho wrote a prologue in which HE claims to have studied alchemy for 11 years...
What?!
Interesting fact: do you know who else was an alchemist? Albus Dumbledore.
2. "It's true; life really is generous to those who pursue their destiny"
Yes, that's really a quote from the book. What utter rubbish. I can see why this book may appeal to people who have the means to 'pursue their destiny' and that when their life turns out to be relatively successful and they achieve some goals they may see this as affirmation of the original point.
However, in this situation one should refer to the saying 'Post hoc, ergo proptor hoc,' which, for the non
Not only does The Alchemist insinuate that alchemy is actually real (honestly, I'm still not over this), it mocks people who are really struggling in life. Not everyone has the privileged position to leave their life (and all of the responsibilities that go with it) to go frolicking through Arabia in search of their mystical destiny. The insinuation that if you aren't happy with your life it's because you either haven't worked hard enough or don't deserve it is supremely insulting.
3. This book is chock-a-block full of latent Christianity. Coehlo tries to pass it off as new age-ish mysticism, but he's not fooling anyone (or at least not me). I don't have a problem with religious books - had I known this was one I wouldn't have chosen to read it - but if people want to write religious books then go right ahead. Just don't try to disguise it by talking about the 'Soul of the World' because it's a) annoying (Soul of the World - really?), b) disingenuous and c) amateur.
4. My last (major) reason for hating this book: Coehlo's placement of women. The basic message of this book is: 'your purpose in life is to pursue your destiny. If you do this, the world will 'conspire' to help you and you will be blessed.'** So, as a woman I give it a big fat middle finger!
An actual quote is: "The desert was full of men who earned their living based on the ease with which they could penetrate to the Soul of the World. They were known as seers, and they were held in fear by women and the elderly."
WTH, Coehlo?! As if the first 3 points weren't enough to start making me want to kick every person who recommended this book in the shin, this last makes me want to kick them in the shin AND pinch that tender piece of skin on the under side of their arm really hard. Blech.
Well, that's all for my review - I hope you're convinced to either never read this book or do so with the expressed purpose of masochistically enjoying its many failures (I would like to note, that even with my myriad criticisms I didn't touch one bit on the lack of literary merit of the book, which could have filled an additional blog post).
In any case, you've been warned!
**Applies to men only
Friday, 30 January 2009
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Excitement at Holyrood
Well, the past couple days have been EXTREMELY interesting! Especially for me, who is still a semi-outsider and trying to acclamate myself to the Parliamentary system.
So, the Scottish Government's budget was defeated yesterday - and the First Minister has threatened to call an election if the next budget is voted down as well.* Because of this here's quite a lot of pressure to get this budget passed! The Lib Dem leader and Finance Secretary are meeting with the FM and John Swinney today to negotiate and have already stepped down from their 2p income tax break demand. The Greens, who nearly got £33 bn for a home insulation program now may get nothing (which is a shame - because my flat holds about as much heat as my freezer and some new insulation would be really nice... honestly, I wouldn't mind paying the outrageous price for my electric bill if my flat were roasting hot - but that's a whole other issue!).
So what will happen? My prediction: it will pass. The Greens might be able to gain a few more concessions and if the Lib Dems are already withdrawing their 2p tax cut demand then there's a good chance they'll abstain from the vote. I think Labour will still vote it down, because (from my very limited vantage point) they're playing party politics in addition to not having some of their demands met. I guess we'll see.
All I know is that I'll be pulling for whatever situation will avoid an election - talk about job insecurity! Eeek! I haven't even been here a month!
*However, as I've learned today, the FM can't actually do this. If he steps down, then Parliament has 28 days to appoint a new FM (Labour has already thrown Ian Gray's name into the mix)... and if noone is appointed then it goes to an election.
So, the Scottish Government's budget was defeated yesterday - and the First Minister has threatened to call an election if the next budget is voted down as well.* Because of this here's quite a lot of pressure to get this budget passed! The Lib Dem leader and Finance Secretary are meeting with the FM and John Swinney today to negotiate and have already stepped down from their 2p income tax break demand. The Greens, who nearly got £33 bn for a home insulation program now may get nothing (which is a shame - because my flat holds about as much heat as my freezer and some new insulation would be really nice... honestly, I wouldn't mind paying the outrageous price for my electric bill if my flat were roasting hot - but that's a whole other issue!).
So what will happen? My prediction: it will pass. The Greens might be able to gain a few more concessions and if the Lib Dems are already withdrawing their 2p tax cut demand then there's a good chance they'll abstain from the vote. I think Labour will still vote it down, because (from my very limited vantage point) they're playing party politics in addition to not having some of their demands met. I guess we'll see.
All I know is that I'll be pulling for whatever situation will avoid an election - talk about job insecurity! Eeek! I haven't even been here a month!
*However, as I've learned today, the FM can't actually do this. If he steps down, then Parliament has 28 days to appoint a new FM (Labour has already thrown Ian Gray's name into the mix)... and if noone is appointed then it goes to an election.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
LAME
A new pet peeve: the transformation of any and all scandals into ____-gate (but particularly non-political scandals).
For example:
Sachsgate
Bittergate
Erminegate
Or - god love wikipedia - all of these!!
Really? Seriously? Ridiculous. And lame.
Ridiculous and lame.
For example:
Sachsgate
Bittergate
Erminegate
Or - god love wikipedia - all of these!!
Really? Seriously? Ridiculous. And lame.
Ridiculous and lame.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
A good pick-me-up
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Prez Update #2
In continuation of my previous Prez O post...
Well, Mr. President you certainly didn't let me down with this one. The Mexico policy was a topic subject to harsh critique in my MSc dissertation, so I am very happy to see Obama deal with that swiftly (although I am still up in the air about him not doing it on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade).
Now, where was I when I ran out of time with that last post...
Ahh, right - Obama's speech. For the full text, please see here. Now, I thought it was... great, basically. He chose substance over style, which was a smart move considering the opposite was something he was so criticized for in his campaign. Despite the sober mood of it, I found parts of it inspiring, sometimes to my own disappointment. Like this:
While I do certainly think that there are major parts of the 'American way of life' that need to be apologized for and changed - namely our disgusting consumption, materialism and disregard for the environment (to start) - I couldn't help but be wowed by this statement and the confidence with which he made such a proclamation. How could anyone not believe him? Yet, in addition to parts that made me slightly squeamish, there were other parts that I just loved, like this:
Ok, back to the speech... this bit was also particularly lovely in its jarring admonishment of the Bush administration:
In anycase, it's pretty good to at least have a leader who can properly pronounce the word 'nuclear'.
Well, Mr. President you certainly didn't let me down with this one. The Mexico policy was a topic subject to harsh critique in my MSc dissertation, so I am very happy to see Obama deal with that swiftly (although I am still up in the air about him not doing it on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade).
Now, where was I when I ran out of time with that last post...
Ahh, right - Obama's speech. For the full text, please see here. Now, I thought it was... great, basically. He chose substance over style, which was a smart move considering the opposite was something he was so criticized for in his campaign. Despite the sober mood of it, I found parts of it inspiring, sometimes to my own disappointment. Like this:
We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and
for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering
innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken;
you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
While I do certainly think that there are major parts of the 'American way of life' that need to be apologized for and changed - namely our disgusting consumption, materialism and disregard for the environment (to start) - I couldn't help but be wowed by this statement and the confidence with which he made such a proclamation. How could anyone not believe him? Yet, in addition to parts that made me slightly squeamish, there were other parts that I just loved, like this:
The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.While I'm never crazy about god-mentioning from politicians, I suppose since he's in this instance referencing the Declaration of Independence I can let it slide. And he is completely right about choosing our better history - we must draw on that and let it inspire our future actions, rather than dwell on and follow in the same path that our not-so-good history has taken us. In fact, I think only by doing this will the US be able to restore its position in the world, and since Obama as the POTUS is basically the incarnation of our better history, what a perfect place to start!
Ok, back to the speech... this bit was also particularly lovely in its jarring admonishment of the Bush administration:
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety andWa-bam, Shrub! How's that!? Well, I don't know what else can be said except that he's spot on and with this kind of resolve will finally (or at least hopefully) represent a foreign policy that 1) our European friends will be willing to support and 2) won't provide fuel to the fire for the recruitment of extremists. There is a lot to be said for the argument that the world is less safe since Shrub began his "war on terr'r" and hopefully Obama will be able to reverse this trend (although it will certainly take more than closing Guantanamo to do this).
our ideals [...] our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do
as we please.
In anycase, it's pretty good to at least have a leader who can properly pronounce the word 'nuclear'.
Friday, 23 January 2009
President Barack Obama... Bitches!!!
That's right, I said it!
<-- that right there, my friends, is MY president! Woohoo!
Well, that will basically be the gist of this update... I was saddened to not be in the US for such an occassion, but was watching it all live in the Parliament with my boss, some councillors from his constituency, and a few friends, which was cool in itself.
High points of the inauguration:
1. Obama is the President
2. Cheney in a wheel chair because he hurt his back lifting boxes in the move out of Washington (really, it's almost too good)
2. Aretha Franklin's hat - LOVE it!
3. Bush is back in Texas
4. I was warm while watching
5. Obama's speech was presidential, unlike the crap we've been seeing for the past eight years.
Low Points:
1. John Roberts is an idiot
2. Rick Warren (enough said)
3. People accusing Joseph Lowrey of being a racist afterward
4. No more 'Moments in Great Presidential Speeches' from David Letterman :(
Now for some elaboration...
It was really amazing to watch. I didn't tear up too much, but it was certainly emotional to witness what will (hopefully) be viewed in years to come as a redeeming chapter in the history of the United States. I get goosebumps still when I read or watch the news and see/hear 'President Barack Obama'... it's almost as though it's too good to be true. However, he seems to be off to a rip-roaring start with ordering the suspension of all Guantanamo trials and the prison to close completely within a year. And if he does this within the next week or so I'll be very pleased.
I'll write more about his speech (great!) and Rick Warren (detestable) later but for now this should be long enough!
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Israel vs. Palestine
Well, it's been a while since I've posted... I'm not actually as good at this whole blogging thing as I'd hoped. However, I'm making it a 'new year's resolution' to get better (notice vague and unspecific qualifiers!).
A short post today but with links to a longer one! I've been keeping tabs on the situation in Gaza the past couple of weeks and can express nothing but disappointment in all of the actors involved (yes, this means you, U.S.A.!). While I was loathe to participate in the Gaza protest in Edinburgh (afterall, the Consulate IS my first port of call if ever I have a problem here!) that does not mean that I support or condone the slaughter that is Israel's 'right to protect.'
The situation is impossibly complicated and I find myself not being able to express the conflicting opinions that are a result of sympathy and outrage. Therefore, I will let Muriel Gary do it for me, as her reponse to this horror (and its immense complexity) is that best that I have come accross thus far.
The Holocaust is not a sufficient justification!
EDIT at 15:21 GMT: NOW will they do something?!
Next blog: Prez Obama!!! Woooo!!! asdhasldacmdsjaksdjldoierej!!!! Just seeing this thing gets me so excited!!
A short post today but with links to a longer one! I've been keeping tabs on the situation in Gaza the past couple of weeks and can express nothing but disappointment in all of the actors involved (yes, this means you, U.S.A.!). While I was loathe to participate in the Gaza protest in Edinburgh (afterall, the Consulate IS my first port of call if ever I have a problem here!) that does not mean that I support or condone the slaughter that is Israel's 'right to protect.'
The situation is impossibly complicated and I find myself not being able to express the conflicting opinions that are a result of sympathy and outrage. Therefore, I will let Muriel Gary do it for me, as her reponse to this horror (and its immense complexity) is that best that I have come accross thus far.
The Holocaust is not a sufficient justification!
EDIT at 15:21 GMT: NOW will they do something?!
Next blog: Prez Obama!!! Woooo!!! asdhasldacmdsjaksdjldoierej!!!! Just seeing this thing gets me so excited!!
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