Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Cindy Sheehan and Newt Gingrich
I am posting the link to Ms. Sheehan's letter at the Daily Kos.
Though I will admit that I was not a 'huge' support of Ms. Sheehan, I also never felt any of the ridiculous attacks on her were proper. (My lack of support has nothing to do with politics, it has everything to do with not being a politically motivated as I probably should be/should have been.)
I am sadden that this country has become so unhealthy, so unlike what it was intended to be by our Founding Fathers. It seems that many of us, and I have moments of being guilty of this as well, are so wrapped up in our ideology that we are incapable of tolerating the view of others who have a different perspective. Why? I think we have become very comfortable in our 'freedom' that we feel the need to take that freedom from anyone who disagrees with our point of view. More specifically, it seems that the Republican talking heads believe if you don't agree with the President than your not Patriotic. Why? Is this administration so strained to support it's ideas that any thing that defending them against a different viewpoint is not possible. If that is the case, then perhaps it is time that we examine what 'Freedom of Speech really means. I have posted previously the 'rant' from near the end of Aaron Sorkin's 'The American President.' I am not going to quote it but directly but it deals with Freedom of speech being the toleration of someone who is yelling at the top of their lungs that which we find repugnant, and yelling at the top of our lungs why we feel they are wrong. (I don't believe that includes call the person on the other side an attention whore.)
I have attacked the Republican talking heads hear, Ms. Sheehan mentions in the herein attached link that the blogs on the left began to attach her when she began to speak out about the Democratic members of Congress that weren't doing their jobs, that weren't actively seeking to end the situation in Iraq in a timely matter. To those people who did attack Ms. Sheehan who claim to be either Democrats or Progressives (or what ever they want to call themselves on the left) YOU are as much at fault for your behavior as those who attached Ms. Sheehan on the right. Go look in the mirror and see what is looking back, it isn't what you have thought all along.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/28/12530/1525
On the other side of the coin, Newt Gingrich is attacking the Republicans and the Congressional leadership. From at least one thing I read today on the subject this is partially a response by Newt to things he disagrees with. I am not sure that what this isn't in reality is a cynical, politically motivated attempt to distance himself from the Old Republican Guard in the anticipation of running for President. (I am beginning to believe Newt may be the only Republican who wasn't left behind as a child, he can read polls and understand them. AMAZING.)
Oh well, time to go. Work day is almost over and I will be heading to the home front shortly.
Though I will admit that I was not a 'huge' support of Ms. Sheehan, I also never felt any of the ridiculous attacks on her were proper. (My lack of support has nothing to do with politics, it has everything to do with not being a politically motivated as I probably should be/should have been.)
I am sadden that this country has become so unhealthy, so unlike what it was intended to be by our Founding Fathers. It seems that many of us, and I have moments of being guilty of this as well, are so wrapped up in our ideology that we are incapable of tolerating the view of others who have a different perspective. Why? I think we have become very comfortable in our 'freedom' that we feel the need to take that freedom from anyone who disagrees with our point of view. More specifically, it seems that the Republican talking heads believe if you don't agree with the President than your not Patriotic. Why? Is this administration so strained to support it's ideas that any thing that defending them against a different viewpoint is not possible. If that is the case, then perhaps it is time that we examine what 'Freedom of Speech really means. I have posted previously the 'rant' from near the end of Aaron Sorkin's 'The American President.' I am not going to quote it but directly but it deals with Freedom of speech being the toleration of someone who is yelling at the top of their lungs that which we find repugnant, and yelling at the top of our lungs why we feel they are wrong. (I don't believe that includes call the person on the other side an attention whore.)
I have attacked the Republican talking heads hear, Ms. Sheehan mentions in the herein attached link that the blogs on the left began to attach her when she began to speak out about the Democratic members of Congress that weren't doing their jobs, that weren't actively seeking to end the situation in Iraq in a timely matter. To those people who did attack Ms. Sheehan who claim to be either Democrats or Progressives (or what ever they want to call themselves on the left) YOU are as much at fault for your behavior as those who attached Ms. Sheehan on the right. Go look in the mirror and see what is looking back, it isn't what you have thought all along.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/28/12530/1525
On the other side of the coin, Newt Gingrich is attacking the Republicans and the Congressional leadership. From at least one thing I read today on the subject this is partially a response by Newt to things he disagrees with. I am not sure that what this isn't in reality is a cynical, politically motivated attempt to distance himself from the Old Republican Guard in the anticipation of running for President. (I am beginning to believe Newt may be the only Republican who wasn't left behind as a child, he can read polls and understand them. AMAZING.)
Oh well, time to go. Work day is almost over and I will be heading to the home front shortly.
Labels: Commentary
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Some Sunday Thoughts
Several things on my mind.
1. Despite all my happiness for Wife, we have been having a problem or two. Recently we had a discussion about religion in which she made a (supposedly) last ditch effort to convert me Christianity. I find these conversations to be very upsetting, I am very happy with who I am and don't feel the need to switch to something that makes no sense to me. The other is that we have been discussing our wedding 13 years ago. She has been harboring several issues for all of this time and seems upset that I am not as bothered by them. I have tried to explain that 13 years have passed and that I can't do anything about it to change it know, but she just gets frustrated with me.
2. We saw Ghost Rider about 2 weeks ago. (It was at a second run theater.) I have never really cared all that much for the character, and found the movie to be rather strange. On a positive, the special effects were enjoyable.
3. I can't remember if I discussed this one yet but we watched Last King of Scotland on DVD recently. I really didn't care for the movie. I thought it was slow moving and poorly paced, Forest Whitaker did a fantastic job in it, which I guess is why he won the Oscar, and was the main saving grace of the movie.
4. We saw Spider-Man 3 today. I have to say that most of what I have read about is about how I felt about it. There were to many villians. (New Goblin, Sandman, and Venom) I thought they did a good job with the way Sandman looked, and I like his origin. Venom was set up very early in the movie and the 'black suite' took way to long to get on Peter. The movie was very crowded with things. All of that said, I still thought the movie was very good and that I would recommend seeing if you like the first 2 movies. (I still feel that Spider-Man 2 was the best of the movies.)
5. Just another note that isn't like the others. (Okay now I have the Sesame Street song One of these things isn't like the others running through my head.) We wanted to give a quick recognition to our friend Jameel at The Muqata. We had an email exchange at the beginning of the year about the situation in Israel and the region. He told me at that time that he expected the IDF to take action against the Palestinians in the Gaza in about 2 months. His estimate was 6 weeks off, which I thought was amazing. He stated in a more recent exchange that he felt the time line changed because PM Olmert was 'uncomfortable' taking any action in the wake of the Lebanon fiasco. We just wanted to acknowledge this, and let people know we do sometimes get information direct from the ground.
It is well passed time for to get off this silly machine and eat dinner and do some other useful tasks around my abode. Have a good week, and we will take to you soon.
1. Despite all my happiness for Wife, we have been having a problem or two. Recently we had a discussion about religion in which she made a (supposedly) last ditch effort to convert me Christianity. I find these conversations to be very upsetting, I am very happy with who I am and don't feel the need to switch to something that makes no sense to me. The other is that we have been discussing our wedding 13 years ago. She has been harboring several issues for all of this time and seems upset that I am not as bothered by them. I have tried to explain that 13 years have passed and that I can't do anything about it to change it know, but she just gets frustrated with me.
2. We saw Ghost Rider about 2 weeks ago. (It was at a second run theater.) I have never really cared all that much for the character, and found the movie to be rather strange. On a positive, the special effects were enjoyable.
3. I can't remember if I discussed this one yet but we watched Last King of Scotland on DVD recently. I really didn't care for the movie. I thought it was slow moving and poorly paced, Forest Whitaker did a fantastic job in it, which I guess is why he won the Oscar, and was the main saving grace of the movie.
4. We saw Spider-Man 3 today. I have to say that most of what I have read about is about how I felt about it. There were to many villians. (New Goblin, Sandman, and Venom) I thought they did a good job with the way Sandman looked, and I like his origin. Venom was set up very early in the movie and the 'black suite' took way to long to get on Peter. The movie was very crowded with things. All of that said, I still thought the movie was very good and that I would recommend seeing if you like the first 2 movies. (I still feel that Spider-Man 2 was the best of the movies.)
5. Just another note that isn't like the others. (Okay now I have the Sesame Street song One of these things isn't like the others running through my head.) We wanted to give a quick recognition to our friend Jameel at The Muqata. We had an email exchange at the beginning of the year about the situation in Israel and the region. He told me at that time that he expected the IDF to take action against the Palestinians in the Gaza in about 2 months. His estimate was 6 weeks off, which I thought was amazing. He stated in a more recent exchange that he felt the time line changed because PM Olmert was 'uncomfortable' taking any action in the wake of the Lebanon fiasco. We just wanted to acknowledge this, and let people know we do sometimes get information direct from the ground.
It is well passed time for to get off this silly machine and eat dinner and do some other useful tasks around my abode. Have a good week, and we will take to you soon.
Labels: Family Updates, Movie Reviews, Some Thoughts
Friday, May 18, 2007
Update on Wife's Drive for Grad School
Well good news on the home front.
First and foremost at the moment is that we found out yesterday, though we haven't received the 'official notification' that Wife was accepted to the Graduate Nursing Program she wanted. She will be seeking her Master's degree as a Clinical Nursing Specialist. When she is done with the 2 year program her next task will be to take a couple of classes to be a teacher of nursing at the college level.
Second, and nearly as good, is that Wife had a job interview last week, and a second interview this week. (This is from the potential job from her friends wedding.) The two interviews went very well and she had a very good feeling about getting the job. (Please keep your fingers crossed. Though that will make typing hard.) We should know sometime today if she has the job.
Yay, Wife.
First and foremost at the moment is that we found out yesterday, though we haven't received the 'official notification' that Wife was accepted to the Graduate Nursing Program she wanted. She will be seeking her Master's degree as a Clinical Nursing Specialist. When she is done with the 2 year program her next task will be to take a couple of classes to be a teacher of nursing at the college level.
Second, and nearly as good, is that Wife had a job interview last week, and a second interview this week. (This is from the potential job from her friends wedding.) The two interviews went very well and she had a very good feeling about getting the job. (Please keep your fingers crossed. Though that will make typing hard.) We should know sometime today if she has the job.
Yay, Wife.
Labels: Family Updates
Why do I do this to myself?
Every so often I make an effort to listen to Rush Limbaugh. It isn't that I enjoy his show, but I like to know what the talking heads on the right are spewing.
While out getting lunch today I was listening and he was talking about the 'illegal immigration' bill that is working it's way through Congress. The first thing out of his mouth on the issue nearly had me rolling on the floor in laughter. (Which being that I was driving was rather dangerous.) He was actually complaining because in the process of negotiating the legislation, the Democrats had members of the pro-legalization lobby in the meetings. For some reason he found this very offensive, and he said something about the outcry if the Republicans had Big Business involved with the negotiations for energy legislation. I think that would, for the Congressional Republican Caucus, be an improvement over having them actually write the legislation, and then just voting to approve it.
This past weekend Wife and I were visiting with my Mother. (Nothing like a Mother's Day visit with Mom.) And the discussion turned to my Mother's health. As reported hear about 2 weeks ago she is now on oxygen and medications for a combination of Asthma and Emphasema. During the discussion the subject of Medicare Part D came up. I will admit I didn't know much about this legislation, other than that the Pharmacutical/Insurance communities basically wrote the legislation. The way it is working in my Mother's case is she will get the discounted medications until total amount of medications purchased (at the full, not discounted price) reaches $2,500.00, after which she will be required to pay the full price of the medications for the next $2,500.00. (This is until a total of $5,000 in full price billings of medications is reached.) Then she will start getting the discounted price again. My Mom's income is very low. She lives in apartment with a cousin who helps pay the bills, she doesn't really have the money to pay for the meds, and Wife and I will try to help, but we have our own medical issues.
The other thing that good old Rush was spewing about is that the key to this legislation is to, in the near future, give all of these new legal aliens the right to vote even though they are not citizens. (If this was ever proposed I would greatly oppose it.) First of all, I am not sure that is the plan, and I don't know how he know (other than his own Oxycodone fevered delusions) that this is the case. His reasoning is that the Democrats are trying to destroy the Republicans and to insure that they are always in control. (Sort of like Tom Delay's gerrymandering of the Congressional districts that the Republican's tried.)
Why is it that people always accuse the otherside of doing what they are guilty of? (Transference anyone?) The other thing that amazed me, all things considered, was that Bill Clinton was being blamed for all of this somehow. It seems if they can blame even the most illogical things at Bill's feet they will.
Well, no further thoughts on this subject.
While out getting lunch today I was listening and he was talking about the 'illegal immigration' bill that is working it's way through Congress. The first thing out of his mouth on the issue nearly had me rolling on the floor in laughter. (Which being that I was driving was rather dangerous.) He was actually complaining because in the process of negotiating the legislation, the Democrats had members of the pro-legalization lobby in the meetings. For some reason he found this very offensive, and he said something about the outcry if the Republicans had Big Business involved with the negotiations for energy legislation. I think that would, for the Congressional Republican Caucus, be an improvement over having them actually write the legislation, and then just voting to approve it.
The other thing that good old Rush was spewing about is that the key to this legislation is to, in the near future, give all of these new legal aliens the right to vote even though they are not citizens. (If this was ever proposed I would greatly oppose it.) First of all, I am not sure that is the plan, and I don't know how he know (other than his own Oxycodone fevered delusions) that this is the case. His reasoning is that the Democrats are trying to destroy the Republicans and to insure that they are always in control. (Sort of like Tom Delay's gerrymandering of the Congressional districts that the Republican's tried.)
Why is it that people always accuse the otherside of doing what they are guilty of? (Transference anyone?) The other thing that amazed me, all things considered, was that Bill Clinton was being blamed for all of this somehow. It seems if they can blame even the most illogical things at Bill's feet they will.
Well, no further thoughts on this subject.
Labels: Some Thoughts
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Got time for a chuckle
This gave me a laugh this morning. It was an obvious joke, but it got me to laugh.
Labels: Something Completely Different
Monday, May 07, 2007
Mickey and Farfur Mouse
Teaching Kids to Hate and Kill
The above link is to an article on the A7 website with greater details of Farfur Mouse
I am a huge Disney fan, and one of my all time favorite charaters is Mickey Mouse. I know the history of his creator, but the charater has always been one that calms me for some reason. (My favorite version of Mickey is from Fantasia - Sorcerer Mickey.
The article above details a Palestinian TV childrens show that stars a mouse by the name of Farfur. The mouse does teach some positive things. (Praying the requisite number of times, proper nutrition, etc.) Farfur also teaches many negative things. (Zionist Occupation is bad, killing Israeli's is good, to hate both Israel and the US.)
I find this rather disturbing. I am not particularly shocked that there is an education structure for children in a Muslim country that teaches negative things about Israel, I am willing to bet that this happens in most of the Arab/Muslim countries. I find it shocking that it is being marketed in a 'pretty package' for pre-school aged children.
As Camel cigarettes proved with their Joe Camel ads for years, the right packaging get the message across so effectively. There was a point be for they stopped using the Camel in advertising that Joe was the best known corporate icon in the world among young children. Someone in the PA learned the lesson, create a cute and cuddly character and then let it sell you idea or product for you.
I am not even getting to any of the much deeper issues that I could, only that this really bothers me. Can you imagine the uproar in the US if there was a similar type of charater on the TV today. Song of the South - One of my favorite Disney movies, from what I can remember, from my childhood and Disney will neither run the movie or sell the movie because it will be met with resistance of many minorities. I understand the problem, I just happen to believe that it reflects a particular era with some 'stretching.' Even many Tom and Jerry's and Warner Brother cartoons are not aired anymore because of racial sterotypes. I find this only minorly problematic, as a society we are constantly striving to improve this country and many of those racially negative sterotypes do not need to be seen, because they will only cause additional problems.
Below I have placed copies of both Farfur Mouse and Mickey Mouse.
The above link is to an article on the A7 website with greater details of Farfur Mouse
I am a huge Disney fan, and one of my all time favorite charaters is Mickey Mouse. I know the history of his creator, but the charater has always been one that calms me for some reason. (My favorite version of Mickey is from Fantasia - Sorcerer Mickey.
The article above details a Palestinian TV childrens show that stars a mouse by the name of Farfur. The mouse does teach some positive things. (Praying the requisite number of times, proper nutrition, etc.) Farfur also teaches many negative things. (Zionist Occupation is bad, killing Israeli's is good, to hate both Israel and the US.)
I find this rather disturbing. I am not particularly shocked that there is an education structure for children in a Muslim country that teaches negative things about Israel, I am willing to bet that this happens in most of the Arab/Muslim countries. I find it shocking that it is being marketed in a 'pretty package' for pre-school aged children.
As Camel cigarettes proved with their Joe Camel ads for years, the right packaging get the message across so effectively. There was a point be for they stopped using the Camel in advertising that Joe was the best known corporate icon in the world among young children. Someone in the PA learned the lesson, create a cute and cuddly character and then let it sell you idea or product for you.
I am not even getting to any of the much deeper issues that I could, only that this really bothers me. Can you imagine the uproar in the US if there was a similar type of charater on the TV today. Song of the South - One of my favorite Disney movies, from what I can remember, from my childhood and Disney will neither run the movie or sell the movie because it will be met with resistance of many minorities. I understand the problem, I just happen to believe that it reflects a particular era with some 'stretching.' Even many Tom and Jerry's and Warner Brother cartoons are not aired anymore because of racial sterotypes. I find this only minorly problematic, as a society we are constantly striving to improve this country and many of those racially negative sterotypes do not need to be seen, because they will only cause additional problems.
Below I have placed copies of both Farfur Mouse and Mickey Mouse.
UPDATE: The above discussed show staring Farfur Mouse has been pulled from the Hamas television channel. Below is the link that will take you to a brief article discussing this fact. My favorite item in the article, how the PA Minister of Information complaining that the foreign media is still discussing this iusse after it has been resolved but never reported on Israeli Human Rights Violations based on video that his Ministry provided in the last few weeks.
My response, Duh. Why well, after the PA's record with misinformation in the past, it might take a media source time to 'check out' any PA produced information prior to airing. Having said this, having read several things about Mustafa Barghouti in trying to track down his exact title, I am not sure that I would necesarily say he is a bad guy. I haven't read much on him before today, but he at least seems to support a situation that creates a sustainable 'peace' with Israel.
