Tuesday, May 31, 2005

PIGS DON'T KNOW PIGS STINK

I found a new blogger to get a crush on - he manages to explain the unexplainable in ways even I can understand.

I've long wondered at the skewed thinking of those who defend the indefensible. People who look at criminals, and plead for the law-abiding to understand their crimes, even give them a special degree of mercy. People who see the bums on the street (to use the old term), and, insteading of focusing on the bad decisions that landed them on the street, decry the "heartlessness" of those who won't let them keep their "lifestyle", and even subsidize it.
Life in America is much the same as buying a lotto ticket. Just because we have an equal opportunity does not mean that we are automatically entitled to win.

Freedom and personal liberty does not include all behaviors and ideologies, it never did and it never will. We have prisons full of people who would love equal status in society. But their behaviors were deemed unequal, undeserving of equal status. Judgments were made, distinctions were drawn and they have been discriminately singled out as undesirable for society, by society.

There’s not a person on earth who does not discriminate, make judgments, choices or distinctions. Every person has some idea of right and wrong. But not all agree on what falls into which category. Here lies the division…and the never ending debate.

The problem is, in old school farmer’s lingo, “pigs don’t know that pigs stink”. Criminals think everyone is a criminal. Therefore, they don’t understand why they are singled out. Liar’s believe that everybody lies, therefore, they feel unfairly singled out when they get caught.

I've found that thinking in many of the students I have taught. You catch them doing something, and they immediately start whining about how you're picking on them. According to them, anything they do that you might object to, on the grounds that it's disruptive of education or against school rules, is no big deal. You're just out to get them personally. You couldn't be calling their attention to the behavior because it's wrong, but because you just hate them.

It's a victim mentality, that believes they're not doing anything wrong, or different than everybody else, and, therefore, whether it's against some rule or student code is beside the point.

It's the same victim mentality that says they deserve a decent grade, regardless of effort. If they fail, it's because the world is out to get them. For no reason whatsoever. When Asian or White kids get superior grades, it's because the teachers are prejudiced in their favor, not because of the meaningless things the students do, like homework, classwork, and studying.

I'm going to start calling the mentality of those who believe that all students, regardless of their willingness to work, should graduate from high school, the "Lotto for All" thinking.

As for equal economic opportunity. Everyone should have an equal right to buy the lotto ticket and best I can tell we do. But does that mean that everyone who buys a ticket is entitled to win, or that everyone will? Should the one who does win be forced to share the spoils with everyone who bought a ticket but didn’t win?

We all start out the same, equal in God’s eye’s and under American law, naked, unable to feed ourselves and flat broke. But we live in America, so we all have a lotto ticket, so-to-speak.

You might say that different environments unfairly alter the playing field, giving one a leg up while another a road block to cashing in their ticket. But I can show you people raised in a terrible environment who have succeeded as a result, as well as people born with a silver spoon who have failed as result.

Equal opportunity does not mean we all have equal drive, talents, determination or willingness to sacrifice, or that we all even want the same things or define success in the same terms. Even when we do, we don’t always achieve the same results and nobody said we would.

Monday, May 30, 2005

MEMORIAL DAY FOR ME

On this Memorial Day, I want to write about a veteran, now dead, who is very much in my mind - my dad.



My dad didn't have an easy life. He was born in West Virginia, along the Ohio River. He always said that he wasn't a hillbilly, but from the Valley.

His father died on the job - he worked on the railroad. The cause was officially an accident, but friends and family members swore that he was shot for his union activity. It was 1929 when he left his wife and family of seven, a very bad time to exit this world. Only a few years later, his widow was forced to place her children (all but the 2 youngest) with relatives, due to the lack of money. Welfare officials were threatening to take all the children, and let them be adopted by people who could afford to take care of them.

My grandmother found a job, and worked for the rest of her life. She didn't retire until she was 82; she resisted it until then, when her health was failing.

My dad lived with various relatives - his grandparents on a farm (which led to a life-long determination NEVER to take up that occupation), his brother, Everett, who lived on a farm on a hill, and, later, after dropping out of school his freshman year, his sister in Cleveland. He liked the city, and stayed for the rest of his life in a urban environment.

When he was drafted about 6 months before Pearl Harbor, he viewed it as a short interruption in his life. Later, when he served in the European theater, he recognized that his brief experience may have saved his life, as he was able to get some experience with the military while not under the pressure of combat.

He was a dogface, slogging through rough ground in the rain, snow, and cold. He always said that his strongest feeling about the experience was that if he survived, he, like Scarlett O'Hara, would never be cold or hungry again. That vow he kept.

I seldom heard about his war experiences. He would occasionally tell funny stories:

  • About the time he was running late for dinner, and he took a shortcut across a minefield. For a short, skinny man, he could eat an unbelievable amount of food.
  • About the time he and a buddy, Red, took a farmhouse, and found SS uniforms - brown leather jackets, hats, etc. They amused themselves by trying them on, and playing around. They nearly got killed by their own troops, who found them, but didn't recognize them. Fortunately, Red was named for his hair, which the guys realized was unlikely to belong to a German. That hesitation in shooting saved them.
  • About the time he was written up for trying to start a union in the Army - he felt that the sergeants should pull guard duty, as well. According to him, it didn't bother him to go without a guard, if all of them weren't going to watch in their turn. "I can sleep easy, I have a clear conscience."
  • About the money he made playing poker. He was gifted in math, and had experience pre-war in Steubenville, OH, with gambling for fun and profit. Having seen the way he cleaned up at the weekly poker games when I was a kid, I could believe it. He specialized in taking advantage of people's prejudice against West Virginians; he played the wide-eyed pigeon very well - until he walked away with the majority of the money.

    Unfortunately, he was lousy at keeping his earnings. He spent freely in those days, and ended up broke at the end of the war.


My dad was discharged as a private. He had been promoted several times, but couldn't manage to submit to discipline. He would invariably find a way to flout the rules, and get reduced in rank. He just wasn't the kind of guy who was comfortable with being in charge. He preferred to be one of the guys, following orders.

That was true after the war, as well. He worked for Ohio Bell, and eventually rose to the top rank of craftsman. He attended school through the Bell system of training, and did well. Still, he never did again put himself in a position of leadership. He'd learned that it just wasn't his thing.

Sunday, May 29, 2005

COMEDY CARNIVAL IS UP

The Carnival of Comedy (5) is up at Frank's. As usual, it's loaded with the best of funny.

OHIO BLOGS

I've added a new blog to the roll, A Face Made 4 Radio, A Voice Made 4 the Internet. I stumbled across it when checking out Ohio Blogs; I can't understand why I never found it before, as it's a terrific site.

A neat feature is the list of Ohio Blogs on the left sidebar. I plan to go through the list and see what fellow Buckeyes are doing.

Saturday, May 28, 2005

TRAVEL BY STANDING STILL

There are some writers - I'm not one of them - who can describe their surroundings so you feel you're right there. Daphne du Maurier did it in "Rebecca" - reading it, you felt that you'd just gone on a tour of Manderly. Generally, that ability starts with an abiding love of place. It's not necessarily the natives that make you feel that way - often, it's the transplant with a fresh eye who can weave the tapestry so they feel like a close neighbor of the reader.

One place I've never visited is New York City. The Sheila Variations is written by Sheila O'Malley, who writes about that city, and her experiences in the acting set. Through her blog, I've dined in the restaurants, walked the streets, and been a fly on the wall near her sophisticated conversations with friends.

I'm probably never going to live in the city. I might visit, but strictly as a tourist. But, thanks to her descriptions, I've had vicarious experiences in that amazing city.

She's been on the blogroll for some time. You should visit.

THE SOUTHWEST US IS THE NEAREST THING TO HELL

Lileks is talking about moving to AZ. He says he likes the heat. Don't do it, James.

I visited Tempe, AZ, last summer for a Physics course at Arisona State University.

It's the nearest thing to being in hell.

Don't waste your breath writing in, saying, "But, it's a DRY heat!"

So's an oven.

Stepping off the plane, I took my first breath. It was like leaning in to check the progress of a batch of cookies.

I'm used to the weather in Cleveland, OH. It's pretty nice. The temperature may raise during the day, it may get a little muggy sometimes, but, regular as clockwork, when the sun goes down, it cools off.

Cleveland's a green city. Yeah, we have pavement and buildings in the central city, and the projects areas are notably sparse in vegetation, but, as you get along the residential areea, you feel like you're in Mayberry.

In the older parts of the city, there is the Midwest architectural feature known as tree lawns. That's the strip of grass (and possibly 1 tree) between the sidewalk and the street. Over time, trees do what trees are supposed to do, and provide shade over the sidewalks and streets that prevents heat build-up in the hot months.

Almost every home has a front yard and a back yard, small rectangles of grass and garden. Most of them are hardly worth getting a lawn mower with a motor, except in the post-1960s suburbs. At that time, land was cheap, and every new home-owner wanted the feel of being lord of the manor. For that, you need acreage.

In Tempe, the yards are gravel. Drought-tolerant trees and bushes dot the stony borders.

The first morning, when I woke up (at 5 am), it was beautiful. Cool and fresh, I dressed, went out to the patio, and sipped my coffee in the strange surroundings.

It was delightful, for a few hours. By 8 am, it was already getting uncomfortably warm.

I visited with my husband's aunt and uncle for a few hours. Then, we got our luggage together, and prepared to travel to the dorm housing. I picked up my suitcase, and stepped outside...

...straight into Hell.

One breath seared my entire respiratory system. I've never been in a place (outside of a sauna) that was so hard to breathe in. Every breath dried up my nasal passages, increased my internal temperature, and left me weak and slightly dizzy.

It took the better part of a week to adjust. I eventually fell into the desert rhythm, only venturing outside in very early morning or late evening. I wore out a brand-new pair of sandals - the hot sidewalks burned off a 1-inch layer of composite materials in 3 weeks.

On the way home from church that first week, I remarked that I didn't see how ministers got any people to come to services - they couldn't use a fear of hell, the residents were there already.

WHY THE HOLD-UP ON THE BOLTON CONFIRMATION?

I've been thinking about the situation with the Bolton confirmation, which is on hold, at least until the Memorial Day recess is over. I've concluded that the Senators are dragging their feet, in the hopes that, somehow, someway, SOMEONE will come up with some damning story that will enable them to persuade the RINO weenies to come over to their side, and defeat Bolton.

All activity in filibustering and delay has to be seen as a last, desperate move to avoid the inevitable.



Now, is Bolton the perfect person for the position? Not if his grooming faux pas are part of the equation. However, that's not the issue - Bolton's the one that the President wants, and that's the deciding factor.

Is all this just politics-as-usual? Well, for that, see the history:
The U.N. ambassador's position has not traditionally been a big point of contention. Roll-call votes have been required on only one out of every four nominees to the position. The most negative votes anyone has received were cast against Richard Holbrooke, President Clinton's third ambassador. He was confirmed 81-16.
Richard Holbrooke's problems were related to financial disclosure of questionable dealings. Holbrooke's personality wasn't the issue, although
his dubious personal qualities--his bullying, his egomania, and his impatient ambition
while notable even to those who supported him, didn't seem to hamper his performance on the job, at least enough to keep the Senate from confirming him.

Hey, maybe the problem with Bolton isn't that he's a horrible person? Maybe it's that Bush wants to name someone that the Democrats and RINOs don't think will advance their agenda?

Naw, that couldn't be it. Must be his terrible personality.

Thursday, May 26, 2005

BOY, I'M REALLY SLIPPING!

I just checked my blog, and, to my surprise, found that I hadn't posted in several days. That's not like me, but I've been under the weather, due to allergies. I can't use any antihistamine for the next 10 days, as I'm going to be getting tested for allergies again.

Bummer!

A quick re-cap of what I've been doing:
  • Working every day, darn it! The sub center loves me, & apparently thinks I can do anything from English classes to ED (Emotionally Disturbed) - my co-teacher also liked me; she says that all the special ed classes will be asking for me in the future (not sure how I feel about that!)
  • Sleeping extra every night - not sure why I'm so tired lately, but I've learned to cooperate with nature. If I'm sleepy, I go to bed.
  • Reading. I finished Witness, now I'm reading a book about Political Correctness - "Mistaken Identities". It's edited by an old classmate of mine from college. Dr. Neil McLaughlin was a Canadian soccer player, who became enthused about Marxist-Leninist philosophy during his undergrad years. He's since become a professor of same at McMaster's University in Canada.

    With that background, I really expected a book explaining how PC is simply not a reality, but a figment of the Extreme Right's imagination.

    Wrong!

    It's really good, and gives a fair and balanced perspective of the situation, with, of course, a heavy emphasis on the Canadian experience. I strongly urge everyone to read it.


I plan to be back in the swing of things by this weekend. With any luck, there'll be some new outrage to comment (and maybe even foam at the mouth) on by then.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

STRAIGHTFORWARD TALK ABOUT EDUCATION

WARNING! THE FOLLOWING LINK IS NOT WORK-SAFE. IT CONTAINS OLD-FASHIONED, ANGLO-SAXON, VULGAR TERMS.

Having said that, it is the most straightforward expression of what many teachers actually believe (and what they won't say in public) about their students. It is non-PC. Hell, it's the kind of thing that gets teachers fired, if not run out of town on a rail. A short section of the post:
Have you ever wondered why colleges and universities have to offer remedial reading, writing and math classes?

The obvious answer is because your precious little gift to mankind is an idiot. That is the primary reason.

Sigmund, Carl, and Alfred stop beating around the bush after that salvo, and get right to the point.

Thursday, May 19, 2005

WHITTLE IS BACK!

If you haven't read Bill Whittle of Eject! Eject! Eject!, you've really missed something. He doesn't post every day, but when he does, knowledgeable readers drop everything else they're doing to find out what the latest offering is. I can't describe his work, I can only show you a sample:
Do those protesters ever wonder why prisoners of war in World War II movies – soldiers -- trying to escape in civilian clothes would be shot as spies? A soldier out of uniform, a soldier trying to hide in the civilian population is gaining a one-time personal advantage, but that not the real sin. The real sin is that he is endangering the non-combatants. He is using civilians as cover. He is breaking down the barrier between the armed and the unarmed, the threat and the non-threat. He is trying to have it both ways.

His latest post, Sanctuary is, as usual, a keeper.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

BARBARIAN UPDATE

I almost hesitate to link to Eternity Road's hard-hitting, plain-spoken take-down of the recent Muslim riots, and their implications for society.

Almost, that is. But, as usual, Francis W. Porretto may be blunt in his assessment, but he is truthful, pointing out that:
civilized societies expect a man to refrain from violence against others, except in self-defense or defense of innocent others. We expect that a mature man will grasp the importance of this without having to be policed continuously. Those who don't, we imprison or execute.

(Incidentally, it speaks volumes that, among persons born in this country, Islam has made the overwhelming preponderance of its gains among convicted criminals, more often than not while they were imprisoned.)

Now, factually, Christianity made ITS first gains among the bottom level of that society, including the criminals. However, the difference is that, in Christianity, the leadership of the Church kept chivying and hectoring the recently converted to mend their ways, and was willing to toss them out if they didn't behave themselves.

Not so Islam.

Their leadership encourages the mobs' excesses, and uses their influence to whip them into regular frenzies of vile behavior. SOME of that behavior is unprovoked:
Muslims around the world routinely do far worse to non-Muslims -- mostly Christians and Jews -- when they can get away with it, and sometimes even when they can't. There have been no riots among Christians or Jews about maltreatment at Muslim hands, or about the desecration of Christian or Jewish holy places or documents. Who remembers the defilement of the Church of the Nativity by Palestinian terrorists? Who remembers it in the Muslim world -- and to what effect?

Where were the Muslims condemning the actions of the terrorists?

Answer: too busy blaming "the Joooos" for the situation.

Go read the whole thing. Then add Eternity Road to your blogroll.

BARBARIANS!

The original Barbarians were rootless, non-Christian bands of raiders. According to History of the Barbarians,
Their fierce, warlike nature and coarse behaviors earned them the name "barbarians", meaning both "illiterates" and "wanderers".

There were four groups that were categorized as Barbarians:
  • Vikings
  • Goths
  • Mongols, and
  • Huns

And, for the PC among us, they were racially White and Asian.

According to the History Channel, which earlier this year, ran a series on the Barbarians,

...the Barbarians were innovative in their development of weapons and strategies, clever in their use of diplomacy and deceit, and completely ruthless in their use of terror as a weapon. The story of the Barbarians is truly one of the clash of civilizations.

Remind you of anyone?

I can certainly understand the outrage of Muslims at the thought that the Q'uran might have been treated disrespectfully, IF TRUE. However, the violence shown to non-Muslims who were not directly involved is absolutely uncivilized - you might say BARBARIC.

I'd like to think we have not reached the point of a "clash of civilizations". It would be more agreeable to Western sensibilities to find a way to co-exist with followers of Islam. But, if over-the-top rioting is considered an acceptable standard of behavior in response to rumored or perceived disrespect, that won't be possible. So, the question is, do we trash all of our political, religious, and personal freedoms to make that co-existence possible, or do we tell them to accept our Western traditions,...or shove it?

A blog I've long been following is Dhimmi Watch. For those who aren't aware, a dhimmi is a non-Muslim. They have limited rights in Muslim societies, and never are even tolerated. They may not practice their religion, dress according to their beliefs, or attain citizenship. If they accept their dhimmi status, they will generally be allowed to live.

SOLVING THE ALIEN PROBLEM

Arguments against the currently porous American border include:
  • The deleterious economic effect of having many undocumented people living in the US, and competing for jobs with the citizens.
  • The drain on the public treasury of providing non-citizens with human services, including education, health care, public assistance, etc.
  • The difficulty of keeping non-citizens from influencing our government by participating in improper voting. Measures that attempt to limit voting access may, inadvertently, affect citizens of Latino descent.
  • Divided loyalties among aliens.
  • Higher crime rate among illegal aliens:
    In Los Angeles, 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homicide (which total 1,200 to 1,500) target illegal aliens. Up to two-thirds of all fugitive felony warrants (17,000) are for illegal aliens.

    A confidential California Department of Justice study reported in 1995 that 60 percent of the 20,000-strong 18th Street Gang in southern California is illegal; police officers say the proportion is actually much greater...

  • The difficulty of providing effective Homeland Security. Over 10 million Latin Americans are of Arabic descent. Some estimates are that around 70% of these people are Muslims. Radical Islamic activity is rapidly growing in this region.

So, are the Latinos streaming over the border our biggest problem? Well, that's more of a local (CA, AZ, NM, TX) problem. By that, I mean it affects a specific region more than the rest of the US. And, because of its regional effect, it might be better solved by a regional solution – for example, Regional Border Police. Finally, a solution that provides work for the relatively unskilled (and some security training), just as the armed forces do – but, with less risk of getting killed.

The bigger problem is the way that some citizens of this country game the system.:

  • Marrying an alien, sponsoring their entry, and later, divorcing. The new citizen is now free to do the same. Call it Making a Citizen through Marriage Churning. A VERY common ploy, easy to get past immigration. Since the alien is often distantly related, they can easily show the familiarity that would indicate a true marriage.

    Amnesties only make it worse, since the newly amnestied are then eligible to do the same – which many have done. VERY popular with Mid-East populations, and one reason there is such an explosion of immigration in that group.

    I think we have to get tough – make the spouse a legal resident, but extend the time period for becoming a citizen – say, to 20 years. If divorced during that period, legal status is yanked.

  • Citizen through birth – we have to change this – if the parent is a non-citizen, so is the new child. Too often, the liberals pull at the heartstrings by citing the cases of young citizens who will suffer if their parents are deported.

    The only children who should qualify for citizen status are those whose parents FULLY support them financially, and have at least one parent who is a citizen.

  • Citizens should be able to speak at least rudimentary English. Yes, I know it's tough. No other country would allow ME to become a citizen without a working knowledge of the language, so why should I set the standard any lower?

    Understand, I'm not insisting on perfect grammar or dialect – hey, I'm OK with accents that are hard to understand – we let Texans & New Yorkers be citizens, don't we? But, they have to be able to talk to utility companies, banks, schools, and potential employers. We can't set the standard so low they won't be able to get by in this country, and take advantage of the opportunities that are available to the English-speaking. In other countries, the ones who are benefiting from out-sourcing opportunities are the English-speaking. Let's give our guys that same benefit.

Citizenship is a privilege, not a right. Let's treat it like one, and not bestow it liberally on anyone who asks.

Monday, May 16, 2005

WOODWARD & BERNSTEIN DID IT!

There is an interesting group of posts on the Newsweek Q'uran story, particularly on Michelle Malkin. She has an excerpt from the Don Imus show, in which Newsweek's Howard Fineman justifies the story, using Woodward/Bernstein:
I know that from the days of Watergate and "All the President's Men", the notion of two sources on a story has become the popular dogma about how you confirm something. And there is a lot of truth to that, but there are all kinds of ways to check to the extent that you can, a story that you get. And even in "All the President's Men" you may remember the scene where they have a guy on the phone and they say 'Alright, we'll count down to 10, you know from 10 to zero and if you don't hear otherwise then, whatever.

The trouble with that reference, is that some of us, including me, actually read "All the President's Men". Not to mention that I lived through that time in history, and actually know what happened.

And, in fact, when Woodward/Bernstein tried the phone countdown trick, it bit them in the butt - it caused a mis-understanding, and led to one of the few stories that was challenged on the facts - just like this recent story.

Some MSM guys never learn.

A LINK YOU HAVE TO SEE

I've added a link to the Blogroll - Trevor's Blog. It's an unusual blog, combining sketches and writing with observations on life. One post:
Many people have asked me why I choose to work with kids who stand a good chance of dying. Why I open myself to the pain, anguish and sadness that goes with the territory. My conversation with Tylor today says it all. Kids who have suffered like Tylor, TJ, Audrey, Vicki, Dana, Alex and Victor have positively changed my world and they continue to change it every day. They have altered the way I look at life. They have altered the way I look at death. These kids realize the importance of every wasted minute. They abide by a simple but effective philosophy: "If you're going through hell, don't stop!”

Check him out. You won't be sorry.

Saturday, May 14, 2005

I'M GOING TO MIGRATE TO ANOTHER STATE

I've been a Buckeye almost all my life. The state joke is that the Buckeye, the state tree, sends forth a nut that is inedible and totally without use - hence, the saying that:

the Buckeye is a useless nut

The allusion sometimes applies to Ohio's citizens, but never more than this week:
  • George Voinovich - Usually, George is pretty solid. Not flashy (in Ohio, we mistrust flashy), but generally, at least a competent and reasonable legislator. I don't always agree with him, but he's honest, and doesn't seem to be afflicted with more than the usual ambition for higher office.



    But, the posturing antics of the last few weeks have left me wondering - has George been listening to Kucinich after hours?

    I'm deeply disgusted that Voinovich has gradually moved to a RINO. Since he's just been re-elected, I won't have the opportunity to express my disgust for another 5 years.

    On the other hand, that gives me time to find another candidate to run against him, and donate time and money to a potential opponent.

  • Thanks to Common Sense and Wonder, I found out about the Anti-Castro Bill - and Nay votes. The usual Moonbat suspects were involved:
    Stephanie Tubbs-Jones - Lord, that woman is an embarrassment! She's pretty solidly entrenched, but her ethical actions are HIGHLY suspect, she panders to the "we're with you, sista'" crowd, she is overly fond of the sound of her own voice, particularly when it can be recorded by microphones, and, well, hate to say it, but she doesn't strike me as all that bright.

    Dennis Kucinich - I've said in the past, I like him personally. He's earnest, totally sincere, and, well, gosh, such a goof that I have to treat him like the sweet Special Ed kid you make allowances for. But, it would be nice to have a Congressman whom you suspect actually THINKS about the logical (there's that dirty word again) consequences of his actions.

What was the bill that they opposed?
On Tuesday, the House passed a measure first introduced by Miami-area congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American Republican. HR 193 expressed support for the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba, an umbrella structure of over 360 dissident and civil society groups led by economist Marta Beatriz Roque.

The Diaz-Balart bill, which gained some 55 cosponsors, contained four basic planks:

(1) The House "extends its support and solidarity to the organizers and participants of the historic meeting of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, in Havana."

(2) The House "urges the international community to support the Assembly's mission to bring democracy to Cuba."

(3) The House "urges the Administration and international community to actively oppose any attempts by the Castro regime to repress or punish the organizers and participants of the Assembly."

(4) The House "shares the pro-democracy ideals of the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba and believes that this Assembly and others will hasten the day of freedom and democracy for the people of Cuba."

Guys, if you're for the people, BE for the people. That may mean thinking for yourself, and breaking loose from the lockstep of the "workers' drones". Take a position, and STAY WITH IT, even if it means that you break away from the pack. Think Joe Lieberman, who, even if I don't agree with him all the time, at least takes principled stands on occasion.

Friday, May 13, 2005

HOTEL RWANDA

Whatever you are doing right now, put it down and go rent Hotel Rwanda. It's that good.



Don Cheadle gives one of the most nuanced, insightful performances I've ever seen in a part that seems written for him. The other actors are similarly incredible.

For those who don't remember it, Rwanda was a simmering cauldron of turbulence in 1994. Fomenters of hate used the radio airways to goad a Hutu population who were already suffering economic distress to act against the Tutsi population. Before the rebel Tutsis took over, over 1 million Rwandans died.

The film shows how the ditherings and ineffective actions of the UN leadership, and the purposeful disregard of the Western powers led to the slaughter. The UN troops that stayed were under orders not to use force.

I viewed this film over the course of 3 days, in classes I was subbing in. By the time I had seen the same scenes for 6 periods a day, I was literally heartsick. After the first day, I brought in outside reading for most classes. I just couldn't stand to see it again and again.

Paul Rusesabagina, in a just world, would receive a Nobel Prize for Peace. His actions in harboring his countrymen saved 1268 lives.

One scene in the film shows the pre-massacre smuggling of machetes. They were imported from China for 10 cents each.

That was the price of a Rwandan life – 10 cents.

The kids in the classes "got" the film. They couldn't understand why the world didn't step in. I said only one thing - "What have you done about Darfur?"

They didn't know about the massacres. They couldn't locate it on a map. I pointed out that it was on the news, in the newspapers, and on the Internet. The next day, a few of the students came in having learnt about Darfur overnight.



The evils of the world happen literally under our noses. They happen because we ignore them. They happen because we don't pay attention. They happen because the perpetrators know it's safe to commit the atrocities - we will hear about them, and forget. We will be blind to what's right in front of us.

It's just not important enough to us.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

MY LATEST OBSESSION

I've been updating my knowledge about Nicaragua over the last few days. I majored in history in college, and, by default, I took quite a few classes on Latin American history. As my foreign language was Spanish, and I attended college during the 80's, Nicaragua was a hot topic.

Several of my professors traveled there - yes, they were pro-FSLN. I read the local papers they brought back. I've decided to brush up on my Spanish, as well; locally, I can get Central American papers. I could get by reading the paper, as long as it wasn't too technical.

I've been keeping track of what's going on, and I just have a funny feeling that the area could be a hot spot in the near future. In any case, it wouldn't hurt to improve my language skills.

Saturday, May 07, 2005

FIRST GREAT UNDISCOVERED BLOGS LIST

As promised, I got the list together - in alphabetical order:



The great thing is, I found some new blogs that not everybody is already linking to. Thanks to your help, I've been able to bring some attention to some overlooked blogs. I hope you also like these. Thanks for suggesting the links. If you like the idea, we can try again, say in the middle of June.

CLEVELAND WOMENS ORCHESTRA

Cleveland Womens Orchestra

Posted by Hello

This was the annual concert at Severance Hall, Cleveland, OH. My husband and I were able to get box seats. I've always bought the cheap seats, but, boy, did it make a difference to my 6'2" husband's comfort. We'll definitely do it again.

I'd not been at the Severance since I was a kid. I'd not realized just how good the acoustics were - I've lost some hearing, but I could hear everything perfectly without effort.

ONE MORE WORD ON THE MEDIA BRIDES OF OUR TIME

I just read a wonderful post about The Runaway Bride from American Digest. If the blog isn't on your blogroll, it should be.

Media Brides are all over the place - famous engaged couples (Ben&Jen, formerly Ben&Jen - hey, he doesn't even have to remember another name), Bachelors and Bachelorettes, Whose Wedding is it Anyway?, and, now, a real-life Runaway Bride.

Funny, one of the reasons couples give for not getting married is that they don't have the money to put on a wedding. When did the overblown "perfect" wedding/reception/honeymoon/everything-just-so hoop-de-do become more important that the marriage?

Think about all the REALLY overblown weddings of the past. Where are the "happy" couple now?
  • Madonna & Sean
  • Charles & Diana
  • Brad & Jennifer
  • Liza Minnelli & David Guest (OK, I know NOBODY saw that coming)
  • Donald Trump & whoever


It's really funny that, in our culture, we have a Bride's Magazine (heck, it's an industry), but no Marriage Magazine. We have We, Self, and all the other "Me" magazines, but no Couples or Family magazines that focus on real life and making a family stronger, not just spending more money.

Maybe churches should use their influence to start limiting the over-the-top weddings they host in their church. A good rule of thumb is that all the expenses for the wedding should be no more than 1/4 the take-home salary of the bridal couple. And should be matched by a savings account. Anything exceeding that is a true scandal. If the couple want to indulge in an orgy of spending, why should a church be involved? It has absolutely nothing to do with marriage.

I want a cable show called "Simple Weddings", dedicated to the belief that it's the marriage that's important, not the one-day show. That show could concentrate on ferreting out bargains and deals, and show the families how to have a good time, celebrate the new family, and not spend themselves into the ground. Maybe brides and grooms agreeing to go on the show could get a small amount to spend (perhaps matching what they've saved already?), and show them how to maximize the dollars for a really great day.

My guess is that the marriages of such practical people would be longer-lasting and more stable than the "Bridezilla" ones.

WITNESS

I've been reading a new (well, actually, old) book - Witness, by Whittaker Chambers. I found it on the Cleveland Public Library web site. If you're local to the area, you can find and reserve a tremendous range of items online, as well as get a lot of e-books and audiobooks electronically. The physical books are sent to the library you ask for later pick-up. They've been doing an online catalog for some time, and it really is convenient. It's been best for those old books, reference books, technical books, and the like.

I'm about 1/2 way through the book. The first 1/3 was very vivid - Chambers apparently had a dreadfully abusive and grim early life, ending with the death of his only brother. Right now, he's married, with a young child, and working in the undercover Soviet-directed organization. He seems genuinely fond of Hiss.

This section of the book is very detailed, but contains less personal detail; it is very matter-of-fact about his sub rosa work. He seems to have had no personal feeling about his actions.

I get the feeling that the Hiss crowd (elite, well-connected, and with a superior air) was common in government at the time. They seem to have dominated the staff of many agencies. Few proleteriat in Rooosevelt's Washington inner circle.

Friday, May 06, 2005

THE BEST FIGHT I EVER WITNESSED

I've been checking out IMAO's Carnival of Comedy. I found something that reminded me of an incident from my early teaching days.

Jimbo Over at Military Matters posts about the best brawl he ever witnessed.

Well, not being in the military, ever, (although I am the proud mom of several sailors and soldiers), my experience of free-for-alls is somewhat limited, at least since I stopped bartending.

But, you know, I have seen a really great fight. It happened like this:

I was sub teaching in an urban district I won't mention, and covering a magnet high school's biology class. It was just before the bell rang, when I was trying to herd sophomores (worse than herding cats, I swear) into their corrals seats. All of a sudden, the door slammed open, and a truly irate girl came in and proceeded to dress down another girl for man-poaching. Her language was so colorful and her ire so spectacular, that I did nothing but stand there with my mouth open, as did the entire class.

She finally ran down after about a couple of minutes, and swung around to leave. She hadn't taken two steps, when the unfazed recipient of her anger said, "But he prefers ME."

Well, that set off another tirade, even longer and more venom-filled. She finally ran out of spew, and turned to leave again.

This time she nearly made it to the door, when she heard, "He likes me better."

She leapt over 2 lab tables, and the hair extensions were flying. Fortunately, chivalry was in evidence, as several sweet boys put their bodies on the line to move them apart, and one went for the security staff.

Me?

I was laughing too hard to be of any assistance at all.

GOOD THING I WASN'T DRINKING SODA

It's been a long time since I started laughing out loud at a post - but once I started:
Yesterday in New York, somebody filled two toy grenades with gunpoweder and set them off in a concrete plantholder outside the building housing the British Consulate.

Toy grenades?

What's next? Setting a Barbie doll on fire on the White House lawn? Lighting one of those "snake" things on the floor of the UN? Frying an ant with a magnifying glass in Times Square?

The post continues, with reaction from Blair, QEII, and Bush.

Go to In My Arrogant Opinion (IMAO) - this is a classic post. Guaranteed funny!

He's also hosting the Carnival of Comedy.

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

SOME VERY ODD PIECES OF TRIVIA

I was looking for a way to avoid housework killing time at home trying to decide whether to donate some books, and I found an old copy of "Growing Up Catholic". On page 21, there is a list of Saints and a matching column of their special interests. Guess who Saint Hilary is matched with?

Protection against snakes - are those Right-Wing Conspiracy snakes?

I checked - Catholic Forum also has St. Hilary (of Poitiers, it happens - there are several Hilaries).



St. Drausinus is one who the paranoid (or Hilary) might well adopt - he protects against enemy plots. I can't vouch for his effectiveness, however, as St. Thomas Becket was said to have visited his tomb just before returning to be murdered in the Cathedral.

Bill, on the other hand, might want to acquaint himself with the list, which includes:
  • Felix of Nola Against perjury (not sure whether it works if you're the one bearing false witness)
  • St. John Nepomucene Against indiscretions (that should be helpful)
  • St. Bernadine of Siena Against hoarseness - Bill seems to regularly suffer from that. Bill would also find his life interesting, as Bernadine
    argued that the catalyst of civil discord in the urban setting was malicious gossip, which led to insults, and, too often, vendetta by aggressive males. His surprising allies in his peacekeeping mission were the women who comprised the majority of his audience.
    Yes, indeed, a surprising similarity.
  • Mary Magdalen Against sexual temptation - 'nuff said

Bloggers might want to look to the Patron Saints of Writers:

Click on the Title field for more saints, and further information about their lives.

BRAVE NEW WORLD - TODAY

UPDATE: Wednesday, May 4, 2005 - 7:06 pm




When reading over this post today, I found that I had written about "trans-Gender", not, correctly, "trans-SPECIES" transplants. I can't believe that I made that mistake - apparently I was semi-awake at the time.




I found this post on Right Wing Nut House.
In January, an informal ethics committee at Stanford University endorsed a proposal to create mice with brains nearly completely made of human brain cells. Stem cell scientist Irving Weissman said his experiment could provide unparalleled insight into how the human brain develops and how degenerative brain diseases like Parkinson’s progress.

Stanford law professor Hank Greely, who chaired the ethics committee, said the board was satisfied that the size and shape of the mouse brain would prevent the human cells from creating any traits of humanity. Just in case, Greely said, the committee recommended closely monitoring the mice’s behavior and immediately killing any that display human-like behavior.


Several years ago, I read a science fiction book by Robin Cook - Chromosome 6. It dealt with the modification of a near-relative of the human species - the Bonobo primate. Scientists tinkered with the body DNA of the Bonobo to enable it to harbor tissue-matching organs for rich donors. When the organ was needed for transplant, the Bonobo would be harvested. The main problem, from the researchers point of view, is that, unintended, the Bonobo began to display characteristics of evolving intelligence, and resisting their dreary fate.

It was interesting, but seemed so unlikely - how could you get what has been termed "trans-gender" organ donations past the ethics committees?

That's not too difficult, it seems.

I've been long harboring some reservations about the way we handle many medical issues. The Terry Schiavo case brought some of those reservations to the surface. My dad, long ago, asked that we NOT donate any of his organs after death. (The issue was moot, as he died of systemic cancer.) His concern was that doctors would look at dying patients as potential donors, and fail to provide adequate care to the patients.

At the time, I thought he was being more than a little old-fashioned and paranoid.

No longer - he seems, in retrospect, to have been remarkably prescient.

Monday, May 02, 2005

ONE OF THE MANY THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW

I'm probably going to regret mentioning this, because it clearly establishes me as totally clueless, but I didn't realize that you had to "ping" Blogrolling to trigger the Update Message to appear on people's Blogrolls.

I found out that and other stuff on The Mudville Gazette, as well as other info that relates to Blogging Basics (and some not-so basic).

Sunday, May 01, 2005

GET A GRIP, FELLAS

Thanks to Babalu Blog, a Cuban-American whose unending efforts to teach us gringos what's really going on at the island of "heavenly peace on Earth, thanks to Fidel" (that description, according to the left-their-mind-at-home-ists that visit the starving Paradise), I found information about continuing efforts to subvert the legal government of Nicaragua.

As it happened, I am knowledgeable about Nicaragua. I spent several years in college studying history, and specialized in Latin America. I also brushed up on my Spanish, enough to read over-the-counter news. My professor provided the slant (need I say that the Sandistas were the heroes?), and I went to alternative news for balance. Most of my fellow students didn't bother - the word from on high was enough. That's not uncommon in any field of study. But, I took the time, because I was genuinely fascinated.

Check out



That student is firing a homemade mortar (my, what an interesting curriculum they seem to have in THEIR colleges - I'm jealous, I only made posters and coffee). What was the terrible human rights abuse he was willing to risk his life, and the lives of others, for?

Higher bus fares.

Wow.

When they raise the rates here in Cleveland, everybody just grumbles as they drop the fare in. Oh, to have the passionately involved peasantry that Nicaragua has!

Oh, I forgot - they're not peasants. They're STUDENTS. That means we have another "revolution" imposed on the average schnook from his "betters" - and the peasants better know what's good for them. Remember the last time, when the peasants voted Daniel Ortega, the designer-sunglass-wearing revolutionary OUT. I swear, you just can't trust the undertrodden masses, can you?

Keep an eye on the situation in Central America. I have a feeling that it's about to heat up again.

Lies of the Left

This COULD be a lengthy post. But, I'll try to winnow it down to a reasonable length. The CA Parent Bribery 'Scandal' - the 1...