Last of Our Kind

"Change has come to America,” President-Elect Obama said as he claimed victory and spoke to the nation. Victory was achieved. We did it. We have moved forward as a nation. We have now entered “Post Racial” America. Now to be fair, I know racism will not go away, but perhaps this is what some can call, and let’s hope, “The beginning of the end.” We have torn down the wall, smashed through the ceiling, and have allowed young black children everywhere to say, “Anything is possible.”

But somehow, we have not moved forward. Somehow while taking one step forward we took two giant leaps back. And by this I am speaking about California’s passage of Proposition 8.

It says that California voters believe animals should be treated better and have more rights than homosexuals.

Is this what America stands for? Is this what we want to represent to the rest of the world? A country that writes hate into their laws? A nation that treats people differently based on who they love and their want to express that love by spending the rest of their lives together? If this is the direction the country is headed, I fear that I will be ashamed for a long, long time.

“Change has come to America,” President-Elect Obama said as he claimed victory and spoke to the nation. Unfortunately for some, that change is not enough.

When I first watched Schindler’s List I remember having a discussion about why the Holocaust happened, or rather, why it was allowed to happen. We spoke about silence. While the Holocaust was happening the whole world was watching. They were watching in silence, and their silence gave consent. No one stood up and said “This is wrong. This must be stopped.” Once we did it was too late and millions of people had already been murdered. It is for this reason, the inability to act, that the whole world is ashamed of themselves for this moment in history.

Now, I always thought that there was a certain line in politics that was never crossed. There was the old ad from the 60’s with the nuclear bomb and the little girl, which went too far. People are (rightly so) scolded for using Osama bin Laden and references to 9/11 in ads. Now maybe I’m too naïve, but I always thought that Hitler and the Holocaust were also off limits.

Then I read this:

“A new e-mail making the rounds among Jewish voters in Pennsylvania this week...equated a vote for Senator Barack Obama with the “tragic mistake” of their Jewish ancestors, who ‘ignored the warning signs in the 1930’s and 1940’s.’”

I am officially disgusted with Congressional Democrats.

Recently, in case you didn’t hear, congress passed legislation that allows offshore drilling. That’s right, the majority crumbled to the minority. To the crazy people who chant "DRILL BABY DRILL.” The party in power succumbed to the powerless. When they should have showed strength and stood for something they believe in, they buckled at the knees and showed how weak they are.

I'm mad because they tried to sugar coat this legislation with rules surrounding the drilling. One rule states that all drilling has to be beyond 50 miles of the shore. I suppose this won’t harm the ocean and sea life and everything else in the water because after 50 miles, there is nothing to harm…?

Another rule says the each state has to approve their want to drill. This sounds like a great idea. Suppose a drill project, let’s say done by Florida causes pollution and/or damage to the environment around Florida. What happens when that damage and or pollution moves towards Georgia, who doesn’t want offshore drilling? Who fixes that problem?

Congress also included in this bill the repealing of oil companies’ tax breaks, in order to use that money for renewable energy resources. That’s great, but couldn’t this have been the focus of the law without allowing off shore drilling?

I am angry because I truly believe that drilling is not the answer. It is the problem. For years now we (including President Bush) have talked about our addiction to oil. I know Bush doesn’t care about this (since he in fact wants more drilling) but I thought that the Democrats (including Obama, who is even for drilling now) were against drilling as a part of their platform. I thought they truly wanted to break our addiction and FOCUS on more important, renewable energies.

And are we supposed to just forget the fact that the oil companies already have acres and acres of land both offshore and on land that they are free to drill, but don’t. They want MORE because they truly believe they will be able to get enough out of our shores to make a difference.

They won’t.

Drilling will not lower the price of gas. Drilling will not lower the cost of a barrel of oil, and everyone knows that. Not using oil will lower the price of gas and the price of a barrel of oil. What drilling does do is affect the environment. Offshore drilling will also waste money that (if the oil companies are right in their commercials I see) should be spent on solar, wind, and other renewable energies.

If we want to build energy rigs in the ocean why not use the power of the waves. Where is that in this legislation? Where is the opposition against a party that is in the pocket of big oil? Where is the stand that opposes the raping of the earth, the stand that I thought my party stood for?

Remember this day as the day the crazies started winning.

Somehow the leaders I have rooted for have let me down.

Since September 11th 2001, I’ve learned that freedom isn’t free. It costs $12.3 billion a month in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I’ve learned that we must never forget that day. The easiest way to remember of course is to, as President Bush said, “Shop.” We can never forget if we buy 9/11 t-shirts and bumper stickers and of course the yearly commemorative coin.

I’ve learned that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction.

I’ve learned that Osama Bin Laden is living in a cave in Pakistan and we don’t seem to care.

I've learned that Osama bin Laden is good for business.

Since 9/11, I’ve learned that these colors don’t run, unless of course you count the blood of the 4,155 servicemen dead in Iraq, and the 584 dead in Afghanistan.

I’ve learned that these numbers will not stop rising.

I’ve learned that George W. Bush has done such a good job as President that we elected him again.

Since 9/11, I’ve learned that 9/11 can be used for political gains during political conventions.

I’ve learned that the Taliban are regaining strength in Afghanistan.

I’ve learned that in Iraq, if we pay the insurgents enough, they will stop attacking us.

Since 9/11, I’ve learned that the Iraqis want us to leave.

I’ve learned that President Bush wants to stay.

I’ve learned that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

Since 9/11, I’ve learned that my government can detain people without any rhyme or reason.

I’ve learned that torture is okay.

I’ve learned that spreading democracy is the American way, and that the best way to spread said democracy is at the end of a rifle.

I’ve learned that spreading democracy apparently, is our mission from God.

I’ve learned that democracy cannot be forced on people whose government must be ruled by religion.

I’ve learned that people still think 9/11 was an inside job.

I’ve learned that Americans don’t care about energy independence.

I’ve learned that America is no longer respected in the world as it once was.

I’ve learned that there is a candidate standing for change and half the country stands against him.

I’ve learned that this country can be controlled by fear.

I’ve learned that Muslims are evil because they wear turbans and have beards.

I’ve learned that all of the hijackers were clean shaven and turbanless.

I’ve learned that Iran and North Korea, like Iraq are evil.

Since 9/11, I’ve learned that Republicans know what is right because they haven’t been wrong in seven (make that eight) years.

I’ve learned that we have the best military in the world. There is nothing they cannot do.

I’ve learned that our military cannot force a country to create a stable government.

I’ve learned that the global war on terror will be fought forever.

I’ve learned that we can claim “mission accomplished” without achieving victory.

Since 9/11, I’ve learned that our military is not built by a draft, and because of that, no one cares about the consequences of war.

Since September 11th 2001, I’ve learned that this country has reached a new boiling point. I have learned that we have been waiting for the moment that we can turn the page and attempt to reclaim our place in the world. To return our nation to a place that is looked up to and not down at. I have learned that Americans are tired of failed policies and hawkish administrations.

I have learned that our nation must become stronger, smarter, and better.

Because if we do not, we have learned nothing at all.

Always learning,
LoOK

Sources:
http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/policy/securityspending/articles/gwot_spending_burn_rate/
http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/

Over the last week or so, something happened. During and after the Republican National Convention the McCain campaign has deliriously decided that they are the change ticket. McCain is campaigning as an independent, and someone who has battled even his own party (never mind that little bit about voting with President Bush 90% of the time). Sarah Palin is campaigning as someone who has always been against pork barrel spending despite having campaigned for the Bridge to Nowhere in order to get elected as the governor of Alaska. They are claiming they are the mavericks, and the change agents. I just want to know…

Do you think we are that mindless?

McBush as the change agent? Give me a break. I see right through these deceptive tactics. The fact is, McCain has flip flopped and spun his campaign every which way possible in the past few months. First he was touting his support of Bush, now he is touting his taking the fight to his own party. He was slamming Obama for his lack of experience, and then selected a completely inexperienced running mate. He was criticizing Obama for running as a change agent with no plans, and has now decided that his ticket is the ticket of change and failed to present any real policy plans during the convention. He is claiming he represents change, and he picked a hard line conservative that agrees with Bush more than he does.

McBush is succeeding in convoluting this election to the point where the issues simply cannot compete with the idiocy spewing forth. I am baffled by the republicans approach, but I suppose this is where experience comes in. McCain is experienced at running an old politics as usual campaign. This leaves us all concerned with who can sling more mud, and less concerned with who will actually be better for our country.

Obama keeps using the line: McCain just doesn’t get it. The more I hear and see and read about McCain and his campaign, the more I feel that this is very true.

McCain really does not get it.

I hope America will see through these deceptive campaign strategies, and start demanding more from its presidential candidates.

Refusing to be deceived,
-LoOK

Tonight, I eagerly sat down waiting for 9:11 central standard time, the time Senator John McCain was slated to accept the Republican Party’s nomination for President. When he came on stage and after the ovation subsided, I watched and listened, and watched and listened, and waited, and waited, and waited.

I waited for John McCain to offer up some ideas. Some sort of plan, some vision for the future that his running mate forgot to mention last night. I listened to McCain mention his great party’s leaders: Lincoln (would he be considered Republican today?), Roosevelt (Teddy, not FDR. The man who got us through the great depression and World War II was a Democrat), and Reagan (Always gotta mention The Gipper).

I listened to the crowd, like children, boo the Democrats (last night they chanted “Drill Baby Drill,” don’t get me started on that). I listened to McCain admonish the Republican administration for losing their way. I heard him pledge to get back to basics. I also listened to him somehow forget to mention that he is a part of that same party that he so wants to “change.”

But what I didn’t hear McCain say was “How.” How John McCain are you going to fix this country? What is the change you want to bring? You say you want to stop sending money overseas and you want to create jobs that will stay in this country, but how? You talk about drilling because your party wants it. Your running mate supports drilling in ANWR, but you miss the bigger issue that drilling and oil is not the answer.

You say you know how to secure the peace and protect this country. Does securing the peace include occupying a country when its democratically elected leaders are asking us to leave?

John McCain we all know you are a patriot who loves this country. We all know you suffered great atrocities during your time in the POW Camp. However, Senator you are not offering us anything new or anything different.

Tonight you gave a speech that sounded like the speech of a politician, not of a true leader. Tonight as I sat and listened I did not feel inspired. I felt depressed. Perhaps Obama was right. Perhaps you just don’t get it. This country needs a voice that won’t just stand up and talk to the rest of the world, but will actually listen. We need a leader who listens to Americans and understands our problems and has a plan to fix them.

Tonight Senator, you asked us to stand up and fight.

“Fight for what's right for our country.
Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.
Fight for our children's future.
Fight for justice and opportunity for all.
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.
Stand up for each other, for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight.
Nothing is inevitable here.
We're Americans, and we never give up.”

To the block of voters that associate themselves with the phrase “Party Unity My Ass”:

Do you really want to do this?

Are you really ready to stand in front of the Democratic convention and talk to any camera that is in your face and denounce Senator Obama as a terrible person unfit to lead this country just because your candidate (Hillary Clinton) did not get the nomination?

Are you really going to vote for John McCain and allow this country to enter a third Bush term?

Will you please think about how your actions will turn into, and already are turning into more campaign commercials for McCain and more fuel for the Republican attack machine.

There is a great new article in the latest edition of NEWSWEEK that talks about the country and what may happen to it if Obama loses. (http://www.newsweek.com/id/155117)

It mentions the fact that America has the perfect opportunity to turn the page on one of the most ineffective Presidents and make a statement to the rest of the world that we do in fact stand for change and want to live in a better world, not just for ourselves but for our children.

Hillary Clinton lost fair and square. It was over well before she conceded. So to the PUMA movement out there, please rethink what you are doing.

Your actions will have consequences.

Remember…

The whole world is watching.

I don’t know when it happened exactly, but America has forgotten the importance of talk.

One would believe the explosion of the internet in the 90’s that in fact led to the flattening of the world and by cause and effect brought us closer together to exchange thoughts and ideas would have led to more and more conversation worldwide. One would hope that the rise of cell phones would make it easier to connect to everyone and anyone in an all digital age.

We can call, text, blog, vlog, e-mail, youtube, IM, skype, MySpace, and Google from the highest mountain tops to the lowest valleys and everywhere in between (including rocket ships in space and submarines underwater).

But somewhere in this world of constant information we forgot what it meant to simply talk to one another. We have gotten so used to short one word answers that conversation has become a thing of the past.

I recently read an article about the decline of talk therapy during visits between doctors and patients in psychiatry (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26011514/). This article goes on to speak about the rise of pills causing the decline, which is true without a doubt. However, it misses the big issue that people nowadays believe they simply do not have the time to sit down and discuss their problems anymore. In a time where we have more than enough gadgets to save time, we waste time. We waste time trying to be know-it- alls. In this world of instant information a patient can Google his symptoms and get instant gratification by telling his doctor what pill he needs to continue his day without missing a beat.

The big picture here I feel is dire. We as human beings have problems. We get stressed out. We get upset at little things e.g. Starbucks was out of whip cream today. We get upset about big things e.g. Oil is $120 a barrel (or for some the big problem may be Starbucks running out of whip cream). The point is talking to people is a way to help rid ourselves of these worries. Perhaps the person we share our feelings with has the same worries, and perhaps the two of you find a third, and a fourth, and heavens forbid you actually start a movement to get more whip cream at Starbucks—Err to lower the price of oil.

As I said before the world is flatter now than ever before, let’s take this opportunity to look out across the horizon and talk to each other. It’s more powerful than you think.

Got something on your chest? Feel free to comment…

It’s official. We have finally become Occupiers in Iraq.

The country has recently demanded a “very clear timeline” for us to get out of their country and turn over total control to their security forces, and we have responded with silence.

I believe the definition of victory we have been touting at the moment is that when “Iraqis stand up, we will stand down.” That time has arrived. Iraq wants us out and our President still only speaks of “general time horizons,” (as Jon Stewart point out, a horizon is something that “no matter how long you head towards it, you never quite reach it.”) not specific dates, nothing that gives the government of Iraq hope that one day they will be able to take the reigns of a country they have longed to lead.

This is a great time for Iraq, violence is down (however, not down enough to stop Americans from dying), they were allowed to compete in the Olympics (something that will unite them as a people more than ever), and most importantly their government (and people) appears to want to take control.

This is the turning point we have been waiting (too long) for.

However, it is my belief that somehow our administration will find a way to redefine (again) the term “Victory in Iraq” to fit their occupier instinct, their need to stay forever, in order to prove that democracy will work in the Middle East.

Democracy is working Mr. President. The Iraqis are standing up and demanding action. They are demanding that we no longer occupy their country. They are demanding us to leave.

The ball is now in your court. They are screaming for your attention. Will you ever listen?

I am paranoid as hell. A young man in Canada was keeping to himself on a bus when, randomly and without warning, another man on the bus got up and began stabbing him. If you have not heard about this story by now, I would prefer to spare the gory details (you can read about it here if you so desire: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25966835/), but what followed has to top my list of one of the most gruesome and terrifying events imaginable. This crime was committed by a man that only a couple of days prior was going about his life seemingly incapable of such shocking actions.

I am paranoid as hell. And I am sad and depressed to think about what a senseless, pointless, and purely evil occurrence this was. I am thoroughly disgusted. What is this world coming to? To find that evil such as this exists is deeply saddening and depressing. This man exhibited no signs of mental illness, he apparently showed no emotion while committing this brutal act, and apparently remained calm while proceeding to stab another human being time and time again.

I walked to the grocery store this evening and felt as though I had to watch over my shoulder and remain 110% aware of what was happening around me. Maybe this is a good way to live if you want to stay out of harm’s way, but I believe living in fear of random acts of brutal violence is no way to live. Love your neighbor, and maybe, just maybe, your love will be the difference between a senseless murder and an ordinary day at work. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Make a difference.

Your Neighbor,
-LoOK