In light of a pair of recent criminal cases in Middle Eastern countries involving women, I decided to do a bit of research and found a Youtube video by outspoken feminist, and critic of the religion of Islam, Ayaan Hirsi Ali which discusses women under Islamic rule.
For those that are unaware, the first case I am referring to is the woman in Saudi Arabia who received prison time and lashings for her role in her own sexual assault. How dare she be sexually assaulted! The second case is the teacher from the Sudan who faces jail time because she had the audacity to allow her students to name a bear "Mohammed", an act considered to be blasphemous by Muslims.
PART 1
Friday, November 30, 2007
How Republicans would repair the image of America...
I interrupt this blog for a music break.
“Pardon me while I burst into flame
I’ve had enough of the world and its people’s mindless games”
The above lyrics are from “Pardon Me” by Incubus. They popped immediately into my mind as soon as I heard Rudy Giuliani’s response to the following question during the November 28th, 2007 CNN/Youtube debate: “How would you repair the image of America?”
Rudy Giuliani’s first words: “The most important thing to do is to make sure that we remain on offense against Islamic terrorism.”
John McCain’s first words: “We need to maintain the troop surge which is working in Iraq.”
Really? The best thing we can do to repair the charred, ragged remains of our image is to maintain the military actions which have so negatively damaged the perception of America domestically and abroad? Does anybody on the right side of the aisle, save Ron Paul, have a clue about this issue? Continuing down the same path is clearly not the correct answer.
I do not want the United States to bow down to people that want to do us harm. I believe that the United States has an obligation to defend itself and its interests, but I will be damned if the correct answer is waging wars without planning, torturing “enemy combatants”, and continuing to enact policies contrary to the core democratic value that this country has long held.
As a country, the United States has long been looked to as an example of morality. The United States have clearly lost that reputation in the world’s eyes. I fear that this loss may come back to haunt us when we really need to be in a position of moral leadership. Note to Republican presidential candidates: You can still be strong in national security while not placing the moral integrity of this country in the hands of misplaced and vacuous foreign policy. Furthermore, whether you want to it torture or “enhanced interrogation”, it is absolutely unacceptable for the United States to use such methods.
“Pardon me while I burst into flame
I’ve had enough of the world and its people’s mindless games”
The above lyrics are from “Pardon Me” by Incubus. They popped immediately into my mind as soon as I heard Rudy Giuliani’s response to the following question during the November 28th, 2007 CNN/Youtube debate: “How would you repair the image of America?”
Rudy Giuliani’s first words: “The most important thing to do is to make sure that we remain on offense against Islamic terrorism.”
John McCain’s first words: “We need to maintain the troop surge which is working in Iraq.”
Really? The best thing we can do to repair the charred, ragged remains of our image is to maintain the military actions which have so negatively damaged the perception of America domestically and abroad? Does anybody on the right side of the aisle, save Ron Paul, have a clue about this issue? Continuing down the same path is clearly not the correct answer.
I do not want the United States to bow down to people that want to do us harm. I believe that the United States has an obligation to defend itself and its interests, but I will be damned if the correct answer is waging wars without planning, torturing “enemy combatants”, and continuing to enact policies contrary to the core democratic value that this country has long held.
As a country, the United States has long been looked to as an example of morality. The United States have clearly lost that reputation in the world’s eyes. I fear that this loss may come back to haunt us when we really need to be in a position of moral leadership. Note to Republican presidential candidates: You can still be strong in national security while not placing the moral integrity of this country in the hands of misplaced and vacuous foreign policy. Furthermore, whether you want to it torture or “enhanced interrogation”, it is absolutely unacceptable for the United States to use such methods.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The importance and power of music is undeniable. Witnessing masterful musicianship is one of the most evocative experiences one can be a part of. What do I enjoy most? I enjoy listening to a song and being able to relate to the lyrics of the song.
With this, I introduce a new “feature” to this blog: A post containing a listing of songs that I have been listening to recently or that have been on my mind.
List 1:
“Somewhere in Between” by Lifehouse
“Make It With You” by Bread
“Stuck on You” by Lionel Richie
“Teardrops on My Guitar” by Taylor Swift
“Life is Beautiful” by Sixx A.M.
“Rise” by Will Dailey
“Beautiful Disaster” by Kelly Clarkson
“Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been” by Relient K
“Fancy Footwork” by Chromeo
“Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat
“I Can’t Read You” by Daniel Bedingfield
“Stolen” by Dashboard Confessional
“All For Love” by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting
“All of Me” by Watashi Wa
“Godless” by U.P.O.
With this, I introduce a new “feature” to this blog: A post containing a listing of songs that I have been listening to recently or that have been on my mind.
List 1:
“Somewhere in Between” by Lifehouse
“Make It With You” by Bread
“Stuck on You” by Lionel Richie
“Teardrops on My Guitar” by Taylor Swift
“Life is Beautiful” by Sixx A.M.
“Rise” by Will Dailey
“Beautiful Disaster” by Kelly Clarkson
“Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been” by Relient K
“Fancy Footwork” by Chromeo
“Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat
“I Can’t Read You” by Daniel Bedingfield
“Stolen” by Dashboard Confessional
“All For Love” by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting
“All of Me” by Watashi Wa
“Godless” by U.P.O.
When you aren’t true to yourself, it is so easy to feel uncertain, weak, scared, and even lonely. Mostly, you feel tired. You become tired of the uncertainty and loneliness, tired of the frustration of your dissatisfaction, and tired of feeling like you aren’t realizing the full potential of many aspects of your life.
You feel trapped in a cage that you have created for yourself, a series of barriers erected to keep others from being disappointed in you or by you, barriers which serve only to keep the disappointment you feel towards yourself inside. Life becomes a series of repeating patterns, just as it does for most people, but your patterns only serve to reinforce the negative self-perceptions. The sensation of being mentally strapped down by the fears and doubts and disparate truths of who you are and who you try to be are such a burden.
Eventually it comes down to a simple choice: Continue down the same path and be unhappy or try a new route, take your life in a new direction. It has been said that the definition of insanity is repeating the same steps and expecting a different result and if that is true, then the same old path is the path to insanity. It is your obligation to yourself to take the path you have traveled less often. It’ll feel funny at first but I think you may like what you find.
You feel trapped in a cage that you have created for yourself, a series of barriers erected to keep others from being disappointed in you or by you, barriers which serve only to keep the disappointment you feel towards yourself inside. Life becomes a series of repeating patterns, just as it does for most people, but your patterns only serve to reinforce the negative self-perceptions. The sensation of being mentally strapped down by the fears and doubts and disparate truths of who you are and who you try to be are such a burden.
Eventually it comes down to a simple choice: Continue down the same path and be unhappy or try a new route, take your life in a new direction. It has been said that the definition of insanity is repeating the same steps and expecting a different result and if that is true, then the same old path is the path to insanity. It is your obligation to yourself to take the path you have traveled less often. It’ll feel funny at first but I think you may like what you find.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Detroit Lions
There exists the very real possibility that the Detroit Lions will not win another game for the rest of the 2007 season. Next week appears to be their last winnable game against Minnesota. Even without a healthy Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor is likely to be more than the Detroit run defense can handle. After the Vikings game, the Lions face Dallas, San Diego, Kansas City, and Green Bay to close the season. Once sitting at 6-2, a game versus Arizona up next and a game versus an iffy Giants team in two weeks, it looked like the Lions had a chance to advance to 7-3 or 8-2 because good teams beat teams like the Cards or Giants.
The fact is that the Lions are not a good team. This is a team with a tough overachiever at quarterback, someone who also happens to fall apart when the pressure is really on, such as the pressure of being 6-2 and realizing that his prediction of 10 wins is a real possibility. This is a team who is paying their offensive coordinator, Mike Martz, more than anyone else at his coaching position for mediocrity on offense. This is a team with a general manager who has kept his job after posting a staggering 72 losses in his first 6 years on the job, the same general manager who should be fired after this season. This is a team with an owner who is highly unlikely to fire that general manager, Matt Millen, regardless of the result of this season.
A huge problem with this entire situation is that the beleaguered Lions fans are likely to look at this season, with its 7 or 8, maybe even 9 wins (if a miracle occurs) as an improvement. After all, last season, the Lions posted the 2nd worst record in the NFL in 2006. Whatever they did this season is an improvement, right? Wrong. This team started out 6-2. If they finish the season outside of the playoffs, this season is not a success. It means that they will have tantalized the fan base once again. It means that Matt Millen and William Clay Ford will be able to point to this season and say “Look at where we are. Look at how far we have come since last year.” By doing this, they will attempt to con the fans of the worst organization in football into believing that things really are getting better.
Things have improved slightly, perhaps back to the point they were when Millen was brought in. Wait! Isn’t that what Millen was brought in for? To move this franchise beyond the days of 9-7 records and first round losses to go deeper into the playoffs, to win a Super Bowl? Is that good enough for you? To be back to where we were when we started? It is not enough for me. I want to see accountability in the front office and accountability from the ownership.
I want to see Millen fired, finally, and a general manager with the experience and knowledge to lead this franchise to greater things. The fans deserve so much for than they are getting. In the past 50 years, the Lions have won 1 playoff game. I suspect that the Lions will not win another under the current management structure.
The fact is that the Lions are not a good team. This is a team with a tough overachiever at quarterback, someone who also happens to fall apart when the pressure is really on, such as the pressure of being 6-2 and realizing that his prediction of 10 wins is a real possibility. This is a team who is paying their offensive coordinator, Mike Martz, more than anyone else at his coaching position for mediocrity on offense. This is a team with a general manager who has kept his job after posting a staggering 72 losses in his first 6 years on the job, the same general manager who should be fired after this season. This is a team with an owner who is highly unlikely to fire that general manager, Matt Millen, regardless of the result of this season.
A huge problem with this entire situation is that the beleaguered Lions fans are likely to look at this season, with its 7 or 8, maybe even 9 wins (if a miracle occurs) as an improvement. After all, last season, the Lions posted the 2nd worst record in the NFL in 2006. Whatever they did this season is an improvement, right? Wrong. This team started out 6-2. If they finish the season outside of the playoffs, this season is not a success. It means that they will have tantalized the fan base once again. It means that Matt Millen and William Clay Ford will be able to point to this season and say “Look at where we are. Look at how far we have come since last year.” By doing this, they will attempt to con the fans of the worst organization in football into believing that things really are getting better.
Things have improved slightly, perhaps back to the point they were when Millen was brought in. Wait! Isn’t that what Millen was brought in for? To move this franchise beyond the days of 9-7 records and first round losses to go deeper into the playoffs, to win a Super Bowl? Is that good enough for you? To be back to where we were when we started? It is not enough for me. I want to see accountability in the front office and accountability from the ownership.
I want to see Millen fired, finally, and a general manager with the experience and knowledge to lead this franchise to greater things. The fans deserve so much for than they are getting. In the past 50 years, the Lions have won 1 playoff game. I suspect that the Lions will not win another under the current management structure.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Taking a little trip...
How’d you get here, to this place, filled with so many thoughts, questions, and desires? If you really wanted to know, I could tell you how you arrived here. I could tell you all of the items you packed in your bags, how you received those items, which items you purchased for yourself, those that were given freely, and those that were pushed upon you. Did you even think about all that stuff you brought with you? If I had to guess, there are things in those bags of yours that you unconsciously brought along, extra stuff that you didn’t need and it just found its way into that suitcase of yours.
I’d like to share something with you. You aren’t going to need those extras where you’re going, especially all of those things you didn’t realize you had packed, until I informed you of their presence. I know how you feel. A lot of those things were important…once you start the trip, you aren’t going to be needing them. Too much in your bags can really weigh you down. Did you realize that? Then again, judging from the way your shoulders stoop from time to time, you must have known the effects of all those extras, the toll they were taking. Those shoulders aren’t going to slump anymore. I can see the change already, it’s small but I can tell that you are more comfortable already. Come back to visit me in a few days and tell me how you about your trip. I’ll be excited to hear about it.
I’d like to share something with you. You aren’t going to need those extras where you’re going, especially all of those things you didn’t realize you had packed, until I informed you of their presence. I know how you feel. A lot of those things were important…once you start the trip, you aren’t going to be needing them. Too much in your bags can really weigh you down. Did you realize that? Then again, judging from the way your shoulders stoop from time to time, you must have known the effects of all those extras, the toll they were taking. Those shoulders aren’t going to slump anymore. I can see the change already, it’s small but I can tell that you are more comfortable already. Come back to visit me in a few days and tell me how you about your trip. I’ll be excited to hear about it.
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