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2.26.2006
I find this whole business about the port ownership by a Dubai controlled company a little strange. Only because the Bush administration, after banking on the xenophobia of its supporters to push a war against some brown skinned A-rabs, now seeks to reason with the American people to explain why some brown-skinned A-rabs should be trusted with management of a few American ports. You really can't have it both ways. You either use reason and rational decision making the whole time, or you rely on demogogery and people's worst tendencies. Bush has been pandering to people's prejudice for years to suggest that the "Global War on Terror" has something to do with smacking around the menacing bad guys who live over in the Middle East. Its us and them. Its the way the invasion of Iraq was sold. How else could you buy into the whole notion that a country with little to no ties to the events of 9-11 needed to be invaded in some act of revenge? So yeah, you can't be surprised at the reaction to this port ordeal. | 2.25.2006
I know what makes me a "bad" blogger. I'm hesitant to state my opinions as fact or to turn a matter of personal preference into a moral argument. But honestly, I see that as a good quality in a person. | 2.21.2006
I see it as a human tendency to see our own path through life as the most moral and most deserving of praise. After all, if we did not see our own decisions as being the best ones we could make, then we face two possible choices; rationalization or regret. So it stands to reason that we might find ways to defend the path we have taken through life as the best of all possible worlds -- or at least one of the best. Coupled with that is the reality that choosing certain paths through life will result in greater financial compensation. I can see how it might be tempting to confuse the material success that one has achieved with the moral rightness one feels. One thing follows the other. "If I where not the most deserving why would I have what I have? If this were not the most just and rewarding system, why should I feel justified in feeling like I deserve the material rewards I enjoy?" The flip side of that self-reinforcing belief system is that it leads to a judgmental view of differing or opposing paths. "If the path I choose leads to greater material rewards and greater moral certainty, then other paths must certainly lead to less material gain and less moral ways of living." I'm not saying that I condone this line of thinking, only that I recognize it. Piled on top of this tendency is the marketing message that reinforces the belief that the "American Dream" is being lived by those with the most material wealth. Every time we turn in the TV, the message is aimed at those with the money to make the corporate dream of ever escalating profits a reality. Its a reality of business; to seek those that can provide businesses with greater profits and to make consumers believe in a version of reality that suits the business world's needs. So while I think of my own path through life as being rewarding and fulfilling, I have to recognizer that others feel that way as well. I am only bewildered by those that feel like their own path is the only one of worth. | 2.09.2006
Thank you for the well wishes, the move went off with little drama other than having to babysit a old and declining car through ten hours of driving with every single one of my valuable (to me at least) possessions loaded in the hatch. The cute little doggies pictured below are just two of my new roommates as well as a sweet and charming girl. So life is good. I still marvel at how people can even listen to Geroge Bush with a straight face. The other day while I was listening to him on NPR I heard him say that he wants to keep the programs that work and to get rid of the programs that don't work. So he plans to keep pouring money into Iraq and sustain and lengthen the damamge done by his budget busting spending and tax cuts while he works to cut reliable programs that have helped millions of people throughout many many years. I still feel like I'm living in a twilight zone. He keeps saying that we should "Make the tax cuts permanent" when anyone with even the most basic grasp of government knows that there is no such thing as permanancy in a representational government. Its as if a president said that he wanted to make Social Security permanent. Yes, still a preposterous notion even though many of us would like to see SS maintained for a bit longer. We can't just forget the fact that in our country we have the right and freedom to change our minds at any time. Which means that we can change our taxes if we feel it might be necessary to say, keep our nation from imploding. And this year during tax season I want you all to take a look at your W-2's and realize that when politicians talk about taxes they talk about income taxes and that they seem to all conveniently seem to ignore all the other taxes that we pay as well. Without internet at home I've had less time to read through blogs, which is just as well I suppose for its given me more time to do other things like reading books for instance. I do plan in getting broadband at home soon enough but i am hoping to get a better look at my options before commiting to anything. take care all I hope to be writing more soon. oh yeah, and this year's super bowl was one of the worst I have ever watched. Seattle played the better game and the officiating was too instrumental in deciding the score and momentum of the game. Ben Rothlisberger did not make it into the endzone with his sneak and it was obvious to everyone. The bogus calls against seattle at the worst times made the game a farce that I was disappointed to watch. I don't mind watching a favorite team lose due to subpar performance (like, say... Denver's loss) but I do hate to see a game decided by forces outside of the players on the field. And I was a little too put out by the over the top sentimentality on the part of the network to push for Pittsburgh as the emotional favorite. | 2.01.2006
well, moving to denver, so it might be a while before I post something. but never fear all, I will return soon with something to say. | |
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