Thursday, November 24, 2005
A Turkey’s Thoughts
I know I’m among millions of American bloggers today talking about Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t stop me. Being part of a crowd is no great crime (unless, of course, your crowd is committing felonies).
It’s hard not to be sappy and nostalgic at a time like this. Today I sit here a minor for only five more days. I’m living with the same people (and dog) I’ve lived with my entire life, and in enjoying the company of familiarity, I realize next year will be one of great paradox. At this time next year, I’ll be visiting my own home.
For no other reason than that, it’s a time to count my blessings. A loving family that provides for my needs (and most of my frivolous wants) has to be at the top of that list. Good families are hard to come by, and I can’t help but be thankful for the hand I’ve been dealt in that regard.
In knowing I’m going away, it’s hard, too, to not think of my friends. The people I see everyday: they’re enough of a reason to get out of bed every morning. I don’t have the words, and therefore can’t even try, to express my deepest and humblest gratitude for all you do everyday. I feel like I’ll end up stepping in hot water if I start listing names, but you know who you are and you need to know how important y’all are to me. I mean, c’mon, you let me get away with saying stupid shit like “y’all.”
Remember, it’s not about getting what you want; it’s about wanting what you’ve got. Thank you.
Tonight: Tell someone you love them.*
*And be sure to make many grammatical errors
It’s hard not to be sappy and nostalgic at a time like this. Today I sit here a minor for only five more days. I’m living with the same people (and dog) I’ve lived with my entire life, and in enjoying the company of familiarity, I realize next year will be one of great paradox. At this time next year, I’ll be visiting my own home.
For no other reason than that, it’s a time to count my blessings. A loving family that provides for my needs (and most of my frivolous wants) has to be at the top of that list. Good families are hard to come by, and I can’t help but be thankful for the hand I’ve been dealt in that regard.
In knowing I’m going away, it’s hard, too, to not think of my friends. The people I see everyday: they’re enough of a reason to get out of bed every morning. I don’t have the words, and therefore can’t even try, to express my deepest and humblest gratitude for all you do everyday. I feel like I’ll end up stepping in hot water if I start listing names, but you know who you are and you need to know how important y’all are to me. I mean, c’mon, you let me get away with saying stupid shit like “y’all.”
Remember, it’s not about getting what you want; it’s about wanting what you’ve got. Thank you.
Tonight: Tell someone you love them.*
*And be sure to make many grammatical errors
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Boycott Injustice
I received an e-mail from Stratfor today that details the American Family Association’s call for a November 25th boycott of Target. The reason? Target has refused to use the phrase “Merry Christmas” this holiday season.
For the record, I think Target has gone too politically correct. I’m not a Christian, but I’m certainly not offended that people who shop at Target are. However, I fully support Target’s symbolic battle against the AFA if only because the people who spew this propaganda are, to put it mildly, lunatics.
What interests me most about groups like the AFA is that they pick their moral battles. Gay marriage and profanity on TV are unacceptable, but infidelity and divorce in a “cookie cutter” family are merely unfortunate. Don’t get me wrong; I think there’s plenty wrong with American culture. I even hate the show Will & Grace, but that’s due to the travesty of “acting” and “writing” that went into the show. I don’t have enough web space to attack the horror that is modern American culture, but I know the degeneration of society has more to do with groups like the AFA than it has to do with homosexuals.
From Stratfor:
The hypocrisy of the situation astounds me. Again, I’m not a Christian, but I know that Judeo-Christian teachings do not espouse intolerance. In fact, guides of moral behavior would teach the opposite; understanding and acceptance despite stereotypes and fear actually define an aspect of religious moral thought. “Love thy neighbor as thyself” does not contain the provision “unless thy neighbor loves other neighbors of the same gender.” Tolerance isn’t a “sometimes” thing.
Why do we spew hate and then act shocked when people act violently? When Matthew Shepard was beaten to death for his sexual preferences, there was a great outcry against hate crimes. Unfortunately, tragic incidents like this are rooted in the messages at the center of American culture. “Merry Christmas” is good; homosexuality is bad.
The amount of political power groups like the AFA have shocks me. When I drove into Colorado Springs a few weeks ago, I noticed a big green road sign for Focus on the Family, a similar high-power group. At least they have their own exit; I certainly don’t want to catch whatever they have.**
I have no problem with people of a different religion, race, or sexual orientation. I don’t particularly want to pray to Jesus or sleep with a man (and certainly not both at the same time), but it doesn’t bother me that other people would. My decisions about what I watch, where I pray, and whom I spend time with are my own. If my moral code doesn’t apply to you, yours doesn’t apply to me.
As we sit down at our tables tomorrow, we need to give thanks; thanks for the opportunities we’ve been given in this country; for the fact that we can rant about our president without fear of punishment; for the fact that we have the right to choose our own forms of worship; for the right to self-determination. The beauty of (what’s left of) America is that we’re supposedly a nation of opportunity, wealth, prosperity, and freedom. Or is it not OK for me to use their own propaganda against them?
Tonight: Buy American Girl dolls and Kraft cheese at Target
*Source: Bart Mongoven in the Stratfor Public Policy Intelligence Report: November 23, 2005.
**Catch the irony?
For the record, I think Target has gone too politically correct. I’m not a Christian, but I’m certainly not offended that people who shop at Target are. However, I fully support Target’s symbolic battle against the AFA if only because the people who spew this propaganda are, to put it mildly, lunatics.
What interests me most about groups like the AFA is that they pick their moral battles. Gay marriage and profanity on TV are unacceptable, but infidelity and divorce in a “cookie cutter” family are merely unfortunate. Don’t get me wrong; I think there’s plenty wrong with American culture. I even hate the show Will & Grace, but that’s due to the travesty of “acting” and “writing” that went into the show. I don’t have enough web space to attack the horror that is modern American culture, but I know the degeneration of society has more to do with groups like the AFA than it has to do with homosexuals.
From Stratfor:
“[The] AFA seeks opportunities for its supporters to flex their muscles in society -- fighting back, essentially, against what they see as hostile media and culture leaders. AFA does this by sponsoring boycotts and letter-writing campaigns. For instance, in addition to the Target activities, AFA in late October launched a longer-term boycott of the American Girl doll company because it gives money to an organization that supports pro-choice and gay-acceptance organizations. AFA also is running a lower-level letter-writing campaign against Kraft for that company's support of the Gay Games athletic festival/gathering.”*
The hypocrisy of the situation astounds me. Again, I’m not a Christian, but I know that Judeo-Christian teachings do not espouse intolerance. In fact, guides of moral behavior would teach the opposite; understanding and acceptance despite stereotypes and fear actually define an aspect of religious moral thought. “Love thy neighbor as thyself” does not contain the provision “unless thy neighbor loves other neighbors of the same gender.” Tolerance isn’t a “sometimes” thing.
Why do we spew hate and then act shocked when people act violently? When Matthew Shepard was beaten to death for his sexual preferences, there was a great outcry against hate crimes. Unfortunately, tragic incidents like this are rooted in the messages at the center of American culture. “Merry Christmas” is good; homosexuality is bad.
The amount of political power groups like the AFA have shocks me. When I drove into Colorado Springs a few weeks ago, I noticed a big green road sign for Focus on the Family, a similar high-power group. At least they have their own exit; I certainly don’t want to catch whatever they have.**
I have no problem with people of a different religion, race, or sexual orientation. I don’t particularly want to pray to Jesus or sleep with a man (and certainly not both at the same time), but it doesn’t bother me that other people would. My decisions about what I watch, where I pray, and whom I spend time with are my own. If my moral code doesn’t apply to you, yours doesn’t apply to me.
As we sit down at our tables tomorrow, we need to give thanks; thanks for the opportunities we’ve been given in this country; for the fact that we can rant about our president without fear of punishment; for the fact that we have the right to choose our own forms of worship; for the right to self-determination. The beauty of (what’s left of) America is that we’re supposedly a nation of opportunity, wealth, prosperity, and freedom. Or is it not OK for me to use their own propaganda against them?
Tonight: Buy American Girl dolls and Kraft cheese at Target
*Source: Bart Mongoven in the Stratfor Public Policy Intelligence Report: November 23, 2005.
**Catch the irony?
Monday, November 14, 2005
Sometimes it really matters
Two days ago I came home late from a debate tournament. I had spent the day being as productively combative as possible, and every argumentative impulse I had was reawakened by the piece of mail strewn among the daily pile of junk mail and college solicitations. The return address was the United States Government; the contents were my Selective Service materials. In a couple of weeks, I will turn 18 years old, and along with the wonderful privileges of being allowed to buy lotto tickets and cigarettes, I will be eligible to fight in a war.
You'll notice the relative lack of political "analysis" (ranting and raving) on The Exploding Gopher lately. It's not that I've been apathetic; it's that I've put my political arguing skills to use elsewhere than a blog. I'd like to start writing politically again, and I believe receiving my Selective Service card is the perfect reason.
As I watch Bush's numbers, I can't help but be reminded of the "Tower of Doom" ride at Six Flags/Elitch Gardens theme park in Denver. The ride is no more than a free-fall from the clouds.
With indictments, a painfully unpopular war, and a healthy declining apathy on the part of Democrats, the next step is unclear. We can hope that next year's midterm elections (in which I will be able to vote) bring the positive change this country has been desperately seeking during the last five years.
And as much as I like to see the Bush administration cracking, I'm worried. When this happens at the very end of a president's term, the pendulum swings over to the other party and old wrongs are replaced by new ones. However, with three more years of this White House, a declining approval rating both at home and abroad (as if they could get any worse) means a declining ability to get things done. Whether those things are negotiating with other countries in the UN, reforming deficiencies in the bureaucracy, or fixing the disaster we've created in the Middle East, we (unfortunately) still have to look to this administration for solutions. If the illusion of Bush as a "strong leader" is gone, he's got little left. One more small misstep, and we're up shit creek without a paddle. Just ask the city of New Orleans how that feels.
Happy early birthday to me.
You'll notice the relative lack of political "analysis" (ranting and raving) on The Exploding Gopher lately. It's not that I've been apathetic; it's that I've put my political arguing skills to use elsewhere than a blog. I'd like to start writing politically again, and I believe receiving my Selective Service card is the perfect reason.
As I watch Bush's numbers, I can't help but be reminded of the "Tower of Doom" ride at Six Flags/Elitch Gardens theme park in Denver. The ride is no more than a free-fall from the clouds.
With indictments, a painfully unpopular war, and a healthy declining apathy on the part of Democrats, the next step is unclear. We can hope that next year's midterm elections (in which I will be able to vote) bring the positive change this country has been desperately seeking during the last five years.
And as much as I like to see the Bush administration cracking, I'm worried. When this happens at the very end of a president's term, the pendulum swings over to the other party and old wrongs are replaced by new ones. However, with three more years of this White House, a declining approval rating both at home and abroad (as if they could get any worse) means a declining ability to get things done. Whether those things are negotiating with other countries in the UN, reforming deficiencies in the bureaucracy, or fixing the disaster we've created in the Middle East, we (unfortunately) still have to look to this administration for solutions. If the illusion of Bush as a "strong leader" is gone, he's got little left. One more small misstep, and we're up shit creek without a paddle. Just ask the city of New Orleans how that feels.
Happy early birthday to me.
