While the battle over Prop 8 rages on a new initiative was brought to the discussion over whether the state government should “be in the marriage biz”. “The initiative, filed by Kaelan Housewright and Ali Shams, replaces the term “marriage” with “domestic partnership” throughout California statutes, while preserving the rights of marriage” (SacBee).
I see no problem with redefining the term as long as the services offered by the state are of equal access to everyone.
Check out the article here: NY Times A recent article in The NY Times draws attention to Women’s Rights in Afghanistan. The article emphasizes some of the positive changes that have taken place in regards to domestic violence (which any step forward on behalf of women’s rights is applauded). However, I found it to be alarming how this article draws attention to the extreme treatment of women in Afghan society but fails to mention that domestic violence is taking place all over the world…including here in the United States. Making it seem that these acts of violence towards women are isolated to countries in the Middle East.
It seems the media and society find it easier to criticize a distant country rather than admit we have a problem here at home. Take the currently publicized celebrity news about the singer Rhianna, beaten by her boyfriend Chris Brown and its a news sensation NOT an outrage. People are actually discussing on the radio about forgiveness, debating if they should get back together. Had this been a publicized incident in another country Americans would in a uproar. There would be fundraisers to help build a new shelter, celebrities would be flying in to host concerts, and we would dedicate the best of our talk shows to discuss the matter.
As I sit here and type this I am full of ideas, emotions, and memories. It is January 19th, tomorrow is inauguration day. We shall all be given the show of ceremonial grandeur by our leaders, a moment where criticisms and differences are set aside in order to keep the historical processes intact. I have always enjoyed watching the ceremonies take place, not always concerned with the Presidential figures themselves, but rather the nervous excitement of our leaders as they anxiously partake in the show for the public. This time the ceremonies have taken on a whole new realm of significance, no longer just a mere trite moment of being entertained by the American democratic process. In a way it feels like closure to what has been 8 years of a bad relationship. The misguided leadership of George W. Bush has left a nasty mark on the psyche of this country, it has caused even more damage to our international reputation. From the 9/11 attacks, blatant lies on entering war, disassembling of our civil liberties, not to mention the complete slaughter of our once flourishing economy it all seems like a very bad nasty dream. Unfortunately this is our reality, we have allowed a tyrannical administration led by an asinine puppet to undermine the few things this country had going good. Granted international “intervention” has always been a tainted portion of American history, seeing as we tend to care about humanity only when profitable, this administration took it to a whole new level.
Yes, this may sound like complaining about things that have been ranted about thousands of times, however, I feel there is no better time to reiterate these insights then now. We have seen what bad leadership can do to a nation, whats even more apparent is what blind followers enable these sort of leaders to do. We as a nation we allowed these things to happen, we have allowed ourselves to be conditioned into a certain way of living, acclimating ourselves into a must have culture, with little to no concern of what our lifestyle truly costs. This mental disconnect from the world around us is what the manipulators of the world are hoping we continue to have. They don’t want us to question, think or concern ourselves with things outside our consumer comfort bubble. They would rather us just nod our heads and hand over our money and continue doing as we are told.
Wake up America! This is no way to continue existing. There has been a streak of hope taking this country that there is potential to rise above what we have been lowered too from these past 8 years. The movement in support of Barack Obama was amazingly inspiring and shows a glimmer of redemption. One thing that needs to be understood is that Obama is not a cure all for what has already been done, he is only one politician still bound by the same constraints every other leader before him has faced, public opinion. Acting in consistently unfavorable ways will only cause strife in the house with those wanting to keep their own hands clean and re-electable. What needs to be done is have the public (you and I) stand up and show support to the changes we want to see take place. Throw our support to new policies that favor helping the people versus the companies, reinstating environmental policies, better governmental regulations on corporations, removing the USA PATRIOT Act from our books, closing Gitmo, reorganize/redesign our social services and health care programs, appropriate funding for schools, lessen military spending. All these are things that a majority of people agree with, now show it! Write letters to our leaders, joing an organization, volunteer. We have seen what stagnation brings about, we have witnessed it for 8 years, now its our time to reevaluate and make a change. Voting a “new” kind of leadership is only one step, we need to change more then just the name on the desk. As naive and wishful thinking as it may sound it is possible, evaluate yourself and ask what is your lifestyle contributing to, or supporting. What can you do to bring positive change to the world around. So tonight will be one of relief, the last night I go to sleep with Bush as President, and tomorrow hopefully awaken to a newly motivated America. I hope to see you all on the other side.
Just a little insight on this crazy day after Thanksgiving, yes it has been dubbed Black Friday because of the amount of sales retailers will see. But consider this, we have become a complete consumer nation, slaves to buying the corporate worlds stuff. Following a day that is supposed to embrace family, friends, companionship we have perverted it to now wait in line (for hours at a time) to elbow and push through crowds in order to buy an object that is lower in price.
The savings you manage to squeeze out today pale in comparison to what those objects are really costing you. Consider the current economic crisis, taking the war aside, our failing credit market has been a direct result of the buy now mentality, living beyond our means. Our industries leaving to cheaper labor overseas, all so that companies can produce stuff for less and make a higher profit margin.
As an alternative why not stay home? Relax on this hard earned day off. If money is burning a hole in your pocket consider donating to a local charity because helping someone in need will make you feel a lot better then coming home with stuff that will just eventually end up in a landfill. If you MUST buy something, shop local. No, I don’t mean hit up the local Wal-mart or Best Buy, shop at a locally owned business, opt to not give to the larger corporations. Help those mom and pop shops that do put more money back into our communities with their earnings.
Best wishes for today, I will be home enjoying Buy Nothing Day!
The weekly democratic address has come out in video format! I think this is a great opportunity for President Elect Obama to reach out to Americans that are unsure of our country’s current situation. Reminds me of the fireside chats that FDR used to comfort and gain the support of his countrymen. If you remember in November Obama did say he was interested in such a concept. This is a wonderful idea to put into play and demonstrates the respect and faith our future president has in our past leaders. Even though those great leaders have passed, their legacy’s and lessons are still with us, its nice to see a present day leader embracing that.
I may not be a complete political expert, however, I think visiting slaughterhouses is bad for the public image. Especially when they are killing the animal behind you, and you are not advocating for better policies, animal rights, or the negative health implications to meat consumption. Granted the bar is not set very high on what we expect from Sarah Palin, but this was pretty low. What bothers me the most is that she is so consumed with maintaining her VP momentum that she is oblivious to what is taking place around her, or what is even worse, she does not care what is taking place around her.
In light of all the political drama taking place, and seeing as the DOW closed at the lowest point in 5 years I decided to put in something just for a quick chuckle. All to often we consume ourselves with all the bad that we forget to step back and acknowledge the absurdity of the system. This video serves no educational or informative purposes.
President elect Obama has already started making the move to name his cabinet members quickly after his landslide victory. He has named house representative Rahm Emanuel, for Chief of Staff. Emanuel has accepted the position.This is in direct contrast to Clinton who waited until right before his inauguration to name off members. This will start to give us an early insight into what the Obama administration will be focusing on and the tone in which it will take. Given the public outcry against the war, economic crisis, and crumbling housing market that assisted his victory, one can only hope that he does stand by the policies he campaigned on and does not slide into a complete Clinton repeat (though this country ever seeing another surplus would be relieving). Obama is showing signs of being bipartisan which is a great direction for our newly elected president being that he won over democrats and republicans; this is a good sign for creating a more unified country.However, it can be certain the administration will carry the lefts ideology overtones, just saying he is being wise in not exluding the right. On a personal note (which many probably agree) I would like to see less conservative figures take on the roles that deal with foreign relations and the environment, seeing how they already spent 8 years destroying both.
