quick hits for the day:
yesterday supreme court struck D.C. ban on handguns.... here's the actual decision....
-- Obama's response is um...er...interesting...
Also, here is a summary of semi-important people's reaction to the decision....
and just to mix things up a bit... i'll throw a little global warming/climate change news in ...No, i haven't started drinking the Al Gore Kool-Aid ... but this isn't something we should scoff at either...
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
FYI...
p.s. i moved my Proust Questionnaire responses to my other blog ... trying to keep them organized ;-)... it seemed more fitting for that one, since its more of an off-topic site....
pouting in a corner...
a quickie ...
apparently Dr. Dobson, who if you aren't aware, is apparently the Official Spokesperson for all that is right and true, is pissed off at Obama...
man its a good thing that Dobson is urging people to vote for McCain as an alternative then, right?
oh wait. Forgot that he is apparently too saintly to vote this year.
Great strategy though... "his" Republican candidate(s) didn't get nominated, so he decides to question the "religiosity" of McCain while simultaneously condemning Obama...that way, no matter who wins, Mr. Dobson can sit back and tell his listeners "I told you so."
Great civics lesson for you young people too... despite what your parents tell you, whining and pouting when you don't get your way, is apparently the "courageous" thing to do.
I'm not arguing against whether Dobson's comments against Obama were well-founded or not... both men made valid points, and i need a whole new post to sort that out. However, his political/civic irresponsiblity is absolutely despicable. This is easily one of THE most important, most politically and socially signficant elections that we have had in america since at least the 1980 election. There is so much at stake, ranging from the War in Iraq, to appointments in the Supreme Court, to healthcare policy to strategies dealing with the impending energy crisis, to immigration, to same-sex marriage, to foreign relations with Iran and Syria and N. Korea.
You want an election to NOT vote in? Try in 1996, Dole vs. Clinton. But 2008? Ridiculous. There is too much at stake, and yet Dr. Dobson is using his position of influence as a rallying cry for Christians to further become simply a sub-culture on the American Scene. Not vote for the President? Give me a break.
Congratulations Mr. Dobson, for proving yet again that the Founders were so incredibly wise to put in checks and balances creating a separation of church and state to protect BOTH institutions from each other.
This genuinely ticks me off....
apparently Dr. Dobson, who if you aren't aware, is apparently the Official Spokesperson for all that is right and true, is pissed off at Obama...
man its a good thing that Dobson is urging people to vote for McCain as an alternative then, right?
oh wait. Forgot that he is apparently too saintly to vote this year.
Great strategy though... "his" Republican candidate(s) didn't get nominated, so he decides to question the "religiosity" of McCain while simultaneously condemning Obama...that way, no matter who wins, Mr. Dobson can sit back and tell his listeners "I told you so."
Great civics lesson for you young people too... despite what your parents tell you, whining and pouting when you don't get your way, is apparently the "courageous" thing to do.
I'm not arguing against whether Dobson's comments against Obama were well-founded or not... both men made valid points, and i need a whole new post to sort that out. However, his political/civic irresponsiblity is absolutely despicable. This is easily one of THE most important, most politically and socially signficant elections that we have had in america since at least the 1980 election. There is so much at stake, ranging from the War in Iraq, to appointments in the Supreme Court, to healthcare policy to strategies dealing with the impending energy crisis, to immigration, to same-sex marriage, to foreign relations with Iran and Syria and N. Korea.
You want an election to NOT vote in? Try in 1996, Dole vs. Clinton. But 2008? Ridiculous. There is too much at stake, and yet Dr. Dobson is using his position of influence as a rallying cry for Christians to further become simply a sub-culture on the American Scene. Not vote for the President? Give me a break.
Congratulations Mr. Dobson, for proving yet again that the Founders were so incredibly wise to put in checks and balances creating a separation of church and state to protect BOTH institutions from each other.
This genuinely ticks me off....
Thursday, June 19, 2008
an uneasy truce....
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Men's Studies 101
So a very good friend of mine sent me this link to enjoy...http://men.msn.com/articlees.aspx?cp-documentid=7542349>1=32001
... and of course my all-too-often-over-analytical-brain decided to write a quick post about what i foresee to be a potentially bigger "philosophical" issue behind this mostly light-hearted list...
I took one women's studies class as an undergrad (stop laughing!), entitled "Women & Politics." We covered the political implications, the history, and the many different elements of modern feminism. As tempting as it would be to spend lots of time blogging about THAT class... i think what i took away the most was essentially one question: What about the men?
Now i realize that there have been plenty of jokes about having "men's studies classes"... but in all seriousness - i do believe that perhaps one of the most overlooked consequences or side effects of the incredible progress of the women's rights movement has been an ever expanding identity crisis for men. Its interesting to watch just how incredibly different the perception of what men should be, and what it means to be "a man" have changed over the last three to four generations (Baby Boomers to GenX to Generation Y). Before i go any further, i want to clarify that i am not at all suggesting that the women's rights movement of the 20th century wasn't on the whole long overdue, and incredibly necessary; on the contrary, the secondary status that women had in American society and the strict gender roles that were assigned to them are inexcusable. What I am getting at is as society has moved on past these old roles for women, the natural consequence is that we've also had to move on past the old roles for men as well... and i honestly believe that has left a very significant vacuum in the male search for identity and understanding what it means to "be a man."
I see firsthand - from my own father to others his age, to my coworkers, to my peers, to the kids who are growing up with my little siblings -- that so many of us guys no longer no "how to act." We have a society that on the one hand is constantly telling guys that they need to tone down their testosterone, to be gentler, more mild...and at the very same time is criticizing men for not taking charge, not stepping up to take on more responsibilities, for not being aggressive when it counts. i come from a generation that was raised to understand that women were more than sex objects, more than superficial beauty and appearances - and yet i feel that this same generation, perhaps more than any of our predecessors, is constantly bombarded and obsessed with image, unrealistic standards of "beauty", and unabashed sexual objectification in every advertisement, every pop song, every billboard. To say that guys today are sent mixed messages is clearly an understatement.
So getting back to the list... i like the concept. The idea that there are certain accomplishments, certain traits or qualities to be attained or developed that will truly enhance me not only as an individual but as a man. And the fact that i can take similar ideas and pass them along to the young men that i will influence - be it my siblings, or future children, or any young person i have the privilege of interacting with. I think i take this especially to heart as a young black man. Now those of you who know me even just decently well know that i am never one to 'play the race card.' But i think the facts are undeniable -- no other group is suffering more directly and more obviously from a lack of positive, strong male influence than African-Americans. Single-parent homes, with either a mom or grandmother struggling to make ends meet, are far too common. The replacement of positive male role models with either rap stars or gang members is far too tragic. Young black males need more than "lists" from Esquire -- but i think the underlying principle behind such lists represents a good start. Those of us men who have been blessed with better opportunities should be doing everything in our power to actively pass along a new set of standards, a new set of goals to a lost generation. A set of standards that acknowledges the incredible progress of the past century by honoring and respecting women as equals in the classroom, the playground, the workplace, and the home. But also a set of standards that pushes us as men to value such traits as integrity, loyalty, courage, and responsibility.
anyways.... time to climb off the soapbox....
... and of course my all-too-often-over-analytical-brain decided to write a quick post about what i foresee to be a potentially bigger "philosophical" issue behind this mostly light-hearted list...
I took one women's studies class as an undergrad (stop laughing!), entitled "Women & Politics." We covered the political implications, the history, and the many different elements of modern feminism. As tempting as it would be to spend lots of time blogging about THAT class... i think what i took away the most was essentially one question: What about the men?
Now i realize that there have been plenty of jokes about having "men's studies classes"... but in all seriousness - i do believe that perhaps one of the most overlooked consequences or side effects of the incredible progress of the women's rights movement has been an ever expanding identity crisis for men. Its interesting to watch just how incredibly different the perception of what men should be, and what it means to be "a man" have changed over the last three to four generations (Baby Boomers to GenX to Generation Y). Before i go any further, i want to clarify that i am not at all suggesting that the women's rights movement of the 20th century wasn't on the whole long overdue, and incredibly necessary; on the contrary, the secondary status that women had in American society and the strict gender roles that were assigned to them are inexcusable. What I am getting at is as society has moved on past these old roles for women, the natural consequence is that we've also had to move on past the old roles for men as well... and i honestly believe that has left a very significant vacuum in the male search for identity and understanding what it means to "be a man."
I see firsthand - from my own father to others his age, to my coworkers, to my peers, to the kids who are growing up with my little siblings -- that so many of us guys no longer no "how to act." We have a society that on the one hand is constantly telling guys that they need to tone down their testosterone, to be gentler, more mild...and at the very same time is criticizing men for not taking charge, not stepping up to take on more responsibilities, for not being aggressive when it counts. i come from a generation that was raised to understand that women were more than sex objects, more than superficial beauty and appearances - and yet i feel that this same generation, perhaps more than any of our predecessors, is constantly bombarded and obsessed with image, unrealistic standards of "beauty", and unabashed sexual objectification in every advertisement, every pop song, every billboard. To say that guys today are sent mixed messages is clearly an understatement.
So getting back to the list... i like the concept. The idea that there are certain accomplishments, certain traits or qualities to be attained or developed that will truly enhance me not only as an individual but as a man. And the fact that i can take similar ideas and pass them along to the young men that i will influence - be it my siblings, or future children, or any young person i have the privilege of interacting with. I think i take this especially to heart as a young black man. Now those of you who know me even just decently well know that i am never one to 'play the race card.' But i think the facts are undeniable -- no other group is suffering more directly and more obviously from a lack of positive, strong male influence than African-Americans. Single-parent homes, with either a mom or grandmother struggling to make ends meet, are far too common. The replacement of positive male role models with either rap stars or gang members is far too tragic. Young black males need more than "lists" from Esquire -- but i think the underlying principle behind such lists represents a good start. Those of us men who have been blessed with better opportunities should be doing everything in our power to actively pass along a new set of standards, a new set of goals to a lost generation. A set of standards that acknowledges the incredible progress of the past century by honoring and respecting women as equals in the classroom, the playground, the workplace, and the home. But also a set of standards that pushes us as men to value such traits as integrity, loyalty, courage, and responsibility.
anyways.... time to climb off the soapbox....
Sunday, June 01, 2008
thanks a lot, Augustine.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Politics are not the task of a Christian.
Gandhi: Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is.
The underlying contradiction behind these two ideas has been bothering me ever since i first started reading Augustine in college...
I'm not always sure where i stand... i mean i tend to be more Gandhi than Bonhoeffer.... but there are times.... when the world of politics, even good politics, seems to be completely incompatible with the world of faith....
oh my head hurts...
Thursday, May 29, 2008
this ain't 1980...
At long last...
so many thoughts... so little time...
--- first just some thoughts on a recent memo that some consultants sent out to Republican leadership - http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/politicalinsider/entries/2008/05/22/a_republican_memo_the_deepest.html#jump
Soo...apparently the GOP is hurting from its identification with George W. Bush? No way! This reminds me in a sense of Scott McClellan's "shocking" revelations ...The Bush administration had a vested interest in pushing for the Iraq War? No way! Sarcasm aside, i think this memo represents some valid points/principles that the Republican leadership absolutely needs to hold on to. This is a party that is truly is suffering from "brand identification" issues... and while i could probably write pages of my responses to the various points made in the memo, i just want to highlight one that has continued to strike a chord with me....
"The final image problem the Republican brand is suffering is a perception fostered by the media of being intolerant. The media has assisted in helping Democrats by saying that the Republican Party is closed to moderates while Democrats are now open to conservatives such as Heath Schuler, Travis Childers, and others. This turns off swing voters who may be conservative on pocketbook or defense issues but more moderate on social issues. Another key issue to the base in which the media and Democrats have cast Republicans as intolerant to great success has been immigration reform. While this issue remains a fissure issue, Democrats have been able with the media’s assistance to paint Republicans as anti-Hispanic and against all immigration. A key message that has been missing in this argument is that the Party is against illegal immigration but for legal immigration."
This is at the very heart of my argument for the return of "Compassionate Conservatism." As one of those "swing voters" I feel that this analysis of the GOP image problem is dead-on, and could just as easily be applied to main-stream evangelical Christianity -- where its members are being increasingly cast as "intolerant" and known more for who they are against than for Whom they are supposed to be living for.
The GOP leadership needs to get over itself, and take a good hard look at what it is that the American people are NOT getting from the party. I genuinely believe that especially with my generation ("Generation Y" , the current 20-somethings, and Gen-X, the current 30-40 somethings) we are so tired of the same rants, the same fear-monging, the same blame-games.... This is not to say that the Democratic Party, or its new Figurehead (Mr. Obama) are necessarily the answers, as much to say that they have done a much better job of really attempting to connect with the issues and underlying concerns that are bugging so many of us. I am personally skeptical of Obama's campaign for "Hope" (more on that in another blog posting, i promise), but i admire the fact that atleast he has tried to tap into the general feeling among americans that we need a revitalized government, with revitalized leadership. And the Republican party as it stands doesn't even come close to offering this. I think some of the leadership realizes this, as we were pounded constantly during the primary season with worshipful calls back to "Reaganism" and a return to "True Conservatism." While the idolation of Reagan is a little ridiculous, he represented the absolute zenith of the GOP in terms of its relationship with the American voters. News flash to GOP leadership: Reagan is dead, and he's not coming back. As Conservatives, i think the inherent tendency is to constantly "look back" at the "good ole days." Well, here in the post 9/11, technology-driven, globalized society that we are living in, i think we need less longing looks in the rear view mirror...and more attention on the direction we are heading in right now, and into the future. Until the GOP can deliver a platform with a clearer vision for our present and future, it will continue to be a party associated with backwardness, defensiveness, and good ole-fashioned reactionary-ism.... and it will continue to struggle to compete for the attention and votes of our generation....
so many thoughts... so little time...
--- first just some thoughts on a recent memo that some consultants sent out to Republican leadership - http://www.ajc.com/metro
Soo...apparently the GOP is hurting from its identification with George W. Bush? No way! This reminds me in a sense of Scott McClellan's "shocking" revelations ...The Bush administration had a vested interest in pushing for the Iraq War? No way! Sarcasm aside, i think this memo represents some valid points/principles that the Republican leadership absolutely needs to hold on to. This is a party that is truly is suffering from "brand identification" issues... and while i could probably write pages of my responses to the various points made in the memo, i just want to highlight one that has continued to strike a chord with me....
"The final image problem the Republican brand is suffering is a perception fostered by the media of being intolerant. The media has assisted in helping Democrats by saying that the Republican Party is closed to moderates while Democrats are now open to conservatives such as Heath Schuler, Travis Childers, and others. This turns off swing voters who may be conservative on pocketbook or defense issues but more moderate on social issues. Another key issue to the base in which the media and Democrats have cast Republicans as intolerant to great success has been immigration reform. While this issue remains a fissure issue, Democrats have been able with the media’s assistance to paint Republicans as anti-Hispanic and against all immigration. A key message that has been missing in this argument is that the Party is against illegal immigration but for legal immigration."
This is at the very heart of my argument for the return of "Compassionate Conservatism." As one of those "swing voters" I feel that this analysis of the GOP image problem is dead-on, and could just as easily be applied to main-stream evangelical Christianity -- where its members are being increasingly cast as "intolerant" and known more for who they are against than for Whom they are supposed to be living for.
The GOP leadership needs to get over itself, and take a good hard look at what it is that the American people are NOT getting from the party. I genuinely believe that especially with my generation ("Generation Y" , the current 20-somethings, and Gen-X, the current 30-40 somethings) we are so tired of the same rants, the same fear-monging, the same blame-games.... This is not to say that the Democratic Party, or its new Figurehead (Mr. Obama) are necessarily the answers, as much to say that they have done a much better job of really attempting to connect with the issues and underlying concerns that are bugging so many of us. I am personally skeptical of Obama's campaign for "Hope" (more on that in another blog posting, i promise), but i admire the fact that atleast he has tried to tap into the general feeling among americans that we need a revitalized government, with revitalized leadership. And the Republican party as it stands doesn't even come close to offering this. I think some of the leadership realizes this, as we were pounded constantly during the primary season with worshipful calls back to "Reaganism" and a return to "True Conservatism." While the idolation of Reagan is a little ridiculous, he represented the absolute zenith of the GOP in terms of its relationship with the American voters. News flash to GOP leadership: Reagan is dead, and he's not coming back. As Conservatives, i think the inherent tendency is to constantly "look back" at the "good ole days." Well, here in the post 9/11, technology-driven, globalized society that we are living in, i think we need less longing looks in the rear view mirror...and more attention on the direction we are heading in right now, and into the future. Until the GOP can deliver a platform with a clearer vision for our present and future, it will continue to be a party associated with backwardness, defensiveness, and good ole-fashioned reactionary-ism.... and it will continue to struggle to compete for the attention and votes of our generation....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)