Lame Duck Wars

It is never a good sign when members of your own political party begin to turn against you. However, since his reelection in 2004 and especially since the announcement of troop escalations, that is exactly what is happening to President Bush. This lame duck president is growing so unpopular, it is historic. And that approval rating has not got any better since last week's speech. More and more Senators and Representatives are joining in a unified way to speak out against the President. Today saw the latest addition in the fight against the lame duck.
Senator Olympia Snowe from Maine said today, "This resolution is an expression of the American people's frustration with our current Iraq policy." She is, of course, speaking of a resolution in Congress that speaks out against any further escalation of the war in Iraq. The Senator joins fellow Republican Chuck Hagel in standing up against the President's views on Iraq. It seems they have finally realized just how crazy this whole war really is. Senator Hagel said yesterday, "It is not in the national interest of the United States to deepen its military involvement in Iraq, particularly by escalating U.S. troop presence in Iraq." This statement flies in the face of all the President said in his speech. It is very clear that Congress is not happy.
Of course, this is to be expected, right? We are talking about a Democratic majority. These same people would disagree if the President said trees are pretty. So it is no surprise what the majority party is saying. The amazing thing in all of this are the words from fellow Republicans. For almost eight years now, the Republican controlled Congress has followed every whim Bush had. Why change their minds now? One word, elections.
In an interview on CNN, Senator Hagel (running for re-election next year) said the following:
"We are no longer just going to quietly stand by, as we have done for the last four years, and let our young men and women be thrown into this conflict when they cannot affect the outcome. This is the biggest issue facing our country since Vietnam. It's dividing our nation. It is dangerous for our country. It's dangerous for the world. The Congress needs to be part of this."
Sound like a man with a plan. But that is the problem. Even with a few Republicans on board, Congress still does not have a plan that they approve over the President's. The resolution, mentioned earlier, says nothing about what should be done in Iraq. It simply states that Congress (read the majority) do not want a troop escalation. No, what this all boils down to is election time politics. As was mentioned in a previous entry, politicians running for re-election will say anything to get a vote. At this point, putting [political] distance between yourself and the President is an excellent idea. It appears that will get your what you really want. A few more years to spend our tax money. So don't get your hopes up about this new Congress just yet. I want to see some results before I back them up.

Shiver Me Timbers

Normally, a weather story would not be the subject of this blog. However, given the nature of this particular storm, I thought it most appropriate to discuss. Since nothing of interest is going on in Washington or around the world, I thought the storm was the perfect topic. Most people are surprised by this storm and are trying to remember the last time the US has seen one like it. To my knowledge, there has not been a winter like this in some time. It is hard to deny the sudden shifts in weather patterns are out of the ordinary. And as much as people want to forget about it, global warming is a real problem. And it is a major player in this strange winter.
Last week, some places in the US were near record highs for the first part of January. Unless you are from Miami, 70 to 75 degrees this time of year is far from what is expected. More and more I hear people wondering where winter is. I hear people thinking back to when it was cold all winter long. Then this storm hits. And if you live in Denver, it was one in a line of storms that have caused major problems.
Suddenly a winter blast at just the time of year it should occur. And the problems start coming. Many people are without power in the central part of the country. So far 54 people have died because of this storm. And it won't be the last. This storm is only one in a series of storms that started up right before the new year. And it will be only one in a long line to come. Winter is not nearly over. So why is this winter different from others? The answer is El Nino.
When you hear the term "El Nino," most people laugh. They don't really see this strangely named weather pattern as a threat. However, throw into the mix increased global warming and the problems are apparent. It is a misnomer to believe that increased global warming will lead to higher temperatures at all time of the year. Global warming does not negate the season. Certain parts of the Earth will still get less sunlight during the "winter" and more during the "summer." What global warming does is increase overall temperature. The best place to see this is in the ocean. Because of the oceans, we have weather. And when the temperatures of these oceans increases, we get lots of weather. El Nino plays into this.
During an El Nino, the Southeast part of the United States gets less moisture than normal. The western part of the country gets a lot more. For evidence of this, just check the hurricane statistic from 2006. We saw very few hurricanes on the east coast. However, in the Pacific (off the coast of Mexico) a record number of hurricanes formed. The effects of El Nino have now continued into the winter months. Because of this stronger El Nino (due to global warming), we will see periods of very warm days followed by harsh winter weather. In fact, we are already seeing it. This will last well into spring and then look out for another record breaking summer heat wave.
Enjoy winter while you can. If you like to freeze your butt off, your time is now. Winter is here and it is going to hit hard over and over again. We are seeing now the beginnings of new global weather patterns. The threats of global warming are become more apparent everyday. If we continue to ignore them, this will only get worse.

MLK Day and Dixie

With MLK Day comes another opportunity for politicians to act like they care about black issues and/or black history. I say "act" because they use this as a platform to push their own political agendas. They are not making speeches in honor of MLK. Instead they are exploiting his memory by turning his memorial day into a soapbox. Normally, I would harp on Republicans for this, but they are not the ones I speak of. No, it is the other useless party in American politics, the Democrats.
The best example of the day comes in the form of Delaware senator Joseph Biden. Last week I was singing his praises for his rejection of the Bush Iraq plan. Today, I realize he is nothing more than a political stooge in the Democratic party. Speaking at a rally in Columbia, South Carolina, the Delaware senator said, "If I were a state legislator, I'd vote for it to move off the grounds -- out of the state." Biden is speaking of the Confederate flag that flies on the capital building grounds as part of the Civil War memorial. Much protesting has removed the flag from the top of the capital building to its current location, but that is not enough to please those like Biden.
This type of political gesturing is completely uncalled for at such an occasion. MLK Day is suppose to be a day of remembrance. It is not a day for a Delaware senator to speak his mind on South Carolina's politics. This whole flag debate is pointless. It's just a piece of cloth. Let those who wish to fly this flag do so. Let those that do not wish to fly this flag do as they will. This is not a matter that should be debated endlessly or brought up on such a day as this. Biden is simply trying to bolster his image in the black community by appearing to care about black opinion. It is yet another example of how the political machine holds nothing sacred.
Jim Hanks, a flag supporter, made probably the best point of the day. While he said many things about why the flag should stay where it is, his one comment about Biden hits the nail on the head. Speaking of Biden and others like him (running for President) he said they "would probably say most anything if it would get them votes." And he is exactly right.
While there will always be debate over the Confederate flag, MLK Day is not the place for it. Instead of trying to drum up votes from the black community with non-issues, lets hear what these politicians think about real problems. The flag is not a real problem. Our foreign policy is a real problem. Let's talk about that. If asked, I'm sure Dr. King would agree. In a time where our own freedom is hanging by a thread, Dr. King would probably want us to stand up. The flag is not the problem. Our own government is moving closer each day to denying these same rights that MLK fought so hard and died for. We are moving backwards as a culture. Not because of a piece of cloth from Dixie, but because we have forgotten what real freedom is all about. Not just words and empty promises on the lawn of some capital, but action. If we can't get that from our leaders, then MLK Day is celebrated for nothing.

Senate On Iran: DO NOT ENTER

It should come as no surprise that this administration does not wish to stop this war with Iraq. But it does come as a surprise that they would indirectly announce their intentions to escalate this war at a time of such low public opinion. During his speech Wednesday night, the President made it clear that Syria and Iran are not immune to an American invasion. And yesterday, six Iranian citizens were arrested in northern Iraq. We are told they were supplying insurgents. Of course, we have been lied to before. This would not be the first time in American history that out-and-out lies were presented as fact to begin a conflict. However, the Senate has tried to step in a stop the White House from making things worse.
After the speech on Wednesday, it was time for the Bush Team to "sell" the world and the Congress on the plan. Hearings continue in the House and Senate on the issue. The grilling that people like Condoleezza Rice are receiving is actually very entertaining. It is high time that someone spoke with sense in Congress. Perhaps this new Democratic majority is worth something.
Among the worthy is Sen. Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His comments yesterday speak volumes of truth about what should not be going on in the Middle East when it comes to US troops. Among these things, Sen. Biden mentioned Iran. He proclaimed, "I believe the present authorization granted the president to use force in Iraq does not cover that, and he does need congressional authority to do that," referring to reported cross-border raids into Iran. In response to this, Secretary Rice stated, the country expects Bush "to do what is necessary to protect our forces."
Others on the committee spoke of comparisons to Vietnam. One of these Senators was Sen. Chuck Hagel who served in Vietnam. Besides calling this new policy "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam," the senator also spoke of other similarities to the Asian conflict. He said, ""When our government lied to the American people and said we didn't cross the border going into Cambodia, in fact we did. I happen to know something about that, as do some on this committee. Madame Secretary, when you set in motion the kind of policy that the president is talking about here, it's very, very dangerous."
The fact of the matter is that Congress may be on its toes about this issue. For the longest time, it was assumed that the Democratic party was out-of-touch on issues like the war. Yesterdays hearings show that is not entirely accurate. Going into Iran or provoking Iran is exactly what we do not need to do. But it seems that Bush is bound and determined that he will. I'm not sure what he has his eye one (world domination perhaps) but it can't be good for the rest of us. Soon the death toll will continue to rise. Our military will be stretched to the max and he will want another war. This continues to prove that this president does not care about the troops, American opinion, or the rules of government. If this is only the beginning, then we are headed for an all out dictatorship. Hopefully Congress will not buckle under the pressure and prevent this from happening. For all our sakes, I hope so.

New Iraq Plan = No Change + More Death

I had been awaiting the President's speech all week. In fact, when it was announced that a new strategy in Iraq was going to be detailed after the first of the year, I was very excited. I was hoping, deep down, that the administration had finally cracked and was going to call for a slow withdrawal from Iraq. I was thinking that it would make sense to pull a few troops out each month while gradually releasing parts of the country back to the new Iraqi government. I figured that this would take a good long time, perhaps a year or so. And I also knew, deep down, that more troops would die even with the withdrawal.
However, all these hopes were dashed as report after report rumored that the announcement would be about increasing troop levels in Iraq and not bringing any home. But I soon remembered the sort of people that are making these decisions and realized that I should have never had this hope in the first place. It was a fool's hope that any sort of real change would be taking place. The President's speech last night proves that this man cares nothing for American opinion or common sense. As I listened to the monotone drivel coming from his mouth, I was reminded why I dislike this man so much. His basic plan is not to change anything and just add more troops. The speech itself can be broken down into four parts. Each with more flaws than a $50 diamond.
At present, it is estimated that around 140,000 troops are deployed to Iraq. In this new strategy, the majority of these troops would be reassigned to Baghdad were a violent civil war is raging and people are dropping like flies. Along with these troops, another 20,000 or so are being called back to Iraq in the next few weeks. According to Bush, these troops will be "embedded with Iraqi units to help secure neighborhoods and protect civilians." If you ask me, these troops were just sent into a death trap. Baghdad is, no question, the most dangerous place in Iraq right now. Sending more troops to this area just gives the enemy more targets. Fighting urban warfare is horribly hard and something our troops are not use to. They will have to adjust quickly under this new plan in order to survive.
Aside from Baghdad, another trouble spot in Iraq is Anbar province. Many American troops have died in this area since the war began. According to Bush, Anbar is "al Qaeda's "home base" in Iraq." So to combat "al Qaeda," Bush is sending an additionally 4,000 troops. Again, we see this president putting more troops in harms way with no real strategy. Just sending troops is not enough. You may also want to tell them what to do. And I wish he would stop using al Qaeda as an excuse for this war. We are beyond all that now. Al Qaeda is no longer just one man's terrorist group. Thanks to the US, it is a global idea of anti-US sentiment. And as we all should know, you can't kill an idea.
Diplomacy is something that this president has shown time and again to be completely useless at attempting. Why in the world did he even bring it up? By now, it should be perfectly clear that this administration has no idea how to work in diplomacy. It is hard work that they are not willing to do and so they do not. However, the President's "new" plan involves his "top" diplomats going to the region. Why? To ask for support? We are not going to get it from anyone but Israel and I think they are a little busy killing Palestinians. Every time you send Condoleezza Rice somewhere, nothing happens except wasted talk. Just stop with the act and admit that you know jack about diplomacy.
In the area of Iraqi politics, Bush's "new" plan calls for an election to "empower local leaders." Empower them to what? Get assassinated? Do you seriously think that the right people will be elected in the middle of a civil war? I hope not. This type of environment breeds corruption. The good leaders will all be too scared to run and the corrupt leaders will have full support from the terrified population. In this situation, we are simply setting ourselves up to come back to Iraq in 20 or 30 years (if we have left by then) and remove another "dictator."
Finally, the Bush plan mentions the economy. If our president can't even run the economy of our country, what makes anyone think he can fix the ruined economy of Iraq. Even so, the plan calls for "$10 billion to develop its infrastructure and create new jobs. " Also, the president has pledged "double the number of Provincial Reconstruction Teams, which work with Iraqi companies to coordinate local reconstruction efforts." This part is all for nothing if you rebuild just to have it get blown up again by the civil war violence. The Bush White House needs to just come out and say they they want the oil of this country and stop hiding. If we would start purchasing oil from Iraq, maybe things would change. Probably not though.
In a nutshell, the "new way forward" in Iraq is one foot in the grave. We are willing to commit more troops to what has become an open-ended campaign to "free" this country from terror. President Bush believes that the fate of the Middle East lies with the outcome of this conflict. He may be partially right. But what he failed to mention is that the fate of the US lies more with Iraq than any other thing. If we cannot get out of this mess, our nation will crumble from the inside. We need an exit strategy. It is not a cowardly thing to have a survival plan. And that is exactly what an exit strategy would be. Without one from this President or Congress, the USA is toast.

Scorpions On A Plane

Just in time for the summer movie season, the sequel to "Snakes on a Plane" has a story to be based on..."Scorpions on a Plane."

Jenny and Roger thought their family trip to Vermont was going to be a dream come true. Little did they know that lurking on their flight was a killer...and he was ready to put a "sting" in their step.

Coming this July, Donald Sutherland and Kathy Bates star in "Scorpions on a Plane."

It's going to be eight legs worth of terror..."Jenny, why are their scorpions on this damn plane and who is that angry black man with the gun."

Even if it does sound impossible, a scorpion on a plane is now a reality. Though the story doesn't involve death or Samuel L. Jackson, it does bogle the mind to think about how this could happen. David Sullivan and his family were on a flight home to Vermont from Chicago aboard United Airlines. He awoke from a nap and noticed that his leg was numb and figured it was asleep. Sullivan describing the sensation said, "My right leg felt like it was asleep, but that was isolated to one spot, and it felt like it was being jabbed with a sharp piece of plastic or something." He ignored it until he got to baggage claim when he felt the sting again. This time, Sullivan rolled up the cuff of his pants and the scorpion fell out.

The fate of the scorpion was sealed when another person at the luggage carousel screamed and stepped on the arachnid. Sullivan scooped up the remains and took them to the hospital with him.

Dr. Stephen Leffler attended to Sullivan and noted that you don't see scorpion stings in Vermont all that often. Leffler also said, "Scorpion stings are rarely fatal, except to babies or older people with health problems. For a healthy adult, a scorpion sting can mean numbness or shooting pain, or flu-like symptoms." Sullivan reported that the next day he did feel sick.

As for the airline, they have no clue as to how this creepy-crawler made it onto one of their flights. The Sullivans found out that the plane they boarded has come from Houston. They surmised that the scorpion somehow boared the plane in Texas. A United spokesperson had this to say, "It is something that we will investigate and look into. We're very sorry for what happened. Our customer safety and security is our No. 1 priority."

I guess with all the airport employees busy looking for strange liquids and shoe bombs, a scorpion was able to get passed security. Let's just be glad this one didn't have a vendetta against the United States government. We might have had to wipe out most of the desert Southwest to destroy any scorpion-terror cells. And also, I think Sameul L. is busy right now.

Iwao Takamoto, Where Did You Go?

Last month, the world lost one of its most talented cartoon writers, Joseph Barbera. Today, another member of the Hanna-Barbera Studio family has passed on. At age 81, Iwao Takamoto died today. This very talented animator brought some of the most famous cartoons to life. Among his crowning achievements are Scooby-Doo, the Flintstones, and the Jetsons. With him dies an era in animation that is long gone. A man that is responsible for some of my favorite childhood memories has moved on.
Of all the cartoons from the 80s and earlier 90s, none could match the feeling I got from a cartoon my parent's generation. Scooby-Doo was truely a child of the 70s. I have seen every episode and I still watch them when they are on today. It was the extreme talent of Takamoto that brought Scooby and his gang to life. More than the stories and voices, the images of those characters in timeless.
Takamoto's inventions were not limited to a gang of medeling kids and their dog. Other famous characters from Hanna-Barbera owe him their start. Among them are Muttley (seen most often in the Wacky Races cartoon), Astro (the talking dog featured in the Jetsons0, and the Great Gazoo (who caused much trouble on the Flintstones). In his earlier career, Takamoto worked on such Disney masterpieces as Cinderella and Peter Pan.
The life of Iwao Takamoto is set in one of the darkest eras of US history. He was born in LA in 1925. A good deal of this young life was spend in an internment camp duing World War II. While at the camp, he received training in illustration from other interned Japanesse-Americans. After the war ended, Takamoto got a job drawing for Disney. In 1961, he began working for Hanna-Barbera and the rest is history. Even at the time of his death he was still working. As the VP of Animation at Warner Bros., Takamoto worked on the characters for the new cartoon "Krypto the Superdog." But now his talent has been silenced.
With so many like Takamoto gone, an important age in animation is gone. A time when animation was a long process. A time when the quality final product mattered more. We don't have many animators like that any more. It is evident when you view what is considered popular animation these days. Scooby-Doo and the like will always be classics. We have Iwao Takamoto to thank for that. May he rest in peace.

Cowboy's Cannon Fodder

I never supported the war. From the time this war was conceived, I was against it 100%. I saw this war as one that had no clear objectives and no clear end. I knew that many thousands of troops would die for an unclear and manufactured cause. That is why I was against the war. But once the war began, I had to make it clear that my anger was in no way aimed at the soldiers. There mission is only to serve. They can't questions their orders, but I can and have. That being said, what is about to be announced this week by the Bush White House is as terrible an idea as the war itself.
Though no official announcement has been made, it is thought that Bush will announce a surge of at least 20,000 to the Baghdad area. A surge that will send thousands of more lives into the worst possible conditions in all of Iraq. And this idea is called the "New Way Forward."
All of Washington is on edge for this announcement. Democrats are saying they will not approve an increase in troop levels unless great justification is given. New Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said, "if Bush calls for additional U.S. troops for Iraq, he will have to show the Democratic-controlled Congress why more money should be poured into the war." Money is the name of the game here. When the Republicans controlled Congress, this act would not have been questioned. However, the American people have made it clear that they want a real change in Iraq. More money and more troops is not the change they were looking for. And it should not be.
It is high time we took a new step in making our voices heard. We need to make it clear to the White House that our troops are not this cowboy's cannon fodder. They are not inanimate pawns that can be disposed of at random. These are living, breathing human beings. This war is costing too many lives. Another troops surge will raise the military numbers in Iraq to record preparations. And with no let up in violent attacks, that means everyday more troops will die.
I don't know why Bush is still sitting in that Oval Office. I don't know why people can't see what I see. This war has to stop. The only thing that is going to change when this announcement is made is the number of troops dieing for nothing. It is going to go up. Every time some "change" is announced, it turns out to be nothing more than the same old rhetoric presented in a different way. Just because you put a man in a dress, doesn't make him a woman. We are being fooled every time this man speaks of "change." It is complete garbage. And America just eats it up.

Mystery Man and His Horse (dead)

I have always been a fan of old photos of towns and cities. On my computer, I have a nice collection of old photos from Oxford, MS where I live. It is very interesting to see how things use to be. What an old photo gives you is a rare look at one moment in history. This photo is one example of that. It was found in a collection of photos in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It appears in this photo that a well-dressed man is sitting on top of a dead horse. The mystery is in the fact that no one really knows who the man is or why in the world he is astride this dead horse in the middle of the street. But there are some theories.

The photograph is thought to have been taken between 1876 and 1884. It was recently featured in the 2007 calendar of a local newspaper. Scott Prescher, a restaurant owner in Sheboygan, has a copy of the photo framed in his place of business. He says, "This thing has gotten more mileage than you can shake a stick at. It is just a funny picture. He is sitting on there with a top hat like he had somewhere special to go and his horse just croaked in the middle of the road." But he doesn't know anything other than that about the photo.

Beth Dipple, director of the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center, says the photo has been in their collection for about 20 years. When the photo was featured in the Sheboygan Press, the center was flooded with emails and calls about its origin. Many theories exists as to the circumstances of the photo. One person claims, "it was staged for a political campaign perhaps related to sanitation issues." Another person thought, "the horse is being helped to relieve excess flatulence." But Dipple has another theory, and perhaps the best one. Apparently, in the 1800's, the city had laws that required people to stay with their dead horses until they were picked up and disposed of. Weird isn't it?

The Forgotten School Shooting

There was a time in this country when school shootings were back-page news. They were occurring in inner-city schools and no one really paid attention. And then the unthinkable happened. No one thought that school shootings would become an all too common occurrence in almost any school. It seemed no school was immune to an incident. It seemed that the unprepared were an easy target. But now we have returned to an apathy for school violence. Are attention has been swayed by lesser events. We need to wake up and pay attention. I think it should be obvious by now that ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away. But it is happening even today.
Tacoma, Washington became the newest member in the school shooting family. The scene of it all was very familiar. A student entered Foss High School with a gun. He then shot and killed one of his classmates. No motive is known. It seems there never is. It seems that killings like this are as senseless as the people that ignore them. The familiar tone of the tragedy is there.
"At first, it sounded like a book dropped, and then two more followed," said one student. Another student remarked, "It sounded like fire-crackers." These types of comments have been heard over and over again in shooting after shooting. But this school was prepared. Teachers immediately went into lock-down mode. All students were herded into classrooms and the shooter was caught without incident. But most people probably had no idea this even occur ed.
I saw this story yesterday in a sub-menu on CNN's website. It was not a lead story. It was not a frequent read online. It was ignored. Why? Are school shootings so common that they are no longer news? Was there not enough death? Or is the Democratic takeover of Congress so involved that other news was overlooked? I think all three are pretty good reasons. Stories like this are ignored because they are too common. People, I guess, are thought to be tired of hearing about it. But you shouldn't be. You should care that students have died in school. You should want to get action on this. School violence is a problem and has been a problem for years. But we are ignoring it. And so it will only get worse.

Death Omens for 2007

The year 2006 was a year of great division. I don't think it is a stretch to say that the previous year saw a great deal of change in our country and our world. I am bothered, however, by the grim reminders at the end of 2006 that everything is still changing. Nothing is set. These omens seem to warn us that 2007 could be even more dreadful than 2006. In Iraq we have lost more than 3,000 troops. In the Middle East, a former dictator was executed along with any hope of regional stability. And in the United States, one of the last figures of "decent politics" passed away. Each of these foreshadows the terrible things that may be to come in 2007.
December 2006 will go down as one of the bloodiest months in the War in Iraq. More troops died in the month of December than in any other month of the year. Also in December, the total human cost of the war reach 3,000. This mark was something people thought would never be reached. This was suppose to be an "easy war." That is what we were told. 2007 will see this total increase even more if drastic action is not taken to change our plans in Iraq. Our government must think of a better way to get our troops home as soon as possible. The 3,000 that have died are not coming back. If more continue to die for an invisible or unreachable goal, then 2007 will be bloodier than all years before it.
The Middle East also was the site of another bad omen for 2007. During 2006, Saddam Husein was sentenced to death and then executed before the first of the year. While his trial has been a spectacle for months, it would not cause the stir that his death would. When Saddam was sentenced to death, many were glad. There was some unrest in the region, but not what we see happening now. I don't think many people actually thought they would kill him. And I don't think the world was ready to see it happen through the "eye" of a cell phone camera. But in the year that the Time "Person of the Year" is "You," it was to be expected. I said to myself the night of the execution, "I wonder when this video will be on YouTube." And it is there now. The unrest caused by the execution is a sign that no matter what the US does in the Middle East, things are not going to change. And if things do change, it will be only when the people of the region do the changing.
The last omen belongs solely to the United States. The death of former President Ford is a bad omen for our political system. The upset of November has given politicians a lot to think about. President Ford represented the "decent politician." To misquote someone at his funeral, "President Ford brought no demons or acts of vengeance into his presidency." The man was a symbol of how a politician should be. And though he was not without fault, he still did his job. But now he is dead. With him is the ending of an era. If our political system continues on this path, it will self-destruct. All great empires fall because of internal problems. This may be the beginning of our crumble.
I don't pretend to be a prophet. I do know history. And history gives us an idea of how events can lead to other events. These omens of 2006 may lead to terrible things in 2007, or they may all be forgotten in the pages of time. The choice is really up to us. If we pay attention to our history, perhaps we can make our futures all the better. Happy New Year.

Real Old School

One of the biggest problems concerned parents have about music today is the lyrics. They worry about what words are being heard by their innocent children. They demand that companies either censor artists or put warning labels on their products. So what would a concerned parent think about the following lyrics:
"Ready to kill with their jagged-edged daggers drawn/The three aggravated braggarts staggered up the lawn/And without dragging on while the story is told/Beneath the tree they found a bag filled with glorious gold."
This particular piece seems much like the violence and bling filled lyrics of any rap song. And that is exactly how Baba Brinkman sees them too. Only he didn't write these lyrics. In fact the man that wrote them has been dead for over 600 years. That is because these "lyrics" are from Geoffrey Chaucer' Canterbury Tales. And Baba Brinkman is the guy who had the bright idea to make the Canterbury Tales into a collection of hip-hop songs.
Now this guy is no joke. He is not your average, run-of-the-mill rapper. He is a native of Vancouver and "has a master's degree in medieval and Renaissance English literature from the University of Victoria." In other words, he knows his stuff. Brinkman got the idea when he started comparing the lines of Chaucer's work to modern rap. The similarities were amazing. Like much of today's rap, the Canterbury Tales contains references to "hard living, violence, sex and the secrets to true love." The transition from page to music was almost seamless.
Brinkman has been working on his albums for awhile now. He has currently put the "Pardoner's Tale," the "Miller's Tale" and the "Wife of Bath's Tale into this updated format. The name of the album is "The Rap Canterbury Tales" and features "a picture of Chaucer wearing wraparound shades on the cover. " All in all, I think this a great idea. If anything it illustrates a point about censorship in this country.
Too often we put our prejudice views ahead of our own judgement. We think that people like Young MC, Slick Rick, Ice T, 2 Live Crew, Snoop Dog and LL Cool J (all of Brinkman's influences) could not possibly be making anything close to Chaucer's work. But the truth of the matter is that they really are. In some ways, these artists are the Chaucer's of today. They are talking about the same issues and themes. The difference is the presentation. And I think that is where censorship gets it all wrong. We don't hear the message or we misinterpret it. We only want to censor those things we disagree with. And that, of course, is wrong. Find and by this album. You may start to appreciate something that is a large part of our culture now. Merry Christmas.

Slaves No More

For anyone of African descent, this should be a red-letter day. But I seriously doubt most people would be able to tell me why this date is important in Black History. I must confess that I had no idea what happened on this day. But I do see the importance of it. I can look at the events of December 18, 1865 and know why they changed history. But what about Black youth in today's society? I don't think many of them (aside from those currently studying US history) could explain why this effects their lives even today. But the ratification of the constitutional amendment that freed the slaves is one of the most important events in the history of blacks for the United States.
It was on this date in 1865 that Secretary of State William Seward declared the thirteenth amendment ratified by 27 of the then 36 states. This date marks when the amendment was officially placed in the Constitution. Because of this amendment, black all over the United States were freed from slavery. The amendment itself was a follow-up to the Emancipation Proclamation and a way to make the abolishment of slavery permanent. But why is it still important today?
Like many of the freedoms we have been given, the right to be free from slavery is taken for granted. Many people today don't even think about slavery. When we hear about it happening in other places, it is brought to mind only briefly. But with this action, the United States put itself on a course that would lead to the eventual complete equality of blacks. It is an all-important first step. Without the 13th, other amendments, such as the Civil Rights Act, would not have been passed. This makes the 13th amendment the reason for black freedom today. But is this message lost on youth?
I believe it is. If I were to take a poll at this school, many students would have no idea what the 13th amendment is. More still would not be able to tell me if and when slavery was abolished in the United States. Some 40 years has passed since the Civil Rights Movement and the actual affects have not fully occurred. Slavery in America, at least, is gone. But ending slavery was just one step. While thinking on the 13th amendment, we must also think on what brought about the need for such an amendment and learn from that mistake.
There has been increased talk in the media about racism in America. It is clearly still a problem in some areas. Of course when celebrities are brought into the mix, the topic gets an increased spotlight. We must remember that the ignorance of racism is what brought about the need for the 13th amendment. We must learn from our mistakes. We must put our petty differences aside and move on. While I do not think that we will ever return to an era of forces servitude, I feel that the attitude that created that era still exist. It must be stamped out. We are slaves no more. We must live and work together as one equal people unseparated forever.
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Harry Potter and the Dumbass from Georgia

The widely popular Harry Potter series has been controversial since the first book hit the shelves in the late 90’s. But the only place this book as seen cases on banning and courtroom drama is in the United States. It seems we have some people in this country that didn’t pay attention to that whole “Freedom of Speech” thing in the Bill of Rights. The most recent case comes from Georgia, but it looks like Harry prevailed.
Harry Potter has traveled to many parts of the world. He has learned many languages and is friends with children of all ages. On one of his travels, Harry flew into the schools of Gwinnett County, Georgia. There were many fans of his in the local school and libraries couldn’t keep Harry around long enough for everyone. But there was one person in the county that despised Harry Potter more than the Dark Lord himself. That person was Laura Mallory. In October of 2005, she asked a local committee to ban Harry from the schools because, she says, he promotes violence and witchcraft.
But Mallory didn’t know who she was dealing with. She apparently didn’t even know what country she was living in. Her first application for banning Harry was denied. She, however, continued to fight. She appealed her case before another group of officials that told her the same thing, “Harry stays. Now get lost.” According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution website, “at all levels the decision has been to keep the books on the shelves.” And Harry was pleased.
The state board of education in Georgia seems to agree with the other committees as well. They ruled that Gwinnett County did nothing wrong by keeping Harry in the schools and that the decision was ultimately up to them. So again, Harry and his friends were pleased. When asked for comment on the debacle, the Dumbass from Georgia simply said, “I didn't do a good enough legal job because I didn't hire a lawyer.” She can of course take the case to the Georgia Supreme Court, but I think Harry will do just fine. It is nice to see that freedom of speech still lives in Georgia, at least on some level. Hooray for Harry!!!

Happy Birthday Alabama

Today the great, southern state of Alabama celebrates its 187^th birthday. It was on this date in 1819 that the state was admitted to the Union. The state has seen many historical events over the years. Alabama is the home for the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. And while that may seem like a low point in Alabama history, the state has moved on. Of the southern states, Alabama seems to be the most organized in the areas of education, industry, technology, commercialism, and government. It is evident to me every time I visit.

In the area of education, Alabama has the city of Tuscaloosa. Since 1831, the University of Alabama has been the pinnacle of education in the state. While other great school may be in Alabama, the University is the best by far. What is so great about Tuscaloosa is its location in the state. Situated near the middle of the state, it is the perfect place for an education hub. And not far from the seat of education in Alabama is the home of the state's industrial center, Birmingham.

Named for the English city, Birmingham is the industrial capital of the South. In many areas, there is not other place like Birmingham. The city is also near the center part of the state, which allows for easier access from all points. Founded in 1871, Birmingham became a bustling metropolis in the Reconstruction Era. It quickly grew into a major producer of iron and steel. This explains the city's unofficial mascot, the Roman god Vulcan. Far to the north, another Alabama city is associated with Roman gods for a different reason. This is the technology center of the state, Huntsville.

Founded in 1805, Huntsville is one of the oldest towns in Alabama. But through the workings of NASA, it has also become one of the most technologically advanced cities in the state. Huntsville is one of the bases of operations for NASA. Many test flights and early rocket tests were performed here. To this day, many of the workings of NASA still happen in Huntsville. This attraction to technology has made Huntsville grow by leaps and bounds. Many technology firms have offices here and NASA still holds its annual Space Camp at the US Space and Rocket Center.

One of the most important sites in Alabama is the city of Mobile. By far, it is the oldest city in the state, founded in 1702 as a French fort. Today, Mobile is one of the United States' key international ports. It is home to both a navy and air force base. For the state, Mobile is a great center for commercialism and transportation.

But you can't have a working state without a seat of government. And what a more fitting place than the smallest of all these places, Montgomery. Montgomery was once the home of the Alibamu Indians (where the state's name comes from). It became a frontier settlement in 1800. Montgomery's place near the center of the state makes it ideal for the seat of government. However, it was not the first capital by a long-shot. In fact, Montgomery is the last in a line of four other capitals including Huntsville and Birmingham. The location works. It is just far enough away from the other centers to keep everything organized, yet it is convenient from anywhere in the state.

Alabama is by far the most organized southern state. Like all the southern states, it has its problems with education and race relations. However, I think Alabama has made many big strides to move into the future. With all the resources contained in the state, it would not be a surprise to see Alabama as a major player in the US economy for years to come. Happy Birthday Alabama.

Jack Is Back?

The plot of it all reads like the screenplay to a bad teen slasher flick. Five unsuspecting girls just trying to get by are slaughtered by an evil serial killer. The fact of the matter is that this is not fiction, it is the stone-cold truth. The setting for all this is the small, English city of Ipswich. The girls are prostitutes and they are all dead. Authorities have said that all the girls were killed in a similar fashion and in similar places. The whole thing points to a serial killer on the loose. In England an ominous warning has been put out. A warning that has not been heard in England since the Victorian Era, "All prostitutes stay off the street. It is not safe." The killer is still out there but already the comparisons are being made to a similar killer from England's past, Jack the Ripper.
The similarities are very real. When the Ripper Murders occurred, five victims were taken. All were prostitutes and all were horribly murdered in common areas. At this point, little is known about who is committing these crimes. Authorities are calling it a serial killer because of the similarities in victim choice and method of killing. Like the Ripper, this killer has also taken five victims. All of the girls were prostitutes and have been identified as Gemma Adams, 25; Tania Nicol, 19; Anneli Alderton, 24; Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29. The last two names were the latest victims found.
In an even more chilling turn in the case, Paula Clennell was interviewed by British media shortly before her disappearance. She was asked about the warning from British authorities to stay off the streets. In reply to the warning Clennell said, "I have to continue working the streets because I need the money." Now, she is dead. Her fears were realized.
One can only imagine the fear associated with knowing that such a killer is on the loose in your own backyard. The obvious similarities between these murders and those from the past cannot be denied. This bad copy-cat must be caught. It is odd that Jack the Ripper was never caught or even positively identified. Perhaps Jack is back. One popular theory about Jack the Ripper is that he was actually a vampire. OK, maybe it's not a popular theory, but still interesting. Is this killer a fan or is it Jack himself? Let us hope that more lives are not lost in the quest to find out.

Spice Up Your Election With Kucinich

In 2004, a spry Democratic Congressman from Ohio threw his hat into the race for the presidency. He was one of the many that were trying to gain the Democratic nomination. He didn't get it. He was overpowered in the primaries by the likes of Howard Dean and John Kerry. The only thing he had going for him were his views. But this former-bachelor from Cleveland did not let this get him down. As the 2008 election season gets into gear, Dennis Kucinich is back. And he is ready for action.
Many thought that after his recent wedding, Kucinich would fade into the background of American politics. But the Democratic party's handling of the war in Iraq has inspired him to run again. Kucinich's major disagreement stems from Democrats approval of the $160 billion dollar spending bill for the war. Kucinich said that Democrats should have listened to voters. In an interview he said, "Democrats were swept into power on November 7 because of widespread voter discontent with the war in Iraq. Instead of heeding those concerns and responding with a strong and immediate change in policies and direction, the Democratic congressional leadership seems inclined to continue funding the perpetuation of the war." So Kucinich has been pushed to return to the spotlight.
Kucinich becomes only the second Democrat to declare his campaign for president. Poll front-runners Clinton and Obama have yet to officially announce their candidacy. And Kucinich faces some deep competition from those two individuals. If Kucinich was a long shot last time, he is even more so now. With all the fresh faces running for President, how can Kucinich possible expect to get anything done? He need only stick to his beliefs.
In 2004, Kucinich ran with many big liberal values. He said that if elected president, he would seek the creation of a national peace department and universal health care. These two things alone may be very popular with voters in 2008. The American people have already spoken, through the election, that they want change in Washington. Perhaps Dennis Kucinich is that change. If not, he will at least make things interesting for Clinton and Obama. If the two front-runners follow the pattern of Democrats in previous elections, they will both start to lean more toward Moderate as election time grows near. With Kucinich in the debates, he can keep important liberal issues on the table and probably make Clinton and Obama look stupid for not agreeing. While I am not officially endorsing Dennis Kucinich for president, I am not going to say that he will not have my support in the future. I wish him luck. He is going to need it.

Annan Farewell An International Challenge

At the end of this year, the UN will lose a very dynamic member. Secretary General Kofi Annan is stepping down after ten years of service. Today, Annan gave a parting address at the Truman Library in New York. In the speech, Annan gave a challenge to the world and the new UN secretary general to continue fighting for what is right. This farewell was a fitting send off for a man that has made human rights a number one priority of the UN.
The focus of the Annan speech was on the current situation in Darfur, Sudan. Over the past months, the American media has virtually ignored this story. While it makes a good investigative piece for some reporters (Anderson Cooper, etc.) the story has failed to produce little government action. This is the point Annan makes in his speech. Anna gives a list of those that share the blame for the situation in Darfur. Among them Annan lists "those valuing abstract notions of sovereignty over human lives; those whose response of solidarity puts them on the sides of governments and not people; and those who fear commercial interests could be jeopardized." Annan says that these excuses for inaction are not enough. He states, "The truth is, none of these arguments amount even to excuses, let alone justifications, for the shameful passivity of most governments."
I believe that the American government should listen to Annan's speech. We are one of those governments whose inaction has lead to the gross violations of human rights in the Darfur region. Annan does not think it is too late. But he does say that this time of inaction needs to stop. Annan says, "We have still not summoned up the collective sense of urgency that this issue requires." And while Annan has been the biggest advocate for human rights, the UN has failed to act as it could. Holding this action back, is the UN security council. On such matters, the US is often a "stick-in-the-mud" and will not lift a finger to help. It simply doesn't fit into our foreign policy to help these people. So we watch them suffer.
Annan said that the UN must start acting as one body and not let the actions of a few dictate the general assembly's course of action. Annan says, "We must develop the responsibility to protect into a powerful international norm that is not only quoted but put into practice, whenever and wherever it is needed." And he also called for preemptive actions against future atrocities when he said, "Above all we must not wait to take action until genocide is actually happening, by which time it is often too late to do anything effective about it."
Kofi Annan is leaving the UN after ten years of dedicated service. During that time, Annan has tried to make human rights the "third pillar" of the UN. And under Annan, the UN has done more in places like Rwanda, Somalia, and Darfur than any government or nation. But the incoming secretary general must continue this type of resolve. He must take his cues from Annan and look toward peace. He must not let the UN become an instrument of war. Kofi Annan was able to bring the UN into a useful role in the 21st century. Let us hope his replacement can continue such a big legacy.

Love Thy Neighbors or At Least Talk

It doesn't take a foreign studies major to tell you why there is no diplomatic relationship between the US, Syria, and Iran. Our president has clearly labeled these nations as terrorists states and has refused to work with them on a plan for Middle-East stability. Even though the much hyped Iraq Study Group says it is a great idea, the Bush White House is not budging. And why this could be is beyond me. Wouldn't it make more sense to actually work with people that live in the region to help fix the region? I guess it makes too much sense.
Yesterday, old buddies (not by choice) Bush and Blair sat down for breakfast and a chat on the Middle East. Afterwards, a press conference yielded much about Bush's opinion of the Iraq Study Group's findings. The most controversial part of the report has been that the US should include Iran and Syria in talks about how to stabilize Iraq. But Bush says it is not going to happen. Unless...
Yes, our immature child of a president has set conditions for these two nations. If they meet the conditions, then they may participate in an international discussion on something that is going on in their own backyard. For Iran Bush has the following condition: "If they would like to engage the United States, they've got to verifiably suspend their [nuclear] enrichment program." And for Syria, the condition is equally ridiculous. According to the President Syria must, "stop destabilizing Lebanon's government." These two goals are completely ridiculous. It is childish to present such a challenge to two sovereign nations who want to participate in diplomatic talks. What if the tables were turned?
That would be a big laugh. If Iran and Syria were to give us demands, the current administration would laugh in their faces. So why should we not expect them to do the same. The truth of all this is in the motives. Why would Bush place such demands on Iran and Syria knowing full well they will not comply? I am beginning to think Bush wants this war to continue. I am beginning the think that the face of evil is alive and well in the White House. The United States needs the help of all Middle Eastern nations to stabilize Iraq. We stupidly created a situation that has lead to civil war. Now we need real help to calm it down. Who better to help than nations of the same culture? No one. But don't tell that to Bush.
I am fed up with the child-like nature with which international relations is handled in this country. Let me make this statement and know that I think it to be the utter truth. Bush wants our troops to die in Iraq. He wants good men and women to sacrifice themselves in the name of nothing. He wants us to be stuck in a never ending civil war that we help start. He wants to dump all these problems on the next president. He is an evil person and he should be removed from office immediately. If he is such a good Christian as many short-sighted evangelical Americans see him, then why does he act against the teachings of his religion? Why doesn't he love his neighbors as himself? Why doesn't he at least try another solution besides war? The answer is because he is an evil black-hearted war monger with a lust for blood. If we all had the power, he would be gone. This war will never end.

From Infamy to Arrogance

The War to End All Wars was over. The United States had lost many men and had settled down into another era of isolationism. Along with that, the nation was still under the thumb of the Great Depression. A war had begun in Europe and the US was involved in weapons and money trading only. But all of that was about to change. It came like a bolt from the blue. An attack like no other ever in history. The cost was great, with 2,403 lives lost. Sunday morning on December 7th, 1941 is now 65 years behind us. But its long term affects are still seen in our military operations and how we react to tragedy.
Pearl Harbor changed the course of US history like no event since 9-11. In fact, constant comparison to Pearl Harbor was almost immediate after 9-11. The reason is simple. Since Pearl Harbor, no single event had done more damage to the United States. So it was only natural for the thought to cross peoples' minds that this was the new Pearl Harbor. A Pearl Harbor for a new generation. And just like that generation of men 65 years ago, 9-11 set off a change of events that we are still feeling the effects of today. An unending war that is costing troops their lives.
Yes, the similarities are many. But what really sets Pearl Harbor apart from 9-11 is the reaction. After Pearl Harbor, the American people rallied together with the President in a new war effort. The economy of the entire country switched over-night from depression to war. Pearl Harbor was a "day of infamy" and is still. It was not used as a political slogan. It was not used to push the radical foreign policy of a backward President. It was not used as anything. It was "infamy." And with that thought it mind, the United States set out to fight a war that really did protect the safety of all Americans.
So how has this changed. Great tragedy, like Pearl Harbor, would have never been used in the way 9-11 has. Pearl Harbor was not a great idea for use in an ad campaign. But our government has grown to use tragedy as such. And for that reason, "infamy" has become "arrogance." September 11th should have been a new day for infamy. Instead, 9-11 was seen as some arrogant politician's new toy. An instrument of war. A reason to kill. And that is a sad state of affairs. The memory of Pearl Harbor is not done justice as the world stands today.
Pearl Harbor should always be remembered as it was. It should not be polarized, glorified, or politicized to push an agenda. It should be something all nations look back on and realize that we don't need to go there ever again. We don't need that sort of loss of life. But it is not seen as such. US troops are dying everyday in a war sparked by just such a tragedy. But instead of focusing on an end, our arrogant leaders want more and more. They are demanding that more blood be spilled in their cause. This was not the cause the soldiers of Pearl Harbor died for. And our nation needs to respect their spirits and end this administration. It has gotten to that point. If Pearl Harbor could rally us one more time, maybe this nation would change for the better. And end this senseless conflict.