I was on my way to work, and like a habit gone ritualistic (thanks do Dr. Waalkes), reading the first section of the New York times. Really interesting topics.
let me summarize for you: THE WORLD IS GOING CRAZY!
First there is like who knows how many different topics on the Swine flu. Some say PANIC...and the others are like CHILL. or rather in very diplomatic words: there is cause for worry, but do not panic, because CDC has got it under control....Now Only if I was not in the most populated city, i would feel maybe a little bit better. Therefore, it was the cause of my almost panic in the subway today when I started sneezing and wheezing after seating beside a woman who was doing the same thing. yea, I would say panic is the right word there. Soon, there might be ban on traveling, then who knows what else....forget looking cute, we might all be spotting those very not-appealing masks that we are beginning to see everywhere. let us not imagine the worst...but let us not be stupid either. If this gets serious, and it is a mutating strand, then the world might be going to hell faster than the roller coaster.
and here is a question needing of asking, when 80 people die, it is called a pandemic...but when hundreds were dying of AIDS, i wonder why it took forever for the world to panic....(for the sake of normalcy, or sanity...lets not answer that question now).
On to the Romani...commonly known as Gypsies. Seriously, you would think that these particular group of people have faced enough of troubles. Look from the beginning of time, they have been persecuted, and have been outcasts of society. like any act of racism...(which by the way is stupid by any definition of race), the Roma have had enough. Misinformation, misconception and erroneous stereotype about them and their nature is as rampant today as ever. This has led prejudice, persecution, oppression, and ostracization that, if the NY times is any indication, is on the rise. Historically, they have faced forced assimilation, enslavement, and during Nazi Germany they were among the ones who were massively murdered. I believe that is called Genocide.
anyways, this morning, the topic was of Hungary, and how the Roma were being taunted and even killed. All because Hungary's own political party was basically slandering them. You would think that racism would be of the past. Or even in Hungary of all places...you would think that they had faced enough trouble without oppressing a group of people who made a significant contribution to their society. Do you smell a Nazi Germany rendition? maybe.
Now to my most ridiculous or event interesting topic. Atheists. well, here is the thing...I have nothing against them...secular humanists, scientologists...and the lot of them...but when they decided that they are ostracized by society and need to come out of the closet...that is when it becomes ridiculous. They are calling for a separation of church and state, which by the way, is the law. the constitution already has that inclusion...so why are they bumming to get more people in trouble. They are having banners, meetings and marching movements...public hearings and all that. So you have to wonder, do people not have enough things to do with their time, or lives that they are ways to cause trouble. Okay, this is what I mean by trouble...they are gearing to compare themselves to the gay rights movements.
Lets get this straight...they have a right to not believe, I don't know if they are fearful, or if they just need something to make them feel better about not being religious, but whatever it is, they need to get off their high horses and stop being schizo. No one is after them, they are not being persecuted...so what is their deal...someone please help me understand this.
okay...not to my last topic. Grape jelly! This i got while seating on my desk at work. The mail came in, and there was a letter from the planned parenthood. Let me tell you that I was laughing so hard that it is a wonder that I am not packing my desk right now.
Apparently, Jelly is used to prevent pregnancy. So when a girl got pregnant, after using Grape Jelly, she was mystified as to how things could have gone wrong. So here is a lesson...do not use Jelly...it does nothing for you.
All this to say, we live in a crazy world.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Back to Coulter!
Her new book,Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America Coulter has gotten me a little bit riled, if not concerned for what she represents. The thing is, people actually buy that crap and think its the gospel.
She claims to be a christian, but I wonder what extent she is willing to be a WASP when it suits her.
Please tell me though, what makes her better than the non-believers liberals? you see, you believe that no democrat can be a good christian, and yet, Coulter is pressing to me that no conservative can be a good christian (that is, if i was to just base my conservative judgments on her)....
The message might be good, but I am having a hard time listening to that, when it comes out from her, and her professions seem to contradict themselves. (btw, I am not being prejudiced here, because I don't like Micheal Moore's style either.) Actually, I probably would like Moore, so let me compare her to Bill press, because they seem to have the same agenda.
If she stood to be a person of integrity in all that, then I would respect her, but at the moment, I have more respect for Krugman than I do her, because while she has some good points,eg welfare, and biased messages....I still don't see her to be any different than any other columnist or commentator, who throws punches, without thinking of their effectiveness.
well how about it....no name calling. Isn't that what most people want. Look at the message, and not have it sidetracked by name calling. But I wonder if Ann can do that...( well atleast as the christian she believes to be) Coulter's biggest problem is that she basically puts all people who disagree with her in the category of "liberal" without defining it or qualifying it, which is why I have trouble understanding how you justifying her contents without prejudices.
Now before you starting blowing steam through your ears...let me specifically say that Conservatives have been defined and well established, but please, could you define the term liberal...from well lets say, moore's liberalism, to Krugmans liberalism...or even better, the labeled liberal McCain and Moore(or Obama) =(at the moment, those are the ones that I can think of who are far fetched)
I think there is a great deal of spin, this case to be true to everywriter from Beck, Nader, maher, hmmmm. and some that I mentioned above.
She mentions about Obama's security? do you truly believe that he has nothing to fear? At the moment, I can think of three strong reasons he should be protected, and people should be concerned about his safety. Forgive me for this next statement....but for a rich blonde, blue-eyed claiming christian to comment on the fact that it is stupid to worry, or rather it is pretentious of the "liberals" to comment on his safety, well...honestly, its almost as bad as New Yorkers, who ridicule the appalachian mountains, the extremes of suburbanites commenting on the poverty of the Appalachian people.
Oh and she talks about "liberals" whining, what about the team at FOX...( I assume you would be a great fan so you know who am speaking of)
and in her writing this book, isn't coulter doing that same thing...."Oh cons..we are oppressed, they only see one side,etc..." last time I checked, that was whining. (but then again, don't ask me what it means to whine, cause that is an art lost to me)
She seems to have a good message, "don't get pregnant, don't get the mortgage you can't afford, be careful if you have to have sex not to expose yourself to Aids and stds, don't believe everything you read in the media, don't go find someone who seems better than the spouse you already have"....if this happens, then by golly America will be fixed.
and Single mums are responsible for the state of the country?hmm...okay, lets just say I buy the BS; HOW?
She has a strong voice, but if she is going to present arguments, she can't be a satirist, and a person who claims to bring truth....
She claims to be a christian, but I wonder what extent she is willing to be a WASP when it suits her.
Please tell me though, what makes her better than the non-believers liberals? you see, you believe that no democrat can be a good christian, and yet, Coulter is pressing to me that no conservative can be a good christian (that is, if i was to just base my conservative judgments on her)....
The message might be good, but I am having a hard time listening to that, when it comes out from her, and her professions seem to contradict themselves. (btw, I am not being prejudiced here, because I don't like Micheal Moore's style either.) Actually, I probably would like Moore, so let me compare her to Bill press, because they seem to have the same agenda.
If she stood to be a person of integrity in all that, then I would respect her, but at the moment, I have more respect for Krugman than I do her, because while she has some good points,eg welfare, and biased messages....I still don't see her to be any different than any other columnist or commentator, who throws punches, without thinking of their effectiveness.
well how about it....no name calling. Isn't that what most people want. Look at the message, and not have it sidetracked by name calling. But I wonder if Ann can do that...( well atleast as the christian she believes to be) Coulter's biggest problem is that she basically puts all people who disagree with her in the category of "liberal" without defining it or qualifying it, which is why I have trouble understanding how you justifying her contents without prejudices.
Now before you starting blowing steam through your ears...let me specifically say that Conservatives have been defined and well established, but please, could you define the term liberal...from well lets say, moore's liberalism, to Krugmans liberalism...or even better, the labeled liberal McCain and Moore(or Obama) =(at the moment, those are the ones that I can think of who are far fetched)
I think there is a great deal of spin, this case to be true to everywriter from Beck, Nader, maher, hmmmm. and some that I mentioned above.
She mentions about Obama's security? do you truly believe that he has nothing to fear? At the moment, I can think of three strong reasons he should be protected, and people should be concerned about his safety. Forgive me for this next statement....but for a rich blonde, blue-eyed claiming christian to comment on the fact that it is stupid to worry, or rather it is pretentious of the "liberals" to comment on his safety, well...honestly, its almost as bad as New Yorkers, who ridicule the appalachian mountains, the extremes of suburbanites commenting on the poverty of the Appalachian people.
Oh and she talks about "liberals" whining, what about the team at FOX...( I assume you would be a great fan so you know who am speaking of)
and in her writing this book, isn't coulter doing that same thing...."Oh cons..we are oppressed, they only see one side,etc..." last time I checked, that was whining. (but then again, don't ask me what it means to whine, cause that is an art lost to me)
She seems to have a good message, "don't get pregnant, don't get the mortgage you can't afford, be careful if you have to have sex not to expose yourself to Aids and stds, don't believe everything you read in the media, don't go find someone who seems better than the spouse you already have"....if this happens, then by golly America will be fixed.
and Single mums are responsible for the state of the country?hmm...okay, lets just say I buy the BS; HOW?
She has a strong voice, but if she is going to present arguments, she can't be a satirist, and a person who claims to bring truth....
Monday, April 06, 2009
There's a Place for us....somewhere...
if you are familiar with those words....then you have watched West Side story.
A riveting story that can be spun into tales of division, misunderstanding, and strongest of them all, the power of love over hate. or maybe the other way round.
Let us take a good lesson from this production, "Love has power to conquer hate"
easy eh? no so much.
You see, throughout our lives, we as human beings have a bad habit of holding on to anger, or hate. it is not easier, its just much more satisfying to 'stick it" to the other person who has wronged you. Or think has wronged you. Proven is the fact that One uses more energy to be angry than to smile, and be happy.
There is so much hate in the world. So much anger. So much misunderstandings that have caused so many deaths and so much pain and suffering.
While I am not trying to reduce the world's pain in one single word, look at the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, the hutus/tustis, ages and ages of Middle Eastern Politics...and the struggle with the west.
All conflicts that are fueled by hatred and anger.
It was Eric Hoffer, a great American philosopher who was quoted saying, "Passionate hatreds can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. These people haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content not only by dedicating themselves to a holy cause but also by nursing a fanatical grievance. A mass movement offers them unlimited opportunities for battle.
Bingo!
Off course it does not help that the media has become and engine for maintained anger. When was the last time you had good news being reported? When was the last time that there was no negativity in the news?
I have a hard time believing that in a world as big as ours, that nothing good is going on. its just that, PR calls for a strategy towards news that arouse emotions of either panic or anger.
Wouldn't be so much more effective to report on the reconciliation that is going on between groups that are in strife. of how people are coming together to overcome their hardships. Telling stories of love, of peace, stories that uplifts us.
Wouldn't a little bit of love go far?
Be it that I am not a supporter of Sufism, Inayat Khan, the founder has some words that we would do well to remember,"The best thing is not to hate anyone, only to love. That is the only way out of it. As soon as you have forgiven those whom you hate, you have gotten rid of them. Then you have no reason to hate them; you just forget."
Or even Gandhi-- "Hatred ever kills, love never dies. Such is the vast difference between the two. What is obtained by love is retained for all time. What is obtained by hatred proves a burden in reality for it increases hatred."
So then what brings all, the all consuming hate. What is the root of hate?
if we were created by a Loving God, how then can we hate? I believe that hate comes from our succumbing to selfishness. Hate comes when we are not willing to let go, or even want to be selfish about our "rights". When we are selfish, we want to hoard in all that we can get, whether its material or immaterial. Can we become more human, go back to the place where love comes easily, and we can care more, love more, be in communion with each other.
If you have read the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, you are familiar with the quote, "It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility."
AKA....we are born to love,unless we become selfish. If we are open, we can love and love fully, unless we keep reliving our pasts over and over again.
A riveting story that can be spun into tales of division, misunderstanding, and strongest of them all, the power of love over hate. or maybe the other way round.
Let us take a good lesson from this production, "Love has power to conquer hate"
easy eh? no so much.
You see, throughout our lives, we as human beings have a bad habit of holding on to anger, or hate. it is not easier, its just much more satisfying to 'stick it" to the other person who has wronged you. Or think has wronged you. Proven is the fact that One uses more energy to be angry than to smile, and be happy.
There is so much hate in the world. So much anger. So much misunderstandings that have caused so many deaths and so much pain and suffering.
While I am not trying to reduce the world's pain in one single word, look at the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, the hutus/tustis, ages and ages of Middle Eastern Politics...and the struggle with the west.
All conflicts that are fueled by hatred and anger.
It was Eric Hoffer, a great American philosopher who was quoted saying, "Passionate hatreds can give meaning and purpose to an empty life. These people haunted by the purposelessness of their lives try to find a new content not only by dedicating themselves to a holy cause but also by nursing a fanatical grievance. A mass movement offers them unlimited opportunities for battle.
Bingo!
Off course it does not help that the media has become and engine for maintained anger. When was the last time you had good news being reported? When was the last time that there was no negativity in the news?
I have a hard time believing that in a world as big as ours, that nothing good is going on. its just that, PR calls for a strategy towards news that arouse emotions of either panic or anger.
Wouldn't be so much more effective to report on the reconciliation that is going on between groups that are in strife. of how people are coming together to overcome their hardships. Telling stories of love, of peace, stories that uplifts us.
Wouldn't a little bit of love go far?
Be it that I am not a supporter of Sufism, Inayat Khan, the founder has some words that we would do well to remember,"The best thing is not to hate anyone, only to love. That is the only way out of it. As soon as you have forgiven those whom you hate, you have gotten rid of them. Then you have no reason to hate them; you just forget."
Or even Gandhi-- "Hatred ever kills, love never dies. Such is the vast difference between the two. What is obtained by love is retained for all time. What is obtained by hatred proves a burden in reality for it increases hatred."
So then what brings all, the all consuming hate. What is the root of hate?
if we were created by a Loving God, how then can we hate? I believe that hate comes from our succumbing to selfishness. Hate comes when we are not willing to let go, or even want to be selfish about our "rights". When we are selfish, we want to hoard in all that we can get, whether its material or immaterial. Can we become more human, go back to the place where love comes easily, and we can care more, love more, be in communion with each other.
If you have read the Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, you are familiar with the quote, "It is to the credit of human nature, that, except where its selfishness is brought into play, it loves more readily than it hates. Hatred, by a gradual and quiet process, will even be transformed to love, unless the change be impeded by a continually new irritation of the original feeling of hostility."
AKA....we are born to love,unless we become selfish. If we are open, we can love and love fully, unless we keep reliving our pasts over and over again.
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