Heh. Interesting day today. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (محمود احمدینژاد) visited Columbia University in New York. He was invited to the campus to speak before going to the United Nations General Assembly tomorrow. Its likely that the speech he gave today will be what he'll give tomorrow.He questioned why the Palestinians should pay for the crimes of Germany. He also said that he thought the way the US managed the world is wrong.
Before he got the chance to speak, the president of the University, Lee Bollinger, had plenty to say, much of it insulting, about the leader after defending the school's decision to host Ahmadinejad on Good Morning America today. He said "Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator". He also told the president that there is no reason to research the holocaust: "The truth is that the Holocaust is the most documented event in human history".
Despite he past claims that Israel should be wiped off the map, he would not go so far as say that here. The likelihood he would not escape New York City with his life or something like it may have been a motivation for the omission. He did comment that the Palestinians deserve self-determination and free elections. To read more on this, there's a large article on CNN.
See that? POTUS?! What a weird name, right? Well it's a new channel on subscription satellite radio service XM radio. This channel is on number 130 and will likely have a 14 month or so life. This will take it through the election of the President of the United States next November. That's right, POTUS stands for the President and his (her) title. After previews and such it has finally gone on the air. Yay!!! If you're a subscriber, tune in!Recently, maybe today, there was a story about protest songs. Back in the day, there were heaps of songs protesting the Vietnam conflict. One such song was "Save the Country" by the 5th Dimension. Apparently, there is a line in the song that refers to the Kennedy's:
"Come on, people
Sons and mothers
Keep the dream of
The two young brothers
Take that dream
And ride that dove
We could build the dream
With love, I know"
It made me pause. I forget, and I think many people do, how much of an affect the Kennedy's had on the country. I dunno...
Marcel Marceau, the famous French mime, died at the age of 84, on September 22nd. He left no last words.
Back on this day in 622, Muhammad completed his pilgrimage or Hegira. This would be the first on many for Muslims. It continues today and is a major tenet for Muslims the world over.
In 1664, the Netherlands surrenders New Amsterdam to England. It is now known as New York.
In 1890, The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints denounced polygamy with purpose being Utah becoming a state. It never goes truly out of practice and the debate around the practice continues to this day.
On this day in 1906, US President Theodore Roosevelt made Devil's Tower the first national monument.
In 1957, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower orders the 101st Airborne to go into Little Rock to enforce desegregation at the high school there.
And in 1991, Nirvana released their album Nevermind. Rock music would be never be the same.
Sons and mothers
Keep the dream of
The two young brothers
Take that dream
And ride that dove
We could build the dream
With love, I know"
It made me pause. I forget, and I think many people do, how much of an affect the Kennedy's had on the country. I dunno...
Marcel Marceau, the famous French mime, died at the age of 84, on September 22nd. He left no last words.
Back on this day in 622, Muhammad completed his pilgrimage or Hegira. This would be the first on many for Muslims. It continues today and is a major tenet for Muslims the world over.
In 1664, the Netherlands surrenders New Amsterdam to England. It is now known as New York.
In 1890, The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints denounced polygamy with purpose being Utah becoming a state. It never goes truly out of practice and the debate around the practice continues to this day.
On this day in 1906, US President Theodore Roosevelt made Devil's Tower the first national monument.
In 1957, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower orders the 101st Airborne to go into Little Rock to enforce desegregation at the high school there.
And in 1991, Nirvana released their album Nevermind. Rock music would be never be the same.
عصر بخی
Asr be kheyr!
(That's "Good Evening" in Farsi)
(That's "Good Evening" in Farsi)
Among all the hubbub of returning to school this fall, I managed to break my hand. Yes, my hand. I hit someone on the side of his or her head with my hand and am now paying for it (literally).
Tonight in my first post in three weeks or so, I want to address the whole thing about Moveon.org. Apparently, no one can do just that: move on. The ad itself while rather uninspired ("Hey, Petraeus rhymes with Betray Us!!!" "That's brilliant!!!!!!") and off target. Lets set something straight. Military figures are not politicians. When they leave the service they may then feel free to pull an Ike and run for office, even the highest in the land. Until then, there are as much a part of the chain of command as the grunt who hauls a 60 lb pack and a rifle. He's taking orders from the Commander-in-thief... I mean chief.
Moveon.org is attacking the wrong guy. He's stuck having to fight a war that even he may not agree with. SEevice people are citizens, too. They do not think the same and no one should ever categorically assume that all service men and women are therefore gun toting, conservative yahoos. Anyone who's served a day in the armed forces will tell you that there are as many varying beliefs, opinions and ideologies as there are in the civilan world. Never take for granted that a soldier is there completely by choice. Signing up means you follow orders regardless of your ideas but unable to express them To attack someone who cannot freely express their own heart and mind do to the role they have is sheer rudeness and dispicable.
I've said my peace on that (mistake intended) and lets put this puppy to bed!
Next week, the United Nations will once again begin its General Assembly for reasons unknown to anyone with brain cells to rub together. If you must ask why, read the UN charter. I even linked it for you because I'm such a nice caring person... Ban Ki-Moon and all the rest will show up for hopefully, another circus. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the current President of Iran will be in New York again despite last year's outright weirdness (Do I need to remind people of Chavez and his "devil" talk?). Ahmadinejad, beyond being short and an excellent modern Napoleon wannabe, asked to be able to visit Groud Zero in New York to pay his repects. New York officials denied his request citing safety concerns since the site is now a construction zone. Way to go New York!
Beacause I want to keep this post short I will refrain from talking about Bush's supposed B in Econ 101 (word on the street says it was a C-). I will, however, discuss a recent lawsuit brought about by a Nebraska State Senator named Ernie Chambers on September 14th. This senator was incenced to dicover a lawsuit being brought by an accuser in a sexual assault case. During the case, the words "victim" and "rape" were barred from the proceedings. The victim, as it were, has now sued saying her right to free speech was infringed upon.
Mr. Chambers took it upon himself to file a lawsuit against God. Thats right! The One, the Almighty, the great I Am. According to Chamber, he can sue God in Douglas County, his home county where Omaha is, because God is everywhere. Chambers also waived personal service i.e. notifying Him of said suit, because God is omniscient. He already knows.
Specifically in the suit, God is accused "of making and continuing to make terroristic threats of grave harm to innumerable persons, including constituents of Plaintiff who Plaintiff has the duty to represent." In addition, God has caused (though I'd prefer the words allowed or enabled over caused) "fearsome floods, egregious earthquakes, horrendous hurricanes, terrifying tornadoes, pestilential plagues, ferocious famines, devastating droughts, genocidal wars, birth defects, and the like." (Nice use of allitereration! Woeful Wars might have been cooler).
And it doesn't end there. God further takes it on the chin with this scathing diatribe against God (probably Morgan Freeman) of "calamitous catastrophes resulting in the wide-spread death, destruction and terrorization of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants including innocent babes, infants, children, the aged and infirm without mercy or distinction." Never accuse God of being too random.
Well, God spoke back (or is it spake?) At any rate, God says that Chambers cannot sue anybody as his frivolous lawsuit is supposed to prove. He also added in the response that Chambers missed a very important point particularly concerning blaming him for human oppression and suffering. According to God "I created man and woman with free will and next to the promise of immortal life, free will is my greatest gift to you." Apparently there was another response that listed a phone number for a law firm in of all places, Corpus Cristi.
I have nothing witty to add to this. Its funny enough on its own but in an intellectual way. I would like to, however, say a few things about the case that brought this about. The woman who brought about the suit has a case. Here's why: the case of her "assaulter" ended in mistrial because the surrounding publicity damaged the prosecution's chances of getting an impartial jury. Since she also couldn't speak freely in the court to lay her claim of assault against another, she and the prosecution were effectively gagged. This amounts to a judge who would rather control how a case is tried rather than interpret the law and ensure that justice is served.
I also want to add that calling someone a victim in a trial does not absolutely mean that the defendent victimized the accuser. He may be proven otherwise. However, there is still eveidence that the victim was victimized. That cannot be disputed.
As much as I could rant till I'm actually in Nebraska, I must move on... hee hee....
On Sunday, a new Ken Burns' documentary is premiering on PBS. It is called simply The War and it details events as seen through orinary people who fought or assisted in World War II. As most of those close to me know, I am obsessed with World War II. I invite all who have the chance to view this. War stories are rarely told and even more rarely heard. In fact, less so since 1,000 World War II vets die everyday. But worse than this, a majority of high school graduating seniors believe the US fought with Germany against the USSR. Now thats just BAD!!!!!!
Now onward toward history (can those two words be used together like that?)
On this Day, in 1780, Benedict Arnold became Benedict Arnold by giving the British the plans to West Point. Who was he before you ask? He was benedict arnold.
In 1765, Antoine de Beauterne claimed to have killed the mysterious wolf-like creature called the Beast of Gévaudan (French: La bête du Gévaudan). The beast continued its horrific attacks all the same.
On this day, in 1897, The New York Sun published the letter stating "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus". The editorial is now the most republished editorial in the English Language.
J.R.R. Tolkein published The Hobbit in 1937. Geeks and free thinkers would forever feel its fantastical pull. But really, bedtime stories would never be the same.
And in 1991, after decades of oppression and before that, genocide, Armenia is independent of the USSR which ceased to exist shortly thereafter.
Tomorrow I begin the fall semester at the illustrious University of Minnesota. The campus is about a mile away from the recent bridge collapse so things should be rather interesting... Otherwise, I have 5 courses at 16 credit hours. I'm taking 3 political science courses, a history one and a global studies course that focuses on globalisation and non-state actors. I'm actually excited about all of them, surprisingly. I think my layabout lazy summer was just what I needed to get my head back in the game. That and a new laptop!
Today, a bridge collapsed here in my hometown. Currently, the death toll stands at seven.If you want to help call (612)871-7676. This is the Minnesota (Minneapolis) Red Cross. Thanks, Anderson.
At 6.05 local time, a bridge that spanned the Mississippi river in Minneapolis, collapsed into the river. It is believed at this time that 50 or so cars and various vehicles were involved, including a school bus carrying 60 children.
The Department of Homeland Security has ruled out any connection to a terrorist act. The NTSB will, of course be investigating. It is unknown if current redecking work that the bridge was undergoing at the time is a factor in initiating the collapse. This will be an event that will affect the area in many ways for an unforseeable length of time. When considering the economic and environmental impacts, it gets downright daunting. In addition, the traffic patterns are daunting...
The local police department has stated that operations are moving from a rescue one to a recovery one. There may be dozens of people still trapped underwater. The liklihood of their survival is slim to none. Divers will not be able to persue any further efforts until morning when there is light available.
There is little that I can add on a personal note. I was at work at the time of the collapse. This was a bridge I used every day to get to and from school. I received six phone calls from friends checking to make sure I was not in the area.
One of the big stories I have heard is how much Minnesotans pitched in to help. THe civilian who directed traffic; the men who helped the children off the bus; The woman wiuth the rope tied around her waist checking cars; the people who helped the injured as the firefighters pulled them out: each of them did us proud.
As I sit here trying to take in all the news, I started perusing the webstes to see how far reaching the news is.
Here are some websites.
A Google map look at the bridge
Red Cross
BBC
CNN
SwissInfo
The National Ledger
The New York Times (Video)
MSNBC
Fox
The Reading Chronicle
Local News KARE, Twin Cities, Star Tribune, WCCO, KSTP
I just read from one news outlet that we're now up to 9 dead, 60 injured.
India Times
TV New Zealand
Jerusalem Post
China News
al-Jazeera
WikiNews
Wikpage
There is nothing new and informative about this post. It is purely personal. As everyone who isn't living under a rock must know by now, the final installment of the Harry Potter series was released on July 21, at the stroke of one minute past midnight. For many of us who've trudged through the series as it was released and those who came late as well, we were just bursting to know if he (Harry, Voldemort or both) died. I still won't tell simply because there are still those (some of whom I live with) who've yet to complete the story. Suffice it to say, I now am melancholic. There are still many little threads that we the readers will undoubtedly spend the next weeks, months... years... contemplating.
I continue to peruse the book to reread all the choicest bits. There were some really rocking scenes and some twists. Many of the things we (we as in the rabid Potterhead community at large) predicted came true.
Anyways... I just feel like an enormous part of my life is over and I'm a little sad about that. Its a good thing to see it through to the end but it still feels bittersweet. I'll go drown my sorrows in some champaigne now.
Independence Day is over. Hope ya got all the fireworks shot off and every body stayed safe.Recently, a 1 hour 34-minute video done by Ayman al-Zawahiri has been released to the Muslim world. According to a terrorist expert, it is akin to a "fireside chat". These radio broadcasts were created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the very rough period of the Great Depression. In the video, al Qaeda's number two guy, al-Zawahiri, called for more young men in Iraq and Afghanistan to join in the jihad. He also rebuked Fatah for not being on better terms with Hamas. He said "We say to you, now that you are in control of Gaza, you should remember two things: One is that being in power is not a goal in itself, but the goal is, rather, to implement the rule of Allah". I think that is an interesting statement. Muslims are not about national territory and identity. Islam has within it a tenet that we are ruled only by Allah and that our earthly governments are only substitutes for Allah. Implying this tenet to another terrorist group is interesting. Also, where the hell do they get off? What, like al-Qaeda is the biggest, baddest terrorist group so they get to tell the other terrorists how to play in the sandbox? Ridiculous!
All right moving on past that hopeless pile of shit. Remember the Russian ex-Spy who died, Alexander Litvinenko? Well, Great Britain is still persuing the case. Good on them! They requested Russia extradite Andrei Lugovoi, the prime suspect in Litvinanko's murder by radioactive exposure to polonium-210. It took Russia five weeks to conclude that they woulod not extradite the man in question because they feel that no Russian National would tried. Extradition of any foreign citizen is not allowed by their constitution, according to the Russians. Mr. Lugovoi has denied any involvement in the murder and has even made statements that the British secret service is involved in Litvinenko's demise. He says it s more likely that Britain's own MI6, a rival Kremlin opponent or the Russian Mafia was involed. Remember that Litvinenko was investigating the murder of a Russian journalist and that others have also subsequently died and been shown to be exposed to the isotope that killed Mr. Litvinenko. This case continues to build and intrique.
I'm just not even apologizing.... Today is our nation's birthday. I try to take the time every year to think about our country. In my ever so recent past, I've begun to reflect on what nation, the idea of nationness if you will, and how it affects my life. The nation is really a formal state one which carries laws that are governed as long as you/I as an entity occupy territory on said sovereign land. To call something a nation is to imply a self-governing body/bodies that create laws and enforce them. The sovereignty is thereby associated with territory and you/I may elect/be born as citizens of that state.
OK.... what does that mean? It means being a part of a nation/state is far different from the sovereign lords of old. In the era before the treaty of Westphallia, you owed allegiance to the lord/king/keeper of the realm. Their rulership was granted by God and they ruled with heavy hands. The nation/state made equality before the law a much more relevant possibilty. At the same time, nation/state would require our allegiance. Instead of going off to fight the petty war of some sovereign, we would pick up arms against another nation/state. We would defend our national territory from the curs of a foreign invader/oppressor. Many times, we, the United States of America, would fight over ideology or government systems. Fighting for one's country is far different than fighting for one's lord.
In the USA, we have also the Dream. The Dream is not about two cars in every farage. Its about the ideals that we as a nation/state were founded on. The idea of universal justice, oppurtunity, liberty, and freedom. Our nation was radical and took the Democratic apporach toward building the republic. The idea that many could be united as one was a powerful idea. Democracy as a large part of government practice had been for the most part dead since Caesar. To revive such a form of government was definitely a surprising move on the part of the newly made nation. But it was a part of the American Dream. For to have an aristocratic class that was heirachized and formal would work against all that men and women of the revolution had given their lives for. So... I'm one of those people.
On the 4th of July, I take the time to sit back and think about how unique we were. How radical, how liberal, how bold to make such decisions as to not have a king and rule by majority. Ever onwards, the Union faced crises that may have torn it apart. We have also had some our most exhilerating moments such as World War II and landing a man on the moon. But the idea of striving onwards whether to the prairies of the midwest or to desegregation, we are always pushing to move ourselves forwards.
The Dream still lives. Sure, its wrapped in the disguise of iPhones, iPods and I. but it is still there. So today, I lift a can of beer (Samuel Adams!) and salute... a lot of people. Here goes:
The Revolutionaries for coming up with this idea that is the USA.
The Confederates for reading that part about states' rights and taking it seriously.
The Yanks for forgiving the Rebs.
John Adams for being obnoxious and disliked (that cannot be denied).
George Washington for refusing to be a King.
Benjamin Franklin for conceding that the Eagle would be a better emblem for our country.
Thomas Jefferson for writing the Declaration of Independence (even if it wasn't that original). Thomas Paine for giving us all his two "sense".
Honest Abe for being forthright.
William Jennings Bryan for just being himself.
FDR for being the right guy at the right time. Only a cripple could lead a country out of its darkest hour.
The Greatest Generation. Words will never be able to convey what these millions of Americans did nor the grace and humility they did it with. Our nation will forever be shaped by these souls who came of age during the depression, went with little or none at all, and then ran off to free the world. To you I say thank you for being the Best Americans you could. Thanks for making this country what it is. Happy 4th of July!!!
And one last thing... Happy Birthday Steve Rogers, and thank you. A member of the Greatest Generation who did what countless others did but on the pages of a comic book. Be you dead or alive, Captain America, I still believe in that dream. And I miss ya. We need you now more than ever. To remind us that doing the right thing is more important than the best thing.Now, bring on the fireworks
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
