It's a bittersweet day out here in California. Last night I feel proud. I felt ecstatic. I felt accomplished. This morning? I feel nothing but ashamed. I feel like I failed.
When Barack Obama is sworn in on January 20th, 2009 as the 44th President of the United States, it will mark a turning point for the country. Obama is America's redemption song. A chance to redeem what George W. Bush all but destroyed the last eight years. At the very least Obama will attempt to restore strained relationships with foreign enemies, and will strengthen those with betrayed allies. He will make it acceptable for American's to travel overseas as American's. But the essence of Obama is his willingness to listen; his readiness for change. When I listen to Obama I don't hear lies, or what I want to hear. I hear a man honest, true, and saying what he believes. Don't believe me? Just listen to his conversation with "Joe the Plummer." America needs Barack Obama after the eight years of Bush's regime.
As for Senator John McCain, he was very humble in defeat. He gave a very nice speech urging his supporters to embrace President-elect Obama, and pinned the defeat on himself and not his supporters. He spoke honest, he spoke true. He was the McCain of old, before the Bush brainwash. It's too bad that he wasn't this honest throughout the entire election, or we might be talking about President-elect McCain. His downfall though (and I truly believe this) was the appointment of Alaskan Govern er Sarah Palin who is no more fit to run a Starbucks than I, let alone a country.
The 2008 election will go down in history, much like the election of 1968. A female vice REPUBLICAN presidential candidate ran head to head with an African American presidential candidate who defeated a woman to take the Democratic nod. Never did I think that in my lifetime we would see a black president. Or a minority president for that matter. Hell, this country wasn't ready to hand a Catholic the job in 2004. Barack Obama has his work cut out for him, as no President-elect has had so much pressure, so high of expectations placed on him, but right now it's astonishing and amazing to sit back and realize that a black man who deserves the Office of President, who we as a struggling country needs him, realized his dream. It's nice to see how far we've come.
And yet, as far as we came yesterday, we haven't come far enough. Proposition 8 in California, which would place a constitutional ban on same sex marriage, passed by a 5% margin. As much as we campaigned, stickered, and blogged we couldn't change the mind of narrow minded individuals who felt it's fine to discriminate against those who are different, or who they don't understand. Everybody is entitled to their own personal beliefs, their own personal opinions, and that's fine. But when those opinions and beliefs discriminate, then I have a problem. Those who voted Yes on Prop 8, who stood out on street corners parading, those who placed yellow signs on their car windows or in their front lawns had the right to do so. The United States Constitution allows them the right to. However they took away the right of those they were campaigning against. This is no victory for anybody. Those afraid of homosexuals are doing just what we as society previously did to African-Americans, previously did to women. Not giving them the same equal rights that everybody deserves. And while this might be a slight digression from the point, the Bible and the Constitution don't mix. Those likening what the Bible says about homosexuality to Constitutional Amendments need to read their actual Bill of Rights. They should also probably read their entire Bibles and realize that Jesus Christ wouldn't have banned those who sinned, wouldn't have taken away their civil liberties, but rather wouldn't have passed judgement and would have taken them in as his own. But again, I digress.
Last night was a perfect example of how this country as a whole was capable of taking a giant step forward. Today, at least in California, we took two giant steps back.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Nov 5, 2008
Oct 23, 2008
I wish you would take my radio to bathe with you....
I'm currently sitting in my POSC-315 class right now. That's Public Policy Making if you're really interested. I've been sick the last week... sick enough to actually call in sick to work on Monday. Catherine brought me tea and crackers and orange juice, but my immune system had other plans. While I'm feeling better, I'm still not feeling well.
Next week I'm heading to Hollywood twice. Tuesday I'm attending the Jimmy Kimmell show, to see the Alkaline Trio perform. I'm sure they're playing Help Me, but wouldn't that be awesome to see them bust out like Radio or Warbrain, or even Armageddon. Sigh. On Sunday I'm also seeing the Trio, with Rise Against, Thrice and the amazing Gaslight Anthem. I'm real stoked. I've waited long enough to see the Gaslight Anthem...
My brother came into my room two nights ago and said to me "I think someone is messing with your car." Being confused and not knowing what the hell he was talking about, i asked him what exactly he meant. He responded by saying "someone put a 'No on 8' sticker on your car." I informed him that it was I who did, and he shuddered, called me a fag, and left. Inside I died a bit. It's sad to know that in 2008 there is still so much hate.
We're talking about the national debt right now, which sits at $10.3 trillion, or $34,000 dollars. If I were in debt $34,000, I would just hangmyself, probably.
The teacher keeps lookin at me... I gotta go.
Next week I'm heading to Hollywood twice. Tuesday I'm attending the Jimmy Kimmell show, to see the Alkaline Trio perform. I'm sure they're playing Help Me, but wouldn't that be awesome to see them bust out like Radio or Warbrain, or even Armageddon. Sigh. On Sunday I'm also seeing the Trio, with Rise Against, Thrice and the amazing Gaslight Anthem. I'm real stoked. I've waited long enough to see the Gaslight Anthem...
My brother came into my room two nights ago and said to me "I think someone is messing with your car." Being confused and not knowing what the hell he was talking about, i asked him what exactly he meant. He responded by saying "someone put a 'No on 8' sticker on your car." I informed him that it was I who did, and he shuddered, called me a fag, and left. Inside I died a bit. It's sad to know that in 2008 there is still so much hate.
We're talking about the national debt right now, which sits at $10.3 trillion, or $34,000 dollars. If I were in debt $34,000, I would just hangmyself, probably.
The teacher keeps lookin at me... I gotta go.
Oct 16, 2008
When you don't control your own government people want to kill you...
I just read that Ray Lowry, the man responsible for the now iconic "London Calling" artwork passed away. While it's just coincidence, right now I'm wearing my Clash shirt with the "London Calling" album cover on it. I have no memory of Ray Lowry. I've never heard his name before. I read he was a English cartoonist/satirist and contributed to such publications as the Melody Maker, NME, and The Guardian. Joe Strummer referred to him as a "war artist" while Lowry was invited to cover the Clash on their 1979 debut US tour. I'm staring down at my shirt and I feel a bit remorseful. Another piece of the Clash is gone. Like Joe, though, his work will live on forever.
It took me one and a half hours to get to school today, thanks to an accident clean up right after Ontario on the 15 freeway. It took me an hour to get to the 91 overpass. All this for a clean up. Sometimes I wish I could just leave Southern California. I think I'd be a whole lot happier.
In my last blog i touched on Proposition 8. I feel the need to revisit that topic. I've never been one to get fired up over propositions, but this one rubs me the wrong way. You know what bothers me the most about this proposition, is that as far as we've come as a society; as humanity, we haven't come far enough. In a year that has seen a viable African-American presidential candidate who beat a capable and legitimate woman for the Democratic presidential nomination and a female vice presidential candidate (for whatever reason she got the nod) we still have qualms with homosexuals. And I don't understand why. Lets get one thing very clear, there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. It's an alternative lifestyle choice that is in no way damaging, dangerous, confusing, or harmful. And here we are a society telling homosexuals that their lifestyle is wrong and that we are taking away their right to be happy. Sure, they're allowed civil unions, but what's really the difference between a civil union and the relationship you have with your significant other. And why is it that homosexuals should be treated differently? Because they find the same sex attractive and that disgusts you? Because your children might catch "gay?" Because they might destroy the nuclear family? I hate to tell you this, but the nuclear family was destroyed long ago by heterosexual couples who get married and divorced about as often as getting an oil change. Every three thousand miles it's time for a new spouse. And that's not damaging for children? I know plenty of people who have been permanently scared from divorces. So don't feed me that bullshit that same-sex marriage will destroy the normal family.
And why is it that the government always seems to dictate what people can and can't do in regards to their personal lives. I understand you can't murder, can't steal etc... and that's where the government should govern. With regards to same-sex marriage, abortion, one's right to legally obtain and smoke marijuana and subjects of that matter the government needs to leave it be. Go back to governing a nation for the sake of the public, and not governing the public for the false sense of progress.How about instead of worrying about whether or not gay's can marry they figure out how to end this fucking trillion dollar war. How about, instead of deciding whether or not it's a woman's right to choose they figure out a way to solve the economic crisis that's crippling this once proud country. SIDEBAR: If the government wants to cut down on costs they should de-criminalize weed, cutting down on non-violent drug offenders and in turn spinning a profit on weed. I mean, shit, cigarettes are legal right? but I digress. There are more important issues than ones of personal choice.
Here's the deal, everybody deserves to be happy. Everybody deserves to find love and live out their days with their loved ones. Everybody deserves to be treated equal. You can't decide who can and can't get married based on their sexual preference. I wish that the American people, and the American government would just understand that. Final summation: Vote No on Proposition 8, and let's show the world how far America has come. Don't give me another reason to be embarrassed in not only California but America.
In more positive news (this post has been kind of a downer) things with Catherine are going great. I don't want to get ahead of myself or give any sense of false hope, but I might be just be in this for the long hall. And I've never felt like this before; so absolutely sure that this could work. Normally I'm talking myself into the relationship working, telling myself if I say around long enough I'll actually want a future. Not the case with this one. Listen to me, sounding like I actually buy into love (oh my... I actually do.) She's definitely been a positive change, almost like a savior. I don't know where I'd be right now without her.
I have to go to class.
It took me one and a half hours to get to school today, thanks to an accident clean up right after Ontario on the 15 freeway. It took me an hour to get to the 91 overpass. All this for a clean up. Sometimes I wish I could just leave Southern California. I think I'd be a whole lot happier.
In my last blog i touched on Proposition 8. I feel the need to revisit that topic. I've never been one to get fired up over propositions, but this one rubs me the wrong way. You know what bothers me the most about this proposition, is that as far as we've come as a society; as humanity, we haven't come far enough. In a year that has seen a viable African-American presidential candidate who beat a capable and legitimate woman for the Democratic presidential nomination and a female vice presidential candidate (for whatever reason she got the nod) we still have qualms with homosexuals. And I don't understand why. Lets get one thing very clear, there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. It's an alternative lifestyle choice that is in no way damaging, dangerous, confusing, or harmful. And here we are a society telling homosexuals that their lifestyle is wrong and that we are taking away their right to be happy. Sure, they're allowed civil unions, but what's really the difference between a civil union and the relationship you have with your significant other. And why is it that homosexuals should be treated differently? Because they find the same sex attractive and that disgusts you? Because your children might catch "gay?" Because they might destroy the nuclear family? I hate to tell you this, but the nuclear family was destroyed long ago by heterosexual couples who get married and divorced about as often as getting an oil change. Every three thousand miles it's time for a new spouse. And that's not damaging for children? I know plenty of people who have been permanently scared from divorces. So don't feed me that bullshit that same-sex marriage will destroy the normal family.
And why is it that the government always seems to dictate what people can and can't do in regards to their personal lives. I understand you can't murder, can't steal etc... and that's where the government should govern. With regards to same-sex marriage, abortion, one's right to legally obtain and smoke marijuana and subjects of that matter the government needs to leave it be. Go back to governing a nation for the sake of the public, and not governing the public for the false sense of progress.How about instead of worrying about whether or not gay's can marry they figure out how to end this fucking trillion dollar war. How about, instead of deciding whether or not it's a woman's right to choose they figure out a way to solve the economic crisis that's crippling this once proud country. SIDEBAR: If the government wants to cut down on costs they should de-criminalize weed, cutting down on non-violent drug offenders and in turn spinning a profit on weed. I mean, shit, cigarettes are legal right? but I digress. There are more important issues than ones of personal choice.
Here's the deal, everybody deserves to be happy. Everybody deserves to find love and live out their days with their loved ones. Everybody deserves to be treated equal. You can't decide who can and can't get married based on their sexual preference. I wish that the American people, and the American government would just understand that. Final summation: Vote No on Proposition 8, and let's show the world how far America has come. Don't give me another reason to be embarrassed in not only California but America.
In more positive news (this post has been kind of a downer) things with Catherine are going great. I don't want to get ahead of myself or give any sense of false hope, but I might be just be in this for the long hall. And I've never felt like this before; so absolutely sure that this could work. Normally I'm talking myself into the relationship working, telling myself if I say around long enough I'll actually want a future. Not the case with this one. Listen to me, sounding like I actually buy into love (oh my... I actually do.) She's definitely been a positive change, almost like a savior. I don't know where I'd be right now without her.
I have to go to class.
Oct 14, 2008
Are you ready for some (fantasy) football?
After two weeks of bullshit losses (one by one point to Scott Oliverio, and another because I forgot to set my line up and had Randy Moss on the bench) my fantasy team is back up to .500. Even more impressive, they took down Jason's team, the number one team in the league. It took a huge effort from Drew Brees (my fantasy MVP,) Thomas Jones and Marvin Harrison, but I took a 109-102 win from a team averaging just about 130 points a game. I'm also just one game out of first now. Sigh, if only my underachieving wide receiver crew (Santonio Holmes, Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison and Issac Bruce) could step up and do something.
It's times like these that I feel I have no social life what-so-ever.
So for my journalism class (forgive me, I'm bad with "class number" or "official titles" so it's just my journalism class for now) I had to attend a Fullerton city function, which is all well and good but I don't live in Fullerton. So I took Catherine and headed off to a Parks and Recreation Commission council meeting. Let me tell you, it was about as fun and exciting as it sounded. Hearing people discuss naming rights on some building at some community center I'm not familiar with or the size of plaques on memorial tree's I didn't know existed made me wonder "is this where my tax dollars are going?" Then I realized that I don't live in Fullerton, nor do I have (serious) political aspirations, and I let it go. Plus, I was freezing cold and wasn't in the mood to bitch, like I am now.
I think I'm getting sick. It sucks. I hate getting sick, because I won't go to the doctors unless I absolutely have to, and I'm extremely forgetful when it comes to taking medication regularly. So I suffer until my entire body shuts down. Plus I work and go to school full time, and I hate calling in sick to work and usually that's not an option anyways. And they wonder why I ask if I can use my sick pay for vacation time. Catherine, in the meantime, is playing nurse, making me eat spicy foods, drink orange juice, and get lots of rest. Last night I took her advice and ordered a fajita from Chili's. I ate about a third of it before my stomach started acting up. The fajita is currently sitting in the back of my car, and the mentioning of food makes my stomach turn. But that's a completely different illness altogether. Ugh, I'm dying.
I'm not going to sit here and get preachy (despite the fact that I have the tendency to) but I do feel I need to say something here about Proposition 8. For those of you who don't know what it is, proposition 8 is trying to define marriage in the California state constitution as marriage between a man and a woman. I just don't understand this? Why is same-sex marriage so threatening to the American public? There are far worse things in this world than a same sex couple. How about the video games your children play. You fear they'll grow up "gay" if they see same-sex couples, but aren't afraid they'll turn into Dexter if they play Grand Theft Auto? Give me a break. And who are the government to tell us who we can and can't marry? Homophobia needs to stop people. Vote NO on proposition 8.
I need to get ready for school.
It's times like these that I feel I have no social life what-so-ever.
So for my journalism class (forgive me, I'm bad with "class number" or "official titles" so it's just my journalism class for now) I had to attend a Fullerton city function, which is all well and good but I don't live in Fullerton. So I took Catherine and headed off to a Parks and Recreation Commission council meeting. Let me tell you, it was about as fun and exciting as it sounded. Hearing people discuss naming rights on some building at some community center I'm not familiar with or the size of plaques on memorial tree's I didn't know existed made me wonder "is this where my tax dollars are going?" Then I realized that I don't live in Fullerton, nor do I have (serious) political aspirations, and I let it go. Plus, I was freezing cold and wasn't in the mood to bitch, like I am now.
I think I'm getting sick. It sucks. I hate getting sick, because I won't go to the doctors unless I absolutely have to, and I'm extremely forgetful when it comes to taking medication regularly. So I suffer until my entire body shuts down. Plus I work and go to school full time, and I hate calling in sick to work and usually that's not an option anyways. And they wonder why I ask if I can use my sick pay for vacation time. Catherine, in the meantime, is playing nurse, making me eat spicy foods, drink orange juice, and get lots of rest. Last night I took her advice and ordered a fajita from Chili's. I ate about a third of it before my stomach started acting up. The fajita is currently sitting in the back of my car, and the mentioning of food makes my stomach turn. But that's a completely different illness altogether. Ugh, I'm dying.
I'm not going to sit here and get preachy (despite the fact that I have the tendency to) but I do feel I need to say something here about Proposition 8. For those of you who don't know what it is, proposition 8 is trying to define marriage in the California state constitution as marriage between a man and a woman. I just don't understand this? Why is same-sex marriage so threatening to the American public? There are far worse things in this world than a same sex couple. How about the video games your children play. You fear they'll grow up "gay" if they see same-sex couples, but aren't afraid they'll turn into Dexter if they play Grand Theft Auto? Give me a break. And who are the government to tell us who we can and can't marry? Homophobia needs to stop people. Vote NO on proposition 8.
I need to get ready for school.
Sep 20, 2008
Nevermind, I will blog...
After attempting to sleep I realized that it wasn't quite time for me to do so, so here I am for an unprecidented seventh blog this week. I know I said I'd try to write in this more often, but this is ridiculous. Nobody, not even myself, wants to read seven posts about my boring life in the span of a week. Well, maybe Jesus, George Bush, Michael Chertoff, Sarah Palin, and whoever monitors my cell phone and internet at the NSA and CIA offices.
I'm serious about that whole cell phone thing. No joke, ask Sean. We said something about George W. Bush, and within in the week we both had "visits" by government agencies at our respected work sites. Sure, at mine they said they were with the ADA, but they knew my first and last name, and knew to talk to me. Still shady if you ask me. And let me tell you something, if the bogus, sorry ass excuse for National Security known as the Patriot Act exists so government officials can listen to two 18 year old (as we were at the time) kids shoot the breeze, then we need to revoke that funding. Although, if you ask me we should revoke the funding regardless.
My Mom and I took a walk today, and I think she's backing off on her love for Sarah Palin a bit. Maybe I'm getting to her. She also said we might spend Thanksgiving in Vegas.
Speaking of trip's, Frank, Andrew and myself are heading to San Francisco in December to see the 49ers take on the Jets. Well, it's being discussed, but I'm stoked. I'm a huge 49ers fan, and to see them play at home would be amazing. On top of that, to see them take on the Brett Favre led Jets; it just doesn't get better than that.
I'm going to attempt sleep again.
Goodnight
I'm serious about that whole cell phone thing. No joke, ask Sean. We said something about George W. Bush, and within in the week we both had "visits" by government agencies at our respected work sites. Sure, at mine they said they were with the ADA, but they knew my first and last name, and knew to talk to me. Still shady if you ask me. And let me tell you something, if the bogus, sorry ass excuse for National Security known as the Patriot Act exists so government officials can listen to two 18 year old (as we were at the time) kids shoot the breeze, then we need to revoke that funding. Although, if you ask me we should revoke the funding regardless.
My Mom and I took a walk today, and I think she's backing off on her love for Sarah Palin a bit. Maybe I'm getting to her. She also said we might spend Thanksgiving in Vegas.
Speaking of trip's, Frank, Andrew and myself are heading to San Francisco in December to see the 49ers take on the Jets. Well, it's being discussed, but I'm stoked. I'm a huge 49ers fan, and to see them play at home would be amazing. On top of that, to see them take on the Brett Favre led Jets; it just doesn't get better than that.
I'm going to attempt sleep again.
Goodnight
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