Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Catching a boat to a far-off land
Though this looks like the landing for a ferry in some exotic country, it's actually in Disney World. Which is a shame, but I still like the dusk-y colors in the photo. The gold-hued lanterns lining the wooden dock seem, for some reason, symbolic of an exciting, epic journey to me. In reality, we were "traveling" to catch the 9:00 fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Our national disgrace
Yesterday the Obama administration released several Bush-era memos from the Office of Legal Counsel that detail interrogation techniques authorized for CIA use. These actions include throwing prisoners against the wall, placing them in small containers with bugs for hours at a time, sleep deprivation for more than a week, and, most infamously, waterboarding. They are, unequivocally, acts of torture and they were sanctioned by our government. Thinking about this makes me feel physically ill.
On a personal level, what is perhaps most disgusting to me is that very little of what was announced in these memos is new information. Almost all of it was already part of the public discourse about the U.S. government's use of torture under Bush and Cheney. But I have never before felt so bothered, so incensed about it. Andrew Sullivan has harped on this issue for quite some time. Though I certainly have always agreed with him that torture is evil, for some reason reading his tirades and even seeing some of the gut-wrenching photos that he has posted lacked the gravity of yesterday's news.
Government officials and most of the mainstream media have long side-stepped the full brutality of "enhanced interrogation." Having official acknowledgment forces this uncomfortable issue to the forefront of our national consciousness. This nation that I love so much and am very proud to call home has done some exceptionally terrible things. Just because I'm a Democrat and abhor, out of basic principle, much of what Bush and Cheney did to our country does not free me from this collective stain on American honor.
I was planning to write something today ridiculing the recent "tea parties" as baseless and hypocritical, but I don't have the stomach for it right now. The only comforting thing I've read all morning is Obama's statement regarding the documents' release. It is characteristically calming and to the point. Even if you disagree with his policies, I cannot see how anyone could doubt that he has good intentions and approaches each situation with the same measured pragmatism. This seems even more obvious when held in direct contrast with the despicable, pre-meditated inhumanity of the previous administration that has now been brought to light.
On a personal level, what is perhaps most disgusting to me is that very little of what was announced in these memos is new information. Almost all of it was already part of the public discourse about the U.S. government's use of torture under Bush and Cheney. But I have never before felt so bothered, so incensed about it. Andrew Sullivan has harped on this issue for quite some time. Though I certainly have always agreed with him that torture is evil, for some reason reading his tirades and even seeing some of the gut-wrenching photos that he has posted lacked the gravity of yesterday's news.
Government officials and most of the mainstream media have long side-stepped the full brutality of "enhanced interrogation." Having official acknowledgment forces this uncomfortable issue to the forefront of our national consciousness. This nation that I love so much and am very proud to call home has done some exceptionally terrible things. Just because I'm a Democrat and abhor, out of basic principle, much of what Bush and Cheney did to our country does not free me from this collective stain on American honor.
I was planning to write something today ridiculing the recent "tea parties" as baseless and hypocritical, but I don't have the stomach for it right now. The only comforting thing I've read all morning is Obama's statement regarding the documents' release. It is characteristically calming and to the point. Even if you disagree with his policies, I cannot see how anyone could doubt that he has good intentions and approaches each situation with the same measured pragmatism. This seems even more obvious when held in direct contrast with the despicable, pre-meditated inhumanity of the previous administration that has now been brought to light.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A real life Walker
Today is April 15. Aside from it being Kayla's birthday, and tax day, this year it also happens to be a Wednesday. And Wednesday means... Mantracker!
My roommates and I have recently become obsessed with this show. It airs at 10pm on the Science channel, which until a few months ago I did not even know existed. The premise is quite simple. I would paraphrase, but the show's official website explains it far better than I could hope to.
The prey frequently tries to leave false trails or to throw Mantracker off with gimmicks such as tape-recorded voices or wolf urine. Invariably, however, Terry picks up their trail and sets an ambush with the help of his guide. You know a confrontation is imminent when the camera angle switches back and forth quickly from Mantracker to prey. Even better is when the prey are shown tiptoeing around and a cowboy hat or horse nose bobs into view through the trees in the background. When Mantracker surprises his prey, he is quick to deliver a corny one-liner, like, "Hello, ladies" or "Busted!" A ragged chase then ensues, with the prey often able to slip away into dense forest.
This continues for an hour until the prey are either caught or they make it to the finish line. With Mantracker's legendary skills, though, the latter is quite rare. Basically this show is amazing. If you get the Science channel, I highly, highly recommend that you check it out.
My roommates and I have recently become obsessed with this show. It airs at 10pm on the Science channel, which until a few months ago I did not even know existed. The premise is quite simple. I would paraphrase, but the show's official website explains it far better than I could hope to.
Terry Grant is a full-blooded cowboy living in the wrong century. This Albertan has been a full time ranch cowboy for almost 25 years. An expert horseman and wilderness professional, hunting, guiding and tracking come second nature. Whether man or beast, he will track them down. His keen instincts, intense character, and specialized skills have made him a crucial member of the Foothills Search and Rescue Team. His reputation is always on the line and he doesn’t let up for a second. A steely-eyed cowboy with a killer, never-say-die attitude, Terry Grant is MANTRACKER.So essentially, each episode features a new pair of people - the "prey." They have 36 hours to travel 25+ miles on foot over rough terrain to the finish line. All the while, they are being stalked by Mantracker on horseback. Though he doesn't know the location of the finish line, Mantracker always has an expert local guide to help him navigate. The guide changes episode to episode, but a personal favorite of mine is Curtis, the braided, Indian horsewhisperer.
The prey frequently tries to leave false trails or to throw Mantracker off with gimmicks such as tape-recorded voices or wolf urine. Invariably, however, Terry picks up their trail and sets an ambush with the help of his guide. You know a confrontation is imminent when the camera angle switches back and forth quickly from Mantracker to prey. Even better is when the prey are shown tiptoeing around and a cowboy hat or horse nose bobs into view through the trees in the background. When Mantracker surprises his prey, he is quick to deliver a corny one-liner, like, "Hello, ladies" or "Busted!" A ragged chase then ensues, with the prey often able to slip away into dense forest.
This continues for an hour until the prey are either caught or they make it to the finish line. With Mantracker's legendary skills, though, the latter is quite rare. Basically this show is amazing. If you get the Science channel, I highly, highly recommend that you check it out.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Skip 'em
Several months ago, I wrote at length about my confusion surrounding the place of spirituality in my life. Without a definitive upbringing to serve as framework, I argued, it has always been exceptionally difficult to feel at ease with religion. I traced this discomfort to a lack of knowledge on my part. Indeed, save one visit to my neighbor’s youth group, a couple of weddings, and touring a number of magnificent cathedrals abroad, I had never really even been inside a church before, let alone experienced a worship service.
This changed, however, in early January. Joe accepted an invitation to sing with a local church’s choir around Christmastime. Though he didn’t at first intend to join the choir permanently, he liked it so much that he decided to continue. Considering our typical Saturday night activities, committing to waking up at 8:00 every Sunday morning is a pretty big deal. We spoke a bit about it and, despite not knowing what to expect (or even what denomination the church was), I was curious enough to join him one weekend.
Since Joe had to don his robe and prepare to sing, I stood alone for awhile in the front entryway (what I would later learn is called the narthex). Unsure what to do, I feigned intense interest in studying the bulletin boards and artwork on the walls. Fortunately, Maryn and Janet, two older women, approached me to say hello. They were exceptionally welcoming, as was everyone else I met that first day – John, the retired Foreign Service employee, Shirley, the perky member of one of the church’s many committees, and Leon, choir stalwart and husband of Maryn. I observed at least four separate people come up and welcome a very old man back, presumably from an extended illness that had prevented him from coming to church. Even at first glance, the community seemed so closely knit – it says a lot that people know each other well enough to have immediately recognized a stranger in their midst. It says even more, I’d contend, that they actively sought to welcome that stranger with open arms.
For that reason alone, I think, I would’ve come back. But the rest of the service was great too, though a little bewildering to my uninitiated senses. During the passing of the peace, for instance, people rise from their seats and warmly greet just about everyone within handshaking distance. “Children’s time” dumbs down the preceding scripture reading to help all of the young kids (and me) better understand it and relate it to their lives. The hymns are kind of fun to sing and the wide variety of music is beautiful. And Rich Smith, the reverend, delivers a great sermon. He’s not overly preachy and is able to realistically relate the scripture to current events and modern, daily life. In fact, on that first Sunday (days before Inauguration), he titled his sermon “An Open Letter to President Barack Obama.”
Over the following few months, I’ve attended services regularly and come to know much more about Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ. The UCC has evolved over time from the merger of several Protestant denominations. It is run from the bottom-up, with individual congregations suggesting changes in policy, which are then voted on by an annual conference of representatives. Subsequently, each local congregation is independently able to vote on whether or not to accept these changes. For example, several years ago the UCC voted to recognize same-sex marriages. Westmoreland, in turn, democratically decided to embrace this and become an “open and affirming congregation.” There are surely other local branches of the UCC that chose not to take this step.
I greatly respect this emphasis on individuality. One of the things that has always bothered me about organized religion is the perception that many church-going people are like parrots, repeating verbatim what is written in the Bible. Rather than apply religious teachings to their lives, they allow the church to dictate their views, seemingly without room for dissenting thought.
This is not the case at Westmoreland. Rev. Bob Maddox, who treated me to dinner a few weeks ago, helped me to understand this better. He told me that there are plenty of old traditions at the church, but that the congregation has kept them alive because people enjoy them, not because anyone from the national UCC has declared that it should be so. We were discussing the possibility of me formally joining the church, and being baptized. (Having come from a background as a Baptist minister, Bob was quite excited by this). I was concerned that I might be acting hypocritically – that my enthusiasm for the church community would be somehow cheapened by my uncertainty regarding my internal beliefs about religion.
Bob was quick to reassure me. Westmoreland, he explained, has no creed that its members are required to recite. The Bible, to him, is much more a book about ancient interpretations of God’s teachings than an inflexible doctrine, passed down directly from God Himself. To lack certainty and understanding is natural. Bob promised me that I was not alone in this. Further, he suggested that I use aspects of religion that baffle me as the impetus for greater personal exploration. And his advice regarding parts of the Bible that seem outmoded or don’t sit well with me? “Skip ‘em.”
In a lot of ways, that is all I’m looking for in religion – a supportive source of grounding and stability that makes no judgments about my past or future beliefs. This experience shouldn’t be unpleasant or exclusive – without growing up with a religious background, why would I choose to join a church that made me feel uncomfortable? At Westmoreland, the sense of inclusiveness is profound. And the church’s progressive and active stance on social issues helps to minimize any disconnect I might feel between religion on a theological level and its relevance to everyday life.
Even without having read more than a few passages of the Bible and without fully sorting out my internal confusion, I’m considering joining Westmoreland in the next month or two. And I’m confident I’ll be warmly welcomed, because despite not being a formal member, I already feel like a part of the community.
This changed, however, in early January. Joe accepted an invitation to sing with a local church’s choir around Christmastime. Though he didn’t at first intend to join the choir permanently, he liked it so much that he decided to continue. Considering our typical Saturday night activities, committing to waking up at 8:00 every Sunday morning is a pretty big deal. We spoke a bit about it and, despite not knowing what to expect (or even what denomination the church was), I was curious enough to join him one weekend.
Since Joe had to don his robe and prepare to sing, I stood alone for awhile in the front entryway (what I would later learn is called the narthex). Unsure what to do, I feigned intense interest in studying the bulletin boards and artwork on the walls. Fortunately, Maryn and Janet, two older women, approached me to say hello. They were exceptionally welcoming, as was everyone else I met that first day – John, the retired Foreign Service employee, Shirley, the perky member of one of the church’s many committees, and Leon, choir stalwart and husband of Maryn. I observed at least four separate people come up and welcome a very old man back, presumably from an extended illness that had prevented him from coming to church. Even at first glance, the community seemed so closely knit – it says a lot that people know each other well enough to have immediately recognized a stranger in their midst. It says even more, I’d contend, that they actively sought to welcome that stranger with open arms.
For that reason alone, I think, I would’ve come back. But the rest of the service was great too, though a little bewildering to my uninitiated senses. During the passing of the peace, for instance, people rise from their seats and warmly greet just about everyone within handshaking distance. “Children’s time” dumbs down the preceding scripture reading to help all of the young kids (and me) better understand it and relate it to their lives. The hymns are kind of fun to sing and the wide variety of music is beautiful. And Rich Smith, the reverend, delivers a great sermon. He’s not overly preachy and is able to realistically relate the scripture to current events and modern, daily life. In fact, on that first Sunday (days before Inauguration), he titled his sermon “An Open Letter to President Barack Obama.”
Over the following few months, I’ve attended services regularly and come to know much more about Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ. The UCC has evolved over time from the merger of several Protestant denominations. It is run from the bottom-up, with individual congregations suggesting changes in policy, which are then voted on by an annual conference of representatives. Subsequently, each local congregation is independently able to vote on whether or not to accept these changes. For example, several years ago the UCC voted to recognize same-sex marriages. Westmoreland, in turn, democratically decided to embrace this and become an “open and affirming congregation.” There are surely other local branches of the UCC that chose not to take this step.
I greatly respect this emphasis on individuality. One of the things that has always bothered me about organized religion is the perception that many church-going people are like parrots, repeating verbatim what is written in the Bible. Rather than apply religious teachings to their lives, they allow the church to dictate their views, seemingly without room for dissenting thought.
This is not the case at Westmoreland. Rev. Bob Maddox, who treated me to dinner a few weeks ago, helped me to understand this better. He told me that there are plenty of old traditions at the church, but that the congregation has kept them alive because people enjoy them, not because anyone from the national UCC has declared that it should be so. We were discussing the possibility of me formally joining the church, and being baptized. (Having come from a background as a Baptist minister, Bob was quite excited by this). I was concerned that I might be acting hypocritically – that my enthusiasm for the church community would be somehow cheapened by my uncertainty regarding my internal beliefs about religion.
Bob was quick to reassure me. Westmoreland, he explained, has no creed that its members are required to recite. The Bible, to him, is much more a book about ancient interpretations of God’s teachings than an inflexible doctrine, passed down directly from God Himself. To lack certainty and understanding is natural. Bob promised me that I was not alone in this. Further, he suggested that I use aspects of religion that baffle me as the impetus for greater personal exploration. And his advice regarding parts of the Bible that seem outmoded or don’t sit well with me? “Skip ‘em.”
In a lot of ways, that is all I’m looking for in religion – a supportive source of grounding and stability that makes no judgments about my past or future beliefs. This experience shouldn’t be unpleasant or exclusive – without growing up with a religious background, why would I choose to join a church that made me feel uncomfortable? At Westmoreland, the sense of inclusiveness is profound. And the church’s progressive and active stance on social issues helps to minimize any disconnect I might feel between religion on a theological level and its relevance to everyday life.
Even without having read more than a few passages of the Bible and without fully sorting out my internal confusion, I’m considering joining Westmoreland in the next month or two. And I’m confident I’ll be warmly welcomed, because despite not being a formal member, I already feel like a part of the community.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Spring in the capital
Steve and I had an abbreviated cherry blossom encounter last weekend, before a harrowing journey from the Tidal Basin to the Kennedy Center. D.C. is always really pretty, but spring sunshine makes it even better.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wobbly planets
Alan Boss, a space researcher, was on the Kojo Nnamdi Show this afternoon. Thanks to live streaming radio online, I was able to listen. He described several concepts that I remembered vaguely from college astronomy class, but never really understood. In particular, he discussed detecting extrasolar planets, which is really, really cool. Based on miniscule changes in location and dimming, scientists can guess at the size and orbital frequency of a distant planet. I highly recommend that you check it out.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Stagnetti and Mr. Brown
Some brief Tuesday evening thoughts:
- I'm proud of Maryland students for standing up to the state legislature. Not because I particularly care about the right to screen porn flicks on campus, but because it demonstrates the growing will of our generation. Anytime we 20-somethings overcome apathy to act on our beliefs, it is a big deal. I'm just glad that we can now mobilize around important things, like free speech and Barack Obama's campaign, instead of the latest creepy innovation at Facebook.
- Vermont's legislature overturned the Republican governor's veto on gay marriage and the D.C. council voted unanimously to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. This is beginning to feel like a movement. I skimmed a live Q&A on washingtonpost.com this afternoon between David Catania, a (gay) D.C. council member and some fool from the National Organization for Marriage named "Mr. Brown." Mr. Brown repeatedly dodged very intelligent, lucid questions by quoting nebulous research and repeating, mantra-like, that 30 out of 30 states that have given their citizens a chance to vote on this matter have outlawed gay marriage. Not for long.
- Joe is an uncle (again)! I am really envious that he has a new, little family member living so close by. And I'm obviously excited to meet Robby.
- Bangmerang! I want to watch Hook.
- I'd like the spring sunshine to return.
- Baseball season got underway with the Orioles stomping on the Yankees last night. So as of right now, they are on track to go undefeated... I'm planning on going to the game this Saturday with Sam.
That is about it. I hope to be able to write more in depth thoughts soon.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Fly away to somewhere new
Everybody's gone,
they left the television screaming that the radio's on.
Someone stole my shoes,
but there's a couple of bananas and a bottle of booze.
Oh, well happy new year's baby,
we could probably fix it if we clean it up all day.
Or we could simply pack our bags,
and catch a plane to Barcelona 'cause this city's a drag.
they left the television screaming that the radio's on.
Someone stole my shoes,
but there's a couple of bananas and a bottle of booze.
Oh, well happy new year's baby,
we could probably fix it if we clean it up all day.
Or we could simply pack our bags,
and catch a plane to Barcelona 'cause this city's a drag.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Country first
When he was sworn in, I wrote a fawning piece about Barack Obama, describing how willing I was to follow his lead. He inspired me and I am not ashamed to say that I supported him wholeheartedly. But I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on Barack Obama’s first two months in office, and I feel distinctly let down. His economic policies have been nothing short of socialistic. Though some hard-line liberals argue that nationalizing the economy is necessary, I disagree. Banks and automakers have failed because they follow ineffective business models. The government should allow capitalism to run its course.
As he prepares for the upcoming G20 summit in London, Obama confidently discusses the need for a new direction in U.S. relations with Iran and the former Soviet Union. This seems silly – the need for new nuclear non-proliferation treaties is greatly mitigated by Bush’s planned missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, the current administration has backed away from this urgent matter of national security. Instead of focusing on issues that will keep Americans safe, Obama concentrates on using shadowy tax policy to redistribute the nation’s wealth. Considering his Marxist tendencies, is it really any surprise that Russia is more receptive to him than to Bush?
Obama’s stance on “green” energy policy has been naïve, his rhetoric on hope, empty. I made the mistake of voting for him once, but will not do so again in 2012. For the sake of our country, I hope the Republican Party nominates a good candidate – someone intelligent, with the savvy to increase our oil reserves and the experience to take on Russia. Her denial of dinosaurs aside, only one person really stands out in my mind as having these necessary qualities. Though just two months ago I never thought I’d say it, I truly hope our next president is Sarah Palin.
Happy first day of April.
As he prepares for the upcoming G20 summit in London, Obama confidently discusses the need for a new direction in U.S. relations with Iran and the former Soviet Union. This seems silly – the need for new nuclear non-proliferation treaties is greatly mitigated by Bush’s planned missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, the current administration has backed away from this urgent matter of national security. Instead of focusing on issues that will keep Americans safe, Obama concentrates on using shadowy tax policy to redistribute the nation’s wealth. Considering his Marxist tendencies, is it really any surprise that Russia is more receptive to him than to Bush?
Obama’s stance on “green” energy policy has been naïve, his rhetoric on hope, empty. I made the mistake of voting for him once, but will not do so again in 2012. For the sake of our country, I hope the Republican Party nominates a good candidate – someone intelligent, with the savvy to increase our oil reserves and the experience to take on Russia. Her denial of dinosaurs aside, only one person really stands out in my mind as having these necessary qualities. Though just two months ago I never thought I’d say it, I truly hope our next president is Sarah Palin.
Happy first day of April.
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