(no subject)
I think its a little too easy to be glum these days...I remember the momentous occasion when the stock market hit 10,000. It was a big deal on MSNBC, which I watched with my father some nights during high school. I *even* remember when the stock market was back in the 8,000's! whoa. now we're talking about the days of antiquity! Except, it also happened today. I was bummed when the Dow Jones slipped under 10,000, and I'm even more depressed now that its in 8,000's. Its the first time where something that has occured in the world has noticeably slipped to a point where there is negative growth. More ideological observations can be argued (and *are* argued) by people, but this is something that is non-negotiable.
I'm even bummed about the election. I really want Obama to win. He positively glistens with decency, intelligence and balance. However, the campaign is just getting depressing, as I read articles where there are immense right-wing rallies lead and incited by Palin. That's depressing, too. And I understand some of it is probably due to the psycological effects of groups and rallies, and people do weird shit that they normally don't, but still. it also represents a something that these people believe in, at least a little. Enough to say it out loud when provoked. And that's depressing enough. I don't necessarily see Obama as JFK. I see him more as RFK...someone who's seen a great deal and someone who had traveled around and come to a general conclusion. Will I be branded an idealist if I say that I feel Obama has applied a different type of rhetoric and a different type of platform to ride on. True, most of the issues, when stripped of their flashy adjectives and hyped up democratic principles. But for once, they're boldly fashioned and stated self-assertively. Its exciting. But the the possibility of it all being for nothing is...depressing.
Its clear with politics that the argument for a reliance on experience is out the window. No matter who's side you're on, Palin-Obama cancel each other out. Especially when juxtaposed between McCain-Biden. (and still annoyed with Palin. during the debates, she effectively said that she tolerates gays + lesbians. gee, thanks. Nice of you to "tolerate" a significant percentage of the US population. 40 years ago, she would have been someone who "tolerated" African Americans, but still supported segregation)
Perhaps I just need to stop reading all of the books I've got stacked throughout the apartment. War Without End is what I'm reading now (Dilip Hiro). And that is also depressing fare. The idea of an Islamic state, Sharia law, and fundamentalism are topics that are difficult to condemn in other states, and are subjects that liberals and conservatives will clash violently over. I had a professor at Bates who forced us to think outside the box, when it comes to discussing Islamic states (I use the term to describe those states that are governed by Sharia law...perhaps an incorrect usage, but I"m not a political scientist, so its not my fault.) He gave us the comparison of Iran and Turkey. One state where Sharia is enforced via government, and another where secularism is enforced by government. In both states, there are movements to go the opposite direction. In Iran, Sharia is oppressive to many. In Turkey, secularism is oppressive to all overt symbols of religion, and crushes free speech, etc. And to give more to think about (and to argue with those who hold up the US as a shining example) its not as if the US doesn't also have vestiges of fundamentalism. I recommend Theocons (forget who wrote it) if you need further proof, other than old Youtube videos of Bush's state of the union addresses and other speeches. The argument can easily be made that this country is not entirely secular, either.
And where does all of this go? I think its an open ended question. For me, these ideas are still stewing around.
I'm even bummed about the election. I really want Obama to win. He positively glistens with decency, intelligence and balance. However, the campaign is just getting depressing, as I read articles where there are immense right-wing rallies lead and incited by Palin. That's depressing, too. And I understand some of it is probably due to the psycological effects of groups and rallies, and people do weird shit that they normally don't, but still. it also represents a something that these people believe in, at least a little. Enough to say it out loud when provoked. And that's depressing enough. I don't necessarily see Obama as JFK. I see him more as RFK...someone who's seen a great deal and someone who had traveled around and come to a general conclusion. Will I be branded an idealist if I say that I feel Obama has applied a different type of rhetoric and a different type of platform to ride on. True, most of the issues, when stripped of their flashy adjectives and hyped up democratic principles. But for once, they're boldly fashioned and stated self-assertively. Its exciting. But the the possibility of it all being for nothing is...depressing.
Its clear with politics that the argument for a reliance on experience is out the window. No matter who's side you're on, Palin-Obama cancel each other out. Especially when juxtaposed between McCain-Biden. (and still annoyed with Palin. during the debates, she effectively said that she tolerates gays + lesbians. gee, thanks. Nice of you to "tolerate" a significant percentage of the US population. 40 years ago, she would have been someone who "tolerated" African Americans, but still supported segregation)
Perhaps I just need to stop reading all of the books I've got stacked throughout the apartment. War Without End is what I'm reading now (Dilip Hiro). And that is also depressing fare. The idea of an Islamic state, Sharia law, and fundamentalism are topics that are difficult to condemn in other states, and are subjects that liberals and conservatives will clash violently over. I had a professor at Bates who forced us to think outside the box, when it comes to discussing Islamic states (I use the term to describe those states that are governed by Sharia law...perhaps an incorrect usage, but I"m not a political scientist, so its not my fault.) He gave us the comparison of Iran and Turkey. One state where Sharia is enforced via government, and another where secularism is enforced by government. In both states, there are movements to go the opposite direction. In Iran, Sharia is oppressive to many. In Turkey, secularism is oppressive to all overt symbols of religion, and crushes free speech, etc. And to give more to think about (and to argue with those who hold up the US as a shining example) its not as if the US doesn't also have vestiges of fundamentalism. I recommend Theocons (forget who wrote it) if you need further proof, other than old Youtube videos of Bush's state of the union addresses and other speeches. The argument can easily be made that this country is not entirely secular, either.
And where does all of this go? I think its an open ended question. For me, these ideas are still stewing around.