In the spirit of exploring new things, here is the first installation in a new area of Rants & Raves: music reviews! Being a fairly musical person myself, I enjoy sharing my favorite artists and discovering the newest must-listens.
This week: All I Ever Wanted, fourth album from original American Idol Kelly Clarkson
Let me admit up front: I have always been a Kelly Clarkson fan, though I'm convinced that she was flat at the end of the album version of "A Moment Like This". It's okay, we all make mistakes. Breakaway, her sophomore album, has been in my favorite albums rotation, and after hearing "My Life Would Suck Without You" on the radio I was hopeful that her newest album would soon join the ranks.
Clarkson does not disappoint.
All I Ever Wanted is a bit ballad heavy, the perfect album to put on when you're dealing with hurt feelings or an ended relationship. Songs like "Cry" and "Already Gone" have lyrics that hit the heart, and the vocals are rich without being strained. Clarkson's pipes make her a phenomenal belter, but I'm glad to hear in this album that the focus is on more pure singing instead of the near-shouting that was a little too prominent on Breakaway.
Still, we remember that Miss Kelly has a fierce, edgy side with "Whyyawannabringmedown" and "Tip Of My Tongue". The beats make you want to get up and dance, and the lyrics are catchy. These and the second radio single, "I Do Not Hook Up", make this a staple album for the road trip or drive around town with the girls -- hell, even your mom might sing along. Mine will!
All in all, All I Ever Wanted has a little bit of something for everybody and every mood. I think this album is the sort of quality work that will cement her reputation as a serious artist, and I can't wait to see what else she has to offer.
Buy the album now at Amazon or get it on iTunes
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Now playing: Kelly Clarkson - I Want You
via FoxyTunes
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11 October 2009
05 October 2009
Foreign Service Officer Test
This is a slight departure from the norm. Right now, I am not ranting or raving.
Right now, I'm just nervous.
In less than an hour and a half, I will be sitting down to take the Foreign Service Officer Test, step 2 in the process of becoming a member of the U.S. Foreign Service. I can't remember the last time I wanted something this badly, nor can I remember ever being nervous about a test, an audition, an interview...anything.
What if I just don't know as much as I think I do? Or, what if I remember all the wrong things? I feel like I am going to walk out of this test and immediately email my PG 279 professor from university and apologize for not taking her class more seriously. In fact, I may do that beforehand -- a preemptive quest for absolution as I pray that I won't have to remember Chi-square or Spearman's rho and how to use them.
I've been getting mixed responses when I tell people that I've begun this process. Most people are just politely interested, but one of my close friends posed this question: "How will you feel working for an administration with whose policies you disagree?"
I'll admit, I struggled with this one briefly. After all, I've been a card-carrying Democrat since before I was even old enough to vote. I believe that the government has a responsibility to help society at all levels. However, in the last year or so I've realized that my point of view has shifted rightward. And while I can't bring myself to "come out" as a Republican, I have to be honest and say that I am not a true Democrat. At the end of the day, though, I have to do what's right for the country. Being a Foreign Service officer to me is about more than serving the administration in office. Presidents and Congresspersons come and go, and regardless of their party or platform I will nearly always disagree with something they do.
But that's not what this is about. This is about the people who make up this country. This is about being a part of international dialogue. Basically...this is what I've wanted my whole life, even before I really knew it.
That's what scares me. But that's also what will (hopefully) get me through this test, and the process.
Send good thoughts.
Rants and Raves home
Right now, I'm just nervous.
In less than an hour and a half, I will be sitting down to take the Foreign Service Officer Test, step 2 in the process of becoming a member of the U.S. Foreign Service. I can't remember the last time I wanted something this badly, nor can I remember ever being nervous about a test, an audition, an interview...anything.
What if I just don't know as much as I think I do? Or, what if I remember all the wrong things? I feel like I am going to walk out of this test and immediately email my PG 279 professor from university and apologize for not taking her class more seriously. In fact, I may do that beforehand -- a preemptive quest for absolution as I pray that I won't have to remember Chi-square or Spearman's rho and how to use them.
I've been getting mixed responses when I tell people that I've begun this process. Most people are just politely interested, but one of my close friends posed this question: "How will you feel working for an administration with whose policies you disagree?"
I'll admit, I struggled with this one briefly. After all, I've been a card-carrying Democrat since before I was even old enough to vote. I believe that the government has a responsibility to help society at all levels. However, in the last year or so I've realized that my point of view has shifted rightward. And while I can't bring myself to "come out" as a Republican, I have to be honest and say that I am not a true Democrat. At the end of the day, though, I have to do what's right for the country. Being a Foreign Service officer to me is about more than serving the administration in office. Presidents and Congresspersons come and go, and regardless of their party or platform I will nearly always disagree with something they do.
But that's not what this is about. This is about the people who make up this country. This is about being a part of international dialogue. Basically...this is what I've wanted my whole life, even before I really knew it.
That's what scares me. But that's also what will (hopefully) get me through this test, and the process.
Send good thoughts.
Rants and Raves home
29 September 2009
Rave of the Day: Gilt
The lovely ladies of The Frisky have mentioned Gilt and Gilt Fuse a few times in the last week, and it got me thinking -- I love nice things, and I love not paying full price for them. So why not?
This morning, my invite to join came!
Here's the deal: you register your email address on their waiting list, then once they get to you they send an invitation for you to complete your account and get to shopping! (I signed up yesterday and it took less than 18 hours to get the invite.) Then, at noon every day they post a new sale that goes on for 36 hours. On Gilt you can find women's, men's, and children's fashions as well as home decor and travel sales, while on Gilt Fuse you can get great deals on everyday women's fashion.
So check it out, on me. Click this link and get shopping!
Rants and Raves home
This morning, my invite to join came!
Here's the deal: you register your email address on their waiting list, then once they get to you they send an invitation for you to complete your account and get to shopping! (I signed up yesterday and it took less than 18 hours to get the invite.) Then, at noon every day they post a new sale that goes on for 36 hours. On Gilt you can find women's, men's, and children's fashions as well as home decor and travel sales, while on Gilt Fuse you can get great deals on everyday women's fashion.
So check it out, on me. Click this link and get shopping!
Rants and Raves home
23 September 2009
"We cannot make this journey unless we all move forward together."
Just wanted to throw out a quick response to President Obama's speech to the U.N. General Assembly this morning. News links and more feedback to follow.
*spoiler alert!* It's speeches like this that remind me why I voted for Obama in the first place. If I tried to put down all the worthwhile quotes I would basically have transcribed the speech. What the President offered was a true departure from the often contentious relationship between previous administrations and the U.N., which we've been guilty of treating like the red-headed stepchild of international relations rather than a forum for true global governance.
In his speech, President Obama took responsibility for our past shortcomings but also reminded other states of theirs. He advocated for a forward-looking attitude when overcoming the huge issues that we face today. And he underscored the importance of engagement and cooperation between states and within the international organizations that we've helped to establish: "We cannot make this journey unless we all move forward together."
News links and further commentary to follow.
**UPDATE**
As promised...first up, coverage from Reuters:
Israel's Netanyahu welcomes Obama UN call for talks
First, PM Netanyahu, were we listening to the same speech? I'm pretty sure that President Obama's call for a two-state solution and his comments on the ongoing Israel-Palestine dispute weren't exactly pinpointing Palestinian authorities as the problem... Not to mention, my daily Torah emails yesterday included a censure of the President for his seemingly anti-Israel stance. All of that aside, however, the two-state solution is the only viable one, and once you all put aside your prejudices and (let's face it) greed you can actually begin working toward a sustainable peace for your people.
President Obama was right: the people who pay for these conflicts aren't the politicians or the military, but the innocent civilians who fear for their lives day after day, and who are separated from their loved ones by arbitrary boundaries.
Next up: The New York Times counts the visit a success, highlighting not only the President's speech to the General Assembly, but gains made through talks with foreign leaders throughout the day. Most notably, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev verbally committed to standing with the United States on pursuing tougher sanctions for Iran should they not make further progress in next month's talks.
I don't believe I have ever seen a piece in the NYT that was openly critical of the President, but in this case I have to agree with them wholeheartedly. The speech was an important first step in amending our approach to international relations, but it was not a complete departure from our past foreign policy. Rather, it demonstrated a pragmatic approach to the issues facing the world, and established our position on those issues as well as a commitment to work with the international community rather than against it.
For more coverage of the speech and the rest of President Obama's first day at the U.N., check out these stories from The Boston Globe, the BBC, and (for "balance") some interesting commentary from Sean Hannity.
Rants and Raves home
*spoiler alert!* It's speeches like this that remind me why I voted for Obama in the first place. If I tried to put down all the worthwhile quotes I would basically have transcribed the speech. What the President offered was a true departure from the often contentious relationship between previous administrations and the U.N., which we've been guilty of treating like the red-headed stepchild of international relations rather than a forum for true global governance.
In his speech, President Obama took responsibility for our past shortcomings but also reminded other states of theirs. He advocated for a forward-looking attitude when overcoming the huge issues that we face today. And he underscored the importance of engagement and cooperation between states and within the international organizations that we've helped to establish: "We cannot make this journey unless we all move forward together."
News links and further commentary to follow.
**UPDATE**
As promised...first up, coverage from Reuters:
Israel's Netanyahu welcomes Obama UN call for talks
First, PM Netanyahu, were we listening to the same speech? I'm pretty sure that President Obama's call for a two-state solution and his comments on the ongoing Israel-Palestine dispute weren't exactly pinpointing Palestinian authorities as the problem... Not to mention, my daily Torah emails yesterday included a censure of the President for his seemingly anti-Israel stance. All of that aside, however, the two-state solution is the only viable one, and once you all put aside your prejudices and (let's face it) greed you can actually begin working toward a sustainable peace for your people.
President Obama was right: the people who pay for these conflicts aren't the politicians or the military, but the innocent civilians who fear for their lives day after day, and who are separated from their loved ones by arbitrary boundaries.
Next up: The New York Times counts the visit a success, highlighting not only the President's speech to the General Assembly, but gains made through talks with foreign leaders throughout the day. Most notably, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev verbally committed to standing with the United States on pursuing tougher sanctions for Iran should they not make further progress in next month's talks.
I don't believe I have ever seen a piece in the NYT that was openly critical of the President, but in this case I have to agree with them wholeheartedly. The speech was an important first step in amending our approach to international relations, but it was not a complete departure from our past foreign policy. Rather, it demonstrated a pragmatic approach to the issues facing the world, and established our position on those issues as well as a commitment to work with the international community rather than against it.
For more coverage of the speech and the rest of President Obama's first day at the U.N., check out these stories from The Boston Globe, the BBC, and (for "balance") some interesting commentary from Sean Hannity.
Rants and Raves home
30 July 2009
Hell of a Friendship Bracelet
Friends' plan to swim English Channel in limbo over visa
The Channeling Peace Initiative
We are all fortunate to have friends who care about us, for whom we would jump in our car at three a.m. just to talk them out of something stupid (or join them in doing it). We commemorate friendship in any number of ways, with pictures and notes passed in class, with yearbook comments and friendship bracelets.
Swimming the English Channel? That is a hell of a friendship bracelet. But for those who know Usman and David, who can expect anything less?
The Channeling Peace Intitiative has been a source of hope and inspiration for those of us who have been a part of it, from the passerby who visits the site periodically or who may have stumbled on the story on CNN to the friends and family who are closest to these two awesome men, and those of us who have sent letters of support or additional documentation through available channels to help push for Usman's emergency visa.
The window is closing for the swim to take place, so in a few short days there will be a resolution to the legal/administrative question at hand. But I say this to you: this venture has already been a success. As Usman said in his interview: "Even if I have to swim in a lake in Pakistan while David swims in the English Channel, it's still a powerful symbol."
Because they took on this project. Because they have the support of parents and friends from Pakistan, the United States, and worldwide. Because an entire college community -- students, faculty/staff, and alumni (mad love OWU!) -- are standing behind them as they work toward a goal far greater than making the strokes and taking the breaths to make it across the English Channel...
They are tying knots in the world's biggest, most visible friendship bracelet.
And that's a hell of a thing.
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The Channeling Peace Initiative
We are all fortunate to have friends who care about us, for whom we would jump in our car at three a.m. just to talk them out of something stupid (or join them in doing it). We commemorate friendship in any number of ways, with pictures and notes passed in class, with yearbook comments and friendship bracelets.
Swimming the English Channel? That is a hell of a friendship bracelet. But for those who know Usman and David, who can expect anything less?
The Channeling Peace Intitiative has been a source of hope and inspiration for those of us who have been a part of it, from the passerby who visits the site periodically or who may have stumbled on the story on CNN to the friends and family who are closest to these two awesome men, and those of us who have sent letters of support or additional documentation through available channels to help push for Usman's emergency visa.
The window is closing for the swim to take place, so in a few short days there will be a resolution to the legal/administrative question at hand. But I say this to you: this venture has already been a success. As Usman said in his interview: "Even if I have to swim in a lake in Pakistan while David swims in the English Channel, it's still a powerful symbol."
Because they took on this project. Because they have the support of parents and friends from Pakistan, the United States, and worldwide. Because an entire college community -- students, faculty/staff, and alumni (mad love OWU!) -- are standing behind them as they work toward a goal far greater than making the strokes and taking the breaths to make it across the English Channel...
They are tying knots in the world's biggest, most visible friendship bracelet.
And that's a hell of a thing.
Rants and Raves home
19 July 2009
Making the Standards Stick
Celebrating Cronkite while ignoring what he did
As usual, Glenn Greenwald gets to the root of the issue. What made Walter Cronkite a legendary journalist and a man worth remembering was his understanding of the role that journalists should play in checking government behaviour and informing the people of what they need to know.
I have been writing since I was a little girl, and I had dreams of being a journalist -- writing hard-hitting accounts of current events and calling for action to preserve justice and our way of life. Or, sitting in front of a camera as did my hero, Edward R. Murrow, and cutting through the frippery to get to the heart of an issue. "What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right."
True journalism is not about being popular -- it is about being right.
Sadly, however, Greenwald has accurately surmised what is going to happen in the ongoing memorial to Walter Cronkite. After all, in order to show admiration for the man it is necessary for those who do what he despised to downplay the fact that he, in fact, despised it. Indeed, we have the dangerous habit of sugarcoating or plainly disregarding the truth when it is inconvenient, be it in our obsession with scandal and rumour rather than important world concerns or our slavish eulogizing of celebrities whose lives only gained meaning through the cult followings they gained.
So instead of a eulogy, I will take some important lessons from Uncle Walter: stand up for what is right, even if you are standing alone. Speak the truth, and shame the devil. Don't sell your honour or allow it to be taken from you. And whatever decisions you make with your life, make sure you can look yourself and all others in the eye at the end of the day.
Rest in peace, Uncle Walter.
Rants and Raves home
As usual, Glenn Greenwald gets to the root of the issue. What made Walter Cronkite a legendary journalist and a man worth remembering was his understanding of the role that journalists should play in checking government behaviour and informing the people of what they need to know.
I have been writing since I was a little girl, and I had dreams of being a journalist -- writing hard-hitting accounts of current events and calling for action to preserve justice and our way of life. Or, sitting in front of a camera as did my hero, Edward R. Murrow, and cutting through the frippery to get to the heart of an issue. "What is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right."
True journalism is not about being popular -- it is about being right.
Sadly, however, Greenwald has accurately surmised what is going to happen in the ongoing memorial to Walter Cronkite. After all, in order to show admiration for the man it is necessary for those who do what he despised to downplay the fact that he, in fact, despised it. Indeed, we have the dangerous habit of sugarcoating or plainly disregarding the truth when it is inconvenient, be it in our obsession with scandal and rumour rather than important world concerns or our slavish eulogizing of celebrities whose lives only gained meaning through the cult followings they gained.
So instead of a eulogy, I will take some important lessons from Uncle Walter: stand up for what is right, even if you are standing alone. Speak the truth, and shame the devil. Don't sell your honour or allow it to be taken from you. And whatever decisions you make with your life, make sure you can look yourself and all others in the eye at the end of the day.
Rest in peace, Uncle Walter.
Rants and Raves home
02 July 2009
Accountability, part 1: Act Like An Adult
Judge Throws Out Conviction in Deadly MySpace Hoax
...are you serious?!?!?!?!
I don't know what disgusts me more, that Lori Drew wasn't even prosecuted for her real crime -- using social networking to goad a young, depressed and impressionable girl to suicide -- but that now it seems she won't even serve a prison sentence for the crime for which she was convicted! Judge George Wu decided, rather than sentence Drew to three years in prison or the less-appealing probation, that simply overturning the conviction is the best route to follow.
I would not want to be the Meier family right now.
Despite the lack of precedent in a case like this, I believe that the justice system has a clear responsibility to hold adults accountable for their actions when they refuse to hold themselves accountable. A decision like this spreads the message that it is okay for an adult to coerce and manipulate a child using whatever means necessary for no reason more than that child fought with your child.
A lot of the argument in this case hinges on whether you believe that Drew knew about Megan's depression and treatment for such, and I believe that she did. How could she not, when by all accounts her daughter and Megan were friends, and she spoke with Megan's mother about it? What's more, even a teenager who isn't diagnosed with depression or another mental disorder is going through the trials of adolescence and all of the hormonal changes therein. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that even the most seemingly well-adjusted teenager would consider a desperate option when the "person" she trusts the most tells her that the world would be "better off without" her.
Adolescents are cruel, vicious, insecure creatures. The damage they cause to one another in an attempt to gain some stability of self is appalling, and should be discouraged by the ostensibly wiser adults around them. Instead, we end up with "adults" like Lori Drew, who resort to similar adolescent tactics to drive a girl as deep into despair as it is possible to go.
The only hope in this case is that the ruling is not final until Wu submits the written copy, and maybe by then he will realize the ramifications of sticking by this decision. In the meantime, I can only hope that Lori Drew will receive the worst punishment possible for what is truly a heinous crime and that other adults will learn from this and act like adults -- not overgrown children. The results can quite obviously be deadly.
Rants and Raves home
...are you serious?!?!?!?!
I don't know what disgusts me more, that Lori Drew wasn't even prosecuted for her real crime -- using social networking to goad a young, depressed and impressionable girl to suicide -- but that now it seems she won't even serve a prison sentence for the crime for which she was convicted! Judge George Wu decided, rather than sentence Drew to three years in prison or the less-appealing probation, that simply overturning the conviction is the best route to follow.
I would not want to be the Meier family right now.
Despite the lack of precedent in a case like this, I believe that the justice system has a clear responsibility to hold adults accountable for their actions when they refuse to hold themselves accountable. A decision like this spreads the message that it is okay for an adult to coerce and manipulate a child using whatever means necessary for no reason more than that child fought with your child.
A lot of the argument in this case hinges on whether you believe that Drew knew about Megan's depression and treatment for such, and I believe that she did. How could she not, when by all accounts her daughter and Megan were friends, and she spoke with Megan's mother about it? What's more, even a teenager who isn't diagnosed with depression or another mental disorder is going through the trials of adolescence and all of the hormonal changes therein. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that even the most seemingly well-adjusted teenager would consider a desperate option when the "person" she trusts the most tells her that the world would be "better off without" her.
Adolescents are cruel, vicious, insecure creatures. The damage they cause to one another in an attempt to gain some stability of self is appalling, and should be discouraged by the ostensibly wiser adults around them. Instead, we end up with "adults" like Lori Drew, who resort to similar adolescent tactics to drive a girl as deep into despair as it is possible to go.
The only hope in this case is that the ruling is not final until Wu submits the written copy, and maybe by then he will realize the ramifications of sticking by this decision. In the meantime, I can only hope that Lori Drew will receive the worst punishment possible for what is truly a heinous crime and that other adults will learn from this and act like adults -- not overgrown children. The results can quite obviously be deadly.
Rants and Raves home
23 June 2009
Violence is not okay.
Chris Brown Pleads Guilty To Assault. But Does His Punishment Fit The Crime?
Okay. Chris Brown pled guilty, because his attorney is intelligent enough (even if Brown isn't) to understand that had this gone to trial, he would have been found guilty. The evidence is incontrovertible. Instead of prison time, then, Brown's August 5 sentencing will likely result in "probation for 5 years and...6 months of community service" plus a restraining order separating him from Rihanna.
This is where I start to have issues with the idea of a plea deal in any case except for murder, where the accused is going to have some sort of jail time no matter what. Spare me the refrain -- "the prisons are overcrowded, etc." I have two brain cells to rub together and I know how to read, so I understand that. But, as a survivor of and witness to domestic violence, I stand before you and say without hesitation: this punishment in no way fits the crime.
What sort of message does a milquetoast slap on the wrist like this send to the perpetrator? To the victim and, in such a high-profile case as this, to the millions of people who are following or who hear/read about it?
Violence is okay.
Tell that to the person whose boyfriend or girlfriend (lest we forget that violence is an equal-opportunity offense) tried to solve last night's argument with their fists, possibly putting the victim in the hospital but definitely trapping them in a world of terror for the duration of the scene and condemning them to relive it whenever something goes just a little wrong. Try explaining to a child who heard Daddy come home yelling and sees Mommy's bruises the next morning, or the teenager who steps between them, crying for a moment of peace and getting her own bruises for the trouble.
We all have the right to live our lives without fear that anybody, let alone somebody who claims to love us, will violate us in such a heinous manner. Hence, we have an unequivocal responsibility to hold those who would try to take that right away accountable. What, one offense while on probation means prison? Spare me. People guilty of domestic violence (or really, any violence) deserve to be placed in the same position of terror and lack of control to which they subjected their victim. Prison is too good for them, but if that is our greatest punishment then that is what we should levy against them.
One final note: Judge Patricia Schnegg, before you preside over another case of violence against another human being, perhaps you should examine your own mind and heart. It is NOT commendable for a person who has committed such a horrific act to admit to doing it, especially when that admission is calculated to result in a less severe punishment. You know what is commendable? Exhibiting restraint and maturity in a tense situation and choosing not to violate the sanctity of another person's body, no matter how angry you are. Personally, I think you should lose your position, but sadly you will probably get nothing more than a lukewarm reprimand.
Violence. Is. Not. Okay.
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Okay. Chris Brown pled guilty, because his attorney is intelligent enough (even if Brown isn't) to understand that had this gone to trial, he would have been found guilty. The evidence is incontrovertible. Instead of prison time, then, Brown's August 5 sentencing will likely result in "probation for 5 years and...6 months of community service" plus a restraining order separating him from Rihanna.
This is where I start to have issues with the idea of a plea deal in any case except for murder, where the accused is going to have some sort of jail time no matter what. Spare me the refrain -- "the prisons are overcrowded, etc." I have two brain cells to rub together and I know how to read, so I understand that. But, as a survivor of and witness to domestic violence, I stand before you and say without hesitation: this punishment in no way fits the crime.
What sort of message does a milquetoast slap on the wrist like this send to the perpetrator? To the victim and, in such a high-profile case as this, to the millions of people who are following or who hear/read about it?
Violence is okay.
Tell that to the person whose boyfriend or girlfriend (lest we forget that violence is an equal-opportunity offense) tried to solve last night's argument with their fists, possibly putting the victim in the hospital but definitely trapping them in a world of terror for the duration of the scene and condemning them to relive it whenever something goes just a little wrong. Try explaining to a child who heard Daddy come home yelling and sees Mommy's bruises the next morning, or the teenager who steps between them, crying for a moment of peace and getting her own bruises for the trouble.
We all have the right to live our lives without fear that anybody, let alone somebody who claims to love us, will violate us in such a heinous manner. Hence, we have an unequivocal responsibility to hold those who would try to take that right away accountable. What, one offense while on probation means prison? Spare me. People guilty of domestic violence (or really, any violence) deserve to be placed in the same position of terror and lack of control to which they subjected their victim. Prison is too good for them, but if that is our greatest punishment then that is what we should levy against them.
One final note: Judge Patricia Schnegg, before you preside over another case of violence against another human being, perhaps you should examine your own mind and heart. It is NOT commendable for a person who has committed such a horrific act to admit to doing it, especially when that admission is calculated to result in a less severe punishment. You know what is commendable? Exhibiting restraint and maturity in a tense situation and choosing not to violate the sanctity of another person's body, no matter how angry you are. Personally, I think you should lose your position, but sadly you will probably get nothing more than a lukewarm reprimand.
Violence. Is. Not. Okay.
Rants and Raves home
20 June 2009
The Uprising
Iran Updates: Live-Blogging The Uprising
Protestors beaten, tear-gassed in streets (developing story)
There is little to say, and so much.
The world's eyes are on the events unfolding as we speak in Tehran. And while there is a push for a public response from our own political leaders, there is concern that such a response could undermine the Iranians' pursuits rather than aid them. I am inclined to agree, and to this point President Obama's comments about the ongoing protests have been appropriate. (See HuffPost's live blog, 2:47 pm update)
That, however, does not mean that as everyday citizens we should remain silent. No -- we are citizens of the world, descendants of brave men and women like those who are today dying for their right to have their voices heard when it comes to the selection of their political leaders. Though we be not Muslim, and though our beliefs may not align with the Iranian people's, still we should unite with them in recognition of their inalienable rights to freedom and expression -- we share those rights, and we should share their struggle, if only in spirit.
Just as important is the reminder we should take from the Iranian people. Though they were threatened with and now face oppression, violence and the possibility of death, they do not turn tail and flee. Instead, they stand strong for what they believe in and continue to face those who would oppress them. Their struggle today should inspire each of us to be proactive in facing our challenges, rather than sitting back as passive observers to the decisions that will affect our lives. More, we should each remember the protests and struggles of yesterday that have allowed us the ability to openly question the decisions of our elected leaders without fear of reprisal.
Today, my heart, my mind and my prayers are with the people of Iran, and I stand beside them in spirit as I wish I could in person. I hope you can say the same.
Rants and Raves home
Protestors beaten, tear-gassed in streets (developing story)
There is little to say, and so much.
The world's eyes are on the events unfolding as we speak in Tehran. And while there is a push for a public response from our own political leaders, there is concern that such a response could undermine the Iranians' pursuits rather than aid them. I am inclined to agree, and to this point President Obama's comments about the ongoing protests have been appropriate. (See HuffPost's live blog, 2:47 pm update)
That, however, does not mean that as everyday citizens we should remain silent. No -- we are citizens of the world, descendants of brave men and women like those who are today dying for their right to have their voices heard when it comes to the selection of their political leaders. Though we be not Muslim, and though our beliefs may not align with the Iranian people's, still we should unite with them in recognition of their inalienable rights to freedom and expression -- we share those rights, and we should share their struggle, if only in spirit.
Just as important is the reminder we should take from the Iranian people. Though they were threatened with and now face oppression, violence and the possibility of death, they do not turn tail and flee. Instead, they stand strong for what they believe in and continue to face those who would oppress them. Their struggle today should inspire each of us to be proactive in facing our challenges, rather than sitting back as passive observers to the decisions that will affect our lives. More, we should each remember the protests and struggles of yesterday that have allowed us the ability to openly question the decisions of our elected leaders without fear of reprisal.
Today, my heart, my mind and my prayers are with the people of Iran, and I stand beside them in spirit as I wish I could in person. I hope you can say the same.
Rants and Raves home
07 May 2009
Better than flowers, perhaps...
Mind of Man: What I Learned From My Mother
Okay, I'll admit it: I'm a Frisky fanatic. Every day I check the site for the latest news, blogs, and things I maybe wish I had. One of my favourite columns is John Devore's "Mind of Man" -- not because he's a closet feminist who tells the ladyfolk what they want to hear, but because he's unapologetically frank about what makes his particular man-brain tick. And by doing so, he reminds us that being overly critical of the opposite sex is just as self-defeating as being overly critical of ourselves.
But I digress. This week's addition is a reflective and beautifully written piece about his mom, and thus how he views Mother's Day (which is coming up, people, don't forget!) It got me thinking about all of the things that I learned from my own mother, and how she shaped me to be the person I am today.
When I was old enough to start understanding who my mother is, she was already a single parent. I remember the shuffle between home and the babysitter's so that she could get to work and then to school...I would go off to preschool and later, skip the babysitter's and go straight to school...after her hours of work upon work she would come pick us up and we would go home for hours more of homework and keeping house. She still played with us, cooked us meals and showed us that she loved us more than anything in the world.
I learned responsibility early. Once we were old enough to stay home my brother and I were both given chores to help contribute. I may not have liked the idea that I had to wash dishes, watch my brother or (attempt to) do laundry, but what I did like is that I could help Mommy by taking some of the load off of her shoulders.
She also taught me forgiveness, and the capacity of the human heart to love despite betrayal and anguish. She forgave my father and took him back, again and again, even after all of the terrible things he did. Some would call that foolishness, and I'll agree with them -- after all, the heart that can love is the heart most capable of foolishness. To this day she loves the man she married 27 years ago, divorced 19 years ago, and remarried 8 years ago this Monday.
But Mom has learned something of herself, as well: her own strength. She learned that loving someone doesn't mean you have to be with them, and sometimes it's wiser if painful to let them go. She found a way to use her lowest points and the awful things that happened to her to build a vocation centered on helping others to overcome what she has overcome. Mom taught me that only you can set the terms of your own life...you can triumph over adversity, or lie still as it tramples you. She graduates on Saturday, and I couldn't be more proud.
No matter what's passed, there is always the chance to make something better out of it. The world, harsh and unforgiving as it can often be, also has an amazing capacity for giving second chances. You can't forget where you've been or you'll go there again, but you also can't forget to love, and love deeply -- even if it's not meant to be. And at the end of the day, the person you have to love is yourself, flaws and all. (Maybe my mom can learn something from me too...)
I'm brash and outspoken, prone to bouts of silliness. When I love I do so completely and unashamedly, even when I realize that it's not meant to be. I'm glad of the life I was given, and I want to make something even better of it. And at the end of the day, I look in the mirror and see my mother. And that's just fine with me.
Rants and Raves home
Okay, I'll admit it: I'm a Frisky fanatic. Every day I check the site for the latest news, blogs, and things I maybe wish I had. One of my favourite columns is John Devore's "Mind of Man" -- not because he's a closet feminist who tells the ladyfolk what they want to hear, but because he's unapologetically frank about what makes his particular man-brain tick. And by doing so, he reminds us that being overly critical of the opposite sex is just as self-defeating as being overly critical of ourselves.
But I digress. This week's addition is a reflective and beautifully written piece about his mom, and thus how he views Mother's Day (which is coming up, people, don't forget!) It got me thinking about all of the things that I learned from my own mother, and how she shaped me to be the person I am today.
When I was old enough to start understanding who my mother is, she was already a single parent. I remember the shuffle between home and the babysitter's so that she could get to work and then to school...I would go off to preschool and later, skip the babysitter's and go straight to school...after her hours of work upon work she would come pick us up and we would go home for hours more of homework and keeping house. She still played with us, cooked us meals and showed us that she loved us more than anything in the world.
I learned responsibility early. Once we were old enough to stay home my brother and I were both given chores to help contribute. I may not have liked the idea that I had to wash dishes, watch my brother or (attempt to) do laundry, but what I did like is that I could help Mommy by taking some of the load off of her shoulders.
She also taught me forgiveness, and the capacity of the human heart to love despite betrayal and anguish. She forgave my father and took him back, again and again, even after all of the terrible things he did. Some would call that foolishness, and I'll agree with them -- after all, the heart that can love is the heart most capable of foolishness. To this day she loves the man she married 27 years ago, divorced 19 years ago, and remarried 8 years ago this Monday.
But Mom has learned something of herself, as well: her own strength. She learned that loving someone doesn't mean you have to be with them, and sometimes it's wiser if painful to let them go. She found a way to use her lowest points and the awful things that happened to her to build a vocation centered on helping others to overcome what she has overcome. Mom taught me that only you can set the terms of your own life...you can triumph over adversity, or lie still as it tramples you. She graduates on Saturday, and I couldn't be more proud.
No matter what's passed, there is always the chance to make something better out of it. The world, harsh and unforgiving as it can often be, also has an amazing capacity for giving second chances. You can't forget where you've been or you'll go there again, but you also can't forget to love, and love deeply -- even if it's not meant to be. And at the end of the day, the person you have to love is yourself, flaws and all. (Maybe my mom can learn something from me too...)
I'm brash and outspoken, prone to bouts of silliness. When I love I do so completely and unashamedly, even when I realize that it's not meant to be. I'm glad of the life I was given, and I want to make something even better of it. And at the end of the day, I look in the mirror and see my mother. And that's just fine with me.
Rants and Raves home
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