The Confusing situation in California

The State of California has to be the weirdest state in the Union. On election day, California voters were required to respond to 12 propositions for changes in their state government. Prop 8, as the voters called it, was to enact a law to eliminate the right for same sex couples to wed under California law. It was the high profile item and arguably the most important of the 12. 

The other propositions dealt with redistricting, environmental and criminal justice issues. The strangest proposition was number 2. A law defining living space for cows, pigs and chickens raised in California's farms. 

Speaking now for the citizens of that state, I guess things did not go as planned. Proposition 8 was passed by a narrow margin. Last evening, 1000 angry citizens took to the streets in protest. It seems to me to be more than a bit perplexing to have such a violent reaction to the result of a fair and proper democratic activity when the desired results, depending on your view, fail to be realized. In fact, the democratic process that was elevated to modern societies greatest acheivement, with record voter turnouts across the country for the election Barack Obama is now spurned by the citizens of California with law suits and protests.

In an attempt to clarify, i feel badly for the thousands of couples who will not not be legally wed in their home state. It bothers me greatly to see laws enacted that deny recognition for such a simple act of communion of two people like marriage. i am of the firm conviction that laws should neither create  nor deny opportunites for those that are governed. It is important for true freedom that those who are governed are allowed to choose for themselves. 

But the people of California have spoken. They have, under the protection of the federal government, the right to govern themselves with states rights as they see fit. Why is this somehow so difficult to accept in light our apparent devotion and reliance on the democratic process in this country? 

At the same time, the people of California have chosen to give the livestock of thier state a bit more living space. Taken together, this is another head-scratcher. The citizens felt more compelled to grant livestock better living conditions and simultaneously decrease that space for their fellow state citizens wishing to marry someone of the same sex. The latter happen to be human beings, not live stock. This contrast is a very strange feature of a modern society that seems all to common now.  Perhaps we, as participants of democracy,  find it difficult to answer the questions that really matter.

For those in California, frustrated with the results of Prop 8, a remidner is requried. In a Democratic society, you must take the good as well as the bad. The democratic process depends upon it. In California, the primacy of the will of the people will most likely be challenged by lawsuits and the court system. In our society today, the ability of the courts to change the will of the people is a direct threat to our democracy and it must be restrained by the willingness of the people to continue the work of democracy. My hope is that the referendum shows up again for the people of California to vote and they will choose otherwise but they must be allowed this important right for any true victory of democracy.  

WERE NOT GONNA PROTEST !!!!

Election Daze

With Nov 4th,  the United States General Election, upon us,  I am greatly relieved. So relieved in fact that i feel like i want to go out and get hammered drunk and enjoy a rowdy Tuesday. Not to celebrate any political victory but instead to welcome in the freedom from political ads and endless coverage of this democracy thing. No more force-fed political agendas and civic duty guilt trips from celebrities. I am a willing participant. I think its important to participate. At the same time i feel that the whirlwind of this  democracy love fest is tiresome and without substantial personal reward for having to endure it. 

I was not really impressed by either of this year's candidates but i went into the polling station and checked the marks anyway. I honestly feel that I am lucky enough that my life has not been drastically altered by the last 8 "years of darkeness" and which ever candidate takes the seat, any significant change will be slight and barely noticeable from where I sit. It may not be fair but it's the truth. Whomever wins this election will have their work cut out for them for sure and I'm genuinely excited to see how this new president will take up the reigns of government. 

But in the end that's all it is: Government. Those that govern the people still will do what they wish regardless of campaign promises or stated beliefs. They will do what they need to do to keep the office they have won and will side with anyone who can help them accomplish that. After all, who wouldn't do what they felt they had to do to ensure their liveli

hood. We do it everyday at work. So do those who govern. 

In the words of Jesse "the Body" Ventura, they saying goes... "In today's democracy, we have 2 choices....Pepsi or Coke. They may seem different but they are not".

How free are we to choose those who govern us when the choice has really been made for us in advance. Political parties and special interests create the candidates and that is all we have. The truth is, the media driven, dual party system is not the only way for the people to elect their government, its just all we have right now.

And Democracy was all the Founding fathers had at their disposal at the time as well. They didn't even like democracy - they preferred it over Monarchy so that's what they went with. But they knew that the people could be just as easily oppressed by the mob as they could by a king. The founders disdain for unbridled democracy is evident in the creation of the electoral college. 

I got a voting sticker at the polls but discarded it with my morning latte. What's the voting sticker about? "Oh, i'm sorry, your sticker on your garment indicates that you participated in the election. Good for you..."  I hate that crap. It's my obligation as an American to vote, even if i don't like either candidate or think it really doesn't make a difference. I don't need to be made to feel good about it. 

That's not the american way. 

This strange fall festival

I have always been captivated and intrigued by Halloween. As as child it was a liberating and exhilarating experience to gallivant around the neighborhood with my peers (unsupervised) and gather candy from the houses that were handing out the delicious treats and egg the ones who decided to keep their porch lights off. Even as the treats became less important and depositing shaving cream all over random cars became the thing to do it was still exhilarating. Now, and can't even imagine how my mother even stomached the idea of me out on Halloween with my mischievous friends conjuring up trouble. 

It wasn't until i was an adult that i uncovered the true origin of Halloween. Once understood, i think it has become more interesting than ever. Halloween is only popular in the US because of  the Catholic heritage of the last great wave of immigrants, of which i am apart or at least raised in the traditions of those immigrants. Our Founding Fathers had little tolerance of anything related to the papacy. The Puritans, who were fervently anti-Catholic certainly did not contribute to the propagation of the holiday on these shores. It was the Irish, Spanish, Italian and Eastern European immigrants who continued to celebrate Halloween once in the US.

After-all, the night before all hallows has a deep connection with human existence going back to iron age humans in the British isles. The Celts called it Sawain. They believed it was the time of year when the barrier betwixt the living and the dead was thin enough that strange shit was going to go down. They understood that life was not guarranteed. They may not be around to see the spring time. Fall was a do-or-die situation for many of our primitive relatives. The lack of food and harsh weather claimed the lives of many, even during good winters. The Catholic church capitalized on this pagan autumnal celebration by issuing a decree that Nov 1st would be All Saints Day, and hereby a Catholic Holiday - a HDO (holy day of obligation). Their intention was most likely to create a syncretism.  A combination of a pagan tradition with a new overtones of Catholic piety rather than establish a day to honor the saints. In any case, it seems that the pagan and Catholic elements of the season endure for every one's enjoyment. Happy Halloween! 

Worst to First

 

TB 2nd baseman Akinori Iwamura

So the Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series for the first time in their short franchise history. Despite the fact that they are a one of the youngest clubs in the majors (their have 5 players on thier entire roster over the age of 30) they are just damn good. They are an extremely aggressive team. They run well and play sold defence and have the 2nd best team ERA in the American League. But what is most impressive about this years Rays, is that last year they posted a dismal 66 and 96 with a win % of .407. This year they pinned up a 97 and 65 record. Talk about a swing in baseball fortune! I thought these kind of swings were not supposed to happen in baseball. What about the years of big-market clubs like my beloved Yankees dominating the scene with all the best players and the biggest crowds. I was inclined to think the "worst to first" phenomenon was limited to the NFL and maybe the NHL.  

It is difficult to watch the Rays play in the "worlds biggest game". They are a regular season rival of my beloved Yankees and a fixture team of any fan of the AL east division. Years and years of watching the Yankees steam roll the Rays are apparently over, for now. 

As for the World Series, In the words of Michael Vick, "I don't have a dog in this fight". I would like to see the Phillies victorious if it were up to me. At least, the Red Sox are out of it...

For the World Series of 2007, I was lucky enough to be in a place where baseball does not exist... Europe. As the dreaded Sox captured the championship I was happily sipping a strong Belgian ale in the quiet medieval town of Leuven, without a baseball fan in site. It was glorious. I am not so lucky this year. 

After 30 years in Cinema, Pacino still claims to Gail that his life was indeed saved

Oscar winner Al Pacino will help kick off the Rome film festival on Wednesday as he picks up an achievement award on behalf of the Actors Studio, springboard for many of Hollywood's best and brightest. 

In spite of his award, Pacino still struggles to convince Gail that his life was saved. Gail, stubborn in her ways, refuses to recognize it. 

Dewey for Joba?

23 year old Yankee right hander and, in my opinion, the best addition to the New York Yankees in recent memory, Joba Chamberlin was arrested for DUI in Omaha, Nebraska on Oct 18th. I mean, i know he's only 23 (barely) but get a few  brain cells to rub up against one another and just chill . You're Joba Chamberlin. Get a ride from somebody if you're sauced. 

On the eve of the begining of the World Series, negative news out of the Yankee camp is discouraging. Here is a list of other yanks who fought the law and, well, you know....

Dale Berra

Don Mattingly (Donald Baseball)

Daryl Strawberry (the Straw)

Music for your inner child

So i purchsed the new Copeland album this weekend from iTunes and while doing so made me HATE iTunes even more than i did. For some reason the band only released the album on iSux and was not available on my prefered Amazon Mp3 site. It was worth it, though. You are my sunshine is their 3rd full length release and i must say that there are not many bands that i hear these days that have a really cool vibe AND give you the kind of hurt you havent felt since you were 14 and confused. They depress me at times but their songs are so well written, moving and technically interesting. 

Their first record was real rocking and as they progressed through their albums they got softer. Nonetheless it is still interesting to listend to and i dig that. 

I saw them live in Hartford, CT back in Feb of 2007 opening up for some other band i didn't know nor liked a great deal. My girl and I went solely for the Copeland flavor. They were really good. I watched the band with unusual concentration while most of the place was still filing in and chatting over thier budweisers in plastic goblets. As for, YAMS, the tracks that i liked immediately include: "The Grey Man" and "Chin Up"

Harison Frod fucking loves this shit! 

He recommends puting this on when the ladies are around to show off your sensitive side

Always the bad...

Why are people always quick to blame you when things go wrong and then thier comments mysteriously dry up when things go right?? 

The 1930's??

I think that the 1929 stock market crash or the great crash, the stunning crash, the crash-out, or what ever myriad of names it has been called. It seems relevant today for obvious reasons, 1929. The events that unfolded in 1929 with the economic chaos set the tone for the 1930's which in my opinion was the strangest and most tense decade of the 20th century. Times seem tense again. The rise of militarism and conservative governments struggling to solve the economic failures of years before.  Cutting thier noses to spite their, well you know... Rise in poverty, the rise against communism both seemed to increase in 1930. Actually before, in 1928 with Mussolini but nonetheless it found its pricarious stride in the 30's. 

Could the economic mess we are in now start a world-wide shift in government policy as it did in 1930? Could the pendulum swing violently again in the opposite direction? 

Sept 11

On the anniversary of Sept 11th I become the person I was in 2001. I feel the same. I think about the same things. I pour over the same images and news reports as i did for 3 or 4 days back in 2001. I don't really know how i can explain the feeling. 

I go on the internet and see people getting all riled up on each 9/11 anniversary and i feel like now one has learned anything. They are still blogging and e-arguing about the same things. Its sad. I wonder if we will ever really come to terms with what kind of world we were thrown into on 9/11/01. That world, I think its too scary, too real, too uncertain. That's why there is all this mumbo-jumbo about conspiracies - not everyone can understand....  truly know, that life has the ability to be utterly random. To understand the our lives are completely out of our control. Our lives are as fragile and vulnerable just as any other organism on earth. So people fabricate these reasons why meaningless tradgedies occur in the hopes of finding comfort. 

I think if we really understand that our lives are basically up to chance, we'll have more fun, argue less, be more charitable and really connect with the people close to us. 

Next year on sept 11th, maybe i'll take the day off and see where the day takes me.