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Okay, Gen Y, I know you’ve been a pretty apathetic group in the past. I myself have considered becoming an ex-patriot and moving to Ireland to be with Jonathan Rhys Meyers. But now is the time, if ever there was a time, to get out to the polls tomorrow and rock your vote. Hopefully, this time around, our votes will count. You gotta believe. Please, go vote.
And David Byrne is awesome:
From an email written by David Byrne:
Pardon the bulk mailing. I Can’t Vote. I am an immigrant with a Green Card and, therefore, I am not eligible to vote in a federal election. FYI – I can get drafted (luckily, Daniel Berrigan burned my draft board’s records) and I pay taxes, yet I cannot vote for President. On Election Day, I see my neighbors heading to the nearby elementary school to cast their ballots. The voting booth joint is a great leveler; the whole neighborhood – rich, poor, old, young, decrepit and spunky – they all turn out in one day.
But most of you can vote. What can I say? The Republicans have made us less safe than before 9/11, bankrupted this economy, started an illegal war they can’t – and don’t intend to – finish, removed what sympathy (after 9/11) and respect the world had for the US, and have robbed US citizens of many of their basic rights. Global warming? What’s that? Science and education? Investment in our future? No, thanks – we’ll stick with a good ‘ole hockey mom. Ignorant, and fucking proud of it, as is always the case.
Although it looks like a shoo-in, it ain’t over ’til Florida. And there are plenty of racists in this country who will vote against their own best interests. So please, get to your local elementary school, post office, town hall, or whatever, and cast your vote and make this a country we can all be proud of. We can get out of this mess, and life can be better than it is.
David Byrne
NYC
Or, and perhaps even more frightening, will it be changed?
George W. Bush is NOT my president. He has never been my president. Nor is he, for that matter, the person we, as citizens of the United States, chose to be our president. We did NOT choose him in 2000. We did NOT choose him in 2004. So what happened?
In 2000, hundreds of thousands of votes were not counted. Thousands more were not even cast, because voters were turned away from the polls; either because they were intimidated into leaving, or because their names were not even on the list. Tens of thousands of people were purged from the lists in Florida because their names too closely resembled the names of convicted felons.
And when we asked for votes to be counted, for the truth to be revealed no matter how long it took, the U.S. Supreme Court said no, and gave the Presidency of The United States of America to George W. Bush, like a tired mother who makes one of her kids give a toy to the other, just to shut them the hell up.
In 2004, Ohio became the controversial state.
The city of Gahanna, Ohio, as just one example, had 638 registered voters in the 2004 election.
4,258 votes from Gahanna were counted for Bush.
Electronic voting machines failed all over Ohio and other states. They broke, they exceeded their capacity for containing the voter tabulations and began counting backwards, erasing votes. Votes were counted three times, votes were flipped, so if you voted for one person, you actually voted for the other. With no paper trail, electronic voting is the most unreliable and corrupt process being used, yet 27 states are using electronic voting machines. Voting machines manufactured in large part by Diebold, a company that manufactures ATM machines… ATM machines that produce paper receipts and are required to have precise auditing capabilities, yet NO SUCH STANDARDS EXISTED in previous elections for the voting machines! The good news, it seems, is that these 27 states are requiring “Voter-Verified Paper Record” or VVPR in the 2008 Election. HOWEVER, 11 states are not requiring VVPR in the election tomorrow, and only 18 states require a manual audit of votes.
This is not the democracy we are trying to set as an example for other countries. Is it? Why are we in Iraq, as Bush says, to help build their country, and their democracy, when ours is far more corrupt? At least the corruption in other countries is out in the open and not hidden behind the veil American Democracy. When behind closed doors that veil comes off to reveal an infuriating Republican totalitarianism.
I am challenging you to find the truth out for yourselves. Do not believe the mainstream press in our country. All they want to do is keep their jobs and protect their interests; i.e. the people in power who control their money.
Watch the trailers below, visit the websites below, and refuse to blindly accept results as they are force-fed to us, if this election should be stolen again by the Republicans.
The video below is a trailer for the documentary, Uncounted: The New Math of American Elections.
The video below is a clip from Uncounted. Tom Feeney was going to assure that Florida’s electoral votes went to George W. Bush in 2000. Here is how he did it.
http://www.verifiedvotingfoundation.org/index.php
http://www.velvetrevolution.us/
http://www.freepress.org/index2.php
The video below is a trailer for the fantastic movie, Recount.
The video below is a parody. Funny! (But not really.)
Justice Antonin Scalia said we were the laughingstock of the world, so that was why they had to end the fight for the election in 2000… WTF?
Bill Maher discusses with Charlie Rose the role of religion in our current administration and in American politics in general… separation of church and state is in our First Amendment! “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
I am an American. But I am not proud to be one, when our country’s leaders hypocritcally corrupt everything for which we stand; freedom, democracy, basic civil rights.
Everything on which our country was founded.
It is all meaningless, if we don’t fight for it.
After showing Tobias and Catherine Wolff to the green room, I was practically bouncing, on clouds, back to the check-in table.
As I passed the main entrance of the Contemporary Jewish Museum, I glanced at the glass doors, which were locked (the museum’s security is on par with security measures at The White House, it seemed) and saw George Saunders and his wife waving to get my attention. I waved back and pointed them to the cafe entrance to which I ran, in heels no less, and opened the door. Mr. Saunders extended his hand and introduced himself as George, “and this is my wife, Paula!” They were so nice! You sometimes don’t expect celebrities to be all that cordial, but writers are of a different breed. I should know that 
I shook their hands, guided them toward the check-in table, and walked them back to the green room. Tom Barbash checked in next, with a friend who he introduced as “also a writer” and who’s name I, embarrassingly and regrettably, cannot remember. They were very nice as well, and chatty, as I guided them, yes, to the green room.
(In the middle of all the chaos, Wavy Gravy was chillin’ at a table in the cafe, drinking coffee and reading.)
The tribute commenced shortly thereafter, following me literally running around to see if the emcee, Dr. Michael Krasny, of NPR/KQED fame, had yet arrived. Thankfully he had, he just hadn’t checked in. (I heard one of the museum curators say to another, “I’ve never seen someone who could run in heels so well!” I laughed and took that as a compliment.) After the audience had taken their seats, we volunteers quietly slid in and up the stairs, sitting in the very last row of the small theatre.
The tribute lasted a little over an hour, begun with a stellar performance from Word For Word of an excerpt from one of Mr. Wolff’s stories, Down To Bone. Everyone spoke with such respect and reverence for Tobias Wolff, not only as a writer, but as a mentor and a friend and a human being, it made me want to read everything he has ever written. In fact, it made me ashamed that I had not yet read everything he’s ever written, and I’ve vowed to do so as soon as possible! But more than that, it made me feel incredibly honored to be a witness; a spectator at this beautiful award ceremony for a writer whose work has consumed my attention, and whose character, proven in the admiration of his friends and colleagues, and contribution to literature and education represents a person truly worthy of idolatry; an anomaly in today’s celebrity culture, especially in America.
Ann Packer talked about her relationship with Wolff, one that began as idolatry and evolved into a camaraderie, and about the dichotomy between the two; the respect she has for the writer Tobias Wolff and the friendship she has with Toby Wolff. The other speakers echoed this, in anecdotes about their experiences with him as a teacher, as a writer/role model and as a friend.
His political views and contributions were also recognized. Stephen Elliott praised Mr. Wolff for his contribution to the Progressive Reading Series, quoting Ann Packer in saying that Mr. Wolff is a “willing foot soldier in the war against idiocy” explaining that “many writers are appalled by the meanness of the Bush administration, but few have actually rolled up their sleeves and done something about it.” (I may be paraphrasing!) He has done readings for the Progressive Reading Series, placed phone calls to voters on election days, “Imagine getting a phone call from Tobias Wolff reminding you to vote!” Elliott exclaimed, and has worked to raise money and awareness for progressive candidates and causes.
George Saunders mentioned that, upon purchasing the house previously inhabitated by Mr. Wolff and his family, he discovered in the garage, the actual sled from Wolff’s story The Chain, (recently republished in his short story collection, Our Story Begins) pencil markings of his children’s heights at various times in their lives, and “in the basement, on a workbench, marked in red crayon in a childish scrawl: DOWN WITH THE REPUBLICANS!”
One of my favorite moments was also described by Saunders:
During the Q & A, [after a reading at Syracuse University] someone asks what Toby would do if he couldn’t be a writer.
A long, perplexed pause.
“I would be very sad,” he finally says.
The room makes a sound that means: we would too.
My new friend Jen and I milled about the museum after the ceremony, hoping for the chance to talk to him and perhaps even ask him to sign our books, but he was encircled by friends and fans and, ultimately, we lacked the courage to do so. Frozen by fear, in spite of the knowledge that he is affable and easy to approach, we finally gave up. Unfortunately, volunteers were not invited to the reception (one volunteer blew it for everyone after she was escorted out of the opening night reception for harassing the authors) so we left reluctantly.
Even though we didn’t get our books signed, I’m okay with that. And I’m okay with my status as an idolater. I feel as though I need build up a repertoire of literary accomplishments, before I can talk literature with my idol. “I’m a big fan” is all I’m worthy of saying to him at this point in my career!
Hopefully, I’ll stop feeling like a grinning idiot soon. I guess idolatry and idiocy are separated by a very fine line
The “lipstick pit-bull” goes to war
Alaskan Women Reject Palin Rally is huge!
Click on the link above to read about the rally in Alaska.
My favorite protest sign is “Hey Hockey Mom! Stay the PUCK out of D.C.!”
Hahaha ahhh
The present social construct in which we celebrate or condemn one another is not that unlike the Puritan world in which Hester Prynne had been so contemptuously reviled in Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. The differences now lie, arguably, in the repercussions, and even then the similarities are not unseen.
Although we don’t imprison and publicly scold adulterers, and force them to forever embody their sin by bearing a mark of “shame”, it remains an unlawful iniquity.
Americans have long been thought of as prudish or puritan in our sexuality by other western cultures, specifically in Europe. The French are perceived by us to be rather impish or preternaturally sexual, with memoirs like The Sexual Life of Catherine M. providing a blazing example of this overt sexuality.
With the explosion of the porn industry in the last quarter of the 20th century, one could very well argue that Americans as a whole have accepted themselves as sexual beings and in doing so no longer harbor the puritan pangs of guilt that have oppressed society for centuries.
But every new generation invites an interpretation of oppression. Ours is no different, and in many senses, very similar to those who have come before us.
The level of self-righteous hypocrisy in our current oppressive state is higher than it has ever been. I guess that is also because sexuality has become more open than it has ever been. And on the same token, is still a characteristic of sin.
It is okay for men to be sexual, but not okay for women to be, unless in a committed relationship. The eternal double-standard.
Sharon Stone once said in an interview that “Hillary Clinton is fantastic. But I think it is too soon for her to run [for president]. This may sound odd, but a woman should be past her sexuality when she runs. Hillary still has sexual power and I don’t think people will accept that. It’s too threatening.” (On a side note, when is a woman ever “past her sexuality”? Is Sophia Loren? Is Ann-Margret?)
Men in positions of power are typically suave and exude a sexuality that is seen as strong and authoritative. Women in positions of power, are hardly even taken seriously, by both men and women, especially when they reveal a smidgen of sexuality. In Hillary’s case, (Sharon Stone’s opinion notwithstanding) even if they seem asexual.
But I understand Hillary’s stance on remaining staunchly asexual to the public. To exude any sexuality would be to destroy her credibility.
Younger women today have let their hair down, so to speak, probably more than any previous generation, even the hippies of the Summer of Love.
Yet the stigma of promiscuity still hangs over our heads, like the lone rain cloud that shadows a cartoon character, on an otherwise sunny, cloudless day.
In the movie Clerks, Dante is beside himself to learn his girlfriend has performed fellatio on 35 other men, him being number 36. The movie The Girl Next Door is the embodiment of every man’s dream come true. The beautiful, seemingly innocent “girl next door” is really a porn star waiting to fuck the hell out of you, AND, let you video tape it.
Trying not to generalize, most men will tell you that they want an angel in the kitchen and a devil in the bedroom. A sexy but sweet girl in public, a nasty and dirty whore in private. But at the very same time, want her to be virginal! God forbid her sexual prowess be directly causal to the amount of sex she’s had, especially when the amount of sex she’s had is indicative of the number of sexual partners she’s had.
Men are prided on how many girls they’ve fucked and forgotten.
But many women who “sleep around” do so knowing they’ll bear the number of partners they’ve had, much like Hester was punished to bear her adultery. Hester, however, made a silent mockery of the punishment she received, wearing her scarlet A for the rest of her life, turning it into a symbol of strength, becoming a martyr for “sin”.
The societal pressure to be ashamed should really lie with those who judge the lifestyle of others.
It is a topic that has been in the media for months now; nominees to the United States Supreme Court replacing Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
I am not a political activist by any means, but perhaps my interest in the news in general is attributed to my being a journalism major. Or perhaps I am merely an educated and interested American, with a stake in how these proceedings will evolve (or devolve, depending on your political opinion and view of current, controversial laws). But aren’t we all?
In a casual conversation with two people to whom I am very close, I inadvertently mentioned Sandra Day O’Connor, as the television was turned to a newscast that happened to be recapping the events of Samuel Alito’s Confirmation Hearing. They both replied, “Who?” The television was muted, and a long silence punctuated my disbelief at their seemingly innocent ignorance.
I laughed it off and repeated myself, for maybe they didn’t hear me correctly.
I stared at them as the silence weighed heavily upon intellect. They glanced at one another through their peripheral vision.
“Oh come on, you guys, Sandra Day O’Connor. The first woman to serve on the Supreme Court?” I was appalled, astonished, outraged, etc.
To my slight relief, recollection broke the silence in the form of uneasy laughter and they admitted to recognizing her name, but weren’t able to pinpoint why. When I asked if they knew the name of the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, neither one could even guess.
“Ruth Bader Ginsberg?” I asked, hoping to see their faces light up in recognition again. They shrugged and smiled at me, at each other, and laughed and exclaimed, “How are we supposed to know all this stuff?”
How were they supposed to know? How were they supposed to know? Didn’t they watch the news, learn this in school, read the paper, see this information on the internet? Didn’t they have interesting conversations with interesting people about interesting things, namely art, literature, sports, fashion, politics, love, life in general? Well, yes they did, they do; with the obvious exception of politics. Perhaps undoubtedly excepting art and literature as well.
My generation concerns themselves with not much more than bar-hopping, bed-hopping, keg parties, haute couture, Juicy Couture and overall self-indulgence.
In an over-stimulated environment where societal norms dictate this behavior of megalomania, I assume it is not considered to be “cool” to discuss nine people who have an average age of 68. Not that it is uncool, but when most conversations revolve around where the best waves were yesterday, or the incredible experience on ecstasy someone had last night, or which herb you prefer, purple haze or blueberry, it seems a rarity, an impossibility even, that anyone my age cares about what happens to our judicial system.
I know that many people will take offense to what I have written and they should. If you read this and say to yourself, well, I wouldn’t have been able to answer those questions correctly either, you should be offended. I am not trying to embarrass my friends. I am not trying to express my intelligence and conceit. You don’t have to be a genius to know these things; they are common knowledge. Or at least, they should be.
I was disappointed in my friends, who happen to both be women. Our civil liberties, like free speech and free press even, not just a woman’s right to have an abortion, could possibly be in peril if our generation continues to stumble down this self-destructive path of apathy and we don’t take action and acknowledge the seriousness and severity of the alarming insouciance that seems to be sweeping the nation.
Perhaps it’s just Orange County. Maybe I am merely reacting to the egocentric, narcissistic environment to which I subject myself.
Not only do my friends, and thousands of others, have no clue about what is happening in politics, but they also don’t vote. They aren’t even REGISTERED to vote!
I am not a radical feminist. But I do believe in pro-choice. I am not a lesbian. But I do believe in gay rights. I vote. I can’t even begin to understand why so many people I know didn’t vote in the last few elections because they were “too busy” or “forgot” or, and much more horrifying, “didn’t care”.
But what about those who did vote? How many people ages 18 to 30 actually went into the polling booth without having researched the candidates and/or propositions, and filled the ballot like a high school freshman playing Eenie Meenie Mini Mo on a multiple choice exam in Social Studies? I bet there were a lot. That is really sad and I hope I am wrong.
If everyone stopped caring about the way our country is governed, then we would be saying FUCK OFF to every person and cause who stood and fought for freedom, equality and basic civil, human rights. I can’t do that. I can’t say FUCK OFF to Martin Luther King Jr. I can’t say FUCK OFF to Susan B. Anthony and women’s suffrage. I can’t say FUCK OFF to Abraham Lincoln. I can’t say FUCK OFF to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and the rest of our founding fathers, blah, blah, blah. I could go on, but would you really continue reading?
I don’t know what else to say. I am “out of breath”. But if one person reads this and registers to vote, or starts to pay closer attention to the news, or even looks up some of the names or events I mentioned, or leaves a comment saying that I don’t know what I’m talking about and can support a legitimate argument why, then this elaborate harangue will be justified.
