Treehouse Park
14 years ago
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Fishing or church
Not sure if my kids are in need of a little more religious education. At breakfast before he ate his bagel with salmon Adam says, "Fishy fishy in a brooke, come and bite my little hook" Tristan, "AAAA-men"
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Writing history
"I returned to the image of the ruined Temple in Nauvoo-the piles of stone, the column holding up nothing, the chipped piece of the baptismal font. Did any sect or creed, any group of men, deserve such a fate? I believed in everything I said at the lectern, I knew it was true. Surely Brigham, when he stands before his people, would say the same. He believes everything he says, and he knows it is true. How to reconcile our competing truths? By obliterating one? Is it the only way? I turned the question this way and that, doing my best to look at it from each end, pressing upon its points, and I began to feel anxious. Perhaps the Temple ruins were not a symbol of the Mormons' fate, but my own. If one side must be right, and the other wrong, how could I be so certain of everything I knew? Inevitably we were both right, and both wrong, or was this not true? It was a circular question, like an iron hoop, and I could trace my finger along it, around and around and never reach its end. I fumbled with this idea for a long time, losing my grasp on my beliefs, until the early sun came through the fog, and the streets illuminated with the goodness of day." --David Ebershoff, The 19th Wife
This passage from this wonderful book really struck me yesterday. These are the questions that I have in my mind about politics today. Not only is there a great clash of cultures right now regarding the healthcare debate but I feel the same clash in my own heart and mind. Later in the book she realizes that polygamy is actually the straw that breaks the camel's back and that she can only save the church from itself rather than burn it down. Very interesting book that I am enjoying reading.
This passage from this wonderful book really struck me yesterday. These are the questions that I have in my mind about politics today. Not only is there a great clash of cultures right now regarding the healthcare debate but I feel the same clash in my own heart and mind. Later in the book she realizes that polygamy is actually the straw that breaks the camel's back and that she can only save the church from itself rather than burn it down. Very interesting book that I am enjoying reading.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Racial Outbursts: Are we headed for thought police?
rac·ism
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
This past week there were three very different people, from three very different backgrounds making three very publicized oubursts. First it was Joe Wilson on September 9th putting his best foot forward and then in his mouth by shouting out "you lie!" when Obama mentioned that his health plan would not cover illegal immigrants. I mean seriously, to my fellow southerners, let's try harder please. The camera might be rolling. Let's choose our words carefully whether you are interviewed about the latest tornado coming through your trailer park or just sitting like a "good boy" listening to the president. You are making us all look bad and you are an easy target because southerners and hillbilies are some of the only people that we can still make fun of and not be politically incorrect. "Liar liar pants on fire" is not actually appropriate after age 10.
Then this weekend September 12th was the Serena Williams outburst where she set an awesome example for sportsWOMANlike conduct to her adoring young fans when she told the line judge, "I'll shove this f'ing ball down your f'ing throat". Just makes me want to sign little Suzie up for tennis lessons!
Then of course we have Kanye West with his narcissistic rant on stage at the VMAs when he interrupted Taylor Swift's speach to let everyone know that Beyonce had one of "the best videos of all time". I digress in order to discuss that ummmm no sorry Kanye in no way was that the best video of all time. Eventhough his rant would be uncalled for regardless, there is no way that three "single ladies" dancing around in black leotards could be considered, "one of the best videos of all time". If that is the case I am about to add a list of grievances inflicted by Kanye. Add to the list "sexist" while we are at it.
So what do all of these people have in common? They are as different as can be, an athlete, a pop star and a politician. However they were captured this week at their most human and ugly. They all had their outbursts towards people of a different race. This of course happens from time to time because we live in an amazing country where people of all colors interact everyday. We have all had moments of less than stellar behavior. Most of us are lucky enough to not have it filmed!
So since the cameras were rolling and we are into analyzing words to death, now we are playing the race card. There has been a little buzz about Kanye's comments as racist and he has definately been called racist in the past. I don't know his heart. There is no way to truly know if someone is racist without really knowing them. And now we have Jimmy Carter weighing in on Joe Wilson's comments as racist and stating that there is a large amount of animosity towards Obama because he is African American.
My question; is this just projection on our society's part? Are we headed towards a "thought police". We have no idea what went on in these people's heads and where these attitudes and tendencies come from. All of our perceptions and actions are adultered by our past, our culture and education. These sort of angry outbursts are formed from the most basic survival mechanisms. The anger protects us. That protection mechanism is formed at an age when our brain is the most vulnerable to cultural (whether negative or positive) influences. This part of our survival mechanism is largely unconscious and formed at an age when we are not even aware that it is forming. Even if there was a racist comment made (which there wasn't in any instance) should we be persecuted for our ugliest thoughts and emotions? How could we hold someone accountable to a claim of racism or even prejudice when we can never really know what is behind such an outburst. We can only reprimand them for the unconscious act that was made.
Even if the act is tainted by that person's bias and prejudice we can't call them racist. To me using the word racist in these instances is like cussing all the time. When you use the word all of the time it lessens it's strength when it is supposed to really mean something. Racist is a strong word. Let's use it wisely. Let's wait for something bigger and badder to come along!
I am concerned about the extremism in our culture right now. I am concerned about both sides. I am concerned about the right wing nuts who are trying to prove that Obama is not a citizen and asserting that his healthcare plan is just a means to usher in totalitarianism. But I am also concerned about the thought police. There have been no racist crimes committed on TV this week by Joe Wilson or Kanye West eventhough their outbursts were uncalled for and should be condemned. We all live in this beautiful world together and we will never be able to overcome racism if we do not see behind these most basic human emotions and try to learn where they really come from. Cultural background breeds bias and sometimes prejudice but it does not bring about racism. Hatred and ignorance breeds racism and we need to stop and realize the power of the words we use to describe even our most unconscious brethren.
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
This past week there were three very different people, from three very different backgrounds making three very publicized oubursts. First it was Joe Wilson on September 9th putting his best foot forward and then in his mouth by shouting out "you lie!" when Obama mentioned that his health plan would not cover illegal immigrants. I mean seriously, to my fellow southerners, let's try harder please. The camera might be rolling. Let's choose our words carefully whether you are interviewed about the latest tornado coming through your trailer park or just sitting like a "good boy" listening to the president. You are making us all look bad and you are an easy target because southerners and hillbilies are some of the only people that we can still make fun of and not be politically incorrect. "Liar liar pants on fire" is not actually appropriate after age 10.
Then this weekend September 12th was the Serena Williams outburst where she set an awesome example for sportsWOMANlike conduct to her adoring young fans when she told the line judge, "I'll shove this f'ing ball down your f'ing throat". Just makes me want to sign little Suzie up for tennis lessons!
Then of course we have Kanye West with his narcissistic rant on stage at the VMAs when he interrupted Taylor Swift's speach to let everyone know that Beyonce had one of "the best videos of all time". I digress in order to discuss that ummmm no sorry Kanye in no way was that the best video of all time. Eventhough his rant would be uncalled for regardless, there is no way that three "single ladies" dancing around in black leotards could be considered, "one of the best videos of all time". If that is the case I am about to add a list of grievances inflicted by Kanye. Add to the list "sexist" while we are at it.
So what do all of these people have in common? They are as different as can be, an athlete, a pop star and a politician. However they were captured this week at their most human and ugly. They all had their outbursts towards people of a different race. This of course happens from time to time because we live in an amazing country where people of all colors interact everyday. We have all had moments of less than stellar behavior. Most of us are lucky enough to not have it filmed!
So since the cameras were rolling and we are into analyzing words to death, now we are playing the race card. There has been a little buzz about Kanye's comments as racist and he has definately been called racist in the past. I don't know his heart. There is no way to truly know if someone is racist without really knowing them. And now we have Jimmy Carter weighing in on Joe Wilson's comments as racist and stating that there is a large amount of animosity towards Obama because he is African American.
My question; is this just projection on our society's part? Are we headed towards a "thought police". We have no idea what went on in these people's heads and where these attitudes and tendencies come from. All of our perceptions and actions are adultered by our past, our culture and education. These sort of angry outbursts are formed from the most basic survival mechanisms. The anger protects us. That protection mechanism is formed at an age when our brain is the most vulnerable to cultural (whether negative or positive) influences. This part of our survival mechanism is largely unconscious and formed at an age when we are not even aware that it is forming. Even if there was a racist comment made (which there wasn't in any instance) should we be persecuted for our ugliest thoughts and emotions? How could we hold someone accountable to a claim of racism or even prejudice when we can never really know what is behind such an outburst. We can only reprimand them for the unconscious act that was made.
Even if the act is tainted by that person's bias and prejudice we can't call them racist. To me using the word racist in these instances is like cussing all the time. When you use the word all of the time it lessens it's strength when it is supposed to really mean something. Racist is a strong word. Let's use it wisely. Let's wait for something bigger and badder to come along!
I am concerned about the extremism in our culture right now. I am concerned about both sides. I am concerned about the right wing nuts who are trying to prove that Obama is not a citizen and asserting that his healthcare plan is just a means to usher in totalitarianism. But I am also concerned about the thought police. There have been no racist crimes committed on TV this week by Joe Wilson or Kanye West eventhough their outbursts were uncalled for and should be condemned. We all live in this beautiful world together and we will never be able to overcome racism if we do not see behind these most basic human emotions and try to learn where they really come from. Cultural background breeds bias and sometimes prejudice but it does not bring about racism. Hatred and ignorance breeds racism and we need to stop and realize the power of the words we use to describe even our most unconscious brethren.
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