My Peace on Alito
I usually don't address politics directly in this blog, but I have found myself being very disappointed in the entire political system because of the Justice Alito's confirmation proceedings. To me it represents a bunch of ideologically-blinded politicians flexing their collective apathy and ignorance about the American system of government. Not that the Republicans are always in the right. I really believe that many of them would be doing the same thing if it were a Democratic nominee by a Democratic president. I just wish that people would make decisions based on character and conscience instead of ideology. That's my two cents on the matter.
The Greatness of Abraham Lincoln
The greatness of Abraham Lincoln was often in his ability to articulate the highest aspirations of a nation. Check out the final phrase of his Second Inaugural address given as the Civil War was ending and before his unfortunate assassination. These were his thoughts about the possibility of reunion. Even as a skeptical historian, I find a genuineness in these words severely lacking in politicians who never even write their own speeches.
"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
(Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1865)
Cleaning the House
Today I was cleaning my apartment, and while I was cleaning, I realized how much more fun chores are when you do them with someone you care about.
History
"History is a story written by the finger of God."
--Christian Reflections
"All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."
--Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis
Writing my Thesis
Writing can be an incredibly difficult, and yet a phenomenally rewarding experience. I find myself on the precipice of the largest writing project that I have ever undertaken: my Masters Thesis. So far it has been going slowly, but I find myself improving every day. The questions still broods in the back of my mind of how to envision a project this large. I guess I'll just keep trudging away at it. In writing, you bare the inadequacies of your soul. I hope it's worth it.
The Polar Plunge
There are times in our lives when we do crazy things for really good reasons. Saturday I participated in what is known as a polar plunge. This consisted of about 50 crazy people jumping into a water hole cut out of the ice at Hyrum Reservoir in Northern Utah. The water was freezing and the temperature outside was 28 degrees. Truth be told, the water didn't feel as cold as I thought it would and the experience was pleasant because of the company and the cause. We supported the Utah Special Olympics and we jumped into the water as the best of friends. There is great comraderie in group stupidity.
In Times of War
"Even when the armaments of war ring out in deathly serenade and darkness and hatred reign in the hearts of some, there stands immovable, reassuring, comforting, and with great outreaching love the quiet figure of the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world."
(Gordon B. Hinckley April 6, 2003)
Understanding Race
"There is a continuous temptation to think of race as an essence, as something fixed, concrete, and objective. And there is also an opposite temptation to imagine race as a mere illusion, a purely ideological construct which some ideal non-racist social order would eliminate . . . The effort must be made to understand race as an unstable and decentered complex of social meanings constantly being transformed by political struggle."
(Michael Omi and Howard Winant,
Racial Formations in the United States: From the 1960s to the 1990s (Routledge: New York, 1994), 54-55)
First Time Skiing
Tonight I went skiing for the first time, and needless to say I fell a ton. In fact I think that I spent more time on my face than on the slopes. But I was impressed at the compassion and patience shown to me by the people that I love. Both my girlfriend and my roommate spent time with me trying to help me learn how to be able to ski. It inspired me because I knew that they could have enjoyed themselves much more skiing at their own level. Their sacrifices allowed me to have a good time even though I didn't ever completely master the slopes. More than anything I learned that compassion still exists in the world and that it helps me to smile a little wider and feel a little brighter as I confront the vicissitudes of the world.
Pictures from Peru
I thought I might share some of my favorite images from my second home: Peru. A canal at Cumbemayo, A sunset over Huanchaco, The dusty roads of Las Lomas, and the ventanillas de Otusco
Pure Bliss
Pure bliss is finding a friend with whom you can do anything and never become tired or bored. Our society is built around the constant search for excitement and the need for thrills. It is incredible when in all of the hustle and bustle you find someone who truly seems to make the menial moments of life truly memorable.
Vicissitude numero uno
It feels good to be completely honest, but at times it can be very hard because it can create unwanted pressure. I wish everything could always work out perfectly all of the time. I feel bad, but at the same time I feel better.
Liver on the Alter
My best friend wrote a play about love in all of its many forms. I just wanted to share some of "Liver on the Alter's" most profound assertions--Some very poignant thoughts on the nature of humanity:
"Real love hurts sometimes and sometimes real love has to go into the darkest places to come out whole again."
"Only dead people have no choices. Many people don’t have freedom but everyone has choices."
"In love, sacrifice doesn’t seem like a sacrifice. What you do for him and call love is called pointless pain if you were to do it for somebody you didn’t love. "
"Don’t be deceived by appearances. The exterior often veils the masterpiece that lies in the heart."
"Love is a choice and love is alive. It can die like a flower can. You water your love everyday. You go out into the storm to protect it."
My favorite poem
Things That Never Die
The pure, the bright, the beautiful
that stirred our hearts in youth,
The impulses to wordless prayer,
The streams of love and truth,
The longing after something lost,
The spirit's longing cry,
The striving after better hopes--
These things can never die.
The timid hand stretched forth to aid
A brother in his need;
A kindly word in grief's dark hour
That proves a friend indeed;
The plea for mercy softly breathed,
When justice threatens high,
The sorrow of a contrite heart--
These things shall never die.
Let nothing pass, for every hand
Must find some work to do,
Lose not a chance to waken love--
Be firm and just and true.
So shall a light that cannot fade
Beam on thee from on high,
And angel voices say to thee--
"These things shall never die."
~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
Cry, the Beloved Country
As a cynical historian of race, I tend to focus on the terrible consequences of prejudice and dehumanization. There is much of the human story of which we should not be proud. Nevertheless, every once and a while you see a movie like
Cry, the Beloved Country the powerful film depiction of the 1950s novel. This movie depicts racism in pre-Apartheid South Africa honestly and regretfully. It powerfully documents the ways that prejudice affects the lives of real people. To simply tell this story would be worthwhile, but the thing that makes this movie poignant and profound is that shows how human understanding overcomes racism. Black and white fathers come together through the actions of their children. James Earl Jones is phenomenal in this movie and I recommend it highly. It just is nice when a film changes your life--this one will.
Oversimplification
There are many ways to see the world. Oversimplification is the bane of all perception. Politicians try to provide simple answers to complex problems. Hundreds of advice books attempt to give their consumers the many answers to all of life's problems.
Don't get me wrong. I believe in absolute right and wrong, but at times I think we set ourselves up as judges of that right or wrong without having the understanding or knowledge to be able to make an accurate and fair judgement. The world needs more people that listen and try to understand one another.
A New Beginning
Inspired by my girlfriend, I am entering into the new and dangerous world of blogging. Knowing full well that the name of my blog stinks, I hope that this blog manifests a distinct awareness of everything that's wrong and everything that's right about the world--at least as I see it. Enjoy.
