It's 2007! And it is time to review the best of 2006. Let' s see what 06 gave us:
Best Science Book Edit: Pluto, formerly known as a Planet
Best Moment in Satire: Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent's Dinner
Best Dictionary Addition: Truthiness, again, thanks to Stephen Colbert
Best Political Coup: Democrats winning majority in both House and Senate
Best Presidential Boo-boo: "The only way we can win is to leave before the job is done"
Best Repetitive Ad: Head On, apply directly to the forehead; Head-On, apply directly to the forehead...(repeat, repeat, repeat)
(My) Best Epiphany: One who looks for the truth in the world will look forever and never find it. One who looks for the truth within, will see the truth for what it is to them.--Me
Best Reincarnation of Edward R. Murrow: Keith Olbermann
Best Time Person of the Year: Me (And you thought it was going to be You! Kind of selfish, isn't it!!)
Oh, I could go on, but I'll end it there, because 2007 is already here and it is beginning to be such an excellent year already.
Showing posts with label year in review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label year in review. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Thursday, December 29, 2005
American Values?
Reflecting on 2005, it seems the saying "American Values" continues to get tossed around in political conversation like a broken, and warped record (you know, the vinyl-type). I thought that slogan would have ended after the 2004 election, but NOOooo. It's still being chimed in 2005.
So, what are our American Values? I tried to look up a list that clearly delineates our American Values doing a Google search, but I found many sites that touted that ambiguous term, but nothing definitive. So, I will now attempt to define what our American Values are from what is written, and by what our society and government advocate in our actions.
Life
With limits, of course. We may fight tooth and nail to make sure unborn lives are born into the world, regardless what the parents may want. However, a boy's life in Texas apparently wasn't worth saving, and because of a state law, was denied life-sustaining efforts because his parents were too poor. Another lady from Florida, in a neurologic coma for over a decade and virtually brain-dead, is worth saving, and worth shorting the president's vacation to create a law in an effort to save her life. And the death penalty is still tops in our commander-in-chief's book, so apparently not all lives are worth living.
Speaking of lives, living is a global affair and since we have decided that the US is into affecting the global affair, let's look at how we translate that American value of life to other countries and people of varying persuasions. Our Republican congress and executive branch encourages torture, even though they still think other countries should not do it. We started a war in Iraq because of the threat of WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction, I've learned), although we widely have used DU (Depleted Uranium, not Denver U.) battling 'terrorism' in Afganistan and Iraq. That can't be as bad as the WMD Saddam used against his people, could it?
I searched for "American value life" and the first entry was an article by a pro-life writer with what seemed to be a Republican slant.
He speaks of "unalienable" and "self-evident truth" about the right of life. Unalienable, which is similar to inalienable, means not to be separated, given away or taken away. What does that mean for life? Basically, we don't torture or cut up, enslave or destroy life, or do we?
The right to life is also seen as a self-evident truth, meaning requiring no proof or explanation. Although, you are required to have a birth certificate and other documents to prove you are you just to exist in the US, so apparently your self-evident right to life lasts as long as you don't have to provide docuementation for it. Or you are unborn, and have yet to draw your first breath, then you have more rights than many who are living, according to some. There is no law stating what is life and human, thus, anything could be life, animate or inanimate.
However, there are several federal and state laws that say when a life can be extinguished. Like in the event they are charged with some heinous crime against themselves or society (death penalty), or if they just don't have the money to keep themselves alive, or someone says that a life is not worth using life-sustaining measures (yes, it is a law in Texas, so Terry Shiavo's parents should be grateful they didn't live there or she'd only have 10 days).
So, LIFE is an American Value, as long as that life has some type of worth according to the powers that be.
Liberty
Again, with limits. Liberty is like freedom, so check out the value of freedom below, too. If you have enough $$$ to push your weight around, you can impose on other's liberties so that you can gain more liberty for yourself. It's fairly easy to buy off local governments, and even state and national ones, if you have enough $$$, know the right people, are related to the right families, and rub the right people the right way.
Sure, some people say that liberty can be saved by speaking up for your rights and liberties. Well, reviewing history and personal experiences, that doesn't always happen. Most of the time liberties happen because of $$$. This is a capitalist society. The value of $$$ trumps all other values, really.
A search for "American value liberty" brings up a vehicle blue book website, and two websites about money. That certainly explains a lot.
Pursuit of Happiness
With limits, of course. This is a very subjective value, really, and pursuing happiness in our capitalist society entails money. True happiness, of course, is an intrinsic concept, and only happens when one is content with who they are and what they possess inside. But that doesn't help our capitalist economy, so the pursuit of happiness has been translated to purchasing whatever it takes to make one feel happy. Sometimes that means purchasing a diamond for that special someone in your life, or getting the right clothes and style to fit in with a certain social group. It is all about what you can get to make you happy, that is the American way.
Defenders of the US Constitution
As long as it doesn't impede on anyone, especially the executive branch these days. The US Constitution must yield to our capitalist society, so if it doesn't, we'll just make some minor adjustments so it will.
Governed by the People, for the People
As long as those governing have incentive ($$$) to govern, whether that be from individuals, special interest groups, or companies.
Separation of Church & State
Separate as long as it doesn't offend anyone, but necessary to sway the people one way or another. Also, great backup for state to help faith-based (church) organizations when the state help just doesn't cut it.
Conglomeration of Corporation & State
I don't think it is fair to talk of the separation of church and state, and not mention the flip side of the coin with the cooperation of big companies and large special interest groups with their large coffers of money and government. Hey, it's that mentality of "if you rub my back, I'll rub yours" as long as there's no direct link from the government to a specific company. Or in the cases of Enron and Haliburton, direct links make for great $$$. Hey, this is a capitalist society.
Freedom
Of course, with limits. You can't allow one man's absolute freedom when it impedes another man's freedom, right? See liberty, above.
Oh, there was the issue with slavery over a century ago, but wasn't that taken care of with the civil war? What about women's freedoms? Ah, a woman is not a man, right? Oh, they are people, too? Women aren't slaves to their fathers or husbands? Women get individual rights and freedoms here, too? Oh, great, what are all these new Muslim immigrants going to do now? Oh, separation of church and state, right.
Equality
As long as someone is human and on US soil, they are apparently equal, regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, gender, handicap, etc. Oh, that's not the case, you say? There's a class system in the US? What's that? Rich people get more tax breaks than poor and middle class? Rich people get better health care? Rich people's lives are saved more than poor and middle class? Even natural disaster, which used to be the great equalizer, now still can wipe out the poor and middle class, while leaving the rich virtually unscathed? It's not about you, as much as it about who you know and how much $$$ you make.
Add your ideas of American Values
This is definitely not an exhaustive list of American Values. Please feel free to add your ideals of American Values by commenting to this post. Thanks!
Abstract List of American Values:
I want to also add this website for you to right-click and link in new window to read: American Family Values, a very altruistic view of values, which, from my experience, doesn't quite match with reality in the US. If you were truly to espouse those values and principles, you would easily get trampled on by the masses. Sure, you can make a noble attempt to live and pass such ideals to your children and grandchildren, but when you take these ideals to heart and use them in your daily life, you will see that all of these ideals are easily used against you.
These ideals make you weak in our society because they all (integrity, self-discipline, proactivity, empathy, humility) reveal your passiveness and honesty. If you want to get ahead, you will learn that integrity will not get you there, because the dishonest resume and interviewee will likely get the job and/or the sale. Self-discipline is good only to a point, because there will always be people who throw self-discipline to the wind to get their point across or to make sure they trample on you. If you don't throw some of your restraints away, they will continue to walk all over you. Heck, there are very few businesses out there that are proactive, so if you try to get them proactive, they will react, because that is just not the way it happens in the real world. Then, there's empathy--oh, I feel your pain. Sure, as long as feeling your pain can get them ahead in some way, otherwise you are just showing how gullible you are in our society. Finally, humility. The ability to fess up to your weaknesses and blunders, if you should ever acknowledge them. A noble trait, indeed, and one big NO-NO in our society if you don't want them to come back and haunt you for the rest of your life. Success in our capitalist society will always be given to someone else, if you don't stand up for yourself and lose these notions of congeniality.
Not all places in our society and business world work to keep those principles/values from being valuable. But, most do. Just look at our government for starters. Sigh.
American Democratic Values, as taught by the Michigan Board of Education. Great link for black and white ideals of our values, presented for youth of just about all ages.
Stale Conclusion:
Our American Values are not absolute, nor are they set in stone. They change like the ebb and flow of the ocean. The United States is not the utopian mecca that we all claim it is to be, and as we are all human and prone to error, that utopian society may never be met until we meet our Maker in heaven.
So, what are our American Values? I tried to look up a list that clearly delineates our American Values doing a Google search, but I found many sites that touted that ambiguous term, but nothing definitive. So, I will now attempt to define what our American Values are from what is written, and by what our society and government advocate in our actions.
Life
With limits, of course. We may fight tooth and nail to make sure unborn lives are born into the world, regardless what the parents may want. However, a boy's life in Texas apparently wasn't worth saving, and because of a state law, was denied life-sustaining efforts because his parents were too poor. Another lady from Florida, in a neurologic coma for over a decade and virtually brain-dead, is worth saving, and worth shorting the president's vacation to create a law in an effort to save her life. And the death penalty is still tops in our commander-in-chief's book, so apparently not all lives are worth living.
Speaking of lives, living is a global affair and since we have decided that the US is into affecting the global affair, let's look at how we translate that American value of life to other countries and people of varying persuasions. Our Republican congress and executive branch encourages torture, even though they still think other countries should not do it. We started a war in Iraq because of the threat of WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction, I've learned), although we widely have used DU (Depleted Uranium, not Denver U.) battling 'terrorism' in Afganistan and Iraq. That can't be as bad as the WMD Saddam used against his people, could it?
I searched for "American value life" and the first entry was an article by a pro-life writer with what seemed to be a Republican slant.
He speaks of "unalienable" and "self-evident truth" about the right of life. Unalienable, which is similar to inalienable, means not to be separated, given away or taken away. What does that mean for life? Basically, we don't torture or cut up, enslave or destroy life, or do we?
The right to life is also seen as a self-evident truth, meaning requiring no proof or explanation. Although, you are required to have a birth certificate and other documents to prove you are you just to exist in the US, so apparently your self-evident right to life lasts as long as you don't have to provide docuementation for it. Or you are unborn, and have yet to draw your first breath, then you have more rights than many who are living, according to some. There is no law stating what is life and human, thus, anything could be life, animate or inanimate.
However, there are several federal and state laws that say when a life can be extinguished. Like in the event they are charged with some heinous crime against themselves or society (death penalty), or if they just don't have the money to keep themselves alive, or someone says that a life is not worth using life-sustaining measures (yes, it is a law in Texas, so Terry Shiavo's parents should be grateful they didn't live there or she'd only have 10 days).
So, LIFE is an American Value, as long as that life has some type of worth according to the powers that be.
Liberty
Again, with limits. Liberty is like freedom, so check out the value of freedom below, too. If you have enough $$$ to push your weight around, you can impose on other's liberties so that you can gain more liberty for yourself. It's fairly easy to buy off local governments, and even state and national ones, if you have enough $$$, know the right people, are related to the right families, and rub the right people the right way.
Sure, some people say that liberty can be saved by speaking up for your rights and liberties. Well, reviewing history and personal experiences, that doesn't always happen. Most of the time liberties happen because of $$$. This is a capitalist society. The value of $$$ trumps all other values, really.
A search for "American value liberty" brings up a vehicle blue book website, and two websites about money. That certainly explains a lot.
Pursuit of Happiness
With limits, of course. This is a very subjective value, really, and pursuing happiness in our capitalist society entails money. True happiness, of course, is an intrinsic concept, and only happens when one is content with who they are and what they possess inside. But that doesn't help our capitalist economy, so the pursuit of happiness has been translated to purchasing whatever it takes to make one feel happy. Sometimes that means purchasing a diamond for that special someone in your life, or getting the right clothes and style to fit in with a certain social group. It is all about what you can get to make you happy, that is the American way.
Defenders of the US Constitution
As long as it doesn't impede on anyone, especially the executive branch these days. The US Constitution must yield to our capitalist society, so if it doesn't, we'll just make some minor adjustments so it will.
Governed by the People, for the People
As long as those governing have incentive ($$$) to govern, whether that be from individuals, special interest groups, or companies.
Separation of Church & State
Separate as long as it doesn't offend anyone, but necessary to sway the people one way or another. Also, great backup for state to help faith-based (church) organizations when the state help just doesn't cut it.
Conglomeration of Corporation & State
I don't think it is fair to talk of the separation of church and state, and not mention the flip side of the coin with the cooperation of big companies and large special interest groups with their large coffers of money and government. Hey, it's that mentality of "if you rub my back, I'll rub yours" as long as there's no direct link from the government to a specific company. Or in the cases of Enron and Haliburton, direct links make for great $$$. Hey, this is a capitalist society.
Freedom
Of course, with limits. You can't allow one man's absolute freedom when it impedes another man's freedom, right? See liberty, above.
Oh, there was the issue with slavery over a century ago, but wasn't that taken care of with the civil war? What about women's freedoms? Ah, a woman is not a man, right? Oh, they are people, too? Women aren't slaves to their fathers or husbands? Women get individual rights and freedoms here, too? Oh, great, what are all these new Muslim immigrants going to do now? Oh, separation of church and state, right.
Equality
As long as someone is human and on US soil, they are apparently equal, regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, gender, handicap, etc. Oh, that's not the case, you say? There's a class system in the US? What's that? Rich people get more tax breaks than poor and middle class? Rich people get better health care? Rich people's lives are saved more than poor and middle class? Even natural disaster, which used to be the great equalizer, now still can wipe out the poor and middle class, while leaving the rich virtually unscathed? It's not about you, as much as it about who you know and how much $$$ you make.
Add your ideas of American Values
This is definitely not an exhaustive list of American Values. Please feel free to add your ideals of American Values by commenting to this post. Thanks!
Abstract List of American Values:
I want to also add this website for you to right-click and link in new window to read: American Family Values, a very altruistic view of values, which, from my experience, doesn't quite match with reality in the US. If you were truly to espouse those values and principles, you would easily get trampled on by the masses. Sure, you can make a noble attempt to live and pass such ideals to your children and grandchildren, but when you take these ideals to heart and use them in your daily life, you will see that all of these ideals are easily used against you.
These ideals make you weak in our society because they all (integrity, self-discipline, proactivity, empathy, humility) reveal your passiveness and honesty. If you want to get ahead, you will learn that integrity will not get you there, because the dishonest resume and interviewee will likely get the job and/or the sale. Self-discipline is good only to a point, because there will always be people who throw self-discipline to the wind to get their point across or to make sure they trample on you. If you don't throw some of your restraints away, they will continue to walk all over you. Heck, there are very few businesses out there that are proactive, so if you try to get them proactive, they will react, because that is just not the way it happens in the real world. Then, there's empathy--oh, I feel your pain. Sure, as long as feeling your pain can get them ahead in some way, otherwise you are just showing how gullible you are in our society. Finally, humility. The ability to fess up to your weaknesses and blunders, if you should ever acknowledge them. A noble trait, indeed, and one big NO-NO in our society if you don't want them to come back and haunt you for the rest of your life. Success in our capitalist society will always be given to someone else, if you don't stand up for yourself and lose these notions of congeniality.
Not all places in our society and business world work to keep those principles/values from being valuable. But, most do. Just look at our government for starters. Sigh.
American Democratic Values, as taught by the Michigan Board of Education. Great link for black and white ideals of our values, presented for youth of just about all ages.
Stale Conclusion:
Our American Values are not absolute, nor are they set in stone. They change like the ebb and flow of the ocean. The United States is not the utopian mecca that we all claim it is to be, and as we are all human and prone to error, that utopian society may never be met until we meet our Maker in heaven.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Analysis of the Great Dubya Quotes of 2005
It's nice to have comedy to see the lighter side of our President. Thanks to about.com and those who have compiled George W. Bush quotes to keep us all informed of what our great president is saying on our behalf.
"We need to apply 21st-century information technology to the health care field. We need to have our medical records put on the I.T." —George W. Bush, Collinsville, Ill., Jan. 5, 2005
"We need to apply 21st-century information technology to the health care field. We need to have our medical records put on the I.T." —George W. Bush, Collinsville, Ill., Jan. 5, 2005
- Oh, yes. And then, health insurance companies know exactly who to stick it to, cause we all know there's a health care crisis out there.
- Apparently the thought of war turns him on.
- A humble moment of appreciation for our nation's uniform wearers.
- Isn't it fantastic that our president thinks so highly of the three jobs a single mom is forced to work just to make ends meet? Doesn't he sense any bit of crisis here? Nah.
- The notion might be ridiculous, but Dubya's game of Risk laying on the table does have Iran on the map. Let's roll the dice and find out.
- At first read, I thought Dubya was ready for pulling our troops, since he declared "mission accomplished" a while ago. Guess he has a more defined timetable for Social Security than for our troops in Iraq. Sigh.
- That's why Dubya uses Chinet. When you've got a lot on your plate, you don't want to have your plate droop or break when you have to get up from wandering around the oval office to walk around and talk to the presidential portraits.
- Speaking of wandering, it is rumored the ghost of Abe Lincoln has been wandering around the Oval Office lately, much to the chagrin of Dubya.
"We look forward to analyzing and working with legislation that will make — it would hope — put a free press's mind at ease that you're not being denied information you shouldn't see." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 14, 2005
- You see, free press is the press that should be free to get any information, even if they can't see it. We can't discriminate against those blind in the press corp, you see.
"I'm going to spend a lot of time on Social Security. I enjoy it. I enjoy taking on the issue. I guess, it's the Mother in me." —George W. Bush, Washington D.C., April 14, 2005
- Actually, it's the Grandfather and Great-Grandfather in him, who were bankers and investment managers for great leaders, including Joseph Kennedy and Adolf Hitler.
- Coal is the safe alternative to all those crazy renewable fuels advocates.
- You see, renewable fuels creates a dilemna in our capitalist supply and demand economy. There would be no fluctuation in supply and demand if we use renewable fuels, because there's always supply available with renewable fuels. Therefore, renewable fuels would ruin our economy.
- Coal mining is already set up and we wouldn't have to subsidize them, like with new forms of energy like these crazy renewable fuels. And you know we don't subsidize the oil industry at all, hee hee.
- But we aren't making more terrorists, or provoking any terrorist to hate us more when we bomb their families' homes and maim their loved ones. Nah.
- Yes, get those harmers out of the way of their detonating bomb, and allow innocent people to get blown to smithereens.
- Then the harmers get go to one of the US-run terrorist re-enforcement camps, so we can re-enforce to them why they should hate the US.
- Well, that answers a lot of questions.
- Make no mistake, a peaceful tomorrow should be a thing of the past in Iraq.
- Must be a part of that Dubya magic, that strategery.
- Yet another new word in the Bush Dictionary--Disassemble: v. 1. to take apart; 2. not tell the truth.
- We were at war before the September 11, 2001 attacks? Where was I? How did this fact escape the news before 9/11/01?
- A piece of work? Is that good or bad? I don't think that translates too well in English, either.
- Since Denmark is still in the stone ages, I'm sure the Prime Minister has found luxurious accomodations in the finest mud hut in all of Denmark. The president should also enjoy bedtime Rune stories with Olga.
- I'm sure Trent Lott is homeless and living out of his car or napsack or plastic Wal-mart sack, too, just like all the other Katrina survivors.
- I think Dubya was actually refering to those chocolate Exlax bars.
- I'm sure Dubya's secretary is getting all those ribbon-cutting events scheduled into the president's PDA.
- Thanks goodness the faith-based organizations were there. You know that's what the F in FEMA stands for: Faith-based.
- Accolades to the Community-Based Communities, too! Where would communities be without community-based communities?
- I guess we will have to read the history books to find out when those New Orleans residents should return. Or watch the History Channel for the documentary.
- You think Dubya's 6th grade English teacher cringed when she heard that?
- So, their jobs are eye doctors, and ear, nose and throat specialists? Definitely, not oral language specialists.
- You think Dubya's geography and social studies teachers cringed when they heard that?
- Are you sure that doing something illegal constitutes criminal activity and breaking the law?
- Would that be considered a "violent welcome" then?
- If only the majority of the US knew what extenuate meant, they wouldn't misunderestimate our strategeric president.
- (Extenuate: v. 1. To lessen or attempt to lessen the magnitude or seriousness of, especially by providing partial excuses. 2 a. To make thin or emaciated. 2 b. To reduce the strength of.)
- Now, why is 9/11 connected with Saddam Hussein, again?
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Monty Python's Terry Jones and the Comedy of Terror
I gave my husband the collector's edition of Monty Python's Holy Grail for Christmas this year, even though I was never a fan of Monty Python. Little did I know that I, too, would enjoy the comedy of Monty Python this holiday season.
Terry Jones, a Monty Python player, has recently issued his Comedy of Terror awards. As with much of the political comedy anymore, I guess I can say that I laughed with disgust regarding the subject matter. Or maybe more like a whimsical giggle with disdain.
Sometimes the end of the year is a good time to air out that garbage that has been lingering for way too long. And Terry Jones again, let's us get another whiff of the pungent smells from the "war on terror" or was it the war on Christmas? (Maybe the Monty Python players could come back to do a War on Christmas movie...)
And maybe I would enjoy watching the Holy Grail, too.
Terry Jones, a Monty Python player, has recently issued his Comedy of Terror awards. As with much of the political comedy anymore, I guess I can say that I laughed with disgust regarding the subject matter. Or maybe more like a whimsical giggle with disdain.
Sometimes the end of the year is a good time to air out that garbage that has been lingering for way too long. And Terry Jones again, let's us get another whiff of the pungent smells from the "war on terror" or was it the war on Christmas? (Maybe the Monty Python players could come back to do a War on Christmas movie...)
And maybe I would enjoy watching the Holy Grail, too.
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