A somewhat desperate and vain attempt to quiet the naysayers in my head
Saturday, May 24, 2008
What Can One Do?
I have been watching and listening to the news coverage of the cyclone disaster in Myanmar (formerly Burma) with a heavy heart. 134,000 people dead or missing and over 2 million people without homes, food, clothing, and shelter. To take it a step further, the military dictatorship in charge has refused to allow aid or aid workers into the country. The level of this humanitarian crisis is mind boggling and horrific, yet the government does not nothing and contributes to the murder of its people on an enormous scale. The flooding and loss of homes was only the first blow of a potentially lethal battering. Now the focus needs to be on sanitation, burial of the dead, and prevention of disease amongst the masses of people struggling to survive. It is also critical to assist in getting rice planted, so survivors do not starve in the coming months after the world's attention has moved on to the latest disaster of the month.
What does the world do in these situations? As has been the case in recent history, nothing. The world sat back as genocide occurred in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Darfur, and we continue to do so now as the lives of millions of people are in jeopardy. What part of us as human beings can justify this? Moreover, as citizens of the most powerful nation in the world it seems unthinkable that we are not able to come up with some sort of compromise to provide aid to people in need. Is military action the answer? Should the world join together to forcibly occupy a country with the intention of saving innocent civilians? Or in doing so, would we create more chaos than good?
It is clear that misguided good intentions are not the answer to the problem. (Anyone remember the food drops into Afghanistan at the beginning of the war? Shockingly, Afghans don't eat pop-tarts and spam on a regular basis. No, really...) A while back, my brother thoughtfully bought me a copy of Emergency Sex (And Other Desperate Measures) which documents 3 U.N. workers stories and experiences in Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, and other war zones of the 1990s. It mostly illustrates the incompetence and frustrations of the United Nations organization as it does not have any real power, authority, or military might to enforce its peacekeeping missions. It would seem that organizations such as the International Red Cross/Red Crescent or Medecins Sans Frontieres should be allowed entry to any country as they are strictly humanitarian organizations, but as always it comes down to politics.
There is a part of my white liberal thinking that would like to believe that a difference can be made. On the flip side, there is the resignation that life is a crap shoot and some people are a lot luckier than others as far as the cards they are dealt. In any case, my thoughts and prayers are with the people of Myanmar and I am hopeful that some sort of deal will be struck to bring them aid.
I apologize for not blogging more frequently lately. I have been busy and am trying to resist putting out crap just for the sake of a new entry. Less is more as they say.
I am really liking my new workplace. Granted it is a smaller department, but everyone is very chill and no one seems to stress over stupid shit. I have been in what feels like a never ending cycle of training. Last week, I went through the formal Emergency Medical Dispatching portion of Fire training. I am now certified to give instructions on childbirth or instruct you on how to preserve an amputated tooth. (Put it in milk. Who knew? Useless fact of the week.) I am cleared to work overtime starting this week and should be completed with my training period in June. Contrary to expectations, it has been an enjoyable process so far.
The race for the Democratic nomination slogs on. Apparently no one ever taught the Clintons that it is not fashionable to be the last one at the party. I have a lot of unveiled contempt for both Bill and Hillary. If Bill had resigned when the whole Monica thing went down, Al Gore would have been president for a year or so and easily re-elected. The global map and the Supreme Court would be far different than what we look at today. Still, no use dwelling on the past. Just get out Hillary, show some self respect. Go Obama!
The weather has been very up and down the last few weeks. Cold and breezy one day, hot the next. The Bay Area usually gets a week or two of weather in May, but it has yet to make an appearance.
Anybody else bothered by the Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair hubbub? I heard about the controversy on the radio before seeing the photo and got the impression that there was something indecent about the photo. Then I pull it up on the Internet and see a gorgeous, tasteful, artistic photo. Are people nuts? What about that photo is indecent? Any Britney Spears video would be considered more sexual than that photo. Cyrus is 16 years old and is not going to be Hannah Montana forever. (Sorry to disappoint you kids and pedophiles alike.) It makes one wonder who is the judge of whether something is obscene or not. Art is art for a reason. Kathy Griffin recently commented on her Bravo special Straight to Hell "The Catholic League launched a protest after my Emmy Awards speech. Then I found out The Catholic League is a guy in a room with a computer." That is what this deal seems like. Some guy in a room saying, "That's baaad."
Sounds like the 3G iPhone should be with us shortly. I was holding out for it and rumors are that Cingular will be offering a $200 price deal with a 2 year contract. Not bad at all. I am thinking I will break down and get one for my birthday in October. It would be nice to be able to surf the Net if need be while out and about. Initially, reports about call quality were sketchy. My friends who have them all say the call quality is decent, so looking forward to picking up the new toy in a few months.
Sex and the City opens in the U.S. on May 30th. The cast visited Oprah last week and did not reveal any spoilers. It was great to see them all together again, they seemed so happy to be reunited. I know straight guys do not get this show, but for women and gay men it is pure joy and delight. No it is not realistic for Carrie to have $30,000 worth of shoes in her closet. It is realistic though to surround yourself with wonderful friends that become your family over the course of your life. This movie will make hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide and I predict it will be the film of the summer.
That is all that is going on with me for now. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the tail end of spring.
I apologize yet again. I do not want to blog about random stuff and bore everyone. Here are more questions and answers until I feel sufficiently inspired.
If you were a nationality other than your own, which would you choose? Why?
Thai. Lovely people, chill culture, and I hate winter.
What is the most beautiful word you can think of?
Tranquil. My ideal state.
What two people would you most like to stand next to in a picture?
Ricky Martin and the minister marrying us.
What beverage do you find nauseating?
Tomato juice.
If you could project yourself into the past, where would you go?
December 17, 1903. Kitty Hawk, NC. I would like to watch the Wright Brothers fly for the first time.
I would eat twenty live cockroaches, if they were covered with ________.
Dunno about this one. I don't think I love anything enough to eat a live animal. Let's just say I would not be a good Fear Factor contestant.
What is your favorite professional sports stadium?
Hmm...Dunno about this one really. I have always liked Seoul's Olympic Stadium which was built for the 1988 Olympics. Locally, AT&T Park (originally Pac Bell Park) is beautifully constructed for a ball park. There is a cool football stadium in Europe that I have seen and liked, but I cannot remember what city it was in. Getting old.
On a scale of 1-10, how proficient are you with car repair?
I am going with a 2 on this one. I can change wiper blades and could change a tire or oil. Beyond that, probably not much help.
If fifty people in your age group were selected randomly, how many do you think you would find leading a happier life than yours?
5 or less than that.
What nasty habits do you have?
Plenty, but I am not sharing.
What was your worst subject in high school?
Probably Phys Ed. I hated Physics, but I believe I sucked more at PE.
What is the grossest thing you have ever done in public?
Vomited? I am sure there have been other things, but nothing specific is coming to mind.
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your health?
An 8.
If you were to write a book, what would it be about?
The need for empathy in human society.
Use one adjective to describe the game of baseball.
Unexciting.
What would you like to know more about?
So many things. How the current government could be so blatantly and arrogantly wrong on so many things and still sleep at night in good conscience is probably what occupies my mind most these days.
What is the last movie that made your eyes tear up?
Movies always get me. That and Oprah. I cried at last night's This American Life show premiere.
What do you generally sleep in at night?
T-shirt and boxers.
What is life's great mystery?
Why arrogance, aggression, and violence still dominate our human and global society after thousands of years of existence.
If you had to run a marathon, how many miles do you think you could last?
Walking and running, I could do 26. It would take me hours, but I could do it.
What three words come to mind when you hear the word white?
Boy, Snow, and Flowers. What word describes your knowledge of the Internet?
Competent.
What do you consider the greatest threat to your personal stability?
My lack of saving money for the emergency "what if" scenarios.
Who makes the most stylish clothes in the world?
Europeans, hands down. Their clothes just fit better.
What is the biggest inconvenience about the place you are currently living in?
The surrounding neighborhood.
What do you consider the most dangerous creature on earth?
Man. At least the most destructive, if not the most dangerous.
What you have tried in life, and simply were not good at?
