Today has been a great day in our nation's history. I went to bed last night excited and I woke up this morning just plain excited to be alive to witness the swearing in of our first African American President. Though I was a staunch Hilary supporter, I can still appreciate and embrace the change that today represents in our history. I've listened to all the official pundits comment on Barack's speech today, and I am going to offer my own thoughts about it. I was surprised to hear Brooks and Shields (on Lehrer tonight) say they thought it was a good speech, but not a great speech. I beg to differ.
No one has commented on the fact that he began the speech with "My fellow citizens," instead of "My fellow Americans." This may seem to be a fine distinction, but I think it's important, because if he and we are "fellow citizens," it implies our mutual responsitilities as members of the polity. I think it suggested that we are all in this together, and as I tried to create a student-centered classroom, he is hoping to create a citizen-centered democracy. That means he's throwing the responsibility for our own governance into our hands. Indeed, later in the speech, he made it clear that we will all be called upon to offer our services, our talents, and make some sacrifices if we are to regain our place in the world and our financial stability at home. This is not unlike what JFK asked us to do at his inauguration. I hope it means that we at the grass-roots level can offer up ideas and that potentially we will be heard.
Secondly, I appreciated listening to his sheer ability to use the language in a clear, yet beautiful way. He is a gifted orator, but he is also a brilliant thinker and wordsmith. He used language that came from a variety of sources, from the Bible to Washington's speech to the troops, to his closing in which he drew from the Declaration of Independence. It is heartening to an ex-English teacher to hear his gift for language. Take, for instance, the sentence "On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics." The alliteration of the words begiinning with "p" tie the words "proclaim," "petty grievances," "false promises and "politics," in a way that reinforces the meaning as it makes for a mellifluous phrase. (If I do say so myself!)
Finally, and most important to me is the fact that I believe he successfully repudiated the past 8 years and re-set the moral compass of this country. That's a lot to accomplish in a 20 minute speech, but I believe that he did no less than that. He made it clear that no matter what threats we face, they will not cause us to abandon the ideals stated in all the founding documents of our democracy, and which have guided our progress for all these years, until the Presidency of G.W. Bush. The proof will be what we do and what he does to make good on the promises of this speech and all the speeches of his campaign.
I should also make it clear that I know that his major speechwriter, Jon Favreau wrote a draft of this speech, but I think that Obama essentially authored the final text, and according to at least one newspaper, sat with Favreau at the outset to say what his vision was for the speech. Favreau and others researched other inagural speeches and searched out possible texts from which Obama could draw. It was clearly a collaboration. Which is what the Obama Presidency and American democracy is all about.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
From bathrooms to bachelors. ....
It took four hours to demolish the bathroom today. The tub stays and the toilet removal awaits the plumber on Wednesday. Otherwise, the hideous vanity with the peach-colored knobs, the yellowed tub surround, the gobs of caulking are all in the landfill. Starting tomorrow, the rebuilding process begins.
Now, after a day that has sort of disappeared into the dust, I find myself watching The Bachelor, and wondering what it is about this show that fascinates me and horrifies me all at the same time. It's all so artificial. The girls are all so catty. The guy is completely shallow. The amount of money spent on this show is phenomenal.....tonight has involved a private jet to Las Vegas, a helicopter ride, a million dollar diamond necklace, drinks at every turn, and completely superficial conversation. Did I mention shallow? Try: "Oh wow." "This is so beautiful." Oh wow." "This is so beautiful." Oh this is the best date I've ever been on."'
Oh whatever!!! I kind of amuse myself by thinking of people in my age bracket doing a similar show......now that would be FUNNY!!!
Stay tuned for bathroom updates and random thoughts . . .. .
Now, after a day that has sort of disappeared into the dust, I find myself watching The Bachelor, and wondering what it is about this show that fascinates me and horrifies me all at the same time. It's all so artificial. The girls are all so catty. The guy is completely shallow. The amount of money spent on this show is phenomenal.....tonight has involved a private jet to Las Vegas, a helicopter ride, a million dollar diamond necklace, drinks at every turn, and completely superficial conversation. Did I mention shallow? Try: "Oh wow." "This is so beautiful." Oh wow." "This is so beautiful." Oh this is the best date I've ever been on."'
Oh whatever!!! I kind of amuse myself by thinking of people in my age bracket doing a similar show......now that would be FUNNY!!!
Stay tuned for bathroom updates and random thoughts . . .. .
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Peace in Gaza
Today a peace vigil was scheduled for noon - two in the triangle in the center of Durham. I looked out at the storm today and thought "they'll never hold a vigil in this weather." I went about cleaning out my bathroom cabinets and then ironed some fabric and got ready to make a pot holder.
My phone rang about 5 minutes before the scheduled vigil, and it was Andrea, saying she was about to leave her house and drive to Durham. Well, what am I, a fair-weather vigiller? (vigilante?) I said, o.k., I'll walk into town and meet you there. I donned snow pants, two layers of socks, my new warm Ugg-type boots, jacket, scarf, hat and new, waterproof ski gloves, grabbed a waterproof sign from the basement which says "War is unhealthy for children and other growing things" and walked on into town on unplowed roads, with about 10 inches of snow on the ground and still coming down hard.
Much to my surprise and delight, there was a good turnout of people holding signs calling for peace in Gaza, including one of my former Poetry & Fiction students who told me how much he had loved my class. That always makes me feel good, and doubly good that he is now a peace activist with the UNH Peace and Justice League. Today's event was organized by them and the Students for a Democratic Society at Oyster River High, so of course, I saw some kids from there whom I also know.
One of the great things about today's vigil was the fact that there was a Palestinian man there with his children and an Egyptian man with his children. Just talking with them was an interesting experience. There were some other regular vigilers who are often in Portsmouth on a Friday night, including one guy from my neighborhood who has made it his business to give away signs saying "Support the Troops, End the War," by placing them on his lawn with "Free" signs on them. He has managed to populate our neighborhood with those signs.
After an hour and a half, with frozen toes and noses and fingers numb from holding our signs, Andrea and I went for hot drinks at the Bagelry, then she drove me home on the still unplowed streets of my neighborhood. I reflected on how our momentary discomfort from standing in the snow was so easily remedied; how we have warm homes to return to, free of the fear and uncertainty which must accompany daily life in Gaza.
Momentary peace has come to Gaza. Not even peace, really, but a cessation of the massive military assault by the Israelis. If you view the images of destruction in Gaza, including schools, hospitals, homes and mosques, you know that peace will not return to Gaza any time soon. Perhaps, in a generation, or more likely two generations, peace might return. But those families whose lives have been devastated by the deaths of loved ones and the loss of their homes, will be unlikely to find peace in a week-long ceasefire.
I would like to hear our government speak with one voice to support the end of the violence between Israel and Palestine. We cannot take either side in this conflict, in my view, and to that end, our heavy financial support of the Israeli military machine must stop. It is not how I want my tax dollars spent. Now is the time to modify our policy, and it is already too late for 1100 Palestinians, most of whom were civilians. It is time for change, both here and in the Middle East.
My phone rang about 5 minutes before the scheduled vigil, and it was Andrea, saying she was about to leave her house and drive to Durham. Well, what am I, a fair-weather vigiller? (vigilante?) I said, o.k., I'll walk into town and meet you there. I donned snow pants, two layers of socks, my new warm Ugg-type boots, jacket, scarf, hat and new, waterproof ski gloves, grabbed a waterproof sign from the basement which says "War is unhealthy for children and other growing things" and walked on into town on unplowed roads, with about 10 inches of snow on the ground and still coming down hard.
Much to my surprise and delight, there was a good turnout of people holding signs calling for peace in Gaza, including one of my former Poetry & Fiction students who told me how much he had loved my class. That always makes me feel good, and doubly good that he is now a peace activist with the UNH Peace and Justice League. Today's event was organized by them and the Students for a Democratic Society at Oyster River High, so of course, I saw some kids from there whom I also know.
One of the great things about today's vigil was the fact that there was a Palestinian man there with his children and an Egyptian man with his children. Just talking with them was an interesting experience. There were some other regular vigilers who are often in Portsmouth on a Friday night, including one guy from my neighborhood who has made it his business to give away signs saying "Support the Troops, End the War," by placing them on his lawn with "Free" signs on them. He has managed to populate our neighborhood with those signs.
After an hour and a half, with frozen toes and noses and fingers numb from holding our signs, Andrea and I went for hot drinks at the Bagelry, then she drove me home on the still unplowed streets of my neighborhood. I reflected on how our momentary discomfort from standing in the snow was so easily remedied; how we have warm homes to return to, free of the fear and uncertainty which must accompany daily life in Gaza.
Momentary peace has come to Gaza. Not even peace, really, but a cessation of the massive military assault by the Israelis. If you view the images of destruction in Gaza, including schools, hospitals, homes and mosques, you know that peace will not return to Gaza any time soon. Perhaps, in a generation, or more likely two generations, peace might return. But those families whose lives have been devastated by the deaths of loved ones and the loss of their homes, will be unlikely to find peace in a week-long ceasefire.
I would like to hear our government speak with one voice to support the end of the violence between Israel and Palestine. We cannot take either side in this conflict, in my view, and to that end, our heavy financial support of the Israeli military machine must stop. It is not how I want my tax dollars spent. Now is the time to modify our policy, and it is already too late for 1100 Palestinians, most of whom were civilians. It is time for change, both here and in the Middle East.
Of cabbages and kings
I can't believe it's January, on the cusp of the inauguration of the first African American President, and I haven't written a blog entry yet in the new year. Tonight I will remedy that situation. I have so many things to write about, it's hard to put it all into one blog entry. You may think, from the title, that this entry has something to do with cabbages and kings. Not so. The title is meant to suggest the potpourri nature of this narrative, and perhaps reveals something about the way my brain works. Or doesn't work, as the case may be.
Today was a day of remembering. And it was prompted by cleaning every last thing out of my upstairs bathroom preparatory for its demolition tomorrow. I'll bet you're wondering what sort of memories are held in bathroom cabinets......I will cite only a few small examples. First was a 25 year old (at least) tube of Mary Kay facial masque. It had basically petrified in its container. (Pink, of course, with gold lettering). That made me think of my friend Van Mosedale, who died in the mid1980s, but who invited me to a Mary Kay cosmetics party at her home sometime around 1978. For a brief time after that, I actually wore some foundation, and had both powdered rouge and some put-on-with a finger rouge. And the masque, of course. O.k., those days are over.
Next, I found a small bar of soap in cardboard packaging with Chinese writing on one side. On the other side, it said, Kunlun Hotel, Beijing. That dates to my 1988 week in Beijing where I attended an International Special Education conference. That brought back a whole host of memories, not the least of which was my major surprise at realizing that my first trip outside the continent of North America was to China. Where did that bravery come from? Of course I also thought of another friend, Elba Marrero, who turned out to be my roommate in the Kunlun Hotel. We could not be more different, but we became lifelong friends as a consequence of that trip, and the fact that we just happened to be the last two people in line to check in to the hotel that night after 26 hours of traveling.
Later, I found a small box of matches from Rigsby's Restaurant in Columbus Ohio, a place where Sarah and I had dinner one weekend when I visited her while she was in grad school. I remember how much I looked forward to those weekends, some of which included a chance to see her perform. One weekend, I couldn't fly home because Logan was shut down because of a snowstorm much like the one we experienced today. Needless to say, I was not unhappy to have to stay one more day in Columbus!
Another matchbook came from Obrycki's Crab House in Baltimore Maryland, a place where you get to sit at tables covered with brown paper and use wooden mallets to whack away at some special kind of crab native to the area. This made me think of my friends Donna Barnes and Karen Weinhold, with whom I shared this crab experience and many other great NCTE conferences in Denver, Detroit, New York, and Atlanta. We have just been emailing about dinner together a week from Monday!
Of course i threw out massive amounts of xeroform and ouchless bandages and gauze pads which reminded me of my nose reconstruction after skin cancer surgery; and there were numerous poison ivy remedies which reminded me of some pretty bad cases of that lovely irritant. And there were male-type razors and some other items to which I said good riddance as I thought of my unmentionable exhusband. Some readers will be happy to know that I threw out anything past its expiration date (which was just about everything).
Finally, as I picked up the toilet brush, I lifted the abalone shell which is its receptacle. I scrubbed it up, and really, it's so beautiful, I don't know why I don't use it for something other than a toilet brush! It came from the beach in my southern California childhood home, and it took me right back there, even though, if I looked out the window, I could see the snow falling at a great rate, a far cry from the average sunny day in Carpinteria, California.
So, as the nation prepares for a new beginning which will, hopefully, take us back to being a nation ruled by law, with compassion and empathy for others, I prepare for a new bathroom, one which will remind me of the beach on a foggy day.....complete with an abalone shell, and minus one giant trashbag full of the stuff of life gone by.
Today was a day of remembering. And it was prompted by cleaning every last thing out of my upstairs bathroom preparatory for its demolition tomorrow. I'll bet you're wondering what sort of memories are held in bathroom cabinets......I will cite only a few small examples. First was a 25 year old (at least) tube of Mary Kay facial masque. It had basically petrified in its container. (Pink, of course, with gold lettering). That made me think of my friend Van Mosedale, who died in the mid1980s, but who invited me to a Mary Kay cosmetics party at her home sometime around 1978. For a brief time after that, I actually wore some foundation, and had both powdered rouge and some put-on-with a finger rouge. And the masque, of course. O.k., those days are over.
Next, I found a small bar of soap in cardboard packaging with Chinese writing on one side. On the other side, it said, Kunlun Hotel, Beijing. That dates to my 1988 week in Beijing where I attended an International Special Education conference. That brought back a whole host of memories, not the least of which was my major surprise at realizing that my first trip outside the continent of North America was to China. Where did that bravery come from? Of course I also thought of another friend, Elba Marrero, who turned out to be my roommate in the Kunlun Hotel. We could not be more different, but we became lifelong friends as a consequence of that trip, and the fact that we just happened to be the last two people in line to check in to the hotel that night after 26 hours of traveling.
Later, I found a small box of matches from Rigsby's Restaurant in Columbus Ohio, a place where Sarah and I had dinner one weekend when I visited her while she was in grad school. I remember how much I looked forward to those weekends, some of which included a chance to see her perform. One weekend, I couldn't fly home because Logan was shut down because of a snowstorm much like the one we experienced today. Needless to say, I was not unhappy to have to stay one more day in Columbus!
Another matchbook came from Obrycki's Crab House in Baltimore Maryland, a place where you get to sit at tables covered with brown paper and use wooden mallets to whack away at some special kind of crab native to the area. This made me think of my friends Donna Barnes and Karen Weinhold, with whom I shared this crab experience and many other great NCTE conferences in Denver, Detroit, New York, and Atlanta. We have just been emailing about dinner together a week from Monday!
Of course i threw out massive amounts of xeroform and ouchless bandages and gauze pads which reminded me of my nose reconstruction after skin cancer surgery; and there were numerous poison ivy remedies which reminded me of some pretty bad cases of that lovely irritant. And there were male-type razors and some other items to which I said good riddance as I thought of my unmentionable exhusband. Some readers will be happy to know that I threw out anything past its expiration date (which was just about everything).
Finally, as I picked up the toilet brush, I lifted the abalone shell which is its receptacle. I scrubbed it up, and really, it's so beautiful, I don't know why I don't use it for something other than a toilet brush! It came from the beach in my southern California childhood home, and it took me right back there, even though, if I looked out the window, I could see the snow falling at a great rate, a far cry from the average sunny day in Carpinteria, California.
So, as the nation prepares for a new beginning which will, hopefully, take us back to being a nation ruled by law, with compassion and empathy for others, I prepare for a new bathroom, one which will remind me of the beach on a foggy day.....complete with an abalone shell, and minus one giant trashbag full of the stuff of life gone by.
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