More of the Same?

I've read articles about how President Obama is adopting or adapting several of W's more controversial stances, like holding enemy combatants indefinitely, state's secret, etc. But is the president actually holding on to those ideologies or does he recognize that sweeping changes can cause catastrophe. Look at the sweeping change that happened in Iraq. Look at the sweeping change that happened in Russia, Yugoslavia, South Africa. Whether the longview is good or bad by Western standards, sudden change almost certainly spells disaster for any social structure. Tantamount to a hurricane or tornado.

Peace!

SURPRISE!

I found out Thursday that a guy I work with is sending distasteful anti-Obama emails to another guy I work with. The recipient told me that some of them cross the line and he asked the sender to stop sending them. Now, for a little context, the recipient has shares with me all kinds of off color jokes and videos, so if he says they're over the line, then I believe it. It's like Karl Rove saying McCain went too far, or Satan saying Rove went too far. Most of them aren't about his policies, but about his skin color. (I say skin color because I don't believe in race and I'm trying not to use it anymore. It's a word of convenience.)

Anyway, now I look at the sender with totally new eyes. I'm wondering who else he sees as less than.

I almost wish I didn't know about his political views, but I'm glad, because now I can fuck with him and he won't know why.

Change

Tuesday was a great day! It was effin' awesome to hear the president finally talking about helping countries (including this one) overcome fear and fighting; keeping security and principles; healing the planet; unity. I don't understand why so many conservatives feel it has to be a fight and why only one can win.

I was speaking with a co-worker yesterday. He told me about his heart attack at 46 and that if he lives a few more months, into his very early 50s, he'll have outlived any other man in his family. He said he doesn't let the little things bother him anymore. That's where I want to get. Not let the little things, or even the big things beyond my control, bother me. So I won't block the entrance to an abortion clinic (or the funds to keep it open) even though I don't support abortion. I won't give an ultimatum to people who disagree with my position; I won't disparage those who compete against me for the same things.

I found an old friend online a couple days ago. I've googled him once in a while for years but just found him on Facebook. He was one of the coolest (not cool like, "yeah, man" but cool like always willing to listen and tell a good story) guys I knew back in Minneapolis. It's always a dice roll looking up old friends. I found one friend but she was way too into faith, religion or whatever for me to comfortable. She assumed that I'm not happy because I don't exercise my faith the same way she does. This was in her second email to me. Anyway, my old bud from Mipples was really down to earth back in the day, but I know we all change, and I hope that bringing up the girls he boned or that guy we worked with who dug him won't be a sore spot.

A new bar opened around the corner from me. I went there with a neighbor last night. I found out my neighbor's moving to Boston in a couple of weeks. That bums me out. We wave and he gives me a ride to work when he sees me at the bus stop. We even went jogging once. Unfortunately we never really hung out in the two years he's livd across the street. But I know he's one of those guys who's always will to split a six-pack. Good luck in Beantown.

Marriage...I'm hoping mine changes to one I can believe in.

Goodbye 43!

So, the last baby boomer turned 44 a few days ago. If the real last babyboomer is anything like this one then his/her body is starting to hurt for no apparent reason. No impacts, no cuts, no medicines. Just out-of-the-blue pain.

I spoke with a friend of mine this morning. I told him that my head was hurting and I was nauseous earlier that morning. His back started hurting the other day for no reason (he's 42). Our diagnosis is age. I can't treat myself like a teenager or 25-year-old, even a 35-year-old, anymore. I pride myself on how much I can eat and stay around 200 pounds (I'm 6'2"), but I can feel my insides starting to revolt.

This year: no more chicken wings, no more than one hamburger each week, no more hangovers, no more crap. I will try to save a bunch more money, spend only three hours on a house project, finish a marathon in under five hours (that sounds like a lot, but I have thalassemia, so there's my excuse) and be more available to the wifey and kid. And I'll try to let go of April 1996 through August 1999.

Luckily my fiscal year and calendar year are concurrent, so my bookkeeping is really easy.

Peace.

India and My Conservative Friend

I have some friends who feel that it should be every man for himself. For instance, if someone loses his job in an industry that is dying in this country, he should get himself retrained in another field and get back to work. Never mind that the unemployment benefits last for three months or so. He also thinks that welfare is for the lazy. It's all a redistribution of wealth, he says. I'll have to ask him what he thinks of the attacks in India this weekend. India has a large welfare state, no doubt, but I want him to think about the ramifications of a society in which we are divided into haves and have-nots, similar to India's caste system. Even though it's outlawed, it's still in practice.

The difference between U.S. and India, one could argue, is that poverty in the U.S. has never risen to the level it is, has been or will be in India.

Trouble starts when people are pushed to the fringes in any society and feel that they have nothing to lose. That's what happened when this country was founded. That's what happened when the Confederate States of America was founded and that's what we've been seeing in the Mideast for decades.

I'm not for funding people as a reward to lethargy, but offering them hope is the best way to maintain civility.

It's Over

Now I can get back to my housework fulltime. Windows. Drywall. Cleaning up after the kid.

It was an amazing election, and many people I know gave more than they ever have. I don't believe that many people voted for Obama because of his skin. Some did, for sure. But people all over this world hear in his words a different message. A message that does not discount other messages or other views. That's why millions of people were partying in the streets around the world last night. Finally, there's a leader who believes in the people he serves.

Almost Gone

My wife and daughter are at Disneyworld. My wife told me last night that she and the kid were walking and she lost track of our daughter for about five minutes. My wife was walking through the crowd calling for our daughter. She turned a corner and found her standing with some strangers. Luckily the people who found my kid were nice. They stayed with her until my wife walked back. I believe most people in the world are nice and will do the right thing. But the though of losing my daughter really shakes me up. It really, really scares me.