Okay, let me say that at first I was jokingly saying that I was glad that the GOP had finally developed some concern about the problems of sexism, but it's getting to the point that I must say I find it a more than a bit cynical and disingenuous that the Republicans are dropping the gender card every few minutes now that "they got a girl."
IF this means that in the future, Republicans are more concerned about sexism, that would be a good thing, but it just seems that this is nothing more than a Rovian attempt at Machiavellian politics and it's thoroughly disgusting.
This latest "pig in lipstick" fluff put forth by the McCain camp is just ridiculous. McCain himself used that expression when talking about Hillary Clinton last year. Was he being sexist? Where were the scores of Rightwing pundits and enthusiasts coming out to blast McCain for sexism when he did the same thing with Clinton (well, not exactly the same thing: Obama was clearly talking about McCain - not Palin - in his comments)?
Nowhere.
Obama is absolutely right to go on the attack about this cynical silly blather. How dare the GOP try to use the serious problems of sexism for pathetic attempts at political gain? It undermines the Democratic process. This is exactly the sort of politicking from which Obama represents a change.
We've too many serious problems to deal with to allow the Republicans to try to change the subject to a non-issue. Shame on them.
For what it's worth, I did a google search on "republicans on sexism," "republicans sexism 2007," "republicans sexism 2000," "republicans sexism 2003," "republicans on sexism quotes," and a few other terms so I could check to see all the many quotes where Republicans complained about issues of sexism and gave speeches saying that sexism needed to be addressed. Then I checked "sexism mccain quotes," "sexism mccain 2000," mccain on sexism 1996," etc, etc.
The results?
I could not find ONE SINGLE quote pre-2008 where the Republicans talked about sexism.
So how 'bout this? I'll start a contest:
FIND THE REPUBLICAN QUOTE ON SEXISM!*
Prizes and fame ** to whoever can find a SINGLE Republican quote where they rail against the evils of sexism anytime in all of history, prior to August 2008.
The Republicans have been a party since the 1850s, I believe. Surely at SOME point in all of the last 150 years SOME Republican had SOME kind words to say in defense of women's rights?
Anyone? One quote?
[* "I dig chicks," does not count as speaking against sexism...]
[** Well, "prizes and fame" may be a bit of a stretch, how 'bout a pencil sharpener and a kind word from me at this blog? Not that I'm especially concerned that a quote will be forthcoming...]
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
BREAKING NEWS!
(CNN) – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave CNN praise for prospective Republican vice president Sarah Palin’s qualifications this weekend.
“She’s governor of a state here in the United States.” Rice told CNN’s Zain Verjee.
=======
There you have it, folks! Some straight talk from the Republicans!
And Rice is absolutely right! No spin, there. Palin IS the governor of a state here in these United States. Undisputedly so, as far as I know.
Stay tuned for more clear, true and absolutely factual statements from the Republicans…
(…I’m hoping to make this an ongoing series. Or at least have one more clear, true and absolutely factual statement from the Republicans before the November election. Don’t let me down, Republicans…)
“She’s governor of a state here in the United States.” Rice told CNN’s Zain Verjee.
=======
There you have it, folks! Some straight talk from the Republicans!
And Rice is absolutely right! No spin, there. Palin IS the governor of a state here in these United States. Undisputedly so, as far as I know.
Stay tuned for more clear, true and absolutely factual statements from the Republicans…
(…I’m hoping to make this an ongoing series. Or at least have one more clear, true and absolutely factual statement from the Republicans before the November election. Don’t let me down, Republicans…)
"Stop Yelling at Each Other"
Congratulations to Senator McCain for keeping his acceptance speech last week a bit more noble and genuine than his comrades have done. Senator McCain mostly avoided the cheap and divisive direct attacks that had characterized the Republic Convention thus far. For that, I'm thankful.
McCain said:
And, finally, a word to Sen. Obama and his supporters. We'll go at it -- we'll go at it over the next two months -- you know that's the nature of this business -- and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and my admiration.
Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, and that's an association that means more to me than any other.
We're dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed by our creator with inalienable rights. No country -- no country ever had a greater cause than that. And I wouldn't be an American worthy of the name if I didn't honor Sen. Obama and his supporters for their achievement...
...Please, please, please. My friends, my dear friends, please. Please don't be diverted by the ground noise and the static.
You know, I'm going to talk about it some more. But Americans want us to stop yelling at each other, OK?
Very classy and right on. This part of McCain is the part that I've seen in the past that I can respect and appreciate. Just as I appreciate Obama's consistent striving to stay on the high road. Congratulations to both candidates for that.
Now, if McCain's and Obama's followers would heed that call to remember that we're all on the same side, that we're all Americans, and keep the debate to actual positions, not character attacks and misrepresentations.
I would point out that this portion of McCain's speech would have held more water if he'd called on the carpet those from the night before who were engaged in exactly the sort of ugly campaigning that he's calling his party to avoid.
McCain is right: Let's stop yelling at each other, demonizing the Other. I hope he heeds that call himself and demands it from his followers.
McCain went on to articulate his Campaign Premise: CHANGE IS COMING.
This, I must say, I find a bit less inspiring. We desperately need change. People want us to move away from the politics of divisiveness and away from the arrogance and ignorance that was a cornerstone of the Bush administration. We've HAD eight years of the Republicans having their way and change IS desperately needed and wanted.
What I didn't hear from his speech is an answer to the obvious question: IF change is needed after eight years of neo-conservative Republican rule, how is placing another neo-conservative Republican in office going to effect that change?
So, in short, I agree wholeheartedly with McCain that we need to stop the ugly divisive politics that too many on both sides have engaged in in years past. Amen. AND, we DO need a change from the current direction of US policy as implemented by Bush and supported by McCain.
Let's make it so.
McCain said:
And, finally, a word to Sen. Obama and his supporters. We'll go at it -- we'll go at it over the next two months -- you know that's the nature of this business -- and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and my admiration.
Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, and that's an association that means more to me than any other.
We're dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed by our creator with inalienable rights. No country -- no country ever had a greater cause than that. And I wouldn't be an American worthy of the name if I didn't honor Sen. Obama and his supporters for their achievement...
...Please, please, please. My friends, my dear friends, please. Please don't be diverted by the ground noise and the static.
You know, I'm going to talk about it some more. But Americans want us to stop yelling at each other, OK?
Very classy and right on. This part of McCain is the part that I've seen in the past that I can respect and appreciate. Just as I appreciate Obama's consistent striving to stay on the high road. Congratulations to both candidates for that.
Now, if McCain's and Obama's followers would heed that call to remember that we're all on the same side, that we're all Americans, and keep the debate to actual positions, not character attacks and misrepresentations.
I would point out that this portion of McCain's speech would have held more water if he'd called on the carpet those from the night before who were engaged in exactly the sort of ugly campaigning that he's calling his party to avoid.
McCain is right: Let's stop yelling at each other, demonizing the Other. I hope he heeds that call himself and demands it from his followers.
McCain went on to articulate his Campaign Premise: CHANGE IS COMING.
This, I must say, I find a bit less inspiring. We desperately need change. People want us to move away from the politics of divisiveness and away from the arrogance and ignorance that was a cornerstone of the Bush administration. We've HAD eight years of the Republicans having their way and change IS desperately needed and wanted.
What I didn't hear from his speech is an answer to the obvious question: IF change is needed after eight years of neo-conservative Republican rule, how is placing another neo-conservative Republican in office going to effect that change?
So, in short, I agree wholeheartedly with McCain that we need to stop the ugly divisive politics that too many on both sides have engaged in in years past. Amen. AND, we DO need a change from the current direction of US policy as implemented by Bush and supported by McCain.
Let's make it so.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Setting of the Sun...
I have a few recent quotes in the news about or from Veep nominee Palin. Could we have a Veep nominee to actually step down before the election? Time will tell.
I've been reading around some sites seeing the Religious Right just gleefully rejoicing in this Palin selection and saying things like, "The Democrats are running in fear now! Bwa ha ha!"
I'm sorry, but I think those who think that are just living in a dreamworld. Mostly, I think the Dems are laughing at this choice. As if McCain wasn't already losing, he's saddled himself with a probably unelectable Veep choice. She has been a huge hit with the 25-30% Religious Right and she has energized them, but I just don't think they see what a poor choice she is. It's like they listened to the speeches given at the Republican Convention and took them seriously!
As I've already said: I just don't think McCain really wants to win this election...
A quote from Palin at a commencement ceremony at her home church in Wasilla:
But our most important natural resource of course is our people, and I’m thinking what I need to do is strike a deal with you guys as you go throughout Alaska. I can do my part in doing things like working really really hard to get a natural gas pipeline, about a $30 billion project that’s going to create a lot of jobs for Alaskans, and we’ll have a lot of energy flowing through here. And pray about that also. I think God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that...
...My son Track, he’s a soldier in the United States Army now. He’s an infantryman, and, um, so Track also sends his love to his former nanny Christy. And Track — pray for our military. He’s going to be deployed in September to Iraq. Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right also for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending out on a task that is from God. That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan...
source
======
On the Alaskan Independence Party (AIP):
Todd Palin was a member of the party from 1995 to 2002. Sarah attended the group's convention in 1994 and 2000 and sent a videotaped greeting for the AIP in 2008.
Here's how the group's founder, Joe Vogler, described his political beliefs:
"The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government," Vogler said in a 1991 interview. "And I won't be buried under their damn flag. I'll be buried in Dawson. And when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home."
The AIP participated in a conference of secessionist movements held in Vermont in 2006. "The First North American Secessionist Convention," was the official title. Attendees included the neo-confederate League of the South, messianic Christian Exodus and the libertarian New State Project.
In her 2008 address, Palin said the AIP "plays an important role in our state's politics."
[what role is that, I wonder? -dan]
The Nation
=======
Republican apologist Peggy Noonan and friends accidentally talking about the Palin nomination while the mic was on...
ON AIR:
Chuck Todd: Mike Murphy, lots of free advice, we'll see if Steve Schmidt and the boys were watching. We'll find out on your blackberry. Tonight voters will get their chance to hear from Sarah Palin and she will get the chance to show voters she's the right woman for the job Up next, one man who's already convinced and he'll us why Gov. Jon Huntsman.
[CUT AWAY - SUPPOSEDLY...]
Peggy Noonan: Yeah.
Mike Murphy: You know, because I come out of the blue swing state governor world: Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. I mean, these guys -- this is how you win a Texas race, just run it up. And it's not gonna work. And --
Noonan: It's over!
Murphy: Still McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.
Todd: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too.
Noonan: Saw Kay this morning.
Todd: Yeah, she's never looked comfortable about this --
Murphy: They're all bummed out.
Todd: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?
Noonan: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives --
Todd: Yeah they went to a narrative.
Murphy: I totally agree.
Noonan: Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it.
Murphy: You know what's really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.
Todd: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.
=======
D'oh! ...was that on??
Noonan said it best: "It's over!"
This last snippet I found over to Geoffrey's fine establishment, What's Left in the Church.
I've been reading around some sites seeing the Religious Right just gleefully rejoicing in this Palin selection and saying things like, "The Democrats are running in fear now! Bwa ha ha!"
I'm sorry, but I think those who think that are just living in a dreamworld. Mostly, I think the Dems are laughing at this choice. As if McCain wasn't already losing, he's saddled himself with a probably unelectable Veep choice. She has been a huge hit with the 25-30% Religious Right and she has energized them, but I just don't think they see what a poor choice she is. It's like they listened to the speeches given at the Republican Convention and took them seriously!
As I've already said: I just don't think McCain really wants to win this election...
A quote from Palin at a commencement ceremony at her home church in Wasilla:
But our most important natural resource of course is our people, and I’m thinking what I need to do is strike a deal with you guys as you go throughout Alaska. I can do my part in doing things like working really really hard to get a natural gas pipeline, about a $30 billion project that’s going to create a lot of jobs for Alaskans, and we’ll have a lot of energy flowing through here. And pray about that also. I think God’s will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that...
...My son Track, he’s a soldier in the United States Army now. He’s an infantryman, and, um, so Track also sends his love to his former nanny Christy. And Track — pray for our military. He’s going to be deployed in September to Iraq. Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right also for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending out on a task that is from God. That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan...
source
======
On the Alaskan Independence Party (AIP):
Todd Palin was a member of the party from 1995 to 2002. Sarah attended the group's convention in 1994 and 2000 and sent a videotaped greeting for the AIP in 2008.
Here's how the group's founder, Joe Vogler, described his political beliefs:
"The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government," Vogler said in a 1991 interview. "And I won't be buried under their damn flag. I'll be buried in Dawson. And when Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home."
The AIP participated in a conference of secessionist movements held in Vermont in 2006. "The First North American Secessionist Convention," was the official title. Attendees included the neo-confederate League of the South, messianic Christian Exodus and the libertarian New State Project.
In her 2008 address, Palin said the AIP "plays an important role in our state's politics."
[what role is that, I wonder? -dan]
The Nation
=======
Republican apologist Peggy Noonan and friends accidentally talking about the Palin nomination while the mic was on...
ON AIR:
Chuck Todd: Mike Murphy, lots of free advice, we'll see if Steve Schmidt and the boys were watching. We'll find out on your blackberry. Tonight voters will get their chance to hear from Sarah Palin and she will get the chance to show voters she's the right woman for the job Up next, one man who's already convinced and he'll us why Gov. Jon Huntsman.
[CUT AWAY - SUPPOSEDLY...]
Peggy Noonan: Yeah.
Mike Murphy: You know, because I come out of the blue swing state governor world: Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. I mean, these guys -- this is how you win a Texas race, just run it up. And it's not gonna work. And --
Noonan: It's over!
Murphy: Still McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.
Todd: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too.
Noonan: Saw Kay this morning.
Todd: Yeah, she's never looked comfortable about this --
Murphy: They're all bummed out.
Todd: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?
Noonan: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives --
Todd: Yeah they went to a narrative.
Murphy: I totally agree.
Noonan: Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it.
Murphy: You know what's really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.
Todd: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.
=======
D'oh! ...was that on??
Noonan said it best: "It's over!"
This last snippet I found over to Geoffrey's fine establishment, What's Left in the Church.
Lies, Damned Lies, and Republican Speeches
Phew! That reeked!
What I suppose it may come down to is this:
If the American people can be swayed by fear, bitterness, hatred, division, demonization, half-truths and outright lies, then the Republicans have a chance at the White House.
IF, on the other hand, the People are truly tired of the sort of bile-filled ugliness demonstrated in last night's hate-fest by the Grand Old Potty, then Obama will be our next president.
I'm relatively convinced of the latter, and pray that it's not the former.
What I suppose it may come down to is this:
If the American people can be swayed by fear, bitterness, hatred, division, demonization, half-truths and outright lies, then the Republicans have a chance at the White House.
IF, on the other hand, the People are truly tired of the sort of bile-filled ugliness demonstrated in last night's hate-fest by the Grand Old Potty, then Obama will be our next president.
I'm relatively convinced of the latter, and pray that it's not the former.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Vast Leftwing Conpiracists Strike Again
This from the McCain camp:
"This vetting controversy is a faux media scandal [! dt] designed to destroy [!!? dt] the first female Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States who has never been a part of the old boys' network that has come to dominate the news establishment in this country."
So says senior adviser Steve Schmidt in a memo sent to reporters today, according to CNN.
Paranoia, so soon?
Does the McCain camp REALLY think that there is a vast "good old boys" news establishment that has "designed" a "Faux media scandal" with the express intent of "destroying" Palin because she is a woman??
That's a pretty serious charge. Where's the evidence? Who confessed? How far up does this conspiracy go? Are all the media involved in this conspiracy?
...
Do they ever think how foolish and plain ol' nutty they look when they start accusing the media of conspiracies with the intent of destroying people?
Seriously folk, the media is a vast conglomerate made up of all sorts of folk from all sorts of backgrounds and political persuasions. Sure, some media may be made up of folk with a more progressive background, but it is not a monolith. There are no secret meetings where plans to destroy people are written up and enacted.
when you start making these sorts of claims, you just come across as paranoid and goofy. And for this to come from a major presidential campaign is troubling and they ought to be called on it.
"This vetting controversy is a faux media scandal [! dt] designed to destroy [!!? dt] the first female Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States who has never been a part of the old boys' network that has come to dominate the news establishment in this country."
So says senior adviser Steve Schmidt in a memo sent to reporters today, according to CNN.
Paranoia, so soon?
Does the McCain camp REALLY think that there is a vast "good old boys" news establishment that has "designed" a "Faux media scandal" with the express intent of "destroying" Palin because she is a woman??
That's a pretty serious charge. Where's the evidence? Who confessed? How far up does this conspiracy go? Are all the media involved in this conspiracy?
...
Do they ever think how foolish and plain ol' nutty they look when they start accusing the media of conspiracies with the intent of destroying people?
Seriously folk, the media is a vast conglomerate made up of all sorts of folk from all sorts of backgrounds and political persuasions. Sure, some media may be made up of folk with a more progressive background, but it is not a monolith. There are no secret meetings where plans to destroy people are written up and enacted.
when you start making these sorts of claims, you just come across as paranoid and goofy. And for this to come from a major presidential campaign is troubling and they ought to be called on it.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Is the Republican Party Done?
This week's Rolling Stone has a picture of Bush slaying the GOP Elephant, and they make the case that he has undone the Republican party.
Jack Cafferty, in a CNN op-ed piece agrees. He says...
NEW YORK (CNN) -- This week the Republicans gather for their convention. For four days, they will labor under the illusion their party is still relevant. It's not.
It is entirely fitting that the headliner for this masquerade is a feeble looking 72-year-old white guy who doesn't know how many homes he owns.
It's more than symbolic that when a million Americans are losing their homes to foreclosure, the Republican candidate for president has lost track of his holdings.
McCain surrounds himself with people like former Republican Sen. Phil Gramm who called America a "nation of whiners" and said we are only suffering a "mental recession."
That's the same problem the Republican Party has. It has lost track of what it used to stand for: small government, a disciplined fiscal policy, integrity.
In a way, the perfect storm of a rapidly changing population -- old white people aren't going to be in the majority very much longer (and isn't that who most of the Republicans are?) -- has combined with the total abdication of principles, Republican or otherwise, of arguably the worst president in the nation's history to mark the beginning of the end of the Republican Party as we know it...
======
In support of this view, the Census Bureau has noted that by 2050, "minorities" will be the majority in the US and white folk will be a minority.
What do you think? Are demographic changes and current Republican leadership going to cause the Republican Party to dry up and blow away in the next few decades? Will this election be their final hurrah? And if so, what would replace it?
Jack Cafferty, in a CNN op-ed piece agrees. He says...
NEW YORK (CNN) -- This week the Republicans gather for their convention. For four days, they will labor under the illusion their party is still relevant. It's not.
It is entirely fitting that the headliner for this masquerade is a feeble looking 72-year-old white guy who doesn't know how many homes he owns.
It's more than symbolic that when a million Americans are losing their homes to foreclosure, the Republican candidate for president has lost track of his holdings.
McCain surrounds himself with people like former Republican Sen. Phil Gramm who called America a "nation of whiners" and said we are only suffering a "mental recession."
That's the same problem the Republican Party has. It has lost track of what it used to stand for: small government, a disciplined fiscal policy, integrity.
In a way, the perfect storm of a rapidly changing population -- old white people aren't going to be in the majority very much longer (and isn't that who most of the Republicans are?) -- has combined with the total abdication of principles, Republican or otherwise, of arguably the worst president in the nation's history to mark the beginning of the end of the Republican Party as we know it...
======
In support of this view, the Census Bureau has noted that by 2050, "minorities" will be the majority in the US and white folk will be a minority.
What do you think? Are demographic changes and current Republican leadership going to cause the Republican Party to dry up and blow away in the next few decades? Will this election be their final hurrah? And if so, what would replace it?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
A New Beginning
Wow.
Whatever you think of his policies, that was a fine, fine speech.
Congratulations, Senator Obama, on this historic nomination.
And, thank you, Senator McCain, for the classy commercial.
Whatever you think of his policies, that was a fine, fine speech.
Congratulations, Senator Obama, on this historic nomination.
And, thank you, Senator McCain, for the classy commercial.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Food Security and a Reasoned Worldview
I am currently reading, The Essential Agrarian Reader, edited by Norman Wirzba and including essays from all the usual cast: Wendell Berry, Gene Logsdon, David Orr, Wes Jackson and Barbara Kingsolver, as well as many from folk with whom I’m not familiar – Susan Witt, Vandana Shiva, Brian Donohue and others.
I’ve seen Wirzba’s (who contributes some essays, in addition to editing) name around a few places and he looks like someone I’ll be reading more of. He’s another Kentuckian doing our state proud, it looks like.
Here are some excerpts from Wirzba’s introduction, and it’s right on:
It would seem, especially given the abundance and relative cheapness of food, that we do not have a food problem. The appearance, however, is deceiving… [We] are beginning to see that the complete costs associated with current food abundance are extremely high and that current pricing hides these costs from consumers.
Food, for the most part, is now an industrial product. As such its character and quality, as well as the conditions under which it is produced, are determined by the demands of industrial and market efficiency. While this might make good economic sense, the effect of treating food as an industrial rather than as a natural and cultural product has been the abuse of land, animals and human communities…
Rural communities have suffered greatly as a result of this transformed food system. With the demise of local seed companies, local purchasers, and processors and distributors, money that would have circulated several times within a community (and thus benefited many businesses and families) go elsewhere. With this cash exodus, small towns and cities that were once the heart of American cultural life find it impossible to maintain basic services in education, health care, construction and general social welfare. There is no place to go but the big city.
Rural communities also bear the brunt of noxious corporate farming practices. While taxpayers absorb the costs of tax incentives and price subsidies to induce big producers to set up shop in their states or counties, local communities must deal with disgusting odors, contaminated ground and surface water, accumulated toxic waste, and stressed infrastructure mechanisms like roadways and waterways. The costs are rarely picked up by the producers responsible for them.
As consumers we should be asking whether or not the free exchange of products, the stewardship of public goods like soil and water, or more fundamental yet, informed public discussion about food issues can result from a context where integrated corporate monopolies set pricing and production. Consumers are mostly ignorant about how food is produced and provided, so they are in no position to understand, let alone confront, agricultural abuses like the depletion or contamination of public water supplies or the heavy use of antibiotics and hormones in meat and dairy operations. Doctors are increasingly aware that public health costs will increase dramatically as we confront super pests and viruses that evolve in confined farm factories. The costs of cleaning up water contaminated by agricultural runoff will also need to be picked up by consumers…
Given this partial list of problems, we now need to ask if a food system can be secure if it depends on making its farmers, communities, consumers, and land base insecure. Our highly centralized food system, besides being undemocratic, hugely wasteful, and destructive, is also vulnerable to external threats of terrorism, volatile global markets, and pests...
How would an agrarian worldview address this situation of insecurity?
======
Great stuff. Ideas and topics that we desperately need to be considering, talking about, debating, addressing. Now.
I found the book at our local library. Check it out. And keep an eye on Norman Wirzba (his other books include, The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age, and The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry).
I’ve seen Wirzba’s (who contributes some essays, in addition to editing) name around a few places and he looks like someone I’ll be reading more of. He’s another Kentuckian doing our state proud, it looks like.
Here are some excerpts from Wirzba’s introduction, and it’s right on:
It would seem, especially given the abundance and relative cheapness of food, that we do not have a food problem. The appearance, however, is deceiving… [We] are beginning to see that the complete costs associated with current food abundance are extremely high and that current pricing hides these costs from consumers.
Food, for the most part, is now an industrial product. As such its character and quality, as well as the conditions under which it is produced, are determined by the demands of industrial and market efficiency. While this might make good economic sense, the effect of treating food as an industrial rather than as a natural and cultural product has been the abuse of land, animals and human communities…
Rural communities have suffered greatly as a result of this transformed food system. With the demise of local seed companies, local purchasers, and processors and distributors, money that would have circulated several times within a community (and thus benefited many businesses and families) go elsewhere. With this cash exodus, small towns and cities that were once the heart of American cultural life find it impossible to maintain basic services in education, health care, construction and general social welfare. There is no place to go but the big city.
Rural communities also bear the brunt of noxious corporate farming practices. While taxpayers absorb the costs of tax incentives and price subsidies to induce big producers to set up shop in their states or counties, local communities must deal with disgusting odors, contaminated ground and surface water, accumulated toxic waste, and stressed infrastructure mechanisms like roadways and waterways. The costs are rarely picked up by the producers responsible for them.
As consumers we should be asking whether or not the free exchange of products, the stewardship of public goods like soil and water, or more fundamental yet, informed public discussion about food issues can result from a context where integrated corporate monopolies set pricing and production. Consumers are mostly ignorant about how food is produced and provided, so they are in no position to understand, let alone confront, agricultural abuses like the depletion or contamination of public water supplies or the heavy use of antibiotics and hormones in meat and dairy operations. Doctors are increasingly aware that public health costs will increase dramatically as we confront super pests and viruses that evolve in confined farm factories. The costs of cleaning up water contaminated by agricultural runoff will also need to be picked up by consumers…
Given this partial list of problems, we now need to ask if a food system can be secure if it depends on making its farmers, communities, consumers, and land base insecure. Our highly centralized food system, besides being undemocratic, hugely wasteful, and destructive, is also vulnerable to external threats of terrorism, volatile global markets, and pests...
How would an agrarian worldview address this situation of insecurity?
======
Great stuff. Ideas and topics that we desperately need to be considering, talking about, debating, addressing. Now.
I found the book at our local library. Check it out. And keep an eye on Norman Wirzba (his other books include, The Paradise of God: Renewing Religion in an Ecological Age, and The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry).
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
"Peace begins with a smile..."
It's Mother Teresa's birthday next week (August 27, 1910). In honor of that, I offer some of her words of wisdom...
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."
"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls."
"There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic. We believe our work should be our example to people. We have among us 475 souls - 30 families are Catholics and the rest are all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs—all different religions. But they all come to our prayers."
"When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed."
"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."
"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls."
"There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic. We believe our work should be our example to people. We have among us 475 souls - 30 families are Catholics and the rest are all Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs—all different religions. But they all come to our prayers."
"When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed."
"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway."
Friday, August 15, 2008
Best Music Ever?
Recently, McCain and Obama offered their top ten songs. Interesting lists (McCain lists ABBA. TWICE!) but pretty shy on Ol' Timey music. My favorite joke so far has been the wag who wondered that McCain didn't have more music from his youth (you know, like Gregorian Chants)...
Hey, I happen to like Gregorian chants, myself.
The lists:
Obama:
1. Ready or Not, Fugees
2. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
3. I'm On Fire Bruce, Spingsteen
4. Gimme Shelter, Rolling Stones
5. Sinnerman, Nina Simone
6. Touch the Sky, Kanye West
7. You'd Be So Easy to Love, Frank Sinatra
8. Think, Aretha Franklin
9. City of Blinding Lights, U2
10. Yes We Can, will.i.am
McCain:
1. Dancing Queen, ABBA
2. Blue Bayou, Roy Orbison
3. Take a Chance On Me, ABBA
4. If We Make It Through December, Merle Haggard
5. As Time Goes, Dooley Wilson
6. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
7. What A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
8. I've Got You Under My Skin, Frank Sinatra
9. Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
10. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, The Platters
You know, "Take a Chance on Me," might make a good campaign theme song for McCain...
Anyway, that led to Geoffrey offering his own list of top ten albums and he invited others to opine similarly. And so, here are my Top Ten Albums of all times (or at least how I'm thinking today). In no particular order...
1. Birds Fly South, Zoe Speaks
(Zoe Speaks WAS a duo from here in Kentucky. The duo - Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover - have since gone their separate ways and each are making wonderful music alone and in various other configurations. Still, their Zoe Speaks albums were all fantastic and worthy of checking out.)
2. A liturgy, a legacy and a ragamuffin band, Rich Mullins
(Giving a nod to my Contemporary Christian Music days - still, I think Mullins' album holds up in any context. Unfortunately, Mr. Mullins left this world much too soon. His was one of the greatest concerts I've ever attended.)
3. Tanglewood Tree, Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
(Great album. Period. Poetry in motion.
Dave Carter has, sadly, passed away all too young and too soon. The good news is that Tracy Grammer is still plugging away.)
4. Wrecking Ball, Emmy Lou Harris
(Emmy Lou. Nuff said)
5. World in Motion, Jackson Browne
(A bit dated, but great political soul-searching and rabble rousing)
6. Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman
(I don't think her subsequent albums were as great as her first one here, but this one is simply great.)
7. Legend, Bob Marley
(A best-of album, and a great collection)
8. O Brother Where Art Thou, soundtrack
(If soundtracks can be included - and in my list, they can be - this would be one to consider. Not a bad song on here. Plus it resurrected a genre and became a phenomenon, which is not true for most music I like. Also inspired, the related "Down from the Mountain Tour" album and in a similar vein... no wait...)
9. Cold Mountain, soundtrack
(I was going to throw this in with the previous item, but decided it needed its own entry - a great soundtrack)
10. Old Crow Medicine Show, OCMS
(These guys are just fantastic, bringing an energy and joy to bluegrass music that makes it feel contemporary - and they have a new album coming out soon!)
Do you have a top albums list? Or just a list of favorite songs?
Hey, I happen to like Gregorian chants, myself.
The lists:
Obama:
1. Ready or Not, Fugees
2. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
3. I'm On Fire Bruce, Spingsteen
4. Gimme Shelter, Rolling Stones
5. Sinnerman, Nina Simone
6. Touch the Sky, Kanye West
7. You'd Be So Easy to Love, Frank Sinatra
8. Think, Aretha Franklin
9. City of Blinding Lights, U2
10. Yes We Can, will.i.am
McCain:
1. Dancing Queen, ABBA
2. Blue Bayou, Roy Orbison
3. Take a Chance On Me, ABBA
4. If We Make It Through December, Merle Haggard
5. As Time Goes, Dooley Wilson
6. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
7. What A Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
8. I've Got You Under My Skin, Frank Sinatra
9. Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
10. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, The Platters
You know, "Take a Chance on Me," might make a good campaign theme song for McCain...
Anyway, that led to Geoffrey offering his own list of top ten albums and he invited others to opine similarly. And so, here are my Top Ten Albums of all times (or at least how I'm thinking today). In no particular order...
1. Birds Fly South, Zoe Speaks
(Zoe Speaks WAS a duo from here in Kentucky. The duo - Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover - have since gone their separate ways and each are making wonderful music alone and in various other configurations. Still, their Zoe Speaks albums were all fantastic and worthy of checking out.)
2. A liturgy, a legacy and a ragamuffin band, Rich Mullins
(Giving a nod to my Contemporary Christian Music days - still, I think Mullins' album holds up in any context. Unfortunately, Mr. Mullins left this world much too soon. His was one of the greatest concerts I've ever attended.)
3. Tanglewood Tree, Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer
(Great album. Period. Poetry in motion.
Dave Carter has, sadly, passed away all too young and too soon. The good news is that Tracy Grammer is still plugging away.)
4. Wrecking Ball, Emmy Lou Harris
(Emmy Lou. Nuff said)
5. World in Motion, Jackson Browne
(A bit dated, but great political soul-searching and rabble rousing)
6. Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman
(I don't think her subsequent albums were as great as her first one here, but this one is simply great.)
7. Legend, Bob Marley
(A best-of album, and a great collection)
8. O Brother Where Art Thou, soundtrack
(If soundtracks can be included - and in my list, they can be - this would be one to consider. Not a bad song on here. Plus it resurrected a genre and became a phenomenon, which is not true for most music I like. Also inspired, the related "Down from the Mountain Tour" album and in a similar vein... no wait...)
9. Cold Mountain, soundtrack
(I was going to throw this in with the previous item, but decided it needed its own entry - a great soundtrack)
10. Old Crow Medicine Show, OCMS
(These guys are just fantastic, bringing an energy and joy to bluegrass music that makes it feel contemporary - and they have a new album coming out soon!)
Do you have a top albums list? Or just a list of favorite songs?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Blessed are the Peacemakers?
Well, that might be a stretch. But let me offer some cautious praise for President Bush (whodathunk you'd ever read that here?)...
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Wednesday he is dispatching U.S. military personnel to Georgia in a "vigorous and ongoing" mission to provide humanitarian aid to victims of the fighting between Russian and Georgian troops.
Shortly after Bush spoke, the White House announced that a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo jet carrying medical supplies arrived in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
Another C-17 is to arrive in Tbilisi on Thursday carrying more supplies, including 104,000 doses of antibiotics requested by the Georgian Ministry of Health, a State Department spokesman said. The value of both shipments is $1.28 million, he said.
Bush said more U.S. military aid missions were planned by the Navy and Air Force.
He warned Russia not to interfere with any relief efforts.
"We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance. We expect Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads, and airspace, remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for civilian transit," Bush said at the White House.
I remain prayerful that this would just be a humanitarian mission and not a way of striving to provoke Russia into a larger conflict. I also offer thanks for France's negotiation of the ceasefire yesterday. May cooler heads prevail.
With prayers for peace and justice...
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Wednesday he is dispatching U.S. military personnel to Georgia in a "vigorous and ongoing" mission to provide humanitarian aid to victims of the fighting between Russian and Georgian troops.
Shortly after Bush spoke, the White House announced that a U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo jet carrying medical supplies arrived in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
Another C-17 is to arrive in Tbilisi on Thursday carrying more supplies, including 104,000 doses of antibiotics requested by the Georgian Ministry of Health, a State Department spokesman said. The value of both shipments is $1.28 million, he said.
Bush said more U.S. military aid missions were planned by the Navy and Air Force.
He warned Russia not to interfere with any relief efforts.
"We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance. We expect Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads, and airspace, remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for civilian transit," Bush said at the White House.
I remain prayerful that this would just be a humanitarian mission and not a way of striving to provoke Russia into a larger conflict. I also offer thanks for France's negotiation of the ceasefire yesterday. May cooler heads prevail.
With prayers for peace and justice...
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