Marathon Reaction

Watching my niece play while oblivious to what is happening in Boston right now.I miss being a kid sometimes.
— Michael Litzner (@Litzner) April 15, 2013

Above is what I tweeted regarding the explosions during the Boston Marathon yesterday.  My niece was playing on the floor with her toys not paying attention to anything else.  She doesn't watch the television unless there are cartoons on...or I'm trying to watch a sporting event.  So it was great that she was not paying attention so we did not have to talk to her about it.  How do you explain what is happening when a bomb goes off to a four year old?  Is there a way to explain it?  I don't think there is.  Not unless you want to shatter their illusion of a safe world.  When my nephew came in he started asking what had happened.  He is old enough to watch something happening on the TV and figure some stuff out.  So he started asking questions and we answered the questions the best we could without many details. 

I now have three nieces and one nephew who all were born into the post 9/11 world.  They will never know what it was like to not have to take your shoes off at the airport or living without a color coded fear spectrum.  They will always have to travel with three ounces of shampoo and conditioner and nothing more.  They will have to deal with these fears and stresses until something more monumental happens (be it for better or worse).  I don't know if they will understand what it was like.  They will read about the events in their history books, but might not be able to fully grasp the situation.  It is along the same lines as someone my age reading or watching the events of Pearl Harbor.  Sure, I have seen the video of the attack, I have read the first hand account, I have listened to Franklin Roosevelt's speech, but I do not know the instant feelings and reaction. 

Important writings

I have always wanted to write about things that are important to me.  Things like sports, history, a little bit of politics here and there, but there are times when I get half way through writing something and think 'who am I pissing off?'  I giggle a little bit and publish it anyway.  There are so many things that are going on in the world right now that anyone can pick and choose a certain topic and focus mainly on that, but that's not really my thing.  I like to find a topic, write on it once maybe twice, and move on.  Is that bad?  If someone reads something, is there ever any hope for a follow up?  So, here is a quick rundown on some important issues that I would like to explore a little bit more.

Unions

Love em or hate em, unions have their historic place not only in our country, but throughout the world.  Do you enjoy your eight hour work day?  Thank a union.  Do you enjoy working in a safe environment?  Thank a union.  Unions in the late 1800s and early 1900s paved the way for the working world we have today.  However, unions today carry a stigma in this country today because they have a quick trigger finger to call for a strike when negotiating for a new contract and working terms for those that they represent.    

Nationalism

'Merica!  That's why!'  Something that the right wing of the political world is standing hiding behind is the flag.  Well, they stand behind that and scare the shit out of everyone with the thoughts of terrorism.  The one bad thing that has come out of the extreme nationalism that we have seen in the past decade is the Patriot Act.  It's an all inclusive scary act that gives government agencies rights to spy on us.  It is Orwellian, but you all knew that already.  Maybe not as bad as spying on us, but there is more wiggle room for them to do nasty stuff.   

Sports

It seems recently that there are just scandal after scandal in the sports world.  I always want to write about it, but the overkill and over analysis from sportswriters to sportscasters just want me to stay away from the stories.  I really wanted to write about the downfall of The Ohio State University football program (snicker snicker), but I just got so sick of reading and hearing about it that I gave up on writing about it.  

Six of one

At the beginning of this month, I wrote about the revolution taking place in northern Africa and the Middle East and how dangerous and scary the whole concept really is.  I wrote about it because I try my best to keep up on the world outside of the United States.  The main reason?  It's boring here.  Sure, we have the whole governors trying to get rid of unions for public workers, but, you know, that's sissy stuff compared to what else is happening. 

There was the earthquake and corresponding tsunami that hit Japan that is gathering headlines across the world.  A horrible situation, and it happens on more than one occasion.  I thought to myself the other day, why don't I really care about that as much as the violence across the other ocean?  I racked my brain and tried to come up with an answer.  I think I have one, but it's not very well formed and can come across as cold. 

I didn't care as much about the earthquake because it's out of control of the hands of actual people.  If there is anyone out there that can stop natural disasters, I am willing to hear you speak up.  It's something that just happens and all people can do is react to it.  To pick up the pieces and try to get them back together again.  With the revolutions, that is in control of the people.  It's up to them to decide what happens.  Once again, that is scarier than an earthquake.  And that's not to say earthquakes aren't scary, I'm sure that they are.  I just think that if something like that earthquake and subsequent tsunami is going to happen, what can we do as people except react and deal?  

So these worldly issues are six of one half dozen of the other to me.  Until they personally affect me, I think I will stay a little disconnected with the goings on across the globe.  I can only watch the news and listen to what is happening. 

Revolution?

Could a revolution take place here in the United States?  Listening to podcasts and reading articles about the protests and the overall revolution that is taking place in the northern part of Africa and in the Middle East has got me thinking if it were possible to happen here.  In order for it to happen, democracy would have to topple and something 'better', politically, would have to come along.  Looking at the reason for all the protests it has to do (generally) with getting rid of a leader that has oppressed their own people for decades.  We already have that issue covered with the twenty second amendment.  So what would we have to protest and revolt against? 

We have it easy living in the United States, thanks to the first go around with the revolution idea.  It helps that they fought a country that was an ocean away.  A revolution could not work here today.  There is too much organization within the government that could stomp out any inklings of a revolution.  The protests we see today here in the US are a joke.  Think about the Tea Party protests. 

*Sidebar* 

Tea Party people are fucking idiots.   

*Sidebar done*

So you have the Tea Party protests a couple of years ago.  Nothing says complete revolution like a bunch of right wing nuts complaining because their party is no longer in power and the new president is trying his best to put the country back together after the previous president screwed the pooch.  Being a democrat is not being a socialist or a communist.  Figure it out. 

I point out these protests by the Tea Party because they are the most recent and are well known to most everyone here.  The problem is that they would all gather for the day, shout random profanities and hold signs saying they hated the president and that he was a commie and a Muslim and was ruining the country and then?  Then they would go back to their homes, cook dinner, go off to bed after being crooned into a state of ignorance by Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh. 

If you want the government to change their thoughts and ideas, is a one day protest going to do that?  No.  If you want your government to listen to what you have to say, is yelling at them from afar going to get your point across?  No.  You want to start a revolution, you need to quite your job and take it on full time.  You need to be willing to march in the streets for weeks at a time.  And having a protest here and there will not work.  Organization is key.  A protest in New York City being held on the same day as one in Dallas or Chicago does not a revolution make.  You need to concentrate your people. 

The scary part of a revolution is death.  Let's face it, toppling a government is not going to be bloodless.  You think some fifty year old conservative is willing to give their life to a cause?  Please.  We are too selfish in this country to even consider it.  Would you be willing to go on a hunger strike in prison like Bobby Sands or Francis Hughes (look them up).  Imagine the pain of not eating for sixty days.  Two months?  Crazy.  Or an even more sever protest, would you be willing to set yourself on fire in protest to your government like Mohamed Bouazizi or Abdou Abdel-Moneim Jaafar?  All of them are martyrs to their causes but are also extreme cases of how hardcore someone can be for what they believe in.   

I know that this topic is pretty heavy.  Revolutions are not fun.  You can talk and joke about them with your friends, but the follow through is intense and insane.  Personally, I am happy to be living in this country for the fact that it is stable and we don't have a leader that will stay in power decade after decade.  No country is ever going to have everyone be happy.  There is going to be dissent and anger towards your government, that is just the way people are.  It allows everyone to complain about something they don't like.   





Besides, if we didn't have dissent and anger, we would have utopia, and who wants that? 

No Shave November

November has been renamed. I am just learning about this. Apparently it started in 1999 by a group of men in Australia. It has since grown and is recognized throughout the world. Names that have been invented are 'No Shave November', 'Movember', and 'Novembeard'. It is a movement in male solidarity for men's health. The main cause is prostate cancer (even though prostate cancer awareness month is September) for men, but other causes as well (think testicular cancer). I love this! The original thought to Movember is to grow a moustache, but I am not about them so I will just let my beard grow out for another thirty days.

I am in an awkward spot though. I grew my beard out for Halloween with the thought of trimming it up after. However with my learning of No Shave November I am thinking of letting it grow for another month. Much to the chagrin of Andrea I am sure. She already complains about it. It is true that I am getting a little sick of how long my beard is right now, but it is for the cause!

So, any male that has read this (whether you read this on a regular basis or you just stumbled across it) make sure you take care of your health. If you are older than thirty and you have not had a prostate exam, GO GET ONE! Thirty years old is generally the age in which men should be getting these exams unless you have a family history of prostate cancer, in which case you should be getting them sooner.

Just something to think about.

economy and gasoline

I have yet to figure out the relationship between the economy and gas.  As the bottom fell out of the stock market recently, the gas prices dropped.  When the stock market was up up up, so was the price of gas.  Shouldn't it be the other way around?  As the economy struggles, wouldn't the price of gas go up?  Does that not make sense?  Or is it because no one has money, the gas prices go down.  This is probably why I would never pass an economics class (be it high school or college).  

The only reason I was thinking about this today is that gas is below two dollars a gallon today.  It went down to one dollar and ninety nine cents.  I filled up yesterday at two o' five thinking that as the stock market rallied earlier this week, gas prices would go back up again.  Guess not.  It went down again.  What the hell?  

I just don't want to think about it too much.  It hurts my head.  

heartbeat to a new president

listening to Golden Years by Bowie.  A great song ruined by A Knight's Tale.  Movies can do that.  

I have been listening and reading up a little bit on the two presidential candidates.  This whole election thing kind of makes it important, I suppose.  *disgusted sigh*

One comment that keeps coming up is that Sarah Palin is one heart attack away from being president.  The point is that she doesn't have much experience and what will she do if she is thrust into that situation.  What about Joe Biden?  He is a heart attack away as well.  But isn't brought up or discussed because his running mate is so much younger.  

That should be a question for the VP debate:  'If your running mate dies of a heart attack, how would you run this country?'  

Sounds cold doesn't it?  But that is basically what the press is pointing to with their comments about Palin being in that situation.  

Political oppression equals bad karma

Still shuffling:  Get Up, Stand Up by Bob Marley and the Wailers

A news story came across the wire about an hour which I thought was interesting.  Sharon Stone (yes, that Sharon Stone) is quoted as saying that the earthquake that occurred in China recently is the cause of bad karma.  The Chinese government (in all their oppressive glory) has just been manhandling the Tibetan people, peaceful monks, and their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Stone linked the bad behavior to the earthquake, citing karma as the reason why.  Do bad things and karma will shake your country like a rag doll.  

The fun little tidbit about this story is that the Chinese government released a statement saying that they are going to ban Stone's movies in their country.  I don't know if anyone told them, but they don't need to really ban her movies...no one goes to see them anyhow.  

Not only is she taking flack from the Chinese but there is also a huge backlash about her statement.  Oversensitive people are going online and speaking out against her because they feel that she is being cold and heartless because 60,000 plus people died.  Listen people, she didn't come out and say 'Oh, those 60,000 (plus) people deserved to die because the Tibetan people are being oppressed.'  She feels that karma is flexing it's muscle and trying to stop what is happening.  She is stating her opinion and standing up for her belief that the Chinese government shouldn't be douche bags.  And honestly, sad to say because it is in fact Sharon Stone, I agree.  

I don't really believe in karma, or spiritual revenge, or anything along those lines.  However, with the worldly outcry against this whole situation with China and Tibet, you would think that an organization such as the United Nations would step in and try to calm everything down.  I'm not saying a call to arms is needed, but can't we just sit them on a couch and ask them how they really feel?