Bittersweet

Yesterday American did an extraordinary thing. There is no denying that America has come a long way. Many reports today talked to people that are the living link between an elected African American to be President, and slavery.

On the same day America brought hope, America brought more shame on itself. States including California and Arizona banned same sex marriage. Because some are different they not have the same rights as others. For some reason this is a time where we can overlook one prejudice and focus on continuing another.

One major reason why we have allowed this prejudice to continue is the lack of a leader. Proponents of same sex marriage do not have the organization power proponents of bigotry. If you were in California, you overwhelmingly saw more "Yes on Prop 8" signs and commercials then you didn't. In Arizona there were "Yes on 102" signs all around the valley, and commercials ever.

Leaders step up when there time has come. When they have enough experience and knowledge and are mentally ready they take the plunge. They do it in self sacrifice and for the greater good. They do not do it for fame, or power. Personally I would like to thank Fr. Geoff Farrow for being one of these leaders the last month. We need more people like him who is courageous, thoughtful, and articulate.

I hope that there can be a coalition of leaders across the states in the next 2-10 years to educate and reform Americans minds so they know that trading one prejudice for another is not what we should do.

Many people said last night "Yes we did." This is not the attitude we need. We still have a long way to go. Yes we can. We found a positive leader for America, now lets find one for the issue.

I know I haven't posted in awhile but I wanted to comment on Abroad in America. While most countries are in the upswing of Gay Marriage such as Spain, and other countries, America has slid the other way. We have slid the other way because of the "fear politics" not just at a national level but at a state level too. I encourage anyone to vote no on propositions to ban same sex marriage. While I blog about usually useless events, one item I am passionate about is same sex marriage and the Catholic Church and the Bill of Rights.
Please visit Fr. Geoff Farrow's blog to understand how bad this amendment is. Countries I look up to have made marriage legal for all people who are in a loving committed relationships. Isn't it time we do the same, and not ban rights for our citizens? Aren't we the land of the free?

Abused BY CHILDREN, not child abuse!

<---- ME PISSED

This is a real time account of what happened to me on a plane last Sunday, typed from my journal: (It may not be grammatically correct but its raw)

"So I am a single guy, and my family and friends are in a different state that I am, so I fly a lot more than I use to. The problem is that I am single. I, being a somewhat responsible traveler know how to smoothly pick my seat, sign in online get to the airport just in time sit down in my WINDOW seat and wait if and WHEN I either get the boot or I get tuck next to "I am an American aka I am EXTREMELY fat.
Lets for this sake take the first scenerio since its happening now (interupted by a child right now saying "GIMMIE MY CHOCOLATE NOW"
Now because I am single young and slim I am discriminated again in the plane. ( I know poor me since everyone else wants to be young and singe, but I am only talking about discrimination in the plane.
I assigned myself seat 20A online 6 hours before I stepped on this plane, and its just where I liked it. I put my headphones on and no one annoys or talks to me and its perfect.
Just as I am all settled the flight attendant asked me if I could more because if I could move because the lady who just entered has 3 little children and she wasn't assigned seats with her children.
Now if she was responsible I know she could have called 1-800-225-2525 and the airline would have placed her before I move my seat. But no. Now I am sitting inbetween one of hte three little brats who plopped down and hasn't stopped moving his vocal chords and hasnt' stopped squirming. Add to this his mom right after they made me move to a MIDDLE seat gave "Alex" a happy meal.
I don't necessarily hate the fast food industry but I detest the smell esxpecially when I am in a flying tume and can't frickin move (edited there).
Now the mom just bought the dam kid potato chips on the plane---YAY (NOT!)
When its populating this earth more imprtant than my comfort... I just don't know if people should have children.
Ok one more thing then I am hopefully going to get some rest. I told you I was sitting in a middle seat. guess who's on the OTHER side of me. No actually for once its not a fat person, but a teenage PUNK who wouldn't put his phone away. He was checking his text AFTER he wasin the air. I stearnly had to say to him, "Put the phone away now!" This is going to be a great 3 hours to come.
~~~~~~~
(At the end of the flight)
Well its over and I did actually get to sleep, but I think it was body shutdown because it couldn't handle all the stimulation. But the seats from the mom and all the kids were an absoulute disaster. I never wanted to get off the plane more than this one, maybe except sitting next to teh 350 pound person eating potato chips.

Jon Hassler- Minnesota Culture

Jon Hassler is one of the nations best modern authors, who unfortunately passed away yesterday. The one book of his that stood out to me was Staggerford which is about a single younger middle aged English teacher, and his trials and tribulations with students peers, and community members in a small Minnesota town. In my eyes the reason his books are so memorable is the fact that he has found Culture in what I have doomed in a non-culture society.

What I see: Consumer driven strip-mall after strip-mall in the car, listening to music that is somehow not my culture going to a movie that is based in a different culture to escape the non consumer culture here.

Jon Hassler saw: Simple everyday culture. Hot chocolate on a Friday evening going to the local high school football game. The human connection between neighbors, and the tribulations that everyone has, and no one has quite the best answer. He found culture, no matter how simple it was. No it wasn't Romantic Paris, or the Plays in London, but the culture is ours.

I remember studying abroad in Rome with this eccentric Italian Literature professor, Carmela. (Think of a strong Italian women with her two figers and her thumbs hitting her chest when she says her name: "CAR-mellA") While she was in love with her own Roman culture, she couldn't get enough of Jon Hassler, and the picture that he painted of Minnesota and middle American culture.

I write this serious blog post not to be a debbie downer- but to set the tone for this blog. "Finding culture in a consumer risen society" And hopefully I can take lessons from Jon Hassler and find the culture wherever I am.

(P.S. also have respect for him because in High School I emailed him questions for my book report and he emailed me back the same day with a GREAT list of detailed answers. He also was a graduate and Writer in Residence at my alma matter, St. John's University, He touched my life even though he has no idea who I am)

Road Signs

Seriously, I think my tax dollars are a complete waste. As I sit down to do my taxes this week(aka my dad will do my taxes), I can't comprehend the stupidity that the government employs. I just got done with a 6 road hour trip from LA to Phoenix. The most exciting sight that was out there in the desert was coming up to Palm Springs and the sign said " Indio and Other Desert Cities."
Really "Other Desert Cities"!
Since I was on my own I had an adequate amount of time of thinking on just this sign, and I came up with NO reasonable reason why that should be on a highway sign. Yes cause on my way to my destination I would rely on a sign that says "Other Desert Cities" OH I am going to a desert city, so therefore where it says "Other Desert Cities" I should blindly follow the I-10 freeway because I read that sign. NO, I bet that NO ONE has ever relied on that sign for "Other Desert Cities"

Another sign that I saw was the classic "State Prison Don't Pick Up Hitchhikers." Doesn't that sign just make you TRUST your government employees. I know it does for me. The people who make these ridiculous signs must not see what they are actually insinuating: that we and mostly they are incompetent THINKERS. They do their work, but the ones who hand down the work from the top are not really brainiacs. Can we spend our money I don't know on something else such as, less gas tax! (paid $3.52 per gallon in CA)