Sean Penn :Conversations with Chavez

Well, I'm sorry for my absense. The past four or five days have found me extremely busy...no time to sit down with my computer and blog. I finally have a brief moment today before I go and stuff myself with more food than my body has capacity for, but mostly enjoy family relaxation time!

Here is an interesting tidbit I found on The Nation. Sean Penn actually went to visit with Chavez and Castro, moved by the proclaimation that Pat Robertson said about "we should just kill Chavez, its cheaper than starting a war!" What he found were some intersting things behind the two men...much of which he felt was positive. I think it's worth a look, and theres also a youtube video of Penn talking about it.

I thought htis also played into our discussion of technology---where would we be without YouTube? I often argue against some of the newest technology or every little thing that they have out now,(blackberries,Kindle) but I do love YouTube because of the array of information we can all get our hands on!

Happy Thanksgiving

Obama the AntiChrist??

Well, well, well...imagine my surprise today when finding this article about how some are believing that Obama is the AntiChrist! I think that because of the condition the world is in today people are honestly just going crazy...I mean, the article says that someone who won the lottery in Illionois (Obamas state) had the numbers 666---the sign of the Beast. This information was attained by Tod Strandberg, editor and founder of RaptureReady.com an online sight about caluclations and predictions about the end of the world.

Some peoples beliefs just cause them to be in fear and I do think the media fuels the fire on this at times, especially with all those "red alerts" we used to have regarding terrorism. Personally, I believe that was all to help Bush's ratings and his plans for invading these countries. Surprising no one called him the AntiChrist (to my knowledge anyways...)

Bright Side for our Environment?

With the failing economy our depleted environment and growing problems with global warming, theres a lot to be thinking about, and stressed about. Luckily, it seems we've finally elected someone who actually cares about these things! Obama seemingly has an innovative and refreshing plan for helping our economy and the earth--more sustainable energy, cutting carbon emissions, cutting U.S. oil consumption...and the list goes on! Let's hope that these issues take some precedence over others, since it'll not only be benefiting the future of our planet, but stimulating our economy as well!!

Life after Bush

Me being a bit(okay, maybe more) of an environmentalist, I had to post this.

I think it stands on it's own.

The First Dog

As Lauren posted in her blog, it seems the media is at a loss for what to cover next. I think this cartoon is kind of funny, although I notice in this cartoon as well as others that I've seen that the media is already playing upon Obamas ears! I guess they don't have anything else to work with yet...

More race...

More race issues are popping up...this time around the world! NPR explores how Obama election has sparked many prejudice comments and newspaper headlines around the world: namely Europe (Poland, Italy, Germany). One of the problems is that many of these countries have never dealt with race as the U.S. has over the years:
Julian Bond, chairman of the NAACP, says, "The big difference here is that the United States has been thinking about and dealing with race since we were founded. These countries in Europe are relative newcomers to the conversation about race. They are much less familiar with confronting their own bigotry."

Oppps, forgot to include this one in my last post. This is the second article in The Nation that questions Obama's pending choice for secretary of state--there is talk he may pick Robert Gates, who worked in Carters adminstration and has some history provoking Russia:

Improved relations with Russia are critical to the change toward a more peaceful world that Obama has promised, but it is disquieting in the extreme that some of his closest advisers are inveterate hawks with a history of needlessly provoking tension with the Russians during the cold war days. Key among them is Zbigniew Brzezinski, who, as President Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, engineered the US involvement on the side of Islamic fanatics in Afghanistan.

It was decades later that the truth came out that the Soviets invaded only after being deliberately provoked by US hawks. One of them was Robert Gates, who worked for Brzezinski in the Carter administration and who is currently the secretary of defense; President-elect Obama is now reported to be considering retaining Gates in that position. A 1996 press release promoting Gates's memoir promised the revelation of "Carter's never-before-revealed covert support to Afghan mujahedeen--six months before the Soviets invaded."

Red Flag Warning from The Nation!

Two articles appeared on The Nation's homepage today regarding some potentially bad choices Obama may make in picking positions for his cabinet. The Summers Conundrum discusses the possibility that Obama might pick Lawrence Summers, one of the people involved in the financial crisis as well as a whole slew of economic disasters in other countries he advised in the past. This would seem absurd that he would even be considered to hold position of treasury secretary! The Nation even goes so far as to say Palin seems less scary compared to this choice:

The bailout, as currently implemented, threatens to devastate America's economy much as Russia's and Lithuania's were devastated before. The idea that this is exactly the right time and place to put Larry Summers in charge of our economy's future is so frightening that it makes the Sarah Palin vice presidential choice seem almost quaint by comparison. Let's hope the rumors are wrong.

First Lady

Here's something from NPR to go along with what we were talking about Michelle Obama and the role she will play in this Presidency. Not only will she be "mom," but she will continue to speak out for women's rights. Carl Sporonza says in the interview that after the novelty of and scrutiny of Michelle as a First African American lady (and Obama) "they will be judged as individual human beings."

Nation Radio Show

This broadcast on The Nation radio, regarding the fundamental and progressive change is in store with Obama and what is means to have elected an African American President, is worth listening to. Also interesting is what the journalist brings up about that moment when we see the First Family--Obama, Michelle and their children and how this moment was also essentially highlighting women. The respect that Obama gives his wife and how she stands next to him, as opposed to others who stand behind their husband, says a lot about their relationship and how he feels about women. They also mention that inevitabldy Obama will make decisions that we might not always agree with, but he will work to bring a better good to the country. One commentator in the interview also says that this election wasn't like the 2004 election where we were voting for "the lesser of two evils", we voted for someone who we thought could actually make a difference.
*The broadcast is a little lengthy, but very interesting*

Skepticism

Before the election, it seemed that all the media and everyone felt that Obama was ready to bring the necessary change: they were confident! Now, as I've seen on MSNBC and some other recent articles, there are questions of whether or not Obama can do it. For instance, while I was watching Olberman last night, I saw an advertisement for an upcoming Maddow show where she will be interviewing someone (sorry, I forgot the person) about whether or not Obama will really do what he says he is going to do. Then theres this article from NPR: Can Obama Make Good on Promises About War? Even The Nation runs this article (Obama's Dissapointing First Choice) about Obama's pick of Rahm Emanuel--they aren't sure he was the right person to pick for Chief of Staff.
I wonder if they are trying to somewhat downplay their clear support of one candidate over the other?

Just for fun: Check out these political cartoons posted on MSNBC (scroll down they are on the right! I couldnt copy the link since it was a slideshow!)

NPR covering race

NPR is doing a good job of bringing up interestng topics on race. Here is one from Morning Edition. This commentary explores the ideas of black americans not being ready for a black president. He says many will think we can roll up the civil rights carpet, but in reality just because we've elected an african american president, that doesn't mean there aren't still many racist people and feelings circulating across the country, and world for that matter. I don't think we can just stop fighting for equality now, this is just one positive step in the right direction.
On a personal note: I don't believe that we will ever completely end racism, but we can hopefully work to end stereotypes. For example, I was talking with someone the other day about a friends boss. The boss refused to vote in the election because he felt like both candidates were idiots, and he wasn't ready to vote for a black president. He has also made comments about not trusting a Mexican. These are sterotypical feelings and biases and quite frankly I believe many people still feel this way.
If anything, I hope that Obama will prove that it doesn't matter what color or race you are, what matters is that you work for the American people and you work for world peace. I think those feelings of superiority need to be diminshed.

Obama!!!!

Well, needless to say I am estatically (is that how you spell it?) happy about Obama winning.

Since I had class on Tuesday night, I listened to NPR and CNN on satelllite radio on my way to and back from school. On my way to school, which was about 5:30, one of the CNN newscasters was talking about how hard it would be to wait until ALL polls closed. He said there was no way that the media would wait until west coast polls closed to reveal some of the results--and that is true. Once Obama won Ohio and PA. it was all over, even though polls hadn't closed yet on the west coast. Also interesting, was the fact that CNN made quite a few statements implying that McCain really didn't have a chance to win with the way the polls were looking (this was about 9:30 p.m.). I think after he won Ohio and PA., two key states, the outlooks were in his favor and no one could deny that.

In some ways I relate this election to that of when Kennedy won. He too was young and fresh, and truly motivated all crowds of people, especially younger just like I think Obama did. He gives off that same kind of energy and compassionate air that was so loved by Kennedy.

I think this article in the Nation is worth reading. Here is one part of it:

For others of us at an advanced age, Obama's success is more shocking. We can see it as a monumental rebuke to tragic history--the ultimate defeat of "white supremacy." That vile phrase was embedded in American society (even the Constitution) from the outset and still in common usage when some of us were young. Now it is officially obsolete. Racism will not disappear entirely, but the Republican "Southern strategy" that marketed racism has been smashed. Americans will now be able to see themselves differently, North and South, white and black. The changes will spread through American life in ways we cannot yet fully imagine. Let us congratulate ourselves on being alive at such a promising moment.

I think it does say how far our nation has come to have elected a African American President, and I am hopeful that there will be many more nationalities represented in the future, however I'm not sure that I believe this will completely change the minds of those embedded in racism. It's a step, a promising one as the Nation states, but we have a ways to go yet!

The Boss!

I had to post this article, not only because it involves one of my absolute favorite singers, but because it is a very inspirational article too! Bruce Springsteen spoke at the final Democratic rally in Ohio, telling his audience and millions of Americans on TV that we are at the crossroads!
This also feeds into our earlier discussions about celebrities endorsing certain candidates, and I think this year above all other years we have had a tremendous increase in the amount of celebrities and famous people who have endorsed a candidate (correct me if I'm wrong...)
I think that says a lot about the concern that Americans have at the way the country has been "run" (more like demolished) for the past 8 years. We are at "the crossroads" (as Springsteen says) and we need to come together as a nation to choose the person who will hopefully lead us back down the road that is truly what the U.S. stands for.

I think it's a fine thing that artists can use their music and their celebrity to inspire and change. We all can't be up on there on the stage, so thankfully there are people like Springsteen who can speak for us.

unnecesary?

As the final day before the election, I'm wondering if it was necessary for either campaign to issue new attack ads or comments...? I mean, at this point I think people truly have a clear idea in their heads of who they are going to vote for...if not, I'm not sure another attack ad is going to change their minds. I think for McCain, this is it: he is trying every last bit of what he's got to try and sway the votes:
"He will need to be. Even Davis acknowledged that McCain will probably need to walk a tightrope to put together enough states to eke out the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. To that end, McCain campaigned in two states leaning toward Obama, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, that he hopes will provide part of the solution to that puzzle."

I'm just nervous about poll fraud again like we've seen before...I hope the media gets out there in the controversial states (ex: florida) to hopefully deter any sketchy poll changing!