The Personal: Life Plans & Vacation

( I obviously wrote this when I was in Kauai - big think it's still worth sharing - I'm back now; more to come soon)

So I'm here! This island is even more beautiful than I remembered and I still can't believe I am spending 3 weeks here. It's been 3 days, my skin is a little darker, my feet are a lot smoother from all the sand abrasion - which I love!

This morning was probably the most amazing moment in time I've ever spent. At first it wasn't easy... I had resigned myself to the possibility that snorkeling simply would never be my "sport" ....Jeremy was patient, and convinced me to just keep trying. So I did. GOOD THING!!! Because there was a whole world going on under my feet while I was swimming around the ocean in the past 2 days. We saw huge fish of all different sizes, and these funny little yellow and black ones seemed to really like me - I think it's because I was using a long noodle like floating helper...(don't laugh, it wasn't water wings - just a Styrofoam thing in case I might get tired - and yes I was the only one using one....except for the really nerdy couple who wore wet suits in 85 degree tropical weather)

ANY WAY....I was so excited by everything I saw - it was like swimming in an aquarium-and I felt like I was a voyeur - looking into a world where I wasn't invited, really---but the fish didn't seem to mind.

THEN....Jeremy was swimming to my right and I looked over at him - Just in time to see a GIANT turtle RIGHT NEXT to him...I freaked out - in a good way....grabbed his had and pointed. The turtle was majestic and slow as he swam by and we able to swim right with him. Jer was braver than I and could almost touch him (but he didn't 'cause you aren't supposed to do that)...I kept a distance at about 10 ft. He swam so slow and graceful it was amazing and he/or she...was HUGE! We could see the barnacles on his body and occasionally he moved his head looking back as if to say.."come on" or maybe "hey, leave me alone." ...here's a picture of him from a far:

Anyway it was great...


So now we are planning our days for the rest of the trip which has lead me to this blog....as we plan out our days fairly meticulously - although leaving room for adventure I wonder if this is the way I/we should plan out our lives. We have only a few more days left (well I have 2 more weeks - but Jer. only a few more days) on this journey...and we know exactly when it will end. We had decided what we want to do and see before we leave this island and have left plenty of room for spontaneity along the way. Tomorrow we will hike, visit an old town and a different beach...but if we meet someone new, or happen upon an interesting trail - we'll take it and see what happens. We don't HAVE to stick to the plan, but we have a rough outline.

Seems a good metaphor for life -however cliche....I think I spend too much of my time in the unknown minutes - which have proved to be wonderful --- although I think I'm simply lucky.....so could use some more consciousness that this could end...this whole thing and so maybe I need a few things that I will do -- no matter what -- BUT if I'm derailed along the journey -will courageously check it out.

The Personal: Heading Out

This is where I will be for the next few weeks! ( i took this picture last year) Yes...FEW weeks. I'm heading out to Kauai, Hawaii tomorrow and will not be back until December 8th! Unheard of, I know! I'm so sick of those Brits who go on "Holiday" and are gone for months at a time - so I'm taking my "Amercian Holiday" which would normally be about 2 days - and extending it to 3 weeks. Most of my time will be spent right here:

Yes that is me in that very spot last year....

For part of the time I hope to be here:
Anyway - I'm out--- Jeremy and I will be there together for the first week, then he's comin' back to Seattle to run the marathon (he's an over acheiver but, whatever) - and my family will join me at the end of the month. I am very excited -- obviously about this trip. I hope that it will bring some much needed relaxation and perspective to my life. I have a lot of hikes planned, some yoga (what good liberal wouldn't do some yoga on a beach vacation?) - lots of reading and mostly sippin' cocktails and watching sunsets.

I will try to blog from there - but lets be honest-- I shouldn't.

There are some BIG BIG things happening for me in January in regards to politics and work - so please come back then...because really I'll be more diligent about bloggin' then because I will have soooo much to say. I will be in the heart of things the start of the new Legislative Session when Nanc takes the wheel and creates some much needed change in this country -- I am so excited to see who will be the Majority Leader as well...Murtha, for sure will bring some Spice to the new year...I can hardly stand it all!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving - Give Thanks, it's good for you.

Best.

Politics and the Personal: Democracy Works!

This is a photograph from the Seneca Falls Convention, July 19th, 1848.

The Seneca Falls Convention held in New York was the first women's rights convention held in the United states, and the start of the Women's movement in this country. It was only 158 years ago that the first spark of possibility that women MIGHT be able to vote came to pass. My birthday is July 19th so I immediately locked this event in my brain when I learned of it in the 6th grade - (thank you Mr. Growth). ..( i know....i was a bit of a self centered 6th grader).

SO...why do I bring up the Seneca Falls convention now? Well - besides the fact that it was on the same day I was born - The convention was the start of something - the beginning of women participating in this wonderful thing we call Democracy. It's inspiring to me to know what these women did so that I can vote today ....and I did!

I just returned from the elementary school up the street where I was proud to fill in each and every bubble on my ballot. When I got home I turned on the television to learn that the Democrats are sweeping these mid-terms - the first thing I thought was, AH! DEMOCRACY WORKS!!

And it does...so much for voter apathy and lazy Americans who don't care. Turns out we do care and when the country wakes up (as we have) and takes action, Democracy actually works! I am inspired by the results of this election and for the first time in a long time I feel hopeful.

I believe Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Katy Stanton and all the women who fought so that women have the voice they deserve in our Democracy are smiling down on us today as we celebrate the new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi-only 2 short spots away from the President....and perhaps only 2 short years away from a woman President of the United States.

Thank you ladies!

The Personal: Al, Barack, Native Son & BODIES

I had a pretty busy and interesting week (last week). It all started Monday when I went to see Al Gore speak at the Key Arena. Since Dave was introducing Al Gore and moderating the Q & A, KIRO got a suite so we could all come support Dave and see Al in comfort - which turned out to be great because I got a horrible asthma attack in the middle of the lecture...but that's a digression...

Dave Ross was incredible - I must say. I've seen Dave on stage before, during the election and I was totally amazed then - but the audience wasn't a sold out Key Arena! Dave totally belongs on stage - if you ever get a chance to hear him speak -- even if you think the topic doesn't interest you..GO!! Dave on stage is something to see.

But again - I digress.

Al Gore - WOWEE! What has gotten into that guy? He was funny...no really, he was. He was interesting and self deprecating - which I love. Not that I had much doubt about the seriousness of global warming, but after his presentation, I can't imagine anyone left there doubting the realities of our warming planet. I took Jeremy and he agreed- interesting stuff, preachin' to the choir--but that's an Al Gore we haven't seen before.

In the end the lecture was a little long - with entirely too many charts and graphs - but I think only because I live in a pretty fast paced world and so have a hard time sitting for that long on a Monday. I haven't seen his film, not sure I need to now. But if Al comes to '08 with THAT much energy we could see a very exciting primary (I'm not sold that he could be our guy...yet).

Thursday we went to see the other potential '08 contender Barack Obama, speak about his book "The Audacity of Hope." We got there just in time...I had press tickets so figured we'd have good seats. Well it was General Admission at the Benaroya Hall so we had to fend for ourselves. Just as we walked into the auditorium, a woman who worked there said "we're opening the two front rows"...so Jeremy and I booked down and got front row!!

When Barack entered the space he completely owned it. He has a presence that I simply cannot put into words - he spoke with passion and eloquence and it felt (granted I was in the front row) - like he was speaking right to me. The message was hopeful. Sen. Obama has the potential to bring our country together - he is the true American. I look forward to hearing more from him as we get closer to the next Presidential election.

One thing that was very obvious about the two lectures in comparison was the fact that the Obama lecture brought such a wonderfully diverse crowd together in contrast to Al Gore. Upon leaving Sen. Obama's speech we looked at each other, almost ashamed at the fact that we are rarely in a room with so many different people - it was refreshing. And makes me hopeful about his ability to unify the country in the same way.

But my week didn't stop there...oh no. On Friday night we went to see The Intiman Theaters' production of Native Son. Native son is the story of the life of Bigger Thomas, a poor, uneducated, twenty-year-old black man in 1930s Chicago. As his lack of education has left him no option other than menial labor, he has felt trapped his whole life, resenting, hating, and fearing the whites who define the narrow confines of his existence (that from sparksnotes, not from me). In the story you also meet Mary Dalton - the well meaning although ignorant, naive and condescending rich white woman whose family hires Bigger to be their driver. Richard Wrights depiction about how blacks at that time saw whites and visa versa is so honest it's frightening. You can see that Mary thinks she's doing the right thing - trying to make Bigger an equal - but she's so silly and naive it's impossible to like her. And you see her through Bigger's eyes too and it brings it all to light in a very dark way.

I had read Native Son in college- I think most people read it in either high school or college. I remember at the time being very affected by the story but couldn't remember why exactly. After seeing the show at the Intiman, I remembered. I had a very emotional response to this play - crying at some points out loud - (I'm so embarrassed). Bigger's inner struggles mirror the separations between whites and blacks in the 30's with stark reality. I know things have changed but the roots of these things really trouble me. I grew up in south Tacoma in an incredible diverse neighborhood, my best friends were Vietnamese, African American, German, Korean and Filipino - I was totally ignorant of racial stereotypes and racism in general because from the time I was born everyone was friends. I really struggle with it all now so much - it's painful. Not with my own feelings but with the cause in general...and it's solution.

My overall review of Native Son - go see it! There were a few little rough spots in the show but I think that's just because it was opening night - they might have needed one more week of rehearsal. But Ato Essandoh was provocative and frightening as Bigger Thomas. In one scene he looks straight into the audience and screams, at that moment I could feel his rage and it hurt. So again....go see it! Get tickets here.

Finally - today we saw the Bodies Exhibition downtown at 800 Pike. Oh Boy! I have to say I felt a little ill at the start, but I got over it. At the beginning I was looking at everything in a very scientific way getting close to the bodies, looking inside at the muscle structure etc. - (You can get real close to 'em - I mean you are face to face with a dead person - and you an get right up in there and check out every crack and crevice - so to speak).

AndI did get face to face - I looked at one of the real dead bodies (once alive and breathing) - right in the face and it made me think a lot. I started to wonder about the person's life story - how old they once were and if we were on the planet at the same time. I wondered about their thoughts and loves and hates - and if we cared about the same things ever....and then I thought it's so weird that what has brought me and this stranger together is only his death (most all of the bodies are men). Not to mention the controversy - I began to wonder if some of the speculation is true and so questioned my own integrity because I don't know where the bodies REALLY come from ...So I had to leave for a minute and take some deep breaths.

When I regained composure and returned to check it all out I was amazed. It was sort of crowded and so tough to get a good feel for it all. But gosh, the human body is one amazing organism!! Dave Ross said to me after seeing it that it makes a good case for Intelligent Design... and I completely agree!! It's tough for me now to think it's all just chance and evolution, seems there must be something behind it all. The ear for example - at the exhibition you get pretty close to a human ear and they have one in tact and then another separated into tiny pieces. The little intsy whensie bones that make it so we can hear are astonishing - go here for more.

All in all the exhibit was very interesting...but there was one thing that bugged me and Jeremy pointed it out as we were leaving. During the journey through BODIES one is bombared with the message about how the bodies are treated with the utmost respect - etc. etc....but at the end of the exhibit you are spit out right into the gift shop...

"All our Bodies are treated with the greatest of respect.....HEY wanna bye a t-shirt with dead guy on the front?"

...A little too commercial and kinda ruined some it for me.

So at the end of my big cultural week I spent the rest of Sunday running and watching the finale of the Flavor of Love on VHI....have you seen it? - oh that Flava Flave...good stuff. Complete mindless entertainment and I needed it. A girl's gotta have some balance!

Politics and the Personal: Education and When Teachers Don't Teach

If I had children and they were enrolled in the Puyallup school district right now I would pull them out of school and never look back. I was appalled when I learned TEACHERS in the Puyallup school district are filing a complaint because they don’t want to teach the book "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" by Ernest Gaines
to 8th graders.

In times like this I wish I was a better writer because I can’t express to you my deep frustration about this issue. What year is it?! TWO THOUSAND FREAKIN’ SIX - and we still can’t reconcile teaching historical texts for fear that our children can’t handle history? We have no faith in our youth or our teachers to be able to teach history and inspire important conversations about our past in order to learn about our present and prevent atrocities in the future?!

The class in question is an American Studies program. Teachers in the Puyallup school district are filing a complaint because they don’t want “The autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest Gaines to be required reading. In this novel written as an autobiography, a 110-year-old woman tells the story of her life, from her childhood as a slave in Louisiana to the civil rights era of the 1960s. The book is taught in the American Studies program for 8th graders because it covers these periods comprehensively.

The issue the teachers take with the text is the continual use of N-word and the sexual content in the book. Teachers are apparently concerned that 8th graders, commonly aged 13 – 14 can’t handle the material.

According to King 5 News:

They fear 8th graders aren't mature enough to understand the serious issues discussed in the book.

"Red flags started going up … and those teachers that had read it before were saying well, I've never taught it because of the content," said English teacher Carole Stratford.

Are they THAT out of touch with their very own students? Well, I am – but it didn’t take me long to find out more concerning what this age group is doing and what they are concerned about. I looked at several 8th grade sites on My Space, interviewed my friends who have children or siblings that age and consulted some sites about adolescent development.

Here’s what I found discovered:

According to Puberty.com, there are numerous developmental issues that everyone faces during the adolescent years. The normal feelings and behaviors of the middle school and early high school adolescent are described below:

Morals, Values, and Self-Direction
 Rule and limit testing
 Capacity for abstract thought
 Development of ideals and selection of role models
 More consistent evidence of conscience
 Experimentation with sex and drugs (cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana)

Teenagers do vary slightly from the above descriptions, but the feelings and behaviors are, in general, considered normal for each stage of adolescence.

So kids this age maybe experimenting with alcohol and drugs, some are having sex – but they can’t handle the N-word in the context of an American Studies program?

My friends who either have younger siblings or are parenting children this age tell me this:

 8th graders generally are experimenting with cigarettes and alcohol,
 There is a lot of “making out” – but only a few are having sex;
 Sex isn’t the “Norm” but a few are doing it and everyone is talking about it.
 Music, sports and friendships with the same sex are very important.
 Boys and girls are friends but they mostly hang out in same sex groups – when they do mix it’s in a party atmosphere or so they can make-out.
 One group of boys likes to streak naked around their neighborhood, they think it’s funny.
 They are mostly awkward, there’s a lot of bravado with the boys but little action on that
 They struggle with identity in general and try hard to “fit in”

I found this on a site about marketing to teens …seems the advertising markets understand our children better than our teachers do:

The tween consumer gets older, faster each year. By age eight, today’s kids are beginning to replace dolls and trucks with posters, music and clothing that reflect their individuality…and growing capacity to form lasting brand loyalties and influence family purchase decisions.

America’s tweens independently spend $51 billion, money they get from a variety of sources like gifts and allowances, and they hold considerable sway over the additional $170 billion spent directly on them each year. In addition, they also influence major family purchase decisions—everything from cars to computers, grocery brands to vacation destinations.

However, there are precious few opportunities to reach tweens, who spend up to 50% of their waking hours in school, are increasingly scheduled with homework and after-school activities, are spending more time hanging out with friends and are more deeply involved with video games and the Internet.

But teens are exceptionally hard to target, requiring unconventional tools and expertise. Consider that today’s teens are:
 Bombarded by choices,
 Demanding of speed and response,
 Savvy in the face of marketing messages,
 “Wired” throughout the day via multiple forms of interpersonal communication like e-mail, IM, cell phones and text messaging.

So I have to wonder what these teachers are doing? Are teens in the Puyallup area particularly immune to what other average kids are doing?

Beyond that – is there no way to expose our youth the realities and atrocities that occurred in our history with out fear of them --- what ? Freaking out? What’s going to happen if our teens find out that in America we employed slaves, we used the N-word, we were horrible racists, raped, murdered, lynched people who didn’t look like us? What will they do when they know our history?

I’m appalled and just don’t know what these people hope to accomplish by sheltering our children.

So much for MY 8th grade history class --- where Mr. Cherbas posted this quote in LARGE print all over his room: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it”

I’ll never forget that quote! Thank you Mr. Cherbus…and I’m sorry for your field has become.

The Personal: Potty Talk

Oh Foley….Foley, Foley, Foley….I considered writing about all that is and was Representative Mark Foley today, but - it’s much more fun to sit back and watch the monumental hole the Republicans are digging for themselves….So I’ll write about something much more strange and disconcerting….ok – not more strange or disconcerting – but odd nonetheless….

Why oh why, don’t people who use toilet seat covers in public restrooms, throw them away when they are done? I don’t understand it. We have culprit here at KIRO and I’m hot on her trail. There is a woman here at KIRO or maybe KTTH or KBSG – needless to say , major market radio here---- who seems bent on goin’ potty and then leaving the seat cover right there on the toilet for someone else to have touch and throw away! That’s just gross! So I posted a sign in our restrooms that said:

“If you use a toilet seat cover, please dispose of it when you are finished. No one should have to do that for you.”

It worked for a while but someone has since torn it down…which for some reason has given the toilet seat cover leaver, the license to abandon her duties---as it were. But I’ll find out who it is and believe you me….I’ll stop this boorish behavior!

While I’m at it, there is one other matter of toilet behavior I feel inclined to expose…this is the matter of women…YES WOMEN…who seem to squat when they ..um…”go” – causing a bit of splashing to occur and consequently one might find…how shall I say? …some droplets on the seat. Again! GROSS! And who is supposed to clean that up? Or dare I say---who is going to end up sitting on that? EWE!

There you have it, now you know – I’m sorry I had to be the one to break it to you… Women are pretty gross. Ladies I have this to say to you…Woman power, hear us roar, ya ya ya…Clean up after yourself!! I mean REALLY!

Politics and the the Personal: Critical Asses...I mean Masses

I’m having a real hard time with Critical Mass. You know me, I’m a "LLLLLIBERALLL" – so I’m all about a person’s right to protest, and I’m crazy about those who do their part to reduce pollution and help our environment. This is why I am not starting with …"Critical Mass" is a bunch of crap! and those bike riders are a group of whining, self righteous asses!!!….which is sorta how I really feel..but I’m trying.

You see…the last Friday of every month the bike riders of Seattle (and in other cities) – come together at some predetermined destination and start out on a ride through the city. Sounds harmless enough..but it’s not….they could careless about any traffic laws and the whole thing is really about pissing off motorists. Darn it, I’m not trying hard enough – let me try again.
Have you heard about Critical Mass? According to their website:

On the last friday of every month in over 100 cities around the world cyclists congregate together to ride in demonstration and in celebration. critical mass has no leaders and no set agenda and people come together to ride for many different reasons.

just a few of those reasons are...to assert cyclists right to the road, to promote bikes as a fun, healthy, viable alternative to cars, to build a greater sense of community, to get more folks on bikes, or simply to celebrate bike love and ride in solidarity with other like minded individuals and have some fun!overall the ride is what you make it!

I’m really having a hard time with it. Am I missing something? I understand bikers have it tough in Seattle… there are hardly any bike paths available for them and cars are very big and stinky. But it feels like this Critical Mass thing works more against their cause than for it…..DAMN IT, I can’t do it!!!

There are PLENTY of bike paths in Seattle!!! I MEAN COME ON…
I want to support it, I want to believe in the "cause." But I can’t. Friday evening on my way to meet my mom at the Mariner game I sat through 3 lights while a mass of bikers ran through 3 stoplights and blocked traffic. Then I almost hit about 4 of them when they cut in front of me on Alaskan way..AND I WAS BEING VERY CAREFUL! Then, half of them road in the other lane – heading right towards on coming traffic…and that was just rude and very dangerous.

I want to be a community supporter, I want to celebrate bike love, I even want to promote healthy alternatives to cars…BUT I CAN’T because now I’m pissed. The bikers were a bunch of rude, self righteous, traffic law braking snots and that’s not a community I want to be a part of at all. In fact I am wayyy less inclined to NOT ride my bike because I don’t want to be associated with them.

But help me out – is there something I am missing? As a good liberal should I be more understanding? More supportive? Perhaps even more patient? Does hating the mass assembly of bike riders make me a bad liberal?

Word Smithin': Politics

You know what Conservatives are good at? No, not that...although I wouldn't know.

They are great at terminology! "LIBERAL" - (come on, say it with a snarl like "they" do - it's catchy) -- I was recently a guest on KTTH our sister station and I was clearly introduced as a "LIBERAL"- I wasn't Tina, producer of the Dave Ross and Ron Reagan Show, avid dog lover, cheese lover, ultimate frisbee player, hiker, big book reader, lots of friends haver....nope...I was "Rachel Corrie lovin, Bill Clinton Votin, Godess Lovin...LIBERALLLL....

They are so good at this labeling business, it's amazing. Aside from the L word there's, Flip Flopper - (that worked wonders), War on Terror, Single Parent Household, No Child Left Behind, War on Drugs , hmmm...what else? - Family Values, !! That was a good one.

I thought of all this today in the wake of the Clinton vs. Wallace conversation from Sunday, because over the weekend I was very busy. But even when I'm busy I pass by my laptop and check out the headlines...the headline on Drudge next to the video link of Bill Clinton's conversation with Chris Wallace (read that here) was "Purple Rage" - WOW... I thought....Bill must have been really angry. I was looking for maybe a Devil comment, a shoe stomping...maybe even a GRRRRR ala Howard Dean....but I was grossly dissappointed when all I saw was rational confrontation.

I was discussing this with a friend of mine, Chris (i won't put his last name here..but you know who you are);....we were talking about all the many words or phrases the "CONSERVATIVES"....(see it just doesn't have that punch) ....use to coin terms or phrases to....what Chris says...."hijack the language so they can control the discorse."

He's right...let me say (ok, write) that again....Conservatives hijack language so they can control the discorse. It's a very smart thing to do. The moment you call President Clinton..."ENRAGED", "purple faced", "defensive", LIBERAL.....you control what's next...because that's where the argument starts. You can now go for character instead of content.

By hijacking the language they control the discorse.

Call it something...flip flopper...now, it's not about the issues, it's about changing ones mind and that's unpredictable and consequently not ok....

By hijacking the language they control the discorse.

Wouldn't it be great if the Dems clued into that now...we could start now on anything..."sulfer smellin' devil".....see, we're not good at it! .....cowboy...didn't stick....monkey...nope....

What do ya got? Anything? Come on-- give it a try....

Free Speech: Politics and the Personal

We live in a free society. Free to offend and so to be offended. We couldn’t be a free society with out that! BUT…countries hate us for the things we say and do, so how can we be free and also expect accountability? Or should we?

“The moment you declare a set of ideas to be immune from criticism, satire, derision, or contempt, freedom of thought becomes impossible.”
Salman Rushdie

I am having trouble as I ponder the things the Pope has said :

"Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." --- Pope Benedict XVI

with my feelings about respect for other religions. If you’ve read my blogs you know that I have been listening to Bill Moyers quite a bit on his series on Faith & Reason. Where Moyers asks the question,

“In a world where religion is poison to some and salvation to others,
how do we live together?”

Bill Moyers


The most recent piece I listened to over the weekend was a conversation Moyers had with Salmam Rushdie. Rushdie is a tough one for a person like me – labeled a “liberal”. While I support, with all of my being, Rushdie’s fight for freedom of speech, I struggle when words can be so remarkably misunderstood and consequently offensive. It’s not that I want to forgive those who are offended and so act out violently…I absolutely don’t! But I get all caught up in my brain about it all because of my complete lack of understanding when it comes to the commitment of faith. I have no connection with that – there is absolutely nothing one could say to me or about me that would make me want to kill them or someone else. And I am willing to say no one else - no matter what they believe – should be offended to the point of violence.

But I don’t know.

I wonder if one of our fundamental problems in our complete lack of understanding of the commitments of faith – and consequently – often then a lack of reason. I mean there really is nothing sacred in the United States. We hold nothing so sacred that you can’t make fun of it, defame, or otherwise talk bad about it. Nothing; that I can think of right now as I write this blog.

Salman Rushdie says –it could be no other way…or we would not be a democracy – or a free nation.

The idea that any kind of free society can be constructed in which people will never be offended or insulted is absurd. So too is the notion that people should have the right to call on the law to defend them against being offended or insulted. A fundamental decision needs to be made: do we want to live in a free society or not? Democracy is not a tea party where people sit around making polite conversation. In democracies people get extremely upset with each other. They argue vehemently against each other’s positions. (But they don’t shoot.)
Salman Rushdie

Which is true.

And yet, If we allow anyone to say what they want, what do we do when that message is one that could offend, or even hurt others? I have a right to free speech in this country, but can be arrested for inciting a riot, sued for making slanderous comments, or have the sentence for my crime dramatically lengthened if that crime is racially motivated. Freedom of speech is situational: I can apply for a permit and then march down 5th avenue waving a giant flag with a swastika on it. But I can't run down 5th Ave. throwing rocks through the windows of black store owners because I don't like black people. There are clear limits to free speech. It is the grey areas that are a problem. Creating rules that protect people can also hurt them.

I had the same problem with the Muslim cartoon scandal. Part of me didn’t want those images released every where – but I don’t believe in censorship so what do you do? I believe we should be respectful – there are some things that should simply be left up to common judgement – but we don’t live in a country where that can be trusted – AT ALL. We are a country that often lacks respect and most importantly education. We believe what we’re told for the most part and we rely on personal responsibility.

No wonder we are so easily hated or misunderstood. We let anyone say anything at anytime…. I’m not sure I want to…but I wonder, should we draw a line? Anywhere?

Thank you to editor: Jeremy Jones

The Fire

Do you remember that song by Billy Joel, “We Didn’t Start the Fire?” Apparently he wrote it to prove the “history” that happened in is lifetime -

Billy Joel (reportedly) wrote this song after overhearing a child say that he felt sorry for "older people" like Billy Joel because no "history" happened in their lifetime, that NOW (or the time the song was written) was going to be the world's most historical time period. The comment got to Billy Joel so much that he sat down and wrote this to prove that his lifetime has been FULL of history.

Click here for more on that.

Well I’ve been thinking a lot lately about legacy and the very thing ‘Ole Billy was reflecting on in his song – so it’s been going through my head like crazy..literally that damned chorus…”we didn’t start the fire, it was always burnin’ since the worlds been turnin’”…..now you’ll be singin’ it all day…sorry!

Check out this website for some more of that…http://home.uchicago.edu/~yli5/Flash/Fire.html


Anyway – I think about this often…when I’m not obsessing about whether or not we’ve had a good show that day – or some stupid thing I said in a meeting, – I’m wondering about the Legacy my generation will leave – or really more like –what will people say about today – 30 years from now?

What will my children laugh at or be astonished by that I lived through? I’m pretty sure there will be a time in my life (or at least I hope) when my kids (ok my friends kids) will say

“Really? Gay people couldn’t even get married when you were in your thirties?!! Really? Gosh Aunt Tina, you lived in a weird time!”

I remember saying things like that to my parents. My father served 3 tours in Vietnam while my mother was protesting it (the marriage lasted about 15 more years after that – they divorced sometime in the 80’s but are still friends today) – But I’ve talked to my parents a lot about that time, and idealized the 60’s. In fact there was a time in my teens that I sort of wanted to know what it would be like to live during wartime – because mostly I romanticized the time. Something about the unity of people for or against it. The excitement and horror on the evening news made me curious.

But I also thought – well – they got the war, so we won’t get something like that. We’ve learned.
Although clearly we haven’t…and NO that’s not a Vietnam/War in Iraq comparison – so get your fingers off the keyboard- right now!

I wonder if there will be things I will be proud of and happy to prove that we learned from history but it’s tough. I think our children will ask us and wonder how we handled things like (in no particular order):

9/11, Lewinsky, gels on airplanes, Janet Jacksons boobie, Nirvana, the Challenger crash, Princess Di, OJ, Waco, Columbine, Isreali/Palestinian Conflict, Terrorism, Y2K, DaVinchi Code, dangling chads, WMD’s…don’t stop me now…

you get the idea… --- the question for me though is – how do we fare in these times? How do we come out of it so that our kids don’t have to say…,”huh? Again with the stupid censorship thing??...really? Are we in the same spot you guys were in, Aunt Tina…didn’t you guys learn anything?”

My junior high school history teacher at Lochburn Junior High, Mr. Cherbus – great guy. He used to make fun of me for being so small and I, in return would make fun of his big nose and he took it. Anyway…he had a statement on the wall that we’ve all heard before…”Those who do not remember our past are condemned to relive it”. I’ve taken that statement very seriously….however fairly inactive…but do you ever think about that? What will they say about us?

Conclusions; the Personal

WELL…THAT was interesting. I want to be honest about the experience I had about the A + B blog…But it’s funny because now I think I have to write something profound – or have an editor…even though – truth be told about 5 people were really engaged in the conversation…but 5 is more than 0, so I like it.

So when Sytman and Boze from our sister station KTTH came over to my cubicle…(we share a, coffee machine, fridge and some studios)…I was visibly shaking. When Dan (who has always been kind and who I have tremendous respect for) invited me on the program I was skeptical…I figured it was the perfect opportunity for them to make me to look like a dumbass. I am naturally an insecure person, not quite sure of herself, but often bold enough to try anyway…

So at first I said…"no- well, maybe --- uh, ok…well….let me think about it".

Then I went into full on self questioning mode…"do I have a good argument? Am I well thought out enough? Did I think it all through? Does the argument hold water?” (oh I know I am going to get flack for admitting that…I can just hear it now…don’t post a blog to all of the internet if you are not prepared to handle it…..let me now say- I handled it)

Still I thought if my argument doesn’t hold, KTTH is the first place to figure it out and make me look like a dumb girl….

THEN…

I did some research – in the course of a half an hour…and I thought about it…AND --- most importantly I talked to Dave Ross….he seemed to think I wasn’t a total idiot…THANK GOD! That was the big one -- if he had thought I was an idiot I would have been in big trouble.

So I strapped on some…uh…guts…and went for it.

“I’ll do it” I said to Sytman.

In the end – it went just fine.

I wonder though how it would have gone if they hadn't focused so much on calling me a "LIBERAL" - That seemed to be the focus of the callers...BECAUSE you're a LIBERAL...YOU...(more sweeping generalizations - but what can ya do). I was also suprised by the lack of intelligence on the part of the callers. I mean Sytman and Boze are both very intelligent guys - but the people who call in to that show - 'OYE! One guy said I was the victim of my own Ideology, that because I'm a LIBERAL and we live in a LIBERAL society that perpetuates rape in some way - blah blah blah...RIDICULOUS! Because we all know that rape simply doesn't happen in sexually conservative environments?! Right?! HA! What a crock.

Anyway - They were respectful – I held my ground. I learned --- I hope listeners enjoyed it…and bottom line it created discussion ….which is all I could hope for.

So I gotta say----I am so done with that argument…if you want to debate it, bring it up with some friends. But leave me out of it. And thanks for the conversation.

I got a big fat blog comin up…I have been thinking lately a lot about legacy. I guess that is because of the 9-11 anniversary. More to come…

More on the Controversial A + B = Terrorism/Rape Logic

So, first off, Scroll down to read the originall blog that has created the stir I will refer to from now on..Really best conversation on this topic was the hour we did on The Dave Ross Show yesterday and the hour I did on KTTH today. Right now I don't have that audio link, but I do have a link to the highlights of the shows you can find that here.

Second off -- (can I say second off?) I've decided to take the rebuttals to my A + B piece in points here individually:

From: Anonymous - For crying out loud: Legislators who pass laws against rape, and who intensify sentencing for same (Islamic governments are not increasing penalties for the crimes that sharia law manifests); police officers who arrest rapists; fathers, sons, boyfriends, husbands et al. who protect women, come to their immediate aid when they witness a rape in progress, and who loudly and often denounce this cowardly behavior (which parallel muslims are virtually not to be found with respect to the crimes mentioned.

My response: By the same token, Terrorism is illegal in America. Everyone comes to the aid of terror victim in the same wayÂ…In addition do think there were any people of Muslim faith that would not come to the aid of a dying victim? That'ss crazy -- of course they would -- but an extremist might not.

In addition, my argument is targeting America, perhaps I should make that more clear. And again -- my thesis is not that terrorism is a bad thing --- my thesis is that it's EXTREME Muslims that are terrorists and EXTREME Men that rape. So, I am inconsistentn a consistant standard --if you believe all Muslims are Terrorist than by that logic would have to believe all men are rapist--.and that's insane.

From Jeff:
Your analogy is fallacious. The reality is that in the US we do not have priests and civic leaders actively disseminating a call for men to rape women and for priests to rape children.
Yes. But we DO have many things in our society that perpetuate a mentality that supresses women. Beyond that, often when a woman is a victim of rape people say "she deserved it" "what was she wearing" -- not to mention the difficulties in even prosecuting date rape.
And when such activities do occur, they are shunned by all segments of our society, particularly our clergy and politicians.

Yes. And Our clergy and priests politicians are also intolerant of terrorism in the same way.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, violent hatred and Jihad are espoused every day by mullahs and civic leaders.

Violence and Jihad are espoused by EXTREMISTS --There are many different sects in the religion, some extreme and some who believe in Jihad. But the same can be said for extremist Christian groups, the KKK whose doctrine contains pieces from the bible AND of course, men who rape.

And governments support and fund terrorist organizations and the clerics who preach hatred. State sponsored television runs ads glorifying the martydom of children who become suicide bombers. And five year olds view themselves as Jihadi (read Jill Carroll's reports from her captivity.)

A Five Year Old does not .5 year olds, make.

The problem is the use of Islam and Sharia law as a means for the spread of virulent hatred and calls for terror.

Because of the shear numbers of rape that are committed in America the fact that we are then forced to be afraid -- is call for terror!

From Sqarehead:
Wow comparing Terrorism to rape. I cant remember when a rapist wiped out over 3k people in one blow. A woman is raped every two minutes in America.

2 out of every 3 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. I personally know 3 women in my circle of friends who have been brutally raped by menÂ….maybe not one blow but it's a pretty large number --and most importantly an act that changes the behavior of women on mass---

And for the men standing up against rape, I would say that all of us men who live our lives with some sort of moral clarity and raising our children in a committed marriage are doing our part to raise healthily minded boys.

Exactly! And all the healthy minded Muslims are also doing their part to raise and influence others in the same way.

Anonymous said...

Thousands of Muslims marched in the streets praising the bombings in London. I can't recall the last time I saw thousands of American men rejoicing that a woman was raped.

Not true! it was not Thousands it was one thousand -- compared to the millions of Muslims in that area still a minority.

In fact--here is a piece from the Telegraph UK, you'll notice it's clear these are some of the MOST EXTREME Muslims - the paper makes that very clear:

Extremist muslim clerics will meet in London on September 11 to celebrate the anniversary of al-Qaeda's attacks on America and to launch an organisation for Islamic militants. The conference, which will be attended by the most radical mullahs in Britain, will argue that the atrocities were justified because Muslims must defend themselves against armed aggression.

The governments of Iran, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia accuse the woman of adultery when she is raped. What do all these countries have in common? They are Muslim theocracies, the rulers of their countries. In these places, the rape of a woman is not a crime for the man, it is a death penalty for the woman.

Again, this is NOT a conversation about how different cultures treat women - it's about why sweeping generalizations do not work. Your comparisons here are for a completely different conversation.

Are you ready to convert to Islam or die? That is exactly what the journalists were forced to do in "Palestine". I'm having troubles seeing where the religion of peace is innocent of these atrocities.

I'm am not saying anything about what religion is innocent or not. I am saying there are Extreme Muslims who might want to kill you - but that is not ALL Muslims...just as there are extreme men who rape -- not all men rape. I realize I am being redundant at this point - but I am not seeing an exact rebuttal to my debate here.

Beyond that...Are you prepared to convert to Christianity or go to Hell? Extremist Christians would have you do this---

Anonymous said:
First, rape is not murder and to compare them as equivalents is a mistake. Murder is much more certain/detrimental than rape. You mentioned that rape "has to be the most horrible thing that can happen to a person on many levels". This is plainly not true. Someone that has been raped can still breath the air, listen to birds chirping, eat breakfast the next day...etc...they are not DEAD.

I am not comparing rape to murder!!! I am comparing sweeping generalizations that don't work.

Walter E. Wallis said...
I remember when women picketed San Quentin to protest the execution of Carol Chessman for rape. Men would execute anyone convicted of a single murder in the first degree or a multiple rape, but women and pussified men oblect.

And here we see my point illustrated...Again here a generalization of all women based on one incident. In addition this has nothing to do with his crime and everything to do with opposing views of the death penalty.

More on Logic...

So first; thank you very much to everyone who has responded to my last post. It's been overwhelming - I receive all comments first via email and so have filtered those who have been redundant but obviously not those who disagree...I have many still to go through and will post more comments this evening.

I am glad that we are talking - I have a lot more to say on the subject - and will post a response in the morning.

Just didn't want you to think I was ignoring the response.

More to come...

Best.

If A + B = C...Then...

I received this email today from a listener… This is not a new concept, “why aren’t the Muslims up in arms?”

Dave,
Next time you have your apologist for Islam, Jeff, on
your show why don't you ask him a real question in place of the fluff you serve him. (You do the same to Ron Sims by the way. Are you afraid of offending them?) How about, "Jeff, tell me what do Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chechna, Darfur, East Timor,Kashmir, Southern Philippines, 9/11,Madrid and London all have in common?" If this is the religion of Peace and Love sure hope I'm not around when they get pissed. By the way I believe the only other place in the world where innocents are actually targeted is in SRI LANKA by the Tamil Tigers. Every other instance is by Muslims. And the other Muslims say nothing! Maybe we have not recognized the true enemy. Maybe it is not fanactic Muslims, maybe it is Islam itself. You are a Crusader are you not?

GERARD

When I hear this argument I can’t help but wonder where these same people are in terms of other types of “terrorism”. For instance…Women live under the umbrella of terrorism all their lives. We can’t go jogging at night with out the fear of rape, we are warned from the time we can breath not to talk to strange men, we check our backs when we walk to our cars at night and we are afraid. Why? Because men rape…men rape women – it’s about power and dominance and rage…and has to be the most horrible thing that can happen to a person on many levels. Worse than getting robbed or beaten.

So where is the outrage? Where are the men marching in the streets, banding together to hunt down and kill the terrorists who rape? Where are the organizations of men speaking out to protect women? Where are the male politicians asking that men stand up and protect women in the streets? Where is the outrage?

Should we assume that ALL men are bad, ALL men are rapists?? Or is it possible that there is a fraction of men who rape and the majority don’t? Is it possible that crazy, angry, extreme men rape? And maybe not all of them?

The argument often is; “all Muslims aren’t terrorists, but Muslims create all terrorist acts”. SO the same logic would work here; “not all men rape but all rapes are done by men”. To act on that logic would be insane…

There are a myriad more examples of this…white male Priests who victimize – does that mean all Priests are bad? Fundamentalists who claim to be Christians that are members of the KKK. All kinds of crime against innocent civilians by groups who want to dominate or are crazy or extreme….and we let it happen.

I think it’s important to look at the larger picture here…why when these acts are done by a few extremists are we willing to condemn an entire race or religion? Why is it so easy for us to leap to that – when we are unwilling to do it to someone who looks like us?

Always ask why?!

On the Personal: Perceptions are NOT reality…All Apologies

An apology goes a long way with me. A LONG WAY. Maybe I’m a sucker but I eat it up. A few things have happened lately, both of which I got a well deserved apology…and it changed everything…

The first was a terrible encounter I had with the Seattle Public Schools. See, the thing about being a producer for a news station is you have to call people at the 11th hour (which is sometimes very early in the morning) and hope they will talk on the radio within moments of a phone call. A lot of times people don’t really like to do that, but it’s my job to convince them. SO…a few weeks ago there was a story in the paper about school closures, well I wanted to talk with Raj Manhas, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.

Well the guy wasn’t so nice. In fact he was super rude. He first seemed annoyed that I would even want an interview – then I told him that I imagined Raj would want to talk with Dave because most people do (which is true). Then he accused me of being a liar…anyway it was bad.

SO I wrote a letter to Raj and the entire Seattle School Board with my concerns. Maybe I over reacted…no…I didn’t…really, he was rude and I didn’t deserve that treatment. I cc:’d him on the email but didn’t know his name – he called me and in a very smug manner made sure I knew his name so I could get it right for my complaint...the gall!

Anyway – the next day…after we both had time to cool down a bit. He suggested we meet for coffee and work out our differences. Ballsy! So I agreed. I was nervous though…

I thought “who IS this guy?” -- I wondered what he looked like…does he love dogs? Does he share his umbrella with friends in the rain? Probably not. Will he buy my coffee? He should…

So I show up at the Starbucks headquarters where we agreed to meet…he was sitting alone and recognized me immediately.

I had to buy some time…so went in and got a coffee I didn’t want. Noting he didn’t offer to pay for it…whatever…

So I sat down…the first thing he says is “I just have to say I am so sorry…”

HE DISARMED ME RIGHT AWAY WITH THAT!

Suddenly, the clouds parted…a halo appeared above his head and I imagined him handing me an umbrella as we skipped through the puddles downtown.

Seriously – though. He was great. He admitted he was an ass…I then felt a little bad I had written that letter to the school board (but not that bad). In the end we agreed to do a great project together and have Dave broadcast live at a school this fall and get the skinny first-hand about what school is really like for our kids.

Turns out – he’s a nice guy. And HE HAS A DOG! He was over worked and super busy the day he was an ass to me. So even though I pictured him with horns on his head…I was wrong…everyone has a bad day.

Here’s the other one…

Yesterday I was getting a pedicure and manicure…it’s payday and I like to treat myself from time to time…

Anyway – I got a real rude call on my cell phone from a campaign manager accusing me of putting his candidates’ opponent on the show and not giving equal time. He was rude…and wrong! I hadn’t had the guy on at all.

AND – he got my cell number from a different number where the recording clearly says….call my cell IF IT’S AN EMERGENCY…this was no emergency…

I told him as much – he asked that I HANG ON! Yeah, right, I hung up.

Later I checked my messages at work. Poor guy. Apologized profusely on my voicemail at work. He sounded so humble and was sincerely sorry. He really meant to be rude to Phil Vandervort, Dori’s producer…not me.

So I accepted…left him a nice message and assured him it’s all ok….

I have great respect for people who have integrity and are willing to admit when they are wrong. It takes a lot of strength to say the sorry and face the truth…so if you need to…suck it up and apologize.

We Will Not Be Silenced

Let me start by saying, I've been listening to a lot of Bill Moyers on my ipod lately so feeling a bit more esoteric than usual...Might I recommend Bill Moyers on Faith and Reason - you can download the podcasts FREE - right here. FREE!!! And it's great.

So, today on the show we talked with Raed Jarrar. (You can read the full story here). Essentially Raed Jarrar was at the gate to board a Jetblue Airways flight to Oakland when 4 officials from the airline or a government agency stopped him and told him he could not board the flight with the shirt he was wearing. The shirt had the words "We will not be silenced" in both English and Arabic on the front.

Raed was simply standing there. He wasn't doing anything strange - like, God forbid...talking on a cell phone, considering brushing his teeth on the flight or having a conversation with another Arab individual. He was standing wearing a t-shirt with Arabic words on it!

I am appalled by this story. Is this what it's come to?? Are we a nation so afraid we are willing to strip someone else of their rights under the auspices of safety? I'm ashamed and appalled.

Going back to the Bill Moyers conversations...yesterday on my walk around Discovery Park I was listening to Bill chattin' it up with with Margaret Atwood. They were talking about the Handmaiden's Tale and whether or not the story was somewhat prophetic...do we live in a country where we could loose site of our foundation and give up our rights or fundamental principles as long as it meant we would be "safe"? Atwood suggested it is happening right now with things like the Patriot Act which went by fairly unnoticed.

I've always thought ...NO WAY! We've learned from our history! We know better, we aren't a nation that gives into fear any longer. But I'm beginning to wonder...

Welcome

The archive of all of my blogs from KIRO can be found here.

More to come...