fear and loathing in my inbox

i’ve somehow made it onto my grandpa’s email list. a few excerpts (without edits–italics are mine):

THIS MUSLIM ALIEN (Obama) HAS AN AGENDA THAT IS ENTIRELY UNPALATABLE AND I AM THOROUGHLY CONCERN THAT THE MASS MEDIA ARE PERPETUALLY COW-TOWING TO THIS UNABASHED KENYAN MESSIAH.

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Subject: The Patriot Microchip

The PATRIOT MICRO CHIP is intended to be implanted in terrorists. The implant is specifically designed to be installed in the forehead. When properly installed it will allow the implantee to speak to God.

It comes in various sizes:

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this stuff scares me. i understand thoughtful dissent and sincere concern for the direction of the country, but i don’t really see these sorts of messages presenting any solutions beyond shouting “you’re wrong and i’m right!” (at best) or raw violence (at worst). i also don’t see any substantial reasoning to any of it. no logic, no research–just sheer emotion and fear.

i get fundamental differences in philosophy. i get how a small-government Republican who believes every person (rather than society as a whole) is responsible for their own well-being would think that the economic stimulus package going through Congress right now is completely misguided. and i get how a true-blue liberal who believes in creating opportunities for all people would have problems understanding why CEOs are compensated hundreds of millions of dollars when there are homeless people wandering the sidewalks outside the buildings where they work.

what i don’t get is the complete refusal of those on both ends of the spectrum to have a conversation. not an argument on CNN, but a discussion where each side hears out the experiences of the other. because that’s all our beliefs are–values shaped by how we’ve experienced the world. when you start to see people as a product of their experiences, you begin to see that there is no “wrong” or “right;” that there are simply different knowledge pools, more or less access to information, and more or less contact with people of different experiences.

i can’t get mad at a kid in Rock River, Wyoming for calling me a dyke when his only experiences of gay people has been what he’s seen on tv and what his homophobic father taught him. and i can’t get mad at a Yale student from Boston for calling a guy wearing Wranglers and a cowboy hat an ignorant redneck when that student’s only experience of cowboys has been what he’s seen on tv and what his Harvard dad taught him.

the best i can do is call people on their assumptions and snap judgments, and simply ask them, “what do you really know about that person? what do you know about what they’ve been through?”

and maybe that’s what i need to do with my grandpa’s emails. maybe i just need to ask him if he’s ever really considered where the “terrorists” are coming from. maybe i need to ask him what about Obama scares him so much.

or maybe i’m being naive (as so many people have told me many times). maybe i just need to delete the emails as soon as they come into my box and accept the fact that he’s never going to let loose his grip on what he so strongly believes is “right.”

i just wish we’d all stop and listen to each other once in awhile instead of constantly seeking out only those who agree with us and demonizing those who don’t.

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it’s Obama Inauguration time!

which means change! hope! and financial opportunism!

are you one of the lucky few thousand who actually got a ticket? did the Inauguration Committee actually pick you after you made your donation of $25 or more and told your inspirational story?

preserve your memories of this historic event in this hand-made, heavy-duty license plate photo album.

or maybe you’re one of the less lucky but still fortunate who will be enjoying the inauguration festivities cramped in a 1′x1′ space on the National Mall.

you can use this album to display all the shots you get of people’s heads clouded over by the fog of visible breath in the cold along with your indecipherable photos of the big screen simulcasting the swearing-in.

you’re going to need an album. it’ll be a really cool experience in retrospect.

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Countdown – Obama’s Historic Journey

(forgive me for all the misposts. i was going beta, and it wasn’t working at all. you can also watch the authorized, official version of this video here.)

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“just because he’s black”

i won’t lie. when Obama won Pennsylvania, i hollered and pumped my fist. i cried a little when they showed Jesse Jackson losing his composure. even the next day when i heard NPR say “President Elect Obama,” i got a little weepy. what can i say–the man inspires me.

unfortunately, Obama’s rise has also inspired the worst in some. months ago, during the primary, i was attacked pretty viciously for defending Obama’s association with Jeremiah Wright (just the first of the ridiculous attacks that went up and didn’t stick). and now, after the election, i’ve heard someone close to me say:

i hope all these people didn’t vote for him just because he’s black.

that’s like saying “i hope people don’t like Tiger Woods/Michael Jordan/Denzel Washington/Miles Davis just because he’s black.” to say something like that is to overlook the overwhelming talent these men (and Obama) bring to their respective profession. it is to assume that the fans of these men don’t care so much about golf or basketball or acting or jazz (or the future of their country) as they do about the color of skin.

that’s like saying, “i hope people didn’t vote for John McCain just because he’s white.”

no, the vast majority of people did not vote for Barack Obama simply because he’s black. and if some did, they did a disservice to his tremendous ideas and his knack for transcending partisan practice (be it Democrat/Republican, rich/poor, black/white, liberal/conservative). did anyone happen to notice that his ideas inspired tens of millions of people–of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds–to organize at the community level? even those who didn’t physically volunteer were compelled enough by Obama’s message to donate money to his campaign. the average gift of the $639 million he raised was less than $100. that’s over 4 million people on board.

those millions of people supported Obama for a million reasons, one of the least of which was race. in the mix of this nasty campaign, many of those thoughtful, measured reasons, some specific and some sweeping, fell by the wayside. so i’m reviving a few of them here. they come from white and black, democrat and republican, jewish, and military.

“It is my Middle Eastern hat and my attachment to Israel that ultimately inspires my support for Obama.” -Dennis Ross

“I truly believe that Barack Obama is looking for ways to bring people together in a bi-partisan way to try to solve the pressing issues America faces. I like that he has a track record of working with Republican’s in the senate to get things done including working with Tom Coburn and Richard Lugar on past legislation. I also like his recent trip to the Middle East with Chuck Hagel.” -a Republican for Obama

“I think we need a generational change. And I think Sen. Obama has captured the feelings of the young people of America and is reaching out in a more diverse, inclusive way across our society.” -General Colin Powell

“Senator Barack Obama has the qualities of integrity and honesty, judgment and vision that will earn the trust of the American people, including those in the military, and restore the bonds of trust between the president and this nation’s citizens.” -Colonel Richard L. Klass, USAF (retired)

“In addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don’t see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which, coupled with brilliance, equals wisdom.” -Toni Morrison in a letter to Obama

me, i voted for Obama because i believe in the distribution of wealth–call it socialism if you want. i believe that intelligent and thorough diplomacy should always come before aggressive action. i believe that academic intelligence is a good thing, not an elitist thing. i believe that grace and eloquence is something to be cherished, not suspicious of. i believe that admitting that you don’t know something is the first sign of wisdom.

i do, however, think it’s amazing that a biracial man will be our president. i think it does nothing but good to have someone who represents so many more of us in our nation’s highest office. it’s not why we voted for him, but it’s not something we mind.

congratulations, President Obama, and good luck.

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President Barack Obama

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Vote!

• For Barack Obama and Joe Biden
• No on the Constitutional Convention in Connecticut
• For any local Green Party candidates on the ballot

then go get your free cup of coffee at Starbucks. and your free scoop of ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. just flash that little “I Voted Today!” sticker.

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John McCain and Sarah Palin on Socialism

From this week’s edition of the New Yorker:

During the 2000 campaign, on MSNBC’s “Hardball,” a young woman asked [McCain] why her father, a doctor, should be “penalized” by being “in a huge tax bracket.” McCain replied that “wealthy people can afford more” and that “the very wealthy, because they can afford tax lawyers and all kinds of loopholes, really don’t pay nearly as much as you think they do.” The exchange continued:

YOUNG WOMAN: Are we getting closer and closer to, like, socialism and stuff?. . .
MCCAIN: Here’s what I really believe: That when you reach a certain level of comfort, there’s nothing wrong with paying somewhat more.

….

A few weeks before [Palin] was nominated for Vice-President, she told a visiting journalist—Philip Gourevitch, of this magazine—that “we’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs.”

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ISSUES! John McCain and Barack Obama on Foreign Policy

This is part of a greater effort to be better informed about the actual issues of this presidential election. Check out this post for background.

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The selection of this issue as next was inspired by my mom, whose vote I’m trying to cajole. When I sent her an email about taxes and the middle class, she responded with this:

Very interesting. It looks great on paper. I especially agree about the tax breaks for companies keeping jobs in the USA. I’m really interested in his foreign policy. What can you show me on that?

This is for you, mom.

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I’m starting to realize that you can’t break down intensely complicated issues into one readable post. So on this one, I would strongly encourage you to visit the links and read all you can.

What Their Websites Say: (Again, I’m not even going to try to summarize what each candidate’s web site says about the issue, but I will give you the links for you to explore.)

McCain: His website does not feature a “Foreign Policy” option on his Issues page. His views on the matter are summarized under “National Security” and “Iraq”.

Key Ideas under “National Security”:

• A Strong Military in a Dangerous World
• Fighting Against Violent Islamic Extremists and Terrorist Tactics
• Effective Missile Defense
• Increasing the size of the American Military
• Modernizing the Armed Services
• Smarter Defense Spending

Key Ideas under “Iraq”:

• John McCain believes it is strategically and morally essential for the United States to support the Government of Iraq to become capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people.
• The best way to secure long-term peace and security is to establish a stable, prosperous, and democratic state in Iraq that poses no threat to its neighbors and contributes to the defeat of terrorists. When Iraqi forces can safeguard their own country, American troops can return home.
• Support the Successful Counterinsurgency Strategy (i.e. the “Surge”)
• Push for Political Reconciliation and Good Government by: 1) Creating jobs for Iraqis in security services and, 2) supporting free and secure elections
• Get Iraq’s Economy Back on its Feet
• Call for International Pressure on Syria and Iran

Obama:

• Ending the War in Iraq
• Iran
• Renewing American Diplomacy
• Nuclear Weapons
• Bipartisanship and Openness
• On Israel
• Meeting the Challenge of a Resurgent Russia
• On Africa
• On Latin America & the Caribbean

What The Media Says:

New Yorker on both candidates: John McCain talks about new kinds of threat sometimes, too, but his views on foreign policy are completely different from Obama’s, in tone and in substance. McCain’s chief focus is on great powers, and on the all-importance of maintaining American military and political primacy in the world. There is a lot at stake in foreign policy in this campaign. The next President will have two wars to pursue, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. McCain has said he believes both countries “can in time become pillars of stability, tolerance, and democracy,” as long as America commits military and economic resources to them. Obama wants to draw down U.S. forces in Iraq and focus on Afghanistan, and he tends to define the war there more in terms of the threat of terrorism than of the opportunity to establish a model democracy….Whoever wins the election may have a chance to do something larger: propose a new defining idea for American foreign policy. For McCain, a history buff who loves to talk about America’s glorious military and diplomatic triumphs, the question has been whether he would be viewed as someone who understands how the world has changed. For Obama, the question is whether he can successfully keep the focus on his new ideas…
[This is a very excellent (though incredibly long) article, by the way. It thoroughly examines both of the candidates' ideas and personality and how they relate to big picture foreign policy issues.]

The Independent Institute on McCain: Both Bush and McCain have macho tendencies and that’s what al-Qaeda brutally exploits. It is standard practice for weak actors, such as terrorist groups and guerillas, to bait the stronger party by attacking and then hope for excessive retaliation. Such overreaction makes it easier for such groups to garner more money and recruits for their causes and also to overextend the giant.

The same article on Obama: If Bush fell into al-Qaeda’s trap from the right, however, Obama, if elected, could very well fall into it from the left. Muscular liberals often think that their foreign policy is very different from Bush’s neo-conservative fare, but it often gets us to the same place—in al-Qaeda’s crosshairs. Such liberals tend to use military power for “humanitarian” reasons. Even when such interventions don’t have ulterior motives—which, as in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Haiti, they almost always do—they often make somebody very mad.

New York Times on both candidates: An American president who keeps troops in Iraq indefinitely, fulminates about Islamic terrorism, inclines toward military solutions and antagonizes other nations is an excellent recruiting tool. In contrast, an African-American president with a Muslim grandfather and a penchant for building bridges rather than blowing them up would give Al Qaeda recruiters fits.

The News Chief (Winter Haven, Fla.) on Obama: On foreign policy, Obama has weak credentials. His Senate votes for hasty and unwise U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq and talk about meeting leaders of enemy nations without preconditions indicate an unsettling naiveté about the dangers America faces from abroad and about our enemies’ true intentions.

The same article on McCain: A former U.S. Navy pilot and former prisoner of war in Vietnam, McCain would make a fine commander-in-chief. He consistently has supported the military during his long Senate career, but he also has fought against wasteful defense spending and expensive and unnecessary defense systems. He understands the needs of the U.S. military and how best to protect U.S. national security and security interests around the globe. He consistently fought for more boots on the ground in Iraq and finally got what he wanted through the U.S. troop “surge.”

[Obviously, there are many, many more articles about the candidates on this topic, but I thought the segments above basically summarize the general ideas and arguments. Feel free to suggest others!]

Voting Records in the U.S. Senate:

John McCain
Defense
Foreign Aid and Policy Issues
Military Issues
National Security Issues

Barack Obama
Defense
Foreign Aid and Policy Issues
Military Issues
National Security Issues

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ISSUES! John McCain and Barack Obama on Education

This is part of a greater effort to be better informed about the actual issues of this presidential election. Check out this post for background.

Unless I find a lot more free time somewhere in the next 11 days, there is no way I’m going to get through all the issues on the list I initially created. So I’m going to pick and choose only some from that list, prioritizing on the following criteria: a) those that are not very clear-cut or obviously split on party lines, and b) those that matter more to me. if there’s an issue one of you really wants me to take on, feel free to comment on the original post, and I’ll do my best to get to it.

Anyway…

Education is probably the single most important issue to me in any election. According to an Education Trust study, “the United States is now the only industrialized country where young people are less likely than their parents to earn a diploma.” It goes on to say that “most states allow schools to graduate low percentages of students by saying that any progress, or even the status quo in some cases, is acceptable.” (Associated Press, 10/23/08)

I see this failure play out everyday where I work. I meet a lot of homeless folks who were never pushed, either by their family or by the schools they attended, to earn their diploma. And even many of those who do have a diploma can’t read. Of course these people are going to have a tough time navigating the everyday challenges of life–filling out an apartment application, getting a driver’s license, finding a job.

So how do the presidential candidates plan on improving education?

What Their Websites Say:

McCain: He believes all federal financial support must be predicated on providing parents the ability to move their children, and the dollars associated with them, from failing school.

Key Points:

• Too many of our children are trapped by geography and by economics in failing schools.
• We must empower committed parents with critical knowledge about their child’s performance, and empower them with real and meaningful choices to act upon that knowledge.
• There should be an emphasis on standards and accountability. However, our goal cannot be group averages. Instead, our focus should be to inspire every child to strive to reach his or her potential.
• The single biggest challenge in turning around a failing school is getting quality teachers into that school. To do this, he will: Encourage Alternative Certification Methods, Provide Bonuses For Teachers Who Locate In Underperforming Schools And Demonstrate Strong Leadership As Measured By Student Improvement, Provide Funding For Needed Professional Teacher Development.
• Expand The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program
• Ensure Children Struggling To Meet State Standards Will Have Immediate Access To High Quality Tutoring Programs
• Expanding Virtual Learning
  

Obama: No Child Left Behind Left the Money Behind: The goal of the law was the right one, but unfulfilled funding promises, inadequate implementation by the Education Department and shortcomings in the design of the law itself have limited its effectiveness and undercut its support. As a result, the law has failed to provide high-quality teachers in every classroom and failed to adequately support and pay those teachers.

Key Points:

• Reform No Child Left Behind: Obama and Biden believe teachers should not be forced to spend the academic year preparing students to fill in bubbles on standardized tests.
• Support High-Quality Schools and Close Low-Performing Charter Schools: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will double funding for the Federal Charter School Program to support the creation of more successful charter schools.
• Make Math and Science Education a National Priority.
• Address the Dropout Crisis: Obama and Biden will address the dropout crisis by passing his legislation to provide funding to school districts to invest in intervention strategies in middle school – strategies such as personal academic plans, teaching teams, parent involvement, mentoring, intensive reading and math instruction, and extended learning time.
• Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities.
• Support College Outreach Programs.
• Support College Credit Initiatives: Barack Obama and Joe Biden will create a national “Make College A Reality” initiative that has a bold goal to increase students taking AP or college-level classes nationwide 50 percent by 2016.
• Support English Language Learners.
  

What The Media Says:

The San Francisco Gate on both candidates: “McCain is really distinctive – his program is minimalist, featuring choice and efficiency,” said Mike Kirst, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University and former president of the California Board of Education. “Obama’s is more robust, with significant investments focusing on disadvantaged, low-achieving children.”

National Review on Obama: Senator Obama clearly has lofty and laudable goals for American education — such as giving all children access to high-quality schools with challenging curricula, diminishing achievement gaps by race and socio-economic status, and “spurring innovation.” But he advocates programs that have proven incapable of accomplishing these goals.

Des Moines Register on McCain: Senator McCain in large measure relies on what he calls the fundamental principles of competition and choice. He favors government vouchers so parents can choose their child’s school and believes this market factor would lead to higher-quality education.One problem: Vouchers send public dollars to private, religious schools, a church-state line that should not be crossed. Another: While some families may indeed benefit, others will lose out. Vouchers would drain dollars from some public schools, yet some children still would attend them, left to learn with less.

That would not deliver equal access to excellent education for all.

Voting Records in the U.S. Senate:
John McCain
Barack Obama

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gimme a D, gimme an E-S-P-E-R-A-T-I-O-N

lifted from Blurred Productions (thanks!).

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