Month: February 2008

Marvelous (a work in progress)

VERSE 1
Time to wake up now, another day
With more questions of why you don’t look this way
Models in the magazines stare, their curves everywhere
So please don’t you cry, don’t buy into their lies
Because you’re beautiful
(So beautiful…)

CHORUS
I’d love to love you
like the One above you

VERSE 2
These scars on your arms
That come from self-harm
cut from your veins and into my heart
I won’t try to pretend that I know the pain you feel
But you should know that my caring is real
So I hope you’ll put that blade down
So I can give you my hand

I’d love to love you
like the One above you

BRIDGE
’cause all of us feel this way sometimes
(FEEL LIKE I’M LOSING MY MIND)
that pain in the darkest of night
(I’M ON MY OWN, FEEL SO ALONE)
And sometimes you just can’t even realize
just how marvelous you are

VERSE 3
And when you feel so wrong
and you wish you were gone
I hope you will hear my song
and know that there are those who care
and those who you would never even know how deeply they’d miss you
But there will never be a hole so deep
That I can’t help lift you out

I’d love to love you (you’re so beatiful…)
Like the One above you (you’re so marvelous…)

Why We Fight

This is a compelling documentary. You should go here and watch the whole thing for free online.

My quick summary is that this documentary looks at the history of the growth of the military-industrial complex since World War II. Central to the documentary is President Eisenhower’s farewell address, which warned of the looming internal threat of our military industry and what could happen if citizens were not vigilant in monitoring its actions. It presents our foreign policy as one that is not political or partisan – it is supported by Democrats and Republicans equally – but one that mirrors the Roman Empire in its superiority over many peoples that must be enforced and maintained by large standing armies. The film likens America’s influence in the world today to colonialism, except that instead of direct political control, we force free markets upon everyone so that our companies can reap huge profits.

It isn’t about liberating oppressed peoples, or spreading democracies; on both counts, we have supported or engaged in actions that have achieved the direct opposite. Those items are far less important in our military doctrine than enforcing our superiority in the world through creating – and controlling – the global capitalist economy.

The most surprising thing about this documentary for me? There’s no commentary or narration. The only voices heard are those of primary sources (including a lot of input from John McCain, who seems to have a refreshingly clear view of what is actually going on, despite his willingness to protract our current military engagements.)

Here’s the trailer, go here to watch the whole thing for free:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf1CDmn8q0M&w=425&h=355]

Wiretapping and Writing Washington

In an unfortunate move today, the US Senate voted against an amendment to the FISA Bill that would revoke immunity for companies that independently eavesdropped on domestic communications between US citizens, without a warrant or any kind of government oversight to protect citizens’ privacy.

My senator, Ken Salazar, was one of the 18 Democratic senators to join with the Republican party to defeat the amendment. I was profoundly disappointed.

Also interesting is that while she co-sponsored the amendment, Hillary Clinton did not think it important enough to come to the Senate to actually vote for it. Barack Obama, on the other hand, took time off the campaign trail to support it.

Barack Obama is the last presidential candidate left who will take a stand for citizens’ rights to privacy, as well as comprehensive national security. I don’t think that most Americans realize the significance of this fact.

So what can I do? Be ultra-cheesy and write letters!

Dear Senator Obama:

Thank you for taking time off the campaign trail to do your Senatorial duties and support Dodd Amendment No. 3907 to S.Amdt. 3911 to S.2248, the FISA Amendments Act of 2007, which would have denied retroactive wiretapping immunity to telecoms. Unfortunately, I cannot say that my Democratic Senator, Mr. Salazar, did the same, as he voted with the Republicans to ultimately defeat the amendment. I believe that it is imperative to all citizens that you make this issue a prominent issue at the forefront of your campaign.

I am an independent voter from Colorado. As far as I can tell, you are the only candidate for the presidency who took a stand to protect my rights to privacy. You are the only one left who recognizes the importance of government oversight in matters of surveillance and national security. Mrs. Clinton, on the other hand, did not bother to participate in the vote where 18 Democrats joined with Republicans in effectively denying our right to justice and protection in matters of domestic wiretapping.

I urge you to make this issue a central part of your campaign in the future, and a key component of your intelligence policy when (hopefully) you are President. This issue, while of little significance to the American public today, sets a bleak precedent for our future rights and liberties. You are the only remaining hope for our right to privacy and freedom from “big brother” surveillance, and I hope you will convey the full weight of the issue and your unique stance on it to the public in both the primary and general elections. John McCain, Mike Huckabee, and Hillary Clinton all fail the test in this area, and that is why we need you.

Consider the words of Benjamin Franklin,

“Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.”

Thank you for your consideration in this matter, and thank you for being the first candidate in my 19 years to give me optimism and excitement for my country’s future.

Sincerely,
Ezekiel Weeks

Dear Senator Salazar:

As a Colorado resident, I feel it important to express my opinion that your vote today against Dodd Amendment No. 3907 to S.Amdt. 3911 to S.2248, the FISA Amendments Act of 2007, severely harmed your constituents’ rights to privacy. Because of your vote, we now live in a country where companies are free to spy on domestic citizens without judicial oversight in the name of “security.” Your vote suggests that you support a national security policy lacks that integrity or protective oversight on behalf of U.S. citizens.

I urge you to change your tune in the future and serve your constituents by protecting their rights to privacy and ensuring proper justice in oversight for true threats to national security. As an independent Coloradoan, I will throw my weight behind any candidate who will work to protect my privacy, be they Democratic, Republican, or paranoid schizophrenic with a tin foil hat. I hope that you will raise yourself and Colorado above such invasive policies by changing your stance and taking action to protect your constituents from both terrorist threats and abusive, invasive telecommunications companies.

Consider the words of Benjamin Franklin:

“Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither.”

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Ezekiel Weeks

Yeah, I know, I am a sucker for that Ben Franklin quote. And I feel a bit weird writing cheesy love letters to Obama, no matter how much I support him. Oh, well, the deed is done!

Why We Need Taxes

This article makes some very good points about the necessity of the tax system in order to enjoy the benefits of a civilized, free society. It drives our education, justice system, and military. It is also far from perfect, and this article’s author does not try to excuse its wrongdoings. But regardless of your personal slant on the tax system, be it more of a socialist or conservative view, the things discussed here are very relevant to all.

Don’t Like Taxes? Consider the Alternative

By PETER L. BERNSTEIN

Published: February 10, 2008

Though people exaggerate many negatives about taxes, I am more concerned about how we ignore the positives. Indeed, taxes buy us the free society we cherish.