I’m going to let all the things I could say about Palin’s speech pass today, and let FactCheck.org (and Media Matters and The Progress Report) point out lies and distortions, of which there were many. There was a whole bunch of snideness, and even more dishonesty. But… I’m on board in one way. Why? Because there is one thing she said that gives me long-term hope. She encouraged people to stand up and speak, and if some do, so will…
The figure of the “evil other” is a pre-ethical fixation for the religiously-minded paranoid. Everything that one most dislikes or finds threatening can be projected upon others and (usually symbolically) murdered in the age-old tradition of the scapegoat. Such projection engenders – and feeds upon – symbolic (and real) violence. Predatory on the people who cannot bear to examine themselves, leaders of such movements play on fears of contagion, defilement and stain from without – from the evil others –…
Among some Americans who call themselves christians, compassion is out. It’s not a big surprise, in a way, since there has been less and less evidence for it being valued among many of the conservative rightwingers. I have to admit, however, that I’m more than a little taken aback by the seeming actual fact of compassion having being cast out of consideration as a Christian virtue among some communities. Humility seems to be gone too. Now, I’ve given up hope…
I receive notices every couple of days from the neighborhood watch. There has been a bit of a crime wave in the area, and everyone is on edge. I’m getting very uneasy about some of these communications. Call me whatever you want, but I would never want to have to rely on some of these neighbors. I’m even thinking of getting a little more serious about defense in case of darker times. Yesterday, I got this email: Subject: stranger walking…
The semaphore (four rotating disks of light) atop the Adobe tower in downtown San Jose is indeed transmitting a message. Never heard of a semaphore? There are multiple meanings. In programming, it concerns methodology for mutual exclusion (see “excluded middles” below), parallel processing, and synchronization. Predating the electrical telegraph, the semaphore was defined as an optical telegraph that conveyed information via visual signals – towers with blades, shutters, flags and so on. semaphore I wonder to what extent the Adobe…
I read Mark Morford‘s column every week. I have it emailed, and I’ve added the feed to my Bloglines. So it’s not surprising to me to me at all that he has written the sort of article on the Presidential Directive (my version) that I would have liked to have been able to write. Bush Declares Self ‘Mega Decider’ New documents ensure Dubya will rule America, should calamity strike. Free balloons! A snippet (but go read the whole thing): Such…