Responsible media and grounded politics? How Utopian!

I'm one of those people who came to believe, quite some time ago, that it's virtually pointless to watch televised news if you're geniunely interested in keeping abreast of the world's events. I think it's important to reveal my cynicism straightaway...

Now, I know this is an often harped-on shortcoming of our fair democracy. Yet, I feel the need to put in my $.02 because I never cease to be amazed at the stuff that finds its way into our "news broadcasts", let alone the subjects which constitute "big stories".

This election campaign has revealed so much of the ugliness in our politics and the very disturbing and overwhelmingly petty nature of our news. Part of me thinks that there are plenty of people out there who feel as I do, who are smart enough to see the cracks in the veneer, who can laugh at the absurdities. But, I also think there are plenty of people out there who devour the garbage they're fed, and then ask for seconds. This has to be true, because if this system were perceived by its mechanics to be broken, it would have been fixed; those media conglomerates are innovative like that.

I am truly passionate about the importance of media to the development of society; I believe it is a critical component of the formation of identity, both for us as individuals and for our national identity. I also believe that true democracies cannot function without a reliable and forthright media. Thus, it saddens me immeasurably that we focus so intensely on "issues" such as the presence or absence of a flag pin on the lapel of a presidential candidate (because somehow, that is the true measure of one's level of patriotism) or that we focus almost more attention on the things someone says who may be, however strongly, associated with a candidate than we do about the things the candidate him/herself says or believes.

Granted, politics is a dirty business. But I fail to understand why we've allowed ourselves to come to this point, where the emphases are on constant smear campaigns and the perpetuation of frivolous, laughable "news". We deserve better than that. And we're never going to be able to move forward as a country, never going to become better informed and politically-savvy as a people unless we demand better.

While I do think certain minor or off-the-cuff happenings can be telling of one's character, and may thus have some pertinence in the dissemination of information to voters, the line was crossed many miles ago. We've left all reason behind. Personally, I'm a hell of a lot more concerned about the state of our foreign policy, how poorly we pay our educators, our national debt and the fact, in this respect, China has us "by the balls", or...I don't know, the sad fact that millions of children in this country and around the world are living in completely avoidable squalor, many ravaged by completely avoidable disease.

I want to care. I need to care. And I KNOW there are are many folks like me out there who want the truth, who want more than relentlessly debating the slut factor in 15-year old Disney stars, or who want more than stories regarding what the personal beliefs of Obama's pastor say about him as an individual, despite his repeated denunciations of said beliefs. Was he scratching his face or was he flipping Hillary off? Should we have reservations about Hillary's ability to run a country when she is seen to have cried on national television? (I've referenced the Democrats because I think these are the most ridiculous of examples, not that some pretty lame stuff hasn't been said of McCain.)

The point is, we crave substance, and only rarely are we satiated.

Of course, many times it's easier to put the blinders and go about our lives in peace. Maybe we've all grown a little too comfortable, have taken for granted our position of isolation. I think many of us believe this really makes our lives easier, better; but I think we're wrong. I believe our desire to maintain this status quo has led us a place that many of us are pretty upset about. Upset about wage levels, failing or absent social security nets, the structure and/or direction of our military campaign in the MidEast, or the steady decrease in the size of the middle class, lack of healthcare for millions, the cost of college education, or maybe the way this Administration has represented us in the international community. Or maybe you're upset that we're not doing more for those outside our borders, or maybe you think we're doing too much there and not enough at home. Our lack of confrontation has indeed proven poisonous.

Whatever it is, we are all, in some capacity, to blame. Our media has helped us get here, and too many of us have endorsed sub-par media. It has distracted us from important and pressing issues, and we haven't done enough to change the way our media operates. Don't get me wrong, the occasional Britney trainwreck or latest Tom Cruise Scientology development can be a welcome tonic for the stresses of daily life. But, let's reign it in. The essence of our news needs to change and we're at a critical juncture.

I believe that many of the crises we face could have been prevented (or, at least, lessened) if we had been given better, GENUINE information by those with the responsibility and power to do so, instead of so much smoke and mirrors we might as well all live at the freakin' Fair. The present reporting habits of the media virtually ensure we will never be able to suss out who's really the best candidate for President - I don't care how many so-called "debates" they hold; the last televised Democratic debate, for example, was an abysmal failure and a waste of two-plus hours of Americans' time. Our aim is way off the mark. We need to ask tough questions and demand direct, intelligent responses. We need to consider our news for what it was designed to be rather than what it has become - entertainment.

Instead of the illusion of truth, let's have the real thing. We pride ourselves on our democratic nature but the truth is, we aren't living up to our obligations as democratic people. And that goes for the purveyors of news. I know some may cite my criticisms as evidence of a lack of patriotism or some other shortcoming as an American. But I believe one of the foremost obligations of a democratic people is to be critical of government, media, and other social institutions; if we fail in our criticisms, we fail ourselves and endanger the ability of our politics and ideology to survive.

At the most basic level, it's a matter of respect. Political systems and ideologies must be respected enough that media and politicians themselves take care to focus on the issues most important to the survival of said systems and ideologies. No amount of revenue is worth that kind of defeat, but I'm inclined to believe that the media bigwigs making a killing on our continued ignorance won't share my sentiments. At least until their pocketbooks are affected. Essentially, while the problem is all-encompassing, not much of consequence will be done without some noise from the little people - the very people who should have an interest in altering the status quo.

La vie, je t'adore maintenant!

Each birthday, I always become hyper-reflective. This year, I feel as though I've become a proper "grown up". I guess that makes sense because, as I learned in Criminology, the brain is not fully formed until the age of 26. Hmmm...

I'm mere months from completing an undergraduate degree that I've been working on for nearly eight years! I can't tell you how excited I am...perhaps its because I've toiled so many extra years working toward this goal that it seems that much sweeter.

I've spent the last three years in a remarkably stable and adultlike romantic relationship. This may sound normal for some of you, but I'm not used to such mature and comfortable togetherness, and certainly not for such a length. Not to mention, I haven't witnessed the greatest examples of amorous relationships in my life, which I feel has given me some emotional handicap. Nonetheless, this is officially the longest relationship I've been a part of thus far, and I have to say, I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

I have big plans for graduate school, volunteer work abroad, and the like. I feel calm - a rarity too! - about where I'm at and where I'm headed. I feel as though I'm finally coming into my own. It's brilliant, refreshing.

This stuff...c'est la joie de vivre.

Randomness

Two of my sisters posted Ten Random Things About Me memes on their blogs, so I've decided to follow suit.

1. Keeping to-do lists of any kind, and having a physical manifestation of my accomplishments (however small) gives me a great sense of pride.

2. Once I've established a place for something in my home or car, I am very particular about its always being returned to its place.

3. A few years ago, my boyfriend taught me how to change the oil in my car. Now, I complete all changes myself.

4. I hate raw onions, but I actually kind of like sautéed ones.

5. Before I die, I'd love to speak fluent French and Swahili, as well as speak Spanish, Arabic, and Italian on at least moderate levels.

6. I turn all the labels of containers in my refrigerator and pantry to face out.

7. Although I would love to, I cannot donate blood because the process makes me extremely nauseated and/or ill.

8. While elephants in general are my favorite animals, I love the African elephant best.

9. I like to maintain a schedule and I enjoy daily routine, but at times I also feel quite constrained by them.

10. I am registered as an independent voter.

The girl who cried nervous.

So, I have this weird tendency to cry when I'm especially nervous. I first identified this "issue" in the sixth grade when I was asked to read, in front of the entire school, an essay I had written regarding the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program I had recently completed. The reading took place at my D.A.R.E. "graduation", with all the other kids and sixth graders' parents in attendance.

Essentially, when I took the stage and stepped up to the mic, I immediately began tearing up. I proceeded to cry through the entire reading and I'm sure my words were barely intelligable. I was completely mortified but I hung in there, and scurried off the stage with great haste afterward.

I didn't realize at the time why that happened. Later, when I started having to give talks in front of the church congregation, I cried too, but then I thought it was because I was overcome with emotion for my religious convictions, or something. I thought it was a trait inherited from my mother, who often cries when speaking of topics she's emotionally invested in. So I blamed it on emotions and Mom. To be fair, I thought the public speaking element played at least a minor part.

But in the last several months, on four-and-half-separate occasions - sometimes one-on-one, others while in front of groups - I have broken down in similar fashion (I include a "half" occurrence because one time I was able to reign it in before full exposure). It's like it's getting worse. Two of the times, I thought it was, again, the consequence of some underlying emotional connection to what I was speaking of, but the others there was no valid reason for. It didn't occur to me until it happened again today - approximately 15 years after the first incident - that it was a result of nervousness. I was asked by one of my former professors to speak to her class about some resources I had compiled for students on international affairs, media literacy, human rights, activism, and the like. While I do have some emotional connection to what I was speaking of, I consciously talked around them. Yet, true to form, I got teary-eyed TWICE over the course of my talk. I am so embarrassed by this because I am not usually a cry-happy sort of gal, and especially not so around perfect strangers.

So, what the hell is up with this compulsion? Why is my nervousness manifest in such an embarrassing (for myself and others) sort of way?? I am truly upset about it, and I wonder what sort of effective activist and advocate of human rights I can be when I can't get through a 10 minute speech without ugly facial contortions and ready waterworks. I think this crying detracts from my message and that is what particularly irks me. I don't want to be the weird chick that showed up to class and cried for apparently no reason. I want to come with something to say, because I have lots to say. It makes me wonder if I ought to just have stayed with the journalistic ambitions 'cause I can cry all I want from behind the veil of a computer screen. Obviously the point here is that I dont "want" to cry, but you get my drift.

I am beginning to wonder if there is something I haven't dealt with from my past, and perhaps I need a little therapy to suss out what is going on here. I've got to figure out something because I'm just not willing to accept that this is how my life will be; I'm just not. I'm far too proud and have too many professional ambitions for that.

Some brilliant musicians you've never heard of.

There is no shortage of crap music and film in the world today. Or, maybe it's always been that way. But, it seems as though there's so much more bad than good, especially where music is concerned; at least if we're considering the "successful" artists. However, a few months ago I saw a beautiful independent film that managed to renew my faith in both media. It's called Once, and it stars two real-life musicians (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova), the former being the frontman for a long-succesful-in-Ireland band called The Frames and the latter a classically trained Czech performer. I'd never heard of them before seeing this film, nor did I encounter a ton of buzz for the film itself (sad to say), so I had no expectations going in.

In short, I was completely blown away. Mesmerized. Even now, months later, I find myself daydreaming, reveling in its wonderfully quirky, yet simple joys. First of all, the musicians/actors are f-ing brilliant (and, rightly, so is the soundtrack). Secondly, as they are not actors by profession, they both exert this lovely awkwardness and self-consciousness that is absolutely endearing.

When my girlfriend and I left the theater, grinning ear-to-ear and figuratively floating, we both said to the other, "I think I've got a crush now." On Glen, the "guy" (as he's referred to in the credits) from the film. His charms and humor and vulnerability were irresistable. The next day, I bought the soundtrack, and proceeded to let in marinate in my disc player for a good six weeks, on repeat. (A rarity, indeed.)

A week after the viewing, I came across an advert in the local independent weekly about the duo. They'd be performing as "The Swell Season" at a small venue here in town. After freaking out, then gaining composure, I called my friend and told her we simply had to see the show.

After waiting with baited breath for two months, we finally drank in the goodness, as it were. Just last week. Suffice it to say that it was one of the best live performances I've ever witnessed. I am in no way understating when I write that that show completely revived my spirits and renewed my faith in the power of music in a way I've not experienced in many moons. On a few occasions, I was nearly brought to tears by the sheer power of the lyrics, the haunting violin, the piano ballads...the whole lot. Simply gorgeous.

As you might guess, I'm still high from that performance. I don't know that I have ever had such a profound reaction to music and for such a period; frankly, I'm loving it. Since the show I've purchased The Swell Season's self-titled ablum, as well as two cds from Glen's band, The Frames. These guys kill it, I tell you.

I love music. I don't think I could live without it, I feel it in my soul. The Swell Season and The Frames have become artists I can't live without, and I'm ashamed it took me so long to discover them. I just can't say enough about them, and I don't bestow such compliments lightly, but if I go on much longer it will just be embarassing.

It's criminal that they're not headlining names in the States. That said, it seems this "little movie that could" has struck such a chord with audiences that it's generated Oscar buzz...and it was also this year's Audience Award Winner at Sundance (yay!). Methinks it's only a matter of time now...

So, here I am well into a (healthy!) obsession with these musicians, buying up their booty, and counting down the days until the DVD release. Well over 8000 songs in my music library and I'm recycling - almost exclusively - theirs. It's strange, I feel like I did when I became a fan of the New Kids on the Block as a young girl (thankfully, my musical tastes have evolved with age). I had a crush on Jordan - one of the group members - and daydreamed about our eventual matrimony, I recorded their TV appearances (and then watched them repeatedly), hung their posters on my walls (kissing them before bed), bought the various figurines and tee shirts. You know the drill...sad, but true.

I feel so juvenile again - sans some of the more eccentric behavior - and there's a purity to it that's just delicious.

Do yourself a favor and give them a listen.

Jus in bello?

Jus in bello means "justice in war" and it is one of the principles of the just war theory that has, for centuries, been widely accepted in international relations.

This concept is such that nation-states agree to adhere to certain principles and practices when engaged in war with another/other nation-state(s)...such as offering fair treatment of POWs, engaging in proportionality (that is, an eye-for-an-eye, not a heart-for-a-fingernail sort of thing), limiting civilian casualties, and so forth.

I've been thinking about how in "our" latest campaign in the Mideast, we have either deliberately ignored this principle, or we've tried to find stealth ways around it. Obviously, there is the infamous scandal involving prisoner treatment at Abu Ghraib, as well as prisoner treatment and alleged torture practices at Guantanamo, Cuba, to what I, and many others, would consider unacceptable civilian casualties (iraqbodycount.org shows documented body counts at somewhere between 75-82,500 since 2003). All the while, the lofty goal of establishing an operational democracy has remained elusive and militia in-fighting is worse than ever.

These thoughts bring me back to the idea of American exceptionalism. Why do we think that we can slap some moralistic moniker on a military operation, and justice goes out the window along with geniune morality? We can say we want to spread democracy and our supposedly universal values, and on that basis, the ends we employ justisy the means. Torture is an acceptable reality of the interrogation process because it is assumed that every last one of "these guys" will stop at nothing to anihilate the American people, even if the grounds for such assumptions are shaky at best. Why do taxpayers spend ridiculous amounts to employ the likes of Blackwater to provide security for every Tom, Dick, and Harry from the States, when their are untold numbers of Iraqi civilians who REALLY need protection?

Sadly, the list goes on. The point is, the means that are being employed are counterproductive if the ends being sought are those that have been publicly espoused. Too, these gentlemanly principles of war ought not be viewed as purely symbolic, but as ethical constraints and rights of all people.

Jus in bello is a lovely idea. It should be respected by every nation-state. For us, however, only when convenient.

B is for Brilliant.

It's a beautiful thing. The Sox once again in the World Series...

I love baseball, when you get to the heart of the thing, when you can strip away all the bullshit and look beyond the guys who aren't there for the purity of it. (It's a lot like cycling in that way.)

Forgive me for the indulgence, but I've not been able to follow the game as closely as I'd like these last couple of years. I'm no longer bourgeois enough for cable (actually, it's largely a principle thing), and so it's only during the playoffs (when the networks actually broadcast the games) or when I happen to get lucky with the controlled TVs at the gym, that I actually get to enjoy the pleasure of a good game.

Which leads me down a path of nostalgia for all the times I used to go to Mariners games, take in the city of Seattle for a day and then head to the ballpark, feel the energy, smell the mingling of grass and leather and beer and Pacific NW air. When you're watching teams with real heart, with long histories, it's even sweeter. Delicious, I tell you.

As an aside...these instances always make me wonder how people can say they don't like baseball. It's like sacrilege, or something. A lot of "unbelievers" I know say it's boring. But that's because they don't understand the incredible strategy that is involved, the delicate dance. And at the core of it all is a history, a history that is bound up in the emergence of a national spirit, though perhaps not as salient as it once was. The way I see it, to say that baseball is boring is like saying that listening to something like Beethoven's famous Symphony 3 is boring because it lasts a long time and there are no lyrics. The nuances, the story that is being told are what's important; it ought to be critically examined. Baseball is no different.

Anywho, the point is that good moments in baseball remind me how good it feels to be alive. They give me hope, even if it's short-lived and somehow superficial. And these days, I'll take what I can get.

I love this game.

GO SOX!