Monday, November 07, 2005
Fall
Also on my mind today is fall. For the past month, I have watched the top of the tree outside my bathroom window get bright and vibrant. It was yellow and orange and just gorgeous last week in the sun against the blue sky, and made me stand there in awe and happiness every morning. This morning as I got into the shower later than I should have, I noticed it had a huge bald patch...one that experience tells me will spread until every last leaf has dropped and the scraggly branches are scraping a cold dark winter sky. This is fall, opposing forces--at once, gladness and regret. Fall invariably reminds me of Dickinson, where I did my undergraduate degree. Something about Carlisle and college and Central PA embody the fall more than any other place for me. Last year, I was able to drive up there one weekend in October; this year, my schedule got the best of me. Fall calls for life-affirming ritual, to balance the "death" aspect of the season, and I haven't really had that. I don't know what it is that makes me correllate fall with college. Perhaps it is that college was a "fall" kind of experience in and of itself--it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I remember walking across campus or around the surrounding neighborhood, feet crunching the falling leaves, maybe sitting to kvetch for 20 minutes before class, buying cider from the grocery store. Of course, there was also the level of stress I put myself under and the melodrama that surrounds that period in your life. I guess it's one of those things--you have to experience the sour to know the sweet? What about the bland? Is that what adult life is? Bland? It's less fall than college was...it's less a nubby textured sweater and more a seasonless merino wool cardigan. I think we smooth out fall so that we can try to ignore the "death" side of the season...felt more keenly as you get older, or so I'd imagine. It's one of those seasons you just want to grab and hold on to and not let it progress...you want to hug the tree and hope it keeps its vibrant leaves...but as you do, the leaves just crumble and fall off...
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
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Also on my mind today is fall. For the past month, I have watched the top of the tree outside my bathroom window get bright and vibrant. It was yellow and orange and just gorgeous last week in the sun against the blue sky, and made me stand there in awe and happiness every morning. This morning as I got into the shower later than I should have, I noticed it had a huge bald patch...one that experience tells me will spread until every last leaf has dropped and the scraggly branches are scraping a cold dark winter sky. This is fall, opposing forces--at once, gladness and regret. Fall invariably reminds me of Dickinson, where I did my undergraduate degree. Something about Carlisle and college and Central PA embody the fall more than any other place for me. Last year, I was able to drive up there one weekend in October; this year, my schedule got the best of me. Fall calls for life-affirming ritual, to balance the "death" aspect of the season, and I haven't really had that. I don't know what it is that makes me correllate fall with college. Perhaps it is that college was a "fall" kind of experience in and of itself--it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I remember walking across campus or around the surrounding neighborhood, feet crunching the falling leaves, maybe sitting to kvetch for 20 minutes before class, buying cider from the grocery store. Of course, there was also the level of stress I put myself under and the melodrama that surrounds that period in your life. I guess it's one of those things--you have to experience the sour to know the sweet? What about the bland? Is that what adult life is? Bland? It's less fall than college was...it's less a nubby textured sweater and more a seasonless merino wool cardigan. I think we smooth out fall so that we can try to ignore the "death" side of the season...felt more keenly as you get older, or so I'd imagine. It's one of those seasons you just want to grab and hold on to and not let it progress...you want to hug the tree and hope it keeps its vibrant leaves...but as you do, the leaves just crumble and fall off...
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
Car Commercials--Somebody Stop Them!
Automobiles and TV ruin my life. I swear. I've been thinking recently how much I hate car commercials. If I see another car commercial with a disclaimer ("do not do this in the car" "Stunt driver, do not attempt"), I'm going to scream! The one that most recently comes to mind is for a Jeep where a family is "swimming with the sharks" in their Jeep. Okay, what the F&^* is the point if they're showing you something that you can't do in their product?! If you really COULD drive into the ocean and look at the sharks swimming above, that would be cool, but you can't, and a tiny disclaimer shows that. Another one I saw was for some other truck or something and shows some football player whose name escapes me get into the cab with a guy stuck in traffic and he instructs him to drive into the bumpy farmland/desert or whatever to get around the roadblock. Tiny print this time instructs "Follow all traffic laws." Gee, thanks, now that you illustrated the power of this truck to subvert traffic regulations, I can't put that to good use? And besides that, it's pretty frightening that some guy, football player or not, jumps into your truck. They should also put a disclaimer "keep doors locked at all times," because if that happened to me in DC, I'd flip out. Of course, it would most likely be two 20-something black males with guns requesting "gimme your car, bitch," rather than an ex- football player telling me to use my truck to its full potential. Add to that the car companies' relentless appropriation of music that I have a fondness for, and what you've got is full-on assault of my values.
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
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Automobiles and TV ruin my life. I swear. I've been thinking recently how much I hate car commercials. If I see another car commercial with a disclaimer ("do not do this in the car" "Stunt driver, do not attempt"), I'm going to scream! The one that most recently comes to mind is for a Jeep where a family is "swimming with the sharks" in their Jeep. Okay, what the F&^* is the point if they're showing you something that you can't do in their product?! If you really COULD drive into the ocean and look at the sharks swimming above, that would be cool, but you can't, and a tiny disclaimer shows that. Another one I saw was for some other truck or something and shows some football player whose name escapes me get into the cab with a guy stuck in traffic and he instructs him to drive into the bumpy farmland/desert or whatever to get around the roadblock. Tiny print this time instructs "Follow all traffic laws." Gee, thanks, now that you illustrated the power of this truck to subvert traffic regulations, I can't put that to good use? And besides that, it's pretty frightening that some guy, football player or not, jumps into your truck. They should also put a disclaimer "keep doors locked at all times," because if that happened to me in DC, I'd flip out. Of course, it would most likely be two 20-something black males with guns requesting "gimme your car, bitch," rather than an ex- football player telling me to use my truck to its full potential. Add to that the car companies' relentless appropriation of music that I have a fondness for, and what you've got is full-on assault of my values.
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
Thursday, October 20, 2005
When I'm 64
I just saw that my last posting was on Aug 23...and it's now nearly 2 months later. Sad. Which brings me to thinking about time. I cannot accept that it has been, for example, going on 8 years since I graduated college. That seems unfathomable. I realized this when I went to a happy hour with the alumni club the other week and met someone from the class of '04 when, when I'd met her, I thought myself a peer...and she was probably thinking of me as "old fogey." I bet it stays like that...you stay frozen in your mind as a young person and accept that all young people are you. For example, my boss, just shy of 70, was talking to me about the 60s the other day and said "Now, you were probably too young to remember them." And, I said "Um, no, I wasn't born yet, but I have read about it in history." That's what happens. You wake up and all of a sudden you're older...and 2 months go by and you don't blog. And, pretty soon, it's years since you've seen your college friend and she's pregnant...or the kid's 10. Oh my.
This rapid passing of time also has me mourning pieces of myself which have not recently been expressed. I guess I mean, I'm not living every moment of my life in a way that fully embraces everything I want and need and am. In college and before, I always thought of myself as a writer and as "literary." Now, I'm lucky if I manage to read my novel for book club monthly let alone write anything. I probably have put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard once for "creative" writing in the past year. Before going back to grad school, I did it more. It's almost as if I stopped when I decided to change careers...instead of seeing separate pieces of myself coexisting. I also don't do things that are truly enjoyable...my free time is often eaten up by stupid things like watching TV or errands or "consuming" (i.e. shopping and eating out).
This is a rambling letter to myself...and though I feel this hasn't really boiled down to any singular message or isn't tied up neatly in a bow, I guess that's because it's still an open thought...
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
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I just saw that my last posting was on Aug 23...and it's now nearly 2 months later. Sad. Which brings me to thinking about time. I cannot accept that it has been, for example, going on 8 years since I graduated college. That seems unfathomable. I realized this when I went to a happy hour with the alumni club the other week and met someone from the class of '04 when, when I'd met her, I thought myself a peer...and she was probably thinking of me as "old fogey." I bet it stays like that...you stay frozen in your mind as a young person and accept that all young people are you. For example, my boss, just shy of 70, was talking to me about the 60s the other day and said "Now, you were probably too young to remember them." And, I said "Um, no, I wasn't born yet, but I have read about it in history." That's what happens. You wake up and all of a sudden you're older...and 2 months go by and you don't blog. And, pretty soon, it's years since you've seen your college friend and she's pregnant...or the kid's 10. Oh my.
This rapid passing of time also has me mourning pieces of myself which have not recently been expressed. I guess I mean, I'm not living every moment of my life in a way that fully embraces everything I want and need and am. In college and before, I always thought of myself as a writer and as "literary." Now, I'm lucky if I manage to read my novel for book club monthly let alone write anything. I probably have put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard once for "creative" writing in the past year. Before going back to grad school, I did it more. It's almost as if I stopped when I decided to change careers...instead of seeing separate pieces of myself coexisting. I also don't do things that are truly enjoyable...my free time is often eaten up by stupid things like watching TV or errands or "consuming" (i.e. shopping and eating out).
This is a rambling letter to myself...and though I feel this hasn't really boiled down to any singular message or isn't tied up neatly in a bow, I guess that's because it's still an open thought...
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Police Reports
So, as many of you know, I had my car "broken into" about a week ago--my third night in the district. It was as if the city was reminding me to watch my back or something. I don't know if the door was unlocked or someone was able to get in another way--according to the officer, I left it unlocked, as if he knew first hand. I never ever leave my door unlocked, but I had been spacy with the move and my mom in town, so it's plausible. (Couldn't the criminal have done it, like AAA style or something--or a coat hanger...who knows) At any rate, a modem belonging to comcast was stolen. (My rationale being "hey, I can leave it here so I can return it to them tomorrow). Comcast says if I provide a report, I could potentially not be liable for the $. Easier said than done. The responding officer said that he would "call me with a number." Um, he didn't. A week later (today), I decide to follow through. I call the friendly 1st district. The guy answering the phone gives me attitude and basically says that if the guy didn't give me a report on the scene, I'd have to call 311 and have ANOTHER officer come out. I was like "isn't that sort of pointless since I had one come out already when it first happened and now it's been a week?" Not to mention a waste of police time! He responded that they don't give them over the phone and I'd need to call 311 because he can't access that info (oh, and also of no help to him was that I knew the cop's badge number...why do they have numbers if they aren't identifiers?)
Now, I was assuming that they have SOME kind of records out there about this. I mean, c'mon...the officer was dispatched. He stood there for several minutes taking notes. So, I decided to call 311. Of course, because I'm at work, I couldn't call 311, I had to dial the out of DC number. I told the operator my story and she was able to come up with a number. I feel like calling the officer who is on desk and telling him that this can be done. I mean, shouldn't this be part of training for them or at least on a cheat sheet at the station for the person handling phones? Wouldn't that be more helpful than yelling at the person who has been victimized?
For future reference for all y'all out there...if anyone ever has a cop come to take a report for any reason, despite your being ruffled by whatever has just happened to you, have the presence of mind to take some notes of your own--like the officer's name and badge number (even if it's pointless) as well as where he can be reached. Also, request a report right then and there.
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
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So, as many of you know, I had my car "broken into" about a week ago--my third night in the district. It was as if the city was reminding me to watch my back or something. I don't know if the door was unlocked or someone was able to get in another way--according to the officer, I left it unlocked, as if he knew first hand. I never ever leave my door unlocked, but I had been spacy with the move and my mom in town, so it's plausible. (Couldn't the criminal have done it, like AAA style or something--or a coat hanger...who knows) At any rate, a modem belonging to comcast was stolen. (My rationale being "hey, I can leave it here so I can return it to them tomorrow). Comcast says if I provide a report, I could potentially not be liable for the $. Easier said than done. The responding officer said that he would "call me with a number." Um, he didn't. A week later (today), I decide to follow through. I call the friendly 1st district. The guy answering the phone gives me attitude and basically says that if the guy didn't give me a report on the scene, I'd have to call 311 and have ANOTHER officer come out. I was like "isn't that sort of pointless since I had one come out already when it first happened and now it's been a week?" Not to mention a waste of police time! He responded that they don't give them over the phone and I'd need to call 311 because he can't access that info (oh, and also of no help to him was that I knew the cop's badge number...why do they have numbers if they aren't identifiers?)
Now, I was assuming that they have SOME kind of records out there about this. I mean, c'mon...the officer was dispatched. He stood there for several minutes taking notes. So, I decided to call 311. Of course, because I'm at work, I couldn't call 311, I had to dial the out of DC number. I told the operator my story and she was able to come up with a number. I feel like calling the officer who is on desk and telling him that this can be done. I mean, shouldn't this be part of training for them or at least on a cheat sheet at the station for the person handling phones? Wouldn't that be more helpful than yelling at the person who has been victimized?
For future reference for all y'all out there...if anyone ever has a cop come to take a report for any reason, despite your being ruffled by whatever has just happened to you, have the presence of mind to take some notes of your own--like the officer's name and badge number (even if it's pointless) as well as where he can be reached. Also, request a report right then and there.
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
Monday, August 22, 2005
I moved!
That's the news. And, anyone who is reading this already knows. It's been about a week that I've been living in my new abode, and I was thinking about how funny moving to a new place is, and why I both love and detest moving.
I love moving because it's a fresh start. And, when you're getting ready to move, you are overcome with the thoughts of new possibilities. You (at least I) think about how I can layout my furniture, what the coffee in the neighborhood is like (yes, I think about this), and what new organizational tools I could use for my new closets. I think about how great the new place will be and how it might improve my life.
The thought that moving sucks doesn't really need explanation. Like anything exhilarating, it has its flip side which are basically the opposite of everything that makes it good. It is disruptive. You pack your life in boxes and give them to brauny men to carry to your new place for you. But, even after all the packing and moving to the new place, you are slightly off-center for months. What exactly did you do with your measuring spoons? Where is the lint brush? How about a pen? The automatic things you do in your daily life all of a sudden become more difficult. You can no longer operate on auto pilot for even the simplest of tasks like brushing your teeth, because the position of the toothbrush has changed.
The time after moving--which is the time I'm in right now--is interesting. It's kind of like the development of a relationship. You begin giddy and in love and fraught with the potential of your new mate. As time goes on and you spend more time with them, you realize that they too have flaws, which you either come to find endearing or utterly unconscionable. I'm finding the apartment is much the same.
This apartment was emotionally loaded for me--it was kind of the vehicle which would deliver me from Annapolis into a brave new world of social intereaction and interesting things to do. So, needless to say, I was not just seeing the bones of the apartment when I visited it. It was much like a ship carrying me to freedom. Some might say a "sailboat to freedom," har har. At any rate, things in the apartment are not perfect--imagine that! The biggie is that I can smell my neighbors' cigarette smoke. Big time. But, more minor details are also coming to light--things like little cracks in the wall I didn't notice until i moved my stuff in, and squeaky floors (which I imagine are more annoying to the person below me). These aren't apartment relationship dealbreakers, but it's interesting to me to note how the development of a relationship with a new living space develops. I'm trying to savor what remains of the hopeful, still fresh feeling--because that was part of what brought me to move in the first place!
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
|
That's the news. And, anyone who is reading this already knows. It's been about a week that I've been living in my new abode, and I was thinking about how funny moving to a new place is, and why I both love and detest moving.
I love moving because it's a fresh start. And, when you're getting ready to move, you are overcome with the thoughts of new possibilities. You (at least I) think about how I can layout my furniture, what the coffee in the neighborhood is like (yes, I think about this), and what new organizational tools I could use for my new closets. I think about how great the new place will be and how it might improve my life.
The thought that moving sucks doesn't really need explanation. Like anything exhilarating, it has its flip side which are basically the opposite of everything that makes it good. It is disruptive. You pack your life in boxes and give them to brauny men to carry to your new place for you. But, even after all the packing and moving to the new place, you are slightly off-center for months. What exactly did you do with your measuring spoons? Where is the lint brush? How about a pen? The automatic things you do in your daily life all of a sudden become more difficult. You can no longer operate on auto pilot for even the simplest of tasks like brushing your teeth, because the position of the toothbrush has changed.
The time after moving--which is the time I'm in right now--is interesting. It's kind of like the development of a relationship. You begin giddy and in love and fraught with the potential of your new mate. As time goes on and you spend more time with them, you realize that they too have flaws, which you either come to find endearing or utterly unconscionable. I'm finding the apartment is much the same.
This apartment was emotionally loaded for me--it was kind of the vehicle which would deliver me from Annapolis into a brave new world of social intereaction and interesting things to do. So, needless to say, I was not just seeing the bones of the apartment when I visited it. It was much like a ship carrying me to freedom. Some might say a "sailboat to freedom," har har. At any rate, things in the apartment are not perfect--imagine that! The biggie is that I can smell my neighbors' cigarette smoke. Big time. But, more minor details are also coming to light--things like little cracks in the wall I didn't notice until i moved my stuff in, and squeaky floors (which I imagine are more annoying to the person below me). These aren't apartment relationship dealbreakers, but it's interesting to me to note how the development of a relationship with a new living space develops. I'm trying to savor what remains of the hopeful, still fresh feeling--because that was part of what brought me to move in the first place!
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
Monday, July 11, 2005
The Hunt 2005--Installment 1
So, I am once again engaging in an apartment search. Since moving to Annapolis in July 2003, I have been talking about this and planning this--actually attempting to move at least twice and looking at apartments countless numbers of times. I think this time, it's actually going to happen.
I have figured out it has to happen for my happiness. This isn't to say that my moving with automatically make me happy, but in the least, it will shake things up and get me moving. This isn't an easy decision. For starters, I want to keep my job. Which, conveniently enough, is in Annapolis. The parking situation at work is spotty, and that has been a hinderance in my moving forward. Second, I like my apartment. It's the perfect size for me. It's not perfect, but it's comfortable, and I know I'm going to have a hard time finding the same kinds of things when I move.
So, it sounds like I have a peachy keen life, right? nice job, decent apartment? Well, yeah, but that's ALL there is. In the two years (count 'em), I've met a whole, let's see [I'm counting in my head here] six people. That is an average of something like 0.1 people per week. Now, these are people whose names I know and could call. And, even that is a stretch. I see 3 of said people once a month for bookgroup. And I just met them. The other 3, I met through the internet, and see them once every 4-6 months. Not exactly a raging social life, is it? I can list all the things I've done to try to meet people:
--Drawing Class
--French Films at St. Johns
--Rowing
--Joined Book Club
--Tried to attend Historic Annapolis event, but it was sold out
--Talk to people in hallway and try to make eye contact with people in supermarkets, cafes, etc...this is by far the most INeffective way
--Habitat for Humanity
--Sierra Club
--Ads on Craigslist and several meetings with people who responded
--match.com, yahoo personals, and eharmony...ugh
At any rate, chances are I'm forgetting something...because I feel tired out from this all.
So, I'm starting an apartment hunt with plans to move by the end of September. I need to keep pushing myself to do this, even though it is tiring and disheartening and overwhelming. I think I will be following my true self by doing this, which is exciting. So, here goes. The account of what I've encountered thus far.
You need to jump in head first with apartment searches. You cannot be timid or try to dip a toe in. It's all or nothing.
Saturday, I went to see a lovely, and very very very very cozy (read: small) studio condo in Logan Circle. It was gorgeous in that it was new, had parking and a w/d in the unit. And, as the realtor pointed out, a little patch of granite countertop. What it didn't have was enough space for me to turn around in let alone fit all my crap that I have. This was for the low, low price of $1150. This seemed to be a bargain when I went to see the for sale open house condo for $689,000.
I toured Capitol Hill a little after that, trying to determine how far into the "urbanness" i could go without feeling uncomfortable. I have a perverted sense of what's safe or normal. When I was driving home today, I was looking around thinking "This is no worse than where I lived in West Philly." Or is it? I don't know...I think the thing that would bother me most about moving further into NE or SE is that I'd stick out and I'd be afraid that the people there would think I was a snotty white girl. I mean, I am white, but I'm not a snot. I just need affordable housing.
Tonight, there was an English basement for $950. I had Italian dance practice. Like a dummy, I went there first, and hence missed the open house's commencement at 7:15. I could have gotten there early and nabbed it if I wanted, but I held off and got there at 7:30 when it was already rented. There was no love lost. It was dark and dank with a shitty old commercial carpet...the only great thing was its location--very near Lincoln Park. Lovely. If I could find something not so crappy and not taken in the same area, I'd be pleased.
All for now...the adventure continues!
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
|
So, I am once again engaging in an apartment search. Since moving to Annapolis in July 2003, I have been talking about this and planning this--actually attempting to move at least twice and looking at apartments countless numbers of times. I think this time, it's actually going to happen.
I have figured out it has to happen for my happiness. This isn't to say that my moving with automatically make me happy, but in the least, it will shake things up and get me moving. This isn't an easy decision. For starters, I want to keep my job. Which, conveniently enough, is in Annapolis. The parking situation at work is spotty, and that has been a hinderance in my moving forward. Second, I like my apartment. It's the perfect size for me. It's not perfect, but it's comfortable, and I know I'm going to have a hard time finding the same kinds of things when I move.
So, it sounds like I have a peachy keen life, right? nice job, decent apartment? Well, yeah, but that's ALL there is. In the two years (count 'em), I've met a whole, let's see [I'm counting in my head here] six people. That is an average of something like 0.1 people per week. Now, these are people whose names I know and could call. And, even that is a stretch. I see 3 of said people once a month for bookgroup. And I just met them. The other 3, I met through the internet, and see them once every 4-6 months. Not exactly a raging social life, is it? I can list all the things I've done to try to meet people:
--Drawing Class
--French Films at St. Johns
--Rowing
--Joined Book Club
--Tried to attend Historic Annapolis event, but it was sold out
--Talk to people in hallway and try to make eye contact with people in supermarkets, cafes, etc...this is by far the most INeffective way
--Habitat for Humanity
--Sierra Club
--Ads on Craigslist and several meetings with people who responded
--match.com, yahoo personals, and eharmony...ugh
At any rate, chances are I'm forgetting something...because I feel tired out from this all.
So, I'm starting an apartment hunt with plans to move by the end of September. I need to keep pushing myself to do this, even though it is tiring and disheartening and overwhelming. I think I will be following my true self by doing this, which is exciting. So, here goes. The account of what I've encountered thus far.
You need to jump in head first with apartment searches. You cannot be timid or try to dip a toe in. It's all or nothing.
Saturday, I went to see a lovely, and very very very very cozy (read: small) studio condo in Logan Circle. It was gorgeous in that it was new, had parking and a w/d in the unit. And, as the realtor pointed out, a little patch of granite countertop. What it didn't have was enough space for me to turn around in let alone fit all my crap that I have. This was for the low, low price of $1150. This seemed to be a bargain when I went to see the for sale open house condo for $689,000.
I toured Capitol Hill a little after that, trying to determine how far into the "urbanness" i could go without feeling uncomfortable. I have a perverted sense of what's safe or normal. When I was driving home today, I was looking around thinking "This is no worse than where I lived in West Philly." Or is it? I don't know...I think the thing that would bother me most about moving further into NE or SE is that I'd stick out and I'd be afraid that the people there would think I was a snotty white girl. I mean, I am white, but I'm not a snot. I just need affordable housing.
Tonight, there was an English basement for $950. I had Italian dance practice. Like a dummy, I went there first, and hence missed the open house's commencement at 7:15. I could have gotten there early and nabbed it if I wanted, but I held off and got there at 7:30 when it was already rented. There was no love lost. It was dark and dank with a shitty old commercial carpet...the only great thing was its location--very near Lincoln Park. Lovely. If I could find something not so crappy and not taken in the same area, I'd be pleased.
All for now...the adventure continues!
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Deep Thought: The Good Ol' Days Before Reality TV
There was a time not too long ago when we let pop stars burn out instead of putting them on "Hit Me Baby One More Time." Poor Vanilla Ice! And Tiffany! And Wang Chung!
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
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There was a time not too long ago when we let pop stars burn out instead of putting them on "Hit Me Baby One More Time." Poor Vanilla Ice! And Tiffany! And Wang Chung!
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
I Guess I'll Just Have to Shoot People in Protest, Then
So, I have the right to bear arms and the right NOT to burn the flag (see AP article below)? See? this proves my earlier theory about how crazy Americans are when it comes to the red, white, and blue (see my post on annoying things). Am I just dense? Now, are they going to define exactly what desecration is? Because I think people wearing bedazzled rhinestone flags on their shirts should be prosecuted (Sorry Aunt Ruthie). And, while we're at it, Jim Bob who has its likeness stuck on his rear window. And, will ALL flags be held up to this rule? Like, what if people make a cupcakes with flags on them, and you eat one? Or, what if someone promoting their high-interest credit card designs an envelope with the flag on it, and you put it in your paper shredder? Oh the humanity!
People probably think that's just silliness, but it's not when you consider how orgasmic Americans get over the frickin' flag. It's a FLAG. And, having been an English major, I can appreciate symbolism, but I can also appreciate peaceful protest...and even slightly non-peaceful protest (uh, Revolutionary War anyone) when it's called for. Meanwhile, the Patriot Act is violating our real freedoms, and people are like "That's cool, God bless the USA." But, people burn a flag in protest of something and it's all fire and brimstone about how they are "violators of freedom," which seems like a contradiction, doesn't it? I mean, in my opinion, the great thing about America is the freedom to say "Fuck America" and still be a part of a great tradition of protest...and have the right to say that--or anything I want (not that I want to..although seeing this news piece kind of makes me want to skip the beach this weekend and go to the Mall and burn a flag and get it out of my system). I mean saying "I hate this country and what it stands for" is different than saying "I hate this frickin' country. I'm going to take it down and everyone with it. Join with me and kill some people." It just concerns me that none of our lawmakers seem to see the nuances of these situations. Or, they do, but don't really care as long as they're stroking their own egos. Even as I write this, I'm afraid of what would happen if "someone" out there read it...because if anyone knows me, they know I'm patriotic and such, but I feel like "they" would see "blah blah blah kill blah blah blah." I mean, I might not have a flag plastered on my car, or a yellow ribbon magnet on my car, but I'm a great lover of freedom. The mere thought that thinking writing this could be "risky" makes me sort of feel a taste of what Iran was/is like. Is that what it's coming to?
Oh, and one more thing... this also makes me think "is there THAT much flag burning going on?" I mean, I've been on the earth just over 29 years, and I've never seen one burning. I guess it just doesn't seem like that big of a problem. Not like, say, real problems like hunger, poverty, or bright headlights.
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
House Approves Flag-Burning Amendment
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The House on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag, a measure that for the first time stands a chance of passing the Senate as well.
By a 286-130 vote — eight more than needed — House members approved the amendment after a debate over whether such a ban would uphold or run afoul of the Constitution's free-speech protections.
Approval of two-thirds of the lawmakers present was required to send the bill on to the Senate, where activists on both sides say it stands the best chance of passage in years. If the amendment is approved in that chamber by a two-thirds vote, it would then move to the states for ratification.
Supporters said the measure reflected patriotism that deepened after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and they accused detractors of being out of touch with public sentiment.
"Ask the men and women who stood on top of the (World) Trade Center," said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. "Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment."
But Rep. Jerrold Nadler (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., said, "If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents."
The measure was designed to overturn a 1989 decision by the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 that flag burning was a protected free-speech right. That ruling threw out a 1968 federal statute and flag-protection laws in 48 states. The law was a response to anti-Vietnam war protesters setting fire to the American flag at their demonstrations.
The proposed one-line amendment to the Constitution reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." For the language to be added to the Constitution, it must be approved not only by two-thirds of each chamber but also by 38 states within seven years.
Each time the proposed amendment has come to the House floor, it has reached the required two-thirds majority. But the measure has always died in the Senate, falling short of the 67 votes needed. The last time the Senate took up the amendment was in 2000, when it failed 63-37.
But last year's elections gave Republicans a four-seat pickup in the Senate, and now proponents and critics alike say the amendment stands within a vote or two of reaching the two-thirds requirement in that chamber.
By most counts, 65 current senators have voted for or said they intend to support the amendment, two shy of the crucial tally. More than a quarter of current senators were not members of that chamber during the last vote.
The Senate is expected to consider the measure after the July 4th holiday.
_
The amendment is H.J. Res 10.
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So, I have the right to bear arms and the right NOT to burn the flag (see AP article below)? See? this proves my earlier theory about how crazy Americans are when it comes to the red, white, and blue (see my post on annoying things). Am I just dense? Now, are they going to define exactly what desecration is? Because I think people wearing bedazzled rhinestone flags on their shirts should be prosecuted (Sorry Aunt Ruthie). And, while we're at it, Jim Bob who has its likeness stuck on his rear window. And, will ALL flags be held up to this rule? Like, what if people make a cupcakes with flags on them, and you eat one? Or, what if someone promoting their high-interest credit card designs an envelope with the flag on it, and you put it in your paper shredder? Oh the humanity!
People probably think that's just silliness, but it's not when you consider how orgasmic Americans get over the frickin' flag. It's a FLAG. And, having been an English major, I can appreciate symbolism, but I can also appreciate peaceful protest...and even slightly non-peaceful protest (uh, Revolutionary War anyone) when it's called for. Meanwhile, the Patriot Act is violating our real freedoms, and people are like "That's cool, God bless the USA." But, people burn a flag in protest of something and it's all fire and brimstone about how they are "violators of freedom," which seems like a contradiction, doesn't it? I mean, in my opinion, the great thing about America is the freedom to say "Fuck America" and still be a part of a great tradition of protest...and have the right to say that--or anything I want (not that I want to..although seeing this news piece kind of makes me want to skip the beach this weekend and go to the Mall and burn a flag and get it out of my system). I mean saying "I hate this country and what it stands for" is different than saying "I hate this frickin' country. I'm going to take it down and everyone with it. Join with me and kill some people." It just concerns me that none of our lawmakers seem to see the nuances of these situations. Or, they do, but don't really care as long as they're stroking their own egos. Even as I write this, I'm afraid of what would happen if "someone" out there read it...because if anyone knows me, they know I'm patriotic and such, but I feel like "they" would see "blah blah blah kill blah blah blah." I mean, I might not have a flag plastered on my car, or a yellow ribbon magnet on my car, but I'm a great lover of freedom. The mere thought that thinking writing this could be "risky" makes me sort of feel a taste of what Iran was/is like. Is that what it's coming to?
Oh, and one more thing... this also makes me think "is there THAT much flag burning going on?" I mean, I've been on the earth just over 29 years, and I've never seen one burning. I guess it just doesn't seem like that big of a problem. Not like, say, real problems like hunger, poverty, or bright headlights.
As always, in accordance with the prophecy...
House Approves Flag-Burning Amendment
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The House on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag, a measure that for the first time stands a chance of passing the Senate as well.
By a 286-130 vote — eight more than needed — House members approved the amendment after a debate over whether such a ban would uphold or run afoul of the Constitution's free-speech protections.
Approval of two-thirds of the lawmakers present was required to send the bill on to the Senate, where activists on both sides say it stands the best chance of passage in years. If the amendment is approved in that chamber by a two-thirds vote, it would then move to the states for ratification.
Supporters said the measure reflected patriotism that deepened after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and they accused detractors of being out of touch with public sentiment.
"Ask the men and women who stood on top of the (World) Trade Center," said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. "Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment."
But Rep. Jerrold Nadler (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., said, "If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents."
The measure was designed to overturn a 1989 decision by the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 that flag burning was a protected free-speech right. That ruling threw out a 1968 federal statute and flag-protection laws in 48 states. The law was a response to anti-Vietnam war protesters setting fire to the American flag at their demonstrations.
The proposed one-line amendment to the Constitution reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." For the language to be added to the Constitution, it must be approved not only by two-thirds of each chamber but also by 38 states within seven years.
Each time the proposed amendment has come to the House floor, it has reached the required two-thirds majority. But the measure has always died in the Senate, falling short of the 67 votes needed. The last time the Senate took up the amendment was in 2000, when it failed 63-37.
But last year's elections gave Republicans a four-seat pickup in the Senate, and now proponents and critics alike say the amendment stands within a vote or two of reaching the two-thirds requirement in that chamber.
By most counts, 65 current senators have voted for or said they intend to support the amendment, two shy of the crucial tally. More than a quarter of current senators were not members of that chamber during the last vote.
The Senate is expected to consider the measure after the July 4th holiday.
_
The amendment is H.J. Res 10.
