Thursday, August 30, 2012

First Day of School

Skipping the Republican National Convention for something more important. . .

Monday, August 27, 2012

Stagville at Night

Once one of the largest plantations in North Carolina, Stagville today serves as a learning center for the history and culture of another time.  On Friday night staff from Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill told sky myths and legends on the lawn in front of the old slave quarters.  Telescopes were set up for night viewing, but clouds covered much of the sky and the moon was visible for only a short time. No one complained, though; we were a quiet group, sitting and lying on blankets as the dark closed in around us.

On the drive over to Stagville, we saw one of the most spectacular rainbows I've seen in a long time.  Every color of ROY G BIV was visible, and the arc span immense--as if a giant had taken 7 markers and drawn a line as far and as high as his hand could stretch.  I wondered what the enslaved people at Stagville once thought about rainbows.  Were they a promise from God?

We fell asleep that night lying on our blanket, protected by something larger than ourselves. Was it the rainbow, or was it the sacred ground where we lay?  Maybe it was both.  All I know is, you could feel the peace in the air, silent and still.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Abandoning Akin in Rock and Roll Fashion

Republicans ran away from Todd Akin this week as fast as they could.  Their efforts to distance themselves from the Missouri Congressman reminded me of "American Woman," released in 1970 by The Guess Who.  This is the short version:

American Akin, stay away from us
American Akin, please get off our bus
Don't come anywhere near our show
Tampa's just fine without you, you know.

We've got more important things to do
Than spend our time out there defending you
Now Akin, we said stay away
American Akin, listen what we say

American Akin, stay away from us
American Akin, please get off our bus
Gotta stop talking 'bout rape, old man,
You're messing up our grand old plan

Privately we're there with you
But we can't afford to lose
Now Akin, we said get away
American Akin, listen what we say

Go, gotta get away, gotta get away
Now go, go, go, gotta leave us, Akin,
Gotta leave us, Akin,
Bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye, bye-bye

You're no good for us
We're no good for you
Gonna look you right in the eye
Tell you what you're gonna do

You know you're gonna leave
You know you're gonna go
[Fade]

Thursday, August 23, 2012

In the Botanical Gardens, as in Life. . .

The Republican Party keeps getting kookier and kookier


Dominated by old, angry white men


Their misogyny is breathtaking.


The rest of us watch their antics puzzled, in disbelief


As these creatures--with tough shells and thick skin--trudge ever onward.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Neanderthal Man

Todd Akin, the Republican candidate for Senate in Missouri, holds extreme views on abortion. When asked about pregnancy that results from rape, he said, "First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare.  If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

Two questions:

What doctor is he talking to? and

Where do people like Todd Akin come from?

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Hearin' the News

After Mitt Romney settled on Paul Ryan as his running mate, he reportedly directed his son Tagg Romney to contact those not chosen (according to MSNBC).  Pretend you're Tim Pawlenty and sing to the tune of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine":

Ooh, I bet you're wond'rin' how I knew
'bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys you know I want it more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Dontcha know that I

Heard it from Tagg Romney
Wish you'd bothered to contact me
Oh I heard it from Tagg Romney
Oh I'm hurt enough to flee you see
Romney, Romney yeah

I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' Veep has disappointed me
'cause the job means that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you chose someone else
Instead I

Heard it from Tagg Romney
Wish you'd bothered to contact me
Oh I heard it from Tagg Romney
And I'm hurt enough to flee you see
Romney, Romney yeah

People say believe half of what you see
Mitt, and none of what you hear
But I can't help bein' confused
If it's true please tell me clear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you knew before?
Dontcha know I

Heard it from Tagg Romney
Wish you'd bothered to contact me
Oh I heard it from Tagg Romney
Ooh I'm hurt enough to flee you see
Romney, Romney yeah

Willard, Willard, I know
That you're lettin' me go
Said I heard it from Tagg Romney

FADE
Ooh, heard it from Tagg Romney

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Radical Politics

Paul Ryan and Sarah Palin have something in common: they're a lot more fun and interesting--and more dangerous--than the men at the top who selected them.  Paul Ryan is now electrifying the campaign of his wooden boss in the same way that Sarah Palin did four years ago. 

It's a curious contradiction: while Republicans seem to want some kind of steadfast predictability, as seen in their selections of Mitt Romney and John McCain, they're drawn at the same time to the risky proposals of the Tea Party--but not enough to put forward such candidates for president.  It's as if they're marrying the sure and steady guy and flirting with the unreliable one.

And yet, curiouser still, is the fact that Mitt Romney in some ways hasn't been a sure and steady guy.  He gives off the appearance of a soothing "Father Knows Best" figure but without a consistent record to show what he believes.  Paul Ryan as his choice for vice president, on the other hand, has such a long record of specific policies that we know exactly what he believes.  And what he believes is a problem for women, for the elderly, for students, for workers, and for pretty much all of us--except the wealthy.

In the end, though, his presence on the ticket is a problem for Mitt Romney and the Republicans, for he highlights the party's internal conflicts and its attraction for "radical social engineering," as Newt Gingrich so aptly put it.  The wheel has turned once again: Republicans have replaced Democrats as the party of radical politics.

Monday, August 13, 2012

In Literature, As In Life. . .

Meet Luna Lovegood, from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:


Saturday, August 11, 2012

An Olympics Farewell

Sing to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game":

Take me to the Olympics,
Take me to the big games.
Find me a seat next to Will or Kate,
I don't care if I'm early or late.
Let me root, root, root for gymnastics,
Beach volleyball, track and field.
For it's one, two, three falls you're down
Here in London Town.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

This American Life

To the extent that Olympic athletes represent defining features of their home countries, runner Bryshon Nellum's story highlights a tragic side of American culture: he was the victim of gun violence.  Walking home from a Halloween party as an undergraduate at the University of Southern California four years ago, he was targeted by two passersby in a car, who shot him in both legs.  Whether the shooting was premeditated or accidental is not clear, but gang vengeance was the motive.

Other countries have their shameful stories, too.  But ours is one that rolls along unaddressed, the elephant in the room.

Nellum's painful recovery and appearance at this year's Olympics attest to his faith, spirit, and determination--and perhaps these are American qualities, too.  How unfortunate that we can't make similar use of our nation's strengths to end this violent scourge.

Monday, August 6, 2012

On the Podium

There's something wistful about the summer Olympics, as we rediscover the athlete inside us.  After all, many of the sports comprise those of our childhood--running, jumping, swimming, diving, and gymnastics.  Maybe, just maybe, we say to ourselves, "With a little more practice, I could have been there."

A delusion, of course, but a fun one.  And maybe a necessary one.  For the years creep up and suddenly we're not so nimble.  No wonder the middle-aged hairdresser at the salon this weekend bragged that he could still turn a cartwheel.  No wonder I still try to do splits in the swimming pool.

Allow yourself the dream.  You're standing on the podium and the official places the medal around your neck.  "The Star-Spangled Banner," which usually irritates you with its images of war, instead warms your heart and you swell with pride.  America's best, that's you.

Go for the gold.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Sitting Here at Chick-fil-A

I don't know what Otis Redding would have thought about the Chick-fil-A controversy this week, but his song "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" sets just the right tone.

Sittin' in the mornin' sun
Hoping for a Chick-fil-A bun
Watching today's Kiss-In
And then I watch 'em kiss away again, yeah

I'm sitting here at Chick-fil-A
Hoping the mayor don't take us away
Ooo, I'm just sittin' here at Chick-fil-A
Wastin' time

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the 'Frisco bay
'Cause I knew I'd see the protests
Here in Cal-i-forn-e-i-ay

So I'm just gonna sit here at Chick-fil-A
Hoping the mayor don't take us away
Ooo, I'm just sittin' here at Chick-fil-A
Wastin' time

Looks like nothing's gonna change
Chick-fil-A still remains the same
It can't do what protesters tell it to do
So I guess it will stay the same, yes

Sittin' here at Chick-fil-A
It's been a long and crazy kind of day
Seein' folks both straight and gay
Try to get that sandwich their way

Now I'm just gonna sit here at Chick-fil-A
Hoping the mayor don't take us away
Ooo, I'm just sittin' here at Chick-fil-A
Wastin' time.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

A Dog's Life: Cassidy

"Why did dogs make one want to cry?  There was something so quiet and hopeless about their sympathy.  Jasper, knowing something was wrong, as dogs always do.  Trunks being packed. Cars being brought to the door.  Dogs standing with drooping tails, dejected eyes.  Wandering back to their baskets in the hall when the sound of the car dies away."

Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca