There is a time for everything,
and a season (Turn turn turn?) for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
Are you singing the Byrds yet, because I am.
I have to keep this in mind--there is a season, a purpose to everything, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to be silent and a time to speak--and what season is this? This awkward season, suspended between realization and expectation; between daydreams and wide-eyed reality. I have to keep in mind that the things that happen and change have a purpose--not just random actions and reactions, but a true worthiness and meaning.
If not I may go mad.
To everything...
Monday, February 28, 2005
A Day At the Beach
Caroline and our snowman at the Jersey Shore, where everyone goes when it's 20 degrees in February.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Red Bull and Beef Jerky
I have a whole lot more to say about the Sedition post, which has been rattling my brain for the past three days or so, but right now I'm too distracted and/or caffinated to do much.
Anyway, I'm in Jersey (where that smell comes from) visiting my dear friend from college, Caroline, and two of my friends from forever, Seth and Brandt.
Today Caroline and I decided that we should go to the Jersey shore, as it is February and that is what one should do in February in Jersey.
It shall be an adventure.
Too bad I forgot to bring the Springsteen or Bon Jovi.
Thank you to all I talked to while driving the five hours here last night, the fact that I didn't fall asleep I owe to you, Red Bull and that bag of beef jerky.
Land of Make Believe, Exit 12.
(actual sign)
Anyway, I'm in Jersey (where that smell comes from) visiting my dear friend from college, Caroline, and two of my friends from forever, Seth and Brandt.
Today Caroline and I decided that we should go to the Jersey shore, as it is February and that is what one should do in February in Jersey.
It shall be an adventure.
Too bad I forgot to bring the Springsteen or Bon Jovi.
Thank you to all I talked to while driving the five hours here last night, the fact that I didn't fall asleep I owe to you, Red Bull and that bag of beef jerky.
Land of Make Believe, Exit 12.
(actual sign)
Friday, February 25, 2005
Tradition of Sedition
According to Webster: Sedition: n.
SEC. 2. If any person shall write, print, utter, or publish.... scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States...with intent to defame the said government...or to bring them...into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them, or either or any of them, the hatred of the good people of the United States, or to excite any unlawful combinations therein, for opposing or resisting any law of the United States, or any act of the President...or to resist, oppose, or defeat any such law or act, or to aid, encourage or abet any hostile designs of any foreign nation against the United States... then such person...shall be punished "
Even an utterance of questioning the actions of President John Adams, or Congress could lead directly to deportation (as read in Section 3, which is not quoted in this blog). It's like McCarthyism over a century before the man was born. It was a time of a two-party system, where one party wanted to use fear to control the other party. Newspaper publishers actually spent time in jail for speaking out against Adams' Federalist laws. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson and Congress passed the Sedition Act of 1918. Part of the Espionage Act, The Sedition Act essentially gave the US Government unlimited power of censorship, under the fear-driven Red Scare of the era. Largely enforceed by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, and his assistant J. Edgar Hoover (yeah...THAT guy) to launch campaigns against the so-called radicals, the Sedition Act was used in the arrest of over 1500 people for the suspicion of sympathies toward communist or socialist parties. (At the time, Communism was not what we saw in Russia, China and Cuba later on in the 20th Century. This is not what the ideals of Communism were, and what became of Russia actually shocked and dismayed many who were initial sympathizers). Essentially, it made it a federal crime to criticize the government or Constitution in any way. Spoken opposition or any published form of writing, expressing negative opinions about the war effort, or even opinions against the draft would lead to imprisonment. Even the expression one's own opinions through a private correspondence to a friend or family member was illegal. To quote,
"SECTION 3. Whoever, when the United States is at war...shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States . . . or shall willfully display the flag of any foreign enemy, or shall willfully . . . urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production . . . or advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of any country with which the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein, shall be punished ..."
Again, free speech was not only curbed in wartime, it was silenced altogether.
So why all this history? I mean I know I did well in AP History and all (Damn you Gillespie, damn you and your red beard!) but what does this have to do with now?
The answer is EVERYTHING. If there is one thing I did learn from Redbeard its that history repeats itself in more ways than we often notice outright. In the US we have this history of Sedition, then repression of it. Fear of speaking out, of dissent, of those who don't agree. The whole concept of free speech is difficult--the first Amendment does not just protect those with whom you agree, but those with whom you would spend the rest of your life fighting against. It is for both the pro-choice and the pro-life movements, the gay rights and anti-gay marriage activists, the Christians, the Muslims, the Jews, the Pagans, the Hale Bopp freaks.
Today I was reading Newsweek, where they divulged this information on the CIA's secret 747 that they are using to fly people, w/o due process, to other countries to be held and questioned, without any knowledge of what they are being held for, how long they will be held, or how to contact their families. It could be months of captivity. (article) There are no judges, not juries, no representatives, nothing. The CIA has the power, thanks to that lovely Patriot Act (which makes my blood pressure skyrocket, and is another issue entirely). So what? You say. I'm not a terrorist, I have nothing to worry about. When your government starts snatching people without giving a reason, a warrant, or a trial by jury, you have everything to worry about. Ever read the poem "First They Came For the Jews" about the Holocaust? Eventually, it does become about you. It always comes around.
We must question--it is our duty, our right, or obligation--we must question to keep our government honest. Sedition formed this country, and sedition just may save it. "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it." -Mark Twain
- Conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state.
- Insurrection; rebellion.
SEC. 2. If any person shall write, print, utter, or publish.... scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States...with intent to defame the said government...or to bring them...into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them, or either or any of them, the hatred of the good people of the United States, or to excite any unlawful combinations therein, for opposing or resisting any law of the United States, or any act of the President...or to resist, oppose, or defeat any such law or act, or to aid, encourage or abet any hostile designs of any foreign nation against the United States... then such person...shall be punished "
Even an utterance of questioning the actions of President John Adams, or Congress could lead directly to deportation (as read in Section 3, which is not quoted in this blog). It's like McCarthyism over a century before the man was born. It was a time of a two-party system, where one party wanted to use fear to control the other party. Newspaper publishers actually spent time in jail for speaking out against Adams' Federalist laws. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson and Congress passed the Sedition Act of 1918. Part of the Espionage Act, The Sedition Act essentially gave the US Government unlimited power of censorship, under the fear-driven Red Scare of the era. Largely enforceed by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, and his assistant J. Edgar Hoover (yeah...THAT guy) to launch campaigns against the so-called radicals, the Sedition Act was used in the arrest of over 1500 people for the suspicion of sympathies toward communist or socialist parties. (At the time, Communism was not what we saw in Russia, China and Cuba later on in the 20th Century. This is not what the ideals of Communism were, and what became of Russia actually shocked and dismayed many who were initial sympathizers). Essentially, it made it a federal crime to criticize the government or Constitution in any way. Spoken opposition or any published form of writing, expressing negative opinions about the war effort, or even opinions against the draft would lead to imprisonment. Even the expression one's own opinions through a private correspondence to a friend or family member was illegal. To quote,
"SECTION 3. Whoever, when the United States is at war...shall willfully utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of government of the United States, or the Constitution of the United States, or the military or naval forces of the United States . . . or shall willfully display the flag of any foreign enemy, or shall willfully . . . urge, incite, or advocate any curtailment of production . . . or advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of any country with which the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein, shall be punished ..."
Again, free speech was not only curbed in wartime, it was silenced altogether.
So why all this history? I mean I know I did well in AP History and all (Damn you Gillespie, damn you and your red beard!) but what does this have to do with now?
The answer is EVERYTHING. If there is one thing I did learn from Redbeard its that history repeats itself in more ways than we often notice outright. In the US we have this history of Sedition, then repression of it. Fear of speaking out, of dissent, of those who don't agree. The whole concept of free speech is difficult--the first Amendment does not just protect those with whom you agree, but those with whom you would spend the rest of your life fighting against. It is for both the pro-choice and the pro-life movements, the gay rights and anti-gay marriage activists, the Christians, the Muslims, the Jews, the Pagans, the Hale Bopp freaks.
Today I was reading Newsweek, where they divulged this information on the CIA's secret 747 that they are using to fly people, w/o due process, to other countries to be held and questioned, without any knowledge of what they are being held for, how long they will be held, or how to contact their families. It could be months of captivity. (article) There are no judges, not juries, no representatives, nothing. The CIA has the power, thanks to that lovely Patriot Act (which makes my blood pressure skyrocket, and is another issue entirely). So what? You say. I'm not a terrorist, I have nothing to worry about. When your government starts snatching people without giving a reason, a warrant, or a trial by jury, you have everything to worry about. Ever read the poem "First They Came For the Jews" about the Holocaust? Eventually, it does become about you. It always comes around.
We must question--it is our duty, our right, or obligation--we must question to keep our government honest. Sedition formed this country, and sedition just may save it. "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it." -Mark Twain
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
113 Candles
I'm becoming more and more of a book nerd, as evidenced by my previous posts, in which I got way too excited about seeing a favorite author on a poster and a favorite book in a show. The nerdiness I repressed for years is coming back in full force. Tonight I made a list of books I want to read (not like "Want to read because I should, so as to make me a more well-rounded individual" but "Ooh! That book sounds great! I want to read that!") and good lord it's a long list. Lately I've only been reading non-fiction, which just adds to my nerdy stigma. As I stock up my list, does anyone have any book suggestions? I'm open for ideas.
Books on Lust List:
Queen of Bohemia: The Life of Louise Bryant, by Mary Dearburn
The Virgin of Bennington by Kathleen Norris
Take the Cannoli: Stories From the New World, by Sarah Vowell
Barrel Fever by Dave Sedaris
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood by Koren Zailckas
Gathering Moss by Robin Kimmerer (yeah, that's the ESF prof on NYT list!)
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Searching for God Knows What by Don Miller
A Song to Sing, a Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice by Don and Emily Sailers
(this book is also interesting b/c it is written by the father/daughter duo of Prof. Sailers, a Methodist Minister and prominant professor at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and Emily Sailers, half of the Indigo Girls. They are doing a week-long seminar at the National Cathedral College in May but it costs too much for me to go. It's an amazing topic regardless of who teaches it)
And there's a bunch more but I'm just embarassing myself now.
Also, February 22 is Edna St.Vincent Millay's birthday. Happy 113th Edna, if you hadn't died in 1950, this would have been quite an event. Go you.
Books on Lust List:
Queen of Bohemia: The Life of Louise Bryant, by Mary Dearburn
The Virgin of Bennington by Kathleen Norris
Take the Cannoli: Stories From the New World, by Sarah Vowell
Barrel Fever by Dave Sedaris
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood by Koren Zailckas
Gathering Moss by Robin Kimmerer (yeah, that's the ESF prof on NYT list!)
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Searching for God Knows What by Don Miller
A Song to Sing, a Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice by Don and Emily Sailers
(this book is also interesting b/c it is written by the father/daughter duo of Prof. Sailers, a Methodist Minister and prominant professor at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, and Emily Sailers, half of the Indigo Girls. They are doing a week-long seminar at the National Cathedral College in May but it costs too much for me to go. It's an amazing topic regardless of who teaches it)
And there's a bunch more but I'm just embarassing myself now.
Also, February 22 is Edna St.Vincent Millay's birthday. Happy 113th Edna, if you hadn't died in 1950, this would have been quite an event. Go you.
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