Bella Italia

Enough of politics for at least one post. I was just looking at photos I took in Italy in June and thought I would post some of my odd favorites. They aren't the usual travel photos, but to me they evoke my Italy. The one titled Greco Roman smile was taken in the museum at Paestum which is south of Naples. Very few Americans go there. It has the most beautiful and most well preserved Greek temples in Europe. I actually enjoyed visiting them more than the Parthenon (that isn't to say one should not see the Parthenon at least once in their lifetime). There are two photos from the Amalfi Coast. The kisses (baci) and hugs (abbracci) photo was taken in a restaurant overlooking the coast. I thought the words and the back of the chair were romantic, so I clicked. La Dolce Vita was taken when we stopped for lemonade on our drive up the coast. Valentino's Last Collection was a serendipitous shot and I love it. We stumbled on the museum which is really a glass structure built over a temple. When we went in this photo shoot was going on. I wasn't sure if it was ok to take a picture, so I quickly framed it up and clicked. The red dresses were knocking me (I LOVE red) and I thought I recognized them, but didn't try to talk to anyone, they were working after all. A few months later there was a story in the NYT Sunday magazine about Valentino retiring and one of the photos used was from that shoot. I did feel a little stupid for not recognizing his work and wished I had gawked at those dresses more than I did. Valentino will be missed. His designs are the epitome of Italian elegance. No one will ever take his place. Maybe I will post more on Italy later, but for now, basta...

McCain and torture

At dinner last night with a couple of friends the conversation turned to Senator McCain and his quest for the presidency. They were both surprised when I said that Senator McCain said waterboarding is torture or more specifically,
“Anyone who knows what waterboarding is could not be unsure. It is a horrible torture technique used by Pol Pot and being used on Buddhist monks as we speak,” said McCain after a campaign stop at Dordt College here.
“People who have worn the uniform and had the experience know that this is a terrible and odious practice and should never be condoned in the U.S. We are a better nation than that.” (see http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/26/mccain-mukasey-torture/) But, and it is a BIG BUT, when faced with a bill that would end the practice of waterboarding, what did he do? He voted AGAINST it. He rationalized his vote, blah, blah, blah, but the bottom line is, from my perspective, he isn't really a man of principle. He is brilliant though. He knows that even though the Emperor has no clothes, the media won't keep pointing that out. He gets to have his cake and eat it too. (see http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/mccain_votes_against_ban_on_wa.html)
If you read the Chicago Tribune site, you will see that Clinton and Obama don't come off much better...they were on the road and didn't vote....

Texas v. the Prez, a life and death issue

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Texas can execute a Mexican murderer being held on its death row. The case pitted President Bush against his home state in a dispute over federal authority, local sovereignty and foreign treaties...Medellin's lawyers argue he was not informed upon his arrest of his right to contact Mexican consular officials. Those officials were never able to meet with him until after his conviction. ###

So, the issue was who's law should the court use. Apparently what Texas did was in violation of a U.S. treaty, according to an international court. The Supremes said that wasn't domestic law and sided with Texas. I wish I had time to delve into this subject more. It is fascinating and no matter what choice you make can lead to unintended consequences. When I saw the story on CNN I immediately thought of the waterboarding issue which I just can't get out of my head. It really is the Golden Rule (no, not the one that says, "he who has the gold rules"). Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If an American citizen was held in another country would we want that government to subject them to waterboarding (aka torture) or to sentence them to death without being able to seek counsel from the U.S. upon arrest? I think not. Imagine your child in the military being subjected to waterboarding (Geneva Conventions?? To heck with them says Congress, Bush, Cheney, Mukasey, the lot) or being sentenced to death by a court that didn't follow our rules (say in Iran). Not a pretty picture. The whole reason for international agreements like the ones in question is to make a level playing field, to set rules for everyone. We are not an island unto ourselves and the sooner we understand that the better we will all be. I pray for this in my lifetime.

The Shell Game

I realize that a couple of months have gone by since I last posted. Why? Well, life does go on outside the blogosphere (is that the word? is that a word?). World events and the presidential campaign certainly keep us on our collective toes. There is no lack of things to go on a tear about several times a day. My main concern is still why the media continues to play the shell game with all of us. What's under the shells? Walnut shell one: Iraq/the Economy/Healthcare Walnut shell two: Spears/Lohan/Hilton (just pick one) Walnut two: anything that has to do with politicians and sex. Now, just when you thought you had your eye on shell one, ah ha, nope, you are being fed stories about the latest idiota who is prancing around under the influence with no underwear or reading about how a politician got caught in a compromising position with someone not their official significant other. Suckers! Why are we suckers? Because we don't demand that the media keep their eyes on Walnut one. We just keep falling over and over again for Walnuts two and three. The Emperor from Texas has no clothes (this has nothing to do with sex) and the media just keeps us distracted with Walnuts two and three.

I don't see any way to change this and it is more than disheartening. More later...