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...

The choice I didn't want to make...

Edwards is out. Now what to do? I hadn't realized how much I was hoping he would catch fire. When I heard he was no longer in the race I started to cry and was very much surprised by my response. Now I have to make the decision I didn't want to face. I have Clinton fatigue, but want to see a woman. (My 95, almost 96, year old grandmother is a Hillary supporter big time.) On the other hand, I believe by electing Obama we would show a new face to the rest of the world and purge ourselves of the very ugly past. My problem is that, as I think I have said before, Obama doesn't have the gravitas I believe is necessary today. Hillary Clinton is battle hardened. She knows the ropes. I may as well be electing my state Senator President of the United States if I elect Obama. He is a fabulous speaker, no doubt, but is that enough? It is no wonder that young people are inspired by him, including my own sons. I'm not convinced that is enough.
I have read that endorsements don't really mean anything. Why do we make a big thing about them? The news was full of the Kennedy's endorsing Obama. Caroline Kennedy, the Princess of the family, with Obama. Then the old lion, Teddy Kennedy proclaiming Obama the Kennedy torch bearer. Heady stuff for Senator Obama, but so what? I don't doubt Caroline Kennedy's sincerity, but why is her opinion any more important than any one else's? The cynical side of me says that Senator Kennedy has never gotten along with the Clintons and this is payback time.

In my memory it was President Lyndon Johnson who was the champion of civil rights. The civil rights laws owe more to him than any Kennedy. I'm not bashing the Kennedys. My heart was broken when Bobby was murdered and I long to be able to go back and change history; however, I can't.

For better or for worse President Johnson was my president. I remember him defeating Goldwater. It was a wonderful night. Unfortunately Viet Nam destroyed his presidency, as well as thousands of young men of my generation. LBJ's legacy should have been what he did for civil rights; however, he inherited JFK's Viet Nam and paid the price. I will always remember LBJ's Great Society and I mourn the attack of his achievements by the Republicans of today.

So now what to do? Who can inspire our country and bring back the Great Society?

This and that...

Living in New England we are right in the thick of primary madness. This is the first time I have EVER not known who I will vote for in the presidential primary. My 95 year old grandmother is a great Hillary supporter. An 82 year old gentleman I know also supports Hillary because "we will get two for the price of one." Bill Clinton certainly looms large. I have already said that I have Clinton fatigue, but I keep asking myself who has the most experience? Clinton or Obama? Obama is a wonderful speaker. He appeals to the idealists (the young). This is a good thing, no doubt, but he doesn't have the gravitas I want. There have been some rookie mistakes that worry me too. We must have a change, I know that. If only I had a working crystal ball. The fact is that no Democrat will ever be as bad as what we have now. How frustrating to feel helpless.

Today I heard an interview with Peter Galbraith who advised that we go to war with Iraq partially because of the genocide Saddam Hussein was perpetrating. Guess what? Mr. Galbraith now says it was a terrible mistake because of the poor planning on the part of the military (Bush administration) and we are now in an endless war. Gee. Who could have guessed this would happen. I think Mr. G's new book is something about the law of unintended consequences. I predicted this mess and I'm not an historian or middle-east scholar. What I can't see is how to get out without leaving things in a worse mess. The crystal ball is indeed cloudy.

Back to the Future II

I thought I was going to write something nice about last night's Boston Pops Christmas concert (it was my first of the season) and I will later, but torture has taken over my mind. CNN is my homepage and there is always a poll of some sort. I know it is not scientific in any way because it appears you can vote as often as you like. But yesterday's caught my attention. Apparently 55% of the respondents think waterboarding/torture is o.k. under some circumstances. Why I should be shocked, I don't know, but I am. I am very, very sad that fear has taken over. The BIG LIE has won out and we as a people apparently now believe it is o.k. (See
What Would Machiavelli Do? The Big Lie Lives On by Thom Hartmann http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0826-02.htm ) Waterboarding is torture. Torture is cruel and does not lead to truthful responses. In case you are pragmatist and aren't against torture because it is harmful to your own humanity, you should be against it because it places our own troops in danger.

Watch this story to see waterboarding...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/11/agent.tapes/index.html

I pray we choose a President who will stop this madness.