'The world is like a ride in an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. The ride goes up and down, around and around, it has thrills and chills, and it's very brightly colored, and it's very loud, and it's fun for a while. Many people have been on the ride a long time, and they begin to wonder, "Hey, is this real, or is this just a ride?" And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and say, "Hey, don't worry; don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride." And we … kill those people. "Shut him up! I've got a lot invested in this ride, shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry, look at my big bank account, and my family. Thishas to be real." It's just a ride. But we always kill the good guys who try and tell us that, you ever notice that? And let the demons run amok … But it doesn't matter, because it's just a ride. And we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings of money. Just a simple choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love instead see all of us as one. Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defenses each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace.' - Bill Hicks
It's a bit lengthy, but it's a very valuable and relevant message. I think it's something we should all be aware of and be inspired by.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Egypt (choice blog)
I've been following the unfolding events in Egypt very closely. I read about the demonstrations, marches, protests, speeches, skirmishes, etc. I have to say that it really makes me proud of mankind. The amount and variety of people participating, and the way in which they're going about it, it's all so tasteful and just. Peaceful protesting is the only way to bring about lasting change. The fact that there are people from all walks of life is just astounding. There are businessmen in suits, there are poor dressed in rags, there are women and children, Muslims and Christians, all rallying together to stand up for basic human rights. It's not about religion or business practices, or some stupid political argument, it's about humans getting the rights that humans deserve. That includes everybody.
It's so unfortunate that most Western nations are so skeptical and tight-lipped about it. Sure, Obama finally said that Mubarak needs to listen to the people, but he never actually said he needs to leave office. The main reason the West is so cautious about this revolution is because it wasn't orchestrated by them. They might even be a bit jealous.
Take a look back to April 2003, shortly after the US invasion of Iraq. Whenever US troops tore down that statue of Saddam in front of a crowd of 100 or so people in Firdos square, they publicized the hell out of it. They went running around the globe with this video footage in hand, saying "Look what we did, look at how democracy is winning the battle against despotism." Now, after more than 1,000,000 people marched together through the streets of Cairo, peacefully demanding the immediate resignation of their President, Western nations are still hesitant to support democracy, to support freedom.
The Iraq war was not about democracy or freedom. If it really were, the US would be wholeheartedly supporting the Egyptian people in their struggle against tyranny. Instead, they're worried that whoever the Egyptian people choose as their new leader/government won't completely subscribe to US and Israeli strategies in exchange for a few diplomatic benefits. Let's stop being completely hypocritical, America, and let's start doing things for the good of humans, not political elite.
It's so unfortunate that most Western nations are so skeptical and tight-lipped about it. Sure, Obama finally said that Mubarak needs to listen to the people, but he never actually said he needs to leave office. The main reason the West is so cautious about this revolution is because it wasn't orchestrated by them. They might even be a bit jealous.
Take a look back to April 2003, shortly after the US invasion of Iraq. Whenever US troops tore down that statue of Saddam in front of a crowd of 100 or so people in Firdos square, they publicized the hell out of it. They went running around the globe with this video footage in hand, saying "Look what we did, look at how democracy is winning the battle against despotism." Now, after more than 1,000,000 people marched together through the streets of Cairo, peacefully demanding the immediate resignation of their President, Western nations are still hesitant to support democracy, to support freedom.
The Iraq war was not about democracy or freedom. If it really were, the US would be wholeheartedly supporting the Egyptian people in their struggle against tyranny. Instead, they're worried that whoever the Egyptian people choose as their new leader/government won't completely subscribe to US and Israeli strategies in exchange for a few diplomatic benefits. Let's stop being completely hypocritical, America, and let's start doing things for the good of humans, not political elite.
BLOGACIZE
OH YEAH
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post these rules on your blog
3. Tell about your six quirks, see below.
4. Tag three bloggers to do the same
5. Leave them a comment to let them know you’ve tagged them
I'm not sure how to link, so I will just say that it was Dogert and the good folks at Blogadog who tagged me. Also, I apologize for the tardiness of this blog, there is no excuse.
*ahem*
1. I am a very clutter-oriented person. I live with all my things strewn about in no particular order. I know where everything is simply from experience, but to anybody else it looks like chaos. I'm totally fine with this. HOWEVER, I cannot stand any sort of food-related mess. Dirty dishes? No way. Leftovers from dinner? You get that shit in the fridge right now. I will actually opt for eating out not because I'm too lazy to cook or clean up, but because I just don't want to dirty the dishes. Don't even get me started on food left in a fridge for too long.
2. Whenever I'm trying to work on something, be it homework, leisure reading, music, going to sleep at night, or anything else, I cannot have noise. If there's any sort of conversation near me, I can't help it. I will hear every single word of that conversation. I'll even start chiming in in my head. It's terrible. I don't try to, I think my ears just have ADD. Maybe it's a vocational hazard, being a musician and all, but it's very frustrating. Many people like to fall asleep to music. Now while I love music during my waking hours, if I'm trying to go to sleep and anything with any sort of beat starts playing, I'm done for. First I'm aware of the rhythm, then my foot starts tapping, then I'm figuring out the chord progression. It's terrible.
3. I love cats. Is that a legitimate quirk? I'll assume it is. I love all animals really, except snakes and *shudder* spiders. I don't trust anything that's meant to have fewer than two legs or greater than four. But cats are great. They're usually super cuddly and soft, like little pillows with legs. Sphinxes are cool too, but they're not as pillow-esque.
4. I'm terrible at procrastinating. Actually, to be more literal, I'm amazing at it. I procrastinate so much on things that I build momentum. "Eh, that assignment isn't due for another two days, it can wait." Three days later: "Eh, that assignment is only one day late, and I know the teacher accepts late work. Ten days later: "Hmm, that assignment is so late already, should I still do it?" It's a horrible cycle.
5. I love ginger. Ginger brew (ale) is amazing (but only the good stuff like Reed's, not high fructose crap like Schweppes), I can't get enough of it. I also love crystallized ginger. But again, only the good stuff. It has to be firm and spicy. I've had crystallized ginger that was chewy and not spicy at all. It was terrible. Cooking with ginger is also wonderful.
6. I don't like to finish strong.
Since this post is late, I'm going to assume that everybody has done it already. In that case I wouldn't need to tag anybody. However, if there are still people who haven't done it, I'm tagging them. Enjoy!
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post these rules on your blog
3. Tell about your six quirks, see below.
4. Tag three bloggers to do the same
5. Leave them a comment to let them know you’ve tagged them
I'm not sure how to link, so I will just say that it was Dogert and the good folks at Blogadog who tagged me. Also, I apologize for the tardiness of this blog, there is no excuse.
*ahem*
1. I am a very clutter-oriented person. I live with all my things strewn about in no particular order. I know where everything is simply from experience, but to anybody else it looks like chaos. I'm totally fine with this. HOWEVER, I cannot stand any sort of food-related mess. Dirty dishes? No way. Leftovers from dinner? You get that shit in the fridge right now. I will actually opt for eating out not because I'm too lazy to cook or clean up, but because I just don't want to dirty the dishes. Don't even get me started on food left in a fridge for too long.
2. Whenever I'm trying to work on something, be it homework, leisure reading, music, going to sleep at night, or anything else, I cannot have noise. If there's any sort of conversation near me, I can't help it. I will hear every single word of that conversation. I'll even start chiming in in my head. It's terrible. I don't try to, I think my ears just have ADD. Maybe it's a vocational hazard, being a musician and all, but it's very frustrating. Many people like to fall asleep to music. Now while I love music during my waking hours, if I'm trying to go to sleep and anything with any sort of beat starts playing, I'm done for. First I'm aware of the rhythm, then my foot starts tapping, then I'm figuring out the chord progression. It's terrible.
3. I love cats. Is that a legitimate quirk? I'll assume it is. I love all animals really, except snakes and *shudder* spiders. I don't trust anything that's meant to have fewer than two legs or greater than four. But cats are great. They're usually super cuddly and soft, like little pillows with legs. Sphinxes are cool too, but they're not as pillow-esque.
4. I'm terrible at procrastinating. Actually, to be more literal, I'm amazing at it. I procrastinate so much on things that I build momentum. "Eh, that assignment isn't due for another two days, it can wait." Three days later: "Eh, that assignment is only one day late, and I know the teacher accepts late work. Ten days later: "Hmm, that assignment is so late already, should I still do it?" It's a horrible cycle.
5. I love ginger. Ginger brew (ale) is amazing (but only the good stuff like Reed's, not high fructose crap like Schweppes), I can't get enough of it. I also love crystallized ginger. But again, only the good stuff. It has to be firm and spicy. I've had crystallized ginger that was chewy and not spicy at all. It was terrible. Cooking with ginger is also wonderful.
6. I don't like to finish strong.
Since this post is late, I'm going to assume that everybody has done it already. In that case I wouldn't need to tag anybody. However, if there are still people who haven't done it, I'm tagging them. Enjoy!
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