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Maybe it’s spring fever, boredom, or a pre- moving-at-the-end-of-the-month urge to document the Now, but I’ve created a photo-blog, which can be found here. I may post often, or I may not – the first post regards Egyptian trinkets and an unconventional toolbox, so check it out. 
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I’ve learned over the years that there’s no sense in arguing politics. Changing someone’s mind can be a difficult process, fueled by many a senseless debate that can make close friends or even family members distrust each other’s thought processes and world views. This being said, I bother very little with such debates nowadays, and because of that, very rarely talk Politics in any way at all. However, I’ve got to say one thing: I am really tired of hearing the same old shit.
I’ll back up a little bit, and say that I’m still super-supportive of President Obama and his lovely family in general. Thanks to my father (whose discerning sense of political activism, philosophy, and rightful paranoia has been passed down to me) taking me along on Nov. 4, 2008, I was able to hear and see the man in person, my commentary on which can be found here. Over all, I’m a pretty big fan, and would go so far as to say I’ve got a bit of a girl-crush on Michelle – but that’s neither here nor there. I realise I’m losing a bit of steam in regards to getting to the point, but honestly, when it comes down to it, I guess I’m just a little bit sad.
What someone looks like has nothing to do with their politics, so that’s Michelle’s arms out of the equation. Good, got that settled. It’s the way Obama deals with America in general that appeals to me. The man has good ideas, can express them well, and is unafraid to roll with the punches. So why in the HELL are we still talking about Al-Qaida and nuclear weaponry?
A Yahoo! article today fed me this little gem:
“The single biggest threat to U.S. security, both short-term, medium-term and long-term, would be the possibility of a terrorist organization obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Obama said. “This is something that could change the security landscape in this country and around the world for years to come.”
“If there was ever a detonation in New York City, or London, or Johannesburg, the ramifications economically, politically and from a security perspective would be devastating,” the president said.
“We know that organizations like al-Qaida are in the process of trying to secure nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, and would have no compunction at using them,” Obama said.
One – you just said the same thing three times, without even bothering to say it in extremely different ways. In essence, dude – you need better writers.
Two, and this is where my original beef comes in – don’t you think we KNOW the damage it could cause? Isn’t that why good ole’ Dubya sent a bunch of young American men over there to die in the first place? We know what’s at risk, what could happen ‘if’ they got their hands on such weapons. Rehashing the ‘if’ over and over again is a silly scare tactic, reminding us too much of the first eight years of the 21st century. If you’re gonna sell us the same old lines that Bush did, how are you any different?
The President cannot do it all. Oftentimes he has wonderful plans that a larger body (Senate or Congress) can get rid of in a second. What remains to him then is to be our voice – in interactions with other countries, and a voice used to rally the American people towards lifestyles of substance, intelligence and doing good for others. If you’re focusing energy on scaring us, you’ll do no better at making this a better country than did your predecessor, and Michael Moore will be all over you – and frankly, although I loved Stupid White Men, we don’t really need to give that guy more fuel.
Three – I understand that America and its ways are at risk. That’s what we’ve been told often enough, anyway. A country without fear of losing a war, would never consign its sons to said war. The fear is as strong in American blood as the Force is in Obi Wan-Kenobi’s. But think on this for a minute: if we weren’t so damned twitchy and focused all the time on what could be happening on foreign soil, wouldn’t we then have the time and focus to make America more beautiful, more bounteous, and generally a nicer place to live? We have only one life, and if we’re living it in fear, we’re fools who’ll never get anything done because, well, why build something great if we’re afraid someone’s just gonna come along and blow it up?
Sigh.
In order to conclude this before I really get fired up, I just have to say to President Obama, you’re doing a great job. You’re in the hot seat of all hot seats, and I do not envy your daily To-Do list. But please, if you wish to be the inspirational face of hope and change, stop giving Al-Qaida shit-tons of unpaid publicity; focus less on the harsh, nerve-wracking maybe’s of Tomorrow, and do right by your country. You’re the President of the United States of America; thus, America is your first concern. Military battles and wars without end are not, or should not be, all this country has going for it. We have you, and a lot of us are looking forward to some truly great things on your part. We know you’re plenty capable, so don’t lose heart. Just please keep in mind that old news is not news at all, and any scare tactics could easily be viewed by conspiracy theorists as distractions from goddess-knows-what-else is going on up there on the Hill. Keep us posted, but only when there’s actually something relevant to say that’s not going to send all the crazies for their guns – or worse, the crazies’ children for theirs.
And if you find you do require some new writers, consider me a most willing and happy volunteer.
With, truly, ALL due respect,
Nadia L. Trousdale
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Since my birthday on March 30th, I have happily begun my twenty-third year on planet Earth. In this life, anyway – I think by now I’ve seen Victorian England, maybe something of Egypt (not necessarily Ancient), and I’m sure I once knew New Orleans far better than I do now, but that’s a rambling rant for another day.
My birthday was exactly as I wished it to be: peaceful and relaxing, full of great teas and cool new pens and good books and happy kitties and great times all around. I had to work the morning, and all my tables were spectacularly sweet. I couldn’t help but remember Rebecca, a close friend who took her life in 2004 and with whom I shared a birthday. I also kept The Who in mind, hoping that Pete’s ears clear up and that their Quadrophenia show in London that night would not be their last. I’m not sure how I’d handle not seeing them at least one more time. (If anyone reading this is a new friend and not entirely clear on my lifelong addiction to Roger Daltrey, don’t worry – the next book will feature a sonnet that sums it all up quite well.)
Ah, the next book. It’s coming, slowly but surely. I have edited all but the last third of the poems, which I’m considering leaving on the cutting room floor…I don’t know. The only real criticism I’ve heard so far for the first book was that it was too short. I’d hate to disappoint people on that again, but I’d also hate to pull out a bunch of crap I wrote years ago simply to fill the space.
So it goes.
I’m off to meet min lillebror for a belated birthday lunch – perhaps I’ll write more later, once the coffee’s fully integrated into my system. Ciao for now!