You Can Torment the Bear as Long as You Stay in Your Own House....

So the Russian proverb goes. This is evident in what is happening with Russia, Georgia, and perhaps Poland will be next if I am to believe the articles in the news that I've seen today. It's ridiculous of course that Russia would go after Poland, but apparently Russia has threatened to do this. I am sure there are a number of reasons for this, but I don't care to give an opinion on the subject, other than to say it would be ridiculous to go after Poland.

Russians have lived by this proverb for centuries at the very least, and I have lived by it in my own life as well. It's because I love this saying, I think it is great. I think it is also very true, if you think about bears and the nature of them. Consequently this can be said of bears as well, they can torment things as long as they stay in their own house.

Political Change?

What does this ad tells us about the current campaign? My dear friend at The Valley said to me a while back he was afraid that we would have a Dole vs Clinton rematch this election. Another wise man in my life said no, this is Dole vs Kennedy. All I can say, is it is Dole vs someone, anyone and this is a strange election on a number of levels.

First of all, studies have shown over and over again that the American public, and specifically the segment of the population that votes, doesn't like negative ads. People of course still run them, because they like to use out of date strategies etc. They also don't know how to run a non-negative campaign and I commend Obama for the way he has conducted his campaign thus far, and for the way he has dealt with this ad, asking if this is the best McCain can do etc. I think this is the better approach and in the end it will bring him more credibility and probably more votes with the public.

This is also a strange campaign because I can't really remember a time in history when people were comparing people to celebrities in the manner that is being done during this current campaign. Aside from the "Gumby guy" from Mass. phenomenon: Dukakis, Kerry, Romney, etc. that is always kind of a strange thing, doesn't that state have non-gumby characters?

Being an internationalist I never really give in depth commentary on elections in the US, but in the absence of my darling I need to make a commentary that he'd be proud of.

This campaign seems to be running the gambit when it comes to new/change and also when it comes to the same old shit different day, and everything in between. For example this McCain ad is both same shit different day, and new. I can't remember the last time these two celebrities were used in an ad can you?

Also, the internet is much more involved in this election than in previous campaigns. Obama has the advantage on this end compared to any of the other candidates. Hopefully, his campaign won't be hurt by the Edwards fiasco. What a waste of time and energy that is.

This campaign is always coming up with ways to make my stomach turn, and I am a political scientist.

Responsibility

It seems in this day and age there is a lack of responsibility, both personal and societal. I find this to be a disturbing trend and I don't know what to do about the situation. I can't really control societal trends, I can only control what I do, but I am heartened by the fact that my beloved one recognizes he needs to take responsibility for some of the situations in his life right now. It gives me hope for the future of humanity that at least one individual sees these things.

I am disheartened by the activities of former communities of mine. I went to a meeting at a place I left last year and I realized how much these people are on crack etc. It just blew my mind how irresponsible they were behaving and how bad the planning is there. Thankfully I no longer need to trouble myself with these events. I am heartened that my attempt to take responsibility at this meeting was recognized by a woman who is not far from death's door.

I am also disheartened by the idea that people are still trying to run my life. How long must I endure this? How long must I sing the same songs of people trying to run my life etc? I am trying not to be pissed off about the situation, but it really makes me crazy that no one wants to take responsibility for what they did, but they want to run my life still.

I think the attitude is that I am the idiot child incapable of responsibility because then it makes them feel powerful etc. My life however, just like yours is not for anyone to power play with. It is just very sad that people can't just live in peace with each other.

Mourning

What a mess! Israel tries to do the right thing in a prisoner exchange, hoping to get back live soldiers, and ends up getting back 2 dead bodies on the day we celebrate one of the Chabad Rebbes (what is the plural for this word?) getting released from jail. What a bittersweet moment that must have been. Especially to find that one of the prisoners exchanged is a cold blooded murderer of children even in this horrible conflict.

I wish I could say something comforting about this situation, but there isn't anything comforting to say. This is a terrible tragedy for the families of these soldiers, for the state of Israel as a whole, and for the world wide community of my people everywhere. We can all feel these events in our bones. What happens to one member of the body is felt elsewhere in the body, this is true of us as a people as well.

My tribute to these soldiers is to include some videos that I hope you will watch, and I hope will bring some healing. I am sure that this battle isn't over, nor is the war.








You'll have to look for the English version of this last song, I couldn't find it this morning, but I have previous found it. Ani Yachol means "I can" and the lyrics to this song are really fitting for a soldier, it talks about being able to do all kinds of things. I hope you enjoy the videos, and never forget.

Atonement

Wow, has it really been almost a month since my last post? It feels like it was just yesterday. Anyway, this is a personal post because I am frustrated about a lot of things in my personal life right now and I don't want to spend time thinking about other things.

A fundamental concept in religion is atonement, although I think the Jews do this best. Christians tend to say that atonement isn't relevant because Jesus died for their sins. Jews at least work for this, and I'm not quite sure what the Muslim perspective is on the topic, or that of any other religion for that matter. What I can tell you is that this seems to be a concept that is misunderstood.

The concept requires a recognition of a mistake made, followed by an idea of how to make it right and a request that the other person both forgive and also accept the gesture. This requires a lot of effort both for the atonee and the atoner, and yes atonee is a new word I just made up. The process of atonement needs to start with the person that made the mistake in the first place though, and people need to respect each other during the process.

I am finding myself frustrated by a lack of atonement in my life. I have been painted with the Lilith brush and expected to own the mistakes of others and atone for the mistakes of others, but others don't seem to understand the impact that they have on my life. In fact they don't even see my life all they see is their own reality. I find this to be a very sad process within my life. It is death affirming, whereas atonement can be life affirming and is life affirming, to withhold it and then blame the person who has been wronged seems to me a huge mistake and very death gripping.

I prefer to be surrounded by life affirming influences and so I have decided to sever all ties with the death crew. This is also a death affirming decision on some level, although over all it is life affirming.

So, I have decided as my "atonement" for all the wrongs that have been committed against me, but supposedly are my fault that I'd like to start my own company. Now I am just trying to figure out how to make that work and what kind of company I'd like to create, for example product or service and industry etc.

What is Wrong with this Picture?

I'm watching CNN and like 10 minutes ago they had a story about who would be a better first Lady, Cindy McCain or Michelle Obama? I can't help but ask WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY? We're electing a president not a first lady. I don't really care that much about the first lady, it's the president I am concerned with. I understand the first lady is a counselor etc for the president, but I am more concerned about the decisions a president would make not some sort of stupid who'd be better at being first lady. Who really cares? Since when does this need to be a contest between the spouses? No one interestingly enough asked who'd be better Michelle Obama or Bill Clinton did they? Bill Clinton would look pretty bad in a dress and high heels!

Why Obama Should Get the Nomination

I'm sitting in my favorite coffee shop and I've been busy with some other stuff. I started thinking that I should maybe address this topic. Clinton is a qualified candidate, and it's not that I think she's incompetent. She's not incompetent, but the country isn't ready for her yet. Black men have always gotten things before women, the right to vote etc. Why should the presidency be any different. Furthermore, Obama is younger than Clinton and McCain both. I'm of the opinion that the country will elect a Democrat this year, even if I think we should elect someone that isn't tied to a chimpanzee party. Obama would be the best qualified person to elect. This is because he's younger so he has fresh ideas and blood, he has some experience, but let's face it no one has experience as president during their first term anyway so the whole experience card is a joke. I also think that Obama is much more likable than Clinton or McCain. This is a factor in electing a president even if people don't want to acknowledge this idea. It is difficult to vote for som I theone one doesn't like. Young people like Obama, and he's very inspirational to a lot of people. He makes people believe in themselves again and in the country, often times I've thought he sounds a lot like Kennedy. I hope he won't end up being shot like Kennedy, especially since he has to deal with Clinton and her reference to the other Kennedy. I think Obama will make a fine president, and who knows I might let some of you out there convince me to vote for him.