Quiz time!

Just a few things I've been thinking about, so enjoy...

1.  If there is controversy over the Park 51 Cultural Center (erroneously also known as a Ground Zero Mosque, though it is neither a mosque nor at the exact 9/11 site) being built because those who attacked the United States were Muslims, does that mean that we can't build any churches in Oklahoma City because Timothy McVeigh was a Christian?

Along those lines of logic, since most of the terrorist acts that have occurred in the US are domestic ones done by Christians (since Christians make up over 70% of our country), there would be very few places it would be okay for us to build churches.

2.  How is it that the same people who were criticizing President Obama for things his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, said, are now saying he is a Muslim?  What exactly do they think he is?

3.  How is it that many of the folks who preach about the "sanctity of marriage" have also cheated on their spouses?  Sanctity of marriage my oversized butt.

4.  How is it that there are folks who are both pro-life and pro-war?  If your preferences lean toward either, please pick one and stick to it.  And deal with the consequences yourself.

5.  Has the Catholic Church forgotten that clergy are all considered mandated reporters?  Or what that even means?  Do they need a refresher?  Or maybe a monitoring visit!  That might help them remember.

6.  Has anyone actually seen a welfare recipient drive a Cadillac?  That is, in real life?

20,000 Hearts

First we lived in India- in winter it rains there every day
We were younger then, we were children in India
There were signs and people we didn't understand,
You said, "hold my hand," and I held your hand

There is one of me, and one of you
and two of us with one hundred questions
and two thousand reasons, but ten's a perfect number
We are twenty thousand hearts full of hunger
Twenty thousand hearts

Then we're dancing in Geneva- it's New Year's Eve
and all the Americans were there
They said "it's still last year in New York City"
You said, "New York where?"
I said, "New York City- it's three thousand miles away"
You said, "what's a mile?" I said, "It's far away"

There is one of me, and one of you
and two of us with one hundred questions
and two thousand reasons, but ten's a perfect number
We are twenty thousand hearts full of hunger
Twenty thousand hearts

Now you ask me to explain myself
and I tell you I need distance
You say, "To hell with distance, remember who
you're talking to"
I say, "Closeness is too much for me,"
and dismiss you with a smile
You say, "Wish away the closeness
and imagine it's a mile"

There is one of me, and one of you
and two of us with one hundred questions
and two thousand reasons, but ten's a perfect number
We are twenty thousand hearts full of hunger
Twenty thousand hearts

--By Robbie Schaeffer

What's a master to do?

Well, I thought my sense of guilt over not writing any papers (since I've graduated!) would dissipate with time.  I have been busily filling my time with concerts, fairs, festivals, family, and friends like any good graduate would do.  The sense of guilt began to dissipate, somewhat, but it would still flare now and then.  I'd be reading one of my novels, and I'd suddenly think in the middle of a sentence, "I should really be revising my thesis."  Then I remembered that the thesis has been done for two months and does not need to be revised any more.  I got a note from my committee chair thanking me for the gift I sent her, and I have to remind myself that I'm not going to be seeing her every week this fall.  Of course, as I live less than an hour away from my school, I can see her whenever I want, but now it's going to be because I want to.  When I walk home after going dancing, I think, "Okay, now I'm going to work on my paper" before I realize that I don't have any papers to do.

But overall, very slowly, the guilt began to dissipate somewhat.  I thought I'd be done with it soon enough. 

But now it's back in full force!  I see those ads EVERYWHERE advertising back to school!  I have even participated in the back to school sales (hey, a girl can never have too many glitter gel pens).  I see the schools in the area with messages on their signs for the new students.  I even overlook a church and parish school from my home, and I see its sign welcoming the students back.  My colleagues who have kids talk about college searches, getting the kids back on schedule, and being organized...

And then it hits me like a ton of bricks!  I AM FINISHED AND NOT GOING BACK! 

I don't know what to think about that.  I mean, part of me is thrilled that I can read whatever I want (hello Forsyte Saga) and do what I like (another cross country train trip!), whenever I want it.  But...part of me is really thinking that something got left behind in the process.  I won't miss living a laser-focused life on my thesis, but I will definitely miss my professors and classmates.  Though I have a very smart workplace (and they're currently taking bets on what degree I'll get next) and love being there, I feel like I'll miss the steady exchange of ideas and the feedback on those ideas.  I'll miss the guided course of study.  And I will miss the archives!  I developed an iron butt from sitting in the archives for hours last summer!

In short, I'm gonna miss school!  What am I going to do?  I've been living such a jam-packed life that I still feel like I have to attend my classes and work on my thesis.  It is like a phantom limb, only with activities!  What am I going to do?  I can't see it getting any better!  When school starts back up again, I'll probably feel weird that I'm not going.  When I go to events at my school, I can't say I'm a master's candidate because I have a master's degree now.  Hell, when it's Christmas time, my little cousin and my sister will have loads of college stories and for the first time in years, I will not!

Why can't this guilt leave me alone!?  Why can't it let me enjoy my life as a master of arts?  Or do I need a PhD?  But if I go for the PhD, it will one day have to be finished as well.  When it's done, THEN WHAT?

What's a master of arts to do?

Diamonds and Rust

Diamonds and Rust

Well I'll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you happened to call

And here I sit, hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
Heading straight for a fall

As I remember your eyes
Were bluer than robin's eggs
"My poetry was lousy", you said
Where are you calling from?
A booth in the Midwest

Thirty years ago
I bought you some cuff links
You brought me something
And we both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust

You burst on the scene
Already a legend
The unwashed phenomenon
The original vagabond
You strayed into my arms

And there you stayed
Temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free
Yes the girl on the half-shell
Would keep you unharmed

Now I see you standing
With brown leaves falling around
An' snow in your hair
Now you're smiling out the window
Of that crummy hotel over Washington Square

Our breath comes out white clouds
Mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me
We both could have died then and there

Now you're telling me
You're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You, who are so good with words
And at keeping things vague

'Cause I need some of that vagueness now

It's all come back too clearly
I once loved you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust
Well, I'll take the diamonds

Performed by the inspiring Joan Baez.  Saw her live this year with the talented Indigo Girls (yes, they came to the north burbs!  My wish came true!!!!!!!), and their three-part harmony encore was a national treasure.

Steel and silk

I don't want to be the girl you can call your Mrs
I'm always myself, whether I'm with you or not
And when you're with me, you never will settle
You know I would give you the best that I've got

Steel on silk and silk on steel
Is exactly what I want to feel
Steel on silk and silk on steel
Is exactly what I want to feel

I don't want to be the girl you have to protect
I'm the princess that always rescues herself.
You don't need to swoop in saving the day
Cause I'm ready to fight and can do it myself

Listen, I can revel, and I can fight
Don't assume that I need you help
If you dare me to, I'll be going all night
I don't need you to save me, I can do it myself
I can do it myself

I'm steel on silk and silk on steel
It's exactly what I want to feel
Steel on silk and silk on steel
Is exactly what I want to feel

I'm steel on silk and silk on steel
It's exactly what I want to feel
Steel on silk and silk on steel
Is exactly what I want to feel
(C) Revel With a Cause Productions

No more good wives

Is anyone else totally confounded by the fact that Elliot Spitzer and Anthony Weiner are considered viable candidates for office in the same age that women are still fighting for basic rights?  While I don't live in New York and can't vote for the mayor in their upcoming election (though of all the candidates, my views probably align the closest with Christine Quinn's), I'm pretty skeeved by Mr. Weiner's total narcissism and lack of regard for consent.  We don't need leaders who see consent as irrelevant.

While I don't know what goes on in his relationship, it kind of pains me to see Huma Mahmood Abedin, his wife, dutifully standing by his side.  I know it's probably part of the typical politician script if you're caught messing up--to show that your spouse has forgiven you.  But it makes me wonder what would happen if the genders were reversed.  Would an Elena Spitzer have her husband by her side?  Or if it was a same-sex couple, would Annette Weiner still be the comeback kid?  I don't know, since both of these candidates are not ladies, but something tells me not.  We'd probably be hearing all kinds of sexist rhetoric, like "slut" and "whore" thrown in their direction.

Which is why I would just love one example to the contrary.  No more good wives after a political scandal.  I'd love to see a fallen male politician up there--alone.  I'd love to see the wife doing her own thing after the scandal, like running for office herself!  And to recharge her batteries before running for office, since betrayal's a pain, I would recommend she do some self care like actually hiking Appalachian trail, blasting cheesy breakup songs on her morning commute loud enough to cause a noise violation, or flying off to Shanghai for a week (oooooh--dream trip!).  Make the dude pay for it as part of his penance.

In short, I'd find it totally refreshing for these political ladies to show anger.  I know, I know, anger is not exactly something that's encouraged in women.  But why not show a high-profile example of it?  A profound betrayal can engender some profound responses, after all. 

Or maybe what we need is more female political leaders.  And fast.

Contract for Revelry

So, dear readers, here is my pledge to you should I ever get elected to office.  I solemnly swear to uphold it.  Every word!  Though the chance of me getting elected to anything would be if only one person in the US voted--myself.

I pledge to always remember that freedom of religion applies to everybody.  Our religious diversity in this country is a gift!  And I pledge to remember that as much as I believe in my own religion, my fellow Americans believe in theirs just as much and that I will respect that.

I pledge never to be a hypocrite or a member of the Religious Right.  Oh wait...

I pledge to remember that there are 7 billion people in this world and that 300 million of them live in the US.  And of all those, we all deserve to be treated fairly.

I pledge not to start two wars and then wonder how the deficit got so big.  Sort of like how I never wonder how I end up completely energetic at 3 AM after my 8+ cups of coffee per day.

I will not pledge to battle childhood obesity and then slash funds to the supplemental nutrition (food stamps) or WIC program.  If you're going to end childhood obesity, then make sure there's nutritious food that all the kids and families can afford.

I pledge to do my damnedest to get the US to stop hating on China.  Really, are we that easily threatened?  So not cool!  I will expedite the process if China gives me a 100% lifetime discount at the cloisonne factory!

I pledge to raise the tax on cigarettes to $100...per cigarette.

If I make any laws about immigration, I will actually make them fix immigration as opposed to making it sound like I am some horrible racist who doesn't want Latinos living next door to me.

I pledge that I will not spout off lines about the sanctity of marriage in public and cheat on my spouse in private.

I pledge to actually read the entire Constitution before I pledge to uphold it.  And if I still don't understand it, I will either hire a tutor to help me understand it, or I won't become a politician.

Honestly, if progressive candidates can't win enough votes to stay in office or take back the House in 2014, I'm seriously considering moving to Canada.  It wouldn't be so bad--I like Neil Young, the Cowboy Junkies, and that Ferron lady so I will get to hear them more!  Plus, I live so far north, it shouldn't be that much of an adjustment.