Saturday, May 13, 2006
Barack and My New World
I was watching C-span last night, couldn't really sleep after finding out becky was pregnant. I'm thrilled and at the same time terrified, of all the things biological that I can't control, of myself becoming a man (not because of the biological but the changes that I will have to go through) and the thought that if everything goes right and if there are 10 fingers and 10 toes, (or eight for that matter, clubba), a healthy heart, lung and brain, even then I am bringing a child into a world that at this point seems a little dark and foreboding.
I've seen other people do it, so I know it can be done. Fine people raised by parents in far more difficult circumstances than I have, comforted by the blanket of health insurance, a nice home in a nice neighborhood, etc. Nonetheless, waves of calm and stress passed through my body, manifests of all the emotions I have even as I look eight months physically, mentally and emotionally down the road. Little things, like below the sink, as I remember when Jeremy and Julie visited me in Amherst when he was very young and as Julie and I talked in the living room, Jeremy managed to line up every poisonous cleaner I had in one nice straight line on the kitchen floor. Geez, Jer you were in there for five minutes, but at least it's a straight line.
Of course these are the little fears, but there are bigger ones, the fear of a New World order, of an administration out of control, an uncertain future. Shoot, I guess I just think too much sometimes, keep thinking, you gotta while, calm the hell down. It's not all about you and your covenant with the American experience.
As I kind of sat there in a stupor, becky asleep, the sox in rain delay, my laptop tuned to different pregnancy sites, I flipped on to C-span, my second home. Where I saw Barack Obama speaking to EMILY's list. Obama is an amazing rhetorician, with speaking and writing skills that pale mine and is one of the few politicians I think I would pay to see speak. He gave me a little hope, hope that there is a future for us and our children and not all politician are bound by corporations and the commodification of fear.
The following is not the speech that he gave last night but the one that he gave to the Democratic Convention in 2004. Becky and I were outside North Station at a Mass. Dems party at the Bell in Hand, a bar nearby the former Fleet Center, where Obama spoke. I literally shook when I heard this speech, and an actual tear came to my eye, and a rush of pride when he's says a "skinny kid with a funny name" (ok, so I'm not skinny) but to understand the American experience and to think of my own grandparents, it resonated with me. I thought about my grandma Nieves and the way she always looked at me, like I was the future.
So if you've gone this far. Please read the speech. If you are interested in hearing it out loud go to http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2004/barackobama2004dnc.htm .
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
The Preamble
The Angry Middle: The Fight for the Heart of America
There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right with America. William Jefferson Clinton
America is fascinated by and defined by outsiders by its extremes. Whether it be lifestyles of the rich and famous or the cartoonish visions of street crime as depicted in popular music, America’s edges are an anthem of hyperbole. What exists inside these edges is an “Angry Middle”. This middle defines most Americans, the American that goes to work, parents, pays taxes and grows old. There is a feeling that “others” are squeezing the American dream, making his or her days longer, more dangerous, and perhaps most importantly making the future less predictable and potentially darker.
The middle that Americans like to compare themselves to is the generation that returned from the battlefields of World War II. Fresh off beating the Depression and Axis, this “Greatest Generation” came back to educational and economic opportunity. Bound by the faith that they had beaten back the darkness and that hard work and dedication would bring them wealth and an eventual retirement. An opportunity previously reserved only for the wealthy of American generations past.
This page attempts to define a road map of the real policy factors that concern this “Angry Middle”. Those Americans of all races, religions, and creeds who are attempting to define the American Dream for themselves and their families. This America lives outside of the ivory tower of American leftists, the boardrooms of Wall Street, and the foyers of fundamentalist churches. This America lives in the suburbs, cities and farms of the United States and is not restricted by any faith or particular political belief. In fact this middle consists of Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Independents, and more bound only by the belief that what was once it’s birthright has begun to vanish.
There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right with America. William Jefferson Clinton
America is fascinated by and defined by outsiders by its extremes. Whether it be lifestyles of the rich and famous or the cartoonish visions of street crime as depicted in popular music, America’s edges are an anthem of hyperbole. What exists inside these edges is an “Angry Middle”. This middle defines most Americans, the American that goes to work, parents, pays taxes and grows old. There is a feeling that “others” are squeezing the American dream, making his or her days longer, more dangerous, and perhaps most importantly making the future less predictable and potentially darker.
The middle that Americans like to compare themselves to is the generation that returned from the battlefields of World War II. Fresh off beating the Depression and Axis, this “Greatest Generation” came back to educational and economic opportunity. Bound by the faith that they had beaten back the darkness and that hard work and dedication would bring them wealth and an eventual retirement. An opportunity previously reserved only for the wealthy of American generations past.
This page attempts to define a road map of the real policy factors that concern this “Angry Middle”. Those Americans of all races, religions, and creeds who are attempting to define the American Dream for themselves and their families. This America lives outside of the ivory tower of American leftists, the boardrooms of Wall Street, and the foyers of fundamentalist churches. This America lives in the suburbs, cities and farms of the United States and is not restricted by any faith or particular political belief. In fact this middle consists of Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Independents, and more bound only by the belief that what was once it’s birthright has begun to vanish.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Why Bolton was a problem.
Uhhh, just postin old stuff, obviously.
Why Bolton is a Problem.
We in the United States have a perception problem. Some may argue that this perception problem is a public relations issue fed by our perceived arrogance in foreign affairs in the Middle East, Europe, and the rest of the world. However, what is in fact the more pressing problem is not one of what those on the outside think of us, but rather how we misunderstand our own role in the world and our history of relating to other nations; what really exists it is a self-perception problem.
Many Americans like to perceive themselves as the victim of the United Nations. We feel assailed by those that we provide for through foreign aid and charity, those who we liberated from tyranny in a past century at the cost of many American lives. While we and the generations before us have sacrificed a great deal for the international community, any perception of cooperation with other countries as being something that weakens America represents a misunderstanding of our history. Indeed, it was in our finest hour as Americans that an alliance of many nations—opposed in certain beliefs but united for a common cause— was able to defeat the evil influence of Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and expansionist, imperial Japan. It was in fact a united nations that led to triumph in this war. It could even be argued that, had there been a viable international body to temper the rise of fascism during the 1930s, the bloodshed of millions during the Second World War might have been avoided
The nomination of John Bolton forgets this central lesson from our history and continues the promotion of a foreign policy that is aggressively and foolishly unilateral. It propagates a Bush administration belief in a changing world that is dominated by US military and economic power, a world that is not limited by constructive discourse, diplomacy, and international cooperation. After September 11th, there was a grand opportunity for this cooperation in the War on Terror. While this opportunity has been partially realized with the involvement of NATO in security operations in Afghanistan, on the whole it has been thwarted by an administration committed to unilateral and uninformed aggression based on poor intelligence.
The United Nations is not the perfect solution to all of our national security, economic and diplomatic issues. In fact, in many cases as the “big man” on the campus of nations, we will be a target of member countries attempting to increase their own economic and political stakes in a world that has grown increasingly smaller. The potential for corruption in this body, and the fact that it will not always support the policy of the United States over the consensus of hundreds of member nations, cannot be denied. However, to try to bully, belittle, and in fact ignore international diplomacy through the nomination of an ambassador that has assaulted the institution is tantamount to diplomatic suicide.
Our ambassador to the United Nations must represent the national interests of the United States in a world theater that is constantly changing. In order to ensure that we can effectively face an uncertain future, we must recognize the lessons from our diplomatic past. Indeed, we must unite with allies who have a common vision, in order that we may defeat our greatest threats. Surely, John Bolton is not the right choice to help us realize this vision.
Why Bolton is a Problem.
We in the United States have a perception problem. Some may argue that this perception problem is a public relations issue fed by our perceived arrogance in foreign affairs in the Middle East, Europe, and the rest of the world. However, what is in fact the more pressing problem is not one of what those on the outside think of us, but rather how we misunderstand our own role in the world and our history of relating to other nations; what really exists it is a self-perception problem.
Many Americans like to perceive themselves as the victim of the United Nations. We feel assailed by those that we provide for through foreign aid and charity, those who we liberated from tyranny in a past century at the cost of many American lives. While we and the generations before us have sacrificed a great deal for the international community, any perception of cooperation with other countries as being something that weakens America represents a misunderstanding of our history. Indeed, it was in our finest hour as Americans that an alliance of many nations—opposed in certain beliefs but united for a common cause— was able to defeat the evil influence of Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and expansionist, imperial Japan. It was in fact a united nations that led to triumph in this war. It could even be argued that, had there been a viable international body to temper the rise of fascism during the 1930s, the bloodshed of millions during the Second World War might have been avoided
The nomination of John Bolton forgets this central lesson from our history and continues the promotion of a foreign policy that is aggressively and foolishly unilateral. It propagates a Bush administration belief in a changing world that is dominated by US military and economic power, a world that is not limited by constructive discourse, diplomacy, and international cooperation. After September 11th, there was a grand opportunity for this cooperation in the War on Terror. While this opportunity has been partially realized with the involvement of NATO in security operations in Afghanistan, on the whole it has been thwarted by an administration committed to unilateral and uninformed aggression based on poor intelligence.
The United Nations is not the perfect solution to all of our national security, economic and diplomatic issues. In fact, in many cases as the “big man” on the campus of nations, we will be a target of member countries attempting to increase their own economic and political stakes in a world that has grown increasingly smaller. The potential for corruption in this body, and the fact that it will not always support the policy of the United States over the consensus of hundreds of member nations, cannot be denied. However, to try to bully, belittle, and in fact ignore international diplomacy through the nomination of an ambassador that has assaulted the institution is tantamount to diplomatic suicide.
Our ambassador to the United Nations must represent the national interests of the United States in a world theater that is constantly changing. In order to ensure that we can effectively face an uncertain future, we must recognize the lessons from our diplomatic past. Indeed, we must unite with allies who have a common vision, in order that we may defeat our greatest threats. Surely, John Bolton is not the right choice to help us realize this vision.
Sunday, July 13, 2003
Tribute to Mr. Ebbett
In 2003, Fred Ebbett, Sr. passed away, his son Fred is a very good friend of mine and soon to be godfather to my daughter. I wrote this for a website called thisistheyear.com, a Sox website.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone."
Bart Giammati
We here at thisistheyear.com are filled with heavy hearts at the passing of Fred Ebbett, Sr. Mr. Ebbett was a giant in the world of amateur baseball and also as an educator, administrator and as a father.
Fred Ebbett was the commissioner of the Cape League for thirteen years, bringing that league to a state of international prominence. Mr. Ebbett was perhaps best known for reintroducing wooden bats to the league, gathering the interest of major league scouts and much needed revenue from Major League Baseball. An understanding that aluminum bats were the same aberration to the game as artificial turf, steroids or cookie cutter seventies stadiums was part of it, but an understanding that sometimes the way things were done are the way things should be done. The smell of freshly cut grass and some of the nation’s best players participating in the national pastime funded largely by the passing of the hat spoiled both Cape residents and tourists alike. By bringing in wooden bats, Mr. Ebbett helped to create the premier amateur baseball league in the United States. Today, 183 Cape League alumni are players in the major leagues, an astonishing number when the number of foreign players and kids out of high school that never qualified for the Cape League are taken into account. Whenever you watch a major league game, you are watching a bit of the legacy of Fred Ebbett.
Many of us knew Mr. Ebbett as an educator. For me, it was as my vice principal. Mr. Ebbett was the disciplinarian and many who walked asunder would know is office. At the time, as many of us will remember, he seemed to be unfair and strict. In fact, as an older man I now realize that he was trying to teach one of life’s great lessons, self-respect. Long before the Orprah-esque new age ideal of teaching self-esteem, Mr. Ebbett was doing just that in a non-contrived way, forcing us with a steely stare to look at our actions for what they were. While our teenage irrational exuberance blocks out many of the memories, my memory is that I never spent a minute in that vice principal’s office that I did not deserve, and I think many of my classmates upon reflection would feel the same way. In a sense being taught the lesson of responsibility for our actions, no matter how long that lesson took to finally sink in.
Mr. Ebbett was known as Mr. Harwich, a man who brought his positive outlook on life to all. In all his years as a coach, teacher, referee, manager and commissioner he touched the lives of thousands. I also know Mr. Ebbett as the father of a man that I see as a brother and understand how his life was touched as well. We all mourn for Mr. Ebbett and his family and wish to celebrate his life as a baseball legend and genuine human being. Living his life as an example as a man should live his life with dignity, hard work and respect. A throwback to the way things should be.
Our hearts go out to his wife Sheila, and his children Christina, Mariah, Fred, Jr., and Kyle.
A Celebration of Fred's Life will be held July 13, 2003, 4 p.m., at Whitehouse Field, Harwich, MA. Donations may be made in his memory to Harwich Citizens Scholarship Foundation, Oak Street, Harwich, MA 02645
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, and give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses and be a blessing to us." -- Walt Whitman, 1846
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone."
Bart Giammati
We here at thisistheyear.com are filled with heavy hearts at the passing of Fred Ebbett, Sr. Mr. Ebbett was a giant in the world of amateur baseball and also as an educator, administrator and as a father.
Fred Ebbett was the commissioner of the Cape League for thirteen years, bringing that league to a state of international prominence. Mr. Ebbett was perhaps best known for reintroducing wooden bats to the league, gathering the interest of major league scouts and much needed revenue from Major League Baseball. An understanding that aluminum bats were the same aberration to the game as artificial turf, steroids or cookie cutter seventies stadiums was part of it, but an understanding that sometimes the way things were done are the way things should be done. The smell of freshly cut grass and some of the nation’s best players participating in the national pastime funded largely by the passing of the hat spoiled both Cape residents and tourists alike. By bringing in wooden bats, Mr. Ebbett helped to create the premier amateur baseball league in the United States. Today, 183 Cape League alumni are players in the major leagues, an astonishing number when the number of foreign players and kids out of high school that never qualified for the Cape League are taken into account. Whenever you watch a major league game, you are watching a bit of the legacy of Fred Ebbett.
Many of us knew Mr. Ebbett as an educator. For me, it was as my vice principal. Mr. Ebbett was the disciplinarian and many who walked asunder would know is office. At the time, as many of us will remember, he seemed to be unfair and strict. In fact, as an older man I now realize that he was trying to teach one of life’s great lessons, self-respect. Long before the Orprah-esque new age ideal of teaching self-esteem, Mr. Ebbett was doing just that in a non-contrived way, forcing us with a steely stare to look at our actions for what they were. While our teenage irrational exuberance blocks out many of the memories, my memory is that I never spent a minute in that vice principal’s office that I did not deserve, and I think many of my classmates upon reflection would feel the same way. In a sense being taught the lesson of responsibility for our actions, no matter how long that lesson took to finally sink in.
Mr. Ebbett was known as Mr. Harwich, a man who brought his positive outlook on life to all. In all his years as a coach, teacher, referee, manager and commissioner he touched the lives of thousands. I also know Mr. Ebbett as the father of a man that I see as a brother and understand how his life was touched as well. We all mourn for Mr. Ebbett and his family and wish to celebrate his life as a baseball legend and genuine human being. Living his life as an example as a man should live his life with dignity, hard work and respect. A throwback to the way things should be.
Our hearts go out to his wife Sheila, and his children Christina, Mariah, Fred, Jr., and Kyle.
A Celebration of Fred's Life will be held July 13, 2003, 4 p.m., at Whitehouse Field, Harwich, MA. Donations may be made in his memory to Harwich Citizens Scholarship Foundation, Oak Street, Harwich, MA 02645
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, and give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses and be a blessing to us." -- Walt Whitman, 1846
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)