Theists See “Miracles” in the Mumbai Massacre

Every time something terrible happens in the world theists have to find a miracle so their god can get off for allowing atrocities and natural disasters. They even found a few in the "Mumbai Massacre." One that's gotten attention was Moshe Holtzberg; the young child of the rabbi father who was killed. The fortunate Moshe was picked up and quickly taken from the building by his nanny before harm could come to him.

Theists' rationalizations go a little like this:

--Airplane crashes, everyone dies except one man -- It's a miracle.
--Airplane crashes, everyone dies, but it doesn't hit a house -- It's a miracle.
--Airplane crashes, everyone dies, it hits a house, but only one person was home -- It's a miracle.
--Airplane crashes, everyone dies, it hits a house, killing a family of 5, but it DOESN'T hit heavily populated neighborhood nearby -- It's a miracle.

I am all for finding silver-linings in tragedy but these people are imposing an irrational view onto the world and reaching even more irrational conclusions so they can find order and purpose in a chaotic world. Quit using happenchance and random luck to prove your god exists.

Please, someone tell me when isn't it a miracle? Would a meteor have to destroy the entire earth so there isn't a single idiot left to say "It's a miracle?"

The Holidays Are Here -- Ho Ho Hum, a Dark Perspective

I don't mind the holidays themselves, what I hate is the constant advertisement that would make me hate any other time of year. You can't go into a store without hearing a Christmas song you've heard hundreds of times throughout you're life already, it saturates all media; TV, the Internet, newspapers, radio, email. Literally you couldn’t escape it unless you removed yourself from society. I suspect I might actually enjoy it if it was just a matter of seeing family and exchanging presents once a year, but it isn't.

I was in a store recently and they had Santa figurines dressed up in all sorts of obscure clothing that look nothing like the original (largely created by Coca-Cola), nutcrackers in both traditional and now army camo-fatigue. Meanwhile they're playing Christmas songs, not to get you into some sort of "holiday cheer" but to remind you to buy stuff.

After all, who thinks of the holidays when they hear these songs? I think of cash drawers and credit cards. This year seems to be different...I can't figure out if the stores are advertising MORE because people are spending less, or LESS because they know people aren't going to spend as much this year.

I'm Not Depressed, Just Annoyed

I've had several friends who were very, even severely depressed by the holiday season, mostly from loneliness. I can understand that; the world is cold and everything’s dead, people are away with family and if you don't have anyone then you're very alone. But to be depressed about it assumes you have romantic ideals about the holiday itself; as a more cynical person it’s annoying above all else. I had a happy childhood and have a loving family, but I don’t attach intense emotion with this time of year.

Far from being lonely, in fact I dread seeing most of the family at Christmas, all their prying and awkward questions, I can do without it. I think this is probably the case with most gay people, and probably some straight ones as well. The fact is I know very few people who are "cheerful" this time of year; I don't understand why you would be. Someone explain to me a single thing about this time of year that ought to make me cheerful.

You Can Keep New Years Too

Perhaps I am turning into a Scrooge at age 29, but I understand New Years even less. It’s just another arbitrary date on the calendar, why do we need to stand in the streets and count it down to the second? The celebration of mathematics? Perhaps this sounds like I am depressed, but I see little to celebrate in this past year or in the world right now. I'd just like to move on with life. Call me a Scrooge; I'll call you a sentimentalist, which I am too by the way, but not about numbers.

A Note on the Wal-Mart Employee Trampling

A quick note on this Wal-Mart employee who was literally trampled to death by shoppers who actually tore the doors off their hinges. This ought not surprise anyone, I worked at Wal-Mart for about a year and I saw it. I heard of a pregnant woman at a nearby store getting trampled and having a miscarriage and this was in 1999. These people are crazy, I've seen them tag team, one runs to a pile of merchandise and throws boxes over the heads of the surrounding crowd while the other, next to a buggy (thats what we call 'em here in the South) catches and sorts. There's times when I think I'd like to take a coffee and just walk around and watch this spectacle, maybe with a camera. But I haven't seen a "Black Friday" in years and I've never bought anything during one.

Shaving One's Head - Monetary, Political, Health, Sexual and Mental Considerations - More than You Ever Wanted to Know

I think the decision to shave ones' head is a big deal to a lot of people, and I mean with a razor directly on skin, not simply to "buzz if off." It's true that for a lot of white guys, it just doesn't fit them. I got lucky and my head has a decent shape to it.

First let me say that the only reason I originally shaved my head is that my hair was thinning out. I took the plunge in May of 2003. Before this I had long hair, believe it or not. I considered hair replacement for a brief period, but the deeper I looked into it the more complicated it was and the less it really offered. Finally I just stood in front of a mirror and covered my hair with my hands and had an epiphany, it looked good. I still hesitated for a few weeks but finally went through with it. Honestly, there are times when I wish that I still had hair so I could do stuff with it, but for the most part I doubt I will ever want hair again.

Shaving one's head is often something that, once you do it you are likely to keep it that way. That's the general rule, I am not sure why, perhaps because it is a hassle growing it back and being unable to do anything with it for weeks or perhaps months.

The Politics of a Shaved Head

There are political implications to shaving one's head that you have no control over. Where an afro is often considered "political hair" which has had implications for those who decide to don it, for a white guy shaving one's head can draw other, darker suspicions. It's not that everyone thinks you're a skinhead Nazi, but some might assume this, and others might assume that you at least do not care if you are mistaken for one. If this is the case, I'm not sure which would be worse, being mistaken for a real skinhead or some dumb knuckle-head who thinks he's one.

There are even groups out there who try to dispel such fears such as S.H.A.R.P. (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice). I don't get the opportunity to explain to everyone I come across as to WHY I shaved my head, and I can't dispel people's suspicions or fears, I just have to go along with life and after a while you don't think about it as often. I will say that fortunately it is more common than it was ten or twenty years ago, fewer people still see it as a political statement.

There's a skinhead subculture within the gay leather scene, which has a fetish for a certain "look" which is very popular in the UK and Germany. I don't understand it and I'm not interested in it, but I know some guys who are. It tends to be quite popular among the younger guys I understand.

Cheaper Than Going to a Barber?

First off, let me say I NEVER liked going to the barber, I hated it in fact. Sitting in a chair paying someone to cut my hair, which usually I didn't want cut but needed to because of a job. And depending where you went it could be expensive too.

I use MACH 3 or MACH 3-Turbo razors with Edge Pro-Gel. I can get a pack of 16 razors at Sam's for around $30~, the Pro-Gel is cheap too. I use a razor at least twice, often more. It's hard to say how often I shave, it varies. If I am going somewhere important and I haven't shaven for 3 days I will shave again, if not it can go for nearly a week at times.

So if I did shave every 3 days, which I don't usually, 16 razors used twice would last about 96 days, for $30~. Pretty cheap huh?

Is It A Hassle?

On the other hand it is a hassle at times. You can't just comb and be ready to go in a few seconds, if you're going out and haven't shaven in a while you have to plan out 15-20 minutes to get ready. Shaving my head and face generally takes about 15 minutes in the shower. But then again most people take 10 minutes to shower, and they have to shave anyway, I am able to do both at the same time. I would say it's a trade off that you get use to.

Health Considerations - A Hat Is Your Best Friend



It's true that getting a sunburn on your scalp is a damn awful thing. I am surprised that it has only happened to me one time when I was at an outdoor event all day in summer. The thing is, I tend to be naturally pale and it's hard for me to get a suntan, much less a sunburn. But this is something that you have to be aware of regardless of the season.

Another thing is the cold of winter. A toboggan is essential, some people (often non-Southern) insist you call it a beanie, skullcap or ski cap, whatever, fuck them. As for other types of hats, I've never liked baseball caps before, they wouldn't cut it anyway. You will know the meaning of cold if you forget it on a cold day, and you'll get a headache probably too. I would say that hair protects your head from heat as well as cold; I've found that harsh, direct sunlight on your head (for an extended period) can cause a headache as well as extreme cold.

Another thing a hat can help you with is bugs, this isn't always an issue, but if you are outside exercising and getting sweaty there's nothing worse than biting flies. I discovered this soon after I shaved my head and started walking and jogging on the Silver Comet Trail, which is a very wooded area. Bug spray helps too, just spray it all over your head and neck.

Is It Sexy?

It's a matter of opinion of course. I will say that when I went to a bar with hair I got little attention, but after shaving my head I got more attention than I wanted. Personally I rarely find a guy with a shaved head to be sexy, on some it is.

Speaking of bars, another thing, you might as well get use to drunk people coming up to you and asking if they can "rub your head," I don't mind people doing it but I don't understand why they want to. I've never had a desire to rub a strangers' head. You can say no but this is likely to happen so often that you will get a bad reputation around the bar which can be worse. Usually they just rub your head a little and move on.

A final note about this is that you can actually look younger without hair than with it, it depends a lot on your face. I think this is without a doubt true and especially if your hair is thinning. If it doesn't make you look younger it often does cause you to acquire a sort of "ageless" quality, and over time you don't look older at the rate you would with hair, dealing with things like thinning, receding or gray.

The Mental Side

So it has its pluses and minuses. I can tell you this, there is nothing worse than thinking about your hair thinning all of the time. I don't care who you are, if you're a guy and it's thinning out, it bothers you. I know it does, I don't care if you're the least metro-sexual man in the world. I heard a person put it this way one time; he had a choice, he had to take a razor to his head or to his wrist. I wasn't at that extreme, but it does depress and worry you after a while. After 5+ years of shaving it, those days seem so long ago. It's not for everyone but this post is meant to help you think of the implications of the choice.

The Party's Over, Assessing the Future...

I've been trying to decide how I feel about all of this, I'm a liberal white person who is not as overwhelmed as many African American people are, but much more impacted than the average American that pays less attention to politics.

I think the best way to describe how I feel about Obama's election is that two weights have been lifted. One of them grew heavier as this current campaign dragged on and thoughts of a McCain and possibly Palin administration swirled in my head like a virus that evidentially was on many people's minds.

The other weight I was not completely aware of until it was lifted, then I realized that it had been there for much of the past eight years. Four years ago I thought Kerry was a terrible candidate, but I could also not imagine a Bush re-election, but it happened.

It feels like this vale of tears has been renewed. Literally the air smells better, sunlight feels warmer and I even feel like I have more energy. I can only imagine how good I would feel all the time if I could IGNORE politics, but I doubt that will happen.

I've got to emphasize, I was voting AGAINST more than FOR. I think McCain would lead us into another war and Palin is a half-wit fool who could possibly replace him, and that for me is the definition of being up shit creek without a paddle. No, I feel like I am in a nation of adults again, even if Obama can't bring about big "change," we elected a man with a brain for Gods sake and we did so for the right reasons, not because we were distracted by fear and loathing.

Obama Until 2012 or 2016?

I suspect Obama will be a 1-term president unfortunately. This economic mess is severe and when it gets worse under his watch the Republicans will be back in two years and then another four to blame a government controlled entirely by the Democrats. Combine that with a backlash that will come from an Obama term regardless what he does, and you likely see a Republican back in the white house.[1]

I guess what I am trying to say is that, if there were a GOOD time to be OUT of office and power, this would be it. I have to think that this train wreck wasn't entirely accidental; Republicans say government is inefficient and they ensure it is true while they are in power. This all assumes that Obama doesn't come in and just totally turn the economy around, I don't think it's totally under his or anyone else's control.

It's too far off to project much, but while the GOP does have problems adjusting it's ideals to a changing electorate and a new generation who has helped to put Obama into office, to count them out would be foolish. As Obama said, they may not know how to govern, but they know how to win elections.

Palin, Poor Palin...

A quick note on Palin, I find all of this Republican infighting incredibly entertaining of course, but I am still trying to understand what it's all about. Perhaps the aides from McCain's camp are really just pissed off and hate her. Keith Olbermann brought up the point that the Republicans are the ones that called her a "Wasilla hillbilly" (what an elitist thing to say!) and that perhaps Palin was the real deal "average American" and while they speak of being a party for that group this behavior toward Palin suggests they really are a party that just wants that as a facade.

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FOOTNOTES
1. I would like to send readers to the following link: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gHIVt7MERGIbR6SEMaTMPoeCiuiwD94AB9280, since Obama whipped McCain gun sales have risen dramatically, a perfect example of the white, scared, knee-jerk reaction.

I'm Mostly Happy, But...

An Obama Victory and the "Sins of the Fathers"

We have come a long way in terms of diversity. We will have our first black president, and before that we had our first retarded president. I am proud we have come so far and are willing to be so diverse.

Nothing can "make up" for centuries of slavery, but I do think this is more than just symbolic. This country has been living under the "sins of the fathers" since it's founding, and it's hard to say what this will mean in the long-term for race relations. I am still taking it all in, and anyone who says they really understand how this will affect the American psyche is probably lying.

CA Bans Gay Marriage, With a BIG Help from the Black CA Population

For gay Americans this is a bittersweet time, Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage in California passed. Interesting how California overwhelmingly voted for Obama but still managed to pull this off too. I have always believed that a minority group gets very little if any help from other minority groups once the group they are seeking help from has risen to acceptance or power in society.

This is aimed squarely and without regret at the African American votes in California. Exit polls revealed 70% of African Americans who voted were FOR the ban, only about half of white voters voted for the ban. I really don't get it, and I have no regret pointing this FACT out.[1]

A Big "Fuck You" To Unity with Far-Right Republicans

On the MSNBC "Morning Joe" show Joe Scarborough went on a rant about how the "liberal elites" are saying that Americans were getting involved for the first time, but in fact, Joe says, there was just as much enthusiasm about Bush in 2004 when the Christian evangelicals came out to re-elect him. And shame on "closed-minded liberals" who dare to criticize the REASONS those Bush voters were energized.

I just can't let such a statement pass. First of all, those voters in 2004 were coming out to vote largely because a gay marriage ban was likely on the ballot in their state. They were voting out of fear about national security, two wars and a government that has taken advantage of a terrorist attack. I see no comparison between the election of Barack Obama and the re-election of George Bush in terms of the issues or the general spirit in which it was done.

Not all enthusiasm is equal, and frankly while America needs "unity;" division along racial, geographical, cultural and class lines has been the destructive Republican strategy for decades. I don't want to be unified with an extreme right-wing, and I don't even think it's possible.

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Footnotes
1. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZmLBrL36NObNyMR0ghXN7vB5hYwD9493TBO0

Thoughts After Obama's Victory...

I'm writing this just minutes after Obama has been elected. I gotta admit, I can hardly believe it. That America has just elected a black man as president really is something that will take time to sink in.

I see the shots from Grant Park, the streets of Harlem and Ebenezer Church here in Atlanta and all the exuberant faces of the African Americans, many of them wet with tears. I know I can't understand how they feel but goddamn I feel happy for them.

It needs to remembered that this couldn't have happened without white America, that’s not meant to take away from black people but to say that this should be seen as a confirmation that this country is changing.

States are still coming in, they are projecting that Obama has also won Virginia and Florida. The popular vote is still being counted, but this seems to be a decisive victory which is important. And it makes me wonder if a deeper change is occurring for the Democratic Party, and if the Republicans have painted themselves into a corner and appeal to ever-shrinking segments of the population. Will the young voters who Obama was able to draw in stay Democratic? Time will tell.

Some Final Pre-Election Thoughts

The Encouragement of "White Anger" and the Hunky-Dory Black Man

There’s lots of "angry white men" out there these days. Joe the Plumber is the archetypical angry, white, working-class man, but he's not the only one. "Mad Mike" is the name of a video put out by a group called "Let Freedom Ring," in it Mike discusses how he won't take the risk of expanding his business if Obama wins, and proceeds to go on a tirade with rock guitar underlining it saying, "People like Obama have no idea what it's like to run a small business! They say they know, but they don't!"

I find it strange that this working-class white anger is not only forgiven but is more or less encouraged and expected while Obama has to act like the least disaffected black man in the country.

The fact is, even if Obama wins, this country has a long way to go before it acquires a mature view of both race and class in this country. Because Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh have talked to people like Joe while he drives to work, he's become convinced that up is down, that he will be a millionaire someday, that the real enemy isn't unchecked corporate rule but liberals and that America has a God-given right to intervene in other countries affairs. But when you're finished chanting "U-S-A" and you've made sure the queers can't marry, and everyone's gone home, what have you gained?

The Black Community (and Young Generation) Wonders: What if Obama Loses?

There was an article in Newsweek recently all about how the black community has gotten involved with this election. They can hardly believe that a black man might actually become president, and then the article asks, "what if he loses?" What will that community feel? Will it be concluded that, "it just can't happen in this country?"

I suppose the question ought to be asked, did the Democrats step out a little too far, should they have gone with a(nother) boring white guy? Would victory have been assured or did they have to take this chance? With the Gore loss, the Kerry loss and Republicans getting away with anything they wanted for so long the Democratic Party in my mind began to have an air of "bland malaise." Obama shook that up and has thrown a curve ball to the Republicans in many ways. Perhaps it was, necessary that is.

More than just the black community, there's another question that might be an even bigger deal: How will all those young people feel who have gotten involved and put in so much hope and energy? Literally an entire generation has been inspired. Anyone who knows anything about politics knows that having young people involved is important because of the energy, new ideas and lack of cynicism they bring to the table. Even if all of their ideas can't be put into action, they provide a momentum you don't get anywhere else.

If Obama loses will we have a young generation turned cynical too soon? Or will they have made a long-lasting connection with the political process?

Electronic Voting: Is The Fix In?

This is a story that was a big deal after 2000, but finding anyone in the media to speak on it today is literally impossible. If there was any sense of urgency about our democracy, this story would be covered, not ACORN. The corporation that makes many of these machines, Diebold, is a big Republican contributor, their CEO said that he would "deliver Ohio to Bush in 2004," and there are tons of other conflicts of interest that are easily discovered if one takes the time.

Is a paper-trail so fucking difficult? The fact is I do not trust these machines, every time there's an error it just happens to go in the Republican's favor. I don't understand why this issue is not talked about anymore.

If Nothing Else, It Will Be Over Soon

Even I will be glad to see this election over, it has gone on too long and is taking my focus from other things I want to be doing (like watching film noir at 1am). Personally I am prepared for an Obama loss, I think there's a 50/50 chance he will win or lose.

Surprises could happen, I am half expecting an Osama Bin Laden tape to surface, but I think the "narrative" of this race has been set and is just being played out now.

See everyone on the other side, whatever happens its interesting times...that’s the one certainty we have.

A Break from Politics; Thoughts and Pictures

Autumn is here...

It’s that time of year again: Autumn. The time of year that makes me reflect; both about the past and the future. This is my favorite season and it's easily the most beautiful. Perhaps there's no objective way to judge seasonal beauty, but it's certainly the one that inspires more people with any sort of sensitivity; photographers take nature shots, poets reflect and artists paint. Some might say a majestic winter snow rivals autumn’s colors, but for me it lacks the gentle beauty. The overall character of winter is like a harsh relative that remains after your favorite has passed away.



Autumn is the time when the crop would come in and man would see the fruits of his labor. Life all around us reaches a beautiful maturity, but as the cycle goes, things are actually dying. The leaves start to fall; the night encroaches on the day. As autumn sets in and the breeze turns from cool to cold, an internal clock starts to change over; it's time to take stock of the year and soon go into a form of hibernation. Its time to assess not just accomplishments but life itself in many ways, and what makes it worth living.



I think a person's favorite season says a lot about them. Some may prefer spring or summer, and its not that to appreciate autumn and winter requires a slight tinge of the "dark side," but to prefer the former seasons I think shows a lack of that tinge. Oh but I'm not putting down spring or summer, in fact they make me happy where autumn confronts me with an almost sublime preparation for a coming depression that will be winter. Spring and summer naturally cause us to come alive and alert, it's warm out and days are long, possibilities seem limitless.



In the seasons are reflected life itself. Spring is a time of birth and re-generation, a sense of potential and even sexuality is in the air. Summer is a time of youth and possibility; everything feels spontaneous, fun and easy, it feels like the days will go on forever. Autumn is a time of adulthood and reflection, the beauty of life is easily apparent but so is it's mortality that weighs on us in a slow process from September through December. Winter is a time of muted potential and death, things are put on hold and people go inward, nothing feels quite as effortless as it did before.



I suppose the beauty of the season is something either you get or you don't, but everyone can appreciate beauty even if it has to be pointed out to them. If you live in an area where the leaves do not turn, you have my full sympathy. But the thing is, the beauty of autumn isn't done for our benefit at all, we are just locked in with the cycle of nature and we recognize it for what it is.



Autumn has an effect on me in part because during the winter I have (typically mild) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is usually described as a depression brought on by a lack of exposure to sunlight during the winter months. Every time I go through this cycle, it's the same in many ways but it's different because life is different. It's a time to check in with things, and as the years go on I come to appreciate this time of year more and more.

Paranoid Thought in American Politics; 1797 through Today

Conspiracies and Paranoia of Old

In 1964, one year after publishing his classic, "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life," Richard Hofstadter wrote an article for Harpers Magazine titled, "The Paranoid Style in American Politics."[1] In it he traces a strain of political thought in American politics which is based on fear of some all-powerful "elite" group who plan to destroy our way of life and keep us in bondage. In the past century, perhaps the most prominent example of this would be Communism and the Soviet Union wielding influence with it's tentacles outstretched across the world. But as Hofstadter shows us, this phenomenon has been going on since our nation’s inception.

Americans first learned of Illumism in 1797, a conspiracy which was out to destroy all religion and governments. Hofstadter writes of a Scottish scientist who first "exposed" the conspiracy, John Robinson. He spoke Illumism, "fermenting and working all over Europe."[2] The anti-Christian Illumaniti corrupted women, “cultivated” sexual pleasure and promoted abortion.

By the late 1820s the anti-Masonic movement spread across America, was intensified and was no longer contained to New England territory. It was believed that Masonic influence festered in "sheriffs, juries and judges [who] must all be in league with the Masonic criminals and fugitives." In a modern-day parallel perhaps most shocking, it was believed that the Masons controlled and "muzzled" the press.

In the 1830s rumors began to spread of a vast Catholic conspiracy which sought to destroy American values and the American way of life. The inventor of the telegraph, S.F.B. Morse wrote a book titled, "Foreign Conspiracies against the Liberties of the United States." He spoke of well-funded "Jesuit missionaries" who were spreading out across the nation "in every possible disguise." Catholics were blamed for the economic depression of 1893, and rumors spread of a possible Catholic uprising and war to mutilate and exterminate the opposition.

The enemy is always with some great source of power whether it is money or media, and he tries to create crises and benefit from them. Furthermore in times of crisis, this type of thought naturally increases in popularity. The paranoid mind does not see history as merely history, but finds clues of a grand conspiracy within it, directed by some elite group. Hofstadter writes that, throughout history, to combat conspiracy groups, "secret organizations [are] set up to combat secret organizations...The Ku Klux Klan imitated Catholicism to the point of donning priestly vestments, developing an elaborate ritual and an equally elaborate hierarchy."

In Hofstadter's Time

Hofstadter writing of the conspiracies in his own time notes that one difference he saw that presented itself was that in previous times the right-wing saw themselves as fending off threats to American values, but now they see themselves of trying to recover what has actually been lost. Essentially the right feels they are dispossessed victims, not of changing times but of a powerful elite. Furthermore Hofstadter saw the conspiracies of his own time as being in the public eye more than ever before with the anti-communist sentiment and suspicion that education and government are infiltrated with the enemy.

What's Happening Today

The Right has now taken up the old call that the media is our current vast conspiracy. I have to think that this paranoia has been actively created when Sarah Palin only has to say the words, "media" or "New York Times" and receives a chorus of boo's, or when media vans at rallies are flipped the bird or screamed at by rally attendees. While the “liberal media” has been a talking point for decades, this is essentially a variation on a familiar theme as is evidenced above.

After "Joe the plumber" had his life sifted through by the media John McCain sent up the call that Obama's media attacked a common man and destroyed his life. While I do not believe the media should have gone through Joe Wurzelbacher's life either, the right-wing speaks as if Obama gave the word and his minions in the media attacked on cue. The other side of this issue is that calling Obama a “socialist” has become commonplace, invoking an old favorite in American politics.

Another example of this was after the New York Times wrote an article about Cindy McCain and in it spoke of her previous addiction to pain-killers there was outrage and calls for an investigation into Obama's past drug abuse, as if it were some sort of secret the media has not touched.

A final example, this past week was on the show Hardball, where Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota in all seriousness asked for an investigation into "anti-American sentiment in Congress." This woman is the most extreme example we have yet in this election season of this paranoid sentiment, and as Katrina Vanden Heuvel said later in the show, she seems to be "channeling McCarthy."

This is nothing singular to America, the conspiracy of the Jews in Europe has perhaps caused the most harm of any paranoid thought in history. Even dating back to the Black Death of the 1340s Jews were accused of poisoning public wells and were burnt alive. However, the one necessary ingredient of paranoia is fear, and America has been a fearful country dating back to our conflicts with the Native Americans. It seems fear or the capacity for it is more rampant here than elsewhere, evidenced by the fact that before the invasion of Iraq we feared Saddam Hussein more than countries next to him in Europe.

One has to be concerned in uncertain times such as these about scape-goating. As a gay person I become more concerned in times such as these when the reactionary half of America is inevitably and easily whipped up and directed toward an enemy. If we are really facing the “once in a century” economic crisis that Alan Greenspan says we are, I have to think we are ill-suited to deal with it in our current frame of mind.

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FOOTNOTES

1. You can find the full article here: http://karws.gso.uri.edu/jfk/conspiracy_theory/the_paranoid_mentality/the_paranoid_style.html
2. In times when we hear constantly of socialism and Islam taking hold in Europe, this language is not something new even centuries later.

Undermining The "Palin Advantage"

Ive had a sneaking suspicion that Palin was chosen just as much for her right-wing appeal as for the fact that any criticism of her will immediately spark immense backlash against the Left. Republicans knew that you couldn't touch her without sparking immediate outrage from those who see her as representing them.

What the Left ought to do in reality is not sneer or make fun, but to take her away (as an archetype) from the Republicans. Tell America, hey as far as ordinary Americans go, we have more in common with Palin than John McCain and his Republican party does. The Left ought to say that their economic policies are actually meant to HELP people just like Palin and the small town people she represents. Sure, we may not agree on everything when it comes to religion; but on economics we need not be divided by class warfare in times such as these. And it's not condescending to say that some people need help, not everyone is going to climb to the top and become rich like the Right says.

Now of course, this idea is insidious and an attempt to ultimately undermine the usage of people LIKE Palin by the Republicans. The fact is, they shouldn't "own" small town America and the lower class, and the Left shouldn't wall itself off either.

Final Debate

McCain owned the first 30 minutes or so in terms of general energy as he came out and tried to hammer the old GOP talking point of low taxes. Of course thrown into the mix was "Plumber Joe" who is supposed to be "average American incarnate." Obama held his own, and I had to wonder if most people out there weren't thinking, "I just wish I had some money period, tax or no tax."

It just seems like, especially at this particular moment, the issues are bigger than the exact percentage of income that will be taxed and the particulars of health care deductibles. When the Michigan governor is starting a "Food Stamp Challenge" and telling people to try and eat on $5.78 a day, who gives a shit?

It felt like McCain had been speaking to his base too much, as with taxes the right-wing talking points hurt McCain. At one point he used air-quotes when he spoke of the pro-choice crowds using the "health of the mother" as a "excuse" to have an abortion. This along with his general demeanor that betrayed his disdain for Obama made him come across as uncompassionate and quick to anger.

When the subject turned to the anger at McCain's rallies, McCain ultimately tried to deflect criticism by talking about how Georgia Congressman John Lewis hurt his feelings. Boo-Fuckin'-Who. Don't play with fire and you won't get burned by a situation of your own making.

Obama, after expressing concern about people calling for his death, eventually said that most people don't want to hear about it. That may be true but it seems the more they DO hear about it, the more uncomfortable they are with McCain. And there's been no reports of anything said at Obama rallies on-par with whats been said at McCain rallies. The "there's a few crazies in every crowd"-excuse is just that.

Ayres and ACORN came up, Obama deflected both of them by explaining the situation as it exists in reality, and not on FOX News and talk radio. This is evidenced by the fact that the entire issue quickly dissolved into nothing for the rest of the debate.

The discussions of trade, health care and education were pretty standard stock. Once again the polls went strongly for Obama's performance, you wouldn't think otherwise unless you were watching FOX News who literally got their poll from a cell phone text-in.

The fact is Obama knew what was coming and had prepared answers, what seems to piss McCain off most is his inability to piss off Obama, no matter what, it's always Mr. Cool.

Put Away the Party Hats, Obama Can Still Lose

Much of the media seems to have decided that this race is close to over, not in terms of time but in terms of the polls. I say Obama can still lose for a few reasons:

1. A big foreign policy event could occur (Israel attacks Iran, for example), or another attack on our own soil. I am sure that foreign terrorists would love nothing more than for us to elect another raving lunatic who will continue to drive our country into the ground so they don't have to.

2. Obama may need to overcome a Bradley Effect to win, which means he would need to have a certain number of percentage points ABOVE McCain just to break even. I find it interesting that it seems entirely forgotten that Obama is as much WHITE as he is black, but I digress.

3. There's a certain racism or "native-ism" that is festering almost subconsciously on two fronts. First, when the economic crisis is discussed, the causes are always in part blamed on poor people who took on loans. Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac are cited, who in large part help minorities and lower-income groups buy homes. One would begin to think that all these poor people are the cause of world-wide financial turmoil.

The other thing is this ACORN blow up which is complete nonsense and is reliant on stupidity to have any effect. As Obama has said, the volunteers are often being lazy and will make up registrations rather than go out and do the work. Mickey Mouse isn't going to walk up and vote so it doesn't matter as far as VOTES go. What does matter is ACORN is an organization that mostly works to get minorities to vote. The Republicans complaining about voter-fraud is perhaps the most blatant example of projection I have seen in at least, well, the past few minutes anyway.

A few other thing has been the general message that "Obama isn't like US," the "community organizer" label is used with a sneering tone, or maybe that's just how Palin's voice always sounds.

I just thank God that William Ayres is white or Obama would be in a world of shit. I'm just trying to say, never underestimate the stupidity of the American people.

The Asterisk in Karl Rove’s Playbook

On the positive side, it seems that the Karl Rove playbook doesn’t work in times of economic unrest. The problem with the Republican strategy is that when people are worried about the economy the Republican lure only continues to work for a particular fraction of the right-wing. It certainly isn’t appealing to the middle and they get turned off of what they are seeing at McCain rallies. If the “silent majority” was angry at seeing hippies daily on their televisions in the late 1960s, I think now they are tired of this hatred they are seeing in McCain’s rallies.

How Fucking DARE You Obama?!?!

After Obama DARED to speak of the rabid anger at McCain rallies, the McCain campaign released the following statement:

"Barack Obama's assault on our supporters is insulting and unsurprising. These are the same people Obama called 'bitter' and attacked for 'clinging to guns' and faith ... Attacking our supporters is a new low for the campaign that's run more millions of dollars of negative ads than any other in history."

Yes Obama, how fucking DARE you disrespect our supporters who are crying out for your DEATH and BE-HEADING? Our "OFF WITH HIS HEAD"-shouting, racial slur hurling supporters? How fucking DARE you, we are SOOOOO INSULTED! We are PROUD to count these people among our "supporters."

On another note, and back in reality, imagine if Obama was speaking before an angry, all black audience when shouts of "kill him" and "off with his head" rang up from the crowd. I can see the SWAT team, billie clubs and tear gas now.

Do us a favor, take your false outrage and shove it up your goddamn ass.

Desperate Times Make True Colors Bleed

Yep, its gotten dirty. Palin is bringing up Ayres, people in the audience are screaming about Obama, "terrorist!" and even "kill him!" Meanwhile they are making allegations that he is possibly getting money from shady organizations outside of the US. And his middle name Hussein is used almost daily at McCain events.

It's getting ugly, this is what McCain has decided to focus on while Rome burns, and the thing is I don't think he has any choice. This is how Republicans have won elections over the past several years as they have painted themselves into a corner as a non-diverse party.

Of course, this is all done under the cover, as Palin puts it, to say that the media needs to ask more questions of Obama. We don't really know the "real" Obama, even after campaigning for two years.

Irony was never a Republican strong suit, but this makes my head hurt. I only WISH the media were ALLOWED to ask Palin the "tough questions," instead the campaign has essentially said she won't be having anymore interviews except with FOX News.

The most recent interview with this ditz was again with Sean Hannity, and this time Daddy...I mean McCain was sitting there with her.

If we don't know the "real" Obama after two years, and interview after interview, we sure as hell don't know this woman who can barely speak when she does get an interview.

But this is all beside the point. The fact is, the Ayres connection COULD be a real issue, but why now? Does the fact that it is just being brought up not appear as blatantly desperate? If McCain really cares about Obama having a "tie" with a "terrorist" shouldn't he have brought this up months ago or does he just not care about the American people that much, unless his poll numbers drop?