| Author | Message | ||
     Rosablu |
I telegiornali continuano a parlare di una convention repubblicana in versione ridotta. Alcuni nomi di personaggi che dovevano essere presenti sono stati cancellati da un evento che sembra poter diventare un fiasco. L'uragano forse viene preso al volo come scusa tempestiva per tirarsi indietro. Se l'effetto sorpresa della Palin ha, inizialmente, catalizzato l'attenzione generale, a conoscere meglio questo personaggio si direbbe che non ci sono poi' cosi' grandi sorprese nella scelta effettuata. Anche questa volta, il VP dei repubblicani viene scelto tra coloro che, comunque, hanno le mani un po' sporche di petrolio. La Palin sembra molto intenzionata a garantire che il futuro si giochi con le stesse pedine energetiche di sempre, anzi usando ancora di piu' proprio quelle riserve che sono da tempo sotto il mirino di G. Bush. Palin, an Outsider who charms A Fresh Family Tableau Ms. Palin’s family presents Mr. McCain, who turned 72 on Friday, with fresh and wholesome campaign imagery. It also presents some potentially delicate issues. Mr. Palin, in addition to being a champion snowmobile racer, is an oil production operator on the North Slope, working for BP, a company that has had to make major repairs since a spill on the slope temporarily shut down production there in 2006. In addition to Ms. Palin’s $125,000 state salary, Mr. Palin earned $93,000 last year running his own commercial fishing business and working part-time at BP’s oil production facility, according to her public financial disclosure reports. Although Ms. Palin once said that her husband would quit his job at BP if she were elected governor, she later backed away from that. He took a leave from the company after she won, but went back to work there last year, saying his family needed the money. And the governor now says that because Mr. Palin is not in management, it poses no conflict with her own dealings with the petroleum industry, a major force in Alaska’s politics and economy. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin  After an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor of Alaska in 2002, she chaired the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004 while also serving as Ethics Supervisor of the commission. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin Cambiano i volti e i nomi, ma non ci prendano in giro, Bush, McCain e Palin, perche' il gioco che propongono e' lo stesso e il loro fine e' comune. Bush da anni sta spingendo per far passare la proposta di trivellare quelle zone cosiderate intoccabili in Alaska, tentandole tutte, pur di ottenere qualche risultato prima della fine del suo mandato e se non ci ricordiamo i vari tentativi questo e' uno: In an effort to win enough votes in the Senate to pass President Bush's proposal to drill in a national refuge in Alaska, the Interior Department is considering narrowing the acreage that would be open to oil and gas exploration. {...} With strong backing from the White House, the House of Representatives passed a bill in August that, in addition to permitting drilling in the Alaska wilderness, would give oil and gas producers billions of dollars in tax breaks. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403E6D81631F935A15751C0A9649C8B63 In Wikipedia i due fronti opposti e le loro motivazioni/strategie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Refuge_drilling_controversy#Supporting_views | ||
| Ivan/reflections from Rome |
Notes from Rome, October 16-26th, 2008. While at Rome and environs I had thoughts going through my head, so thought to list them here. Here are some of these riflessioni from Italy:  At a fountain in the Vatican's St. Peter's square* A. Those two little windows lit up are the Pope's apartment over Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, where at 9:30 PM Tuesday he was working, two passing priests told us reverently, most likely on the next day's speech to worshippers from his window. If Pope Benedict XVI can work late for God, then we are in good hands. B. The worries of the world seem to have passed over the Italians, who seem to enjoy life more fully than the rest of us, with fine company and delicious food, washed down with fine wines and song. Though, if one knows of their history they also have much to be sad about. Our last evening was at a pizza baking party held at a home in the country, in Sabina, attended by several families and children. We had such a wonderful time testing the newly built brick oven, and the pizza was all delicious! It was so much fun, such friendship and joy. Why can't we all be more like the Italians, thoughtful and joyful, descendants of those who brought us the Renaissance, Dante, and Michelangelo?  Michelangelo's Statue of David, 1504 C. Rome has been cleaned up a lot, where the level of homeless is lower, including begging Gypsies and their children, not as visible around downtown as before, though graffiti is still a problem. Where did they put them? Some were sent back for illegal entry, though Italian tolerance for this seems high by most standards. Mostly the government provides them housing at abysmally low rents, and medical care for free, however this too may be so abused as to eventually force a stop. Nevertheless, I watched my wallet when out. D. Such tolerance was tested on our visit when my wife was out taking pictures of a famous square in her neighborhood where she grew up, herself a descendent of Romans going back generations. After taking a photograph which included a 'pleasant' African woman singing and dancing around her tableau declaring "I am poor but happy. Please help me." However this 'happy' woman turned vicious and she attacked my wife from behind, threatening to punch her face, while my wife was trying to explain that she did not take the picture of her specifically, and was deleting it anyway. (In fact, my wife rather liked her being there all 'happy' until now, knowing her "I am poor but happy" was a deception to collect money from the unwary, in which she did a very good begging business it seems; why work?) Three young men working for Greenpeace saved her from punches, they had trouble because she was a big strong woman, though my wife's arms were bruised black and blue. When I went back with her to report it to police, they were already there taking statements from the witnesses. The attacker woman, older in years with signs of grey, was still agitated "non capisco" she kept repeating, but I found she spoke good English, so I spoke to her. "Why did you attack her?" She kept yelling aggressively, even point an accusatory finger at my wife. I asked what country she was from, but she shook her head and dismissed me, so I explained to her: "You cannot attack people here. My wife is from here, this is her country, and you cannot come here to attack her, or you will not be welcome here. Many people from all over the world come here and take pictures, so either you accept them or you cannot be here." She remained aggressive "non capisco niente" while in fact she understood perfectly. The police officers told her to calm down, and wrote up the report. My wife and I were instructed to report to a hospital for documentation of the attack, which we did. The next day the woman, who we found out was from Nigeria, was no longer there. Tolerance of others and their cultures can only go so far, and as the attack was unprovoked, cultural differences aside she had gone too far. D. There are still Nigerian prostitutes jumping out of the bushes on busy thoroughfares outside the city, sometimes Eastern European women too. There seems to be a Nigerian mafia at work there, though when the police round them up and ship them back to their country of origin, they have to handcuff them and put diapers on, since they are too violent to control otherwise. Sad, but they want to do what they do because it is more lucrative, though virtual slaves with terrible working conditions and frequent abuse, then going back home. It is almost comic to see them standing in the bushes by the side of the road, were it not also so tragic. E. There seems to be a demonstration against something or other every other day in Rome. One night was the students demanding courses funded but ill attended not be discontinued. Another day had Iranian women protesting outside the Parliament building demanding "Democracy for Iran", which was well attended by well dressed women, all hijabed, and some men, holding plackards and very peaceful. I don't know if their demonstration in Rome has any weight in Iran, but I was glad to see them out there. Women of Islam are their best hope for modern reforms, as this article in BBC points out: Fighting for Muslim women's rights, where one woman says: "We have a lot of information about men's interpretations of Islam, and of what it means to be a woman in Islam. We don't have equal amounts of information about what women say it means to be a good woman in Islam. Now it's time for men to be active listeners, and after listening, to be active participants in bringing about reform." Indeed, it is time for the men to listen, because they must share equally with the women or be left out of the future. Do the mullahs understand this? That modern humanity wants to be ruled by laws of reason rather than ancient superstitions? Equality and freedom is the natural order of things, not some ancient Arabic world domination imperative. F. There is a sinister side to people wearing 'uniforms' of their religion. Somehow it seems natural for priests and nuns, or clerics and monks, but it turns sinister when ordinary citizens put on the garb for more than merely religious reasons. It reminds me of the blackshirts or brownshirts of latter day Fascism, where their uniforms were a political statement. I never saw women in burkas in Rome, but there were quite a few women dressed in Islamic dress in public. I also noticed some kebab eateries would not serve wine or beer. Is it necessary to reinforce intolerance in one's food and drink in a host country? I am against it, because it betrays a certain intolerance of our freedoms, and if they cannot tolerate our ways, they should not make money off of us. This is especially true for Italy or France, where wine is a national drink with pride, because it is so good. My choice is not to patronize intolerant establishments, and I take a dim view of men and women who must assert their difference from those among whom they chose to live, and thus refuse to integrate into the rest of society. In America we had forced integration through affirmative action in past decades, which helped the Afro-American population assimilate into mainstream. On the flight home I sat next to an elderly and delightful couple who were Muslims. She cared for the old man, and he cared for her. But they drank wine too, so they were not assertively Islamic, though she wore a hijab. If these codes of 'politicized' dress were not separatist and exclusionary, there would be no problem. But there is a problem. Perhaps Europe needs affirmative action for their growing Islamic populations as well? G. When visiting the mountains I learned there is a growing regard for preserving the wilderness in Italy, especially the animals there. One such friend, Iva, an Italian of Austrian descent, has dedicated her life to sheltering unwanted cats and dogs, and they have a lovely place to stay in the country. We stayed at her mountain home, where it was very cold at night, but also visited down in the valley where her shelters are. Such love of animals is truly gratifying, from this elderly wizened woman, because she loves them without reserve. If only she could spread her love to the bears and foxes, and lynx and wolves of the mountains. But one person can only do so much, and she leads by example. Sometimes, this is all we can do, but it is also the best way.  Iva and I* H. We were too busy to manage a visit to the natural hot springs around Viterbo, though we went there twice on other business. Nor did I manage to have one of those large famous Florentine steaks. Ah, next time... I. Everywhere we went people were hospitable and loving, truly a wonderful experience. When we found a scorpion in the bathroom of a friend's home where we were overnight guests, we captured it and let it go in the wild. Right or wrong, love spreads even to those who could harm us, if we are careful. I believe the same is true of tolerance, that it spreads, if we are careful. J. Jesus taught us to love one another. Why is this so hard to do? K. Not far from the coast are lovely hilltop villages with a fort atop. This is a common sight, which is lovely to us today, but it had a sinister past. The reason these hillside towns were built was because the coast was unsafe from pirates, mostly North African or Turks who would come and raid for booty and slaves, taking children and women, killing the men. At one time, most of Italy's coast was deserted, except for these defensible fortified villages with thick walls, keeping the inhabitants safe from these sinister marauders. Today their narrow winding alleys and fortress strongholds with arrow slits, or cannon portholes, are quaint as tourist attractions with restaurants and art galleries, but in Medieval times they were a necessity. I especially enjoyed Sermoneto and Formello, but there were many such villages all around. Times have changed, except now the threat is from Islamic fundamentalist terrorism (product of bad interpretations of their Quran?), and those unfortunately can strike anywhere at any time. So perhaps times have not changed enough. L. Why do fundamentalists feel it their 'right' to attack us and our free way of life? This thought came to me while visiting at Greccio, where Saint Francis built a beautiful mountain monastic retreat for his followers. It was very simple and Spartan, like St. Francis himself, where the monks lived in small wooden cells while he slept in a small rocky cave. For the whole complex there was only one fireplace. The chapel is all wood paneled and exquisite, dating back to the XIII century. The views of the large valley from this cliffside stronghold was breathtaking. His ideology was so forgiving, in the footsteps of Christ, while today's fundamentalists are cruel and oppressive. Why do they think their superstitions are valid in today's world? By what right may they coerce us who do not believe as they do? None.  A hall at St. Francis retreat in the hills over Greccio* M. Animals are born with teeth and claws to defend themselves, or attack. We humans do not have these, but we can also attack or defend ourselves with our minds, and what our hands can do. St. Francis loved all animals, even the wolves, though they were feared. We do not have to fear them anymore, because we have brains that can love them instead. It is our minds that make us special amongst all the natural species, and where the animal cannot change its physiology, we humans can change our minds to become better. That is the gift of evolution for our species, that we do not have to remain animals, but can raise ourselves to become fully conscious human beings, and love all creation. But humans who are stuck in their animal world unable to evolve into a fully conscious humanity must be treated as we would wild beasts. The evolution is towards a greater acceptance and forgiveness, not attack of others who are not like us. But in this forgiveness is also the necessity to maintain those who would harm us at bay. Just like that woman who thought (or perhaps lacked thought) that it was okay to attack another person, and is now no longer welcome, so must we be selective in those we will tolerate with our love, and sometimes love them away from us. If not, then we are once again forced to build fortresses, and this we do not wish to do. Rather, let us use our brains to better understand the enemy, subdue him if that is what is required, but without ill will. If the enemy can be turned into a friend, like the wolf by St. Francis, then that is the best way. And if not, then there is nothing wrong with using our brains to undo the threat. N. The beast in us is not where we are going, but where we came from. Undo the beast, and you have gained a whole universe working with you, a universe that is there for you. Freedom is when we trust reality to be the truth, and slavery is when our superstitious past controls our minds. We do not have to be that unhappy woman who deceives us with songs and dancing, while all she really has in her heart is greed. (We found out she had a history of violence, that she also attacked anyone who tried to beg near her.) Her complaint to the police was that my wife would not give her money for the photograph! How fallen can we be? This is where we must rise above our past, and become the truly light filled beings that is our right, and our destiny. We are more than fighting beasts, and to rise to that true potential in ourselves will take mind.  (Amazon books, interactive) Giordano Bruno's book "Bestia Triumphante", which got him in trouble with the Church authorities for criticizing their abuse of power; and for which he was burned at the stake for heresy in Campo dei Fiori (field of flowers), Rome, February 1600. O. We are what we believe. This is what I discovered over and over again on this trip. Believe in what is true, not what is false and fearful. There is no 'beast' in us unless we allow it to reside in our hearts. Discard the beast, and you are free. Be cautious, because not all humans are there yet, but do not let this fallibility in a still evolving humanity bring you down to their level. Rise above it in your beliefs, and like the Italians, enjoy life to its fullest. There is no greater gift we can give one another than that, of freedom with joy, and love. It is really all that simple. But be aware, because not all are there yet, so choose carefully. The rest of it is in God's hands.   Pizza making party with friends, and the baker* at oven * * * When people asked me about our upcoming American elections, as to who would win, I answered that I hoped it would be a person, no matter how well spoken, who is true. I don't presume to know who will win the presidency, but in the end, it will always be the truth, because that is where we must ultimately go. For democracy in freedom to work, not just in word with freedom of speech, but in deed with a true freedom of belief, we must have the truth. This must be, or else we are back to building fortresses. *(photos by Celsia) Ivan | ||
| Ivan/8th wonder |
Eighth wonder of the world?  (interactive) 'Temples of Damanhur' - northern Italy.
Read it all, and scroll down in link for more pictures, click on image above.  Egyptian wall paintings: Damanhurian art is greatly influenced by both Egyptian and Celtic sytles (Brought to our attention by Mohideen Ibramsha, thanks.) Ivan |