Seriously, fuck the Democratic National Convention. Fuck it. Fuck democrats for the matter. Fuck Nancy Pelosi. Fuck Barack Obama.
I'm not sure why these people think it's cool to swarm together and talk about how tight they are. It makes sense. Kinda. I guess. Like it must feel good to stand in a huge crowd of like minded-people and chant little quips and catch phrases. I don't know. Doesn't that sound kinda good? Right?
So, honestly, i didn't even finish this shit. I watched for a few minutes, learned some shit about Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, and John McCain. Pelosi is the first Italian American speaker of the house. She's also a woman. Incidentally, she's a great speaker and kinda charismatic, but fuck, is she annoying. I've never heard so much goddamn talk about modern patriotism and coalitions.
I mean, i really don't know what it is that irks me so goddamn much about politics. i think it's all really foolish and iritating on this superficial level; but in this whole other, more complex way i thinks it's kind of malevolent or something. I think, for sure, that these people, almost categorically, are snakes. i think no congress person ought to speak to passingly about right and wrong when it comes to political ideas; at least not by saying 'this person is right this one is wrong blah blah blah.' It's stupid. It's stupid talk. Especially when a room full of flag-waving dummies chant along with her, "When it comes to health care! Obama's right, McCain's wrong!" Seriously? Seriously, that's what where doing?
Also, I don't know what's good for our country. I don't. More abstractly or fundamentally, however, I don't think simply bringing diametric positions to the table is the best way of solving a problem. In politics, though, It's even worse then that. It's not like Barack Obama and John McCain have opposite ideas; it's not even that 'democrats' and 'republicans' have opposite ideas. In fact, i'm not entirely convinced, after this little shindig, that either have any real ideas at all. Instead, two dudes who probably believe a lot of the same things are encouraged to say silly things by silly people. I think that's where the whole evil part of politics comes from. It's all about winning, but not in healthy american sense, but in the conniving, i'll-say/do-anything kind of way. Like, if a politician was in a western, he/she almost undoubtedly would be a bad guy, a coward, or a wretch.
Jesus this blog is bad. Whatever. I seriously felt a little sick watching that shit. it made me feel a little hopeless and sad for our country. i'm not sure if it was the conspicuous splicing of political rhetoric and MLK themes or what, but it makes me sick that Obama is black. It makes me feel sad a little; like maybe we all feel a little too good about him being black.
Plus, the way people at this convention where talking about how he's going to save us made me hope he fuck it up. Like, fucks everything up: health care, economy, the war. I know this is stupid and maybe not even cool, but part of me wants to see what would happen. i know it wouldn't be tight, but maybe it would be good for us to realize that these fuckin guys are just suits with big, white teeth.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
As American As Men's Gymnastics
Unlike many young, indignant Americans, I am extremely proud of my country.
Tonight, i talked with my mom on the phone and watched Men's gymnastics. First, i'm not sure if four year old perceptions are simply too old to say i even truly comprehended anything or if the sport has simply changed a great deal in that time, but there was something incredible about it all. Often times i found myself sitting completely still and holding my breath until whole routines were finished.
After the American Men's team was finished performing or whatever, the feed cut to a young women, Natalie Coughlin, who had just won the 100m backstroke and qualified for the 200m freestyle event. After a congenial interview, there was a replay of the of her standing on a podium with another American and a German, i think, and quietly mouthing the words to The Star-Spangled Banner. Her hair was still wet from her earlier swim and holding a bouquet with shaky hands, she kept back her tears. I looked at her high cheek bones, perfect teeth, and blue eyes (all, to me, undeniably mid-western characteristics) and felt proud and happy. As the song came to an end, and she no longer had any words to quietly recite, she began to cry, wave, and smile, and for a brief moment I felt my throat get tight, and thought that i might cry along with her.
I'm not sure what it was exactly that made me feel so goddamn good about watching this young woman achieve something so great; i'm not sure it needs to be much more than that. I know there was a sense of unity, though; something that made me, and her, and all the athletes that compete under the United States, and every other american, connected. It happened later, too, after the feed cut back to the American Men's gymnastics team celebrating after winning a bronze medal. They all jumped around and hugged each other, and chanted 'U.S.A.' as coaches and teammates ruffled their hair and kissed their heads. In the audience, a young man who evidently couldn't compete, was clapping and intermittently wiping tears from his massive face by nuzzling it into his massive arms.
I'm sure the reasons for my emotional response tonight are complex, but simply, i was proud to be an American. I felt identifiable and good. I am always vaguely proud in this way, but this sensation was so acute and direct that it was altogether overwhelming. Thank God that this feeling was quickly nullified by a member of the men's gymnastics teams repeatedly shouting into the camera, "that's how we role!" Any sentimentality, at this point, was quickly put to rest.
Tonight, i talked with my mom on the phone and watched Men's gymnastics. First, i'm not sure if four year old perceptions are simply too old to say i even truly comprehended anything or if the sport has simply changed a great deal in that time, but there was something incredible about it all. Often times i found myself sitting completely still and holding my breath until whole routines were finished.
After the American Men's team was finished performing or whatever, the feed cut to a young women, Natalie Coughlin, who had just won the 100m backstroke and qualified for the 200m freestyle event. After a congenial interview, there was a replay of the of her standing on a podium with another American and a German, i think, and quietly mouthing the words to The Star-Spangled Banner. Her hair was still wet from her earlier swim and holding a bouquet with shaky hands, she kept back her tears. I looked at her high cheek bones, perfect teeth, and blue eyes (all, to me, undeniably mid-western characteristics) and felt proud and happy. As the song came to an end, and she no longer had any words to quietly recite, she began to cry, wave, and smile, and for a brief moment I felt my throat get tight, and thought that i might cry along with her.
I'm not sure what it was exactly that made me feel so goddamn good about watching this young woman achieve something so great; i'm not sure it needs to be much more than that. I know there was a sense of unity, though; something that made me, and her, and all the athletes that compete under the United States, and every other american, connected. It happened later, too, after the feed cut back to the American Men's gymnastics team celebrating after winning a bronze medal. They all jumped around and hugged each other, and chanted 'U.S.A.' as coaches and teammates ruffled their hair and kissed their heads. In the audience, a young man who evidently couldn't compete, was clapping and intermittently wiping tears from his massive face by nuzzling it into his massive arms.
I'm sure the reasons for my emotional response tonight are complex, but simply, i was proud to be an American. I felt identifiable and good. I am always vaguely proud in this way, but this sensation was so acute and direct that it was altogether overwhelming. Thank God that this feeling was quickly nullified by a member of the men's gymnastics teams repeatedly shouting into the camera, "that's how we role!" Any sentimentality, at this point, was quickly put to rest.
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