Two consecutive mornings this week resulted in injuries to my right thumb:
Tuesday morning
Randomly scraped a patch of skin off of my knuckle after depositing my bags into my back seat (before they and their contents hurtled themselves onto the floor of my backseat.) It is red and swollen today. I always fear gangrene when doing stupid things like that. I know there's an incredibly minute change of that ever happening... it does cross my mind though and makes me paranoid for about a week.
Wednesday morning
While picking up my computer bag before leaving the house (while running late of course) I managed to bend my thumb back to a degree that is no thumb is meant to go. Of course, I spend 8-10 hours a day on a computer where avoiding thumb use if virtually impossible. So it goes... I hope it's just sprained and not broken. This is the second time in the last 2 months I have done this. The last time I didn't notice the cause. Apparently pressing the space bar too hard.
All this to say, I had better not plan on chopping vegetables or fruit for at least another week or my poor thumb will be in severe danger of dismemberment.
*Update* I also managed to beat myself up yesterday... I got home from Dinner A'Fare (a store that designs a monthly menu and provides instructions and ingredients. You just come in for 1-2 hours and prepare the meals and throw them in the freezer to eat for the rest of the month. This service has been the most beneficial thing to my marriage thus far. I can only imagine what a monthly cleaning service will do!) and was exhausted. I begrudgingly began cooking some dinner since I was famished and knew that cereal or a bowl of soup wasn't going to cut it. Well, we have a "galley style" kitchen which is ridiculously small. I placed the cooler with my newly assembled meals by the door and proceeded to open the freezer door (directly perpendicular to the doorway.) I managed to roll the cooler into my leg (really hard somehow...) and when I stood up in pain smashed my spine on the freezer door. I think I then, again, sliced my hand open. It probably doesn't sound funny... rather stupid, but it resembled rehearsed slapstick comedy at its best if you had been an ant on the wall. And I have the bruises to prove it.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Buying A House Sure Is Fun!
Actually, not at all. Unless you love mounds paperwork that make you feel like you're signing away your soul to Freddie Mac (ie. the devil). And unattainable deadlines that you have no control over and may actually void your contract. When I found that out, my head almost exploded for 3 days straight.
On the bright side, assuming all goes well, I will actually get to live in my new (to me) townhouse by the end of the summer. And we got a deal on the place... it was owned by an old lady who either passed away or moved to another place (I assume to receive better care), so despite being old with minimal upgrades the house is in great shape. I honestly can't even believe it. It's moments like these where I pause, and think, "How the hell did I get HERE?" I mean, I'm 25 years old. Neither of my parents own a house... my husband's parents have a beautiful house, but they can't afford it... so how on earth did we decide at 25 and 26 respectively to make such a purchase?
Well, first of all, we need to get out of our apartment. Actually, we needed to move out last June, but couldn't because the timing and moving expenses conflicted with our wedding. So, over the last year, our apartment has exuded wear and tear. It doesn't matter how much we clean it... the spots refuse to come out of the carpet, there's a lingering odd smell that we can't locate, and we live in perpetual fear that either the ceiling above or floor below is going to collapse. And, now there are bugs. Centipedes and ants and (hopefully) a lone black jumping spider. I'm also afraid I saw a cockroach scurrying about the other night. ICK!!!! I hate bugs more than anything. They make me want to simultaneously throw up, scream, and blindly run away. Our complex has always had issues with insects, but previously they had not gotten to us because they're pretty good about exterminating when needed. Apparently they got the memo that we're moving out, so they're throwing us a big farewell insect bash instead.
Also, did I mention the yellow (peeling) wallpaper? That's right... like in the famous story. I can speak from experience - it does indeed drive you mad.
In February we began looking for a new apartment and found out that we would be paying just as much for something to rent than we would to own, which tipped the scale to buying. Then gloriously Congress passed ARRA... granting us $8,000 just for purchasing a house. I think this is incredibly asinine, but if the Government insists on making such decisions at least I'll get back some of my taxes to pay off our car debt and own a house where we can write off the interest payments and acquire equity to use in the future since we don't plan on living in this house for more than 5 years.
We also ironed out some miscommunication and issues with our contractor... so all appears to be well there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all does indeed go well. Granted, it would pretty much take a meteor striking the new house for me to actually be surprised about a potential roadblock, so lets hope any other problems will be less than that.
In the meantime, I have to pick out cabinets, granite colors, and hardwood stain colors. Who ever thought that would be the intimidating part about buying a house? I regularly panic over choosing the wrong shade of stain that will cause our entire house to either look like a cave or a giant sunshine capture that blinds us upon entry. Or worse, God forbid, my kitchen table clashes with the floor or cabinets. This would be a catastrophe I'm not sure I could handle. Wish me luck, I meet with the cabinet designer this afternoon!
On the bright side, assuming all goes well, I will actually get to live in my new (to me) townhouse by the end of the summer. And we got a deal on the place... it was owned by an old lady who either passed away or moved to another place (I assume to receive better care), so despite being old with minimal upgrades the house is in great shape. I honestly can't even believe it. It's moments like these where I pause, and think, "How the hell did I get HERE?" I mean, I'm 25 years old. Neither of my parents own a house... my husband's parents have a beautiful house, but they can't afford it... so how on earth did we decide at 25 and 26 respectively to make such a purchase?
Well, first of all, we need to get out of our apartment. Actually, we needed to move out last June, but couldn't because the timing and moving expenses conflicted with our wedding. So, over the last year, our apartment has exuded wear and tear. It doesn't matter how much we clean it... the spots refuse to come out of the carpet, there's a lingering odd smell that we can't locate, and we live in perpetual fear that either the ceiling above or floor below is going to collapse. And, now there are bugs. Centipedes and ants and (hopefully) a lone black jumping spider. I'm also afraid I saw a cockroach scurrying about the other night. ICK!!!! I hate bugs more than anything. They make me want to simultaneously throw up, scream, and blindly run away. Our complex has always had issues with insects, but previously they had not gotten to us because they're pretty good about exterminating when needed. Apparently they got the memo that we're moving out, so they're throwing us a big farewell insect bash instead.
Also, did I mention the yellow (peeling) wallpaper? That's right... like in the famous story. I can speak from experience - it does indeed drive you mad.
In February we began looking for a new apartment and found out that we would be paying just as much for something to rent than we would to own, which tipped the scale to buying. Then gloriously Congress passed ARRA... granting us $8,000 just for purchasing a house. I think this is incredibly asinine, but if the Government insists on making such decisions at least I'll get back some of my taxes to pay off our car debt and own a house where we can write off the interest payments and acquire equity to use in the future since we don't plan on living in this house for more than 5 years.
We also ironed out some miscommunication and issues with our contractor... so all appears to be well there. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all does indeed go well. Granted, it would pretty much take a meteor striking the new house for me to actually be surprised about a potential roadblock, so lets hope any other problems will be less than that.
In the meantime, I have to pick out cabinets, granite colors, and hardwood stain colors. Who ever thought that would be the intimidating part about buying a house? I regularly panic over choosing the wrong shade of stain that will cause our entire house to either look like a cave or a giant sunshine capture that blinds us upon entry. Or worse, God forbid, my kitchen table clashes with the floor or cabinets. This would be a catastrophe I'm not sure I could handle. Wish me luck, I meet with the cabinet designer this afternoon!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
What, An Intern You Say?
Intern. What a glorious word. Not necessarily when you are one, although I was fortunate to have had good internship experiences, but I've heard the horror stories. And, at my first internship, we actually watched Office Space our final week in memoriam of our glorious summer work... so it's not like it was that good. Living in DC on the other hand...
My second internship was generally great. I worked as an academic conference planner and actually got to attend the conferences. Those were good times filled with early mornings, late night drinking and conversing, good food, and general merriment despite the fatigue that came with being the person responsible for the 6-7am set-ups every morning. And it's not like as a recent college graduate that you're going to turn down free, quality booze. I mean, come on, what's a little exhaustion in exchange for having access to food and drink you couldn't even dream about as a poor starving college student?
However, upon finishing my second internship I quickly approached a general feeling of disdain for the intern profession. I wanted to actually DO something, not just fill in temporary gaps in an organization.
Then I got my real job. Not so different than being an intern until you actually learn something useful. And I am not a conference or event planner, so those skills weren't all that helpful. And, even if you are doing actual work (which I do much of the time), you're still the bottom of the Totem pole. This is just the way it works being a 25-year-old business professional, but it certainly has its frustrating moments. Then, yesterday, my boss uttered the magical words: "So, do you know of anyone willing to do temporary work for us... you know, like a summer intern?"
That's right, intern! A person lower than me... whose job in many ways is to help me and will often report to me for various projects. I have to admit, upon hearing the news, I experienced one of the most professionally satisfying moments of my career. Oh the sweet, sweet feeling of being in charge of something again. How my tyrannical soul missed it so. After all, if there is one thing I am good at it is making others be successful whether they like it or not.
Now, the actual hiring of the intern is still very much up in the air and may not happen. I perfectly understand this despite my zeal. Nevertheless, just being able to dream of a day when I will once again be in charge of others is enough to keep me going during countless moments of frustration, inexperience, and general failure (not in the school sense of failure, but in the sense of not knowing what the client wants, what the boss wants, what society wants, who will answer your marketing pitches, etc. through no fault of your own because no one explains things until they have something in front of them by which to compare their expectations.)
It also means my time is more valuable than that of an intern's. So, I probably shouldn't be spending it finishing this blog entry. But, I must say, it's nice for my time to matter to someone other than me.
My second internship was generally great. I worked as an academic conference planner and actually got to attend the conferences. Those were good times filled with early mornings, late night drinking and conversing, good food, and general merriment despite the fatigue that came with being the person responsible for the 6-7am set-ups every morning. And it's not like as a recent college graduate that you're going to turn down free, quality booze. I mean, come on, what's a little exhaustion in exchange for having access to food and drink you couldn't even dream about as a poor starving college student?
However, upon finishing my second internship I quickly approached a general feeling of disdain for the intern profession. I wanted to actually DO something, not just fill in temporary gaps in an organization.
Then I got my real job. Not so different than being an intern until you actually learn something useful. And I am not a conference or event planner, so those skills weren't all that helpful. And, even if you are doing actual work (which I do much of the time), you're still the bottom of the Totem pole. This is just the way it works being a 25-year-old business professional, but it certainly has its frustrating moments. Then, yesterday, my boss uttered the magical words: "So, do you know of anyone willing to do temporary work for us... you know, like a summer intern?"
That's right, intern! A person lower than me... whose job in many ways is to help me and will often report to me for various projects. I have to admit, upon hearing the news, I experienced one of the most professionally satisfying moments of my career. Oh the sweet, sweet feeling of being in charge of something again. How my tyrannical soul missed it so. After all, if there is one thing I am good at it is making others be successful whether they like it or not.
Now, the actual hiring of the intern is still very much up in the air and may not happen. I perfectly understand this despite my zeal. Nevertheless, just being able to dream of a day when I will once again be in charge of others is enough to keep me going during countless moments of frustration, inexperience, and general failure (not in the school sense of failure, but in the sense of not knowing what the client wants, what the boss wants, what society wants, who will answer your marketing pitches, etc. through no fault of your own because no one explains things until they have something in front of them by which to compare their expectations.)
It also means my time is more valuable than that of an intern's. So, I probably shouldn't be spending it finishing this blog entry. But, I must say, it's nice for my time to matter to someone other than me.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Did I mention how much I hate Tom Petty? Because I do.
Thankfully the only decent radio station in Atlanta - 99X - is back. It re-launched 2 Saturdays ago and I couldn't be happier. Especially when the radio station I had adopted to take its place when it went off the air after 20+ years in 2008 delivered this little item into my inbox yesterday: Tom Petty Weekend! from Dave FM. Fantastic. Just what I needed more of in my life: Tom Petty!
The month preceding 99X's comeback, I began tracking the frequency Tom Petty was played on that station. My conclusion - at least once an hour. ONCE AN HOUR. I conducted this sample at literally every hour of the day at some point or another. Sometimes at 1am, they'd even play him twice... just to be sure in case any other insomniac missed the first song. I'm convinced the station staff have a drinking game that commences when Petty is played. Or, has a rule that they can't smoke up without Petty in the background. Now, we all know that Tom Petty is the most popular artist by which to smoke a joint... well aside from the Grateful Dead, but let's not go there for now... but really? Once an hour? What about those of use who do not actually do drugs, but simply love music. Huh? What about us? Especially when we're loyal listeners at all times of day and night.
I will admit that I went through a period in college where I had a burned CD of Tom Petty's greatest hits or something from my roommate. I listed to Tom Petty 24/7 for about 3 months. That was all I the Petty I will ever need.
Sure, it's my fault I got burned out... oh the pun that wasn't even intentional... especially since I have never taken a single recreational drug in my life. However, even if I had not had my 3 month Petty binge in college, I certainly got my fill listening to Dave FM. And I was even beginning to be convinced that it actually a "good" radio station. Excluding Petty. And Sting. If I have to hear "Roxanne" one more time, I will probably throw something at an innocent bystander. Or window.
It got to the point where I would yell in a really excited voice to my husband in the next room, "Hey! Guess what?" And he would run in or respond with equal fervor, "What?!" To which I would respond sardonically, "Guess who's on the radio? Tom Petty - NO WAY!" (I also added Sting to my game to add variety, but he's not quite as bad. At least he was worthy of some rep during his prime. Petty not so much - despite popularity.)
Obviously, this game got a little old... but was at least more entertaining that the damn music. And then miraculously 99X was back on the FM airwaves. So, Dave FM can take their "Tom Petty Weekend!" and leave it with the rest of the burnouts. The rest of us have moved back to greener pastures.
The month preceding 99X's comeback, I began tracking the frequency Tom Petty was played on that station. My conclusion - at least once an hour. ONCE AN HOUR. I conducted this sample at literally every hour of the day at some point or another. Sometimes at 1am, they'd even play him twice... just to be sure in case any other insomniac missed the first song. I'm convinced the station staff have a drinking game that commences when Petty is played. Or, has a rule that they can't smoke up without Petty in the background. Now, we all know that Tom Petty is the most popular artist by which to smoke a joint... well aside from the Grateful Dead, but let's not go there for now... but really? Once an hour? What about those of use who do not actually do drugs, but simply love music. Huh? What about us? Especially when we're loyal listeners at all times of day and night.
I will admit that I went through a period in college where I had a burned CD of Tom Petty's greatest hits or something from my roommate. I listed to Tom Petty 24/7 for about 3 months. That was all I the Petty I will ever need.
Sure, it's my fault I got burned out... oh the pun that wasn't even intentional... especially since I have never taken a single recreational drug in my life. However, even if I had not had my 3 month Petty binge in college, I certainly got my fill listening to Dave FM. And I was even beginning to be convinced that it actually a "good" radio station. Excluding Petty. And Sting. If I have to hear "Roxanne" one more time, I will probably throw something at an innocent bystander. Or window.
It got to the point where I would yell in a really excited voice to my husband in the next room, "Hey! Guess what?" And he would run in or respond with equal fervor, "What?!" To which I would respond sardonically, "Guess who's on the radio? Tom Petty - NO WAY!" (I also added Sting to my game to add variety, but he's not quite as bad. At least he was worthy of some rep during his prime. Petty not so much - despite popularity.)
Obviously, this game got a little old... but was at least more entertaining that the damn music. And then miraculously 99X was back on the FM airwaves. So, Dave FM can take their "Tom Petty Weekend!" and leave it with the rest of the burnouts. The rest of us have moved back to greener pastures.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
New Goal #2
You knew this was coming... but here it is anyway. I got a Kindle 2 last week. I like to think of it as the best day of my life. Wait, not your wedding day? Or graduation from your excruciating college (that merits further explanation, but it's really too involved for my current purposes)? Or moving away from Luck, Wisconsin... Rome, Georgia... Waco, Texas? Nope. The Kindle far outweighs any of them (my husband understands this completely, hence why he bought it for me. We have a very honest relationship - and by honest I mean blunt. At least on my end. I tend to throw things if he reciprocates and I'm in a bad mood...)
In a way, my reaction to the Kindle is nothing short of pathetic and I'm okay with that. Some people have babies. Others have pets. Some even have copious amounts of houseplants. And I salute all of them... even as their thousands of pictures cloud up my Facebook news feed. But, I have a wireless reading device. Haha! And I treat it like it's my baby... it has a sleek case that is lined with high quality padded leather (one may compare it to a car seat/baby carrier), it's constantly teaching me new things, and it never leaves my side. It also talks if I ask it to and goes to sleep when it's told. What could be better?
I am completely in love with it. Like the mothers who stare longingly at their new little feces machines, I can just stare at its sleek design for hours on end. I dream about opening it and reading all the hysterical memoirs I have loaded on to it by modern women with senses of humor much like my own. It truly has improved my life and gives me something to look forward to even on the most dull and ordinary day.
I am reminded of my childhood when I would beg my parents to buy me the new Babysitters' Club, Boxcar Children, or Saddle Club book or whatever other series I was reading at the time. The pure excitement and joy of reading that I have not had in almost 10 years. There were still hints of it in high school, but college destroyed my love of reading despite teaching me how to be a better reader. For that, I will always be grateful. However, it's great to be back.
This also leads me to my second new goal. I started this blog as a venue to essentially vent about politics and society. It was in the throngs of the 2008 election and the irrationality on both sides was staggering. So, I may decide to rename this... through writing this blog I think it's pretty evident that despite my total commitment to reason as a virtue and behaving reasonably... I often fail. Actually, more times than not. Maybe I'm still more reasonable that most. I like to think so. But, I think this will be a more interesting blog if it is more personal and less in the third-person abstract sense. One day - far in the future - I would like to write a comedic memoir much like the ones I am currently devouring. As much I enjoy discussing business, politics, and foreign affairs I enjoy real people's stories even more. After all, reality is often stranger than fiction, right?
So... this will be my experiment in personal writing (that ideally does not offend others or compromise myself.) I'll see how it goes. I'm guessing I won't post again for a month out of sheer anxiety...
In the meantime, you should buy a Kindle 2. It's an amazing way to change your life and improve the human experience without having to actually affect another living being. Thank you Amazon.com.
In a way, my reaction to the Kindle is nothing short of pathetic and I'm okay with that. Some people have babies. Others have pets. Some even have copious amounts of houseplants. And I salute all of them... even as their thousands of pictures cloud up my Facebook news feed. But, I have a wireless reading device. Haha! And I treat it like it's my baby... it has a sleek case that is lined with high quality padded leather (one may compare it to a car seat/baby carrier), it's constantly teaching me new things, and it never leaves my side. It also talks if I ask it to and goes to sleep when it's told. What could be better?
I am completely in love with it. Like the mothers who stare longingly at their new little feces machines, I can just stare at its sleek design for hours on end. I dream about opening it and reading all the hysterical memoirs I have loaded on to it by modern women with senses of humor much like my own. It truly has improved my life and gives me something to look forward to even on the most dull and ordinary day.
I am reminded of my childhood when I would beg my parents to buy me the new Babysitters' Club, Boxcar Children, or Saddle Club book or whatever other series I was reading at the time. The pure excitement and joy of reading that I have not had in almost 10 years. There were still hints of it in high school, but college destroyed my love of reading despite teaching me how to be a better reader. For that, I will always be grateful. However, it's great to be back.
This also leads me to my second new goal. I started this blog as a venue to essentially vent about politics and society. It was in the throngs of the 2008 election and the irrationality on both sides was staggering. So, I may decide to rename this... through writing this blog I think it's pretty evident that despite my total commitment to reason as a virtue and behaving reasonably... I often fail. Actually, more times than not. Maybe I'm still more reasonable that most. I like to think so. But, I think this will be a more interesting blog if it is more personal and less in the third-person abstract sense. One day - far in the future - I would like to write a comedic memoir much like the ones I am currently devouring. As much I enjoy discussing business, politics, and foreign affairs I enjoy real people's stories even more. After all, reality is often stranger than fiction, right?
So... this will be my experiment in personal writing (that ideally does not offend others or compromise myself.) I'll see how it goes. I'm guessing I won't post again for a month out of sheer anxiety...
In the meantime, you should buy a Kindle 2. It's an amazing way to change your life and improve the human experience without having to actually affect another living being. Thank you Amazon.com.
Monday, May 4, 2009
New Life Goal
My husband and I spent the last weekend driving approximately 1,300 miles through 8 states. It rained... make that down poured... 75% of the time. We saw actual slivers of blue sky exactly once. I have never seen so many trailer parks in my entire life and I grew up in a very poor area of the country. If this example were on the SAT... Trailer Parks are to Missouri as Cows are to Wisconsin. I'm still a little taken aback by all the "scenery" we took in. I will probably post some of my favorites when I fire my camera back up.
That being said, I was glad we were able to go to our friend's wedding. I am very pro-supporting friends and sharing their big life experiences with them. So, that part was good.
However, this trip prompted my next major goal: Never venturing outside of the city limits of a locale that has a population less than 500,000. This will most likely be difficult if I ever want to see my family or home town friends again, so I doubt it will seriously happen. If only it were an ideal world and all my friends and family lived in the downtown areas of the biggest cities in the country. And we had light rail connecting them when not wanting to battle airport traffic. That would be a grand thing.
So, if you're ever with me when I have to go outside of the perimeter I will start hyperventilating... which is why I can't drive in those situations. There is no longer any "country mouse" side of me despite my upbringing. This has its downsides and maybe even makes me a bit of a snob, but after this trip I just don't care. Give me my bustling, shiny cities or give me panic-induced, hyperventilating, heart attack or car accidental death.
Oh, and remind me NEVER to complain about living in Atlanta ever again. It may not be New York City or Boston or Chicago, but if one must live in the South East it certainly is the best option available (outside of some select cities in Florida.) Never has there been a more beautiful sight that driving over a hill and seeing the Atlanta sky line.
That being said, I was glad we were able to go to our friend's wedding. I am very pro-supporting friends and sharing their big life experiences with them. So, that part was good.
However, this trip prompted my next major goal: Never venturing outside of the city limits of a locale that has a population less than 500,000. This will most likely be difficult if I ever want to see my family or home town friends again, so I doubt it will seriously happen. If only it were an ideal world and all my friends and family lived in the downtown areas of the biggest cities in the country. And we had light rail connecting them when not wanting to battle airport traffic. That would be a grand thing.
So, if you're ever with me when I have to go outside of the perimeter I will start hyperventilating... which is why I can't drive in those situations. There is no longer any "country mouse" side of me despite my upbringing. This has its downsides and maybe even makes me a bit of a snob, but after this trip I just don't care. Give me my bustling, shiny cities or give me panic-induced, hyperventilating, heart attack or car accidental death.
Oh, and remind me NEVER to complain about living in Atlanta ever again. It may not be New York City or Boston or Chicago, but if one must live in the South East it certainly is the best option available (outside of some select cities in Florida.) Never has there been a more beautiful sight that driving over a hill and seeing the Atlanta sky line.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Why Do I Have Sympathy For A Pirate?
The Somali pirate situation has me bothered on so many levels. First, it's alarming that pirates are now willing to attack major U.S. merchant ships (even considering their pathetically small and rundown boats they use to do this.) I'm a little tired of worrying about the state of our foreign policy, so I'm going to leave that one alone for the most part. Typically I would be on board with those who are crying to make an example of the surviving pirate who is now being held for charges in New York (because that is apparently where African crimes and issues are dealt with.) In a theoretical way I still feel that way. However, after seeing the pictures of him in the news all I really feel is sympathy.
People were outraged because he was smiling when he got off the boat and was being photographed on the way into the court house (or jail... I'm not sure which.) He was handcuffed and in a prison-type uniform, but was grinning like he just won the lottery. The reason being that in his mind he did. When outraged reporters grilled his lawyer about why he was happy, they replied "He had never seen a camera before." That breaks my heart. He was happy to be in America - to see its affluence and humane treatment of people... even a reviled prisoner like himself.
It is important to note here that the amount of money they took from the Maersk Alabama was only US$30,000. Now, $30k is nothing to turn your nose up at, but at the same time is $30k worth a lifetime in prison? Or the high probability of being killed in the process? Or having to commit atrocities that you don't want to do, but feel are necessary because you're so desperate for money?
That figure makes me sick. This is how impoverished Somalia is - $30k would actually have made a difference for those pirates. They would have felt as rich as I would feel winning a million. I can't even fathom such a place. This is another reason I feel sympathy for the pirate.
Going in to the charging proceedings, there remains great debate about his age. It has been reported as being anywhere from 15-26 with no accurate records to support any of them. It can generally assumed that he was at least of a cognizant age and that he therefore understood that his actions were wrong. This will most likely result in a lifetime prison sentence on the 4 felony counts he is being charged with having to deal with very old laws regarding piracy and hostages. Such a sentence is most likely fair. I wouldn't argue with it assuming the evidence proves them all. However, it still doesn't make me feel any better about the situation.
As Americans we are quick to judge... virtually everything and everyone. I don't know why this is, but I do think humility is a lost virtue for most Americans. Probably including myself. Yet, I can't stand to hear the people calling for the pitchforks and mob before even listening to the full story. Now, Captain Philips has the right to any opinion since he was the victim and acted incredibly heroically. He is the one light in this whole mess. He accepted his responsibility and handled it admirably saving the lives and well being of his crew. He deserves a Presidential or Congressional medal for his actions. I just wish that people would be willing to at least look at the situation to understand the piracy situation.
The Obama Administration talks about wanting to improve our image abroad and rebuild relationships with other nations. To make a safer, better world. I certainly do not disagree with those aspirations. However, instead of wasting time having photo ops with Russian and Venezuelan leaders, maybe we could think of a legitimate humanitarian assistance program for Somalia. I bet then they wouldn't be so eager to go after Western merchant vessels.
People were outraged because he was smiling when he got off the boat and was being photographed on the way into the court house (or jail... I'm not sure which.) He was handcuffed and in a prison-type uniform, but was grinning like he just won the lottery. The reason being that in his mind he did. When outraged reporters grilled his lawyer about why he was happy, they replied "He had never seen a camera before." That breaks my heart. He was happy to be in America - to see its affluence and humane treatment of people... even a reviled prisoner like himself.
It is important to note here that the amount of money they took from the Maersk Alabama was only US$30,000. Now, $30k is nothing to turn your nose up at, but at the same time is $30k worth a lifetime in prison? Or the high probability of being killed in the process? Or having to commit atrocities that you don't want to do, but feel are necessary because you're so desperate for money?
That figure makes me sick. This is how impoverished Somalia is - $30k would actually have made a difference for those pirates. They would have felt as rich as I would feel winning a million. I can't even fathom such a place. This is another reason I feel sympathy for the pirate.
Going in to the charging proceedings, there remains great debate about his age. It has been reported as being anywhere from 15-26 with no accurate records to support any of them. It can generally assumed that he was at least of a cognizant age and that he therefore understood that his actions were wrong. This will most likely result in a lifetime prison sentence on the 4 felony counts he is being charged with having to deal with very old laws regarding piracy and hostages. Such a sentence is most likely fair. I wouldn't argue with it assuming the evidence proves them all. However, it still doesn't make me feel any better about the situation.
As Americans we are quick to judge... virtually everything and everyone. I don't know why this is, but I do think humility is a lost virtue for most Americans. Probably including myself. Yet, I can't stand to hear the people calling for the pitchforks and mob before even listening to the full story. Now, Captain Philips has the right to any opinion since he was the victim and acted incredibly heroically. He is the one light in this whole mess. He accepted his responsibility and handled it admirably saving the lives and well being of his crew. He deserves a Presidential or Congressional medal for his actions. I just wish that people would be willing to at least look at the situation to understand the piracy situation.
The Obama Administration talks about wanting to improve our image abroad and rebuild relationships with other nations. To make a safer, better world. I certainly do not disagree with those aspirations. However, instead of wasting time having photo ops with Russian and Venezuelan leaders, maybe we could think of a legitimate humanitarian assistance program for Somalia. I bet then they wouldn't be so eager to go after Western merchant vessels.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
