confusion

Sunday A few people went with me to see Al Gore give a speech on “Security and Freedom” at DAR Constitution hall. It was a very good speech—if you want to read it (or see it via web-cast) click here [ moveon.org ]. I’ll let the speech speak for itself. I can’t write that good. A lot of good quotes and points that need to be made—and made loudly. A great addition of reading Gore’s speech is an article in The Economist last week: Rights to Remember, by Harold Hougju Koh from Yale. You can read it here [ economist.com ]

Both Gore and Koh are talking about what is the most important issue facing the US today—and thereby the whole world (though things like war and starvation surly overshadow it in many places); the issue of freedom verse security. Many of the knee jerk anti-terrorism laws and actions of the Bush administration undermine the very foundations of our country. Though most of the things they have done are not new (most have their basis in actions taken by previous administrations during armed conflicts) they, like the actions they are based on, must be repealed. I will not trade fear of terrorism for fear of my own government. I think the government would be a more terrorizing and imminent threat.

Anyway, just read the two articles.

I’m going to Japan! I booked tickets today for J███████, S██████ and myself to go see Jim-tenno in Japan this spring! How cool is that? In 2002 S██████ and J– cam to England to see J███████ and I and we had a blast. I can’t even describe how cool that was—and now Japan. How many rolls of film can I snap in two weeks? Oh man, I’m so excited! Konichiwa!

There was a chance on Monday that I would have had to go to Peru on Tuesday for work. I packed a bag Monday night just in case. I would say there was about a 10% chance I would have gone on Monday. By Tuesday afternoon that was up to about 80%—and we even reserved a ticket for me for a flight out of Reagan. But, alas, sometime between 4:00 and 4:30 most of the issues we were having with Peru were fixed so I did not get to go to Peru. Too bad too I was looking forward to it. I’ve never been to Peru. Besides I think A—– needs a Llama! ;-)

I just finished reading Noam Chomsky‘s [web.mit.edu] lectures and thoughts from the months after 9/11—Power and Terror [amazon.com]. It’s been a while sense I read any Chomsky. Every time you read him he shocks you. With the depth of his knowledge and the things he says.

I’ve heard Chomsky described as ‘un-American’ by quite a few people. Why? Because he uses the factual record—produced by our own government—to condemn American actions around the world. The atrocities committed in our name or under our patronage. I can think of little more American then voicing ones dissent from popular opinion and the government. While I don’t agree with all that Chomsky or Zinn have to say I think they are two of the most important intellectuals in the US today and that what they have to say should be read by all.

Hearing anyone described as un-American is almost enough to make me sick. Short of physical violence against the US and it’s citizens I don’t think anything can be called un-American. The basis of the whole country is dissent. It is every Americans constitutional right to say ‘I hate America.’ And that is what makes American great. A lot needs to be fixed. Many things have gotten confused over the past two hundred years, but we are in a better position to fix those things and any other country. Almost everything Tocqueville said made America great when he wrote Democracy in America [amazon.com] has been lost to special intrest, political correctness, greed and corruption. People like Zinn and Chomsky call attention to the effects. If more people listened then perhaps we could get a little back. And once again be, rightfully and correctly, called the greatest country on Earth and live up the the ideals in the Declaration of Independance [archives.gov], the Constitution [archives.gov] and in the Bill of Rights [archives.gov].