Fall 2008

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Hate is hate, in India or America

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Posted: December 06, 2008
1:00 am Eastern

© 2008

Pretty rotten thing that happened in Mumbai, huh?

Grand old hotel, in an increasingly progressive and prosperous India: Suddenly, hundreds of innocent, unsuspecting people are hostages, some of them being systematically murdered. Bombs are exploding, people are screaming, military are descending into the chaos, TV crews are coming from everywhere to broadcast the carnage worldwide.

When the dust begins to settle after many horrifying hours, the body count has reached nearly 200, and many more are injured and emotionally scarred for the rest of their lives. The perpetrators? Though no demands were made, and no group immediately took credit for the insane attack, all evidence points to Islamic terrorists, likely from Pakistan.

And why? Well, if current theories and intel are correct, this slaughter was planned and executed by one of many Islamic groups that feel directed by their religion to subjugate – or exterminate – "infidels" like Hindus, Jews, Christians and even other Muslims who don't hew to their extremist views. To them, there is only one acceptable worldview – a theology they intend to enforce on all humankind – and anyone who might disagree or obstruct their goals should be removed, violently if need be.

(Column continues below)

Thank God, it couldn't happen here. Could it?

Look around. Watch your evening news. Read your newspaper.

Are you unaware of the raging demonstrations in our streets, in front of our churches and synagogues, even spilling into these places of worship, and many of these riots turning defamatory and violent? Have you not seen the angry distorted faces of the rioters, seen their derogatory and threatening placards and signs, heard their vows to overturn the democratically expressed views of voters, no matter what it costs, no matter what was expressed at the polls? Twice?

I refer to California's Proposition 8. You haven't heard about the well-oiled campaign to find out the names of every voter and business that contributed as much as $1,000, or even much less, in support of Prop 8? You haven't heard about the announced plans to boycott, demonstrate, intimidate and threaten each one – because they dared to vote to retain marriage as between one man and one woman? You haven't seen, on the evening news, prominent entertainers and even California Gov. Schwarzenegger, urging the demonstrators on, telling them they should "never give up" until they get their way?

Assuming you have become aware of all this, let me ask you: Have you not seen the awful similarity between what happened in Mumbai and what's happening right now in our cities?

Oh, I know the homosexual "rights" demonstrations haven't reached the same level of violence, but I'm referring to the anger, the vehemence, the total disregard for law and order and the supposed rights of their fellow citizens. I'm referring to the intolerance, the hate seething in the words, faces and actions of those who didn't get their way in a democratic election, and who proclaim loudly that they will get their way, no matter what the electorate wants!

Hate is hate, no matter where it erupts. And hate, unbridled, will eventually and inevitably boil into violence. How crazily ironic that the homosexual activists and sympathizers cry for "tolerance" and "equal rights" and understanding –while they spew vitriol and threats and hate at those who disagree with them on moral and societal grounds.

I was saddened to hear that the estimable Brad Pitt, who has done a lot for the displaced people in New Orleans, pledged $100,000 to his friend Ellen DeGeneris for some campaign to overturn Prop 8, saying something about constitutionally guaranteed "equal rights." I'd like to know – on just what constitutional writ does Brad base this statement?

Every homosexual citizen has the same, identical rights as any other American. The Constitution says nothing about marriage, and shouldn't. Marriage is not a governmental creation; it is a time honored and biblically ordained institution that is subject not to the government but to the will of the people. And the people, down through the centuries, have spoken. Not just the Bible, but Webster's Dictionary, defines this covenantal relationship called "marriage" as a commitment between one man and one woman.

Because this elemental building block of society has been so defined and respected throughout history, elected representatives in our self-government have granted certain supports and tax relief and privileges to marriages and families. Again, these privileges did not originate with some benevolent higher authority – they originated with the people, through the democratic process.

That's how a free republic works. Our people consecrated our Constitution and determined to live within its provisions, voluntarily. It was determined that the will of the voting majority would rule, though it was subject to change if the majority will changed.

There never were any "rights" granted or designated to those who dissented with the will of the majority, other than the same rights all citizens have to work through the democratic process to accomplish their purposes. No "rights" were ever granted to citizens on the basis of their sexual habits or lifestyle. There simply are no such "rights."

Slavery was abolished, blacks and women obtained the rights to vote, and these true rights were not obtained by threats and violent demonstrations and civil disruption (though these things did occur, of course), but by due process, congressional deliberations and appropriate ratification. This was democracy in action, not mob rule. As noted journalist Thomas Sowell has said, there never was "a right to win." In America, at least the America we've known till now, rights are earned and won in a deliberative, legal way – at the polls.

What troubles me so deeply, and should trouble all thinking Americans, is that there is a real, unbroken line between the jihadist savagery in Mumbai and the hedonistic, irresponsible, blindly selfish goals and tactics of our homegrown sexual jihadists. Hate is hate, no matter where it erupts. And by its very nature, if it's not held in check, it will escalate into acts vile, violent and destructive.

Schedule change for next semester

My very nice adviser gave me some very useful information, and told me that I do not need to be taking my Political theory class next semester (which i am quite excited about) so I got to choose another course... since I many of the classes I was interested were already filled up, i chose Presidential Leadership:
No single individual in the American political system is the subject of such high expectations as the president. Examine whether the president's political and constitutional powers are sufficient to satisfy the high expectations that Americans have of him. Should presidents be expected to dominate American politics?

For my family

Thought of the day..

If You Forget Me

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

Pablo Neruda

Next Semester Courses

French 1004- Intermediate French
Development of listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills in the context of cultural themes related to the Francophone world. Grammar review and elaboration.

Political Science 1201-Political Ideas and Ideologies
Analysis of key concepts and ideas (e.g., freedom, equality, democracy) as they are constructed by major theories and ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, socialism, etc.).

Political Science 3873W - International Citizenship and Global Ethics
Case studies of ethics in intervention, war, weapons, foreign aid, environmental practices, and human rights are used to examine the global ethical responsibilities of individual citizens and public officials; effectiveness of transnational social movements in influencing policy at domestic and international levels.

Teaching English Second Language-3001W - Basics in Teaching ESL
Basic orientation to current theories/methods of English as a second language (ESL) instruction. Emphasizes methodologies for teaching/assessing listening, speaking, pronunciation, reading, writing skills. Contexts of teaching English to adults in the U.S. and abroad. Internship at school or agency teaching ESL.

I am...

going to try ti chi today

The weight of silence

November goals

In no particular order..

*Catch up on Islam readings
*Get permit
*Make an appointment with the orthodontist
*Fix Liz's guitar strings
*Get Barack elected--> Done
*Get a job
*Get posters put up in room--> Done
*Join a student club
*Get photos together for Erin's wedding
*Vacuum room--> Done
*Any other opinions/ideas?....

Election week

A rough week- exams!

So there's this thing called stumble! and you pick a few topics that you like.. and it finds websites/pictures.. whatever, for you! And i wrote i like huskies.. and this came up, and made my day.
Another worthwhile waste of my time
82

The change we need

I went door-knocking on Saturday for Obama.. and will continue to do so up until the election.
This is the most important election that I have seen in my short 19 years here, and fortunately for me, I can vote in this election.
November 4th, get to the polls

:(

I just want to say.. that whoever stole my bike SEAT.. i hope that they get arrested. I know I won't get it back.. but I hope there is some justice in this world. Or that they put it on a bike and it falls off

The same comments pertain to my stolen front wheel. man. i should buy some invisible paint for my bike!

For mom, dad, and seth

<3

Comin' Home

Going to a concert on Saturday night (Tegan and Sara) but this is one of the opening bands.. I love them already!

Si se puede

City sweet city

After finishing my two classes of the day by eleven am I felt slightly sluggish so I decided to go on a bike ride.. a longer one, rather than my daily commute to class which takes all of about five to ten minutes or so. I grabbed my bike.. finally attached the light I've been ignoring in my closet for the past few months that I needed to actually put on the bike, and took off into the city.

A very cool trail called the midtown greenway. My favourite bridge in the whole city is right before you get onto the greenway..


On the map above it shows the trail in purple and the lakes that are near the end of it.. i never thought there would be such pretty greenery in a city like minneapolis.
I biked around one of the lakes and then accidently headed into the downtown Minneapolis area but found a path soon enough that lead me back to the bridge.. A pretty good hour and a half ride of getting to know a new place. Best part about it- got to break out the spandex!

The Minnesota State Fair

Boulder On A Stick!

Welcome to...
the Minnesota state fair!
This wonderful conglomeration of people, food, objects and entertainment can be found at the fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minnesota. This is my second trip ever to state fair.. but I haven't been in over ten years.
I went with Liz and a few of our friends.
We first went to the Republican party booth to pick up balloons to carry around the fair..Liz's friend Dan and I decided to be a happy couple for those few moments to get our balloons from the lady handing them out

They didn't taste very good.. imagine that


We ate foot-long hot dogs and had apple cider popsicle things, I ate some lefsa too! Fortunately we went on a Tuesday, I don't really want to imagine what it would have been like on a weekend!

Oh, almost forgot, we got sweet Martha's cookies (a bucket full of cookies) and all the milk you can drink for one dollar, YUM!

We stopped by the Dems booth to pick up some stickers and sign up for volunteering stuff, I also am now registered to vote!
I thought this was an amusing set up of artwork- life size panels of politicians.. oh Barrack

I got to hug a giant french fry man... and saw butterheads of the dairy queens (if somebody knows what that is.. please inform me!)



We went home for a bit to rest and get out of the hot sun. But Liz and I returned later that evening to go to a concert at the Grandstand- we saw Phantom Planet, Jack's Mannequin, and Paramore.
Phantom Planet is a band from California and were touring with Paramore and Jack's Mannequin. They are most famous for this song (used on the t.v. show The O.C.)

Jack's Mannequin gave a pretty good show as well, though I did have to wait for about 45 minutes in the pit because the front of the pit was having problems (some girl got pulled out of the front, waving the bird.. quite amusing)

The pictures are of the lead singer/piano player, the guitarman, and the bassist. The one below I like a lot because it is of all three rocking out :)I was up pretty close for the first two bands but got too hot so we stood a bit further back for Paramore.
When the two lead guys from Paramore came on stage sound just exploded.. they walked down those planks, pretty ridiculously cool


I really liked to combination of these two songs, both Hallelujah.

I got some pretty neat pictures of the night.. of the crowd and of the stage. One of my favourite concerts so far.

Camp wonderpants

It's that time again, the summer where days fly by so fast you can hardly believe it's August and that you start real life again soon. The time where you get to live in the woods and wonder why people would ever want to change that. I'm at camp this summer again and it could be for the last time, for many reasons but I hope not. I can rest here, though I work harder than I think I do throughout the rest of the year. I can love my life and my friends and my family and my girl, and be happy, even if I am ignoring the tenseness and the discouragement that goes on around the world, I can make things change her. I can make young women smile and laugh and can give them hope.
That is a rare thing
I am leaving here soon, for the cities and for the U of M. Sometimes I get truly terrified, of not being in the woods, of being around people all the time. But that's not really what I am scared of facing, because there are places to be alone, no matter where you go. I am scared of feeling like I did before, like I don't belong. I want to feel the way I did in high school. That even though i'm not quite the same, though I'm not like the others and I don't fit in.. that I belong. I want that.

Jó reggelt

It's early morning when the sun rises and the dew, well almost the dew, the frost, agrees to travel to a northerner place as if it is being chased by a venomous being. It is this moment of time I have passion in the most because I no longer have to hide from my own fore and after thoughts that consume the darkness. It's a morning that ghosts hate but lovers love. This is not a cry from a bird looking for its song. No.
It is a man who needs his sleep but cannot find a place for his head. He has four rooms, all equipped with a soft place for one to doze, but he does not lay. His thoughts see beasts and murderers and lies and weakness. And yet the morning comes, slinking its way through the houses and grass and a ladybug's playground.
Nobody can stop what's coming to them. For it is no stopping- the world will not halt for your pleasure. I am no longer ready to let my future hold me back. I'm back-holding the future. It's only whats coming for me, why don't I go? Not wait. On your marks, get ready, set, look up. Embrace the stars that are so clear and the night that is so perfectly smooth that you drink it. Ever-lasting quench that no energy drink could fulfill. I will not hide in this darkness. I'm ready for the morning. I am not ready to wait. I'm going. Good morning. Jó reggelt

Winter blues and spring greens

Winter is slowly icing itself away and spring is sure to come. Second semester is about halfway through but I am excited for this year to be over and for summer to come! I am now a political science major but I am excited for this new path.
Not really in the typing mood but I will surely write soon

Morley

—Morley–

Beyond the meadow of the moor
lived an old chap who claimed his rule
over all he spoke.
Fear nothing, for you are my own.
I have loved you.
I hope you shall n’t be lost.
The gentle men’s soul spoke
in the wind, centuries fell like rain.

They spoke with unequivocal song
like that of a fairy tale, not a nightmare,
just a mystery.
They cried for a place on the earth
they traveled. Ever so dearly they cried
Not of pity, but of love, and strength.
Their veins smelt of cocoa and cinnamon,
their skin tasted of vigilance and heat.

The old man may be seen,
trotting along as he did before,
for it was he who began the remembrance.
No longer an ancestor. A giver.

They was she. The meadow. The moor.
The nature that bled from deep in her heart
like a leaf from an oak: slowly but surely

A star shone. Not one. But an eyes-view
of stories, or places yet unknown. For the
old chap didn’t know all the the places

she would go.

WANTED!

Need a haircut.. any suggestions? Looking for something new. It's about 3 inches longer than shoulder length right now..
i want a change. feedback would be helpful , thanks
mor

Morley and her Roommate

I can't feel my face

BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS WILL ENCOMPASS THE ENTIRE AREA TONIGHT... WITH VALUES BETWEEN 25 AND 45 BELOW ZERO ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN THROUGH SATURDAY

Yes, that is a winter advisory for cold weather. Coldest week of the year- you can tell i'm overly enthused. Oh- and I have a job now! Working at the school cafeteria, i know you are excited as I am. (Mom and Dad, you are happy to hear that i'm sure) :)
much love and stay warm!
moo

Cold days and warm hearts in MN

Sleep

Sit up

Grab

Open eyes

Confusion

Regret

Place

Lay down

Move

Think

Feel

Stumble

Slide

Jump

Re-cooperate

Search

Find

Call

Ignore

Re-dial

Greet

Talk

Explain

Excite

Congratulate

Halt

Dishevel

Drink

Wait

Re-do

Embrace

Remember

Change

Wonder

Walk

Listen

Quest

Succeed

Google

Fantasize

Ask

Taste

Glorify

Thank

Know

Watch

Wish

Acceptance

Regret

Love

Love

Love

Help

Work

Study

Reflect

Support

Empower

Embrace

Venture

Create

Accomplish

Regard

Colour

Munch

Ridicule

Explain

Compensate

Return

Undress

Breathe

Ponder

Question

Listen

Cry

Remember

Know

Fight

Fall

Strengthen

Hug

Steal

Leave

Move

Shiver

Look

Breakdown

Write

Explode

Complete

Understand

Rest

How cold is it where YOU wake up?

..because it's -11degrees Fahrenheit here!

Spring Cleaning?

Well not quite yet, it warmed up to the fourties for a few days, enough that the snow was melting on the streets and my distinguished snow man is now just a ball of snow with sticks flailing out of each side- looks disturbingly like the 'headless horseman'.. except that he has no horse, and soon may dissolve into silt and some muddy snow!
But other than the nonexistent snowman, things are going alright here in Burnsville. I am checking out tomorrow and departing for my spring semester at the college of saint benedict.

in the last 48 hours i think i have slept close to 19 hours, pretty good for moi!
happy thursday
moo

Immortal

The holidays have come and gone and the time has come again to say bye to the parents as they make their journey back to Budapest. Snow is beginning to melt here in Minnesota but Seth in the Ukraine is still waiting for his winter covering, enduring freezing temps but no white Christmas.

I am now in Burnsville with my very large duffel bag full of received x-mas gifts.. I am excited for the school year to start again, but also not so much. It has been a weird break so far.. that's about all I can say. It has been a nice break from school life, yet a breakthrough again into family life..

not too much to write now. hope everyone had a great Christmas/New Years

Fam-Glam

Christmas in Burnsville



Grandma on the phone talking to Seth in the Ukraine!

Dad enjoying is new digital camera- who would have
thought we'd ever see the day!

Jeremy and his new headlamp.. we're not sure if he ever took it off

Mom and Dad opening their world-travel book I got them



Jeremy and Andrea with their new two-burner stove.