welcome to arizona... now go back to wherever you came from

Once again the vestige of racism rears its ugly head... and brown people are again in the crosshairs.

Dare I suggest this change in Arizona law is about racism? After all, this country addressed the idea of racism in the ’60s... right?

Sadly, not true. The players may change, but racism by any other name, is still racism. Granted, the white bedsheets with holes cut out for eyes have been tucked neatly away in the closet, but now “color of authority” has become the new and improved KKK.

Let me just say, we who have been in this country for longer than, say 50 years and happen to be white never have to face the reality that not everyone in this country enjoys the same sense of privilege. That being said, this attempt to inflict Arizona’s concept of immigration might well backfire, as have all other attempts over the history of this nation.

Slavery... gone... well perhaps not completely, but most living in America (and around the world) frown on the ownership of another human being. Moving along... immigrants coming from Italy, Germany, Ireland and China had to fight for acceptance in their adopted country. How ironic that here in Los Angeles, bones discovered during the construction of the downtown subway and identified as Chinese were reinterred at Evergreen Cemetery, the same cemetery that originally barred them from burial among the “white” population as late as the 1920s.

During WWII, American citizens of Japanese descent living in this country had their lives and property stolen and their freedom snatched as they were forced into internment camps. There has never been adequate compensation for the years lived in tents far away from lives they once enjoyed.

But, if we go back to the founding of the new country, it’s easy to understand how the sense of privilege overrode the reality... that those who laid claim to this nation had no right to do so... and it was greatly destructive to once great populations of Native Americans who originally inhabited much of the country.

There is a moral here. If we do not understand the lessons, we will surely relive them for as long as it takes. As we continue to move forward through time, we must evaluate how we would like to be remembered... and whether or not compassion will become just another word lost along the way.

every picture tells a story...

The picture, as they say, is looking quite grim. It’s beginning to look more and more like we’re losing the battle to staunch the spewing flow in the gulf which does not bode well for any wildlife caught in the vicinity... and by that I mean anywhere in the gulf, or up or down the east coast.

It’s simply a matter of time before this BP disaster creates a domino effect that will be felt ‘round the world.

I wish I had better news to report.

mum's the word...

The giant question these days is... will the relief wells rushing toward completion in the gulf solve the spewing oil situation created by BP?

The answer is, perhaps... then again, perhaps not.

In June, then CEO head, Tony Hayward commented that the gulf oil reservoir is believed to hold about 2.1 billion gallons of oil. Now wrap that around your head for awhile. It all begins to make sense why it's better to let the oil flow... to kill off the gulf and make it a dead zone for all living things (oh, and that does include mankind since we too happen to live in the general vicinity of their oil reservoir). After all, “greed is good,” especially when major corporations are in charge.

So, perhaps all that oil gushing into the gulf is a good thing... certainly for BP.

Does this make you crazy yet? It should.

AP photo of oil-drenched waves threatening the Alabama coastline from the Huffington Post.

the senator from west virginia...

We’re talking about the death of Robert C. Byrd.

And this is important, why?

Robert C. Byrd was, what I would consider, one of the interesting individuals to represent the United States both as a congressman (beginning his career in 1953) and senator, elected in 1959 from the state of West Virginia. Near the end of his political career, he spoke forcefully against the gathering clouds of war in Iraq, contrary to the position he had taken during the war in Vietnam.

He commented (after failing to sway other senators to adopt a similar position opposing the Bush administration’s “preemptive war”) “Today I weep for my country.” He further noted, “I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed.” He made these remarks on the eve of the invasion of Iraq, and ironically I was in Australia, witnessing massive anti-war demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister, John Howard, similar to the Vietnam era anti-war demonstrations. I too, wept, knowing what would happen once war became the mantra of the state...

Whether or not one agreed with Byrd, he was capable of acknowledging past mistakes, and equally, was willing to change positions. It must be noted that early on, Robert C. Byrd was a member of the KKK. However, he later sought to distance himself from the virulent anti-black organization, embracing parity and equal opportunity for all Americans.

As an elder statesman, Byrd remained in Washington during eleven administrations; Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush (1), Clinton, Bush (2) and finally, Obama.  Perhaps it was the longevity that shaped, and reshaped his views.

May this country take its cue from one man’s life and reevaluate its direction.

goal... or not...

This morning, England was defeated on the field by arch-enemy, Germany. (Final score Germany 4, England 1)

It should have been a great game, but the game was marred by another really awful call, this time the sideline judge failed to see the goal scored by the English team which had the potential of changing the direction of the game by tying the score 2-2. (For those who missed the game, it really was a beautiful goal!)

But frankly, I don’t know how he missed it.

I've been a proponent for some time of including electronics in the game. Why? Objectivity.

There might be bad calls by field refs, or missed calls, but when electronics becomes part of the equation, those missed/bad calls will become a thing of the past. Clearly, all calls are subjective when called by an individual. Referees might miss something because they’re thinking about what they did, or didn’t consume at the dinner table... They might carry a grudge against a team from the last match they refereed. Who knows?

Electronics could change the game, make it cleaner and better. All those who advocate for continuation of the sport sans electronics are advocating for the possibility of payola or a continuation of the really bad calls that seem to have pervaded this 2010 World Cup.

By the way, there was another game this morning. Mexico vs. Argentina (final score Argentina 3, Mexico 1). And guess what... there was another controversy. As Argentina thundered down the field, they kicked hard toward the goal. However, one of the Argentinian players (Carlos Tevez) was clearly offsides and again, the line ref missed the call. Angry Mexican players immediately surrounded referee, Roberto Rosetti who then went into conference with the line judge. As he came back on the field, he let the goal stand.

In my estimation, a grave injustice was done in two games back to back.   

Tragically, FIFA doesn’t even address some of these failures when they post the results. According to reports, FIFA said in a statement that it “will not make any comments on decisions of the referee on the field of play.” Perhaps they should reconsider their decision because millions of people around the world are watching these games and would like to see their game well-played and equally – well-judged.

Instead, what we’re currently seeing are fights breaking out off-field because of the failure to control the on-field game, and the level of refereeing (or lack of...) is partially to blame.

Photo of the disputed goal  by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

hey kids... it’s time to watch the cup

The world cup, that is.

For all of you out there who don't understand what all the brouhaha is about, it’s really quite simple.

Take the ball (using only your feet...), run down an enormous (gigantic) 110 yard-long field and put the small ball into the large net. It looks really easy on t.v. doesn’t it? Trust me, it’s not. Once you get the hang of moving a ball using only your feet, do this for 90 minutes at a full clip with your opponent hanging all over you. Starting to get a little harder perhaps? Keep in mind as you run toward the goal, that player coming out to challenge you... the goalie, well, he’s the one who’s gonna attempt to prevent you from scoring on him (not to mention all the other players who’ve just showed up to the party in front of the goal post).

Now, bring on a referee who either A) doesn’t want to make any calls, or B) makes some really bad calls, and I do mean bad calls! Take, for example, the game played between the Americans and Slovenians. The third goal scored in the 86th minute by the American team was called back. Why? Well, no one really seems to know... unlike other sports where each call is viewed and reviewed from every conceivable angle if there is an on-field dispute.

In soccer, there are no instant replays, the field referee is the last word. Sadly, the last word got it completely wrong on this one crucial play. There should have been multiple penalties called,  unfortunately none were (watching the play again, it was clear the referee was in no position to make any call), and adding insult to injury the goal was called back. Hopefully, this will be the last time we see Koman Coulibaly as a referee on the field. By the way, Coulibaly was the official who assessed Egypt a controversial time-stoppage penalty during its final 2006 World Cup qualifier against Cameroon. Nevertheless, Egypt prevailed after Cameroon's missed kick. At that time, his controversial call should have disqualified him from further participation. This time, his judgment (American vs. Slovenia) was criminal.  

However, tomorrow (as they say in the movies...) is another day, and another game. This will be the decisive game for the American team... they’ll either advance to the next round, or go home and work on their game for the next World Cup. I would love to see them advance. It’s a long time between these tournaments and the world is their stage (at least for the moment).

In related news, France went home in disgrace. The players decided they didn’t want to play nice.

same time... same ol'... same ol'

Perhaps things have changed a bit, but not much.

I had mentioned in my last posting that Tony Hayward would be rejoining his life [which he was very anxious to get back to...]. I misspoke at the time, taking my cue from an on-line newssource. At that time, he was still BP’s CEO.

Earlier this week, Hayward testified in front of yet another congressional panel looking into the Gulf catastrophe. Before appearing, he was notified as to the line of questioning and specifically asked to bring documentation and experts who would testify as to magnitude of the spill, as well as any safety measures that were, or were not in place to staunch the flow generated by the Deepwater Horizon’s collapse and destruction. Again and again, Hayward declined to answer, stating he was not in “in the loop” around the day-to-day decision making regarding off-shore drilling practices [specifically in the Gulf Coast region]. He did repeat [for the cameras...]  “I am so devastated with this accident” and “deeply sorry” and ”so distraught,” but somehow this did little to assuage the anger as demonstrated by American lawmakers [and the American public]. Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., commented, “You cut corners to save money and time.” At one point Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., interrupted Hayward and stated “You're kicking the can down the road and acting as if you had nothing to do with this company and nothing to do with the decisions. I find that irresponsible.”

Meanwhile, the oil volcano is still spewing thousands of gallons of crude into the gulf stream on a daily basis.

People are calling [screaming might be a better word] for more government intervention.

BP is applying pressure [employing our government as their personal security force], denying any opportunity to take a closer, more accurate look at what they’re destroying, both in the water and on our land.

When did this change happen in America?

Frankly, it's been happening for some time. We’ve just been asleep at the wheel.

hey bp... thanks for nada

The plot thickens in Louisiana... along with oil seeping into some of the most sensitive areas which (up to this point) were nesting areas for multitudes of brown pelicans and other bird species.
Alas, no more...

Anyone familiar with the Valdez oil spill in 1989 (I spoke of this in an earlier posting) knows that environmentally sensitive areas take decades to resurrect from a major spill. Unfortunately, we failed to understand this lesson after the Exxon Valdez spilled nearly 11 million gallons into Prince William Sound. Over 20 years later, the destruction wrought by that spill is still impacting the area, having covered 1,300 miles of coast and 11,000 square miles of ocean. Worse, the impact on animal species will take much longer, if it ever comes back.

If mankind completely disappeared from the face of the planet, perhaps other animals species would at last regroup from the damage we humans continually rain upon the earth.

Was there not a passage in the bible that gives humans dominion over other animals (along with a caveat)? We humans should learn to tread a bit more carefully on our planet... Tragically however, I believe this advice would fall on deaf ears since few in power seem to be listening.

After doing some research this evening I discovered much to my surprise that Tony Hayward (BP's supreme buffoon) was stepping down as CEO. I'm really not sure if this is good, or bad news. Granted, he will get his life back (just what he’s wanted since this environmental fiasco of biblical proportions began...) However, I want to see him in shiny stainless-steel cuffs and I wonder if I will live long enough to see this become a reality.

Even worse, Sarah Palin is again front and center, blaming those who have attempted to save her and her ilk from destroying themselves and our environment even further... comments posted on Palin’s blog are disturbing and should not be read by/to very small children, or those with sensitive dispositions...

“With [environmentalists'] nonsensical efforts to lock up safer drilling areas, all you're doing is outsourcing energy development, which makes us more controlled by foreign countries, less safe, and less prosperous on a dirtier planet. ... You're not preventing environmental hazards; you're outsourcing them and making drilling more dangerous. Extreme deep water drilling is not the preferred choice to meet our country's energy needs, but your protests and lawsuits and lies about onshore and shallow water drilling have locked up safer areas. It's catching up with you. The tragic, unprecedented deep water Gulf oil spill proves it.”

I would like to point out to Palin... oil emanating from American soil or American oceans is already controlled by foreign powers, and any suggestion on Palin's part that we control our own (un)natural resources is incredibly naive and baseless.

What this spill does prove is, any drilling near sensitive areas will ultimately destroy those areas, along with any wild (or otherwise) life in the immediate area. As a friend pointed out, the gulf has now become a “dead zone.”

And with that, God help us all...

AP photo published on the Huffington Post. They say a picture is worth a thousand words... I say the outrage created by pictures from the spill should at long last push for legislation prohibiting this kind of environmental destruction.

catalina... late may 2010

Sometimes it's nice to go away for a long weekend and spending it with friends makes it a more pleasant experience... so, Catalina, here we come!

We took the express to the “island” on Friday and although it was semi-calm in the harbor, as soon as the boat hit the breakwater, most everyone headed outside to the deck... ah, the joys of motion sickness.

Oddly, coming back Sunday afternoon to the mainland, the ten foot swells didn’t seem to bother me nearly as much, although there were some passengers that looked a bit green around the gills, and since the waves were pretty strong, I maintained a dry spot under the awning near the front, saving my partially-read book from a potential drenching.

I must say, the view from the deck is lovely as you enter the harbor at Avalon. It reminds me of a picturesque scene from the Mediterranean; everything appears clean and bright.

The gulls hang out on the tops of fountains and lampposts and act as though the island is theirs... it is.

We climbed up to the top of the Wrigley Memorial and took a picture for posterity.

We then hiked back down.

All in all, it was a really nice weekend shared with good friends and some great wine.

dubious distinctions realized...

As of today, May 18, 2010, the number of Americans killed in the conflict in Afghanistan reached the first 1,000 mark and in Iraq, the figure was 4,381.

Amazingly, neither conflict has been declared a war, thus shielding the rest of us from having to take any responsibility for the death and destruction we have visited upon these countries.

Sound familiar? It should.

The only difference between Vietnam and the conflicts now occurring is the number of dead Americans. However, if we remain there as long and the draft once again becomes part of the vernacular, then perhaps we will reach that lofty number of 58,169.

Or even surpass it...

And for those interested; the number of dead Vietnamese during our incursion can only be calculated. Approximately 3 to 4 million Vietnamese from both sides [North/South] plus, in Cambodia and Laos, 1.5 to 2 million lives destroyed.

If we truly understood history, we would stop having these deja vu's.

In truth I don't think we can help ourselves... we’re destined to replay the script until we get it.