Oh, the cartoons

BBC News article that I found interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6960220.stm

First off, some general comments about the whole religious cartoons fiasco over the last year or so. I find the fact the people are rioting, threatening violence, killing each other, etc. to be an incredibly silly and immature reaction. Of course, I don't think it's just people acting foolishly. It seems to me that various media outlets sensationalise both the original offence and the reaction to it. Then again, nice little stories about normal, sensible people just don't sell as well on the evening news. Yet another good reason to not be that into the evening news.

Second, comments in particular to the cartoons: I'll start with the Mohammed one and then move onto the new Jesus cartoon. I can understand that Muslim's would take offense at the portrayal of Mohammed with a bomb for a turban. I can't understand why they would turn around and enact violence as a reprisal ("How dare they portray Mohammed as a violent extremist!!! Let's go find somebody to kill or something to burn!!! That'll teach them a lesson!"). In keeping with the comment about sensationalising media forces, I didn't hear too much at that time, especially not in the headlines, about the millions of Muslims, who saw the cartoon and disproved it by proving their own belief in leading a peace-seeking life, with non-violence towards those things that they protest.

Third, turnaround is fair game. If the Western world is going to take a jab at a streak of violent extremism that runs in Muslim culture, might we not expect to receive a similarly stinging response? I don't think anyone can deny that substance abuse is not a small problem in our 'Christian' culture. And I think that good, churchgoing people can take a bite of humble pie and admit that they and their children are often not often doing much better with the issue than the rest of the culture. Pastor's kids do have a reputation after all.

Personally, I find both cartoons to be excellent pieces of sociopolitical cultural art. They sting, they upset exactly because they are effective, because they point out the dirt under the carpet. I also think they are both funny. They contain an irony because they hold the figurehead of a religion responsible for the misdeeds and misinterpretations of the faithful, and arguably for a kind of behavior that neither would have condoned.

I hope that we can look at these cartoons, think about what is implied in them, take the sting, and then seek to make positive change. If we don't want Jesus represented as promoting substance abuse, then seek to live a life of responsibility, compassion, and freedom and seek to help others, through love, compassion,, and understanding, acheive the same. If you don't think that Mohammed would have appreciated being portrayed as a mad bomber, then seek to promote peaceful disagreement and non-violent resolution. After all, protest only goes so far as its fruit grows in our lives.

TGIT

Wow! It has been one hell of a week, and it's only Thursday. Found out on Monday morning that the October 2007 couple's placement round for Peace Corps is mostly positions for certified teachers, so the odds are that lori and I won't get a position in that round. That means we'll have to wait until the February 2008 placement round, which means that we won't be leaving until late 2008 or early 2009. Ratchet the schedule back about 6 months, eh?

In some ways, it might be a good thing. We'll be able to save up some more and pay off some more debt. It'll also be nice to actually enjoy the house for awhile now that all the hard work is done. Que sera, sera.

Monday night, I started work at Chipotle (burrito making joint in EL). It's a really good time, but they've been really busy the last few days with all the students coming back to campus. I'm closing, which has been quite an adventure and has meant quite a lot less sleep. it didn't help that I closed three nights in a row (MTW). I'm going to be early tonite.

And, this is Lisa's (Jeff's other care giver) last week of work. Last day actually. So, I'm back to Monday through Friday with Jeff. It'll be about the same hours, though, and I don't really need Tuesday off now that I don't have any major house projects. The hardest part is going to be adjusting to working mornings five days a week, and then working evenings several more days a week. I think it will really throw off mine and lori's rhythms. It's always fun trying to adjust to a schedule change.

Titles are lame

Well, I'm sitting at Chipotle on Grand River. I just had orientation and I start work on Monday. Fun, fun. I definitely get 50% off of food and drink. Crazy. I'm excited. I think it'll be really fun place to work.

Being married is hard. That's what I have to say about that.

Soccer is fun, I'm sad that I didn't have a game this past week. I'm looking forward to Thursday. I don't know what I'll do when I can no longer take out my rage on grass and a little round ball. I never thought I'd enjoy that game as much as I have this summer.

I am currently coveting Paslode Cordless Framing and Finish Nailers. Owning them probably wouldn't make me happy, but it would be fun . . . and manly. Plus I could nail lots of stuff together with out having to carry around an air compressor. That's cool.

I wonder if they have cordless nailers in Peace Corps. Something tells me that the hardware stores in rural Central Asia wouldn't carry the little butane canisters and special nails.

I'm back to being Jeff's only caregiver. I hope it doesn't get overwhelming. It's been nice having someone else around and able to help. I think I'm also getting nervous about when I leave for good at the end of this year. I hope they find someone good to keep doing Jeff's care. I know it's going to be stressful. I suppose it's really good that I've been there for so long, until I have to leave and then they have to start over new. Isn't that life, though?

sorry for the randomness today. non-linear brain in action. Maybe I should go write some poetry or draw little pictures or something

A new job

News of the Week

Well, before the news, I should tell you I have been stunned by a thought I had this week: Weather reports! I realized this week that in the weather reports on any channel but the weather channel, and even then only on special programs, they never actually explain the weather. They just barely talk about fronts and air movement. As to actually explaining how they came up with what they think might happen or what alternative weather patterns might be likely, they just throw some numbers at you. Basically, I most likely get dumber any time I watch a weather report.

In other news, lori's dad held a surprise wedding last weekend. We headed to South Dakota on Friday night and returned Monday night. Sunday her dad and his fiancee, Charlene, hosted a barbecue at her beautiful lakefront home. At the end of the barbecue they had a little church service kind of thing, which magically turned into . . . poof . . . a wedding. Fortunately, they had invited four pastors, so they just asked them to do various parts of the ceremony, then signed the paperwork, and . . . poof . . . a surprise newlywed couple. It was a fun time.

Moving on in the news, we had our Peace Corps interview on Wednesday night, and both lori and I think it went really well. It sounded like we have a very competitive application. Problem is that they only do couples placements every three months (they do individual placements on a rolling basis as the apps come in) and we missed a round of couples' placements at the end of July. That means that we won't hear about a nomination until late October or early November. So time to keep ourselves busy while we wait for an answer.

Perhaps a major headline here . . . after our Peace Corps interview we went and had a bite to eat to talk about our pre-Peace Corps service plans. Lori's really had a hankering to spend some time in South Dakota with her family, and especially with the recent family structure changes (Dad got remarried=new step-mom and step-siblings to get to know; Mom living on her own, with a new job; Brother entering the last years of Pharmacology program, with all the crazy changes that happen through college), this hankering makes more and more sense. Since we're going to have to fold up camp, i.e., quit our jobs, sell/store/give away most of our stuff, and say all our goodbyes, before starting service, we think that now might be the only time we could really spend a significant amount of time living in SD. So, we're thinking that we are going to pack up once lori finishes her OCD therapy (-12 weeks from now). We have to sell the house first, of course, so that will be the biggest obstacle, but basically we want to spend as much time with lori's family as we can before we leave for Peace Corps.

And finally, as a token closing piece: I interviewed at Chipotle today, and I think I got the job. I should hear from them within a week. I'll be working there to add hours to what I already do with personal care. Mostly though, I'll be working for free burritos and the discount.

I guess that's enough for now. Crazy weekend coming up: IKEA tomorrow morning to return a bed that we won't need (Peace Corps); Mali Study Abroad Reunion tomorrow afternoon; Cousin Heather's Dance Party Birthday tomorrow night; little bit of work on Sunday morning; and finally, Thor over for lunch on Sunday afternoon. Hold on to your pants :D