It’s okay–I wasn’t using my rights anyway…

So, the Feds can just randomly search through your electronic files at the border. A federal appeals court overturned a ruling by a lower court, stating that it is not violating privacy for border agents to just randomly decide to look through everything on your laptop, cell phone, PDA, etc. when coming into the U.S.

Hello? Bill of Rights, anyone? Bueller? How much of this are we going to ignore? How long are we going to keep looking the other way when our rights are infringed? We let the President get away with vetoing anti-torture legislation. We lapped up the propaganda from Pentagon-paid “military analysts” who were employed to convince the U.S. public to go to war in Iraq. We’re all good little kids in airports: standing in our lines, taking off our jackets and shoes, using our stupid little plastic baggies for our shampoo. I check TSA’s full list of prohibited items before any flight I take because it changes so often (well… that, and I like the reminder to leave my cattle prod, throwing stars, and dynamite at home).

So now I get to look forward to having my laptop and cell phone up for grabs too? No warrant, no probable cause necessary, just — “Hey, you’re coming into the country. You probably have something evil on that cell phone of yours. Oh, nice pic of that random sign that says something funny. I’m going to have make a copy of that, you know, in case you’re a terrorist.”

What?!

Come on, this is supposed to be a free country. The 4th Amendment supposedly guarantees that: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Out of curiosity, do U.S. federal judges even have to read that pesky old “U.S. Constitution” anymore?

For the record: I get that we’re all scared of terrorists. And there are bad people out there that want to do bad things. But is it really worth sacrificing everything that is great about this nation in order to feel a little bit safer? Do you think that giving up our rights is really the answer to actually making us more secure?

Personally, I think that instead of trying to stop angry and/or bad people from getting into this country to do bad things, we should try to work on the “why” behind their anger — you know, actually get to the source of the problem instead of just doing a bunch of ineffectual things that never get to the real heart of the matter.

Finally, I’m going to finish us off with various examples of people who are way better at expressing themselves than I am: a few quotes from U.S. Founding Fathers and my new favorite song, “Handlebars” by Flobots.

“A lady asked Dr. Franklin: ‘Well, Doctor, what have we got–a republic or a monarchy?’ — ‘A republic,’ replied the Doctor, ‘if you can keep it.’”
-Anonymous, from Farrand’s Records of the Federal Convention of 1787

“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined.”
-Patrick Henry, speech in the Virginia Ratifying Convention, June 5, 1778

“They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

Hey, the world is starting to think slightly less negatively about the U.S.!

And here’s a shocker </sarcasm>, it’s because of the upcoming change in administration (and the hope that the elections will mean a change in unpopular U.S. policy).

So, what are the numbers? The average positive rating was 35%, versus an average negative rating of 47%. The increase in positive rating is about 4% from last year.

That’s still… really depressing. The numbers get more interesting, too: we are viewed less positively than China, for instance. We are viewed more positively and more negatively than North Korea. <head spins in a circle> In Canada, our good ol’ neighbor to the north, the U.S.’s negative rating is at 62%.

So, we could go a lot of ways with this. How much should we care about world opinion? Personally, I’m not one to think that the entire world is wrong if they disagree with U.S. policy. However, considering how information distribution is so warped by propaganda and media spin throughout the world (here in the U.S. too), I also don’t automatically assume that how the world views the U.S. is based entirely on things the U.S. is responsible for.

Gay Student Killed

An openly gay eighth-grader was killed by another eighth grader after confessing that he had a crush on the other student. The school district at least seems to be doing what they can to ensure it doesn’t happen again by working with local leaders in the gay community to enhance education with their students.

The youth who was killed seems like he was such a brave little soul, too. Willing to wear high heels and makeup to school, flirting back when he was teased about his sexuality. What a brave, inspirational person.

The charges filed against the killer are adult murder charges that also have the hate crime label added on. I’m not sure how I feel about this–that age range is extremely difficult for youth; they’re going through a lot of self-identification issues. This was just a kid, and while it’s certainly never all right to kill someone, I just don’t know if I can quite say that he should be held responsible as an adult.

What a heartbreaking story. Two lives, full of possibility, and now neither one of them will ever get to live to that potential.

Uplifty Goodness for the Day, courtesy of China

So, a Chinese vlogger made a series of videos documenting the lives of three children coal haulers. Enter online advocacy and donations — and they were able to build enough support to get government aid to send those children back to school.

Reading that came at a great time for me. Sitting in a cubicle all day is not the most inspirational work, and I definitely needed a pick-me-up. Watching the original video (with English subtitles) broke my heart. One of kids, a fourteen year-old — his parents went to work in 2000 and he hasn’t heard from them since. But knowing that now they’re back in school, adjusting to a life with hope and possibility in it… What a difference hope can make.

Inspirational goodness aside, however, the Chinese vlogger, Alun, made a really interesting comment: “I think as a citizen of the People’s Republic of China, it is our responsibility and obligation to expose the negative phenomena in the society.”

Reading those words, I felt such a kinship with him, a connection that spanned the globe, oppositional governments, and fundamentally different cultures. It’s good to know when you’re hearing about China’s growing military power or reading heartbreaking stories about the Tibetan protests that even though you don’t hear about them, there are still people there who are working to create positive change, who are motivated by much the same thing I am, who are also working to make their country better than it is.

And that’s why I love Global Voices Online.

Compassion can be learned

According to recent findings you may be able to learn how to be more compassionate. Researchers compared the brains of experienced meditators with novice meditators and found that meditating can actually physically affect the regions in the brain associated with emotions, particularly empathy.

From here, that means that teaching compassion may be possible — and the scientists are already talking about possible connections to treating depression or possible implications for education. So just think… maybe someday meditation will be considered a valuable education tool.

Methinks that might help create a shinier, brighter world.

Wright’s 9/11 Speech in Context

So, my dad and I disagree a little about Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s pastor who’s making all the controversial statements. Okay, we disagree a lot. I think he was expressing real, legitimate anger at times and at other times was simply using language that mainstream society (that would be the rich white folks he’s referring to, I believe) doesn’t like. I also agree with many of the ideas underlying his statements even if I would’ve chosen different language.

So, let’s take a look at one of his more oft-mentioned sermons, which took place the weekend after 9/11: in context and on MSNBC via YouTube. Let’s make a comparison here… Well, MSNBC forgot to mention that Wright’s comment, “America’s chickens are coming home to roost” is actually a quote from former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Edward Peck. And notice how they also deliberately started off by evoking memories of 9/11. How’s that for misleading and inflammatory?

Oddities, from a dream to the news.

I generally like odd and random news no matter the circumstances, but it so happens that I had a strange dream this morning that incited this particular set of quirky news. In fact, the dream kind of tinged my entire day in oddity.

The thing is, I don’t usually remember my dreams. This morning, though, I had one of those surreal experiences of becoming conscious that I was dreaming during my dream. And then I solidified it in my memory because it was so off the wall.

So, here’s the dream: I was Kevin from The Wonder Years and Wayne was trying to borrow the car. Even though I was Kevin, Fred Savage’s Kevin was also there. And — this is the part that was really creepy — Daniel Stern was still narrating. Only I heard the narration as Kevin, in Kevin’s head. It was trippy, and I’ve had Daniel Stern’s voice stuck in my head all day now.

Thus, my day was odd, so let’s see what other odd things happened in the world.

First off — I’m a big fan of life imitating art. So, this British ATM was giving out double the amount of money requested. I wonder if Collins set the password for A-N-G-E-L. All right, I realize that was a stretch, but Rent is closing on Broadway June 1st so it’s on my brain.

Yay U.S. economy! The dollar is doing so poorly right now that in Amsterdam smaller currency outlets are refusing to exchange dollars for the euro. Gosh, you know things are bad when even rich American tourists on their European vacations have to face the fact that our economy is in the toilet.

Speaking of toilets (and that bad segue wasn’t intentional)… As if the Beijing Olympics didn’t have plenty of struggles already (what with the boycotts and protests), now Westerners are getting squicked out by Chinese squat toilets. And, like good little Westerners, they’re asking very nicely for sit toilets instead. (I’m sure someone threw a hissy fit.)

Now, this idea appeals to me: auction off your life, take the money, and go find a new one. Unfortunately, I don’t think that works so well for someone with my level of debt. Someday, though… I’m so in.

Let’s celebrate the flagrant extravagances of Western society! A French wine taster insured his nose for 5 million euros (that’s $8 million). You know, maybe it’s just because I’m not a wine drinker, but I just don’t see how a nose can be quite that valuable. Of course, the policy also stipulates that he can’t fight Mike Tyson and has to go to experienced barbers who have less chance of hurting his nose, so the idea is just amusing in all sorts of ways.

And what collection of random news would be complete without a dumb criminal? Today’s dumb criminal is a would be shoplifter who forgot to take his son along on his quick getaway. I can see how you would be distracted and all, but leaving your twelve year-old to deal with the authorities is just tacky.

All right, that’s been your random news on this odd day. Here’s hoping the world continues to keep us on our toes (because sometimes, the quirkiness is all that keeps me going).

Year V

Global reactions to the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, plus a guy who’s way more eloquent than me.

Unfortunately, despite Fisk’s eloquence, I’m not sure about the numbers he cites for Iraqi civilian casualties (he says the lowest estimates are around 350,000). The Iraq Body Count has a much smaller number (80,000-90,000) of documented deaths.

However, it’s not as if “only” 80,000 dead civilians is somehow all right.

Me and W

Me: All right, George, it’s time to give back the country now.
W: Aw, do I have to?
Me: Yes, you do. You grabbed it right out of Al’s hands and then kicked John so that he couldn’t get it. You’ve had two turns. It’s time to give it back.
W: Yeah, but it’s MINE!
Me: You know that’s not true, George. The country isn’t yours. For that matter, it’s not Obama’s, or Hillary’s, or McCain’s.
W: I know.
Me: I know you do. Now, who does the country belong to?
W: < mumbles > The people.
Me: That’s right. Now give it back.
W: It’s not like they’ve been doing anything with it anyway!

Speechless (but not entirely) after Obama’s “A More Perfect Union”

For people who know me, it may not come entirely as a surprise that I support Barack Obama. What may surprise some is why.

What Obama’s done for this country is amazing. Look around — people are engaged, active, voting in primaries (even young people). The hope for positive change and a better tomorrow has truly united millions of people across the U.S. At some point a few weeks ago, that became more important to me than whether or not I personally agreed with Obama (admittedly, I do agree with him more often than not).

Don’t get me wrong; I think it’s incredibly important that Obama’s views are validated by checking his voting record and his actions. In fact, I think it’s even more important to ensure that his actions are matching his words precisely because he is giving so much hope to people. If he were to get elected and turn out to be just another politician, the ramifications would be disastrous.

Anyway, I digress. I meant to discuss his speech last night [Full Speech on YouTube | Full Text from NY Times]. But let’s back up a little. Why did Obama feel compelled to address race so openly now?

Just before the primaries in Ohio and Texas, the attacks on Obama increased. The media was being too soft on him. He had gotten campaign funding from a criminal. He supposedly said one thing publicly about NAFTA and another thing privately to Canadian officials. His pastor was a radical.

Last night, he responded in what was honestly one of the most open and honest speeches I’ve ever seen. He talked openly about race in this country — something that hardly happens publicly at all, let alone during a national election. He spoke about the very real discrimination against minorities that continues to this day, and he spoke about the equally real resentments that efforts such as affirmative action can cause in the white community.

He didn’t just disagree with the controversial comments of his pastor and distance himself as much as possible from that pastor, which is what you’d expect from traditional candidates. No, instead he vehemently disagreed with the comments but took the time to explain the why behind them. He explained how this man had been a part of his community and larger family in spite of their occasional political disagreements. He made Rev. Jeremiah Wright more than a few controversial and negative sound bytes; he made him a real person.

He also opened his speech by speaking of the Constitution in a way that we so rarely hear. He admitted to the inherent inequality in the original document — due to what he referred to as our nation’s “original sin of slavery” — but didn’t dwell on it. Instead:

“Of course, the answer to the slavery question was already embedded within our Constitution – a Constitution that had at is very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time.”

He even talked about the call to action inherent in the Constitution:

“And yet words on a parchment would not be enough to deliver slaves from bondage, or provide men and women of every color and creed their full rights and obligations as citizens of the United States. What would be needed were Americans in successive generations who were willing to do their part – through protests and struggle, on the streets and in the courts, through a civil war and civil disobedience and always at great risk – to narrow that gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time.”

Those words sealed the deal for me, as much if not more so than his openness about race and discrimination. Finally, there is a politician who views the Constitution the way that I do. This is a man who loves this country not just for what it is, but for what it can be, who understands that the words in the Constitution are infinitely more powerful than the imperfect men who wrote them. This is a candidate who isn’t afraid to take on tough, complex issues or to start an open, real conversation with the people.

This is a candidate I can finally set aside my cynicism for, because this is a candidate who is actually willing to make real change, who is starting by showing honesty and integrity throughout his campaign.

I really love Tina Fey, but I’m afraid, in the end, I have to agree with Tracy Morgan: “Bitch may be the new black, but black is the new president, bitch.”