History textbooks and mainstream scholarship tend to focus on the usable past rather than presenting the historic record truthfully. The past becomes usable when writers of history choose to include or omit certain events and people in order to mesh with a modern political agenda.
The question, then, is not what did you learn in school, but rather how were you taught? Were you required to memorize or encouraged to think? Did your teachers demand you to know or invite you to experience? Ultimately, the goal of education should not be to engender loyalist, patriotic nationalism. The purpose of education should be to encourage informed, patriotic or not, activism.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
War Strategies: The Crusades and the War on Terror
As the story goes, about 950 years ago the Christian Church began a mission to eradicate the world of non-Christians: the Crusades. The story, however, often neglects to mention (or we prefer not to listen) the strategic motivations of the Crusaders. Not only were they fighting for their religion, but they were fighting to keep their land and preserve their way of life. Islam was quickly spreading through Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and northern Africa, thus encroaching into Christian territories.
From this map you can see how Islam began to encroach into Christian Europe via the Iberian peninsula (Spain) and Asia Minor. Church leaders knew that if Islam spread into their territories, priests and bishops would have to vie for power against mullahs and mujtahids. This would not do and so Church leaders devised a plan to prevent it. Once Constantinople was "attacked" the Church's fear of losing it's land, power, and way of life reached a decisive point. They were so gripped by the fear of a deluge of Muslims and a mass conversion of Europeans that something drastic had to be done.
Ultimately, leaders of the Holy Roman Empire decided that defensive tactics were not enough. They had to show potent uses of force in order to succeed. One city stood out as the best option for places to wage war: Jerusalem. It was a Christian holy city because of Jesus, but it was also a Muslim holy city because of Mohammed. If the Christians launched a war against the Muslims in Jerusalem, then they would have to draw forces from across Islamic territories. The fight for Jerusalem was on and the plan to save Christian Europe had succeeded - Muslims in Europe proceeded no further and later were removed from Spain via the Spanish Inquisition.
What interests me about these events is their striking similarities to the modern War on Terror. The strategy is basically the same. Afghanistan's and Iraq's locations in the Islamic world make them great places to "take the fight to them." Both countries border Iran. Along with that, we have a military ally in Pakistan and an economic partner in Saudi Arabia.
The fragmentation of Islamic central Asia is impossible to overlook. The States claim that they are not planning an attack on Iran, but what do you suppose the Iranians think? If you have any knowledge of the Bay of Pigs invasion, then you're fully aware of how the Iranians might feel. No wonder they want nuclear weapons.
From this map you can see how Islam began to encroach into Christian Europe via the Iberian peninsula (Spain) and Asia Minor. Church leaders knew that if Islam spread into their territories, priests and bishops would have to vie for power against mullahs and mujtahids. This would not do and so Church leaders devised a plan to prevent it. Once Constantinople was "attacked" the Church's fear of losing it's land, power, and way of life reached a decisive point. They were so gripped by the fear of a deluge of Muslims and a mass conversion of Europeans that something drastic had to be done.Ultimately, leaders of the Holy Roman Empire decided that defensive tactics were not enough. They had to show potent uses of force in order to succeed. One city stood out as the best option for places to wage war: Jerusalem. It was a Christian holy city because of Jesus, but it was also a Muslim holy city because of Mohammed. If the Christians launched a war against the Muslims in Jerusalem, then they would have to draw forces from across Islamic territories. The fight for Jerusalem was on and the plan to save Christian Europe had succeeded - Muslims in Europe proceeded no further and later were removed from Spain via the Spanish Inquisition.
What interests me about these events is their striking similarities to the modern War on Terror. The strategy is basically the same. Afghanistan's and Iraq's locations in the Islamic world make them great places to "take the fight to them." Both countries border Iran. Along with that, we have a military ally in Pakistan and an economic partner in Saudi Arabia.
The fragmentation of Islamic central Asia is impossible to overlook. The States claim that they are not planning an attack on Iran, but what do you suppose the Iranians think? If you have any knowledge of the Bay of Pigs invasion, then you're fully aware of how the Iranians might feel. No wonder they want nuclear weapons.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Wheel
If you read this blog, then you probably know me. If you know me, then you probably know that I was on Wheel of Fortune last night. If you knew I was on the show and didn't watch it, then I hate you and wish you didn't know me.
It was weird watching myself on TV. Who knew I was so handsome? Well, I did. But, who else? The number was probably limited to those who have seen me in person. Now, however, a good portion of the game show viewing public is fully aware of my stunning good looks. I've already had to turn down a few autograph requests from neighbors in my apartment complex.
The show itself, was a heck of a lot of fun. When I say heck, I mean HECK! (Capital letters followed by an exclamation point indicates a strong vocalization of the word). Vanna White is much smaller and older than I thought. Pat is short, but he wants to be taller than everyone else. If you were paying close attention you noticed I was about the same height as the other contestants. If you know me, then you know (already went over the Greek god part) that I tower over most people. By most I mean everybody except for professional basketball players. Where do those freaks come from?!? Anyway, the contestant stage is divided into three (duh) parts. Each person has a lift under their feet so everyone can appear the same height on television. They told me it had something to do with the 19th Amendment. That was fine with me. What wasn't fine with me was Pat's use of the lift.
Whenever Pat stood next to me he made use of the lift to appear taller than me! Who is this guy? I wanted to punch him off his high horse, er, pedestal. How dare he make claim to superior height status. I swallowed my pride and continued with the show.
After the show was over (none of the following events actually occurred) Pat met us all back stage to congratulate us. As he approached me to shake my hand I bent his thumb back a la Steven Seagal. "Who's taller now ya little bitch?" I said. As his knees buckled I kicked him in the balls. That sprung his torso and head toward me and I thought he was coming in for a head butt. I poked him in the eyes a la Moe Howard - he's apparently not familiar with Curly's hand to nose defense. Then, his left hand shot up to grab his stinging eyes, but I thought he was going for the Vulcan nerve pinch. I intercepted his hand with my teeth and bit off his thumb, which is the most dangerous of the five fingers. Without his thumb, spraying blood in the air, Pat went into shock. His eyes rolled back in his head and he started seizing and foaming at the mouth. But, I thought he was conjuring up a demon so I grabbed his nostrils with my two fore fingers, lifted him off the ground, and held him there until he stopped twitching. I released him and his limp body fell to the ground. Evidently, he stopped breathing. I called 911 from a nearby phone and then walked toward the exit. After witnessing the entire ordeal, Vanna thanked me on my way out. Not for calling 911, but in her words, "thank you for setting that little shit straight." I said, "No problem, I had a lot of fun. Have you seen that blond bitch?"
It was weird watching myself on TV. Who knew I was so handsome? Well, I did. But, who else? The number was probably limited to those who have seen me in person. Now, however, a good portion of the game show viewing public is fully aware of my stunning good looks. I've already had to turn down a few autograph requests from neighbors in my apartment complex.
The show itself, was a heck of a lot of fun. When I say heck, I mean HECK! (Capital letters followed by an exclamation point indicates a strong vocalization of the word). Vanna White is much smaller and older than I thought. Pat is short, but he wants to be taller than everyone else. If you were paying close attention you noticed I was about the same height as the other contestants. If you know me, then you know (already went over the Greek god part) that I tower over most people. By most I mean everybody except for professional basketball players. Where do those freaks come from?!? Anyway, the contestant stage is divided into three (duh) parts. Each person has a lift under their feet so everyone can appear the same height on television. They told me it had something to do with the 19th Amendment. That was fine with me. What wasn't fine with me was Pat's use of the lift.
Whenever Pat stood next to me he made use of the lift to appear taller than me! Who is this guy? I wanted to punch him off his high horse, er, pedestal. How dare he make claim to superior height status. I swallowed my pride and continued with the show.
After the show was over (none of the following events actually occurred) Pat met us all back stage to congratulate us. As he approached me to shake my hand I bent his thumb back a la Steven Seagal. "Who's taller now ya little bitch?" I said. As his knees buckled I kicked him in the balls. That sprung his torso and head toward me and I thought he was coming in for a head butt. I poked him in the eyes a la Moe Howard - he's apparently not familiar with Curly's hand to nose defense. Then, his left hand shot up to grab his stinging eyes, but I thought he was going for the Vulcan nerve pinch. I intercepted his hand with my teeth and bit off his thumb, which is the most dangerous of the five fingers. Without his thumb, spraying blood in the air, Pat went into shock. His eyes rolled back in his head and he started seizing and foaming at the mouth. But, I thought he was conjuring up a demon so I grabbed his nostrils with my two fore fingers, lifted him off the ground, and held him there until he stopped twitching. I released him and his limp body fell to the ground. Evidently, he stopped breathing. I called 911 from a nearby phone and then walked toward the exit. After witnessing the entire ordeal, Vanna thanked me on my way out. Not for calling 911, but in her words, "thank you for setting that little shit straight." I said, "No problem, I had a lot of fun. Have you seen that blond bitch?"
Monday, May 5, 2008
Today in History
Congratulations, Columbus you just discovered Jamaica. (1494)
Mary Kies, you are the first woman to receive a patent in the U.S. (1809)
The first continental railroad in Europe connects Brussels and Mechelen. (1835)
Cinco de Mayo is born in Mexico. (1862)
Carnegie Hall opens. (1891)
Cy Young throws the first perfect game. (1904)
The 27th Amendment is ratified. (1992)
Of course, many other events took place on this date in history, but I cannot leave out the fact that on this date in 1818 one of the most influential of all modern philosophers was born. Whether you agree with him or not, Karl Marx has fundamentally shaped the debate about the costs and benefits of capitalism and socialism. Happy Birthday Herr Marx.
Mary Kies, you are the first woman to receive a patent in the U.S. (1809)
The first continental railroad in Europe connects Brussels and Mechelen. (1835)
Cinco de Mayo is born in Mexico. (1862)
Carnegie Hall opens. (1891)
Cy Young throws the first perfect game. (1904)
The 27th Amendment is ratified. (1992)
Of course, many other events took place on this date in history, but I cannot leave out the fact that on this date in 1818 one of the most influential of all modern philosophers was born. Whether you agree with him or not, Karl Marx has fundamentally shaped the debate about the costs and benefits of capitalism and socialism. Happy Birthday Herr Marx.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Thoughts on May Day
Some of you may not be aware of the history of May Day. I won't bore you with it, but you should know that in the U.S. it started on May 1, 1886. On that day, people in the American industrial centers of Chicago and Detroit held a strike in protest of their working conditions. These strikers were met with violence from police forces, but as a result of their actions the United States adopted the eight hour workday and other measures to ensure a safe working environment.
Nowadays, May Day is dominated by immigrants who are fighting for equal rights. Many immigrants may not know that they are entitled to a safe work place because they do not know all the details of U.S. labor laws. (Why did the American Bar Association choose May 1 as Law Day?) Many immigrant laborers endure deplorable conditions because they have no other choice. I applaud the efforts of all who participated in the May Day demonstrations. They have one simple message, we are all human and all humans should be treated equally. Yet, the anti-immigration activists see these demonstrations as anti-American because the people marching wave the flags of their homelands beside that of the United States. These activists have an immutable idea of what an American is, rather they know exactly what an American is not.
Throughout the history of the United States, people have been trying to define the American identity. It is a complicated matter, but it can be broken down into simple terms. The battle for independence sought to draw a line between the British and those living in the American colonies: "we are not British." The wars against the tribes of Native Americans sought to draw a line between the savage and benevolent: "we are not savages." (Read, The Name of War for more on the creation of American identity). We are not fascists nor communists and who we are, as Americans, has always been defined by who we are against. You must remember a prominent public figure saying, "you are either with us, or against us."
A digression: Why does anyone define oneself as an American, Russian, Chinese, Brazilian, Japanese, Mexican, Irish, German, or any other nationality. Can our identities, either collective or individual, be contained by borders? The study of nationalism can be exhausting, especially considering the historical fluctuations of borders, the history of tribal networks, and the recent "nation building" efforts in Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia. Understanding how and with whom we identify ourselves can yield some incredible insights into the human experience. As a result of globalization, nationalism is simultaneously fading and becoming more extreme. Therefore, nations will remain a topic of scholastic inquiry for the foreseeable future and in order to understand their current status we must study their histories.
Nowadays, May Day is dominated by immigrants who are fighting for equal rights. Many immigrants may not know that they are entitled to a safe work place because they do not know all the details of U.S. labor laws. (Why did the American Bar Association choose May 1 as Law Day?) Many immigrant laborers endure deplorable conditions because they have no other choice. I applaud the efforts of all who participated in the May Day demonstrations. They have one simple message, we are all human and all humans should be treated equally. Yet, the anti-immigration activists see these demonstrations as anti-American because the people marching wave the flags of their homelands beside that of the United States. These activists have an immutable idea of what an American is, rather they know exactly what an American is not.
Throughout the history of the United States, people have been trying to define the American identity. It is a complicated matter, but it can be broken down into simple terms. The battle for independence sought to draw a line between the British and those living in the American colonies: "we are not British." The wars against the tribes of Native Americans sought to draw a line between the savage and benevolent: "we are not savages." (Read, The Name of War for more on the creation of American identity). We are not fascists nor communists and who we are, as Americans, has always been defined by who we are against. You must remember a prominent public figure saying, "you are either with us, or against us."
A digression: Why does anyone define oneself as an American, Russian, Chinese, Brazilian, Japanese, Mexican, Irish, German, or any other nationality. Can our identities, either collective or individual, be contained by borders? The study of nationalism can be exhausting, especially considering the historical fluctuations of borders, the history of tribal networks, and the recent "nation building" efforts in Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia. Understanding how and with whom we identify ourselves can yield some incredible insights into the human experience. As a result of globalization, nationalism is simultaneously fading and becoming more extreme. Therefore, nations will remain a topic of scholastic inquiry for the foreseeable future and in order to understand their current status we must study their histories.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Why
There are certainly a wide array of reasons for writing. I know I have many and I feel it necessary to often remind myself (really, who reads this but me?) of these reasons. So, self, listen closely.
You write because communication is an essential characteristic of humanity and since you are often curt while speaking you must write in order to fully express yourself. What is said can never be unsaid, but what is written can always be edited or erased. Even after I post this entry I can simply go delete it if I wish. I have total control. No one talks back when I write. My own mind may tell me, "that's stupid don't say that." After all, my mind's got a mind of it's own. And writing to yourself is not as crazy as talking to yourself. Or is it? Maybe that will be the next poll question.
You also write to sustain your creativity. Without work or school you find yourself reading a great deal and your mind drowns itself daily in a sea of ideas. Without taking the time to write what you think your thoughts will be washed ashore, forever beached. Writing does something to you that you cannot quite explain, but other people who toil over the structure of a single sentence or agonize over an essay's organization know how you feel. The process of choosing that perfect way to say something is never finished. Ultimately, a writer always settles for the least disgusting.
There are also the platitudes of writers. Perhaps my words will be read by some future generation. Perhaps the scrawling found in my journal will touch someone in a profound manner someday. Perhaps today. In the end, you write for yourself; for you own well-being. You either have some sick obsession with self-inflicted agony or you use it as a nepenthe. Perhaps both.
You write because communication is an essential characteristic of humanity and since you are often curt while speaking you must write in order to fully express yourself. What is said can never be unsaid, but what is written can always be edited or erased. Even after I post this entry I can simply go delete it if I wish. I have total control. No one talks back when I write. My own mind may tell me, "that's stupid don't say that." After all, my mind's got a mind of it's own. And writing to yourself is not as crazy as talking to yourself. Or is it? Maybe that will be the next poll question.
You also write to sustain your creativity. Without work or school you find yourself reading a great deal and your mind drowns itself daily in a sea of ideas. Without taking the time to write what you think your thoughts will be washed ashore, forever beached. Writing does something to you that you cannot quite explain, but other people who toil over the structure of a single sentence or agonize over an essay's organization know how you feel. The process of choosing that perfect way to say something is never finished. Ultimately, a writer always settles for the least disgusting.
There are also the platitudes of writers. Perhaps my words will be read by some future generation. Perhaps the scrawling found in my journal will touch someone in a profound manner someday. Perhaps today. In the end, you write for yourself; for you own well-being. You either have some sick obsession with self-inflicted agony or you use it as a nepenthe. Perhaps both.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Cruzin' the Coast
Last week John (not cool enough to have his own blog) and I (cool) took a road trip up the western coast of California. I picked him up from LAX and we hung with our friends Mike, Jodi, Purdy, and their friends the night before heading north. We hit the road with nothing more than a day planned. Our first stop was Santa Barbara.
We drove into town windows down, elbows out in our minivan rental - fucking brakes. We thoroughly explored the area and our first destination was UCSB. Can someone please inform me as to why the campus is so removed from the town? We were informed that most college kids just hang out near their college, but we saw nothing of interest there. We continued driving and saw some nice scenery, over-priced homes, and pretentious people. We decided to stay and check out the night scene. We enjoyed the Cardinals stomping the Giants over some beers and unimaginative food. Then, we went to the seediest bar we could find and it was everything but. This spurious bar reminded us of Eastside Tavern in Columbia, Missouri. It turned out to be karaoke night and I belted out some CCR. Besides PBR in the can, the place was lame. We did meet a cool couple from Germany and hung out with them the whole night. Is it ironic that the out-of-towners wanted to hang out with one another rather than the locals? We slept in the back of the van and proceeded north the next morning.
The drive up the central coast was truly majestic. If you ever get the chance to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, do it. When mountains meet the ocean the scenery becomes unpredictable. Every turn reveals something new. Cliffs, forests, beaches, mountains, and valleys come together in a splendorous display. The next stop was Santa Cruz.
I absolutely loved this little city. The combination of a college town and a beach community gave it a mellow feel. The UCSC campus was incredible and certainly the prettiest campus I've ever seen. We decided to stay in Santa Cruz for the night. We hit up a few bars after searching for about an hour. The bar we found was actually pretty cool. We would've liked to see more options though. Again, we slept in our spacious minivan. Next stop, Frisco.
Maybe it was the fact that we did not know anybody that could show us the city, but I was expecting San Francisco to blow me away. First, parking was an absolute bitch and we were incredibly lucky when we found a spot directly outside The Adelaide Hostel. If you want a great deal for a great hostel stay here. It was one of the cleanest I've ever stayed in and the staff was pretty cool. The morning coffee could've been better, but for $25/night I wasn't complaining. The night prior we went to Vesuvio, which was also pretty cool except for our waitress who seemed like she was having the worst day of her wretched life. I'm not giving up on Frisco, but my first impression wasn't that great.
The next day we headed back south and were demystified by California's central valley. San Jose was uneventful and sterile and please someone tell me why would anyone live in Bakersfield? The entire city made me cringe. So we ended up back in Santa Monica on Monday night. All in all, it was definitely fun. I was surprised by how much I liked Santa Cruz and how uninteresting San Fran was. Sleeping in the van was better than it sounds, but our collective body odor needed remedy. Another experience I'll value just as I value all experiences as opportunities to learn about life and the world I inhabit. If we don't explore how will we ever know that where we are is where we are supposed to be?
We drove into town windows down, elbows out in our minivan rental - fucking brakes. We thoroughly explored the area and our first destination was UCSB. Can someone please inform me as to why the campus is so removed from the town? We were informed that most college kids just hang out near their college, but we saw nothing of interest there. We continued driving and saw some nice scenery, over-priced homes, and pretentious people. We decided to stay and check out the night scene. We enjoyed the Cardinals stomping the Giants over some beers and unimaginative food. Then, we went to the seediest bar we could find and it was everything but. This spurious bar reminded us of Eastside Tavern in Columbia, Missouri. It turned out to be karaoke night and I belted out some CCR. Besides PBR in the can, the place was lame. We did meet a cool couple from Germany and hung out with them the whole night. Is it ironic that the out-of-towners wanted to hang out with one another rather than the locals? We slept in the back of the van and proceeded north the next morning.
The drive up the central coast was truly majestic. If you ever get the chance to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, do it. When mountains meet the ocean the scenery becomes unpredictable. Every turn reveals something new. Cliffs, forests, beaches, mountains, and valleys come together in a splendorous display. The next stop was Santa Cruz.
I absolutely loved this little city. The combination of a college town and a beach community gave it a mellow feel. The UCSC campus was incredible and certainly the prettiest campus I've ever seen. We decided to stay in Santa Cruz for the night. We hit up a few bars after searching for about an hour. The bar we found was actually pretty cool. We would've liked to see more options though. Again, we slept in our spacious minivan. Next stop, Frisco.
Maybe it was the fact that we did not know anybody that could show us the city, but I was expecting San Francisco to blow me away. First, parking was an absolute bitch and we were incredibly lucky when we found a spot directly outside The Adelaide Hostel. If you want a great deal for a great hostel stay here. It was one of the cleanest I've ever stayed in and the staff was pretty cool. The morning coffee could've been better, but for $25/night I wasn't complaining. The night prior we went to Vesuvio, which was also pretty cool except for our waitress who seemed like she was having the worst day of her wretched life. I'm not giving up on Frisco, but my first impression wasn't that great.
The next day we headed back south and were demystified by California's central valley. San Jose was uneventful and sterile and please someone tell me why would anyone live in Bakersfield? The entire city made me cringe. So we ended up back in Santa Monica on Monday night. All in all, it was definitely fun. I was surprised by how much I liked Santa Cruz and how uninteresting San Fran was. Sleeping in the van was better than it sounds, but our collective body odor needed remedy. Another experience I'll value just as I value all experiences as opportunities to learn about life and the world I inhabit. If we don't explore how will we ever know that where we are is where we are supposed to be?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Coffee in China
If you know anything about the Chinese culture you probably know that the people drink tea and not much coffee. To say that you were simply drinking tea is insignificant. The Chinese make a point to describe it as having tea, which is a wonderful experience that seems like an environmental worship ceremony. They constantly remind you to smell the aroma of earth, feel the warmth of the clay cup in your hands, and by consuming the tea you're tasting earth, fire, and water.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences having tea in China, however, I have had a long-standing love affair with coffee. Anyone addicted to coffee knows that only coffee can slake the craving. Knowing that I might have trouble locating a coffee shop I brought some ground beans along. However, I forgot to bring a French press. What follows is the process I went through to make my daily dosage.
First, you'll need to consume a canned beverage.
Following consumption,
flip can and insert approximately seven,
needle-sized holes in the shape of a circle.
Rinse can thoroughly.
Square assumes role of coffee filter.
Add ground coffee to makeshift coffee filter.
Place filter inside tea maker.
Poor hot water into can's mouth.
Watch water begin saturating grounds.
Marvel at my ingenuity as your coffee materializes.
Enjoy you're high octane beverage.
This is only one way to make coffee in lands afar. You might have another, more efficient way to make it. If so, speak up. Also, if you have other incredible ways of making beverages or foods at home or in distant lands please attach a link or add a post.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences having tea in China, however, I have had a long-standing love affair with coffee. Anyone addicted to coffee knows that only coffee can slake the craving. Knowing that I might have trouble locating a coffee shop I brought some ground beans along. However, I forgot to bring a French press. What follows is the process I went through to make my daily dosage.
First, you'll need to consume a canned beverage.
Following consumption,
flip can and insert approximately seven,
needle-sized holes in the shape of a circle.
Rinse can thoroughly.
Third, apply favorite team's can coolie
which doubles as a can-stays-warm.
If favorite team is not pictured,
how do you live with yourself?
which doubles as a can-stays-warm.
If favorite team is not pictured,
how do you live with yourself?
Next, cut a small square from paper towel.
Place square in tea leaf strainer.
Square assumes role of coffee filter.
Add ground coffee to makeshift coffee filter.
Place filter inside tea maker.
Poor hot water into can's mouth.
Watch water begin saturating grounds.
Marvel at my ingenuity as your coffee materializes.
Enjoy you're high octane beverage.
This is only one way to make coffee in lands afar. You might have another, more efficient way to make it. If so, speak up. Also, if you have other incredible ways of making beverages or foods at home or in distant lands please attach a link or add a post.
Welcome
Greetings fellow iconoclasts, agitators, and wayward travelers ... travelers only has one L, huh. I thought it had two. If I just learned that from typing in this helpful, spell-check equipped text box, imagine all you'll learn just by continuing to read. Read this blog, and all your wildest dreams will come true.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
