Feb

21

A Fairy Tale for Social Workers

Posted on February 21, 2010 at 10:32 am by Madrigal Maniac Under International, Local, State | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


I was interested in the remarks of a certain presenter at a Columbus festival I attended.

When I arrived at the speech there was a weird sort of vibe. Yes, some of the respected presenters and their fans were represented. But, there was also a large group of people who had helped facilitate the event and it appeared their main job was to party.

As the speakers presented their opinions I noticed something odd behind the scenes. There was a strange contest going on. In hiding, there were young men and women who were participating in a perplexing event. They would sit in huge lovely chairs with a number of tubes placed into their bodies that gave them the different realities they needed to enhance their understanding of the events of life. The ones they would like a better understanding of, and those they could give a shit about.

Spectators were kept aware of the progress by a huge technologically advanced computer monitor. This behemoth kept track of gains and losses against poverty, human rites, and international domination.

People at the festival loved it.

I happened to meet one of the young party people who had organized the event. We met on three evenings after the days events.

After the first day she said, “What a message. Haiti is on the way back… ” I said, ” I don’t think so. Haiti was poor before, this hurricane has made things worse and it would be a long time before even their former life would be preserved.” She asked, “how do you know this?”

“Because, I’m a social worker.”

Then she said, “Well at least the world is focusing more on human rites than repression.” I said, ” I don’t think so. What about Neda Soltani, a 16 student during an uprising in Iran? What about Tibet and China? Repression sill continues.”

She asked, “How do you know this?”

“Because, I’m a social worker.”

She then asked is their never a time to party and have fun and I answered, yes there is.

On days off and holidays. I said. Also, whenever you have worked for a civil rights movement that has changed the world for better.

She asked, “How do you know this……”

P.S. My sad attempt to write an album cover story like Peter Gabriel.

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Jan

25

The U.S. Air Force Responded to Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove

Posted on January 25, 2010 at 11:45 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


It was a different time. There was no internet, no cable, and the Cold War was in high gear. It was 1964. I was eight years old and still remember a drill where we dove underneath our desks in case of a nuclear attack from the “Russkies.” I guess my school desk had some sort of anti-radiation properties.

Let’s set the stage. In 1964 Stanley Kubrick released a movie called “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb.” It is an anti-war and anti-nuclear film. If you haven’t seen it you should. It’s a Cold War classic black comedy.

Here’s the famous seen with Slim Pickens riding a nuclear bomb horseback.

According to the McClatchy Newspapers the U.S Air Force filmed a response. It was discovered by William Burr, a senior analyst in charge of the nuclear-history documentation project for the National Security Archive, an independent research organization at George Washington University. There is no evidence the film was ever released to the public.

A link to the site can be found here. This is the video in three parts.

Again. It was a different time. It’s just that I am not sure the times have changed that much.

P.S. I’m guessing somewhere Stanley Kubrick is smiling.

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Jan

15

Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot Again

Posted on January 15, 2010 at 9:53 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International | Print This Post | Email This Post | 4 Comments 


O.K. Conservatives. Defend this.

On his show Wednesday, Limbaugh was asked by a caller about the president urging Americans to go to Whitehouse.gov to contribute to the Red Cross to help Haitians.

“Would you trust that the money is going to go to Haiti?” Limbaugh said. “Would you trust that your name is going to end up on a mailing list for the Obama people to start asking you for campaign donations for him and other causes?”

Limbaugh added, “besides, we’ve already donated to Haiti. It’s called the US income tax.”

First of all, I’m sure if you contribute to a cause supported by Limbaugh, your name will end up on a mailing list as well.

Obama has asked former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to join together to help oversee the administration of the massive relief effort now descending on Haiti.

A link to the Clinton Bush relief effort for Haiti can be found here.

Rush is a huge Bush fan. If you don’t believe me read this transcript from Limbaugh’s web site that details a call he recieved from Bush congratulating him on 20 years of broadcasting.

If Rush believes American’s should not contribute money to the Haitian relief effort, how does he explain one of his personal heroes spearheading an effort to do just that?

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Aug

24

Why Haven’t We Ratified CEDAW?

Posted on August 24, 2009 at 8:13 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


I just found out in an email from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) that there is an international treaty which has been around since 1979 that protects woman’s rights and the United States is the only democratic nation that has not signed it. It’s called the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It protects a woman’s right to employment, education, and to own property.

Here’s some background information on CEDAW from the NASW.

The United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in December 1979. The United States, an active participant in the writing of the Convention, signed the treaty at the UN Mid-Decade Conference for Women in July 1980. In November 1980, the treaty was transmitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Since then, the closest the Convention has come to ratification was in September 1994 when the Committee reported out favorably on the Convention, by a vote of 13 to 5 (with one abstention). Unfortunately, this occurred in the last days of the Congressional session, when several Senators put a hold on CEDAW, thereby blocking it from a Senate floor vote during the 103rd Congress.

When the new Senate convened in January 1995, the Convention reverted to the Committee for action, where it remains. In order for the U.S. to ratify the treaty, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee must report the treaty out of Committee with a majority vote and, once on the Senate floor, CEDAW must receive a 2/3rd majority vote (67 senators) to pass.

It appears the main opposition to CEDAW comes from the religious right. The good news is that previously the senators that put a hold on the treaty did not have to be identified. Now they do. In addition, there is some Republican support for the treaty.

The other countries who have not ratified CEDAW are Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Qatar, Nauru, Palau and Tonga.

We deplore the treatment of women in many countries and talk about the need for change. But we cannot ratify a treaty which espouses the values that we believe in. This makes no sense to me.

The NASW is asking it’s members to write or call their Senators and the White House and urge them to bring CEDAW to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I suggest you do the same.

Sources:
National Association of Social Workers
Chances Improve for Ratification of CEDAW

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Apr

16

Britain’s Got Talent - If You Haven’t Seen This, You Should

Posted on April 16, 2009 at 9:13 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


My boss told me about this YouTube video a few days ago. He said it was from Britain’s Got Talent, an America Idol type show with Simon Cowell as one of the judges. He said it was from the first show in the competition. I figured it was some odd person belting out a horrendous version of a classic song. It was somewhat odd, but horrendous it was not.

YouTube has disabled embedding, but here’s the link.

The cynical side of me said it was all made up. They knew she could sing and it was rehearsed. I hope not. Whether it was an act or not, the line that rang true to me was when she said, “No one gave me a chance.” I think that’s probably true. I did not think I would write about something like this on a political blog. But sometimes your spirit needs lifting and this one lifted mine.

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Dec

19

Did Cheney Admit to a War Crime

Posted on December 19, 2008 at 10:16 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International, National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


I found this at AlterNet. Author ZP Heller asks the question did Cheney admit to a war crime when he was interviewed on ABC? Heller believes he did and asks:

… we must play Cheney’s interview on every political blog out there in an effort to command the attention of Congress and the DOJ.

Okay ZP. Here’s a clip from the interview played as part of a report on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. You decide.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AINP_zEYN4[/youtube]

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Dec

13

Rumsfeld Blamed for Torture

Posted on December 13, 2008 at 2:30 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International, National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


This from The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — A report released Thursday by leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee said top Bush administration officials, including Donald H. Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary, bore major responsibility for the abuses committed by American troops in interrogations at Abu Ghraib in Iraq; Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; and other military detention centers.

Imagine that. It wasn’t just a small group of low ranking soldiers like Private Lynndie England. It was a small group of high ranking Bush administration officials. Rumsfeld is a liar. As proof I submit a 2007 New Yorker article by Seymour M. Hersh regarding a report by General Antonio Taguba.

My favorite part of the Times article is a quote from a Rumsfeld spokesperson Kieth Urbahn.

Because of irresponsible charges by a few individuals in positions of responsibility in Congress, millions of people around the world have been led to believe that the United States condones torture, Mr. Urbahn said.

No Mr. Urbahn, because of a few individuals in positions of responsibility, millions of people now know that the United States does not condone torture, Donald Rumsfeld and top Bush administration official do. Lynndie England had to face the consequences. The question is, will Donald H. Rumsfeld?

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Nov

25

Lieberman Tries to Make Amends

Posted on November 25, 2008 at 6:47 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International, National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman gave a speech today to try and make amends with his Democratic colleagues. However, he seems to have a selective memory and to minimize the consequences of his actions.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman took another step Tuesday toward mending his relationship with Democrats, saying that Barack Obama’s actions since winning the presidency have been “just about perfect.”

I agree. But what about before he was elected? When he declined to vote for a war of choice against a country that did not attack us and had no weapons of mass destruction. That turned out to be “just about perfect.” You voted for it and changed our defense policy to one that allows preemptive wars.

Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, was re-elected to the Senate in 2006 as an independent but continues to caucus with Democrats. He supported Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign, going as far as to criticize Obama and make a speech at the Republican National Convention.

You had to run as an independent because you could not win your state party primary. You then went and campaigned for McCain and spoke at the Republican convention. When Hillary lost her quest for the presidency, she did not leave the party she has been a member of all her life and run as an independent. She simply went to work for her parties candidate, Obama. That is why she is a statesman and probably the next secretary of state, while you are facing a possible censure.

Lieberman said he believes the rift between himself and the party stemmed mainly from his support of President Bush’s policy in Iraq and will close as that becomes less of an issue. “It appears to me that the war in Iraq is coming to a successful - I don’t want to say conclusion yet, but it’s moving in a way that it will not be a divisive issue either in the Democratic Party or between Democrats and Republicans in the time ahead,” Lieberman said. “And therefore, I think we’ll return to more normal times, which I welcome.”

Define divisiveness. Certainly it divided the politicians. However, the American people were not divided, they overwhelmingly turned against it. And what about the world? It has been us and Great Britain against the international community. That does not sound like divisiveness to me. Other countries, who would have never dare criticize our policies in the past no longer look at the United States as the moral leader of the world, just a gun-toting arrogant cowboy. There is even talk that America’s hegemony is over. Define success. Because the best thing you can say is that the war appears to be coming to an end. The conclusion is a success, the war itself was certainly not.

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Oct

23

World Income Gap Is Widening

Posted on October 23, 2008 at 11:16 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International, National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


A new report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stated that the income gap is growing worldwide, especially in America. Particularly interesting was this comment regarding the United States.

The United States is the country with the highest inequality level and poverty rate across the OECD… Since 2000, income inequality has increased rapidly, continuing a long-term trend that goes back to the 1970s.

It has been rising since the 1970’s so the Democrats deserve some blame. But it began to increase rapidly when Bush took office, which is more evidence that the trickle down theory does not work.

The sad thing is there were smart people who could see our economic meltdown coming. This from a 2007 New York Times article about a study of newly release IRS data from Professors Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty of the Paris School of Economics at Berkeley.

Income inequality grew significantly in 2005, with the top 1 percent of Americans — those with incomes that year of more than $348,000 — receiving their largest share of national income since 1928, analysis of newly released tax data shows.

Of course, we all know what happened in 1929. Our economic difficulties were predictable and the Bush administration chose to ignore it.

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Aug

21

The Day We Lost Our Credibility

Posted on August 21, 2008 at 11:42 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International, National | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


The Russians are up in arms over our decision to place a missile defense system in Poland. We tell them it is only to defend ourselves and our allies from countries like Iran. After all, throughout the history of our country, we built our military might on the doctrine that we would only go to war if attacked.

We were attacked on 9/11.

While we initially went after our attackers in Afghanistan, our President in June of 2002 at West Point made a change to our historical position. He stated that it was acceptable to attack those we thought had the potential and/or intent to attack us first. Thus, he initiated a plan authored by the Neoconservative’s after the first Gulf War. He attacked Iraq despite no evidence that Iraq had any role in the planning or implementation of  9/11. This is the Bush Doctrine.

Let me be clear. First, I do not trust the Russian government. You only have to see what has transpired in Georgia to see why. Second, if we can safely construct a missile defense system in a part of the world that will protect our democracy and others, I’m all for it. Third,  while I would have liked to have seen Saddam Hussein brought to trial, in the end he probably got what he deserved.

However, after attacking Iraq under false and misleading information, the Bush administration has damaged the credibility of the United States. We want a missile defense system in Poland to protect us from Iran. Based on the lies of the Bush administration since 9/11, why should the Russians believe us?

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