Disagreeing with me doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re either wrong or right.
It can just mean that you disagree.
If you’re the sum of your experiences, and I’m the sum of my experiences, and our experiences are different… it’s mathematically impossible that we are going to agree all the time.
How much more love would there be in the world if we understood that a different perspective often translates to just that… a different perspective?
Not a moral cause. Not a plan for world domination. Not a cause for war. Not an immoveable ideology.
…
I’ve never eaten ham. Nor will I intentionally ever eat ham. The thought of eating ham makes me feel physically ill. The smell of it, too.
You have probably eaten ham. You may love ham.
You like ham.
I do not like it, Sam-I-am.
Who is better?
Nobody.
I’m not of the mindset that the hamophobe holds intellectual, digestive or moral superiority over the hamophile.
Not eating ham is a choice based on a set of values and experiences specific to me. Whether you eat ham or not? That’s your business.
(But it is gross).
…
The beauty of living in a world of diverse human beings (who are allowed to be themselves) is that we each have the opportunity to show how graceful and loving humans can be towards one another.
You’re a good person. I know this.
Please know that I’m a good person, too.
Our perspectives, however different they may be, are borne of good intentions. At the very least, we both desire to be good.
It’s fine if you disagree. It’s good. It adds to me.
And not “appreciate” as in, “Oh thanks for disagreeing with me. “ Because that’s just neurotic and pseudo-hippie.
But like, “I appreciate the value that your dissenting opinion brings to the table. The magnifying glass that you force me to hold up to my own beliefs is both useful and necessary.”
A perspective like that makes it easier for us to meet halfway, if that’s at all possible.
Reception on the part of the Iranian government was cautious, but Obama’s words reflect a stark departure from the previous administration’s stance towards Iran. Of course, those charged with the formulation of foreign policy are well aware that diplomacy is a two way street. We can extend all the olive branches we like, but if the other side isn’t grabbing them from us, nothing much will change.
President Obama, as always, is the embodiment of eloquence in this short address to the people of Iran. At the risk of sounding alarmist, I’m really waiting for the “less talk, more do” portion of our foreign policy.
Though I understand that talking comes first.
(So, call off your partisan dogs, people.)
Oh, my GOD, did our President just speak in English, Farsi and quote existential poetry?! Talk about a departure from the last administration.
May I remind you?
“I’m telling you there’s an enemy that would like to attack America, Americans, again. There just is. That’s the reality of the world. And I wish him all the very best.”
–George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009
Snort. Let’s see how much better living in a nation where the geeks are in charge will be.
Update: Yeah, I know when President Bush said, “I wish him all the very best” that he was talking about President Obama. But it doesn’t quite read that way, and therein is the funny.
It’s a newly erected six foot monument in Tikrit that has been built in honor of Iraqi journalist Muntazer Al-Zaidi, who recently threw a shoe at our former President.
This makes me want to smack someone upside the head. Really, really hard.
I’m just not sure who. I’m no fan of George W. Bush, but, this?
I find this very unacceptable.
This isn’t some crazy, lone terrorist driving an explosive ridden vehicle into some army barracks.
This is a monument. Monuments cost money. There’s paperwork to be filled out. Permits that have to be approved. People have to donate supplies. It’s a community effort.
In other words, this shoe is a big community “Eff you” not just to George W. Bush, but to the entire population of the United States.
Including us left wing nut jobs who didn’t want to get into this ridiculous war in the first place.
Because we’re just a big “let-me-vomit-my-values-all-over-you-whoops-was-that-a-hospital?” blob to them. Just like they’re looking like a big blob of giant shoe building crazies to us, right now.
I know that Tikrit is Saddam’s hometown. But he was a dictator. An evil dictator. Right?
Right?!
It’s a good thing our government hasn’t spent the last eight years dumping trillions of dollars and precious young American lives thinking that the people who built this monument would think of us as liberators.
It’s an even better thing we weren’t trying to win their hearts and minds.
And, my goodness, can you imagine if we had spent all that time and effort doing this in order to give these shoe building hooligans the right to democratic self rule when clearly they are still, three years later, fuming at us for executing their former blood drinking dictator*?
If by chance we do succeed, I’m sure that there’s only one thing upon which all the little factions in their newly formed democracy will be able to form a consensus: how much they hate us.
And us? We’ll be left asking ourselves if the shoe fits.**
*Poetic license. I’m pretty sure he didn’t drink blood.
I really hate stereotypes. Especially ones that diminish the female intellect. Particularly ones that conflate beauty and stupidity.
That said, ladies and gentlemen, say hello to Miss Pakistan 2008, Natasha Paracha.
Wait.
She has to get her earpiece in. (So her brains don’t leak out).
OK, now you can say hello.
I mean, come on, just because a woman is unrealistically aesthetic, prances around in a bathing suit in front of a panel of judges and dances in an evening gown like a monkey in order to entertain a crowd who only values her on the basis of her physical appearance does not mean she’s not intelligent.*
And just because a woman says “condone” instead of “condemn” TWICE in an interview with CNN when discussing terrorist attacks on a neighboring nation doesn’t mean she’s an idiot.
And just because she keeps calling herself an “ambassador to” Pakistan doesn’t mean she’s stupid. (Hi, yeah, you’re Miss Pakistan, which would make you a representative toother nations, see? I know. It’s complicated and hard to remember with you having a COMPLETELY American accent and all.)
And just because she’s a political science major and chooses to diminish completely the rising tensions between two nuclear capable states doesn’t make me want to gouge out her well lined eyes. (Did you see the eye make up, though? It was good.)
Being from the “homeland” myself and married to an Indian man, I particularly enjoyed when she rolled her eyes and said that Pakistan and India aren’t enemies. Did anyone else expect her to say, “Well, like, uh, duh?”
Hey, Miss “Condone”? Try getting a Pakistani visa for your American kid whose dad is Indian, and then you can talk about friendship and alliances with some degree of credibility. You know, after the Pakistani visa officer says, “Remind me, American born woman, why should we let your three year old half breed child into our country again?”
Until then, do me a favor and don’t… talk.
More than the “swimsuit” competition, beauty pageants irritate me because they give ditzes like this airtime.
Instead of brilliant women like me.
Know anyone at CNN?
I’m extremely available.
*OK, so if you’ve ever competed in a beauty pageant, I’m not talking about you. I once competed in a beauty pageant. I was 3rd runner up. Clearly, I have repressed anger issues with the winners.No bathing suits were involved.
