Ask Questions On The Important Issues

As we approach January 20th I think its important to reflect on some of the challenges that lay ahead of us and that will challenge our new leader. I had the pleasure of meeting Malcolm Nance, an incredible intellect with vast experience and just a interesting person to converse with. He mentioned this encounter he had on Morning Joe months ago and how he's no longer welcome on the program, which you can see why. Joe Scarborough has long been a thorn in my side, a man who changes his opinion each day so he can point back to something and say he was right down the line.

Mr. Nance, a man with a deep understanding of our military tactics and challenges, does everything he can to explain how Scarborough is misinforming the public in a polite manner. We cannot have the someone like Scarborough misrepresenting his understanding of these serious challenges that we face. He claims to have spoken to agents who found actionable intel from torture, seemingly without realizing that Mr. Nance was the head of the department that trained our military in those techniques and how to respond when those techniques are performed on them. He's even had the unfortunate experience of being waterboarded himself, but that seems not to phase Scarborough in his righteous belief that he's right.

If that were not enough, he had Trump waiting on the line ready to come in once their conversation was over. This is not proper journalism, this is a man with an incredible ego aiding another egomaniac who will soon be our president regardless if it harms our understanding of national security.

I have not read Mr. Nance's book on ISIS, but after speaking with him and watching numerous interviews with him I plan to pick it up soon. I think its important as a citizen to inform yourself on these topics and go beyond the talking points of people like Joe Scarborough. Hopefully this inspires some people to take a look themselves.

She Is One With The Force, The Force Is With Her

Very few individuals, especially those living such a public life, have lived such an open life. She never shied away from tough subjects, including her own battle with bipolar disorder, embracing every inch of herself. She was one of the first to openly discuss the double standard of women in Hollywood, but using humor to her advantage. Outspoken in every way, creative beyond belief, there are few people who deserve to be remembered as Princess, probably the most badass princess in history at that. And to her I say, may the Force be with you.

Diners - America's Public Square

I've made my way through my fair share of New York diners, including the Metro that the writer so fondly describes, and diners in all sorts of cities. It's true, the diner is a place where people tend to feel at home. The amount of conversations I've had with complete strangers as I've traveled that sprung up in diners is amazing. It's where you really learn about a place and feel as though you belong there. In Cleveland we had a great conversation about the Indians and the odd quirks of a scoreboard; in Chicago we saw a couple people who spent the night a little too happy about a Cubs win; on my trips out west I always loved asking the servers what their favourite dishes were to get some hometown advice. I haven't yet, but one day hope to find the place that becomes my personal "third place," but I also hope that some of these diners can find a way to stick around until then. It might not be the fanciest fair, but it's the type of food our cities and towns are built on and where we all come together over some cheap eggs and bacon.

In recent years its been well discussed how technology brings us together in many different ways, and yet somehow draws us apart at the same time. We have online public squares, preaching our points to friends on Facebook or on our blogs, and yet we seem to miss each other. One place that has always seemed to bring out a personal conversation, big or small, has been at the diner. 

The home-away-from-home atmosphere that the best diners possess invites a sort of comfort that is unrivaled elsewhere. When you sit down in front of those comfort foods, you're not always surrounded by your carefully curated friends that reign supreme on your social media, but instead you're interacting with people from all walks of life. You talk to your server who may have grown up with their parents running this diner, or maybe they're new immigrants finding their first job. You talk to your neighbor on the counter who ordered something that looks absolutely delicious. These aren't people you've chosen to be in your life but at the same time they add something to it that may shape your view of the world.

With diners in some places disappearing, I think its time for us to really think about what we may be losing if this trend continues. I'm thankful for George Blecher for bringing this conversation to my attention and I hope to continue it.

The Dangers of the Congress to Come

In Speaker Ryan's first official remarks since the election he began to list off all of the "accomplishments" that he looked forward to in the new administration. Every single one of them involved the not so slow destruction of our environment; pumping up coal mining, getting loggers back to work, weakening EPA standards on farmers, etc. This is the reality we now face, all of the environmental progress we made, though not perfect, is going to be gone. This is what the middle of America voted for.

Some will rightfully argue that Speaker Ryan was doing the job he was elected to do; fighting for what benefits his constituents, seeing as Wisconsin has a large logging community, farming network, and energy workers. What this view does not take into account is the fact that our representatives are also elected to make the difficult decisions, decisions that sometimes cause short term suffering for long term gain. Their concerns should never be focused on reelection, but instead on working towards the greater good.

When you begin to piece together the policies the new Congress and administration want to pass you begin to realize the future of our climate and planet come into question. The argument that humans do not affect climate change is unacceptable in this day and age, and yet we still pursue policies that laugh in the face of science. If this is the vision for our legislative future, it will hopefully trigger average citizens to finally get involved in the fight for the environment. If our legislators are concerned with reelection above all else, perhaps we make sure that they hear our voices on this matter.

A Message to Those Who Look Like Me

It comes as no surprise that much of this election has come down to identity politics. Trump has given voice to people who feel they're "losing their country" when in fact their country is simply trying to live up to the ideals of its founders.

At this point I know nothing I write will persuade anyone out of their dug in opinions on this race, so instead I think it's appropriate to reflect on what got us here. The Times article below lays out an argument that I believe is true; globalization has weakened the position that many white people see as rightfully theirs, when instead all it has done is given the opportunities whites are used to to other ethnic groups. As our economics have stagnated (due to various reasons not discussed here) we have lost the ability to identify as our profession as a sign of status and have instead retreated to more basic means of status (being race). When that status is no longer adequate we begin to look for excuses as to why we've lost our place in society.

This is where Trump comes in with his simplistic view on immigration and trade. He provides simple answers that feel reassuring to people who feel as though they've lost their place in society.

Regardless of your position on the issues, I think it's worth reading this article and acknowledge that there is an identity crisis amongst white people. How we react to it and where we go from here will have significant implications in the western world. I think it's time for us to realize equality is not a zero sum game, and that for others to prosper does not mean you need to suffer.