Moving

I'm closing up shop as we move to our new home.  Hope to have the computers hooked back up there in a few days.

Mystic Chords of National Memory?

From Teresa Heinz-Kerry's speech at the Democratic Convention:

"Today, the better angels of our nature are just waiting to be summoned. We only require a leader who is willing to call on them, a leader willing to draw again on the mystic chords of our national memory and remind us of all that we, as a people, everyday leaders, can do; of all that we as a nation stand for and of all the immense possibility that still lies ahead. I think I've found just the guy. I'm married to him," she said.

Whaaat?  "the better angels of our nature?"  We're going to summon them - like one would in a role playing game?  Or, we'll be "channeling" in the oval office?  Hmmm.... This troubles me deeply.

The Ones We Left Behind

I guess with my wife on my mind after having just written about her, just below this post, this hit me deeply.  Its from "Trav" over at A Sailors Journey:

The Ones We Left Behind
You know it's funny. A lot of people say "thank you for serving your country", some tell us how proud they are of us, or maybe simple just buy us a beer. Speaking for myself I really appreciate this. However, everytime this happens I can't help but think of my wife. She truely is the one who makes the sacrifice. Think about it. She has to pack me up and send me off to a far away land. She has to explain why Dad can't be at the last game of the season. She has to manage the budget, lets face it no one gets rich being in the military. She has to put on a big smile when people ask "Isn't hard being away from your husband for so long." Then my wfie has to say something cute like, "Oh, it just comes with the terriotory." Whell shit ya it's hard. They're not theere when the house shifts and she wonders if anything is down stairs at 3 am. When the door doesn't shut all the way and she comes home late at night by herself, and sees that it's open. How about when she can't go to sleep because there's to much room in the bed.  Don't get me wrong, this ain't no pleasure cruise. I think some times my wife is the one that needs the credit. She is the one making a house a home.  I am so happy and greatful that my wife is strong enough to be able to do all that.  Thanks honey. I love you.

The Other Kids

My wife and I've been married 10 years.  During that time she had a child that wasn't mine.  And I'm nearly certain it will happen again soon.

But its okay; because, it also wasn't her child - and if there's another in the future, that one won't be hers either.

I get a real kick out of telling this true story to people face to face, because the reactions are so interesting.  Some people just continue on in the conversation with faces of stone.  "Uhm, hmm. " They'll say, then quickly continue, "Oh, would you mind passing the salt?  I really need to cut down on my salt intake.  When I was at the doctors last week..."

Others will just look at me.  If I don't elaborate, some will move on to something else, while others will throw up their hands as if to say, "What?  Explain that, will you?"  There are those who immediately go there, asking for an explanation.  And a few get it right off the bat, asking, "Oh, you're wife's a surrogate Mother?"

(For my young friend Najma who visits here often and may not be familiar with this English word, a 'surrogate Mother' is a woman who gets pregnant with a child that is not her own, and when the baby is born the actual parents take the child.  The way we did it, the child was not related in any way to my wife.  For example, when you bake a cake, you mix all of the ingredients together outside of the oven, and then you place it in the oven to cook.  When its done, you remove it from the oven.  But the oven is not the mother of the cake, and is not related to the cake.  That's similar to what the doctors do with these other people's baby, which they put into my wife's womb when its still microscopic -so small you can't see it with your eyes - where it "cooks" until it is ready to be born.)

When we get to the point that its explained that she's a surrogate, the usual reactions are:

• That's so great.  It takes a special person (angel is often used here) to do that
• I don't think I could do that; I don't think I could give up the child
• Aren't you afraid you, or especially your wife, would get too attached to give it up?
• Aren't the real parents afraid you'll be too attached to give it up?
• My sister did that for someone
• What happens if there's, like, 8 babies in there? Do you keep them or abort them?
• Why does she want to do that?
• Do you get to see the baby at birth, or later on as it grows?

In my opinion, my wife is special - but then I'm partial to her anyway!  And she says she likes being pregnant.  (And for those that sometimes ask, I don't have any real issues with her being pregnant, other than... well, maybe the last few weeks, you know what I mean?)  And while we've been doing this for many years, we've met lots and lots of other surrogates.  But I think all of them, my wife included, would not describe themselves as particularly special.  They just want to help.  To give a life.   We didn't know when we first explored this that women actually got paid for this (though we thought it pretty cool when we found that they do).  What my wife longed for, throughout the entire pregnancy, was the look on the parents face when the baby first appeared, for the friendship that would develop before, and hopefully continue after.

For all of the questions relating to not being able to give up the child, neither her nor I really understand that.  We have five children (two each from previous marriages, and one between us).  We don't want any more.  In fact, since we have some to spare, I'll offer to let you have one of mine.  Heck, I'll pay you to take one!  (Just kidding, GI chick, if you're reading).

Seriously - she never viewed the child as her own.  As she anwers, "when you baby-sit someone's child, do you or they have any thought that you'll try to keep it?  This isn't my child, its theirs!"  The typical response is, "yea, but after nine months..."  Both of us again fall back to our desires, which is that there's just about absolutely nothing we want less than ANOTHER child.

Further, in most cases there is some contact after the birth.  How much varies from as little as a letter and a photo around the birthday or Christmas, to frequent visits. 

I can understand that the first maternal thought someone might have is that it would be difficult.  But I know so many surrogate mothers, who know so many more, who know even more, etc.  and I can tell you that it is not an issue with them (though there have been a couple of isolated instances, to be sure - and it is these that make big stories in the media, which further fuels the thought that it must be impossible that someone could actually carry for nine months without attachment). 

Its not hard to give someone this precious gift: its joyful.

Still - yes - my wife is special in my eyes.

 

Left Winging It

Being new to the blogshpere - so new in fact that I hope I've used the term correctly - I've concentrated so far on blogs related to Iraq and Iraqis.  But I have wanted, and am now beginning, to branch out to some left wing sites, in order to see a different perspective.  I thought I'd make a few notes about some I've looked at:

TalkLeft: The politics of crime:  This site has received a lot of media coverage, being recently noted in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times.  Part of the reason I visited this site is because I appreciate the honesty of the author, who is quoted in the Washington Post to say,  

"I'm committed to seeing Bush out of office in November and want to do what I can to help," says Jeralyn Merritt, a Denver defense lawyer [A defense lawyer who's a liberal?  What a surprise!  Nas] who writes the TalkLeft blog. "To me the purpose of a convention is solidarity and getting strength from each other and renewed commitment to a joint purpose. I am a cheerleader. I am a partisan. I am an advocate. My goal is to get everyone else stirred up."

I can deal with that.  What I hate are the newspapers and T.V. media that try to present themselves as objective but in fact have a leftist driven agenda - to the point that I shudder when reading the Left Angeles Times, because their "news" articles are really op ed pieces in disguise 90% of the time (and I refuse to buy the paper. I read it only if someone leaves it lying with the empty Taco Bell trays on top of the trash can.  And considering that I eat out only about once per month, well, obviously I don't have to suffer through the experience too much.  Further, since the LAT's website requires giving them personal information, and has more cookies trying to attach to one's hard drive than the Keebler Elves, I must confess that I do not consult this paper.  So if you wish to criticize me for not reading viewpoints different than mine, you would be correct in this instance.) 
 
I did view TalkLeft's blog, and it seems to have the same honesty as in the quote above.  Other than the annoying habit Jeralyn has of referring to herself in the third person - either because she thinks that  makes her seem somehow outside of the issue looking in, perhaps she believes she's speaking for the collective 'we', or because she thinks she's royalty, I don't know - I found in my quick perusal  that the writing was civil and well done.  Plus, there are extensive links to additional liberal blogs. Definitely a site I'm happy to add to my growing list of favorites.

I plan to view more sites from the other side of the aisle, and make some notes on any I find that are civil (I don't think I'll bother with the hate filled slogan only sites, but who knows), but at the moment my real job is getting in the way.  That's so annoying. 

BACK AGAIN - HERE'S ANOTHER:

Notes on the Atrocities:  I like this article titled "New Media" which asks "What is this new medium [of blogs]? The author then goes on to look at what he sees as the five main elements or characteristics, including: immediacy, interconnectivity, interactivity, individuality, and Advocacy.  That "A" at the end sort of ruins the aphorism though.  Perhaps the author might agree that Ideology would work there.  In any case, its an OK site - truly - but I probably won't bookmark it, mostly because I just found it kind of bland.  There's a lot of political issues discussed in a mostly civil manner, but nothing that strikes me as particularly novel other than the surprising notion that he thinks Perlstein writes great articles. 

I'm still continuing to look at some of the other sites from the left, but I don't know if I'll update any more here unless something is really outstanding.  Just too boring.  I will say, I really haven't run across one yet that truly shocked me with hate spewing venom - not that I was hoping for that, please understand;  I'd just bybass those as quickly as possible.  Oh sure, there's been some that have the usual badmouthing, name calling, and slogans, but they've all been fairly mild compared to what I expected.

The Kat Woman

If you hate Bush just to hate him, then there are no facts or valid arguments that will make any difference to you. 

If you're open minded enough, and willing to read what can sometimes be lengthy posts because of the extensive thought and even more extensive cross linking to the sources researched and quoted, then you'll find that Kat, at "The Middle Ground"  is a better wordsmith than 90% of the syndicated print journalists and analysts out there.  Considering the recent debacles noted in our intelligence community, she really should be a high ranking intelligence officer rather than just the normal, everyday, American Health Worker that she is.

Not only that, but she has a wit and humor that actually adds understanding to her pieces (unlike so many liberal pieces, where what passes off for wit and humor is really just character assassination, name calling, hate slogans, or just "potty humor" - and hey, if you disagree, point me to something better on the left.)

For example, her recent post, "The Hornets Nest: A Modern Day Parable," is a hilarious, yet perfectly apt analogy debunking the myth that going after terrorists increases the threat of terrorism. 

In it, you're thrust into life within your suburban neighborhood which is besieged by a large wasp nest, and in which the UN (the Pest control companies) are too busy debating the issue to come to your rescue; Canada and Mexico (your next door neighbors) are mad because you're thinking of stirring the nest, which might cause the wasps to sting their family; France and Germany (your neighbors across the street) are mad because they're trying to get honey from the wasps, and actually have strong connections with the pest control company; your wife, representing Collin Powell, tries to get some back door support from the pest control company by speaking with their wives; your children, representing various portions of American society, including a side that begins printing protest signs in your home; and various family members or other neighbors representing everyone from Spain to Rumsfeld to Bremer make appearances somewhere in this parable.  

Again, its long, but extremely well written.  Funny - yet on target, and informative.  And well worth the read.

Busting Conspiracy Stories - Blood for Oil is a straight analysis piece sans humor, but is also another read that anyone who is willing to face facts should examine.    As opposed to shallow reports and slogans you'll see elsewhere, Kat takes the time to think through the reasons for American and other country's interests and positions, America's options prior to 9/11 and now, and the repercussions of various paths we may choose to take going forward.  Again, this is a long piece because of the width of its subject matter, the depth of its analysis, and the extensive links to the sources of her information.  But if you're like me, you may just end up copying it to a word doc and saving it to your hard drive to have handy when friends bring up this empty myth and worn out slogan. 

Perhaps you might have friends willing to try the truth for a change.

Prayer for Najma

I have more that I want to say on this, including an explanation as to why its here.  But I want to let it ferment in my subconscience for a bit before I add more.  In the meantime, would you join me in praying for one particular soul in Iraq?

Dear Lord, please keep this young girl safe. She tells us elsewhere, in the words of a 16 year old, that she uses this name, which is not her own, because she doesn't want to be killed. You know her, and her name.

Please send people her way that will teach and model the truth. And allow her to see that while governments went to war, and while it did result in many deaths, Americans and American soldiers do not wish to be, and are not HER enemy. That many have, and more would still, give their lives for her.

Allow your peace to come to this area. Protect our soldiers who protect her - and work it out that they may leave her country as soon as possible. Bring them home to us.

Moving

By this time next week (unless the escrow implodes) we should be moving to our new home.  Here's a picture from the back deck.



This is just outside of Yosemite, California.  Of course, we can hardly wait!

President Theodore Roosevelt said, "There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods... It was like lying in a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man."

USFK Sucks

I was typing an email in outlook, which included 'USFK'  (U.S. Forces in Korea). Before sending, I hit the spell check, and Outlook didn't recognize USFK. 

Guess what it gave as its first recommended correct spelling?  SUCK.  hehe!

Perhaps we can begin to hope

Today was the first time - that I know of - that an important Muslim cleric (or really, any Muslim cleric) has condemned the beheadings of civilians.

Boston.com / News / World / Firebrand Shiite cleric condemns beheadings in Iraq

Today Muqtada al-Sadr said "''We condemn what some people are doing regarding the beheading of prisoners and it is illegal according to Islamic law.  Anybody doing this is a criminal and we will punish him according to Islamic law.''

Al-Sadr, who is well known for the uprising he and his followers and militia started in about March, controls the Imam Ali Mosque, where Mohammed's brother Ali is believed to be entombed. He's a mid-level cleric in the region, claiming his title mostly because his father (who was killed by Sadaam) was a cleric. Al-Sadr doesn't have the full theological education to issue fatwas.   A good site for a brief and seemingly objective history on him can be found here, and that site also sheds some fascinating insight into the tribal infighting between some of these clerics over the control of a number of mosques - especially those that can generate a lot of money from pilgrims.

Aside - why is it that whenever I see his full name, the theme from Timon and Pumba runs through my head?

Welcome - First Opening Post

What is this blog stuff?  Many people have probably known of it for years, but I just discovered it in the past several weeks. 

I mainly decided to begin my own because I enjoy writing, and because I'm having trouble getting email from my daughter, who's serving in the Army in Korea.  So this is sort of 'off the cuff,' on the spurr of the moment.  I don't expect any fireworks, or earthquakes, to strike around the world when I click 'publish this post.'

Yet, I'm fascinated by the medium. 

I'm already addicted to hearing of the daily life of a sixteen year old Iraqi girl in the blog A Star from Mosul, or the daily grind of a soldier there in My War - Fear and Loathing in Iraq, as well as a triplet of three Iraqi's frequent posts at IRAQ THE MODEL.  

The interactivity in the comments sections from readers are another dimension that transcends normal journalism to such an extreme that it makes newspapers seem equivalent to the Pony Express -  archaic, cumbersome, and subject to replacement when better methods become available.  These comment sections have led me to the profound thinking (I have hated the word profound since High School, but can't escape its use here) of just a normal American health worker, who has such clarity of thought that one would think  she is instead - and perhaps should be - a high ranking intelligence official.  That would be "The Middle Ground," by Kat - a must read for those who are open minded enough to move past slogans and actually take the time to read and think about hard facts.

I wonder, "How long will this medium exist?"  And can only assume that it will be the wave of the future.  While it will not replace the T.V. Newscasts, printed word, and mainstream journalism, I have to believe that these mediums must adopt some of its characteristics - i.e. the ability to comment, which some newspaper sites already allow, and the 'on the spot flavor.'  However, I also wonder, "How long will it be free?"  I don't expect that to continue much more than a year or so.  Or at least, even if it does, it may be that no one but the author will be able to access, or find the site unless some monthly amount is paid.

Anyway, I don't exactly have plans yet as to what my content will be.  A daily journal would be much too boring ("got up today, brushed my teeth.  Decided to shower, unlike the last two days...).  And while I would love to put in comments about my kids (I wish I had written down all those comments they make when they're young, like when my son, who at six said something I wouldn't expect from that age, like "but Freeways aren't free, we paid for them with our taxes" or when my other son, now three, who said that he wanted to go to "Bob on a string" - meaning, as we were  finally able to determine after five minutes of confusion, that he wanted to go to the Bob the Builder website "ONLINE") for the most part these would only be interesting to me, and not to any wider audience.

So, I'm not sure where this will progress.  I have some vague ideas that I'll comment on world events; but I'm not a great thinker.  I'm thinking that I'll link to some of the best posts I see in other blogs; but one might as well just visit those other blogs.  On the micro level, I do want to post things of interest to my family, my kids, and my daughter; but don't want to be boring. 

So I don't know exactly yet where this will go.  Therefore, not only because my dream is to be a part time dilletant, but also for the reasons in the last paragraph, I've named the site this way.