Condoleezza Rice commented in a speech in Blackburn, UK that the US has made thousands of “tactical errors” in the war against Iraq. However, she stated “I believe strongly that it was the right strategic decision, that Saddam (Hussein) had been a threat to the international community long enough.” Ms. Rice additionally noted (derived from BBC):
*no-one should doubt America's commitment to justice and the rule of law Read More »
What is success? How do you define it? Well, I suppose it varies depending on an individual’s ideology on success. In America, it is apparent in peoples day to day actions and talks, that success is based upon scholarly achievement, material wealth, power and prestige. If you are a young adult I am sure that your long overdue for a massage or a beer, whichever suits your taste, due to the tremendous pressure on you to succeed. The question we hear most growing up is: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or “What do you plan on attending college for?” or maybe “You’ll never get into a good college with those grades!!!!” Ah, yes, the battle for social acceptance. Read More »
Everyday a child returns home from school with bruises and cuts because of their skin color. Everyday a woman is denied equal pay because she is a woman. Everyday bombs are dropped and innocent lives taken because they are different.
“In April 1865
Abraham Lincoln died.
In April 1968
Martin Luther King died.
Their purpose was to have us say, some day:
Injustice died.” Read More »
What’s so wrong with being an idealist? Since it is rare, if not impossible for a person to be truly idealistic in nature, why are those persons labeled “idealists” given a negative connotation? To be practical, yet accurate, idealism is “based on the root word "Ideal," meaning a perfect form of, and is most accurately described as a belief in perfect forms of virtue, truth, and the absolute.” Ever since I was young I have been told that I am “too idealistic!” My question is what exactly constitutes being “too idealistic?” Does this statement indicate that I should be lacing up the stray jacket and shipping my ass off to Jones Hill mental asylum? Or does it mean that there is no hope, mankind is destined for chaos and we better accept that reality? I believe the latter paints the portrait quite well. Yet, I have realized that those who scold me aren’t trying to offend me, but to prevent me from making choices based on “false” preconceptions. I empathize with their concern, but passionately disagree with the basic premise of their argument. In contrast, I like to take in account the existentialist’s perspective. Although I disagree with many pieces of Sartre’s arguments, I agree with the most fundamental principle of existentialism, “I think, therefore I am.” This statement illustrates that man is responsible for his existence. “He/she is nothing else but what he makes of himself.” More specifically, we have the freedom of choice. We choose what we believe, what we think, what we speak, how we respond, and how we act. Therefore, the choices we make not only determines our biography in the book of existence, but also the biography of every other human being. Our choices have a direct or indirect effect on mankind as a whole. Our choices are representative (hard to internalize with traditional western thought). I believe that this correlates positively with idealism because it is the idealists’ who acknowledge our free gift of choice. We choose to believe we can make a difference. We choose to believe that mankind has the potential of achieving peace and harmony. We choose to be relentless in the search for Truth, Justice and Love. And through these idealistic choices marvelous works have been committed; civil rights, peace treaties, technology, education, marriage. If we can come to accept that our attitudes and actions dictates the way we experience the world then maybe we can transform our idealism into realism. Sorry grandpa, but this flame will never burn out. Read More »
