The Red Sox are playing The Detroit Tigers tonight. My baseball-addled husband is listening to the game in the other room. I am hiding in here with the computer unsure what to do. I grew up cheering for the Tigers. For my 9th birthday I asked my parents (who are not baseball fans) to take me to a game. I cheered them on in the World Series in 1984 (as in, The Tigers Roar in '84). My childhood is filled with memories of Kirk Gibson and Louuuuu Whitaker and Chet Lemon and Alan Trammel.... But now that I live in Boston, well, I root for the Red Sox...and not just root, I think I've become a true Red Sox fan. The other night, when Mirabelli was up to bat I pleaded with him to please please please hit a home run...and moments later, he did. I told my husband that he had me to thank for that. According to a friend who has spent her life as a member of Red Sox Nation, this psychosis is unique to Red Sox fans. I actually read the sports section of the paper, and have been pontificating on the rise in wins of one-run games. So what's a llama to do when her home team plays her home team?
Thursday, August 26, 2004
The SJC Again
Well, another split decision from the SJC in a case somewhat related to the same-sex marriage issue. Except this one goes the wrong way, IMHO. The case, in a nutshell, involved a lesbian couple, one of whom had a child through artificial insemination with the other's consent and financial support. But, they broke up 2 months before the child was born. And, because of this, and because the two had not been married (this was also before the two could have been married, that is, before the Goodridge decision) the woman who did not give birth is not obligated to pay child support. This is wrong on so many levels. The court sites the fact that the non-biological-mom was ambivalent about having the child. And her lawyer thinks that if you're ambivalent, you can back out before the child is born. She contrasts this with having unprotected sex which ends up in a pregnancy. I think there is little, if any contrast here. If anything, the non-bio-mom has at least the same responsibility as an unwed dad who didn't use a condom. She couldn't donate a sperm, so she helped pay for some, twice. And, they were in a committed relationship when she did it. This emphasis on biology (that is, she is not biologically related to the child) is outdated. Many people are ambivalent before they have children, even when they intend to get pregnant. But, what's done is done. You facilitate the conception of a fetus and that fetus is born you have a responsibility to that human being until he or she grows out of those ugly teenage years and even beyond. I applaud the justices who dissented but I'm saddened because this decision is bad, bad for gay and straight alike, and, worst of all, bad for children. (The Globe Article)
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Inconsistency noted...
Yes, I realize that at the end of my last post I say that we should be inspired by Kerry and Edwards and in the post before that I said the John Kerry does not inspire me. This may seem inconsistent, perhaps even that I flip-flop or waffle. That is not the case. John Kerry does not inspire me...but I really really really wish that he did. I know that despite my rather blah feeling about the man that I will vote for him anyway. I'm not so confident about everyone else. This country needs some inspiration. The Bush Administration has been force feeding us fear and fear is not inspiring, fear will not get people to the polls, it will keep them inside with their shades drawn. Perhaps Edwards is all the inspiring this campaign needs and despite my more cynical self feeling that his speech ran into some serious cheese last night, my more hopeful self wants more... more "Hope is on the way." Still, it is Kerry who is running for the highest office and if I could have a do-over on my birthday wish (which was in May)... I would close my eyes and wish with all my might that people would be inspired by John Kerry.
[despite the lack of inspiration, Kerry is clearly the better candidate... high ratings from all the progressive organizations, a man with integrity, with brains, who can string more than a few words together without sounding like an idiot, and a long long record of experience and dedication to public service...and he's pro-choice]
[despite the lack of inspiration, Kerry is clearly the better candidate... high ratings from all the progressive organizations, a man with integrity, with brains, who can string more than a few words together without sounding like an idiot, and a long long record of experience and dedication to public service...and he's pro-choice]
Hail to the Duke!
Last night the dems at the dnc gave a nod to 3 men who would have been president, McGovern, Mondale and, my favorite, Dukakis. Of course, the powers that be did not let them speak. They have all been keeping these loyal dems at arms length because, well, they lost. And it saddens me that we aren't allowed to be inspired by them. No, they did not win their elections but they are good people, with integrity who might have something to say that's worth hearing.
I have been lucky enough to meet Michael Dukakis twice in my life. The first time he was speaking at UAW event in metro Detroit (Dearborn maybe?) during his 1988 presidential campaign. I was in the 10th grade and luckily my history teacher thought this would be a worthwhile field trip. Being among the shorter members of the class (having not yet reached my full height of 5'3"), my classmates allowed me to stand in front of them, which meant I was standing along the ropeline as Dukakis entered the hall. Not only did I get to shake his hand but I also caught glimpses of myself on the news. I wish I could remember what he said. I do remember being awed and inspired. And being extremely disappointed a short while later when he was badly beaten in the election. Still, that memory stayed with me through the years.
When I moved to Boston in 2001, I had the good luck to meet him again, at a much quieter forum, for a longer time, when we could actually have a conversation. Over iced tea he told wonderful stories, about baseball, the history of Boston, the Big Dig, days of being governor and of state-wide elections. He seemed professorial, smart, kind, sincere , funny and did I mention smart? wicked smart. And again, I wished that 1988 election had turned out differently.
Last night, waiting for Edwards's speech, I was watching C-Span2 where they have been showing convention speeches of past elections. Sure enough, just after publicly dissing ("honoring") Dukakis, Mondale and McGovern, on C-Span1 there was The Duke on C-Span2, smiling and waving to thunderous applause as he began his acceptance speech. Sure, there were mistakes in the campaign, the tank, the death penalty question... we all remember those and perhaps there were smaller mistakes on the way. But as I watched the speech I wondered if sometimes the best candidate, the best president, might be the one worst at campaigning.... Dukakis was attacked mercilessly during that election and he didn't attack back, believing that the truth of his message would win out. In the end I still sometimes wonder why it didn't.
The campaigns in presidential elections are just like any other ad campaign, trying to convince you that their product is the best. Well, you don't buy a car based on a 10-second spot...you research, you test drive, you read consumer reports, you ask friends. It is a thoughtful process. When you buy a can of tuna, perhaps you don't check around as much, maybe you compare prices but that's it. The next president of the United States will have a greater effect on your life than a can of tuna or even your next car. I don't know what could have been had we all been smart enough to be inspired by Michael Dukakis and elect him our President. But it will be a long long time before we recover from the damage done to our country in the past four years. Let's hope that no matter what the coming months bring, we allow ourselves to be inspired by John Kerry and John Edwards...
I have been lucky enough to meet Michael Dukakis twice in my life. The first time he was speaking at UAW event in metro Detroit (Dearborn maybe?) during his 1988 presidential campaign. I was in the 10th grade and luckily my history teacher thought this would be a worthwhile field trip. Being among the shorter members of the class (having not yet reached my full height of 5'3"), my classmates allowed me to stand in front of them, which meant I was standing along the ropeline as Dukakis entered the hall. Not only did I get to shake his hand but I also caught glimpses of myself on the news. I wish I could remember what he said. I do remember being awed and inspired. And being extremely disappointed a short while later when he was badly beaten in the election. Still, that memory stayed with me through the years.
When I moved to Boston in 2001, I had the good luck to meet him again, at a much quieter forum, for a longer time, when we could actually have a conversation. Over iced tea he told wonderful stories, about baseball, the history of Boston, the Big Dig, days of being governor and of state-wide elections. He seemed professorial, smart, kind, sincere , funny and did I mention smart? wicked smart. And again, I wished that 1988 election had turned out differently.
Last night, waiting for Edwards's speech, I was watching C-Span2 where they have been showing convention speeches of past elections. Sure enough, just after publicly dissing ("honoring") Dukakis, Mondale and McGovern, on C-Span1 there was The Duke on C-Span2, smiling and waving to thunderous applause as he began his acceptance speech. Sure, there were mistakes in the campaign, the tank, the death penalty question... we all remember those and perhaps there were smaller mistakes on the way. But as I watched the speech I wondered if sometimes the best candidate, the best president, might be the one worst at campaigning.... Dukakis was attacked mercilessly during that election and he didn't attack back, believing that the truth of his message would win out. In the end I still sometimes wonder why it didn't.
The campaigns in presidential elections are just like any other ad campaign, trying to convince you that their product is the best. Well, you don't buy a car based on a 10-second spot...you research, you test drive, you read consumer reports, you ask friends. It is a thoughtful process. When you buy a can of tuna, perhaps you don't check around as much, maybe you compare prices but that's it. The next president of the United States will have a greater effect on your life than a can of tuna or even your next car. I don't know what could have been had we all been smart enough to be inspired by Michael Dukakis and elect him our President. But it will be a long long time before we recover from the damage done to our country in the past four years. Let's hope that no matter what the coming months bring, we allow ourselves to be inspired by John Kerry and John Edwards...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)