The Only Exception

"American Exceptionalism," the very phrase that adds an air of mystique to U.S. culture and politics. But just what exactly constitutes such exceptional qualities that sets our nation apart from all others? Apart, of course, from the fact that we're on the Western Hemisphere?

According to Wikipedia's uncommonly comprehensive entry on the very subject, American Exceptionalism has gone by several different definitions by several different personnages throughout history, but the theme is still the same; it is merely a theory. No different from the "American Dream," it is a thought-up, made-on-the-fly and ham-handed pretense for our successes and in this century, our failures; much in the same spirit as the term Manifest Destiny, which (unironically)is mostly responsible for the virulent propagandist mantra that nearly wiped out the indigenous Americans of this country. But is such an abstract concept a detriment to the mindset of the American public?

I set out to analyze the theory of American Exceptionalism in lieu of how often it had been bandied about by political pundits, and have since been sorely disappointed. To my findings in this, it amounts to little more than a rhetorical formula not unlike how Pascal's Wager (in the realm of lame excuses) is thrown at religious skeptics like an impotent spitball at a granite wall. A reason to "not play ball," an idea that had only been enforced over the centuries by people who are not even American-born, but still hold in awe the potential strength of our nation.

So, can it be said that other nations see that there is so much more the United States are capable of than we ourselves can see? Perhaps so, as our nation's credit rating immediately tanked, as foreign investors are wary of the nation that used to produce but produces no more. The country that went from being the world's supermarket, to the world's police precint, to the world's hospitality suite in our growing role as a "service-based economy." It is no wonder to this writer that foreign investors have pulled out.

Instead of this flimsy pretense for not accepting our respective roles as world citizens, perhaps it's time to accept our spot in the global economy as an alternative to barking back and forth across the aisles? Or, do we keep drinking the Kool-Aid of American Exceptionalism?

You know, this stuff is starting to taste more and more like Nationalism as of late.

Representing More Than a Law School Reunion

If you were watching the informative and decidedly left-wing hilarity of Real Time with Bill Maher (aired Friday, 8/5/2011), you undoubtedly noticed the presence of Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and a rather astute observation he made.

The observation regarded the fact that from 540 current members of Congress, 236 hold law degrees (58 Senators and 178 Representatives). That means 44%
of people in congress are, essentially, lawyers by trade. He went further to ask "Where is the rest of life?" or why more scientists, economists, entrepreneurs and basically people from other areas of expertise don't take on postings in public office; people that can give a more rounded representation of the American public's goals and necessities? To paraphrase Dr. Tyson's remark, given the nature of law and the courts it is an arguer's forum. He whose arguing skills are superior will win the favorable ruling and not the one with the superior argument. Therefore, the facts are null and void unless in hands of the appropriate, purple-faced loudmouth with a law degree.

Long story short, he made me think.

Precisely why is it that more of the aforementioned scientists, entrepreneurs and economists don't apply their expertise in a leadership role? A role so significant, a "second pair of eyes", that can provide insight on how the government can better serve the public? Are the able, decidedly, unwilling to participate? Is it acceptable to stay in their positions as academic leaders, but not political? Ain't that a damn shame?

With the recent drop in the U.S. credit rating, despite all the valid and pertinent facts that the Democratic party argued, 98% of the debt deal sided with the Republican Party's wishes. Now, suppose actual businessmen who know that to make money you must spend money, made up the greater majority on both sides? Even if there was a compromise, would it not have been a 50/50 split? No one can say for sure, but given the actual result, would it be so wrong to have a different type of professional in congress? A more diverse base of knowledge from which the decisions that shape the future of the nation could function?

Well? What's so bad about that?

The Date from Hell Continues

"That happens," Veronica giggled behind a cloud of smoke. Liam rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly in the way most men do when they're intimidated sexually. "Is that a bit of your 'beguiling' nature coming out then?" Veronica actually had to pause in thought, a second guess, before replying "Well that's probably a knee-jerk reaction, am I scaring you away yet?" Liam shrugged awkwardly, saying "No," then asking "should I be? I suppose it's just a question of one's interest, vice their nature." Veronica leaned with a smile fanged more with skepticism than actual fang. "Care to explain?"
Liam gathered his thoughts, he was so concerned about making the right impression, about saying the right thing. Yet for a moment, he was completely oblivious to the fact that he was quite literally on a dinner date with one of Hell's minions. An under-appreciated, thoroughly disillusioned minion, but a minion nonetheless. Though despite this paltry difference, it was the differences in perspective that made up the grand tapestry of their conversation. Light, and jovial, with much to be gleaned and learned from the other. Despite the imperfections of both, their interaction was the sort that silenced the room. The type that made you unaware of your surroundings or the fact that your date's brown mink stole was belching up the bones of a curious onlooker. "I think your...wrap just ate a customer." Liam said, his train of thought again derailed. Veronica's eyes snapped to the stole, "Murky!" She hurriedly wiped the blood from the mouth of the stole, which drew the attention of a few other patrons that were, quite understandably horrified. Veronica's attention snapped back to Liam, himself a bit astonished at the spectacle of a demon chiding their garment for eating a grown man. Veronica bit her lip in embarassment, and Liam looked round the diner at the other patrons nervously. It occurred to him, that something needed to be said; a moment of truth in the appalled silence. "I guess he didn't tip?" Liam asked, to which the waitress wearing a surgical mask added "He wasn't a very good tipper, to be honest. I know it's not good to speak ill of the freshly and forgotten dead, but the fact remains he was lousy at tipping." The patrons looked at one another, exchanging nervous glances before erupting in raucous laughter. Liam smiled, thinking about how he "made a funny" whilst Veronica beamed at him in momentary admiration. Ladies like a man who can command a room, even ladies from Hell, Liam thought. "Would you like to catch a movie? I hear its good to leave an audience laughing." He asked. Veronica rose from the booth, her savage mink in tow.

Walking to the theatre, Veronica turned to Liam and asked "So, are you going to finish that statement? Something about interest and nature I believe?" Liam again gathered his thoughts before saying "Well, it's in your interest to date someone outside of your...realm...because you're sick of the same old. But its in your nature to seduce me and the who knows what else. So, my deduction is that you were going to do that, you'd already have come round to that so I'm not worried." Veronica flashed him a smile and nudged him, her strength belying her attractive frame. "Or it could be that it's in my 'nature' to give into my 'interest'; I do have mortal desires after all." Liam glanced away, then turned back to Veronica and said with a smile "I could be over-thinking, you know?"
"I wouldn't doubt that." The fall evening chill was a bit less brisk than one would have expected on the walk to the theatre. After a time, they came upon a homeless young man playing a ukulele. He wore a slouch hat, battered by the elements and an equally battered ZZ Top t shirt with beaten jeans. Veronica, taking pity on the man, dropped a bit of change from her purse into the man's open ukulele case. Liam followed suit, but was compelled to ask after walking past "Why'd you do that?"
"What?"
"Drop change in that man's case. I thought it was all torment for you-
His voice trailed off, Veronica stood before him with arms folded, she said "For one, I like to keep work separate and for two, I don't see the point in not helping someone when you're able. In Hell, if I were to show a kindness to the damned then that'd be it for me. Up here, showing a kindness is something I can indulge. You know sometimes you get sick of the same old 'punish this one, scourge the other, burn the next' and so on." Liam scratched his head, feeling that he may have offended her. "I'd like to apologize, I just didn't understand." Veronica walked on ahead of Liam, who still remained and said "At least you asked, and I was willing to answer." Veronica then stopped after a few paces, turned and smiled "Are we going to catch this movie or not?" Liam quickly followed pace, smiling at the thought.

"Excuse me" a rather thoroughly annoyed voice could be heard behind Veronica and Liam as they sat in a now vain attempt to enjoy the movie. Liam was the first to turn round and find a rather obese man with a face still plagued by acne despite his age and an atrociously fierce "neckbeard." "Is there a problem, sir?" Liam asked, his arm draping across the back of Veronica's, trying to crane his neck to look into the man's eyes. There was a pause; the fat man in his stained "Firefly" t shirt did not expect to have his voice heard. With a wheeze, he replied "Yes, could you tell your girlfriend to take off that stupid hat?" Liam's face twitched in offense, weighted with shock. "Now see here mister, I-
"No you 'see here' buddy. I pay good money out of my pockets to blog film." The neckbearded man interrupted him, immediately pressing his defence. "Films like these, I do it gratis, for the love, if you will. Now I'm not just going to sit here and tolerate two rubes who can't appreciate film and instead like to obstruct my view. Furthermore I find it offensive to the work of the director and actors in this film. I'd rather you just show some appreciation and be on your way instead of wearing tall, silly horned hats!" Neckbeard's voice began to carry, annoying the other viewers. During all of this, Veronica was completely oblivious, thoroughly enjoying the film as much as she could. It wasn't like she could see good movies in Hell, or at least movies that weren't written by the Hallmark or Lifetime networks. Relishing the moment, it wasn't until she heard the words "stupid bitch trussed in green body paint like a cosplayer" that she began to pay heed. Liam and Neckbeard had gotten to the point in their argument when a man will begin questioning another man's "manhood" when she turned round to face Neckbeard. Veronica merely smiled. A smile punctuated with malice, not unlike that of a hunter, savoring the moment before the kill. Her eyes shined like a pair of amber jewels, piercing the darkness like a pair of demonic headlights. To Neckbeard, he felt as if he were staring into the very cauldrons of the ninth sphere itself, or a scene from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," or whatever goes through the mind of a film geek at a time like that. Regardless of which Neckbeard grew pale and unable to breathe or, wheeze, properly. "Do we have a problem?" Veronica asked placidly. "No, Miss, I was just complimenting your..." Neckbeard's voice trailed off, Veronica turned to watch the movie. Liam looked at her in wonderment and admiration. "You have a way with people, don't you?" Veronica, not taking her eyes off the screen, replied "I see you have to start fights to find an excuse to lay your arm on my shoulders?"
"Ah, well played, huh?" Liam smiled. Veronica giggled, leaning into him.
Veronica resolved to walk Liam home, claiming that he was far more likely to get mugged than she. On the walk, Liam asked her "So how often do you get to come up here anyway? I don't believe we covered that." Veronica let out a calm yet forlorn sigh. "Every full moon, so it would be a 'once a month' thing."
"I see," Liam nodded, staring at the sidewalk as they traveled. There was a period of silence, then Veronica reached over to take his hand. "You know, I've come to realize something in my time here," she began. "It's best just to enjoy the time you have, make the most of every moment. I don't know, maybe its an appreciation for mortaliy, even though it isn't really all that 'over' when you think about it. But still, every passing moment of anything can be enjoyed, as long as you're aware of the impermanence of it, you know?"
"I think I see what you mean," Liam replied with a grin, then said "Oh, this is me" gesturing halfheartedly towards the door of his apartment building. Another pause with the sort of awkwardness that comes with trying to find an appropriate end to a evening. Endings are never easy but taking a nod from Liam earlier, Veronica looked at Liam and smirked, asking as he leaned in to kiss her "Now, I'm not going to fall under you seductive and beguiling spell if I kiss you back, right?"
Liam laughed, it was good to leave them laughing after all.

-END-

(This story was written with the permission of the original artist, Winston Rowntree. "Veronica", "Liam" & "Neckbeard" are character names associated with Rey the Fawkes and in no way claim ownership of the the originally drawn characters. While you're at it, please visit http://www.viruscomix.com/subnormality.html and support the artist.)

LifeSalt

I had a meal today
Best meal I ever had
I read a book today
Best book I've ever read
It seems as though no matter what I do encounter
It all starts with you
See I
Never had something that sweetens the bitterness
Nothing in my life makes me feel less adept at this
And the things I do almost every day
Feels like the first time, it ever happened to me
A renewed vigor
A new found dedication
A new outlook, on the same situation
And all in all, since you became involved
It all starts with you
I fought against the odds
And the odds fell in my favor
But I didn't even have to go lift a finger
The thought of your kiss, and it made my strength linger
Now I know that this seems just a touch insane
But I know that my life can not be the same
I want this to remain
A mainstay, a constant
But I'll just enjoy the time, as long as I've got it
I hear the most beautiful sound today
I heard it when you called to me
A siren's song, that just grabbed hold of me
And I can't let myself turn away
No I'm not going to pass up this today
When I say so long
For a moment, all is wrong
But just the promise of another week
So much to think about, how can I sleep?
Since I
Never had something that sweetens the bitterness
Nothing in my life makes me feel less adept at this
And the things I do almost every day
Feels like the first time it ever happened to me
A renewed vigor
A new found dedication
A new outlook, on the same situation
And all in all, since you became involved
It all starts with you

What The Hell Are You Waiting For?

In a United States gripped by fears of not being able to find a job, we have to ask ourselves what we bring to the world stage in this day and age.

An old flash article listing the statistics of job availability pre and post September 11, 2001 (found here) courtesy of CNN makes a fine illustration of how the job market had begun it's downward spiral. Today, surveying the consequential crash of that spiral, would it not be prudent to ask "Where is the money going?"

While a year after the attack claimed nigh of 3,000 victims, it claimed numerous jobs in the following year. Meanwhile, the U.S. Military experienced one of its highest base pay raises in decades. No such thing as a "win-win" or so it would seem.

Now the Armed Forces of the United States are some of the most formidable, experienced and "involved" armed forces in the world. Our military spending, topping out $680 billion in Fiscal Year 2010 alone, accounted for 12.7% of federal discretionary spending. But hey, the Department of Education is neck-and-neck so that's a win-win, right?

You do remember I had mentioned that in order to win, someone must lose, right?

Well, the loss inherent, is in global involvement. If all we're bringing to the world is men with guns, how then is it a significant contribution? The last time we were involved in a conflict with an undeniably problematic foe was during the second World War, and after that came the cold war. Now, Eisenhower warned us about this during his farewell address in 1961, however our adherence to this warning is not evident; therein we became reliant on the Military Industrial Complex and became consumers, not producers.

Don't even get me started on petroleum consumption...

The answer lies in building a better tomorrow. To reiterate, BUILDING a better world, not taking what good we can gain from it. You may resent that I use the term "we" in this article vice "they" as it pertains to the Federal Government. But considering this is a democracy, we are all equally at fault for equal votes. I challenge the United States, and everyone who dwells within, to create, innovate, patent, build, fix and abstain from fighting with a new vigor. I challenge you to stop voting for those whose idea of foreign policy involves a deployment to a resource rich country, and wants to scare you into believing that they are a "clear and present danger." when they're about as threatening as a rabbit with seasonal pollen allergies in an arboretum.

The Complementary Reflection

Do I ever stroke your ego?
Well that's a well known fact
Do you respect my candor?
And snub it all the same
Why?
Have I become your mirror?
Your reference, I'm no different
Your journal, I know your history
But the writer never appreciates the paper she writes on
Do I boost your self-esteem now?
Does it drive you through your day?
As you question good and evil
And you wear it on your sleeve
Well
Have you got what you want?
More than you deserve?
More than flattery
Is that enough?
To your journal? I know your history
But the writer never appreciates the paper she writes on
I think I've found a resolution
To all your late replies
Your constant self-absorption
Do you know that I'm alive?
So
Look away
Look again
Your reflection's fading
At entertainment's end
You're not proud of yourself
But the pride I give to you
My most priceless gift
When you came to confide
And the writer never appreciated the paper she wrote on