Random Thoughts

I think my dad forgot my birthday. I'm a little upset but I understand. My sister flies in to see him tomorrow with her baby, my niece, his granddaughter. He's never met her before. And he's wished me happy birthday 35 other times. But there is part of me that is childish and says, "Today is my day. Tomorrow is her day." I'll get over it. And really, he may not have actually forgotten. The card may be late. He may have called after my cell phone died. He could have assumed that I'd be out and not wanted to bother me.

My birthday has been a good day. It was definitely filled with lots of love and well wishes from friends. It always amazes me how many people I have in my life. Tonight, I got to spend a rare evening alone with my honey. That almost never ever happens. It was nice to just sit with him and share a meal, discussing politics, work, friends, family, and other stories of our days.

One thing that made me particularly happy was that we were able to talk about an old friend's blog. There was no jealousy, no accusations, no suspicion, just acceptance that there are people who are important to me from my past that I love and want to bring back in to my life. My honey just enjoyed the stories and shared his commentary and thoughts.








Earlier today, I had started and then was distracted and then started and then was distracted and started and then was distracted... from a post about blogging, Twitter, Facebook and narcissism. Apparently, we all believe that the world is in need of our opinions and that makes us selfish and narcissistic. I don't think the world needs my opinion. I think that I can be difficult to get to know and this is one way for my friends and loved ones to get a deeper look inside me and build a deeper connection and understanding. It allows me to connect with friends and family over a long distance. I certainly don't think that they necessarily think they want or need my opinions about anything nor do I think that the day to day happenings are of vital importance to the world at large. Blogging and LiveJournal are ways for me to express myself. It is for me. Perhaps that is where it is truly narcissistic for me.

Additionally, all of these tech things have allowed me to get to know people better as well. My community extends beyond a six block radius from my home. It extends out to the suburbs, out to the East and West Coasts and beyond to Europe. My community and my support network is (practically) worldwide because of technology. That connection is not narcissistic. We support each other over great distances.

I simply think that our world is evolving and it will take time for generations to understand how to relate and connect through all the technology without it all being about Me. Perhaps some of the scientists do not understand it all yet.








You may have heard on the news lately that a Minnesota man -- a Somali activist -- went to Washington DC to help get a lawyer for the Somali pirate who took hostage an American shipping captain. The Somali activist and his non-profit organization, that is set up to help Somalis in the US, is now under fire for helping to find a lawyer for the pirate.

Now, personally, I think he's a pirate. Let's take care of him like a pirate. Let's make him walk the plank. I have very little use for thieves, especially hostage-taking thieves.

As an American, believing in the Constitution and Due Process, I am astounded that we are willing to abandon our principles (again!) and persecute the man who was trying to ensure that someone got a fair trial. Fair Trial. A lawyer. People, this is what our country is based on -- a country of laws. The backlash is against the guy helping the pirate get a lawyer -- not the pirate. The guy trying to ensure that our justice system works.

I don't understand what it is going to take for people to realize that if we abandon the rules for someone, no matter how evil he may be, that we are abandoning the rules for ourselves. Once we decide that we no longer need fair trials for people we perceive to be criminals, we ourselves cannot be guaranteed a fair trial either. Once the rules don't apply for one group, it is very easy to have the rules not apply for any group.

We have to be careful and get away from this thinking that we don't have to give people fair trials, that we can just lock them up and throw away the key. One day that key may be the one to open your cell, regardless of your innocence or guilt.




“First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”
—Martin Niemoeller