[In response to this question by Bill Moyers: What do you see happening to the idea of dignity to human species if this population growth continues at its present rate?] "It's going to destroy it all. I use what I call my bathroom metaphor. If two people live in an apartment, and there are two bathrooms, then both have what I call freedom of the bathroom, go to the bathroom any time you want, and stay as long as you want to for whatever you need. And this to my way is ideal. And everyone believes in the freedom of the bathroom. It should be right there in the Constitution. But if you have 20 people in the apartment and two bathrooms, no matter how much every person believes in freedom of the bathroom, there is no such thing. You have to set up, you have to set up times for each person, you have to bang at the door, aren't you through yet, and so on. And in the same way, democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it. As you put more and more people onto the world, the value of life not only declines, but it disappears. It doesn't matter if someone dies.
Interview by Bill Moyers on Bill Moyers' World Of Ideas (17 October 1988); transcript (page 6) - audio (20:12)
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Very interesting thought...
This blog is maintained by an alter ego, who likes to refer to himself in third person. He envisions this space to be an alternate version of his personal self, in which more serious (less personal) topics can be discussed in a more objective manner.
Coelacanths rejoice!
What is a Coelecanth you ask?
[Disclaimer: He does not own Coelacanths, nor their amateurish qualities. Also, he is not a native english speaker]
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Ex-politicians and their influence in politics
Politics in Puerto Rico is almost an everyday topic. The different discussions that might casually arise in the supermarket, talking with your neighbor or family member, while waiting at the barbershop/beauty salon, while riding the bus, sometimes take a weird turn into politics. Mind you, some people are blindly supporting this or that candidate for the sole reason that they belong to their particular political party. While this does make sense in ideological parties like democrats (who represents from time to time some type of progressive agenda) and republicans (who more often than not espouse a regressive conservative agenda), back home people align themselves with three main political parties that represent three different goals for the political status of the island. The pro-statehood party, the pro-commonwealth party (stay as we are now) and the pro-independence party. This particular phenomenon translates to individuals in the different parties that can range from progressive to ultra-conservative in any one of them. So, to talk about politics back home is to talk about political status more or less...which makes sense given the relationship of the island with the US and the ambiguous definitions of what it means to be both Puerto Rican and an American citizen. Here is a succinct link provided by Wikipedia on the matter.
Point in matter, is that politicians exert much influence in the local politics scene. The majority of people in Puerto Rico don't necessarily follow specific discourses, ideas or 'real' issues that politicians embody; more or less people just listen to what many of these people say and accept it as an informed truth, just because this person held (or holds) public office. In this case, some politicians are made out of almost everyone: from local council members, to city mayors, to senators and representatives some (depends on the body and the level of government) of these people in office are just regular Carlos and Carmen of the community. While this might be more true in city politics and a bit on legislative branches, a good chunk of the 'high posts' are still held by the elite. My problem with this dichotomy is that we then have ideologies espoused by the elite and engendered by the middle and lower class, even when those ideas don't reflect their reality.
Of course, you see the local city and 'non elite' politicians defending these ideas as their own as if they responded to the reality of their constituents. "Wrong, he was so wrong"...(Mean Girls reference by the way). Opinions are then polarized so that they are aligned with one's party as opposed to what is right or better.
I find myself in a difficult position in order to recommend a solution to this 'conundrum'. Do I then believe in a government of the educated 'elders' or some sorts? Some sort of Jedi council? Wouldn't I be replacing one elite with another?
Mind you, I thought this old draft of a post was relevant, seeing the recent attention that violent political rhetoric has gotten here in the US. Again, I'm not giving any answers, but some thoughts
Point in matter, is that politicians exert much influence in the local politics scene. The majority of people in Puerto Rico don't necessarily follow specific discourses, ideas or 'real' issues that politicians embody; more or less people just listen to what many of these people say and accept it as an informed truth, just because this person held (or holds) public office. In this case, some politicians are made out of almost everyone: from local council members, to city mayors, to senators and representatives some (depends on the body and the level of government) of these people in office are just regular Carlos and Carmen of the community. While this might be more true in city politics and a bit on legislative branches, a good chunk of the 'high posts' are still held by the elite. My problem with this dichotomy is that we then have ideologies espoused by the elite and engendered by the middle and lower class, even when those ideas don't reflect their reality.
Of course, you see the local city and 'non elite' politicians defending these ideas as their own as if they responded to the reality of their constituents. "Wrong, he was so wrong"...(Mean Girls reference by the way). Opinions are then polarized so that they are aligned with one's party as opposed to what is right or better.
I find myself in a difficult position in order to recommend a solution to this 'conundrum'. Do I then believe in a government of the educated 'elders' or some sorts? Some sort of Jedi council? Wouldn't I be replacing one elite with another?
Mind you, I thought this old draft of a post was relevant, seeing the recent attention that violent political rhetoric has gotten here in the US. Again, I'm not giving any answers, but some thoughts
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
"I'm sorry...it's my day off and i just want to dance"
I won't lie... I really like the beat of this song. I just want to dance. It also reminds me of the good times I spent with one of my new friends hanging out.
But, listening to the lyrics and watching the video makes me cringe on the inside. It's very hypocritical, for me to claim one thing one day and then just throw it out the window on the weekends when I'm raging in the city. Makes me rethink my values and my judgement.
It also makes me rethink how judgmental I can be (and how I used to be worse when I was young) of popular culture. I say this because it's always makes you feel better when you think you are 'better than that' and pass judgement on what others are doing; it does!
Is it ok for me to turn off the 'intellectualism' for a bit and just enjoy popular culture?
Can I rationalize then watching Jersey Shore for it's pop-culture value (and secretly enjoy it) but then bash the blatant objectification and obscene portrayal of latino society in this video?
Can't we just dance?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Anal sex and Women and the National Sex Survey
Thought these were some interesting articles about the sex behaviors of Americans; specially in regards to anal sex and women... Interesting topics... is the taboo dwindling?
Here are the Links
http://www.slate.com/id/2270622/
http://www.slate.com/id/2269951/
Here are the Links
http://www.slate.com/id/2270622/
http://www.slate.com/id/2269951/
Monday, September 27, 2010
My Tumblr Blog
I am updating this more frequently than this blog, as this one I see it as an outlet for more formal thoughts.
My Tumblr blog is fun and short... and sweet.
Link: Elitist Queerdo
My Tumblr blog is fun and short... and sweet.
Link: Elitist Queerdo
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Hispanic Heritage Month
Yesterday was the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. It didn't dawn on me until now, that even though this type of 'celebration' exists, there is very little acknowledgment of the Hispanic Heritage in American History, with the exception of a few places. But not nationwide!
It is even more surprising, that negative feelings against "immigrants" (which one can argue is disguised racism) still exist today, to the extent that racial profiling laws are burgeoning in several states. Maybe this is not surprising, given that still in 2010 several states are legalizing structural violence against the LGBT community; and as recent as 60 years ago, racial segregation was still legal.
So, even though Native Americans and African-Americans are still not treated with the fairness they deserve, they are still recognized to some extent as being part of the core value(as romanticized this notion is) of being American. This is not so with Hispanic/Latinos. Why? I really don't have an idea.
The USA is only 234 years old, but that is only because it started with the Euro descendant 13 colonies. As the new country kept expanding to French and Spanish colonies/territories in the continent it kept adding its anglo-puritan ideology everywhere it could, which is why it has taken so long to "accept" and incorporate in the official discourse of the state a diverse (yet limited) view of the population. What conservatives need to understand is that the US is not some ancient civilization that has been successful against the invasion of enemy ethnic groups. It is a mutt-a majority of multiracial/ethnic white Europeans that thrived in a land halfway across their original land. Why is it easier to recognize that American means Irish, Italians, Poles, Germans, Yoruba, Nigerian, Ghanain, Cherokee, Navajo, etc, etc, etc...but not Mexican, Puerto Rican, Salvadorian,Peruvian, Cuban, among others?
This is very hard for me to comprehend (and not go batshit crazy about it) and I'm not going to give a history lesson here (cause I'm in dire need to brush up on this types of histories too) but It's not that hard to see that Hispanic/Latino history in the US is equally American.
1) Remember the whole southwest? The war against Mexico that gained the US, erm, NEW MEXICO, CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, ARIZONA, TEXAS? This only happened approximately 60-70 years after the independence of the US... It's sad that people ignore the fact that these names are in Spanish: San Francisco? really?
2) Burritos, enough said! No really, Burritos started in Juárez, look it up. It was essential in the diets of Mexican Americans in the US around the 50-60's.
3) We fucking clean your hotel rooms! Which means that there is a documented history of Hispanic/Latinos being a subservient minority because of its legal status as non citizens.
4) The Monroe Doctrine!
5) September 11, 1971-look it up-
Like it or not: We're here, we're brown, get used to i!
-signed, angry Puerto Rican token guy
edit-----
PS: I ended going batshit crazy
It is even more surprising, that negative feelings against "immigrants" (which one can argue is disguised racism) still exist today, to the extent that racial profiling laws are burgeoning in several states. Maybe this is not surprising, given that still in 2010 several states are legalizing structural violence against the LGBT community; and as recent as 60 years ago, racial segregation was still legal.
So, even though Native Americans and African-Americans are still not treated with the fairness they deserve, they are still recognized to some extent as being part of the core value(as romanticized this notion is) of being American. This is not so with Hispanic/Latinos. Why? I really don't have an idea.
The USA is only 234 years old, but that is only because it started with the Euro descendant 13 colonies. As the new country kept expanding to French and Spanish colonies/territories in the continent it kept adding its anglo-puritan ideology everywhere it could, which is why it has taken so long to "accept" and incorporate in the official discourse of the state a diverse (yet limited) view of the population. What conservatives need to understand is that the US is not some ancient civilization that has been successful against the invasion of enemy ethnic groups. It is a mutt-a majority of multiracial/ethnic white Europeans that thrived in a land halfway across their original land. Why is it easier to recognize that American means Irish, Italians, Poles, Germans, Yoruba, Nigerian, Ghanain, Cherokee, Navajo, etc, etc, etc...but not Mexican, Puerto Rican, Salvadorian,Peruvian, Cuban, among others?
This is very hard for me to comprehend (and not go batshit crazy about it) and I'm not going to give a history lesson here (cause I'm in dire need to brush up on this types of histories too) but It's not that hard to see that Hispanic/Latino history in the US is equally American.
1) Remember the whole southwest? The war against Mexico that gained the US, erm, NEW MEXICO, CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, ARIZONA, TEXAS? This only happened approximately 60-70 years after the independence of the US... It's sad that people ignore the fact that these names are in Spanish: San Francisco? really?
2) Burritos, enough said! No really, Burritos started in Juárez, look it up. It was essential in the diets of Mexican Americans in the US around the 50-60's.
3) We fucking clean your hotel rooms! Which means that there is a documented history of Hispanic/Latinos being a subservient minority because of its legal status as non citizens.
4) The Monroe Doctrine!
5) September 11, 1971-look it up-
Like it or not: We're here, we're brown, get used to i!
-signed, angry Puerto Rican token guy
edit-----
PS: I ended going batshit crazy
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Hurricane Earl-Email to a friend
I'm going to share an email I sent to a friend about Hurricane Earl, which passed closed to Puerto Rico yesterday night.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Thankfully it was not a big deal, because it passed right by the island. So people back home felt tropical storm winds instead of full blown hurricane winds. The eastern part of the island took the biggest hit, as it almost always happens. Thankfully, my family lives in the north, near San Juan, so they are OK. Lots of flooding and no electricity, but that always happens with hurricanes so people are used to it. As such, there isn't that much damage compared to a full blown hurricane. As of now, I haven't heard of any deaths (they are pretty rare back home when hurricanes/storms pass). The government agencies in charge of emergencies are pretty good at this, and people that live in flooding areas are always ushered to secure shelters (mainly schools) and given food and stuff. My family is OK, I kept checking with them yesterday. My family's houses are sturdy, so I'm not worried. This is pretty typical. Here are some links to pics from the local newspapers., the captions are in Spanish but the arrows to next and previous are easy to figure out how to move back and forth. While the images might seem like a lot, it's nothing compared to what happens to Dominican Republic when this kind of thing happens (sadly). Here are two links, one is the official newspaper's pictures, and the other is people's pictures of the hurricane.
Thanks for your concern,
Dave the Half-Blood Roboto
(A lot of this pictures, apart from the obvious one show the impact of the hurricane on Culebra and Vieques (Puerto Rico's two island/municipalities east of the main island and people in the shelters)
Map of Vieques and Culebra east of the main island:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/
http://www.elnuevodia.com/
http://www.elnuevodia.com/
----------------------------------------------------------------
Thankfully it was not a big deal, because it passed right by the island. So people back home felt tropical storm winds instead of full blown hurricane winds. The eastern part of the island took the biggest hit, as it almost always happens. Thankfully, my family lives in the north, near San Juan, so they are OK. Lots of flooding and no electricity, but that always happens with hurricanes so people are used to it. As such, there isn't that much damage compared to a full blown hurricane. As of now, I haven't heard of any deaths (they are pretty rare back home when hurricanes/storms pass). The government agencies in charge of emergencies are pretty good at this, and people that live in flooding areas are always ushered to secure shelters (mainly schools) and given food and stuff. My family is OK, I kept checking with them yesterday. My family's houses are sturdy, so I'm not worried. This is pretty typical. Here are some links to pics from the local newspapers., the captions are in Spanish but the arrows to next and previous are easy to figure out how to move back and forth. While the images might seem like a lot, it's nothing compared to what happens to Dominican Republic when this kind of thing happens (sadly). Here are two links, one is the official newspaper's pictures, and the other is people's pictures of the hurricane.
Thanks for your concern,
Dave the Half-Blood Roboto
(A lot of this pictures, apart from the obvious one show the impact of the hurricane on Culebra and Vieques (Puerto Rico's two island/municipalities east of the main island and people in the shelters)
Map of Vieques and Culebra east of the main island:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/
http://www.elnuevodia.com/
http://www.elnuevodia.com/
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