[ p h i l o s o p h i c a l ] __ r a n t s

Yes, I know it’s shameful.
Yes, I know the whole point of a journal - online or on paper - is to actually journal.
Yes, I know it’s tiring to continually blame my recent lack of writing on my theatre school schedule.
So call me a shameful theatre student and let’s move on.

There is, however, much on my mind which I’ll be sharing in the very near future, seeing as I’ve finished school for the year.

- Yom Ha’atzmaut was a few days ago. In Toronto, any Jewish affair is always an interesting affair. This year, the PM showed up at our celebrations. I sat down through the whole thing while the rest of the Jews in the audience showered praises on our corrupt leader. More on that soon.

- Mother’s Day is today. I’ve always been hesitant about these singular celebratory days. See my previous thoughts here on that. More on that soon.

- Camp is soon. Camp means lots of new thoughts on Jewish life flowing around. Camp means - for me at least - time to work incredibly hard but also time to relax and enjoy the work to an unparalleled level. Camp means returning to serious daily Jewish living after an intriguing experimental year for me. More on that soon.

Until soon arrives…

Well, I’ve finally made a decision regarding the Olympic Torch Relay and China’s hosting of the Games this summer, and whether or not they should be protested. I’ve been wavering back and forth between thinking the world should admonish the awarding of such an event to a country whose human rights record is beyond abysmal, and thinking that sports should remain “pure” and free from political nonsense.

I wake up almost every morning to CBC radio’s “The Current.” It’s a great current affairs show that often tackles controversial topics with great gusto. This morning, they had on one of the Chinese chairpersons of the Torch Relay who was trying to defend the Games against the protesters. She was up against a University of Toronto professor who had a pretty solid argument in favour of protest.

The chairperson was trying to argue that politics and sports should be kept separate. Note that this very defence doesn’t even attempt to counter the arguments against the human rights issues; it just tries to hide them in the corner of the international boxing ring. The U of T professor countered with some pretty strong arguments which have - at least for the time being - convinced me solidly. So here’s why I’m standing in opposition of this summer’s Games in China:

1. The Modern Olympic Games have always been a politically motivated event. They were created in part to re-establish France’s political superiority in the wake of the Franco-Prussian war. This is a fascinating history - you should read more about it.

2. It is ridiculous to assert that even now the games aren’t political. Athletes don’t represent themselves, they represent their countries. And when they win, their national anthem is played and their nation’s flag is flown. And then, when they return home to their country, they are lauded and admired as national heroes.

And my own arguments:

3.The very fact that people in China right now have no idea that the world is protesting their government speaks volumes.

4. If we begin to compartmentalize such sensitive and volatile issues as Human Rights, we risk compromising our own values and ethics. Even if these Games weren’t a political event, which clearly they are, they still should have be protested. Protesting human rights abuses in China but attending or supporting the Games is doublespeak.

The world is giving tacit approval for China to continue its torrid abuse of basic human rights. Is this surprising? Of course not. Western governments continue to trade with China and act as if nothing is wrong because it suits their wallets and their political egos. Why expect anything different when it comes to sports?

Make sure you get down to the last one on the list. It will change the way you look at the world. Or maybe just the way you look at America.

1. The RIAA list of the Top 100 Selling Music Artists of All Time.
I was actually pleasantly surprised by most of the artists on this list. Turns out the factory-made, genetically engineered pop music that seems to be so pervasive since the Spice Girls were manufactured in a defunct cold-war weapons factory is not actually as successful as it appears to be. At least not when compared to the other bands on the list. I was, however, disappointed that Brittney Spears has sold as many albums as Dave Matthews has. And more than Pearl Jam and Tom Petty. She doesn’t work nearly as hard as they do. And the output isn’t exactly on par. Isn’t it a little ironic (Alanis Morisette was further down the list) that the capitalist society which has propelled the likes of Brittney to the top is the same one that is so adamant about the notion that you have to work hard to be deserving of money? Judgement: AMAZING

2. Reform and Chabad are Friends!… in China…
Read the article. It’s enlightening. Perhaps there is something that America and Canada can learn from China. Judgement: AMAZING

3. Anti-Islam film ‘Fitna’ draws Dutch Jewish condemnations.
The newly-released anti-Islam film by right-wing Dutch legislator Geert Wilders drew condemnations from the Netherlands’ Central Jewish Board, which Friday called the film’s focus on anti-Jewish preachings by Muslims “counterproductive” and “generalizing.” Just one question: When was the last time we heard a reciprocal condemnation of pervasive anti-Jewish propaganda? Judgement: a tie between AMAZING and FUCKED UP

4. Stuff White People Like
If you’re a wordpress-er like me, then you’ve likely already seen this blog. If not, you must head over to it immediately. It is a humourous and surprisingly (perhaps frighteningly) accurate portrayal of white society. Some of my favourites from the list: #88 Having Gay Friends, #75 Threatening to Move to Canada, #68 Michel Gondry, #67 Standing Still at Concerts (I dance like hell, though), #26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!), #87 Outdoor Performance Clothes. Judgement: Overall it’s AMAZING. Some of them are STUPID or JUST PLAIN ODD

And the Kicker… the piece de resistance, the one that floored me tonight…

5. The Quantum Sleeper
“What is the Quantum Sleeper?” you ask… While you must go to the website and look at the pictures to truly appreciate the absurdity of this item, here’s a quick rundown of the features it contains:
- Protection from bio-chemical terrorist attack
- Protection from natural disasters (earthquakes…?)
- Protection from kidnappers / stalkers (”What’s that giant object in the bedroom…?”)
- Toiletry system
- CD Player & AM/FM Radio

JUDGEMENT: The Quantum Sleeper is the culmination and supreme iconic indicator of post-9-11 society. It is simultaneously amazing, stupid, fucked up, and just plain odd. Mostly though, it’s a piece of shit.

Courtesy of your local Nova Scotia newspaper.

We, the people of Israel, no less than the people of Palestine, are hostages of our history and of our present leadership. Our extremists - perhaps the only inspirational speakers we have - bludgeon us into feeling that we must resurrect a glorious past which is not only impossible to recreate, but which blocks us from moving on into a livable future.

We could use a good man like Barack Obama. We need a man who has an awareness of his own limitations, and a sense of the boundless promise of the nation and its people. We need to be uplifted. We need to heal. We need to be able to triumph over our own habits and preconceptions, our grief and our grievances, our prejudices and our blood grudges.

We need someone who can see the horizon we have long ago stopped seeking. We need to resurrect the most battered of our values, the belief in the power of reconciliation and cooperation, the faith in the sheer existence of possibility.
~ Bradley Burston, Ha’aretz

Commentary coming soon

LOST is back, and in as objective of an opinion as I can possibly get myself to form, it is better than ever.

Really, it was quite stellar this evening. Just a stunning work of art.

No matter how confused, frustrated, or disenchanted (or continually suffering from a mild form of obsession) you might be with this television show, you’ve got to admire the incredible uniqueness of its construction, and the delicate and deft way in which it is artistically produced.

Props to everyone involved.

[UDPDATE] Thanks to (of all places) USA Today, for this enlightening commentary:

Let Lost remind you of how spectacular scripted network programming can be. This is the kind of show broadcast TV depends on to maintain primacy in ratings and ad rates, not cultural irrelevancies like NBC’s already-fading American Gladiators and sad Celebrity Apprentice. We need shows like Lost, and we only get them when great writers combine with big-network budgets and exposure.

“find a way to do what you love to do…. because then, if you find a way to do what you love to do, then it doesn’t really matter if you get paid to do it. then you can have your whole life wrapped around it and work in a coffee shop, you know? and then, if you are lucky, maybe you can make a living at it. and then, if you are lucky, and you work hard, maybe you can make a lot of money doing it.

but if that’s your goal (to become rich), then you really shouldn’t do it as a life. if your goal is money and fame, there are a lot easier ways to do it. go on fear factor, you know? if you want money, if you want music, all you have to do is play.”

When I was ten years old, I had an interesting visit to the doctor. The reason for my trip was not entirely uncommon, but extremely intriguing, and - for a ten year old - possibly embarrassing. You see, I have always had an affinity for carrots, and apparently at this point in my life I was eating more than my body could process properly.

So my skin turned orange.

Yup! Orange. Don’t believe me? Check this guy out. Not a dangerous condition, just an overload of beta-carotene. My friends at school didn’t believe me and thought that I was playing an elaborate trick on them involving paint and possibly markers. But there I was, walking around for a week with orange hands.

Fast forward 14 years. I’m watching the news this morning. And I have just learned that my childhood period of orangeness was not my fault for eating too many carrots. No, the fault lies squarely on another group of people.

The Dutch.

Yup! The Dutch. Apparently carrots are naturally purple, but were harvested and changed to look Orange by the Dutch so they would match the flag of the Dutch Independence movement in the 1700s. Thanks a lot Netherlands! Wish I had known this back in Grade 4.

A week away from home in the warmth of South Florida brings much insight into the following things, all of which will appear on the pages of this blog in commentary form in the coming weeks:

See you soon!