“Recently a friend was gobsmacked upon discovering the lack of both gender and racial diversity within the the United States Congress. From my kitchen, some 2,000 miles away, I offered a sympathetic pat on the back and ‘there, there’ then subsequently wanted to reach through the computer, grab her shoulders and shout, “YES! This is what I’ve been saying! What are we going to do about it?” Read more…
The State of Bipartisanship
“Because you cannot charge up those stairs into darkness and danger unless you know that there’s someone behind you, watching your back” – President Barack Obama
I am a total sucker for pomp and circumstance. I love the revelry and enjoy moments of tradition however small. So it is less than surprising that the State of the Union is one my favorite nights of the year. No matter who the President is I still watch with rapt attention not just to watch the address but to watch the reaction of the 535 members of congress in the audience. It’s crazy, I know, to not be among the over 90% of Americans with an unfavorable view of congress right now. That isn’t to say that I think they’re perfect and doing everything right but there’s still that soft spot that has been there since I was 12. The one that cannot help but love congress. So there’s my confession for the day: Congress can be awful but if you find the good ones then you can be swayed.
As I’ve gotten older I realize that I pay more and better attention to the actual address, both the written words and the delivery as I gauge how all of what is said will translate to actual legislation. While I still like congress I am not naive enough to think that bills will be sent to the White House and bipartisan compromises will be made and John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi will hold hands as the ride into the sunset. I am also aware that this is an election year and can I say one thing about that? To all of those angry that the President of the United States is giving a speech that might have notes of what he would like to accomplish into the next year. Can I just say – and pardon my language – NO SHIT. He’s the President and he’s allowed to give speeches and yes some of it might be pandering but I have never read or watched a State of the Union address that wasn’t essentially a campaign speech. For as President of the United States you get to be the Campaigner in Chief. That’s just how it works.
Moving onto the speech itself: It was spectacular. Some might scream BIAS! as I have been less than secretive as to who I will be voting for in November but I can still step back enough and allow for critical thinking. That said it was an address that wasn’t just meaningful in the words that he said but how he said them. He was forceful. He pushed at congress and yes, he scolded. But can you say that they don’t deserve it? He acknowledged the giant rift between both sides of the aisle right now and that for us to move forward as a country we – or, they, the House and the Senate – need to get over their differences and keep it moving. As I tweeted yesterday it was very much “Lead. Follow. Or get out the way”. And that is how I like my President. Presidential. Leading. Keeping us moving despite 535 roadblocks who are more interested in fighting with each other than fighting for the American people.
Despite my congress love I can still be disappointed. I watch C-SPAN and the pointing of fingers and referring to “My friend, the distinguished gentleman from X…” before giving a profound speech that amounts to a giant middle finger. I watch as members speak over each other, heckle and boo and I am dismayed. I’m bothered and saddened that this is the state of our union. As the President mentioned last night we did not receive a credit downgrade because of our finances but because congress was more interested in arguing with each other to the point that they would allow us to default on our loans. The House and Senate have argued us into oblivion and while it’s funny in an “Oh my God, there they go again *rolls eyes*” way it is also disturbing and treacherous. The word ‘compromise’ is not part of their vernacular. But ‘pissing match’ is (well, that’s two words but you get what I’m saying) and right now I don’t know what it will take or how low this country has to go before we are back on solid ground with representatives who care about those they represent as much as they care about their own politics, ambitions and proving the person across the aisle wrong.
I will address the finer points and policy over the next few days – particularly his quest to end asinine policy of ‘teaching to the test’ but I did want to give a few thoughts and hear what you all liked or didn’t like about the speech. Have at it.
Watch: The full State of the Union address
Watch: Mitch Daniels deliver the Republican response
Posted in 2012, President Obama, The Parties, The White House 2 Comments
Moving on from Komen
I’ve struggled on where to start but the beginning is always best. That would be three years ago when my aunt – my mother’s sister – died after a years long fight against breast cancer. Whether or not it was metastatic are details of which I remain unaware but I do know that she was only 41 and that 41 is an incredibly young age for someone to die. I don’t know whether or not she was accepting of what might happen or how my mother really dealt with her death given that my grandmother – my mother’s mother – died exactly five weeks prior. I do know that from time to time I see my aunt’s dearest friend in the world around Albany and we speak. Briefly. And each time it kills me inside. A knot forms at the pit of my stomach and the second I am alone my eyes fill with tears and the sorrow that accompanies the wonder of how those left behind deal. I’ve kept from my family how I have dealt with Judy’s death because though expected it felt so sudden. I was leaving a friend’s home in Napa Valley when my mother called to say that she passed and I didn’t cry. That I remember. I drove to San Francisco, went out for drinks and dessert and spent the entire night in a guest bedroom awake. Not crying but thinking. She didn’t deserve this…any of it. She was incredibly sweet, kind and faithful and in times of anger I question the fairness of it all. But life isn’t fair, which is true but that hasn’t kept me from keeping gifts given to me by Judy that I glance at and wonder why.
At the time of Judy’s death my knowledge of breast cancer was fairly limited and I cannot say that all these years later I am any wiser. I knew that it could be a fast killer and that in some cases there is a genetic factor. I also knew that early detection of the cancer can give patients a higher survival rate. Of course during the month of October there were marches and runs and every store I entered proudly displayed pink products on behalf of breast cancer research but I am amazed at how little thought I gave to any of this. I purchased items because it was a good cause. Because I was doing something and contributing to breast cancer research. I contributed and bought Yoplait containers with pink tops because it felt like the right thing. Ignorance is bliss, my friends and no one told me otherwise.
Even when finally faced with breast cancer and to watch what it does to a person and a family, I felt even more empowered that years of pink crap was doing something for the overall good. Giving to the Susan G. Komen foundation would lead to prevention and a cure, I thought. They were doing good work. I type these words now while shaking my head. Feeling duped. How could I be so stupid? How could I believe that “pink washing” buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken would lead to a cure? How could I be so stupid to believe that an organization whose mission is to educate and inform the public on breast cancer would not fall into the political fray. This is what I wonder now. There was a fantastic interview after the Komen foundation pulled its funding from Planned Parenthood with Andrea Mitchell and Komen founder, former Ambassador Nancy Brinker. The way that Andrea – recently diagnosed with breast cancer – keeps pushing and digging at Ambassador Brinker with questions of why Komen changed their grant process, why underinsured or uninsured women shouldn’t be allowed to have their services and potentially life-saving early detection; there’s this urging and pain coming off of Andrea Mitchell. Not that she’s just pissed but that so many people believed in the Komen foundation and now that trust is gone.
There is something about death and the grieving process where we feel the need to do something, try harder and do better. When Judy died I wanted to go all in and at the time the Komen foundation was what I knew. Now I know different. Thank God. I will not give to them anymore not just because of this ‘scandal’ but because to honor those that have died from this terrible disease would not be to give blindly but to learn more. It’s not about covering shit in pink it’s about continuing the education and assisting groups and organizations that give more than lip service to the detection, prevention and the cure. I cannot end this without stating that it doesn’t make me a socialist to think that all women (and men), no matter their financial situation, should have the right to mammograms and early detection. It makes me human.
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The wonderful, beautiful and amazing Susan Niebur passed away yesterday after a five year battle with inflammatory breast cancer. A rare and aggressive form of the disease. In lieu of flowers her family has asked for donations to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Please consider giving.
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By defunding Planned Parenthood the Susan G. Komen foundation betrays women
What breast cancer has taught me
Social Media Acts as a Catalyst for Policy Change
National Breast Cancer Foundation
the American Cancer Society
Avon Walk for the Cure