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Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Review: The Future of Freedom
I will hardly be the first person to recommend The Future of Freedom, Fareed Zakaria’s book on the politics of democracy and freedom, but I wanted to add my vote. I am hardly an expert in government and politics and have rarely found books on this topic that I care about deeply even remotely interesting. Zakaria does an excellent job of making his topic approachable. In reading the book I had many “ah-ha!” moments as observations and points he made clicked with things I had half observed came into focus. In addition to the history and perspective the book gave me, the critical point I think he makes is that there is a difference between democracy and freedom in a country. Both are needed, but one does not imply the other. Nor is freedom without democracy necessarily a bad thing (and sometimes is a good thing).
Good book. It will make you think. Go read it (assuming you are into thinking, that is).
Book Reviews, Freedom, Politics | Comments (0)
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Saturday, January 22, 2005
Williamsburg is an island in a sea of red
An interesting article, although it does go off the deep end in a few places with the urban isolationist attitude. However it appeals to the side of me that is often labeled “not nice” in that it advocates that the liberal portion of america should to some extent give up on the groups of people who don’t agree with us and the regions they live in. The republicans have learned to push the policies that support their ideology and I think we need to learn that too.
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Friday, January 21, 2005
New Project: Action VA
As most of you know, I am a huge supporter of the ACLU. I am also still very frustrated by recent politics. Those two facts, in combination with my recent readings of Joe Trippi’s The Revolution will not be Televised and Dan Gillmor’s We the media, has spurred me to start a new project.
The Virginia ACLU sends out emails during the legislative session highlighting bills and issues that are of concern (wither for or against). You have to sign up to get these emails and there is no online archive of them or place to discuss the issues. So, I have made one. I will be adding the “action alerts” to the website as the come out.
If you think this is a good idea, I could use all the help I can get to put the word out about the site and actually get it noticed. Thanks all!
Freedom, Geek, Links, Politics | Comments (0)
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Wednesday, November 3, 2004
what to say
I really don’t think most people want to hear what I have to say about the election. Elizabeth and my officemates have already had to endure that. So I will boil down my thoughts. I am truely disgusted by 70% of the people in this country. 30% of people who feel that Bush represents the direction this country should be moving. But far more so by the 40% of people who didn’t even bother to go and make a choice. At least Bush’s 30% believed what they believed (however stupid and misguided I may think it is) and did something about it. I hope that over the next four years I remember to ask anyone I hear complaining about the state of affairs if they voted; and if they didn’t I hope that I am only be moderatly rude to them. But we are we are now, however much I hate it.
So what do we do now?
I wish I knew. I am afraid of what this country will look like in 4 years. I am afraid that it will be changed so fundamentally that it will take decades to fix. I am afraid that an intolerant, past looking majority will continue to impose it’s moral views on me. Basically, I am just afraid. In conversation today, someone made the point that they thought this may be a point that in 30 years we look back on like McCarthyism. I hope we wise up sooner than that.
All we can do now is try to fight the good fight. I was waiting until after the election to make my annual donation to the ACLU. There are important fights that will be waged over the next years, and we can’t give up now. So I’ve made my contribution.
What happens next is really up to all of us. Don’t forget that.
Freedom, Politics | Comments (0)
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Thursday, October 21, 2004
Gibson is blogging again
After a long hiatus, William Gibson is blogging again. Apparently he just became so fed up with the current political situation he couldn’t help himself. I realized how much I missed his wit and insight into the world. I’ll leave you with a choice quote
Believing Bush is conservative in any traditional sense is like believing that a Formula One racer with the Perrier logo on its side is full of mineral water.
So go and read. It is good stuff
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