My head is itching and I just received an email from the school nurse that a few of my students have head lice….uhhhh ohhh. I am sitting in my class looking out at the green vegetation and the heavy rains that fall from the sad sky. The many tears are needed and I wonder if Mother Earth is crying for all the local people here who are now having problems procuring enough water to shower and wash clothes. You know who I am talking about - the “other” people. The ones seldom talked about. The “other” ones who act as caregivers to the many expatriates here - The “others” who seldom talk unless spoken to but smile all the same. The water table is extremely low due to a delay in the rainy season. I am glad to see the sky crying but it makes me wonder about global warming. I also dread riding “Old Blue” (my Vespa) in the rain given the brakes are not quite up to snuff. So, I will blog to avoid marking and entering grades. Avoidance.
One of the reasons I bring up Global Warming is because I saw the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” this weekend. It did not surprise me much. What I did appreciate in the film was that Al Gore admitted to being a part of the problem as was his father who grew tobacco. Tobacco, he admits, was a cause to his sister’s death – lung cancer. Gore talks about connecting the dots. The dots that hold us all together as a humanity and global community. Few people actually take the time to reflect on their jobs, their actions, and connect the dots. Are we leaving a positive legacy or are we just another cog in the wheel – Yes men and women? Al Gore was connecting the dots when he realized that growing tobacco not only made money but also killed people. Not only “those other” people but family members. Loved ones. Good people. He had a lucid moment and so did his father when he stopped growing tobacco. It suddenly became not only about money makin' but about morals and ethics. It became personal. Al Gore uses a great quote in his film: “If is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it"- Upton Sinclair. True indeed. I call this the “Golden Handcuff” syndrome. We see this everyday and many of us have either experienced it or are living it. Gore also states his other lucid moment. The time his son was nearly killed after being hit by a car. This was the impetus that drove him to go on his world tour of promoting this film after losing the Presidential race. It became personal. It happened to someone close to him…someone he loved. It suddenly made him think of the “other” and connecting the dots. I hope more people are able to put the dots together soon for all of us. As he said in the film…there will be a reckoning. The challenge ways heavy on our shoulders.
Here is a video stream to the film if you interested:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15801.htm
Another BBC take on Global Warming: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15818.htm
The rain has stopped…
Monday, December 11, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Avoiding
What do you do when you have 80 essays to grade and 80 report card comments to do and it is raining outside your classroom? You Blog. Yep, you avoid it, try not to think about it, hope it will go away, even though you know it won't. Procrastinate and create stress for myself is what I do. I need a break. I've graded a few essays and I am already fried...
I have a few weeks left of school before V, Zee, and myself blow this popscicle stand and head for the open space of desert and mountains. My students are busily researching about particular conflicts and preparing for their final presentations in the form of a Conflict Fair. Each student will provide three 7 minute speeches on their particular conflict: Rwanda, The Cold War, Maji Maji, Cambodia, Russian Civil War, Korean War, French Revolution, Gulf War, Iraq War, Kashmir, American Civil War, Segregation, Palestine/Isreal, Kurds....the list goes on. It will be interesting how they bring everything together. Watching them prepare and becoming knowledgeable and articulate about Hezbollah, The Balkans, why The Cold war was called Cold makes me smile. The teachers are stress cases though - each of us scurrying to mark, enter grades, all before vacation.
I just finished my online college course about the Holocaust, racism, discrimination and prejudice. It was interesting but far too academic. Every time I posted a controversial topic it seemed like my colleagues avoided it like it was the Ebola virus. I get tired of theory and want something practical. I am now thinking about becoming certified in Conflict Resolution and I think I will take another course on Genocide, and then another course on Transitional Justice - oh yeah - I have to keep my CPR up to date too and take another course for that too. It all relates to my subject matter - World Studies....pretty broad I know. One thing is for certain, there is never a dull moment in teaching. It all comes down to time....which is a precious commodity. I figured out the reason teachers don't get paid much money. It's because they don't have anytime to use it....ha ha ha!!!!
I finished reading the book Kite Runner the night before last and like the string that pulls a kite and cuts your fingers drawing blood this one yanked at my heart and made my blood boil. It was a powerful book that provided a greater insight into Afghanistan. I have a few friends working in Kabul and I had to email them so they could help me answer some questions that I can't find in the media. I would recommend the book but be prepared going in that this is not a story being told from an American perspective.
It's mango season here in Big Smoke and Vanessa, Zee, and I bought kilos of mangoes over the weekend. The vendors are on a road near our house and you can fill big bags for the equivalent of $1 US. I also picked up some nice rambutan off the trees (like Vietnames Leches) that I love. I freeze em and eat em like candy.
Zee had his first professional hair cut over the weekend. The term "hippie kid" and questions like, "Is that a boy or girl" prompted us to enter a kiddie cut salon in which the child sits in a little car while Barney plays on a screen in front of the child. Zee sat there while Mom and I distracted him with various toys, crackers, and funny faces while the stylist did her thing. Afterward Zee looked at himself and smiled from ear to ear. He liked the result. We also noticed an elevated level of energy - he was running laps in the house. Amazing what a good haircut will do.
Zee stuck his fingers down his throat the other day, puked all over himself, and then started laughing. Should we be concerned? It was pretty funny...and scary too. At least I know he wasn't taking after his Daddy....
So Vanessa bumped into a PhD student the other day and their discusson somehow included cancer. Apparently, Asians should stay clear of salted fish because it is known to cause stomach cancer. Apparently, different races have different protective coatings (for lack of better term) to prevent certain types of cancer. 'Tis all in the mapped genome. For example, Indonesians smoke like chimneys but rarely get lung cancer. Caucasions are more susceptible to lung cancer if they smoke because they do not have the protective genes that Indonesians do. If any of you have more information re: food and health let me know.
Ok, I've procrastinated/avoided long enough....back to real life and marking essays. More to come later, when I have more stress....
I have a few weeks left of school before V, Zee, and myself blow this popscicle stand and head for the open space of desert and mountains. My students are busily researching about particular conflicts and preparing for their final presentations in the form of a Conflict Fair. Each student will provide three 7 minute speeches on their particular conflict: Rwanda, The Cold War, Maji Maji, Cambodia, Russian Civil War, Korean War, French Revolution, Gulf War, Iraq War, Kashmir, American Civil War, Segregation, Palestine/Isreal, Kurds....the list goes on. It will be interesting how they bring everything together. Watching them prepare and becoming knowledgeable and articulate about Hezbollah, The Balkans, why The Cold war was called Cold makes me smile. The teachers are stress cases though - each of us scurrying to mark, enter grades, all before vacation.
I just finished my online college course about the Holocaust, racism, discrimination and prejudice. It was interesting but far too academic. Every time I posted a controversial topic it seemed like my colleagues avoided it like it was the Ebola virus. I get tired of theory and want something practical. I am now thinking about becoming certified in Conflict Resolution and I think I will take another course on Genocide, and then another course on Transitional Justice - oh yeah - I have to keep my CPR up to date too and take another course for that too. It all relates to my subject matter - World Studies....pretty broad I know. One thing is for certain, there is never a dull moment in teaching. It all comes down to time....which is a precious commodity. I figured out the reason teachers don't get paid much money. It's because they don't have anytime to use it....ha ha ha!!!!
I finished reading the book Kite Runner the night before last and like the string that pulls a kite and cuts your fingers drawing blood this one yanked at my heart and made my blood boil. It was a powerful book that provided a greater insight into Afghanistan. I have a few friends working in Kabul and I had to email them so they could help me answer some questions that I can't find in the media. I would recommend the book but be prepared going in that this is not a story being told from an American perspective.
It's mango season here in Big Smoke and Vanessa, Zee, and I bought kilos of mangoes over the weekend. The vendors are on a road near our house and you can fill big bags for the equivalent of $1 US. I also picked up some nice rambutan off the trees (like Vietnames Leches) that I love. I freeze em and eat em like candy.
Zee had his first professional hair cut over the weekend. The term "hippie kid" and questions like, "Is that a boy or girl" prompted us to enter a kiddie cut salon in which the child sits in a little car while Barney plays on a screen in front of the child. Zee sat there while Mom and I distracted him with various toys, crackers, and funny faces while the stylist did her thing. Afterward Zee looked at himself and smiled from ear to ear. He liked the result. We also noticed an elevated level of energy - he was running laps in the house. Amazing what a good haircut will do.
Zee stuck his fingers down his throat the other day, puked all over himself, and then started laughing. Should we be concerned? It was pretty funny...and scary too. At least I know he wasn't taking after his Daddy....
So Vanessa bumped into a PhD student the other day and their discusson somehow included cancer. Apparently, Asians should stay clear of salted fish because it is known to cause stomach cancer. Apparently, different races have different protective coatings (for lack of better term) to prevent certain types of cancer. 'Tis all in the mapped genome. For example, Indonesians smoke like chimneys but rarely get lung cancer. Caucasions are more susceptible to lung cancer if they smoke because they do not have the protective genes that Indonesians do. If any of you have more information re: food and health let me know.
Ok, I've procrastinated/avoided long enough....back to real life and marking essays. More to come later, when I have more stress....
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Trying to figure it all out redux
Ok, if you recall there was an extremely long post yesterday regarding the media and propaganda. I wanted to know if anyone could provide me an opposing perspective of the article I found. I took the post you saw and provided it as a link to my University course. Keep in mind this a course in the study of propaganda and how media was used during the 1930's to kill and gas millions of Jews, Homosexuals, Roma, people who didn't tow the party line...you get the jist. There is a motley crew of academicians, teachers, and people who are generally open to critical thought in the course.
Here is a response I received from someone in the class (This is not my diatribe but a student in my course on propaganda and the Holocaust). Brace yourself.
Lost in translation/Not required reading
10-30-2006 12:23 - Session 3 -- Choices: The Nazis in Power, 1933-1938
I served as an Russian interpreter and I visited and inspected missile bases pursuant to the INF and START I treaties in the countries of the former SU. So I know how things get translated or mistranslated. Here´s what I can´t figure out: How come people refuse to see the violence in the Koran? Is it bad translation? Is there mitigating context for ´slaying infidels´? Are things mistranslated when they call the Jews apes or monkeys? Do you think it´s unimportant? Does the good outweigh the bad? Is a dhimmi on par with believer? Why not?
As far as the link you referred me to: does Iran want to live in peace with Israel? If so, why don´t they recognize them? Why can´t other religions be practiced in some Muslim countries? I was in the 1st Gulf War in the magic kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Boy, was I conflicted!! Democracy? Freedom?? Oil???
Couldn´t a case be made that Islam is a failed religion? It won´t let its people modernize and adjust to the times. People serve the religion rather than the religion serving the people. For the sake of a good argument, I promise not to get mad, but I´d like to see these questions answered.
Whoooooaaaa? Did I just touch a nerve or what? If you note the person does not address my question but suddenly goes in rabid dog mode. One may assume that he also doesn't associate with too many of those errrr 'other people' also known as Muslims? I was a bit dismayed. Here is a person in class questioning how the Germans could hate so many Jews and suddenly posts something like this. He doesn't see the gross irony. I wish it was a joke...but sadly it's not. I thought long and hard and even wrote a response to this 'joker'...but in the end I am just going to send him this link....http://www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4374. He may need the name of a shrink in the US as well if anybody knows one with less problems than this fella.
Here is a response I received from someone in the class (This is not my diatribe but a student in my course on propaganda and the Holocaust). Brace yourself.
Lost in translation/Not required reading
10-30-2006 12:23 - Session 3 -- Choices: The Nazis in Power, 1933-1938
I served as an Russian interpreter and I visited and inspected missile bases pursuant to the INF and START I treaties in the countries of the former SU. So I know how things get translated or mistranslated. Here´s what I can´t figure out: How come people refuse to see the violence in the Koran? Is it bad translation? Is there mitigating context for ´slaying infidels´? Are things mistranslated when they call the Jews apes or monkeys? Do you think it´s unimportant? Does the good outweigh the bad? Is a dhimmi on par with believer? Why not?
As far as the link you referred me to: does Iran want to live in peace with Israel? If so, why don´t they recognize them? Why can´t other religions be practiced in some Muslim countries? I was in the 1st Gulf War in the magic kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Boy, was I conflicted!! Democracy? Freedom?? Oil???
Couldn´t a case be made that Islam is a failed religion? It won´t let its people modernize and adjust to the times. People serve the religion rather than the religion serving the people. For the sake of a good argument, I promise not to get mad, but I´d like to see these questions answered.
Whoooooaaaa? Did I just touch a nerve or what? If you note the person does not address my question but suddenly goes in rabid dog mode. One may assume that he also doesn't associate with too many of those errrr 'other people' also known as Muslims? I was a bit dismayed. Here is a person in class questioning how the Germans could hate so many Jews and suddenly posts something like this. He doesn't see the gross irony. I wish it was a joke...but sadly it's not. I thought long and hard and even wrote a response to this 'joker'...but in the end I am just going to send him this link....http://www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4374. He may need the name of a shrink in the US as well if anybody knows one with less problems than this fella.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Trying to figure it all out
I am currently taking an on line class University course regarding Propaganda, the Holocaust, racism, discrimination, prejudice...you get the idea. So many of my online classmates bring up the alleged statements by Iran's President Ahmadinejad and how he denies the Holocaust and wants Israel wiped off the map. I found an interesting article below and I am curious to get some feedback from YOU. I am wondering if anyone reading this can provide me with definitive evidence that Ahmadinejad has actually said he Wants Israel Wiped of the Map and Does he Deny the Holocaust? The article below leaves me wondering about the way the media is covering Iran. Let me know. I posted this article to my class and I will share the responses I get tomorrow.
Here is the article....it is lengthy but interesting.
Does Iran's President Want Israel Wiped Off The Map - Does He Deny The Holocaust?
Does Iran's President Want Israel Wiped Off The Map - Does He Deny The Holocaust?
An analysis of media rhetoric on its way to war against Iran - Commenting on the alleged statements of Iran's President Ahmadinejad .By Anneliese Fikentscher and Andreas Neumann Translation to English: Erik Appleby04/19/06 "Kein Krieg!" -- -- -
"But now that I'm on Iran, the threat to Iran, of course -- (applause) -- the threat from Iran is, of course, their stated objective to destroy our strong ally Israel. That's a threat, a serious threat. It's a threat to world peace; it's a threat, in essence, to a strong alliance. I made it clear, I'll make it clear again, that we will use military might to protect our ally, Israel, and -- (applause.)" George W. Bush, US-President, 2006-03-20 in Cleveland (Ohio) in an off-the-cuff speech (source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060320-7.html) But why does Bush speak of Iran's objective to destroy Israel?Does Iran's President wants Israel wiped off the map?To raze Israel to the ground, to batter down, to destroy, to annihilate, to liquidate, to erase Israel, to wipe it off the map - this is what Iran's President demanded - at least this is what we read about or heard of at the end of October 2005. Spreading the news was very effective. This is a declaration of war they said. Obviously government and media were at one with their indignation. It goes around the world.But let's take a closer look at what Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said. It is a merit of the 'New York Times' that they placed the complete speech at our disposal. Here's an excerpt from the publication dated 2005-10-30:"They say it is not possible to have a world without the United States and Zionism. But you know that this is a possible goal and slogan. Let's take a step back. [[[We had a hostile regime in this country which was undemocratic, armed to the teeth and, with SAVAK, its security apparatus of SAVAK [the intelligence bureau of the Shah of Iran's government] watched everyone. An environment of terror existed.]]] When our dear Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Iranian revolution] said that the regime must be removed, many of those who claimed to be politically well-informed said it was not possible. All the corrupt governments were in support of the regime when Imam Khomeini started his movement. [[[All the Western and Eastern countries supported the regime even after the massacre of September 7 [1978] ]]] and said the removal of the regime was not possible. But our people resisted and it is 27 years now that we have survived without a regime dependent on the United States. The tyranny of the East and the West over the world should have to end, but weak people who can see only what lies in front of them cannot believe this. Who would believe that one day we could witness the collapse of the Eastern Empire? But we could watch its fall in our lifetime. And it collapsed in a way that we have to refer to libraries because no trace of it is left. Imam [Khomeini] said Saddam must go and he said he would grow weaker than anyone could imagine. Now you see the man who spoke with such arrogance ten years ago that one would have thought he was immortal, is being tried in his own country in handcuffs and shackles [[[by those who he believed supported him and with whose backing he committed his crimes]]]. Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map and this was a very wise statement. We cannot compromise over the issue of Palestine. Is it possible to create a new front in the heart of an old front. This would be a defeat and whoever accepts the legitimacy of this regime [Israel] has in fact, signed the defeat of the Islamic world. Our dear Imam targeted the heart of the world oppressor in his struggle, meaning the occupying regime. I have no doubt that the new wave that has started in Palestine, and we witness it in the Islamic world too, will eliminate this disgraceful stain from the Islamic world."(source: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/30/weekinreview/30iran.html?ex=1141966800&en=5035dfc8b7afc70d&ei=5070, based on a publication of 'Iranian Students News Agency' (ISNA) -- insertions by the New York Times in squared brackets -- passages in triple squared brackets will be left blank in the MEMRI version printed below)
It's becoming clear. The statements of the Iranian President have been reflected by the media in a manipulated way. Iran's President betokens the removal of the regimes, that are in power in Israel and in the USA, to be possible aim for the future. This is correct. But he never demands the elimination or annihilation of Israel. He reveals that changes are potential. The Shah-Regime being supported by the USA in its own country has been vanquished. The eastern governance of the Soviet Union collapsed. Saddam Hussein's dominion drew to a close. Referring to this he voices his aspiration that changes will also be feasible in Israel respectively in Palestine. He adduces Ayatollah Khomeini referring to the Shah-Regime who in this context said that the regime (meaning the Shah-Regime) should be removed.Certainly, Ahmadinejad translates this quotation about a change of regime into the occupied Palestine. This has to be legitimate. To long for modified political conditions in a country is a world-wide day-to-day business by all means. But to commute a demand for removal of a 'regime' into a demand for removal of a state is serious deception and dangerous demagogy.This is one chapter of the war against Iran that has already begun with the words of Georg Meggle, professor of philosophy at the university of Leipzig - namely with the probably most important phase, the phase of propaganda.Marginally we want to mention that it was the former US Vice-Minister of Defence and current President of the World Bank, Paul D. Wolfowitz, who in Sept. 2001 talked about ending states in public and without any kind of awe. And it was the father of George W. Bush who started the discussion about a winnable nuclear war if only the survival of an elite is assured.Let's pick an example: the German online-news-magazine tagesschau.de writes the following about Iran's president on 2005-10-27: "There is no doubt: the new wave of assaults in Palestine will erase the stigma in countenance of the Islamic world." Instead of using the original word 'wave' they write 'wave of assaults'. This replacement of the original text is what we call disinformation. E.g. it would be correct to say: "The new movement in Palestine will erase the stain of disgrace from the Islamic world." Additionally this statement refers to the occupation regime mentioned in the previous sentence.As a precaution we will examine a different translation of the speech - a version prepared by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), located in Washington:"They [ask]: 'Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism?' But you had best know that this slogan and this goal are attainable, and surely can be achieved. [[[...]]] "'When the dear Imam [Khomeini] said that [the Shah's] regime must go, and that we demand a world without dependent governments, many people who claimed to have political and other knowledge [asked], 'Is it possible [that the Shah's regime can be toppled]?' That day, when Imam [Khomeini] began his movement, all the powers supported [the Shah's] corrupt regime [[[...]]] and said it was not possible. However, our nation stood firm, and by now we have, for 27 years, been living without a government dependent on America. Imam [Khomeni] said: 'The rule of the East [U.S.S.R.] and of the West [U.S.] should be ended.' But the weak people who saw only the tiny world near them did not believe it. Nobody believed that we would one day witness the collapse of the Eastern Imperialism [i.e. the U.S.S.R], and said it was an iron regime. But in our short lifetime we have witnessed how this regime collapsed in such a way that we must look for it in libraries, and we can find no literature about it. Imam [Khomeini] said that Saddam [Hussein] must go, and that he would be humiliated in a way that was unprecedented. And what do you see today? A man who, 10 years ago, spoke as proudly as if he would live for eternity is today chained by the feet, and is now being tried in his own country [[[...]]] Imam [Khomeini] said: 'This regime that is occupying Qods [Jerusalem] must be eliminated from the pages of history.' This sentence is very wise. The issue of Palestine is not an issue on which we can compromise. Is it possible that an [Islamic] front allows another front [i.e. country] to arise in its [own] heart? This means defeat, and he who accepts the existence of this regime [i.e. Israel] in fact signs the defeat of the Islamic world. In his battle against the World of Arrogance, our dear Imam [Khomeini] set the regime occupying Qods [Jerusalem] as the target of his fight. I do not doubt that the new wave which has begun in our dear Palestine and which today we are also witnessing in the Islamic world is a wave of morality which has spread all over the Islamic world. Very soon, this stain of disgrace [i.e. Israel] will vanish from the center of the Islamic world - and this is attainable."
(source: http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP101305, based on the publication of 'Iranian Students News Agency' (ISNA) -- insertions by MEMRI in squared brackets -- missing passages compared to the 'New York Times' in triple squared brackets)
The term 'map' to which the media refer at length does not even appear. Whereas the 'New York Times' said: "Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map" the version by MEMRI is: "Imam [Khomeini] said: This regime that is occupying Qods [Jerusalem] must be eliminated from the pages of history."MEMRI added the following prefixed formulation to their translation as a kind of title: "Very Soon, This Stain of Disgrace [i.e. Israel] Will Be Purged From the Center of the Islamic World - and This is Attainable". Thereby they take it out of context by using the insertion 'i.e. Israel' they distort the meaning on purpose. The temporal tapering 'very soon' does not appear in the NY-Times-translation either. Besides it is striking that MEMRI deleted all passages in their translation which characterize the US-supported Shah-Regime as a regime of terror and at the same time show the true character of US-American policy.An independent translation of the original (like the version published by ISNA) yields that Ahmadinejad does not use the term 'map'. He quotes Ayatollah Khomeini's assertion that the occupation regime must vanish from this world - literally translated: from the arena of times. Correspondingly: there is no space for an occupation regime in this world respectively in this time. The formulation 'wipe off the map' used by the 'New York Times' is a very free and aggravating interpretation which is equivalent to 'razing something to the ground' or 'annihilating something'. The downwelling translation, first into English ('wipe off the map'), then from English to German - and all literally ('von der Landkarte löschen') - makes us stride away from the original more and more. The perfidious thing about this translation is that the expression 'map' can only be used in one (intentional) way: a state can be removed from a map but not a regime, about which Ahmadinejad is actually speaking.Again following the independent translation: "I have no doubt that the new movement taking place in our dear Palestine is a spiritual movement which is spanning the entire Islamic world and which will soon remove this stain of disgrace from the Islamic world".It must be allowed to ask how it is possible that 'spirtual movement' resp. 'wave of morality' (as translated by MEMRI) and 'wave of assaults' can be equated and translated (like e.g tagesschau.de published it).
Does Iran's President deny the Holocaust?"The German government condemned the repetitive offending anti-Israel statements by Ahmadinejad to be shocking. Such behaviour is not tolerable, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated. [...] Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel proclaimed Ahmadinejad's statements to be 'inconceivable'" (published by tagesschau.de 2005-12-14.But not only the German Foreign Minister Steinmeier and the Federal Chancellor Merkel allege this, but the Bild-Zeitung, tagesschau.de, parts of the peace movement, US-President George W. Bush, the 'Papers for German and international politics', CNN, the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation, almost the entire world does so, too: Iran's President Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust.What is this assertion based on? In substance it is based on dispatches of 2 days - 2005-12-14 and 2006-02-11."The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stepped up his verbal attacks against Israel and the Western states and has denied the Holocaust. Instead of making Israel's attacks against Palestine a subject of discussion 'the Western states devote their energy to the fairy-tale of the massacre against the Jews', Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday in a speech at Zahedan in the south-east of Iran which was broadcasted directly by the news-channel Khabar. That day he stated that if the Western states really believe in the assassination of six million Jews in W.W. II they should put a piece of land in Europe, in the USA, Canada or Alaska at Israel's disposal." - dispatch of the German press agency DPA, 2005-12-14.The German TV-station n24 spreads the following on 2006-12-14 using the title 'Iran's President calls the Holocaust a myth': "The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stepped up his verbal attacks against Israel and called the Holocaust a 'myth' used as a pretext by the Europeans to found a Jewish state in the center of the Islamic world . 'In the name of the Holocaust they have created a myth and regard it to be worthier than God, religion and the prophets' the Iranian head of state said."The Iranian press agency IRNA renders Ahmadinejad on 2005-12-14 as follows: "'If the Europeans are telling the truth in their claim that they have killed six million Jews in the Holocaust during the World War II - which seems they are right in their claim because they insist on it and arrest and imprison those who oppose it, why the Palestinian nation should pay for the crime. Why have they come to the very heart of the Islamic world and are committing crimes against the dear Palestine using their bombs, rockets, missiles and sanctions.' [...] 'If you have committed the crimes so give a piece of your land somewhere in Europe or America and Canada or Alaska to them to set up their own state there.' [...] Ahmadinejad said some have created a myth on holocaust and hold it even higher than the very belief in religion and prophets [...] The president further said, 'If your civilization consists of aggression, displacing the oppressed nations, suppressing justice-seeking voices and spreading injustice and poverty for the majority of people on the earth, then we say it out loud that we despise your hollow civilization.'"There again we find the quotation already rendered by n24: "In the name of the Holocaust they created a myth." We can see that this is completely different from what is published by e.g. the DPA - the massacre against the Jews is a fairy-tale. What Ahmadinejad does is not denying the Holocaust. No! It is dealing out criticism against the mendacity of the imperialistic powers who use the Holocaust to muzzle critical voices and to achieve advantages concerning the legitimization of a planned war. This is criticism against the exploitation of the Holocaust.CNN (2005-12-15) renders as follows: "If you have burned the Jews why don't you give a piece of Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to Israel. Our question is, if you have committed this huge crime, why should the innocent nation of Palestine pay for this crime?"The Washingtonian ''Middle East Media Research Institute' (MEMRI) renders Ahmadinejad's statements from 2005-12-14 as follows: "...we ask you: if you indeed committed this great crime, why should the oppressed people of Palestine be punished for it? * [...] If you committed a crime, you yourselves should pay for it. Our offer was and remains as follows: If you committed a crime, it is only appropriate that you place a piece of your land at their disposal - a piece of Europe, of America, of Canada, or of Alaska - so they can establish their own state. Rest assured that if you do so, the Iranian people will voice no objection."The MEMRI-rendering uses the relieving translation 'great crime' and misappropriates the following sentence at the * marked passage: "Why have they come to the very heart of the Islamic world and are committing crimes against the dear Palestine using their bombs, rockets, missiles and sanctions." This sentence has obviously been left out deliberately because it would intimate why the Israeli state could have forfeited the right to establish itself in Palestine - videlicet because of its aggressive expansionist policy against the people of Palestine, ignoring any law of nations and disobeying all UN-resolutions.In spite of the variability referring to the rendering of the statements of Iran's President we should nevertheless note down: the reproach of denying the Holocaust cannot be sustained if Ahmadinejad speaks of a great and huge crime that has been done to the Jews.In another IRNA-dispatch (2005-12-14) the Arabian author Ghazi Abu Daqa writes about Ahmadinejad: "The Iranian president has nothing against the followers of Judaism [...] Ahmadinejad is against Zionism as well as its expansionist and occupying policy. That is why he managed to declare to the world with courage that there is no place for the Zionist regime in the world civilized community."It's no wonder that such opinions do not go down particularly well with the ideas of the centers of power in the Western world. But for this reason they are not wrong right away. Dealing out criticism against the aggressive policy of the Western world, to which Israel belongs as well, is not yet anti-Semitism. We should at least to give audience to this kind of criticism - even if it is a problematic field for us.2006-02-11 Ahmadinejad said according to IRNA: "[...] the real holocaust should be sought in Palestine, where the blood of the oppressed nation is shed every day and Iraq, where the defenceless Muslim people are killed daily. [...] 'Some western governments, in particular the US, approve of the sacrilege on the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), while denial of the >Myth of Holocaust<, based on which the Zionists have been exerting pressure upon other countries for the past 60 years and kill the innocent Palestinians, is considered as a crime' [...]"The assertion that Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust thus is wrong in more than one aspect. He does not deny the Holocaust, but speaks of denial itself. And he does not speak of denial of the Holocaust, but of denial of the Myth of Holocaust. This is something totally different. All in all he speaks of the exploitation of the Holocaust. The Myth of Holocaust, like it is made a subject of discussion by Ahmadinejad, is a myth that has been built up in conjunction with the Holocaust to - as he says - put pressure onto somebody. We might follow this train of thoughts or we might not. But we cannot equalize his thoughts with denial of the Holocaust.If Ahmadinejad according to this 2006-02-11 condemns the fact that it is forbidden and treated as a crime to do research into the Myth of Holocaust, as we find it quoted in the MEMRI translation, this acquires a meaning much different from the common and wide-spread one. If the myth related to the Holocaust is commuted to a 'Fairy Tale of the Massacre' - like the DPA did - this can only be understood as a malicious misinterpretation.By the use of misrepresentation and adulteration it apparently succeeded to constitute the statements of the Iranian President to be part and parcel of the currently fought propaganda battle. It is our responsibility to counter this.Concluding:A dispatch by Reuters confirms 2006-02-21: "The Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki has [...] repudiated that his state would want the Jewish state Israel 'wiped off the map'. [...] Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been misunderstood. 'Nobody can erase a country from the map.' Ahmadinejad was not thinking of the state of Israel but of their regime [...]. 'We do not accredit this regime to be legitimate.' [...] Mottaki also accepted that the Holocaust really took place in a way that six million Jews were murdered during the era of National Socialism."The next step is to connect the Iranian President with Hitler. 2006-02-20 the Chairman of the Counsil of Jews in France (Crif) says in Paris: "The Iranian President's assertions do not rank behind Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'". Paul Spiegel, President of the Central Counsil of Jews in Germany, 2005-12-10 in the 'Welt' qualifies the statements of Ahmadinejad to be "the worst comment on this subject that he has ever heard of a statesman since A. Hitler". At the White House the Iranian President is even named Hitler. And the German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel as well moves over Iran's President towards Hitler and National Socialism by saying 2006-02-04 in Munich: "Already in the early 1930's many people said that it is only rhetoric. One could have prevented a lot in time if one had acted... Germany is in the debt to resist the incipiencies and to do anything to make clear where the limit of tolerance is. Iran remains in control of the situation, it is still in their hands."All this indicates war. Slobodan Milosevic became Hitler. The result was the war of the Nato against Yugoslavia. Saddam Hussein became Hitler. What followed was the war the USA and their coalition of compliant partners waged against Iraq. Now the Iranian President becomes Hitler.And someone who is Hitler-like can assure a hundred times that he only wants to use nuclear energy in a peaceful way. Nobody will believe him. Somebody like Hitler can act within the scope of all contracts. Acting contrary to contract will nevertheless be imputed to him. "Virtually none of the Western states recognize that uranium enrichment is absolutely legal. There is no restriction by contract or by the law of nations. Quite the contrary: Actually the Western countries would have the duty to assist Iran with these activities, according to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. As long as a state renounces the bomb it is eligible for technical support by the nuclear powers." (Jörg Pfuhl, ARD radio studio Istanbul 2006-01-11) But - all this does not count if the Head of a state is stigmatized as Hitler.
Here is the article....it is lengthy but interesting.
Does Iran's President Want Israel Wiped Off The Map - Does He Deny The Holocaust?
Does Iran's President Want Israel Wiped Off The Map - Does He Deny The Holocaust?
An analysis of media rhetoric on its way to war against Iran - Commenting on the alleged statements of Iran's President Ahmadinejad .By Anneliese Fikentscher and Andreas Neumann Translation to English: Erik Appleby04/19/06 "Kein Krieg!" -- -- -
"But now that I'm on Iran, the threat to Iran, of course -- (applause) -- the threat from Iran is, of course, their stated objective to destroy our strong ally Israel. That's a threat, a serious threat. It's a threat to world peace; it's a threat, in essence, to a strong alliance. I made it clear, I'll make it clear again, that we will use military might to protect our ally, Israel, and -- (applause.)" George W. Bush, US-President, 2006-03-20 in Cleveland (Ohio) in an off-the-cuff speech (source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060320-7.html) But why does Bush speak of Iran's objective to destroy Israel?Does Iran's President wants Israel wiped off the map?To raze Israel to the ground, to batter down, to destroy, to annihilate, to liquidate, to erase Israel, to wipe it off the map - this is what Iran's President demanded - at least this is what we read about or heard of at the end of October 2005. Spreading the news was very effective. This is a declaration of war they said. Obviously government and media were at one with their indignation. It goes around the world.But let's take a closer look at what Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said. It is a merit of the 'New York Times' that they placed the complete speech at our disposal. Here's an excerpt from the publication dated 2005-10-30:"They say it is not possible to have a world without the United States and Zionism. But you know that this is a possible goal and slogan. Let's take a step back. [[[We had a hostile regime in this country which was undemocratic, armed to the teeth and, with SAVAK, its security apparatus of SAVAK [the intelligence bureau of the Shah of Iran's government] watched everyone. An environment of terror existed.]]] When our dear Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Iranian revolution] said that the regime must be removed, many of those who claimed to be politically well-informed said it was not possible. All the corrupt governments were in support of the regime when Imam Khomeini started his movement. [[[All the Western and Eastern countries supported the regime even after the massacre of September 7 [1978] ]]] and said the removal of the regime was not possible. But our people resisted and it is 27 years now that we have survived without a regime dependent on the United States. The tyranny of the East and the West over the world should have to end, but weak people who can see only what lies in front of them cannot believe this. Who would believe that one day we could witness the collapse of the Eastern Empire? But we could watch its fall in our lifetime. And it collapsed in a way that we have to refer to libraries because no trace of it is left. Imam [Khomeini] said Saddam must go and he said he would grow weaker than anyone could imagine. Now you see the man who spoke with such arrogance ten years ago that one would have thought he was immortal, is being tried in his own country in handcuffs and shackles [[[by those who he believed supported him and with whose backing he committed his crimes]]]. Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map and this was a very wise statement. We cannot compromise over the issue of Palestine. Is it possible to create a new front in the heart of an old front. This would be a defeat and whoever accepts the legitimacy of this regime [Israel] has in fact, signed the defeat of the Islamic world. Our dear Imam targeted the heart of the world oppressor in his struggle, meaning the occupying regime. I have no doubt that the new wave that has started in Palestine, and we witness it in the Islamic world too, will eliminate this disgraceful stain from the Islamic world."(source: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/30/weekinreview/30iran.html?ex=1141966800&en=5035dfc8b7afc70d&ei=5070, based on a publication of 'Iranian Students News Agency' (ISNA) -- insertions by the New York Times in squared brackets -- passages in triple squared brackets will be left blank in the MEMRI version printed below)
It's becoming clear. The statements of the Iranian President have been reflected by the media in a manipulated way. Iran's President betokens the removal of the regimes, that are in power in Israel and in the USA, to be possible aim for the future. This is correct. But he never demands the elimination or annihilation of Israel. He reveals that changes are potential. The Shah-Regime being supported by the USA in its own country has been vanquished. The eastern governance of the Soviet Union collapsed. Saddam Hussein's dominion drew to a close. Referring to this he voices his aspiration that changes will also be feasible in Israel respectively in Palestine. He adduces Ayatollah Khomeini referring to the Shah-Regime who in this context said that the regime (meaning the Shah-Regime) should be removed.Certainly, Ahmadinejad translates this quotation about a change of regime into the occupied Palestine. This has to be legitimate. To long for modified political conditions in a country is a world-wide day-to-day business by all means. But to commute a demand for removal of a 'regime' into a demand for removal of a state is serious deception and dangerous demagogy.This is one chapter of the war against Iran that has already begun with the words of Georg Meggle, professor of philosophy at the university of Leipzig - namely with the probably most important phase, the phase of propaganda.Marginally we want to mention that it was the former US Vice-Minister of Defence and current President of the World Bank, Paul D. Wolfowitz, who in Sept. 2001 talked about ending states in public and without any kind of awe. And it was the father of George W. Bush who started the discussion about a winnable nuclear war if only the survival of an elite is assured.Let's pick an example: the German online-news-magazine tagesschau.de writes the following about Iran's president on 2005-10-27: "There is no doubt: the new wave of assaults in Palestine will erase the stigma in countenance of the Islamic world." Instead of using the original word 'wave' they write 'wave of assaults'. This replacement of the original text is what we call disinformation. E.g. it would be correct to say: "The new movement in Palestine will erase the stain of disgrace from the Islamic world." Additionally this statement refers to the occupation regime mentioned in the previous sentence.As a precaution we will examine a different translation of the speech - a version prepared by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), located in Washington:"They [ask]: 'Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism?' But you had best know that this slogan and this goal are attainable, and surely can be achieved. [[[...]]] "'When the dear Imam [Khomeini] said that [the Shah's] regime must go, and that we demand a world without dependent governments, many people who claimed to have political and other knowledge [asked], 'Is it possible [that the Shah's regime can be toppled]?' That day, when Imam [Khomeini] began his movement, all the powers supported [the Shah's] corrupt regime [[[...]]] and said it was not possible. However, our nation stood firm, and by now we have, for 27 years, been living without a government dependent on America. Imam [Khomeni] said: 'The rule of the East [U.S.S.R.] and of the West [U.S.] should be ended.' But the weak people who saw only the tiny world near them did not believe it. Nobody believed that we would one day witness the collapse of the Eastern Imperialism [i.e. the U.S.S.R], and said it was an iron regime. But in our short lifetime we have witnessed how this regime collapsed in such a way that we must look for it in libraries, and we can find no literature about it. Imam [Khomeini] said that Saddam [Hussein] must go, and that he would be humiliated in a way that was unprecedented. And what do you see today? A man who, 10 years ago, spoke as proudly as if he would live for eternity is today chained by the feet, and is now being tried in his own country [[[...]]] Imam [Khomeini] said: 'This regime that is occupying Qods [Jerusalem] must be eliminated from the pages of history.' This sentence is very wise. The issue of Palestine is not an issue on which we can compromise. Is it possible that an [Islamic] front allows another front [i.e. country] to arise in its [own] heart? This means defeat, and he who accepts the existence of this regime [i.e. Israel] in fact signs the defeat of the Islamic world. In his battle against the World of Arrogance, our dear Imam [Khomeini] set the regime occupying Qods [Jerusalem] as the target of his fight. I do not doubt that the new wave which has begun in our dear Palestine and which today we are also witnessing in the Islamic world is a wave of morality which has spread all over the Islamic world. Very soon, this stain of disgrace [i.e. Israel] will vanish from the center of the Islamic world - and this is attainable."
(source: http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP101305, based on the publication of 'Iranian Students News Agency' (ISNA) -- insertions by MEMRI in squared brackets -- missing passages compared to the 'New York Times' in triple squared brackets)
The term 'map' to which the media refer at length does not even appear. Whereas the 'New York Times' said: "Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map" the version by MEMRI is: "Imam [Khomeini] said: This regime that is occupying Qods [Jerusalem] must be eliminated from the pages of history."MEMRI added the following prefixed formulation to their translation as a kind of title: "Very Soon, This Stain of Disgrace [i.e. Israel] Will Be Purged From the Center of the Islamic World - and This is Attainable". Thereby they take it out of context by using the insertion 'i.e. Israel' they distort the meaning on purpose. The temporal tapering 'very soon' does not appear in the NY-Times-translation either. Besides it is striking that MEMRI deleted all passages in their translation which characterize the US-supported Shah-Regime as a regime of terror and at the same time show the true character of US-American policy.An independent translation of the original (like the version published by ISNA) yields that Ahmadinejad does not use the term 'map'. He quotes Ayatollah Khomeini's assertion that the occupation regime must vanish from this world - literally translated: from the arena of times. Correspondingly: there is no space for an occupation regime in this world respectively in this time. The formulation 'wipe off the map' used by the 'New York Times' is a very free and aggravating interpretation which is equivalent to 'razing something to the ground' or 'annihilating something'. The downwelling translation, first into English ('wipe off the map'), then from English to German - and all literally ('von der Landkarte löschen') - makes us stride away from the original more and more. The perfidious thing about this translation is that the expression 'map' can only be used in one (intentional) way: a state can be removed from a map but not a regime, about which Ahmadinejad is actually speaking.Again following the independent translation: "I have no doubt that the new movement taking place in our dear Palestine is a spiritual movement which is spanning the entire Islamic world and which will soon remove this stain of disgrace from the Islamic world".It must be allowed to ask how it is possible that 'spirtual movement' resp. 'wave of morality' (as translated by MEMRI) and 'wave of assaults' can be equated and translated (like e.g tagesschau.de published it).
Does Iran's President deny the Holocaust?"The German government condemned the repetitive offending anti-Israel statements by Ahmadinejad to be shocking. Such behaviour is not tolerable, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated. [...] Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel proclaimed Ahmadinejad's statements to be 'inconceivable'" (published by tagesschau.de 2005-12-14.But not only the German Foreign Minister Steinmeier and the Federal Chancellor Merkel allege this, but the Bild-Zeitung, tagesschau.de, parts of the peace movement, US-President George W. Bush, the 'Papers for German and international politics', CNN, the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation, almost the entire world does so, too: Iran's President Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust.What is this assertion based on? In substance it is based on dispatches of 2 days - 2005-12-14 and 2006-02-11."The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stepped up his verbal attacks against Israel and the Western states and has denied the Holocaust. Instead of making Israel's attacks against Palestine a subject of discussion 'the Western states devote their energy to the fairy-tale of the massacre against the Jews', Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday in a speech at Zahedan in the south-east of Iran which was broadcasted directly by the news-channel Khabar. That day he stated that if the Western states really believe in the assassination of six million Jews in W.W. II they should put a piece of land in Europe, in the USA, Canada or Alaska at Israel's disposal." - dispatch of the German press agency DPA, 2005-12-14.The German TV-station n24 spreads the following on 2006-12-14 using the title 'Iran's President calls the Holocaust a myth': "The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stepped up his verbal attacks against Israel and called the Holocaust a 'myth' used as a pretext by the Europeans to found a Jewish state in the center of the Islamic world . 'In the name of the Holocaust they have created a myth and regard it to be worthier than God, religion and the prophets' the Iranian head of state said."The Iranian press agency IRNA renders Ahmadinejad on 2005-12-14 as follows: "'If the Europeans are telling the truth in their claim that they have killed six million Jews in the Holocaust during the World War II - which seems they are right in their claim because they insist on it and arrest and imprison those who oppose it, why the Palestinian nation should pay for the crime. Why have they come to the very heart of the Islamic world and are committing crimes against the dear Palestine using their bombs, rockets, missiles and sanctions.' [...] 'If you have committed the crimes so give a piece of your land somewhere in Europe or America and Canada or Alaska to them to set up their own state there.' [...] Ahmadinejad said some have created a myth on holocaust and hold it even higher than the very belief in religion and prophets [...] The president further said, 'If your civilization consists of aggression, displacing the oppressed nations, suppressing justice-seeking voices and spreading injustice and poverty for the majority of people on the earth, then we say it out loud that we despise your hollow civilization.'"There again we find the quotation already rendered by n24: "In the name of the Holocaust they created a myth." We can see that this is completely different from what is published by e.g. the DPA - the massacre against the Jews is a fairy-tale. What Ahmadinejad does is not denying the Holocaust. No! It is dealing out criticism against the mendacity of the imperialistic powers who use the Holocaust to muzzle critical voices and to achieve advantages concerning the legitimization of a planned war. This is criticism against the exploitation of the Holocaust.CNN (2005-12-15) renders as follows: "If you have burned the Jews why don't you give a piece of Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to Israel. Our question is, if you have committed this huge crime, why should the innocent nation of Palestine pay for this crime?"The Washingtonian ''Middle East Media Research Institute' (MEMRI) renders Ahmadinejad's statements from 2005-12-14 as follows: "...we ask you: if you indeed committed this great crime, why should the oppressed people of Palestine be punished for it? * [...] If you committed a crime, you yourselves should pay for it. Our offer was and remains as follows: If you committed a crime, it is only appropriate that you place a piece of your land at their disposal - a piece of Europe, of America, of Canada, or of Alaska - so they can establish their own state. Rest assured that if you do so, the Iranian people will voice no objection."The MEMRI-rendering uses the relieving translation 'great crime' and misappropriates the following sentence at the * marked passage: "Why have they come to the very heart of the Islamic world and are committing crimes against the dear Palestine using their bombs, rockets, missiles and sanctions." This sentence has obviously been left out deliberately because it would intimate why the Israeli state could have forfeited the right to establish itself in Palestine - videlicet because of its aggressive expansionist policy against the people of Palestine, ignoring any law of nations and disobeying all UN-resolutions.In spite of the variability referring to the rendering of the statements of Iran's President we should nevertheless note down: the reproach of denying the Holocaust cannot be sustained if Ahmadinejad speaks of a great and huge crime that has been done to the Jews.In another IRNA-dispatch (2005-12-14) the Arabian author Ghazi Abu Daqa writes about Ahmadinejad: "The Iranian president has nothing against the followers of Judaism [...] Ahmadinejad is against Zionism as well as its expansionist and occupying policy. That is why he managed to declare to the world with courage that there is no place for the Zionist regime in the world civilized community."It's no wonder that such opinions do not go down particularly well with the ideas of the centers of power in the Western world. But for this reason they are not wrong right away. Dealing out criticism against the aggressive policy of the Western world, to which Israel belongs as well, is not yet anti-Semitism. We should at least to give audience to this kind of criticism - even if it is a problematic field for us.2006-02-11 Ahmadinejad said according to IRNA: "[...] the real holocaust should be sought in Palestine, where the blood of the oppressed nation is shed every day and Iraq, where the defenceless Muslim people are killed daily. [...] 'Some western governments, in particular the US, approve of the sacrilege on the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), while denial of the >Myth of Holocaust<, based on which the Zionists have been exerting pressure upon other countries for the past 60 years and kill the innocent Palestinians, is considered as a crime' [...]"The assertion that Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust thus is wrong in more than one aspect. He does not deny the Holocaust, but speaks of denial itself. And he does not speak of denial of the Holocaust, but of denial of the Myth of Holocaust. This is something totally different. All in all he speaks of the exploitation of the Holocaust. The Myth of Holocaust, like it is made a subject of discussion by Ahmadinejad, is a myth that has been built up in conjunction with the Holocaust to - as he says - put pressure onto somebody. We might follow this train of thoughts or we might not. But we cannot equalize his thoughts with denial of the Holocaust.If Ahmadinejad according to this 2006-02-11 condemns the fact that it is forbidden and treated as a crime to do research into the Myth of Holocaust, as we find it quoted in the MEMRI translation, this acquires a meaning much different from the common and wide-spread one. If the myth related to the Holocaust is commuted to a 'Fairy Tale of the Massacre' - like the DPA did - this can only be understood as a malicious misinterpretation.By the use of misrepresentation and adulteration it apparently succeeded to constitute the statements of the Iranian President to be part and parcel of the currently fought propaganda battle. It is our responsibility to counter this.Concluding:A dispatch by Reuters confirms 2006-02-21: "The Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki has [...] repudiated that his state would want the Jewish state Israel 'wiped off the map'. [...] Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been misunderstood. 'Nobody can erase a country from the map.' Ahmadinejad was not thinking of the state of Israel but of their regime [...]. 'We do not accredit this regime to be legitimate.' [...] Mottaki also accepted that the Holocaust really took place in a way that six million Jews were murdered during the era of National Socialism."The next step is to connect the Iranian President with Hitler. 2006-02-20 the Chairman of the Counsil of Jews in France (Crif) says in Paris: "The Iranian President's assertions do not rank behind Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'". Paul Spiegel, President of the Central Counsil of Jews in Germany, 2005-12-10 in the 'Welt' qualifies the statements of Ahmadinejad to be "the worst comment on this subject that he has ever heard of a statesman since A. Hitler". At the White House the Iranian President is even named Hitler. And the German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel as well moves over Iran's President towards Hitler and National Socialism by saying 2006-02-04 in Munich: "Already in the early 1930's many people said that it is only rhetoric. One could have prevented a lot in time if one had acted... Germany is in the debt to resist the incipiencies and to do anything to make clear where the limit of tolerance is. Iran remains in control of the situation, it is still in their hands."All this indicates war. Slobodan Milosevic became Hitler. The result was the war of the Nato against Yugoslavia. Saddam Hussein became Hitler. What followed was the war the USA and their coalition of compliant partners waged against Iraq. Now the Iranian President becomes Hitler.And someone who is Hitler-like can assure a hundred times that he only wants to use nuclear energy in a peaceful way. Nobody will believe him. Somebody like Hitler can act within the scope of all contracts. Acting contrary to contract will nevertheless be imputed to him. "Virtually none of the Western states recognize that uranium enrichment is absolutely legal. There is no restriction by contract or by the law of nations. Quite the contrary: Actually the Western countries would have the duty to assist Iran with these activities, according to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. As long as a state renounces the bomb it is eligible for technical support by the nuclear powers." (Jörg Pfuhl, ARD radio studio Istanbul 2006-01-11) But - all this does not count if the Head of a state is stigmatized as Hitler.
Friends and values
So I am having a conversation with a colleague about breast feeding (as one does). We are at a big table with other colleagues. I am discussing how unethical formula companies are and how they violate the code set forth by World Health Assembly http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/article.php?art_id=51&iui=1 by marketing to formula to babies under five months of age . One of my colleagues chimes in, “You know Zane, I have a friend who works for a formula company and he is very ethical.” The others seated at the table get quiet. “I did not mean to accuse your friend of not being unethical, “I reply, “but I would like to know if his company is honoring the code.” My colleague responds, “My friend is going to work for the GATES Foundation on HIV/AIDS soon." This doesn't answer my questiong but I find this interesting information because there are studies showing how formula is actually causing many women in Africa to get HIV due to the cow milk creating small fissures in the stomach allowing HIV to enter. (Do your own research please). It appears that if breast milk and formula are mixed this could be a deadly cocktail for a woman who is HIV positive. If the HIV woman only breast feeds the chances of the baby getting HIV is reduced significantly. If a baby is only fed formula this also reduces the chances of HIV but what so often happens in Africa is that a woman will use her breast milk as a pacifier to calm a crying a baby thus introducing the milk to leak through the fissure is stomach (this is highly simplified and research on your own to understand this process). This is where the problem of using formula comes into play. “Does your friend working for the formula company know this? It seems a bit ironic." I ask. As you can imagine by now the people gathered around the table are a bit perplexed. It’s not often breast feeding is the topic of discussion. My colleague who is a big advocate of breast feeding is struggling internally with her values and defending her friend. To make a long story short, I do some research on my own and sadly find her friend’s company listed as a big time offender of the code right here in our very own Indonesia http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/abm/paginas/articles/arch_art/298-4.pdf (Please do your own research) I present my colleague with the information and tell her to ask her friend what he thinks of the violation. It is my colleague’s decision whether to pursue the issue further with the friend…if this is still an ethical friend.
Wealth and the pursuit of Happiness in the 8th grade
Oh, the constant question of having a job that suits the heart and personal passion while also allowing us to sleep at night and also does more than just pay the rent and top ramon for dinner. A student stopped by after school to ask me about life. She wants to pursue a career in musical acting. Her mother tells her she will not make money and that she needs to be a video designer for television. I ask her if this interest her. She shakes her head. It's a definite NO. Her father actually likes the idea. This is a start. Most of my Asian students are heading for the high paying business careers and students pursuing a vocation in the arts is rare. I talk about the idea of loving your job and enjoying life vs not necessarily enjoying a job and settling for the wealth aka the Golden Handcuffs. I use myself as an example and my decision to go into teaching vs business. After a lengthy discussion, my student who was holding her head down is now standing tall and smiling. I assigned her homework to show me evidence of musical actors who are doing well, paying their bills, and even wealthy. I will be playing her Mom and she the dutiful daughter who wants nothing more than to pursue her passion while pleasing her Mother who never seems to be around to converse as she runs one of the many embassies in town. She must use the research method I have taught her in providing evidence that will convince her Mom that her decision is right for her....I hope it works.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Teacher Parent Conference and Fashion Jeans
So I exit my class this morning and notice two ladies standing outside. I know I have a parent coming to meet with me about her son. I look at the ladies and ask which one is the parent. "Oh no, not me," one woman says holding a walkie talkie in her hand and ear piece snugly in place, "I am the security for her." She is pointing at the other woman standing quietly. It appears the rest of the bodyguards are combing the rest of the campus making sure all is clear while we have our meeting.
Fashion Jeans
Later in the day as I greet my peppy and eager students, one of them (no relation to student above) mentions that she will be starting up her own business. I ask her about the business and a bit about her business model. She says that she is going to create a new line of jeans? What will you call them I ask? She is not sure but open to ideas. She tells me that they will be marketed internationally and that her father has asssured her that half of all the profits will be hers. She is 13. What were you doing at thirteen?
Fashion Jeans
Later in the day as I greet my peppy and eager students, one of them (no relation to student above) mentions that she will be starting up her own business. I ask her about the business and a bit about her business model. She says that she is going to create a new line of jeans? What will you call them I ask? She is not sure but open to ideas. She tells me that they will be marketed internationally and that her father has asssured her that half of all the profits will be hers. She is 13. What were you doing at thirteen?
Birthday Blowout
Vanessa and Zee arranged a surprise get together for me on Saturday at 7:30 AM. It consisted of about 15 runners who I spend quite a bit of time with. They put on a little skit, a PowerPoint presentation, and two beautiful cakes were devoured and downed with some thick Java. Good times.
On Sunday we took a bus to the hills for a birthday run. The trail was set by an ex Green Beret and the short version of this very long story was that we started at 10:00 AM and finished a 2:40 PM. It would have been more beautiful if we would have slowed down to take in the awesome scenery, but alas we had many hills and rivers to cross to finish in 4 hrs. 40 minutes. We started with about 27 people but in the end about 10 people finished. The last person was in at 7 hrs. It was all that and the bag of chips.
On Monday Vanessa and I snuck out for a nice romantic dinner and then finished the night with Zee.
On Sunday we took a bus to the hills for a birthday run. The trail was set by an ex Green Beret and the short version of this very long story was that we started at 10:00 AM and finished a 2:40 PM. It would have been more beautiful if we would have slowed down to take in the awesome scenery, but alas we had many hills and rivers to cross to finish in 4 hrs. 40 minutes. We started with about 27 people but in the end about 10 people finished. The last person was in at 7 hrs. It was all that and the bag of chips.
On Monday Vanessa and I snuck out for a nice romantic dinner and then finished the night with Zee.
He walks....
Zee has finally made the transition from crawling to walking. I got excited and figured he would be able to swim too. Not the case as Zee will testify after swallowing a bit of chlorinated H20. He'll be running with me soon enough. He keeps Momma and Papa busy and smiling.
White Gold
Vanessa was at the local hospital the other day doing some rounds as a part of her lactation certification. One woman was breast feeding as well as providing formula for her less than 5 month old infant. When asked why she wasn't just breast feeding she replied, "I don't want to be perceived as poor. Only poor women exclusively breast feed." Apparently she had been sold the same old story by the formula companies that breast milk is not sufficient and their more expensive "scientific" product will be better than the highly nutritious, life saving, and immune system protecting and builidng free supply of milk providing by Mom on demand. Who cares that the formula might cost the woman half her savings or mess with the delicate PH balance of the baby, or be mixed with contaminated water, or kill the baby.......what the hell happened to humanity?
For more information: http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/index2.php?iui=1
For more information: http://www.ibfan.org/site2005/Pages/index2.php?iui=1
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Dipsy no want to wear da skurt
On Saturday mornings, as a special treat (read: when mommy needs 5 more minutes of sleep or wants to finish an entire cup of coffee or when she wants Zee to finish his oatmeal with wheat germ and black strap molasses), Zee is treated to some time with the Teletubbies. He is instantly glued to the television, mouth agape, drool soaking the front of his blue bear pjs. He tends to watch in silence with random giggles here and there. One day as he watched, each Teletubbie took turns wearing a skirt and dancing. One by one they put the skirt on and did their 'solo' until it was "Dipsy's" turn. The announcer came on and said "Then it was Dipsy's turn to wear the skirt." Now, the Teletubbies faces don't move or make expressions so most of their emotions are communicated through physical actions and tone of voice. When Dipsy heard it was 'his' turn to wear the skirt he looked into the camera, paused and then said "uh-oh" followed by "run away" as he turned and darted off through the rolling green hills of Teletubbie land. He ran and Lala chased him with the skirt. At the sight of this, my usually chipper son, started crying. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he shrieked as if to say "no! don't make him wear the skirt!" That's silly, I thought, he doesn't understand what's going on. He's amused by the colors and gestures and messy pink tubbie custard but he's not 'getting it'. He must have gas or be bored or hungry or something. So, I picked him up and fed him or rocked him or something to quiet him and turned off the TV (I was nearly done with my coffee anyway).
The next time we played the DVD he saw the same sketch and just as he had done before, he started crying when he saw Dipsy being forced to wear a skirt and dance around for our viewing pleasure. Lala finally caught Dipsy and somehow coaxed him to wear the skirt and he danced around in the skirt for a minute, seemingly happily, until he had had enough and took the skirt off again. Zee cried through the whole thing. I told Zee, it's ok, Dipsy is happy wearing the skirt afterall, but Zee wasn't buying it. We had to turn it off again.
Is our little boy an emotionally intelligent genius? Is he kind and compassionate and empathetic? Of course! But then, I may be a bit biased....;)
The next time we played the DVD he saw the same sketch and just as he had done before, he started crying when he saw Dipsy being forced to wear a skirt and dance around for our viewing pleasure. Lala finally caught Dipsy and somehow coaxed him to wear the skirt and he danced around in the skirt for a minute, seemingly happily, until he had had enough and took the skirt off again. Zee cried through the whole thing. I told Zee, it's ok, Dipsy is happy wearing the skirt afterall, but Zee wasn't buying it. We had to turn it off again.
Is our little boy an emotionally intelligent genius? Is he kind and compassionate and empathetic? Of course! But then, I may be a bit biased....;)
Friday, October 20, 2006
A Celebration of Life
I attended a “celebration of life” ceremony last night. The name of the observance felt odd because the gentleman had passed on to the other side. The deceased was the father of a former student of mine. A relatively young guy only four years my senior. He had lost control of his motorbike and crashed into a pole. I don’t have the details of how the accident happened but the end game was that he was killed. After the reading The Prophet (Kahlil Gibran)...For life and death are one, even as the river and sea are one..., my former student, now a freshman, spoke to those in attendance so beautifully about his father and the lessons he had taught him. He said, “My father always taught me to treat others equally and said if you do this, you will have friends everywhere in the world. I hope I can be as good as my father was,” he ended. It was well spoken, articulate, authentic, from the depths of the heart. I had met his father at a parent teacher night. Although the interaction was brief he struck me as “real”. He wore his hair long and he didn’t dress up – something I appreciated and admired. He was a stay at home Dad and didn't try to pretend to be someone he wasn't. What you saw was what you got. He stayed after my talk to the parents and made an effort to shake my hand and thank me for teaching his son. As I left the “celebration” I hugged my former student, now fighting back the tears that streamed down his face, and told him how proud his father would be of him. As I rode my motorbike home I pondered my life, my Dad, Mom, sister, my son, my wife, my own role as father and husband, my own "celebration of life", and the reliability of my helmet.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
A blood surge
Bam! In one second my boy went down. I was watching him and clapping as he maneuvered himself around on his oversized tricycle. As I moved into the kitchen my eyes left him for ONE second. I knew the reason he had fallen was because he craved his Daddy's attention. I ran over and noticed the tricycle was on its side. Zee was in a bad way as his face lay planted on the marble floor. I quickly assessed his little cranium for trauma and then I noticed the blood gushing from his tiny mouth. I tried to remember CPR, my EMT classes, my breathing techniques. My boy was bleeding a lot. I observed his mouth. I noticed his little teeth had nearly gone through his upper lip but they were intact. I focused on keeping my voice calm while Zee looked to me for help. I hugged him close as I tried to apply pressure - he wouldn’t have it. I place an ice cube to his lip but to no avail. I tried a frozen banana, licking it to entice him, as I kept trying to apply pressure as the blood dripped onto the floor, soaked my shirt. I filled a cup of cold water in desperation and put it to his swelling lip. Zee swallowed some as the remaining water turned red. “Thank goodness!” I thought. But the blood kept flowing. I quickly rang Vanessa to see when she would be home. I didn’t want to alarm her but I thought it might be time to get our boy to a medical facility. I found a glass jar of popcorn kernels and shook it to take Zee’s mind off the pain. It worked and he started to play with it. The blood surge started to subside. My breathing became less like a sprint and more like a marathon. Zee looked at me with the biggest fat lip I have ever seen. Mom arrived shortly. I warned her about looking at the lip. She gasped at the sight and my heart felt as if it was stabbed. Zee had settled down and made the signal to Vanessa for the breast. Vanessa and I feared it would be too painful for him to feed and it might create a negative association. We were wrong…fortunately. Zee took to the breast as if nothing had happened. Vanessa and I looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief.
Later, at the medical facility, as Zee flirted with the woman at the front desk I reminded myself that there will be more of these bang ups. The woman at the front desk handed me a card with a name on it. It read Master Zee Dickey. I realized my boy had graduated. He was no longer our little Zee or our little Bear. He is now our Master Zee….with a fat lip.
Later, at the medical facility, as Zee flirted with the woman at the front desk I reminded myself that there will be more of these bang ups. The woman at the front desk handed me a card with a name on it. It read Master Zee Dickey. I realized my boy had graduated. He was no longer our little Zee or our little Bear. He is now our Master Zee….with a fat lip.
Monday, October 16, 2006
La Vida
What can I say? Life is good. Zee continues to grow and blossom as the local women jockey for a chance to hold him, touch him, kiss him, croon over him, take pictures of him. They are the paparazzi and Zee the star. He is an icon as the women run toward him "Zee, Zee" they scream. I swear that you would think he was the next Buddha or the offspring of Mohammed - but I love every bit of it and I am known as Zee's Dad. Bapak Zee. I am the father of a star - My star.
Vanessa is loving her work and on top of all of her duties at work she is studying to be a lactation consultant. It is great to see her so passionate about something so important. She is still breastfeeding and is doing some very interesting work and advocacy in relation to breast feeding.
I continue to learn, to grow, to question myself, and to love it all. Teaching is an even more enrichening experience than I could ever imagined. Although it is draining and leaves me exhausted it also envigorates and excites me at the same time. It seems as if there is never enough time to soak up all the knowledge. I am taking an online coarse related to conflict, race, disrimination, identity, the Holocaust and designing a Conflict curriculum and then a Holocaust curriculum after that as it relates to bystanders and perps. It is interesting to learn more about my Mom and how much prejudiced she endured and how much she and my father overcame. So much to learn. Vanessa and my conversations are deep and interesting and we are surrounding ourselves with positive people but our days are a blur as we realize the week has passed and Zee has learned a new facial expression, sign, word, Mensa problem.
My parents just wrote to tell me about a good friend who I met in Mexico years ago at a Hostel in D.F. that stopped in to have dinner with them. He was accompanied by his wife and child. How cool is that. A good time was had by all.
Vanessa is loving her work and on top of all of her duties at work she is studying to be a lactation consultant. It is great to see her so passionate about something so important. She is still breastfeeding and is doing some very interesting work and advocacy in relation to breast feeding.
I continue to learn, to grow, to question myself, and to love it all. Teaching is an even more enrichening experience than I could ever imagined. Although it is draining and leaves me exhausted it also envigorates and excites me at the same time. It seems as if there is never enough time to soak up all the knowledge. I am taking an online coarse related to conflict, race, disrimination, identity, the Holocaust and designing a Conflict curriculum and then a Holocaust curriculum after that as it relates to bystanders and perps. It is interesting to learn more about my Mom and how much prejudiced she endured and how much she and my father overcame. So much to learn. Vanessa and my conversations are deep and interesting and we are surrounding ourselves with positive people but our days are a blur as we realize the week has passed and Zee has learned a new facial expression, sign, word, Mensa problem.
My parents just wrote to tell me about a good friend who I met in Mexico years ago at a Hostel in D.F. that stopped in to have dinner with them. He was accompanied by his wife and child. How cool is that. A good time was had by all.
I ran a half-marathon yesterday morning with some friends and it felt good. There was a light breeze on part of it and I thought about my family and friends. I felt my pace increase as a smile spread across my sweaty face. About 20 0f us went to take coffee afterward and while there I received a call from Vanessa to tell me some of our closest friends from Atlanta had just told her that they may be stationed here in Big Smoke with us and they will be living in the same complex. We will be neighbors! How cool is that? We are keeping our fingers crossed that all falls into place as is meant to happen. Life is happening and it is seldom I get a chance to blog, to reflect, or to take it all in but it's a good thing when there is that time to do it. A friend stopped into my class today and asked me if I wanted to do an adventure race in Singapore. ....why not I said. What else do I have to do.
It is amazing how your body adjusts to four and five hours of sleep and loads of Java and sleeping in is 0500.
It is amazing how your body adjusts to four and five hours of sleep and loads of Java and sleeping in is 0500.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Bali Adventure Race
We didn't come in first but sure as hell should have. To make a long story short we came out first on the run and me and my teammate were leading the pack on the Mt. Bike. Unfortunately, after having to walk our bikes up a very steep Mountain side two guys from a competing team caught up. I wasn't worried because I knew their other 2 team members were already toast, fried, flat lining. I decided to wait for the rest of my team and head for the hills. With team together we pedaled like the wind through rice paddies, roads, and Bali heaven. I had the other two competing team members bright colored jerseys who had passed us earlier in my sights. We rode and rode and rode and as we caught up to them I suddenly realized that I hadn't seen any trail markings. In my haste to catch them I realized they had missed the turn and gone the wrong way.
We did a quick about face and after hiking our bikes back up the Mt. and down the other side we realized the other teams had caught up. We were no longer in first place. After passing a number of others on the single track with little blood letting we caught our competitors. The same team that came in second place in the marathon jungle run in Malaysia. A team made up of a sub 3 hour marathon runner, a former Green Beret, a former legionnaire who spent two days in hospital after the Malaysia run do to severe dehydration, and woman who could wear the man pants like most men could never do. Anyway, they put in their raft before us but we managed to paddle past them toward the small village on the other side of the beautiful lake. Once on the other side a team member was to grab a leaf off a certain tree (which was not made clear). Both rafts pulled in simultaneously and we sent the young buck on our team who had come up from the land down under (Australia) to join us. With leaf in hand he ran down from the village. We were in first place. A cry from the other team claiming it was the wrong tree forced him to scramble back up the steep hill to find the sacred tree. The other team's member came running down with a leaf in hand and they quickly paddled away as if old salts. Maybe it was fixed. Sadly, they beat us by 5 minutes to the other side. We finished the run, bike, and raft race in 5:20 minutes. Fun was had by all. We are looking for another race to go head to head again.
We did a quick about face and after hiking our bikes back up the Mt. and down the other side we realized the other teams had caught up. We were no longer in first place. After passing a number of others on the single track with little blood letting we caught our competitors. The same team that came in second place in the marathon jungle run in Malaysia. A team made up of a sub 3 hour marathon runner, a former Green Beret, a former legionnaire who spent two days in hospital after the Malaysia run do to severe dehydration, and woman who could wear the man pants like most men could never do. Anyway, they put in their raft before us but we managed to paddle past them toward the small village on the other side of the beautiful lake. Once on the other side a team member was to grab a leaf off a certain tree (which was not made clear). Both rafts pulled in simultaneously and we sent the young buck on our team who had come up from the land down under (Australia) to join us. With leaf in hand he ran down from the village. We were in first place. A cry from the other team claiming it was the wrong tree forced him to scramble back up the steep hill to find the sacred tree. The other team's member came running down with a leaf in hand and they quickly paddled away as if old salts. Maybe it was fixed. Sadly, they beat us by 5 minutes to the other side. We finished the run, bike, and raft race in 5:20 minutes. Fun was had by all. We are looking for another race to go head to head again.
Father and Son night
Vanessa had to fly to Sumatra last night as part of her saving the world mission. Fortunately she left me with a stash of two bottles of white liquid gold aka breast milk.
After work Zee and I cruised the town (or neighborhood) and then met friends in the gym to get Zee some walking exercise. We made it home by 7:15 and little man sucked the milk down like it was breast milk (wait a minute...it was breast milk). His eyes rolled back into his head and I knew he was heading for dream town. I laid him down to bed and was feeling pretty good about myself until...
My mother always used to tell me, "No hay como la mama". The translation roughly means there is nothing like Mom and if she isn't around your screwed. At 12:00 midnight little buddy wanted Mom. And he wanted her bad...at 01:30 until 02:15. And again at 0300 until 0330. I thought of my Mom's phrase and realized how true she is. Daddy just wasn't enough. Zee man was missing his Mama.
The phone rang at 0600 this AM and Mama was calling because she was missing her little man Zee.
After work Zee and I cruised the town (or neighborhood) and then met friends in the gym to get Zee some walking exercise. We made it home by 7:15 and little man sucked the milk down like it was breast milk (wait a minute...it was breast milk). His eyes rolled back into his head and I knew he was heading for dream town. I laid him down to bed and was feeling pretty good about myself until...
My mother always used to tell me, "No hay como la mama". The translation roughly means there is nothing like Mom and if she isn't around your screwed. At 12:00 midnight little buddy wanted Mom. And he wanted her bad...at 01:30 until 02:15. And again at 0300 until 0330. I thought of my Mom's phrase and realized how true she is. Daddy just wasn't enough. Zee man was missing his Mama.
The phone rang at 0600 this AM and Mama was calling because she was missing her little man Zee.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Bali Adventure Race
I am leaving bright and early for another adventure race in Bali tomorrow. Hopefully this one won't be 11.5 hours as it was in Malaysia. Apparently we will run, Mt. Bike, and then paddle our way across a lake. I still don't know the distances but rumor has it that we should only be sweating for a good six hours. The stakes are high as many fellow runners in our local running club will be there as well. Who will have bragging rights? I am teamed up with some Irish laddies and we are calling ourselves Celtic Pride. I apparently have some Irish blood somewhere in the geneology. Should be interesting. I will report more on my return. Z
Anniversary Celebration
The paparazzi were on hand and captured Vanessa and Zane leaving a fine dining establishment in Jakarta while celebrating their sixth years of bliss together.Zane and Vanessa could be heard sharing their high lights of the year and all the cool things to be expected for the year to come.
Look for it in the next issue of People magazine.
Too many toys
Zee was spoiled by his friends on his first. He was able to add on to the collection of empty boxes and plastic bags of spaghetti originally provided by Mom and Dad.
Zee turns 1
Wow, what a great day. Cake, tubs of ice cream, friends, gifts, swimming, and many water balloons hurled at unsuspecting youngsters.
Friday, August 04, 2006
A great visit home
We had a breathtaking trip home and as always we wish we had additional time. We felt a bit like global nomads as we stayed with various family, friends, Uncles, Aunts, and cousins but it was great to see them – and even greater that they made such an effort to care for us (even giving up their own beds – that was much appreciated Shayne, Efrain, Ted, and Maggie). In each place we were surrounded by lots of love and Zee along with Vanessa and I enjoyed all the extra attention we were extended. (To view a plethora of photos from the trip click here)
We spent our first few days staying with our good friends and making reconnaissance missions to see Vanessa’s step mom, my sister and Zee’s cousins before heading up North to spend a few days with my parents in beautiful Prescott. After eating the best homemade Mexican food at the Eagles Nest (aka my parents place) in the Southwest we then made our way North to Lake Powell.
We spent about four days on a house boat on beautiful Lake Powell which spans Arizona and Utah. What a magical place. There were ten of us on the large boat equipped with stove, kitchen, appliances and A/C. It was even equipped with a slide on the back of the boat which provided lots of entertainment. My brother-in-law also had his ski boat which made for some pretty amazing wake boarding at sunset. We explored canyons, swam, and relaxed. Our last night on the lake was interesting as a storm blew in and gave our boat pretty good shaking. The boat radio was quite busy as fellow boaters radioed in for help as they were knocked into rocks by the strong winds in the dark of night. Mayday was the word of the night. Fortunately for us we had anchored in well and suffered no damage. It was a great way to spend a week with family in one of the most attractive places in the world.
After our boat ride we caught some shut-eye at my parents nest in Prescott, AZ and stopped by to visit Vanessa’s sister and brother-in-law which included more of Zee’s cousins before continuing on to Mule Creek, New Mexico, a small town near the AZ border with a population of about 100 people. Billy the Kid, of Western gun fighter fame, used to hide out here and his little shack still stands and is within walking distance of Vanessa’s parents abode. It is a very quiet and picturesque place with not much to do but relax in a hammock, read, hike, and watch the hummingbirds feed (just what the body needed). We were joined there by Vanessa’s brother and wife and their son Ryder from San Francisco who is not much younger than Zee. It was nice to for the boys to catch up We threw a nice pre-party for Zee’s upcoming 1st year old birthday this Sunday
After the trip we drove back to Phoenix where we stayed with Vanessa’s good friend who is planning on getting married in December (which means we will be back) and they had lots to talk about in regards to the big day. Our final day was spent at my sister’s house and my parents, and Uncle Max came down to visit. Zee was passed from one loving relative to the other and he wore an adult sized grin the entire day. The day was filled with lots of coffee, great food, family and interesting conversation – the kind of days I long for.
Did I tell you we even went house hunting??? More later.
We spent our first few days staying with our good friends and making reconnaissance missions to see Vanessa’s step mom, my sister and Zee’s cousins before heading up North to spend a few days with my parents in beautiful Prescott. After eating the best homemade Mexican food at the Eagles Nest (aka my parents place) in the Southwest we then made our way North to Lake Powell.
We spent about four days on a house boat on beautiful Lake Powell which spans Arizona and Utah. What a magical place. There were ten of us on the large boat equipped with stove, kitchen, appliances and A/C. It was even equipped with a slide on the back of the boat which provided lots of entertainment. My brother-in-law also had his ski boat which made for some pretty amazing wake boarding at sunset. We explored canyons, swam, and relaxed. Our last night on the lake was interesting as a storm blew in and gave our boat pretty good shaking. The boat radio was quite busy as fellow boaters radioed in for help as they were knocked into rocks by the strong winds in the dark of night. Mayday was the word of the night. Fortunately for us we had anchored in well and suffered no damage. It was a great way to spend a week with family in one of the most attractive places in the world.
After our boat ride we caught some shut-eye at my parents nest in Prescott, AZ and stopped by to visit Vanessa’s sister and brother-in-law which included more of Zee’s cousins before continuing on to Mule Creek, New Mexico, a small town near the AZ border with a population of about 100 people. Billy the Kid, of Western gun fighter fame, used to hide out here and his little shack still stands and is within walking distance of Vanessa’s parents abode. It is a very quiet and picturesque place with not much to do but relax in a hammock, read, hike, and watch the hummingbirds feed (just what the body needed). We were joined there by Vanessa’s brother and wife and their son Ryder from San Francisco who is not much younger than Zee. It was nice to for the boys to catch up We threw a nice pre-party for Zee’s upcoming 1st year old birthday this Sunday
After the trip we drove back to Phoenix where we stayed with Vanessa’s good friend who is planning on getting married in December (which means we will be back) and they had lots to talk about in regards to the big day. Our final day was spent at my sister’s house and my parents, and Uncle Max came down to visit. Zee was passed from one loving relative to the other and he wore an adult sized grin the entire day. The day was filled with lots of coffee, great food, family and interesting conversation – the kind of days I long for.
Did I tell you we even went house hunting??? More later.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
No Longer a Baby
Where does the time go? Our little Zee will no longer be a litte baby after August 6th. Yep, he's on his way to toddler land. It's funny how I look at Zee's growth and it suddeny dawns on me how fast I am ageing. Ahhh, come on wisdom, where are ya?We had a wonderful time while back in the US and a pre-party was in order given we had to jump on the big bird home before Zee's actual big day. Zee was surrounded by an abundance of love and good times. It was great for him to spend quality time with his grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins. We plan on having a pool party on Sunday for his big day with lots of cake and tubs of ice cream. Click here if you want to see a plethora of additional pics.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
A run in the Jungle
Yes, I am alive and well. The jungle run was fantastic. We started in the jungles outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday June 3rd at 7:30 AM and finished in the dark of night at 8:00 PM. One of my team mates had to drop out due to extreme dehydration, heart arrhythmias, and slurring of words (mostly obscenities) at a check point around 5 hours. We spent the last 7 hours picking off other teams trying to make up for lost time. It was the type of run you would hope for - Leeches, blood, mud, rivers, tumbles and spills, more blood, plenty of rain, and extreme exhaustion. I’m hooked. More to follow later…
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Nigel and Shirine Wed!
Our dear friends, Nigel and Shirine got married this weekend in Bali! The ceremony was gorgeous and the party that followed... divine!
Genius baby learns to read and make own food at 9 months!
Zee gets really into his bedtime reading. I caught him studying up on dietary recommendations and recipes for applesauce. After a few minutes of study he remarked, without looking up from the text, "Hey mom, I don't think I'm getting enough Vitamin A!"
GQ Junior
The latest fashion for the 'under one' set this season is a striped onesie. Accessories include sockies, plastic bibs and baseball hats.
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