Why War Fails
By Howard Zinn
10/23/06
" The Progressive" -- - - I suggest there is something important to be learned from the recent experience of the United States and Israel in the Middle East: that massive military attacks are not only morally reprehensible but useless in achieving the stated aims of those who carry them out.In the three years of the Iraq War, which began with shock-and-awe bombardment and goes on with day-to-day violence and chaos, the United States has failed utterly in its claimed objective of bringing democracy and stability to Iraq. American soldiers and civilians, fearful of going into the neighborhoods of Baghdad, are huddled inside the Green Zone, where the largest embassy in the world is being built, covering 104 acres and closed off from the world outside its walls. I remember John Hersey's novel The War Lover, in which a macho American pilot, who loves to drop bombs on people, and also to boast about his sexual conquests, turns out to be impotent. George Bush, strutting in his flight jacket on an aircraft carrier, and announcing victory in Iraq, has turned out to be an embodiment of the Hersey character, his words equally boastful, his military machine equally impotent.
The Israeli invasion and bombing of Lebanon has not brought security to Israel. Indeed, it has increased the number of its enemies, whether in Hezbollah or Hamas, or among Arabs who belong to neither of those groups.That failure of massive force goes so deep into history that Israeli leaders must have been extraordinarily obtuse, or blindly fanatic, to miss it. The memory is not lost to Professor Ze'ev Maoz at Tel Aviv University, writing recently in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz about a previous Israeli invasion of Lebanon: "Approximately 14,000 civilians were killed between June and September of 1982, according to a conservative estimate." The result, aside from the physical and human devastation, was the rise of Hezbollah, whose rockets provoked another desperate exercise of massive force.
The history of wars fought since the end of World War II reveals the futility of large-scale violence. The United States and the Soviet Union, despite their enormous firepower, were unable to defeat resistance movements in small, weak nations. Even though the United States dropped more bombs in the Vietnam War than in all of World War II, it was still forced to withdraw. The Soviet Union, trying for a decade to conquer Afghanistan, in a war that caused a million deaths, became bogged down and also finally withdrew. Even the supposed triumphs of great military powers turn out to be elusive. After attacking and invading Afghanistan, President Bush boasted that the Taliban were defeated. But five years later, Afghanistan is rife with violence, and the Taliban are active in much of the country. Last May, there were riots in Kabul, after a runaway American military truck killed five Afghans. When U.S. soldiers fired into the crowd, four more people were killed. After the brief, apparently victorious war against Iraq in 1991, George Bush Sr. declared (in a moment of rare eloquence): "The specter of Vietnam has been buried forever in the desert sands of the Arabian peninsula." Those sands are bloody once more.The same George Bush presided over the military attack on Panama in 1989, which killed thousands and destroyed entire neighborhoods, justified by the "war on drugs." Another victory, but in a few years, the drug trade in Panama was thriving as before.The nations of Eastern Europe, despite Soviet occupation, developed resistance movements that eventually compelled the Soviet military to leave. The United States, which had its way in Latin America for a hundred years, has been unable, despite a long history of military interventions, to control events in Cuba, or Venezuela, or Brazil, or Bolivia. Overwhelming Israeli military power, while occupying the West Bank and Gaza, has not been able to stop the resistance movement of Palestinians. Israel has not made itself more secure by its continued use of massive force. The United States, despite two successive wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, is not more secure. More important than the futility of armed force, and ultimately more important, is the fact that war in our time always results in the indiscriminate killing of large numbers of people. To put it more bluntly, war is terrorism. That is why a "war on terrorism" is a contradiction in terms. The repeated excuse for war, and its toll on civilians-and this has been uttered by Pentagon spokespersons as well as by Israeli officials-is that terrorists hide among civilians.
Therefore the killing of innocent people (in Iraq, in Lebanon) is "accidental" whereas the deaths caused by terrorists (9/11, Hezbollah rockets) are deliberate. This is a false distinction. If a bomb is deliberately dropped on a house or a vehicle on the ground that a "suspected terrorist" is inside (note the frequent use of the word "suspected" as evidence of the uncertainty surrounding targets), it is argued that the resulting deaths of women and children is not intended, therefore "accidental." The deaths of innocent people in bombing may not be intentional. Neither are they accidental. The proper description is "inevitable."So if an action will inevitably kill innocent people, it is as immoral as a "deliberate" attack on civilians. And when you consider that the number of people dying inevitably in "accidental" events has been far greater than all the deaths of innocent people deliberately caused by terrorists, one must reconsider the morality of war, any war in our time.It is a supreme irony that the "war on terrorism" has brought a higher death toll among innocent civilians than the hijackings of 9/11, which killed up to 3,000 people. The United States reacted to 9/11 by invading and bombing Afghanistan. In that operation, at least 3,000 civilians were killed, and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee their homes and villages, terrorized by what was supposed to be a war on terror. Bush's Iraq War, which he keeps linking to the "war on terror," has killed between 40,000 and 140,000 civilians. More than a million civilians in Vietnam were killed by U.S. bombs, presumably by "accident." Add up all the terrorist attacks throughout the world in the twentieth century and they do not equal that awful toll.If reacting to terrorist attacks by war is inevitably immoral, then we must look for ways other than war to end terrorism.And if military retaliation for terrorism is not only immoral but futile, then political leaders, however cold-blooded their calculations, must reconsider their policies. When such practical considerations are joined to a rising popular revulsion against war, perhaps the long era of mass murder may be brought to an end.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Late Comment on the Elections
*I thought this article was interesting and figured I would post it even though the elections are over
NEW YORK (CNN) -- We're now less than a week away from our midterm elections, and Republicans and Democrats are down to their final tens of millions of dollars in media buys, their hyperbolic rhetoric all but expended and their candidates all but exhausted.
It's amazing what a mere $2.6 billion can buy in a democracy. That's what the two parties will have spent in their campaigns leading up to these midterm elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. And most of that money for Democrats and Republicans alike comes from corporate America. So what will be the outcome of this election? The only certainty is that corporate America will get what it's paid for, and that's more of the same.
Whether the Democrats or Republicans take control of the House and Senate, corporate America has just bought a license to outsource more middle-class jobs to cheap foreign labor markets, to continue unabated so-called free trade and the destruction of more manufacturing jobs, and most likely to promote amnesty for the 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens living in this country.
So, no, I'm not real excited about what some see as a potentially tectonic shift in political power in the House of Representatives or U.S. Senate.
While the name of the party in charge may change from Republican to Democrat, it's really only a branding issue. And just as my friend James Mtume says, it's still the same bird, just a different wing. And believe me, middle-class America will still be getting the bird.
Neither party at the national or local level is talking about what to do about the education crisis in our public schools. Both parties seem to think a 10-year plan to measure the decline of our schools through the No Child Left Behind law is an adequate response to what is an outright emergency.
Both parties seem happily content to give their multinational corporate masters exactly what they want in the form of so-called free trade, which has cost millions of middle-class Americans their jobs to outsourcing and off-shoring of manufacturing production to cheap overseas labor markets.
And God forbid we should disturb the orthodoxies of both parties that insist that we not secure our borders and ports, despite radical Islamist terrorist threats, the multibillion-dollar illegal drug trade and what is nothing less than an invasion of illegal aliens into this country.
Yes, I said "country." America really is a nation, but you couldn't convince those who lead the Democratic and Republican Parties of that. Both parties now see America as nothing more than an economy, a marketplace, and not a sovereign nation. They don't see you and me as citizens of this great nation; they see us as units of labor, consumers and taxpayers.
Corporate America long ago quit talking about corporate citizenship and corporate responsibility, and with both the Democratic and Republican Parties as its tools, corporate America wants you and me to forget that we are first citizens, and that America is first a nation.
Only 15 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast a ballot in this year's primary elections, according to an American University study. Never before have so few of us bothered to vote in primary elections. And it's no wonder. Our middle class is beginning to get the joke.
Most Americans understand that all the major decisions have already been made. It is now clear to all but those who will not see that both political parties and their corporate masters have placed our middle class in direct competition with the world's cheapest labor, leaving it only a tenuous and failing grip on the American Dream.
Until all of us who care about this great nation and the world's greatest democracy find the energy and commitment to insist on political choice and true representation in Washington, then the very idea of America will remain in peril.
Unfortunately, the choices we'll be permitted to make on November 7 will do little to mitigate that peril.
By Lou Dobbs
NEW YORK (CNN) -- We're now less than a week away from our midterm elections, and Republicans and Democrats are down to their final tens of millions of dollars in media buys, their hyperbolic rhetoric all but expended and their candidates all but exhausted.
It's amazing what a mere $2.6 billion can buy in a democracy. That's what the two parties will have spent in their campaigns leading up to these midterm elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. And most of that money for Democrats and Republicans alike comes from corporate America. So what will be the outcome of this election? The only certainty is that corporate America will get what it's paid for, and that's more of the same.
Whether the Democrats or Republicans take control of the House and Senate, corporate America has just bought a license to outsource more middle-class jobs to cheap foreign labor markets, to continue unabated so-called free trade and the destruction of more manufacturing jobs, and most likely to promote amnesty for the 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens living in this country.
So, no, I'm not real excited about what some see as a potentially tectonic shift in political power in the House of Representatives or U.S. Senate.
While the name of the party in charge may change from Republican to Democrat, it's really only a branding issue. And just as my friend James Mtume says, it's still the same bird, just a different wing. And believe me, middle-class America will still be getting the bird.
Neither party at the national or local level is talking about what to do about the education crisis in our public schools. Both parties seem to think a 10-year plan to measure the decline of our schools through the No Child Left Behind law is an adequate response to what is an outright emergency.
Both parties seem happily content to give their multinational corporate masters exactly what they want in the form of so-called free trade, which has cost millions of middle-class Americans their jobs to outsourcing and off-shoring of manufacturing production to cheap overseas labor markets.
And God forbid we should disturb the orthodoxies of both parties that insist that we not secure our borders and ports, despite radical Islamist terrorist threats, the multibillion-dollar illegal drug trade and what is nothing less than an invasion of illegal aliens into this country.
Yes, I said "country." America really is a nation, but you couldn't convince those who lead the Democratic and Republican Parties of that. Both parties now see America as nothing more than an economy, a marketplace, and not a sovereign nation. They don't see you and me as citizens of this great nation; they see us as units of labor, consumers and taxpayers.
Corporate America long ago quit talking about corporate citizenship and corporate responsibility, and with both the Democratic and Republican Parties as its tools, corporate America wants you and me to forget that we are first citizens, and that America is first a nation.
Only 15 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast a ballot in this year's primary elections, according to an American University study. Never before have so few of us bothered to vote in primary elections. And it's no wonder. Our middle class is beginning to get the joke.
Most Americans understand that all the major decisions have already been made. It is now clear to all but those who will not see that both political parties and their corporate masters have placed our middle class in direct competition with the world's cheapest labor, leaving it only a tenuous and failing grip on the American Dream.
Until all of us who care about this great nation and the world's greatest democracy find the energy and commitment to insist on political choice and true representation in Washington, then the very idea of America will remain in peril.
Unfortunately, the choices we'll be permitted to make on November 7 will do little to mitigate that peril.
By Lou Dobbs
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Today I...
1) Set my alarm for 6:00 pm instead of 6:00 am and overslept, but was somehow able to wake up and make it to work in 20 minutes.
2) Accompanied a Canadian in his first ever visit to Skyline... he enjoyed the 3 Way, but not the conies
3) Went hiking down a creek with a 50 lb wench, 30 lb fall protection unit, lab top computer, and a plastic bucket of random equipment
4) Spent 5 hours trying to get a flow meter to work, while intermittently taking out my frustrations on the Mt. Healthy "spirit stump" with a pick axe and two machetes that have formally been dubbed "the blades of chaos" by one Mr. Mayhaus.
5) Got locked into Mt. Healthy high school's athletic fields because the maintence guy forgot we were working.
6) Found out that I have to work on Saturday
2) Accompanied a Canadian in his first ever visit to Skyline... he enjoyed the 3 Way, but not the conies
3) Went hiking down a creek with a 50 lb wench, 30 lb fall protection unit, lab top computer, and a plastic bucket of random equipment
4) Spent 5 hours trying to get a flow meter to work, while intermittently taking out my frustrations on the Mt. Healthy "spirit stump" with a pick axe and two machetes that have formally been dubbed "the blades of chaos" by one Mr. Mayhaus.
5) Got locked into Mt. Healthy high school's athletic fields because the maintence guy forgot we were working.
6) Found out that I have to work on Saturday
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Pictures
My pictures from the wedding last weekend are posted under "My Other Photos" ... that is all
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Good weekend
It's been a pretty good weekend, I had to work late on Friday, but I really didn't mind.
I went to Megan and Nate's wedding on Saturday. I really enjoyed it, it seemed very genuine and sincere, not the big production that you seem to see a lot. You could tell that they really loved each other.
It was just fun hanging out with people that I don't see regularly. Nick was in town from Illinois for the wedding and Danny was back for the weekend as well.
... speaking of Danny, these pictures make me smile.
I went to Megan and Nate's wedding on Saturday. I really enjoyed it, it seemed very genuine and sincere, not the big production that you seem to see a lot. You could tell that they really loved each other.
It was just fun hanging out with people that I don't see regularly. Nick was in town from Illinois for the wedding and Danny was back for the weekend as well.
... speaking of Danny, these pictures make me smile.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Stories from Work
Today was a long day, mostly pointless and frustrating, but at the same time pretty funny.
One of the projects that we are working on is installing wireless flow meters in specific manholes all over the Cincinnati area in order to more efficiently monitor the flow conditions in the combined sewers and correlate the data with the rainfall data. The data collected is going to be used to figure out the best way to deal with the combined sewer overflow problems that happen in Cincinnati as a result of our 100 hundred year old sewer systems.
Anyway, one aspect of the job is that we have to go out and climb into the sewer and install these wireless flow meters, which is actually kind of interesting and fun. But anyway, since I am new I am going out with the field crew a lot, but I am not confined-space trained yet so I am not allowed to go into any manholes so I end up doing logistics stuff up on top - taking care of the safety, running different equipment, and so forth. Anyway, today we were working in a manhole on the West side which was rediculously deep, the pipe itself was 19 in diameter and when you get to the bottom you are around 35 - 40 ft underground.
So to make a long story short, we have Eric dangling 10 ft down in the manhole, at the point where the manhole cuts into the roof of the pipe. Now, there were two pipes about about 5 ft down in the manhole above Eric's head, one connected to the nearby retention basin and the other a sanitary coming out of the Family Dollar next door. Before we went in we made sure to ask the Family Dollar if they could possibly not flush their toilets for a couple hours, which they agreed. However, as Eric was dangling in the manhole installing a mounting bracket, to Eric's surprise, somebody flushed a toilet (the Family Dollar people denied it). Of course it proceeded to flow through the pipe and into the manhole directly above Eric's head. Dave and I hear a short scream and see Eric prostrating himself to one side of the pipe to avoid the flow. After 20-30 seconds, it lets up and we pull Eric up to let him get cleaned up a little. We thought it was pretty funny, and to his credit Eric was laughing when we pulled him out. It was even funnier because Eric had decided not to wear the jacket before he went in, even though we warned him that that might happen.
The rest of the day was pretty much a wash. We ended up not being able to install the instruments because it was really old brick and it kept breaking when we would install the tap cons. I got back to the office and worked on some design stuff that I was handed yesterday.
That was my day at work today.
One of the projects that we are working on is installing wireless flow meters in specific manholes all over the Cincinnati area in order to more efficiently monitor the flow conditions in the combined sewers and correlate the data with the rainfall data. The data collected is going to be used to figure out the best way to deal with the combined sewer overflow problems that happen in Cincinnati as a result of our 100 hundred year old sewer systems.
Anyway, one aspect of the job is that we have to go out and climb into the sewer and install these wireless flow meters, which is actually kind of interesting and fun. But anyway, since I am new I am going out with the field crew a lot, but I am not confined-space trained yet so I am not allowed to go into any manholes so I end up doing logistics stuff up on top - taking care of the safety, running different equipment, and so forth. Anyway, today we were working in a manhole on the West side which was rediculously deep, the pipe itself was 19 in diameter and when you get to the bottom you are around 35 - 40 ft underground.
So to make a long story short, we have Eric dangling 10 ft down in the manhole, at the point where the manhole cuts into the roof of the pipe. Now, there were two pipes about about 5 ft down in the manhole above Eric's head, one connected to the nearby retention basin and the other a sanitary coming out of the Family Dollar next door. Before we went in we made sure to ask the Family Dollar if they could possibly not flush their toilets for a couple hours, which they agreed. However, as Eric was dangling in the manhole installing a mounting bracket, to Eric's surprise, somebody flushed a toilet (the Family Dollar people denied it). Of course it proceeded to flow through the pipe and into the manhole directly above Eric's head. Dave and I hear a short scream and see Eric prostrating himself to one side of the pipe to avoid the flow. After 20-30 seconds, it lets up and we pull Eric up to let him get cleaned up a little. We thought it was pretty funny, and to his credit Eric was laughing when we pulled him out. It was even funnier because Eric had decided not to wear the jacket before he went in, even though we warned him that that might happen.
The rest of the day was pretty much a wash. We ended up not being able to install the instruments because it was really old brick and it kept breaking when we would install the tap cons. I got back to the office and worked on some design stuff that I was handed yesterday.
That was my day at work today.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
The Times They are a Changing...
Today was my first day of work at my real job. Overall it was a pretty good day, I had to do the obligitory paper work for a new hire, and was introduced to some of the everyday office work.
I actually wore a tie, and was completely overdressed but now I know. Luckily Eric told me to bring clothes for field work as I spent half the day doing a site inspection in Mt. Healthy.
It's nice to that Eric is co-oping there, it made it a little easier having a friend that already working there.
After work Steve and I went running. We did about 3 or 4 miles and then he stopped when we came back to the house and I went for another 30 minutes.
I think tomorrow should be a good day as well.
I actually wore a tie, and was completely overdressed but now I know. Luckily Eric told me to bring clothes for field work as I spent half the day doing a site inspection in Mt. Healthy.
It's nice to that Eric is co-oping there, it made it a little easier having a friend that already working there.
After work Steve and I went running. We did about 3 or 4 miles and then he stopped when we came back to the house and I went for another 30 minutes.
I think tomorrow should be a good day as well.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Now what...
Well, I am going to be in Cincinnati this summer which bummed me out, but things could be worse. I found other things to fill my time, taking a class, putting trim on the stage at UCC, and watching every game in the World Cup to name a few.
I had a list of stuff that I wanted to accomplish this week, but that has been put on hold because some how I contracted the flu or something last night and spent the night and most of the day today worshiping at the porcelain throne. So we'll see how long this lasts.
I think I will go take another nap.
I had a list of stuff that I wanted to accomplish this week, but that has been put on hold because some how I contracted the flu or something last night and spent the night and most of the day today worshiping at the porcelain throne. So we'll see how long this lasts.
I think I will go take another nap.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Just when you think things are going well...
I should be leaving for Germany tonight... but I had to push it back to Thursday night because on arriving back in the US I found out that I have some issues with school that need to be addressed, and if the meeting doesn't go well tomorrow then I guess I will be spending my summer in Cincinnati. What's going to happen? I have no idea. Will I be able to start work in August? We'll see. I would appreciate prayer tomorrow if anyone reads this.
In other news, I started to write about my trip to the Dominican Republic and realized that it would take much longer then I was willing to spend to tell about everything that happened, so I stopped.
I was able to post pictures on my webshots in "My Other Photos" and on facebook. And if your interested in hearing about my trip you can ask me, or read Rachel's blog for the super summarized version.
I think that I am going to go take a nap, I went to bed at 3 am last night and woke up at 6am and I couldn't go to sleep so I did laundry and cleaned and random stuff.
In other news, I started to write about my trip to the Dominican Republic and realized that it would take much longer then I was willing to spend to tell about everything that happened, so I stopped.
I was able to post pictures on my webshots in "My Other Photos" and on facebook. And if your interested in hearing about my trip you can ask me, or read Rachel's blog for the super summarized version.
I think that I am going to go take a nap, I went to bed at 3 am last night and woke up at 6am and I couldn't go to sleep so I did laundry and cleaned and random stuff.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Lazy Thursday
I have done nothing yet today, hopefully I will accomplish something by tonight
I woke up to go to my History of Jazz and Popular Music class, my only class on Thursdays... and it was cancelled. So I tried to do my Wood and Masonry homework, but soon discovered I had no idea what was going on so I gave up, but I am suppose to meet Chris tonight after his night class to try and figure it out.
But anyway, I came back from school and went to the store, ate lunch, thought about doing homework, but fell asleep instead. Woke up and went to Wiz Kids... but Walter didn't show up so I hung around for a little and then left.
Called Bucky to see if he wanted to run, but he is leaving for Viriginia for the weekend to go house hunting, so I ended up driving around OTR for a while.
I got back to the house and it was raining, so I ate dinner and now I am trying to avoid doing work by writing this post.
I hope that the weather clears up tomorrow for the movie night, and the cookouts and such.
Had the realization last week that I only had a month of college left, yep one month...
I guess I will try and do homework
I woke up to go to my History of Jazz and Popular Music class, my only class on Thursdays... and it was cancelled. So I tried to do my Wood and Masonry homework, but soon discovered I had no idea what was going on so I gave up, but I am suppose to meet Chris tonight after his night class to try and figure it out.
But anyway, I came back from school and went to the store, ate lunch, thought about doing homework, but fell asleep instead. Woke up and went to Wiz Kids... but Walter didn't show up so I hung around for a little and then left.
Called Bucky to see if he wanted to run, but he is leaving for Viriginia for the weekend to go house hunting, so I ended up driving around OTR for a while.
I got back to the house and it was raining, so I ate dinner and now I am trying to avoid doing work by writing this post.
I hope that the weather clears up tomorrow for the movie night, and the cookouts and such.
Had the realization last week that I only had a month of college left, yep one month...
I guess I will try and do homework
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Scientific Uncertainty and Public Policy
Today I got to hear Henry Pollack speak as part of the John L. Rich lecture series in the Geology department.
Dr. Pollack is Geological Sciences Department at the University of Michigan and has recently written a book called "Scientific Uncertainty and Public Policy - Moving on Without All the Answers."
In his lecture he talked about the role of scientific uncertainty in the making of public policy, and how we will never have all the answers at the level that would make public policy clear and perfect. Rather, public policy is an example of an evolving system in a highly uncertain environment.
Therefore public policy should be approached with the mindset of reducing uncertainty through action. We are never going to have all the information to make a perfect decision, but we will always have some information and we should move ahead and make the best decision that is possible. Of course this opens the process up to failure, but the process should be dynamic, always being evaluated and being improved, obviously we shouldn't continue with policy that does not work...
at this point point Dr. Pollack said...
"staying the course usually leads to digging deeper trenches,"
... which I thought insightful and kind of funny.
But at the same time, we shouldn't sit around on our hands and say we can't make decisions because we don't have all the data... this argument is an implicit endorsement of the status quo.
As I was leaving Braunstein I began to think about how Dr. Pollack's lecture was applicable to my spiritual life as well. How often do I feel God directing me to do something, yet I wait for more information, for Him to define things more clearly, to give me some kind of confirmation. Maybe I should be approaching my walk with God with the mindset of reducing uncertainty through action... by acting in faith I will grow in my understanding of God and his will for my life.
So what does God have in store for me now?
Dr. Pollack is Geological Sciences Department at the University of Michigan and has recently written a book called "Scientific Uncertainty and Public Policy - Moving on Without All the Answers."
In his lecture he talked about the role of scientific uncertainty in the making of public policy, and how we will never have all the answers at the level that would make public policy clear and perfect. Rather, public policy is an example of an evolving system in a highly uncertain environment.
Therefore public policy should be approached with the mindset of reducing uncertainty through action. We are never going to have all the information to make a perfect decision, but we will always have some information and we should move ahead and make the best decision that is possible. Of course this opens the process up to failure, but the process should be dynamic, always being evaluated and being improved, obviously we shouldn't continue with policy that does not work...
at this point point Dr. Pollack said...
"staying the course usually leads to digging deeper trenches,"
... which I thought insightful and kind of funny.
But at the same time, we shouldn't sit around on our hands and say we can't make decisions because we don't have all the data... this argument is an implicit endorsement of the status quo.
As I was leaving Braunstein I began to think about how Dr. Pollack's lecture was applicable to my spiritual life as well. How often do I feel God directing me to do something, yet I wait for more information, for Him to define things more clearly, to give me some kind of confirmation. Maybe I should be approaching my walk with God with the mindset of reducing uncertainty through action... by acting in faith I will grow in my understanding of God and his will for my life.
So what does God have in store for me now?
Monday, April 24, 2006
Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around
I've decided that since I lack creativity and I can't think of good titles when I write about nothingness I'll just title my posts with the names of songs by Steve Miller.
Anyway, I took the FE (the Fundementals of Engineering exam) on Saturday, I think it went ok, I guess I'll find out in June. I think that I psyched myself out too much, I'm glad I studied, but when I was sitting there tapping my pencil waiting for them to pass out the test, I just about puked. And then after the test I realized it wasn't as bad as I expected, not easy, but I got through it.
I got home and changed and the Camfields picked me up and we went to the UC Track and Field reunion dinner, it was in conjunction with the Southern Ohio Cup, which I was unable to go to because I was taking the test. The dinner was good, I saw a couple of people that I hadn't seen in a while. Lewis Johnson, our 800 meter record holder and tv broadcaster for NBC (he does Olympic track and field and Notre Dame football games and some other stuff) was the MC. It was fun to listen to stories of various people from years past. Ted Corbett was there, our only Olympian. He was in the 1952 Olympics in the marathon and at one point held the World record for the 25 mile, 50 mile, 100 mile, and 24 hour run all at the same time.
Reis was there, which was cool, I hadn't seen him in a while. I think that I will go watch the Flying Pig, just so I can see him win. He went 2:27 in the Chicago Marathon, but the Flying Pig is a lot harder course. It will be cool if he makes the team in 2008, it will give me a reason to go to Beijing.
I got back and then decided to go to Mulligans to celebrate being done with the FE. Overall it was fun, but that will probabaly be the last time I do that for a while.
Sunday I ushered at church and then went to Tommy's for lunch. Then I went to help some people move, wasn't planning on doing that, which is why I was wearing flip flops. But Brandie bought us ice cream afterward, which was cool.
Now I just have to get some work done, but I don't feel like doing anything... I think that it's post FE burn out or something.
Anyway, I took the FE (the Fundementals of Engineering exam) on Saturday, I think it went ok, I guess I'll find out in June. I think that I psyched myself out too much, I'm glad I studied, but when I was sitting there tapping my pencil waiting for them to pass out the test, I just about puked. And then after the test I realized it wasn't as bad as I expected, not easy, but I got through it.
I got home and changed and the Camfields picked me up and we went to the UC Track and Field reunion dinner, it was in conjunction with the Southern Ohio Cup, which I was unable to go to because I was taking the test. The dinner was good, I saw a couple of people that I hadn't seen in a while. Lewis Johnson, our 800 meter record holder and tv broadcaster for NBC (he does Olympic track and field and Notre Dame football games and some other stuff) was the MC. It was fun to listen to stories of various people from years past. Ted Corbett was there, our only Olympian. He was in the 1952 Olympics in the marathon and at one point held the World record for the 25 mile, 50 mile, 100 mile, and 24 hour run all at the same time.
Reis was there, which was cool, I hadn't seen him in a while. I think that I will go watch the Flying Pig, just so I can see him win. He went 2:27 in the Chicago Marathon, but the Flying Pig is a lot harder course. It will be cool if he makes the team in 2008, it will give me a reason to go to Beijing.
I got back and then decided to go to Mulligans to celebrate being done with the FE. Overall it was fun, but that will probabaly be the last time I do that for a while.
Sunday I ushered at church and then went to Tommy's for lunch. Then I went to help some people move, wasn't planning on doing that, which is why I was wearing flip flops. But Brandie bought us ice cream afterward, which was cool.
Now I just have to get some work done, but I don't feel like doing anything... I think that it's post FE burn out or something.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Not Much
Not much has been going on recently, so I haven't bothered to post anything.
One exciting thing, Dan and I passed out motorcycle class and I finally went down to the BMV this morning and got my new license... now I just need a bike.
Other then that it's just been school. I went to Anderson Indiana last weekend with my Geomorphology class. We surveyed a canal and we're going to make relief maps, that was pretty cool.
The FE exam is next weekend, I think that will pretty much be my life next week.
I do think that I will go see Tommy's band tonight, that should be fun.
One exciting thing, Dan and I passed out motorcycle class and I finally went down to the BMV this morning and got my new license... now I just need a bike.
Other then that it's just been school. I went to Anderson Indiana last weekend with my Geomorphology class. We surveyed a canal and we're going to make relief maps, that was pretty cool.
The FE exam is next weekend, I think that will pretty much be my life next week.
I do think that I will go see Tommy's band tonight, that should be fun.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Crap, now I'm responsible
I accepted a job offer today. Beginning in August I will be an employee of XCG.
I'm excited, it's the kind of work that I think I want to do, and it seems like a great place to work.
The office is in Blue Ash, so I guess I could still be living in Clifton next year. I guess I should start to figure that out.
Anyway, this time tomorrow, Dan D, Danny, my brother and I will be at St. Andrews State Park in Florida. I am even more glad that we are going because of all the snow last night.
Well, I am going to finish packing.
I'm excited, it's the kind of work that I think I want to do, and it seems like a great place to work.
The office is in Blue Ash, so I guess I could still be living in Clifton next year. I guess I should start to figure that out.
Anyway, this time tomorrow, Dan D, Danny, my brother and I will be at St. Andrews State Park in Florida. I am even more glad that we are going because of all the snow last night.
Well, I am going to finish packing.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
They done my heart good
Yesterday was a good day, we beat West Virginia 78-75 snapping a streak of 13 straight losses to ranked opponents.
My friend Paul came down and brought his son, whose in the last picture. A couple other friends came that I don't see a lot, so that was pretty cool.
Hopefully I can make it through the next week with all the work I have to do.
My friend Paul came down and brought his son, whose in the last picture. A couple other friends came that I don't see a lot, so that was pretty cool.
Hopefully I can make it through the next week with all the work I have to do.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Insert Clever Title Here
I was informed today that there are 100 days left until I gradauate. I just hope I can make it through the next two weeks.
I've got a second interview with XCG on Friday. The main guy that I talked to last time wants to take me out to lunch. I guess that's a good sign... he's not going to take me out to lunch and tell me that I suck at life.
Some of my friends are in a band called Stetson Hills and they have a concert tonight at 7:00 in the Catskeller. I think that I will go for a little while and then head over to the EWB event.
I've got a second interview with XCG on Friday. The main guy that I talked to last time wants to take me out to lunch. I guess that's a good sign... he's not going to take me out to lunch and tell me that I suck at life.
Some of my friends are in a band called Stetson Hills and they have a concert tonight at 7:00 in the Catskeller. I think that I will go for a little while and then head over to the EWB event.
Friday, February 10, 2006
It's Friday
As the title suggests, it is indeed Friday, and I am tired.
I had two exams yesterday, construction estimating and planning and Latin American History. The construction exam went well, but LA history was another story. First off, I walk into class and learn we needed a blue book, which I didn't have. So I run to the bookstore and use my credit card to buy a 32 cent book so that I can write the ONE essay question that we have to answer. I also didn't realize that our exam consisted of a single essay question, I don't usually get those in engineering. If I had known that I probably would have studied a little differently. Oh well.
Then today I had an exam in Ground Water Modeling. It went ok, I probably didn't put as much effort into studying that I should have. But I was busy studying for my other exams and preparing for my interview.
So I had an interview this morning with a company called XCG, I thought it went well. They specialize in water resource management, water quality, and so forth. I would be doing a everything from design to modeling to field work. The people seemed pretty cool, I mean, one of the engineers had dreadlocks (and I was worried that my hair wasn't short enough).
One of the guys kept wanting to call me Charles, which I thought was funny. He thought it would blow over my head but he got excited when I got his reference. Thanks Robert Redford.
Tomorrow I am going to spend my day working on Senior Design and doing research on my Latin American History project. There is an Athletes In Action retreat this weekend that I was planning on going to, but we have our mid term review for Senior Design on Monday and I wouldn't want to let Gregg down.
But tonight I am going to rest. I spent most of my afternoon reading, I got my copy of Irresistable Revolution yesterday, and I am about half way through.
Tonight is the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics so I think that I am going to watch that.
Maybe I'll take time to check out the new rec center tomorrow during a break.
I had two exams yesterday, construction estimating and planning and Latin American History. The construction exam went well, but LA history was another story. First off, I walk into class and learn we needed a blue book, which I didn't have. So I run to the bookstore and use my credit card to buy a 32 cent book so that I can write the ONE essay question that we have to answer. I also didn't realize that our exam consisted of a single essay question, I don't usually get those in engineering. If I had known that I probably would have studied a little differently. Oh well.
Then today I had an exam in Ground Water Modeling. It went ok, I probably didn't put as much effort into studying that I should have. But I was busy studying for my other exams and preparing for my interview.
So I had an interview this morning with a company called XCG, I thought it went well. They specialize in water resource management, water quality, and so forth. I would be doing a everything from design to modeling to field work. The people seemed pretty cool, I mean, one of the engineers had dreadlocks (and I was worried that my hair wasn't short enough).
One of the guys kept wanting to call me Charles, which I thought was funny. He thought it would blow over my head but he got excited when I got his reference. Thanks Robert Redford.
Tomorrow I am going to spend my day working on Senior Design and doing research on my Latin American History project. There is an Athletes In Action retreat this weekend that I was planning on going to, but we have our mid term review for Senior Design on Monday and I wouldn't want to let Gregg down.
But tonight I am going to rest. I spent most of my afternoon reading, I got my copy of Irresistable Revolution yesterday, and I am about half way through.
Tonight is the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics so I think that I am going to watch that.
Maybe I'll take time to check out the new rec center tomorrow during a break.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Some thoughts on the State of the Union
For the most part I thought Bush gave a good speech last night. However, there was one thing that he said that bothered me.
Near the beginning of the speech, Bush said:
"we need to show compassion, because poverty is a breeding ground for terrorism"
As if the only reason to deal with issues of poverty and injustice is to protect ourselves and our way of life. Though I see a truth in that statement, it seems to me that the way it was presented, justifying our role in the world, specifically as it concerns the broad issues of poverty and injustice through "the war on terrorism" denotes a misguided view of the United State's role in the global community.
More and more I believe that the only effective way to fight terrorism is through love and compassion - but love and compassion for the sake of love and compassion - not because I want to protect my own life or "the American dream". . . but because I love my neighbor.
Near the beginning of the speech, Bush said:
"we need to show compassion, because poverty is a breeding ground for terrorism"
As if the only reason to deal with issues of poverty and injustice is to protect ourselves and our way of life. Though I see a truth in that statement, it seems to me that the way it was presented, justifying our role in the world, specifically as it concerns the broad issues of poverty and injustice through "the war on terrorism" denotes a misguided view of the United State's role in the global community.
More and more I believe that the only effective way to fight terrorism is through love and compassion - but love and compassion for the sake of love and compassion - not because I want to protect my own life or "the American dream". . . but because I love my neighbor.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Happy State of the Union Day
Go check out my friend Zach's post from today, I think it is appropriate in the context of this evening's festivities.
Monday, January 30, 2006
At least they're reformed...
My brother goes to Calvin College and he just got back from studying in Germany for a month. Anyway, while he was there he and his fellow classmated visited the Lutheran House, and he took a picture of this sign. I thought it was funny given the context.
The rough translation is:
"God's Word and Luther's Writing is the Papacy, and the Calvinist poison"
Maya Angelou
I am going to hear Maya Angelou speak for my Latin American History class on Wednesday February 9th.
Let me know if your interested in going. I may have FE review that evening, so I'll see how that works out.
Here is the advertisement my teacher put on Blackboard:
"Internationally respected poet, writer and educator, Maya Angelou has given us such best-selling titles as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Gather Together in My Name, Singin' and Swingin' and The Heart of a Woman. Multi-talented, she produced and starred in the great play Cabaret for Freedom and starred in The Blacks. She wrote the original screenplay and musical score for the film Georgia, Georgia and was both author and executive producer of a five-part television miniseries, Three Way Choice. Miss Angelou's accomplishments have earned her the La Home Journal Woman of the Year award in communication an Matrix Award in the field of books from Women in Communication She received the Golden Eagle Award for her documentary, Americans in the Arts, produced by PBS. She is one of the women admitted into the Director's Guild. In 1974, she was appointed by Gerald Ford to the Bi-Centennial Commission and later by Jimmie Carter to the Commission for International Woman of the Year. Her personal outreach to improve conditions for women in Third World, primarily in Africa, has helped change the live thousands less privileged. Here is where she gives with all her heart and soul."
Let me know if your interested in going. I may have FE review that evening, so I'll see how that works out.
Here is the advertisement my teacher put on Blackboard:
"Internationally respected poet, writer and educator, Maya Angelou has given us such best-selling titles as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Gather Together in My Name, Singin' and Swingin' and The Heart of a Woman. Multi-talented, she produced and starred in the great play Cabaret for Freedom and starred in The Blacks. She wrote the original screenplay and musical score for the film Georgia, Georgia and was both author and executive producer of a five-part television miniseries, Three Way Choice. Miss Angelou's accomplishments have earned her the La Home Journal Woman of the Year award in communication an Matrix Award in the field of books from Women in Communication She received the Golden Eagle Award for her documentary, Americans in the Arts, produced by PBS. She is one of the women admitted into the Director's Guild. In 1974, she was appointed by Gerald Ford to the Bi-Centennial Commission and later by Jimmie Carter to the Commission for International Woman of the Year. Her personal outreach to improve conditions for women in Third World, primarily in Africa, has helped change the live thousands less privileged. Here is where she gives with all her heart and soul."
Saturday, January 14, 2006
I think I need ADD medication
I can't concentrate.
I have about a gazillion things going on in my head right now and I can't focus on a single one because I get distracted and jump around.
I need to get things figured out.
Strike the comment about medication, I could just use prayer.
I have about a gazillion things going on in my head right now and I can't focus on a single one because I get distracted and jump around.
I need to get things figured out.
Strike the comment about medication, I could just use prayer.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Birthday week
I would have to say that last week was probably one of the best birthday weeks that I have ever had, for a couple of reasons:
1) My birthday was on Tuesday
2) On Tuesday there was an impromtu "birthday party" where Aaron drank a half gallon of egg nog for a nickel, there were some funny pictures taken, and I got a Silly Songs with Larry song about a manatee stuck in my head
2) On Wednesday we beat Depaul in our Big East basketball debut
3) Lots of my friends came to the game and it was fun for me to watch the game with people that I enjoy hanging out with.
4) Also on Wednesday Texas beat USC
5) Friday I watched "Cool Runnings" while trying to make viking helmets
6) Saturday I attended my first STE bowl practice
7) Also on Saturday we beat Marquette and Eric Hicks recorded the 5th triple double in school history, 22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 blocked shots..... He fricking got a triple double with blocked shots!!!!
8) And finally on Saturday there was Valhalla Day, which was awesome
This was a pretty generic post, but there are other things to come, much bigger things
1) My birthday was on Tuesday
2) On Tuesday there was an impromtu "birthday party" where Aaron drank a half gallon of egg nog for a nickel, there were some funny pictures taken, and I got a Silly Songs with Larry song about a manatee stuck in my head
2) On Wednesday we beat Depaul in our Big East basketball debut
3) Lots of my friends came to the game and it was fun for me to watch the game with people that I enjoy hanging out with.
4) Also on Wednesday Texas beat USC
5) Friday I watched "Cool Runnings" while trying to make viking helmets
6) Saturday I attended my first STE bowl practice
7) Also on Saturday we beat Marquette and Eric Hicks recorded the 5th triple double in school history, 22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 blocked shots..... He fricking got a triple double with blocked shots!!!!
8) And finally on Saturday there was Valhalla Day, which was awesome
This was a pretty generic post, but there are other things to come, much bigger things
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Christmas Break
Christmas Break was good, it was nice to relax.
I went to my sisters house for Christmas, there are some pictures below.
The week after Christmas I spent working on the construction at UCC, which was fun. I posted pictures from that on my webshots in "My OTHER Photos"
New Years Day I was at home for my mom's birthday. It was kind of celebrated both of our birthdays since mine is the 3rd and I am in school.
I am tired and I am going to go to bed
I went to my sisters house for Christmas, there are some pictures below.
The week after Christmas I spent working on the construction at UCC, which was fun. I posted pictures from that on my webshots in "My OTHER Photos"
New Years Day I was at home for my mom's birthday. It was kind of celebrated both of our birthdays since mine is the 3rd and I am in school.
I am tired and I am going to go to bed
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