WillYum

I read this op-ed on the WSJ and I had to let it sink in for a while.

It felt intrinsically wrong but logically he makes some great points and a strong argument.

Then it struck me. He's got it a bit backwards. It's not America but rather the People. It's no subtle distinction. The idea that America is great and should remain a super-power simply because it's America is wrong.

America's people and system of government have been making these things happen and to think that it's impossible that another group, another set of people would come along and espouse those ideals is a bit arrogant.

The point is -- we don't just get to wear the crown because we happen to have worn it the past century. We have to earn it, over and over again, by working damn hard to see the world become a better place. Freedom, fairness, justice, and equality serve that goal well because really, what good is freedom if you have nothing to make you laugh?

This article makes it sound like the world needs a babysitter and we're the best at changing diapers. It's nationalism without substance and it's foolish.

I'm quite proud to be a citizen of this nation, not because we are perfect or always get things right but because there is an ethic here that values all those rights and works hard for them. When we start in-fighting over relatively trivial matters we lose sight of what does make our country great and what allowed us to grow and prosper.

We are the greatest nation on earth for many reasons but I don't know that I could count among them our world policing skills. If anything, until somewhat recently, we've sucked.

The point is the people matter. America's decline may lead to world instability but that is far better than an America that exists only to enforce a world order and not on the foundation of good people fighting the good fight, even if sometime we get it wrong - badly.

I do agree with him on one thing, though, the fall of America would not lead to some sort of grand world coalition. There'd be more fights and wars.

Yum
(it's late and i really wish I could proof this but I feel like my head is being squished inside-out)

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Wow, Girl.

Monday, February 13, 2012 7:50:15 AM

Forgot to breathe?

Check.

Unable to look away from her eyes?

Check.

Smile to melt the ice caps?

Check.

Today, for a lucky minute and a half, I was in the company of a drop-dead-gorgeous, I would do incredibly stupid things for you, amazing girl. (Jump off a pier, cocaine, sky-dive, bull-fighting, surf-dolphins, etc)

Sometimes I fail with girls because I'm not quick enough on the draw, not thinking fast enough or too insecure with my approach to go for it. In this case, none of those things happened, I just didn't realize what had happened until she had left. Like a traffic accident where I got hit by a bus, wasn't until after she left that I was all, "Oh, wait... whoa."

I think she was wearing this leopard print shirt, bunched up near the bottom, a jacket of some sort, some jeans and tall dark boots. Her hair was slightly frizzy but it fit her well but I may be totally wrong about all those other things because when I looked at her face I suddenly got lost.

Now before I annoy you too much, dear Internet surfer. I must confess that she was not at all the "Socially accepted, choose-your-Men's-magazine, super-sexualized" hottie.

This is what is so amazing about human attraction - for me her beauty is an indescribable and intangible - I'm not sure what it was about her that made me, upon her departure, be left with only one word upon my lips (Wow) but it was nevertheless powerful.

So the kicker is, I'm almost positive my friend-girls would all judge her as 'cute' or 'super-cute' or some such but there is no doubt in my mind that she was drop-dead-gorgeous, beautiful girl.

It just makes me want to put that out into the universe. Just because you aren't the typical definition of hot, you aren't the magazine hot or whatever you may very well be some guy's "Wow." Her smile, her confidence and style rocked my world.

I think of my little Gator's friends who have insecurity (Gator is quite self-assured, I try to remind her as often as possible not to let it go to her head.... even if she is, without a sliver of a doubt, the most attractive of all her friends... by leaps-and-bounds). I think of those girl's who go, "Oh, I'm only cute," or don't feel like they make the cut and I want to shake them and say, "Your beauty is someone's hot!"

Don't beat yourself up for not being skinny enough, pretty enough or whatever enough... how about you beat yourself up for not being the best you? Healthy? Fit? At ease? Confident?

And if you do that then I feel confident that every once in a while some jackass guy might come along who thinks your 1-in-a-hundred-million. He might not actually be worth your time (Hi!) but it will happen.

I really can't imagine I'll get the chance to see this girl again but, dear universe, I hope so.

Yum

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Funny.

Saturday, February 11, 2012 6:33:59 AM

These three girls just joined me for a quick spot of laughter a the cafe. I confess, I enjoyed it more than I should. Not because they were particularly enlightening or interesting or even worthy of my time but they were charmingly hilarious.

And it's hard not to find that entertaining, endearing and enjoyable. One girl in particular went too far. Laughing and rolling around on the floor, she was initially quiet and even went and sat at another table leaving me and the two dorks to chat.

I had been writing some serious drama so it was a nice little break.

They poured white sugar packets into their mouths like it was ... water? Contorted and joked. JC even had one of those long fireplace lighters in her bag, which didn't make sense to me -- she said her dad had got it for her when she asked for a lighter. I asked if it was his way of keeping them from toking up, get an entirely impractical lighter.

They thought this was funny but I was serious... why else would get such a lighter?

One girl let me borrow her expensive camera temporarily so snap some shots. I am a total nerd, I do love taking pictures -- sometimes -- catching people in interesting moments, doing funny things that seem totally normal until taken somewhat out of context in a photograph.

They're cool kids. Why do people grow out of that? Not the girl who was rolling around on the floor, she was a bit extreme -- that's fun sometimes but I imagine she's like that all the time because all the dancers I've known were basically just as insane.

The other two stooges, though, were pretty chill and I liked them. Why can't we all have that fun?

Yes, life has to be serious some times but that serious? Seriously?

Thanks stooges, you rock, even if I only see you once every two months. Try and stay that cool, don't grow into bitter bratty bitches. If you can help it.

yum

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