Efaon Blog

Hopefully William Saletan is right and Frist’s view’s on abortion are more moderate than everyone believed them to be.  After reading this article I also thought of the Bush’s suggested appointment of Justice Roberts to the Supreme Court and thought that, from what I’ve read about Robert’s, he’s far less right than thought (but not as progressive as we’d all like).  It’s guys like these that tell me that pragmatism is entering into the mix and that people are becoming sick of the far-right agenda.  I think that the extremism is getting a bit too much and so more practical thinkers are emerging, even if to capitalize politically.  No matter what any media outlet is touting,  I’m starting to see the trend of political inertia.  The masses tend to huddle around an idea, no matter how scrutinized or affirmed, and run with it and politicians either pick up on it and float or sink while trying to fight it. 

I found out today that a girl that graduated a year before me in high school died in the Egyptian bombings this weekend.  I didn’t know her very well and honestly could barely remember her from the pictures that have been plastered all over the news.  It’s just very disturbing to know that someone that grew up in the same neighborhood, would bum around the same haunts (because Vegas is small and doesn’t have many), and is my age, was tragically killed by a militant while vacationing half way around the world.  I empathize with her boyfriend and my condolences go out to him.  To be honest, I don’t even know if he survived.  I couldn’t imagine, I dare not even think of what it would be like to be in his shoes and to loose someone you love so young.
I used the subject of this post because the whole incident reminded me of a particular passage in Hemmingway’s novel when a priest was slaughtered after many other had been led through a gauntlet of death.  The description of the event seemed so senseless and so heinous, much like the description of the blast site.  In the midst of the brutality Hemmingway described the mob chaos and how they were swayed like a mindless herd.  It seems as if violence has always had the effect of moving a crowd. 

It’s nice and humid today in Las Vegas.  The dark clouds are overhead and fortunately I have a window to see it all.  On days like this I love listening to Bob Dylan.  Today it’s Blood on the Tracks. 
Damn, is the race issue ever going to go away?  I guess being multi-ethnic makes it easier for me to look past race in addressing a person since I haven’t had the constraints of being pegged into any one specific racial group.  Being free of any one group’s label (and sometimes subsequent stigmas) I have the opportunity to live label-less with few, or sometimes many, even contradictory, assumptions about me.  It’s sad, but as the subtext of the article in the NYT illustrates, assumptions and generalities abound.
All my life I’ve found myself being greeted with interest and acceptance by almost everyone (besides the occasional minority hating bigot).  My background is ambiguous which, through maturity, I’ve learned makes it easier for me to make an impression on people.  I’m not as easily forgettable or dismissed as some and, as Nichole pointed out, I’m often the first exposure to a bi-racial, multi-ethnic for some people.
People like me are much more common of late.  When I travel to cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles there are multi-racial people everywhere, it’s everyday and it’s as common as blue sky.  It’s interesting to me when people from more rural areas look at me almost incredulously when I tell them my background.  I don’t see it as closed minded or even racist, it’s more the issue of not ever being exposed and I often am well received.
What’s with this rant?  I don’t know…it’s a happy one.  Now the sun is out and Bob is now singing "Just Like a Woman" from Blonde on Blonde.  I’m looking forward to law school but I have not been studying at all.  My time is dedicated to the little things in life.  Yesterday I spent the day babysitting and for the first time felt like a big brother.  One of the little joys that friends and family are defaulted to everyday and I loved every minute of it.

I did not intend for the broadcast of the creation of my blog to everyone.  I didn’t read the little check box
in time so when I clicked submit the process had already begun.  So,
here is my first blog everyone.  I’m leaving for San Diego soon (Aug.
12th) and I’m very excited blah blah blah. Okay, that conversation would be
boring.  I did read an interesting article in the New York Times
Magazine about the euthanasia of babies.  I know, at first sight the idea
is shocking, dreadful, and possibly offensive.  The article addresses
this fact and then delves into the actual specifics surrounding this controversy.  I really suggest that all of you at least
give the first page a reading.  I don’t see this article changing
individual concepts of being humane but it may, as it did for me, create a brief consideration of public policy and public opinion towards what constitutes a
humane versus an appalling act.

Okay, enough is enough…talk to you guys later.
-E.faon