Another dream

Every dream I post on here has had an effect on me, emotionally speaking. Had another one a couple of nights ago. So here it goes...

I don't remember any more what led up to this, but Mike and I were at a Christian high school, very fancy place, and anyway, the tornado siren went off, so everyone had to head to this auditorium, where a large student orchestra was rehearsing. The place was filled with pews, and Mike and I sat down in one that was empty and faced away from the center of the room. Instead, it faced the wall to the left of the door we came in. Anyways, this guy gets up at the podium in the center of the auditorium (which is behind us), and starts preaching. A girl sits down at the end of the pew (the end on my right). She seems to be a bit older than me, but no more than a year or two. She was alright as far as looks go, but I can't picture her face anymore, really. She was listening intently to the speaker, but Mike and I were ignoring him, choosing to study the strange hologram mural on the wall in front of us. After a few minutes, that girl and a trumpet player stand up. The trumpet player starts playing the Pink Panther theme, and she starts singing, but what she's singing doesn't go with the music. She had an okay voice, I thought. I thought that the style of song didn't suit her, that she could be better if she sang something else. Well, both of them stopped, embarrassed, and the trumpet player returned to his seat. The girl started singing a cappella. Her voice was much better this time. In fact, it was so good, I was stunned. She sounded like Emiliana Torrini (who sings "Gollum's Song" during the credits of "The Two Towers"), but her voice was softer and fuller. It was the best voice I've ever heard. Period. She was singing a hymn or a praise and worship song, but I don't remember the words or the tune. After a second, she came over and sat down next to me, still singing. She was looking at me, but I was afraid to meet her eyes. I tried to keep my focus on the sound of her voice and the amazing quality of it. But then she gently took my hands in hers and caressed them lightly while she sang. I looked up and met her eyes, but couldn't even hold her gaze for an entire second. Her eyes were a bluish-gray, but it was the emotion behind them that overwhelmed me. That song was meant for ME to hear. It's like she knew about my lack of faith in God, and was trying to help me. She cared about me even though she didn't know me. I started crying. Then I woke up.

I wish I could hear that voice again...
I wish God were that real to me...

A Journey to Charleston

Well, so this is overdue. I went to Charleston June 7-10 with my mom, and we met Megan and her parents there. It was our celebration of our first anniversary which was actually June 3rd. So, what happened?

We got there around 5:30pm, went to dinner at the Charleston Crab House downtown, drove around to find different views of this big bridge, got stuck waiting on this train that went forward and backward for at least a half hour. By the time we got back to the hotel, it was late, everyone was tired, and Megan's parents decided that we could only have fifteen minutes to exchange gifts. We were both really irritated at this, but we managed, although the time limit made the evening far short of romantic. I gave her the doll that she knew I ordered for her, as well as a bound copy of all of my prose and poetry, which ended up being almost 200 pages. I had also written a song for her, which was a musical setting of "Acquainted with the Night" by Robert Frost, but of course, I didn't have enough time to give that to her. She gave me an updated copy of her journal, and a blue afghan that she crocheted for me. There was also a gift that she didn't bring because she knew we wouldn't be allowed enough time to enjoy it. It was black raspberry martini mix and ginger ale with real martini glasses. So, after that, we went to bed.

Next day was Friday, and we started the day by going to Folly Beach. We spent the morning there. There weren't many people on the beach, and Megan and I went off by ourselves on a walk down the beach, and just enjoyed the first real time we had to ourselves in a long time. It was also nice to get to kiss her and hug her while we were away from the parental units. We eventually returned to the towels and umbrella, and our parents weren't there, so we exchanged back massages, which we had both missed dearly. Then our parents came back, and we decided to leave. We stopped for lunch on the way back to the hotel, showered and changed, and then took off for the slave market downtown. We traipsed around for a while. I pretty much just followed Megan everywhere and didn't buy anything except a bottle of water. I also got to try some Italian ice cream, whatever that stuff is called. Gelato, Megan tells me as I read this to her over the phone. We then decided that we had time for a carriage ride, so we went on that, and near the end, I was afraid we would be late for our dinner reservations, and we almost had to run to get there on time. This dinner was for just Megan and me. We ate at Poogan's Porch, which was basically a house that had been turned into a restaurant. It was pretty nice, although the flies were fairly ravenous that evening. The food wasn't bad, but my chicken had too much pesto in it. But the best part about it wasn't where we were. We could have been at a crowded McDonald's, and I wouldn't have cared. The most important part was being with Megan. After dinner, we met up with her parents again, returned to the hotel. I got to sing and play that song I wrote for her, and then we decided to all get together and watch "Arsenic and Old Lace". Megan and I had a bed to ourselves and we cuddled the whole time. It was wonderful because I had wanted to do that for so long and never could.

The next day was Wednesday (just kidding, it was Saturday), and we started the day by driving out to the Magnolia plantation. While waiting for our house tour to begin, we toured a few of the smaller gardens, combating cobwebs and strange, floating worms along the way. The house tour was interesting enough, and then we moved on to the largest garden. The parents were tired and didn't want to walk the whole thing, and so Megan and I hung back to decide what we wanted to do. We decided that if we wanted to have time to go to the Tanger outlets, we would have to leave now. So we did, and followed down the path that led out, and that required me to exorcise the path of a large, demonic spider that Megan almost walked into. Next stop: USS Yorktown, a WWII aircraft carrier. Pretty cool stuff, needs air conditioning though. And to think, the USS Nimitz class carriers are twice the size of that ship. After that, we got on the ferry to go to Fort Sumter (which, I'm going to say here just to irritate my audience, was the South's first blunder of the war). It was a long, hot ride over there, which was made worse by the fact that someone had the bright idea that everyone on the ferry, including the deaf and the dead, wanted to hear a history lesson about Fort Sumter and the surrounding area. We got there, set off on our own for an hour, took some pictures, etc., got back on the ferry, returned to the dock, and left for Hyman's Seafood for an early dinner. Because we got there around 4pm, we didn't have to wait, but by the time we left, there was a huge line. Next, we went to the Tanger outlets, where I actually bought some stuff from the Borders outlet. I also got some clothes and sandals from Timberland, which Megan despised. Megan was in somewhat of a depressed mood, because our time together was running out. When we returned to the hotel, I followed her up the stairs, but she went into her room without saying anything to me. I called her later and asked her if she would talk to me. She said she'd think about it. My mom went to Hardee's because she really wanted ice cream. Later, Megan's parents discovered a Coldstone's and went there to get us some ice cream. Megan and I met outside to talk. It was nice just to stand on the balcony and put my arms around her and hold her close. When her parents came back, we continued to stay outside to eat our ice cream. Eventually, we decided that we would go in before they asked us to, so that our parting could be on our terms and not theirs.

Next morning, we slept in a bit, went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and then took off. They were behind us all the way to I-95, and there they continued on I-26 while we took 95. We waved at that point, but I don't think they saw us.

In conclusion, I must disagree with Shakespeare on something. There is nothing sweet about parting. It is only sorrow. But I will get to see her again in July, although I will have to drive up there, since her mom doesn't want her to come down here.

The issue of Vermont (among other things)

"A poll this year by the University of Vermont's Center for Rural Studies found that 13 percent of those surveyed support secession, up from 8 percent a year before."

So says an AP article that I read in today's newspaper. It's important to note that this was in Vermont only. So, people of Vermont that favor secession...what are your reasons?

"'The argument for secession is that the U.S. has become an empire that is essentially ungovernable-it's too big, it's too corrupt and it no longer serves the needs of its citizens,' said Rob Williams, editor of Vermont Commons, a quarterly newspaper dedicated to secession."

"The Vermont movement has been simmering for years but gained new traction because of the Iraq war, rising oil prices and the formation of several pro-secession groups."

"His (Thomas Naylor, 70, a retired Duke University economics professor and author) 112-page manifesto contains little explanation of how Vermont would make do without federal aid for security, education and social programs. Some in the movement foresee a Vermont with its own currency and passports, for example, and some form of representative government formed once the secession has taken place."

"'We're normal human beings,' said Williams, 39, a history professor at Champlain College. 'But we're serious about this. We want people in Vermont to think about the options going forward. Do you want to stay in an empire that's in deep trouble?'"

Okay, so let's discuss some of the issues here. Number One: The Iraq War. Let's put it in historical perspective. Thirty-two years ago, the Vietnam War ended. It lasted for sixteen years, and 58,000 American soldiers died there. Some people are calling Iraq another Vietnam. So, let's look at the facts about the Iraq conflict. We have been there for about four years, and have lost about 3,500 troops last time I heard. If Iraq is another Vietnam, it is on a much smaller scale.

Some people say that it is taking way too long for the Iraqi government to become stable enough to stand on it's own, that the civil war is out of hand, etc. Let us compare Iraq to the United States, then. The Iraqi government took two "long" years to develop and ratify a constitution. In the United States, we began with the Articles of Federation in 1777. By 1786, there was talk of amending the Articles. The result was the formation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights that we have today. Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution. This occurred in 1790. It took 13 YEARS to come up with our constitution. Iraq did it in two.

Let's also examine Iraq's civil war. We once had a civil war too. It lasted four years, and over 650,000 soldiers died in it. Then, also consider the civil rights issue in Iraq regarding the Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds. These are divisions along ethnic and religious lines. The United States passed a Civil Rights Act that prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin in 1964. That occurred 188 years after our declaration of independence from England. Compared to our track record, I think Iraq isn't doing so badly.

Let's talk now about the ethics of the Iraq war. We never found any WMD's. Whether or not they ever had them is now irrelevant, because we have no evidence. But let's say they did have them, and we found them. Would our invasion then be ethical? Not in my opinion. I do not believe in preemptive strikes. If Iraq had attacked us, then an invasion would have been justified. But they didn't. What did they do that warranted an invasion? They refused to allow weapons inspectors to do their job in their country. I believe that is their right as a sovereign nation, regardless of whether or not I agree with the actions of Saddam Hussein's government. Unless there was some agreement that Iraq made that I was not aware of, I believe they had the right to refuse. The United States has no business being the world's policeman, as some have called it. Honestly, I would be happy to see a return to the military and political isolationism that characterized this country before World War II. Note that I left out "economical", because that is just not feasible. And besides, I like my Japanese-made car.

That said, should we pull out of Iraq ASAP? No. Why? We went in there and destabilized the country. We made a mess of things. Perhaps we shouldn't have gone in there, but that's a moot point. Once we were committed, there was a right way to do it, and many wrong ways. We chose the wrong way. What is the right way? We're still trying to figure that out. But we need to. We made a mess of things, and we should fix it. I'm all for asking other countries to lend a hand as well. Many countries sit back and criticize the United States for its handling of the situation, but are they doing anything to help out? No. If they want peace in the Middle East, they should do something about it.

Okay, next topic: gas prices. How, may I ask, is it all the government's fault? Allow me to say for the record that the war in Iraq was never about oil. The price of oil has not experienced a significant drop since we went in, and is probably higher than it was in 2003. Actually, it is, I just looked it up. In 2003, the price was a little over $30 per barrel. It is now about $65 per barrel. Yes, I see now that we went into Iraq so we could get cheaper oil.

Even with oil prices so high, gas prices could be much lower. But why aren't they? There is sufficient oil; the problem is our refining capacity. Our current refineries are expected to surpass 90% utilization this summer, which is good. But the problem is there are not enough refineries to produce enough gas to meet demand. Building new refineries takes time. So, what else can be done to reduce gas prices? Wait, I think I've stumbled upon a large chunk of the problem: wasteful consumption in the form of fuel-inefficient vehicles.

Every day, I see tons of SUV's on the road, many with custom rims, tinted windows, paint jobs, etc. H2's, Suburbans, and Escalades seem quite popular. I single these vehicles out because I have never seen one of these customized trucks doing anything but looking pretty. I have never seen one hauling cargo in the back, or towing something. They are just there for looks. Personal example: My mom has a mid-size SUV, a Nissan XTerra to be exact. But, we actually use it for what it was intended. We have two large dogs that would not fit into my little compact car. They need a larger vehicle. Then there are times that we purchase landscaping items from the hardware store, and need the extra space. We also have a boat that we tow. It generally costs around $50 to fill up the truck. I wonder, how much does it cost to fill up an H2 or Escalade that does nothing but look pretty? I'd guess at least $75. Keep in mind that the owners of said vehicle do not need the cargo space or towing capacity. They could easily make do with a car like mine. How much does it cost me to fill up? Around $25. On a 2007 Escalade (fueleconomy.gov), you get, at best, 19mpg. My record? 42mpg, and my car is ten years old. What an obscene waste of gas.

Speaking of which, let's talk about the way people drive. I see it frequently. People consistently drive 10mph over the speed limit, and when they're starting off from a stoplight, they all but floor the gas pedal. Did you know that this is also wasting gas, even if you have a small car like mine? I mentioned that I once got 42mpg. That was strictly highway driving, using cruise control, windows rolled up, and no A/C. So what do I normally get? In city, I usually get between 30-35mpg. According to the above website, my car is rated, in city, at 24mpg. Highway? it's rated 32mpg. Note that I increased my gas mileage by 10mpg. Can I have a round of applause?

Do you see what conservative driving will do for your gas mileage? Do you realize the impact it would have on gas prices if everyone who did not need their big gas-guzzlers got a smaller car and drove conservatively? Don't blame the government for gas prices when you aren't doing your part to keep them down.

So, finally, back to the subject of Vermont, and their claim that the United States is an empire that is basically falling into ruin. So, let's dissect Rob Williams' assertions.

1. It's too big. So, are you suggesting that the United States disband? Should we become a large region of tiny, squabbling countries? That's what would happen. There would be conflict over trade, traveling rights, resources. Do you want to destroy the greatest, strongest nation history has seen? People are flooding into this country because we offer freedoms that other countries don't. We have so much to offer the world when we're united, but that will end if we fragment. Then think about it. Who is left as the strongest nation in the world? It's a toss up between China and Russia, and I would not trust either with that responsibility.

2. It's too corrupt. Hmm. Sir, apparently you have never left the United States. You think we're corrupt? Try going to a third world country. For example, I went to Zambia a couple of years ago, and I found out giving bribes to the police is an everyday occurrence. They are loyal to whoever pays the highest price. Count your blessings that the worst examples of corruption in this country that make headlines are CEO's stealing money from their corporations and political backstabbing. At least no one is getting killed in the process.

3. It no longer serves the needs of it's citizens. I'm going to take a leap here and guess that you're talking about things like Medicare and welfare. One at a time. Medicare: I'm all for it. I don't really think it should come so much out of taxpayers' pockets, though. Where should it come from? Consider that I was talking to a radiologist one day (because I thought that I was interested in the field), and she told me that the average salary is $400,000. All that money to sit and stare at pictures of people's innards looking for problems. It's like getting paid to play "Where's Waldo?" If hospitals have all that money flowing in, can't they be generous to people who can't afford to pay for their treatments? Now, welfare: Good idea, but probably needs some work. Work is the key word. There has to be a limit on it, the limit being that the person receiving welfare has to find a job in X amount of time, or something along those lines. I know that it works somewhat like that now, but there are still loopholes being exploited. We need a system that rewards hard, honest work and punishes slothfulness. Remember Jamestown? "He who does not work, does not eat" or something like that.
So it doesn't help everyone. Like I said before, count your blessings. We are one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and even our poorest people make more money and live better lives than half the population of the world.

Another question for you. How will you survive on your own as a nation? Vermont is very small and rural. You have no major industrial centers. You will, more than likely, rely heavily on imports, with little to trade in return. You are landlocked, which means you need permission from your surrounding neighbors to travel over their land. Considering you just spat in the face of all of America by seceding, the government might not be too keen on helping you out economically. This is all assuming that the United States doesn't treat you like it did the southern states when they seceded 140 years ago. The southern states failed to gain the support of England and France (the other world powers at the time), so what makes you think that you will?

In conclusion, as I have been at this for a few hours, I have a few more things to say. Secession is the cowards way out. So, you don't like the way the country is being run. We went a long step towards changing that when we elected a Democrat-controlled Congress. More than likely, we will have a Democratic president come 2009. That could significantly alter the course that this country is on. What I'm trying to say is, don't leave the country. If you don't like it, hitch up your balls and try to change things. If you have a worthy cause, the people of the rest of the United States will support you, and things will change. That's the great thing about living in a country that has a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We the people rule the country, and we have the power to make it as we want to.