A Response Regarding Libya

Yesterday Joel Monka questioned why politically liberal UU bloggers haven’t been writing about the recent military action in Libya. I can’t speak for others, but I can tell you why I haven’t written about it yet – because I have been hiding my head in the sand trying to pretend it isn’t happening.

I believe that the strong have an obligation to protect the weak. I believe that great powers should do what they can do prevent genocide and massacres when they can. I am very glad that there are people alive today who would not have been if we had not intervened. I am glad that we prevented bloodshed in Libya. On the other hand I do not understand the philosophy or methodology by which the Obama administration is choosing whom to help. Why are not intervening to protect civilians in Yemen, or Bahrain, Syria, Sudan, Congo, or the Ivory Coast?

I am frustrated because I do not have an answer to this question and President Obama does not seem to be in a hurry to articulate it. The lack of an answer leads me to cynicism. I dread the idea of being at war in three separate Muslim nations simultaneously and the fallout that may come from that. I am angry that we can’t seem to afford social programs but we have plenty of money to attempt to save the entire Middle East from itself, as it anyone asked us to. I am disappointed that Obama neglected to consult Congress before taking us into another military action.

Most of all, I am sad - sad that I am frustrated and disappointed this way. Anyone looking fairly at this situation can see that Libya is not Iraq. When Bush took us into Iraq I was angry, but now I am sad and discouraged. I expected better of Obama. When I happily voted for him two years ago, I was not voting for expanded war efforts. I also didn’t think I was voting for no end in sight for Guantanamo, or for going to war without consulting Congress.

If I have been quiet on this issue, it is because I am feeling a bit hopeless. When protesting against Bush, it seemed like the right person in authority could undo the wrong, but now it seems like electing the “good guy” still brings a bad outcome. Where do we go from here?
Given time, I am sure I will remember that I agree with Obama about a lot more than I disagree, I will give him credit for a very productive first two years in office. Right now, I am ignoring the situation so I can forget that my side let me down. I do not claim that this approach is commendable, but it is human.

Doug Muder's Humanism of the Sun

I have been growing increasingly frustrated with the Humanist/non-theist blogosphere and publishing. Many people seem to put all of their energy into disputing any religious validity while offering nothing positive of their own. Then Doug Muder published this speech on the Humanism of the Sun today and it was like an inspiring salve to my little Humanist heart.

If you want to be reminded of what is awesome about Humanism and where it can lead humanity, go read it right now. It is a big longish, but well worth it. Go. Click. Read. Right now.

UU Bloggers Hair Jinx

This is for those of you who look for bad news to come in threes. First, it started with Peacebang and her annual hair color disaster. Then, Matt Kinsi discovered unwanted, and most pre-mature, gray hair. Now I have managed to make a monstrosity of the back of my head.

I wear my hair very short and have taken to cutting it myself (I can be quite notional at times). So yesterday, I cut my hair and the front looks very cute, if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, there was an accident with the clippers in the back and I am now left with something horrible. This is not just my hyper-sensitive opinion; every member of my family will verify that this is indeed at hot mess. It is gamine in the front and punk in the back. The only possibly solution is to make like Lizard Eater and buzz my whole head and I am not quite willing to go that far. By the way, LE, you have truly glorious hair and I admire your bravery.

So I dyed my hair a darker color last night to help camouflage the disparity in length, and now I hate the color. I think I am just in for a pretty ugly month while I wait for this to grow out. I will just have to face everyone for a while.

Strangely, I am not nearly as upset about this as I would have been in the past. I have really bad hair for the next month or so no matter what I do. There are worse things than that. I am quite surprised that I am so calm about this; I wouldn’t have been in the past. As a matter of fact, I am much happier with my emotional state than I am upset about my hair.

So for the rest of you UU bloggers out there, as well as other readers, it should be safe to go the barber/hairdresser now. We’ve got the jinx covered.