current events – Among Mad People

DÃa Nacional de la Memoria por la Verdad y la Justicia

Anna Schwind — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:59:47 +0000

“En cuanto a la sociedad, iba arraigÃ¡ndose la idea de la desprotecciÃ³n, el oscuro temor de que cualquiera, por inocente que fuese, pudiese caer en aquella infinita caza de brujas, apoderÃ¡ndose de unos el miedo sobrecogedor y de otros una tendencia consciente o inconsciente a justificar el horror: Â«Por algo serÃ¡Â» , se murmuraba en voz baja, como queriendo asÃ propiciar a los terribles e inescrutables dioses, mirando como apestados a los hijos o padres del desaparecido.”– del prÃ³logo del informe de la CONADEP.

Rough translation, for my English speaking readers:

“In terms of the society, the idea of defenselessness began to take root, the dark fear that anyone, innocent as they may be, might fall into that infinite witch hunt, seizing some people with overpowering fear and other people with a tendency – conscious or unconscious – to justify the horror. “It must be for a reason,” justifiers murmured in low voices, as if through these words they might avert those terrible and inscrutable gods, and meanwhile looking on the sons and fathers of the disappeared as on lepers.”– from the prologue of the CONADEP‘s report, Nunca MÃ¡s.

Obama Says

Anna Schwind — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:08:45 +0000

“As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake.“

That’s what I’m talking about! It’s about time. Thank you, sir, for saying so. You have my full support.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white…the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

Anna Schwind — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:06:59 +0000

Dear Colin Powell-

I forgive you for standing in front of the United Nations, before a shamefully covered “Guernica”, and lying about WMD and advocating a badwrong war. You spent pretty much all your capital of integrity on that move. I was disheartened by it and lost faith in you.

I forgive you even though we’re still being battered by the consequences of that action, and none more than the military men and women of this country.

But see, now you get to go back into my “good guys” pile. Because you said what needed saying (that the face of America includes Muslims, and we’re a better nation for it), exactly when it needed saying. Thank you, from a Christian who happens not to believe Muslim is code for terrorism, evil, or the destruction of America. Long live our country. May it ever promote religious freedom, including the right to pursue no religion.

Lame Duck

Anna Schwind — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:15:44 +0000

Lately, every time I hear the president say something, instead of getting all angry and tense like I used to, I react with surprise, almost laughter: this guy is still president? He still says stuff? People stop to listen and broadcast what he says? Really? It seems like a peculiar throwback and I feel indulgently amused, as if my dog just performed a trick without my asking him to and is waiting hopefully for his treat.

I can’t be the only one who reacts this way.

Stuff I like about Obama

Anna Schwind — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:46:06 +0000

I like that he voted in favor of the land mine ban treaty (some longtime readers will remember that opposition to the land mine ban has been a particular sticking point of mine with numerous recent democratic candidates). Read what the GYWO guy says about it, and know that I mostly agree with him.
I like that his words and delivery are so pitch perfect that they practically make a song, and that someone thought of putting his words to music, and that the song is not half bad, and that it’s hopeful, and that it’s available on youtube. (Yeah, I like it on a lot of levels).
I like that no matter whether we get Hillary or Obama as a democratic candidate, that either one will be history making and ground breaking in their own ways. I like standing on the cusp of history, and not due to war or to unrest, but due to human progress. As slacktivist so eloquently phrased it: “For myself, I’d be more than satisfied with either Obama or Clinton as my party’s nominee. I understand that Magic Johnson is supporting Hillary Clinton. Kareem Abdul Jabaar, meanwhile, is supporting Barack Obama. That’s the choice: Magic or Kareem. It’s an understandably tough call, but I’m not complaining about the options.” Ever since reading this, I go around with a little smile, muttering “Magic or Kareem”. It’s not my party, but it’s making me smile anyway. It’s making me hopeful.

As an aside, if you are interested in helping take care of our war detritus (and by that I mean the land mines we leave everywhere we send our armed forces), my charity of choice is Adopt-A-Minefield.

Bad News for everyone

Anna Schwind — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:43:36 +0000

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto today is bad news for all of us, but it is especially bad news for Pakistan. Violence follows like night after the sun sets.

If the glass weren’t half empty, I’d probably spill it.

Anna Schwind — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:49:40 +0000

Good news. Bad news. Good news. Bad news. Good news. Bad news.

Anarkey’s messages to the world

Anna Schwind — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:19:16 +0000

Dear Blackwater: You are not helping. Please go home now. Thanks. Kisses, Anarkey.

Dear Madeleine L’Engle: I am not going to be able to write you one of those greatly moving eulogies or remembrances that I’ve read all over the internet in the wake of your passing. I can only say one thing: I’m sad that the woman who taught me the word tesseract is gone from the world. Love, Anarkey.

Dear Jena, Louisiana: Please feel free to join us in this century. Your behavior is appalling. I’ve never been to your town, but I’ve been to Olla, and it makes me think of rustling sun-dried grass and train tracks and cicadas and chewing tobacco. I’ll extend these associations to your town, but only if you cut it out. Seriously, Anarkey.

Dear They Might Be Giants: I adore the new video to your song “I’m Impressed”. Sorry I missed your show a couple of weeks ago. Singing along, Anarkey.

Dear Buddhist monks in Myanmar: I love you for your courage. Fight the good non-violent fight, brothers. Praying for you, Anarkey.

Dear Atheists and Christians: You should read this. No, really. Notice that last entry there? “You’ll never harass the other side out of existence?” Thanks, Anarkey

Dear Belgium: Cheer up. I think you’re a real country. You make great chocolate! Sincerely, Anarkey.

Dear Elissa Wall: I honor your courage. By your example, you make the need for social justice real, and ours. Thank you, Anarkey.

HP7

Anna Schwind — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:48:14 +0000

I borrowed HP7 on Sunday evening (from a cute high school girl who raced through it) and finished it on Tuesday before taking Sophia to camp. I thought to myself, “Aha! I don’t have to worry about spoilers, I can read all those blog entries and forum discussions and things I’ve been avoiding.” But I haven’t bothered, and now realize I’m still reluctant to read anything about the book. It’s not for fear of having something about the plot spoiled, since I know it, but because I don’t really care what anyone else thought about it. Except maybe Kurt, who is reading it now, and we should be able to talk about it by the weekend. So even though I have some thoughts on the book, I’m probably not going to share them here.

Things that are cool.

Anna Schwind — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:10:13 +0000

On Monday it snowed in Buenos Aires for the first time in nearly a hundred years (since 1918). It was Independence day, so most people were off work, and ran out to play in the snow, which fell for hours. The national weather service (SMN – Servicio Meteorologico Nacional) saw a chance for snow, but thought the possibility so far fetched, they were reluctant to include it in their forecasts.

Coverage of the event in English
La Nacion’s archival photos of the June 1918 snowfall
La Nacion’s photos of Monday’s snowfall
Coverage from La Nacion and El Clarin(in Spanish)
A remembrance of the 1918 snowfall from El Clarin (in Spanish)
Tango composer Bardi witnessed the 1918 snowfall on his way back from the horse races in La Plata, and created a tango about it called “Que Noche!“, which got plenty of radio play this past Monday.

It is strange, strange to see all those familiar places in snow.