Ugly Americans

To use a pig as the illustration for this post is an insult to the pig.

 We just returned from a little rest and recreation.  As usual we chose a couple of our favorite old hotels for lodging.  We've found that many of them have superb dining rooms and look forward to some gourmet repast in out of the way places.  Our first stop was the wonderful Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton, MT.  Everything was as we expected ~ quite charming and relaxing.

It was Saint Patricks day and their were quite a few people in the dining room. As we dallied over our dinner my eyes were drawn to a table not far away.  The couple being seated were about our age I'd guess.  The gentleman, and I use word loosely, thought himself quite the charmer but I wondered how well it sat when he asked the hostess if she was one of the local yokels. It went downhill from there.  Both the table manners and the conversation for all to hear.

 Just before they finished the lady excused herself.  I wish I had too.  He finished his wine, a nice red he put in an ice bucket then filled the bucket with his table water, then his wife's then toyed with the food left on her plate.  It was impossible not to watch him try as I did.  He proceeded to clean every tooth in his mouth with his napkin then give his nose a great blow.  Into the napkin.  He was still sitting alone when we finished and left.  His wife had been gone for quite awhile.  I never wondered why.

Next stop the Pollard in Red Lodge.  Another of our favorites.  A man with his two sons, after a day of skiing, were seated next to us.  Both boys wore baseball caps and had their electronics with them.  Dad ate with both arms on the table, never lifting his elbow to get his fork to his mouth.  The boys followed suit, missing a few times.  It's hard to eat and play your game boy at the same time I guess.  Their dining style was with fork in fist.   I do not understand how one can eat that way!  I guess, once again, it's a generational thing ~ manners!

The only time they put their game gadgets down was when they had to cut their meat.  Knife in fist. I picked up my  knife and fork that way and it actually hurt my wrists when I tried to stab a bite.

When did table manners disappear?  When did wearing proper attire disappear?  When Hub and I go out for a nice dinner we feel like dinosaurs.  We've been accused of being snobs.  My Mom, though, had it right.  It's not being a snob, she'd say, it's a standard of living.

It's too bad we have to dine at home to enjoy it.

Hail Hillary!

Vacation was too short but the prospects for another longer one next month eases the angst.  We didn't even listen to the news in the car more than once or twice.  Mostly to hear what, if anything, was happening in Libya.  Okay.  I'm rested and ready.

I heard the clip from Wolf Blitzer's interview with Hillary about her future ambitions along with her assessment of the Libyan situation.  Her emphatic and unembellished "no" to whether she wanted to continue in her present position or move to Defense or the Vice Presidency.  "No."  The Presidency?  "No."  Her tone and her demeanor preceding this interview made me begin to wonder if all was still sweetness and light between she and Obama.  I think she's been the good soldier too long.  Hub and I had been debating if she'll stick out this term or quit beforehand. We'll see, but at least we know there will be a new Secretary of State no matter who wins in 2012.

Now, this is strictly speculation, but I have a feeling Hillary had a dutch uncle talk with Obama and told him in no uncertain terms the U.S. had to act or she was out of there.  After all, for a Democrat she has been hawkish in the past.  More importantly she remembers the stinging criticism the U.S. got over not acting on the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Bill finally told the U.N. enough is enough. The slaughter had to end.  If this is what happened I have high praise for her.  No matter, she is the one instrumental in moving it forward.  Not the President.  Again, I have high praise for her.

In Libya, Gaddafi is slaughtering the people to retain power pure and simple.  When your own people become your enemy you have to wonder if you're doing something wrong if your people and your country mean anything to you.  In Gaddafi's case the answer is obvious.  It's all about him and the power.  I understand the lust for power.  What escapes me is why such brutality always seems to accompany it.  What manner of men are these?  I guess we know.

If we had acted sooner perhaps the media wouldn't be speculating whether or not Gaddafi will remain in power.  If he does it will be a bad reflection on the United States whether or not we think it justified. Not that other countries weren't willing to take the lead.  France in particular.  But we are the ones with the necessary assets to make intervention not only possible but workable.  Other countries do not have our military might nor the caliber of leadership.

I've said it before and I no doubt will keep harping on it.  The world expects the U.S. to lead. That doesn't mean we have to police the world but when blatant atrocities occur against civilians it is the world's responsibility to act.  They aren't used to the idea that we have a President who is not inclined to do so.  Neither am I.  I expect they remain hopeful that this moment in history will pass and the United States will elect a leader who will take the country back to where it belongs.  The leader of the free world. So do I.

Meanwhile Back In Libya There Is Also Urgency

I've been having a great deal of trouble writing posts lately.  Mostly because I'm frustrated and angry about what's going on, and not, in Libya.

Now the media is focusing on the horrendous tragedy in Japan, as well it should, but what's happening in Libya should not be forgotten.

I think it unconscionable that the world body has still not made a decision to help the protesters.  Meanwhile Gadhafi is slowly but surely quashing them.  Slaughtering them.  Still the debate continues.  Should we?  Shouldn't we?

Many of the protesters have said they will die fighting for they know what fate awaits them should they be captured or surrender. It won't be wiling away years in a prison like Guantanamo.

Yawn.  Oh well.  Maybe if we wait long enough it will all go away.  Maybe next time.  Well, there are a lot of "next times" already in progress.  Every two bit dictator watching will see that he has free reign to do whatever is necessary to retain power.  I'm beating a dead horse here.  It's why I'm so tired of writing.  It isn't just us.  It's everyone.

So Hub and I are taking off for a few days.  We're weary of the winter and the grey, the news and our moods.  I expect little will have changed by the time we return for it will be but a few short days.

The situation in Japan, of course, will be with us for years to come.  What has happened to our planet as a whole with the shifts that have occurred will take scientists years to sort out.

One thing that probably did not happen with all the shaking caused by the quakes, is to shake some sense into the world leaders.  The response to the quake and tsunami is reactive.  I don't think pro-active is in our vocabulary any more.  It's a shame.  Reaction to a lot of what's happening is being over done by the media, as usual.

It reminds me of the soap As the World Turns,  I'll miss a few episodes but the storyline won't have changed.  I guess the bright side, if you could consider it that,  is I'll still have plenty of subject matter to write about without having missed a beat!

Spring!

March is a puzzlement.  It definitely is not equated with spring.  At least not around here.  It is probably the most fickle month of the year.  One minute you can be up to your keester in snow, the next minute up to your keester in floods.

One often hopes it blows through quickly with the winds it's know for.  So here we are nearing the middle.  I think St. Patrick's day is truly a blessing.  It's green and cheery just when we need it.  Winter is old now, and gray.

Every once in awhile ole March will throw you ringer.  Both yesterday and today, the morning was sunny and actually warm.  I changed to a lighter weight jacket when I went out to run some errands.  The sun on my back was absolutely delicious.

Then I saw it.  The true harbinger of spring.  Our first Killdeer.  Sitting on a snowbank watching me as I picked up the papers.  I was thrilled.  I think our Killdeer are far more accurate than some moldy old groundhog that's pampered and primped and usually doesn't get it right anyway.  Maybe it's the western spirit of these guys.  At least the ones who choose our yard in which to summer.

I can turn off the alarm clock now.  The shrill call of the Killdeer breaks the dawn.  You can't sleep through it if they're in close proximity to an open window.  That's okay.  It's just nice to know that some things stay the same.  Their presence is part of the comfort of home.

I'm glad they're back.  Even after getting thoroughly depressed from reading the morning's papers, I had a spring in my step when I went out.  The sun helped.  But mostly it was the sight and sound of that ever cheerful little bird.

One Small Step Against Political Correctness

Hooray for North Dakota!  In the ongoing non-sense over the use of Indian mascots for sports team,  sense has finally taken a stand.

I don't often praise government intervention in much of anything, but in this case both the North Dakota House and Senate deserve kudos.  They have gone against the dictates of the NCAA who  barred schools using such names from hosting championships or wearing the images during playoffs.

They were magnanimous enough to allow that with approval of the "named" tribes, in this case the Sioux, an exemption could be made.

The "Fighting Sioux".  What image does that conjure up?  Yes, they suffered mightily at the hands of the whites.  They were also fierce warriors and a proud people. That's the image I equate with the team name and logo.  There is nothing insulting about it.

There are two namesake tribes in this case and the university obtained the permission of one.  Where they stand with the second I'm not sure, but history, tradition and, yes, pride meant more to the legislature.  Many I would guess are alums and probably have logo sweatshirts tucked away or maybe even still proudly worn.  They'd not be given up willingly.

The irony is that if the "Fighting Sioux" went away there are still some 400, 000  nicknames out there.  We know on a scale somewhat larger than the NCAA, the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians with their Chief Wahoo are still alive and well.

I don't know.  If I were generic Native American, which most are today, I think  if I were to be offended by one or the other it would be Chief Wahoo over the Fighting Sioux! A caricature to be sure.  But offensive?  Hardly.

In either case, Native Americans, no matter the tribe, are a part of our history and culture.  I know many, mostly artists because of our interest, and I find them not unlike us.  The main difference I think is their awareness of who they are and from whence they came.  A proud people who wanted no more than to be left to live their lives.

We certainly did nothing to help help them any more than we're helping people who want the same today, but rather than being insulted,  the use of their images to portray those characteristics could be considered a compliment.  When the teams were named I'm sure insults were the last thing on any one's mind, but rather an image of competitiveness, strength and courage.  An image we seem to be losing sight of in ourselves.