I had to take a “Occupational Health and Safety” class today, after having been on site here in France for over a year.

As the instructor, a woman, said, “You must not dress in shorts when you come to work, you must dress professionally,” I could not help but notice the 10+ inch gap between the bottom of her shirt and the top of her jeans, not the largest I’ve observed since higher temperatures have arrived here, nor the lowest-waisted pants I have had the pleasure to observe on women, among the other, shall we name them revealing fashions associated with warmer temperatures here in the southern portion of France.

At least 8 inches of this particular gap in the dress of the instructor lecturing on dressing professionally was between her navel and the top of her jeans, with all the exposure that implies…

As I said, an unintentional cultural irony upon what is “dressing professionally”, at least as viewed by an American male.

Technorati Tags: observations on France

When ATC Joe writes this, I agree:

I’m not saying the evangelicals are bad, or that they have some sort of organized program to intimidate people into endorsing their views, but they do have a tendency to overreach when they meet with some success in their agenda. I’m convinced a large part of what the public sees as overreach on the part of the Bush administration is driven by the administration’s own evangelicals, or the debt they feel they owe them for their support in last year’s election.

This is a mistake, and it’s one that’s not going to be easy to fix. A public disavowal of the evangelical bloc at this time would hurt the administration severely.

Such a break needs to happen, though, and it’s something that can’t be done too quickly. The gradual nature of this distancing is one of the factors that leads me to believe the next administration will be led by a Democrat. That has ramifications I don’t like, but it may be what’s necessary to bring conservatism back to it’s roots, which is something I’d certainly like to see.

I do believe that conservatism has lost its roots, and it sorely needs to move back towards them for the good of our nation.

Technorati Tags: opinion

NOTE: Since this post has apparently been misunderstood by at least one, there appears to be a need for clarification. Consider this an FYI for those of you who think this is a commentary on the outcome of the Schiavo matter, for it is not.

For the record, I was opposed to those who pressured Congress to intervene in the matter, and I was opposed to those who said “life at any costs” even at the expense of the “sanctity of marriage” that those same folks proclaim when it suits them.

To make it explicit for those unable to get the gist, it is a commentary on the unyielding, unreasoning attitudes being shown by the extremists of all stripes.

If I need to be more plain-spoken, you need to go read elsewhere. I have neither the time nor the inclination to hold your hand any further.

—

The results of the Schiavo autopsy were released today.

I will not review them.

Why?

Because most have made up their minds, regardless of the facts, and will not change their views, regardless of the facts.

In other words, we have gone far beyond reasonable debate.

We refuse to acknowledge that those who do not think exactly as we do are human, just as we are, and in that refusal, we take the first steps upon a path all too well trodden.

What is left when reasonable debate is abandoned, opponents dehumanized and demonized, and passions allowed to reign free?

The answer given in 1861 in North America was organized murderous slaughter.

The answer given in 1941 in Germany was efficiently-organized murderous slaughter.

The answer given in 1991 in Bosnia-Hertzegovina was quasi-organized murderous slaughter.

The answer given in 1994 in Rwanda was barely-organised murderous slaughter.

The answer given in 2001 in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania was murderous slaughter.

The answer given in 2004 and continuing today in Darfur is murderous slaughter.

What is your answer to what is left after you choose to ignore facts and refuse reasonable debate?

Be honest, because the only one you are lying to is yourself.

Be sure you can look in the mirror into your own eyes with the answer you give, because your answer reflects upon you, not upon the one who asks the question…

Technorati Tags: opinion

John Cole, at Balloon Juice, has had a similar problem as I believe I have had recently, where what I wrote was confused and misinterpreted to mean something different, and this applies to topics beyond that of “gay marriage” which John Cole refers to in his post.

Regarding the confusion, he writes:

I think you can chalk up part of the confusion to my rambling prose and my splenetic writing style (it has been said the written language here at Balloon Juice is ‘high dudgeon,’ and toss in the fact that I have written so many damn posts on these topics that it may seem like I think all those things. But it just ain’t the case.

I cannot find a better way to express what I feel has happened in the case of my writing, especially in the cases where those I feel are good friends have not interpreted what I wrote in the spirit that the posts were written.

Regarding the topic (and confusion/misrepresentation/misquoting) that prompted the post by John Cole, his summary very well encapsulates what I believe regarding this “issue” which in my mind is a non-issue if we are to remain true to our fundamentals behind our Constitution:

And for the record, if I could have my way, I wouldn’t have government legalizing gay marriages- I wouldn’t have the government granting any marriages. I would like the government in the civil union business, and gays and straights would be treated just the same, with the same rights. Churches could then grant marriages, and be free to decide whether or not their sect wants to grant gay marriages.

All I can add is, “What he said.”

Technorati Tags: fundamentals, opinion

From the Dartmouth 2005 Spring Commencement address by Tom Brokaw:

I am humbled by the sacrifices that so many of you have made to help you to this promising place in your lives. Your family, your teachers, and some that you may not have considered, especially on a sunlit morning here in Hanover in early June. As we gather here today there are young men and women your age in uniform, in far-off places, in harm’s way, dedicating their lives to your security and you must remember them on this occasion as well.

I am envious of what you will carry from here - more than the degree or honors, what you will come to treasure are the friendships and the fellowship, some of which will accompany you all the rest of your days. I envy you as well, of course, the thrill of exploring frontiers of knowledge while rediscovering and re-examining ancient truths.

Most of all, I envy you the road ahead on the 21st century, with its transformation technology, emerging democracies, developing economies, shifting power centers and yes, lethal cultural conflicts that demand attention and resolution.

These are the themes of commencement speeches across a broad spectrum of campuses this spring and I am fully prepared to expand on them momentarily. But first, I am compelled to offer somewhat lofty, but I hope useful, observations. You have been hearing all of your life about this moment - your first big step into what you have been called and told is the real world. What, you may be asking yourself this morning, is this real life all about? Ladies and gentlemen of the Class of 2005 at Dartmouth, it’s not college - it’s not high school. Real life is junior high.

The world you’re about to enter is filled with adolescent pettiness, pubescent rivalries, the insecurities of 13-year-olds and the false bravado of 14-year-olds. Forty years from now, I guarantee it, you’ll still be making silly mistakes, you’ll have a temper tantrum, you’ll have your feelings hurt for some trivial slight, you’ll say something dumb and at least once a week you’ll wonder, “Will I ever grow up?”

You can change that. In pursuit of passions, always be young. In your relationship with others, always be a grown-up. Set a standard and stay faithful to it.

I really like his comments about what they world they are about to enter is filled with… “adolescent pettiness, pubescent rivalries, the insecurities of 13-year-olds and the false bravado of 14-year-olds.”

In my 40 trips around the sun, that’s what I’ve seen far more often than not, only getting worse as time passes and society supposedly “progresses”.

There is more to this, however.

I know I frustrate many people much of the time.

I have personal standards that I try my best to stay faithful towards, and I have standards I was taught when I was a child that my nation is supposed to hold, standards that when violated that I cry havoc.

Be careful what you teach the children, because some of them believe in ideals, and grow up into people like me who are willing to point out when the emperor has no clothes.

—

Thanks to Goemagog at Incite for the stimulation of thought by his(?) linking to the speech.

Technorati Tags: personal, recommended reading