Well as a famous man once said..."It all ends in tears" and so it did for Carrie Underwood last night after being crowned the "American Idol". Her tears I could give a rat's ass about, my 6 year old daughter's tears are another story. She was heartbroken to see her beloved rocker Bo Bice take second place after hanging through 2 hours of the most shamless self promotion I've ever seen.
I had become somewhat of a "fan" I guess when it became my daughter's and my routine to watch this show every week together, and watch we did faithfully through the whole 12 week airing. Sophia immediately took to the rocker BO, declaring after the first night that the long haired, bearded hippyboy was her favorite. This got me to thinking that one day her "favorite" boy could and probably won't be the image I have in my head for her, which is a future worry i will delay dwelling on for now. Still it was with sadness for her as I watched her excited face well up with tears as the winner was announced? What do you say to soften that first real crush let down?
The whole idol phenomenon is a bit scary anway, as there seems to be little to idolize when most of these kids have their past transgressions outed by the likes of The Smoking Gun or others. Yet I also understand the mind of a 6-year-old girls, or at least I think I do- and in her mind, Bo was the end all and be all of stardom. Cute in a way, but sad still to see your child reduced to tears over something so contrived and scripted. I assured her that Clive Davis dug Bo more anyway, and he even said so a week before, and that he wanted to record his album, so he must be better than Carrie. This had little of the intended effect and so off she went with tears on her cheeks to bed....
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Memorial Day +4 part 2
A good friend responded to my latest Memorial Day observation quite astutely when he mentioned not only is he also annoyed with the whole Tillman fiasco he also mentioned another forgotten "hero" Jessica Lynch. This brave young woman took a bullet and kept shooting untill her ammo ran out, only to use her knife. We've since learned that this too was an embellishment of the facts. This lead me to wonder if this wasn't a concerted effort on the part of the military, designed to glorify these individuals and in the process, make the enlistment even more attractive to any wanna be youngsters.
I wonder how many 18-year-olds are presently receiving basic training that may have enlisted inspired by the heroic-- if not less than honest portrayal of these individuals. Of course regardless of what they did, they are to be commended, but outright lying by the military establishment is very worrisome in a time of so much suffering already. Funny how this administration decrys the "false' depictions and imflamatory stories Al Jazeera and other Arab outlets produce, it seems to be a case of the kettle calling the pot black.....
I wonder how many 18-year-olds are presently receiving basic training that may have enlisted inspired by the heroic-- if not less than honest portrayal of these individuals. Of course regardless of what they did, they are to be commended, but outright lying by the military establishment is very worrisome in a time of so much suffering already. Funny how this administration decrys the "false' depictions and imflamatory stories Al Jazeera and other Arab outlets produce, it seems to be a case of the kettle calling the pot black.....
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Memorial Day +4
We're now 4+ years into W's war on terror and it appears we've only stirred a hornets nest of hatred towards our policies and people. Though as scary as this is, the real legacy lies in this years' Memorial Day commemorations as we now have 1600 soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice for an arguably dodgy cause at best.
As a father I try to conceive of the pain of losing a chid so horrifically, and I am always drawn back to the root question: For what? I love my country as much as the next guy, I want to stamp out terrorists and I want America to be safe. Is starting an unnecessary and unprovoked war in the most volatile region in the world supposed to really make this happen?
Yesterday I watched as Pat Tillman's family one by one denounced the George W. war machine as having used their son's glorious sacrifice for their own warmongering public relations battle. It wasn't that he was killed by friendly fire -- this is and has always been a by-product of war, the crux of the problem is the US's inability to report the "truth" even after Tillman had given the ultimate sacrifice. So my question begs to be answered: If we are lied to when our children die in service to their country, why then should we believe the very reasons we're even fighting for?
All Americans should this year, more than most, remember that what this Memorial Day really stands for is not cook-outs, beaches, and boardwalks-- but rather tombstones,amputations, and devestating war. That we too often insulate ourselves from the real truths of the holidays we celebrate is a fact, and that in reality for over 1600 families this Memorial Day is but another very raw, painful reminder of a policy gone wrong from the start. This should not, and cannot demean any soldier's service or sacrifice, as I have the utmost respect for anyone who would go 10,000 miles away from his family and fight an enemy like no other--an enemey with no real face, front lines, or even uniforms. Still this country continues to bleed four years after 9/11 and it's time we all ask the tough questions of whether we are allocating our resources in the best possible manner. Hell, even Colin Powell has dropped off the radar from this administration. Being a man of high honor who has both witnessed death and war, I believe he is still disapointed that the White House allowed him to go the UN with that less than verifiable "eveidence".
Is this not the greatest irony that a man who spends his entire life in service to his country, not in words-- but in deeds-- and with honor, truth, and conviction, is himself the sacrificial lamb of the truth? Let's hope by this time next year we have a clearer vision for what we ought to be doing to help the world see peace, since fighting for peace is such an oxymoron.
I wonder if we had taken $100 billion and distributed it as agressively in the name of peace, health, and education to the very people we have chosen to bomb, maim, and kill-- if our investment would be yielding much better long term dividends? I don't want to sound like a daisy waving peacenik-- because I'm not - Afghanistan needed to be cleansed of the Taliban and the hatred it spread, but if we could have tried to change world opinion through peaceful altruistic means maybe, just maybe, we might see ourselves liked by the world as much as we are liked by ourselves.
Isn't this the real problem with our country? Americans by nature, deed, and example are good peace loving people, giving milions upon millions domestically and indeed internationally to those less fotunate. For this we see ourselves as a fair, generous,understanding and compassionate people -- unfortunately we have a policy abroad which presents a completely different face to the world-- bully, mighty, warring, and wasteful. We have allowed ourselves to be painted completely differently than we see ourselves.
So enjoy your Memorial Day, but don't forget that for everyone of those 1600 Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines, how many lives are directly affected by their deaths. Maybe each person's death has a ripple effect through 1000 lives around them in the course of their lives...that would mean that 1,600,000 people are feeling the very raw pain of this war as we cook our hotdogs and drink our beer here at home - well behind the "front lines"......God Bless ALL of us-- not just America.
As a father I try to conceive of the pain of losing a chid so horrifically, and I am always drawn back to the root question: For what? I love my country as much as the next guy, I want to stamp out terrorists and I want America to be safe. Is starting an unnecessary and unprovoked war in the most volatile region in the world supposed to really make this happen?
Yesterday I watched as Pat Tillman's family one by one denounced the George W. war machine as having used their son's glorious sacrifice for their own warmongering public relations battle. It wasn't that he was killed by friendly fire -- this is and has always been a by-product of war, the crux of the problem is the US's inability to report the "truth" even after Tillman had given the ultimate sacrifice. So my question begs to be answered: If we are lied to when our children die in service to their country, why then should we believe the very reasons we're even fighting for?
All Americans should this year, more than most, remember that what this Memorial Day really stands for is not cook-outs, beaches, and boardwalks-- but rather tombstones,amputations, and devestating war. That we too often insulate ourselves from the real truths of the holidays we celebrate is a fact, and that in reality for over 1600 families this Memorial Day is but another very raw, painful reminder of a policy gone wrong from the start. This should not, and cannot demean any soldier's service or sacrifice, as I have the utmost respect for anyone who would go 10,000 miles away from his family and fight an enemy like no other--an enemey with no real face, front lines, or even uniforms. Still this country continues to bleed four years after 9/11 and it's time we all ask the tough questions of whether we are allocating our resources in the best possible manner. Hell, even Colin Powell has dropped off the radar from this administration. Being a man of high honor who has both witnessed death and war, I believe he is still disapointed that the White House allowed him to go the UN with that less than verifiable "eveidence".
Is this not the greatest irony that a man who spends his entire life in service to his country, not in words-- but in deeds-- and with honor, truth, and conviction, is himself the sacrificial lamb of the truth? Let's hope by this time next year we have a clearer vision for what we ought to be doing to help the world see peace, since fighting for peace is such an oxymoron.
I wonder if we had taken $100 billion and distributed it as agressively in the name of peace, health, and education to the very people we have chosen to bomb, maim, and kill-- if our investment would be yielding much better long term dividends? I don't want to sound like a daisy waving peacenik-- because I'm not - Afghanistan needed to be cleansed of the Taliban and the hatred it spread, but if we could have tried to change world opinion through peaceful altruistic means maybe, just maybe, we might see ourselves liked by the world as much as we are liked by ourselves.
Isn't this the real problem with our country? Americans by nature, deed, and example are good peace loving people, giving milions upon millions domestically and indeed internationally to those less fotunate. For this we see ourselves as a fair, generous,understanding and compassionate people -- unfortunately we have a policy abroad which presents a completely different face to the world-- bully, mighty, warring, and wasteful. We have allowed ourselves to be painted completely differently than we see ourselves.
So enjoy your Memorial Day, but don't forget that for everyone of those 1600 Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines, how many lives are directly affected by their deaths. Maybe each person's death has a ripple effect through 1000 lives around them in the course of their lives...that would mean that 1,600,000 people are feeling the very raw pain of this war as we cook our hotdogs and drink our beer here at home - well behind the "front lines"......God Bless ALL of us-- not just America.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
A Father's Pride
Well the torch has been passed...my wonderful 6-year-old daughter is blogging! Wow, I think when i was 6 I was still learning to ride my two-wheeler...today's kids are so smart, though Sophia's abilities are most likely due to her love of reading....you got read to want to write. And such a coherent blog....she'll be signing on often and adding her little perspectives to this site...stay tuned
My School Fair-- By Sophia Paynter
Hi my name is Sophia daughter of PaynterinFlorida, i am 6 1/2 . This is my first blog yesterday me my Dad my Mom and myUncle went to my school fair at North Palm Beach Elmentary. And the first thing i went on was the bounse house. And i play mini golf saw my freinds played some games . After that i did sand art my bottle had a butterfly i put some beatiful colors in it. i also got a tatoo! My tatoo was on my arm it was a beatiful butterfly. i also want to tell you about when i went into a maze where i had to craw in it oh! and it had good air condishining but i also played games and won a prize it was a baton it was a beatiful baton oh! and before i forget i took a picure with the build a bear workshop bear and then i went home to have dinner and watch the muppets Wizard Of Oz.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Ahhh Friday, finally.
Finally!, I haven't yet been able to completely unpack from my sojourn north to Philadelphia so I anticipate a week-end of "getting it together"-- laundry, house cleaning etc. Then I shall retire to my auxiliary office-the beach for some much needed chill time(sorry Chuck). It'll only be 7 days before the next round of northern visitors with the impending arrival of the mighty Yogaman himself, the venerable Flash makes a Memorial Day appearance, beginning at 9am on Friday the 27th at Palm Beach International Airport. His Yoginess will then lead the enlightened to the Juno Beach pier for an impromtu beach session. The FM will be relaxing until Tuesday morning taking in all that the Palm Beaches have to offer....of course not to be outdone our eldest brother Captain Kaos himself makes a "backdoor" entrance as well- sneaking in via the Ronald Reagan Memorial highway (Fl. turnpike). He arrives Friday also and he'll be bringing along support---the EDman...his son who now makes Orlando his homebase....so the Memorial day weekend looks to be strong and long...I will be stocking up on the Becks in anticpation. So there it is...a 7 day reprieve before the next wave of northern immigrants....that's the beauty of Florida, constant reminders of your northern past....until later...PAYNTERinFLORIDA out.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Hall of Fame
In other news here in Florida it was one week ago today I was standing before hundreds of high school girls and nuns (go figure) giving an introduction speech to my incredible mother Alice V. McCormick for her induction into Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls Hall of Fame. An honor for sure as they only have about 50 inductees in their 65 year history containing 37,000 alum. The honorable Alice earned this distiction the old fashioned way....hard work, service and faith. To say it was an honor to be chosen to introduce her is putting it lightly, as I know the many friends and family who were in attendance felt she was deserving for not just her Peace Corps service but her loyalty and love she has shown the many people in her life for so long...congrats Mom!
Hurricanes are a coming....
Wow, just saw the future in Central America.....none too eager to witness that fury again. Last year was my eigth year in Florida and my first time at having to evacuate. Those poor people in C. America are so unprepared, having been to that area a few times it's a pretty safe bet that corrugates metal and adobe shacks are not what you want to be in. Last year was trying enough for me in a concrete block house, what with no power for days, no gas, no supermarket. i guess the upside to abject poverty is that you don't miss what you don't already have, still I guess prayers are in order for the many thousands who will surely know the terror of the impending fury....
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