Worldly Chatter

And here I thought that electing Democrats was going to be a good thing for the country! Not when they back down and give into pressure from Bush and his administration, in my most humbled opinion, they lack the backbone we saw in the elections. I first saw the story in NOSheadlines a news agency here in Holland, titled, ‘Big Bush is watching you!’ According to the news articles, congress gave Bush and his administration power to view and eavesdrop on overseas communications. Phone, internet phone and emails can be, and is, viewed to see about overseas terrorist activity. They do not need a warrant, they do not need much of a reason that it might contain, or pertain, to Al Qaeda. This bill, which Bush will undoubtedly sign this week, will last six month, in which they have just enough time to come up with something permanent to replace the outdated, 30 year old, FISA laws.

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell said he needed the measure “in order to protect the nation from attacks that are being planned today to inflict mass casualties on the United States.” Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, opposed the bill, saying, “Sadly, Congress has been stampeded by fear-mongering and deception into signing away our rights.” “With the President set to sign this bill into law, I do not believe we will soon be able to undo this damage,” Nadler said. “Rights given away are not easily regained.” Reuters

We all can recall how hard it is for people to get back something taken from the government. It is just like how long it took blacks to get rights, women rights or even if the tax man makes a mistake, they aren’t in any hurry to mend it now are they? Same thing here and I agree with Nadler, once done, it will be a battle to get our privacy and rights back to us.

What does this mean to me or to you? Well, not only can Bush eavesdrop on Americans and their communications with other Americans or people overseas but if they saw fit they could intercept communications from overseas coming into America and no doubt won’t stop there either. There are communication lines that are foreign to foreign that has a connecting station in America that current law stated America needed a warrant to intercept those calls. Now, thanks to this new bill, America does not need a warrant to listen in on calls or emails that aren’t even going to America but merely partially connected through America.

So, if I call my mother, father or email friends and they see a constant flow into America and are curious about it, they can listen in, read my mail and ponder on whether I am a threat or not. As Dutchie pointed out to me, how farfetched is the Simpson’s movie now? If you haven’t seen it yet, do so! In one scene, the government has a huge room dedicated to listening in and overhears the Simpsons talking on the train and subsequently a huge scene takes place where the government steps in to take control based on one conversation with Marge and her children.

Am I being monitored by my own government as I sit here in Holland because I make constant communications to America? I wouldn’t put it past them. It makes me sick that Americans are watched and overheard for the sake of security! How much of it is security and how much of it is executive power going to someone’s head? Really now, can you recall the last battle the executive branch had with Congress and the Judicial branch over warrantless wiretapping. Nothing has changed except Bush got what he wanted all along, a way to do it legally.

Oh it infuriates me! Not only do they want to know if I am gay, have a practicing faith and what I ate for breakfast when I land in my own country but now they want to know what I said to my mother last night! When will it stop, after congress gets a backbone or after Bush is out of office? Either way, too much damage done, too much mistrust for the government was created, and one wonders if it will ever stop once the ball starts rolling.

Further reading can be found on CNN and New York Times as well as links above.

 

Spying Bill passed by Congress, Big Bush is Watching you, Worldly chatter, Bush administration, FISA, wiretapping, Civilian surveillance, Government Eavesdropping

4,000 people have joined a lawsuit against Germany for the atrocities that went on and how they still suffer for them but there is an interesting twist. It isn’t for money, it is for psychiatric care.

The Israelis, calling themselves second-generation Holocaust survivors, say the scars of the Nazi genocide on their parents have crossed generations. Many still live with an irrational fear of starvation and incapacitating bouts of depression, the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit marks “the very first time that the German government will be asked to take responsibility and to care for those of the second generation in Israel and indeed, worldwide,” attorney Gideon Fisher said before filing the suit at the Tel Aviv District Court. CNN International

They want biweekly sessions for the individuals involved and this could run Germany anywhere from ten to thirty million dollars if they succeed. Should Germany actually pay out for the care of these people who suffer so because of the country’s history? Germany has paid well over fifty billion dollars since the fifties to survivors and their family’s for the atrocities of ww2. With all the money that is given to said families the people involved in the lawsuit do not want the money coming from the various funds and accounts set up for survivors and their immediate families, this is different and should be paid separately. Would this lead to a revolving door of people crying damages and psychological damages and demand Germany paid up? Is the current government and its citizens responsible for those who came before them? When does it stop? Germany, I think, will always carry the weight, always pay for what their families did before them. A hundred years from now, will that weight lessen? This is what I imagine the persons handling this in Germany are thinking. What, for sure, are they thinking or saying, I don’t know because they aren’t saying much at all on the matter right now.

I can completely understand why they seek the funds for treatment. Their government doesn’t have the means to care for them properly and their health care system, according to them, is inadequate. Stories, habits and fears can and do carry on from parent to child, especially something like this. There are many Europeans who grew up with the stories of their families, picked up the habits, mistrust and fears of their families who survived the war but is it so serious as to be in constant fear of running out of food or refusing to use public transportation because of memories, I don’t know but it has me thinking.

I can no more say for sure what the damage can possibly be to a second generation Holocaust survivor than anyone else my age. We did not go through anything like that and probably can’t even picture it right in our heads and hearts. I found the story and found it interesting. At first I thought they wanted money and it was some sort of scam. Maybe it is but why go through all that for psychiatric care if it is a scam? Should Germany pay up? I refuse to even guess or suggest because I would never have the right answer. Yet I do have a question, if it is for the Israelis who have such trauma, will this count for the Europeans whose families went through the war? Will there be something there or is another lawsuit in the future of Germany actually pays up? Something I am going to keep an eye on though.

Second Generation Holocaust Survivors, WW2, Holocaust children want lawsuit, Worldly Chatter, Germany, World War 2

An interesting news piece for those traveling to the US: According to the associated press, Congress plans to create a non-profit organization to help promote travel to the US. This organization would not only promote travel to the US but also clear up any misperceptions about US travel policies. It would work with other agencies on fixing visa policies and entry processes that discourage visits. Since 9/11 tourism has dropped, as was expected, however, it hasn’t stopped going down.

JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer “The global pie of international travel is steadily increasing, while the U.S. share has been slowly decreasing,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association.
Visits from the six countries that provide the most tourists — Britain, Japan, Germany, France, South Korea and Australia — have dropped 15 percent since 2000 while travel from those six to other countries was up a robust 39 percent.

Interesting isn’t it that these countries will go elsewhere rather than go to America. I am going to fill you in on something. There isn’t much in way of misperceptions when it comes to entering America. All the scary stuff people hear really does happen.
Take for example two people who want to enter the country for a vacation, they fill out the proper forms and hand them in to customs. They are average people with no record of any kind but banned from entering the country. How can that be? Well, when families enter the country they fill out visa wavers and other forms stating they are traveling together and they are in fact a family. Yet these two people were two men who happened to be gay and married according to their country’s laws. The US does NOT acknowledge gay marriage therefore the form they filled out was wrong, they are not a family, and they are not married and therefore cannot enter.

Your landing at JFK all stoked to be on solid ground and ready to conquer it all! It is vacation time! You have been to America before so nothing is new to you. You hand in your paperwork and hand over your passport but there is a problem. The last time you entered the country you forgot to hand in your visa waiver! According to the system, you have been in America for four years now! However, how can that be since the ONLY way to get to the booth you are currently standing in front of is from the landing area where your plane is still sitting on! There is NO way to enter the area from the rest of the airport unless you are personnel. Therefore, you stand there and explain what happened. You tell them you have just landed; you left America and went back to your country. You have an employer, friends, and family who can vouch for your existence there. Ye gods, why would you want to stay; you are beginning to think to yourself! Meanwhile, though all the explanation and proof of you leaving the man behind the overly tall booth belittles you, harasses you and treats you like a common criminal! Right next to you is a man who is in shackles because he did not have the right work visa therefore being deported. The fact that your English sounds like that of a native is another thing crawling under his skin so he nags at you about that. ‘Sounds like you have been here a nice while’, never mind the fact that other nations speak English and rather well, he pushes the issue and wants to know how you learned to speak English so well if it isn’t your mother tongue. ‘Do you want to end up like that guy? You better start cooperating. If you aren’t careful you will end up like that.’ While he points to the deportee in shackles. ‘Are you married?’ Yes. ‘Where is your husband then?’ Back at home. ‘Why are you traveling alone then?’ The drama goes on for some time, nagging, harassing, belittling and staring you down until you feel like you should be on the floor! Proof of your ability to take care of yourself financially is necessary. Prove you were in your place of birth! Drivers license, passport, bankcards from homeland all done within a year are not good enough proof. Where are your receipts! No, you don’t empty your wallet before vacation! No receipts, incites more aggravation and belittling from the man in the tall booth. Finally after a good hour or so with the man behind his booth, staring you down and showing he is boss, lets you through. Only because a nice man who was also on your flight (most likely a sky marshall) came to your aide and told the official that you were actually on the flight that just landed in New York. What a way to start your stay in American huh?

Well, the first story is factual. It actually made news it was that dramatic of an affair. The second story that is actually Dutchies second time into America. Her third trip was a doozy too because even though her name was cleared they still felt it necessary to bust her balls a bit more.

I tell you this because our government feels the drop in tourism. It is slipping more and more and these stories are just some of the reasons why. Rules change, some countries need visas to enter while others don’t. They interrogate you if you don’t breathe right. It is a mess. The last time Dutchie and I entered America went all right but it wasn’t a ‘welcome to America and enjoy your stay’ atmosphere. You feel like you are guilty of something when you land. How is that going to bring people wanting more? Those misperceptions they want to clear up, they might want to realize that they are facts, not misperceptions and do something about it so people will WANT to come to America and bring their money.

worldly chatter, tourism in the US, travel to the US, visa waivers, getting into America

In past months, the Dutch government has been considering a smoking ban just as in many states across America and other countries in Europe. The Dutch have been able to smoke in restaurants, bars and other places for as long as anyone can remember that the idea has actually been a rough decision to make for some politicians. This will of course have an impact on hospitality businesses and coffee shops throughout the country and many are wondering how much of an impact. The previous government had agreed upon a phase out of smoking in public places, the new government is going to hold to the agreement, and the phasing will start in July of 08. This is how it will work. In restaurants and bars there will be a closed off section for smokers where there will be no waiter to wait on them. In the coffee shops, a similar sectioning will take place. You will have the counter to purchase your weed and other products then another section, closed off, to smoke your purchase and cigarettes.

As a smoker, I am a little odd in my thinking in that I understand the ban in restaurants. If you, as a non-smoker, are eating at a restaurant, are you really going to enjoy your meal while consuming smoke with your soup and salad? The way it is set up in most places here in Holland, you have to walk past the smoking section to get to the non-smoking section. Shouldn’t it be that the smoker has to go to the back of the restaurant to be away from the kitchen and non-smoker? I would think so but that isn’t the case in a lot of places. As far as bars go, maybe a smoking and non-smoking bar? Extremely unlikely I know but I know I enjoy a good smoke with my beer. I remember when the ban took effect in Massachusetts we had to leave the bar to smoke and more often than not, our stool was taken when we returned. I can recall when it was allowed and it was convenient but not really practical when it is a public place. Some smokers scream that it isn’t fair to them while it is fair to the non-smoker. The non-smoker has been screaming all along that it hasn’t been fair to them. Who is right? With all the knowledge we have on smoking I would tend to go with the non-smoker. It is of my own doing that I smoke, knowing the consequences, it is not fair for the people next to me to be forced to deal with my decision but these are just my thoughts on that. I don’t have much recollection on smoking in public places like my mother does so the ban really isn’t that big a thing to me. The ban here in Holland will just bring me back to New York and Massachusetts, no sweat.

One thing in all this I simply do not get. A coffee shop here in Holland is a place to get marijuana. You get your stuff and all the tools in which to consume your purchase. You sit down with your tea or coffee and smoke away! (They do not sell alcohol in these shops, hence the name) So why segregate a place in which its sole purpose is to smoke? I have been in one shop with Dutchie and the sis-in-law and I can assure you, it is one big cloud of smoke. Weed or cigarettes, it’s just a ball of smoke when you open that door! So again I ask, why separate the counter in which you purchase products to smoke from the place you go to smoke it? It makes no sense to me but that is what the Dutch government is planning on doing.

marijuana, coffee shops in Holland, smoking ban, worldly chatter, Netherlands drug policies

On May 14^th organizers of Moscow Gay Pride put in official papers announcing their peaceful gay rights demonstration scheduled for May 27^th; it never got a chance to take place. Saturday there was a march ‘Russian March’ where about 200 people showed up to protest the next day’s events. Slogans such as “Russia without Sodomites,” “Down with Russophobes,” “For Russia without Perverts” and others.
For the second time the Russian government denied the request to have a gay pride demonstration and for a second time the gay community went ahead with it anyway. Last year was a large turnout but this year the cops were ready having the whole area blocked off and arrested anyone pulling up for the event. Protesters and hooligans were ready with spit, rocks and eggs to throw at everyone one who showed up. Cops arrested prominent individuals and gay officials and many kept going, never stopping after seeing what was taking place. Hundreds of reporters had been hanging around waiting to catch the event but were surely disappointed when nothing but egg throwing and arrests were made.

Not one hooligan was arrested. Not one individual who spat upon another or threw eggs and rocks were arrested. Only the people who wanted the peaceful demonstration had been placed in handcuffs; heavily armed riot police detained approximately 30.

 

 Representatives from several European countries such as Germany and Italy were present and arrested, now their governments have put in a formal complaint to the European Parliament to do something. There is talk of not allowing some Russian officials and citizens into the Union until Russia does something about the way it treats its people.

One must remember that in Russia you do not have the right to assemble. You don’t have the right to do much that the government doesn’t like. We are talking about human beings being arrested for wanting equal treatment. These are human beings being threatened, beaten and spat upon and all they want is equal rights. The European Parliament should make a stand against this. Several governments are asking for action and put in their complaints but will anything be done? What happened to Human Rights?

Russia Gay Pride, GLBT rights, Moscow, Gay rights

Articles on the story can be found here and here. Click on the picture to read about the British activists involved and their story.

There was a multinational poll done on whether the US could be trusted to act responsible on an international level and majority of participants said either not at all or not very much. Just a couple stated overwhelmingly that they could. In the same poll it showed that 3 out of 4 Americans feel that the country has taken on the roll of global enforcer more than it should. A lot of the mistrust grew sharply with the start of the Iraq war. Apparently there was already some apprehension there.
No surprise really, even the Americans are losing faith in the president and the conflict. Congress is at odds with the president and that isn’t going unnoticed by the international community either. It seems that the US has been placed under a microscope and the world is looking in trying to see what else to admire, pick at or simply stand around and watch the show.
I found the article interesting because it shows how the world has been watching America and every decision it makes. How the world is changing its opinions and I often wonder if Americans see what the rest of the world sees. I can recall living in America and having an opinion, a certain amount of loyalty to the country and every decision it made. Whether I liked the decisions or not it simply was that you acknowledged the difference in opinion and moved on. So many like me silently disagreeing but not many wanting to rock the boat. You see it on the news when someone disagrees loud enough, it makes headlines. The poll was done over the course of a year and involved 18 countries. Prior to that countries formed their opinions, their citizens questioning everything and seeing how differently things were done in America verses elsewhere. The world has always watched and formed its opinions. Why is it only recently that Americans have started to see how the rest of the world sees? 3 out of 4 Americans feel the role of global enforcer has been taken on more than it should according to the poll. When the elections were held last year they made enough noise to change powers in Congress. Now Congress and the White House are at odds on just about everything. President Bush was elected twice so clearly enough Americans believed in him and his stance to vote him in again. But what has changed in the past two years to make Americans change their view point and join what most of the world already thought?
I sit in an interesting position where I can see from an international perspective how my country is viewed and at the same time see how Americans view it. I know that while I lived state side there was this air of patriotism, whether right or wrong you stick by your fellow American. Maybe it is finally coming to where enough of those fellow Americans see collectively therefore the whole perspective changes. It just takes time for all to get on board. Maybe that’s how it took so long because over the years there have been people staunchly against the war, or the President but not enough of them saw what the rest of the world saw to make the kind of change that has been slowly happening since Jan.
With all this, I am wondering since the US isn’t trusted internationally, is it trusted domestically? Do Americans trust what is going on inside their own country? I haven’t been back to the states since August so it’s hard to get a more personal perspective when you’re out of the loop. I hear from friends and family that it isn’t but still curious as to what the majority think.

International mistrust over US, US foreign policy, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Christopher Whitney, International poll over trust on America

I sat dumbfounded watching the news on CNN last night. Naturally it was all over CNN international but when I turned on the Dutch morning news they had the story going; a correspondent there on the scene relaying via phone. I get on my computer and read the story on Dutch newspapers. For the most part American news doesn’t hit headlines unless pertaining to the war or something drastic like this. The relevance to everyday affairs isn’t important on a larger scale to most European life.
32 people dead in a school shooting at Virginia Tech, it shocks people and they can’t help but talk about it on forums and online sites where the news can be read, Dutch and expat alike all asking the same questions. Why wasn’t the school shut down after the first shooting? Why did it seem like such sloppy organization on the news? Why were these kids being evacuated right after the first shooting, thus minimizing the threat? So many assumptions on the part of law enforcement, they had thought the shooter left campus, that it was a domestic issue. Does it matter? Shouldn’t the school have been shut down anyway? Rather a panic on campus than this so many say. Questions I am sure Americans are asking as well. What seems to be a hot topic this morning however is why does it happen more often in America than anywhere else?
While searching one can easily find school massacres dating back to the fifties, a handful in Germany, the Middle East and Canada but the majority reported happen in America. Further still, some are saying is that a good portion of school shootings that happen in America occur in mid-western and southern states where the pride of the right to bear arms is practically worn on their sleeves. Doing a little googling I come to find out that it isn’t just the south where tradition in owning a gun goes way back but throughout the east coast and west only seeming to be minimal in the central states.
If it happens mostly in America, why isn’t America looking at this? Why won’t they see the bigger picture? I as an American don’t have that answer but do ponder the same questions. Why is it so violent over there?
They haven’t released the name of the man who has done this; they are still tossing the idea of whether it was one or two shooters and only confirm the number dead and injured. Services and counseling are being offered at the college though classes are for now canceled. Across the world people wait for answers and wonder why more wasn’t done. Is it wrong for the rest of the world to criticize what law enforcement in this case? Is it wrong for the rest of the world to sit by and watch America fall at the seams in its own schools and question why; ponder why more hasn’t been done to protect the youth?

school shootings, Virginia Tech shooting

*each bubble on the map represents one shooting that took place.. numbers go as follows 1 - most recent.. Click on map to go directly to site for more details.*

Prince Willem Alexander and wife Princess Maxima have done it again! Another girl added to the Dutch Royal family. The little cutie was born last night around ten and both mom and baby are doing fine. Prince Willem Alexander came out to the press room of the hospital to show off his new pride and joy to reporters this morning with a smile that wouldn’t go away. She came into the world weighing 4,135 g, measured 52 cm and as proud daddy said this morning, was born with the typical Oranje nose!
Queen Beatrix was seen beaming as she drove away from Bronovo Hospital in Den Haag after seeing her newest granddaughter. This is Queen Beatrix’s 7^th granddaughter out of 8 grandchildren. Princess Maxima’s parents were also at the hospital shortly after the birth. Prime Minister Balkenende made a formal broadcast late last night on both radio and television telling the Dutch public the news of the third daughter to the royal couple and fourth in line for the throne. Right now we do not have a name for the kleine meisje (little girl) as is customary until her birth is registered with town offices in a day or so.
The royal family is loved and popular with the Dutch people and news is a buzz on the latest addition. Last night reporters hung around the hospital to get pictures of the family and a first glimpse of the baby. Catharina-Amalia and Alexia were left at home but will be seeing their sister as soon as mom and baby are brought home from the hospital.
Being from a country that doesn’t have a royal family I find myself rather interested in them and what it is they do. I enjoy history and the cultures I find myself in and this wasn’t any different. Dutchie brought me a DVD of their wedding back in 2002 and it was quite a sight! Then again since I intend on becoming a Dutch National in reality I am just learning the Dutch way. Do as the Romans do as the saying goes. Each Dutchie has his/ her place in Holland as does the royals and the Dutch seem alright with that. They like their royal family and have no intention of changing what has been for so long now. The Royal family is a part of their culture, their heritage. The Netherlands is ruled by crown and parliament, as Dutchie informed me, they help make what Holland is; they go hand in hand. So congratulations to the proud parents and welcome to the world kleine meisje!
Announcement of kleine Meisje Here is a video clip of Prince Willem Alexander at the hospital with his baby girl. Video property of www.nu.nl

Prince Willem Alexander, Princess Maxima, Netherlands, Dutch Royal Family

“What would you do if your child were gay?” That’s what Democratic presidential hopeful Chris Dodd asked some high school students in New Hampshire. I remember I asked my father that very same question years ago when I was just starting high school. I threw him for a loop when I asked that and he didn’t have much of an answer for me other than that he was adamant none of his children were gay. While it was not the answer I was looking for I was pleasantly surprised that when I did come out he was as open as any parent could be. Did that get him to thinking? I never asked but I do know that when he did find out he was prepared to ask questions and genuinely understand me and really get to know his daughter. I was a lucky woman as there are parents who are finding a different means to handle their child’s gayness. It is called conversion therapy, sexual reorientation therapy or reparative therapy; a means to turn the homosexual into an ex-gay as these individuals like to call themselves once they go through the treatment.
The treatment starts when people as young as fifteen are brought to a facility, much like a dormitory, and informed of the rules at hand. They have no say as to what they can watch, listen to and what they can wear. Men must shave daily and women twice weekly. No Abercrombie and Fitch or Calvin Klein. Bach or Beethoven is out of the question and any other form of media is dictated by them. Curfews are set in place, a log of every fantasy and thought goes to their therapist. Men get taught how to play football and other manly sports while the ladies get taught to put on makeup.
You see, the ex-gay movement believes that homosexuality is a set of behaviors causing the lifestyle choice rather than an orientation and a non-choice. They feel that the reasons for this are due to poor parenting, an inability to develop ‘healthy’ relationships with the same gender as friends and childhood traumas such as sexual abuse. These factors cause the behavior and therefore reparative therapy will be able to undo the damage and turn the person straight. Reparative therapies involve religious conditioning or therapy and prayer, also used is psychotherapy, aversion therapy and behavioral conditioning. One story that has circulated is where are residential treatment center used sedation, isolation, physical restraints and ‘hold therapy’ in which one girl was held down while the staff screamed at her until she confessed she was hurting her family by being a lesbian. How much of this is still being used one cannot say because the facility where parents send their children or individuals send themselves is closed to outsiders and videotaping is forbidden. The only source people have about the conditions of the place or techniques used are the people who come out of it and some of them are so traumatized to talk about it.
There are other means that people involved with the movement use. CD’s and DVD’s to condition their thoughts into believing they are falling for the opposite sex and their tendencies for the same sex are leaving their person. In Mark Simkin’s report on the subject he interviews Richard Cohen a reorientation therapist who feels it is unnatural and shows a few techniques he uses in his private office. One such practice shown was when he had a patient vent out his frustrations from childhood with a racket on a bed. The patient was screaming the agony Richard feels was bottled up. The racket is to get the aggression out so he can find peace with the trauma and to make himself a more powerful man; writing out childhood memories and therapy is used to bring out the faulty parenting and trauma which he believes is the cause of gayness.
Richard Cohen is one of about a hundred facilities and therapists practicing reorientation or conversion therapy across America where it is gaining in momentum. Critics of the practice see it as a dangerous fraud and that consequences are huge when it comes to the individual coming out of therapy. American Psychiatric Association and others feel that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and that it is impossible to change a person’s orientation. Critics also see it as a sham and a money maker as prices for one month in a treatment center can go as high as seven thousand dollars as well as all the books CD’s and other materials promoting the movement. There is no scientific backing for the success of the treatment and the centers themselves claim a rough number of 30% in success stories. Most treatment centers come from a religious background and reject what science as found when it comes to gays being born this way and continue to assert that it is behavioral and sinful.
Can all this really transform a human from gay to straight? Most don’t believe so and I tend to agree. Not only because I find nothing wrong with being a homosexual but also because with the methods used are detrimental to the individual who is only trying to find peace with who they are; it is brainwashing and in some cases cruel and inhumane. With what we do know about conversion therapy and what they do it reminds me a lot of boot camp and means to break them down and make them one entity and not individuals. What I also cannot understand is this is the very same religion that also preaches love, acceptance and a non-judgmental mentality towards its fellow man so how do they justify all this?

gay conversion, ex-gays, Richard Cohen, Mark Simkin, homosexuality

I had a comment about my piece ‘Oh Sweet Jesus?’ and stated that I lacked conceptual depth; what was the intention of the artist in making the statue? She may be right; I was not entirely specific on the intentions of the artist and could have gone into more detail about what the controversy was really about. Let’s hope my second time around can answer the questions and add clarity to the story.

When announcements of the exhibit went out they stated it could be viewed from the street from midnight to 1am and 6pm to 7pm; starting April 1^st and closing April 7^th. According to the Catholic League news release on their website one title Naked Jesus-Genitals Exposed-Crucified dated March 29^th Bill Donohue, head of watchdog Catholic League, wrote this about the statue. “As I’ve said many times before, Lent is the season for non-believers to sow seeds of doubt about Jesus. What’s scheduled to go on at the Roger Smith Hotel, however, is of a different genre: this is hate speech. And choosing Holy Week—the display opens on Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday—makes it a direct in-your-face assault on Christians…” He goes on further to say would contact all resources available to him to boycott the hotel and gallery holding the exhibit.
From the information on the Catholic League website as well as the interview that Kiera McCaffrey they are upset about the lack of loincloth. The New York artist has done his interpretation without one, this and the showing over the holiday week for Christians; this is enough to ruffle a lot of feathers in the Catholic community. The fact that it is made from chocolate only seems to be more fuel for them to use and is not the main point of the protest. Artist Cavallaro is known for his art with food and merely wanted to depict the savior in chocolate, something sweet and a means to get closer to his faith. He has made no mention as to why he depicted Jesus without a loincloth and his website has no mention of that detail either. So far I have not gotten a response to the inquiry.
Since modesty is such a large part of the Christian community and America in general most were only asking for it to be a closed exhibit. The fact that you would have been able to view this from the streets of New York is what was bothersome to some. Some weren’t bothered with the statue itself only bothered by the timing of the show. What is troubling is that the piece was criticized before it was even able to be displayed. Most hadn’t heard of it until there was uproar from the Catholic community. Bill Donohue, nor any representative of the Catholic League, has seen the piece in person nor have they attempted to talk to the artist himself to gain any insight as to his motive. Why not? Why not put an inquiry about it before getting on the horn to bash something not completely known to you?
Bill Donohue also stated “All those involved are lucky that angry Christians don’t react the way extremist Muslims do when they’re offended—otherwise they may have more than their heads cut off. James Knowles, President and CEO of the Roger Smith Hotel (interestingly, he also calls himself Artist-in-Residence), should be especially grateful. And if he tries to spin this as reverential, then he should substitute Muhammad for Jesus and display him during Ramadan.
This is extremely disturbing to me as I was always taught that Christianity was love, understanding and tolerance. Where is the tolerance and love in all of this? All of this seems so extreme; an attempt to bankrupt a hotel and ruin the reputation of an artist. What for? What statement is trying to be said here by Bill Donohue and his organization? That a tolerant religion cannot tolerate freedom of expression when it comes to one owns personal depiction of their faith? What exactly was the artist trying to say in doing this? Was it an attempt for controversy, to bash a religion he claims to have faith in or simply a means to express his own faith, no matter how strange we might find it?
There is one thing I do not understand in all this. If one can recall the Greek and Roman statues and art work that are now spread throughout the world; these pieces are detailed in the human figure and in some cases do depict the male or female genitals. The human body has been shown in art form in several ways as each artist as their own way of viewing the human form and portraying that to the public. How is this any different than years before? Is it because it is Christ and therefore should be made more modest? Jesus had a human body just as you or I, why not show Jesus as a man, a human as the Christian community says he was. A human with a human body and it seems to me that all Cavallaro was doing was showing the world what he saw in his religion, Jesus as a human just as you or I but without knowing what he thought when he made it I can only state my interpretation of the sculpture. Isn’t that what art is, interpretation?

I hope this puts a little more clarity into the story. I am currently waiting to hear back from my inquiries and when I do I will be sure to relay them back to you. Furthermore, if you want to read more on the controversial story links are available.

The artist Cosimo Cavallaro can be found here.

The website for The Catholic League can be found here.

All other articles on the subject can be found here.
Post Chronicle March 28, 2007
MSNBC March 30, 2007
Previous article ‘Oh Sweet Jesus?’

Chocolate Jesus, Sweet Jesus, Lab Gallery, Manhattan, Bill Donohue, Catholic League, Comiso Cavallaro

An interesting development happened in Manhattan New York this week with artist Cosimo Cavallaro and two hundred pounds of chocolate. Cavallaro, artist and Catholic, made a nude, anatomically correct chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ and had planned for it to be displayed at Lab Gallery in Manhattan. With Jesus’ arms outstretched on an invisible cross he is depicted just as any other religious art work except without the loincloth. Cavallaro stated he did it to show his faith and get closer to his faith and religion. Kiera McCaffrey from the Catholic League says by making a religious icon such as Jesus and having him made out of chocolate with his genitals exposed “They are digging the knife at Christians on this” and to say otherwise is absurd and is also hate speech. McCaffrey went further to state that they wouldn’t do something like this to Muslims; taking Mohammed and making him from chocolate with his genitals exposed on Ramadan, their holiest month. Cavallaro said no he would not because he feels no desire to get closer to that religion, he isn’t Muslim but Catholic. He wanted to know how taking chocolate, which is not portrayed with evil, and taking the body of Christ, which is also not portrayed as evil, can make something evil. The hotel in which the gallery is housed was boycotted by Catholics and death threats were made to the artist and his wife and because of this the exhibition was closed. The artist did not even feel safe to have an interview done near the gallery or his home so had met reporters at a diner.
All this over a chocolate statue? Doesn’t the artist have the right to display his faith as he sees fit, he is an artist after all and even so, don’t we all have the right to display our faith any way we chose so long as it doesn’t harm anyone or infringe on others rights of religion? Naturally this isn’t the first time the Catholic community has been upset over artists of any kind portraying Christianity. Kanye West was on the Cover of Rolling Stone with a crown of thorns over his head to promote his latest song ‘Jesus Walks’. Yes, that has pushed some buttons too. The biggest musical artist is still Madonna. Recently she came out on stage suspended on a cross. It was scheduled to air on NBC but the footage was removed so it could be aired. I know none of us can forget the 8o’s and her ‘Like a Prayer’ video.
I was watching CNN when the story aired and they asked people to email in with their comments. One woman who wrote in asking what the difference was between chocolate and the fact that people eat the body of Christ when taking communion with bread and wine? Good question. Another wrote in stating it was the artists right to portray his faith in any fashion he chose. Why boycott it and threaten an artist for expressing himself? Simply not go to the exhibition. Another good question.
Censorship runs amuck in America and the fact that things are pulled from television and removed from galleries because it upsets a few people seems absurd. In this day and age when we should have freedom of speech and expression and freedom of religion why is religion still dominant on what is acceptable and a guide to what can and cannot be shown? Don’t Americans have the right to believe or not believe? Don’t Americans have the right to see what they choose even if it is a tad against the grain? It seems that religion has a strong hold on society, government and what is and is not acceptable. If I wanted to fly to New York to see this statue, to see how this New York artist depicts his faith, why am I barred from doing so because the Catholic League gets upset? He says his love for Jesus is sweet and loving, why not be able to show that with something sweet? How is it hate speech? How is it Catholic bashing? It’s chocolate.

Chocolate Jesus, Catholic League, Cosimo Cavallaro, Manhattan, Lab Gallery, Sweet Jesus

In both British and American news there has been talk of the respective governments officially apologizing for the slavery that went on two hundred years ago. Maryland’s Senate approved a resolution today apologizing for slavery, joining other states that have considered formal statements recently to atone for slavery’s wrongs just blocks away from a dock where enslaved men and women arrived in chains more than 240 years ago. Some Georgia lawmakers want April to be Confederate month or heritage month to honor those times and all who contributed to it but is under pressure because of recent talk of officially apologizing for their role in slavery.
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been avoiding the topic by only expressing great sorrow at the cruelty the slave trade brought. In Britain talk of compensation is the main reason why they refuse to say they are sorry. Some are still waiting to hear those words and some claim they are still feeling the sting from the acts of those that came before us.
In fact a great portion of the western world was a part of the slave trade. Netherlands, France as well as the Danish were just as guilty as the British or Americans and yet it is Georgia and Tony Blair’s inability to say sorry for something their ancestors did that makes news. Should they say sorry for something our generation had nothing to do with? Will it help those who were enslaved? The people who were enslaved have long passed on as well as their children. Lord Mayor of Bristol states he cannot actively meet anyone to apologize for the slavery two hundred years ago when they are in fact gone but is pursuing a resolution to officially voice regret for Bristol’s part in the slave trade.
With all this going on, what is actually starting the fire? There are organizations and advocacy groups that are fighting for the apology based on, as they say, the ripple effect is still felt according to one such spokesmen who voiced it on CNN. Great Britain got its wealth on the backs of African slaves so therefore an apology is necessary. Does that mean they seek compensation for the wrongs done to their ancestors? Is it even possible under British and America law to collect such a payment after the abolishment of slavery centuries ago?
Being an American, do I have a say in whether the country apologizes or not? I personally did not enslave anyone nor did my immediate family or theirs. Should I have to say sorry to a complete stranger for something I never had a hand in? It is what so many are thinking as Georgia goes into debate over the idea. Many see this as another way for people to be reminded of what happened so long ago but refuse to let go of. People fighting this were not enslaved and neither were their parents so why fight a fight that hasn’t had anything to do with them. It is Britain’s anniversary of when they abolished slavery and some see it as a good place to start the age old argument.
Should the individuals who enslaved others be accountable for what they did? Should they pay a compensation of some kind to those directly affected? Such questions truly do not matter as the individuals who were a part of this dark part of history aren’t here to be held accountable. So why have the debate at all? Is there anything that this generation can do for the actions of our ancestors? What do you think about all this? Would you apologize?

Slavery, Abolished Slavery, Apologizing for slavery, Britain, America, Georgia on Slavery

In today’s day and age it is really easy to find all the information and news on almost anything thanks to the internet. And thanks to that internet I am able to keep up with news from my country and state plus attempt to stay up to speed on politics in America. No easy task when it comes to the television mind you when it’s strictly American information I want in a series of international and domestic news broadcasts and America isn’t always in the lime light. I don’t have the expensive packages that allow for international channels so it is the internet I go to and a hunt for the information I want.

I moved to the Netherlands because I was unable to bring my partner to the US due to current laws and policies in practice so it is important to both of us that I keep up with all that is going on. The US will be having presidential elections in 08 and there are two particular candidates that I am eying and paying close attention to because they have concerns that I have and want to change things that would ultimately benefit me. Yet these candidates don’t always make the news here in Europe so to the internet I travel.

Local papers that you once read at home may be on line and may be a good place to start by means of getting the relevant political news you are looking for. My last known residence in the US was in CT but I grew up in NY so I have an interest in both. I have to register to vote in CT due to the fact that my last mailing address was in CT so the politicians who serve in congress in CT I try to keep tabs on as well as what is going on in NY. There has been talk between us about one day moving to NY so wouldn’t that concern me as well? Of course it does. www.newsday.com is one paper I read on line for NY and www.newstimes.com is another example. www.cnn.com is another place to help with US affairs. Google your country’s newspapers, magazines or television stations you once obtained at home and see if you can subscribe on line to stay current.

Of course you might not find all you want with the above means so try different searches. A lot of politicians and other individuals are realizing the power of the internet especially blogs and on line communities so don’t be afraid to go off the paper route. www.myspace.com has become a popular gathering place and you can find a lot of people who then can be linked to their site or other relevant information about them. I found Hillary Clinton and her presidential campaign on myspace where I was linked to her main site as a senator and presidential campaign as well as a blog she has set up for people on her campaign to keep voters informed. If you belong to expat groups or forums ask where others find their news. Post that you are in need of information on voting or whatever the case might be and someone should be able to help. We all find different means to get what we want; someone else might have the path you need to be on.

I know when I first moved here I was trying to find a means to stay informed about my country despite the fact that I lived in another. Over time you will find your niche on the internet and what you want. It’s all there you just have to be able to search it out.

expats, news, politics, newspapers