Gallery | Mike Luckovich March 2010 cartoons | ajc.com
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Sunday, April 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Mr. Obama, “I Got Your Back”
I have been meaning to write something about Obama winning the Nobel Peace prize. Now that I’ve had some time to cool off and think about it, I have a few things to share. I’ve been angry about something that happened the morning the prize was announced. One of my Saxon co-workers confronted me with the news that morning, all angry about it. I actually felt that he was angry at me. He said “your BOY won the Nobel Peace prize…” “Excuse me” I said. He repeated: “Obama!” I irrupted: Then he deserved it!” We said a few other things and the room got silent and very uncomfortable. After our heated discussion was over, I disengaged by surfing to my news sources to get the details. Of course, my joy was spoiled by what had happened. I was caught off guard and was ignorant of the unfolding event.
I spent that entire weekend fluming about the down-right ugliness of the right wing over Obama’s great honor. Why should this make them angry? (My conclusions are a case study for another discussion.) I thought about what I should say to my co-worker. This is what I concluded I would say: “You need to get a grip. I don’t care if you hate Obama. I did not like Bush. You can be angry at Obama for whatever unreasonable reason you choose. However, you will respect the fact that I am a devoted Obama supporter and you may not, under any circumstance, express that anger towards me.”
I saw that co-worker today; he stopped in my office which I share with two others to jabber as he always does. I shot him a glance and later joined the conversation just to dissipate my building anger. I locked eyes with him and decided to let it go for now. There will be a time.
Does Mr. Obama Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?
Of course he does… and this is not just my bias answer. It was awarded to him. He was honored. As the case for any award, someone holding the power to do so, granted it. That person or committee chose him from a short list of worthy nominees. Obama won because he was the top deserving recipient. What has he done…He has inspired the entire world. How quickly have we gotten how grim prospects were in this spring and summer of 2009. Nearly with the change of seasons, our economy changed to direct of recovery. Obama message of Hope and Change was powerful. As a result, (Guess what!) we step back from the brink and did not sink into the malady of the 1920’s.
What about peace…we are scaling down the conflict in Iraq. We are backing away from our previously confrontational style with Iran. The message is: “Let us have dialogue before conflict. Let us have peace.”
Too bad, the conservative could not find it in their hearts to celebrate. We should. We also should celebrate the nominees for Chemistry, Biology, etc. Maybe we should have a serious discussion about why each recipient was deserving. Perhaps then, we can truly appreciate a Nobel Prize.
I spent that entire weekend fluming about the down-right ugliness of the right wing over Obama’s great honor. Why should this make them angry? (My conclusions are a case study for another discussion.) I thought about what I should say to my co-worker. This is what I concluded I would say: “You need to get a grip. I don’t care if you hate Obama. I did not like Bush. You can be angry at Obama for whatever unreasonable reason you choose. However, you will respect the fact that I am a devoted Obama supporter and you may not, under any circumstance, express that anger towards me.”
I saw that co-worker today; he stopped in my office which I share with two others to jabber as he always does. I shot him a glance and later joined the conversation just to dissipate my building anger. I locked eyes with him and decided to let it go for now. There will be a time.
Does Mr. Obama Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?
Of course he does… and this is not just my bias answer. It was awarded to him. He was honored. As the case for any award, someone holding the power to do so, granted it. That person or committee chose him from a short list of worthy nominees. Obama won because he was the top deserving recipient. What has he done…He has inspired the entire world. How quickly have we gotten how grim prospects were in this spring and summer of 2009. Nearly with the change of seasons, our economy changed to direct of recovery. Obama message of Hope and Change was powerful. As a result, (Guess what!) we step back from the brink and did not sink into the malady of the 1920’s.
What about peace…we are scaling down the conflict in Iraq. We are backing away from our previously confrontational style with Iran. The message is: “Let us have dialogue before conflict. Let us have peace.”
Too bad, the conservative could not find it in their hearts to celebrate. We should. We also should celebrate the nominees for Chemistry, Biology, etc. Maybe we should have a serious discussion about why each recipient was deserving. Perhaps then, we can truly appreciate a Nobel Prize.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Today i witnessed an auto accident, just barely escaping it myself. It didn't appear that anyone was seriously hurt. Nevertheless, that instant things happened -- those seconds as the event unfolds were unpredictable and scary.
This was what happened....
I'm traveling north on Interstate 285, four lanes of traffic, at about 65 mile per hour. In an instant, i heard an impact to my left, saw debris flying out of the corner of my eye. Then a car came spiraling out of control toward me. I broke to avoid it. Ahead, another vehicle, a SUV, began swerving to maintain control. I continued to reduce my speed and prepare for evasive action. The car, an early model Accord, ricocheted pass me. The late model Pathfinder regained control on a bad damaged right front wheel and stopped in the middle of the freeway. The injured Accord came to rest in the grassy shoulder. I pulled over in the emergency lane about 50 yards from the Accord. I waited a second for any secondary impacts; I thought about my good fortune and about just continuing on to my designation. But, i got out of my car and walked over to the Accord to check on it's occupants. A large lady was the driver; she appeared dazed and two young kid were calm in the back seat. The kids, ages six or seven, were okay. The driver's side window was shattered. The driver groaned but otherwise appeared to be alright. She asked if i have hit her. I told her that i had not and I pointed to the vehicle that had struck her now slowly moving to the emergency lane. She asked me to help her find her glasses. I couldn't see that they were in the car. I told her that she would be all right and that i would call 911. On the way back to my car, I passed the driver of the SUV walking towards the Accord. He confessed that he was only trying to change lanes. He continued over to the woman's vehicle. I got in my car and accelerated back into traffic.
As much as i drive, it's easy to take for granted leaving home and getting to ones designation safety. A lot can happen along the way. If you are unlucky enough to be delayed, let the damage be only to the vehicle. In the meanwhile, the rest of world drives pass. They have somewhere to be too.
This was what happened....
I'm traveling north on Interstate 285, four lanes of traffic, at about 65 mile per hour. In an instant, i heard an impact to my left, saw debris flying out of the corner of my eye. Then a car came spiraling out of control toward me. I broke to avoid it. Ahead, another vehicle, a SUV, began swerving to maintain control. I continued to reduce my speed and prepare for evasive action. The car, an early model Accord, ricocheted pass me. The late model Pathfinder regained control on a bad damaged right front wheel and stopped in the middle of the freeway. The injured Accord came to rest in the grassy shoulder. I pulled over in the emergency lane about 50 yards from the Accord. I waited a second for any secondary impacts; I thought about my good fortune and about just continuing on to my designation. But, i got out of my car and walked over to the Accord to check on it's occupants. A large lady was the driver; she appeared dazed and two young kid were calm in the back seat. The kids, ages six or seven, were okay. The driver's side window was shattered. The driver groaned but otherwise appeared to be alright. She asked if i have hit her. I told her that i had not and I pointed to the vehicle that had struck her now slowly moving to the emergency lane. She asked me to help her find her glasses. I couldn't see that they were in the car. I told her that she would be all right and that i would call 911. On the way back to my car, I passed the driver of the SUV walking towards the Accord. He confessed that he was only trying to change lanes. He continued over to the woman's vehicle. I got in my car and accelerated back into traffic.
As much as i drive, it's easy to take for granted leaving home and getting to ones designation safety. A lot can happen along the way. If you are unlucky enough to be delayed, let the damage be only to the vehicle. In the meanwhile, the rest of world drives pass. They have somewhere to be too.
I took a vacation day, sat at home and watched the inauguration all day until I finally burned-out on the parade. It was great. I admire Obama and Michelle even more for being able to maintain their freshness through out. The C-Span coverage was raw as if you were there with your own video camera. I hardly moved from my couch and a potato I'm not.
I listened to all the interviews, how the people in the crowds, especially we African descendants, were having spiritual moments. I was have my own.. In this, we were connected. I saw people their holding Canadian flags. I thought about Ice Princess2. I thought about their descendants who years ago, were fortunate enough to escape the oppression that was once America. They were there to celebrate with us.
The moment was momentous and this date was filed in my mind as a treasured memory.Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Just a Short About What Happen Yestersday
I've been off all week. As a treat to myself and... just because i was a little lonely, i decided to check out a new restaurant may be I would introduce the family to. The restaurant was a Cuban/Caribbean joint. I walked in a little awkwardly and a the waitress met. I can be rather transparent and my awkwardness was probably written all over my face. So, I grab a take out menu and took a seat at the bar and tried to be cool. I eyed over the menu not understanding anything on it. Finally, I asked for a recommendation and decisively accepted it. As I'm now very comfortable with my meal and my beer, eating and people watching, a young man walked through the door with a nice hairdo cropped along the sides with sort of a punk rock-ish top. He worn a light blue casual shirt and jeans cut off below the knees- stylish. He reminded me of Skyler on "Heroes". He sat beside me looking a bit uncomfortable and quivering like a man who had just seen death. I did my best to ignore him. He asked for a drink; the waitress at the bar said that she was not the bartender. She announced that she would ask someone to help him. A middle aged gentlemen, very confident, appeared and questioned the young man. "Are you OK sir!" he said in a stern voice. The young man said, now shaking even more violently, "yes sir -- I was robbed last night." The manager looked at him long and hard. He instructed the waitress to check an ID. The young man reached for him wallet and made a show of pulling out a $20. The young man didn't have an ID so said he announced that he would be back with his passport. The manager walked off.
I'm think that the man was strange but may be the owner was a little harsh. The waitress had not asked me from my ID. If given same disrespect, i certainly would not come back.
Now, i was very curious. Would the young man come back? Even though i had finish my lunch, I waited. In less than 10 minutes, the young man walked back through the doors. He sat in the same seat and produced a passport. The waitress examined it carefully and was satisfied.
I couldn't contain myself and ejaculated to the young man "So you we robbed? Where? He said, "i was at a gas station and they beat me!" I look at him and he didn't seem beaten to me. I said, "was it around here?" His answer was vague, probably hinting to me that he had said as much as he wanted to. I left my tab on the table and the nervous younger gentleman to enjoy his drink.
That was curious lunch!
I'm think that the man was strange but may be the owner was a little harsh. The waitress had not asked me from my ID. If given same disrespect, i certainly would not come back.
Now, i was very curious. Would the young man come back? Even though i had finish my lunch, I waited. In less than 10 minutes, the young man walked back through the doors. He sat in the same seat and produced a passport. The waitress examined it carefully and was satisfied.
I couldn't contain myself and ejaculated to the young man "So you we robbed? Where? He said, "i was at a gas station and they beat me!" I look at him and he didn't seem beaten to me. I said, "was it around here?" His answer was vague, probably hinting to me that he had said as much as he wanted to. I left my tab on the table and the nervous younger gentleman to enjoy his drink.
That was curious lunch!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Beware: Pirates
The buzz this week has been about the rescue of the ship's captain from pirates by the Navy Seals. He was finally rescued after the three remaining pirates were simultaneously taken out by snipers. Getting tough with these pirates is an action long overdue. They were making it look so easily that it was starting to appear like a respectable spring break vacation and a easy way to make a little extra money.
http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/opinion/luckovichapril09/
The link of above will display a political cartoon by Luckovich of the Atlanta Constitution. In it he draws pirates of the Caribbean era, on a boat, with one pirate one saying to the other, "This has gotten too Dangerous. I'm going back to wall street banking."
My Obama hating, right-wing, co-workers were especially pleased. I guess this sentiment goes for right-wingers in general. They are saying things like: "I don't like anything Obama has done so far, but I'll give him a thumbs-up on this one." Now, I have to reluctantly agree but i have keep to myself my disconcerted feeling about the shedding of blood and the loss of life. It seems to me that the rivers of blood that have flown from Iraq should have been enough to satisfy any thrist for awhile. I feel empathy for Obama who is having to follow that tradition of the America presidency in which lives must be taken and lives must be sacrificed. I know, it's in the job description, but I was hoping in vain that it does not has to be.
http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/opinion/luckovichapril09/
The link of above will display a political cartoon by Luckovich of the Atlanta Constitution. In it he draws pirates of the Caribbean era, on a boat, with one pirate one saying to the other, "This has gotten too Dangerous. I'm going back to wall street banking."
My Obama hating, right-wing, co-workers were especially pleased. I guess this sentiment goes for right-wingers in general. They are saying things like: "I don't like anything Obama has done so far, but I'll give him a thumbs-up on this one." Now, I have to reluctantly agree but i have keep to myself my disconcerted feeling about the shedding of blood and the loss of life. It seems to me that the rivers of blood that have flown from Iraq should have been enough to satisfy any thrist for awhile. I feel empathy for Obama who is having to follow that tradition of the America presidency in which lives must be taken and lives must be sacrificed. I know, it's in the job description, but I was hoping in vain that it does not has to be.
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