White Liberals Guilt

Does it not seem like white liberals' guilt has been in overdrive since about 2008?  Obviously 2008 because of Obama's election as president.  Somehow he convinced a lot of people that he embodied their ideal, which for a large number of people, at least partly, was to assuage the guilt of their whiteness - to offer redemption at being white.  I am convinced this was a heady undercurrent of much of the mainstream media coverage of Obama's campaign, including the lack of reporting on many topics.

Aside from the easy Obama example, and wading into more popular and probably more accurate barometers of the phenomenon, what about black celebrities, in particular two dead ones: Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.  Can anyone think of any other reason how these people were elevated to near sainthood after their deaths, other than an impulse to praise famous black people?  Jackson was widely derided as weird, if not wacko, with strong suspicions of pedophilia; Houston became a tragic, pathetic figure, the victim of easy access to drugs, various women's issues, and a bum husband.  How in the heck did their careers resurrect after their deaths, esp. Jackson's?  The post-mortum coverage was over the top in lauding these individuals' impact on society and extolling their virtues - while quickly glossing over their glaring character faults.

Which brings me to my main point, the story of Trayvon in Florida.  The coverage has been fascinating.  On the one hand, you have your race hustlers (think Al Sharpton) out milking this thing for everything it's worth.  Then you have the very racial descriptions of the alleged wrongdoer, the shooter Zimmerman.  White father, very white surname, but Peruvian mother and what appears to me very Hispanic looks.  Many descriptions cast him as just "white," some "white Hispanic."  When was the last time you saw this description used for illegal immigrants?  If he had been the victim of a "pure" white shooter, it would have been so much easier to trot out the tropes, but this one's complicated.  Yet the theme of white-on-innocent-black-violence persists.

And the only reason I can think is that white liberals' race guilt still runs deep.  Obama hasn't worked out so well for them.  The movement still needs a focus.  Trayvon is just its latest manifestation. (The possible facts, and I emphasize possible, this thing still needs to be sorted out, be damned.)

2012 Nun Run

Two Saturdays ago was the 3rd annual Nun Run.  It was the same course as last year, in Tempe, which was okay.  I'm not a fan of the 10K being the 5K twice, because then you have to pass all the slow 5K runners and walkers on your second loop.  As usual, I finished ahead of the fastest woman, for whatever that's worth.  The Schaefers bailed on us, which sucked for Bobbins especially, but we saw a number of other folks we know and had some good chats afterward.

        

       

In the picture above, that's me in the blue shirt behind Sister.  In this picture, I'm trying to break out of the pack.  The guy in the white cap w/ the ipod earphones in is the doctor that delivered MM and Josie.

Near the end of the first loop, so just shy of the halfway point.  The girls were playing in a playground right behind the camera.







I was racing toward the finish line, but MM couldn't resist running out to cheer me on.

      

Sure hard to beat those cheers of "Yay Daddy!"

It's Baaaack

Charles Krauthammer reminds us that the debate over Obamacare is back. The Supreme Court could be our last hope to stop this abomination.

Today, it’s the Catholic Church whose free-exercise powers are under assault from this cascade of diktats sanctioned by — indeed required by — Obamacare. Tomorrow it will be the turn of other institutions of civil society that dare stand between unfettered state and atomized citizen.

Rarely has one law so exemplified the worst of the Leviathan state — grotesque cost, questionable constitutionality, and arbitrary bureaucratic coerciveness. Little wonder the president barely mentioned it in his latest State of the Union address. He wants to be reelected. He’d rather talk about other things.

But there’s no escaping it now. Oral arguments begin Monday at 10 a.m.

Two Good Posts

From the Corner.

First, an evangelical ponders three modern problems for the evangelical movement.

1. We are more focused on meeting the material needs of the poor than their spiritual needs. Spend much time in the evangelical community, and you’ll soon learn that the old-fashioned Gospel-focused mission trip is largely a thing of the past. Now, you go build schools. Now, you go dig water wells. Now, you repair houses. These are worthy goals, all, but service projects by themselves don’t change hearts and minds, they often make (frequently) self-inflicted misery more bearable. Service must be accompanied by intentional, vocal evangelism and discipling.

2. We go on sinning so that grace may abound. The secular stereotype of the modern evangelical — as a judgmental moralizer — is so wrong as to be laughable. Everywhere you go, preachers reject this model entirely, emphasizing, for example, “divorce recovery,” therapy, and treatment for the consequences of sin. Again, these are worthy things, but Christ and the Apostle Paul also emphasized holiness and discipline. How often has your church actually disciplined adulterers? How often have you intervened in the life of a friend before they made devastating mistakes? Our desire to be liked trumps all, and suffering is the result.

3. We church-shop, seeking to meet our needs rather than serving the church. This echoes Douthat’s point above. Church-switching is pernicious. Not only does the church “market” breed selfishness, it also makes pastors market-oriented. As you survey church after church, each doing things their own way, ask yourself, which of these church institutions will still be present and viable in 50 years? Or 100 years? Or 1,000? Evangelicals often look askance at Catholics, but which of our churches has even lasted since the Reformation? We cannot build institutions when our focus is on building the self.

Second, Mark Steyn notes the New York Times hypocrisy

Pamela Geller was struck by that ad The New York Times ran the other day, “It’s Time To Quit The Catholic Church“, an “open letter to ‘liberal’ and ‘nominal’ Catholics”. So she sent in her own ad, “It’s Time To Quit Islam“, an “open letter to ‘moderate’ Muslims”. Analogous artwork, same pitch, only difference being the intended target. The Times’ Senior Vice-President for Corporate Hogwash called to tell Miss Geller that – surprise! surprise! – they were way less eager to rush this one into print:

Good Bizarro Comic

For the Moms

Good article on Sts. Felicity and Perpetua, stressed out mothers (and martyrs...)

"Sts. Felicity and Perpetua are the patrons of Women in Bad Situations Complicated Further by Children."
...
"So, next time your find yourself spending your own 24 hour virus lugging a bucket, mop, and basket of soiled bedding as you struggle to care for other sick family members—ask these two martyrs to help you get through it. They are sure to understand."

Two Recommend's

Last night Bobbins and I rode our bikes to our neighborhood restaurant, The Tuck Shop.  It had been a while since we'd been, and a co-worker of mine recently went, so it was time.  It didn't disappoint, as usual.  We split the Lavosh plate for an appetizer, then the nightly special, some delicious ravioli.  It was one of the best meals we've had in a long time.

Afterward we went to see This Means War, the new rom-com starring Reese Witherspoon.  It was a pleasant surprise.  Chris Pine did an especially good job as one of a duo of top CIA spies vying for the affection of the same girl.  The direction and editing are a little choppy and fast-paced for my taste.  Bobbins and I laughed quite hard at a scene involving a paintball fight, as it hit a little close to home.  I would definitely recommend this for your Netflix/Redbox.

Thanks to AK for watching the girls and letting us get out!

Only Time You'll See This

Surprised to even find a pay phone anymore

        

Boulder Canyon Hike

The other day I read about Boulder Canyon, near Canyon Lake, and what a great hike it was.  AK agreed to join the girls and I and we set off a couple Saturdays back.  We could've brought more water, and AK had a hard time hauling JoJo on her back the whole time, but it was pretty fun, especially trekking down the aptly named Boulder Creek.  At one point I had to leave them behind to make sure it was passable.  The dogs loved playing in and drinking the natural water pools.  AK was skeptical we'd make it out until we saw some other people, which I comment on at the very end of the clip.  I had to carry both girls the final way, and we lapped up ice water from the marina bar on the drive home.  Very scenic out there in the Superstitions, confirming that area as the best place to hike near Phoenix.  Memorable time.

For some reason blogger's not letting me embed the youtube clip, so here's the link
http://youtu.be/HOYJmgGzD0M

Dr. Paul

I came real close to voting for Ron Paul but couldn't in the end.  I agree with some of his domestic policies and generally the libertarian philosophy, and like his surname, but the lack of a serious foreign policy was troubling, as was the dogmatism mixed with kooky views (especially in his past).  Mark Steyn made a real nice point in his National Review column:

"I wish I could like Ron Paul more, really I do.  But libertarian narcissism is as banal as any other strain.  Ten years of desultory, inconclusive, transnationally constrained warmongering is certainly a problem.  But know-nothing parochial delusion is not the solution."

Two Good Comics

Scottsdale Bike Ride

We spent Presidents Day on our bikes in Old Town Scottsdale, Bobbins' old hangout.  We rode over the new Soleri Bridge and climbed around the LOVE sculpture in the Civic Center Mall.

       

            

       

       

        

I actually do have friends

that don't pee on me or want me to change their diapers.

I had a nice kid free time at a bridal shower. I even won a gift.