O Tannenbaum

Recently, NPR posted this article referencing a new, efficient way of lighting a Christmas tree. When one truly thinks about it, there is certainly a whole lot of waste that goes into the holiday season, particularly Christmas trees. In many parts around the city of Chicago, one would be hard-pressed to travel more than a few miles without spotting a couple lots that are selling live Christmas trees. These trees are not grown locally, so they definitely travel a ways to get here. All of that transportation, coupled with the destruction of whatever ecosystem the trees came from, is disturbing. Sure, a lot of these trees are grown on farms that grow them specifically for the holiday season. Unfortunately, animals and other living creatures around these farms may not recognize this. Furthermore, the farms often use pesticides and herbicides to keep the trees in shape, and this has obviously been proven to be harmful to the environment and ecosystem.

So what is the consumer's other option? A plastic tree is the most common alternative. Unfortunately, the vast majority of American plastic Christmas trees come from China. So not only are we purchasing something that has traveled across an ocean and then thousands of miles to get here, but it is made from a material that is difficult to recycle, and is also often sprayed with toxins to keep shape. Not to but a damper on holiday spirits, but there really aren't many inexpensive alternatives, if any at all.

So while there may not be a green alternative that looks like a 'green tree' one could construct their own tree from recycled paper, purchase an organic wreath (local, and fair trade if possible), and one could also purchase a three-dimensional tree. Unless one lives in an area with pine trees aplenty that they can easily cut down and plant another one, the safest bet is to ditch the tree and start a new, eco-friendly tradition. Or use a hand-me-down plastic tree. Happy Holidays!

What to 'do' with North Korea?

North Korea, as we all may be aware, is a very agressive dictatorship. With their recent shelling and killing of four people (two civilians) on a South Korean island, the problem of what to do with a nation that secludes itself from the rest of the planet is one we must face. Certainly diplomacy has been at a stalemate since the Korean War, and with the imminent passing of their leader, Kim Jong Il, we must consider how to prepare for the next leader, likely Il's son. Now, obviously a monarchy or dictatorship is something that leaves no choice to the people, but who am I as an American to say that their political scenario is wrong? I've never lived under a reign similar to that of North Korea so I am surely not one to say that it should change.

The exception, however, is human rights. And certainly North Korea has it fair share of human rights violations, including penalizing those who enter the country illegally (even if the consequences are known). And I feel that we has humans, not as Americans, must decide that we should do something about the abhorrent living situation for many North Koreans. Being brainwashed from birth essentially, it is hard for many North Koreans to accept that their government is inherently corrupt and uses its people as pawns. The government is about money and power, as many governments certianly may be, but they have gone too far. It is time for the rest of the world to take notice. Perhaps diplomacy could take its course if many more nations were involved, or if China stepped up to recognize that North Korea is regressing rather than moving forward. Treaties need to be written up, and action needs to get taken soon, before another war in the Koreas begins.

The Role of Wikileaks

Wikileaks, an independent, anonymous website that allows anyone to anonymously upload files and documents that the public usually isn't privy too, and are often classified and not available to the general public, even through the Freedom of Information Act. There has been heated debate over whether or not this is cause for alarm for the national security of nations affected by potentially leaked documents. However, I believe that as citizens of the United States we should be permitted to view any documents that affect our wellbeing or our security. I understand that nature of certain classified material, but often this material is available to people who are not even elected officials, people the voters deemed fit to see these types of documents.

I also understand the importance of national security and that the U.S. is a very susceptible nation to terrorism. However, we often have very little idea if what our government is telling us is true. The reasons for the war in Iraq were based on evidence that was not accurate, and we are still entrenched in a war there. The public deserves to know the truth about most issues, and Wikileaks serves as a good arbitrator and mediator to this, as it is an unbias source that lets the public know the truth, as it is presented in the documents upload to the website. I support this, insofar as it still holds an ability to protect our national security, as its releases so far often has.

Happy T(of)urkey Day

So, with Thanksgiving upon us, a time to give thanks and respect to all those loved ones of ours, we get ready to expand our stomachs, feast, and wake up early Friday morning to get a new big screen at Target. All this fun consumerism aside, there are going to be over 40 million turkeys slaughtered this year for America's favorite feast.

Thats a very large number. Thats one turkey for nearly every eight Americans. Hundreds of millions of pounds, and most of it travels across the country. I never really want to tell people I am right for being a vegeatarian and they are wrong for eating meat. But when I read staggering statistics like this, it pains me. Obviously in an idyllic world we would all raise our own turkeys for the holiday and kill him 'humanely'. That is a tricky word, since animals are not human. But certainly, we must be respectful of our ecosystem and of other animals. They do, after all, have feelings and are sentient beings. Factory farming is only good for one thing: the consumer. Unfortunately this holiday, and the next big one, bring out the ultra-consumerism in us all. Spend spend spend. The irony? Most of us are not willing to sacrifice a few extra dollars for a turkey treated without antibiotics or pesticides. While at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, these turkeys can be had for 1.50-3$ a pound, consumers choose for the $1 a pound turkeys at Jewel, Safeway, Albertsons, etc. This is simply a choice either of ignorance or disregard. We must vote with our dollars and understand this is the only way to enact change. Instead of spending so much on gifts for Christmas, go out and buy that bird that is raised ethically, in a farm where it can roam, be natural, and spread its wings. You'll feel better, and the turkey will at least get a chance at a normal life.

X-Rays at the airport

Referencing this and many other articles recently...So x-rays at the airport; passengers now are subject to a possibility of either getting a fullbody x-ray scan or getting an aggressive pat-down by TSA security. For those who oppose to either? S.O.L. It is absolutely incredible that to fly in a plane now, one could be subjected to having a government agent either see their nude body in a negative, or touch their crouch, with the front of the hand, not the old method of back of the hand. What gives the government, Department of Homeland Security/TSA, this right? Well, I suppose the government. The same one thats supposed to be 'of the people.'

There is also an alarm, especially for frequent travelers and aircrew, about the radiation exposure. Some unions are already telling their workers to avoid the x-ray scanners, but the new patdown has been likened to molestation. This is incredulous. Even people who work for the airlines are suffering. All because of security. Or so the DHS says. Security threats in airlines are no new thing, but these policies are invasive and seemingly just are scare-tactics. The government has literally no right to force this policy on its citizens. We make the laws, and we vote in our lawmakers, and we need to let our voices be heard. These new regulations are illegal and scary; to me it instills fear in passengers and increases anxiety. I don't feel safer going through an x-ray, I feel as if I am considered guilty and must prove my innocence to the government. We do not need any more regulation in this field. Maybe I will end up eating my words, but this is no solution to enhancing security at American airports.

Kanye West is a real man

Referencing this article I must say that Kanye West truly is an authentic individual. I read a lot of existentialist fiction last semester and it really got me thinking about authenticity in humans. I truly think Kanye West is one of the only real people I have ever heard of, or know. I don't know the man personally, but it truly is something to envy when a man can speak his mind, no matter his opinion. This is not to say racists and homophobic people are to be celebrated for their freedom of speech, but Kanye certainly isn't comparable to these folks. He is morally a good person. He wants the best for all people. These aforementioned folks, not so much. Kanye truly is an altruistic man, and a philanthropist.

The whole Taylor Swift thing was immature, definitely. And so was the George Bush doesn't care about black people thing. But he was just saying what was on his mind. You have to give him credit for speaking his mind, especially in such a public arena. And really, both of the times, I kind of felt like he was right, to an extent. In the end, what it boils down to, is that people need to lighten up. People can get so uptight about the littlest, trifling matters that they forget that we are all just people trying to have fun, enjoy life, and get by. Kanye wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings, he was just telling the world what he thought. Maybe he goes a little too far, but if I were in the spotlight all the time, I don't know if I'd be able to resist that temptation all the time, especially with the talent he possesses. He truly is the voice of a generation, and one of the most creative musicians of all-time.

The Two-Party system and undemocracy.

Well. Its the day after the midterm elections and Illinois still doesn't have a governor-elect. Be it Pat Quinn, or Bill Brady, I am a dissatisfied voter. Rich Whitney, a Green Party candidate in this gubernatorial race, was excluded from most debates in the race. He received enough signatures to get on the ballot, and four years ago received nearly 13% of the vote. This time around he was not so fortunate (currently at 3% of the vote) likely because most voters cannot stand Bill Brady and thus had to make a conscious choice to vote for Quinn even if they believed in Whitney (or Scott Lee Cohen for that matter). Regardless of the reason for leftists voting Democrat or Green, no candidate should ever be excluded from the right to debate. If they are on the ballot, why deny them their right to argue with their opposed running mates? This is unfortunate and sad that our democracy has become so entrenched in the two-party system that a voter must choose between this, or that.

What kind of democracy lets voters simply say you have only two choices, so you must be satisfied with one? I have never been satisfied with an Illinois governor, both Republican and Democrat. Why can I not see a candidate I support debate these two? If we don't allow third-party candidates to debate, we will never introduce another party into the system. This isn't democracy at all. When has anyone really been satisfied with how Congress is doing? Really, its hard to say anyone has ever been fully satisfied. While this isn't pragmatic necessarily, its definitely more of a feasibility if only two opinions are heard. Often Congressmen vote along party lines, and if you don't agree with either party, then, well, you're out of luck. We need to start allowing these candidates to debate so we can stop being the last Western nation with only two legitimate political parties and turn into a more multilateral democracy where multiple voices are heard.