May 1, 2011

When I woke up on May 1st, I checked my email and I got some unbelievable news from my friends - Osama bin Laden had been found.. and killed. At this point, I'm thinking this is fantastic; a real achievement. He is, after all, the reason why America embarked on this never ending War on Terrorism in the first place, right? I mean, true, somewhere along the lines good old President Bush lost sight of the goals and got involved in some other conflicts, but we entered with the intent to serve justice to the man behind the devastation in New York on 9/11 and in London on 7/7.  Finally, right? Obama got the intelligence, got in and got the man.

And now, two days later, the country is still in an uproar of celebration, and, to be honest, it makes me feel a bit ill.

Now, don't get me wrong, the atrocities that Osama bin Laden committed in his lifetime are inexcusable. He was a wretched man with a misguided soul that caused the murder of thousands of people worldwide and the weighing grief on thousands more. But, nonetheless, he was human being and such excessive celebration of his murder is out of place in any situation. No murder should warrant such widespread jubilance. To be honest, I will never make sense of the reasoning behind killing the people who kill other people, to demonstrate that killing people is wrong. 

I understand the gravity of the crimes committed by Osama bin Laden, but does it really take death to draw Americans together to share pride in their country? I, personally, think that Americans have so much to be proud of, and I think it's disconcerting that only after a man is murdered, that they can see that.

Yes, today is a good day to be an American, just as yesterday was and tomorrow will be. We have accomplished our goals in eliminating a major world threat. Now, to dwell on his demise is to sink to his level. Cultivating contempt for him and for his people is no better than what they do to others. The death of Osama bin Laden is a step forward in many ways, but hatred and war will sadly continue on in his absence. Hating them is not the path towards the world becoming a safer, more peaceful community. Instead, we need more communication, cooperation and love. 

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

But, I must say I am surprised the Republicans believed he was dead without having published a death certificate.. :)

modest mouse.

"The universe is shaped exactly like the Earth, if you go straight long enough you'll end up where you were."

east side gallery.

Berlin, Germany

young love.

"Once upon a time, there was a boy. He lived in a village that no longer exists, in a house that no longer exists, on the edge of a field that no longer exists, where everything was discovered, and everything was possible. A stick could be a sword, a pebble could be a diamond, a tree, a castle.


Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived in a house across the field, from a girl who no longer exists. They made up a thousand games. She was queen and he was king. In the autumn light her hair shone like a crown. They collected the world in small handfuls. When the sky grew dark, they parted with leaves in their hair."

-Nicole Krauss, The History of Love

This is an entrancing story that weaves together the lives of very real characters into one masterpiece. The personalities of the characters are so vivid, so perfectly flawed, that your heart grows attached to them as the story unfolds and the end of the story only leaves you wishing you hadn't read it so quickly. The story line is laid out in a nontraditional pattern and engages the reader in interpreting and discovering truths about these people. It's an absolute work of art - my favorite book of all time.

This is her second novel, she also wrote Man Walks Into A Room. Her husband, Jonathan Safran Foer, has a very similar writing style, if you like it. He has written brilliant novels as well including Everything is Illuminated, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Eating Animals (the book behind my decision to become vegetarian).

amsterdam.

Amsterdam is a city brimming with life and excitement. When you go there, the number of people roaming the streets high might be overwhelming, but what I found even more abundant were the bicyclists. Dutch people seem to love the bicycles and they are chained to every inch of the canals - and if they aren't chained, then they'll probably be thrown in soon.

If you are visiting, I would recommend going on this free tour on the first day to get a sense of direction around the city and learn a bit about the city. All of the tour guides are really friendly and really educated on the town and work only for tips. While I was there, I also went to Hill Street Blues - a coffee shop for the locals - and had a really good experience. I rented a bike from MacBike, because I was warned that other companies don't offer bikes with strong enough locks or brakes - both of which are necessities in my book. I also visited the Anne Frank House, which brought to life all of the powerful and heartbreaking scenes from Anne Frank's Diary. For travelers on a budget, the Flying Pig Hostel is one of the most famous hostels in Europe! If you have time, try to make it to see the oversized chess board, the Van Gogh Museum, the unique red light district (be warned, however, that taking pictures in this area could result in the worker splashing you in the face with a cup of urine) and the ultra-famous coffee shop in Oceans 11 (or 12, I can't remember which - I haven't seen it) called the Damkring. They have free posters just inside the doors for souvenirs. As for the boat tours, I didn't go, and was told by a local that they aren't worth the price. Biking is definitely the way to get around. They have a quality bus system, but it can get expensive if you use it all the time.

on working.

"I have nothing to say of my working life, only that a tie is a noose, and inverted though it is, it will hang a man nonetheless if he's not careful."
-Yann Martel, Life of Pi

I'm about halfway through this book now, and can't put it down. It's captivating and brilliantly told. Definitely recommended.

on faith.

"To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation."
-Yann Martel, Life of Pi