I’ve returned from bearing witness — with Bach for background — in a Northern Virginia vineyard. As a squirrel in preparing for winter I stuffed my soul with pure jazz. (while stuffing my face with cake to the accompaniment of subtle folk tunes)
You might assume I was bursting out of my Cosabella-Soire-Demi-Bra by the end of the evening, and you would be correct, but as is the case with most demi-bras, it really didn’t much matter.
I can’t not complain about a celebration where the music and the food were divine, a rarity with weddings. Let all my future witness-bearing take place under similar conditions. Replace the wedding song with Coltrane (as happened in the vineyard) and I will bear witness until my fingers are withered and my toes are curled. Necessitating the use of a magic platinum tipped cane.
Long weekend it has been for sure, and books, notepaper, and word processors are calling my name. They call sweetly now, but soon they will become shrill. I must go before that nonsense commences.
I can’t help thinking, with everyone so seemingly satisfied and giving kudos to Bush and his speech, don’t people realize that when a dog pees in your yard and the owner “takes responsibility” the owner is not really taking responsibility. Don’t they?
With the massive corruption already seen in the rebuilding of Iraq I just can’t wait to see what is going to happen now.
Some may find this interesting.
Leaders Who Won’t Choose
To the Democratic Party, from now on simply called The Party:
It’s important to know that words don’t move mountains. Work moves mountains.
Danilo Dolci
Buona notte
title thanks to “Journey” may they rest in peace.
Oh, they aren’t dead?
My bad.
Keep it up.
Thanks for the link. Georgie Boy is going to break us yet. I listened to his speech (a good one for him, but then he’s not that good behind the podium) and kept wondering how are we going to pay for this with his promise not to raise taxes or cut out involvement in Iraq. He’ll go to his grave keeping those promises while ruining our nation.
All that bearing witness would be tiring.
Intersting article.
I’m not satisfied I have just given up.
My wordprocessor gets shrill every once in awhile too; it screams out stop looking at those girls in demi bras and get to work.
What I can’t understand is why second term presidents make political speeches like they are still running for office. They have the job. Why can’t they just tell us the truth. Forget who is to blame, or who is taking responsiblity and get off your asses and FIX THE FUCKING PROBLEM!!! I don’t give a flying fuck the newest Bu-shit is. I don’t care how things are going to get done. I don’t even care anymore who is to blame. Just fix it so people can start to live again.
I do like the dog pissing comparison.
I think we all can only hope that this reconstruction effort will work and will be more swift than the one taking place in Iraq right now.
Two years from now in New Orleans we cannot be there merely managing chaos. And I too have no clue how we are going to pay for this one.
I got here from newsweeks blog round-up.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7845707?&articleid=9379241
This is not what I was expecting, this is better.
Entertained me and showed me there are people reading Zakaria that I would not expect would be reading Zakaria.
Nice writing through out this thing.
Keep it up.
Never know where links will take you.
Leland Grace
My dad wrote a piece especially for my wedding, and my friend played it on the cello. That was cool.
I said this elsewhere, but it bears repeating. Dr. Weirsdo compared Bush’s response to any spoiled rich kid’s notion of “responsibility”: “Oops! My bad! Daddy will pay for it.” Only “Daddy” is Uncle Sam, aka us.
Glad the wedding was more bearable than expected. Weddings aren’t so bad when it’s for close friends or family. I mean, you want those people to happy, right?
Yeah, I don’t think many of us were confused as to the depth of the responsibility taken, although a flesh wound is remarkable by this President’s standards. Much more importantly, I’m glad you had such a nice evening and have no idea what a demi-bra is.
you know, the phrase “bearing witness” is absolutely sexy to me. i have no idea why. maybe it has some area of responsibility designated to it which is quite compelling.
sage: Your welcome and let’s hope the ruining ends soon.
jake: I know, bearing witness is exhausting. Your word processor is probably right.
Coyote: I think we are going to have to fix it ourselves.
Presidents make the speeches because it is not really the presidency any longer it is the party…the party needs to go on and for that one must �make the speech”.
mj: Glad you liked the dog pissing thing, I stole it from Bill Maher, he used kids as an example I just decided to use a dog. The money thing, now that is just too large a thing for me to even think about.
Weirdso: That is a pretty good analogy.
Leigh: ha ha, of course I want everyone I know to be happy. It was quite bearable.
Doug: Well you are just smarter that most people I think. Certainly with your ” way with words” you can take a guess.
transcience: I like the term myself which is why I used it so often in this post. Not sure if I thought it was sexy but it was almost as if by saying it I could convince myself that I had participated in the ultimate subterfuge
Your trip sounds adorable. I hope u enjoyed ur respite before the sweet call of ur academic studies turned shrill. From what I’ve seen from the latest Gallop polls Bush’s speech didn’t make much of an impact at all, although it is early days. Over the course of this term Bush will learn what it means to take responsibility if this opinion of the Administration does not change. 06 Mid terms are key IMO.
All the best with the week ahead of studies, Alice. And thanks for always commenting on my blogs. I appreciate ur perspective always.
I can’t get used to a place where people call you Alice.
I proudly know what a demi bra is and not only that I enjoy reading Zakaria so two points for you.
Bearing witness makes it all sound so serious and legal, or maybe it is spiritual.
I’m glad you had a good time; I ‘m sure with the crazy intensity you always put into your studies and causes that a weekend at a winery bearing witness was a nice respite.
If I had a real blog would you grace me with your comments?
To the dude above: she would probably give you her perspective whether you appreciated it or not, just to keep it real.
A single cup?
im going to a wedding this weekend in santa cruz, i am making my own dress. i too hope that i will be busting out of my jessica mcclintock pattern of a dress before the night is through. looks like you had fun and no they dont really take responsibility.
Alice,
Sorry it has taken so long to respond, but work, well it’s just work. Thank you for the definition of facism, it is comforting to know that people can actually throw a word around and know what it mean, rather than drink the kool-aid so to speak.
I don’t agree that it fits to this administration, unfortunately I would say it hovers more on communism with its big government and redistribution of wealth. But that is a debate for another time.
Always refreshing to read origianl work and thoughts.
graham:
It was not quite adorable, although I was of course.;) Your welcome, you have a very astute blog as well a a very poetic one.
john:
sort of spiritually legal.Of course as I grace your not so real one with comments when I think of it I just rarely go there any more.
Doug:
No it is a half bra that you wear with things that are a little slight. I was going to post a picture but thought better of it.
Rio: It’s awesome if you can make your own dress and I hope you will burst out of it as well that just means the food was worth eating.
craig: yea work is life nd life is work, and I do know what you mean about people not knowing what they speak of with their use of words sometimes.
Surely this is not your kind of place but thanks for stopping by.
Wise girl. I did think my answer was funny, though.
Doug: I think it’s two cups that runneth over.
I need to go to another wedding. I always have the best times at weddings.
Free food, free drinks, and lots of lovely lasses in dresses. What’s not to like?
Oh but in the Democrats case words should be some of the weapons
And why do you think Cheney’s never around? Is it so that the VP will be safe during a crisis?
No, safe to keep those Haliburton contracts coming
Weirsdo, that’s my favorite beverage.
Thanks, Pia, for getting us back on focus.
I don’t really agree with your quote, here, on the lack of efficacy of “mere” words. The right lever can move the world. Often words do provide just such a lever. It is our modern lack of enough inspirational speakers and writers that allows people to forget that speech is a form of action as powerful as any.
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for stopping by.
We will have to agree to disagree on this one.
I feel that words can be powerful but the problem with the democratic party, as that is what I was speaking to, is that they did not do near enough real work the last time around. Real work would include working the public, figuring out that there was an invisible middle that teetered on the brink and that the constant haranguing by the far left to incite against family values and religion did nothing for their cause. A little real research might have helped them here.
Words need to be backed up by action; I just can’t see it any other way. Words may light fires but someone has to keep the fire going.
I do feel that there are some politicians that can put forth words that might inspire, Obama potentially being one.
Have a nice night.