Terrorists Trials

I was listening to the news today about the upcoming (or planned) trials for the terrorists being held on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A lot of people are now saying that they don't want the trials held in New York City. They are talking about moving them to some small town in New York State. But that still leaves the danger of another terrorist attack.

Also, President Obama has been saying that he wants to close the prison on Guantanamo Bay. Well, I have a solution that will stimulate the economy and help to stabilize the United States of America.

Years ago the Navy stopped bombing the island of Vieques, in the US territory of Puerto Rico. The island is now mostly a wildlife refuge. Why can't the Navy take that island, build a prison there (stimulate the local construction economy) and hold the trials there, on Puerto Rico. You would not have to transport the prisoners very far and the cost of the trials would be lowered. Think of how many lawyers would jump at the chance to go to the Carribean to work for a few months. This would also keep the dangerous prisoners off of the American mainland.

Also, that would leave Guantanamo Bay empty. The Navy could then use those facilities for target practice which could also serve to show the Cubans that we are really just next door.

Age (a re-post from June 10, 2009: for maintenance reasons)

As we get along in years, as we pass the time, turn the corner, cross the bridge, climb the hill to middle age, we notice things that we may not have noticed in the past. We hear things that affect us differently than other things might have. We can become more sensitive to the world around us. We understand more. We appreciate things more. And we also lament the passing of time. We marvel that there are more years behind us than ahead of us. We have reached that age.

Tonight my wife and I were sitting down to watch our beloved baseball team play the Los Angeles Dodgers. You may know that the Dodgers moved west to California in the year of my birth, 1958. They just packed up and moved. The city of Los Angeles promised them a stadium. I remember someone asking one of the owners if he ever regretted the move. He said, "let's see, we own the stadium, we own the land, we own the concessions, we own the parking. No, I don't regret it." With a deal like that, what's not to love.

The Dodgers built the stadium shortly after moving out to California and it opened in 1962. 1962 was a great year for me and I didn't even know it. My wife was born that year. But enough history.

We were watching our Padres and the announcers made some comments about the Dodger Stadium being built in 1962. And now because of all the new ballparks built in the recent years, Dodger Stadium is now the third oldest major league ballpark in the country. My wife lamented that she didn't want to hear about anything being built in 1962 as being the third oldest anything. What could I say? I just had to let it go.

D.
Posted by David at 10:23 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Movie Night on New Year's Day

It has long been a tradition in our family that New Years Day night, after getting up early, watching the Rose Parade and taking down the Christmas decorations, that my wife and I repair to our easy chairs and become unfortunate couch potatoes. Tonight was a night for tradition. She had gone out to rent the latest DVD version of some action movie franchise and we sat down to a dinner of black eye peas and beer-boiled bratwursts. Our children had decided to join us in our family movie night. The action movie was great.

But my college student daughter had accompanied my wife to the video store. They came back with the rental, and a stack of previously viewed discounted DVD's. One of those little gems we were destined to watch after finishing the action movie. I was looking for something a little lighthearted.

My daughter, a child psychology student, had a movie on her Christmas list. Santa must have skipped that, or not had enough room in his bag. So, at the video store this evening she found the neglected movie. I think we purchased it for her because it ended up in our stack.

And that is how we happened across a wonderfully fascinating little movie called "Phoebe in Wonderland", starring Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Elle Fanning, Bill Pullman and Campbell Scott. This awesome movie has the innocent title disguising a beautifully intelligent, deep movie and has some incredible acting. I am thankful to have found this gem. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who has kids.

I found myself with a lot of different emotions while (and after) watching this. From a parent's standpoint I could certainly understand the feelings. The parents (Huffman and Pullman) scenes were great scenes to watch. Elle Fanning was amazing. The depth of character portrayed was fascinating to watch. Clarkson was great.

I came away with many different thoughts. Can a child of 9 or 10 have that kind of lucidity? Certainly that kind of intelligence and self-awareness could be recognized. Also, can we find teachers that use the Socratic method and actually teach our children to think?

As a parent, that is all I ask. I try to teach my children responsibility, honor, and a sense of community. I want them to know that they belong and are a part of the greater good. I am learning that the education of a soul goes very deep.