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Showing posts from November, 2007

Getting Bigger

One of the great pleasures of Molly’s life is the knowing that she is going to be able to do more. She lets everyone know that she is getting bigger every day. And with this inevitable bigness, will come the abilities to ride a bike, know all the words to all the songs, read, touch the ceiling, fly, do flips, carry her own things, cook foods, have gum, and so much more. She knows that she is getting bigger and these future happinesses are just out there waiting for her and it brings her almost constant joy. The other night I thought she was asleep when she cried out for me. She wasn’t upset, but just felt the need to tell me that she could already jump because she has to feet, but she doesn’t know how to hop yet. And that she will know how to hop when she gets a little bit bigger. And she was so happy saying this, in the special way that her voice goes up higher and higher as goes gets to the end. It’s it too bad that this type of positive anticipation doesn’t last fore

Blood and Diamonds

Last weekend I watched Blood Diamond, and although it was entertaining (in a way) and very well acted, I believe it was actually a disservice to the atrocities associated with blood diamonds, child soldiers, and civil wars in Africa. And the reason I believe this is the same reason that I believe Schindler’s List was a disservice to the holocaust. My perspective starts with the belief that most people do not have a deep understanding of what really happened, from a realistic, historical perspective. Therefore, these movies have the opportunity to provide a valuable and educational message. Both movies show a somewhat feel-good story within the context of horrible events happening all around. In Blood Diamond, the story is almost completely made up, but impossible (particularly the part about finding his son). Both movies show the very, very rare exceptions their respective situations. I believe that someone unfamiliar with the actual history of the events might think that