June 27, 2002 - More controversy for me to rant on! A court of appeals in California, I think, ruled that the "pledge of Aligience" is unconstitutional. Yes! Unfortunately, it's already been overturned, but man, that was a cool few hours.

I think it is unconstitutional to make children recite that crazy propaganda poem left over from the cold war. Especially, because it makes a reference to "God". The overruling courts said that the religous content in the Pleadge is minimal, but it's still there, isn't it? I don't think it's too much to finally start a dialogue on this issue. It's not Political correctness run amuck! It's getting to the bottom of institutional inconsistencies and prejudices. I think one of the people interviewed made the comment, "What's next, our currency -'in God we trust'? Pretty soon we won't be able to say 'God bless America' anymore!" THAT'S THE POINT, ASSHOLE!! This "God" that you speak of should have nothing to do with our politics.

I know that this country and its constitution were founded with Judeo-Christian thought. That's fine. We all know that that's the origin of the government. Everyone who had power in the Colonies 300 years ago was European and more or less Christian in some way, so they had a very specific view of the world and of life. This doesn't mean, however, that we need to continue the same worldview in contemporary thought. If we do so, it will tend to narrow our ideas and lead to self-destructive ethnocentrism. Not everyone believes in God the same way that Judeo-Christians do.

It does seem to be true that the majority of the nation is Christian in some form. Those that aren't are apparently considered the minority. As a minority, you usually know that you're one (that is, the majority won't let you forget it) and learn to deal with the fact that you're different and realatively powerless. When non-christian children recite, "...one nation, under God..." I doubt that it sparks any evangelical epiphany that makes anyone think that the country is ruled by any one church (Actually, maybe it's ruled by many churches). Instead, it makes a non-Judeo/Christian feel more like a minority because you are "encouraged" to make reverence to a God that you don't relate to. Almost as if it's just there to remind you that if you're not christian, you're really not THAT much of an American. It makes you feel just that much more powerless and different. Which may or may not bother someone, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is for EVERYONE to feel equally powerful and with equal access to everything the nation has to offer. I think that having "God" at every political thing doesn't help everyone feel equal. Comments always welcome.

June 20, 2002 - That stuff that I wrote yesterday was real generalizing, huh? I guess the idea of exploitation makes me irrational.

June 19, 2002 - I'm commenting here to an entry for June 4, called "policy" on the website, aiyah.net.

I think it's a terrible policy to keep people from speaking to each other during the work day. I don't think it's unconstitutional, but I definately think it's exploitive.

I know that, ideally, the employee should be making polite conversation with the customer in order to offer friendly service. I also know that Americans don't like people speaking to one another in a language they don't understand. Which I can understand because it makes a person feel alienated and ignorant. This is not the feeling The customer wants to get when they go into an establishment expecting to be pampered.

On the other hand, if the establishment wants the employees to service the customer that well, they should hire people who can provide that service. It seems that the only reason the don't do that is because they think they can get immigrant labor for cheaper (at this point I think it's important to say that I'm Chicano and I see people exploit Mexicans and Salvadorians this way all the time. People will hire immigrants either because they're family with the business owners, or because they 'work harder for less money'). Immigrants are typically very opportunistic - Ideal Americans, really - and will take any work they can get, for whatever wage they can get, under any conditions. Business owners take advantage of this without hesitation. They get an immediately avaiable workforce that is willing to work long hours in sweatshop conditions. This labor force comes with almost no expectations of advancement, pay-raises, or benefits. To put it very bluntly and liberally, the business owner profits from the suffering of his/her employees. That's why I don't like that policy. I don't have a better solution because it seems the strong will always attempt to prey on the weak. Comments?

June 18, 2002 - Angie and Daniels Wedding was Great. I hope the pics come out well. Man I really hope.

It really was a good time, even though I was pretty much working the whole time. We got to see everybody again. I haven't seen Angie's kids in such a long time and I had never seen little Ethan. My Aunt Lauren showed up and her and my parents were actually talking to each other!!! It's been a while since I've seen that happen, too. The ceremony was nice. I don't think I've been to a church (catholic church) since Lenny and Weenah's wedding. It was funny though, cause I still remember all the protocol and all the things that you have to recite and repeat and wehn to say them and everything. That's how deeply I've been indoctrinated - I don't believe in the church anymore, but as soon s the preist says "May the Lord be with you," The response just flies out of my mouth, "...and also with you."

"Lift up your hearts..."

"...we lift them up to the Lord"

"Let us give thanks to the Lord our God..."

"...it is right to give him thanks and Priase"

Oh Well, I guess it makes look less like a godless pig. That way, if I ever need ot blend in when the religious fanatics take over the world, I know I can do it.

But I digress. I still had fun taking pictures at the wedding. Even though I despise photographing weddings with every fiber of my epicurean being. It was just like being at any other wedding, but I just had all my camera equipment with me. And I'm always willing to do it for family - though I'll always tell them they should get someone else to do it first ;). Still, it was a good wedding and it felt really good to be shooting again. I guess that's why I'm so nervous about the pics. Man oh man, I hope they come out.

My little toe still hasn't completely heeled, but I wanna go to class. I'm missing so much because of it.

June 9, 2002 - Ricardo's openning sounds like it went well. I just got the pictures of his work and they look great! I'll have them up on apanamae.com as soon as I can.

I hurt my pinky toe in class the other day. I went to the urgent care clinic today ot make sure everything's okay. They took x-rays and tols me that nothing looks broken. That's good news. It hurts like bitch, though, when I walk on it. It's been hurting less throught the day, though. It's all purple and swollen and nasty. I guess I shouldn't have tried to do that spinning kick when I wasn't ready. Now I know, I guess. It's almost a good thing that I can't make it to class this next week. Otherwise, I'd feel like I was missing too much class.

I got to see Yvonne and Lordy last night. They're always so cool to hang out with. Yvonne's personality is so different than mine - I feel like I'm too laid back, while she's always full of energy and ready to go. I'm kinda suprised we get along so well, but I'm glad we do. Lordy's kinda in between; he's ready to go, but sometimes he'd rather chill. I'm so glad Sarah likes hanging out with my friends. It makes it that much easier to spend more time together. Not that it's hard, it's just hard to get enough time.

June 4, 2002 - I went to the dentist/orthodontist/suergeon/whatever. I'm trying to have my wisdom teeth taken out. It seems that because I so old, There will be a few complications. Apparently, my insurance doesn't cover the suggested resolutions to these complications. This menas that the good majority of this procedure will not be paid by the insurance. What the HELL, right?!!!! What the hell am I paying them for? They've probably made twice that in the short period that I've actually had insurance! They don't consider this to be necessary surgery? They don't even consider the extra things like bone-grafts or whatever to be necessary? I mean, according to the Dr, I could have a greater risk of infection in my sinuses and broblems with my back molars if I don't get this done. So, would they rather pay for it all later when I get infected, or is the Dr just yanking me to get more money from me? How can we know these things? Insurance is such bullshit, but if you don't have it when you're in trouble, and don't have the money off hand, you end up S.O.L.! Damned if you do and damned if you don't. That phrase makes more sense to me with every day that passes. So, in conclusion, insurance is a scam based on your sense of guilt and insecurity, doctors and dentists will tell you anything you want to hear in order to get your insurance money, and you're stuck in the middle trying to decide what's best for yourself without getting bent over (pardon the graphic metaphor). I guess that's why they call them wisdom teeth (whoa, maybe I shoulda quit while I was ahead).