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"The African countries that are really serious in trying to deal with AIDS are really so far ahead of Americans in terms of public education. We really need to be much more frank in a national discussion about sexuality because that's how AIDS is principally spread."

Dean is not afraid of frank discussion, imploring gay men -- particularly the younger generation -- to remember or acknowledge how terrible the AIDS epidemic was and open up public discussion on infection prevention and sexuality. He struck me as sounding almost overly idealistic but his resume speaks volumes of his experience and success:

• Bachelor's degree from Yale University; Medical degree from Einstein College of Medicine
• Owned a private medical practice with his wife
• Served in the Vermont House from 1982-1986
• Elected lieutenant governor in 1986
• Became governor in 1991 after the death of then-Governor Richard Snelling
• Subsequently re-elected five more times by wide margins
• Known both for getting his state's government in good shape fiscally and for advancing it through progressive social programs. The governor's fiscal accomplishments were noteworthy because he inherited the largest budget deficit in the history of the state—at a time when that state also had the highest marginal tax rate in the country.
• Reduced child abuse in Vermont by nearly half, increased the rate of immunized children to one of the highest in the country, and lowered uninsured rates to one of the lowest
• Sanctioned same-sex civil unions, reasoning, "It is about basic human rights."

To say the least, I'm excited to see how far Dean's campaign takes him. During my short, few years of political involvment, I've never experienced the sort of excitement and resonance I feel reading his stances on important issues, particularly education and gun laws ("If you say "gun control" in Vermont, Tennessee or Colorado, people think it means taking away their hunting rifle. If you say "gun control" in New York City or Los Angeles, people are relieved at the prospect of having Uzis or illegal handguns taken off the streets. I think Vermont ought to be able to have a different set of laws than California."). While I'd had a rather deflating experience working for a few candidates last November, I'm looking forward to the possibility of joining a few inspiring people and taking up the cause this election.

Resolutely:

What if instead of becoming democratized by the Pax Americana the whole Middle East blows up and the cancer multiplies? As a proud defender of the West's civilization, without reservations I should join Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair in the new Alamo.

I'd be much more willing to support this administration's aggression and defend America's Alamo with my life if I didn't feel like I was being led along by Bush and the media, however -- being told to look one way and believe in the propagandized rhetoric of freedom, security, unity, and Happy American Family Values or be labeled "unpatriotic." If they'd cut with the thinly-veiled humanitarianism and come clean about their true intentions regarding the threatening instability of Islamic extremists, they'd garner a great deal more support from people who are tired of being urged to play along in this make-believe Hollywood-scripted Greek tragedy, I'd imagine.

posted Thursday, February 27, 2003

R.I.P. Fred Rogers, 1929-2003

"You know, you don't have to look like everybody else to be acceptable and to feel acceptable."

I didn't entirely wake to NPR's quiet report that Fred Rogers, kindly neighboor, had passed during the night, and couldn't understand why I was having such ridiculous and terrible dream, but as the room came slowly into focus and Bob Edwards's voice continued to march forward, I realized that the idea wasn't absurd, alternate-universe dream-fodder. Mr. Rogers will no longer grace our kids' television screens. This has drawn a line between the children of today and generations who'd travelled on that ridiculous little train to his makebelieve puppet world and sing along, patiently observing the ritual of familiar white tennis shoes and red cardigan. 'Tis a sad, sad day.

I was too young to remember that morning in 1986, so often referred to on the news today, but as similar as the events are in tragedy, in technology, in (presumed) circumstance, and in the repeated visuals — divisory white lines sliced terribly, gracefully, through forever-blue skies — I would keep in their sacred box old memories and reflect upon, bear the weight of, this event on its own accord, know their stories as they fell from the sky (those who've passed before have had their moment and using this event as a reason for rememberence only serves to overshadow this event, these lives), harbor out of respect economic and political speculation, and restrain from diving in on the innards of the tragedy like surgical vultures, at least for the briefest respite. We owe great people this much.

Update: An article on the life of Indian astronaut, Kalpana Chawla (while India mourns her death); a pre-flight article on Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon; comprehensive Metafilter comments on the crew (1 and 2); also, interviews with family members shed light on crew members. So very sad. And yet, sadder still is the crash of a train in Zimbabwe this morning that killed 40 and leaves hundreds wounded, further illustrating the sheer weight of broadcast media coverage as tragedies of the world fall underfoot. I often question which is the deadlier train.

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