Serina, I don't know if you've seen this, but this is for you:
And this is for you chuck, OBAMA's gonna pull way ahead today baby. This is my first year actually following politics. I've always had a passionate hatred for it, but I'm in DC and it's unavoidable. On top of that I'm taking a political journalism class that's forcing me to read all the news and write about it. It's actually interesting! Unfortunately though political journalism is 99% the worst writing that these very talented writers put out, but, that's politics. But I'm very excited for the upcoming months. My two favorite candidates are actually looking like they're going to be coming out as winners. It's going to be a hard choice in November if McCain and Obama take the lead. So I'm wondering though who they'll pick as their vice's. I feel like Obama would be more inclined to choose Edwards because they vibe on poverty more similarly, but I'm thinking Clinton would make a more powerful political choice against McCain. And why is Huckabee still in the race? Is it possibly to proove to McCain that he has the national support to make a strong vice? Dun dun dun.
Suggested reading for understanding the real nature of political journalism and how it ruins the English language: The short classic Essay by George Orwell - Politics and the English Language
And suggested reading for understanding how the white house (yes, lowercase >:O) manipulates the press and how the news really actually gets to us: Timothy Crouse - The Boys on the Bus. Only several of the chapters in this book were assigned for my class, but his Rolling Stones background and style writing was so amazing and humorous I couldn't stop and finished the whole thing.
And two recommended alternatives to Amazon (for used books), in order of preference:
betterworld.com - This site is awesome. They don't have everything, but they have FREE SHIPPING on very cheap books (if they have it). and abesbooks.com
There was a visiting Berkeley professor that spoke here at the Washington center last night. A super dem, my friend called him. He knew some stuff, but mostly he preached equality and the evils of the growing inequality of socioeconomic statistics in America. That just got me thinking about inequality.
I've been reading The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs, which I highly recommend to anyone that wants a broader understanding of the power of economic policy. One thing I do a lot is read while I'm walking. And so for the past week I'd walk my 10 blocks to the LiNK office reading this book on Poverty, but the thing about DC is that, there's homeless beggars on every corner. This is a city. We're not used to homelessness in San Diego, the police conveniently round those conscious meddlers up and ship them out of sight. But here in DC, the reality of poverty and wealth clash head on as I see the 45% black population in the service industry, serving the rest in their baller business suits and Burberry scarves. It's an interesting sight standing in line at Starbucks and everyone in line is white and everyone behind the counter is black. I've worked at Starbucks, and it sucked.
So I walk by these homeless people, reading The End of Poverty, shaking my head 10 times, every block, as I refuse these broken people some change. Often they respond "God bless you, have a good day." I want to tear my heart out.
I've come to the conclusion that I have to admit that I don't believe in equality. Every beer, every restaurant tab, every clothing purchase, every electronic, even every time I watch a movie weighs on me as my failure to love. God, why do I always feel so guilty. I'm tempted to blame my leaders, with their fake christian values and fake constitution, and their dirty 'American interests'. But I know all the power of the universe rests dormant in me.
Man, I'm feeling my thoughts stagnating being here. I've just been hanging out every night, meeting, talking, chatting, getting to know, socializing, fluttering, buzzing, unsubstantial bs. I need to step back for a bit, recollect my thoughts, read some books, and face life. But then again, it's been fun, and it worked. I found some cool people. Snap back to reality (oh there goes gravity?).
Write me!
Dustin Cole UC Washington Center 1608 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Box # 601, Washington, DC 20036
