In Comedia Veritas

The not-so-new Republicans.

[unknown title]

In my pockets sleep

unsent letters
I feel under my skin verses that whisper
envelopes that tremble
philately that loved ones will not be able to
pluck from my flesh
they are letters that I perhaps wrote
but sent to myself
in far-away addresses
as though I want to explain myself
with others' reasons
for my shortcomings
under my skin sleep
letters
a whole bunch of them
letters that will perhaps be sent
in fact, that have been sent, but to me
who, like a stolen mailbox,
accumulate for myself a certain warmth, good words
that I myself wrote about others better
than anybody could write to me.

Ervin HATIBI

(Origjinali shqip)

«Ëndrra të turpshme»

Njeriu sheh ëndrra të tmerrshme në gjumë,
Po sheh dhe ëndrra të turpshme vetmuar në dhomë,
Të tmerrshmet durohen më shumë
Të turpshmet vërtet të tmerrojnë.

Dhe zgjohesh sikur po mbytesh në lumë,
Në lumë të ndytë me gjëra gjirizi e blozë,
Ky turp ka qenë veç turpi i një ëndrre në gjumë,
Megjithatë ta fshish nga ndërgjegja s'ke forcë.
Të mbetet një shenjëz turpi, një gjumë.

Dritëro AGOLLI

The People Behind DADT

In the wake of the failed vote (or subverted debate) on Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, I feel it is appropriate to share a couple of recent articles from before and after that compromised vote. These accounts portray the human toll of a taxing imposition that is shared only by gay and lesbian individuals in the military and not by their straight comrades.

An anonymous soldier speaks about his own experience and difficulties with DADT.

Some anonymous and signed contributions by gay and lesbian soldiers to a blog on The New York Times.

«Refrain»

The air is dark, the night is sad,
I lie sleepless and I groan.
Nobody cares when a man goes mad:
He is sorry, God is glad.
Shadow changes into bone.

Every shadow has a name;
When I think of mine I moan,
I hear rumors of such fame.
Not for pride, but only shame,
Shadow changes into bone.

When I blush I weep for joy,
And laughter drops from me like a stone:
The aging laughter of the boy
To see the ageless dead so coy.
Shadow changes into bone.

Allen GINSBERG

Politics and Bigotry Before Justice

An exposé of the hypocrisy plaguing our Congress and obstructing its legislative process, this time on Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell:

Healthcare Reform in a Nutshell

This is a must-see for anyone who wants to learn more about the implications (benefits and costs, etc.) of the Healthcare Reform Bill passed earlier this year. I like myself how it explains and it is recommended by Ezra Klein, who has shown time after time that he knows what he's talking about on this issue....

Who is Elizabeth Warren?

Here's a collage of what she is all about:

Elizabeth Warren's Greatest Hits from Daniel Mintz on Vimeo.

Common Sense ca. 2010

While I am not quite happy with the petty nomination that the Obama administration extended to Elizabeth Warren (for the sole reason that it is not enough), I do think that any bit of her input or influence in the yet-to-come Consumer Protection Agency is undoubtedly welcomed and more than necessary. She is the foremost defender of the U.S. consumer and deserves tangible power in the creation and management of the CPA.

While her voice will be heard, I did also want to hear the arguments coming from any member of Congress against her nomination for the leading position in the Agency. Her advocacy of the middle class is unparalleled and I would welcome any congressman or congresswoman to rise up and state his or her opposition to her nomination. Obama and the Democrats would have benefited from an open debate of this sort. The fact that Obama would face openly and head-on a challenge for a true cause of the left would reassure his base of the support with which he ought to reward them for their votes. Unfortunately, though, he has yet again done something only half-way....

Without any more ranting, here is the common-sense interview Elizabeth Warren gave on The Rachel Maddow Show:

New York City

Fine, fine, I won't leave New York City hanging after sharing those gorgeous views of San Francisco. Here is a slideshow of aerial views of New York City, courtesy of The Guardian.

Preview:

San Francisco

Contemplate. Ponder. Ruminate.

Just feast your eyes!

The Unseen Sea from Simon Christen on Vimeo.

«Poezi pa fund»

Kur njerëzish rri rrethuar
përsëri kthehem drejt vetvetes
dhe pak nga pak
një nga një
filloj kundroj gishtat,
duart,
këmbët si lavjerrës
që tokën përplasin
që kohën masin
tek kalon
tik-tak
herë-herë tek-tuk
ku me duk, ku pa duk,
madje,
madje...
.
.
.
[pa fund]

«Kanga e rinisë»

Rini, thueja kangës ma të bukur që di!
Thueja kangës sate që të vlon në gji.
Nxirre gëzimin tand të shpërthejë me vrull...
Mos e freno kangën! Le të marri udhë.

Thueja kangës, rini, pash syt e tu...
Të rroki, të puthi kanga, të nxisi me dashnu
me zjarrm tand, rini.... Dhe të na mbysi dallga
prej ndjenjash të shkumbzueme q'i turbullon kanga.

Rini, thueja kangës dhe qeshu si fëmi
Kumbi i zanit të përplaset për qiellë
dhe të kthejë prap te na, se hyjt ta kanë zili

E na të duem fort si të duem një diell.
Thueja kangës, Rini! Thueja kangës gëzimplote!
Qeshu, rini! Qeshu! Bota asht e jote.

MIGJENI

Meritat kujt i ka merituar

Para disa javësh revista amerikane Newsweek botoi një renditje shtetesh të përpiluar nga ajo vetë. Shqipëria u rendit e 57-a midis shteteve në përgjithësi, por mori vend të parë në një renditje më vete, atë të shteteve me të ardhura të pakta. Kriteret e mara parasysh, përveç madhësisë së shteteve dhe të ardhurave, qenë arsimi, shëndeti, niveli i jetesës, gjallëria ekonomike, dhe klima politike.

Lajmi i «çmimit të parë» pushtoi rrjetin shqiptar dhe çdokush u krekos e krenua për përmendjen me emër të Shqipërisë në këtë renditje, e sidomos nga një revistë e respektuar dhe e njohur siç është Newsweek. Gëzimi është i drejtë, por i drejtë duhet të jetë dhe një rishtjellim i faktorëve që na e bënë të mundur atë «çmim». Gjella me kripë dhe kripa me karar....

Duhet vënë në dukje se «mesataren» e Shqipërisë e ulën njëkohësisht klima politike (për të cilën u përftua nota 58.67) dhe gjallëria ekonomike (për të cilën u përftua nota 34.09) dhe, nga ana tjetër, e ngritën arsimi dhe shëndeti me notat 81.02 dhe 71.02, përkatësisht. (Shiko figurën më poshtë.)

Gjithsesi, me sa pashë unë, nuk u duk askush në internet që të lavdëronte ato institucione që bënë të mundur kriteret që na falën «mesataren» tonë të lartë.

Duam apo s'duam, na pëlqen apo s'na pëlqen, duhet njohur këtu merita që i takon regjimit para vitit 1991 në Shqipëri për arritjet e bëra në të dy fushat ku vendi ynë «shkëlqen».

Ja se ç'tha vetë revista për Shqipërinë:

Shqipëria shfaqet rrallë në titujt e parë dhe duket një model i pazakontë për vende të tjera, por, në të vërtetë, kjo demokraci e re i tejkalon gjithë vendet e tjera me të ardhura të pakta. Midis kombeve në kategorinë e vet, ajo merr vazhdimisht renditjen e parë në arsim, shëndet dhe nivelin e jetesës. Pothuajse 99 përqind e shqiptarëve dinë shkrim e lexim. Edhe pse është një nga shtetet më të varfra në Evropë, burrat shqiptarë mund të parashikojnë të jetojnë mesatarisht deri në 78 vjeç, ndërsa gratë deri në 81 vjeç—statistikë kjo mjaft e mirë kur marrim parasysh se një qytetar i Gjermanisë së pasur jeton mesatarisht deri në 79 vjeç.

(përkthimi im)

Kam disa ditë që po kërkoj të dhënat e regjistrimit të popullsisë të vitit 1989—regjistrimi i fundit para eksodit që plakosi Shqipërinë—dhe nuk po i gjej kurrkund, madje as tek faqja e Institutit të Statistikave. Megjithatë mbaj mend se deri në vitin 1989 popullsia e Shqipërisë u trefishua nga periudha e para-luftës. Për më tepër, prania e shërbimeve shëndetësore dhe e arsimit të përgjithshëm u shtri në të gjithë vendin, që nga kryeqyteti e deri në fshatrat më malore të veriut të Shqipërisë. Masat e marra nga regjimi i asaj kohe synonin të shtonin popullsinë tonë dhe ta rrisnin atë të shëndoshë dhe, duke mbajtur parasysh pikëmbërritjen e tyre, ata ndihmuan në mirëqenien e popullit edhe pas rënies së regjimit të tyre. Për këtë duhen përgëzuar sepse ia arritën qëllimit dhe çuan mjekë dhe dituri aty ku asnjëra s'kishte shkelur më parë.

Ndonëse ky shkrim mund të duket si fletë lavdërimi për një diktaturë të së shkuarës, nuk e synoj si të tillë. E pranoj se ajo ishte bardhë-e-zi si shumë regjime të tjera dhe, sot për sot po e lavdëroj, por nesër ka gjasa ta shaj. Synoj më tepër të vë në dukje mungesën e nismës dhe vullnetit për të ndërtuar sot mbi atë që ngritën prindërit dhe gjyshërit tanë për pesëdhjetë vjet; synoj të theksoj mangësitë e çdo qeverie që ka pasur mundësinë të vërë dorë mbi shëndetin e qytetarëve që e sollën në fuqi por ka parapëlqyer të mbushë xhepat e saj; synoj të dënoj rrënimin e institucioneve që e mbajtën gjallë shëndetin dhe popullin e që sot lëngojnë vetë....

Me pak fjalë, përplas grushtat pa dobi....

When Journalists Redeem Themselves

Just three days ago, I was asking myself why in the world Maureen Dowd and David Brooks are on the NYT payroll. They hadn't produced an article of worth (in my opinion, of course) for weeks and I was tired of even reading them.

Yet, these last two days, both of them redeemed themselves in my eyes with their two articles:

First, Brooks wrote about the realities facing conservative legislators today as well as their precarious position between ideological alternatives and feasible, beneficial ones for the middle class that run against traditional conservative ideology. Brooks seemed to favor the realistic approaches to mending the nation's woes.

Then, there was Dowd, who wrote about the blatant hypocrisy and racism shown by the pseudo-intellectual Newt Gingrich who recently agreed with Dinesh D'Souza's assessment of Obama's politics as a result of his father's neo-colonialist world view. According to Dowd—and here I agree with her—by equating Obama's policy and view of the world to that of his father, and by tainting the character of the latter, they also insult the former.

Gingrich's and D'Souza's logic is so perverted and twisted that only an uneducated audience or bigots will embrace. But then again, look at the crowd who's gotten the mainstream Republicans' panties in a bunch....

Greeks Are the New Albanians

I clearly remember the early-late 90s when young and old Albanians in search of a better life crossed the borders—admittedly legally or illegally—into Greece, where they were met with menial jobs, police abuse, inhumane treatment at customs or in custody, as well as with cultural and religious pressure to alter their identities.

These are all true and easily researchable, but the latter is the most heinous of them all and relevant to this rant of sorts: upon arriving in Greece, most Albanians were, indeed, under great pressure to change their religion to Greek Orthodox, or at the very least, their names to typical Greek- or Orthodox-sounding names. It did not matter whether they were Orthodox in Albania but happened to have a religiously-neutral name like 'Ilir' or 'Arben'; when they went to Greece, adult Ilirs and Arbens were quickly baptized (humiliatingly by taking a dip in large cauldrons while wearing nothing but their skivvies, might I add!) to become 'Ilia' or 'Andrea.' The pressure of conversion or name changes was, of course, greater for those of Muslim extraction who had clearly Muslim-sounding names.

Today, as Greece faces the mess in which it got itself—while making no attempt to persecute those former leaders who fattened their bank accounts... hello!—it is the young people of Greece who find themselves seeking fortune and employment elsewhere.

The New York Times tells the story of a handful of young Greeks whose primary aim is to emigrate. One of them is Alexandra Mallosi and she is going to Abu Dhabi. I wonder if, once there, she will have to change her name to 'Asalah' or 'Yasmina'....

Technically, Greece holds itself capable of greater civility than certain other nations (among which Abu Dhabi must certainly figure), yet I have a feeling Alexandra will remain Alexandra even in Abu Dhabi.

I should be gleaming with schadenfreude about this whole situation, but I ought to make it clear that I do have mixed feelings about the Greek crisis.... I did, however, feel compelled to share this bit of what some might call 'karma.' I won't call it that, not believing in it and all....

Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell's Personal Price

A blog entry on The New York Times highlights the personal consequences of a discharge from the military resulting from DADT.

Besides the money we spend in training these individuals, there is a personal price that they pay themselves and if you have never been able to read or listen to a personal account of this sort, I suggest you take a few minutes and do just that.

'We have invented nothing'

I haven't heard of anybody saying anything better than what Picasso said (title above) upon seeing the Lascaux cave paintings.

I find myself saying the same thing every time I see them. Life Magazine brings to light a few never-published images of these paintings.

Apparently, there were once rhinos in France:

(Found via BoingBoing)

True Nature of a 'Porcine Loudmouth'

The Onion has outdone itself!

I see nothing satyrical in this piece on Glenn Beck, or, as he is referred to here, 'Pink-faced half-wit.' It is unfortunately true through and through....

"Almost invariably, the pink-faced half-wit becomes so arrogant and self-important that he actually starts to believe the bullshit streaming from his fleshy hole and comes to think of himself as invincible," Snider said. "If history is any indication, this latest ruddy, pabulum-spewing cretin will likely have a homosexual affair come to light or otherwise perjure himself in a way that will alienate all but his most fanatical followers."

Reality Check

The picture tells it all: Look at who gets the biggest slice of the pie:

Let's all thank Reagan and successors, everybody! Image source and more info here.

Makes you think of that Leonard Cohen song, doesn't it?

Everybody knows the fight was fixed

The poor stay poor and the rich get rich

That's how it goes...

And everybody knows....

(Found via)

The North Star Empress

I finally got a chance to read Vanity Fair's report on Sarah Palin and there was nothing in it that shocked me. I am not claiming to be clairvoyant but she has shown her ugly and uglier sides time after time. I just wish those who follow her also knew how she really is. Unfortunately, they won't even bother to read this article because, why would they go on to question their belief in the 'North Star.'

Warm and effusive in public, indifferent or angry in private: this is the pattern of Palin’s behavior toward the people who make her life possible. A onetime gubernatorial aide to Palin says, “The people who have worked for her—they’re broken, used, stepped on, down in the dust.” On the 2008 campaign trail, one close aide recalls, it was practically impossible to persuade Palin to take a moment to thank the kitchen workers at fund-raising dinners. During the campaign, Palin lashed out at the slightest provocation, sometimes screaming at staff members and throwing objects. Witnessing such behavior, one aide asked Todd Palin if it was typical of his wife. He answered, “You just got to let her go through it… Half the stuff that comes out of her mouth she doesn’t even mean.” When a campaign aide gingerly asked Todd whether Sarah should consider taking psychiatric medication to control her moods, Todd responded that she “just needed to run and work out more.” Her anger kept boiling over, however, and eventually the fits of rage came every day. Then, just as suddenly, her temper would be gone. Palin would apologize and promise to be nicer. Within hours, she would be screaming again. At the end of one long day, when Palin was mid-tirade, a campaign aide remembers thinking, “You were an angel all night. Now you’re a devil. Where did this come from?”

The whole report is seven and a half pages, but take your time and go through it. I did. And I know quite well I wouldn't want someone like the person described above controlling our nuclear arsenal.

Addendum: More on the empress's new clothes.

Ruminations of a Sick Anti-Theist

Christopher Hitchens, an outspoken public intellectual and a relentless critic of religion, has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and is undergoing treatment. He continues to write for Vanity Fair and his latest article in the magazine—about a week old, but I just got to read it—expresses his view on getting sick as well as on the fact that people of different faiths are praying for him.

He has very interesting things to say. Definitely worth a read if you have the time.

There are numerous passages in holy scripture and religious tradition that for centuries made this kind of gloating into a mainstream belief. Long before it concerned me particularly I had understood the obvious objections. First, which mere primate is so damn sure that he can know the mind of god? Second, would this anonymous author want his views to be read by my unoffending children, who are also being given a hard time in their way, and by the same god? Third, why not a thunderbolt for yours truly, or something similarly awe-inspiring? The vengeful deity has a sadly depleted arsenal if all he can think of is exactly the cancer that my age and former “lifestyle” would suggest that I got. Fourth, why cancer at all? Almost all men get cancer of the prostate if they live long enough: it’s an undignified thing but quite evenly distributed among saints and sinners, believers and unbelievers. If you maintain that god awards the appropriate cancers, you must also account for the numbers of infants who contract leukemia. Devout persons have died young and in pain. Bertrand Russell and Voltaire, by contrast, remained spry until the end, as many psychopathic criminals and tyrants have also done. These visitations, then, seem awfully random. While my so far uncancerous throat, let me rush to assure my Christian correspondent above, is not at all the only organ with which I have blasphemed …And even if my voice goes before I do, I shall continue to write polemics against religious delusions, at least until it’s hello darkness my old friend. In which case, why not cancer of the brain? As a terrified, half-aware imbecile, I might even scream for a priest at the close of business, though I hereby state while I am still lucid that the entity thus humiliating itself would not in fact be “me.” (Bear this in mind, in case of any later rumors or fabrications.)

'Monk Business'

Vanity Fair takes an exhaustive look at Greece's financial woes and how a handful of monks on Mount Athos helped to create it and/or benefited from it.

On a related note, I have a short-term solution for Greece: have your church bail you out. Technically, the church and state are one and the same. One hand washes the other, I say.

Loon Watch

Sooooooo... does this make her a lez? Judging by her male counterparts' rhetoric against gays and their subsequently-discovered love for the cock, I'd say she's as lesbian as poetry readings!

She does say 'I want some young women; you come stand with me' and then goes on to ask for a few women by name. I'd say she's a bitter lesbian at best....

(via BuzzFeed)

E vërteta na vjen nga jashtë

Që shqiptarët ta kuptojnë se ku ndodhen në lidhje me historinë e tyre, duhet që pasqyrën të na e mbajnë nga jashtë. Një profesor amerikan i quajtur Bernd Fisher (jam ende në kërkim të CV-së së tij) na vë në dukje tiparet e udhëheqësve që kemi pasur deri më sot, që nga Enver Hoxha e deri tek Saliu I dhe Saliu II. Ai nuk harron të tregojë këtë të fundit dhe Fatos Nanon si pasardhës të Enver Hoxhës, në saje të mentalitetit të tyre politik, por edhe të mënyrës se si ata kanë vepruar dhe veprojnë politikisht.

Who's to Blame

I'm not Obama's biggest fan right now and, honestly, never was. But I do think the guy has faced blame that was unjustly thrust upon him. It appears that even blaming him for the high unemployment in this country is also not just at all, because it is not his fault. In great part, he is responsible only for the unemployment that occurred during the time when his policies combatting it were put into effect. (Any logical person would not claim that he is responsible for all job losses post-20 January 2009.) Taking that into consideration, the result is astounding, as this blogger finds.

If you're more inclined to like pictures, behold this:

In other words, it is the Bush policies that are responsible for the loss of 7,796,000 jobs, and the Obama policies that are responsible for the loss of 41,000 jobs. That's Bush for 99.48% and Obama for 0.52% of unemployment.

This picture also illustrates it well. Or maybe it's just a cool picture that I want on my blog.

(Graph Source & via)

(Image Source)

Truth Be Told...

I am glad that at a time when most are discussing America's exit from Iraq (sort of), somebody stops and looks at the reason(s) that got us there in the first place. Those reasons were as fickle as they were false. What we didn't find there, the thousands of Iraqi victims, and the current state of political and social instability also go to show us that the war was in vain. Those dead did die in vain; they died in the hands of leaders who, led by their own reasons, sent thousands of them to fight a useless, unnecessary, unpopular, destructive war.

Revisionism is a Republican philosophy of life. Sadly, many Americans buy into it time after time. Good thing Rachel Maddow is around to shed some light where light is due, and give credit where credit is due.

Bonus clip: