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Dec. 18th, 2005 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
averygoodun42Well, as it turns out, Friday was Christmas after all. Not only was the news good (in a perverse kind of way) but DH came home with news of not only a raise (first since starting here) but also a bonus! On second thought, maybe it isn't Christmas afterall... maybe Hell has finally frozen over. Whatever it is, it's all good.
Yesterday we sent Babe off on his first trip without us. Our friends had a Christmas party to attend at the Children's museum and asked to borrow Babe. I think I finally decided it would be a good idea on Tuesday (DH was out of town again). So anyway, Babe left at 10 am, and at 10:30 DH and I were out the door to go see a movie! First movie in months and months and months.
To bad we went to see Harry Potter. At least DH enjoyed it. Okay, that's not fair. I enjoyed it. I was shaking with silent laughter through most of it. And Ralph's make-up was tolerable, while his performance fit the movie perfectly. Ach well, live and learn. Serves me right for not getting any spoilers.
Then last night, after Babe was returned with glorious reviews of the day, the three of us went to DH's workplace Christmas party. It's a lot more fun with a kid. Especially one who is absolutely beautiful, huge, and being very, very good. (DH and I are so lucky.)
I was actually fairly outgoing, which was nice, and had a good conversation with a nice couple, who are new to the company. One comment upset me, though.
We were talking about home towns (it all started with "It's a Wonderful Life" What is it about that movie?). The wife was saying how she didn't like the movie, because she found the idea of being trapped in one's home town rather depressing. I agreed completely. But a little later on I amended my opinion, saying how I missed certain aspects of Boulder, my hometown. I explained how it being a University town was nice because the populace was mostly educated (and they can converse intelligently on a variety of topics), among a few other positive traits.
A little later the conversation had veered into why I didn't like the wife's hometown (I lived there for a year, and it was a miserable year), and, well, I had to explain where I was coming from, so I started by saying, "Well, Boulder is fascistly Liberal..."
At this point the husband said, "When you said educated, I figured you meant Liberal."
How sad a comment is that? Are conservatives illiterate dunderheads, then? Or is it that everyone thinks Liberals are such snobs that they view the world that way? Either way, it's a horrible, fallacious view and no one profits from it.
That's what politics in this country seems to have come down to, though. You're either a Democrat, with hoity-toity views, drinking champagne and degrading the caviar, or you're a Republican/Conservative - hard working, honest folk who represent the real America. That was the spin from the last election, anyway. It makes me sick that people buy into the crap they (politicians) sell.
I'll admit that I am a snob. I do enjoy intelligence. I love people who actually think about things. Even if I don't agree with them, I'll at least give them points for a good argument if they present one.
The reason I made the comment about an educated populace was based on an experience I had when I first started getting involved in this community. I was volunteering at a local theater as an artist, and listening to the conversation going on completely amazed at the level of ignorance the vocal ones were exhibiting. They were talking about current events (at that point, the arguments for going into the war in Iraq) and they honestly believed the propaganda that Saddam was behind 9/11. Being new, and extremely shy, I didn't (as I should have) point out some obvious facts, for instance: Osama is a Fundamentalist. That means, he believes wholly in the sanctity of Islam, and that his view is right, and all others are wrong. Saddam uses(ed) Islam for his own political machinations, but really wasn't a believer at all (gassing Kurds would be a no-no under the Koran). Not according to the Fundamentalists. In Osama's eyes, Saddam is as evil as the US is. Why on earth would Osama deal with one devil (a weak devil, at that) to punish another? But, in the eyes of these locals, both men were Muslim, so it was logical, right?
That was my tip-off that the local education level is just high enough to be spoon fed the propaganda, and unfortunately, I haven't really had much evidence otherwise, yet. But then again, I've also determined that my opinion is in the minority, and since politics is a rather taboo topic outside of election season, I gather I'd best keep my mouth shut if I know what's good for me.
But I'll try to keep an open mind anyway. I can always hope that the non-vocal volunteers were thinking the same thing I was, or at least had more questions than the vocal ones did.
You know?
*sigh*
Snape's Journal
Feb. 14, 1998
Damn Albus! At least I'm not alone in plotting revenge this time. I think Minerva and I can come up with something suitably nasty for this display of unilateral decision making. Maybe Filius would be willing to help as well.
***
For some strange reason Albus let me skip the party tonight, giving me hall duty instead. I wonder if it had anything to do with my demeanor. Or the crying Hufflepuffs. And Ravenclaws. I'll have to ask Minerva's opinion and keep it in mind for the next party he forces upon us.
Hall duty tonight was actually fun. Gryffindor lost 100 points, Ravenclaw lost 60, while Hufflepuff lost 120 and gave Argus three hard workers for a week. Now to get that image out of my head.
Gryffindor should have lost more than 100 points, though. I don't know why I refrained from throwing the book at Granger. Not only was she out of bounds, but her intentions were clear enough. Stupid girl. She claimed she was only up there checking for miscreants, but I know that hopeless look too well. It was the same one Weasley wore before he went and buggered up my life.
It must have been the life debt reasserting itself, because instead of taking a nice round number from Gryffindor, I found myself only telling her off. Mildly, at that. She wasn't even crying when she left the tower, just resigned.
If it weren't for the Ravenclaws earlier, I would swear I'm losing my touch.
I'll make sure Minerva keeps an eye on her.
/entry
ETA: Okay, this is funny as all get out. Please read. (thanks![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
windypoint!)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17563462%255E601,00.html
Yesterday we sent Babe off on his first trip without us. Our friends had a Christmas party to attend at the Children's museum and asked to borrow Babe. I think I finally decided it would be a good idea on Tuesday (DH was out of town again). So anyway, Babe left at 10 am, and at 10:30 DH and I were out the door to go see a movie! First movie in months and months and months.
To bad we went to see Harry Potter. At least DH enjoyed it. Okay, that's not fair. I enjoyed it. I was shaking with silent laughter through most of it. And Ralph's make-up was tolerable, while his performance fit the movie perfectly. Ach well, live and learn. Serves me right for not getting any spoilers.
Then last night, after Babe was returned with glorious reviews of the day, the three of us went to DH's workplace Christmas party. It's a lot more fun with a kid. Especially one who is absolutely beautiful, huge, and being very, very good. (DH and I are so lucky.)
I was actually fairly outgoing, which was nice, and had a good conversation with a nice couple, who are new to the company. One comment upset me, though.
We were talking about home towns (it all started with "It's a Wonderful Life" What is it about that movie?). The wife was saying how she didn't like the movie, because she found the idea of being trapped in one's home town rather depressing. I agreed completely. But a little later on I amended my opinion, saying how I missed certain aspects of Boulder, my hometown. I explained how it being a University town was nice because the populace was mostly educated (and they can converse intelligently on a variety of topics), among a few other positive traits.
A little later the conversation had veered into why I didn't like the wife's hometown (I lived there for a year, and it was a miserable year), and, well, I had to explain where I was coming from, so I started by saying, "Well, Boulder is fascistly Liberal..."
At this point the husband said, "When you said educated, I figured you meant Liberal."
How sad a comment is that? Are conservatives illiterate dunderheads, then? Or is it that everyone thinks Liberals are such snobs that they view the world that way? Either way, it's a horrible, fallacious view and no one profits from it.
That's what politics in this country seems to have come down to, though. You're either a Democrat, with hoity-toity views, drinking champagne and degrading the caviar, or you're a Republican/Conservative - hard working, honest folk who represent the real America. That was the spin from the last election, anyway. It makes me sick that people buy into the crap they (politicians) sell.
I'll admit that I am a snob. I do enjoy intelligence. I love people who actually think about things. Even if I don't agree with them, I'll at least give them points for a good argument if they present one.
The reason I made the comment about an educated populace was based on an experience I had when I first started getting involved in this community. I was volunteering at a local theater as an artist, and listening to the conversation going on completely amazed at the level of ignorance the vocal ones were exhibiting. They were talking about current events (at that point, the arguments for going into the war in Iraq) and they honestly believed the propaganda that Saddam was behind 9/11. Being new, and extremely shy, I didn't (as I should have) point out some obvious facts, for instance: Osama is a Fundamentalist. That means, he believes wholly in the sanctity of Islam, and that his view is right, and all others are wrong. Saddam uses(ed) Islam for his own political machinations, but really wasn't a believer at all (gassing Kurds would be a no-no under the Koran). Not according to the Fundamentalists. In Osama's eyes, Saddam is as evil as the US is. Why on earth would Osama deal with one devil (a weak devil, at that) to punish another? But, in the eyes of these locals, both men were Muslim, so it was logical, right?
That was my tip-off that the local education level is just high enough to be spoon fed the propaganda, and unfortunately, I haven't really had much evidence otherwise, yet. But then again, I've also determined that my opinion is in the minority, and since politics is a rather taboo topic outside of election season, I gather I'd best keep my mouth shut if I know what's good for me.
But I'll try to keep an open mind anyway. I can always hope that the non-vocal volunteers were thinking the same thing I was, or at least had more questions than the vocal ones did.
You know?
*sigh*
Snape's Journal
Feb. 14, 1998
Damn Albus! At least I'm not alone in plotting revenge this time. I think Minerva and I can come up with something suitably nasty for this display of unilateral decision making. Maybe Filius would be willing to help as well.
***
For some strange reason Albus let me skip the party tonight, giving me hall duty instead. I wonder if it had anything to do with my demeanor. Or the crying Hufflepuffs. And Ravenclaws. I'll have to ask Minerva's opinion and keep it in mind for the next party he forces upon us.
Hall duty tonight was actually fun. Gryffindor lost 100 points, Ravenclaw lost 60, while Hufflepuff lost 120 and gave Argus three hard workers for a week. Now to get that image out of my head.
Gryffindor should have lost more than 100 points, though. I don't know why I refrained from throwing the book at Granger. Not only was she out of bounds, but her intentions were clear enough. Stupid girl. She claimed she was only up there checking for miscreants, but I know that hopeless look too well. It was the same one Weasley wore before he went and buggered up my life.
It must have been the life debt reasserting itself, because instead of taking a nice round number from Gryffindor, I found myself only telling her off. Mildly, at that. She wasn't even crying when she left the tower, just resigned.
If it weren't for the Ravenclaws earlier, I would swear I'm losing my touch.
I'll make sure Minerva keeps an eye on her.
/entry
ETA: Okay, this is funny as all get out. Please read. (thanks
windypoint!)http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17563462%255E601,00.html
