On the heels of a few other localities, Multnomah County has begun issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples. The county’s attorney’s position: “we can’t legally stop them.”
I feel that marriage is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done, and I’m glad our county has joined others in allowing committed and loving couples to enter into this relationship. Congratulations.
I don’t need a constitutional amendment telling me what my marriage is.
The Sierra Club is caught in a quagmire again. Do they take an official stance against immigration, or avoid the issue. This isn’t a new topic of debate, but some odd circumstances have created cause for alarm. Some white supremacist groups have urged their members to join the Sierra Club to vote on the issue.
Why can’t the club couldn’t just have a stance against people in general? Immigrants are no more damaging than most of the members. The real threat of population includes everyone, not just the “mass immigration of people with pre-industrial birth rates.”
The article suggests that it is likely that the issue will be resolved soon. I doubt it will. I think its very difficult to compartmentalize and separate one’s beliefs. And that seems to be what this issue is doing for most members.
Personally, I think its an unimportant issue at this time. Look what has happened in the last 4 years. Shouldn’t we concern ourselves with something else?
The League of Conservation Voters has John Kerry’s Lifetime Environmental Record at 96. That’s pretty damn good.
There are a lot of issues for this years election, but the environment should really stand at the front. Do you know what’s been done over the last 3 years? Its startling.
There’s an almost interesting article in the Seattle-Times about the hidden costs of cheap DVD players. Its really nothing new, but the conclusion is pretty lousy.
“On an emotional and political level, I’m not sure where all this is headed or what consumers can do. You can’t vote with your dollars. All DVD players are now made in China, so there’s no “Made in the U.S.A.” option.
If we all stopped buying DVD players tomorrow, conditions in China would probably get worse rather than better.
Maybe, in the end, it’s enough to be aware of what’s happening behind the scenes as we enjoy this cornucopia of bargains.”
It is important to understand the background of the products you buy. I think the BSE “mad cow” thing over Christmas highlights that. Countries have stopped exporting our Beef over the issue, and we’ve made some changes in procedure. How many children need to be raped on the job before we stop importing something as unimportant as DVD players, or doggie treats, or cookie cutters? When does knowing that its happening make it O.K.?
“Gore’s failure was he didn’t embrace the thing he genuinely cared about — he didn’t have the confidence to do that. Instead, he felt he had to prove his competence in all these other areas, to master the minutiae of every other issue. And Americans don’t care about that.
I mean, look at George W. Bush — he knows nothing about any issue. He doesn’t seem to have a single complex thought in his head or shred of curiosity. I mean, he claims he doesn’t even watch the news or read newspapers. But people find something kind of charming and trustworthy about his manner — and that’s all they need.”
from Save the Earth – Dump Bush with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This weekend we said goodbye to Ben. It was my first funeral, and was a surprisingly helpful experience. The service wasn’t personally that helpful, but seeing his photos and being with friends and family really made the loss real. I’m not sure I share the same sentiments as everyone, but as far as death goes, it wasn’t as difficult as it could have been. The reason it wasn’t that difficult was because of Ben himself. He lived well, he lived full, and he lived without damaging our souring his relationships. He didn’t leave a tangle of problems, and he certainly didn’t leave with a bundle of regrets.
Some questions need to be asked.
There will be a memorial service for Ben at 11 a.m. on November 22nd at Keith and Keith Terrace Heights Chapel.
The guest book on Ben’s site is also quite a memorial. A wonderful soul with amazing reach. He touched all those he met, and many more through his photography and writing.
The Cascades lost one of their biggest and most active friends this weekend. Ben Manfredi died while kayaking the Elwah River. Those who knew him knew of his thirst for adventure, and his love of the challenges that its peaks, slopes and rivers offered.
The surprise of this news is somewhat hollowing. Ben was usually the calm one, the calculated one, the one who had the luck. I knew the day would come when one of our friends would be taken, but I never expected it to be Ben. He usually carried a precision and grace with him. I think he had fear. Its what made him challenge himself. He also knew the odds. He’d helped dig up avalanche victims. He’d watched friends disappear into the swirl not knowing when they’d resurface. I guess that part of the territory.
Ben had a great sense of humor known to few. He was quite shy, and didn’t speak much around strangers. When he did open up, a thoughtful and funny person joined the conversation. His boldness showed in his action however, as you’ll see from the photographs he’s taken over the last several years.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Ben.