interesting factoid

"In 2005, 94 per cent of all known executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA."

I understand that the issue is a complex one, but while reading about Saddam's recent misfortune, I noticed the United States doesn't seem to fit in with the list of other countries who execute their criminals. While other countries like Britain, Australia, and Russia (canada has been strangely silent) were not supportive of Saddam's execution, George Bush was enthusiastically in favor.

Of course, I think that it's fair to mention that Mr. bush is from Texas, where (my uneducated impression is) they do a lot of the executing, probably the vast majority of american executions.

This comes on the tail of my viewing "The Life of David Gale" which deals with the subject in depth.

I will say that when I heard that Saddam Hussein had been hanged, I felt a little disappointment. Whether this is because I'm soft on criminals, idealistic or what.... I don't know. Maybe I feel a great injustice, because I suspect that Saddam Hussein wasn't the only one responsible for injustices in Iraq, certainly not for 911.

I think I suspect that good ol' georgey has some nasty little secrets, and now there's one less possible stool pidgeon for him to worry about. After all, if the Iraq invasion really WAS all about oil, and money, then regardless of Saddam's crimes against humanity, the TRUE reason he was executed has everyting to do with somebody's pocketbook. and if you ask me, motive makes all the difference.

Then again, I am prone to conspiracy theories. But there's a nagging little twitch inside my brain. Capital punishment makes me very uncomfortable.... but corporal punishment, now that's a different story. I think we could benefit from that.

If you are a universal reconciliation subscriber, you are of the opinion that mr. hussein is currently united with God. This idea makes it easier to see how people rebel against the concept, but you know, I find it comforting. Every day, I think, I am more convinced that we all go to God, whatever that means, and regardless of our mistakes. In the gospel of Thomas, Jesus makes a statement about everybody "returning to the source" I'll have to look it up to get the exact words.

Saddam Hussein finally with God, now he sees the light. Now the power of forgiveness is evident, now it's clear that nothing can separate me from the Power behind the universe. Isn't that cool? it makes me happy, the thought of Saddam Hussein in heaven. Whatever heaven is.

There's really not that much to separate me from the saddams and the hitlers of the world. We all come in the same, all innocent and bright eyed and well intentioned, all with that dark little voice inside our heads, telling us to punish those who wrong us and remove those who are obstacles to us, and obedience to that voice changes who we become, until we are no longer innocent, and we no longer deserve any kind of compassion or sanctuary.

But for Saddam Hussein, the gospel is good news. And if it's good news for him, then it's also good news for me. Because we're not so different, he and I.

I struggle with the whole idea of Jesus, everything about the whole "son of God" fiasco. Every day I come to a different conclusion, every day the logic offends me. Sometimes I think that's the way it's supposed to be. There's something very offensive about Jesus, always has been, but then there's something magnetic as well, enticing and dynamic. I think this is why I can't just come to a conclusion and drop it, this is why I've been stuck on him for so long.

Did he truly commit the act that saved humanity, or did simply give his life in a metaphor in the hopes that we would finally "get it?" I don't know, but either way, what love! And for such losers!

Dude, I think Saddam Hussein just led me to Christ!?!?!?!?

Parkour Commercial

Here's a little bit of parkour, and a little bit of escaping the family.... the only two things on my mind right now. It's actually a commercial from one of those european countries with the gutteral hawking gagging spitting languages.... not sure which one. Enjoy.

Merry Drive Home and a Happy Peaceful Night in My Very Own House

So.... Christmas.

Thank God it's over, right? I mean, I hate Christmas so much less than I used to, but my tolerance is still astoundingly low. This year, Abu and I ran out of juice at about the same time. My sister and I had an unpleasant argument shortly before Abu and my dad's dog, Rocky, had a fight. When she'd gotten over her limp, she growled at my little brother, whereupon she learned exactly how I feel about dogs growling at children. After that, the two of us where in foul tempers and I am only too grateful that the morning after was the morning we hit the road.

Up until that point, things actually went quite smoothly, by anyone else's definition. But if you know me at all, and then you envision me in perfectly clean and steril pink stucco development without a moment to myself, or a bed to myself, or a room to myself, or even my girls to help keep my irritation in check.... well..... you're picturing a very tense little bear with a very short little temper. I think I did very well, considering the circumstances.

But now I'm home, and I'm thrilled. I'm making some exciting plans and I have lots of video footage to sift through. Now that christmas is over I can go ahead and pick up that Joan of Arcadia box set, and that "alchemist" book, get that tattoo, play lots of video games, eat lots of popcorn and drink a little bit of beer.

I was just reflecting to my friend on msn, the difference between the love between family members, and the love between friends. Seems like with families, love is characterized by selfish demands and emotional obliviousness. The love between friends is usually much more considerate and accomodating. I spent a lot of time today wondering why this appears to be so. I wonder if "family love" is laced with the sort of contempt that is bred of familiarity. It's a strange dynamic, but I came away from this holiday with the conviction that I would learn how to weed the selfishness from my love for my family, that I would make an effort to hear how they're feeling, that I would commit to trying not to hurt them. Even though it seems that hurting each other is considered an acceptable way for us to communicate.

I may not be allowed to voice my feelings or complain of their lack of sensitivity. But I would love to bring a little emotional pacifism into those relationships. If I'm gonna do that, I'm gonna have to be the one who refuses to hit back.

That should be pretty easy, since I'm now here, and they're way over there. I planned it that way. I've set myself up for success, if you will. Do a little reading and you will find that this is the best way to train a dog. If it works on dogs, it's bound to work on me.