Mike W.'s Comments
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Jun 30, 2009 | comments: 37
Mike W. Jul 1, 2009, 6:55pm EDT

I've worked on Franken's campaign in a very small way as a member of Al's Grateful Volunteers, a music group that had played for a few rallies for Al and the DFL here in Minnesota.

I've spent some quality time with Al and Franni over the past two years. They attended one of the band rehearsals (check out the pictures on my Gather page).

I've seen how hard the Franken's have worked. I have heard them speak in public and private, and they are passionate and caring and genuine.

I have done so little in working towards Al's election, yet I have been the recipient of such kindness and consideration from our Senator-elect.

He is kind, smart, passionate hard working and has his personal integrity intact. Having written extensively about politics, he knows how the game is played.

We are very lucky to have such a quality individual representing us in the Senate.
Jun 29, 2009 | comments: 35
Mike W. Jul 1, 2009, 6:22pm EDT

Reading non-fiction mostly, currently:
The Federalist Papers
The World Without Us
Alex and Me
Mayflower
To begin the world anew : the genius and ambiguities of the American founders
The greatest minds and ideas of all time (by historian Will Durant)

As for fiction, I've really enjoyed Salman Rushdies novels, specifically:
The Satanic Verses
Shalimar the Clown
Shame
The Enchantress of Florence

Too many books, so little time!

 
Sep 14, 2008 | comments: 56
Mike W. Sep 20, 2008, 1:34pm EDT
Sandi,

I enjoyed reading this story as it was well written. I think Alexander's commentary was astute, although I do not feel that everything needs to be explained. This give the reader the opportunity to participate, filling in the blanks with their own imagination.

The style is classically mythological, good versus evil, transformative, mysterious, the tunnel as womb, birth and rebirth.

Well done!
Sep 13, 2008 | comments: 23
Mike W. Sep 14, 2008, 1:42pm EDT
What do ratings really mean? Does it mean that your arguments are accepted or rejected, or that your writing style is entertaining or boring or that people think you are sincere or full of it? The rating system gives equal weight to all opinions, extreme or middle-of-the-road, informed and ignorant.

When posting articles in an attempt to promote discussions, a rating of 10 (for me) indicates a failure. It means I'm not reaching a diverse range of readers.

For photos or fiction or humor, a higher rating may be more indicative of artistic talent.

And then there is this point gathering thing, which Gather perhaps takes its name, which throws in a whole overlay of purpose and intent, and will further skew any relevance of the rating system.

I believe that both the points feature (i.e. monetary or material incentives) and ratings (i.e. motivational incentives) detract from the potency of posted material and the response to it.

Someone who comments "Nice." to a photo or article is clearly point gathering. No time to really say what they think or contribute in any meaningful way, they just get points for commenting "Nice." whether meaning it or not (just cut and paste and move on to the next photo or article). It's the same thing for those who make many short comments to an article and who say nothing for all that effort (bandwidth hogs).

We are stuck therefore with our virtual Babel-land and ultimately have to decide for ourselves what is sincere and what is provocative.
Jul 4, 2008 | comments: 11
Mike W. Sep 9, 2008, 7:43pm EDT
g-man,

Thanks for sharing. You rock!

Make sure you get some "me" time in your schedule. Parents need to maintain their own health and sanity in order to fully "be there" for the children. Exercise is recommended to help deal with the stress.

I wish you the very best!
Sep 5, 2008 | comments: 48
Mike W. Sep 5, 2008, 8:01am EDT
Even if McCain's VP pick was a middle of the road Republican white male, it would seem to me imprudent to elect someone who we've only first heard of two months before the general election.

The signs are encouraging that gender and race are no longer de facto disqualifiers for consideration in American presidential politics, but we have a long way to go. We shouldn't even be talking about gender and race and should focus on positions and ability.

I agree that the Obama-Biden ticket is a better choice for America than the McCain-Palin ticket, and that Obama has chosen wisely in regards to moving this country toward a must needed change.

I think McCain has helped the Democrats by selecting Palin as running mate, exposing a political motivation that is so in-line with what we've experienced in the past eight years from the Republican party.
Sep 4, 2008 | comments: 29
Mike W. Sep 5, 2008, 7:45am EDT
It is clear why McCain has chosen Palin as running mate, but are we willing to elect someone who may potentially (or likely) assume the highest office in government having only known about her for two months before the election? I hope not.
Aug 29, 2008 | comments: 65
Mike W. Aug 29, 2008, 5:59pm EDT
Nee,

I've been watching the news here in the UK and the DNC is the top story here.

I've had a chance to hear speeches from Barack, Hillary and Bill. I learned that Joe Biden was selected as a running mate; great choice!

I am hopeful and inspired. I think he is the man for the times and I am looking forward to casting my vote for this man.
Aug 13, 2008 | comments: 44
Mike W. Aug 13, 2008, 6:54pm EDT
My Dear Sveta,

Ever since I heard this sad news I have thought of you, and as always my heart is with you.

Your voice is strong. It is silence that is weak.

I believe that most of the people in the world are good and decent, and I think of the day when these people will unite in an effective way, a World Citizens Union perhaps, enabling the collective power of hundreds of millions of voices to join in confronting the problems in the world, be it aggression, health, environment, justice, freedom.

How can we be at peace when our friends are not? What affects one affects all.
Aug 12, 2008 | comments: 29
Mike W. Aug 12, 2008, 8:15am EDT
Larry M,

I'm not sure the problem is the dollar. The dollar is a convenience that has become a deity.

Survival instincts gone wild. There is a reason that poverty is so associated with spirituality, as if one enables the other.

Sometimes I think the country would best be served by a consortium of grandmothers, all sitting in a circle in the Oval Office talking about the issues of the day while they sew squares of each state for the national quilt.

"Sally, dear, will you please pass the potato salad and that there Omnibus Spending Bill?"

"Esther, look at the budget for this Star Wars thingy, it's outrageous. Let's give it to the little ones in school instead. The military can have their own damn bake sale!"

"Emma says her boy Ray can't get medical insurance because of something called a pre-existing condition. How can it be good for the country if people can't be taken care of? By the way, Sally, you have a little potato salad on your chin."
Aug 12, 2008 | comments: 33
Mike W. Aug 12, 2008, 7:54am EDT
Dear Nee,

Happy Birthday! Its great to share the universe with you!

I've been so busy with the new job that I haven't had the time to keep in touch or to pick up our discussion (the ball is in my court, I know).

Enjoy your time away. Many happy returns, birthday girl!
Aug 10, 2008 | comments: 28
Mike W. Aug 11, 2008, 7:28am EDT
Robert -

You are an examplar to me for the way political debate should be conducted in this country. Respectful of all sides, making your stand and supporting your position with reasoned arguments. Very well done!

Our system of government is adversarial, and as such we require a debate (i.e. argument) between opposing camps, not as enemies but as partners advocating from different perspectives, as counter-intuitive as that may seem, this is how it should be done in this country.

The Rovian tactics, as you have written, is to attack the strengths of the challenger. In Obama's case this is his eloquence, popularity, relative youth and health. Go figure. Why would we NOT want to elect an eloquent, popular, young and healthy person to our highest office?

I do hope that this strategy which has worked so well for the Republicans in the past will no longer be effective as the electorate on both sides have seen the consequences of such bad politics.

I appreciate the tone of your discourse, free from the unnecessary "McSame" and "Obamanation" word play that contributes nothing to a productive political discourse.
Aug 9, 2008 | comments: 21
Mike W. Aug 10, 2008, 5:58pm EDT
We cannot ignore the fact that all these cases of infidelity are breaches of sacred vows and commitments which many of our politicians profess to value.

Infidelity reflects directly on a person's integrity, yet does this also reflect on a person's political abilities?

We don't tend to think so of JFK, or of Clinton, really, although in Clinton's case his indiscretion indirectly impacted his politics because the Republicans chose to impeach him on it.

Then again, we have many politicians who remian true to their wives, yet engage in terrible politics.

Here's my point. More people are impacted by the decisions a politician makes in his political life as opposed to his personal life. There is no correlation between personal fidelity and political ability.

We should ignore the personal and focus on the professional aspects of our politicians.

To answer the question concerning who is hurt more by this news of Edward's affair I would certainly say it would be McCain. Since our political focus concerns the personal over the professional, Edward's admission reflects more on McCain, a fellow adulterer, than Obama, a fellow Democrat.
Jul 4, 2008 | comments: 11
Mike W. Aug 10, 2008, 5:15pm EDT
Sandra -

Thank you so much for your kind words.

I wish society would focus more on children as well, properly funding education and helping parents with the challenges of work and parenting.

Throw quality time out the window, children need quantity time with their parents.

Get rid of the TV and video games and computers (the electronic baby-sitters) and do something with your children. Reading is big on my list. Create a play, or some artwork, or crafts or go for nature hikes, stay up late at night during meteor showers, play games, let the kids dress up in your clothes and play pretend.

The time goes by so quickly. I hope all parents make the most of it!
Jul 27, 2008 | comments: 76
Mike W. Aug 2, 2008, 10:37am EDT
I am really impressed by the quality of the conversation here. The sources, research, the openmindedness - this is the way it should be done.

I wanted to specifically say that I liked Bruce K's comments, focusing on the issues and the comparisons to his own positions.
Aug 2, 2008 | comments: 26
Mike W. Aug 2, 2008, 9:52am EDT
My Dear Isis,

Thank you for sharing this.

John's words resonate with my own feelings and beliefs, and in this way I recognize my spiritual brother, in the same way that I have come to recognize you as my spiritual sister.

We are family indeed and of this Earth and of one tribe. Since I was a teenager I have always connected to the worldview of this continent's Original Peoples.

Hyemeyohsts Storm's Seven Arrows, Black Elk Speaks, Earth Foods Earth Medicines were some of the books I read as a youth and which I still have upon my bookshelf.

I've had the pleasure to meet and play music with Keith Secola, who received "Best Artist" at the 2006 Native American Music Awards for the album "Native Americana". I'll put a picture of Keith on my page as soon as I can find it.

You know I'm an avid backpacker, and immersing myself in wilderness is both church and medicine for me. I am not right until I can spend some quality time in the wilderness.

The Earth calls to me, and like a child who does not listen, I am punished when I do not heed her call.

Our disconnect is reinforced every day; there is much difference between walking on the Earth and walking on the sidewalk. The sound of wind moving through a cityscape is not the same music as the wind through the forest.
Aug 1, 2008 | comments: 208
Mike W. Aug 1, 2008, 8:03am EDT
Bert -

Religion is rife with arrogance and hypocrisy. Arrogance to think that one can be certain of the mind, intent or nature of God. Hypocrisy by acts of violence against others of different beliefs, by those who are so willing to do harm to God's works, be it people or planet, and all in God’s name.

Islam means “Peace” and Jesus preaches “Love thy brother as thyself”. I’m down with all of that. Sometimes I feel as if I believe more purely in Jesus than many Christians.

Bringing on Armageddon by the religious extremists may be nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophesy based in an inherent insecurity of belief. Those who are secure in their beliefs have no reason for self-validation and are content to “live and let live”.

I disagree that religion is evil. There are many good works performed by religious groups. Consider the work of Mother Theresa or the many Christians in the Netherlands and elsewhere who risked their lives to save Jews from the gas chambers of Nazi Germany.

It is humans who have the capacity for evil. This evil knows no bounds and can be found in any human endeavor, be it religion, politics, business or society.

The Devil won’t necessarily appear as a horned, red-skinned demon with a tail and pitchfork. Sometimes the Devil looks great in a suit and tie with a flag pin in his lapel, or chooses instead a priest’s collar and apparel.

At best I can only admit to a sense of agnosticism. In the case of a non-physical concept such as God, existence or non-existence simply cannot be established.

I do find myself using terms such as “God”, “prayer”, “Devil”, “spirit” and such in order to communicate on these topics with theists, but I do not have the same interpretation or attachment to these terms as the people I am engaging in conversation.

I do believe that religion, like politics, is divisive. The divisiveness of both religion and politics is due to choosing to elevate our differences over our commonalities. In both cases this is an inappropriate thing to do. Whenever we are severely tested we find our commonality will trump our differences. Why can this not be the nominal state of human affairs? The answer again is human insecurity.

Here’s a clip from one of my articles concerning the role of faith in politics:

To summarize my thoughts on this topic:

- There is a significant difference between faith (i.e. religion) and spirituality.

- Religion does sometimes lead to spirituality, but many times it does not.

- One does not require religion to become a spiritual person.

- One does not require religion to become a moral or ethical person.

- Faith is divisive and separates us.

- Spirituality is universal and unites us.

- It is our sense of spirituality, not religion or faith, that compels us to moral and ethical behavior.

I believe one should keep their religion and faith within the privacy of the home and their chosen place of worship. But by all means, DO bring your spirituality to the Public Square.
Jul 29, 2008 | comments: 164
Mike W. Aug 1, 2008, 6:45am EDT
Time flies when you're freaking out!
Jul 27, 2008 | comments: 311
Mike W. Jul 27, 2008, 3:16pm EDT
Boris,

What would be the answer to the Answer Man?

My guru, Baba Rum Raisin, is silent on this one.
Jun 2, 2008 | comments: 14
Mike W. Jul 27, 2008, 3:08pm EDT
James A,

Hello, and thanks for commenting.

I think that is an accurate characterization of the candidates in the Minnesota race for the US Senate, and I am unabashedly supporting Franken in that race.

This characterization is secondary to my purpose in writing the article, as the examples presented are commonly employed in much of the political "debate" across the country. The article is meant as a tutorial on the tactics used, and is long-winded to be sure.

If my purpose was solely to promote Franken's candidacy I would focus on Franken's positions on the issues, and certainly would bring up the issue of integrity and personal responsibility, and would also contrast the differences between the candidates.

In addressing the personal responsibility and integrity issues as stated in your summary of my article, there would be little to go on without statements and example supporting my position.

I thought it convenient to show the dishonest and misleading tactics employed by the Republican Party leadership and at the same time promote my candidate in the Minnesota US Senate race.

I don't think you were cynical at all, and you have given me the opportunity to learn how this convenience of dual purpose has perhaps muted my original and primary purpose.

I have met with Al and Franni Franken on many occasions, some of them political and some of them social, most recently six days ago at a rally for Al in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Franni gave me a big hug and Al asked me if I had received some music he had on his iPod that he wanted me to hear. The Franken's are working tirelessly on behalf of all Minnesotans, and we will be well-served should he become our next Senator.

I have a genuine affection for these folks and have experienced great kindness from them for the little that I've done to help the campaign. This is amazing to me, an average Joe, in light of Franken's fame and success.

Thanks again, and I hope to hear from you soon.
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Mike W.
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

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