Why Can't We Be Friends?
Maybe its just me (considering that my dose of americana comes solely from the internet) but I think the Dems are heading for trouble. The country has become divided over the past eight years and three months ago (heck, one month ago) a Democratic victory seemed a sure thing. Now I am not so sure. While I am living in France (and most french people could not name a single republican besides Bush) I feel as though there is a turning tide in the states. I cannot help but be disappointed by the petty fighting between the Obama and Clinton camps. I understand this is going to be a hard fought battle but this election is theirs to lose...and they might do just that. Americans are looking for change (as we always are) but we are also looking for unity. Not the scary 'Love America or Die' unity that emerged after 9/11 but a true unity that is nurtured through national pride. I am American and I cannot pretend to know what it is like to be anything else but I have come to realize the effect we have on the world and the effect we have on ourselves. There is a saying in France: "America coughs and the whole world has a cold". Though we have declined in power over the years, we still hold a lot of sway ecomonically and culturally. We export American culture shamelessly and any dip in our economy shows an immediate effect on the rest of the world (see current crisis with fed reserve). There is a lot of weight on our shoulders and, I think, this election cycle we should cut the crap and actually find who the best person to shoulder this weight might be. Besides, if Hill and Obama don't get their act together you might just find me voting for McCain come election day.
Thursday, January 31
Wednesday, January 23
Friday, January 18
Pour Me Faire une Beauté ou Pour une Cigarette
(Translation of the Beautiful Carla Bruni)
Quand j'aurai tout compris, tout vécu d'ici-bas,
Quand je serai si vieille, que je ne voudrai plus de moi,
Quand la peau de ma vie sera creusée de routes,
Et de traces et de peines, et de rires et de doutes,
Alors je demanderai juste encore une minute...
When I have understood everything, all of life from now to then
When I will be so old that i won't want anymore of myself
When the skin of my life is cut into routes*
of shadows and sadness, of laughs and doubts,
Then I will ask for just one more minute
Quand il n'y aura plus rien qui chavire et qui blesse,
Et quand même les chagrins auront l'air d'une caresse,
Quand je verrai ma mort juste au pied de mon lit,
Que je la verrai sourire de ma si petite vie,
Je lui dirai "écoute ! Laisse-moi juste une minute..."
When there is nothing anymore which capsizes and which wounds,
and when even the sadness seems to be a caress,
When I see my death at the foot of my bed
I will see it smiling at my so little life,
I will say to him, "Listen! Let me have just one minute..."
Juste encore minute, juste encore minute,
Pour me faire une beauté ou pour une cigarette,
Juste encore minute, juste encore minute,
Pour un dernier frisson, ou pour un dernier geste,
Juste encore minute, juste encore minute,
Pour ranger les souvenirs avant le grand hiver,
Juste encore une minute... sans motif et sans but.
Just another minute, just another minute,
for me to do something beautiful or for one cigarette,*
Just another minute, just another minute,
for a last shudder, or for a last gesture,
just another minute, just another minute,
for rearranging the memories before the great winter,
just another minute...without motive and without aim
Puisque ma vie n'est rien, alors je la veux toute.
Tout entière, tout à fait et dans toutes ses déroutes,
Puisque ma vie n'est rien, alors j'en redemande,
Je veux qu'on m'en rajoute,
Soixante petites secondes pour ma dernière minute.
Since my life is nothing, therefore i want it all
Wholly complete, utterly, with all of its twists and turns*
Since my life is nothing, therefore I ask it again,
I want this one added to me:
Sixty little seconds for my last minute
Tic tac tic tac tic tac
--Le Dernière Minute by Carla Bruni
*I had to take editor's liberties with some of the translating. For this very reason, I have been having more and more trouble reading the bible. having realized the great problem in translating texts and still capturing the essence of the words. I still believe in the Bible but I find it hard to follow the thinking of the southern baptists and other 'biblical christians' who believe in the infallability of a word that is thousands of years old and has been translated and rewritten by thousands more.
(Translation of the Beautiful Carla Bruni)
Quand j'aurai tout compris, tout vécu d'ici-bas,
Quand je serai si vieille, que je ne voudrai plus de moi,
Quand la peau de ma vie sera creusée de routes,
Et de traces et de peines, et de rires et de doutes,
Alors je demanderai juste encore une minute...
When I have understood everything, all of life from now to then
When I will be so old that i won't want anymore of myself
When the skin of my life is cut into routes*
of shadows and sadness, of laughs and doubts,
Then I will ask for just one more minute
Quand il n'y aura plus rien qui chavire et qui blesse,
Et quand même les chagrins auront l'air d'une caresse,
Quand je verrai ma mort juste au pied de mon lit,
Que je la verrai sourire de ma si petite vie,
Je lui dirai "écoute ! Laisse-moi juste une minute..."
When there is nothing anymore which capsizes and which wounds,
and when even the sadness seems to be a caress,
When I see my death at the foot of my bed
I will see it smiling at my so little life,
I will say to him, "Listen! Let me have just one minute..."
Juste encore minute, juste encore minute,
Pour me faire une beauté ou pour une cigarette,
Juste encore minute, juste encore minute,
Pour un dernier frisson, ou pour un dernier geste,
Juste encore minute, juste encore minute,
Pour ranger les souvenirs avant le grand hiver,
Juste encore une minute... sans motif et sans but.
Just another minute, just another minute,
for me to do something beautiful or for one cigarette,*
Just another minute, just another minute,
for a last shudder, or for a last gesture,
just another minute, just another minute,
for rearranging the memories before the great winter,
just another minute...without motive and without aim
Puisque ma vie n'est rien, alors je la veux toute.
Tout entière, tout à fait et dans toutes ses déroutes,
Puisque ma vie n'est rien, alors j'en redemande,
Je veux qu'on m'en rajoute,
Soixante petites secondes pour ma dernière minute.
Since my life is nothing, therefore i want it all
Wholly complete, utterly, with all of its twists and turns*
Since my life is nothing, therefore I ask it again,
I want this one added to me:
Sixty little seconds for my last minute
Tic tac tic tac tic tac
--Le Dernière Minute by Carla Bruni
*I had to take editor's liberties with some of the translating. For this very reason, I have been having more and more trouble reading the bible. having realized the great problem in translating texts and still capturing the essence of the words. I still believe in the Bible but I find it hard to follow the thinking of the southern baptists and other 'biblical christians' who believe in the infallability of a word that is thousands of years old and has been translated and rewritten by thousands more.
Wednesday, January 16
Sunday, January 13
An Excercise in Adoration and Prose
Some times, you're as real as
these times, you're breaking me with
these lines, you're delicate steps between
fine lines, you're oh so careful
fine rhymes, you're making me dream
all rhymes, you're giving me a word for
you're as real as some times cause you're breaking me with these times taking you're delicate steps between these lines you're oh so careful fine lines so you're making me dream fine rhymes while you're giving me a word for all rhymes.
You're as real as some. Times cause- you're breaking me with these times; taking your delicate steps between these lines. You're, oh, so, careful. Fine lines, so. You're making me dream fine rhymes while you're giving. Me- A word for all rhymes.
Sometimes I really do think you're as real as these times. Can't you see you're breaking me with these lines? You're taking delicate steps between fine lines and you're being oh so careful. These fine rhymes- you're making me dream in all rhymes! For you are- my muse- always giving me a word.
Some times, you're as real as
these times, you're breaking me with
these lines, you're delicate steps between
fine lines, you're oh so careful
fine rhymes, you're making me dream
all rhymes, you're giving me a word for
you're as real as some times cause you're breaking me with these times taking you're delicate steps between these lines you're oh so careful fine lines so you're making me dream fine rhymes while you're giving me a word for all rhymes.
You're as real as some. Times cause- you're breaking me with these times; taking your delicate steps between these lines. You're, oh, so, careful. Fine lines, so. You're making me dream fine rhymes while you're giving. Me- A word for all rhymes.
Sometimes I really do think you're as real as these times. Can't you see you're breaking me with these lines? You're taking delicate steps between fine lines and you're being oh so careful. These fine rhymes- you're making me dream in all rhymes! For you are- my muse- always giving me a word.
Friday, January 11
Dear America,
Can I have a moment please? You have been doing great and I don't want you to forget it. Sure, there have been the rough times. Everyone has their off-days (or decades) but you are a country of the future. You were there leading the way with a democracy that still stands tall today. You have been an inspiration to many and a downfall to others. You have so much going for you and yet.... Like the young teenager, you must not get ahead of yourself. You don't know everything. You can still learn from your peers and your mistakes. See it through, America. Take a look around and see what others have to say. Healthcare? Immigration? War? What happened to you America, when did the oppressed become the oppressor? You have given yourself over to the politicians that seek to use and destroy you. They tell me to fear terrorists but the only people terrorizing me are the politicians. I'm not scared of Osama, I'm scared of Dick Cheney. Oh America, please take care of yourself. There are others out there who love you and support you but you have to make the first step. The future is now.
Love,
The World
Can I have a moment please? You have been doing great and I don't want you to forget it. Sure, there have been the rough times. Everyone has their off-days (or decades) but you are a country of the future. You were there leading the way with a democracy that still stands tall today. You have been an inspiration to many and a downfall to others. You have so much going for you and yet.... Like the young teenager, you must not get ahead of yourself. You don't know everything. You can still learn from your peers and your mistakes. See it through, America. Take a look around and see what others have to say. Healthcare? Immigration? War? What happened to you America, when did the oppressed become the oppressor? You have given yourself over to the politicians that seek to use and destroy you. They tell me to fear terrorists but the only people terrorizing me are the politicians. I'm not scared of Osama, I'm scared of Dick Cheney. Oh America, please take care of yourself. There are others out there who love you and support you but you have to make the first step. The future is now.
Love,
The World
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