Update of Post from 09/17/08 (Or, Why I Now Support a Two-State Solution in Regards to the Gaza Conflict)

Four years ago, I published an impassioned op-ed piece in which I opine that the U.S. should engage in diplomacy and peace talks with Middle Eastern countries.  Well, I must say, my opinion on that issue has evolved since then.  Specifically, in the original post, I assert a belief that we need to back Palestine, and I basically depicted Israel as a global terrorist.  Now, however, I've learned some new information that is personal in nature and has forever changed my point of view on this matter.

And what exactly is that information, you may ask?  Here's the deal: Not too long ago some relatives' genealogical research uncovered that my German and Russian ancestors were, in fact, Jewish.  What's more, this revelation coincided with President Barack Obama's meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  After listening to the president's speech about these meetings, I now believe that the U.S. should advocate for a two-state solution in order to attempt to broker a Middle East peace process.  We must recognize the rights of both nations to exist.

More importantly, I feel that doing so is even more urgent than before in the wake of the public disclosure of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's "business relationship" with Netanyahu.  That is, the Romney-Netanyahu "partnership" is really a war-mongering agenda that would more than likely lead us into war with Israel against Iran.  We cannot afford involvement in yet another conflict-- either financially or spiritually.  Not surprisingly, this is one of the main reasons why I am continuing to vociferously support our president.

Thus, I cannot overemphasize my point that we must re-elect President Obama in order to maintain our progress in terms of our efforts to promote the Middle East peace process. Electing Romney will set us back, or worse, plunge us into the worst war we could ever imagine.  This is my evolved opinion on a seriously pressing matter. Shalom, readers.  

I'm Baaaack!

UPDATE!!!!
Hello! I'm returning to blogging, a project that fell by the wayside when I started grad school (earned an M.A. degree in English (19th-century American lit./rhetoric concentrations) from Eastern Illinois University this past spring) awhile back. Now that I'm basically finished with that chapter of the story of my life (well, except for my danged thesis, which I'm almost finished with, anyway!), I'm returning to blogging about our amazing president, all things political, and a host of other topics. So, stay tuned for further updates! :-D

Preview of Coming Spring/Summer 2010 Attractions

Howdy, y'all! Long time, no blog. Anyway, I will have some brand-new stuff on here in the coming weeks. This 'brand-new stuff' will mostly pertain to post health-care reform bill passage political news and my June/July Eurotrip. Hopefully, things will slow down a tad (big emphasis on the 'hopefully' part of that!) in the Ashleyverse in the next couple weeks so that I can get said 'brand-new stuff' posted. Stay tuned!

My Reading List for 03/25/10

Hello! Welcome to this "My Reading List for..." snippet. I finally finished reading Moby Dick. Actually, my professor told the class that one never really "finishes" reading books like Moby Dick and The Scarlet Letter. I totally concur with that statement. I also think this is the case with most of the works on our syllabus. Nineteenth-century American literature is so "loaded" in terms of content and symbolism (ex.: the multi-ethnic crew of the Pequod as an analogy for global diversity), and that's exactly why I love it. The discussion never gets boring! Anyway, I'm currently working on a presentation for April 6 in which I will compare and contrast Herman Melville's war-themed writings with those of Walt Whitman. In addition to discussing MD and reading some of Melville's other works, including Bartleby the Scrivener and Billy Budd, Sailor, I will examine some of Whitman's war poems, especially "The Wound-dresser." I will also discuss the lives and careers of both men. According to what I've already learned, Melville and Whitman were controversial figures, to say the least. Well, that's all for this snippet. Stay tuned for near-future installments of this series.

Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style, Saturday Edition 2

Howdy, folks! I haven't written in a few days, since I've been characteristically uber-busy, juggling the demands of grad school, teaching, and life in general. That said, I've got a plethora of political, entertainment, and Ashleyverse news to report on this lovely, early spring day.

Okay, first the breaking political news: Congress is set to vote on the all-important health-care reform bill tomorrow. According to the most recent press releases, things look good for President Obama's agenda. Also, this weekend marks the seventh anniversary of the Iraq War, which has been commemorated with little fanfare (hmm... wonder why!). We must urge the president and Congress to put an end to this little "police action" as promptly and honorably as possible. (Between y'all and me, I'm getting so sick and tired of writing about dangblasted wars. If I were in charge, I'd try to pass Lysistrata legislation in order to limit our involvement in "police actions" of any kind. LOL!!!)

Secondly, in entertainment news, the late, great axmaster Jimi Hendrix has beaten Elvis' long-standing Billboard music chart record, by becoming the first artist since Presley to score a top-5 album posthumously. Hendrix's compilation of never-before-released "experimental" music-- Valleys of Neptune-- has been released nearly 40 years after his death. The King's last album was released in 2003, about 25 years after his passing. (Clarification: Hendrix broke Presley's record by scoring a top-5 album a longer period after his death than Presley.) I've always been a huge Jimi fan, and I especially love the songs "Purple Haze," "Fire," "Angel," "Foxey Lady," "Little Wing," "Bold as Love," "Snowcastles in the Sand," "The Wind Cries Mary," and Jimi's kickass cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower." Of course, who can resist Jimi's Woodstock performance of "The Star-spangled Banner"?

Finally, in Ashleyverse news, I'm still reading Moby Dick. I hope to be done with it by tomorrow. As for that spring cleaning project, well, I think I made a little headway with that endeavor today. Still, with everything else I've got going on, a perfectly clean house is just not a top priority right now. Anyway, I guess the big Ashleyverse news is that I'm awaiting some possible good news from alma mater concerning my very near future. If I am delivered said good news, I'll share it with y'all right here. Until then, it's top secret. (I don't want to jinx it!)

And, on that positive note, I conclude yet another "special Saturday" edition of Meet the Press-- Ashleyverse Style. Peace, Love, & Happiness, y'all!

An Invitation to Join the Coffee Party

For the past year, we progressives/Obama supporters have longed for an alternative to the vitriolic Tea Party Movement and its idiotic Townhall Meetings. Well, we finally have it in the form of the Coffee Party Movement. For more info about this group, which officially kicked off at coffeeshops nationwide on Saturday, March 13, log onto: http://www.chattahbox.com/us/2010/03/15/coffee-party-groups-seek-change-without-the-hate. Let's start the change, have real public discourse, and stop the hate today!

Latest Health-care Reform News

The latest health-care reform news is in: According to an ABC News blurb released earlier today, the Senate may be able to get the health-care reform bill passed after all. As I've said before, we have to keep our fingers crossed and be vigilant. (Aside: There's some reform going on in the Ashleyverse as well in the form of, um, environmental improvements. Yes, folks, I've embarked upon a little spring cleaning project. More info on both these items later.)