elainegrey

I used to have observations in my journal entries, the flora and fauna i saw while commuting mainly come to mind. George Orwell's observations today (http://syndicated.livejournal.com/orwell_diaries/131353.html or http://orwelldiaries.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/10-9-40/) remind me of that practice.

We've freed ourselves from being driven by "news," which i think is a good thing. I remember when we watched TV news, had cable, and the trance of urgency that developed. Trance of Urgency, does that make sense? "Stay, watch, don't miss, horrible facts when we return." I've become much more critical about the content of news. For a long time i've subscribed to email updates of breaking news from the NYTimes. I used to have a work situation where i received them promptly, and i'd receive some and wonder, "Why this? What's actionable?" to use the jargon. I realized that what made many things urgent was business: were you going to go adjust your stock portfolio?

All in all, i don't miss the urgency, and it creates the space to be more aware of my local politics and certain regions that i feel need more attention (so i make time for news of Colombia). After this two months of not really keeping up with anything, i wouldn't pass much of a current event test, but i know the "activist judges" made a 1st amendment decision in favor of human rights yesterday. (Here i'd put snarky comments about recruiting standards over the past five years, Dominionists taking over the air force academies and rank and file -- but i believe that the current administration isn't *fostering* the Dominionist direction so....)

What do i do with the news? Right now, not enough (so in my current work trance and depression, i'm not going to go there), but i don't often journal about it. I think, all in all, that the Challenger accident and the Murrah Building will be the events that shape my sense of national tragedy, even though i watched the Colombia streak across the sky, ignorant of that tragedy unfolding. ( Reflection on domestic terrorism and 9/11 )
But this brings me back to Orwell's blog. The first hand observation he offers of the bombing is nothing like what i have access to. (I am thankful for this.) First hand, i observe general disgust at Koran burning, Christine bringing our copy to read before sleep a few days ago, her discovery that there are lots of "Buy a Koran" movements. Our Meeting has a burble on the mailing list about observations in support of Muslim civil rights, people asking what could they attend or do to show solidarity with Muslims.

I think of my nephews, not yet old enough to observe Ramadan fast, thankful that they're in Beijing to observe Hari Raya, hopefully free of the fear that their celebration will be mistaken as a Muslim celebration of 9/11.

Greycie Loo was on my chest, blocking my reclined view of the keyboard. I pass Christine tea, and must pour myself into my intense workday.

I think i'm going to schedule time blocks the week i'm back from Ohio for quiet work.