The work face is a mask we all have to wear sometimes. We all know that while in the work face we can't do anything that would disrupt normal business, even if it's something we commonly do after hours. For me that would be politics, and last night my mask didn't fit so well.
I was having a normal conversation with some engineers about the daily events at the hotel when one asked if I knew anything about what President Obama said to A-Rabs. Now right away my first instinct was to say no, but I hate ignorance more than anything, and maybe some knowledge would help breed some tolerance, so I explained. I told them what he had said and that it was mainly about Middle Eastern peace and separating the relationship between the Muslim Faith from the terrorist organizations.
This is where everything went downhill. The guys know that I know quite a bit about whats going on, so they ask "What would you do?" This is the part where you tighten the strings on the work face and move on before things get worse, well I took it off completely. I started with what seems now as a rehearsed speech about economic reform rather than military tactics, assisting rather then dictating and looking from their perspective of the past and present not just ours. Somehow we got onto the Palestine-Israel conflict and I stated my feelings about the Israelis being the biggest problem in the region. Then one of them says "The Jews are God's chosen people, it's their land, just blow up the other guys." At this point I lost my lid an flew a little off the handle, to a point where I'm sure HR would have taken issue. Of course acting like that will never change his mind so I calmed down and we all went our separate ways.
So I printed out the information from Wikipedia on
the conflict, and hopefully that will let him understand it more. This way he can make an more informed decision and I don't have to want to take off the work face to kick someone's ass.
After reading Brandy's post at
It's like I'm... mmmagic! about "Chickspeak," I have been inspired to create a list of "Dudespeak." If you have any more translations that I may have missed, let me know.
What he said: That sounds like a great idea!
What he meant: Stop talking so I can watch the game.
What he said: Your friend is a sweet girl
What he meant: Her looks could stop a charging rhino.
What he said: I can't find xxx
What he meant: Will you help me find xxx because it didn't fall into my lap when I called for it.
What he said: What girl?
What he meant: You mean the blonde or the brunette?
What he said: You remind me of the girls in Sex and the City.
What he meant: I hope you put out like Samantha.
What he said: Your parents for dinner sounds great!
What he meant: Do you smell BBQ... Wait WHAT?
What he said: I like that top.
What he meant: I can almost see a nipple.
What he said: It's a guy thing.
What he meant: It's not logical and I have no reasoning behind it.
What he said: What did I do this time?
What he meant: What did you catch me doing and how did you know!
What he said: I think it's cool you have a tongue ring, it's shows your adventurous.
What he meant: Did it come with a set of kneepads?
What he said: I just want to stay friends.
What he meant: Your really not that hot.
What he said: It would take to long to explain.
What he meant: I have no f***ing idea what I'm talking about and didn't expect you to call me out.
What he said: I've got my reasons
What he meant: Gimmie 10 minutes to figure out an excuse.
What he said: It's just a little cut.
What he meant: I JUST CUT MY F***ING ARM OFF CALL A DOCTOR!
What he said: You look great!
What he meant: You look like a blind person ran that into a clothes line but I'm starving so let's go.
What he said: No, I'm listening.
What he meant: I didn't hear a word you said but I don't want you to yell at me
So there they are. The be all and end all of the wedding plans. The only thing that actually "matters," the rest is just for show.
There's no backing out now. Not that I want to at all, it's just a little freaky when you only have one way out, and even that lasts for the rest of your life.
I'm starting to really feel it coming together. It really feels like I'm getting married now. It's exciting, nerve racking and amazing all at the same time. It's gonna be an awesome thing.
I spent about 3 1/2 hours organizing all my personal paperwork today and realized that I have a lot of crap going on in my life. I never realized that I had all this stuff until I put it all into an organizer.
I also never realized how many failure to pay notices I have received from one parking ticket. Luckily the city has an amnesty program right now so I can avoid all the late fees. Maybe I should be a big boy and start doing this on a regular basis.
Well, now I'm off to restate my case to University of Phoenix, now that I've "come across" the correct paperwork, and I know I don't owe them a dime.
I'm disgusted with a world that allows so many to be persecuted, killed, starved and destroyed like their lives mean less than another's. The monstrosities in Gaza, Darfur, Pakistan, Sudan, the Congo and so many other parts of the world have been made to seem as if they are of no importance. We can send tens of thousands of troops to Iraq but do nothing while the Israeli Government commits genocide.
This is a great article I found on CAIR-Chicago's (Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago Chapter) website of how everyday people can help the US Government in the right direction. The origional article can be found here:
CAIR-Chicago.
10 STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP PALESTINE
January 11, 2009
CAIR has outlined 10 positive, pro-active steps concerned Americans can take to help end Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, restore the cease-fire and the flow of humanitarian aid and promote a more balanced U.S. policy in the Middle East.
SEE:
Israel Broke Gaza Cease-Fire (CNN)
Gaza Hospital Overwhelmed By Dead, Wounded (AP)
For live coverage from Gaza click here
ACTIONS REQUESTED:
1) Take part in local marches and protests. Help organize peace rallies that condemn the massacre of innocent civilians.
2. Visit your elected representatives during the upcoming “Day on the Hill” in Washington, D.C., sponsored by a coalition of major Islamic organizations. Contact 202-384-8857 for advice on meeting with legislators.
3. Visit the local offices of your elected representatives to talk with them about the need for a more balanced Mideast policy. Use CAIR’s “Legislative Fact Sheet” on the Gaza crisis.
You can also learn how to arrange to meet elected officials and best practices for meeting with your representatives
You can also learn how to arrange to meet elected officials and best practices for meeting with your representatives on CAIR's website.
4. Write or call President Bush and members of Congress. Talking points:
* Israeli attacks block efforts to bring peace with justice to the Middle East, harm our nation’s image and interests worldwide and strengthen voices of extremism in the region.
* The Palestinian people must be given some hope of freedom from Israeli occupation and domination.
* Israel’s immoral and illegal collective punishment of the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip must end.
* America must support a just and comprehensive resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that takes into account the rights and responsibilities of all parties.
* American taxpayer dollars should not be used to for weapons that kill Palestinian civilians.
Ask your elected officials to adopt an even-handed Middle East policy that is in our nation’s - not Israel’s - interest.
Contact President George W. Bush: White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111, Fax: 202-456-2461, E-Mail: comments@whitehouse.gov ; vice_president@whitehouse.gov
Contact Your Congressional Representatives: U.S. Senators and House of Representatives
5. Contact President-Elect Obama to ask that he speak out now in favor of a more balanced and pro-American policy in the Middle East that takes the rights of all parties to the conflict into consideration.
Contact the Obama administration transition team here.
6. Sign CAIR’s online petition urging our nation's leaders to speak "in favor of peace and justice for all parties in the current humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip." When completed, the petition will be sent to elected officials nationwide and will be given to members of the current and incoming administrations.
7. Use Friday prayers to educate members of the Muslim community about the plight of the civilian population in Gaza and the need for a balanced Mideast policy, a cease-fire and the resumption of humanitarian relief. Urge community members to take the actions outlined in this alert.
8. Monitor local media coverage of the Gaza crisis. Contact those media outlets to either praise balanced coverage or to criticize biased coverage. Call in to radio talk shows and write letters to the editor to express your views. To find local and national media contact information, click here.
Post comments on media websites and blogs that discuss the crisis. Begin your own blog and link to other sites that support a balanced American policy in the region. Start a free blog at: http://www.blogger.com.
Use social media tools such as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, to make your views known and to share your views with like-minded individuals and groups.
9. Organize meetings between Muslim and interfaith community leaders and members of your local newspaper’s editorial board.
To meet with a newspaper editorial board:
* If possible, gather evidence of any media bias in the newspaper. (Also look for examples of positive, balanced coverage.) Save one-sided news articles or video clips. Record talk shows. Follow a newspaper’s editorial position. * Build a coalition of local leaders.
* Plan for the meeting.
* Get together for a strategizing session and assign duties.
* Present your case. Be clear about goals. Stick to your points.
* Conclude with specific a request for more balanced coverage and input from those who support peace with justice in the region.
* Follow-up. Send a letter outlining agreements reached.
Contact CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper for more information on coordinating a meeting with an editorial board or contacting media outlets. Call 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com
10. Contact the State Department to call for action in defense of Gaza's civilian population. Call 202-647-4000 and ask for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs or click here.
