Archive for July, 2006
Monday, July 31st, 2006
A city becomes a world
“A city becomes a world when one loves one of its inhabitants”.
–Lawrence Durrell, Justine
And if a city and the ones who inhabit it are being willingly destroyed, does that mean they are not loved?
If a picture speaks a thousand words, how many words do these pictures speak?
No Comments » - Posted in Digressions by eric
Wednesday, July 26th, 2006
Sisyphus in Beirut: Acting local, fighting global
In a comment to my previous post, Eric’s brother correctly points out the lack of syncronicity between words and deeds in the US’ international policies, using this powerful Malcolm X quote:
“America preaches freedom and practices slavery. America preaches integration and practices segregation… A devil is still a devil whether he wears a bed sheet or a Brooks […]
8 Comments » - Posted in Essays by eric
Monday, July 24th, 2006
You have your Lebanon
“You have your Lebanon and its dilemma. I have my Lebanon and its beauty. Your Lebanon is an arena for men from the West and men from the East. My Lebanon is a flock of birds fluttering in the early morning as shepherds lead their sheep into the meadow and rising in the evening as […]
3 Comments » - Posted in Essays by eric
Tuesday, July 18th, 2006
Is the grass greener?
En inglés tenemos un dicho, “The Grass is greener on the other side of the fence”. Le acabo de preguntar a una compañera mía del trabajo si existe un dicho parecido en español. Claro, tengo que explicar primero que en el mundo ideal americano (que ya es un tópico), tenemos nuestro jardín con su cesped verde y una valla blanca que nos […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Digressions, Living la vida española by eric
Tuesday, July 18th, 2006
Maryland Blue Crabs
I have decided to take a short break from pig conspiracies and Zidane fighting the power to simply reflect upon the beauty of Maryland’s blue crab (”Maryland is for crabs”). I am not a huge crab fan, but I do have wonderful memories of looking into the Chesapeake Bay and seeing my state’s insignia blue crab […]
No Comments » - Posted in Digressions, Living la vida española by eric
Friday, July 14th, 2006
Vanity
For no reason whatsoever, I just recalled this line from Stephen Vizinczey’s An Innocent Millionaire (I also recommend In Praise of Older Women):
“To be jealous of a woman one doesn’t love is the most ridiculous form of vanity . . . ”
1 Comment » - Posted in Digressions by eric
Friday, July 14th, 2006
Jamón part III: The saga continues
The saga, the mystery, that conspiracy behind the conspiracy continues. Finally, Spanish jamón is available in the US. This means more jamón legs, but still no one has yet to explain where the pigs are coming from. For background information, please read Jamón: What nobody wants to admit and Jamón part II: an alternative version. Does […]
4 Comments » - Posted in Jamón Conspiracy, Living la vida española by eric
Thursday, July 13th, 2006
Zizou: An excellent op-ed piece
Read this excellent op-ed piece, En honor de Zinédine Zidane, by Darío Valcarcel from the Spanish daily ABC (ironically from one of Spain’s most conservative newpapers). I guess I think it is excellent because it follows much of my line of thinking on this issue. In any event, it is nice to see someone offended by (i) intolerance and […]
4 Comments » - Posted in Essays, Zizou by eric
Wednesday, July 12th, 2006
La Resistance: It was fun while it lasted
I have decided to end my political activism and radicalism with regards to Zizou’s famous cry of ”basta ya“. It has been loads of fun. I encounted my alter ego as a soap box orator. Yet, now my past three sleepless nights of indignation have concluded. But before retiring completely, I would like to thank the Men […]
5 Comments » - Posted in Digressions, Essays, Zizou by eric
Wednesday, July 12th, 2006
Cry Freedom
Or as Condolezza Rice said:
There comes a time in the life of every nation where its people refuse to accept the status quo that demeans their basic humanity. There comes a time when people take control of their own lives
