Elevator Love Letter

Why is it that when I am at my most broke, I buy more things!? Well, I'm certainly doing my part to support this struggling economy. Here are two of the six new things I purchased this week. Not shown here: A terrific pencil a-line waste skirt with light gold pin stripes, a gold wrap belt, playful strappy black sandals, and a blue and pink striped cowgirl blouse.

Speaking of supporing the economy....

Wednesday we had a protest at the Capitol against the new taxes. T-party, I think they're calling it. I had a few friends attending and they came into the Krog for drinks afterwards. I've given a sort of half-assed attempt to understand what the issues are, and for the most part think I've got a mild grip on it all. Those who are invovled with the T-party seem to be against the bail-out. They don't want their own hard-earned money used to bail out other people and the struggling banks and businesses. I suppose I can understand this position, but on a deeper level, I don't necessarily agree with the position. I mean, we're living in a society of people, a national community. We are all connected to one another in an intricate way that we don't always realize. We depend on the wellfare of eachother in order for this community we've created -- America -- to survive, grow and prosper. I think people tend to forget that we can't each do it each on our own. We need one another, we need these big companies and big banks to do well. No one stands alone in this community. No one can be financially autonomous. Not really.

I think if we were to not bail these companies out, if we were to not help people struggling with loans they can't afford, a significant part of our economic infrastructure would collapse. The domino-effect of such a collapse would effect everyone. There's no way around this fact. It would be an ignorant and ill-begotten decision not to link hands beneath the financially struggling right now. So yes, maybe this is coming too close to socialism for comfort, for some. But there is certainly aspects of socialism which reign better than capitolism for the prosperity of a nation.

It all reminds me of a comment one of my customers said to me once, that totally took me off gaurd. I was dusting lamps one day at work, causually talking to a gentleman who had come in. I can't remember how the conversation came up, but I found myself telling the man that I really hoped with a new president we might see government provided healthcare for all. I explained to him that I felt this way because it was very difficult, being a student such as myself, to afford health insurance. In fact, I never could afford it, and remain uncovered. He didn't take kindly to this, but instead retorted, "why should I have to pay for you to have health insurance?"

I was shocked and dumbfounded that he had the gaul and lack of care or empathy to say such a thing. Why should he chip in to provide healthcare for college students like myself?? Because it would ensure the safety of our nation's youth!! Because it would secure the growth and propserity of the youth who do seek to educate themselves, who have the intelligence and drive to become contributing citizens to this nation! I pay taxes too. Afterall, what are taxes for?! What is the government for?! It was such a cold, capitolist, individualist remark. Let him then, go live on his own island, and ask of me nothing -- no help, no service. My own taxes contribute to his life too, including his children if they attend public school... how quick he was to forget that fact.

That's all I have for that little soapbox.

The symposium was fantastic yesterday. I enjoyed all of the panelists!! Although, it did run a little too long, as always... I was starving by the end of the program. Mom and David came along, and I felt somewhat bad that they didn't really understand what anyone was talking about... so much religious studies jargon! They enjoyed the ceremony though, and meeting the significant people who have helped shaped my educational experience -- namely Dr. Khan (on a much more personal level) and Dr. Herman (for guiding me through the trenches of thesis writing). I was severely disappointed in realizing that I could have submitted my paper to the panel, given a certain "unattended." I'm actually grateful for this, as I can well imagine it would have been difficult and uncomfortable for the both of us, especailly with my parents there. Two more weeks and I'm free from Georgia State, free from those all-too-present memories, free from the gut-rentching possibilities of running into one another in uncomfortable circumstances.

Anyway... it's a bangly bangle kind of day today!! The sun is gorgeous, the air is crisp, and the thesis is flowing smoothly and briskly. And best of all, I don't have to work this evening.