House of Cloer

The Case For Koko

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 08:17:06 GMT

2008 Artist of the Year

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:50:49 GMT

Of all the religions I have studied, I must say that, in my opinion, Islam boasts some of the prettiest music I’ve ever heard. One of my favorite recording artists of 2008 is, hands-down, Zain Bhikha. His spellbinding voice advocating Allah is so pleasing to the soul that words can’t even describe what it feels like just to listen to his songs because his music is so beautiful. One of the reasons why I have gravitated to his songs is that the message behind his lyrics is clear, which is to say that among other things, once we have lived this life and our death is imminent, whatever material things we have accumulated will remain behind, and our journey to what lies beyond this physical existence will begin. This is a message that transcends religion, I know, but the way in which Bhikha sings makes what we all must face not so depressing. I hope you enjoy the embedded videos.

I. This Too Shall Pass

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:41:49 GMT

I’m not an expert in religious studies, but I believe Buddhism is one of the few “religious” faiths that recognizes suffering, specifically. From a Buddhist perspective there are several different kinds of manifest suffering. There is the type of suffering that is associated with pain. For example, the product of our skin being cut by a sharp knife is physical pain. The blade slices our flesh; the nerve endings are damaged in the process; and this prompts a chemical reaction to travel to our brains thereby causing other parts of our body to respond. As a result, we do everything in our power to heal the wound in order to stop the unpleasant sensation.

Another form of manifest suffering comes with growing old. As we age, our bodies deteriorate. It’s something every human who lives long enough must experience, and the longer we live, the more our bodies change until ultimately we die. It’s an unfortunate condition of human existence. I once heard one of my older college professors, who was in his 80s at the time, liken aging to a sinking ship. It’s only a matter of time before a ship that has a damaged hull in the middle of the ocean sinks. Not only must the elderly deal with the all the other ailments associated with advanced age such as muscle degeneration, memory loss, and loneliness, but he or she must also cope with the prospects of what happens in the hereafter.

But, in my opinion, the greatest form of manifest suffering—from a Buddhist perspective—comes from attachment such as longing. For example, recently, I overheard a child lament that his father was not going to buy him something called a Playstation Portable (PSP). Initially, I felt pity for the young man because he seemed generally distraught, but as I rationalized what he was going through, it became clear to me that electronic games are fads, nothing more. Given enough time, the child’s delusionary attachment for the object will dissipate. But, unlike physical suffering, which affects parts of the body, longing is a purely mental activity and, in certain situations, is not easy to dismiss.

II. This Too Shall Pass

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:41:49 GMT

From my experience, mourning the loss of a loved one has been the hardest thing to either accept or overcome. Here, I’m not only referring to someone who has died, but in the everyday experience of saying goodbye to someone for whom a friendship has been established. For instance, one of the most difficult aspects of my time in the military was saying “so long” to people I had served with. There are several fellows with whom I would do just about anything for because the bond we established while serving our nation became so great. For me, our relationship transcended into something akin to brotherliness. It’s hard to explain, but I’m sure there are other service personnel who understand what I mean. The moment I ended my enlistment was the moment the path with my comrades diverged, and now I haven’t a clue as to where most of them are or what they are doing.

You know, the older I become the more I can feel the pain of the elderly who have not only lost their health and well-being, but who have lost family and friends to death. I know the pain the World War II veterans now must feel because while they won the war against Germany and Japan, they are loosing the war against time. It won’t be long until there are no living veterans of that Great War waged during the 1940s, and my fear is that, while they long to be surrounded by family and friends of a bygone era, many of them will die alone. This is the type of suffering I believe to be the greatest of all human suffering because it’s brutal.

The only solace I can find in all these forms of suffering is that the Buddha teaches that nothing we grasp at or cling to is permanent, not even our present suffering. The pain we feel when we’re cut will cease when our wound heals. Moreover, as soon as a newer video game is on the market, the child’s desire to have the PSP will subside. And finally, if we are granted a full and rewarding life, death is the greatest complement to that existence. Knowing these things makes physical pain and the pains associated with attachment more tolerable.

Thoughts on the 2008 Election

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:33:54 GMT

I will not deny about how disappointed I am with the results of this year’s presidential election. The best man for the job did not get the job, and I, along with millions of other McCain/Palin supporters, have no choice but to accept that Barack Obama will be our nation’s 44^th president. It is bittersweet, I know, but in this election there are clear winners such as our nation’s minority communities. By electing our nation’s first ethnic candidate, each American, regardless of color, can now look towards the high office and know that even in practice they have the opportunity to be anything they want to be, including the president. Words can never nor will ever express the beauty of this reality, which makes this election truly remarkable.

For every winner there are losers, and in this election cycle the losers are both clear and not-so-clear. It’s a no-brainer to say that the Republicans lost; I accept that. The ineptness of the Bush Administration in recent years to maintain a strong Republican base by deviating from ‘compassionate conservatism,’ to what many people believe was a mission of hurtful rhetoric and even harmful policies directed at small minority communities is clear. This is the tragic legacy George W. Bush will leave to both America and the world for generations to come, and this makes my heart ache.

There is another losing group that neither the Democratic Party nor the media will recognize. Compared to the size of the rest of the American population, the gay community, statistically speaking, comprises about ten percent of the total population and is the most neglected of all minority groups. Many who are gay, lesbian, or transgendered are hard-working people who merely want to enjoy the same peace and prosperity that straight Americans do. However, time-and-time again these people are often the target of hate crimes and are neglected by elected officials of both political parties.

The saddest part of the election night came as I occasionally saw on television what I know to be the gay flag flying amongst the throngs of people eager to hear Obama’s acceptance speech. It was sad to see because the wavers of that flag were wallowing in a vulgar display of false hope and security because I know that their plight will not be a priority during the next administration as it has not been a priority in previous administrations; there are just too many other problems that will supersede any gay, lesbian or transgendered issue. In short, the gay community must, as they have always done, wait and hope that an elected official will exercise compassion and advocate for them. If Obama makes time to support the multi-faceted issues surrounding the gay community such as same sex-marriage, then I will be impressed because I would then see him as a president for all of us.

The aim of this piece is to not take away from the historical significance of this moment in world history. This is a joyous event because, among other things, we told the world that American democracy is alive and thriving. Barack Obama is going to be our next president, and I want my liberal, conservative, and apolitical friends to know that I will rally behind him because when it is all said and done, we are all Americans, and we must support each other, regardless of our background, to help form a more perfect union.

Mourning the Loss of a Possum

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:57:58 GMT

I know death is a depressing subject, but something happened on my way to work this morning I want to write about. As I was driving to my office, I noticed someone had just hit a possum that was trying to cross the road. The bad thing about this poor creature was that it was still alive and dazed. It was just sitting there with blood flowing from its eyes and mouth; my heart began to swell with pity. Initially, I told myself that I needed to continue to the office, but then I rationalized that this was a sentient creature capable of suffering and deserved for someone to help ease its pain. So, with tears forming in my eyes, I called my office to tell them that I was going to be late and then called my roommate to ask for his help. When we returned to the scene, it was too late, for someone else had, by that time, finished the job. The little possum lay dead in the middle of Princess Anne Road in Norfolk, Virginia.

Mourning the loss of a possum may seem silly to some, but I believe recognizing the suffering of another living being (regardless of whether it’s an animal or a human) and in turn acknowledging and responding to the product of suffering, pain, speaks of something deeper. This is to say that while death comes to all living things, we, as conscientious people, should work to ease the suffering of all injured creatures we happen to run upon, especially when death is imminent as a result of an injury. What makes me sad about the little possum of today is that before it died, it suffered and no one came to its rescue. May he or she rest in peace.

Official Endorsement of John McCain

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:08:41 GMT

Those who know me know I am politically active. For over a decade now, I have participated in most of the local, state, and national elections as a conservative. I have even volunteered as an official for the nonbiased Norfolk Elections Board. All of my participation has been strictly voluntary because I believe it is important that the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans are contingent on an informed citizenry willing to freely sacrifice themselves for a common good. History has shown that the backbone of any strong government is when its people are engaged with the world around them. My involvement in politics stems from a deep love I have for my neighbor. But, I must admit, I have been disappointed with politics over the past several years because the nature of politics is brutal, and not everyone wins. I have learned that most politicians, especially elected officials, do not care about individual people per se, and the electorate are simply not engaged enough to make informed decisions.

That said, it is important for the readers of my blog to know that, although I am conservative, I do keep an open mind in terms of individual candidates and the ideas they support. I am not the type of citizen who is conservative because I come from a long line of Republicans. I am a Republican because I believe in the basic principles of conservatism, which is less government in the lives of ordinary people and fewer taxes so those same people can use their money the way they see fit. I believe that it is not the role of any level of government to mingle in the lives of people. So, before I cast my vote, I do my homework: in addition to judging whether what the candidate is telling me is the truth, I also peer into their professional lives to see whether their private work reflects their public ideas.

Between our current two candidates, John McCain and Barak Obama, McCain has the longest record of public service, the totality of which transcends his time in the United States Senate. McCain’s entire life, which includes his service as a naval officer has been nothing less than selfless. For me, any man who is willing to freely sacrifice his very existence for a common good deserves special recognition in the annals of glory. If the same conditions presented themselves in Obama’s life, I wonder whether he would demonstrate the same noble deeds as McCain did in the Prisoner of War camps of Vietnam. My instincts say ‘no.’ So, while the distinctions between what constitutes either a Republican or a Democrat eludes millions of uninformed Americans, I encourage each voter to examine the private lives of these two public persons. Readers will learn that it is McCain who has always worked for the greater good, and it is McCain who I endorse as the next President of the United States.

King Neptune of Virginia Beach, Virginia

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:09:34 GMT

Virginia Beach, Virginia's largest and newest tourist attraction, King Neptune, is a colossal bronze statue on the Boardwalk of 31^st and Atlantic Streets. This impressive representation of the sea god Neptune was designed by Richmond sculptor Paul DiPasquale. The bronze piece was cast in China and was then assembled in Virginia’s resort city to help bolster the tourism industry there. Whether or not it actually helps increase tourism in that region is uncertain, but what is certain is that it is a beautiful work of art.

America's New Theme Song

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:07:08 GMT

Congress passed the 700 billion dollar bailout bill, which rewards major financial organizations for making utterly disastrous decisions in the subprime mortgage mess. The fact that the federal legislature ‘had’ to step in and use money we don’t have to help organizations that obviously have not helped everyday Americans infuriates me. And, to add insult-to-injury, I became even more disgusted as I watched the national leadership, lead by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, wallow in a vulgar display of false security because I understand that the taxpayers will be the ones who will be made to suffer.

As the events leading up to the bailout revealed themselves, I tried to wrap my mind around what truly happened. Beyond the corporate greed that is the true cause of this mass misery, we have millions of Americans who invested their retirement and IRA accounts into organizations such as Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns, and the AIG Company believing it was a good outlay of money. So, we have average Americans using their asset allocation principles to squirrel away funds to be used as their retirement, which is smart thinking. However, investing for a strong retirement is something that takes decades. Now, we have a population who did that which they knew to do and are now told that not only have they lost their next egg, but they are now told they must pay into the massive bailout plan. Where’s the justice?

Both Congress, who allowed this to happen, and the corporate managers, whose main interest was their personal bottom line, have much to answer for, but it will be the hard-working people who will suffer the brunt of this catastrophe. Just like the two wars we are waging in Afghanistan and Iraq: It’s a rich man’s war, but a poor man’s fight. It’s reminiscent to the song I’ve embedded with this blog entry, the Federal government is looking into the eyes of the American people and saying, “You can’t win.”

The Victory Arch of Newport News, Virginia

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:23:40 GMT

When many people think of monuments dedicated to fallen heroes, most think about the larger-than-life buildings of Washington DC such as the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Memorials. Monuments are lasting reminders of someone or something notable, and those at our nation’s capital are nothing less than spectacular. The great thing about these places of honor is that they allow people to pay homage to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our way of life, indeed our freedom. These places mean different things to different people. For school children many of the granite, limestone, and marble buildings help reinforce that which was studied in classrooms across America. For veterans, such as me, war monuments are places to bond with the spirits of the dead.

I remember the first time I visited the Vietnam Memorial. I had just returned from a six-month deployment aboard the USS Saratoga. At that point, I felt an obligation to visit the names of those who served before me because I wanted to feel the presence of kindred souls, but also, I wanted to visit the name of my uncle, Curtis Breedlove, who was killed in Vietnam in 1969 and whose name appears on the wall. Mere words will never express the overwhelming emotional power of that place. As I was trying to locate his name, I saw all the other names listed alongside his, and the reality that all these men were forever silent was almost too much to bear. I couldn’t help myself; the moment I found Uncle Curtis’s name, I began to sob because I felt the pain of so many families who lost sons, husbands, brothers, uncles, and friends. I had never experienced that kind of sorrow before, and I will never forget it.

The unfortunate truth of these places is that one must travel to Washington DC in order to fully appreciate their majesty. Not every American will able to see for themselves the grandeur of Washington DC, and what I think is interesting is that there are local alternatives people can visit in lieu of visiting the most famous monuments. Many communities have erected their own monuments to fallen heroes. One of the most impressive I have seen was established in Newport News, Virginia in 1919. The Victory Arch is a beautiful monument dedicated to those who served during World War I, and the way it was built is in a similar fashion as the monuments of Washington DC. The Victory Arch is almost a small replica of the Arc de Triomphe of Paris, France. So, if you are ever in the Newport News, Virginia area, you should take a couple of minutes to enjoy their Victory Arch; you’ll be glad you did.