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“Much madness is divinest sense[...]“
Kellogg Terminates Sponsorship of Michael Phelps
Kellogg recently announced that they would be cancelling their sponsorship deal with Michael Phelps because he was caught, on video, taking a hit from a bong.
After reading this article on LewRockwell.com I was moved to send Kellogg’s head of marketing, Mark Baynes, my thoughts on the issue.
Mr. Baynes,
I’m sure I’m not the first e-mail you’ve received today, nor will I be the last. I’m contacting you in reference to Kellogg’s recent decision to drop their sponsorhsip of Olympic champion Michael Phelps.
Personally, I am against the recreational use of all drugs — including alcohol and tobacco –; however, not everyone holds the same views as I. The federal government, for example, believes the recreational use of alcohol and tobacco to be perfectly fine whilst condemning the use marijuana.
Casual research shows — even when limited to just the last century — that through the years many men and women of great intellect and accomplishment have found the recreational use of marijuana not only to be acceptable, but have themselves partaken of the drug. In even greater numbers are the successful men and women who have recreationally used alcohol and tobacco.
While I disapprove their use of drugs, I can neither condemn nor overlook the great accomplishments and works of these great Americans ranging from presidents, supreme court justices, entrepreneurs, athletes, and Nobel prize winners.
Kellogg is a great American company whose innovation forever changed they way many Americans and people all over the world start their mornings. Because of Kellogg children’s’ bodies are strengthened with vitamins and nutrients that otherwise might not be included in their diet.
In the past Kellogg has made mistakes — marketing unhealthy, overly sweet cereal to children comes to mind — and yet I respect Kellogg as a great innovator.
Kellogg should be proud to be represented by such a remarkable athlete as Michael Phelps. Michael Phelps did something that millions of Americans do every day, smoke the dried leaves of a naturally growing plant. Just because the particular plant Michael was smoking is not approved by the federal government is no reason to end Kellogg’s relationship with him.
I support organizations and people I respect, regardless of whether I agree with them or not. By terminating their relationship with Michael Phelps over a petty non-crime, Kellogg has lost my respect. Starting tomorrow you will not be finding any Kellogg’s product in my morning cereal bowl.
Posted in Politics | No Comments »No Titles of Nobility
Article I, Section IX, Paragraph VIII of the U.S. Constitution
“No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.”
Our republican form of government dictates that all citizens of these united states are to be seen as equal under the law. The federal government is to give “no title of nobility” to anyone – citizen or not – and no American citizen associated with the federal government – unless with the express permission of the Congress – is allowed to accept any foreign title of nobility, etc.
Barack H. Obama is just a man; an average citizen of the State of Illinois and thus a normal citizen of the United States of America. True, he has been elected to serve as a senator in the Congress and is currently elected to serve as a president of the executive branch of the federal government; nonetheless, he remains but a man – an average citizen with no special rights or privileges granted to him under the laws of our land –.
I am shocked that our media and average citizens continue to grant the men who have served – and currently do serve – as president with such titles as “Leader of the Free World”, “Commander in Chief”, “Mr. President”, etc. As the federal government gives no titles of nobility it is my understanding that “president”, “commander in chief”, and like terms are simply occupations – just as one might be a “cook”, “sales clerk”, or “shift manager”–.
Unless customs outside the south eastern United States differ greatly, it is not custom to call one by his or her occupation. For example: my father’s business card states his occupation as “director of contracts”. It would be abnormal for someone to call him “Director Arnold”. Normal social graces allow for my father to be called “Mr. Arnold” or “Ken” – determined of course by the closeness of one’s relationship with my father–.
If it is abnormal to be given an occupation associated title in the private sector, how strange it is that those associated with our government – politicians, bureaucrats, police, military personnel, etc. – are conferred occupation related titles. It doesn’t take a great leap of the imagination to begin to see a pattern similar to that of feudal Europe with Lords, Kings, Princes, Dukes, and magistrates ruling over title-less serfs. How great then that we live in a republic that expressly prohibits those in government from donning such titles?
The march from freedom to serfdom is a slow and long road made of little changes not easily seen by those currently on the path. The first tribal leader to call himself “king” probably wasn’t seen as much of a threat in his time; however, the death, destruction, and tyranny writ by his descendants would be legendary.
Again, for the record, Barack H. Obama is but a man. He’s been selected to work as the president of the federal government for the next four years, just as many men before him. I wish Mr. Obama the best of luck with the realization that he’s no more nor less important – under the law – than the nice cashier at my local Wal-Mart or the guy that does the landscaping at my apartment.
Posted in Politics | No Comments »Classic Essay: Africans in America
Recently I dug out my old Mac Quadra 630 and rummaged through all my old reports from childhood. In an effort to preserve my reports in-case the 630’s hard drive fails I started transcribing them to my MacBook — as I don’t own a computer with a floppy disk transcribing was the only method of transferring the reports from one computer to the next–.
I found my old writings to be pretty funny and decided — since I haven’t really had anything else to write about recently — that I would start posting these old reports to the blog.
Here’s the first posting: a report from back in the fourth grade about African slavery in America. Reading the report is seems as if I didn’t really understand what “separate but equal” meant. I almost seem to think that it’s something good that people were fighting for.
Africans in America
Michael Arnold, age 10 (March 2nd, 1994)
The first Africans in America landed at Jamestown, VA in 1619. There were about 20 or so. These Africans had been on a ship bound for the Indies when the ship was robbed. The thieves carried their hostages to the shores of America and traded them for food. They became Indentured Servants to the people that accepted them in exchange for the food. They were servants for a few years then given their freedom. This freedom lasted for about 40 years. Then toward the end of this time laws were formed that made most blacks slaves.
The slavery of blacks made them need to organize and defend themselves. The first black organization was the Free African Society. This was the first of many such organizations.
As the number of organizations grew so did their influence. The word was spread and the laws had to be changed. On January 31, 1865 the 13th Amendment was established. This ended slavery. The Blacks cried….. Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we’re free at last.
Although slavery was over the blacks still had to fight for the principle of “separate but equal”. Booker T. Washington made a famous speech called the “Atlanta Compromise” which spoke of these truths. The supreme court in 1896 upheld this principle in the ruling on the case of Plessy Vs. Ferguson.
“Separate but equal”. This principle has to be upheld over and over again. “Brown vs. Board of Education” was a ruling by the Supreme Court on May 17, 1954 that stated children could not be segregated at school because of race. This is true for jobs, housing, banking, etc. Martin Luther King Jr. and many other great Americans have fought and continue to fight to see the dream of “separate but equal”.
Posted in Classic Essay | No Comments »A Sad Day for America
Today is truly a sad day for America. Not because Obama won, no it would have been just as sad had McCain won, but because the light of liberty that seemed so close and so bright a mere few months ago has now, once again, faded into darkness. The sheeple have spoken and reaffirmed that they want government.
I often ask myself if the sheeple know what they are doing; if they really think it moral to forcefully take from others for their own benefit. Do the sheeple think it right that 50% + 1 makes something okay but 50% – 1 makes that same thing wrong?
The sheeple complain about how urban elitists and over-educated bureaucrats don’t understand them and lord over their lives like the kings of old and yet when given a chance they almost unanimously choose to cede more and more of their liberties to these same bureaucrats. I look across America and think, “Is this the ‘posterity’ of which the Founders spoke? Are these the heirs to the Sons of Liberty?” Year after year it’s the same story: “The king is dead! Long live the king!”
The hymnal of America is a track played in loop and yet no one seems to notice. Over and over our “leaders” present us with a new danger that threatens our very existence. A foreign enemy, an ideology, a religion, an organisation, an economy, a plague; always more centralised power, more control of our lives is needed to “save” us. When asked, all bow before Caesar and those who refuse or question are badged “un-American”.
Great men risked all, fought, and died over whether a centralised government miles away had the right to tax and control free men. I shudder to think of what we have done to the little republic they fought so hard to found. We the sheeple have willingly cede even our very basic rights to a faceless monster of our own creation for our “security” and “the common good”.
The politicians like to tell us that without the government our children would be left uneducated, the poor left to starve in the cold, the sick untreated, and the weak would be preyed upon by the strong. I tend to have a higher opinion of humanity than that. Are not the Red Cross and Salvation Army private organisations founded by free men, not government?
In 1776 the world thought our experiment mad and in 2008 I think I might have to agree. In our republic’s short history we’ve managed to commit atrocities and bare burdens that no monarch could ever have dreamed possible of a people.
It’s my hope that as we enter another four years of darkness that maybe, just maybe, the sheeple will see the faint shimmer in the distance and bother to question what it is.
Freedom isn’t free and liberty isn’t easy. The banners of liberty have been hidden for far too long. It’s time the heirs of liberty awake and reclaim the liberties of our fathers. Tyranny is old; freedom new. Our experiment is young yet and so long as some of us are mad enough to try, onwards!
Posted in Politics | 2 Comments »Cultural Comparison of the South versus the Netherlands (Part One)
I find the study of cultures to be fascinating. It's amazing to me how something that to one person is so completely mundane and self-explanatory can be bizarre and awkward to someone else. Living in and with various cultures over the last few years has taught me that no one culture is "right" or "wrong" only different from another. It is in this light that I explore the differences between the Dutch culture and the culture of the American South, the culture in which I was raised.
The first thing that struck me when I arrived in the Memphis, Tennessee airport from Amsterdam's Schiphol was how cheery and friendly people seemed to be. Southern children are taught from a young age to be outwardly cheerful and polite whilst in public. It has been said that a Southerner will be friendly and polite with you right up until the point that he shoots you. This is very much the case. Interacting with airport staff and ordering a meal at an airport diner was nothing but smiles and pleasantries. In public there is an implicit contract that all will act outwardly cheerful and treat everyone as a friend. A Southerner is very concerned about how the outside world perceives him or her and honouring this contract is very important.
The Dutch are not known for their hospitality or cheerful demeanour, but I never found them to be particularly depressed or angry. In general the Dutch I interacted with "on the street" were friendly and quite helpful; it's only that a Southerner wouldn't know this from looking at the facial expressions and body language of a Dutchman. In public the Dutch have a tendency to be direct and sterile. Many questions are answered with a simple "yes" or "no" and whether others think you're happy, sad, friendly, bored, etc. is irrelevant. The Dutch social contract implicitly states that all are to be treated equally. It is thus very important to the Dutchman that all seem him or her as tolerant and fair.
The Southern culture's implicit contract of manufactured cheerfulness is one of the main things I missed whilst living in Holland. I know that the Dutch find all the cheeriness and pleasantries to be superficial and unnecessary, but as a Southerner I found if near impossible to reprogram myself not to expect this outward behaviour in public. A constant monologue of "different culture, different norms" was needed to get me through a day of shopping about town.
In future postings I'll continue to explore the Southern and Dutch cultures. I've no idea how many people actually read this, but if there are any specific topics you'd like me to explore or any questions you'd like answered — whether about the Southern culture or the Dutch culture — please feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail.
Posted in Culture, Dutch Culture, Holland, Southern Culture | No Comments »Nederland: een Retrospectief
For the English Version Click Here
Ik kan niet geloven dat ik alleen nog vier dagen in Nederland heb. Was het niet gisteren dat ik hier aankwam?
Maart 2007; het begin van een nieuwe leven. Twee manden na het afstuderen in Alabama stond ik op Schiphol met een koffer, mijn laptop, en een adres op de Rozengracht. Het eerste dag was heel moeilijk. De koffers waren op een andere vlucht, de makelaar vergat onze bespreking, het was koud, nat, en ik was heel moe. Ik was niet zeker of het een goed idee was mijn geboorteland te verlaten. De volgende dag moest ik op kantoor zijn.
Mijn eerst week bij Deloitte moest ik ACL leren van de ACL handleiding boeken die natuurlijk in het Nederlands geschreven waren. Iedereen sprak Nederlands en zo veel was in het Nederlands geschreven. Ik dacht, “Shit, ik begrijp veel minder dan gedacht. Zal ik ooit begrijpen alles wat ze zegen?” Het avontuur met de Nederlandse cultuur en taal was begonnen.
Juni 2007; mijn eerst Nederlandstalige klant. Ik was zo blij uiteindelijk een klant te hebben. Niet alleen een klant, maar een Nederlandstalige klant. Het was mijn kans mensen te laten zien hoe goed mijn Nederlands geworden was. Elke dag voor twee weken zat ik in Dordrecht. Elke dag moest ik Nederlands spreken. Soms was het moeilijk te zegen wat ik wilde — ik maakte vele fouten — maar ergens kwam ik door. Mijn eerst klant was een succes.
De komende maanden waren goed. Natuurlijk had ik een beetje culture shock maar ik was in Europa. De dromen die ik sinds high school had waren aanvoldaan. Mijn moeder bezocht in mei en mijn broer, Jason, bezocht in augustus. Iedere dag leerde ik iets nieuws over de Nederlandse taal en cultuur. Ik was heel blij in Nederland en dacht dat ik hier voor een aantal jaren zal blijven. Het wordt winter.
De winter was heel moeilijk. Het was koud, nat, grijs, en donker. Ik was bij een lastige klant in Rotterdam en iedere dag was ik tussen drie en vier uren met de trein onderweg. Voor manden was de zon niet te zien. Ik was gedeprimeerd. Voor het Kerst was ik een aantal dagen weer in Alabama met familie en vrienden.
Toen ik terug in Nederland was, begon ik te denken, “misschien zal ik liever ergens anders zijn. Duitsland? Engeland?” Naast tien manden was ik nog niet thuis in Nederland. Ik wist niet wat het probleem was, maar ergens was de Nederlandse cultuur niet voor mij. Ik had zeven manden tot mijn verdrag klaar was. “Misschien zal ik dan naar het Duitse kantoor gaan,” dacht ik.
Februari, maart, april, niets gedaan. Nederland was nu normaal. Ik had veel tijd nog te denken. Het was bijna tijd voor de vakantie en daarnaast kon ik over de toekomst denken.
Mei 2008; mijn broeders bezochten, ik zag mijn leven door andere ogen. Het was tijd. Ik miste mijn familie, mijn cultuur, en mijn taal. Ik miste de zonnige blauwe hemel, de frisse lucht, de rivieren, en de bergen van mijn geboorteland. Ik vernieuwde niet mijn verdrag.
Mij tijde in Nederland was wel een belevenis. Ik leerde veel en ben heel blij dat ik hier kwam. Ik maakte zo vele prachtige mensen kennis en heb nu vele nieuwe vrienden. Hoewel ik nu terug naar de V.S. ga, weet ik dat ik weer in Europa zal zijn. Wat ik precies in de toekomst zal doen, zal zijn weet ik niet. Ik weet alleen dat de volgende stap in mijn leven in Nashville is. De avontuur van mijn leven gaat verder.
“Dass wir uns in ihr zerstreuen, darum ist die Welt so gross.” – J.W. van Goethe
I can’t believe that I’ve only got four days left in the Netherlands. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I arrived?
March 2007; the beginning of a new life. Two weeks after graduation in Alabama I was standing at Schiphol with a suitcase, my laptop, and an address on the Rozengracht. The first day was quite difficult. The suitcases were on another flight, the realtor forgot our meeting, it was cold, wet, and I was very tired. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to leave the land of my birth. The following day I had to be at the office.
My first week at Deloitte I had to learn ACL from the ACL manual that was naturally written in Dutch. Everyone spoke Dutch and so many things were written in Dutch as well. I thought, “Crap, I understand a lot less than I thought. Will I ever understand everything they’re saying?” The adventure with the Dutch culture and language had begun.
June 2007; my first Dutch-speaking client. I was so happy to finally have a client. Not just a client, but a Dutch-speaking client. It was my chance to show everyone how good my Dutch had become. Everyday for two weeks I sat in Dordrecht. Everyday I had to speak Dutch. Sometimes it was difficult to say what I wanted — I made loads of mistakes — but somehow I pushed through. My first client was a success.
The following months were good. Naturally, I had a little bit of culture shock, but I was in Europe. The dreams I’d had since high school were coming true. My mother came to visit in May and my brother, Jason, came to visit in August. Everyday I learned something new about the Dutch language and culture. I was very happy in the Netherlands and thought that I would stay here for a few years. Winter came.
Winter was really hard. It was cold, wet, grey, and dark. I was working at a difficult client in Rotterdam and everyday I was travelling three or four hours on the train. For months you couldn’t see the sun. I was depressed. For Christmas I was in Alabama for a few days with family and friends.
When I was back in the Netherlands I began to think, “maybe I’d rather be somewhere else. Germany? England?” After ten months I wasn’t at home in the Netherlands. I didn’t know what the problem was, but somehow the Dutch culture just wasn’t for me. I had seven months before my contract was out. “Maybe I’ll go to the German office,” I thought.
February, March, April, nothing was done. The Netherlands was now normal. I had lots of time still to think. It was almost time for my vacation and afterwards I could think about the future.
May 2008; my brothers come to visit, I saw my life through other eyes. It was time. I missed my family, my culture, and my language. I missed the sunny blue sky, the fresh air, the rivers, and the mountains of home. I didn’t renew my contract.
My short time in the Netherlands has been an experience. I’ve learned a lot and am very glad that I came here. I’ve met so many wonderful people and have made many new friends. Although I’m now going back to the U.S., I know that I’ll be back in Europe again. What exactly I in the future will be doing and will become, I don’t know. I only know that the next step of my life is in Nashville. My life’s adventure continues.
“Dass wir uns in ihr zerstreuen, darum ist die Welt so gross.” – J.W. van Goethe
Reizen door Nederland
With only around a month left in Holland I’ve been very conscious to use my remaining time wisely. I don’t want to get to Tennessee and then regret not seeing something in Holland before I left.
Weekend before last Amsterdam actually had a bit of sun so I decided to wander about town and make a few videos. Enjoy.
This weekend I went with my Polish friend Jakub to visit a museum in Den Haag (The Hague) and spend a few hours in Delft. The day started off sunny, but unfortunately it started to rain once we were in Delft. Den Haag was, as always, a nice city to visit and Delft was a pleasant surprise. I definitely see why Delft is such a popular city to study in.
Pictures from both trips are now posted in the Photo Gallery.
English as the National Language
One of the great things about the American nation is our lack of a national language. Our democratic republic was founded on the principle that governments are created to serve the people. Tracing back through our history we see state constitutions being written in English and French, English and German, English and Spanish, etc. Sure English has always been the language of the majority, but local communities have always been allowed to speak their native languages and, if their numbers were large enough, receive services and information from their government in their native tongue. I see no reason for this to change.
Does the Constitution or the Pledge have any less meaning when read in Spanish or German? Was our eighth president any less of an American because he natively spoke Dutch and only learned English as a second language? I’d say no.
I don’t understand the need to make English the official language of The United States. Throughout our history English has been the common language of the republic. I see no trend towards this changing. Each wave of immigrants in our history have learned English within a generation or two; they must in order to take advantage of all of America’s great economic freedoms.
If not being able to understand the Mexican immigrant waiting behind to you at Wal-Mart bothers you, take a Spanish course at your local community college. You’ll soon discover that they’re talking about the same mundane day-to-day challenges you yourself face.
Whether I’m saying “ich bin amerikanisch”, “ik ben amerikaans”, “je suis américain”, “soy americano”, or “I’m American”, the same meaning holds true: E Pluribus Unum.
Vacation May 2008
Sadly, my vacation is coming to an end. Yesterday, after being in Europe since May 15th, Matthew, Jason, and Jenny returned back to Alabama. The apartment feels very empty after being so full for so long. As usual it will take me a while to get used to the solitude again.
Overal this vacation was a great time. I enjoyed getting to spend time with my brothers and loved the thrill of travelling. Below is a by location round up of our travels followed by a short compilation video of all our travels.
Holland
Holland was the same as always: kinda cold, kinda dreary, and rainy. Everyone seemed to like Amsterdam, though I don’t think they were as impressed with Enkhuizen, Haarlem, and Den Haag.
London
London was amazing. I’d never been to London before so I was most excited about visiting this city; it was everything I’d hoped for and more. The city was extremely clean, everyone very friendly, and the food was great. London’s a bit expensive, but overal I think it’s worth it. London is definitely on my list for places I wish to visit again.
Paris
Though this was my second time in Paris, it was the first time that I’d actually got to spend a decent amount of time in the city. So long as you stick to the tourist sites and don’t mind large crowds Paris is a very lovely city. But, as soon as you wander from the beaten path and hop on a Metro, Paris turns into a shit-hole. I’m very glad I’ve now seen everything I’ve ever wanted to see in Paris, because it is very likely that I shall never return.
Video of our Travels
Posted in Amsterdam, Holland, Travel | No Comments »Koninginnedag 2008
Once again the time has come to celebrate the queen’s birthday. Well, actually we’re celebrating the queen’s mother’s birthday, Queen Juliana. See, Queen Beatrix was born in January and thought that it’d probably make more sense to keep her mother’s birthday as the national holiday because it had better weather.
Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day) is the Dutch national holiday. On Koninginnedag (roughly pronounced: “Cone” + “ing” + “in” + “a” + “dahk”) Amsterdam turns into a giant garage sale / party.
It all starts the night before, Koninginnenacht (Queen’s Night), when Amsterdam turn into a giant street party. Stages and beer-tents are set up all over town and all the bars stay open until the wee hours of the morning.
On Koninginnedag proper, Dutchies from near and far stream into Amsterdam for the giant garage sale that overtakes the city centre.
Cars, busses, and trams are all blocked from entering the city centre and the streets are so crowded that the Cloggies are even forced to give their beloved bikes a rest and take to the streets by foot.
Koninginnedag is something that should definitely be experienced once, but after the first time it simply becomes annoying. Being jammed into the narrow Amsterdam streets with hundreds of thousands of loud, heavily intoxicated, and orange-wearing cloggies is not my idea of the good time. This year I escaped to Haarlem for an Anglo-American barbeque.
As it turns out I didn’t escape soon enough. My normal twenty-minute walk to Centraal Station took a whopping forty or so minutes due to the overly-crowded streets. On my slow march to the station I saw something which reminded me why I will never raise children in Holland.
I ended up walking behind a mom and her two kids, at little boy and a little girl, just as she was catching up with her husband. — Or at least I assume it’s her husband. It’s shocking how many Dutchies never bother getting married. — At any rate, once the kids saw their father they ran towards him to show him the junk they’d bought off the street.
As soon as she caught up with her father the little girl said, “Look Daddy, I bought this shirt for only seventy-five cents!” The family then proceeded to discuss how that was a good deal and congratulate the little girl on her good bargin! If I ever have a little girl that’s more excited about how much she paid for a shirt rather then how pretty or unique it is I think I might go insane!
For me, Koninginnedag 2008 was great. I spent Koninginnenacht at an Irish pub with my polish friend watching Manchester play Barcelona and Koninginnedag in Haarlem grilling out and playing the irish version of Monopoly with friends. No orange was worn and no monarch was celebrated.
Posted in Amsterdam, Dutch Adventures, Holland | No Comments »« Previous Entry
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