The Privilege of Driving

I was watching the democratic debates the other day and the issue of drivers licenses for illegal aliens came up. Senator Dodd was adamantly opposed to the idea and said that driver's licenses were a privilege not a right. Now I don't disagree that drivers licenses are not a right, but are they a privilege? I ask because in many countries it's just the way people get around. It's pretty much taken for granted that driving is just a way of getting around nowadays, a byproduct of modern urban living. And that got me to thinking. Do we really want people without licenses on the highway? What are people doing on the road without licenses? Does that make any kind of sense? Wouldn't it be better if they had some kind of paperwork indicating they can drive? Maybe they're supposed to walk to work, but if you live in a city like mine you will be half way to work by the time lunch time rolls by. Maybe all these drivers can be given some kind of permit, like the one I got when I was a teenager. That enabled me to learn to how to drive. Maybe they don't have that option in the state of Connecticut but it would be good if they did. Oh well, its not my problem. I'm off to enjoy my privilege and take a few sharp U-turns.

No More Casinos

I woke up today and realized that the last thing Arizona needs are more casinos. In my last post I recounted the proud history Arizona has since the land was first charted by Spanish explorers and Mexican priests like Marcos de Niza. Geronimo and Wyatt Earp are two proud figures blanketing the multi layered past of Arizona. We have Ira Hayes whose image models the most famous monument and photo of the Second World War. And we also have a presidential candidate for the presidency in the figure of Barry Goldwater. I am at a loss at who Arizona could claim as it's most famous governor, save that Raul Castro was Arizona's first Hispanic governor, and seemed so enthralled with that title that he took the office and then then the money and headed off to be ambassador, for Argentina. Casinos, on the other hand, don't seem to fit into that proud history.
When I was small all along baseline road were rows upon rows of Japanese gardens huddled against South Mountain, stretching for miles along Baseline road. Today, Baseline has barely a handful of gardens spotted by I-10, but nothing of the green environment that make the road famous. Searches on the web omit them. Inquire of them to a non native and you will only be met with a blank stare. In their place warehouses, apartments, and more housing developments have been dumped along the the prized mountain road. Now, I'm not opposed to progress. I think a freeway should be hammered through Camelback road ASAP, for instance. It just seems to me that there are plenty of places a warehouse could go up. These beautiful things are unique and only come along once, and a tradition should have been established, sheltered, and preserved.
Along the same lines, the reservation should be cultivating things more valuable than casinos. Does every reservation really need to stack up some slots off the Ajo turnpike? The answer is a resounding no. Reservations, the Native Americans need plenty of things, and casinos does not make my top five. I'm unconvinced casinos really help Native Americans at all. Why isn't a bingo hall good enough?
The reservations already contain natural beauty. What they really need are an educational system, libraries, more and better industry, and infrastructure to handle business. I wish there was a way to incorportate labor with the an efficient environmental policy, perhaps even a model for the rest of the nation. But that's just me.
I went on thinking of casinos and then my muse went mute.

Arizona Heat

When Natalie Merchant asks "Is a cactus blooming there/upon the northern rim/or in the ruins of the Hopi mesa dens?" I am kindly reminded of the beauty and impact of that beauty that Arizona has had upon artists and photographers who have trod and trampled across the natural scenery of Arizona's three well known geographic regions.
But that got me to thinking, who in the name of old Mexico, is the most famous Arizonan of them all? Immediately, I thought Barry Goldwater would be a good candidate. He did run for President, but then again, so did Paul Tsongas. d Moris Udall and Carl Hayden come to mind to say nothing of Ira Hayes. But I think they only resonate with Arizonans. To me, there are really only two names that resonate outside the state. These are Wyatt Earp and Geronimo. That's right, these two famous figures from the Mythic West are from none other than Arizona, or was that the Arizona territory? In any case Arizona can lay claim to both of these, and you know, it's about time. The shoot out at the O.K. Coral's been immortalized in dozens of Hollywood films. And well, Geronimo is, just famous. Or is he infamous? He symbolizes the independent spirit of the Great Southwest and fought both Mexicans, other Indian tribes and Americans in his quest for independence, freedom, and just wanting to be left alone.








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Up and About

This is a blogspot dedicated to mainly random thoughts and opinion, a hodge podge of useless thoughts that someone, including myself, may find interesting. What interests me are a variety of things and mainly how everyone is busy posting, whereas I feel rather dull in mind, am trying to make hay of what they are posting. So in that sense this blog rivals a kind of journaling, but without reference to anything I do, but rather on how I feel about things. In other words a blogspot of my base opinions. I thought I'd start with a few of my favorite things.

These are a few of my favorite things

Those who have seen the movie 1776 know that Benjamin Franklin favored making the turkey the nation's national fowl. What struck me was Franklin's commitment to stand out from the crowd and stick to his belief that the turkey was a noble, intelligent bird deserving of honor. Some people have favorite heroes, like in the Sienfield episode where Jerry liked Magellan and George preferred DeSoto. My favorite President isn't Andrew Jackson or Lincoln, Kennedy or Reagan. Some people like Washington, others Lincoln, I prefer Taft. The more I learn about him the more likable I find this highly neglected President. He followed a tradition of what I call burly Presidents. He believed the law should be used to help the little guy, and what an imposing figure he was to send the message. I like Taft and for that matter I like Benjamin Franklin as well, mainly because of his independant spirit and ability to pick up chicks on a dime. Oh yes, he could invent a thing or two and still be on time to help formulate the Constitution. These heroes seem real and accesible to me, not so etched in stone.
I like films too. I think they speak a lot and can communicate ideas like nothing else. But it seems hard these days to find a good one. I guess there's too much expectation.