Everything about this article, even the title, cracked me up.
Polite society anticipates Teresa's pizazz

(via my husband...we had a great time laughing at the article over IM)

Posted by: Sarah at 12:54 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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"I canÂ’t wait to get this election behind me, so I can go on with my life."

Let's knock this crap off that "this is the most important election in our lifetimes"; they are all important. Just vote. Do a reasonably good job of knowing the issues, accept people who take a different view than you and then go take up rock polishing or go knit sweaters for the other 23 months in between the election season. Let's all go find a hobbies to keep us busy for Gods' sake.

Do blankets count? I've knitted a couple of those lately.

Posted by: Sarah at 05:15 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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My husband's best friend is on R&R now, so I got to call him in NY and talk for a while yesterday. He's doing really well and is having a wonderful time. He said everyone was really nice in the airports and that he's so happy to be home. He's already seen Team America too! I asked him a lot of questions about how it feels to be away from the responsibility of being PL, if his time feels like it's going fast or slow, and whether he's paying any attention to the news while he's home. I told him about my election fears, and he laughed at me. He's confident as all get-out right now, and he teased me about being so freaked out. I sure do hope he's right.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:51 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The wealth of knowledge that's out there is one of the things I love about the blogosphere. Smash asks a question about Arabic, and a reader responds. I mention a fallen Soldier, and his friends and family all add their thoughts. And I ask for help on superheroes, and a faithful reader comes to my rescue:

Although Nietzsche invented the word "Übermensch," it's a word, not a character. Superman's creators Siegel and Shuster were not educated men, so it's unlikely that they knew much about Nietzsche.

OTOH, it is highly likely that Siegel and Shuster were heavily influenced by a 1930 Philip Wylie novel called GLADIATOR:

"The parallels are obvious: Both Hugo Danner and Clark Kent grow up in rural small-town America, possessing powers far beyond the common mortal; both are imbued, from an early age, with a profound sense of fairness and justice; and they hide their respective secrets from the world at large. The resemblance is even more obvious when you consider the original 1930s conception of Superman [which was far weaker than later incarnations of the character]. Their powers are the same: great strength, skin so tough that it can withstand just about anything short of an explosive artillery shell, and the ability to jump so high and so far that it almost gives the impression of flight. And both, despite their superhuman status, espouse a political philosophy that celebrates the common human being over capitalist elites."

[The early Superman has been described as a super-FDR - a costumed socialist activist. This political aspect was gone by the time the character attained iconic status in the 40s.]

Nonetheless, the superhero concept as we know it today was invented by Siegel and Shuster. The individual ingredients (superpowers, costume, secret identity) had all been done before, but it was S&S that combined them into a whole greater than the sum of its parts. Some claim that gods and demigod heroes like Hercules were the first "superheroes," but they lack the total package embodied by Superman.

There's a new book that I'm going to try to buy ASAP, MEN OF TOMORROW, that goes into detail about the birth of the superhero genre. What excites me about the book is that it's the first history of comics to look into the Jewish roots of the majority of American superhero creators. The children of Yiddish-speaking immigrants created icons for all Americans - and the world. The Nazis hated the American Superman because he was the creation of Jews.

Posted by: Sarah at 02:22 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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My husband is the happiest man in Iraq right now.

MORE TO GROK:

My mother-in-law emailed a Cardinals representative last week and the woman called her back. They talked a bit, and then the woman passed on the fact that there are two brothers in Iraq who are definitely rooting for the Cards. Legend has it that Pujols said that he would hit a homer for the boys...and his first at bat was a homer. Not too shabby.

Posted by: Sarah at 02:10 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Once again, where's the character from Family Guy? "John Kerry is a great big phony!"

Posted by: Sarah at 01:42 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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A girl I know found out three days before our husbands left that she was pregnant. She just gave birth to a little baby boy last week. An entire person has gestated in the time that our Soldiers have been away from home.

My husband has been at war for over nine months.

Last night I watched Courage Under Fire again. I haven't seen it since that day in ROTC, and I was reminded of what drew me to the movie in the first place: it was the day I knew I wanted to be an Army wife. I wanted to take care of a Soldier, through good times and bad, and support him as he served our great country. I wanted to try my best to be a combat multiplier during difficult times and to do my small part to sacrifice for what I believe in. I figured I could do a better job than Denzel's wife in the movie.

Of course, I already had my Soldier picked out.

Truthfully, these nine months have been surprisingly fast and relatively painlessly. There are times that are nervewracking and times that are lonely, but for the most part the deployment has been easier than I expected. Of course, the fact that I support the mission has been a big help: I suppose being a war cheerleader is a good quality when your husband is at war.

There's a nasty rumor going around that my husband is coming home on R&R sometime next week. I won't believe it until I catch a whiff of motor pool and Iraq funk in our home, but I've started getting emotionally ready for his visit. I'm anxious to catch up on the last nine months of his life, for conversations have been few and far between. I'm ready to put my combat multiplier skills back to use in a face-to-face setting.

I hope my husband gives me a good NCOER.

Posted by: Sarah at 12:29 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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My email is really backed up, so I'm wading through all of the links.

American Student Hides Support for Bush

I feel so sorry for that girl.

Get Out the military vote — now

I keep calling MO and my husband's absentee ballot still hasn't arrived. The woman who works in the office has been great, and we've been discussing different options to make sure that he can vote. But I'm getting nervous!

Pessimistic Kerry supporters predict Bush will be the victor

I hope these people are right!

Posted by: Sarah at 08:39 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I finally got to see Spiderman 2 tonight. I loved it.
The scene in the subway train was one of the most moving things I've seen in a long time.

To me, there's nothing more American than a superhero, an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances who struggles to do what's right no matter what the cost. Superman is of course my favorite, but Spiderman is very dear to my heart as well. I'm ignorant as to the origins of the comic book superheroes; maybe some of my comic-knowing readers can help me: are superheroes American in origin?

I will be surprised if they aren't.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:50 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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My husband just pointed out this new Onion article.
He wasn't that amused. "I get the parody," he said, "but it's a little sensitive for me."
I thought it was in appallingly bad taste.

Posted by: Sarah at 12:27 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I'm still upset from earlier today. I tried to read about the laser beam and refocus, but I just couldn't do it. Part of the reason is because I'm worried about our country's laser beam.

I haven't allowed myself to get confident about the election. In fact, I'm pretty freaking scared. I don't care about what the polls say; I'm freaked out about what happens on 2 November. I keep thinking about what Whittle said:

I fear the consequences of abandoning personal responsibility. I fear the self-hatred and nihilism that grows among the pampered, the narcissistic and the uninformed. These are things to be feared greatly. They have brought down entire civilizations and led to dark ages that have cost this species very dearly. I think we stand at such a point today, and this election -- win or lose -- will not determine the outcome...although it might give us some indication of how sick or healthy we are at this pivotal moment in history.

I fear that my blog-reading has insulated me from just how sick our country is right now. I surround myself with informed people who understand that we're in a post-9/11 world, so I was completely taken aback when someone spouted DU-esque nonsense about how the war in Iraq is a distraction (oh wait, that's not just from the DU; the Democrat candidate says the same thing.) And I'm afraid that there are a lot more like that out there.

And I have seen the eternal Idiotarian hold my coat, and snicker,
And in short, I was afraid.

We need to win this election. I know our country has survived worse, but we are at a crossroads and we need to take the right path. I'm not confident at all that we will. I hope I'm wrong.

Posted by: Sarah at 04:00 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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If you're interested, here's a long article on LT A. (Recap: LT A is our friend who was seriously injured in Mosul in August.)

MORE TO GROK:

I printed out this article at work and mentioned to my co-workers how amazing I thought it was that LT A intends to stay in the Army despite his injuries. They retorted that he must be really brainwashed, that he wasn't "fighting for his country" but for lies, and that someday I would see just how brainwashed people like my husband really are. I had to leave the office, I was so disgusted. I can't believe someone would say that to my face, completely unprovoked. I'm proud of our friend for standing up for what he believes in; if they disagree, they can politely nod and keep their opinions to themselves, like I do all the freaking time here at work. What is wrong with these people?

Sigh. Luckily Scott Ott and Varifrank brought a smile back to my face.

MORE:

Nope, still seething over an hour later. Where's the puppy photo?

Posted by: Sarah at 07:35 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 Testing.

Posted by: John at October 19, 2004 08:54 AM (crTpS)

2 Sarah - Had to delete all of my post & got this msg?

Posted by: Toni at October 19, 2004 09:11 AM (SHqVu)

3 Couldn't include the msg.... :-)

Posted by: Toni at October 19, 2004 09:12 AM (SHqVu)

4 Hmmm...I had the same problem on Mudville Gazette today. I blame Bush.

Posted by: Sarah at October 19, 2004 09:14 AM (r4xc1)

5 I am constantly amazed at the behavior of some people. Sarah, what it boils down to is if you've never felt passion for something or someone you just don't get it. If you've never believed in a cause you'll never understand loyalty. I know it doesn't really help, but.....it's just their ignorance talking. It shows the holes in their lives. Anymore, with all that's flying around over politics and the war - when someone pulls a stunt like that I just simply tell them I'm sorry they haven't had the chance to really LIVE and that someday the will recognize their ignorance. Then walk away. (and yes, I really do crap like that - it always leaves them speechless and makes them think twice before they start in the next time, if there is a next time).

Posted by: Tammi at October 19, 2004 09:31 AM (UOdfZ)

6 I'm with Tammi. The criticism people level at others often reflect fundamental truths about themselves. I would bet that the people making these comments are people who wouldn't take a courageous stand or put themselves on the line for any cause whatsoever...and hence, can't understand such actions in others.

Posted by: David Foster at October 19, 2004 08:39 PM (XUtCY)

7 I've been getting my comments rejected. It says this: Your comment submission failed for the following reasons: Your comment could not be submitted due to questionable content: men Please correct the error in the form below, then press Post to post your comment. Not sure where it found 'men' in the 2nd comment in regards to LT A. But, what I was attempting to comment was that you should tell them that they are projecting their own weaknesses onto others when they claim brainwashing. Two questions I would like to ask them: Is there anything at all worth fighting for? Most will give you a no answer. Then ask: Would you die to protect your children? (if they have any, substitute any family if not) If they say yes, tell them that those who die for others (strangers) are less self-centered and are much more advanced morally/intellectually than they are. Heaven forfend they answer no to both, anyone who does is truely morally bankrupt and not worth listening to, or wasting breath on. And remember, LT A is protecting them as well as you and me. John

Posted by: John at October 20, 2004 06:52 AM (QVbZ/)

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Baldilocks gives more examples of those who are Americans in spirit and those whose spirits are unaffiliated.

Posted by: Sarah at 06:07 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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All I wanted to say in response to Greyhawk's vote was HOOAH, but his comments section wouldn't allow it! Now that's a glitch worth looking into: a milblog where you can't say hooah...

Posted by: Sarah at 04:06 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Is it just me, or does this look like it could be the cover of an REM album?

Posted by: Sarah at 03:59 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Awesome! If Bush is your man, you'll like When The Man Comes Around. (via LGF)

Posted by: Sarah at 01:48 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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As I read this article (via Powerline) about high school textbook bias, I was reminded of the times I've written about my own textbook. And I remembered something I meant to blog about last week.

Chapter 13: Classification/Division starts with Act 2 from Shakespeare's As You Like It, the "all the world's a stage" monologue. The following is a "question on meaning and technique":

4. What characteristics typify the soldier? Are these characteristics typical of soldiers today? Why or why not?

OK, here's what Shakespeare wrote:

Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the 'pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth.

Maybe someone else can help me decipher that, because I am not completely sure what the heck the old bard was saying. I've never been a huge Shakespeare fan. The reason I even stumbled across this question is because I absentmindedly flipped open the instructor's manual during breakfast last week and found the jaw-dropper sample response to what typifies a soldier. This is the instructor's manual answer to question #4:

The soldier is swaggeringly masculine, wearing a bristly beard and uttering swear words. He is also ambitious to earn some honor on the battlefield, even if doing so means death. Yes, soldiers today--especially regiments like the marines--are seen as having considerable "machismo." However, many young people today hate the army because it represents war, which is no longer a chance for honor but rather for annihilation of the human race.

You have to learn to laugh at stuff like that...otherwise you'll cry your eyes out.
I hate this f-ing textbook.

Posted by: Sarah at 01:51 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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My stats class is officially over. Contrary to internet prediction, I kicked ass.
My test scores: 98, 96, 93, and 96%.
And I still don't have any faith in opinion polling.

Posted by: Sarah at 01:20 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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I went to Poland on Saturday. At one store, they were selling commemorative plates with George Bush and John Kerry on them, for some bizarre reason. One of them will be worth bupkis in a few weeks.

We also had a comical moment when we tried to go to a Polish grocery store. Apparently you can't go into the store carrying any bags, because a security guard came chasing after us as soon as we walked in. As he barked at us, we looked at him and said, "English? Deutsch?" Apparently he didn't speak either, but he decided to help us out by speaking in v-e-r-y slow Polish. Ha.

Posted by: Sarah at 07:15 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I've heard people scoff at the idea that the terrorists want Kerry to win. Well, here's interesting take on some people who have been listening to Kerry. (Thanks, Hud.)

Posted by: Sarah at 01:55 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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