The ponderings of a multitasker
It matters to me
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I’m a multitasker. That’s a good thing when you’re at work. I manage to get a lot of things done in very little time. Unfortunately, it’s a characteristic that follows me home at the end of the day. For instance, I can’t just cook dinner. I have to cook dinner while I go through the mail, scan the newspaper, balance the checking account, do a load of laundry and sweep the kitchen floor. I have to admit, I sometimes burn dinner.
This drive to do everything all at once seems to have permeated every aspect of my life. When I set out to discover the day’s news, it’s not enough to just read the paper. I have to peruse magazines, watch television and go online, too. As a result, a variety of things matter to me. Granted, oftentimes they matter to me for just a few seconds. But there is a short list of things I’ve been thinking about for a while now. Here’s a sample of what I’ve been pondering lately.
China and the Olympics
CNN allowed me to watch a pro-democracy supporter throw himself in front of a military tank during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. And it introduced me to the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet during a Chinese takeover and crackdown on religion. So China has been on my radar for a while, especially as more of the stuff I buy bears the “Made in China” label. (You’ll be hearing more from me about this in the near future.) Now, as athletes carry the Olympic torch around the globe from Greece to China, the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics, people are expressing opposition to China’s political policies. That’s cool. People should be able to express their opinions. But, for heaven’s sake, do so peacefully and without damaging the tradition of the Olympics. European protesters tried to grab the torch out of the bearers’ hands, and security officials had to snuff out the flame and transport the torch in a van at least five times. There have been calls for the U.S. to boycott the opening ceremonies. I respectfully disagree. A slew of talented athletes have worked hard to compete at the Olympics. I have issues with China, but I’m willing to put those aside long enough to let the athletes enjoy their time in the spotlight.
Africa’s elections
Africa has intrigued — and puzzled — me since I was a kid. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to go there. And watching the Ethiopian famine of 1984 and the Rwandan genocide of 1994 play out on television only stoked my interest. Most recently, I’ve been monitoring the aftermath of the presidential elections in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Kenya slid into chaos when the incumbent and his opponent could not agree on who won the vote. That was back in December. People are still losing their lives over this issue, but the politicians would rather focus their attention on divvying up power in a way that both sides will benefit. A similar battle seems imminent in Zimbabwe, where the long-time president is contesting election results that would allow his opponent to ascend to power. In the meantime, people are starving to death because they can’t find jobs and inflation is so great that they can’t afford food. I just have to ask, “Where are Africa’s true leaders?”
American politics
Debates over whether we should go to war, arguments about who would make a better leader, presidential candidates running neck and neck, recounts. If you think I’m referring to American politics in the new millennium, think again. I’ve been hooked on HBO’s seven-part series John Adams, which follows the founding father as he struggles to shape a new nation. I never really thought about John Adams before this series started, but I’ve been impressed by the insight it’s offered on the sacrifices and decisions our founding fathers had to make to create the United States. It’s a testament to their intelligence and passion that the institutions they created so long ago have withstood the test of time. So, I can’t disagree more when I hear people say that Hillary Clinton should drop out of the presidential race. She should stay in, give Barack Obama a run for his money, and then see who prevails. And I’m perfectly okay with the general election being just as contentious. Becoming president should not be easy. Kings and queens ascend to their thrones. Our founding fathers dedicated their lives to making sure that never happens here.
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