Hopeful Realism

I'm currently reading Barack Obama's 2006 book, "The Audacity of Hope"....
Its an interesting read, especially since he's now the new President of America (I started it at 4am the day he was elected) . Anyone who heard one of his speeches during the campaign should know he has a way with words and is very good at manipulating language. He comes across in the book as being very intelligent but also has his feet firmly on the ground, he has ideals but also common sense and realism.

Here's a quote from a chapter entitled 'Values':

"At times our values collide because in the hands of men each one is subject to distortion and excess. Self-reliance and independence can transform into selfishness and license, ambition into greed and a frantic desire to succeed at any cost. More than once in our history we've seen patriotism slide into jingoism, xeonophobia, the stifling of dissent; we've seen faith calcify into self-righteousness, closed-mindedness, and cruelty toward others. Even the impulse toward charity can drift into stifling paternalism, an unwillingness to acknowledge the ability of others to do for themselves.
When this happens - when liberty is cited in the defense of a company's decision to dump toxins in our rivers, or when our collective interest in building an upscale new mall is used to justify the destruction of somebody's home - we depend on the strength of countervailing values to temper our judgement and hold such excesses in check."

Barack Obama, 'The Audacity of Hope'

Its also an interesting insight into life as a US Senator (he wasn't yet nominated for president back in 2006). After winning his seat in the senate he meets George W Bush for a dinner in the white house, here is a conversation between him and Dubya:

'"Obama!", the President said, shaking my hand. "Come here and meet Laura. Laura you remember Obama. We saw him on TV during election night. Beautiful family. And that wife of yours - that's one impressive lady."
"We both got better than we deserve, Mr President," I said, shaking the First Lady's hand and hoping I had wiped any crumbs off my face. The President turned to an aide nearby, who squirted a big dollop of hand sanitizer in the President's hand.
"Want some?" the President asked. "Good stuff. Keeps you from getting colds."
Not wanting to seem unhygienic, I took a squirt.
"Come here for a second," he said, leading me off to one side of the room. "You know," he said quietly, "I hope you don't mind me giving you a piece of advice."
"Not at all, Mr. President"
He nodded. "You've got a bright future," he said. "Very bright. But I've been in this town awhile and, let me tell you, it can be tough. When you get a lot of attention like you've been getting, people start gunnin' for ya. And it won't neccarily be coming just from my side, you understand. From yours, too. Everybody'll be waiting for you to slip, know what I mean? So watch yourself."

'The Audacity of Hope'

I find this funny. The hand sanitizer is an amusing little detail, suggesting Bush is very hygienic. Bush can see there's potential in Obama ("You've got a bright future...Very bright") and obviously likes him. But what he doesn't know is that he's giving advice to a man who in only two years time will be President. I don't think Bush would have guessed that Obama's rise to power would be so swift, expecting him to come good in 15 to 20 years time. His warning or "advice" suggests Bush thinks Obama a little niave and he wonders whether he's tough enough for Washington politics. The last bit, "So watch yourself", sounds like the hint of a threat. I reckon that Obama can handle "people gunnin' for him. He got through the election campaign and dealt with some pretty negative stuff (like the allegation that he was a muslim). I think he's stronger than Bush thought back in 2006 and has the mettle to be President.

It seems a shame that such a bright young mind has to tackle the economy before he can get on with other more important things (in my opinion helping the poor and sorting out education, the health system, and foriegn affairs are more important than money. But I would say that as its not my money. I also know none of these would be possible without a strong economy).

I have only read two chapters of the book but so far its been brilliant.
I'll write more when I've read more!

'Waltz with Bashir', an incredible film

I was excited after hearing about this film and after watching it in the cinema a month ago was not disappointed...

Its a docu-animation (the first of its kind as far as I'm aware of) about the involvement of young Israeli soldiers in two massacres of Palestinians during the 1982 war with Lebanon. Stories of the war are told by the ex-soldiers and their memories are painted vividly for us in animation, showing us what they recall as we hear them speak.

The idea of the film came about when Ari Folman, the director, was told by a friend that he had a reocurring nightmare of being chased through the streets by 26 dogs. It turns out, during the war he could not bring himself to kill men so it was his job to shoot the dogs as the soldiers entered a town so as not to wake up the enemy. After hearing his friend mention the war Ari Folman realises he can remember very little of the conflict. So in an attempt to remember he tracks down old comrades and hears their stories. Slowly he realises that guilt has been blocking his memory. We find out at the end of the film why he feels so guilty. Its an incredible journey. The animated scenes depict the horror of war perfectly and, unexpectedly, are very realistic. You quickly forget you are watching an animated film and become engrossed in the dreams and memories of war. A must see film. Watch it!

Icelandic Lullabies

I haven't found any other music quite as soothing, uplifting, or beautiful as Sigur Ros. I went to see them not far from where I live in north London. They were incredible live, completely mesmerising...

Sigur Ros are most well known for hoppípolla, which was used on the intro to the BBC Planet Earth series and many other adverts on TV. Its taken from their 5th album, Takk which is great. Their new album, með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, - which translates as "with a buzz in our ears we play endlessly"- is even better. Their older material has its own beauty, particularly the 1999 album ágætis byrjun, but it can be a little unapproachable. The new album is a good mix of upbeat and joyful tunes mixed in with haunting and heartbreaking tracks. Ara bátur for example is very sad. Starting with slow piano it builds up to a full orchestra and choir. That track was recorded at Abbey Roads studios with the London Sinfonietta orchestra and the London Oratory School Choir.

I've seen the album on a few 50 best albums of 2008. It's easily one of my favorites of the year. Simply brilliant.


Above: Cover of new album með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

for free downloads and more on Sigur Ros see here, eighteen seconds before sunrise