Just moments ago President Obama delivered a speech at the West Point Academy in New York, in which he revealed his plans to deploy an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. The president asserted that “Afghanistan is not lost, but for several years it has moved backward.” He furthermore called on America allies to increase their own deployment.

This is a significant moment for the Obama administration, one which I fear will cost him re-election in 2012. We’re fighting an unachievable war in a land that hosts fewer than 100 Al-Qaeda members (this according to National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones). I suspect that no matter what we do in Afghanistan, nothing can prevent Al-Qaeda from formulating in Pakistan. As an American taxpayer I much prefer to support a universal healthcare system, educational programs, climate technologies, etc.

I implore you Mr. Obama to re-prioritize. You have created a lacuna within the Democratic Party that just may define your presidency.

The story goes, Art Tatum walked into a Manhattan club where Fats Waller was playing. Waller stepped away from his piano and announced, “I only play the piano, but tonight God is in the house.” 

An article from NPR depicting overwhelming support from the service members at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. President Obama’s decision to delay troop deployment in Afghanistan has been criticized by the right, most notably former Vice President Cheney who accused the president of “dithering” on the decision. I can only hope the applause Obama received on Monday reassures him that his precautions are necessary, and that perhaps sending 40,000 more troops to win an unachievable war could be an administration-ruining decision.

I hasten to clarify that Where the Wild Things Are is not what some wanted to call feel-good family entertainment. I find it astounding that several critics have pinpointed the surliness of the monsters to be a weakness of the movie. Sendek’s original 1963 book, though now critically acclaimed, was at the time the center of a lot of controversy for his grotesque portrayal of the monsters. There’s an air of melancholy in the movie that is sure to divide audiences. And interpretations of the book vary, even to this day. But viewers should be assured that the imaginative chaos that ensues out of Max’s loneliness is impermanent. His flight of fancy comes to an end by his belief of parental love. As TIME magazine asserted four and a half decades ago, Where the Wild Things Are is the perfect balance for the “seesaw of fear and comfort.” In watching this movie, I have arrived at two realizations. For one, Spike Jonze is a true artist. The simplicity and pureness is outright inspiring. But also, I truly hope I never become the kind of person that is unable to enjoy a movie like this.

In Greek mythology, Cassandra was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, who was instantly enraptured by her beauty. But when she failed to return his love, he cursed her with an inability to get anyone to believe her prophecies. In an Op-ed recently published in the New York Times Paul Krugman likens climate change warnings to the ill-fated Cassandra, as many ring-wingers are failing to accept what leading researchers so vehemently assert: climate change is real.

Krugman emphasizes that this crisis, though particularly daunting, can be amended in public policy. What the Obama administration does about this issue is to be seen. And there is an immense amount of pressure streaming in from both political sides. But what Mr. Obama needs to do, is scratch the bi-partisanship, give “politics as usual” one long, black middle finger and help restore our environment before the macabre sings his song.

Perhaps it’s my newly found affection for my Central European roots, or the grandiosity with which Beirut and their Balkan ensemble grace my ears with, but whatever the case may be, it is undoubtedly certain that I’ve found a passion for Romanian film. Like many streetwise Cannes winners, 12:08 East of Bucharest (which I unfortunately delayed watching for two years now) depicts the kind of satire that I can’t recall seeing in a film. It’s not simply a melancholy rumination of failed Eastern European communism, but a hilarious insight into a very depressing time. But this isn’t a movie review, so I’ll spare you my bias. What’s more poignant to note here is what many have labeled the Romanian new wave.

I get the realism. I get the hand-held camerawork. And I get the long takes. These are just a few of the characteristics of modern Romanian cinema that I’ve noticed. But it’s tremendously interesting to watch this cinematic breakthrough unfold, especially as my interest in Central and Eastern Europe augments with every new Beirut single and Milan Kundera novel. I’ll redirect you to AO Scott’s video podcast of five different Romanian movies that should reflect everything I just mentioned.

The Death of Mr. Lazarescu – quite simply, an indictment of an indifferent healthcare system. But also reflective of what we struggle with here in the States; therefore making this film very pertinent to America’s rash dismissal of a univsersal health system.

4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days – perhaps the most succesful of Romanian new wave, if one wishes to go with the label, and beautifully sentimental and melancholy. This film is about more than what the plot aspires. It’s remarkable acumen of societal life in pre-Velvet times makes this worthy both artfully and culturally.

12:08 East of Bucharest – satirical evidence that the Romanian revolution of 1989 really occured (not that any moron wouldn’t acknowledge this, I’m just sayin’). Very minimilistic and incisive, you should enjoy this whether you posses my dry sense of humor or not.

The remaining two I have yet to watch. But am greatly intrigued.

The Paper Will Be Blue

California Dreamin’

Whatever your opinion of international film, it appears Romanian cinema is rising and that is not to be disputed. Three of those five films previously listed, I enjoyed thoroughly. This so-called new wave of art in Romania is just enhancing my already all-consuming love for all-things Central European. Bad news for my parents, I suppose. My desire to expatriate only greatens with these craftful films. Lord how I want to see A Hawk and a Hacksaw on the Charles Bridge.

Winner of a “Best Picture” award at the Albuquerque Film Festival. albuquerquefilmfestival.org/

This is a well-crafted film, and is as Romany and creative as they come.

From the Times:

In a Room for Debate forum in June on the value of liberal arts master’s degrees, one group of readers — teachers and education administrators — generally agreed a higher degree was well worth the investment. They pointed out that pay and promotion in public schools were tied to the accumulation of such credentials and credits, specifically from colleges of educationShould the public schools reduce the weight they give to education school credentials in pay and promotion decisions?

But current teacher training has a large chorus of critics, including prominent professors in education schools themselves. For example, the director of teacher education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Katherine Merseth, told a conference in March that of the nation’s 1,300 graduate teacher training programs, only about 100 were doing a competent job and “the others could be shut down tomorrow.” And Obama administration officials support a shift away from using master’s degrees for pay raises, and a shift toward compensating teachers based on children’s performance.

Should the public schools reduce the weight they give to education school credentials in pay and promotion decisions? Is this happening already, and, if so, what is replacing the traditional system for compensating teachers?

My personal opinion is that teachers should be compensated, above all, by children’s performances. The pedagogy learned from education courses are, to some extent, valuable; but there remain many other factors in determining the success of American educators. As Patrick Welsh stated in the online debate, mind-numbing education programs are so highly appraised, that they prevent the brightest, most dynamic and creative people from entering the field; when in all actuality, the schools filled with such mediocrity, are depriving children of the education they deserve.

Mr. Obama and Democrats of Congress,

I implore you to ignore the off-center rhetoric of the right, and accomplish what you were elected to accomplish. Despite my wishes for this administration to be politically impartial, the right-wing grows upon the president’s apathy. Visit the town halls, talk to the people, and give us the public option we need.

And here, Mr. Obama’s Op-Ed in the NYTimes

For those of you who remain uncertain what government-run healthcare asserts, here’s Bill Adair, editor of PolitiFact and the Washington bureau chief for the St. Petersburg Times speaking on NPR’s All Things Considered. Adair says that because much of the action in the health care debate has been on the side of the groups that oppose an overhaul, that side is also responsible for much of the misinformation.

“I think much of the dialogue is being set by the critics who are making some very strong claims about this, and when we check them out, we find that many of them are exaggerated or completely false.”