So, I may alienate some readers by today’s post, but I would hope that readers will keep an open mind, see where I’m coming from, and disagree civilly if one disagrees.

First off, I am not marking the second anniversary of Katrina for the same reason why I did not mark the second anniversary of the tsunami off the coast of India. There are a lot of tragedies that happen in this world, and it’s impossible to mark all of them. I wish no human lives would be lost from gigantic storms, but it does happen and marking all of them would be impossible. However, I’ve pointed out before that while the 1400 people who lost their lives to Katrina are tragic, the fact that NO ONE mentions the 200,000 people who lost their lives to the tsunami EVER and yet bemoans the Katrina losses, simply because they are American, is a study in hubris. I’m not saying that the people who lost their lives from Katrina are better or worse than anyone else who died in a nature-related event, I’m just pointing out that Americans think the tragedies that happen to them are more dramatic. I’m an American, and I honestly feel that the 200,000 people who lost their lives, and the MILLION people who are still affected by those deaths, deserve some attention. Not that the Katrina victims don’t deserve attention, just that the others do as well.

And yes, I am aware of the irony of mentioning the second anniversary of Katrina by saying that I’m not going to mention it. There was just no other way to make a point of it! I’m a fan of teh ironical!

My next topic was spurred by my morning commute (carpool!) this morning. We were following a truck that was obviously driven by a man who had served and protected our country in the Army, and appeared to have been a prisoner of war, and received a purple heart (from the Army Retired stickers, the POW-MIA stickers, and the Purple Heart license plate). I applaud our troops and respect and revere what they do for us as a country and for me personally by protecting my freedom. My brother was in the 82nd Airborne (hmm, or was it 101st?) just after Desert Storm and I know that he did his part for our country and I respect him and his fellow troops for that. But this particular guy was driving an ENORMOUS truck, spewing emissions, 8 miles to the gallon, and even though it was only 70 degrees out, dripping condensation from the AC unit. Now my first thought was, after obviously doing everything you could to protect and serve the U.S. in the Army, wouldn’t you want to do your part to ensure that it continues as healthy as it was when you entered this world? I mean, why protect a country and then shit all over it? The fact that many people do not make the connection between these two very important priorities galls me, and is yet another piece of evidence that 99% of people choose selfishness and ignorance over the well-being of our planet and other people. And I am still, always, constantly enraged and concurrently depressed by this evidence. He demands my respect (which I would give him anyway simply for 1. being human; and 2. putting his life on the line for my benefit) by plastering stickers all over his truck, but he would not (and I am assuming due to evidence already put forth) extend the same respect towards me if I were to plaster all of my environment-saving actions on my car. Which is his right, which he fought for, which no one can dispute. But why is my war less important than his?

In other news: we did not go to cheese dip last night. The reason we had been planning to go fell through, and we successfully fought the urge. Yay for self-discipline! It is a triumph. Instead we stayed home and watched the Braves lose AGAIN. Like this is news, folks. However, in a real tragedy the Red Sox lost to the frickin’ Yankees which puts them only 7 games ahead. Grr! It’s one thing for the Sox to lose, but to the Yankees?! I grumble under my breath.

This week is the last week in my 120-mile August challenge! I only have about 16 more miles to go by Saturday, and assuming I don’t break my ankle I should have no problem. Whee! The best part about it is that I end on a low mileage week, so I won’t end the challenge by straining my body to its limits. It makes me think that the challenge was easy. Easy enough to come up with something tougher for September! Heh.

Challenge ticker: 103.55/16.45.