Reflecting

Work is good these days (although I have my six-month review coming up, so we’ll see if they think I’m good), but busy. Not insane-like-my-old-job busy, but certainly busy. Although it’s nice to know that if I work a 12 or 14-hour day, I can actually record it. My pay doesn’t change because I’m a salaried employee (which is fine, I’m quite content with my compensation), but at least I can acknowledge it if I’m busting my tail. I like what I’m doing – it’s interesting and I’m pretty good at it. That’s a nice feeling. In a world of morons brainlessly chanting “drill, baby, drill!” with no appreciation of the consequences and underwhelming “benefits” of such a disastrous policy, it’s of some comfort to know that I can still do work that has some beneficial impact to the environment, and educate others about it. It’s always been my biggest issue, and something that has motivated both my education and my entire professional life, although I get teased about it from time to time.

I guess I really don’t understand why “environmentalist”, and “feminist” for that matter, are pejorative terms in the eyes of so many, especially since I consider myself to be both. Why is it bad to want to protect our natural resources and God’s creation from short-sighted greed and exploitation? Why is it bad to think that women should be paid equally and treated equally? Why is basic human dignity threatening? I think Anna Quindlen said it best, but I’d be more entertained by the far right’s sudden interest in feminism and sexism if it weren’t for the fact that so many people are now buying the act.

But then again I also don’t understand the desire for so many people to want someone to whom they can relate to be President. I want someone smarter than me making those kinds of decisions, and I think I’m a fairly smart person. I don’t care whether or not I’d want to have someone over for a cookout at my house, but I do want our President to be intelligent, thoughtful, and a good leader who is curious about the world. Why is that not of primary importance?

Feel free to call me a tree-hugging, bleeding heart liberal if you'd like. I'm not ashamed of the label.