Going South...

To go south: "To abscond, to disappear to Mexico or Texas reinforced by Native American belief that the soul journeys south after death.

The American South has long been a curiosity. Overturned after the Civil War, but never really defeated in the heart, the south is now disappearing one state at a time. All of the fringes of the south are being encroached upon by the expanses of American corporations and the rest of Americans: The Research Triangle in North Carolina has become a collection of northern settlements for American high-tech interests [see acronyms for Cary, NC]; Northern Virginia, once the leader of the antebellum south, is a suburb of Washington, DC and scarcely retains a southern identity; Murtle Beach, Hilton Head and the rest of South Carolina's beaches have become an alternative vacation spots for non-southerners; Asheville, North Carolina is becoming an alternative retirement destination for Florida; Atlanta, once the railroad hub of the Old South, is now one of several international airline hubs of America (Delta); Florida was the retirement location for New Yorkers and now ground zero for those Americans looking for new opportunities and for other northerners escaping the harsh winters. Once, just south Florida was fair game, but now even northern Florida cities such as Tallahassee and Jacksonville are fair game. Before Katrina crossed the shorelines of SE Lousiana, Mississippi and Alabama, it appeared as if the American Riviera would be the next real estate blowup. As the next generation of carpetbaggers descends upon the south, it is interesting to examine the concept of "south" that transcends national bounds and puts what we may call the "second reconstruction" into a larger context.

The English word south [Old English: "suð" ('ð' is pronounced 'th') ] itself comes not from latin but rather curiously from Nordic through a Proto-German word (sunthaz) meaning "in the south" with a similar root to sunnun, "a place in the sun". This is possibly because the south side of a street would typically receive more sunlight on their entrances than those facing them on the other side. While the root definition of south rooted in the sun may not be eye-popping excitement, it is atleast interesting that the origin of all the western romance languages for the word "south" come from the Germanic base rather than the latin. The latin word for "south" (L. australis) appears in two examples I can think of in modern language in the form of the nation states, Australia and Austria. Both of these names are interesting for separate reasons. Austria's name is really from the German "österreich" meaning "eastern empire" and although superficially it could have mean "southern land", it has no relation to a latin origin. Australia, on the other hand, was named Terra Australis (16th c.) or "southern land". However, just to confuse the etymology of Australia further, on May 14, 1606, Pedro Fernandes de Queiros landed at Vanuatu and claimed possession of the lands to the south pole (he assumed the land continued to the south pole) for the Spanish monarchy. He named the lands Austrialía del Espíritu Santo after the House of Austria for which in Spain, the Hapsburgs were known. It seems although Austria was the original basis for the nation's name, its transition to the southern land was a result of the Spanish spelling for Austria (from österreich)! After all that, both prominent hopefuls of latin stems, disappoint. It is this German notion of South which prevails in western Europe and dutifully the Italian, Spanish and French languages take note.

The US does not have a monopoly on cultural disparities between northern and southern, worker and peasant, and wealthy and poor. North can be characterized as being urban, cultured and industrialized while south can be described as being provincial, rural and backward. Of course these descriptions have everything to do with where one may be from as I could just as easily described north as being unfriendly, filthy and greedy and south as being quite the opposite; warm, welcoming and generous. With these descriptions, the country, in this case being the US, can be replaced with many nations and places but here, specifically two. Italy provides an interesting parralel to the US in that instead of a civil war, it was unification that was divisive. France, is more of a reflection of an urban-rural conflict but the differences in dialects and at one time, language, mirror a narrowing gap in culture that is now merging. Paris will always be Paris, and likewise for the provinces, but the difference has been substantiated in recent years by location rather than culture.

Italy certainly has a marvelous history of empire and enlightenment. Ancient Roman ingenuity and Renaissance creativity and discovery, propelled Italians to the forefront of technology and learning. After, regions were governed by stagnating municipalities, and Italy remained fragmented. In the 19th century, the cities of northern Italy, dreamed of tying together all of these city-states under one Italian flag and stepping on to the political and economic scene of Europe's industrializing nations. There was only one problem to that plan of unification: All of Italy's regions were somewhat different, reflected by each region’s distinct dialect (sometimes a different language entirely) and local customs, which were especially transparent with culinary cultivations and local varietals of Vitis vinifera. Thus, we have alla bolognese or alla toscana when regarding regional food styles and Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Montepulciano to name a few varietals of grape. These distinctions took a long time to develop and then were then instantly thrown together. Unification, led by wealthy liberals of the northern cities, delineated the clear differences of these regions but particularly the north and south, between the royal Piedmontese in the north and the impoverished Sicilians to the south. This was frequently mean-spirited as providing a contrast for how modern the north was compared to the backward south. In 1860, A general from the north, reporting on the conditions of the south to Count Cavour in Piedmont wrote, "This is not Italy. This is Africa!".3 By unifying Italy, both the north and south did not become closer in culture and politics, instead, the process "accentuated their differences".

"Massimo d'Azeglio [one of Cavour's ministers, following Italian unification]: “…having created Italy, all that remained was to create Italians."
With the many different regions and cultures spread throughout this new state of Italy, many speaking mutual imcomprehensible dialects of "Italian", eating different foods, and each celebrating its own regional and local customs, it was not clear what was meant by "Italian". This concept is lost on the world but not to Italians. This is apparent in Italian food. If traveling abroad to America for example, the majority of Italians would not consider most Italian-American restaurants to be Italian food, rather they would consider it International. This is because the menu comprised of many different national styles, Tuscan, Neapolitan, Sicilian etc. Food and Language are two of the many differences that pull Italians apart.

"L’Europe finit à Naples." (Europe ends at Naples) Il Mezzogiorno
The south of Italy served the north as an example of how far advanced (northern) Italy had become from their agrarian past. The world had shifted from the Mediterranean to Central and Northern Europe. In the past, conquest and conduct had tended to face southwards, positioning Rome and Naples with vast importance. While the scientific enlightenment and industrial revolution promoting Eurocentrism and nationalism, Italians grabbed all principalities together, used Rome as a swivel and repositioned itself facing north. No longer was Italy's wealth determined by its contact with the Orient, it's toehold in Europe would carry on the torch. However, even after the unification in 1860, the south was left woefully behind and the "Southern Question" developed as a result. Rather than a question, the situation is more problematic and painful than mere inquiry. Two-thirds of all poor Italian families are in the south. Of the 20.7 million people (36.1% of Italians) living in southern Italy, 7.3 million (35.4%) are poor, living on less than €521 per month. Some 4.6 million of these people (63.3%) are extremely poor, living on less than €435 per month. If southern Italy were independent of northern Italy, it would have the highest poverty rate in Europe. Healthcare is suffering as a result. Four times the average new-born death occurs in southern Italy. Those in need of medical treatment frequently travel north for what are perceived as better quality facilities, even though medical treatment in Italy is free. Italy’s National Health Service (NHS) ranks second on the World Health Report’s best health care systems, but also ranks first in dissatisfaction among Italians. Predictably, only 19% of Sicilians were satisfied with the NHS.

France and Occitania (Lingua d'oc)
France could not be a better state to describe a cultural shift between the primate city of Paris, and the rest of France, but especially a shift to that of southern France. There are many contrasts of Paris in the north with the provinces of the south. And as we can see from the case of Italy, there can be no more appropriate indicator than languages to determine cultural borders. Up until the turn of the century (19-20th c.), people in southern France still spoke a Gallic dialect different from that of the north. They spoke a regional blend of lingua d'oc or "language of yes" (from the word for "yes" in the south, oc) and modern French, which was based from lingua d'oïl (from the word for "yes", in this case oui). From this language bears the name of a great portion of southern France, Occitania. We also get the province Languedoc-Roussilon, formerly the territory of a county independent from the French kings. Already in the names of these regions language becomes a disparity. Gradually, the French bridged that gap and because of a strong central government and sound communication with its provinces, the influence of Paris swept across the country.

Provence
Named by conquering Romans, nostra provincia, our conquered land, because it was the first province outside of the Italian peninsula, modern Provence in southern France retained its unique seaside rural identity through invasion after conquest in the wake of Roman rule up until the second half of the 20th century. The blend of poor to mediocre soils could not sustain large populations until technological innovation reduced the need for farm labor and the land became suited for a relatively novel human activity: travel and leisure. With less than 30 days of rainfall per year, and mild winter temperatures, Provence has benefitted with ideal conditions for vacationing. However, those tied to the land through agriculture have not. Recently, housing construction along the Mediterranean coast from Provence to Languedoc-Roussilon has increased dramatically, but somehow I don’t believe that it is Provençal families that are lining up to buy the beachfront condos and coastal villas. Long been known for its small medieval towns, slow pace of life, and agricultural fields, Provence has been besieged (again) by developers looking to escape the over-hyped, excessively-wealthy pleasure playgrounds of the French Riviera cities such as Nice and Cannes. Within the last decade an artificial coastline has replaced the old natural one with less than a raised brow.

Efficient water-delivery systems, rapid transport of goods and services, and telecommunications and the internet have allowed human settlement outside of these traditionally restricting limitations. The Romans conquered water-delivery systems in their great stone aqueducts. Perhaps no better example exists than the Pond du gard, a massive three-tiered stone aqueduct bridging the River Gardon to supply nearby Nimes in the modern region of Languedoc-Roussilon. Rapid transport of goods and services continues to be improved upon with every technological innovation. Starting with water transport and the wheel, to the railroad and the automobile, and finally, the aeroplane, goods can be sent nearly everywhere on the planet. Rapid transport has allowed goods and services to spread but it is the internet and phone lines which has allowed instant connectivity to the world. This means work can be done from anywhere wired. It is not necessary any longer for an Italian to do business in Torino when one can enjoy the sun of Sicily or to be in grey Paris in the crisp winter when in France one can enjoy the mild temperatures of Aix or Nice. The same questions can be asked of the northern US. Why north when there is south?

With all the talk of global warming so prevalent in summer months harping on every record high temperature (and for good reason) it is easy to forget the north gets cold and I mean very cold. This winter took some time to get going, but now, the frigid air has hit us full force. For older Americans living in the north, just one harsh winter stands in the way of their departure for a warmer climate down south. For businesses and factories, the south was out of the question because of its incapacitating summers. However, innovations in air conditioning and with resentment ebbing every year since the civil war ended two centuries ago, the south is ripe for invasion again.

What does it mean for the residents of these “southern” regions when there is a flux of people migrating and immigrating to their towns and communities from other regions? One thing is for sure: Local customs and traditions are gradually erased as change is necessary for advancement. Old neighborhoods will be destroyed for new ones and small buildings will be replaced by bigger ones. Roads will be widened for more parking and some will become two lanes. Strip mall development will suck the old town’s life blood dry and people will be drawn to mega Walmarts and McDonalds rather than the local appliance stores and restaurants. Wait a second, this has already happened in almost every town in America. So much so, that most towns are not distinguished by any pertinent landmark or square, just by similar parking lot after parking lot. Each town loses its identity by welcoming in these outside influences.

For good or bad, while globalization flattens the world as Thomas Friedman writes, nationalization, if you will, flattens the barriers from each state creating intense forces that hasten the melting pot. The local flavors are diminished. Culture and custom are lost. No longer can celebrate holidays of local importance because corporations are run on a national schedule and don’t partake in regional holidays. History is dismissed and we all learn to march to one drum and tap to one beat. And with the change, a new culture and society is bred more apt to be better equipped to deal with the daunting change of pace that the modern world not only offers, but forces upon us. There is no time to lament. Capitalism has chosen the paths we must take and the survival of each society is dependent on how quickly and successfully they are to adapt to these changes. The Riviera will continue becoming developed and the old ways of locals unchanged for thousands of years will finally be forced, not at gunpoint, but by fiber optics, to either adapt or move away. There will be a time when the Mezzogiorno and Sicily will enter the 21st century because of high-speed internet, not high-speed trains. These changes are almost inevitable because the cheaper land and labor costs will allow them to compete with the steep costs of doing business in European markets. There is only so much stereotype and discrimination can disrupt economy.

In large measure this transition has happened. America has already seen a substantial change to the south. The research triangle in North Carolina contains the highest number of Ph.D's per capita in the US and is the biggest research park in the world. Cummings Research Park in Huntsville, AL is 3rd in Ph.D's and the world's fourth largest research park. Parts of the south boast some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Automobile manufacturing from Mercedes and BMW have located factories in the south. Corporations have relocated their corporate offices to the south. Surprisingly, Alabama ranks 21st nationally with the number of corporate headquarters in the state.

But with all this attention on the south, be it in Europe or the US, there has been things that have not changed. The growth in the south stands for opportunity. And in opportunity lies redemption. Going south has meant now more than ever, a place to disappear and begin again.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=south&searchmode=none&p=0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy#Geography http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/9195/9195.intro.html http://ressources.ciheam.org/om/pdf/a15/92605078.pdf http://www.iht.com/articles/2000/09/15/trprov.t.php http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1188255
Eurostat. The social situation in the European Union. 2004 http://reports.eea.europa.eu/eea_report_2006_6/en/eea_report_6_2006.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_United_States

Notes on US Soccer’s victory over Mexico in Glendale, AZ., Feb 8, 2007.

The US has dominated Mexico in soccer, winning the last two matches by identical 2-0 scores. In the latest round of this international rivalry, the Americans blanked the Mexicans with one set-piece goal off a corner and the other, a deflection off of an official that took a decided American bias and landed to the foot of striker Landon Donovan who sidestepped Mexican goalkeeper, Oswaldo Sanchez, and netted the clincher in the 1st minute of stoppage-time. The Mexican frustration was demonstrated after the game-winner as Sanchez tried to foot swipe Eddie Johnson running to celebrate with Donovan. Moments later the whistle was blown, the Mexican team walked from the field without shaking hands, and 50,000 of the near 65,000 fans in Glendale, Arizona were left to retreat to their homes, unhappy.

Wait, did I say 50,000 of the 65,000 fans were supporting Mexico? Surprised? Not really. As the rivalry grows between the American and Mexican soccer worlds, American fans certainly haven’t. While a few thousand fans were there in red, white and blue to offset the hue of los Tricolores, they were heavily outnumbered. Essentially it was a home game outside of Mexico City’s Azteca stadium. Mexican fans flocked from all over the United States (Mexico and Canada) to see a game, which to Mexicans, means so much more than just futbol. Beating the United States would give Mexican-Americans and immigrants intense pride (pages could be written about any kind of Mexican victory at the expense of Americans) as well as lift the goat that has cursed the Mexicans playing on US soil this century. [US 7-0-1 vs Mexico at home since 2000]

With the Mexican players in-season (in Mexican leagues and in Europe) and the American players’ seasons ending in late fall, this victory seems even odder. With a huge pro-Mexican crowd with their players in mid-season form, the Mexicans coming up short was sadly, not wholly unexpected. Simply put, they haven’t scored in almost 800 minutes on American soil. That is not a strong way to pave the groundwork for victory, lest to say, that they should not expect to win without scoring. However, they outplayed the Americans for large stretches of the game, and had numerous scoring opportunities that were thwarted by a mix of good (but not great) defensive stops and off-sides flags. They had chances to score but simply didn’t.

Watching the Mexican team last night, I thought of talented young baseball players trying so hard to hit the baseball they inevitably would fail to hit it. It seemed that with all the intensity of their play, collectively, they were trying too hard to score. Sometimes some finesse in sports outranks pure intensity and the Mexican determination outdid themselves. The Mexican team played well, and the Americans scored all the goals. It seems that the Mexican team has continually failed to realize that the American strategy is based on counterattacking. The Mexican players, coaches and media can go ahead and blame chance or luck, but without a changeup in game plan, the Mexicans will continue to play into American hands, err feet.

Promotion and Responsibility

Staying at a hotel in CT, I noticed a blonde-haired woman dressed in a tidy grey suit excitedly given orders, recommendations and instructions at such a frantic pace, I hardly recognized her. Although I recalled her Boston accent and energetic manner, seeing her giving instructions (not recommendations) to other employees was strange. Usually playful and willing to bend and break rules for our group, the grey suit spelled out the end to that. With quick smile and "hello" she recognized me in the dining room in front of my laptop, but quickly reverted back to supervisor, warning one banquet employee that her hoops need to be changed.

I knew they had been asking her for months to take on more responsibility and a promotion to managing the banquet staff. This means she finally had given up resisting and had taken the opportunity. When she had finished with her troops, she welcomed me with her usual warm, inviting way and hugged me. She explained about her new position and said it was easier taking on the promotion than dealing with the hotel constantly asking her about taking it. After showing me her task list and confiding to me a few minor complaints, she was off again, cleaning this, arranging that and giving more instructions.

Responsibility is a mean deal. Personality traits that were endearing as a co-worker can be unbearable as a boss. Once, there was kinship between workers and a feeling of being in it together. After, the responsibility of management supercedes friendship and instead, the new supervisor becomes the enemy. Workers choose not to complain about work details in front of their new boss and a wedge begins to grow in the place of their former working friendship.

I saw the beginnings of that today. Some of the other members of the hotel staff were already motioning away from her view how crazy their new boss (old friend) is, frantic about getting everything accomplished under her watch. Before, when things did not get accomplished or they got accomplished in a way that was not correct, the blame was spread out among several members of the staff. With a manager in place of the banquet staff, blame is now fixed on one individual. Therefore, the shared responsibility becomes the responsibility of one.

The new boss must be able to conduct his/her workers in a effective manner to make sure things get done right. Whether or not they are successful is determined by how well they can get workers to accomplish customer and management's needs and requests along company guidelines. Good luck to my friend, and I hope that her allegiance to co-workers does not cloud her better judgment getting tasks completed or that her new promotion doesn't force her to forget how it was on the banquet staff.

Illegal Immigrants II. The Job Issue

THE JOB ISSUE

Here is the main point for Americans and the most important issue of this debate. Foreign workers and the end of the American Dream. It was not long ago when an AVERAGE worker could afford to buy a house, car and have enough left to send their children off to college. Those days are gone. There aren't any jobs for even skilled laborers anymore that can support hardly one person let alone a family. With the influx of so much labor that can be purchased for less than minimum wage, the effect is a stagnation of the rising minimum wage. The system has been worked for almost two centuries to a point where labor in this country was given decent wages, benefits and hours because the constant flood of cheap labor had been removed. Immigrants from south of the border that are here to work and leave, dont have to pay for all the community costs of native workers and therefore can afford to work at smaller wages because their cost of living is based on Chihuahua or Juarez costs of living: there is a supreme mismatch. Americans can't afford to work as cheap.

What right do we have in this country to have higher wages and standards of living? Because Americans became a nation based on meritocracy and ability rather than how white your skin was and who your father was, that's why. Everyone had the opportunity to work hard and play ball as long as they play on an equal playing field (That's not to say it was without some advantages and disadvantages but it was more fair than anywhere else). When that field begins to be pulled from beneath, who wouldn't be concerned? This balance of power, the equilibrium that developed over the years had prevented big business from running away with all the money, but with so many workers in play, they can pick their team, paying far less. Thats what the constant influx of foreign workers does to the labor force. It floods the market driving prices way down and profits way up. Because we are citizens in this democratic country, it is our right to restrict who can come and go through our great country. This is any sovereign nation's free right. Besides, it is probably harder for an average American to get a job in Europe or Australia or NZ than it is for anyone else to get one in American and yet because we want to limit illegal workers from entering, we are at fault? I don't think so.

Blog Riotus down until recovery

Pats lost to the Colts in the AFC Championship game after leading for 59 minutes of the game. I am upset (but not a sore loser; Peyton Manning was literally unstoppable in the second half).

Sore Loser Award

The New England Patriots beat the San Diego Chargers to advance to the American Football Conference's Championship game. After their demise on the field, Chargers All-World RB LaDainian Tomlinson, stormed the field to confront Patriots players celebrating on the Chargers symbol at the middle of the field. Patriots players were rubbing their upset victory in by imitating linebacker Shawn Merriman's sack dance, a dance that he himself did standing above Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after knocking him down on a pass attempt during the game. After listening to Merriman's cocksure comments on everything short of eating Brady's non-existent children the week leading up to the contest, the sealed-lipped Patriots must have been at a boiling point.

After a missed field goal by San Diego and resulting Patriots win, the Patriots released their aggression with zeal, doing Merriman's dance. The shock of defeat combined with the well-aimed Patriots comeback sent LT into a firestorm, sending him in a fury across the field at Patriots players and into the post-game with fiery words spouted at Patriots coach Bill Belichick. While LT's frustration can be understandable, Merriman's explanation of events, on the contrary, is laughable. I have been waiting all week from a comment from the Patriots camp to explain to simple-minded people that the Patriots were merely expressing their exhilaration defeating a team that was running their mouths before and during the game. The national media, so obsessed with getting a juicy story, forgot to validate reality by only seeing it through LT's eyes. Had it reviewed the behavior of Merriman, his pre-game comments and on-field celebrations with any depth, this would not be a story of a winning team without integrity, but a few sore losers.

Major League Soccer crumbles, signs big-name, washed-up player

I had heard rumors that the LA Galaxy were throwing out feelers to acquire David "Spiceboy" Beckham and optimistic that it could be done to give the MLS popularity without bankrupting the league. The MLS has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Soccer is not a novelty in the US, but it is certainly a stretch to call it popular. Without the big names of club tradition and superstars of Europe, or the raw talent of Brazil, the MLS needed to build its reputation from the outset with good, tough play from its players and smart signing decisions from its teams. Beckham's multimillion dollar contract gives the MLS neither a hard working player, nor a sound investment. 32-year old Beckham has already peaked in his career. Dropped by England's national team and Real Madrid, Beckham only hope for remaining competitive option for European football was in the scandal-ridden Italian league at Milan. Given Beckham is already a household name in the US, and with Los Angeles the entertainment capital of the world, it is no stretch that Beckham would strongly consider entering the twilight of his career there. There is no doubt that Beckham still has some strong soccer left to play; but it remains to be seen whether his 10 million a year presence will be a blessing for the budding MLS or a financial crisis. After all, he is no Pele. Let's hope his name brings fans over the country to the stadiums and the MLS can sustain his exorbitant salary. Otherwise, the MLS will follow in the footsteps of the NASL.

Nobody seems to learn from history

When historians talk of blunders that could have been avoided, they all point to Hitler's fateful decision to invade Russia during World War II. Had he read of the account of Napolean's ill-fated march of typhus and frostbite coming back from Moscow in 1812, Hitler may have thought otherwise than have his Wehrmacht embark on Operation Barbarossa. My question is why the somewhat positive outcome of the combined German-Austrian army in Russia is not ever mentioned. Although the Austrians rarely could defeat the Russians on their own during the Great War, the Germans handily defeated Russian armies year after year until their capitulation.

Reading about the American-Japanese Naval conflict during WWII, I could not help but think that the Japanese must have read too much into history. While Alfred Thayer Mahan's impressive Sea Power tome and Lord Nelson's victory at Trafalgar were certainly a must-read for admirals and naval war planners during the age of sail, the advent of the aeroplane changed warfare into a third dimension. By the time of WWII, the rules of war had changed entirely from Nelson's 1805 victory. Battleships or "dreadnoughts" would not rule the waves any longer.

Forward thinking strategists realized that the air ruled over the sea. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, both US aircraft carriers were at sea. Although the Japanese planes did considerable damage to the Pacific fleet that day, the Americans did not lose their most vital asset in the Pacific, their carriers. And some Japanese knew it. America's material might would eventually overwhelm the Japanese.

The Japanese were fighting a war and based victory on their fighting spirit. In an age of technology and innovation, fighting spirit would not carry the Rising Sun to victory over the Americans. They believed the arrogant soldiers and sailors would not last in a war of attrition, that American housewives would lower morale by abandoning their men off at war with interlopers back home, and heaven was on the side of the Japanese. It turns out Japanese "Night Vision" was no match for American radar and bullets fly just as fast and straight from an arrogant gun as they do from one with superior fighting spirit.

Technology, especially superior weaponry, were outclassed by determination in Vietnam, completing the cycle of triumphs: Technology over the will, the will over technology. Current strategies are always forged on the tails of past ones. Napolean's cannon overwhelmed the practice of line infantry battles, although the Americans did not take the cue and weaponry of the American Civil War wrought disatrous casualties on Confederate and Union ranks. Outflanking and troop movements of the late 19th century were outdated by the Great War in Europe. In turn, static defenses such as trenches and the Maginot Line were rendered obsolete by tanks, planes and blitzkrieg tactics. In the same way, Nelson's strategies of headlong attack and victory by superior seamanship and determination were lost in the shuffle of improving technologies. But just like Stalin's winter ultimately stopped Hitler's blitzkrieg, 'Nam's jungles and moisture crippled America's might.

It is remarkable to me that men and women's lives are thrown away because proper contextual elements are not included into modern war planning. American strategy in Vietnam failed because enemy units could not be located and brought into a set-piece battle. Technology could not be used because there was no one to use it on. The short-sighted strategy did not include the intangibles.

Recently, the intangible elements were not followed again. 3020 American soldiers and countless Iraqi civilians later, there is no end in sight, yet we were declared a winner years ago. With infrastructure standing upon the fall of Baghdad, the administrators and soldiers were told to go home. Then we brought in novices from America with no experience with the local custom, language or economics to run the country.

The problem stems from improper planning. American war planners did not anticipate Iraqi organized military resistance to be none-existant. Without a plan for Iraq after the takeover, American soldiers were left with occupational duties they had not trained for. The strategy had not included all the intangibles; in this case, no resistance and a vicious vaccum of power. Nobody did seem to think of the possible outcomes when Saddam fell from power. No one questioned if Saddam's brutality was the result of a populace that could not be controlled without force. The only problem with not knowing: It is their job to know the outcomes of their decisions, especially when planning a pre-emptive war. Ignorance cannot be used as an excuse.

So with Bush now committing 20,000 new troops to Iraq, he does so with a new strategy for doing a better job training Iraqi troops and a threat of pulling the American blank check from the Iraqi goverment's hands. I am not enthusiastic about Bush's plan or his integrity: He is simply and obviously trying to pass the Iraq debacle on to the next president. While the situation seems like it could not be any worse, the president's next hard sell to the American people is a plan, a strategy that involves more Americans troops and more anticipated loss of life. Although I hope Americans are not really foolish to believe that Bush is doing anything other than prolonging death and destruction until 2009, we all hope that we can move forward, stop the violence and killing, and secure peace in Iraq. Unfortunately Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld (more like Rumsfled) and the rest of the warhawks "drew up their plan on the back of a matchbook without thinking. It was the plan of a boy." And instead of keeping these boys playing with their toy soldiers in a sandbox, they are playing with American bodies. When is enough, enough?

Hopefully this "augmentation" (as Secretary of State Rice delicately used in the place of escalation) is teamed with strategic thinking that emcompasses the intangibles. As we all know blitzkrieg may have taken Baghdad, but spirit and determination will not give us victory. We need a real plan that involves intelligence in the place of brawn. This is not to say troops are not needed in sensitive situations, but how do troops stop violence with more violence? Isn't an occupation exactly the kind of thing that prevents true freedom? Moreover, democracy may never have a chance in Iraq because it's not entirely clear whether Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurds could ever possibly co-exist without a violent arm holding them together.

If there is a lesson of history to be learned from the mess in Iraq, it is that current conflicts must be met with current strategy and intelligent thinking. Quitting may save lives now, but with American insistence on Middle East oil as a source for energy, it won't be long before our interests in the region cost more American lives. This is not to say let's stay in Iraq as long as it takes as some suggest, rather, maybe it's time to rethink the costs of basing our entire economy on middle east oil, because foward thinking does safe lives and money. Basing our economy in the past will only serve us future defeat.

National Championship Game - The Feast of the Buckeyes

I was nervous and anxious before the game, fearful to predict what outcome would result, or even how they would match up. For months I had been hearing unending news of OSU’s invincibility countered by the Gators vulnerability. With all these epic accounts of OSU’s greats to boot, I was wondering why we were even playing this game and not erecting statues of Smith and Laurenitis up instead. A ten point spread? I didn’t see it that far apart but it seemed everyone else did outside of Gainesville. When I read the stories of Columbus’ new taste for gator meat I couldn't help but face the uncomfortable doubt of UF's chances. How could these fans be so confident about victory? South 1000 miles, the Gator’s fans didn’t seem to listen to hype. In Gainesville, fans were buying up National Championship gear as if supplies were going to run out. (That’s why you always see Championship apparel on sale in 6 months, because there is always a limitless supply)

Matching my uneasy nerves, I was brought to Game On, Boston’s OSU Alumni bar (I was unaware of the bar's affiliation before entering) by a few friends of the OSU persuasion. At Game On, I was one of three or four gators, the only wearing a Gators jersey, in a sea of red. There were probably around 300 buckeyes. The collective roar of the buckeyes’ fans watching their team being welcomed to the field made my anxiety even worse. Then came the kickoff… after two colossal pancake blocks by OSU, Ginn races down the sideline for a touchdown. Just like that. I thought for a few moments how I was going to have to leave and take the subway home without a ride, to avoid personal embarrasment and to bear witness to the upcoming rout. What was I supposed to expect?

Without losing a beat, Florida returned the kick and seamlessly marched into Ohio State’s red zone and Leak tossed a TD pass to Dallas Baker 7-7. Florida’s spread offense reminded me of something familiar: the Pats. Eating up 4 or 5 yards a play, creating many Third and shorts and happily taking what the D was offering.

I was still waiting for OSU to explode. We caught a glimpse of that explosion from Pittman’s 18 yard touchdown run in the second quarter but that turned out to be more flash than combustion. Florida’s offense did not falter, putting together consistent drives. Heismann winner Troy Smith and buckeyes could not. Florida’s defensive speed was something that Tressel’s squad had not been able to prepare for. Florida coach Urban Meyer had the Buckeyes playing honest on D by throwing screen passes, running reverses and draws, not letting OSU throw the kitchen sink at Leak. OSU never got any real consistent pressure on Leak as a result. Meanwhile, Florida’s D line never let Smith out of their sights, racking up 5 sacks and forcing uncharacteristic incompletions. Smith winded up going 4-13 for an embarrassing 35 yards. In all Ohio State’s offense compiled a dismal 82 yards in their 41-14 loss to UF.

During the game OSU’s hardened fans exposed their softness, approaching me with either idle threats about Ohio State’s impending comeback, asking how this was all possible, insulting me (“You’re ugly!”, a Ginn jersey clad hottie yelled in my face) and then giving excuses (the layover, Ginn injury, superstitious SI cover, etc etc). When a team is as hyped as the Buckeyes, the loss is even harder to digest. Once thought to be the “greatest OSU team in history”, they have became an ugly reality that Ohio State fans have to grasp. After knocking off both #2 ranked teams they faced, maybe this was a foreshadowing that they indeed deserved the #2 rank. And so be it, the final AP poll has them at #2 behind Florida.

There has to be something said about the layoff that OSU had between its last game, a 41-38 victory over league rival (and then-ranked #2) Michigan. Florida had two weeks less hibernation and looked in tune. Blame it on the layoff, but I doubt very much that ability is lost in fewer than two months. In the last few weeks I have wanted to believe what I already knew watching the SEC: There is no conference with better football talent, speed and athletic ability than can be found in the SEC. And I will bet a 12-1 SEC team over any other 12-0 team from another conference, any day. Atleast for the recent future, anyway. I said before the game regardless of outcome, and I will say this again: OSU would not have been perfect had it played in 9 SEC Conference games this season and perhaps would not had even played last night. Go Gators.