“A Day of Rage” will soon rival New Years Day as a celebration of sorts through out the world. The latest nation to adopt “A Day of Rage” is Iraq. It all started in Tunisia followed by Egypt and embraced by Bahrain, Yemen and of course Libya. But are these countries really the birthplace of “A Day of Rage”.
The celebration of rage belongs to no nation. I think rage started in human beings when Adam took that bite from the forbidden fruit and found it more like rotten food. From that point on rage has been the weapon of choice when a single human or a group of humans decide they have had enough of some less than satisfactory situation, at least from their point of view. The celebration of rage takes all kinds of form - a massacre, a revolt, mass executions, shouting and competition for the most clever signage.
I do not mean to make light of attempts to right a wrong or or to belittle movements to rid a country of a despot. I do mean to question the necessity for labels such as "A Day of Rge". The problem with labels is that humans feel they are missing out on something if they do not have their label day .
There is no question in my mind that the oppressed have their right to anger and if turning that anger into rage is the only way to move their cause forward, so be it. Rage for the sake of rage: however, has its problems. If it is used as an excuse to inflict harm and even death without recourse to systems of justice which are in place, it is just wrong.
You can see that I’m having my “ Day of Rage”. I worry that rage will become the only emotion for bringing about change. I worry that days of rage will become fashionable. I worry that rage will foster more ills than those it is trying to cure. I worry that indeed rage will find a place on every nut's calendar. I worry that it will be a date to look forward to. I worry about the celebrations that will ensue. I worry that I will be forced to adopt rage as a means to solve problems.
Speaking of rage or more accurately, writing of rage, I vow not to become a Tea Partier. At the rate they are going, they may want to substitute " A Day of Rage" for Election Day. " A Day of Rage" may be necessary to rid a nation of despots but it does not belong in the politics of a democracy. By the way, who comes up with these labels? The media? Some PR guy? Does it really matter. Every dog must have his day. Now I've done it - the SPCA will be knocking at my door. I use that metaphor only because dictators and strongmen treat their citizens like dogs, except in this country where the SPCA protects our interests.
Skipping a good breakfast results in posts such as this. I’ll feel better after lunch. Grrrrrr!!!!!
2/26/11
2/25/11
It's the war, stupid!
When it comes to deficit reduction, Democrats and Republicans alike can't see the forest for the trees. They are both barking up the wrong tree. I'm beginning to think that the powers that be don't know their ass from an elbow. If they would rack their brains a little, they would conclude that ending the Afghanistan War would get us all off the hook.
Translation:
When it comes to deficit reduction, Democrats and Republicans are focusing on the unimportant , rather than the important things. They are overlooking the obvious, which makes one think that our leaders don't know anything. If they strain their brains a bit , they will conclude that terminating the Afghanistan War will solve the problem.
Translation:
When it comes to deficit reduction, Democrats and Republicans are focusing on the unimportant , rather than the important things. They are overlooking the obvious, which makes one think that our leaders don't know anything. If they strain their brains a bit , they will conclude that terminating the Afghanistan War will solve the problem.
Stranded In Space
The space shuttle Discovery is making its last trip to the International Space Station. Endeavour will make its last trip to ISS on April 19 and Atlantis makes one last trip on June 28. American shuttles will then be relegated to museums and become the subjects of countless books. The ISS occupants will be relying on Russian shuttles for supplies and crew changes. If I were on the ISS I would be trying to book a flight back home as soon as possible.
All of a sudden the good old U.S.A. has put space travel on the back burner. Sure, Obama has spinned a program which will supposedly have systems in place to get us to Mars in 2035. WOW! 2035! That's quite a commitment. Kennedy must be rolling over in his grave. I'll bet my bottom dollar that there will be all kinds of changes to that program well before 2035, reducing it to a trip to Disneyland for a simulated ride to Mars.
What all this means to me is that our wars have stripped our pocketbook. I would liken it to an unemployed father explaining to his family that they will have to forgo that vacation trip to Florida this year but maybe they can go to Europe in about twenty years. In the meantime, while he looked for a job, the children might be be able to hitch a ride to Florida with their neighbor.
In case Russia falters on its shuttle program, it has been suggested that private corporations will come to the rescue with a commercial space shuttle. That ought to be an expensive ride which we can't afford. It all adds up to getting those fearless astronauts on the ISS back home as soon as possible. Why not use the last flights of Endeavour and Atlantis. You ask what is to become of the International Space Station? I'm sure the Chinese will be glad to lease it as a rest stop on their way to Mars by 2025.
All of a sudden the good old U.S.A. has put space travel on the back burner. Sure, Obama has spinned a program which will supposedly have systems in place to get us to Mars in 2035. WOW! 2035! That's quite a commitment. Kennedy must be rolling over in his grave. I'll bet my bottom dollar that there will be all kinds of changes to that program well before 2035, reducing it to a trip to Disneyland for a simulated ride to Mars.
What all this means to me is that our wars have stripped our pocketbook. I would liken it to an unemployed father explaining to his family that they will have to forgo that vacation trip to Florida this year but maybe they can go to Europe in about twenty years. In the meantime, while he looked for a job, the children might be be able to hitch a ride to Florida with their neighbor.
In case Russia falters on its shuttle program, it has been suggested that private corporations will come to the rescue with a commercial space shuttle. That ought to be an expensive ride which we can't afford. It all adds up to getting those fearless astronauts on the ISS back home as soon as possible. Why not use the last flights of Endeavour and Atlantis. You ask what is to become of the International Space Station? I'm sure the Chinese will be glad to lease it as a rest stop on their way to Mars by 2025.
2/24/11
On a silver platter
If you hand or give something on a silver platter to someone, you let them have it too easily. The question must be asked - have we handed the Middle East to Iran on a silver platter. After billions of dollars spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and thousands of American lives lost, Iran is poised to reap the benefits of our sacrifices when we inevitably leave the field of battle and finally admit that nation building in the Middle East bears too high a price. As one Arab nation after another rises in revolt against ruling despots, Iran is again on the sidelines like a vulture waiting to feast on the rotting corpses of Muslim nations. Not to despair, the light at the end of the tunnel is that like many other nations, Iran will discover that in gaining alliances in the Middle East it must pay the piper who exacts a high toll. They say that every cloud has a silver lining - the United States will finally bite the bullet and ween itself from its dependence on oil.
2/23/11
All About Hats
As far as running for a party’s presidential nomination goes, writing a book is the choice of most politicos to signal that they are in the race. If he is running for a lesser office, he must make do with “ my hat is in the ring”. Unfortunately the latter cliché also signals that the aspiring candidate is being less than honest. When is the last time you saw a politician wearing a hat?
Come to think of it, hats just are not popular anymore except on a frigid day. Gone are the days when the drop of a hat would signal the start of a fight or a race. A gun is much more effective. For the timid , a wave of a green flag is the weapon of choice.
To show respect for someone it is customary to approach the individual with hat in hand. With the demise of hats , respect is a thing of the past.
More on “ hat in hand”. Organizations in need of money used to approach a government agency with hat in hand. Lately it has been found that a bribe is much more effective.
Some people have too many hats. Someone who wears many hats is busier than a one armed paper hanger with the clap, never mind that he looks like a clown.
Hats are frequently used by magicians. Just ask our President. Obama who is desperately trying to pull a rabbit of the hat in order to gain a second term as one crisis after another falls at his doorstep. One thing for sure, he can't sweep them under the rug. When informed of the Egyptian uprising, it was reported that his first words were, " I need that like a I need a hole in the head".
As long as I'm targeting politicians, it was also reported that after receiving the Speaker's gavel from Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner whispered to her, " here's your hat, what's your hurry".
I asked my spouse for her opinion of this post. After a quick review, she questioned some of my grammar. I took issue with some of her comments, after which she told me in no uncertain terms to go shit in my hat. First thing this afternoon, I'm going out to buy a replacement hat.
Come to think of it, hats just are not popular anymore except on a frigid day. Gone are the days when the drop of a hat would signal the start of a fight or a race. A gun is much more effective. For the timid , a wave of a green flag is the weapon of choice.
To show respect for someone it is customary to approach the individual with hat in hand. With the demise of hats , respect is a thing of the past.
More on “ hat in hand”. Organizations in need of money used to approach a government agency with hat in hand. Lately it has been found that a bribe is much more effective.
Some people have too many hats. Someone who wears many hats is busier than a one armed paper hanger with the clap, never mind that he looks like a clown.
Hats are frequently used by magicians. Just ask our President. Obama who is desperately trying to pull a rabbit of the hat in order to gain a second term as one crisis after another falls at his doorstep. One thing for sure, he can't sweep them under the rug. When informed of the Egyptian uprising, it was reported that his first words were, " I need that like a I need a hole in the head".
As long as I'm targeting politicians, it was also reported that after receiving the Speaker's gavel from Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner whispered to her, " here's your hat, what's your hurry".
I asked my spouse for her opinion of this post. After a quick review, she questioned some of my grammar. I took issue with some of her comments, after which she told me in no uncertain terms to go shit in my hat. First thing this afternoon, I'm going out to buy a replacement hat.
Are social networks that powerful?
DavidMixner.com: Internet: Lessons For Us From The Middle East
The above link is typical of the credit being given to Facebook and Twitter as the powerful communication weapons which facilitated the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. They have also been invaluable during natural disasters. I must confess that I do not fully understand how this is done. One thing for sure, I need to become more familiar with the power of social networks and how they are used in movements which are capable of bringing about reforms and changes in government. Up until now I had dismissed them as purely sociable and trivial, friend to friend communication, primarily designed for the young. Facebook and Twitter have obviously become something more, and I don't want to be a social network Luddite. Interesting that Mr. Mixner considers the "right to the Internet" as akin to the right to bear arms. I wonder what the NRA thinks? Could Facebook be used to curtail the abusive lobbying powers of the NRA? That I would like to see. In the meantime , I'm keeping my Facebook page and pondering whether or not to get back on Twitter. It might come in handy if I ever figure out how to use it as a rallying point for the silencing of gun fanatics. Just a fantasy!
The above link is typical of the credit being given to Facebook and Twitter as the powerful communication weapons which facilitated the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. They have also been invaluable during natural disasters. I must confess that I do not fully understand how this is done. One thing for sure, I need to become more familiar with the power of social networks and how they are used in movements which are capable of bringing about reforms and changes in government. Up until now I had dismissed them as purely sociable and trivial, friend to friend communication, primarily designed for the young. Facebook and Twitter have obviously become something more, and I don't want to be a social network Luddite. Interesting that Mr. Mixner considers the "right to the Internet" as akin to the right to bear arms. I wonder what the NRA thinks? Could Facebook be used to curtail the abusive lobbying powers of the NRA? That I would like to see. In the meantime , I'm keeping my Facebook page and pondering whether or not to get back on Twitter. It might come in handy if I ever figure out how to use it as a rallying point for the silencing of gun fanatics. Just a fantasy!
2/22/11
Cleveland Indians - 2011
Spring training games start 2/28 in Goodyear, AZ for the Cleveland Indians. They will be playing the Reds. Apparently the Arizona authorities are not yet aware that Reds are operating in Arizona. Will they deport them when the Reds take the field? And what about all these players with funny names, have they got papers? When the Arizona Governor called the Home Security Secretary with the funny name and complained about terrorists infiltrating the national pastime of baseball, she was told that maybe paranoid Arizona should secede. As Arizona ponders secession, all those players with funny names are arming themselves with bats and body armor. Let the games begin!
BREAKING NEWS!
 |
| I want to retire! |
It looks like the Chief Wahoo curse will continue for another year. Indians uniforms are still sporting his ridiculous caricature.
2/21/11
Make Prayer Not Politics
The New York Times article, "Next Question for Tunisia: The Role of Islam in Politics" by Thomas Fuller, poses some interesting questions about the role of Islam in the aftermath of revolution and raises visions of our own revolutionists who made the separation of church and state a pillar of our Republic. Last Saturday, thousands of Tunisians marched through the capital demanding the separation of mosque and state. One of the slogans on their placards read “ Politics ruins religion and religion ruins politics”. Strong words - words we should heed in this country as zealots chip away at the separation of church and state pillar. A sign that the Tunisians will succeed in maintaining the separation of mosque and state is their support for their brothels, which raises the question, do we need more whore houses in this country? As rogue ministers tamper with politics, would more pimps as activists be a force in preserving our Constitution?
The biggest danger of the uprisings in the Arab world is that extreme Muslims will seize control of society and government. More power to the Tunisian protesters who would rather have the extremists in a brothel and not the state house.
The biggest danger of the uprisings in the Arab world is that extreme Muslims will seize control of society and government. More power to the Tunisian protesters who would rather have the extremists in a brothel and not the state house.
2/20/11
2/14/11
Go Miniature Schnauzer!
Tonight the high primal, with her dog encyclopedia handy, becomes a rabid sports fan. It's time for The Westminster Dog Show, the Super Bowl of dog shows. Her favorite will once again be a Miniature Schnauzer - that's like rooting for The Indians to win the World Series this year. If the Schnauzer is a long shot, anything cute will do ( but not as cute as a half naked poodle). Large dogs are not in the running as far as she is concerned. It has something to do with a Saint Bernard who slobbered all over her when she was four years old. The strange part of all this enthusiasm for a dog show is that we have never owned a dog. The closest we have come to being dog owners is to function as dog sitters for our granddaughters dog who happens to be a Miniature Schnauzer. The bad thing about the high primal's enthusiasm for the dog show is that dinner usually gets short changed. Not this year though. It's Valentines Day and the high primal is taking me out to dinner. I like treats.
 |
| He's #1 |
Tonight the high primal, with her dog encyclopedia handy, becomes a rabid sports fan. It's time for The Westminster Dog Show, the Super Bowl of dog shows. Her favorite will once again be a Miniature Schnauzer - that's like rooting for The Indians to win the World Series this year. If the Schnauzer is a long shot, anything cute will do ( but not as cute as a half naked poodle). Large dogs are not in the running as far as she is concerned. It has something to do with a Saint Bernard who slobbered all over her when she was four years old. The strange part of all this enthusiasm for a dog show is that we have never owned a dog. The closest we have come to being dog owners is to function as dog sitters for our granddaughters dog who happens to be a Miniature Schnauzer. The bad thing about the high primal's enthusiasm for the dog show is that dinner usually gets short changed. Not this year though. It's Valentines Day and the high primal is taking me out to dinner. I like treats.
2/12/11
Celebrating Egypt's Revolution May Be Premature
Somehow I can't get caught up in Egypt's wild celebrations. True the people brought down Mubarak. Did they achieve a true democracy in Egypt? I think not. The celebrating reminds me of a wild New Years Eve party. The hangovers are bound to follow. If there is a leader committed to bringing major reform in Egypt he has not been identified. The only leaders mentioned are the military. Is there some strong civilian leader lurking in the background (a man of the cloth does not qualify as a civilian in the Mideast, at least as far as I'm concerned)? At this point, all that can be safely said is that the Egyptian uprising brought down Mubarak. It's a starting point for reform but it is a fragile one. The Egyptian people do not have the option of back to life as usual. They have much work to do to determine their future. Lets hope it is the true democracy and freedom they so emphatically rallied for. Let's hope any attempt by Muslim radicals to take control is thwarted. Let's hope that in the face of a changing Middle East, the United States comes up with a strategy which will insure our safety and at the same be supportive of true reform in the Middle East. At the moment there are more questions than answers which means that high alert trumps celebration. One more question. Has the United States learned that we cannot boast about our freedom and democracy and at the same time prop up despots who we choose to call an ally?
( Today being Abraham Lincoln's birthday makes be wonder if there is an "Abe Lincoln" somewhere in Egypt who will heal the nation)
( Today being Abraham Lincoln's birthday makes be wonder if there is an "Abe Lincoln" somewhere in Egypt who will heal the nation)
2/9/11
Bless me Father for I have sinned!
The Catholic Church has approved a Confession iPhone app. I always thought that the Catholic Church would choose to enter the twenty-first century by permitting its priests to marry and even permitting women to be ordained as priests. Instead it has chosen an iPhone app.
Devout Catholics will now be only a touch away from one of their most cherished sacraments after heaven forbid committing a sin. Imagine that wayward husband having the time of his life with his best friends wife, rolling over in bed , grabbing his smart phone and asking the phone for forgiveness. Actually it won’t be that easy. He will not get forgiveness - only preparation for a good confession in a smart church. Damn, the Church just won’t make being religious easy. With that, our wayward husband will probably terminate the prep, roll over, grab another condom and have another go at it.
There’s another problem with this new app. You need a smart phone to take advantage of it. What about those of us who have a dumb phone. How do we prepare for a good confession. We don’t! If you are smart enough to have a dumb phone, you are exempt from a good confession.
Actually the confession app is not a problem for me and my dumb phone - I don’t sin. Besides it wouldn't be worth $1.99 . I,m not sure whether or not it is a one time charge. If the charge is $1.99 per sin , it could be a big money raiser for the Vatican.
( It is rumored that the Catholic Church is ready to launch a new app for the sacrament of Extreme Unction. I doubt that it will fly. Anyone needing Extreme Unction will be so close to death that they will never be able to turn the phone on, no matter how smart it is.)
Devout Catholics will now be only a touch away from one of their most cherished sacraments after heaven forbid committing a sin. Imagine that wayward husband having the time of his life with his best friends wife, rolling over in bed , grabbing his smart phone and asking the phone for forgiveness. Actually it won’t be that easy. He will not get forgiveness - only preparation for a good confession in a smart church. Damn, the Church just won’t make being religious easy. With that, our wayward husband will probably terminate the prep, roll over, grab another condom and have another go at it.
There’s another problem with this new app. You need a smart phone to take advantage of it. What about those of us who have a dumb phone. How do we prepare for a good confession. We don’t! If you are smart enough to have a dumb phone, you are exempt from a good confession.
Actually the confession app is not a problem for me and my dumb phone - I don’t sin. Besides it wouldn't be worth $1.99 . I,m not sure whether or not it is a one time charge. If the charge is $1.99 per sin , it could be a big money raiser for the Vatican.
( It is rumored that the Catholic Church is ready to launch a new app for the sacrament of Extreme Unction. I doubt that it will fly. Anyone needing Extreme Unction will be so close to death that they will never be able to turn the phone on, no matter how smart it is.)
2/5/11
Super Bowl Sunday
The nice thing about Super Bowl Sunday is that late Sunday evening the football season will finally be over and the mayhem they call NFL football will appropriately return center stage to the mayhem in Tahrir Square. The best thing about Superbowl Sunday is that it brings us one week closer to Baseball Spring Training. Oh well, I might as well join the prognasticators - Steelers 21 Packers 9.
The First Amendment
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The Egyptian uprising as well as turmoil in other parts of the world make me realize how important our First Amendment is. Until words similar to our First Amendment become the resolve of every nation, there will be no lasting peace in our world. Idealistic - yes. Impractical - probably. Worth fighting for - definitely. Should aid to a nation not subscribing to the principals of the First Amendment be cut off? Of course, but the interests of "big money", powerful religions and ethnic lobbyists will not permit such bold action. So what's the point of all this? We should thank God, Allah, That Great Spirit In The Sky or any other supreme being for our First Amendment. We should be euphoric about our First Amendment and make sure that it is never, never infringed! Our foreign policy should always be mindful of the failure of others to subscribe to the principles of the First Amendment.
The Egyptian uprising as well as turmoil in other parts of the world make me realize how important our First Amendment is. Until words similar to our First Amendment become the resolve of every nation, there will be no lasting peace in our world. Idealistic - yes. Impractical - probably. Worth fighting for - definitely. Should aid to a nation not subscribing to the principals of the First Amendment be cut off? Of course, but the interests of "big money", powerful religions and ethnic lobbyists will not permit such bold action. So what's the point of all this? We should thank God, Allah, That Great Spirit In The Sky or any other supreme being for our First Amendment. We should be euphoric about our First Amendment and make sure that it is never, never infringed! Our foreign policy should always be mindful of the failure of others to subscribe to the principles of the First Amendment.
2/2/11
Execution Crisis
Ohio (as well as other states) has a crisis of major proportions on its hands. Creating jobs? No, per the new Governor that's a piece of cake. Supporting schools? No, per the Legislature the status quo is just fine. Health care? No, that's Obama's problem. Killing people? Yes indeed! Lethal injection is the weapon of choice in Ohio. The problem is that the drug of choice, sodium thiopental, is no longer available. A drug company actually has a conscience and has stopped production of the drug to protest executions. Not to worry, the innovative Ohio Department of Corrections is prepared to substitute pentobarbital. One hitch. When the manufacturer of pentobarbital learned that its drug would be used to kill people rather than to make them well , they formally asked Ohio not to use the drug for executions. In blazing speed for a bureaucracy, Ohio announced that it would stick with the new drug. How can they do that? Apparently there is enough of a supply of the drug in the hands of distributors to satiate Ohio's appetite for putting people to death. As one official put it , " it is available, effective and humane". I guess what he meant is that no dog has ever complained about its use.
Why not abandon capital punishment - it seems to be full of problems that no one has adequately addressed. When will we stop being hypocrites - admonishing Iran about the number of executions it carries out. Is a quota system more humane? And that is my rant for today !
Why not abandon capital punishment - it seems to be full of problems that no one has adequately addressed. When will we stop being hypocrites - admonishing Iran about the number of executions it carries out. Is a quota system more humane? And that is my rant for today !
2/1/11
What Price Ego
Mubarak is eighty-two years old, old enough to retire by any standard. He's been at the job for thirty years and has surely earned a good pension or stolen enough to live happily ever after. So why does he want to hang on until September. Ego? To have the pleasure of going out on his own terms? To buy time for a "counter revolution"? All of the above? Probably, but if he is miscalculating, an assassin's bullet may be awaiting him. He needs to leave now! The United States must make this clear to him in no uncertain terms now. If we are the voice of democracy ,lets start using that voice in a bold manner.
Whether we get on board with the protesters in a solid manner or not , our diplomats had better start honing their skills to deal with the new Egypt. Here's hoping for an Egypt dedicated to freedom for its people and an Egypt that is a democracy and not a theocracy.
Whether we get on board with the protesters in a solid manner or not , our diplomats had better start honing their skills to deal with the new Egypt. Here's hoping for an Egypt dedicated to freedom for its people and an Egypt that is a democracy and not a theocracy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)