Thursday, April 10, 2003
A brief roundup on the "fall" of Baghdad.
Speaking of the "fall", is that really the right word to describe it. I don't know. It seemed really odd to keep hearing this yesterday, because it seemed like progress was definitely being made, but there didn't seem to be a quantum leap. The people taking to the streets was definitely significant. Honestly, I think the press saw the statue falling, so they had to equate that with the fall of the regime just for good copy.
The regime is on its last legs, but it hasn't fallen yet. Today really seemed like the "morning after"; no stories of jubilation in the streets, reports of more and more fighting in the city, and a lack of information as to the status of the Iraqi leadership. Baghdad will fall and the regime will fall, but I don't know if this is it. I could be wrong.
Speaking of the "fall", is that really the right word to describe it. I don't know. It seemed really odd to keep hearing this yesterday, because it seemed like progress was definitely being made, but there didn't seem to be a quantum leap. The people taking to the streets was definitely significant. Honestly, I think the press saw the statue falling, so they had to equate that with the fall of the regime just for good copy.
The regime is on its last legs, but it hasn't fallen yet. Today really seemed like the "morning after"; no stories of jubilation in the streets, reports of more and more fighting in the city, and a lack of information as to the status of the Iraqi leadership. Baghdad will fall and the regime will fall, but I don't know if this is it. I could be wrong.
If troops have to go to such lengths to not display the American flag, doesn't that indicate something is kinda fucked up? Like we're trying real hard to convince people of something that isn't true? Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!
The fact of the matter is, we are conquerors, at least at this point. We are in the process of destroying the current regime, and will shortly be installing an interim authority of our choosing. Well, "our choosing" is somewhat of a misnomer, as the government can't even agree on who should be in charge, but it will be an American regime that's put in place.
Now, whether or not we remain conquerors is the real issue.
The fact of the matter is, we are conquerors, at least at this point. We are in the process of destroying the current regime, and will shortly be installing an interim authority of our choosing. Well, "our choosing" is somewhat of a misnomer, as the government can't even agree on who should be in charge, but it will be an American regime that's put in place.
Now, whether or not we remain conquerors is the real issue.
A little reality check on that stupid statue.
One thing I think people need to keep in mind is that lots and lots of people will be glad that Saddam is gone - who wouldn't. But that doesn't necessarily mean they want us there, and they certainly won't want us running the show for long.
A couple of side notes from that article. First is the fact that "The sheikh had been given the job after a two-hour interview". Two fucking hours to get the job of running city? Look, I know that they have to be getting shit done, but only two hours? I went through about four hours of interviewing on Monday, and even if I get the job, I'm not going to be in charge of a whole fucking city. The way I look at it, I should be in charge of two cities by British employment standards.
Just to keep the mood light, Rummy is threatening Syria again. That's just fucking great. This guy is on the verge of cumming in his pants just for the opportunity to kill some more people and continue towards his goal of reshaping the world in America's image.
One thing I think people need to keep in mind is that lots and lots of people will be glad that Saddam is gone - who wouldn't. But that doesn't necessarily mean they want us there, and they certainly won't want us running the show for long.
A couple of side notes from that article. First is the fact that "The sheikh had been given the job after a two-hour interview". Two fucking hours to get the job of running city? Look, I know that they have to be getting shit done, but only two hours? I went through about four hours of interviewing on Monday, and even if I get the job, I'm not going to be in charge of a whole fucking city. The way I look at it, I should be in charge of two cities by British employment standards.
Just to keep the mood light, Rummy is threatening Syria again. That's just fucking great. This guy is on the verge of cumming in his pants just for the opportunity to kill some more people and continue towards his goal of reshaping the world in America's image.
Wednesday, April 09, 2003
This is a good rundown as to why I've literally (and I mean literally) watched 0 seconds of Fox war coverage. The link comes courtesy of michaelmoore.com.
Oh yeah, and if the North Koreans don't kill us, let's not forget that SARS just might. I don't really care for this term "super-spreader". On one hand, it makes the rest of us look like slackers. It's like, "Whoa, these people are super-spreaders. I am not doing enough with my time." Seriously, though, do they need to come up with titles like that? It's as if they're blaming people like this poor woman for getting sick. I'm real sure she did this on purpose, so let's ostracize her.
On a side note, at the end of that article, there's a quote from a deliveryman. Deliveryman? What the fuck is that about? Is this the best interviewee that they could find?
On a side note, at the end of that article, there's a quote from a deliveryman. Deliveryman? What the fuck is that about? Is this the best interviewee that they could find?
This is a really good article. Bush doesn't get it - that pretty much sums things up.
Oh, and if you think I'm going soft because I said the war's going well this morning, don't worry. I'm still plenty pissed, and plenty worried. Who knows what the final body count will be. Who knows the untold horrors this war has imposed upon the Iraqi people, even with Saddam gone. Who knows how well we'll pull off the military occupation of Iraq. And who knows how others around the globe will retaliate against us for what we've done. The problem is, by the time we do know the answers to a lot of these questions, Bush and his cronies may be long gone, and we'll have difficulty holding them accountable.
Oh, and if you think I'm going soft because I said the war's going well this morning, don't worry. I'm still plenty pissed, and plenty worried. Who knows what the final body count will be. Who knows the untold horrors this war has imposed upon the Iraqi people, even with Saddam gone. Who knows how well we'll pull off the military occupation of Iraq. And who knows how others around the globe will retaliate against us for what we've done. The problem is, by the time we do know the answers to a lot of these questions, Bush and his cronies may be long gone, and we'll have difficulty holding them accountable.
Today's new Get Your War On helps sum up a lot of the feelings I have about recent events that I have (so far) failed to complain about in open form.
Gee, I wonder what video games these kids have been playing? Also, we once again see that mental illness is not taken seriously or handled properly in this country.
This points out exactly why the USA-PATRIOT act is evil - it leaves open way too many avenues for abuse.
You know, I hate the cliche 'slippery slope', but it's pretty relevant nowadays. Like I said several days ago, I've always been afraid that Iraq was just the starting point, and we would progress beyond Iraq to reshape the middle east in our image, one way or another. Things started to look that way when Donny threatened both Iraq and Syria in the same fucking day. At this point, I think the Administration's attitude really is "just give me a reason...". As this editorial points out, the Administration can't wait to go after nations like Syria, and the success in Iraq may be a useful selling point for when they eventually go do it.
How goes the war? Well - real well. Which is good, of course. We're finally seeing the dancing in the streets that we were promised. Actually, they're going beyond dancing, to just fucking looting. All of a sudden, we have a middle eastern version of LA.
If this is the beginning of freedom for the Iraqi people, that's neat. Yes, even though I have been against this war from the beginning, at no point can you say that I said freeing the Iraqis was a bad thing. The problem that I have always had with calling it "Operation Iraqi Freedom" is that the name was nothing more than bullshit marketing.
Remember how the "Axis of Evil" was labelled as a group of rogue terrorist states that were threatening America? Did you notice how resolution 1441 was passed in hopes of disarming Saddam? Did you notice how we sent in weapons inspectors? The so-callled Axis wasn't evil because its nations harshly opressed its people. Resolution 1441 didn't demand that Saddam cease his human rights violations. And we didn't send in inspectors to look for torture chambers, militias who threatened families, or the crushing of dissent.
Never, at any point in time, has the Administration given a flying fuck about the Iraqi people. The same goes for most pro-war Americans. Before the concept of "freeing" Iraq came about, it was nothing but weapons this, terrorists that. It was all about protecting us.
Of course, blatant self interest doesn't sell well. Placing yourself on a pedestal, and proclaiming yourself a great liberator? That's good stuff!
Again, freedom for the Iraqi citizens will be great, if it really materializes. What fucking infuriates me is that people like Bush and Rumsfeld are going to be hailed as heroes. This idea will really be rammed down our throats if they find few, or no, weapons of mass destruction. Remember those? One of the real reasons we're over there? You aren't hearing as much about those - except for the occasional white powder that turns out to be simple explosives. Yes, there's still more searching to do, and we're still waiting on results from the potential find a few days ago. I promise you, though, if they don't find anything, the weapons search will be buried, and the freedom issue will be hyped more than The Blair Witch Project.
Here's why I'm so up in arms about this. Yes, it's obvious that I hate the Administration, and I'm going to try find something wrong with them no matter what. I admit that, but at this point, I don't feel unjustified.
There's the quote "if the ends are noble, than the means can be justified." I've been thinking a lot about that one today, telling myself "Ok, sure, maybe these guys are greedy, self-serving fucks, but if something good comes from it, namely freedom for Iraq, does that make it OK in the end?" In the end, you know what I say? Fuck that. Motives matter. Yeah, we'll give them some points for the liberation deal, but that doesn't change the fact that they have put American lives on the line based purely out of self interest. That doesn't change how we have alienated the rest of the fucking world. That doesn't change how we're all but ignoring real threats like North Korea. That doesn't change how we are creating more and more terrorists with our actions. And that certainly doesn't change the fact that we have serious issues at home that aren't being addressed.
Nothing in life irks me more than people who get credit for something they don't deserve. I hate people feeling good about themselves when they shouldn't. It's completely unjust, especially when there are plenty of people out there who do deserve to feel good, but don't. You know who the ultimate examples of this are for me? Boy bands. Low grade, untalented, inarticulate fucking kids who have (or had) the love and adoration of millions of fans. No, I'm not bitter because they have tons of money and poontang (well, except for the poon, because they're all gay). No, I'm bitter because they don't fucking deserve it.
So that's what this administration is to me - the Backstreet Boys. They never cared about liberation - they just knew it would be a positive side effect, so they exploited that fact to justify their own selfish intentions. And you know what? It's probably going to pay off for them.
If this is the beginning of freedom for the Iraqi people, that's neat. Yes, even though I have been against this war from the beginning, at no point can you say that I said freeing the Iraqis was a bad thing. The problem that I have always had with calling it "Operation Iraqi Freedom" is that the name was nothing more than bullshit marketing.
Remember how the "Axis of Evil" was labelled as a group of rogue terrorist states that were threatening America? Did you notice how resolution 1441 was passed in hopes of disarming Saddam? Did you notice how we sent in weapons inspectors? The so-callled Axis wasn't evil because its nations harshly opressed its people. Resolution 1441 didn't demand that Saddam cease his human rights violations. And we didn't send in inspectors to look for torture chambers, militias who threatened families, or the crushing of dissent.
Never, at any point in time, has the Administration given a flying fuck about the Iraqi people. The same goes for most pro-war Americans. Before the concept of "freeing" Iraq came about, it was nothing but weapons this, terrorists that. It was all about protecting us.
Of course, blatant self interest doesn't sell well. Placing yourself on a pedestal, and proclaiming yourself a great liberator? That's good stuff!
Again, freedom for the Iraqi citizens will be great, if it really materializes. What fucking infuriates me is that people like Bush and Rumsfeld are going to be hailed as heroes. This idea will really be rammed down our throats if they find few, or no, weapons of mass destruction. Remember those? One of the real reasons we're over there? You aren't hearing as much about those - except for the occasional white powder that turns out to be simple explosives. Yes, there's still more searching to do, and we're still waiting on results from the potential find a few days ago. I promise you, though, if they don't find anything, the weapons search will be buried, and the freedom issue will be hyped more than The Blair Witch Project.
Here's why I'm so up in arms about this. Yes, it's obvious that I hate the Administration, and I'm going to try find something wrong with them no matter what. I admit that, but at this point, I don't feel unjustified.
There's the quote "if the ends are noble, than the means can be justified." I've been thinking a lot about that one today, telling myself "Ok, sure, maybe these guys are greedy, self-serving fucks, but if something good comes from it, namely freedom for Iraq, does that make it OK in the end?" In the end, you know what I say? Fuck that. Motives matter. Yeah, we'll give them some points for the liberation deal, but that doesn't change the fact that they have put American lives on the line based purely out of self interest. That doesn't change how we have alienated the rest of the fucking world. That doesn't change how we're all but ignoring real threats like North Korea. That doesn't change how we are creating more and more terrorists with our actions. And that certainly doesn't change the fact that we have serious issues at home that aren't being addressed.
Nothing in life irks me more than people who get credit for something they don't deserve. I hate people feeling good about themselves when they shouldn't. It's completely unjust, especially when there are plenty of people out there who do deserve to feel good, but don't. You know who the ultimate examples of this are for me? Boy bands. Low grade, untalented, inarticulate fucking kids who have (or had) the love and adoration of millions of fans. No, I'm not bitter because they have tons of money and poontang (well, except for the poon, because they're all gay). No, I'm bitter because they don't fucking deserve it.
So that's what this administration is to me - the Backstreet Boys. They never cared about liberation - they just knew it would be a positive side effect, so they exploited that fact to justify their own selfish intentions. And you know what? It's probably going to pay off for them.
Sunday, April 06, 2003
Fresh off angering the entire world with pre-war shenanigans, we're already starting to piss everyone off for the post-war party... even though the war isn't over yet.
Saturday, April 05, 2003
One thing I haven't done much this week, if at all, is bitch about the war's progress. Mainly, because there's no reason to bitch - things seem to be going quite well. Believe it or not, even though I was against going into this war, I want it to go well and I'm glad that so far that's been the case. In fact, the progress of the war never bothered me, even when trouble was brewin' down south. I was just pissed that the Defense Department couldn't fess up that things weren't going exactly according to plan.
With tanks supposedly rolling through the streets of Baghdad, things seem to be going incredibly well. We've been inside the red line for quite ahwile, and haven't seen any biological or chemical (BC) weapons. This may just be because of the great job that was done fucking with the Republican Guard in advance of our arrival in the capital, and I sure hope that's the case. But you know the phrase: "it's quiet... too quiet".
Speaking of BC weapons, where exactly in the hell are they? We haven't found any, and they haven't been used on us. It seems like it's too late for Saddam to start using them on our forces, because they're already in Baghdad. The only thing that worries me is that Saddam might unleash them in the city itself, just to be a prick, but I guess we'll see.
Speaking of finding BC weapons, what would happen if we didn't find any weapons of mass destruction (WMD), or we found a greatly reduced cache of them? Would the military, as Bill Maher said last night, call in the LAPD to plant them? That was one of the big reasons to start this goddamn war - to disarm Saddam. If we don't find the smoking gun in Iraq, the Administration is going to look bad, so I've always had a feeling we'd find them one way or the other. Either they'll actually be there, or we'll plant them.
Yeah, I know it's still too early to tell, and we haven't begin to scratch the surface of what's in and around Baghdad. I'm still sure that we will find WMD, and I always have been. For me, it has never been a question of whether or not he had them, just whether or not he'd use or sell them. I always felt that if pushed, he would use them, but so far that hasn't even been the case.
The only other frightening possibility is that Saddam could have already sold off a lot of his stock of WMD. With the level of intelligence we've got on Saddam, which is so high that we (supposedly) knew where he was the first night of the war with the 'decapitation strike', I've gotta think that they would know if Saddam was trying to move that much shit.
Again, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
With tanks supposedly rolling through the streets of Baghdad, things seem to be going incredibly well. We've been inside the red line for quite ahwile, and haven't seen any biological or chemical (BC) weapons. This may just be because of the great job that was done fucking with the Republican Guard in advance of our arrival in the capital, and I sure hope that's the case. But you know the phrase: "it's quiet... too quiet".
Speaking of BC weapons, where exactly in the hell are they? We haven't found any, and they haven't been used on us. It seems like it's too late for Saddam to start using them on our forces, because they're already in Baghdad. The only thing that worries me is that Saddam might unleash them in the city itself, just to be a prick, but I guess we'll see.
Speaking of finding BC weapons, what would happen if we didn't find any weapons of mass destruction (WMD), or we found a greatly reduced cache of them? Would the military, as Bill Maher said last night, call in the LAPD to plant them? That was one of the big reasons to start this goddamn war - to disarm Saddam. If we don't find the smoking gun in Iraq, the Administration is going to look bad, so I've always had a feeling we'd find them one way or the other. Either they'll actually be there, or we'll plant them.
Yeah, I know it's still too early to tell, and we haven't begin to scratch the surface of what's in and around Baghdad. I'm still sure that we will find WMD, and I always have been. For me, it has never been a question of whether or not he had them, just whether or not he'd use or sell them. I always felt that if pushed, he would use them, but so far that hasn't even been the case.
The only other frightening possibility is that Saddam could have already sold off a lot of his stock of WMD. With the level of intelligence we've got on Saddam, which is so high that we (supposedly) knew where he was the first night of the war with the 'decapitation strike', I've gotta think that they would know if Saddam was trying to move that much shit.
Again, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Even though the war is helping with things like affirmative action, it's still hurting us in a lot of other areas.
The fact that news about high unemployment is being mostly ignored shows two things. One, that the stock market is fucked up, because it's actually tracking the progress of the war. As the non-American body count rises, so do the markets. It also shows how the stock market is bullshit, and shouldn't have such heavy attention paid to it. If the stock markey truly was an indicator of our economic health, it would react poorly to news like 108,000 laid off last month. Also, in that article, there's mention of how many layoffs are in the services sector, since consumers have had to "tighten their belts". Remember the article I linked to a few days ago where one analyst said that the consumer is in good shape? I'm going to renew my statements: fuck investors, and fuck Wall Street analysts.
The second thing shown by the fact that high unemployment and a generally shitty economy is being ignored is just how short-sighted Americans can be. We're so caught up in this war that we're ignoring real problems that we have on the homefront. This, to me, goes to show one reason why the Administration got us into this war - to deflect issues like the economy. They knew that getting into a war would help gather support for the Administration. Either people are more fervently in support because they were all along, or others just blindly follow because they buy the rhetoric of needing to rally behind the president in a time of war. So far, that gamble has paid off, because support for the war is still strong.
The fact that news about high unemployment is being mostly ignored shows two things. One, that the stock market is fucked up, because it's actually tracking the progress of the war. As the non-American body count rises, so do the markets. It also shows how the stock market is bullshit, and shouldn't have such heavy attention paid to it. If the stock markey truly was an indicator of our economic health, it would react poorly to news like 108,000 laid off last month. Also, in that article, there's mention of how many layoffs are in the services sector, since consumers have had to "tighten their belts". Remember the article I linked to a few days ago where one analyst said that the consumer is in good shape? I'm going to renew my statements: fuck investors, and fuck Wall Street analysts.
The second thing shown by the fact that high unemployment and a generally shitty economy is being ignored is just how short-sighted Americans can be. We're so caught up in this war that we're ignoring real problems that we have on the homefront. This, to me, goes to show one reason why the Administration got us into this war - to deflect issues like the economy. They knew that getting into a war would help gather support for the Administration. Either people are more fervently in support because they were all along, or others just blindly follow because they buy the rhetoric of needing to rally behind the president in a time of war. So far, that gamble has paid off, because support for the war is still strong.
Hard to believe that the war may be helping on some fronts. The idea of so many involved with the military, a very conservative organization, coming out for affirmative action caught me by surprise, but that's great. You just can't ignore the backing of Stormin' Norman, BP, Coke, and Bill Gates. Hopefully these cases go well so that white people can just go back to their normal fucking bitching.
While we're on this subject, whitey, I think we need to have a little chat. First off, you white people actually need to cut out the fucking complaining. If you spent all the time you use for bitching to study, maybe this wouldn't be an issue. This incessant whining about 'racism' in affirmative action is nothing but empty, meaningless dialogue for one simple reason: white people don't fucking know what racism is. The closest white people can get is if they're poor or middle class, and they try and go hang out at a country club. That's the closest situation I can think of, but that doesn't even come close, because we see the real racism when the blacks and hispanics show up to try and play 18 holes.
I'll make a deal with you, white people. As soon as you get rid of the assholes who, if affirmative action didn't exist, wouldn't hire minorities or admit them to college, and as soon as you adjust everyone's socioeconomic status so that minorities are on equal footing with whites, then we can end affirmative action. OK?
You know, it's been less than half a century since the big civil rights battles of the sixties. Even though that period of time is more than twice my age, it still isn't that long. If you read history, which most people don't, you'll know that 50 years ago is pretty recent on a large enough scale. Since it wasn't that long ago, we haven't gotten to the point where we've made sufficient progress, since progress often tends to be slow. Once we have made that level of progress, than I will happily call for the tearing down of institutions like affirmative action - because it won't be necessary. But right now, it is necessary, and in the words of my friend Eric Cartman, quit 'yer bitchin'.
While we're on this subject, whitey, I think we need to have a little chat. First off, you white people actually need to cut out the fucking complaining. If you spent all the time you use for bitching to study, maybe this wouldn't be an issue. This incessant whining about 'racism' in affirmative action is nothing but empty, meaningless dialogue for one simple reason: white people don't fucking know what racism is. The closest white people can get is if they're poor or middle class, and they try and go hang out at a country club. That's the closest situation I can think of, but that doesn't even come close, because we see the real racism when the blacks and hispanics show up to try and play 18 holes.
I'll make a deal with you, white people. As soon as you get rid of the assholes who, if affirmative action didn't exist, wouldn't hire minorities or admit them to college, and as soon as you adjust everyone's socioeconomic status so that minorities are on equal footing with whites, then we can end affirmative action. OK?
You know, it's been less than half a century since the big civil rights battles of the sixties. Even though that period of time is more than twice my age, it still isn't that long. If you read history, which most people don't, you'll know that 50 years ago is pretty recent on a large enough scale. Since it wasn't that long ago, we haven't gotten to the point where we've made sufficient progress, since progress often tends to be slow. Once we have made that level of progress, than I will happily call for the tearing down of institutions like affirmative action - because it won't be necessary. But right now, it is necessary, and in the words of my friend Eric Cartman, quit 'yer bitchin'.
What's really been interesting is the war of words that's going on. The Iraqis have learned well, and they are fighting fire with fire, by lying. Every advance that the Americans make, they come out with a denial of that advance. Then they make shit up like re-taking the airport.
Okay, well, I'm pretty sure they're lying. If nothing else, I think that's impressive; I'm pretty sure I believe my government over the Iraqi regime. Prettry sure. Even though I question a lot of what I'm hearing, I'd say that the general reports of progress are undoubtedly true. But then again, I ask myself, what if they're making this whole thing up, just like they did with the moon landing?
Okay, well, I'm pretty sure they're lying. If nothing else, I think that's impressive; I'm pretty sure I believe my government over the Iraqi regime. Prettry sure. Even though I question a lot of what I'm hearing, I'd say that the general reports of progress are undoubtedly true. But then again, I ask myself, what if they're making this whole thing up, just like they did with the moon landing?
This is becoming a running theme. Why the fuck is this just happening now? What the hell are the airlines doing with the billions of dollars we're giving them? Are they just flushing it down those little stainless steel toilets at the back of the planes?
Friday, April 04, 2003
Once again, dissent will not be tolerated.
Here are a couple of things that I'm fucking sick and tired of.
First of all, I have had it with this "we need to pull together as a country and rally behind the president bullshit." Fuck that. I can criticize the president, while still hoping he does a good job. In fact, that's why I am criticizing; I want him to get his fucking act together. Being supportive isn't the same thing as being in agreement. Just because we're at war and we want things to go well, whether we're pro- or anti-war, doesn't mean that we should stop thinking and blindly follow along with anything. It's those kind of moronic attitudes that got us shit like the USA-PATRIOT act. If nothing else, Dumbfuck Bush had his chance to have us rally behind him. After September 11th, we were all scared shitless (as if you need to be reminded). As such, we all gave Bush our support, and what did he and his cronies do with it? Put us on the path to a fucking police state.
Yes, I know that we are a long ways away from being Nazi Germany. But legislation like we've seen and mandates from the press secretary to "watch what you say" are pretty fucking scary. Nowadays, I'm seeing plenty of evil shit that's not coming in the form of legislation that wipes its ass with the Constitution (although with PATRIOT-II on the way, that hasn't stopped either). Most of it is stuff like what's happening to Sen. Kerry. If you're not with the administration, you're anti-American. I'll stop harping on that, because it's pretty obvious as to why that attitude is bullshit.
Another thing I'm tired of is how people really hate hearing opinions that differ from theirs. I can tell how much it pisses people off because they never have anything intelligent to say in return, just "well, you're entitled to your opinion." Can we please stop telling people that they're entitled to their opinion? Everyone fucking knows that. Thanks asshole, I'm aware of my right to speak my mind. Of course, when they say stupid things like that, they always say it so begrudgingly, too. You can just tell that they kinda wish that the other person didn't have that right, just so that they wouldn't have to hear the other side of the story.
The final thing that has gotten really old is saying how anti-war protests and ant-war opinions are harmful to troop morale. Here's the deal, skeezix: I will not take responsibility for the death of any troops over there. Hey, if it was up to me and others who are anti-war, they wouldn't fucking be there in that lousy position in the first place. And even if morale really is lowered by anti-war rhetoric, what the fuck are we supposed to do? Stop expressing our opinions? What the fuck kind of logic is that? Aren't they supposed to be over there protecting my freedom to express my opinion? By saying that anti-war expressions can get men killed on the battlefield is a purely evil tactic to try and curttail dissenting opinion and shift the responsibility for those men and women's deaths. An attempt at emotional manipulation at that level is something that would have made Goebbels and Hitler proud.
Here are a couple of things that I'm fucking sick and tired of.
First of all, I have had it with this "we need to pull together as a country and rally behind the president bullshit." Fuck that. I can criticize the president, while still hoping he does a good job. In fact, that's why I am criticizing; I want him to get his fucking act together. Being supportive isn't the same thing as being in agreement. Just because we're at war and we want things to go well, whether we're pro- or anti-war, doesn't mean that we should stop thinking and blindly follow along with anything. It's those kind of moronic attitudes that got us shit like the USA-PATRIOT act. If nothing else, Dumbfuck Bush had his chance to have us rally behind him. After September 11th, we were all scared shitless (as if you need to be reminded). As such, we all gave Bush our support, and what did he and his cronies do with it? Put us on the path to a fucking police state.
Yes, I know that we are a long ways away from being Nazi Germany. But legislation like we've seen and mandates from the press secretary to "watch what you say" are pretty fucking scary. Nowadays, I'm seeing plenty of evil shit that's not coming in the form of legislation that wipes its ass with the Constitution (although with PATRIOT-II on the way, that hasn't stopped either). Most of it is stuff like what's happening to Sen. Kerry. If you're not with the administration, you're anti-American. I'll stop harping on that, because it's pretty obvious as to why that attitude is bullshit.
Another thing I'm tired of is how people really hate hearing opinions that differ from theirs. I can tell how much it pisses people off because they never have anything intelligent to say in return, just "well, you're entitled to your opinion." Can we please stop telling people that they're entitled to their opinion? Everyone fucking knows that. Thanks asshole, I'm aware of my right to speak my mind. Of course, when they say stupid things like that, they always say it so begrudgingly, too. You can just tell that they kinda wish that the other person didn't have that right, just so that they wouldn't have to hear the other side of the story.
The final thing that has gotten really old is saying how anti-war protests and ant-war opinions are harmful to troop morale. Here's the deal, skeezix: I will not take responsibility for the death of any troops over there. Hey, if it was up to me and others who are anti-war, they wouldn't fucking be there in that lousy position in the first place. And even if morale really is lowered by anti-war rhetoric, what the fuck are we supposed to do? Stop expressing our opinions? What the fuck kind of logic is that? Aren't they supposed to be over there protecting my freedom to express my opinion? By saying that anti-war expressions can get men killed on the battlefield is a purely evil tactic to try and curttail dissenting opinion and shift the responsibility for those men and women's deaths. An attempt at emotional manipulation at that level is something that would have made Goebbels and Hitler proud.
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