Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Count Me Out of the Idiocy

I just heard Florida Superdelegate John Ausman declare, "We have been in the jail house long enough. Let our people go."

Just to give some context:

When Israel was in Egypt's Land,
Let my people go,
Opressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.

Chorus
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharoah,
Let my people go.



WOW. These people screaming "Count Every Vote" seem to not understand a few key things:
1) these are rules Clinton and Obama (and all other dems running) agreed to
2) the Clinton camp, when citing that they have more of the popular vote, are not counting any of the votes cast in caucus states
3) this is NOT a civil rights issue

But, you know what, let em count. They won't make a difference. Obama will still be ahead in the delegate count, which happens to be how we decide the nominee. This is making some democrats look really stupid. Just get it over with, let's move on. Let's remember the REAL issues:
over 4,000 U.S. men and women have died in Iraq; many more injured
over 42 million Americans do not have health insurance
more and more people slip into poverty every day in this country
more and more schools get left behind

Let my people go!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Imagine Peace -- but not too much

OK, I don't watch American Idol on TV. But as I surf the online news in the morning, I often see news of the latest show and check it out. Last night was the final sing-off between what looks to me to be a 14 year old boy and a 20-something who can actually play music. I'm just impressed that someone was playing an instrument. Go American Idol, with your whole respect of music thing!

But, unfortunately, I then actually listened to their songs. David A. sang John Lennon's "Imagine," a kind of peace anthem for the last 30 years or so. But he only sang one verse. Even though the song is only 2:20, and David A. sang for 2:14, he decided to sing one of the three verses and to repeat the chorus 2 or 3 times. Guess which verses he left out? Ok, you don't have to guess, I've put them here for you:

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

Perhaps you've heard this song before. If so, these are probably the lyrics you remember. Because they are the ones that matter. And yet on American Idol, to suggest that religion may be the cause of some of the most horrific acts of human history, including present day wars WE ourselves are involved in -- well, that's just too controversial.

It has come to this: TV producers are so afraid of Christians boycotting them that they won't allow the entire Lennon classic to be played. I think this proves Lennon's point.

When we have to sanitize John Lennon's Imagine, things have gotten retarded.

These are the key words to this song: "Nothing to kill or die for." THIS is what the song is about: no religion, no country, no possessions. It IS hard to imagine. Especially if we don't even hear it.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Junk Mail

I just got an ad for a free, no obligation issue of the National Review. I didn't remember that the National Review was a right-wing nut case free for all, so I read the pamphlet they sent. Here's a sampling of the idiocy:

"If you care enough about what's happening in America to learn the truth about how our school children are being relentlessly brainwashed about global warming, or why single women will be the most 'popular girls' in the 2008 election... We cordially invite you to enjoy our next illuminating issue..."

Ah yes, I'd love to be illuminated on how global warming is some left-wing conspiracy. But what I'd really like to see some light shed on is this onerous reference to single women and the troubling tone of disdain in the mocking and belittling reference to them as 'popular' and 'girls.' Why is this a cause for alarm among the right wing crazies? I mean, I know they are crazy, but fearing single women? That's... even more crazy than I gave them credit for.

They finish the 4-page long diatribe against people representing dolphins at the UN, against "Left Wing Grannies Who Just Won't Shut Up," and against European countries supporting their Muslim constituents as if they were human, with this little nugget in a bold, red-lettered "P.S.":

"Single Females constitute more than a quarter of the voting population, angry as hornets and overwhelmingly in favor of Hillary Clinton."

I'm trying to figure out why THIS, among the many exaggerated "issues" that disgust the writer of this letter, is the most important one.

Single women. What could be so frightening about them? Could it be that they are women who have learned to make a living on their own? Could it be that they are educated? Could the sheer audacity of a woman earning a degree to support herself be so disgusting that it becomes the selling point of a national magazine, clearly geared toward those who prefer their women married and without their own vote?

Angry as hornets they are, those single women. You know, single women have for centuries been stereotyped -- first as witches -- then as hysterics, neurasthenics, and now angry hysterical neurasthenics who make money and have an education. In fact, recent scholars have pointed out that the witch hunts in Europe and the colonies were overwhelmingly directed toward single women with property. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this stupid little ignorant letter is a witch hunt, but I am saying its fear and anger towards independent women is nothing new and has sometimes been rather deadly for some women.

Just yesterday I heard David Mamet in an interview say that 50% of the population can't be wrong all the time; in other words, to be Republican or Democrat often means cutting yourself off from some good ideas. But how does this 50% resign itself to the this hate-filled spew? It is not a minority view; the National Review is often cited as the voice of the right. Not to mention, I hear this crap every day from the likes of Joe Scarborough, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and Pat Buchanan. This can't just be disowned as a minority voice drowning out all the otherwise able-thinking conservatives. Where are those able-thinking conservatives?

Let's face it. Conservative means staying the course, keeping things as people wished they used to be. And the way things were --and are -- aren't all that good for a lot of Americans. Apparently, single women are too progressive for many conservatives. And as we hear everyday, there's a new swing voter out there: the "working class white male" who typically sways for Clinton or McCain. The media asks, how can Obama win this important vote? Last week NPR did a special on working class whites in Indiana. One man said, "I really don't like Bush, so I can't vote for McCain. Now I have to decide between a woman and a black." The National Review ad said what it was able to; 40 years ago that letter could have easily been up in arms that blacks were going to the polls now that the liberal government has promised to protect them with their "Civil Rights Act."

I think I disagree with Mr. Mamet.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Squishable!








Love being an aunt!