In the spirit of fairness, I present the following:
Instapundit, who we have forgiven for his semi-advocacy of anything involving System of a Down, says:
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAYS THAT IRAQ IS VIOLATING THE LAWS OF WAR. Glad someone's noticed.The only problem is that Human Rights Watch also says this:
The United States is right to insist that Iraq honor the Geneva Conventions. But its position is weakened by failure to practice what it preaches in holding 641 prisoners without charges at the U.S. military facility in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.Now, I'm not saying I agree with the views of HRW on Gitmo, but we can't approve of their opinion on one aspect of the debate and offer it up as support for assertions, while discounting their view on the other face of things with which we disagree.
Also, I'm not saying that Glenn necessarily disagrees with them on Gitmo, but plenty of the pro-war folks do - and they might latch on to the HRW claim with much fervor. And they shouldn't. You know, just sayin' is all.
Love her or hate her, Dawn Olsen definitely has her beautiful moments, such as this one in which she reflects upon friendships made - and lost - in the blogosphere:
I am so deeply thankful for those "TRUE" friendships I have made, as I know that like the handful I have in life, they will remain through persistence and care, weathering the turbulent storms we all must face.Poetry, Dawn, poetry!And to the fuckers I have left in the dust, good riddance you vile, soul-sucking pieces of shit - you know who each and every one of you are. May you forever rot from the inside out. Thanks for taking and taking, making empty promises, stealing, never being true and only seeing what's good for you, not for us as friends. You suck ass - and I will forever burn you in effigy as a charred image on my scorched retina of life.
Since I've been picking on the anti-war protesters so much, allow me to point out a variety of simple-minded thinking from the pro-war side that I find distasteful as well. This comes courtesy of my pal Jo.
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Today, Instapundit said:
HERE'S A DELIGHTFUL dissection of Michael Moore -- who, come to think of it, directed the System of a Down video that nobody likes, didn't he?I'm sorry, does anyone like System of a Down's aural qualities either? I guess I missed the memo.
It's official - the World Wide Rant is on the market at BlogShares. I heartily advise everyone to buy it up immediately so I can dump my ownership stake and retire as a fictionally-wealthy former blogger and move to a fictional offshore location to avoid taxes that would help the fictional underclass. I will then sit on a fictional beach enjoying a fictional adult beverage and laugh a fictional laugh with a fictional aire of superiority.
I think this is a fictional future we can all support.
So get to it.
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Peter Arnett is being given the boot to the backside by NBC, following his stellar interview on Iraqi TV.
Arnett said that the U.S. "war plan has failed because of Iraqi resistance. Now they are trying to write another war plan...."Uh, someone should tell Peter that coalition forces have entered the "red zone" around Baghdad that is defended by the Republican Guard. The war is on.
During the Sunday interview, Arnett also said that Iraq had given him and other reporters a "degree of freedom which we appreciate." Iraq has expelled several journalists, including CNN's Baghdad team, and apparently has imprisoned two journalists from the New York newspaper Newsday.Whoops, wrong again, Peter. Perhaps it will eventually dawn on him that he's nothing but a useful idiot to the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Arnett told the Iraqi TV interviewer, who was dressed in an Iraqi Army uniform, that President Bush is facing a "growing challenge" about the "conduct of the war" within the United States.Someone should get him a copy of the latest Gallup poll that shows that American opinion in favor of the war is holding steady at around 70%, and Bush's approval rating is at 71%.*
Maybe Peter is getting his news from the Iraqis.
* Note to the loony contingent of the left, we're not endorsing Bush in general, just giving the numbers. So save your whining.
In Charlottesvile, VA, approximately 30 people protested outside of Sperry Marine, a maker of navigation equipment for commercial and military use.
Most of the protestors carried anti-war signs and banners along sidewalks near Sperry Marine, while five others chained themselves to barrels and each other in order to block the company's entrance, according to an Albemarle County Police Department press release.So far so good - behaving nicely, except for that whole chaining themselves up bit. So much for respecting private property and commerce.
Protestors also dumped old washing machines, mattresses and other junk on the company's driveway, Sperry Marine President John DeMaso said.Now, we're littering - and what is the point? "Stop the war! Screw the environment!" I bet the ELF anti-war contingent wouldn't be happy.
"The police made them pick it up and then we had to go out and pick up" what was leftover for about 45 minutes, DeMaso said.Screw that, call in a company to clean it up and have the bill sent to the protesters.
It looks like the wacky Earth Liberation Front has joined the anti-war ranks with violence in Montgomery, Alabama.
Firefighters were called to a car fire early Friday morning in Executive Park. Once the fire was out, the true meaning of the fire was revealed. It was a calling card by a terrorist group to announce what they had done at a Naval Recruiting Headquarters. It's the first graphic sign of anti-war sentiment to hit the Capitol City.Hey, at least they aren't very smart! Imagine how dangerous they'd be if they had properly functioning brains.They left behind messages calling for an end to the war and to stop the killing. Each vehicle sprayed with a bright orange paint and signed "ELF".
Ironically Friday's vandalism targeted nondescript government vehicles, the only thing denoting them as government cars, their tags. While just a few feet away the symbol of the U.S. Navy, a miniature Blue Angel jet, sat untouched.
I wonder if groups like International ANSWER will criticize the violence - you know, maybe something like "not in my name!" Somehow, I doubt it.
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Pssst - are they still watching? No? Good.
When we finally made it to Safwan, Iraq, what we saw was utter chaos. Iraqi men, women and children were playing it up for the TV cameras, chanting: “With our blood, with our souls, we will die for you Saddam.”Well, that's certainly news... to a large segment of San Francisco's populace, perhaps.I took a young Iraqi man, 19, away from the cameras and asked him why they were all chanting that particular slogan, especially when humanitarian aid trucks marked with the insignia of the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society, were distributing some much-needed food.
His answer shouldn’t have surprised me, but it did.
He said: “There are people from Baath here reporting everything that goes on. There are cameras here recording our faces. If the Americans were to withdraw and everything were to return to the way it was before, we want to make sure that we survive the massacre that would follow as Baath go house to house killing anyone who voiced opposition to Saddam. In public, we always pledge our allegiance to Saddam, but in our hearts we feel something else.”
Different versions of that very quote, but with a common theme, I would come to hear several times over the next three days I spent in Iraq.
The people of Iraq are terrified of Saddam Hussein.
The most surprising thing about it is that it was Arab News that carried the story.
Ahhhh, in the office at 8am on a Sunday - this is the life! I've got my Diet Coke, my music is turned up, and I'll now spend the next four hours or so finalizing a presentation that I have to have completed by tomorrow morning. Yay me.
A full day after that too. I need to touch up the paint in the nursery, put together the glider rocker, buy the crib and assemble that, install some shelves, and find the road to world peace. I'm an overachiever.
Won't you help Vicky with her efforts to spread the message of peace via the internet?
May (deity of choice, or none if you prefer) bless you, my child.
A common argument from the anti-war side is that the liberation of Iraq is wrong because of the potential for civilian deaths. One death is too many! they cry (as if war supporters were chanting "One is too few!").
These same people get upset when you then say that their argument could imply we should have not bothered liberating Europe from the Germans (as that means maybe it was ok that all those Jews got killed, and no one likes to be called an appeaser or a facilitator to the deaths of six million Jews, handicapped, and homosexuals).
Or, and more correctly perhaps - as one commenter suggested below - we should have stopped at Germany's borders because that was Hitler's country, the people seemed to like him, and what goes on in there is his business and not ours. See no evil, hear no evil, yada yada yada.
Why, it could have been just like Gulf War I - march right up to the door and stop.
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Hi - yes, I know there's no logo - I'm working on it. In the middle of modifying the template to CSS with absolute positioning, blah blah, and will need to do a new logo for that too that fits. Hopefully this version will work with Mozilla as I am building it in Dreamweaver MX.
If not, screw it.
Update: OK, in Mozilla it seems to be having some overlap problems with the rightmost column - and Dreamweaver doesn't seem to want to fix them either. The page looks fine in IE, so that's ok - but if any of you Mozilla experts want to lend a hand, just let me know. Thanks!
Somebody asked for another "stupid protester" post - so here it is:
MONTPELIER, Vt. — A group of Vermont teen-agers threw rocks at a uniformed female Vermont National Guard sergeant last week, in the latest example of a service member facing hostility in the United States.Stupid protesters."There were various profanities directed in her direction, along the line of '[expletive] murderer, [expletive] baby killer,'" Stirewalt said. "It culminated with some of the individuals throwing rocks at her, and as testament to her disciplined professionalism, she got in her car and left the area."
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From the American Top 40 mailbag:
"Dear Casey: No matter how hard I try to stay away from the WWR, I just can't. It's like this compulsion rises up in me and forces me to spout off, putting words into the mouths of others, erecting strawmen and knocking them down with glee, and being like that late night guest who doesn't get the hint that since the host is now in their PJs, it's probably time to leave.
So, Casey, could you play Lionel Richie's 'Just Can't Say Goodbye' for my friends, Andy and Tom?
Thanks,
Rev."
Rev, here's your long distance dedication. Keep looking up, and keep reaching for the stars.*
* And on that note, the petty feud is over from my side of things.
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In the continuing saga of extremists throwing around big words in order to sound enlightened, I received this comment today from Jefe at Jared's site.
My assesment of your views led me to look up a word in the dictionary and the definition fit like a glove.Apparently, in some sort of Bizarro World episode of Super Friends, my advocacy that the property rights of individuals be respected and that rampant government ransacking of wallets be reversed somehow equates to the desire for centralized, autocratic government with severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of the opposition.Main Entry: fas·cism
Pronunciation: 'fa-"shi-z&m also 'fa-"si-
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
Date: 1921
1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control
Interesting, given that the person who called me fascist advocates - best I can tell - socialism, or perhaps communism - and the way-lefties over there have had no shortage of unkind words en masse for the opposition (that is, me). So very sorry, Jefe, but if anyone is remotely close to the idea of fascism, it's you. (Although, like I said, you're probably more of a socialist or communist from what I can tell, but neither of those is paying you a compliment either, really.)
If you want to see where my ideological views tend to fall, check out the word "libertarian:"
lib·er·tar·i·an ( P ) Pronunciation Key (lbr-târ-n)In other words, you're wrong.
n.
One who advocates maximizing individual rights and minimizing the role of the state.
But I imagine that state of being is like a well-worn, comfy blanket for you by now.
Have a nice night everyone!
Yes, Laurence Simon is stopping by to post on his Blog-A-Day Tour. It oozes goodwill. So, here's Laurence...
(Welcome to the Amish Tech Support Blog a Day Tour!)
Hi there. One of the things that I have been obsessing on for the past week is a new name for French Toast that doesn't sound so lame as Freedom Toast and actually helps describe the altered nature of toast that comprises of that dish.
"Eggy bread" has been suggested here and there. I'd be interested in what other countries call the stuff.
Apparently, the Air Force has already made their decision:
REUTERS: 'Freedom Toast' Served on Air Force One
On President Bush's Air Force One flight to Florida on Wednesday it was au revoir French toast, hello "Freedom toast." "Stuffed Freedom Toast" topped the breakfast menu, in a subtle slap at the French for helping to confound U.S. attempts to get the U.N. Security Council to authorize military force against Ira.The name change for the venerable breakfast dish -- in this case stuffed with cream cheese -- followed similar moves by the U.S. Congress and some restaurants across the country to change "French fries" to "Freedom fries."
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, asked about the newly titled "Freedom toast," smiled and said, "We're always proud of the men and women of our Air Force."
Freedom Toast sounds silly, but Stuffed Freedom Toast sounds even sillier.
Come on people... we're not just Americans... we're Netizens! Let's come up with a better name!
“Daniel-san, must talk. Man walk on road. Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk down middle, sooner or later, get squished just like grape.”~Mr. Miyagi (as if you didn’t know.)
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Why? How? Because the House of Representatives has given us this bill:
H. RES. 153 - Recognizing the public need for fasting and prayer in order to secure the blessings and protection of Providence for the people of the United States and our Armed Forces during the conflict in Iraq and under the threat of terrorism at home.I'm still not exactly clear on why God doesn't know to protect his flock unless they ask him or refuse to eat for him. All this time they've been telling me he is omniscient - maybe not.
Well, if nothing else, he's obviously easily impressed if all you have to do for national security is stay away from Hostess cupcakes for a day.
(silly bill found here)
Just a reminder that we're planning the 2nd Annual or Something Like That Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash on April 11, 2003. I'm going to set an official start time of 7pm, but feel free to show up earlier - I will. After all, there's beer to be imbibed.
Wynkoop Brewing Company
1634 18th Street
Denver, CO 80202
If you plan to attend, drop me an e-mail via the link on the left. Hope to see you there.
Well, I'd like to be able to show you the fabulous 4D pictures of the WWRunt, but we apparently have a very active baby who refuses to sit still in the womb. All four limbs were in motion in front of the face, so it was impossible to get a worthwhile picture - but I'd rather have an active baby than one that lies around like a lump causing us to worry.
The less good news is that the baby is currently in breech position. It's no big worry just yet as they don't get concerned until 36 weeks (so we've got a little over 2 weeks for the kid to turn). At 37 weeks, they may try to manually rotate the baby from the outside - this, however, might cause early labor, successful or not.
So, right now, all is really okay - the only questions are whether we're headed for a C-section or a possibly 3-week early arrival. No danger to mother or child, though, so that's good news.
I'm still excited and can't wait to buy my child their first gun and SUV.
You know, we've built up a bit of a readership here by picking on the anti-privacy insanity of the far right. Now that we've turned our affections toward the economic controls of the left, certain elements have become disgruntled - nay, downright unruly, in the comments they leave at their own sites.
As an example, Jared - who shed her reasonable skin to reveal a deeply-dyed communist - has said:
whatever andy. i still think you are a pathetic excuse for a human being and you sicken me. wait, disgust me? lets just say BOTH.Wow, talk about a loose cannon. At least we got past the 100 comment mark, indeed.i'm done with this whole topic with you because it's a waste of time trying to "convince" you of anything as you are OBVIOUSLY way out of my league and already far more knowledgeable on any subject i could ever TRY to set my mind to. please excuse me your, royal fuckwad.
say what you will and think what you will. it's obvious you have no intention of educating or informing yourself of anything besides the values you already hold dear which i find worthless.
it's a waste of energy even talking to you.
you go about your life and do as you will. i and others like me will pick up your slack. you sit on your ass and judge all of us losers and our "woe is me bullshit" and you continue to feel proud of yourself and feel good about your greed and abundance. you think you're so much smarter than the rest of us and i think you're an ignorant mother fucker.
perhaps you'll find my comment "offensive", or "annoying", or "alienating", and perhaps it is, but i've got more important issues to focus on and your pompous, condescending attitude only drains me and disheartens me to humanity. and honestly, you're really not worth it to me.
and that's the last i'll say about it. we've already exceeded the 100 mark anyway.
All of that because I said that a) family and friends are better at caring for individuals than the government, b) Jared must have the perfect plan for providing healthcare, food, and shelter, c) Jared should define her standards for minimally acceptable healthcare, food, and shelter as well as an economic system that can support them long-term, d) I will raise my children to be contributors first, e) my family came from humble beginnings to a wide range of wealth, and f) she has no idea how I give back to society except in her narrow-minded black & white world in which anyone who disagrees with her kicks babies in the head just for fun.
(speaking of which, just a few more weeks until I get to kick my own offspring in the head!)
I know, downright scary way liberal psycho - RUN AWAY!
They walk among us.
On a separate note, I got to thinking about Jared's comment that my having a child with my wife was selfish and irresponsible - but, really, let's think about it a bit further.
Why are there children in homes for orphans? Because couples got divorced? Because someone had sex without being willing to accept the risk? Because someone had sex who was an unfit parent? Because a couple of parents were complete shitheads? All of the above.
But, what that boils down to, is that THEY were irresponsible - not me. Jared is asking ME to be responsible for those who are knowingly irresponsible - I should aid in removing all penalty from a lack of responsibility, which only encourages further irresponsibility. Her solution perpetuates the very problem she hopes to solve.
I'll pass. Sorry, Jared, but you're far-left ideas are as tired and worn out as those of the far-right, all of which have proven to be failures. Mind you, I'm not saying people shouldn't adopt - but that there is no necessarily motivating factor to encourage adoption.
Now, in the case of abused children, etc, then we're back to the whole idea of family and friends being the best solution - but then again, it's easier to hold people completely unaffiliated responsible, I guess.
I meant to add this site back to the blogroll a while back, but forgot. Oops. So, without further ado, I give you:
The Georgia state legislature is on the verge of doing something right:
Rep. John Noel, D-Atlanta, and four co-sponsors filed a bill Tuesday that would make it a misdemeanor ``of a high and aggravated nature'' not to offer sweet tea in any Georgia restaurant that serves iced tea.I do so miss sweet tea from the days in Alabama. I've not found anywhere in Denver that sells it, except for the pre-fab, pre-brewed, watered-down crap in a bottle. Nothing complements a meal of country-fried steak, green beans, mac & cheese, and fried okra like a tall glass of sweet tea.Noel acknowledged the bill was an attempt to bring a little humor to the Legislature. But he said he wouldn't mind if it became law.
I can't believe I'm missing the South. Shhh, don't tell them.
(link from Jefe)
The Reverend Mykeru is upset that I edited one of his comments to this thread. The extent of the editing was to remove a final insult he hurled at Matt.
Why? Because I was tired of it being nothing but insults, tired of it being a non-debate, and - yes - because I can. While I was editing and closing down the comment thread, Mykeru got one last shot off at a fellow commenter:
Mz:So, someone tell me what the added value was with that comment. Because I don't see it."Ummm, didn't we march into Germany in WWII? So we were liberating the German people from a "foreign invader"?"
What in fuck are you talking about? The "Liberation" of Europe wasn't liberating Germany from itself.
"According to your rationale, we should have left Hitler in power and just stopped at the border of Germany, Rev, and let him keep killing the Jewish people. Interesting stance you have there, though I respectfully disagree with it."
Pay attention: You are an idiot and have no idea what I was talking about to a degree which is, as impossible as it may be to imagine, even greater than the extent that you have no idea what in fuck's name you are talking about.
I have given fair warning before that I expect people in the comments to at least attempt to play nice. I realize that people get heated and might mouth off here and there, but when it becomes the SOP for a string of comments, I'm going to close it, shut it down, put a stop to it.
I have been accused of doing it because Mykeru disagrees with me. That might make sense if I had done the same to, say, Jared or regular religion-commenter, S.F. However, I haven't - the accusation rings hollow.
So, no one has been banned - I'll only ban trolls. But I am asking people to be at least remotely civil - and for the guy in the cube next to me quit farting.
Update: Since our friend is deciding to read into every comment more than is there (he's now convinced he's been called an appeaser and a Jew killer), I'm closing the comments lest I get another e-mail telling me how I'm a "fuck head" for allowing the non-existent Bash-Mykeru Party 2003 to continue.
And One More: Now he's whining (on another site) that I closed the comments. Make up your fucking mind! OK, they're open - have at it, kids.
Will you be watching "24" tonight? If not, why not?
Silly people.
Update: OK, I hate to admit that while waiting for the aforementioned "24" to begin, I am watching the tail end of American Idol. And here is my advice: Reuben - learn the words to "Sweet Home Alabama":
Now Watergate does not bother meAnd also, Julia D'Amato is hot and fills out her clothes nicely, but her singing isn't anything special.
Does your conscience bother you?
And now I shall go douse my head in acid out of shame. Where is Saddam Hussein when I need him?
For those interested in tracking the more-or-less accurate, give-or-take-a-week development of the World Wide Runt, you can see our current progress here. It's not suitable for those who are squeamish at the sight of cartoon corporeal cutaways or who giggle at the word "vagina."
Felt the WWRunt giving the wife some good kicks this evening - still boggles my mind in that oh-my-god-it's-Alien kind of way. Or maybe more like Kuato. Either way, it's amazing.
For those keeping score, we'll be having our 4D ultrasound this Thursday, assuming the weather cooperates. Rumor has it another big storm is coming our way to dump snow, but this is Denver and forecasts more than a couple days out are about as useful as trying to predict next week's bowel movements.
Sorry for that image.
While being needlessly insulted by Bobby for not fitting into his black and white view of the world (honestly, the dimwit keeps referring to me as a Republican, go figure), I stumbled across some interesting facts about socialized healthcare.
You see, according to Bobby, socialized healthcare is a panacea - why, if only the United States could follow the bold example set by the United Kingdom and Canada!
So - how well is socialized medicine working up north and across the pond? Let's find out:
Canada - from here:
For example, in its 2001 annual survey...the Fraser Institute, found that, for patients requiring surgery, the total average waiting time from the initial visit to the family doctor through to surgery was sixteen weeks....So, how are Canadians dealing with this awful situation?...A key factor behind these statistics is the inability of the Canadian system to provide even equipment deemed basic, let alone new technology...
...An assessment in 2000 by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) argued that shortages have led to an “unconscionable” delay in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and debilitating bone and joint ailments...
For-profit clinics have sprung up across the country. Some are entirely private, some contract with the local health authority.Imagine that.
And, now to England - found here:
The total time taken for a typical patient to move from seeing a GP to receiving inpatient treatment in England is just over 28 weeks.And what are the British doing about it?A 8.9 day fall makes cardiology the best performing speciality, but gynaecology still has the lowest waiting time at 156.9 days.
Trauma and orthopaedics maintain its position as the speciality with the longest waiting times. This speciality, [sic] including operations such as hip replacements, has an average waiting time of 250.4 days
Today, 13% of Britons are covered by private health insurance, and that population accounts for two-thirds of all private patients; the rest are an equal mixture of privately paying, noninsured Britons and overseas patients. About 20% of all nonurgent heart surgery and 30% of all hip replacements are done in the private sector, though a few operations are done under contracts from the NHS.Holy cow, you don't say!
Sorry, Bobby, but socialized healthcare is a nightmare... but don't let the facts get in the way of your idealism.
Roverpundit informs us of the latest pointless peace protest, this time in Fort Collins, CO:
Alison informs me that peace protesters are blocking College and Prospect, as well as three of the entrances to the CSU campus. She's been sitting in her car for about 30 minutes, and it doesn't look likely that she'll get to school anytime soon. Why they'd block traffic to a college is beyond me. I guess that when you want to throw a tantrum, any target will do.That's right, folks - since the war is being directed out of the CSU campus, it only makes perfect sense to block the roads so that the commanders can't get into CENTCOM.
Wait, I mean since liberal academia are behind this war 100% it only makes perfect sense to block people from getting into CSU.
Wait, I mean... uh... dude, we get to break something!
No, Matt, I don't see the point in it either. Didn't they get enough time off with the snow days last week?
Jared is complaining that I keep linking only to her comments and not directly to her blog, so here it is.
Our military has a new fear as they head for Baghdad:
Allied troops advancing on Baghdad have been warned Iraqi leaders have drawn an imaginary "red line" outside the city and are poised to unleash lethal chemical weapon attacks.Aside from the impracticality of drawing a real red line around the city (with the blood of the infidels!), this is impossible because we all know that Saddam Hussein destroyed all his chemical weapons. Right?
I mean, even if the Brits did find suspected Scud missiles in a chemical plant baby milk factory.
You know you have a good, solid cold when:
Either way, it sucks.
And you know it's the real thing when they call you a "total fucking dipwad jerk-off." Yes, folks, that's what passes for enlightened discourse with the gent in question. Naturally, I felt compelled to respond in a similar manner in case he felt I was talking down to him with my normal tone - you know, the literate one.
Stupid Evil Bastard sums it up nicely, so - for now - let's let this be the end of it:
Now, group hug everybody.A note to the war-protesters: You’re not doing your cause any good when you resort to violence, vandalism and other acts that are just plain stupid (like blocking traffic). Study the history of non-violent protest and you’ll see that the tactics you’re using will end up breeding resentment instead of sympathy. Your goal is to build support for your views, not convince people you’re a bunch of loonies who forgot to take their medication this morning.
A note to the war-supporters: We all realize that a lot of people have fought and died in wars of the past so that Americans can enjoy the freedom they currently have including the freedom to protest a war they don’t agree with. Try to recognize the hypocrisy involved in pointing that out to the protesters and then telling them to shut the hell up. Consider that the wars of the past to secure those freedoms are not the same as this war being protested now. Consider also the possibility that not everyone who is against this war is necessarily pro-Saddam Hussein. It is possible to be opposed to a method to reach a goal without being opposed to the goal itself. The ends do not always justify the means.
Jody, get your hand off my ass.
OK, some people are getting upset that I am only focused on the outrageous behavior we're seeing at the anti-war protests. With that in mind, I have embarked on a Google News search for similar activities at pro-war rallies.
I've looked here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, but I can't find anything about pro-war supporters blocking traffic, attacking police, throwing debris into the streets, puking on the sidewalks, playing dead for dramatic effect, etc.
Now, of course, this could be the media refusing to report such disturbances - so if there are contrary claims, please submit them so I may mock them as well.
What a lovely site, indeed.
Attention all Bloggers along the I25 corridor in Colorado, or anywhere in Colorado, or outside of Colorado who might be interested - tentative plans are afoot to have the Rocky Mountain Blogger Bash II on April 11, 2003 in downtown Denver.
If interested, drop me an e-mail, leave a comment, or telepathically communicate your desire to attend using your superhero powers that were acquired in a tragic childhood accident.
Michael Moore decided to use the Academy Awards, an event honoring some of the best in media, to hype his own agenda, to the surprise of no one:
"We live in fictitious times," he said when picking up the award for best documentary for his anti-gun film Bowling for Columbine."Speaking of fiction, uh... how about Bowling for Columbine? (link from Single Out West)
"We are against this war, Mr Bush. Shame on you. Shame on you!" he said to loud boos from an audience of 3,500, including most of Hollywood's top stars.Whether those in attendance support the war, or simply realized that it was neither the time nor the place to abuse the privilege of standing on that stage, it's nice to see them giving the boorish Moore what he deserved.
"I'm an American, and you don't leave your citizenship when you enter the doors of the Kodak Theatre. What's great about this country is that you can speak your mind," he said.Having knocked over that strawman with a full-body tackle, Mr. Moore lifted his girth from the floor. Hey, Mikey, no one said you leave your citizenship at the door - or that you can't speak your mind. What you fail to realize is that you are being provided the use of someone else's stage and someone else's airtime paid for by someone else's money to accept an award and offer thanks - not to get on your political soapbox and spout off like some kind of trained monkey.
Ook ook.
Update: Dear lord, is Kurt Loder of MTV the new voice of reason?
First of all, how relieved were you not to be subjected to three-and-a-half hours of preening anti-war moral instruction from a parade of Malibu millionaires? Even Barbra Streisand, that lovable, out-of-control diva, limited herself to praising the American tradition of free speech, "even for artists."(There appears to be a widespread delusion within the celebrity community that somebody has passed a law prohibiting them from declaiming their political opinions at every possible podium. Until the right-wing talk-show harridan Ann Coulter becomes president, this probably won't happen.)
In our continuing effort to be "selfish and irresponsible and...contributing to the degredation of the planet and its resources," the wife and I attended our second childbirth class today. We learned all about breathing techniques, massage, epidurals, and even got to see female genitalia grossly distorted by emerging baby heads and a placenta or two.
Oddly enough, as I move closer to the culmination of my selfishness and irresponsibility, those sorts of scenes don't really bother me. It's really quite an amazing sight. And I absolutely cannot wait until the day when I get to hold my little bundle of self-centeredness, alongside my partner in selfishness, and embark on our life as a family.
One British human shield has his eyes opened to the truth in Iraq:
We on the bus felt that we were sympathetic to the views of the Iraqi civilians, even though we didn't actually know any. The group was less interested in standing up for their rights than protesting against the US and UK governments.Not that I know any Iraqis either, but the protesters themselves indicate who they see as the enemy: George Bush and Tony Blair. I've yet to see one sign condemning Saddam for his atrocities, but plenty telling Dubya to choke on a pretzel or comparing him to Hitler, and Blair with a leash around his neck.
Now, before you get in a huff, I realize that there are some well-meaning anti-war people with rational opinions that should be heard; however, these protests overshadow them completely. The anti-war side might get some more respect if some of the more sane members of the movement would condemn the obstructionist bullshit in which their supposed ideologues engage.
While talking to his taxi driver, the human shield had this exchange:
Until then I had only heard the President spoken of with respect, but now this guy was telling me how all of Iraq's oil money went into Saddam's pocket and that if you opposed him politically he would kill your whole family.He wasn't aware that Saddam took the oil money? Or that he maintained political power with fear and violence? When I joke that the extreme anti-war left lives in a world of fantasy where cuddly bunnies run up to you for a hug, perhaps I'm not that far off the mark.It scared the hell out of me.
There's more, go read it.
(via Instapundit)