There is an old saying: "We don't see the world the way it is; we see the world the way we are."
I believe that.
I think right wingers' view of the world reflects their inner turmoil and their inner fears, which are often suppressed.
They see boogie men everywhere.
They think millions of people are out to destroy us, and they think the poor are hell-bent on stealing the money of the rich.
Not true.
Most people just want meaningful work, a happy life, and to raise their children in peace.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
SOCIALISM
I don't get the current right-wing uproar about "socialism." It's fine by the right wingers when Halliburton and Lockheed Martin make millions of dollars off the illegal and unnecessary Iraq war. That's OK. It's fine when big companies get corporate welfare. It's fine when the rich get richer through government subsidy. But talk about helping poor people raise themselves up by their bootstraps, and the right wingers cry, "Oh, Lordy Mama! Save us from the evils of socialism."
The right wingers seem to enjoy seeing poor people, especially blacks and Latinos, hurting and living in ghettos and dealing drugs.
They should watch "The Wire." That's what's really happening in this country.
The right wingers seem to enjoy seeing poor people, especially blacks and Latinos, hurting and living in ghettos and dealing drugs.
They should watch "The Wire." That's what's really happening in this country.
OBAMA & COMBAT
I was very happy to see the Navy SEALs rescue Capt. Phillips from the pirates off Somalia. Sounds like it went perfectly.
I'm glad Obama gave the word to use force. We need a balanced approach to world leadership. As Teddy Roosevelt said, "Walk softly and carry a big stick."
The U.S. right wingers don't get this. They think we should "Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran" and "Drill Baby Drill," pushing for simple-minded tactics to try to solve complex problems.
Thank heaven Obama has a more nuanced view.
It looks to me like Obama is leading us to our rightful place in the world, not as ideological bullies driven by fear, but as thoughtful, strong leaders who have the whole world's best interests at heart.
I'm glad Obama gave the word to use force. We need a balanced approach to world leadership. As Teddy Roosevelt said, "Walk softly and carry a big stick."
The U.S. right wingers don't get this. They think we should "Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran" and "Drill Baby Drill," pushing for simple-minded tactics to try to solve complex problems.
Thank heaven Obama has a more nuanced view.
It looks to me like Obama is leading us to our rightful place in the world, not as ideological bullies driven by fear, but as thoughtful, strong leaders who have the whole world's best interests at heart.
Friday, April 17, 2009
OBAMA MAKES ME PROUD
I am so happy to have a person with a brain in the White House and so happy to be rid of those ideology driven morons. I wish I could think of a more polite way to characterize former Pres. George W. Bush and his cohorts.
It's a pleasure to see the USA reaching out to cooperate with other countries instead of throwing its weight around like the stupid bullies we had before.
It's a pleasure to see the USA reaching out to cooperate with other countries instead of throwing its weight around like the stupid bullies we had before.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
A MORE SECURE AMERICA
My prediction:
The USA will be much more secure under Obama than it has been under Bush.
Here's why:
The Bush people have alienated our allies around the world and created many new enemies.
Perhaps Bush and the neoconservatives have done this inadvertently, under the misguided idea that they could bully other nations into doing the USA's bidding.
When Bush said, "You're either with us or against us," it was the dumbest thing I ever heard in foreign policy.
No decent person could have supported our misuse of military force.
Bush stepped all over the vast world-wide goodwill we enjoyed after 9/11.
We should have been building schools and hospitals all across South Asia and the Middle East.
Instead we have been bombing and killing left and right.
Every time we bombed another wedding party and killed another 50 people, we created hundreds or even thousands of new enemies.
No wonder they hate and fear us. We've been killing their cousins and their aunts and uncles.
I always thought 9/11 should have been treated as a criminal conspiracy, which is what it was, and its leaders should have been tracked down by police forces around the world.
I would estimate that the plot was hatched and carried out by about 175 people scattered across fewer than half a dozen countries.
Does it make any sense to kill 100,000 people in Iraq, in response?
The 9/11 plot was developed partly in Hamburg, Germany, in Mohammad Atta's apartment, but the Bush people didn't think about invading that sovereign European nation.
Anyway, here is a column in the NY Times that explains what the Obama administration can do to make us more secure:
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/right-the-wrongs/?8dpc
(Copy and paste this address into your browser address bar.)
Basically, it says we should cultivate good relationships around the world and try to help people achieve a better life and stop being the world's bully.
Amen to that.
Please join me in wishing the Obama people good luck and Godspeed in righting the wrongs wrought by Bush.
The USA will be much more secure under Obama than it has been under Bush.
Here's why:
The Bush people have alienated our allies around the world and created many new enemies.
Perhaps Bush and the neoconservatives have done this inadvertently, under the misguided idea that they could bully other nations into doing the USA's bidding.
When Bush said, "You're either with us or against us," it was the dumbest thing I ever heard in foreign policy.
No decent person could have supported our misuse of military force.
Bush stepped all over the vast world-wide goodwill we enjoyed after 9/11.
We should have been building schools and hospitals all across South Asia and the Middle East.
Instead we have been bombing and killing left and right.
Every time we bombed another wedding party and killed another 50 people, we created hundreds or even thousands of new enemies.
No wonder they hate and fear us. We've been killing their cousins and their aunts and uncles.
I always thought 9/11 should have been treated as a criminal conspiracy, which is what it was, and its leaders should have been tracked down by police forces around the world.
I would estimate that the plot was hatched and carried out by about 175 people scattered across fewer than half a dozen countries.
Does it make any sense to kill 100,000 people in Iraq, in response?
The 9/11 plot was developed partly in Hamburg, Germany, in Mohammad Atta's apartment, but the Bush people didn't think about invading that sovereign European nation.
Anyway, here is a column in the NY Times that explains what the Obama administration can do to make us more secure:
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/right-the-wrongs/?8dpc
(Copy and paste this address into your browser address bar.)
Basically, it says we should cultivate good relationships around the world and try to help people achieve a better life and stop being the world's bully.
Amen to that.
Please join me in wishing the Obama people good luck and Godspeed in righting the wrongs wrought by Bush.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Justice Comes to O.J.
Perhaps the book is about to close on O.J. Simpson, famous football player, funny actor, and stone-cold killer.
The Juice has been found guilty of robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas, and he faces 15 years to life in prison.
(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/us/04simpson.html?hp)
Back in 1995, I was shocked, saddened and horrified when O.J. was acquitted for the double murder of his ex-wife and her friend.
In case you don't remember, his blood was found on the victims, and their blood was found on him.
Police even found blood from the crime scene on Simpson's socks and in his shower drain at home.
No doubt he was guilty, but he got off, because the police were sloppy, the prosecution was inept, and the jury was biased.
So now justice has finally come to O.J.
I think it's bad for society and bad for the individual when serious crimes to go unpunished.
After all, the moral guidance of the law is one of the foundations of civilization.
My first reaction, many years ago, when I first heard of the murders, was to feel sorry for O.J.
Back then, in 1994, the football great and actor was a beloved figure.
Not any more.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
It looks like he has a character disorder, i.e., he doesn't know the difference between right and wrong and has no empathy for others. He has destroyed the lives of two others and now it looks like his reputation and his freedom are gone forever.
It is a sad end to a storied life.
I'm sorry it has taken so long.
Justice delayed, in this case, is no longer justice denied.
The Juice has been found guilty of robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas, and he faces 15 years to life in prison.
(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/us/04simpson.html?hp)
Back in 1995, I was shocked, saddened and horrified when O.J. was acquitted for the double murder of his ex-wife and her friend.
In case you don't remember, his blood was found on the victims, and their blood was found on him.
Police even found blood from the crime scene on Simpson's socks and in his shower drain at home.
No doubt he was guilty, but he got off, because the police were sloppy, the prosecution was inept, and the jury was biased.
So now justice has finally come to O.J.
I think it's bad for society and bad for the individual when serious crimes to go unpunished.
After all, the moral guidance of the law is one of the foundations of civilization.
My first reaction, many years ago, when I first heard of the murders, was to feel sorry for O.J.
Back then, in 1994, the football great and actor was a beloved figure.
Not any more.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
It looks like he has a character disorder, i.e., he doesn't know the difference between right and wrong and has no empathy for others. He has destroyed the lives of two others and now it looks like his reputation and his freedom are gone forever.
It is a sad end to a storied life.
I'm sorry it has taken so long.
Justice delayed, in this case, is no longer justice denied.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Sick of the Lies
I am sick to death of politicians and their lies.
John McCain keeps saying that Obama would "raise your taxes."
The fact is that Obama would LOWER taxes for all but the very rich.
Sarah Palin says over and over, endlessly, "I said thanks but no thanks to that bridge to nowhere."
That is a flat lie.
She took the money, and the state of Alaska is building the "highway to nowhere," which is the approach to the so-far nonexistent bridge.
McCain voted against increasing financial aid for college to military veterans.
But when you tell people that, they say, "No, he didn't. He's a veteran."
When you tell people the truth, they lie to themselves.
They don't need the politicians to lie to them.
They do it on their own.
They contradict the facts with their preconceptions.
How bizarre.
Here is a good article, from the U of Chicago Law School faculty blog, on political lies:
http://uchicagolaw.typepad.com/faculty/2008/09/political-lies.html
(Copy and paste into your browser address bar.)
It basically says that political lying, as a tactic, undermines democracy.
I agree.
In other words, these lying politicians, who pretend to uphold democracy, are actually tearing it down.
John McCain keeps saying that Obama would "raise your taxes."
The fact is that Obama would LOWER taxes for all but the very rich.
Sarah Palin says over and over, endlessly, "I said thanks but no thanks to that bridge to nowhere."
That is a flat lie.
She took the money, and the state of Alaska is building the "highway to nowhere," which is the approach to the so-far nonexistent bridge.
McCain voted against increasing financial aid for college to military veterans.
But when you tell people that, they say, "No, he didn't. He's a veteran."
When you tell people the truth, they lie to themselves.
They don't need the politicians to lie to them.
They do it on their own.
They contradict the facts with their preconceptions.
How bizarre.
Here is a good article, from the U of Chicago Law School faculty blog, on political lies:
http://uchicagolaw.typepad.com/faculty/2008/09/political-lies.html
(Copy and paste into your browser address bar.)
It basically says that political lying, as a tactic, undermines democracy.
I agree.
In other words, these lying politicians, who pretend to uphold democracy, are actually tearing it down.
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