You say "Social Justice" like it's a bad thing...

Some of what I've watched and read today...

"How curious that a mob fond of likening President Obama to Hitler knows so little about history that it doesn’t recognize its own small-scale mimicry of Kristallnacht. The weapon of choice for vigilante violence at Congressional offices has been a brick hurled through a window. So far."

Read the rest here.

"A few months ago, Sarah Palin mockingly asked them (democrats), "How's that hopey-changey thing working out for ya?" Great, actually. Thanks for asking. And how's that whole Hooked on Phonics thing working out for you?"

 Read the rest here.

That's not so cool, Jesse James...

"Dear Jesse James,
Really, dude?  You’re cheating on an Oscar winner with “The Illustrated Skank”?  Seems like a bad choice, brah.  Look, we get it – mixing it up is what guys do.  On a base level, we totally understand.  Kinda…"

Read the rest here.

 Sarah Palin, flip-flopping at the speed of light:

Yesterday:  “Our vision for America is anchored in time-tested truths that the government that governs least governs best, that the Constitution provides the path to a more perfect union — it’s the Constitution,”

 Today: "In these volatile times when we are a nation at war, now more than ever is when we need a commander-in-chief, not a constitutional law professor lecturing us from a lectern."

Read the rest here.

Another Sign...

I had originally planned to write about the upcoming health care vote, but something else decided to sneak up on me from behind.  (Suffice to say that "compromise" means that no one's going to be happy.)

A few months ago, I read about the case of Peter Watts, a Canadian science fiction writer who had been stopped at the US/Canadian border, leaving the US after a business trip.  It was there that he was beaten and arrested by US border guards, charged with assaulting a federal officer.

At the time, I felt only irritation at the arrogance of the US border guards.  Like other occupations involving a badge, it attracts a certain type of individual.  In my naiveté, I thought that the charges would be dropped, or drastically lessened, and apologies made to Mr. Watts, and Canadians in general. 

It didn't work out that way.  Peter Watts was convicted of obstruction for getting out of his car at a US Border crossing and asking what was going on, then not complying fast enough when he was told to get back in the car. He faces up to two years in jail.  His lawyer did an excellent job, catching numerous falsehoods in the guards' testimony, and finally getting them to admit that Mr. Watts assaulted no one.  But this is America, and as recent events have shown us, truth doesn't really matter all that much here.  He was convicted because the law is written in such a way (as most are, now) as to make any action on your part a felony.  As Mr. Watts explains:

The press has frequently characterized the charge against me as “assaulting a federal officer”. The alleged (and discredited) “choking” episode has been repeated ad nauseum. Here at the Sarnia Best Western I don’t have the actual statute in front of me but it includes a lengthy grab-bag of actions, things like “assault”, “resist”, “impede”, “threaten”, “obstruct” — hell, “contradict” might be in there for all I know. And under “obstruct” is “failure to comply with a lawful order”, and it’s explicitly stated that violence on the part of the perp is not necessary for a conviction. Basically, everything from asking “Why?” right up to chain-saw attack falls under the same charge. And it’s all a felony.

As Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing noted:

That's apparently the statute: if you don't comply fast enough with a customs officer, he can beat you, gas you, jail you and then imprison you for two years.

This isn't about safety, it isn't about security, it isn't about the rule of law.

It's about obedience.

Authoritarianism is a disease of the mind. It criminalizes the act of asking "why?" It is the obedience-sickness that turns good people into perpetrators and victims of atrocities great and small.

Mr. Doctrorow is right.  It is a disease.  This incident is but one relatively small symptom.  In the weeks, months and even years after 9/11, we did some incredibly stupid things.  One of which is to give anyone with a badge carte blanche to do whatever they will, with whomever they will.  We did these things out of fear and rage.  I suppose we can be forgiven that to a degree.  

But, at some point, reason should return.

There are those, both here and abroad, that have a vested interest in keeping us afraid.  

As a nation, we have consistently failed to live up to ideals we set for ourselves in the beginning.  And if, in the end, we lose that nation and our liberty, it will be no more than we deserve.

Haiti

I have been absent as of late.  No excuse except my own inherent laziness.  I hope this finds everyone who reads it well.  Sadly, 2010 has already witnessed its first disaster.

By now, everyone has heard about the earthquake in Haiti.  I'm sure everyone has also heard the responses from folks like Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh.
Their lack of compassion and common decency should be self evident to everyone.

I won't respond to it, mostly because Jon Stewart has already done so with his usual good humor and common sense.

Luckily, most Americans are decent and compassionate, as evidenced in the great outpouring of support and help from those who have little to begin with.  Those that don't feel this way all seem to be posting on Craigslist's R&R
section.  Let them.

This morning I watched an interview with former Presidents' Bush and Clinton on Face the Nation.  They have been appointed by President Obama to coordinate and expedite relief efforts.  Both men are a great example of putting aside political differences for the greater good, and America is fortunate that they, and those like them, are willing to serve when called.

And so, I urge everyone reading this to check the sidebar and give what you can to the Red Cross.  We live paycheck to paycheck, and have done so.  If we spend a couple of weeks eating more beenie weenies and top ramen than normal, we still have many, many blessings to count.

Actually, I should thank them...

Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving. I thoroughly enjoyed mine.  I ate, then slept, then woke up, then ate...  See a pattern here?  To the male of the species, Thanksgiving dinner is like sex.  We have little choice but to sleep afterwards.  

 

Spent the weekend putting up the tree and the lights.  Both pitiful, but ours.  

 

Had a nice first day back to work, charming little old ladies, and hot college chicks (for both of whom my fondness knows no bounds)

 

Then I get home and check my email.  Awaiting me was a little blurb with the words "Let's take back America before it's too late!" (those words are never a good sign, no matter who says them).  Attached was a link to a Youtube video (I will spare you that), replete with images of eagles, waving american flags...and teabaggers (why do I do this to myself?).  All of this was accompanied by a butchered version of "New York, New York" (for this alone, they should get whacked).

It was such an incredible piece of dreck, both in execution and intent, that my response was somewhat...testy.  I remember saying something about their inherent lack of credibility...the rest is a bit of a blur.  I was that pissed.

Liberalism and Conservatism.  The Ying and Yang that once made America great (or at least tolerable).  Look how they've gone and fucked up the balance.

And for that, they get from me a Chuck Heston sized "Damn you all to Hell!".