Another brilliant Dan Carlin this week (www.dancarlin.com) about the Arab-Israeli problem. The dead right certainty of both sides, the fiendish merchants of death on both sides, the senseless waste of human life…like Dan, like all thinking beings, it sickens me. Dan points out that, to Americans, the struggle is nonsensical-what is worth sacrificing, and slaughtering, anyone’s children, especially one’s own?
Dan cleverly links it to the old Kinison routine about feeding Ethiopians-why pay money to feed people who live in a desert? Why not pay them to MOVE TO WHERE THE FOOD IS? Thus, why not move the decent people, the people not bound by ancient historical grudges,
I think one of the factors here is that, as Americans, we have always had more room, more land, more everything. If you don’t like life in Houston, you move to Fort Lauderdale, or Portland, or Flint, or Sacramento. Palestinians and Israelis can’t do that.
Dan’s second half was a brief disquisition about presidential power, how powers that appear tyrannical and dictatorial in the hands of President McFlightsuit look downright reasonable in the hands of President Obama, or, alternatively, powers that are right and just now, under Obama, appear oppressive. I have to admit he has a point here-I oppose expanded presidential powers, but I feel more comfortable with these powers in the hands of Obama. Dan’s conclusion is an excellent one-in order to fix the problem of presidential authority, he not only has to give up the power, he has to get Congress to TAKE the power-and the corresponding responsibility.
I can’t believe it took me this long to notice this story-apparently a candidate for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee circulated a CD of Christmas songs on which he sung a parody of “Puff The Magic Dragon” which was called “Barack The Magic Negro”. I don’t think I have anything to add except, to borrow a phrase from Bill Simmons, ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Republican Party!
Well, no, maybe I do have something to add. The traditional defense in these matters is to note that the speaker/writer “was just trying to be funny”. Uh…no. Not funny. Sorry. Unless you’re referring to a defunct baseball league, that word is not uttered in polite company. Not because it’s politically incorrect, just because it’s rude.
As John Oliver points out on The Bugle this week, there wasn’t somewhere in the process of creating this musical masterpiece that someone said, “Hey, wait a minute.”?
Unbelievable.
Then again, that word doesn’t really apply when applied to the Republican Party in 2008. As someone smarter than me wrote, not so much a political party as an organized criminal conspiracy.
When I read comments like that I am not surprised our country is heading towards its worst economic status ever. Absolute idiots are in various positions throughout our government and rather than welcoming someone who could lead us back to happier times, the immediate response is ignorance. Unfortunately, history shows it's human nature for people to fear change on any scale and even more difficult to ask someone to take a moment to consider someone else's stance on anything. Traditions are very important, but so is empathy and understanding. We could all stand to benefit if those two things were more of a commonplace than ignorance and fear.
ReplyDeleteThe racist "magic negro" meme was started by Spike Lee, of all people. Rush Limbaugh strengthened it in a hamhanded fashion. That's where this song comes from.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting-I didn't know that was Lee-but, on reflection, it sounds like something he would say.
ReplyDelete