Letters to the Editor
EMStoveken
Published Letters: 391 Editor's Choice: 44
-
Batman and the Surveillance State :::Spoilers:::
[Read the article: The saga of George W. Batman]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yes, Batman creates a surveillance state of sorts in order to find The Joker. (We'll ignore for a moment the mindnumbing speed with which it seems he installed the technology and sold the millions of phones needed to pull that off)
What keeps Batman's relative nobility in tact is his response to Lucius Fox's indictment of the system. He hands control off to someone other than himself, knowing that he alone is not to be trusted.
He also empowers Fox to destroy the apparatus once it has served its purpose.
If anything, this seems to serve as a case for limited, target-specific surveillance. The net was huge but directed towards a very specific target.
I think that is Osama Bin Ladin was known to be in the country, most Americans would be Okay using such technology with the a)ultra-precise targetting consideration (Joker/OBL) and b)a strong checks and balances system for the use of such technology (Lucius Fox/FISA court).
What I found particularly grating was the heavy handed "People are inherently good" bullshit exemplified by the Ferry Boat Conundrum. Sure, you can take that whole segment as a metaphor for the 9-11 attacks and the way that people put saving of lives above saving of their own asses, but the deck was so stacked in the Ferry Game that there would have been rioting and brawling on both ships as "blow 'em up" contingents fought to grab the detonator from "let's see how this plays out" group.
After all, the rules put forth by the Joker said that if one ship was not blown by midnight, that both would be destroyed. You mean to tell me that hundreds upon hundreds of people would collectively deside to call his bluff rather than blow up a group of dangerous criminals?
Likewise, you think that every last one of those criminals would opt to atone for their past sins by leaving the situation in the citizens' hands?
My personal jury is still out on the cover up on Harvey Dent/Two-Face's little killing spree. I guess I have no problem with the cover up itself so much as the "he was the best of us" mantra that just kept smacking the audience over the head. Yes, we get it. Vigilantism has its use in the world of Gotham, but real change needs to be brought about through legal means. blah blah blah.
The Joker's anarchistic glee made that movie.
All the moralistic preening beneath the surface served only to put the movie at risk. Luckily, I think Nolan was able to rein it in enough that I was not annoyed while watching, but only upon further reflection in places like this.
Damn you internet!
-
@Ondolette
[Read the article: Exposing Bush's historic abuse of power]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I have to take offense to this on two counts:
First off, GoodCelery/bebop-o is one of the kindest people I am acquainted with, and does a lot to undo the things this government slimes itself with in not supporting the troops/veterans. Many of his posts are full of insights and are not always easy.
Please take no offense. I meant that remark as the highest form of praise for GoodCelery/bebop-o. If one were to trawl through the posts on this site, they would find primaruly countless lukewarm rehashes of left-leaning talking points. (My own senseless blather included)
The gleaming exception would be the work of GoodCelery/bebop-o whose unique style and substance would legitimately send NSA sensors spinning much in the manner you describe. Poetry as Encryption is an apt metaphor and his stuff is good enough and "out there" enough for me to say it would be the only thing of interest to the All-Seeing Eye.
I do not have the benefit of the person's acquaintance, but have read pretty much all comments and have, indeed, gotten the sense that they are a first rate human being.
Rest assured, I meant my remark as a compliment.
-
HUMANWINE once again provides guidance in these dark times . . .
[Read the article: Exposing Bush's historic abuse of power]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Big Brother
by HUMANWINE (M@ McNiss and Holly Brewer)
Maybe you were right
those steps behind
start and stop as you do
Hiding out of light
irises
reset as you move
Maybe in the
bank they're watching
At your job they're watching
Television's watching
what your clone is watching
It's a blunt set up
under Caesar's lens
and the beast is watching Everything
Maybe you weren't off
when you said
We're just slaving for the man
Bred in martial law,
veiled in plastic thought
of a secret means to ends
Maybe big
brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
Let 'em watch!!
What are you gonna
sit around and worry?
Chewing your life to its tomb
What have you
given up on freedom
before they've taken it from you?
You're un
happy and losing your mind
You're naked
weeping in the mall
Shiveringly asking, "Why is
Everyone looking at me?!"
Arriving just in time
Here's the men in white
blurried through your tears then you
Roll off to rubber rooms
With doctors watching
and the cameras watching
and he watched all watching!
Even if the eye
on pyramids
Is keeping track of
Your every move
You can't contain your thoughts,
they're all you've got
Just go and do what you do!
So what if big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
big brother is watching
Let 'em watch!
-
Played the Statesman Well.
[Read the article: "People of the world -- look at Berlin!"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I somehow doubt that McCain could have made the same speech.
That said, I could definitely see McCain stressing the need to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. McCain, however, would have come right out and pointed to Iran, would have rattled some sabers and set tongues a-wagging.
All in all, well played on the part of the Senator from Illinois. Should be fun to hear how the Republicans spin such a solid yet non-partisan speech.