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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Arvin Hill
Published Letters: 85 Editor's Choice: 2
For what it's worth, Joan, you were right about it being a sincere question. I appreciate you answering it, although I have a feeling I'll be asking it again, as I would any other Democratic Party Loyalist who worked as an editor for Salon. I mean, hey, when duty calls, it can be a heady experience.
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akira1's mention of "womens rights" in a previous comment raises another tragic consequence of Hillary's support of George W. Bush's illegal, immoral and extremely reckless invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Because Hillary Clinton and other pro-war Democrats couldn't bear the thought of being left out of the avalanche of confetti they mistakenly believed would follow America's Cakewalk To Victory, Iraqi women have paid and continue to pay a heavy price. Just ask the tens of thousands (at least) of Iraqi refugees who are now forced to work as prostitutes in Syria and elsewhere just to eat and/or feed their children. Women whose husbands have been slaughtered in the "sectarian violence" which Hillary conveniently avoids accepting any responsibility for whatsoever. Women whose children no longer have fathers. Of those who do have husbands and fathers, few have any way of earning of living. For some strange reason, jobs are in short supply for refugees.
Yeah, she's a real feminist, that Hillary Clinton. The rest of the world's women should be praying she never takes a comparable interest in their fate. Particularly women accustomed to life in secular state since since they might not appreciate the transition to a brutal, oppressive lifestyle mandated by whatever religious extremists are ushered into power.
How has Hillary addressed this issue? She hasn't. Aside from blaming the "government" of Iraq for not making good use of American benevolence bestowed upon them. It's a nifty answer which satisfies Democrats, Republicans and the masturbating media guilty of fanning the flames of conquest... not to mention a substantial portion of the public which accepted the rotten premise of the war. Presto! Absolution for everybody.
If Hillary cared one bit about those women and their families - real, live human beings who suffered and are suffering the brunt of the American political careerism which Hillary exemplifies in spades without the least bit of shame or accountability - she would welcome every one of them to the United States for a shot at some dignity and maybe even a life. But that would amount to an admission of failure. Of complicity. Of responsibility.
This, of course, will not happen. Because if there's one thing everybody knows about Hillary Clinton and the party she represents, it's that she and they - much like the Republicans they ostensibly oppose - don't make mistakes (John Edwards' belated admission notwithstanding). Sound like anyone else we might know? Oh, I forgot. It's "breathtakingly dumb" to suggest that Hillary and George W. Bush share at least that much in common. (By the way, I don't care for Ana Marie Cox any more than you do, Joan - admittedly, it's well established I don't like you, either - but your impulse to reflexively defend whatever Cox attacks might not be the best strategy for whatever it is you think you're doing on television with your circle-jerk peers. But I guess that would spoil the dynamic tension for those who mysteriously attach some value to showbiz punditry.)
Luckily for Hillary - and for the same reason - no one else wants to tackle the refugee issue, either, even though the consequences wrought by this epic crime will be sending shock waves throughout The Middle East for the rest of our days. But the womens rights costume which Hillary proudly displays - the one admired by millions of voters - makes her silence on the subject (to say nothing of her refusal to come clean about her vote and subsequent support of the mission) all the more revolting.
Those who lose interest in the horse race might want to read Nir Rosen's "No Going Back - Little relief in sight for millions of displaced Iraqis" which spells out just how widespread and devastating the refugee problem is. Maybe someone will ask Hillary about it. Not that she's capable of anything but the usual robotic evasion (and, why not, since it tends to satisfy the robotic media).
http://www.bostonreview.net/BR32.5/rosen.php
But it's funny how the line of rubberneckers goes on for miles.
I'm voting for a grownup. I'm voting for Hillary Clinton.
That reminds me of another clever little ditty: The grownups are in charge. Remember that one from the early days of GWB's ascension? Ahhh, good times.
Of course, grownups thoroughly enjoy the company of other grownups, which must be why HRC and her fellow Senators provided such courageous leadership to bravely assist The Unitary Executive in ushering thousands of Americans to their deaths (who cares? they're all volunteers!) - to say nothing of the Iraqi casualties who had the audacity to live and work and raise their families in the cross hairs of the American Empire. Unfortunate, yes, but it's all so very understandable. They had good intentions, and Hillary's were the purest of 'em. Blood for careerism? What a vulgar suggestion. She should get a prize just for the countless improvements she's helped to bring about for all those secular, educated women of Iraq - even if they are working in Syria and Jordan and elsewhere as prositutes now. Hey, who knew? Freedom and democracy, George W. Bush style!
And that's not even counting what she's done for the home team. Her admirable diligence in thwarting the surveillance state. Saving the nation from predatory lenders. Things of that nature.
Yeah, she's a real humanitarian, that Hillary Clinton. And one hell of a grownup.
Be real proud when you cast that vote. And wash your hands when you get home. Good luck getting the spot out.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
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