Letters to the Editor
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LWM
I'll tell you what we know. The Rolling Thunder campaign killed tens of thousands of people. I'll tell you what I don't know. How many of those were killed by John McCain. I would say that proposing that John McCain's bombings somehow caused no civilian deaths especially since they had to go back and bomb again and again, as you noted, requires a willing suspension of disbelief.
To review. We invaded Vietnam. We had no justification, we were as wrong as the Nazis were in killing jews. Our military killed one million people there. Anyone who chose to participate in that conflict, shows no remorse and is going to accept the title of war hero now for it, is a murderer.
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@ anon Pre-trial Detention
Germany had Eichmann, Amerika has Sherrif Joe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Arpaio
Many of the schmutzig gefangen at Uncle Joe's little torture camp have only been accused of a crime.
I would posit that many of his practices rise to the level of torture. And yes Aych, a lot of them are there for drugs.
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William Timberman
sometimes your enemies come to you unbidden
That word unbidden keeps tumbling in the back of my mind. I'm going to have to give that a lot more thought. My knowledge of eastern philosophies is too weak to articulate the linkages I sense, but can't find the words to say.
Everything you wrote is true. The response of folks like my father-in-law to his son's longish (not even long really) hair as a focal point for their friction simply left me amazed, and genuinely confused. Hair? I mean, hair? Only through the lenses of eyes grown much older do I understand that hair was a symbol for a whole gestalt (?) or belief system that the believers felt was under attack. Attack? By unarmed, wet behind the ears, 20-somethings?
There has been an interesting sort of exchange at Corrente, and I've seen it at Open Left as well. Paraphrasing; Obama is the representative of the younger generation. The one to vanquish those economic blood sucking Boomers. Cracks me up. Obama is the same age as my youngest brother, who depending on how you slice the generations, is a tail-ender of the Baby Boom. I can see how Obama (and my brother in his own way) acts as a bridge between that 'monolithic' and overwhelming Baby Boom generation and the groups which followed. I don't like the bridge I think I see Obama building, but I also, don't have to like it. I can accept it as inevitable, and maybe necessary.
And, we didn't ultimately break the orbit of those who held us in such contempt and, can I reasonably say, fear. I clearly get the sense that the youngest among us hold us responsible for failing to break that orbit. Perhaps, each generation inherits the enemies of the generation which went before. Going to have to give that a lot more thought, as well.
Thanks for your thoughts, William Timberman. I value them.
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@ bystander
And I yours. Yes, we've left the kids a hell of a mess, one which Obama won't get them out of because he can't. Still, it's a start. (We're always starting again. Yin and Yang, Eros and Thanatos. That's why I often curse, but never despair.)
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John King, Larry King, Tim Russert, fill in the blanks
You should not be surprised when a major Bush official appears in an interview and is given praising, inconsequential questions from journalists who have not done their homework.
There is a reason why McConnell will appear on CNN with John King, and not with Glenn Greenwald. Bush officials are the water from the well journalists need to irrigate their crops. Tough probing questions from a journalist ensures that the Bush administration will shut the valve to that journalist. It is an unwritten, but very well understood relationship.
It is a win-win for the journalists and the Bush Administration. Journalists can go into interviews with minimal preparation and gain access to big names and appear like serious journalists. Bush Administration officials then get to effectively promote their propaganda goals and objectives. It is like a sick and mutual relationship between two dysfunctional spouses.
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Many thanks for the host of responses and concern
Not sure if this will be seen, but wanted to let others know that I read everything and appreciated the responses I got after I succumbed to exhaustion last night. Yesterday was not a good day, the anniversary of the horror I shared, so my posts were definitely more testy than needed. So, apologies where warranted.
A few specifics as side notes:
Tempus - I was aware of the use of yellow ribbons prior to the AIDS ribbon, but did not know that they were worn by people in the same manner. I thought they were used on trees and homes. If I am wrong about that, then thanks for letting me know.
Jeanette - As I said above, I was probably not in the right mental place for posting last night. As Omooex pointed out, I tend to respond to those comments (or parts therein) which strike a chord in me, but I would do well to try harder not to be so defensive when I comment.
Pretty much everyone I know who wears the AIDS ribbon does so because they have either lost someone they care about, are involved in trying to do something about it, or both. But I am immersed in a unique crowd that does not necessarily reflect the rest of society in this respect.
I agree that these symbols are sometimes abused. I guess my assumption is that a person would not wear something unless they had actually (at some time) considered the worth of it. And that they do so to raise awareness and foster dialogue. It's not always the case, but why let the cynics and fad-chasers devalue those symbols we care about?
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@Pedinska
No worries. We all have times when we're overloaded (physically, emotionally, or spiritually). I hope you're having a much better day today.
I was struck by this:
I guess my assumption is that a person would not wear something unless they had actually (at some time) considered the worth of it. And that they do so to raise awareness and foster dialogue.
Because my assumption is often quite the opposite. Which means that I am way too cynical for my own good, and I should try to be more like you in this respect. Seriously.