Journal perfessor multigeek's Journal: Nasty Reminders 18
For any of you who are at all familiar with Doonesbury and have not been reading it recently, I strongly suggest that you start here and read the next few strips.
Jesus. I spend at least several hours a week thinking about military and related policy issues and somehow I've let myself get dulled out. "Just a part of the human cost." "Nothing we can do but try to cut down this one and try to prevent the next one." "Caring about the individual soldiers is just an impediment to working to get them out."
Blah.
Blah.
Blah.
I've let myself let go of the emotional reality of what is happening over there. I've become yet one more deadened policy guy working to not think about what this shit means on the small scale.
And somehow I was more freaked by what just happened to a cartoon character then I have been by anything else since we first took Baghdad. Then, of all places, Get Fuzzy (couldn't figure out how to link to it, sorry) took on the same issue, with, in fact, a sharper political bite.
We all know that more and more of our people are dying over there. Most of us even know already that Shrub and his "people" (I use the term loosely) are trying to keep it quiet. Many of us even know about the current "stop loss" and reactivation and restaffing of draft boards.
We have a brutal path ahead and some horrible actions as a nation to atone for. And we don't even know how bad it gets from here.
But however bad it may be getting, let's not repeat one mistake of the Indochina wars and allow the returning vets to disappear into obscurity. They shouldered their burden. Increasingly, we will have to shoulder ours.
Rustin
Jesus. I spend at least several hours a week thinking about military and related policy issues and somehow I've let myself get dulled out. "Just a part of the human cost." "Nothing we can do but try to cut down this one and try to prevent the next one." "Caring about the individual soldiers is just an impediment to working to get them out."
Blah.
Blah.
Blah.
I've let myself let go of the emotional reality of what is happening over there. I've become yet one more deadened policy guy working to not think about what this shit means on the small scale.
And somehow I was more freaked by what just happened to a cartoon character then I have been by anything else since we first took Baghdad. Then, of all places, Get Fuzzy (couldn't figure out how to link to it, sorry) took on the same issue, with, in fact, a sharper political bite.
We all know that more and more of our people are dying over there. Most of us even know already that Shrub and his "people" (I use the term loosely) are trying to keep it quiet. Many of us even know about the current "stop loss" and reactivation and restaffing of draft boards.
We have a brutal path ahead and some horrible actions as a nation to atone for. And we don't even know how bad it gets from here.
But however bad it may be getting, let's not repeat one mistake of the Indochina wars and allow the returning vets to disappear into obscurity. They shouldered their burden. Increasingly, we will have to shoulder ours.
Rustin
Get Fuzzy (Score:2)
Re:Get Fuzzy (Score:2)
Re:Get Fuzzy link & GF's creator (Score:2)
Interestingly, Conley looks to have disabled his personal info and contact pages for the duration. An article in AP on the Iraq vet series says that he is refusing to be interviewed.
I always liked GF as a silly strip with no broader significance but he's getting really ascerbically political this past six months or so. I'ld love to know what led him to change.
He's always presented as this very me [meet-the-makers.com]
Re:Atone? (Score:2)
You're confusing our atonment with our alleged crime.
Saddam Hussein's tyranny (not a theocracy) existed in large part due to OUR actions. Our going to war to remove him--and staying to have a new government set up--is our atonement, not our sin.
And let's not get into the sins of our government in lying to and misleading our nation, shall we?
Oh, this is GREAT! (Score:2)
"Pulling heathens from the primordial stew"? OMG, that has GOT to be the best article title I've seen in ages. May I use it?
Though now that I think about it, perhaps it's even better as a company motto.
Civilizationcorp. Pulling Heathens from The Primordial Stew Since 1776.
I *love*
-Rustin
The Cowards Return (Score:2)
I'm a bit short on time (having blown hours on
Fuck you. Brilliant. Inspired. But I'm afraid that I only have sex with sentient beings. You clearly don't qualify. Remember, the Turing test requires original thought.
. . . America-bashing
No, cowardly one, I'm not "bashing" America. If you
Re:subscription (Score:2)
For the moment I'm keeping things as they are. In fact, I meant what I said. I *love* excuses to be abusive towards somebody who A.) deserves it, and B.) knows what they are in for. I have enough accumulated rage at any time that I then waste even more energy repressing it.
Anyway, it's impor
I hate all anon fuxx0rz (Score:2)
Yeah- I like these new get fuzzy t00nz. They have mucho edge.
I'd just like to point out ... (Score:2)
BTW The woman who took this very powerful photograph [nwsource.com] has been fired [nwsource.com] for allowing the Seattle Times to publish it.
Can't have photos of flag draped coffins en mass, it might remind people that the 700+ US dead represent 700 coffins being offloaded at Dover, that 700 families will never see their loved ones again, and that 700 soldie
Would you add me to your friends list? (Score:1)
I seem to remember that we are on good terms. I know that we don't agree much on anything. Despite that, though, I think that it would be profitable to be able to maintain communications between you & me.
Re:Would you add me to your friends list? (Score:2)
Rustin
You're awesome. Thanks. :^) [nt] (Score:1)