5.28.2007
Don't Die For A Lie
Memorial Day disturbs me.
Like other holidays, it's a time for fun-filled noise. Shouldn't this be a day for reflection?
I've been thinking about the phrase, "It's your duty to protect your country." Is it still your duty if your leaders are corrupt or just fucking stupid?
You can look at a country as being its citizens, the average folks, and those who are in power. Too often leaders have exploited the citizenry, especially when it comes to war. The power players get involved in all sorts of global shenanigans for personal gain and when a snag is hit, it's time to call upon the citizen to defend his country (i.e., defend the players' thwarted plans).
I don't question a citizen's sincere patriotism, especially the patriotism of someone who enlisted after 9/11 because he thought America was in immediate danger. Yes, terrorism is a problem -- but how big of a problem?
For the cynical power players 9/11 was an opportunity to inflate that problem into an all-purpose scam, a convenient rallying point invoked to rationalize the Iraq misadventure. Also, by creating The War On Terror, it would keep the populace pre-occupied so that it wouldn't have time to realize that the terrorism problem was the result of American players screwing around in the politics of other countries.
But this has happened before in history: if the players stirred up the hornet's nest, they went straight to plan B. Plan B was easy: demonize the enemy, hypnotize the citizenry with patriotic fervor, and let the dogs of war rip. The protected and comfortable masters let their obedient canines do all the dirty work for them.
No, I'm not one of those hippie-pacifistic types who believe all violence is wrong. I'm a realist. Sometimes war is justified. Sometimes it isn't. I've seen how power players will lie and lead on others on, only gambling with their money and prestige, but not with their lives. In fact, they won't even risk the lives of their own pampered offspring. (You don't see the Bush Twins serving in Iraq, do you?)
Leaders are supposed to represent the people. In actuality leaders only represent themselves. If you think otherwise, you're living a blissful life.
In ancient times it was believed that a man born mentally defective had glimpsed the gods: his subnormal condition was a sign of their awesome energies. In a way he was blessed.
Wrapped in his nation's flag, the idiot leader of the US commands his followers to die needlessly, his simpleminded dream of victory a nightmare for everyone else. But despite his gods-blessed mind, the leader must know that his crusade is nothing but a lie.
When someone dies for his country, is it really for his fellow citizens or for the power players that control the nation at that moment?
Something to think about besides the parades and the picnics on this day to remember.
(C) Copyright 2007 Stan Spire
5.16.2007
A Battle To Win Minds And Hearts
Not much war news lately in the Pee-Pee, the Plattsburgh daily (news)paper.
I'm not referring to the conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq. What I'm talking about is the battle between Plattsburgh's House O' Healing and the Medical Center across the lake in Burlington, Vermont. Each one has wielded advertising to win the minds of potential patients. And when a mind is won, so is the heart -- and with it all the other body organs.
Pick up the paper and see an ad with an endorsement from a local person who had heart trouble but found the best treatment in Vermont. After all, the Medical Center based in Burlington has the latest tech.
Oh ya?, responds the Plattsburgh hospital. Well, we just expanded our cardiac unit and here's a testimonial from a satisfied customer who said he got the best treatment for his heart trouble right in his own backyard. He didn't have to voyage across the lake to be saved.
Back and forth it went, one ad from the House O' Healing followed by one from the Medical Center. It was like the little kid on the block (Plattsburgh) felt inferior, wanting to quickly grow up to be a big guy in the neighborhood (Burlington). But I think the Medical Center now has one up on the House O' Healing. It ran an ad in the Plattsburgh University newspaper saying that it can now harvest human ova. The pitch is a young college gal with extra eggs (and extra debt) can help a childless couple (while receiving a much needed cash inflow). So far the House O' Healing hasn't countered with its own ova-harvesting program. (Considering how it treated me in its ER last year after an accident, I wouldn't trust them to harvest eggs from hens.)
One criticism heard about Plattsburgh hospitaloid operation is that more money is spent on equipment and buildings than on its employees and its patients. Recently the House O' Healing started a two-year program to expand into a bigger operation. It just can't shake its size problem when compared to the Burlington Medical Center. (It's a guy thing. "Na, na! My colonoscope is bigger than yours.")
The House O' Healing nurses have unionized, complaining that the hospital doesn't pay them a fair wage while its president and board of directors make obscene lumps of $. Is the Plattsburgh hospital a humanitarian institution for helping the sick, or is it just another corporation out to keep growing, to keep raking in the money, to keep paying big dividends?
I was talking with a nurse the other day. She used to work at the House O' Healing. But like many other nurses over the years who were once House employees, she has quit there and is now commuting all the way across the lake to work at the Medical Center. Let's face it: nurse turnover isn't a good thing when it comes to maintaining consistency of care.
But screw care if it stops the two year expansion program and bigger profits.
(C) Copyright 2007 Stan Spire
5.14.2007
Iran: The Second Sucker Punch
Members of al-Qaeda must be as happy as pigs in shit because the US is bogged down in Iraq, trapped by a no-win situation. Al-Qaeda wasn't there when Saddam was in power but they're there now.
Why did al-Qaeda attack America on 9/11? One reason could be to sucker this country and its idiot president into endless wars overseas. Shrub couldn't be satisfied with Afghanistan, he had to get greedy and invade Iraq. Now there's rumblings about our pinhead POTUS "Bringing It On" with Iran.
Al-Qaeda must be salivating, hoping that Uncle Sap will fall into that final trap, a war on three fronts. If we're hit by another terrorist attack, maybe cooler heads will prevail and take rational action. To al-Qaeda we're "The Great Satan" and they will try to drain this country dry of its military and financial resources. Don't forget, "God" is on their side (they call him Allah.) In some ways they seem to be more devote in their faith; look at all of the suicide bombers.
The US won't survive another sucker punch if it reacts so stupidly again. Even with our God.
(C) Copyright 2007 Stan Spire
5.05.2007
A Belated “Happy Holiday!”
May 1st, 2007. Mission Accomplished Day.
It was four years ago on that date that Our President declared that we had won the war in Iraq. He stood there on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, saying that major military operations were over in Iraq.
When he spoke those historic words, a giant banner hung in the background proclaiming MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. That’s why May 1st each year is Mission Accomplished Day (MAD).
I don’t know about you but I’ve been celebrating all week and will have to spend this weekend recovering. The parades, the fireworks, the picnics – what a time! Indeed, it’s a MAD holiday!
Americans deserve to be proud. Our President has brought peace and prosperity to the world. The liberated people of Iraq have built a thriving democracy, a stable society, a strong economy. Terrorism is on the decline. And even though it wasn’t our main interest, the victory in Iraq has reduced the price of gasoline to historic lows, only 70 cents a gallon.
Also, countries like Iran have seen the light and are becoming more democratic, realizing the practical benefits now being demonstrated in Iraq.
Wait a minute. Hold on. The hit of LSD that someone slipped me is wearing off…
© Copyright 2007 Stan Spire
