Friday, January 09, 2004

"We bomb the world. We bomb the children..."


Another hundred points for Dubya!

Rules of Engagement


Videotape Shows U.S. Helicopter Crew Firing on Suspected Iraqi Insurgents

Peter Jennings, Martha Radditz and ABC News are to be commended for showing us this astonishing video of the nonchalance of life and death in at least some of the minds, sadly our minds, in Iraq. I am appalled at this kind of activity, and can't help but think that we have been pulled into a tit-for-tat of evil deeds. It is a strange twist of fate, I suppose, that after presenting this awful scene, Mr. Jennings introduces the next segment with "Mars dramatically infected, um, affected, by Bush policies..." Maybe Mr. Jennings could not sit and take the fact that we have been driven to such horrible acts of nonchalant murder. Is this micropreemption? Where does preemption stop?

With a new president?

Well...if we must, we must. And not only Christians, but Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Buddhists, Taoists, Presbyterians, atheists, agnostics, and Baptists are disturbed by such things as we have witnessed today. And we know that it is not what Jesus would do. It is also not what Buddha, Gandhi, Muhammed, Lao Tse, Martin Luther King, or Martin Buber, for that matter, would do. It is supremely impolite if nothing else.
But it is something else. And there absolutely has to be a better way. If this is the best Bush can do...we need to demand better, and vote him from office. An office he seized in the first place.

What is it with Texans, anyway?

Will Mars be the sharks and Condit of 9-10? We need to demand more of our News organs. The happy news comes on after the real news. Demand tough reporting from that which shares a mere 18 minutes or so with us. We are on to "junk-food news". Who's up and who's down, recurring weather phenomena, bla bla bla.
Maybe Mr. Jennings and his wondrous crew can earn their keep by rising to the highest standards of their trade, as they have done lately. And then maybe others will then have to follow.

That is how to achieve leadership. Be the best at doing what you are supposed to be doing. You're good enough. You're smart enough. And doggone it...people like you!

Again, my thanks to ABC News.