Bob Casey, Kathleen Sibelius and Joe Biden. Three Democratic politicians. All prominent in the new Obama administration. Given the temper of the times, none could be categorized as extremely liberal. Why does their presence set the Rights teeth on edge?
They are all members, born and raised, in the Roman Catholic Church. In most ways, they are more typical than not of their generation of American Catholics. They attend church, partake of the sacraments and are very attached to their religion. On the other hand, they do not agree politically with many of the stands that the increasingly conservative church leadership has taken. They are vilified for the differences between what they espouse and the exhortations of the elderly, brandy swilling, cigar chomping, snaggletoothed Princes of the Catholic Church, the whiskey blossoms across their cheeks and wattles on their jowls belying a supposedly ascetic lifestyle.
Fifty years ago, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, another Roman Catholic politician, stood before the people and vowed that while he was a devout Catholic, his duty as President would require him to act in a secular manner, for the benefit of all Americans and not to act as a servant to the man that many still characterized as the "Whore of Rome". That man was Pope John the XXIII. Pope John was a popular and populist man, beloved by the common folk around the World. He introduced many changes that led to a new era of cooperation and understanding between people of conflicting religions and philosophies. Under his guidance, Catholics were taught to no longer regard Jews as "Christ Killers" and shun them from society. The man who currently holds the job in Rome is nowhere near the man that John was. Not inclusive. Not popular. Some would say not so much a man of God, as he is a man of the church. Two very different things. Have standards of what is expected of American politicians changed so much in fifty years?
Apparently they have.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Why Pro Life Is Dying, Like a Late Term Fetus with a Crushed Head
The Democratic Party is in ascendancy in America, right now. Whether they stay that way or not doesn't really hinge on the success of President Obama's policies, so much as how well the electorate bonds with him. It would be unrealistic to assume that the Democrats will control the government indefinitely, or even for very long. Things just don't work that way.
The Republicans will sooner or later put together a coalition that again controls Congress, the Executive branch or both. It seems likely though, that one faction that will not regain momentum any time soon, is the one that espouses pro life policies.
The real barrier to future popularity of the pro life agenda rests with American women. Women, of every racial, religious, political and socio economic group are pro choice in the majority. They are, in every case, more pro choice, both in numbers and degree than men in the same groups. Women have also become the majority of voters in this country and will remain so, at least for the next generation. Demographics tell us that younger women are more pro choice than older women. With each passing year it is going to become harder to pass pro life legislation.
The last Republican first lady who was not openly pro choice was Pat Nixon but it's likely that both she and Mamie Eisenhower before her, were in fact pro choice. Few prominent Republican women politicians actively campaign on the issue of criminalizing abortion. Sarah Palin is a good example of this. While she constantly stressed that she did not believe in abortion, under any circumstances, short of those that threaten the life of the mother, also loudly touted that she was proud she had "chosen" to bear a special needs child and that her unmarried teenage daughter had "chosen" to bring her pregnancy to term. She did not make these statements simply because they were true. She made these statements to appeal to women voters who, while they themselves would like to think they would never choose abortion, still believe all women deserve to have the choice.
Some churches now seek to make abortion a litmus test upon which to base membership in good standing, with full privileges and access to sacraments. This would be a mistake. Women are the primary motivator that determines if a family attends church regularly and where they attend. It is much easier for women than men to switch churches to one more amenable to their way of thought, especially if the church they are attending is a traditional paternalistic, male only clergy organization. Women have not much vesting in such churches and little to lose in the way of status if they take their families away.
The Republicans will sooner or later put together a coalition that again controls Congress, the Executive branch or both. It seems likely though, that one faction that will not regain momentum any time soon, is the one that espouses pro life policies.
The real barrier to future popularity of the pro life agenda rests with American women. Women, of every racial, religious, political and socio economic group are pro choice in the majority. They are, in every case, more pro choice, both in numbers and degree than men in the same groups. Women have also become the majority of voters in this country and will remain so, at least for the next generation. Demographics tell us that younger women are more pro choice than older women. With each passing year it is going to become harder to pass pro life legislation.
The last Republican first lady who was not openly pro choice was Pat Nixon but it's likely that both she and Mamie Eisenhower before her, were in fact pro choice. Few prominent Republican women politicians actively campaign on the issue of criminalizing abortion. Sarah Palin is a good example of this. While she constantly stressed that she did not believe in abortion, under any circumstances, short of those that threaten the life of the mother, also loudly touted that she was proud she had "chosen" to bear a special needs child and that her unmarried teenage daughter had "chosen" to bring her pregnancy to term. She did not make these statements simply because they were true. She made these statements to appeal to women voters who, while they themselves would like to think they would never choose abortion, still believe all women deserve to have the choice.
Some churches now seek to make abortion a litmus test upon which to base membership in good standing, with full privileges and access to sacraments. This would be a mistake. Women are the primary motivator that determines if a family attends church regularly and where they attend. It is much easier for women than men to switch churches to one more amenable to their way of thought, especially if the church they are attending is a traditional paternalistic, male only clergy organization. Women have not much vesting in such churches and little to lose in the way of status if they take their families away.
Abortion Story
Here's a pretty amazing and distressing story from Brazil. A nine year old girl, after years of illicit sexual activity with her stepfather, is pregnant with twins. The stepfather allegedly enticed her to have sex with him for money. She has a handicapped sister who was also abused in this way.
Because of her young age and lack of physical development, she will not be able to sustain the pregnancy. She will be kept in hospital and watched until her life is endangered, at which time, an abortion will be legal under Brazilian law.
Sounds pretty humane to me.
I wonder if her parents stressed the importance of chastity and abstinence with her and went over that whole "good touch, bad touch" thing.
Because of her young age and lack of physical development, she will not be able to sustain the pregnancy. She will be kept in hospital and watched until her life is endangered, at which time, an abortion will be legal under Brazilian law.
Sounds pretty humane to me.
I wonder if her parents stressed the importance of chastity and abstinence with her and went over that whole "good touch, bad touch" thing.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Right Wing Religion Support Crumbling
Monetary support for right wing religious organizations has been declining for years and their budgets have been shrinking. Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral organization, still the largest televangelist ministry in the World, is on the ropes and it's media footprint has dramatically shrunken from what it was in it's hay day, 20 years ago. Most of the mainstream ministries of the past, run by the Robertsons, Falwells, Roberts, Swaggarts, and Bakers are defunct or moribund. The Crouch's TBN Network continues to broadcast pleas for money, made by gaudily dressed Okie hucksters, dripping in gold jewelry and phony hairpieces, Worldwide, to an ever decreasing audience.
The recent American election showed that while the people may not be clear about what they want, they are clear about what they don't want. What they don't want, most particularly, are the ravings of glossalalian, six toed, snake handling, exorcist, thumpers, telling them what they must believe and how they must live their lives. Americans, more than any other people on earth, consider themselves religious. They have been raised to decide what kind of a relationship with God they will have, each his or her own. They believe others should have that right as well. Spirituality is not a one size fits all garment. They don't want someone else's idea of morality shoved down their throats. They don't want to shove their ideas down anybody else's. God pitches a big tent. There is room under it to shelter all of us that want in.
Today, James Dobson and his wife bailed out of the Focus on the Family organization, that they have spent 30 years building. The money and the support just aren't there anymore. They will probably go out on the circuit, where they can get lucrative speaking engagements and maybe get on as paid correspondents with Fox News, while there is still some money to be had there.
Even Pope Ratzo I is looking to downsize the Catholic Church. The American franchise, the only one that still pays its own way, is full of liberal fellow travelers, who want an ever increasing level of autonomy in their lives and worship. The huge South American franchise has been shaken by revelations that the divine cult of veneration focused on the Virgin Mary is really just a continuation of the pagan native worship of the Earth Mother, beaten down when the Conquistadors brought Catholicism to the Western hemisphere, with bloody sword and fire hardened stake.
Those who really value the nurturing of religious thought, around the World, breath a sigh of relief.
The recent American election showed that while the people may not be clear about what they want, they are clear about what they don't want. What they don't want, most particularly, are the ravings of glossalalian, six toed, snake handling, exorcist, thumpers, telling them what they must believe and how they must live their lives. Americans, more than any other people on earth, consider themselves religious. They have been raised to decide what kind of a relationship with God they will have, each his or her own. They believe others should have that right as well. Spirituality is not a one size fits all garment. They don't want someone else's idea of morality shoved down their throats. They don't want to shove their ideas down anybody else's. God pitches a big tent. There is room under it to shelter all of us that want in.
Today, James Dobson and his wife bailed out of the Focus on the Family organization, that they have spent 30 years building. The money and the support just aren't there anymore. They will probably go out on the circuit, where they can get lucrative speaking engagements and maybe get on as paid correspondents with Fox News, while there is still some money to be had there.
Even Pope Ratzo I is looking to downsize the Catholic Church. The American franchise, the only one that still pays its own way, is full of liberal fellow travelers, who want an ever increasing level of autonomy in their lives and worship. The huge South American franchise has been shaken by revelations that the divine cult of veneration focused on the Virgin Mary is really just a continuation of the pagan native worship of the Earth Mother, beaten down when the Conquistadors brought Catholicism to the Western hemisphere, with bloody sword and fire hardened stake.
Those who really value the nurturing of religious thought, around the World, breath a sigh of relief.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Before the Cock Crows Three Times
Richard Perle now denies that that there is a neocon philosophy, or neocons. If there were any such thing, he denies he would have been one or sympathized with them. He denies that he ever supported any pro Israeli American foreign policy. He denies that he worked for or was in any way influential within the Bush administration.
I understand what he's saying. I just don't understand the point of it. There has been a whole generation of men and women who have risen up in America who are not Americans. Their primary allegiance is to the cause of Zionism and whatever is left is to themselves. They never tried to hide their sympathies. Their thesis is that the causes of Zion and America are the same. They are, in fact, not. Never were.
This group that Perle belongs to includes William Kristol, Elliot Abrams, Paul Wolflowitz, David Frum, Max Boot and thousands more across America. They believe Americans are stupid sheep. They despise them. They value our thoughts, aspirations and lives not at all.
People understand this but Americans are a fair people. Neocons were born in this country. They are technically Americans. Everyone is entitled to put forward their own opinions and preferences. At the same time, why the neocons say what they say and do what they do, has nothing to do with what's good for this nation or in it's best interest. People realize this.
Does Perle think he can walk away from what he's spent an entire lifetime making of himself?
I understand what he's saying. I just don't understand the point of it. There has been a whole generation of men and women who have risen up in America who are not Americans. Their primary allegiance is to the cause of Zionism and whatever is left is to themselves. They never tried to hide their sympathies. Their thesis is that the causes of Zion and America are the same. They are, in fact, not. Never were.
This group that Perle belongs to includes William Kristol, Elliot Abrams, Paul Wolflowitz, David Frum, Max Boot and thousands more across America. They believe Americans are stupid sheep. They despise them. They value our thoughts, aspirations and lives not at all.
People understand this but Americans are a fair people. Neocons were born in this country. They are technically Americans. Everyone is entitled to put forward their own opinions and preferences. At the same time, why the neocons say what they say and do what they do, has nothing to do with what's good for this nation or in it's best interest. People realize this.
Does Perle think he can walk away from what he's spent an entire lifetime making of himself?
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Little Nazi Stumbles Into His Own Private Krystol Nacht
Here's my favorite story of the week. Over at the Vatican, Fester got his little white satin beanie handed to him, his ermine collar all ruffled, his lacy mu mu in a bunch and his shiny, red slippers, scuffed.
The Austrian clergy had sent il Popo Gigo a list of candidates from which to choose the new Bishop of Linz. Instead of doing as bid, he designated one of his flighty proteges, a priest named Gerhard Wagner, for the job. Gerhard, who bears a striking resemblance to Hermann Goering, sometimes likes to "exorcise" young boys of their excess demon fluids, has stated that hurricane Katrina was sent against New Orleans as punishment for the homosexuality, libertinism and abortion that goes on there, also believes that the Harry Potter books are evil and their author, J.K. Rowling, is a creature of Satan and should be burned. Sounds to me kind of like the pot calling the kettle scorched.
The people of Austria couldn't care less who the Pope makes a bishop. They rarely go to church anyway. The priests of Austria, who still hope to have some kind of meaningful relationship with the people, do care. So, all the priests in Austria got together and implored the Pope not to do this thing.
The Pope just said, "Fuck off, my choice".
Next, the priests had a little "talk" with Gerhard. Gerhard took himself out of the running. Next day. He's going to be living in Linz, after all, not the Vatican.
Ratzo will have to pick a new bishop of Linz. Maybe next time he will stick to the list. Maybe not. Slow learner.
The Austrian clergy had sent il Popo Gigo a list of candidates from which to choose the new Bishop of Linz. Instead of doing as bid, he designated one of his flighty proteges, a priest named Gerhard Wagner, for the job. Gerhard, who bears a striking resemblance to Hermann Goering, sometimes likes to "exorcise" young boys of their excess demon fluids, has stated that hurricane Katrina was sent against New Orleans as punishment for the homosexuality, libertinism and abortion that goes on there, also believes that the Harry Potter books are evil and their author, J.K. Rowling, is a creature of Satan and should be burned. Sounds to me kind of like the pot calling the kettle scorched.
The people of Austria couldn't care less who the Pope makes a bishop. They rarely go to church anyway. The priests of Austria, who still hope to have some kind of meaningful relationship with the people, do care. So, all the priests in Austria got together and implored the Pope not to do this thing.
The Pope just said, "Fuck off, my choice".
Next, the priests had a little "talk" with Gerhard. Gerhard took himself out of the running. Next day. He's going to be living in Linz, after all, not the Vatican.
Ratzo will have to pick a new bishop of Linz. Maybe next time he will stick to the list. Maybe not. Slow learner.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
A Mexican Woman, Doing A Job Americans Won't Do
You gotta admire Selma Hayek. While getting a tour of an African hospital, a starving baby whose mother had no milk was pointed out to her.
She said, "I have plenty", sat down on a bed, whipped out a dug and fed the child. A practical, direct response, to a situation that she could do something about. Right then.
I don't think serial third World, baby adopter, Mia Farrow would do this. Angelina Jolie might but I doubt anything wholesome, nutritious or non infectious, could be expressed as an exudate, from any part of her body.
She said, "I have plenty", sat down on a bed, whipped out a dug and fed the child. A practical, direct response, to a situation that she could do something about. Right then.
I don't think serial third World, baby adopter, Mia Farrow would do this. Angelina Jolie might but I doubt anything wholesome, nutritious or non infectious, could be expressed as an exudate, from any part of her body.
Let's All Go To Cuba
There is a bill before Congress that would, among other things, lift travel restrictions to Cuba. I would like to go to Cuba. Weather's good. Cheap. Clean. Low crime rate. People are friendly. Medical costs are low. I could have some skin cancers cut off. I got a bunch and no insurance right now.
It was OK for Nixon to go to China and establish trade relations that would eventually destroy our economy. It was OK for Reagan to deal with the despised revolutionary government of Iran. First to manipulate them into keeping the embassy hostages until after the 1980 elections that would make him President and then to trade weapons for money that he would secretly use to fund Contra death squads in Nicaragua, both deeply immoral, illegal and in the first case, treasonous acts.
It's not OK for me though, to go to Cuba for a week, stay in a cheap hotel, have a daiquiri and shrimp cocktail at the Copa, eat an ice cream cone on the strand, watch the girls go by and maybe have some malignancies cut off my flaky, old hide.
It was OK for Nixon to go to China and establish trade relations that would eventually destroy our economy. It was OK for Reagan to deal with the despised revolutionary government of Iran. First to manipulate them into keeping the embassy hostages until after the 1980 elections that would make him President and then to trade weapons for money that he would secretly use to fund Contra death squads in Nicaragua, both deeply immoral, illegal and in the first case, treasonous acts.
It's not OK for me though, to go to Cuba for a week, stay in a cheap hotel, have a daiquiri and shrimp cocktail at the Copa, eat an ice cream cone on the strand, watch the girls go by and maybe have some malignancies cut off my flaky, old hide.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Buy Food. Buy Fuel. Buy Gold. Cache Weapons.
People depend on government to help them in times of need. This has always been so. In ancient times the rulers of countries controlled the granaries. Grain was stored in times of plenty and distributed in times of scarcity. This, even more than the maintenance of armies for national defense caused people to tolerate even repressive rule. For much of its history, Roman government provided food to a citizenry no longer able to grow it themselves. They got this grain through purchase or expropriation from other parts of the empire.
Our government does not store grain. It does not hold stores of wealth with which to buy grain. There is no empire. Government does not have the coercive power to force others to give us grain. Or fuel. Or clothing. Or anything else. Our government can print money. As long as the rest of the World will accept the money it prints, everything will be hunky dory.
How long do you think that will be? Printing and spending a trillion dollars in stimulus insures that it won't be very long.
Zimbabwe prints money. Its value decreases by 98% every day. The people are starving. They are dying of cholera. They are leaving the country in droves.
America does have an impressive military capacity. If you look at what happens historically during times like this, in countries like ours, there is one constant besides the suffering of the populace. Wars of conquest.
Our government does not store grain. It does not hold stores of wealth with which to buy grain. There is no empire. Government does not have the coercive power to force others to give us grain. Or fuel. Or clothing. Or anything else. Our government can print money. As long as the rest of the World will accept the money it prints, everything will be hunky dory.
How long do you think that will be? Printing and spending a trillion dollars in stimulus insures that it won't be very long.
Zimbabwe prints money. Its value decreases by 98% every day. The people are starving. They are dying of cholera. They are leaving the country in droves.
America does have an impressive military capacity. If you look at what happens historically during times like this, in countries like ours, there is one constant besides the suffering of the populace. Wars of conquest.
The Proper Use Of Science Is Investigating God's World
I think this is interesting. I don't believe Chuck Colson is a genius but he's about as smart as fundamentalist Christians get.
He seems to be saying here that things don't have to be factually wrong to be denied, only morally objectionable. While I think this has always been the case with organized religion, they have never come out and actually said it. He proposes that there is a separate "Christian view of reality", which trumps scientific reality, because Christian reality came first and is innately superior. Flat Earth, four thousand years old, anyone?
Do you think this can work? Read about it here.
Tell me what you think.
He seems to be saying here that things don't have to be factually wrong to be denied, only morally objectionable. While I think this has always been the case with organized religion, they have never come out and actually said it. He proposes that there is a separate "Christian view of reality", which trumps scientific reality, because Christian reality came first and is innately superior. Flat Earth, four thousand years old, anyone?
Do you think this can work? Read about it here.
Tell me what you think.
Monday, February 09, 2009
If You Think Valentine's Day Is A Cruel Hoax, You Have A Y Chromosome
I believe in the equality of the sexes. The sexes aren't the same though. Heterosexual males and females share more DNA with chimpanzees of the same sex than with the people of the same species they fuck.
Go out to dinner next Saturday and watch the dynamics of the couples around you. Better yet, think about the dynamics between yourself and the person you fuck on Saturday. What are you doing, why and what do you want out of it?
Go out to dinner next Saturday and watch the dynamics of the couples around you. Better yet, think about the dynamics between yourself and the person you fuck on Saturday. What are you doing, why and what do you want out of it?
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Where's my Fucking Bailout?
None of the Bush bailout money came anywhere near me. None of the Obama bailout money will come anywhere near me. I won't be getting any of the jobs the government is going to create.
The money that the government prints and spends to try and stimulate the economy will inflate the monetary system and likely make the worth of what little I have managed to put aside over the course of my life even more worthless than it already is, after the stock market crash last year.
I don't know if I'm working poor, blue collar or middle class. I really don't give a fuck. I know that I'm getting old and I don't have the health, stamina or time to rebuild financially, if everything I have goes down the toilet.
I never went into debt. I paid off my house. I saved money. All pretty much for nothing. I think at the very least, Ben Bernanke should come over to my house and blow me. Like a consolation prize. He's got a purty mouth.
The money that the government prints and spends to try and stimulate the economy will inflate the monetary system and likely make the worth of what little I have managed to put aside over the course of my life even more worthless than it already is, after the stock market crash last year.
I don't know if I'm working poor, blue collar or middle class. I really don't give a fuck. I know that I'm getting old and I don't have the health, stamina or time to rebuild financially, if everything I have goes down the toilet.
I never went into debt. I paid off my house. I saved money. All pretty much for nothing. I think at the very least, Ben Bernanke should come over to my house and blow me. Like a consolation prize. He's got a purty mouth.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Praise Life
I haven't ever seen God. I haven't heard from him. There are those that say they have. This is not of interest to me.
God could make himself generally known to us if he wanted to. Since he doesn't, there is effectively no God.
Life is short. Go and live it.
God could make himself generally known to us if he wanted to. Since he doesn't, there is effectively no God.
Life is short. Go and live it.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Republican Angst
I don't get the Michael Steele, GOP National Chairmanship pick, do you? He is a fiscally conservative, cafeteria Catholic. He is from a State where blacks are a minority but control the politics in urban areas. He has never been a major player, even in the politics of his home state.
For a Republican politician, you have to classify Michael Steele as liberal, right up there with Rudy Giuliani. This means he isn't an outright racist, gun nut or fundamentalist religious zealot. He is willing to cede to women, gays, progressives and racial minorities those rights that they have already won through hard work in the culture wars of the last 50 years but no more.
What does turning over the leadership of their party to this guy get the Republicans? He will not endear himself to the base. He will not bring support over from the ranks of the center or left leaning independents. He will leave actual Democrats cold.
Possibly he can rally socially moderate church goers to vote Republican. If he does, the Republicans run the risk of losing those for whom abortion, gay marriage and the anti Islamic global war are the only issues that matter. This is the Republican dilemma in a nutshell. It's not a trade they can afford to make right now. It's not a trade they can afford not to make for the future.
I guess the important thing going on here for the Republicans, is that they are starting to try and do things a little differently. This may lead to actual change later on.
For a Republican politician, you have to classify Michael Steele as liberal, right up there with Rudy Giuliani. This means he isn't an outright racist, gun nut or fundamentalist religious zealot. He is willing to cede to women, gays, progressives and racial minorities those rights that they have already won through hard work in the culture wars of the last 50 years but no more.
What does turning over the leadership of their party to this guy get the Republicans? He will not endear himself to the base. He will not bring support over from the ranks of the center or left leaning independents. He will leave actual Democrats cold.
Possibly he can rally socially moderate church goers to vote Republican. If he does, the Republicans run the risk of losing those for whom abortion, gay marriage and the anti Islamic global war are the only issues that matter. This is the Republican dilemma in a nutshell. It's not a trade they can afford to make right now. It's not a trade they can afford not to make for the future.
I guess the important thing going on here for the Republicans, is that they are starting to try and do things a little differently. This may lead to actual change later on.
It's Not Rocket Science
People act like there are great mysteries in life. It's not true.
Americans are fat because they eat too much and don't do anything. The economy is bad because we don't produce anything to sell at a profit and spend too much. We're losing the wars because haven't identified the enemy and are fighting the wrong people.
Where's the nobility in sloth, greed and stupidity?
Americans are fat because they eat too much and don't do anything. The economy is bad because we don't produce anything to sell at a profit and spend too much. We're losing the wars because haven't identified the enemy and are fighting the wrong people.
Where's the nobility in sloth, greed and stupidity?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Pope Wants to Emphasize His Solidarity With the Jews
"If they hadn't killed Jesus, I'd be out of a job", opines aged, Austrian, ex Nazi poofter.
Cutting back the Mail Service.
The Postmaster General says that mail delivery on Saturday may be cut.
I haven't sent or received a personal letter in years. I still get a few bills that I can't or won't pay on line. My last magazine subscription recently lapsed. I get tax statements and DMV notices. Once a week mail would be plenty, even twice a month would be OK.
They don't even have to deliver it. I'd be glad to pick it up at the nearest post office, if they'd give me a box or I didn't have to wait too long in line.
I haven't sent or received a personal letter in years. I still get a few bills that I can't or won't pay on line. My last magazine subscription recently lapsed. I get tax statements and DMV notices. Once a week mail would be plenty, even twice a month would be OK.
They don't even have to deliver it. I'd be glad to pick it up at the nearest post office, if they'd give me a box or I didn't have to wait too long in line.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Promotion Party
During long home port periods when I was in the Navy, my Chief usually tried to get rid of me, rather than think of jobs for me to do and supervise me while I did them. I didn't mind, we didn't like each other much. I did a lot of different things. Barracks maintenance and management, shore patrol, harbor tugs, supply department, mess cooking, deck gang, TAD to other boats, were all things I did. Some of them were easy, some hard. Some were interesting, some were not. I didn't really care. I was just putting in my time. The hardest and dirtiest to do, were mess cooking and deck gang. My Chief would have had me do those all the time except they involved still being on the boat, where we still saw each other and I could continue to harass and mind fuck him. Relatively quickly he found ways to remove me from his presence as much as possible, whether it meant easy duty for me or not.
During a period when I was working with the deck gang, one of the 3rd class A gangers got promoted to 2nd and his wife gave him a party. All of the Auxillary men, Torpedo men and unrated deck apes got invited. I was a deck ape du jour at that particular time and got brought along, although that kind of gathering wasn't usually my thing. Mostly I was known to spend my evenings drinking, either at the old shore battery barracks, enlisted club, Marine club or the Horse and Cow, out in town. I was not comfortable at the gathering. Wives were present. The Weaps Chief and his wife were there. The Division officer even showed up, a stuffy recently promoted lieutenant. It was the only time I ever saw an officer at a private, enlisted social event while I was in the Navy. Did I mention before that I was not comfortable there?
Anyway, this party didn't go well. There was no hard liquor, which was a good thing. There were several cases of beer for the men, wine for the ladies and soft drinks that only the lieutenant partook of. There were some nasty little snacks on crackers and a dry cake. We were all expected to drink out of real glasses. There was even cheap stemware for the ladies and their wine. Everybody was trying to be refined and high class. I knew it would end badly. I don't usually drink wine recreationally and the stuff they had there was worse than swill but I sat on the couch in the living room, between two of the ladies with my little stemmed wine glass, politely chatting and sipping daintily. The lieutenant sat off in a corner in a rocking chair, with a Seven Up, quietly. The other men in the room began to work on the beer. It was not a warm evening but everybody started to sweat through their clothes, at the armpits. You could see it. You could smell it.
After a while a glass was broken and the men dispensed with beer glasses and began chugging from the can. The polite conversation of the women was drowned out as the men got up on their feet and began milling around speaking more loudly and boisterously. I stayed on the couch, sipping from my little stemmed glass, only rising to go to the kitchen occasionally for a refill and returning to the couch. The hostess was starting to become visibly agitated by the way things were turning out. What a stupid cow. What the fuck did she expect?
The hostess had a little toddler, less than a year old. She was unable to mind him, with the responsibility of managing the party. The other women were passing the child back and forth between them but he was becoming increasingly restive, being held by strange women. At some point, the woman next to me, while taking her turn with the child, got up to go to the can and passed the child to me. For whatever reason, the child quieted right down, happy to sit on my lap. Everybody thought that was cute. I didn't mind, I was determined to stay out of trouble, that night. Things progressed. The stains under every bodies arms got sodden, the din became louder. The party had only been going on an hour. The men were starting to turn mean. The women, nervous. The poor officer looked very apprehensive but obviously didn't think he could leave yet.
The child in my lap kept reaching at my glass. What the hell, I gave him a little sip every now and then, it kept him happy. The hostess didn't notice right away but some of the other ladies were watching. Eventually the hostesses gaze was drawn to me when the child took a little sip. She really couldn't be blamed, she was already in a pretty anxious and agitated condition. She was up like a shot, standing over me screaming. How dare I feed a little baby alcohol along with a stream of profanity that would make any sailor proud.
I handed her my glass and said, "Here, taste it". It was from a big can of comshaw grape juice I found in the fridge.
All the men started to laugh. They were in on the joke. They had seen me pouring the grape juice into my glass in the kitchen and knew I had chosen not to drink, that night. They said as much. Loudly. Over and over again. Big joke on the stupid women.
I should have just laughed it off, made a little joke and peace with the hostess. Instead, I passed the baby to one of my couch mates, stood up thanked the hostess for the evening and walked out the door. I had never been so grateful to get out of a place in my life.
The episode was frequently talked about on board for weeks afterwards. Since a chief and an officer were there the story quickly spread to the goat locker and wardroom. My shipmates all thought it was hilarious. The wives all hated me with a vengeance, from that day forward.
During a period when I was working with the deck gang, one of the 3rd class A gangers got promoted to 2nd and his wife gave him a party. All of the Auxillary men, Torpedo men and unrated deck apes got invited. I was a deck ape du jour at that particular time and got brought along, although that kind of gathering wasn't usually my thing. Mostly I was known to spend my evenings drinking, either at the old shore battery barracks, enlisted club, Marine club or the Horse and Cow, out in town. I was not comfortable at the gathering. Wives were present. The Weaps Chief and his wife were there. The Division officer even showed up, a stuffy recently promoted lieutenant. It was the only time I ever saw an officer at a private, enlisted social event while I was in the Navy. Did I mention before that I was not comfortable there?
Anyway, this party didn't go well. There was no hard liquor, which was a good thing. There were several cases of beer for the men, wine for the ladies and soft drinks that only the lieutenant partook of. There were some nasty little snacks on crackers and a dry cake. We were all expected to drink out of real glasses. There was even cheap stemware for the ladies and their wine. Everybody was trying to be refined and high class. I knew it would end badly. I don't usually drink wine recreationally and the stuff they had there was worse than swill but I sat on the couch in the living room, between two of the ladies with my little stemmed wine glass, politely chatting and sipping daintily. The lieutenant sat off in a corner in a rocking chair, with a Seven Up, quietly. The other men in the room began to work on the beer. It was not a warm evening but everybody started to sweat through their clothes, at the armpits. You could see it. You could smell it.
After a while a glass was broken and the men dispensed with beer glasses and began chugging from the can. The polite conversation of the women was drowned out as the men got up on their feet and began milling around speaking more loudly and boisterously. I stayed on the couch, sipping from my little stemmed glass, only rising to go to the kitchen occasionally for a refill and returning to the couch. The hostess was starting to become visibly agitated by the way things were turning out. What a stupid cow. What the fuck did she expect?
The hostess had a little toddler, less than a year old. She was unable to mind him, with the responsibility of managing the party. The other women were passing the child back and forth between them but he was becoming increasingly restive, being held by strange women. At some point, the woman next to me, while taking her turn with the child, got up to go to the can and passed the child to me. For whatever reason, the child quieted right down, happy to sit on my lap. Everybody thought that was cute. I didn't mind, I was determined to stay out of trouble, that night. Things progressed. The stains under every bodies arms got sodden, the din became louder. The party had only been going on an hour. The men were starting to turn mean. The women, nervous. The poor officer looked very apprehensive but obviously didn't think he could leave yet.
The child in my lap kept reaching at my glass. What the hell, I gave him a little sip every now and then, it kept him happy. The hostess didn't notice right away but some of the other ladies were watching. Eventually the hostesses gaze was drawn to me when the child took a little sip. She really couldn't be blamed, she was already in a pretty anxious and agitated condition. She was up like a shot, standing over me screaming. How dare I feed a little baby alcohol along with a stream of profanity that would make any sailor proud.
I handed her my glass and said, "Here, taste it". It was from a big can of comshaw grape juice I found in the fridge.
All the men started to laugh. They were in on the joke. They had seen me pouring the grape juice into my glass in the kitchen and knew I had chosen not to drink, that night. They said as much. Loudly. Over and over again. Big joke on the stupid women.
I should have just laughed it off, made a little joke and peace with the hostess. Instead, I passed the baby to one of my couch mates, stood up thanked the hostess for the evening and walked out the door. I had never been so grateful to get out of a place in my life.
The episode was frequently talked about on board for weeks afterwards. Since a chief and an officer were there the story quickly spread to the goat locker and wardroom. My shipmates all thought it was hilarious. The wives all hated me with a vengeance, from that day forward.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Libertie, Egalitie, Fraternitie
After the previous administration instituted programs which pumped trillions into the top of the American economy through bailouts and loans to the financial and corporate sectors, President Obama is readying a new stimulus package, One that will, as well as continue this top loading of money into the system, also begin vast new spending on public works, local government bailouts and entitlement programs, that will start to push money into the bottom of the economy. Is this complete folly? Nothing more than throwing more bad money after money already wasted?
That would be one way to look at it. On the other hand, it ought to be obvious to everybody, by now, that the American economy is in an irreversible decline. A large percentage of the jobs that exist today, will disappear soon. Tax revenues will shrivel. Debt will skyrocket no matter how much or little we spend. Very soon, the government will need the good will of the struggling masses. By that time the monetary system will be collapsing and there will be nothing to offer them, as the lights go out, the heat goes off and their children start to whine with hunger in the cold, dark night of a new age. It might be a good thing for them to be able to remember, that Barry O gave them what he could, when he still had something to give. The ghost of Therese Defarge knits in a darkened corner and the shadow of the guillotine lies across the land.
Happy meals for everyone. Cheap gas. Free digital cable. Unlimited weekend minutes.
That would be one way to look at it. On the other hand, it ought to be obvious to everybody, by now, that the American economy is in an irreversible decline. A large percentage of the jobs that exist today, will disappear soon. Tax revenues will shrivel. Debt will skyrocket no matter how much or little we spend. Very soon, the government will need the good will of the struggling masses. By that time the monetary system will be collapsing and there will be nothing to offer them, as the lights go out, the heat goes off and their children start to whine with hunger in the cold, dark night of a new age. It might be a good thing for them to be able to remember, that Barry O gave them what he could, when he still had something to give. The ghost of Therese Defarge knits in a darkened corner and the shadow of the guillotine lies across the land.
Happy meals for everyone. Cheap gas. Free digital cable. Unlimited weekend minutes.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
VFW-Sons of Liberty
The President wants to shut down Gitmo. I don't have a problem with that. The previous administration built the prison camp at a remote Naval enclave on the soil of a Communist country where US citizens are forbidden to travel because they knew there would be no oversight. That they wouldn't have to abide by the laws of this nation. That legal representation and the justice system could be circumvented. They have held prisoners there, incommunicado for the better part of a decade. They have denied them any rights what so ever. They have tortured, humiliated and kept them in isolation. They knew when they set it up that the military wouldn't argue and would collude with them. If the government wants to keep political prisoners, they need to follow at least some basic rules of both international and domestic law. If they do that there is no reason to keep them on foreign soil, without outside oversight.
The prison camp at Guantanamo wasn't even enough for the previous administration. They set up a network of secret prisons in hellholes all over the World, where no records at all needed to be kept. If someone died under torture or mistreatment at one of these facilities, there would be no record that they were ever there and thus no accountability or threat of prosecution for crimes against humanity later.
The VFW says that Guantanamo, "is well kept, well run and respectful of human rights". They demand that the President rescind his order to close down the prison camp.
Fuck the VFW for the chickenshit Nazi bastards they are. If we want to keep it open we should use it to incarcerate George Bush, Dick Cheney, Michael Hayden and all of the rest of the criminals that perpetrated so many crimes in the name of the American people.
The prison camp at Guantanamo wasn't even enough for the previous administration. They set up a network of secret prisons in hellholes all over the World, where no records at all needed to be kept. If someone died under torture or mistreatment at one of these facilities, there would be no record that they were ever there and thus no accountability or threat of prosecution for crimes against humanity later.
The VFW says that Guantanamo, "is well kept, well run and respectful of human rights". They demand that the President rescind his order to close down the prison camp.
Fuck the VFW for the chickenshit Nazi bastards they are. If we want to keep it open we should use it to incarcerate George Bush, Dick Cheney, Michael Hayden and all of the rest of the criminals that perpetrated so many crimes in the name of the American people.
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