A Liberal Dose

This Time, Lead By Example

2008-11-13T18:20:00.000-08:00

by Paul Wilson

There is no question that Barack Obama will have his hands full, come January. There will be much to prove, as he goes about the business of cleaning up after his predecessors. But President Obama has a chance to make even more history, aside from being the first African American elected to the highest office. He has a chance to turn our country around and make it a place of which to be truly proud...

While it seems a daunting task, it is not only possible to accomplish, but it can be well on its way during his first term. So, here are a few humble suggestions from a fellow optimist:

The time has come, Mr. Obama, to lead, not with fear and military might, but by example. Our "don't do what we do, do what we say" policies have failed. We are hated around the world, not for what we have, but what we choose to do with it. We have waged war on the world, trying to make everyone in our image. We have flattened mosques, in order to put up McDonalds'. Our oil reserves are running dry, so we simply declare war on terror and take what we want from those who have it.

Let me ask you a simple but overlooked question, Mr. President-elect...What would happen if everyone in the world had what they needed? Would we have reason to fear...anyone?
Maybe. There will always be those who thrive on our fear. But it will be very difficult for them to attain any power, if the people are satisfied. I am not talking about Socialism (although, I have often wondered about the possibility). But, rather, finding ways to make resources available for all.

I realize that this idea goes against the grain of our beloved free enterprise system. But what good does supply and demand do, when the supply is gone? Free enterprise is outdated and broken. Currency no longer circulates, creating jobs and industry. Instead, there is a money clog, ending at the wealthiest homes, where the motto is "whoever has the most when they die, wins."
As never before, we have an opportunity to participate in a truly global marketplace. We must, however, produce, as well as consume...and we must sacrifice. Countries around the globe are surpassing us in technologies that will be the future of energy, transportation and mass-production. More importantly, these countries' governments are leading the way, by funding these experiments. Recognizing the potential of a new demand, they are willing to let go of old ideas, in order to create the supply. Meanwhile, the U.S., the young country that grew up too fast, is aging like an out-of-work child actor. Stubbornly adhering to a system doomed to failure, we watch as the middle class disappears, industry moves abroad and education is held hostage by teachers unions, politicians and people unwilling to pay property taxes ( I mean YOU, California).

The first, obvious choice is energy. We must seek out and perfect alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power. This is no longer a solely environmental issue. The planet's oil supplies are dwindling fast, creating dangerous tensions between oil-producing and oil-consuming nations. With practically no other resources to export to the world, Arab nations are naturally nervous. Particularly hard-hit will be the royal family, our so-called allies, putting a crimp in their extravagant lifestyles. Using The Late, Great Ronald Reagan's "trickle-down theory," this will affect the gluttonous Big Oil as well, deflating many a golden parachute. No wonder they are the biggest expounders of the free enterprise system. Just imagine the impoverished desert nations, with solar and wind farms stretching through the sands, providing unlimited energy for all. While this is a vision far down the road, it begins with us...leading by example. The simple fact is, we have these technologies available now, but that old bugaboo, Free Enterprise, keeps them in check. So far, the conglomerates have not found a way to make money from the sun and the wind. But the time has arrived to stop bailing out car companies and banks, just so that they can continue business as usual.

The next step will be a minefield...healthcare. This country has been at the mercy of Big Pharm for too long. Do you realize that there has never...ever...been an actual cure for...well, anything? We can prevent many diseases through innoculation, but once someone contracts them, we can only help them to live longer; to live with the disease. Either way amounts to prescription drugs, which, combined with medical costs, have become obscenely expensive. Read my lips, Mr. Obama...We need universal healthcare, and we need it NOW. The time has come to follow the examples found in Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

That is a long list of countries, Mr. President...most of which are not socialists or communists. They simply recognize the financial benefits that providing healthcare can bring. Oh, and also...it's the right thing to do.

Finally, is the most difficult challenge ahead...education. It is very easy for me to be an armchair quarterback and list the things we need to do. It is quite another to actually carry them out, given the opposition a leader will face from his own people. But this one will call for some tough decisions. We will need you, Mr. President, to be firm and open about the sacrifice needed. For too long now, the educational system has been run rough-shod by the local governments and the teachers' union.

Yes, a Democrat is attacking a union...

There is no doubt that teachers are grossly underpaid and underappreciated. But this is where their union has failed them. Instead of raising the standards for qualified teachers, thereby making them a valuable commodity, they have hired people that reflect the low pay rate. Good teachers are soon reduced to the rank of babysitters. The fact is, we need to hold students to a universal standard. We need to require more education for our teachers, thus bringing them up to the professional status held by doctors and lawyers. And we need to bring all schools up to the same standard. But, unlike the premise of the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind, education is NOT a business. It should not be subject to competition for funding. It is, rather, an investment...in our children's future and our own. If that means raising taxes to pay for it, then that is what we must do. Remember, the child you help educate today could be the surgeon. who operates on you tomorrow.

The three problems that I have outlined here are but a portion of the messes in which we find ourselves. We need to reduce the power held by the military industrial complex...we need to use embargos and diplomacy, rather than brute force, against nations with clear human rights violations. And we need to become part of the world community, not live outside of it. However, we must clean up our own yard, before we have the right to complain about our neighbors'.
President Obama, you are going to be butting heads against some powerful enemies during your term...not in some distant desert, but right here at home. Change will be resisted wholeheartedly by Big Oil, financial groups, pharmaceutical companies. the auto industry, even unions. But it is time, Mr. President, to open those floodgates that have rusted shut and give back to the people who believe in you...who voted for a change.

Some will fight you...tooth and nail...drag out every weapon at their disposal. Smear campaigns, fear-mongering and...gulp...lobbyists. But if you stand up to them and lead us with the truth, we will stand with you.

At least, that is the hope of one optimist...

Gay vs. God

2008-11-12T17:39:00.001-08:00

by Paul Wilson

The passage of legislation to ban gay marriages in three states, while simutaneously electing the first African-American president, is a true litmus test for the strangle-hold that religion has on our political process. No longer is race the biggest prejudice. In fact, sadly, those minorities who have received the most abuse in the past, were instrumental in passing the new laws.

Is this merely an attempt by minorities to go along with the mob, thereby shifting prejudice away from them? Speaking as someone who was bullied as a child, I believe it's possibly part of the answer. But the simple fact is, in times of economic strife and uncertain security, people turn to God more. And, often, that god is vengeful, looking to place blame on someone for our problems. There seems to be a very real fear of gays by the African-American and Latino communities. Perhaps it is merely the importance placed on procreation within these ethnic groups that sparks their fear, as if having gays within their ranks might decrease their populations (If you deny the existence of black or latino gays, do they make a sound?). Or maybe the simple truth is that even the most down-trodden peoples need someone upon whom to trod themselves...

Although it pains me to believe it, had Barack Obama declared himself an agnostic, he never would have won. Had he not developed that sermon quality to his speeches, which stirs the very soul, it would be President McCain now. Had he lost, it would have been because of religion, not race.

Those of you living in these three states (Arizona, California and Florida) know of the horrendous, fear-mongering ads that were used to pass these propositions. Funded by fundamentalist churches, these costly ads depicted children being taught about gay marriage in school, with parents having no power to object. Aside from being outright lies, the religion police stoked the fires of our fears and were successful...again. God, apparently, loves finger-pointers...
The very idea of marriage is, of course, a creation of religion. A way to sanctify the union of two people and bless them with many offspring. An inspiration to be fruitful and multiply, and, at the same time, control promiscuity. Personally, I would like to believe that earlier, pagan religions would have embraced gay coupling as a simple fact of life...love comes in many forms. I have no proof of this, but I am an idealist.

If you are gay and still believe in God, you either have your own personal demons to work through- guilt and self-loathing- OR your god is a much more open and understanding god than the one presented by the religious right...a god who knows that homosexuality is something you are born to, not a choice. A god who may have actually created the gay community? Hmmm...

So why not put that to good use? I have come up with what, I believe is a perfect solution to the gay marriage dilemna...Start your own religion.

Think about it...

* An organized religion is protected under the constitution..
* Gay marriage would be accepted and performed by their own church's ministry.
* The gay religion would be condemned by the catholics and fundamentalists, but no more than muslims and unitarians.
* The government would have no choice but to recognize the unions, under the law.

Imagine the confusion you could cause, as right-wingers try to decide between the "morality" of homosexuality and the freedom of religion upon which this country was founded! It's a social experiment I would love to see...

Being an atheist, I am of the opinion that homosexuality is a natural evolutionary occurence, found throughout nature, designed to curb the over-population of a species. This is probably why I not only accept the gay community, but welcome them. Cheer for them, actually...

Personally, as a confirmed bachelor (I'm straight, but I hope you'll overlook that), I frown on marriage, anyway. The ceremony itself, not the commitment of two people to share their lives together. If I ever do get married, it will be by a judge in a county clerk's office. Bare minimum, just to make it legal. This is why I think the so-called "civil union" proposed by some states is an acceptable compromise. All the legal rights, without bringing God into the mix.

Believe me, I understand all the "equal but separate" feelings that are evoked by calling it something other than marriage. But it is a step forward toward acceptance. The gay marriage bans passed, but by a very slim margin; closer than in 2004. With the end of the Bush Era approaching and the potential for some real healing in our future, acceptance truly seems to be on the horizon.

Keep up the fight, of course, but remember that it often takes small steps to get to the finish line...

And, if you just can't wait for it to happen, consider the whole "starting your own religion" idea. You never know...

I will let others think of the name...

2008-08-17T14:22:00.001-07:00

2007-09-11T22:23:00.000-07:00

Marriage of Convenience

2007-08-22T20:11:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilson

On Aug 9, another historic event occurred in this already-too-long presidential campaign. Leading Democratic candidates attended the first debate sponsored by LOGO, cables's gay and lesbian channel, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), to speak directly to the issues affecting gay voters. Front-runners Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama put their best liberal foot forward, showing proper support for the equality of their gay and lesbian bretheren, yet still managed to dance around the issue of gay marriage.

In fact, only two candidates, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel, spoke bravely in favor of gay marriage. All others backed away, preferring the safer term "civil unions."
This is yet another "separate but equal" mentality that mirrors the laws of the 50's, prohibiting blacks from marrying whites.

The problem that sticks in the craw of the candidates is simply the term "marriage." Buried in religious dogma, marriage has been usurped by the church, making sacrament out of a legal contract.

Our Western culture has defined marriage according to christian beliefs. This has given religion influence over something which, by definition, should be a civil matter. Let's face it, our sexually repressed society has had to justify the urge to procreate, by giving it a holy mandate.

One thing that the candidates did agree on is the need to keep a separation of church and state, when it comes to civil liberties. This is crucial, if the rights of the gay and lesbian community are ever to be recognized. It is perfectly acceptable for a church to define marriage within their own group...but they must not be able to define it under civil law. This is tantamount to forcing a national religion on all Americans. Whatever your beliefs, it should not affect your rights under the constitution.

Our Democratic candidates have become timid, afraid to appear "too liberal." Their whole focus is on the swing voter, trying to appeal to everyone at once. Apparently they still haven't learned the lessons of their predecessors, who lost because they had no clear-cut platform to separate them from their opposition. So, it's protest the war, but not too loudly or you don't support the troops...Speak up for health care reform, but don't support universal healthcare or you appear to be anti-free enterprise...support gay rights, but not gay marriage, or you seem anti-God.

Democrats better realize that the gay and lesbian population represent 4% of the voters...that's a pretty big swing vote.

If we can take back marriage, as a right of every citizen, it will go a long way toward restoring a separation of church and state...if, indeed, we ever truly had one.

Chewing the Fat on Obesity

2007-04-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilson

Mainstream America is coming to grips with a problem that has plagued low-income families for decades...and it is merely a symptom of our times:
Obesity.

Every day, it seems, a new study comes out, showing an alarming increase in the number of overweight Americans. Of particular concern, the rise in obesity among our children.
It is all well and good to preach about personal responsibility and healthier food choices...These lessons are important. But the underlying cause of this epidemic is one that Native Americans would well recognize:

Our nation is getting poorer.

Before the Indian gaming boom, Native Americans were the fastest growing group for diabetes and obesity. There are still many tribes who have chosen to forego the lure of casinos and remain in abject poverty. They subsist on a high-fat, high calorie diet, because it is filling and all they can afford.

Look around any lower-income neighborhood and you'll see it awash in fast-food restaurants, convenience stores and bars. Nutritional choices are not a priority, when one only can afford a microwave burrito.

Now, look around your own neighborhood...chances are, if you don't live in a luxury condominium, McDonald's is somewhere close by.

Corporate America has done a miraculous job of masking our poverty. By moving our industries to China and India, they are able to cut costs and provide us with low-cost goods...enter the Age of Wal-Mart.

Our high-paying technical jobs have all but vanished. Factory work...gone. Our living expenses continue to rise, while our paychecks lag behind. But because nearly everyone can afford a DVD player and a "Whopper," we don't really notice. If you shrink a man's house, while you shrink him, does he see that he is shrinking?

Americans are consumption machines. We judge our economy by our possessions. As long as we can afford to fill up our cars (barely) and buy the latest got-to-have-it thing, we are content.
But our health, both mental and physical, is taking a back seat...

So, who is profiting from this disposable economy? C.E.O.'s, boards of directors and investors of multinational conglomerates. A handful of people, by comparison, are cashing in on our impulses, sucking us dry, as they fill our lives with diversions.

The gap between rich and poor has become a chasm; a scooped-out hole, where the middle class used to be. And while our leaders spread sunshine about our "thriving economy," they are the only ones who see it, getting rich by investing in these same corporations. From the "War, Inc." in Iraq to our increasing demands for energy, politicians and corporate executives have purchased our country right out from under us...for a handful of shiny beads.

This is the cause for the bad taste in our mouths, for the fat and glucose in our arteries. Our food choices have become limited, disguised as variety. Even fresh produce is suspect, as agriculture has become agri-business. From mad cow disease to infected spinach, corporate farms look for new ways to increase production and cut costs, at the expense of quality. They feed cow parts to cows and put dead dogs in dog food...and seem surprised when we get sick.

Perhaps we have reached a sort of passive acceptance, knowing that the food we eat could kill us. There is a reassuring feeling to know your enemy, in a world of unknown fears.

Nevertheless, we cannot turn a blind eye to the causes. It is time to elect leaders who work for public service, not private interests. It is time to establish a flat tax, bringing back some of the wealth to the communities. It is time to take back the control of what we eat and how it is made.

And it is time to put down the chicken nuggets and learn how to cook again.

The More We Deny...

2007-04-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilson

Despite the fact that mankind has done everything in its power to conquer nature, we are all connected to it. And nature will not let us forget...
For centuries, Man has denied his origins. The "war on terror" has nothing on the "war on nature." In the ultimate colonialism, we have usurped nature's power, so that we can eliminate its hold on us. And there is no question that, for the moment, nature is losing the fight...But She hasn't given up!
In our hubris, we have placed ourselves above all other species. We have created supernatural beings and complex mythologies, in order to justify our superiority. The planet, with all of its resources, is here merely to serve us...
In the beginning, at least, our religions were tied to nature, worshipping the earth and feeling our connections to every living thing. But in our quest for power and control we turned (or were forced to turn) from the pagan religions, in favor of belief systems which made us the masters of our domains. After all, how can you conquer another tribe's land, when the land doesn't really belong to anyone?
Women were revered in the ancient religions, the act of childbirth being the ultimate symbol of nature's cycle. Which is why the "new religions" called for the subjugation of women, as well as nature. As the male-dominated societies grew, the men, who could not give birth, feared its power over them. So, women became just another resource to conquer.
The irony is that this very same behavior is found throughout the animal kingdom. The males of many species must dominate the female, in order to mate.
So how do we differ from, say, the common termite, which spreads its colony until all resouces are depleted, then moves on? Size, of course, is a factor...our "colonies" are world-wide; and when all resources are used up, where will we move to?
But the main difference between man and all other species is awareness...the awareness of our own mortality. The "Tree of Knowledge," from which Adam and Eve ate, gave us the knowledge of our own death. This was, in fact, our true "original sin." It was, at that metaphorical moment in time, that we broke from nature's cycle.
Awareness of death made us fear it...fearing death made us fight against it. So, our "war on nature" (and, indirectly, our "war on terror") is really a war on death...
In the natural order, death is the balance. The old and infirm make way for the new generation, usually by becoming food for other animals. Without death, the population swells; food becomes scarce, disease runs rampant and all species are affected...sound familiar?
What if Man, with all his knowledge and technology, is an aberration? What if we are not God's chosen ones, but an evolutionary birth defect that got out of hand?
This perspective would be impossible for most to accept. And, true or not, Man is here, with no signs of going anywhere. We are the top of the food chain. Being at the top, however, requires a grave responsibility. Ronald Reagan's "trickle-down theory" does apply to nature; what we do directly affects all species beneath us. And it affects us, as well...
As we prolong our lives...as we fight death, as if it were an enemy, we consume more resources that are supposed to go the next generation. We have become top-heavy, so much so that our children cannot support the weight. Is it any wonder that the organized religions of the world are fighting birth control and abortion? They know that we need more children, in order to produce enough to feed the needs of our bulging elderly population (a group to which most of our politicians and religious leaders belong).
There has been a tremendous resurgence in pagan religions over the last decades. Wiccan and Native American beliefs are some of the fastest-growing groups in the world. Perhaps there is an instinctual need to restore the balance. It is believed by many that nature is doing her part...Could diseases like SARS and AIDS be nature's way of thinning out the herd? Even homosexuality is found in other species of animals when their populations have grown too big (this is NOT meant as a derrogatory remark against the gay population...If anything, it proves that being gay is natural, not something that has to be "cured").
Since 9/11/01, we have seen our world leaders return to the religious extremism that threatens our very existence...on BOTH sides. These zealots care nothing about our planet, believing that it is merely a stop-over, on the way to Paradise. If destroying the planet gets us there that much quicker, all the better.
Whether aberration or created in God's image, we MUST accept stewardship of our planet. Nature may lose the battle, but if we don't start taking care our home, She will win the war...by default.

2007-03-31T12:46:00.001-07:00

Idle Worship

2007-03-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

By Paul Wilson

Did God create man or did Man create god?
I prefer to believe the latter…Which is why I have decided to create a new deity for our modern times.
I call Her Minutiae…Goddess of trivia and irony; patron saint of the media and politicians.
After all, Her presence can be seen all around us…
In an era when pro-lifers are in favor of the death penalty…
In a country where the average citizen cannot name his congressional representatives but can sing all the words to the “Gilligan’s Island” theme song…
In a world where “national security” has never made us feel so insecure…
Yes, Minutiae is everywhere…
But, like the gods of ancient Greece, the Goddess Minutiae has human failings…She desires control and your undivided worship. She is clever, though…She knows that the modern world has developed a short attention span and will not remain loyal to any one thing for long. So, She bombards us with meaningless pieces of information…Tidbits to entice and titillate us, seemingly so important, at the time. Before we can become bored, the object of our fascination changes…She excels at distraction.
Minutiae is the goddess of want, rather than need. Not so much Ms. Right, as Ms. Right Now.
Minutiae gave us the cell phone…Forget world hunger; our biggest concern, now, is ‘where can I re-charge?’
Al Gore may have helped to create the internet, but it was Minutiae’s inspiration that made it what it is today; a veritable shrine to the banal (Mr. Gore has, since, managed to break from the Minutiae’s grasp, leaving politics for more weighty endeavors…Too bad the two philosophies cannot co-exist).
Minutiae works like a muse, inspiring us to perfect our trivial pursuits. She takes great pride in the 24-hour news networks. Where else can war and human rights violations be pushed to the background, while the world wonders who really fathered Anna Nicole Smith’s baby? “Journalists,” like Wolf Blitzer and Bill O’Reilly, have altars built for Minutiae, to whom they ritually sacrifice their integrity and intellectual curiosity.
But Her crowning achievement is modern politics…
In what is the most secretive, closed-door administration we have ever had (and that is saying a lot), shiny trinkets are dangled in our faces, while the real agenda goes undisclosed. We make our election decisions based on false issues, meant to turn our attention away from corporate corruption. Deep down, we all know this…which is why we are more apt to vote for the American Idol than we are for our politicians.
So why, you may ask, would I pray to such a flawed, mean-spirited goddess? I have hope that, by appealing to Her vanity, I can appeal to Her better nature, perhaps affecting some of Her bad choices. And, quite frankly, She is the only One who seems to be listening…

*Coming soon! Minutiae has created her very own worship website! Find the latest news on Michael Jackson, illegal immigration and gay marriage…Make donations and pray for the Oscar nominees of your choice! Just Google “Minutiae” often, to find out when this site will open! Lifetime memberships will be available!

2007-03-18T10:08:00.001-07:00

2007-03-02T14:23:00.001-08:00

Global Warning

2007-02-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

Clouds Over Paradise

2007-01-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

A Dog's Life

War Games

2006-10-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

by Paul Wilson

These days, recruitment for the U.S. military is suffering. Even the so-called "reserves," like the National Guard, are being shunned in droves. After all, the "nation" that they are "guarding" isn't even our own! It is difficult to enlist new blood when people know that they are merely replacements for the old blood.

So, what's a country to do?

There is always a reinstatement of the draft. This would be the great equalizer, allowing children of the rich and powerful to fight alongside the poor and uneducated...

So that's out.

Heavy is the brow that wears the crown; and "King George the W" is no exception. But, far from giving up, our illustrious leader is planning...Not for today, but for the future.

The distant future...

To the war president, this is all strictly business. And, like any business, success can be measured by comparing profits and losses. While losses have been staggering, the profits have been immeasurable. Let's face it, war is profitable, for those who invest in it. From Lockheed, etc., who build the weapons, to Halliburton, et al., who re-build the devestated infrastructures, to oil companies, who benefit from both, the war pie has many pieces to go around. And the government (our tax dollars, in other words) picks up the tab, eliminating overhead.

Bush has finally found a business he can make a success. And the choice to declare war on terrorism, rather than a specific country, was brilliant (I wonder who gave him the idea, Mr. Cheney!). Like the war on drugs, the target is vague enough to continue the fight for decades.

As long as the resources last.

(That would be us.)

Because they are planning for the long run, the Bushies must aim their recruitment tactics at future generations, as well as the present one.

Start 'em young.

Sometime, just for kicks, pay a visit to the Army's recruitment website, www.goarmy.com . We have all seen the TV ads; the attempt to build a sense of adventure and nobility into an occupation where it is kill-or-be-killed.

Some memorable quotes and (what they really mean):

"I'll be part of something that's important..." (You'll be a snack for the corporate foodchain.)

"They'll train me around here, until they need me..." (Guess when we'll need you? The second that your abbreviated training is complete!)

"I found someone to pay for college..." (Sure, we'll pay your tuition...But the odds are in our favor that you won't survive; or, if you do, you won't feel much like going to school anymore...The house always wins..)

The army's website, however, puts all the ads to shame. The ultimate reality show, you can follow the day-to-day exploits of a single soldier, as he or she does everything from playing with the latest gadgets and weaponry to helping a lost dog find his way home.

Awww...

Being a recruitment website, you don't see the hours of boredom, laced with minutes of terror. You don't see civilians being shot at, tortured, interrogated or killed. You don't see the young cadet who can't take the adventure anymore, and starts shooting at anything that moves. And you don't see the pointlessness in everyone's eyes.

There are even video games on the site, so that you can hone your skills at killing and pretending that it's always just a game. But be careful...High scores may be monitored...

Parents, if this website doesn't make you want to retch on your keyboard, you are probably one of the 32% who still believe in this war. I only hope that you feel the same way when your ten-year-old says, "Hey, Dad, the Army is cool! I wanna go!"

Chances are, he will...

War Profiteers

2006-09-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

by Paul Wilson

(Sung to the tune of "Hail to the Chief")

We'll stay the course,
There will be no cut-and-running,
We're better off
Since Saddam has left the scene,
What do we care if Iraqis kill each other,
As long as all our Humvees have gasoline?

Don't you see
That we need
All of you
To believe,
That we're just there to spread Democracy?
(shout) With a knife!
Aim all your rage
At gay marriage and illegals
Pay no attention to the war profiteers!

We're filthy rich
And we only have one motive,
Grab all we can
'Til the Rapture comes around,
And we believe
That we're gonna take it with us,
Leaving the rest of you with bare, empty ground.

Don't you see
That we need you
To fight for our cause,
So we constantly play upon your fears,
(shout) Build a fence!
Hating your neighbors
Is what keeps us in business,
Blood into oil, we're the war profiteers!

Security, The Dutiful

2006-09-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

by Paul Wilson

(Sung to the tune of "America, the Beautiful")

O when did we
Trade liberty
For wire-taps on our phones?
And when we fly,
We now must buy
New toothpaste and cologne!

Security, Security,
We're tired of all this fuss!
Why can't those Muslims see our need
To make them just like us?

Osama doesn't have a clue,
The havoc he has made,
We only needed one excuse,
To bring back The Crusades!

Security, Security,
The politicians' game,
If they have something that you want,
Just find someone to blame!

King George, he wants us to believe
He keeps the threat at bay,
The truth is that he wants their oil,
And they're just in the way!

Security, Security,
Do you feel safer yet?
We're heading for
A Holy War,
And China's taking bets!

Bordering Insanity

2006-05-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

by Paul Wilson

It's election season again...Time for the Republicans to dredge up the old immigration chestnut. Beating the issue like a pinata, the candidates hope that campaign victories will spill out. Even the powerless Democrats, not wanting to appear weak on national security, are jumping on the bandwagon. But no matter who wins in November, it is almost certain that illegal immigration will continue business as usual.

Big business.

This time, the GOP has cranked it up a notch, making the Mexican border a threat from Al Qaida (despite the fact that, like WMD's, there is no evidence that a single terrorists has used the southern route to sneak in). Chances are that if any did attempt it, the Mexican drug cartels would take them out before they got close. Don't want a few bomb-wielding maniacs to ruin a good thing, right?

No, the real campaign slogan is fear and misdirection, as always...Something at which the Republicans have excelled. While Bush and his media stenographers report a strong, growing economy, the average American has seen his cost of living increase and his wages fall. Social Security and Medicare are in danger from privatization. Prescription drug prices continue to skyrocket. And the Baby Boomers are coming...

It becomes so easy to blame illegal immigrants for our economic and unemployment woes. While our own government pushes us into crushing debt, turning our tax dollars into huge profits for Chevron and Halliburton, they point to the border, saying, "They did it!" But before you dust off the torches and pitchforks (they shouldn't be too dusty, since they were just used to blame gays for hurricane Katrina), consider who really deserves your outrage.

The U.S. has, for some time now, had the means to secure our borders. A 20-foot wall from coast to coast is not only ludicrous but unnecessary. Through the use of "fence-less" technology, lasers and G.P.S. systems could pinpoint any location where an illegal crossing occurred.

So, why haven't we implemented this program? Because, like the drug trade, you can't stop the supply until you stop the demand. And who has the biggest demand for a flood of undocumented, cheap labor? Why, the same major corporations that financed the last two presidential elections.

How often have you heard the rhetoric, "Illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans."? Well, it's true. But don't blame the illegals; Blame the companies who hire them for a fraction of the pay and no benefits. Don't get angry with the immigrants for doing jobs that Americans wouldn't do; Get mad at the corporations who pay them a wage that Americans would never accept. Slavery is illegal in this country, but that doesn't stop Big Business from finding the next best thing, all in the name of their god, Profit.

Unfortunately, many small companies are forced to hire undoumented labor, as well, in order to compete. These days, it's either that or leave the U.S. and relocate in China or India, using their slave labor. Either way, American workers lose. But the true fault lies with a government that not only lets it happen but wants it to happen.

Once more, our leaders are using the immigration problem to misdirect the blame from themselves. The "war on terror," like the "war on drugs," is an exercise in futility, with no one profiting from it but politicians and their corporate cronies.

Our obscene national debt is now up for bid for any foreign investors who want to own a piece of America. So, if our country becomes a subsidiary of China and Dubai; if all our jobs move to other countries for the cheap, non-union labor, I am forced to wonder:

Who will be the future illegal immigrants?

Bush vs. Amtrak: America Derailed Part 2

2006-03-01T15:26:00.000-08:00

by Paul Wilson

Last year, I wrote an article about the imminent demise of Amtrak. Despite support from both republicans and Democrats, the passenger rail service remains in jeopardy. And the Bush administration is winning...

As an 18-year employee of Amtrak, I'll admit to more than a passing interest in its fate. But this issue affects more than the jobs of 40,000 employees nationwide. The bipartisan support for a national rail system has shown this to be not a political issue, but a social one. The problem, however, is that Bush is making it political. And once again, he is forcing members of his own party to vote against him.

As we all know, one of the basic differences between Republicans and Democrats is their views of the federal government's role. On paper, the GOP believes in limiting the power on the federal level, giving each state more control over their legislation and funding. In practice, this form of governing relies on states being able to support themselves.

The Democrats (of which I am, admittedly, one) want a strong central government, funding federal programs which can level the playing field for our poorer citizens. While states still control local government policy, the federal level provides funding for education, roads, welfare programs, etc. (These funds can also be withheld, if a state doesn't comply with national policy, such as a national drinking age).

Ironically, Bush and his team of "Neo-Con" mad scientists have bred these ideals together, creating a monster which eats federal money voraciously and leaves states to fend for themselves. Taking the worst of both philosophies, Bush, Inc. has become bloated and secretive on the federal level, with far more power than the Democrats pictured. The states are free to create their own laws but, with federal funds drying up, they have no power to govern. I cannot believe this is what mainstream Republicans had in mind, either.

If it seems that I am digressing from the Amtrak topic, be assured that there is a point to my tirade...

In part 1 of "America Derailed," I asked an important question: What is the federal government for, if not to provide services to its citizens? Actually, a better question might be, if washington is not funding programs to benefit us, then where are our tax dollars going?

Regrettably, Amtrak is a symptom of a much bigger problem: George W. Bush, and friends, are selling off America, one piece at a time, to the highest bidders. Bush has taken privatization to a whole new level. Or, more precisely, back to an old level...As in, before Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs.

Republicans have always favored free enterprise over a federal welfare program. But as more and more states lose jobs to foreign investors, with cheap labor, Republican leaders are having to answer to their constituents. As our federal deficit soars skyward and funding to states trickles to a halt, the demand for basic services from Washington are growing. This is causing many moderate Republicans to pull away from Bush's neo-conservatives...especially with an election approaching.

Which brings me (finally) back to Amtrak...

Last year, Bush and his congress-in-a-pocket signed an appropriations bill, giving $1.3 billion to Amtrak for 2006.

Our celebration was short-lived. There was a catch. Congress also passed new legislation which requires Amtrak to make drastic cuts in their operating costs. Failure to do so will mean that none of the money can be used to cover dining car and sleeping car operations. Also, instaed of going before Congress once a year to beg for money, Amtrak must now report every three months, just to justify their existence. And the first deadline is July 1st.

In response, Amtrak's long-distance trains are being forced to cut back on quality and service in their dining cars, replacing real food with pre-cooked "airline food," while eliminating chefs, dishwashers and wait staff.

While this is bad enough for our loyal riders, it is very likely that these cuts will not be enough to satisfy the harsh quotas set by the administration. In what is, surely, the plan all along, Amtrak will have no choice but to eliminate dining cars and sleeping cars from all long-distance routes.

Sadly, this is only the first step. According to the budget proposal for 2007, the Bushies want Amtrak to end "costly overnight trains...restructuring its train schedules to emphasize regular, short trips..." "Restructuring" means eliminating thousands of route miles, reducing Amtrak to a series of commuter trains. Most routes would rely on state funding, which many states are unable, or unwilling, to do.

This same budget proposal quotes a Washington Post editorial, which claims that long-distance trains "make little sense today...Amtrak's 15 long-distance trains...travel along World War II routes."

So do most of our nation's highways! And since when is traveling along historic routes a bad thing? The train I work on follows Route 66 and the Santa Fe Trail...Why, we should be buggy-whipped!

Bush's State of the Union address mentioned our nation's "addiction to oil." Wouldn't a modern, national rail system go a long way toward easing that addiction? Instead of relegating Amtrak to history, why not make it part of our future?

Support for Amtrak has crossed party lines for decades. It is simply a basic service that our federal government should provide...mobility. As the "Baby-Boomers" begin to reach senior status, it is imperative that we have an alternative to driving and flying. Tell your representatives that you demand a fully-funded national rail system.

I am also calling on all moderate Republicans to break with tradition and vote a straight Democratic ticket this November. We must break the strangle-hold that Bush has on all three branches of government. Don't get me wrong, I would be a little nervous even if the Democrats had that kind of power. But we need to restore the checks and balances to our national policy-making. Things just run better when one party does not control all three branches.

I wish to thank Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) and other Republican legislators who continue to support passenger rail. It is this kind of bipartisanship that will get Amtrak-and America-back on track.

Just Cause or Just Because?

2006-02-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

by Paul Wilson

Just imagine it...

Your son or daughter announces to you that they have joined the military. He wants to go to Iraq and fight for democracy and the American way. Honor and glory are shining in his eyes. His patriotism is contagious and despite your concerns for his safety, you cannot help but be proud. He is doing what he believes is right.

Now imagine that you receive the worst news a parent can get. Your child has been killed in action. It came with no warning, a senseless death; suicide bomber, land mine or sniper.

At the same time that you get this devestating news, you are being bombarded, here at home, with the growing protests to the war. You have always been a loyal American, believing this conflict in Iraq to be a necessary and noble cause. But now, truths are coming out that show that we were wrong to go there. As these facts are being thrown at you, however, you cannot accept them. For to do so would mean that your child died for nothing.

The pain of out-living your children is a nightmare for any parent to overcome. Knowing that theirs was a senseless death, or could have even been prevented, could be too hard to face.

Is it any wonder, then, that we search for meaning in the death of a loved one...no matter how tenuous that meaning may be?

I have nothing but sympathy for the parents who have lost a child to the "war" in Iraq. As someone who has been deeply opposed to our invasion there, from the beginning, I have received my share of criticism and accusations about my loyalty to the troops. I consider the deaths on both sides to be a tragic waste of life. Yet I do understand why many continue to support it.

Meaning and purpose.

It began, after 9-11, as a necessary mission: To seek out those who had harmed our country and bring them to justice. We sent our troops to Afghanistan with a righteous fury.

Then, suddenly, our focus was shifted from Osama bin Laden to Saddam Hussein and Iraq. Despite the fact that the man who claimed responsibility for the U.S. attacks had not been apprehended, the mission expanded to include W.M.D.'s and freeing the Iraqi people from tyranny. Worthy causes, surely, if somewhat off the point of our being there in the first place. We were the good guys, spreading justice and democracy. And as we began losing American lives to this "war on terror," families of the fallen soldiers took comfort in the knowledge that their deaths had been for a just cause. They were heroes in the battle for freedom. The few of us voicing objections to our motives in Iraq were labelled "un-American" and not supportive of our troops.

A lot of facts have been brought to light since then. No WMD's, no link between Hussein and Al Quaeda. No "mission accomplished." Bin Laden remains at large and violence erupts daily in Iraq, killing more end more of our sons and daughters.

Why, then, do so many of the families of these victims continue to support the Bush administration and their police action?

The answer is simple: To believe the truth would be to believe that their children died for nothing.

With the majority of Americans believing that our invasion of Iraq was a mistake, a surprising number of those who still support it are the families of its casualties. And most still believe that to bring the trooops home now would cause more harm. Or could it be that to leave now would only serve to remind us how useless all of the deaths were?

These grieveing parents cling to the president's consistent rhetoric. The world is safer with Saddam gone. We are bringing Democracy to the region. We will win the war on terror.

My child did not die in vain!

Can you protest the war and still support and sympathize with the troops? In a rational world, of course you can. Those of us opposed to Bush's war realize that soldiers are trained to follow orders and sold on the justifications of their actions. If a man is given faulty (or fabricated) information, then fights for what he believes is right, do we condemn him, or the leaders who lied to him?

But to grieving parents, an attack on the war is an attack on those who died believing in it. Right or wrong, they need a greater purpose to justify the sacrifice of their offspring.

Just ask Cindy Sheehan.

By facing the hard truth that her son died needlessly, in an unjust war, Ms. Sheehan found her own, greater purpose. And it became a cause. She represents all of the families affected by loss. And she courageously faces a president who accepts no blame. Like a mother whose child is killed by a drunk driver, she is taking on the system that makes that death possible and trying to change it, to prevent similar deaths from happening again.

Perhaps, in this way, her son's death will have true meaning, after all.

Captured or Killed...Why?

2006-01-25T10:14:00.000-08:00

by Paul Wilson

Over four years have passed since that terrible day. Since 9/11/01, Americans have lived in fear and anger. Along with the tragic loss of life, the terrorists showed us how vulnerable we could be.

And it gave George W. Bush the opportunity he needed.

When Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the attacks, our government went into action, promising swift justice. Bin Laden would be captured or killed.

I remember thinking, from the start, how odd this was. Captured or killed? What was this, the Old West?

Of course, America's thirst for revenge wanted the man who orchestrated these acts to pay...Perhaps, even with his life. But when did it become the military's function to simply assassinate a criminal suspect for alleged crimes he committed? That's right, I said alleged crimes. Because without a trial, the only proof we have that bin Laden is guilty is the word of our leaders.

When Timothy McVey committed his atrocity in Oklahoma City, people wanted him dead. But we tried him in a court of law and a jury of his peers convicted him and sentenced him to death. Even if you don't believe in the death penalty, you can still agree that McVey had his day in court.

Do we have the right to kill bin Laden outright? He is not the leader of a country, so no formal declaration of war can be made. This reduces him to a mere criminal...And a suspected criminal, at that. Despite Bush's disdain for the United Nations, this is exactly the kind of thing for which they were created.

But there is another question that bothers me far more: Why is Osama bin Laden still at large?
Supposedly, he has spent the last few years hiding in the caves of Afghanistan, cut off from technology that could pinpoint his location. And yet, bin Laden still manages to release video tapes to Arab television, proclaiming that his attacks on America will continue.

All the while, our military is mired in another country, fighting an illegal war, based on faulty (or fabricated) intelligence. And the loss of life in Iraq has well surpassed that of the World Trade Center (if you count Iraqi lives, of course).

Personally, I find it oddly coincidental that, with no word from bin Laden in over a year, his latest video should make its appearance just as President Bush is defending his use of the NSA to spy on his fellow Americans. In what is now a classic maneuver of using fear as misdirection, these threats always seem to appear whenever this administartion's strategies are criticized. I call it the "Orange Alert Gambit."

There are those who believe that Osama bin Laden may not have been behind 9-11; or that, if he was, he was put up to it. After all, at one time, he was our ally, trained and supplied with arms by our own military. The terrorists who hijacked the planes on that day were Arabs...Could it be that the "black sheep" of the bin Laden family is merely a scapegoat to protect our allies with oil?

Whether or not you believe these conspiracy theories, it behooves us to consider that Osama bin Laden best serves the Bush war machine by remaining alive and uncaptured. Dead, he is a martyr; Captured, he becomes just a man. But as a shadowy legend, hell-bent on destroying the American way of life, bin Laden represents the kind of intangible threat that feeds our fears and, therefore, blinds us to our country's slow destruction from within.

Will Osama bin laden ever be caught? It is clear that someone powerful is protecting him, in order to elude our military technology for so long. But, perhaps some day, bin Laden will outlive his usefulness. It could happen. Just ask Saddam Hussein.

Wherever he is, Osama bin Laden had better pray to Allah that Afghanistan never strikes oil...

2006-01-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

The Old Fishing Hole

by Jack James

Small Town U.S.A. Population 1100. Three saloons. Five churches. A typical, all-white, farm community in the Midwest. It was the summer of 1943 and I was 5 years old. One day, my folks were talking about being at war with Germany and Japan. When I asked them about it, they told me that people who violently disagreed with you were enemies and sometimes you had to go to war with them. The "enemies" part I could figure out. But I really wasn't sure what they meant by war.

Later that week, my grandfather took me to his favorite fishing hole for the very first time, to help him catch a batch of fish for supper! Driving to the river, my
grandfather, or "Papa" as I called him, told me that people went fishing in the river all the time. After parking his old Model A, he led me down a twisting tree-lined path to the riverbank.

I clutched my pole and bait box, trying hard to follow in Papa's big steps. I couldn't wait to catch a fish, but I also wondered if we'd see any Germans and Japanese at the river. Of course I didn't know what they looked like , but figured they probably looked just like we did, so they must like to fish! Near the river, Papa stopped to show me a natural spring bubbling out of the rocks. Cupping his hands to hold the water, he smiled, tilted his head back and quickly poured the water in his mouth. With my little hands I had to do it a few times to swallow enough of that cool, sweet-tasting water.

Minutes later while trying to bait my hook, I saw a fish actually jump out of the water like it was trying to fly, before splashing back into the river! In no time at all, we had a mess of catfish and bullheads on our string. But we didn't run across any Germans or Japanese down by the river! Little did I know a few days later I would actually see a real German!

Late afternoons in the summer, most people in town gathered on their front porch or lawn, trying to cool off. To keep the air moving, my grandmother furiously fanned herself with a cardboard fan (imprinted with the name of the local undertaker). People walking by would stop and chat, there were on-going conversations between next door neighbors and everyone exchanged waves with the people driving by in cars.

And the day the Germans came to town was no exception. Rev. Lyons, on his way to the meat market, stopped to visit. Shortly afterwards, Dr. Schnell , going to yet another house call, drove by in his big shiny Packard. We all smiled and waved. Suddenly my Mother put her hand on my shoulder, pointed down the street towards the post office and whispered, "Here come the Germans!"

I quickly turned to see a large Army truck turning the corner onto Main Street. Followed by a second and then a third truck. In mere seconds the Germans would be right in front of me! Everyone silently watched the trucks come closer. When the first truck was in front of our house, I saw they did look just like us. I raised my hand to wave, but my Mother grabbed my arm.

About a dozen Germans were sitting down in the back of each truck. They too were silent, looking down at their feet and not at us. Two guards were standing at the rear of each truck, holding rifles that looked a whole lot bigger than Papa's old shotgun. They looked at the Germans like my Daddy looked at me when I had done something bad. The eerie silence was broken by the chugging sounds of the truck engines as they labored up the steep incline. A few moments more and the trucks slowly disappeared over the top of the hill. They had come and gone.

Being 5 years old, I naturally had questions. Where do those Germans live? Will I see them again? What do they do? Why are they so sad? My Dad told me they were captured in the war and lived at Camp Grant. They rode the trucks to the fields about once a week to pick peas and corn for the local cannery. And people who do bad things, like the Germans, are sad.

For me, the summer of 1943 was a time of discovery and awakening. Walking with Papa down the well-worn path to his fishing hole. The sounds of birds chirping in the trees, winds rustling through the leaves and the gentle lapping of water on the riverbank. The surprise of feeling a fish pull on my line. The excitement of drinking water from rocks, seeing jumping fish and truckloads of German prisoners. And in less than a month, I would start first grade. What a summer!

Sixty one years later, I still like to go fishing. But my fishing days might be numbered. A recent Associated Press article details the growing number of fish advisories due to contaminants, including mercury, dioxins, PCB's, pesticides and heavy metals.

Today, "Let's Go Fishing" takes on a whole new meaning:

* One of every three lakes, and nearly one-quarter of U.S. rivers contain enough pollution that people should limit or avoid eating fish caught there.

* The Food and Drug Administration warns...even if you catch fish not covered by an advisory...servings should be limited to one six-ounce portion a week!

* In August 2004, an environmental advocacy coalition released a report citing EPA figures that claimed 76% of fish samples collected from 260 bodies of water exceeded the agency's mercury exposure limits for children under 3.

* Carl Pope, the executive director of the Sierra Club, stated, "Our country's women and children are paying for the administration's procrastination."

Hold the tartar sauce. The old fishing hole sure ain't what it used to be!

So if my 7 year-old grandson and I went fishing today at Papa's old fishing hole, we wouldn't take a chance on drinking water bubbling from the rocks. And with or without an advisory, any fish we caught we'd throw back in. Today, terrorists have replaced the old enemies of my youth. And despite our ongoing Chicken Little, Color Alert Frenzy, it's doubtful we would run into any terrorists down by the river!

"Hey Grandpa, what does a terrorist look like?"
Whew...I guess there's no easy way to sugar coat the truth.

"Well Son, in my opinion, a terrorist looks just like George W. Bush!"

2006-01-09T19:39:00.000-08:00

Photo of the Week- Preservation Hall, New Orleans 1982

2006-01-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

If We Build it, He Will Come
by Paul Wilson

Are you tired of waiting for the Apocalypse?
Afraid that the Second Coming won’t happen in your lifetime?
Do you want those evil "pro-choicers" to face the Final Judgement NOW?
With your help, we can make it happen!
Introducing the New and Improved Religious Right!
(As Seen On C-Span!)
Your life is busier than ever! Between career, kids and battling against homosexual marriage, when does an ultra-conservative find the time to relax?
You’ve pushed your belief system on every heathen within earshot...When does the righteous evangelist get to take a vacation?
As with anything important, you have to make the time! And the time is now!
We’re talking about the ultimate vacation: The Rapture!
Imagine kicking back in heaven, on your own luxury cloud, watching as all of the non-believers battle Satan and his minions for the control of the earth!
Sounds great, right?
So, let’s make it happen!
How Do We Do It?
The answer is simple!
All of us know about the signs to look for...Signs that tell us that the Last Days are here, so that we can prepare for the coming Rapture.
We, at the New Religious Right are not happy to sit and wait, watching for these signs!
We say, ‘Make them Happen!’ Create the right environment, and Jesus will have to come back, taking all of us righteous Republicans home with him!
Remember: God helps those who help themselves!
Here are just a few of the many projects we’re working on:

Famine/Pestilence -While these conditions have existed in parts of the world for centuries, the New Religious Right has done more to increase these conditions on a global scale! Through our "war on terror" and crippling trade embargos, we have decimated entire regions! But that’s not enough! We want our Lord to appear in America, right? So, these same conditions must be prevalent here, too! What better way to accomplish this than by sending all of our jobs and industry to China? (Don’t worry, our members at the top of the major conglomerates will still keep all of the money!) And to seal the deal, we are removing all of those pesky environmental restrictions placed on big business! The resulting combination of high unemployment and pollution of air, soil and water should create the perfect conditions to force Our Savior out of retirement!

Natural Disasters - Whether it’s floods, fires or earthquakes, we at the New Religious Right are working day and night to develop new technologies that can create these events at will! From global warming (yes, it does really exist) to the soon-to-be-completed space station, we are confident that, very soon, we will be able to cause devastation with pinpoint accuracy! True, the recent tsunami was supposed to go into the Persian Gulf, but the results of our first trial run were very promising!

Wars - ‘Nuff said?

Identifying Marks Being Placed on the Population - This is one of the more obscure signs but, just to cover all the bases, it’s the real reason behind the proposed National Identification Program!

The Birth of the Antichrist - As you may have suspected, this did occur 59 years ago! We can’t divulge too much here...You must become a member...But suffice it to say, he is very high up in our government! He also was given a significant tattoo on his scalp in childhood (We couldn’t wait for it to appear naturally!). Rest assured, he was bred for this job and will make himself know at the proper time! For now, he cloaks himself in religion...Although, you will know him by his satanic smirk!

The time is nearly here, fellow faithful! Do not be discouraged by the increase in homosexuality, abortions and cloning! While we must publicly denounce these sins, we are working secretly to increase them! After all, we will need a huge army of sinners to stay behind after the Rapture, in order to defeat Satan in the coming war! Fear not, they will win the war, but all will die in the process, leaving us free to return to Earth and claim our off-shore bank accounts!

Join Us Today!
Our goal year for the Rapture is 2012 (this was calculated by prophecies from Nostradamus, the ancient Mayan calendar, and Jerry Falwell). We need your help to bring everything together by then!

Testimonials:

"Once, I was laughed at, shunned, even by Republicans...Now, thanks to the New Religious Right, I have the ear of a president! I finally have the power and respect I deserve! We are closer than ever to the Last Days, when all those who ridiculed me will burn in hell!"
-Ralph Reed
Christian Coalition

"I weep with joy to see the progress that the [New Religious Right] has made...I take pride in knowing that my humble contributions in deforestation helped to pave the way! Our time is at hand!"
-James Watt
Former Secretary of the Interior

"Our resources are dwindling, while our population increases...Famine is everywhere...There are holes in the ozone layer...Polar icecaps are melting...Way to go, New Religious Right!"
-Tom DeLay
Soon-to-be-former House Majority Leader

*This is an ad parody, and should be taken very seriously.

2006-01-09T17:11:00.000-08:00

Mad as Hell

Don't Eat Yellow Journalism

2006-01-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

by Paul Wilson

"The bubble-headed bleach blond comes on at five,
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam in her eyes,
It's interesting when people die,
Give us dirty laundry."
-from the song "Dirty Laundry"

Recently, the California Institute of Technology announced the discovery of a "10th planet" in our solar system. While it may be a while before we must update those 1950's science textbooks, this is still a momentous event. And, in that spirit, we have added American mythology to the Roman gods, immortalized in the previous nine, by dubbing the new planet, "Xena," its single moon, "Gabrielle." Thus, we ensure that our own god, Television, will be forever represented in the cosmos.

What better example could we choose for our modern culture?

In an age when reality TV has replaced...well, reality; When telephone numbers in movies must begin with "555," to prevent fans from calling the characters, where does fiction end and reality begin?

No one has blurred this line more than the new media.

Before the concept of 24-hour news, information was packaged to go with our meals, in easy-to-digest, 30-minute time slots. Because time was limited, a news story had to be both accurate and important, to justify squeezing it in to the broadcast. This "just the facts" motif was not designed for entertainment value, but to inform. The predecessors of our modern newscasters were dry, sober, succinct...and objective.

Try to imagine Walter Cronkite interviewing a political pundit, cutting him off because his liberal viewpoint was "absurd." Picture Edward R. Murrow, declaring that a man acquitted on a murder charge was "obviously guilty."

With so much time to fill, today's "reality news" networks do not report the news, so much as dissect it. A story will begin before any facts are even known, with opinions and conjecture filling the void. Rumors and innuendo are the story, until such time as the truth starts to drift in.

Entertainment over substance has turned us into voyeurs, peeking through keyholes, waiting for something...anything...to happen.

Truth has, indeed, become relative. By sensationalizing the news, for the sake of ratings, the networks deprive us of true information. The whole world saw Micheal Jackson turn up for court in his pajamas, but how many of us saw the emasculation of the Kyoto Accord by the U.S.? The Amber Alert is running rampant, with an apparent epidemic of blue-eyed, blond girls disappearing. But where are the stories about the scores of Latino and African-American women and children missing each year?

Not since the 1890's has our journalism been so filtered, one-sided and just plain fabricated. The cable news networks are at the mercy of their sponsors and their owners (Does Rupert Murdoch own them all, yet?). The hand-picked White House Press Corps is at the mercy of Scott McClellan, Press Secretary, who appears to know the questions before they are asked.

And we, the public, are at the mercy of our current administration. In what is, possibly, the worst closed-door policy we have ever seen from a president, we are fed smoke and mirrors, while the truth is hidden behind "national security." In effect, we are told to "pay no attention to that man behind the curtrain."

As our lives become more isolated; As we withdraw to the relative safety of the virtual world and hide from the dangers of the outside world (can anyone say Matrix?), our only link to humanity becomes information...And we hunger for it. No longer satisfied with what happened today, we must know what happened ten minutes ago.

Information is the new drug of choice.

Those who disseminate information prey on our addiction. Like candy to a starving child, we gobble up what they toss us, with no thought to its nutritional value. And we are satisfied enough to come back for more.
Thankfully, we do have one saving grace, in our quest for the truth. We have the internet. But you have to know where to look. AOL, the Wal-Mart of service providers, has as much censorship and lip service as the big news networks.

Don't be afraid to leave the path. Google every chance you get. Find the blogs. These areas of the net have their own problems with opinion over fact, but they also contain valuable information. So valuable that they have the leaders of the world very worried. This free exchange of ideas is what the internet was designed for...And what the world's governments don't want.

In fact, a move is under way to control, regulate and otherwise censor the internet. Governments like China and North Korea, that have a tight reign on their people, are especially fearful. Our own country's leaders are beginning to worry, as well. As bloggers continue to grow in popularity and the truth is spread ever wider, our leaders are coming under closer scrutiny.

We Americans must read news stories from other countries. Find websites from London, Iraq or Thailand. Talk online to people from China or Yugoslavia. By comparison, we learn similarities, as well as differences. And we ethnocentric Americans just might find out just how little we know about the world outside our borders.

The time has come to replace nationalism with globalism. This is the way to prevent wars and terrorism (and wars on terrorism).

To crave knowledge should be Man's true goal. But we must make sure that knowledge is genuine. We cannot be satisfied with fluff. After all, if American Idol makes the front page, how hard is it to hide the truth on page twenty?