Destroying Bin Laden’s Compound

Hmm. Seems Pakistan is going for some positive PR by making a big deal out of destroying Bin Laden’s compound.

I’m kind of at a loss as to why this is important enough to rate a spot on the top news wires. The man has been dead for a while now. It’s almost like putting Bin Laden’s name on paper they would be hoping for some higher ratings or something. Ridiculous, I know.

Seriously folks. He’s dead. What does it matter what happens to his compound?  I’m pretty sure that destroying it won’t demoralize anyone who chooses to carry on in his legacy. I’m also pretty sure his family isn’t going to claim to care, even if they do. So…why? Buildings are just buildings. They don’t carry on the legacy of people who have spent time in them. Otherwise  serial killers' houses – never used again.

I really hate PR stunts and this just reeks of being one. I’m pretty sure no one in Pakistan is all that interested in hearing about his house being torn down (in fact, it may piss off some people quite a bit). Spitting on Bin Laden’s grave by being happy his house was torn down just seems a bit juvenile.

Really, Bin Laden was just a man. He was a particularly hateful and evil man, but only a man none the less. Can we move on already?

Becky

Watching the Nonsense From Afar

My family and I have moved to India. This is really old hat news for me, but since I don’t think I ever mentioned it in this blog, I thought I would explain my absence from complaining about all the nonsense. 

In fact, I haven’t paid much attention to what’s happening in the US since we left in September. I took a look at my blog today and it made me wonder exactly what was going on in the US.  I think some BBC viewing time is definitely in order. Alas, while India has stepped out of the comedy stone age and now gets Comedy Central (even though the programming is distinctly un-Comedy Central-ish), I still haven’t been able to catch a current John Stewart, which makes me weep on a regular basis. I do love that man.

Anyhow. Being out of the US with little access to all the nuanced news and talking heads in the US has made me wonder how much all of that nonsense really means anyhow.  It just doesn’t seem to have the same importance to my family now that we aren’t living there.

I’m going to have to catch up with what’s going on, just so I can stay informed.

Becky

That is so Gay

Listening to:Staind

Mood: Mellow

So…In case you aren’t following politics in or around New York, Albany recently passed a bill allowing gay marriage.   Wait, wait. Have you read about how much I LOVE Albany? People, ALBANY passed gay marriage in NY! This is indeed an interesting day in history. A great one to be sure, but completely unexpected for this blogger. New York city definitely has a well deserved reputation as being a liberal Mecca, but we actually have quite a few conservative minded folks from the rest of the state. Albany is not usually a place to take a stand; it’s a place to establish yourself in political corruption.  So that would be a pretty big middle finger pointed at all the rest of the god fearing people in the country who are positive that gay marriage is going to open up a big sink hole somewhere in Kansas that will swallow any and all wholesomeness in this country.  Mmm hmm. Sorry about that.

Let’s stick in a disclosure: I’m not gay. I don’t even know anyone who is openly gay. I’m really hoping that I don’t offend anyone who this directly applies to because I support this idea whole heartedly.  I get a pretty big hard on over people being able to be equal. 

This historic incident just happened to occur at the same time as the gay pride parade was happening.  I love it.  I do think the parade would have been a lot more colorful and fun (if that’s possible!) had the bill been passed before the parade.

I think the kicker of this whole thing is sitting slightly below the surface here. You see, New York wants to brand itself as some kind of gay marriage destination. You heard right, we are hoping to attract the gay tourist market segment. As if New York didn’t have enough reasons for people to come here. Now, this leads me to be suspicious that this law was passed because all of the politicians had little dollar signs dancing in their vision after someone convinced then there was money to be had. That’s right people, this always comes back to money. As happy as I am that this was passed, I don’t for one minute believe anyone in the state capital cared all that much about civil rights or the morality of being gay. They cared about dollars. Welcome to New York people.

Becky

Enlightenment vs. being a Pussy

Listening to: Random Hindi on the ipod

I was watching John Stewart the other night (as I am known to do on a regular basis) and watched him roast John Boehner for the waterworks show he has been putting on as of late. Before anyone accuses me to promoting the bastion that is the heartless, sexist, uber masculine old boy’s club, let me just express my support for the enlightened, sensitive, new age male. That being said, grow a pair Boehner.  The American public has had its fill of apologies filled with false regret and tears, we’re really not falling for this display, not matter how genuine it may have been.  I think it’s great that you feel strongly about certain issues (this is key to becoming a good politician, if that exists, in the first place), but crying on tv…. It just undermines your point.

I’m not a big fan of Boehner in the first place. I know it’s a cheap shot, but I can’t help but think of him as Beaner every time I see him on tv. After someone like Obama, it’s hard to find the same gravitas and leadership and many politicians come across as spineless jellyfish. I’m sure this is a useless generalization, but it is my opinion after all.  

Seriously Boehner, meet me at camera 2. Listen, I’m not really sure if you have genuine strong opinions or this is a new sensitive side of you that you’re trying to convince us that you really do have. Either way, if Obama bowing to certain world leaders comes off soft, you have absolutely no chance of being taken seriously if you are willing to cry on tv. Tell you what. How about you translate your strong emotions into a motivation to implement some real, strong, actual changes that we can respect you for? That way we can appreciate you as an enlightened politician instead of just a possibly fake weepy pussy.  Good luck with that.

Becky

Israel vs. Palestine - War of the 2 year olds.

Mood: Calm

Listening to: Wind of Change - Scorpions

The republicans have won. No doubt you noticed from all the little happy dances that have been performed ever since on every news channel out there.  I’m going to leave this alone for today, but I’ll be back. This means you Boehner, I’m nowhere near done with you. 

So. Israel and Palestine. According to Yahoo news, Israel is defending its choice to continue construction in Eastern Jerusalem. It seems to me that Israel is amazingly callous and uncaring of any world opinions or criticism on how they are conducting themselves with the Palestine, a situation that would seem to benefit from a little something called diplomacy. In a recent Time article with Condoleeza Rice, she stated that there was only one workable solution was two separate nations working to respect each other. I’m not a huge fan of Dr. Rice, but I totally agree with her on this. Why in the world can these two countries not behave like adults on this? Perhaps I don’t know ALL the facts on this, but Israel does seem to be the aggressor in most of these situations. All of the land grabbing and refusal to budge on anything.  Eh Israel, meet me at camera 3. You guys got your own country. Take a look back in history and notice how rare a solution this is. Seriously. Not sure how you pulled it off, but you have your own space. It’s a decent sized space that came at the expense of the countries around you. Why be assholes about taking further space from your neighbor?  Prime Minister Netanyahu, your statement is either naiveté, or simple belligerence. Just because you don’t agree that you shouldn’t develop in eastern Jerusalem doesn’t mean it isn’t affecting the peace in the region. Good grief.  Contrary to your belief, you can respect the border. Let it go. Redirect your attention, persistence and efforts into developing your country in other ways. Really, 1300 apartments in that exact neighborhood isn’t really all that important. Good lord, I feel like I’m talking to my own children. Don’t make me tape a line down the middle of your room and make you have a time out until you agree to play nice. Palestine, you meet me at camera 4.  Israel, you stay right where you are at camera 3. No poaching in on camera 4.  Palestine, if you continue to take the high road, you will come out ahead in this conflict. Keeping your stance on not giving in is a good idea. You don’t have to be a wimp in the process, but let’s keep that crazy Hamas under wraps, ok? Try and keep the suicide bombers to a minimum. The world will eventually place enough pressure on Israel that they will have to cave in and stop building. Patience is the key here.

Becky

The Slimy Time of Year

Mood: Rather Lost. I missed an entire week somewhere.

Listening to: Sheryl Crow

It’s that time of year, kids. The time when you can turn on the tv and get all the dirt on your local politicians and those who wanted to wade into the fray and challenge them. The nerve of those amateurs. Thinking that they can get into democratic politics. The very idea. Ludicrous. The joyous time of year when campaign signs litter the street corners and curbs of headquarters trying to sucker the innocent into thinking they have chosen a candidate that will actually change Albany. Ah, the innocent – they are so cute you just want to pinch their cheeks to make them wake up! It’s the time of year when they create advertisements about themselves and how they will create change in Albany and the other guy will without a doubt contribute to the shamefulness and mockery of democracy that is Albany.  Yep, local elections folks, just in case you had your head in the sand.  If you live in New York, you have a bit of an idea of how local politics runs. 

The word that keeps popping up here is Albany – our capital and where all of the political machinations occur.  What those of you not from New York may not understand is that Albany is historically and currently notoriously corrupt. To the point where corruption is almost a birthright of any politician involved in any level at all. The fun thing about all of these sound bite advertisements is that none of these local fools can change Albany at all. Kind of like Obama not being able to single handedly change everything we hated about the white house the minute he landed up there. It just ain’t happening. Even if we wiped the slate clean and started over again with all new politicians, or even average folks, Albany’s reputation and nefarious nature would suck the newbies in and create more of what was there. It’s just the nature of the game. You may not like it, but let’s be realistic. 

I’ve always hated the absolute reek of sleaze that accompanies local politics. The first whiff of an election a few months away and you can sit back and let the mud pies fly back and forth.  Even if they aren’t slinging mud, they’re promising people the moon, a Mazarati, and everlasting Change. Can we please let this idea go? It didn’t work for Obama, gifted speaker that he is; it’s not going to work for you either. 

My husband has encouraged me to enter local politics just for the giggles he would get -he’s a bit sadistic that way. I told him I wouldn’t touch that nonsense with a 20 foot stick. Kind of like my watching the “Situation” on MTV. I like watching him, but I would not touch that fool with a 20 foot stick. Ew. God knows where that’s been.    

So we can divide the candidates into 2 basic categories – the innocent and the players. The innocent think they can honestly change things. Or are really, really good at selling that idea. The players have been there, seen it, and done it twice with 2 girls, a dog, and possibly a reindeer. These guys are the professional mud slingers that have written down every real or perceived transgression of absolutely everyone else, and they’re not afraid to use it. This would include the slaughtering of the innocent because they can’t possibly do things right. It’s pretty easy to tell them apart.   

It makes you want to throw your hands up at the whole system, but that’s what they want because then they can carry on as they have been for so long.

Becky

They’re crucifying The Savior!

Listening to: Travel Channel and chattering children

President Obama, we need to talk. I don’t know if you’ve notice this, but they’re crucifying you out here. I know you are just a mere mortal man, in spite of all the hoopla doopla about you saving America during the election. I also understand that most of this criticism is misplaced, since no one man can turn the direction of the ship on the turn of a dime. Still, you have to do something. Anything. I understand that you were smart enough to capitalize on the average American’s need for hope and change, but you gotta keep the ball rolling here. We need you to be the one who makes a stand on things that matter to the American people. I’ve heard of you changing your stance on a few things that you were pretty firm on, like Palestine. Please, please, please, don’t be that guy. We would much rather have a leader that takes a (educated, classy) stand on issues than pick one side and changes his mind later. Don’t.Be.That . President. I think most of us took a running leap onto the Obama bandwagon because you seemed to embody all of the things that Americans prize most in leaders. Things that your predecessor sorely lacked. Americans want, desperately, to believe that you will deliver on at least some of the promises that you made campaigning. Redeem at least some of the respect that America had dealing with other countries. We are sitting here waiting for you to step up again. You have the foundation to be one of the epic presidents that last in our folklore, you just have to reach out and grab it by the horns, and be that guy.

Becky