Evil Conservative that I am....
or is it just that I’ve had it up to here with primitive, uncivilized behavior?
JIMIN LAI/AFP/Getty Images
I’m getting really, really tired of hearing about how it’s the Great Santa Satan’s responsibility to rescue the entirety of South Asia from their tsunami woes. That we “should” make them whole. That we’re stingy. That Bush caused it by not signing that useless piece of chicanery, the Kyoto Treaty. That it’s God’s punishment.
Piles and piles of magical thinking from the mouths of ignorant, irresponsible, hateful fools. Oh, the hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth. Pfaff.
How much help did any of them offer us during our recent spate of hurricanes? Sure—they don’t have much, they can’t do much—but did they even offer? Did they stand up like adults and lend a hand to people in a crisis? I didn’t see it.
I don’t hear anyone calling Denmark “stingy.” Or France. Or the House of Saud, Lybia, Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, or Syria. But when Israel steps up to the plate and offers help, it’s thrown back in their face.
Then, to top it all off—*MY* money, taken by force, is being given to the biggest scam organization of all time. The antics pulled by this bunch would make any small-time mafioso blush at the petty shabbiness of it all—and my government *and* my dang Prezzy-dent are acting like this is a legit expenditure of *MY* money!! [not to mention *your* money...] Make Kofi and Son® fatter, pass some along to the goons in South Asia and let the rest of it—about 10% worth—rot on the docks because what little infrastructure there was is washed away. Reaaaal useful, fellas. Thanks again.
The only, sole, solitary reason I am not rioting in the streets about this, screaming “Fuggem—let Allah handle it!” is that the destruction of any and all social structure creates a fertile ground for Al Qaida recruitment. The loss of structure, the starvation, disease, pestilence and lack of an economy creates a rotten spot --like on a peach—that would spread. Both effect US and world stability. That’s the only reason I am willing to give them some sort of rebuilding hand.
As to flying our flag at half staff—entirely inappropriate. Dubya—that’s two Todd strikes this week. Rouse yourself, boy!
Ok—cut loose on me.
.
ThanQ! Lovely and Talented Headmistress
“Then, to top it all off—*MY* money, taken by force...”
Exactly Claire. I don’t think I’ll contribute to this one because of that and because I know private charities take their own slice. I found that out the hard way after 9/11.
Right on about GW too, but I don’t expect much so I’m not as disappointed as you.
Posted by AnnoyedOne on 01/03/05 at 06:44 AMFYI Claire, not all countries in the region are Islamic. Indonesia mostly is (Bali is an exception being Hindu) but Thailand is Buddist and Sri Lanka is Buddist/Hindu.
Posted by AnnoyedOne on 01/03/05 at 09:22 AMNot to beat a dead, uh.... but note that the above pic is from Sri Lanka, and they are the country who has turned down aid from the eeeevil Israelis…
I’m just sayin’....
Posted by Claire on 01/03/05 at 10:28 AMWell I’m all for nuking Indonesia (Bali excepted). As for Sri Lanka there are Muslims there as there are in India but they’re in the minority. As for individual Bin Shithead supporters shoot’em with my blessings
Posted by AnnoyedOne on 01/03/05 at 10:33 AMClaire your closing paragraph was probably the best political reason for ‘W’ to do what he has done so far. It’s easy for us to judge in our positions but if we really worked along side them I think we would find that a lot of hard decisions have to made. As I say you closed your post with the right conclusion.
Posted by on 01/04/05 at 03:00 PMI flipped a coin and you get fisked first tonight!
“Evil Conservative?” I’ll have to cite you there for explicit oxymoronic sarcasm. I get it, but yanno how even the nicest Libs can get all literal when it suits their purpose.
So watsamatta with lowering the flags? And don’t pull the All Statecraft is Bullcrap line with me. I’m already there and it won’t help. When other countries used this device to acknowledge our 9/11 dead, I accepted it in the name of Civilization.
In the case at hand, Americans have genuine sorrow for these massive human losses and compassion for the survivors. Since it is the legitimate business of gov to express our collective thoughts to the World, and the silent lowered flag is an elegant way to do that, I’ve got no complaints.
((When Pat Leahy dies, I may be more flexible.))
Posted by HelenW on 01/06/05 at 01:02 PMHelly—I’m flattered!
This is my first citation for explicit oxymoronic sarcasm. I’m framing it! [how much is the fine?]
Ad to the litteralatti - they can go stuff their elbow in their ear. [Let ‘em wrangle around with *that* fer a while… ticket sales may be in order.]
Ok—point bout the flag accepted. I would prefer we kept that for strictly American losses as to broaden it any further deprives it of specialness and, hence, meaning. But in the absence of a better idea, I accept your point.
Posted by Claire on 01/07/05 at 07:29 AM
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