Bush honoring Parks rings false
In response to Kanye West saying, "George Bush doesn't care about black people," Bush decided to make a show of allowing Rosa Parks' body to lie in state at the Capitol Rotunda. While Ms. Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat did spark the civil rights movement, I don't believe this single action, however noble and courageous, deserves such an honor. I believe it was a transparent ploy by Bush to show he does, in fact, care about black people.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
And in October...
A Times submission for October...
Democracy doesn't mean giving in
A number of people have written to say that we should accept Bush because he was duly elected by a majority of voters, that this is the basis of democracy. Using this logic, slavery, which was once legal, should still exist. Women should never have been given the right to vote. And, of course, people who protest abortion should stop because that issue was decided legally more than 30 years ago.
Democracy doesn't mean giving in
A number of people have written to say that we should accept Bush because he was duly elected by a majority of voters, that this is the basis of democracy. Using this logic, slavery, which was once legal, should still exist. Women should never have been given the right to vote. And, of course, people who protest abortion should stop because that issue was decided legally more than 30 years ago.
More Times Submissions
AUGUST
God and Punishment
I used to get angry at such stories. Now I'm amused. A group from a Baptist church in Kansas travels the country, picketing funerals of servicemen because they think Sept. 11 and the war in Iraq are God's punishment for society's acceptance of homosexuality. How delusional is a group to relate two unrelated items to fit an agenda of protest? Maybe God punishes people for not minding their own business. Or, maybe the Iraq war is God's punishment for Americans who were gullible enough to elect a murderer like Bush.
God and Punishment
I used to get angry at such stories. Now I'm amused. A group from a Baptist church in Kansas travels the country, picketing funerals of servicemen because they think Sept. 11 and the war in Iraq are God's punishment for society's acceptance of homosexuality. How delusional is a group to relate two unrelated items to fit an agenda of protest? Maybe God punishes people for not minding their own business. Or, maybe the Iraq war is God's punishment for Americans who were gullible enough to elect a murderer like Bush.
Times Submissions
I've been a bit remiss in listing my submissions to the local newspaper. Here's one from:
JULY
Bush's Imposition on Iraq
If you believe you have the right to defend yourself and your family against home invasion, then you can begin to understand why some Iraqis feel the need to defend themselves against an invasion from the United States. Bush has no more right to try to impose democracy on Iraq than a terrorist group has to impose its beliefs on others.
JULY
Bush's Imposition on Iraq
If you believe you have the right to defend yourself and your family against home invasion, then you can begin to understand why some Iraqis feel the need to defend themselves against an invasion from the United States. Bush has no more right to try to impose democracy on Iraq than a terrorist group has to impose its beliefs on others.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Old Poetry brought back to life...
And now...by special request of Matt...my old poem:
WOODPECKER
He
Hangs around
In trees all day
Making those toy machine-gun sounds
Poppity-popping the succulent ants,
Red and black,
That flee along canyons
In the weathered bark like
Residents of some sci-fi
Town running madly down
Crowded boulevards
Escaping the
Wrath of
Godzilla.
WOODPECKER
He
Hangs around
In trees all day
Making those toy machine-gun sounds
Poppity-popping the succulent ants,
Red and black,
That flee along canyons
In the weathered bark like
Residents of some sci-fi
Town running madly down
Crowded boulevards
Escaping the
Wrath of
Godzilla.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Returning to poetry
Father died.
Mother died.
Aunts and uncles followed.
As I pursued the dream
of living the good life
a whole generation passed away.
A limitless source
of knowledge and experience
of strength and love
cascaded down the well of time.
My buffer zone is gone.
The only barriers
between me and my mortality
are the whims of fate
and the choices I make.
And chosing becomes
a more somber task
when age's wisdom
displaces youth's possibilites.
Mother died.
Aunts and uncles followed.
As I pursued the dream
of living the good life
a whole generation passed away.
A limitless source
of knowledge and experience
of strength and love
cascaded down the well of time.
My buffer zone is gone.
The only barriers
between me and my mortality
are the whims of fate
and the choices I make.
And chosing becomes
a more somber task
when age's wisdom
displaces youth's possibilites.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Protest is as American as the Flag
My latest submission to the BackTalk section of the NWI Times:
It's AMAZING to me how many people have decided to attack a Munster man for saying that he will stop flying the American flag to protest Bush. It seems to me that well over 95% of Americans don't fly the flag. At least the man from Munster is not flying the flag for a reason. And that reason is protest...a sacred American tradition older than the flag itself.
It's AMAZING to me how many people have decided to attack a Munster man for saying that he will stop flying the American flag to protest Bush. It seems to me that well over 95% of Americans don't fly the flag. At least the man from Munster is not flying the flag for a reason. And that reason is protest...a sacred American tradition older than the flag itself.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Response to "Creationist Nuts" Everywhere
A recent submission to the Backtalk section of the NWI Times:
In response to the recent comment from the "creationism nut" who's "glad to be a nut" because "nuts fall from trees" and "...sprout and grow and produce much good fruit." Like the Bible, your comment is full of rich metaphors. And like the Bible, your comment was not meant to be taken literally. The Bible was written in an ancient time by a primitive people who were trying to explain the unexplainable. You may say, "But the Bible was inspired by God." Well, who's to say the Koran and the Baghavad Gita and (for that matter) Einstein and Darwin WEREN'T inspired by God? Evolution doesn't deny the existence of God; it just explains God's plan for creation in a less simple manner.
In response to the recent comment from the "creationism nut" who's "glad to be a nut" because "nuts fall from trees" and "...sprout and grow and produce much good fruit." Like the Bible, your comment is full of rich metaphors. And like the Bible, your comment was not meant to be taken literally. The Bible was written in an ancient time by a primitive people who were trying to explain the unexplainable. You may say, "But the Bible was inspired by God." Well, who's to say the Koran and the Baghavad Gita and (for that matter) Einstein and Darwin WEREN'T inspired by God? Evolution doesn't deny the existence of God; it just explains God's plan for creation in a less simple manner.
Monday, May 16, 2005
How to save the taxpayers' money...
A recent letter to the Times:
There's been a great deal of talk recently about the closing of military bases all over the country. The closing of these bases, it is said, will save about 5.5 billion dollars per year. Since the majority of al-Qaeda operatives captured recently were found in Afghanistan and Pakistan (not Iraq), doesn't it make sense to eliminate our presence in Iraq which has already cost the U.S. 170 billion dollars and over 1,500 American lives? Isn't the purpose of the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, after all, to fight terrorism? Or is our mission now to kill everyone who disagrees with us?
There's been a great deal of talk recently about the closing of military bases all over the country. The closing of these bases, it is said, will save about 5.5 billion dollars per year. Since the majority of al-Qaeda operatives captured recently were found in Afghanistan and Pakistan (not Iraq), doesn't it make sense to eliminate our presence in Iraq which has already cost the U.S. 170 billion dollars and over 1,500 American lives? Isn't the purpose of the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, after all, to fight terrorism? Or is our mission now to kill everyone who disagrees with us?
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Bush is aiding America's enemies
A recent submission to the "BackTalk" section of the NWI Times:
Bush is aiding America's enemies.
To those readers who believe that people who speak out against Bush are aiding America's enemies, in your own words, get over it. By ordering the invasion of Iraq, Bush has done more to help America's enemies than anyone. He has turned a once sympathetic world against us and, more importantly, has sacrificed American and Iraqi lives carrying on a personal vendetta against the Husseins instead of pursuing Al Quaeda. And now that the Husseins are gone, all Bush is accomplishing in Iraq is death.
Bush is aiding America's enemies.
To those readers who believe that people who speak out against Bush are aiding America's enemies, in your own words, get over it. By ordering the invasion of Iraq, Bush has done more to help America's enemies than anyone. He has turned a once sympathetic world against us and, more importantly, has sacrificed American and Iraqi lives carrying on a personal vendetta against the Husseins instead of pursuing Al Quaeda. And now that the Husseins are gone, all Bush is accomplishing in Iraq is death.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Republicans can be SO sensitive!
On January 5th, an email from me appeared in "BackTalk" section of the local paper. This is what it said:
American resources misguided
A message from Bush: To the thousands of people affected by the Asian tidal waves and to the relatives and friends of the dead, to the injured and homeless and to those who will be enduring food and water shortages and disease in the near future: You have the heartfelt sympathy of the president of the United States. Unfortunately, hearfelt sympathy is all you have because I'm using most of America's resources to kill Iraqis. Sorry. - GRIFFITH
Apparently, my email struck a nerve with one of the readers. Here's his/her reply from today's paper:
Bush is an honest man
To the Griffith resident who said, in his so-called message from President Bush, that America's resources are misguided: Get over it. People like you are helping America's enemies destroy this country, along with the liberal news media, the ACLU and the liberal Democrats in Congress. Mr. Bush is an honest man who says what he means. - DeMOTTE
Well...I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to get over, but I'm STILL trying to figure out how I'm helping America's enemies destroy the country. I suppose there MIGHT be groups of America's enemies scattered across the globe who subscribe to the NorthWest Indiana Times and who wait each day to see if I've sent another of my scathing anti-Bush comments in...but I somehow doubt it. As for the liberal news media...they really don't call Bush out a whole lot on his shenanigans anymore. Jon Stewart's really the only one who does that...and admittedly his show is "fake news". The ACLU? What have we heard from them lately? And the "liberal" Democrats in Congress are what keep that whole "two-party system" thing going. What does this guy want? An all-Republican Congress? That would pretty much defeat the purpose of having a representative system of government, wouldn't it? Mr. Bush is an honest man? I really don't know him that well...but somehow, I doubt it. Mr. Bush says what he means? I can hardly understand most of what he says. He's not the most eloquent man, is he? For numerous examples of Bush's eloquence, click on "Republicans can be SO sensitive!" (in green) at the top of this blog.
American resources misguided
A message from Bush: To the thousands of people affected by the Asian tidal waves and to the relatives and friends of the dead, to the injured and homeless and to those who will be enduring food and water shortages and disease in the near future: You have the heartfelt sympathy of the president of the United States. Unfortunately, hearfelt sympathy is all you have because I'm using most of America's resources to kill Iraqis. Sorry. - GRIFFITH
Apparently, my email struck a nerve with one of the readers. Here's his/her reply from today's paper:
Bush is an honest man
To the Griffith resident who said, in his so-called message from President Bush, that America's resources are misguided: Get over it. People like you are helping America's enemies destroy this country, along with the liberal news media, the ACLU and the liberal Democrats in Congress. Mr. Bush is an honest man who says what he means. - DeMOTTE
Well...I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to get over, but I'm STILL trying to figure out how I'm helping America's enemies destroy the country. I suppose there MIGHT be groups of America's enemies scattered across the globe who subscribe to the NorthWest Indiana Times and who wait each day to see if I've sent another of my scathing anti-Bush comments in...but I somehow doubt it. As for the liberal news media...they really don't call Bush out a whole lot on his shenanigans anymore. Jon Stewart's really the only one who does that...and admittedly his show is "fake news". The ACLU? What have we heard from them lately? And the "liberal" Democrats in Congress are what keep that whole "two-party system" thing going. What does this guy want? An all-Republican Congress? That would pretty much defeat the purpose of having a representative system of government, wouldn't it? Mr. Bush is an honest man? I really don't know him that well...but somehow, I doubt it. Mr. Bush says what he means? I can hardly understand most of what he says. He's not the most eloquent man, is he? For numerous examples of Bush's eloquence, click on "Republicans can be SO sensitive!" (in green) at the top of this blog.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Drugs in Music and Poetry
With the possible exception of the perennial favorite...LOVE...drugs may have been THE most popular subject of music and poetry in the 60's and 70's and well into the 80's. Whether it's that "peak experience" feeling or simply pleasant memories shared with friends when high, drug use was with us in song for a long, long time. It has only been with the recent return to the puritanical atmosphere of the 50's brought on by born-again bible thumpers and other right-wing types that the subject of recreational drug use in song has fallen from grace.
So...it is with my usual attitude of political-correctness-be-damned that I delve into some of my favorite lyrics and poetry about drug use.
1966...The Beatles Rubber Soul album. Was Norwegian Wood REALLY about smoking pot? "And when I awoke I was alone. This bird had flown. So, I lit the fire. Isn't it good? Norwegian wood." Hmmmm...and what ABOUT Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
1969...Woodstock...Arlo Guthrie, son of folk music giant Woody Guthrie (This Land is Your Land) performs a song that goes "Flying into Los Angeleez...Bringing in a couple of keys. Don't check my bags if you please mister customs man."
Also in 1969 (a great year for drug music), a seminal, low-budget film that was all about drugs and how they figured into pursuing the American dream. Yes, it was Easy Rider. The Holy Modal Rounders brought us: "Don't bogart that joint, my friend...pass it over to me." And a little-known group called Steppenwolf brings us "God damn the pusher-man." and "Born to be wild."
Was it in the late 60's or early 70's that an entire album devoted to pot was made? I guess if you remember for sure, you weren't there. But I DO remember the name of the record. It was called "Have a Marijuana" and was by a bunch of New Yorkers (with questionable musical talent) called David Peel and the Lower East Side. Yes...that's the recording that brought us such memorable hits as: "Mother, Where is my Father?" "I Do my Balling in the Bathroom" AND of course "Up Against the Wall Mother F*cker!" (Was that last title censored sufficiently?)
The Seventies...A scruffy and slightly scary writer of children's poetry, Shel Silverstein pens a poem called "The Great Smoke-Off" for Playboy magazine. The first little bit goes something like this: "In the laid-back California town of sunny San Rafael lives a girl named Pearly Sweetcakes. I think you know her well. She was stoned nineteen of her twenty years and I've heard the story told that she can smoke 'em faster than anyone can roll." A far cry from "Where the Sidewalk Ends", don't you think?
Also the seventies: John Prine sang, "You may see me some time...with an illegal smile. It don't cost very much but it lasts a long while. Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone. No, I'm just trying to have me some fun."
The Eighties...A super-group called the Travelling Wiburies composed of music legends Roy Orbison, Bob Dillon, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne get together and release a couple albums. The first one...by far the most popular of the two features a song about drugs, but not at all glorifying drug use. Perhaps just a hint of what the 90's will bring. Anyway, the song goes something like this: "Tweeter and the monkey-man were hard up for cash. They stayed up all night selling cocaine and hash...To an undercover cop who had a sister named Jan. For reasons unexplained she LOVED that monkey-man." A pretty weird little story in song, huh?
Anyway...that was my foray into the subject of drugs in song and verse. Of course, this blog was for artistic purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement of drug use...blah blah blah...yada yada yada.
Later. Peace Out. Word to your Auntie.
So...it is with my usual attitude of political-correctness-be-damned that I delve into some of my favorite lyrics and poetry about drug use.
1966...The Beatles Rubber Soul album. Was Norwegian Wood REALLY about smoking pot? "And when I awoke I was alone. This bird had flown. So, I lit the fire. Isn't it good? Norwegian wood." Hmmmm...and what ABOUT Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?
1969...Woodstock...Arlo Guthrie, son of folk music giant Woody Guthrie (This Land is Your Land) performs a song that goes "Flying into Los Angeleez...Bringing in a couple of keys. Don't check my bags if you please mister customs man."
Also in 1969 (a great year for drug music), a seminal, low-budget film that was all about drugs and how they figured into pursuing the American dream. Yes, it was Easy Rider. The Holy Modal Rounders brought us: "Don't bogart that joint, my friend...pass it over to me." And a little-known group called Steppenwolf brings us "God damn the pusher-man." and "Born to be wild."
Was it in the late 60's or early 70's that an entire album devoted to pot was made? I guess if you remember for sure, you weren't there. But I DO remember the name of the record. It was called "Have a Marijuana" and was by a bunch of New Yorkers (with questionable musical talent) called David Peel and the Lower East Side. Yes...that's the recording that brought us such memorable hits as: "Mother, Where is my Father?" "I Do my Balling in the Bathroom" AND of course "Up Against the Wall Mother F*cker!" (Was that last title censored sufficiently?)
The Seventies...A scruffy and slightly scary writer of children's poetry, Shel Silverstein pens a poem called "The Great Smoke-Off" for Playboy magazine. The first little bit goes something like this: "In the laid-back California town of sunny San Rafael lives a girl named Pearly Sweetcakes. I think you know her well. She was stoned nineteen of her twenty years and I've heard the story told that she can smoke 'em faster than anyone can roll." A far cry from "Where the Sidewalk Ends", don't you think?
Also the seventies: John Prine sang, "You may see me some time...with an illegal smile. It don't cost very much but it lasts a long while. Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone. No, I'm just trying to have me some fun."
The Eighties...A super-group called the Travelling Wiburies composed of music legends Roy Orbison, Bob Dillon, George Harrison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne get together and release a couple albums. The first one...by far the most popular of the two features a song about drugs, but not at all glorifying drug use. Perhaps just a hint of what the 90's will bring. Anyway, the song goes something like this: "Tweeter and the monkey-man were hard up for cash. They stayed up all night selling cocaine and hash...To an undercover cop who had a sister named Jan. For reasons unexplained she LOVED that monkey-man." A pretty weird little story in song, huh?
Anyway...that was my foray into the subject of drugs in song and verse. Of course, this blog was for artistic purposes only and in no way constitutes an endorsement of drug use...blah blah blah...yada yada yada.
Later. Peace Out. Word to your Auntie.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
What's on the back of YOUR car?
OK! NO MORE MAGNETIC RIBBONS!
Let's look at things realistically. Who do those magnetic ribbons REALLY support? You know, the ones that say "Support Our Troops" and "Proud to Be an American".
Those magnetic ribbons support:
1. The slimy leach bastards who are capitalizing on the deaths of American men and women who are made to participate in an illegal and immoral war.
2. The owners of auto-body shops who repair the scratches on the beemers and benz's left by magnetic strips of crap.
3. The redneck jerkoffs who think that people who are against unnecessary war are unamerican.
4. The 51% of Americans who think it's a sin to kill innocent fetus's but commendable to kill innocent non-christians.
You know who REALLY supports our troops? Voluntarily or otherwise, the people who REALLY support our troops are people like me who've been paying income taxes for over thirty years. Unfortunately, MY tax contributions must be going to pay for Bush's inaugural gala because the troops over there STILL aren't getting the body armor and vehicle armor they need. And...if I had my way, MY tax contributions would go to support social programs in the U.S. and relief efforts in areas affected by recent natural disasters. But...regular folks have little say concerning where their tax money goes...even less since the Patriot Act went into effect. Anyone complaining about how his tax money is used THESE days is in danger of disappearing. (I think Orwell called it "becoming a non-person".)
Oh...and ANOTHER thing about things people are putting on the rear ends of their vehicles: I don't give a FUCK whether little Johnny is an honor student at Joseph McCarthy middle school. I don't give a SHIT whether Jesus Saves or Jesus is Lord (whatever THAT means) and I don't give a good DAMN whether Jesus Loves You. What kind of insecure asshole cares what some stranger driving behind him thinks or believes anyway?
The only bumper sticker I've approved of recently was one that said "Jesus Loves You. Everyone else thinks you're an asshole." At least THAT one made me chuckle.
Let's look at things realistically. Who do those magnetic ribbons REALLY support? You know, the ones that say "Support Our Troops" and "Proud to Be an American".
Those magnetic ribbons support:
1. The slimy leach bastards who are capitalizing on the deaths of American men and women who are made to participate in an illegal and immoral war.
2. The owners of auto-body shops who repair the scratches on the beemers and benz's left by magnetic strips of crap.
3. The redneck jerkoffs who think that people who are against unnecessary war are unamerican.
4. The 51% of Americans who think it's a sin to kill innocent fetus's but commendable to kill innocent non-christians.
You know who REALLY supports our troops? Voluntarily or otherwise, the people who REALLY support our troops are people like me who've been paying income taxes for over thirty years. Unfortunately, MY tax contributions must be going to pay for Bush's inaugural gala because the troops over there STILL aren't getting the body armor and vehicle armor they need. And...if I had my way, MY tax contributions would go to support social programs in the U.S. and relief efforts in areas affected by recent natural disasters. But...regular folks have little say concerning where their tax money goes...even less since the Patriot Act went into effect. Anyone complaining about how his tax money is used THESE days is in danger of disappearing. (I think Orwell called it "becoming a non-person".)
Oh...and ANOTHER thing about things people are putting on the rear ends of their vehicles: I don't give a FUCK whether little Johnny is an honor student at Joseph McCarthy middle school. I don't give a SHIT whether Jesus Saves or Jesus is Lord (whatever THAT means) and I don't give a good DAMN whether Jesus Loves You. What kind of insecure asshole cares what some stranger driving behind him thinks or believes anyway?
The only bumper sticker I've approved of recently was one that said "Jesus Loves You. Everyone else thinks you're an asshole." At least THAT one made me chuckle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
