Chinese Fire Drill
The greatest patriotism is to tell your country
when it is behaving dishonorably
--Julian Barnes
Islam is a beautiful harmless happy daffodil
--Earth (The Book),
Jon Stewart, et al.
I don't wanna hear your talking, boy
Your words don't mean a thing
--Wings, Little Mix
_________________________
Watching the news today is like watching a Chinese fire drill. Inscrutable Middle East / Arab / Muslim people lead each news hour. If it is not the bedlam in their own countries, than it is their effect upon the others. It is a contagion we are led to believe cannot be contained.
The intellectuals tell us, "refugees are the price we pay for a globalised economy in which commodities – but not people – are permitted to circulate freely", like it or lump it [ "The Non-Existence of Norway".]
When we make a foray into out own nation's news, it is to strike the alarum against Things That Cannot Be, like presidential front-runner Trump. In a democratic nation, Trump's facticity mortifies us. Yet his success is a bellwether for the condition of our electorate.
In addition, he is not sui generis. We have had businessmen and an actor (a business of sorts) serve as President. In addition, wrestlers, comedians, and everyone in between have served in representative positions.
Rather than The Powers That Be scrambling to pull the plug on the farrago that is Trumpmania, why not look with fascination and concision at that very real phenomenon. No, sadly, that sort of truth-telling we cannot allow.
We do not ask the right questions because we are too busy constructing the images that tell the story we want to tell.
A recent story-topper in the New York Times was masterful: "The New Europeans" re-constructed Grant Wood's iconic "American Gothic" for a world which is told it must absorb the illegal Arab immigrant (see above). ("Look -- they are just like you", the carefully constructed image tells you. "No worries".)
The clean-cut Middle East couple newly arrived in Bavaria could be in an American Outfitters advertisement, with the photo's appealing bright pinks and yellows. And, it's got kids -- kids in matching little construction boots! Future workmen -- what's not to like?
In addition to the variously imaged immigrants, we see the same news footage nightly regarding the latest Islamic State (IS) outrage, but we never see pictures of IS fighters who have been captured alive. Why?
Does the Iraqi Army, Iraqi militias or the Kurds have enemy prisoner of war (EPW) units? Do these forces abide by the Geneva Conventions (GC) when dealing with IS?
The immediate reply will be, "Well, IS doesn't abide by the GC's". While clearly a true statement, hopefully United States tax dollars do not finance IS. The Iraqis are a different matter since they were created in our image and likeness by our greenbacks.
You won't hear it on the news, but the real Rubik's Cube is a U.S. policy which supports allies who are not allies, and who do not share our values. Allies who practice ethnic cleansing and Genocide Light, something which is opposed to the 1988 Genocide Treaty signed by the U.S.
What we are given instead are graphics, things we can scroll on our media feed while stopped at traffic lights, possibly even while driving, a little something to enhance that otherwise mundane experience.
We took our eyes off of the road some time ago.
--Jim and Lisa
The intellectuals tell us, "refugees are the price we pay for a globalised economy in which commodities – but not people – are permitted to circulate freely", like it or lump it [ "The Non-Existence of Norway".]
When we make a foray into out own nation's news, it is to strike the alarum against Things That Cannot Be, like presidential front-runner Trump. In a democratic nation, Trump's facticity mortifies us. Yet his success is a bellwether for the condition of our electorate.
In addition, he is not sui generis. We have had businessmen and an actor (a business of sorts) serve as President. In addition, wrestlers, comedians, and everyone in between have served in representative positions.
Rather than The Powers That Be scrambling to pull the plug on the farrago that is Trumpmania, why not look with fascination and concision at that very real phenomenon. No, sadly, that sort of truth-telling we cannot allow.
We do not ask the right questions because we are too busy constructing the images that tell the story we want to tell.
A recent story-topper in the New York Times was masterful: "The New Europeans" re-constructed Grant Wood's iconic "American Gothic" for a world which is told it must absorb the illegal Arab immigrant (see above). ("Look -- they are just like you", the carefully constructed image tells you. "No worries".)
The clean-cut Middle East couple newly arrived in Bavaria could be in an American Outfitters advertisement, with the photo's appealing bright pinks and yellows. And, it's got kids -- kids in matching little construction boots! Future workmen -- what's not to like?
In addition to the variously imaged immigrants, we see the same news footage nightly regarding the latest Islamic State (IS) outrage, but we never see pictures of IS fighters who have been captured alive. Why?
Does the Iraqi Army, Iraqi militias or the Kurds have enemy prisoner of war (EPW) units? Do these forces abide by the Geneva Conventions (GC) when dealing with IS?
The immediate reply will be, "Well, IS doesn't abide by the GC's". While clearly a true statement, hopefully United States tax dollars do not finance IS. The Iraqis are a different matter since they were created in our image and likeness by our greenbacks.
You won't hear it on the news, but the real Rubik's Cube is a U.S. policy which supports allies who are not allies, and who do not share our values. Allies who practice ethnic cleansing and Genocide Light, something which is opposed to the 1988 Genocide Treaty signed by the U.S.
What we are given instead are graphics, things we can scroll on our media feed while stopped at traffic lights, possibly even while driving, a little something to enhance that otherwise mundane experience.
We took our eyes off of the road some time ago.
--Jim and Lisa
Labels: American Gothic, Entertainment Tonight, Grant Wood, Infotainment, IS, Islamic Gothic, Islamic State, media, propaganda, the News, whitewashing
posted by rangeragainstwar at 7:55 AM
13 Comments:
Anymore I have to double check to verify that it's "real" news versus The Onion or Duffle Blog.
What eats at me is the way that anyone not agreeing with the media's message is subjected to a virtual mob hurling labels along the lines of "bigoted monster" at the dissenter(s).
Enforcing immigration laws makes one - like Trump - a psycho racist beast?
It's crazy.
It's also a poorly constructed schizophrenic fantasy that is doomed to rip itself to shreds. For example, what happens when the newly arrived Muslims are exposed to the indoctrination in the US public school system (e.g. the virtues of gay marriage, premarital sex, godless evolution)? They ain't goin' to be so cute and cuddly anymore.
We have become an unserious people. An adjustment is due.
Best,
Avedis
The two Syrian refugee families that our church is sponsoring are working hard at integration. They are learning English, finding (mostly entry level) work and establishing households. A number of people in town (who were previously refugees) are teaching them our cultural expectations.
However, I do think that arriving in the middle of a (albeit very mild) Canadian prairie winter was rather a shock to them.
Ael,
In the US the Muslim immigrants are demanding prayer in school (deemed unconstitutional), Halal food in schools and exemptions from various curricula that they find offensive, like evolution. This amuses me. The left worked so hard to banish any elements of Christianity and patriotism from the school system, but their pets du jour are going to undo all that hard won social revolution.
Cheers,
avedis
"We took our eyes off of the road some time ago."
Well put.....
Avedis,
Forget the immigrants for a moment.
I pay 13K$ property taxes a year in Tallahassee. I don't even live there ,but i'm paying school taxes for other peoples kids educations.
I went to papist school for 12 years , and i can't accept my paying for others kids to get a free education. My parents paid for my schooling.
Why don't we have useage taxes for schooling like we do for using public roads?
Of course nobody ever suggests stop rewarding indescriminate breeding as a solution.
jim hruska
Jim, re; school taxes based on property versus a use tax - the poor would get no education. If they didn't get an education they'd learn to think for themselves and that would be dangerous. How would they learn to march in step or that they are engaging bad-think? The Borg would lose control.
Personally, I think school is a waste of time for most. Apprenticeship in a useful trade would be better.
Agreed re; indiscriminate breeding. THAT is huge problem.
But indiscriminate breeding and education for all will continue to be supported because everyone is so busy engaging in moral preening e.g. "Look how open minded and accepting I am!"
avedis
The United States seems like a very different place.
We have universal health care and education. Futhermore, my kids go to Catholic School paid for by the provincial government. A Separate school board for Catholics in my province is guaranteed by the Canadian constitution - part of the French / English Quebec compromise underpinning my country.
I look forward to new immigrants / refugees coming here because they will pay the taxes needed to keep my health care up to snuff in my old age. Educating their kids gives bonus points cause I hope that they will end up in high tax bracket jobs.
AEL,
Both of our countries are Ponzi schemes.
I too am in favor of immigrants, since my family on both sides were immigrants.The problem isn't immigrants, but recent arrivees do seeem to out breed the norm and do so without adding anything to the communal welfare.
This is true of some long term members of our society. This is not a racial attack as the comment covers several ethnic groups.
I for one favor ZPG as a solution that is more realistic than relying on Ponzi politics.
jim hruska
Well, in Canada, we only have 1.6 babies per woman. So, on birth rate alone we are not self sustaining. Hence the immigrants. I don't know what the birth rate for immigrant women is. I strongly suspect that the birth rate for the *kids* of immigrants is darn close to average.
But your wider point is indeed correct. This old globe does not need to carry more people. Providing decent education for all (most especially girls) seems to be the best way to work towards zero population growth.
AEL,
there are lies that we accept as true, without even thinking about the topic.
whats wrong with ZPG? We have no data to prove or disprove the correctness of the concept.
It's my opinion that if the US had closed it's borders in 1915 and became nuetral we would have been a much stronger and better place to live.
Why indeed in 2016 do we need a growing population? What we need is citizens who live responsibly , and a government that follows the same rules as do the citizenry.
Democracy wallows in lies that we blindly accept. One such lie is that our vote counts.
jim hruska
AEL and Jim,
I have never understood the need nor the race to grow population. It seems to me that the bigger the population the messier the society.
But if Canada wants more people, they should offer some good perks and open the border to Americans. We have plenty that would no doubt head on up.
avedis
A,
We needed immigrants to do the work of building empire and manning our defense forces.
They grew our food also, which was essential to fight wars. Our food production was our strength, and was more valuable than weapons.
Drive thru Maumee Ohio some time and bother to notice the clusters of immense grain silos.
This was and is the strength and it was immigrants that did this.This was how we defeated the rebels.
We are definitely a class /caste type society.
jim
Jim, Absolutely true that the greatness of this country was built by immigrants - people like your grandparents and their get - but I note the use of past tense in your explanation - "needed". Why do we need them now with so many of what are now natives unemployed?
avedis
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