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| Friday, January 21, 2005 03:27 AM |
| More Anger |
 by Fëanor |
Oh, there's plenty more to be angry about, folks!
For instance, let's take this story, a version of which was already circulating yesterday. Now the conservative Christians, not content with accusing a gurgling, apparently neutered, non-human creature on a TV show for pre-verbal babies of being gay (remember the Falwell/Tinky Winky blow-up?), are now going after a sponge. Yes, apparently SpongeBob SquarePants is gay, or at least is furthering the homosexual agenda. Apparently SpongeBob stars in a music video which encourages tolerance and diversity and which is being distributed to schools by the nonprofit We Are Family Foundation. And there's not even anything in the actual video that bothers the Christians:Christian groups however have taken exception to the tolerance pledge on the foundation's Web site, which asks people to respect the sexual identity of others along with their abilities, beliefs, culture and race. Okay, so, followers of Jesus are angry at an organization because it is promoting respect and tolerance of other people.
And they're taking out their anger about this on an utterly asexual animated talking sponge beloved by adults and children across the nation.
My head is almost exploding over here. These people are hateful, evil, ridiculous, and stupid. They aren't even following the beliefs they claim to cherish.
Another thing nearly making my head explode this morning is this article by Bob Woodward (found via Salon), which includes excerpts from an interview with Dick Cheney. That link requires registration, so I'll just pull out my favorite parts here. Basically, Cheney talks about how pleased he is that the President has been gaining more power and authority. These two paragraphs in particular made me sputter and clutch my skull in frustration and disbelief:Cheney was especially critical of anything that would undermine the president's powers as commander in chief. He said he agrees with many who believe the War Powers Act, which was passed in 1973 and attempts to restrict the president's use of military force, is "unconstitutional," though that has not been fully tested in the courts.
"That made a change in the institutional arrangements that I don't think is healthy," the vice president said. "I don't think you should restrict the president's authority to deploy military forces because of the Vietnam experience." Dick, you just brought up one of the very good reasons why we do need that whole system of checks and balances on the President's power that the founding father's built into the constitution, and which I believe the War Powers Act was merely meant to confirm and explain in greater detail. (He claims later on, paraphrased here by Woodward, that "the Constitution, which makes the president the commander in chief of the armed forces, provides sufficient legal authority to launch a war." I think most lawyers and people with brains would disagree with him there.) Plus, I don't know if you're aware of this, but we don't really want a single all-powerful leader here. We made America so we wouldn't have to deal with Kings and monarchies anymore. Oh, and have you noticed that Iraq is Vietnam? Just how far is your head up your ass at this point?
There's more fun at the end of the article. Read this bit:History has been cheated after Watergate, he said. "The investigations that have occurred over the years, the role of the special prosecutors and so forth have dried up a major source for history."
"I don't keep a diary," he said, adding that he also does not use e-mail. "And I don't write letters."
So where is the record?
"It's all right up here," he said, pointing to his head. "And I suppose that'll fade over the years." What are you saying, Dick? Are you saying you're afraid to take a record of what you've been doing because you might be investigated, the record might be found, and you might be prosecuted for something? Why would you have to worry about that, Dick? Were you, maybe, doing something wrong or perhaps even illegal?
Maybe I'm misunderstanding this part of the article, but I don't really see any other way to interpret that exchange.
Sigh. I apologize for all the angry political whinging lately. Maybe I should stop reading the news.
Anyway, tonight I have a date with my wife, and we plan to watch the next episode of "Battlestar Galactica," so I'll probably have a review of that for you in my next entry.
Also, I'll warn you all now, I'm planning to have another Game Day some time in February, during which I want to try out War of the Ring, as well as play more Diceland, Brawl, and perhaps some Cities & Knights of Catan. All will be invited. I just have to work on my scheduling and come up with a date.
Everybody try to have a good weekend, now. |
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