How will you spend the inauguration?
On Thursday, George W. Bush gets a $40 million party because he successfully lobbied to keep his job. I wish someone would throw me a $40 million party every time I get to keep my job despite solid evidence that suggests I deserve otherwise. Better yet, just give me the $40 million to do my job and we can skip the party, I'd hate to see all those balloons and tickertape causing an environmental nightmare anyway.
Part of the $40 million is going towards extra tight security to keep those who disagree with the president away from the festivities. You've got to admire this corralling movement. I saw it first hand in Boston during the Democratic Convention. Caging people who just want to be heard is so original. I believe it's there in the First Amendment: Congress shall pass no law restricting an individual's freedom to speak from a cage. Beware the setup, though, one of these days they'll simply lock the cage in order to prevent the outspoken from influencing the complacent. Would it really be so bad if shopping for organic produce after most of the customers have been shipped off to Guantanamo Bay to hang out with their friends in Al Qaeda?
Protesting could be a dangerous occupation in these times, which has led to new fads in inauguration protests. A group of former Kerry staffers is treating itself to a cruise in which no tv or radio contact is allowed on inaguration day, which is eerily similar to how Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts will handle this year's Super Bowl after being once again knocked off by the New England Patriots. Since Kerry didn't win, you can't really say the cruise was hard earned. In fact, most of Kerry's staffers would rather be in Washington whooping it up as Kerry invents new ways to further define his stance on abortion. Those former staffers should prepare to be arrested for treason upon their return. One never knows.
Short of being in Washington to protest the coronatio-I mean inauguration, there are other steps you can take. An email I received recently informed me that a group of concerned citizens is banding together to not shop in protest of George W. Bush's second inaugural. That's really the best kind of protest: sit on your ass and do nothing! That'll show the bastards. Pardon me, if I don't think that a twenty-four hour dip in the sale of "Know Justice, Know Peace" bumper stickers is going to make the administration stand up and take notice. If there were a sudden dip in the sale of steaks and Bible's, the administration might move into damage mode while the press blathers on about an "economic crisis" forcing Bible publishers and meat producers to invent new, creative ways of bundling their products.
The funny thing about this email is that it was a forward. Email forwards are the easiest type to send, they require no thought and effort and easily inspire people to action, such as forwarding the email. If I followed the advice of every email forward that told me not to do something, then my existence would be spent staying away from stores and prodcts based on their reported allegiance to and doing whatever I could to never see "On Golden Pond" or "Barbarella" ever again. Do bans on Jane Fonda extend to Henry and Peter as well? That would be an excellent reason to avoid sleeping through "Ulee's Gold" again.
Personally, I will spend the inauguration trying to praise the Lord, since that seems to be one of the few things I can do in this era of moral values. In particular, I will praise the Lord for allowing me to I live in a country stupid enough to actually elect Bush after he and his cronies showed so little regard for the democratic process in 2000. Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of moral superiority! With the way the whole Iraqi election looks like it might be going down, it appears as though the administration thinks that voter disenfranchisement should be part of the electoral process. In 2008 you can be sure that blue states will be "no drive zone" and that voters won't be told where to vote until the day after the election due to security issues. That might be a good time to take a cruise.
|
Part of the $40 million is going towards extra tight security to keep those who disagree with the president away from the festivities. You've got to admire this corralling movement. I saw it first hand in Boston during the Democratic Convention. Caging people who just want to be heard is so original. I believe it's there in the First Amendment: Congress shall pass no law restricting an individual's freedom to speak from a cage. Beware the setup, though, one of these days they'll simply lock the cage in order to prevent the outspoken from influencing the complacent. Would it really be so bad if shopping for organic produce after most of the customers have been shipped off to Guantanamo Bay to hang out with their friends in Al Qaeda?
Protesting could be a dangerous occupation in these times, which has led to new fads in inauguration protests. A group of former Kerry staffers is treating itself to a cruise in which no tv or radio contact is allowed on inaguration day, which is eerily similar to how Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts will handle this year's Super Bowl after being once again knocked off by the New England Patriots. Since Kerry didn't win, you can't really say the cruise was hard earned. In fact, most of Kerry's staffers would rather be in Washington whooping it up as Kerry invents new ways to further define his stance on abortion. Those former staffers should prepare to be arrested for treason upon their return. One never knows.
Short of being in Washington to protest the coronatio-I mean inauguration, there are other steps you can take. An email I received recently informed me that a group of concerned citizens is banding together to not shop in protest of George W. Bush's second inaugural. That's really the best kind of protest: sit on your ass and do nothing! That'll show the bastards. Pardon me, if I don't think that a twenty-four hour dip in the sale of "Know Justice, Know Peace" bumper stickers is going to make the administration stand up and take notice. If there were a sudden dip in the sale of steaks and Bible's, the administration might move into damage mode while the press blathers on about an "economic crisis" forcing Bible publishers and meat producers to invent new, creative ways of bundling their products.
The funny thing about this email is that it was a forward. Email forwards are the easiest type to send, they require no thought and effort and easily inspire people to action, such as forwarding the email. If I followed the advice of every email forward that told me not to do something, then my existence would be spent staying away from stores and prodcts based on their reported allegiance to and doing whatever I could to never see "On Golden Pond" or "Barbarella" ever again. Do bans on Jane Fonda extend to Henry and Peter as well? That would be an excellent reason to avoid sleeping through "Ulee's Gold" again.
Personally, I will spend the inauguration trying to praise the Lord, since that seems to be one of the few things I can do in this era of moral values. In particular, I will praise the Lord for allowing me to I live in a country stupid enough to actually elect Bush after he and his cronies showed so little regard for the democratic process in 2000. Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of moral superiority! With the way the whole Iraqi election looks like it might be going down, it appears as though the administration thinks that voter disenfranchisement should be part of the electoral process. In 2008 you can be sure that blue states will be "no drive zone" and that voters won't be told where to vote until the day after the election due to security issues. That might be a good time to take a cruise.
|
<< Home