Shooting from the Hip
I swear I didn't want to do this right after an election, but I'm afraid I have to. In all fairness, the Left doesn't have the market cornered on idiotic statements, because people on the Right make more than their fair share.
I occasionally check out this site, just to get my "irish up." I can only take openly political news/information sites (Left and Right) in small doses, because I'd go nuts if I depended only on them for any information.
Anyways, I check out this transcript of an exchange on "The View" between Elizabeth Hasselbeck and The Mouth:
Rosie O’Donnell: "Faith or fear, that's your choice. You can walk through life believing in the goodness of the world, or walk through life afraid of anyone who thinks different than you and trying to convert them to your way of thinking. And I think that this country–"
Elisabeth Hasselbeck: "Well, I'm a person of faith, so I, but I also believe–"
O’Donnell: "Well, then, get away from the fear. Don't fear the terrorists. They’re mothers and fathers."
Don't fear the terrorists? They're mothers and fathers? I'm not sure she's paid much attention to the fatwas issued by these Islamofacist groups that state no American is safe from them. As far as whether or not they are mothers and fathers is concerned, well, they either a) blow themselves up and make their sons and daughters into orphans or b) teach their kids to grow up and become terrorists.
People like The Mouth would have every right to equate terrorism with policies of this administration IF terrorism began in the past six years. Unfortunately it hasn't, and has been around for much longer than her left-leaning selective memory.
As I said, the Left doesn't hold sway on pulling off hipshots like Ralphie from A Christmas Story.
I actually like Rick Santorum, and I agree more with some of his views than others. But, when he went all "Middle-Earth" during the campaign, what was I supposed to do? Agree with him? Was I supposed to whip out the Light of Earendil and holla in the Elven tougue?
No! I laughed for about ten minutes!!
"As the hobbits are going up Mount Doom, the Eye of Mordor is being drawn somewhere else.... It's being drawn to Iraq and it's not being drawn to the U.S. You know what? I want to keep it on Iraq. I don't want the Eye to come back here to the United States."
Was he speaking at a Tolkien convention populated by overweight, single men? I'm not sure where he was when he said it, but that quote would've been best-suited for the cutting room floor.
Basically, what I'm saying is this: I wish everyone would shut up and think for a couple of minutes before they open their mouth. O'Donnell? She probably shouldn't talk at all until she gets a history lesson. Santorum? Well, he learned his fate on Tuesday, so now he will be able to read Tolkien to kids at the library since he doesn't have anything else to do after January.
Charley Rangel? He should take a couple of weeks vacation in Mississippi.
8 rants:
Interesting, well written post.
One thing I'm always curious about, when people talk about fearing terrorism: Why didn't we have a pervasive fear of it prior to 9/11? There was lots of terror goign on around the world, and lots of people being affected by it regularly. But, we in America drove to work every day and to the malls on weekends without giving it much thought. Even after the Oklahoma City bombing and the first World Trade Center bombing, we moved on pretty quickly and forgot about the terror.
Suddenly, after 9/11, we have the perception that terroism and terrorists are everywhere. Like there is an epidemic of it, or an outbreak that didn't exist 7 years ago.
It's THAT fear I think she is talking about.
I think there is a direct connection between that fear and our country's political process. The fear has been used to control that process (at least until this week), and to manipulate us into being good little citizens who don't question authority during time of crisis.
And if that was the intention of her comments, I agree with her.
One thing I'm always curious about, when people talk about fearing terrorism: Why didn't we have a pervasive fear of it prior to 9/11? There was lots of terror goign on around the world, and lots of people being affected by it regularly. But, we in America drove to work every day and to the malls on weekends without giving it much thought. Even after the Oklahoma City bombing and the first World Trade Center bombing, we moved on pretty quickly and forgot about the terror.
I don't think I'm using "talking points" by answering that question in this way: When terrorists flew those planes into our buildings on 9/11, they killed over 3,000 innocent people. Until that time (and since that time, by the way), nothing like that had occurred on our soil. We weren't affected by it because it had never "come at us" in such a significant manner.
Suddenly, after 9/11, we have the perception that terroism and terrorists are everywhere. Like there is an epidemic of it, or an outbreak that didn't exist 7 years ago.
Well, again, it goes back to the fact they were able to "get at us" in such a manner. Seeing these things happen in New York City, Virginia, and a small field in Pennsylvania would make anyone feel vulnerable.
The WTC bombings in '93 didn't bring the towers down (though lives were lost). Oklahoma City was a "homegrown" threat, which may or may not have something to do with the less intense feelings of vulnerability at the time. Things like the Embassy bombings in Africa, The USS Cole, Beirut '83 didn't happen to us over here, so that's why most Americans simply "forgot" or put those memories "on the backburner," if you will.
It's THAT fear I think she is talking about.
Since she is so ready to jump on ideas and philosophies she does not adhere to, I disagree with that. She's a talking head, which means I put little faith in her misguided, oft idiotic words.
I think there is a direct connection between that fear and our country's political process.
You're entitled (another word I'm sure you love) to your opinion, and that's cool with me. I have no doubt many believe the same way you do, and I hope we don't ever have to deal with another 9/11 for you to understand the threats we face....both foreign and domestic....from those who would do us, and our children, harm.
That's not cultivating fear, I think that's just being realistic.
[i]Until that time (and since that time, by the way), nothing like that had occurred on our soil.[/i]
Of course that's talking points. The comment omits Pearl Harbor, and downplays and diminishes the terror that did occur in our country prior to the tragedy of 9/11. (And, through that process of diminishment, upgrades the emotional value of the 9/11 tragedy).
Because terror is homegrown has no relevence to how it should affect people and systems. Some guy was able to set off a bomb in a federal building; it's that part that is most important--how did that happen?--than what nationality committed the act.
And to say the [i]"The WTC bombings in '93 didn't bring the towers down (though lives were lost)[i/]dimishes the importance of those events, and the nature of that tragedy. I know that was not your intention, but is seems to be a technique used by politicians to make folks believe that our world is so much different post-9/11 than pre-9/11.
the world isn't that much different. Our perceptions of the world, though, clearly are.
well, it's obvious my [i] codes didn't work. please use your imagination. LOL
Of course that's talking points. The comment omits Pearl Harbor, and downplays and diminishes the terror that did occur in our country prior to the tragedy of 9/11. (And, through that process of diminishment, upgrades the emotional value of the 9/11 tragedy).
Oh....so you liberals are using an act of war to gain commonality between 1941 and 2001? I thought you guys wanted to deal with this in a manner best suited to the criminal justice system? I purposefully left out Pearl Harbor so no one could use the "that was war and this is different" axiom the Left uses. So, you object with phrases like "War on Terror" and the like, but now say these two events are equated? Hmmmm....
And to say the "The WTC bombings in '93 didn't bring the towers down (though lives were lost)dimishes the importance of those events, and the nature of that tragedy. I know that was not your intention, but is seems to be a technique used by politicians to make folks believe that our world is so much different post-9/11 than pre-9/11.
Of course it was never my intention to diminish those events. My point was to look at it as objectively as possible (which is difficult, I freely admit). That the WTC was bombed in '93 WAS significant. However, you could say 9/11 was EVEN MORE significant due to the loss of human life. To compare both incidents without comparing loss of human life is futile and wasted time.
the world isn't that much different. Our perceptions of the world, though, clearly are.
Unfortunately, the world is different. Considering the 24/7 media and the stuff thrown at us on a daily basis through other mediums (e.g. the internet), we can see clearly (without the help of NBC, ABC, and CBS being the only reliable sources of information)from networks like Al-Jezeera that our world may not be as different pre and post 9/11, but that we can finally see how others view us on the world stage easier than we could prior to the everyday usage of internet and expanded news coverage of CNN and Fox (for example).
Don't misinterpret this as a right leaning blog post, as I was trying to make a point about both sides of the aisle. I wouldn't do that if I was trying to "beat the drum," if you will.
My point was this: People on both sides are idiots!!! :)
FWIW, I think what made 9/11 a turning point was the scale. Yes, Oklahoma City and the first WTC attack were frightening (trust me - I work in a Federal courthouse!), but for sheer emotional impact, they were dwarfed by 9/11.
Same thing happens in natural disasters. Southern WV/KY gets flooded all the time - sometimes a few people are killed. It's big news here, but the rest of the country doesn't get worked up about. Flooding on the scale of Katrina in New Orleans, on the other hand, captures the whole nation's attention.
Sad, but true.
Hey, OR75 - now that Santorum's out of a job, maybe he and The Mouth could restart Crossfire! :)
On The Mouth's comment about terrorists being mothers and fathers. I think what she meant (I can't believe I'm sticking up for Rosie) is that the people on the other side of the War on Terra are still people - they're human beings. They may be evil/dastardly/misguided human beings, but they're still human. They aren't some alien invaders dreamed up in Hollywood. It doesn't excuse/justify blowing themselves up and taking others with them, of course.
For an interesting flick on that angle, check out Paradise Now (http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0445620/) about a pair of friends who volunteer to be suicide bombers.
I stopped listening to "the mouth" when she went on her rampage against Tom Selleck. I used to like her, now she just makes me sick.
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