It Happened One Night
Call me an idealist, but I hoped that after the Schiavo matter came to an end, we might get back to some real news. There's a lot to cover lately.
The U.S. military tells us that, what with our massive presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, this nation cannot mount an effective defense against terrorism. That's scary, but important to know.
Natan Scharansky, a former refusenik (a Jew living in the Soviet Union who was not permitted to move to Israel and got nailed several times for even asking) and member of Israel's government, has resigned from Ariel Sharon's cabinet because he doesn't think the plan to leave Gaza is a good one. Meantime, at least one Israeli and one Palestinian have died in a shootout on the West Bank. It looked for a while like Arafat's death could lead to peace in the Middle East - are those hopes dead?
The U.S. Congress is coming up on critical votes regarding ethics committee rules, filibustering, confirmation of an ambassador to the United Nations and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, and God knows what else. All of these issues have solidified the division in this country that have plagued us since the election of 2000. It's a very close game, and every move counts.
Meanwhile, the red state of Utah has passed legislation that denies primary emphasis to President Bush's No Child Left Behind requirements, a move that could cost that state many millions in federal funds. If it takes, this move could have some serious repercussions all over the country.
There's news about Pat Tillman, the NFL player who gave up a lucrative career in professional sports to serve his country as an Army Ranger and died in Afghanistan. The man is a hero, no doubt about it, but now it turns out that as a result of gross negligence, his death came about because of friendly fire. Not only that, but the Army knew the facts for days before telling his family or anyone else that they had screwed up. What is this news going to mean for the Army? Will it impact recruitment or morale? What will the consequences be for the war on terrorism?
Speaking of military issues, there's the trial of Lynndie England, the Army private on trial for torture and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq. Either she's a total nutjob or she's getting her throat cut to spare the careers of those who ordered or permitted these viciously un-American activities. Her defense is that because she has dyslexia, she has a difficult time distinguishing right from wrong. Horseshit. In any event, we'd better get this sorted out before it happens again.
Heck, if you're looking for something lighter but still significant, "Kingdom of Heaven" is coming out in movie theaters soon. It's about the Crusades of the Middle Ages, when Europe went to war in Israel and actually took the Holy Land from the Muslims for a time. Has some definite implications for today's world, no?
So with all of that going on, with all these events that have an actual impact on our lives, what is everyone getting all in a state over? Jennifer Wilbanks, the runaway bride, that's what. She's no Claudette Colbert, but evidently she's the media's idea of a runaway bride.
Whatever her reasons for leaving home a few days before her wedding, her fiance's reasons for taking her back, people's feelings about her claim that some Hispanic kidnapped her, I've really only got one question: Why the hell do we need to know ANY of it?
I remember reading somewhere that corporate ownership of television networks has resulted in a demand that network news make money, and that as a result of this demand, many news organizations have closed their overseas offices and begun to concentrate on gossip like this.
Oh well, at least it's led to some pretty funny cartoons. Notice how half of them reframe the story with George W. Bush as the groom and the Republican party, or Social Security, or the American people, as the runaway bride? Now that's what I like to see.
Benshlomo says, Sometimes I feel like running away myself, but I don't get on TV.
The U.S. military tells us that, what with our massive presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, this nation cannot mount an effective defense against terrorism. That's scary, but important to know.
Natan Scharansky, a former refusenik (a Jew living in the Soviet Union who was not permitted to move to Israel and got nailed several times for even asking) and member of Israel's government, has resigned from Ariel Sharon's cabinet because he doesn't think the plan to leave Gaza is a good one. Meantime, at least one Israeli and one Palestinian have died in a shootout on the West Bank. It looked for a while like Arafat's death could lead to peace in the Middle East - are those hopes dead?
The U.S. Congress is coming up on critical votes regarding ethics committee rules, filibustering, confirmation of an ambassador to the United Nations and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, and God knows what else. All of these issues have solidified the division in this country that have plagued us since the election of 2000. It's a very close game, and every move counts.
Meanwhile, the red state of Utah has passed legislation that denies primary emphasis to President Bush's No Child Left Behind requirements, a move that could cost that state many millions in federal funds. If it takes, this move could have some serious repercussions all over the country.
There's news about Pat Tillman, the NFL player who gave up a lucrative career in professional sports to serve his country as an Army Ranger and died in Afghanistan. The man is a hero, no doubt about it, but now it turns out that as a result of gross negligence, his death came about because of friendly fire. Not only that, but the Army knew the facts for days before telling his family or anyone else that they had screwed up. What is this news going to mean for the Army? Will it impact recruitment or morale? What will the consequences be for the war on terrorism?
Speaking of military issues, there's the trial of Lynndie England, the Army private on trial for torture and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq. Either she's a total nutjob or she's getting her throat cut to spare the careers of those who ordered or permitted these viciously un-American activities. Her defense is that because she has dyslexia, she has a difficult time distinguishing right from wrong. Horseshit. In any event, we'd better get this sorted out before it happens again.
Heck, if you're looking for something lighter but still significant, "Kingdom of Heaven" is coming out in movie theaters soon. It's about the Crusades of the Middle Ages, when Europe went to war in Israel and actually took the Holy Land from the Muslims for a time. Has some definite implications for today's world, no?
So with all of that going on, with all these events that have an actual impact on our lives, what is everyone getting all in a state over? Jennifer Wilbanks, the runaway bride, that's what. She's no Claudette Colbert, but evidently she's the media's idea of a runaway bride.
Whatever her reasons for leaving home a few days before her wedding, her fiance's reasons for taking her back, people's feelings about her claim that some Hispanic kidnapped her, I've really only got one question: Why the hell do we need to know ANY of it?
I remember reading somewhere that corporate ownership of television networks has resulted in a demand that network news make money, and that as a result of this demand, many news organizations have closed their overseas offices and begun to concentrate on gossip like this.
Oh well, at least it's led to some pretty funny cartoons. Notice how half of them reframe the story with George W. Bush as the groom and the Republican party, or Social Security, or the American people, as the runaway bride? Now that's what I like to see.
Benshlomo says, Sometimes I feel like running away myself, but I don't get on TV.
posted by benshlomo at 10:49 AM
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