The Death Of The Middle East

If you've been watching the news you know the situation in the Middle East is dire.  The new reports on the systematic torture and death of thousands of Syrians make my blood curdle.  Even when the photographs are edited to make them less graphic.

I've long ago quit worrying about our moral responsibility to put an end to the bloodshed.  The President opted out when the method was poison gas and the victims were children. Instead he made a deal with the devil to escape any moral responsibility.  Any responsibility at all.

It goes beyond that, however.  It didn't take long for the rebels whom we could have supported to be infiltrated by those wanting to make any new regime in their own image.  So now it's a three way war.
Some how denying access to medical aid and the most basic of foodstuffs isn't as bad as chemical weapons.  No matter that the people have been reduced to eating cats and rats if they are able to find and catch them being near death themselves.

This is just Syria.  Think about what they're doing to themselves.  They're killing themselves.  Not only children, but those who are of an age to bear children. Given enough time, there will be no one left.

Now let's go back to Iraq where we withdrew all our troops.  They are engaged, once more, in a bloody
civil war where the loser is having the most radical version of Islamic law reimposed. In Afghanistan the same is about to happen.  Do you for a believe Obama will choose the 10,000 troop option over zero troops?  The radical fringe is betting he won't and are just waiting.  Afghanistan cannot defend itself against them.

Iran has suckered us into believing they're going to play nice and give up their nuclear ambitions.  While we fall prey to that scheme they continue to threaten Iraq if they don't keep supply lines open to Syria so they can continue supplying troops and weaponry to Assad.

And now Pakistan is back in the news.  For quite some time Islamists have been killing aid workers trying to inoculate the children against polio.  It is running rampant.

Good news came that there seems to be some progress in efforts to release the doctor who helped us nail bin Laden.  The bad news is that his ploy was one of these inoculation exercises but that is was a sham set up by the CIA.  The end result is that every innocent aid worker trying to save the children are predetermined to be spies for the CIA.  The result?  Parents are afraid so they stay away from access points.

Again, a generation plus of the young will suffer death from disease while their parents die in the most unimaginable battles of just trying to save life and limb.

Maybe this is our President's policy.  Wait long enough, make the token gestures necessary to appease those few who still give us a thought, and the problem will resolve itself.  If that isn't it, then I'd suggest the President is paralyzed with fear.  That indicates to me he has no moral compass.  Rather like thinking smoking pot is no more dangerous than drinking alcohol.  That's comforting considering how dangerous drinking can be and that pot is still illegal at the Federal level.

Turn a deaf ear and a blind eye.  Like the tree falling in the forest making no sound if no one is present to hear it, perhaps war has no consequences unless someone is present to witness it.

Of Facebook, Fans And Winning

Playoff Sunday in Seattle and San Francisco was certainly a surprise.  When a trash talking player gets more press than post game disturbances, it's a refreshing change of pace.  Dare I hope fans are finding visits to the emergency room or the pokey just aren't worth it and doesn't help the home team one bit?

Maybe.  Probably not.  Let's see what happens after the Super Bowl.  That being said, it's nice to see an intense rivalry like Seattle and San Fransisco have an upside.  And leave it to those  who spend more time on Facebook than in the stadium to bring it about!

Pranks between these rivals have been pretty tame and pretty funny.  An example is when the Seahawk fans bought a personalized brick for the new Niner stadium.  Then to fly a 'go Seahawks' banner above Candlestick. In response Niners fans decided to raise money to taunt the Hawks on their own reader board with a sign bearing the image of San Francisco's Super Bowl fruitfulness. Again, pretty funny.

What makes it really great, however, is that the folks who pulled this together decided they'd  donate any funds over and above the cost of the sign to Seattle Children's Hospital.  How cool is that?  They had decided since that's where the prank was played, that's where excess funds should go.

Not to be outdone, Seahawk fans decided to return the favor and began "Hawk Fans for UCSF Children's Hospital" which has wound up pulling in fans from both teams.

As fans know the Seahawks won in a game that wasn't decided until the very end.  It's the way championship games are supposed to be even though the loss probably hurts less of it's a blowout.  But the Hawks weren't the only winners.  Sick kids in both cities won and perhaps will grow up to understand the real meaning of sportsmanship, be it a player, coach or fan.

Forget the trash talk from an over wrought player.  Remember these great fans. The Hawks may have their 12th man, but the kids have a whole lot more. They've got the fans of two great teams!

Sochi - The Little Big Man's Powder Keg

How long has it been since you've watched a newscast or opened a paper and not seen something relating to Vladimir Putin?  A while I would wager.  Especially with the Olympics just around the corner.

Here is a small man with a huge ego who never flinches in the face of publicity.  We know how much he enjoyed being the our savior in the face of possible military action in Syria.  That was great.   He saved Assad and condemned thousands more Syrians to death.  But at least it wasn't by chemical weapon.

Next came his intervention on behalf of Iran and their non-nuclear program.  He has no problem with it because by being on their side Russia will be safe as a reward for stepping up for Iran.

I'm wondering, however, if he might have taken a step too far.  There are Muslim nations or near nations that want no part of him.  The Ukrainians are mightily displeased with their leader who turned away from Europe in favor of Russia. My crystal ball shows a lot of bloodshed ahead for them.

Then there are the Chechnyans who really want no part of him.  Those gutsy folks are taking it beyond the usual street skirmishes of disapproval.  They're setting off bombs and each time they're getting ever closer to Sochi, the remote city that is home to the soon to be Olympics.

One thing I will bet on is that Putin will not recoup his investment in the games.  Not with western countries suggesting we not go.  If we listen, no big bucks for Putin.  And what person with an ounce of brain power would want to go to Russia anyway?  Not the gays, be sure of that!

What happens now.  Are the Chechnyans doing this just to toy with Putin?  I don't think so.  They know he's not easy.  Does that mean they have a plan to create total chaos and bring the games and therefore Putin to his knees?  I'd like to think not because when it comes to innocent deaths this would be a hallmark. There would be no good guy in the conflict other than the innocent victims who happen to be in the way.

I don't know that Russia throwing all it's military might into security for the games can really keep the dedicated and stealthy terrorist at bay.  I hope he can.

If he is not successful, it will bring him down.  No more strutting nor smirking.  The wrath of the entire world would ensue. It wouldn't be all bad.

On the other hand, could the Chechnyans live with themselves for their part in it?  Civilized people would say no.  But these people are Muslim radicals just like the ones we fight in the middle east.  My guess is they'd never blink an eye.

Anyone else have a thought?

No Consequences Rule

You can't hop a ride on a cable car in San Francisco today.  Why?  Because of a football game that isn't even being played in that city.

The powers that be are worried, whether win or lose, fans will attack and do damage to the iconic cable cars along with everything else.  At least the cars can be taken out of service and away from unruly mobs.

When Hub told me this I just shook my head and wondered aloud what has become of America. "No consequences," was his reply.

"How true," I thought.  From the highest reaches of government to the lowliest of sports fans,  we turn away from bad behavior rather than facing it head on and saying, "Enough!"  It's easier to hide cable cars than to confront those who would destroy them.  It's easier to give our leaders a pass than say, "You're wrong and I'm not afraid to tell you so!" We don't even have the gumption to vote the most egregious out of office, no matter the party.

Look at how our President plays loose with the Constitution when it suits his political aims.  Look how the Supreme Court can find wiggle room where there shouldn't be any.  And look at Congress.  The Republicans have made themselves into the party of complaining.  Mostly about big government and over spending.  We don't buy into it as much as we should because the Republicans thrive on it as much as the Democrats.

Look at how Harry Reid is a one man brick wall for all the Republicans want to do.  We don't buy into it as much as we should because we know there would be a Republican doing the same thing if they controlled the Senate.

Look at the sports page of any newspaper.  It often resembles a police rap sheet more than sports reporting.  Rape, spousal abuse, drugs and drinking, shootings. Too many of the too much too soon crowd defend themselves by claiming they aren't role models. Well, yes they are whether or not they want to be.  In a sports crazed society any athlete with the talent to make the pros is automatically a role model.  Such is the way the minds of the young and impressionable work.

As for those who destroy in the name of celebration, they know the chances of being identified are slim to none.  The police fear wading in and bashing a few heads because they know charges of police brutality will follow. Instead they hide as best they can that which might be damaged.  All except that which is damaged most.

The psyche of the American public.  Those who at one time valued our country, our image and our sense of self. No longer.  Today we have a culture that says anything goes.  There are no personal consequences so why not?  The damage done after this year's play offs will be long forgotten by the time next year's roll around.

Those who flaunt justice and law today will do so again tomorrow betting it will soon be forgotten amid new indiscretions. If not, all need be uttered is "What difference, at this point, does it make?"

That's all that's needed unless we stand up, shake off our fear and/or apathy, and shout back en masse, "It makes all the difference in the world!"  Then actually do something about it.

The Duck Boys Are Taking A Dive

When is enough enough?  This came up in conversation as the evening marathon of Duck Dynasty was getting under way.

The today I read that their season 5 premier is down 28% from season 4.  Most of the blame seems to be aimed for patriarch Phil's unseemly comments about homosexuality and the treatment of blacks in the deep south during his youth.

I doubt that made much of a difference to their hard core fans.  I think the real reason is the curiosity factor is fading.  The shows are predictable and the characters so unsightly that you can almost imagine how they smell. It's good for a guffaw and a shake of the head but as a regular diet - eh.

Maybe it's me and my lack of an attention span.  I only lasted through a couple of seasons of Desperate Housewives before the characters turned from amusing if dysfunctional to silly bordering on ludicrous.

Even the phenomenally popular Downton Abbey has lost me. I'd have been happy if it had ended with the episode about the cricket match.  Matthew was still alive.  Mary was happy.  Bates and Anna were together and happy.  Matthew hadn't yet succeeded in running off Edith's suitor.  Branson was settling into life with a daughter and without a wife. The matriarchs behaved and the service staff had called a truce of sorts to accommodate Robert's desire to win the match. It was the perfect place to end it.

But no, there was talk of it going on for as many as ten seasons.  What could they possibly do to make this crowd riveting?  They reached.  And when I found out the step they took I vowed out.  You'll see it this week if you don't already know.  The whole premise ruined the series for me with the    utter lack of necessity.  When they have to stoop to sensationalism and tawdriness then their imaginations have ground to a halt and so should the series.  It probably will.  Now the talk is that season 5 may well be the last.  That will make two seasons too many.

What to watch then?  From what I've been seeing it seems that reading might be a better alternative.  With all the political pundits and their counterparts in government writing books there's a good selection of fiction to be found.  And when you finish the book, it's finished.