Comments on: Comments on 20918

Post number 20918

Tiger_Lily — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 14:51:05 -0800

A "spiritual perspective frappé" for the war weary. Some things are perfect, just as they are. Go now and refresh your weary soul with wisdom and a wry smile or two.

By: oissubke

oissubke — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 15:27:16 -0800

Oissubke's ten suggestions: 1. Keep in mind that Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld & Co. don't do what they do so they can mooch of the public. They work mighty hard, and they do it because they sincerely want to benefit the American public. To envision these men as simple cartoon characters, greedily trying to squeeze money from American peasants and third world nations, is as biased and unrealistic as those who blindly follow them. You might disagree with their politics, but take a moment to silently thank them for putting in long hours at a thankless job because they love this country. I hate Bill Clinton, but at least I recognize that he choose to be president because he wanted to help, not hurt, this country, and he was willing to his shoulder to the wheel to get it done. 2. Recognize that for all the rhetoric of the atrocities of war, that the United States really does make a valiant effort to have relatively "polite" wars. A lot of time, effort, and taxpayer money could be saved by crushing our enemies, but instead we try to continue the tradition, started after WWII, of trying to help instead of destroy. Instead of turning Germany and Japan into uninhabited wastelands (or U.S. states), we instead pumped tons of money and support into helping them become stable and productive nations. We may disagree with the notion of going to war, but we can at least give those behind it the slight acknowledgement that we know they're not just doing it because they enjoy killing innocent people. 3. Recognize that the purpose of online, print, or broadcast news is not to inform or educate, but to make as much money with as little investment as possible. They take shortcuts, and the result is often an inaccurate or biased account. Do firsthand research instead of relying on summaries written by people with only a vague understanding of the subject. 4. Be suspicious of those who try to blur the lines between good and evil, right and wrong. Consider what they have to say, but don't accept it blindly. Realize that some things really are good, and some really are bad. 5. Take life seriously. The world is ruled by a very few people, not by design or conspiracy, but because only a few people actually take an active interest. Are you one of them? 6. Take time to figure out what you really believe, instead of accepting without question a trendy, politically correct viewpoint that "everything is good, everything is acceptable, everything is valid." Put a little thought into your feelings and opinions, and then be willing to defend them instead of bowing out when someone contradicts you. 7. Remember that prayer is a conversation, not an order form. Don't just tell God what you want -- ask questions, ask for clarifications, ask for guidance. Give thanks for your blessings (and you're ignorant if you think your life isn't full of them). Ask not what your God can do for you, but what you can do for Him/Her/It/Them. 8. Make a concentrated, visible, measurable effort to improve the world. Thinking and acting are two different things. 9. Remember that things don't magically get better. People have to work hard to make them that way. If you're not one of those people, make way for those who are. 10. Love your family. No outside success can compensate for failure in the home.

By: 2bseenwU

2bseenwU — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 15:39:17 -0800

in all the talk about war, President Bush's front man, Ari Fleischler, will tell you what he wants you to know and that's it. Read more at: http://www.xanga.com/item.asp?user=mindblogging&tab=weblogs&uid=5341522

By: languagehat

languagehat — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 15:44:10 -0800

Oh my, this is going to be a tiresome thread. I never thought I'd come to miss I/P... I don't normally post such comments -- I know, I know, just ignore the thread if you don't like it -- but mein Gott, how many "Hey, this guy is for/against the war with Iraq and I agree/disagree" posts do we need on the front page?

By: kileregreen

kileregreen — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 15:47:47 -0800

Aren't we sick of this shit yet? On the lighter side, check out this demented tulip. If only politicians had this sort of honest ambition.

By: oissubke

oissubke — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 15:49:27 -0800

in all the talk about war, President Bush's front man, Ari Fleischler, will tell you what he wants you to know and that's it. Uh....that's his job.

By: pejamo

pejamo — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 15:50:21 -0800

oissubuke, I don't even know where to start... Let's start here - Recognize that the purpose of online, print, or broadcast news is not to inform or educate, but to make as much money with as little investment as possible. Do you recognize that broadcasters are handed a license to print money when the FCC grants them a wavelength? In theory, they are supposed to use the public's airwaves to do exactly what you are excusing them from: educate and inform. The world is ruled by a very few people, not by design or conspiracy, but because only a few people actually take an active interest. WTF? The world is ruled by few people because power begets power. Those few who hold the mechanisms of power do not relinquish them without a fight and, indeed, pass them on to their minions. George W., example. You honestly believe that he is in command solely because he pays attention? Then you share his mindset: Born on thirdbase and thought he hit a triple. Are you suggesting that the Soviet Union deserved Stalin because the populace wasn't attentive? How about they were steeped in propaganda, awash in carefully manufactured ingnorance, manipulated by fear and oppresion to obey authority. - okay, someone else take over. I'm beat.

By: eddydamascene

eddydamascene — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:02:28 -0800

Does anybody get a warm, fuzzy feeling after reading (granted, well-intentioned) prescriptions on how to conduct themselves?

By: signal

signal — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:07:53 -0800

kileregreen : repeat after me: "not safe for work".

By: DakotaPaul

DakotaPaul — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:09:19 -0800

Politics and war-on-Iraq debates aside, Mark Morford's Morning Fix newsletter is damn funny and is one of the few emails I look forward to reading on a thrice-weekly basis.

By: signal

signal — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:12:01 -0800

eddydamasecene: My personal favorite is when somebody starts a sentence with "Remember,..." or "Keep in mind..." and then makes some outlandish statement that has never ever even remotely begun to consider the possibility of crossing the general vicinity my mind for even a femtosecond, as if I did use to think like him/her but just forgot.

By: MrBaliHai

MrBaliHai — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:24:26 -0800

I think that MetaFilter needs less war talk and more breast exams, preferably via the buddy system.

By: pejamo

pejamo — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:27:29 -0800

kilergreen - you've posted that link twice today (that I've seen) what's the deal?

By: fuzz

fuzz — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:33:22 -0800

"Shivaspeed"?!

By: scody

scody — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 16:38:14 -0800

The world is ruled by a very few people, not by design or conspiracy, but because only a few people actually take an active interest. How very benign and convenient. But does that apply to Saddam Hussein? If he's just "taking an active interest," by golly, then what right does the U.S. government have to undertake a regime change? Besides, how does the U.S. know that the figurehead of a new regime will take the appropriate "active interest"? And if the U.S. did enact a regime change, wouldn't that count as getting to rule "by design"? If it doesn't apply to Saddam Hussein, then this simple cause-and-effect theory (active interest = getting to rule the world) fails to explain a rather significant amount. Perhaps it's time for a more complex, critical, and nuanced view of power? But funnily enough, oissubuke, I agree with the following "rules": 8. Make a concentrated, visible, measurable effort to improve the world. Thinking and acting are two different things. 9. Remember that things don't magically get better. People have to work hard to make them that way. ...both of which are among the reasons I'm against a war on Iraq. Having said that, the SFGate link made my teeth ache. "Remember magic" indeed, my dialectical materialist Aunt Fanny!

By: Tiger_Lily

Tiger_Lily — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 17:14:53 -0800

All, The "thread" was meant to do nothing but lift spirits and hopefully put a smile on some very weary faces. Although I don't agree with every word of the piece, I enjoyed his humor and the brighter horizons tone (there must be a fancy word for that combo...). Enjoy what you can of the piece and let the rest drift.

By: eddydamascene

eddydamascene — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 17:16:31 -0800

Signal: Agreed. These are not universal truths, and to try to frame them as such is presumptuous, and a little condescending. That said, sorry for getting all contrarian up on your post Tiger_Lily. I will leave peaceably. Also, DakatoPaul, thanks for that link to Bert with the baby.

By: eddydamascene

eddydamascene — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 17:17:48 -0800

Dakota

By: Tiger_Lily

Tiger_Lily — Fri, 18 Oct 2002 17:20:06 -0800

No worries, Eddy.

By: hippugeek

hippugeek — Sat, 19 Oct 2002 10:30:58 -0800

You can walk down the street like you are full of divine free wet secrets. I...I'm not sure I could. Perhaps if I saw a demonstration?

By: elwoodwiles

elwoodwiles — Sat, 19 Oct 2002 13:13:03 -0800

oissubke: I often disagree with you about the coming War and the policies of the Bush admin, but I like your ten suggestions better than the articles. Funny. Your right, W and Co. are not evil cartoon characters trying to destroy all poor people for the benefit of their own families - I do think they are misguided in thier politics, but to call them 'evil' oversimplifies and makes it harder to see what is really happening in the capitol. 5. Take life seriously. The world is ruled by a very few people, not by design or conspiracy, but because only a few people actually take an active interest. Are you one of them? I'm beginning to realize that is all too true. I've heard too many speeches from people who are doing nothing but speaking. We all seem to be waiting on somebody to save us, guess what? No one will. I want change to occure so I have to make it occure. I want to stop the war, so I write my Senator/Rep, I register to vote, I attend rallies, I take an interest and do what I can. I am tired of talking. Talk is cheap, and so is crap.

By: elwoodwiles

elwoodwiles — Sat, 19 Oct 2002 13:14:02 -0800

Spell check, Elwood, spell check....

By: BT

BT — Sat, 19 Oct 2002 13:17:46 -0800

Enjoy what you can of the piece and let the rest drift. Respect your intentions, TL, but when you post to the front page at MeFi, you're at the very least inviting discussion, pro and con. While on the whole you would probably find me politically on the same "side" as Mr. Morford, I find myself more depressed than uplifted by his sanctimonious tone, overblown rhetoric, and internally contradictory assertions . And he's self-important, to boot. No criticism of you for finding it refreshing -- certainly a matter of taste, in the end -- but this is the kind of writing that rubs me the wrong way, regardless of its politics. Not, as eddydamascene sez, to get all contrarian on your post. But telling us "enjoy what you can and let the rest drift" presumes to foreclose of discussion in favor of mere appreciation. Which isn't quite what I come here for. Nor, I think, many others.

By: Tiger_Lily

Tiger_Lily — Sun, 20 Oct 2002 04:38:11 -0800

BT, Take it however you please. Discuss or don't. I thought it was a funny, and yes, even wise--but hardly worth tedious analysis. You wanna push your wig back over a piece that clearly meant to be taken lightly? Go to town with your bad self.