The web makes it real

February 15, 2003 10:28 AM

"Give me your heart / Make it real / Or else forget about it." Baghdad snapshot action. The sounds of an actual chemical attack. A Republican, Ron Paul of Texas speaks his mind on C-SPAN. (RealPlayer). Feisty members of the Greatest Generation sass a Defense Department spokeswoman at a town meeting. Apartheid leader Pik Botha takes up the cause of nuclear disarmament.
posted by sheauga (10 comments total)

Meanwhile, Bush and Blair make out

Not even this kid cares about what his parents are having him shill for
posted by RobbieFal at 10:50 AM on February 15, 2003

Without making a point that we have to attack Iraq or that we ought not attack Iraq, the snapshots of the happy just-plain-folks reminded me of the many shots I had seen of the happy Germans under Hitler, ignoring what was taking place (we didn't know) when Jews were forced to wear arm bands and Kristolnacht...In fact, if the anti-war folks repeatedly make the point about how bad life is with sanctions imposed, these snaps make it obvious that that is utter nonsense, right?
posted by Postroad at 1:30 PM on February 15, 2003

> Apartheid leader Pik Botha

Foreign minister. During the apartheid era.
posted by snarfois at 2:57 PM on February 15, 2003

Nothing justifies getting that damn Santana song stuck in anyone's head!
posted by ejoey at 3:46 PM on February 15, 2003

I remember during the Gulf War sitting in an IRC channel with Israeli friends. Being interrupted in the middle of a conversation with "Sorry, I have to go to the sealed room now" was, in a word, chilling.

Just a comment. Make of it what you will.
posted by Cerebus at 4:00 PM on February 15, 2003

That is some speech by Byrd. Yet another item that I regret did not make more media outlets:

This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time.

.....
...to turn one's frustration and anger into the kind of extremely destabilizing and dangerous foreign policy debacle that the world is currently witnessing is inexcusable from any Administration charged with the awesome power and responsibility of guiding the destiny of the greatest superpower on the planet. ...
Yet this chamber is hauntingly silent.
.....

We are truly "sleepwalking through history." In my heart of hearts I pray that this great nation and its good and trusting citizens are not in for a rudest of awakenings.

posted by NorthernLite at 6:48 PM on February 15, 2003

Thanks for sharing about your buddy in Israel.

What finally brings it through to us that these are real people? Like the Iraqi man wondering why we sold out his people all these years? Or like our Israeli blogger brother, listening to the chemical attack alert online all these years later?

I agree that the Byrd speech should be a major news item too. Why doesn't the Senate openly debate the question of war? Why don't we ask ourselves why even a no-goodnik racist like Mr. Botha manages to put disarmament through, when other countries can't? We get all bent out of shape over the guy who killed himself on IRC, argue big-picture politics interminably, but when it comes to the really uncomfortable stuff, silence prevails.

Any of these items worthy of discussion? Anyone willing to take a chance, and voice an opinion that goes a little bit beyond "We should or should not attack?"
posted by sheauga at 7:06 PM on February 15, 2003

In that scant two years, this Administration has squandered a large projected surplus of some $5.6 trillion over the next decade and taken us to projected deficits as far as the eye can see. This Administration's domestic policy has put many of our states in dire financial condition, under funding scores of essential programs for our people. This Administration has fostered policies which have slowed economic growth. This Administration has ignored urgent matters such as the crisis in health care for our elderly. This Administration has been slow to provide adequate funding for homeland security. This Administration has been reluctant to better protect our long and porous borders.

Truthout is great for reprints like that--thanks for the reminder.
posted by y2karl at 7:24 PM on February 15, 2003

>a no-goodnik racist like Mr. Botha.

Sorry, but I take offence to that comment. Pik Botha, as Foreign minister of De Klerk's government was responsible for both releasing Nelson Mandela from prison and for allowing South Africa's first democratic elections to take place. If you would have read the article, you would have seen that he is considering to join the ANC party, which was considered a terrorist organisation by the apartheid government. Pik has always been one of the politicians that I respected the most while I was growing up.
posted by directnine at 8:46 PM on February 15, 2003

Thanks for setting me straight- clearly I have gotten the wrong impression at some time in the past. Wonder how many other misconceptions I'm operating under? Maybe it's a little bit like assuming that the old-time segregationists from the southern states of the US would never have a genuine change of heart.
posted by sheauga at 1:03 PM on February 16, 2003