"Newspeak"

I know that it has been a military tradition since 1918, but isn't it just cute that American media refers to the Taliban's new push as the "Spring Offensive?"

It is a passively pleasant reference that is reminiscent of a sale at Penny's or a Sorority recruitment drive. I don't know about you, but I feel "better" already.

End

Exhaled by Aaron A. @ 2/28/2007 INHALATIONS: 3

Military Justice

"Military Justice is to Justice as Military Music is to Music." --Groucho Marx
Just Ask your favorite detainee.

End

Exhaled by Aaron A. @ 2/27/2007 INHALATIONS: 2

Spanking the Monkey

Upon looking back at 2003, Americans believed Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, we were in Afghanistan helping women's rights, and also, when rating between the likelihood that the Virgin Birth of Jesus or evolution is fact, we favored the Immaculate Conception 3 to 1.

So really I shouldn't be surprised, but I am frequently astounded. For instance, I know that it isn't quite the journal of the American Academy of Arts and Science, but ever since November of 2006 when National Geographic printed stories like "the Origin of Childhood" and "From Fins to Wings,” they have received a barrage of hate mail questioning scientific competence and declaring war on intellect. They still get mail about it, even today.

It too is no secret that, in America today, over 50 percent of people believe in Creationism over Evolution --which puts us in our own special category of ignorance that is impossible to find anywhere else in the western world. So really I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.

I am surprised when the Czech Republic, formerly of the "Iron Curtain," ranks five places higher (15th) than the United States (20th) in the table of child well being.

I am surprised when, despite the pleas of many in the international community and several former detainees, a military investigation "finds" no evidence of abuse at Guantanamo bay, and an American appeals court upholds an "anti-terrorism provision" that violates both the habeas corpus and the human rights of the inmates.

I am surprised when politics and religion bleed into our education system, distorting the very beliefs held as fact. I am surprised, but perhaps I shouldn't be.

End

Exhaled by Aaron A. @ 2/23/2007 INHALATIONS: 3

Local ND "News"

Watching the local news feels

End

Exhaled by Aaron A. @ 2/22/2007 INHALATIONS: 2

A Revolutionary Delusion

Bush celebrates George Washington's two hundred and seventy-fifth birthday by drawing parallels between the "Global war on terror" and the Revolutionary war.

"And as we work to advance the cause of freedom around the world, we remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we secured in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone."

I think he was right about the comparison with the Revolutionary war; however, the occupiers wore red.

End

Exhaled by Aaron A. @ 2/19/2007 INHALATIONS: 6

ND "shoot the burglar" Law

Because ND thinks its the "Wild West,"
I don't think I'll be toilet-papering Representative Todd Porter's house this year.

End

Exhaled by Aaron A. @ 2/16/2007 INHALATIONS: 3

Wrestling Iran

Listening to the news lately, I feel like a "special" American wearing my protective helmet, receiving pats on my back just for showing up and, of course, for loving freedom.

Whenever I try talking to someone about current events, I get a story about some apocalyptic battle of West vs. Terrorist that is even more narcissistic and conceited than a publication put out by the American Enterprise Institute.

One reason may be that the local news report stories almost like this:

After a herpes outbreak halted wrestlers from "practicing their love" in competitions across North Dakota and Minnesota, rumors of an evil international terrorist conspiracy headed by Iran have begun to surface. Pedophiliac freedom lovers demand justice!

On Wednesday President Bush said that there is "no doubt" of Iran's involvement, but he also apprehensively admitted that he "can't prove" top Iranian officials were involved.

Critics contend that circumstances seem reminiscent to the Iraqi invasion in which Saddam was initially blamed for an outbreak of syphilis. It was later discovered that he indeed had no contact with the infected.

End

Exhaled by Aaron A. @ 2/14/2007 INHALATIONS: 1