Monday, November 17, 2008

'Localism' - the Fariness Doctrine codeword

This article is a must read.
Barack Obama sought to silence his critics during his 2008 campaign. Now, with the ink barely dry on this November's ballots, Obama has begun a war against conservative talk radio.

Obama is on record as saying he does not plan an exhumation of the now-dead "Fairness Doctrine". Instead, Obama's attack on free speech will be far less understood by the general public and accordingly, far more dangerous.
In the name of minorities and those less well off 'fairness' will be enforced by FCC fiat. The results will likely be similar to those efforts that ruined our banking system.

The same reasoning will likely be aimed at the internet.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Bend over

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081115/D94FI48G0.html

Cross burnings. Schoolchildren chanting “Assassinate Obama.” Black figures hung from nooses. Racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars.

Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Barack Obama are dampening the postelection glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America.

It’s starting… A few nitwits and the broad brush is swinging. Prepare to be painted.

Friday, November 14, 2008

To soon old, too late wise.

That's a paraphrase of Ben Franklin's " Life's Tragedy is that we get old to soon and wise too late."

I suspect I'm just a slow learner, but it's nice to know it's a common enough notion that Ol' Ben mentioned it.

The generation gap, the young wolf challenging the old for dominance, youth is wasted on the young, etc, nothing new here.

It's just a bit ironic that this singular lesson seems to always be learned just at the stage in life where it is proven yet again.

This melancholy thought is apropos of nothing in particular, but curiously visible all around us with little stretch...



Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Veteran's Day 2008

Veteran's Day this year a mixed bag for me. My Granddad served in WWI, I was an Army brat until my dad was KIA in Korea. My Uncle, who passed away last year, was in the Navy at Okinawa during WWII. Even had some kin folks who served in the Revolutionary War. And I did my stint in the Navy as well.

I was raised by my Grandparents (paternal) and we had a Flag up every day.

Last year was my first visit to Arlington, The Wall, The Korean Memorial, and all the the others on The Mall in DC.

This year, though, it's difficult to see the faces of those who've gone before. There's a growing miasma that threatens to bedim their legacy.

That which once engendered pride, awe, and even love, is being dismissed with an ease I never thought possible.

For those who Fought, Bled and Died For It
Freedom has a flavor the protected will never Know or Savor.
- Anonymous


"War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
- John Stuart Mill

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

The Beginning of the End?

Obama won, Murtha won. The latter is disappointing - the former frightening.

We can now begin to 'hope' that Congress will ride herd on this feckless twit... that's all there is.

There are those already looking towards 2012 with some optimism; Carter gave us Reagan, after all. I thought that myself, for a while.

But no more. The real benchmark will be the mid-term elections. Between now and then there is little reason for optimism.

Watch closely while you can; who knows how long dissenting voices will be heard?

-------------

No bitterness here, really. Just a weary sadness that a light has dimmed.
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