Tuesday, October 16, 2007

ATTN: "Ordinary people in America"

Posted by Mickey Z on 10/16 at 04:33 AM
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  1. Good morning Mickey and everyone...I agree with Arundhati Roy. Say hello to someone you don’t know…

    Posted by joe maine from   on  10/16  at  06:23 AM

  2. Amazing when you meet Americans who really have no idea what their government is doing in their name. It is not so much the ones who just don’t know, but the Americans who will vehemently defend their government’s actions, like they and the government are one and the same.

    Maybe this a rant, but I am fuckin’ bored of them, ignorant idiots who have the same bullshit mantra of ‘support the troops’ and ‘God bless America - America can do no wrong’

    Do we get angry at them or do we try to educate?

    Posted by Alex from Thailand  on  10/16  at  07:30 AM

  3. Mickey, you have to realize that once you post photos of AR on your site I won’t be able to concentrate on anything else.

    So I guess to answer Alex’s question, it’s just hard to get angry after looking at her, what can I tell you. (yes, pics of RMJ in those Churchill sunglasses have similar effect.)

    Posted by James from Hell's Kitchen  on  10/16  at  09:55 AM

  4. Alex, 2...James, 3...I agree with both of you on all points...absolutely! James, go to Mamak Khadem website. This womans singing would stop a war!

    Posted by joe maine from   on  10/16  at  11:07 AM

  5. hi all

    joe - got a link?

    Posted by michael from scotland  on  10/16  at  12:30 PM

  6. As usual, Arundhati’s words are striking. 

    Just reflecting, I suddenly thought of all those wage workers in retail and elsewhere who are denied a stool or chair-- forced to stand and smile all day for the sake of fostering an illusion of instant service.  We are conditioned to think that is a minor thing-- part of a deal workers make to have a job.

    It is cruel. 

    Remember Donald Rumsfeld boasting that he thought nothing of standing all day?  Well, he always had the option of sitting whenever he chose.  Guantanamo prisoners-- and these workers do not. 

    When I occasionally pass through Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s here in San Francisco, my stomach crawls thinking of the visible and tedious cruelty that is unheeded by all the hypnotized shoppers.

    If one is not born with a silver spoon, there is possibly only one way to escape this “service” hell.  Join the military. 

    In the military (although I understand this has changed significantly under the auspices of persons like Rumsfeld who helped accelerate “efficiencies"), a doppelganger of socialism opens up to those willing to embrace it.  In it, one’s sacrifices may be remembered; much less the alienated sacrifices made by America’s smiling faces. 

    But why care?  There are plenty more people in the world much worse off.

    Imagine if Americans concentrated on elevating human values like wisdom and compassion.

    Posted by Robert B. Livingston from San Francisco, California  on  10/16  at  12:31 PM

  7. Hello Expendables and welcome, Alex. Great stuff here today.

    Robert sez: Imagine if Americans concentrated on elevating human values like wisdom and compassion.

    I found myself shaking my head and thinking: That’ll be the day...

    Posted by Mickey Z. from Astoria  on  10/16  at  01:20 PM

  8. joe...Is it OK if instead of saying, “Hi”, I give someone I don’t know a hug today?

    Alex #2...You make an important point. It is the topic of an article that I started weeks ago and will be completed when I get a little time.

    James #3...Thanks, you made my day. I feel pretty when I think I look like WC - I know, it is just a delusion for a 4’10” female.

    Michael...How’s it going your way today?

    Robert #6...Yes, I agree. usa’ers could be doing so much to improve the world but we are headed in the wrong direction. It is not the government that I blame. The people have taken on a remarkable ugly view of others. I have been hearing a lot of comments on air coming from ordinary people. The governor of NY has asked that immigrants be issued drivers licenses. It would have an advantage in accident cases etc. The hatred expressed by our fellow citizens is mind-boggling. Reminds me of the fiasco in Hazelton, Pa. - actually it reminds me of Germany in the ‘40s.

    Hi Mickey and anyone I missed.

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  10/16  at  01:56 PM

  9. RMJ, that’s odd, I always thought you were taller… and I only thought your resemblance to Ward was the shades. And the political convictions. And being hounded by court battles… so I guess you two do resemble each other a lot!

    It’ll be intersting to see how the Spitzer licenses for immigrants plays out, but what was the PA fiasco you meant?

    Posted by James from Hell's Kitchen  on  10/16  at  02:22 PM

  10. James...Hazelton was making national news recently because the mayor and many locals and others from distant areas organized against those they refer to as “illegals”.  It was of special interest to me because of the total lack of any human compassion but also, Hazelton is not far from where I grew up.

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  10/16  at  03:52 PM

  11. hi rmj, me, well, king of the road again but not in a good way. ‘between homes’ as they say, which is horrible.

    had a strange incident on the train going to work. saw this girl and the two of us had obviously been out the night before whereas everyone else was gearing themselves up for a day of efficiency at whatever job they were doing (was going to say pointless job they were doing but that can’t be all of them - pointless in the broader sense i mean). we just saw each other and giggled for the whole train ride without words. saying with eyes and giggles

    “you’re a mess this morning”

    “i know but you are not one to talk”

    “i know. this is weird sitting amongst all these suits”

    “i know”

    seemed to have all that conversation with looks and laughs. i can’t tell you who said what cos we were saying the same thing. she gave me a wave and a laugh when i got off too, which was a very nice way to begin the day.

    then i got to work and started writing (i don’t have a paricularly taxing job so i can do other stuff) and came up with this for seriousness…

    the great big welfare fraud
    http://tinyurl.com/2x8xjk

    and this for comedy effect…
    rasputin comes out of retirement to bring peace
    http://tinyurl.com/23ntuq

    Posted by michael from scotland  on  10/16  at  03:59 PM

  12. not particulalry taxing but dreadfully paid and borderline necessary (in broader terms).

    Posted by michael from scotland  on  10/16  at  04:03 PM

  13. Great articles there michael. You folks across the pond better be careful, or you will end up just like the usa.

    My wish for you - a safe, secure, nice, affordable home !!!

    Posted by RMJ from Mickey Z 4 Prez Hdqts  on  10/16  at  04:11 PM

  14. thanks rmj. particularly about the house.

    i am writing more frequently[1] than ever before now. more readers than ever before, it is seriously getting ridiculous at the moment but by far the most interesting thing that happened today was the thing on the train

    joe- i meant a link for the singer you mentioned homepage, i can’t find it.

    [1] the footnote is a language point. where i said ‘frequently’ i would have said ‘regularly’ but in the USA that means something different. as far as i can see in the USA ‘regular’ is taken to mean ‘medium’ or ‘normal’ here it is taken to mean ‘frequent’ or ‘at consistently spaced intervals’

    Posted by michael from scotland  on  10/16  at  04:46 PM

  15. Michael...here’s the link...Michael, you are hugged..

    RMJ...hugging is the best...you are hugged..

    Everyone...you are hugged..

    I spent the afternoon in the woods with the trees, where, If I had a brain in my, I would spend most of my time...saw many birds including Wild Turkeys.

    http://www.mamak-khadem.com/

    Posted by joe maine from   on  10/16  at  04:59 PM

  16. A. Roy hits another one over the fence (rim shot optional).

    RE: Americans and lack of a clue: during a cruise/field expedition to Antarctica, an observer who has spent time there over the last 18 years was addressing the group and noted in passing that 2006 was the first time she had seen the area they were looking at without snow cover. Someone in the audience immediately said she thought it inappropriate for her to question the Bush Administration. (I wish I could make up stuff like this. The report comes from a friend who knows the 18 year veteran).

    #14: Michael, ‘regularly’ works fine but I have to warn you that ‘[to be] regular’ is American Ad-Speak for digestive health which the anti-constipation industry is earnestly aiding. Ironically, that usage parallels what passes for journalism over here, i.e. NYT foreign affairs coverage. http://tinyurl.com/ypglhy

    Posted by Zen Prole from Urth  on  10/16  at  05:11 PM

  17. Zen...16...Years ago, during a debate over religious fundamentalism and atheism, the reverend Carl McIntire was losing the debate with Madeline Murray O’Hara and even with fellow clergy in the room.

    He was so desperate for any reasoning he made reference..."there must be a god, it even says so on our money, in god we trust”.  The entire audience went into a roaring laughter.

    Posted by joe maine from   on  10/16  at  05:28 PM

  18. thanks zen prole.

    the word has that usage here although we would say shiteing regular instead of shitting regular.

    its just the regular as ‘normal’ usage we don’t have

    Posted by michael from scotland  on  10/16  at  05:32 PM

  19. RMJ - don’t you also find that a lot of ignorance and fear is very easily broken down by rational arguments and plain old fact? OK, your hardcore racist isn’t going to change but…

    Posted by Alex from Thailand  on  10/17  at  01:31 PM

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