Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Saturday, June 03, 2006
My place in women’s tennis history
Hi all. I am catching up from last night. Mudge and others bring up some good questions. In Mudge’s #33 he says, “...What? money makes it all right? This was the wergeld concept used in Anglo-Saxon law...every man’s life was worth something to his survivors, based on rank. Women counted for nothing, nor did children. I am not best pleased to hear it revived. And why should elder wrongs count for less than modern ones...”
My point is that NO, money never makes an atrocity all right but is there something that would be a better form of reparations? The 9/11 families received compensation based on the income of the victim. The family of a janitor received less than the family of a stock broker. I believe that that was extremely offensive.
“Why should elder wrongs count for less than modern ones”? Because “we” are participating in the modern ones. As far as being responsible for the sins of our fathers, Maybe we are slightly less responsible than they were, but since the effects of slavery still linger during our lifetimes maybe we have some responsibility there.The suffering mother in Watts is equally entitled to the rights that all humans deserve but the Diego Garcian’s deserve to have their plight known because almost none in the USA have any idea of the USA genocide there.
Mudge, you often bring up the issue of health care in the USA. I agree with you completely and I am one of those without much access to health care. The problem is that the USA has a fatal case of “up the drawbridge” syndrome. Those who have health care don’t feel compassion for those who don’t. I know this is true because every time I have attended a meeting about health care, those who have it stand up and say that everything in the health care system is working fine. I always offer a strong response to that attitude but in the present day “me first” culture it does no good. Also, the problem with health care is NOT that there is not enough money for all of us to have access. The root of the problem is Wall Street greed. If the insurance companies could be eliminated from the equation, we ALL could have health care and it would cost LESS than what is now spent. I have advocated a single-payer-universal access system for years. It is not a money issue. It is a political issue.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 06/03 at 12:59 PMMy story for the day:
Long time ago I happened to notice two vain politicians accidentally encounter each other at a public event. Each was startled and embarrassed to have their hated opponent catch them huckstering at the same venue-- even though the crowd itself scarcely noticed or cared about either.
Both men instinctively gravitated to the other to lock hands and feign sportsmanship. What a sight! In the milling crowd, the men became as immobile as a statue. With nothing to say to each other they could only grimace and stare at each other-- and squeeze each other’s hand to see who would let go first.
Just as it began to look as if nothing could wake the politicians from this intolerable purgatory, Lo! and Behold! Purgatory became hell when a child in the crowd dropped a silver dollar which landed on the ground with a loud ring. With great drama, the coin rolled in a magnificent spiral ‘round and ‘round and ‘round to finally wobble and land smack-dab exactly between the two men’s feet.
Have you ever seen how a chameleon can turn its eyes independently of each other? I think that’s what the two politicians were doing as they eyed each other and the big fat coin between them. Both seemed to be acutely aware that whoever bent down first to rescue the coin would also appear to be bowing before his opponent-- a humiliation to never be lived down.
Gratefully the child who lost the coin crawled in amongst their legs to retrieve the coin and break the spell that held each politician in the other’s grip. Flummoxed, the two men sheepishly retreated into the crowd. I never saw them again.
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco 06/03 at 01:01 PMHell Expendables...from rainy Astoria.
Great story, Robert. I felt as if I could truly see their faces.
Hi RMJ.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/03 at 02:49 PMI liked your story too, Robert.
Hi Mickey. Sorry that I am always off topic.
Forgot to say to Mudge, in the US 18,000 people die every year because of lack of access to health care. That is like having a 9/11 every 60 days, only worse because we are doing it to ourselves. I knew that you already knew that Mudge, but I like to say it often. It’s true and it sounds so good.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 06/03 at 03:29 PMAs far as I’m concerned, anything you say is on topic, RMJ.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/03 at 03:33 PMJust have a second here at work-- so did she ever become a client of yours officially?
Also wanted to reiterate that I wasn’t taking part in ganging up on Mudge yesterday… unless, do you want me to gang up on you? That’s another matter. We’ll see… and yes, thank you RMJ, I love temping, wish I could do it every day. Oh wait, I almost do. Agh. Sorry to hear bout that situation you described, not surprising at all. I’ve seen the best and the worst all around.
I might do this tomorrow: http://www.tourdebrooklyn.org. at least I shouldn’t get sunburned…
Posted by James on from work 06/03 at 04:24 PMNah, but I did get to watch Martina practice up close. Quite a sight to watch her hit lasers that cleared the net by a fraction of an inch each time.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/03 at 05:49 PMOmigod what a hot and horrible day...97F is not normal June weather even here.
Started early, finishing late. I have to phone consult an editing client and browbeat via email a blocked client and somewhere in all this mishegas eat dinner. B’lieve I’ll have a half-gallon of Blue Bell pralines and cream ice cream, and slip into a diabetic coma just for some rest.
RMJ, most Murricans can’t find Diego Garcia on a map or even place it in the proper ocean.If you polled the Sixpacks, they’d probably assume it was a new brand of salsa. Or a Mexican presidential candidate. Or a nickname for San Diego, CA. So I say yell and scream and point and holler until someone who otherwise wouldn’t have notices the ghastly crimes being committed there.
Okay, everybody, I get that you don’t agree with me. Let’s just let the thing die.
Hey CatLady, how’s it hangin’?
Off to do more work, see y’all tomorrow!
Posted by Mudge on from Austin, Texas 06/03 at 07:57 PMHey Mudge.
Where are Youngfox, Luna, and the Empress...we need some perspective: http://tinyurl.com/nuawf
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/03 at 08:18 PMHahahahahahah… and to think my ex-fiancee left me for that excuse for a metropolis because she thought it safer than here due to the terrorism five or so years ago! Maybe that’s not the perspective you meant, and not all of me is laughing, but still.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 06/03 at 09:16 PMJust found this at Michael from Scotland’s blog:
http://tinyurl.com/nml39G’night, all…
(P.S. captcha sez: writing)
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 06/03 at 09:24 PMThanks for the compliments all-- Mickey and his stories certainly inspire me-- this is a wonderfully creative website.
Posted by Robert B. Livingston on from San Francisco 06/03 at 10:01 PM
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