Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Saving Condi's Life
Captain Kirk faced a similar dilemma, you’ll recall. He prevented Dr. McCoy from saving the life of a peace activist in order to make damn sure she wouldn’t keep the U.S. out of WWII. Granted, it was Joan Collins, but you could tell he was really broken up by it.
Posted by Peter on from Endicott, NY 11/21 at 08:40 AMBravo MZ for asking the question.
I’d pull that lying bloodthirsty bitch to safety, ditto probably for those scumbag richboy ideologues Osama and George, because in the moment, it’s a question of who I am. One thing I certainly am not is like them.
Posted by Keir on from The Hague (Jackowski election hdqts) 11/21 at 10:57 AM‘Morning, Expendables. It’s finally approaching winter here in MA.
re: Condi’s Corpse: The question is foreknowledge. Saving someone’s skin on instinct, in the moment, can’t be questioned. That is, if one has humanity. On the other hand, if one knew that the jaywalker was a mass-murdering war criminal who has demonstrated no remorse, I believe humanity dictates just the opposite. Have a nice trip, Condi!
This belief echoes the law of the Cherokee tribe in the early 1800’s, when they were under constant assault by the USG. If any member of the tribe took action to the detriment of the rest, the death penalty was applicable. When the leadership of a faction made an illegal treaty (which wasn’t honored anyway) it brought this law to the fore. It took twelve years and some of the criminals had already died, but 6 of the remaining 8 were found and killed in Oklahoma. The acts of these self-interested men helped accelerate the process that led to the Trail of Tears (which, after study, should have been called the Trail of Corpses). Hanging was too good for them.
However, I too am opposed to state-sanctioned killing, since it is almost impossible to arrive at justice when flushing the facts through the sewer of an adversarial legal system, and a capitalist one at that. But at this point we’ve overridden a safe and rational response to pathological behaviors. I don’t advocate open-ended violence, but let’s not kid ourselves: ‘Expendables’ is only about 3% funny…
Lighter Note: I recommend the documentary “Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey,” about Bill Lee. It brought back some ancient Red Sox memories (including the astonishingly bad leadership, management, and racism of the Yawkey years) but explores Lee’s political beliefs. He paid a high price to keep them. Good on him.
Off to the gym.
Zen ProlePosted by Zenprole on from Urth 11/21 at 11:34 AMHello my fellow Expendables. Another chilly day in NYC.
So far, three comments...and they run the gamut, so to speak. Good stuff all around...and welcome, Peter. First time here?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/21 at 12:29 PMP.S. Isn’t it just peachy how the Democrats are so different from the Republicans?
http://kurtnimmo.com/?p=660Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/21 at 12:34 PMHi to all...about Charlie calling for a Draft, he’s been doing that for a very long time. In a way, he has a point. He says that there would be no war if the ruling class had to fight it. Also, one plank in the platform of one of the Senatorial Socialist candidates was that no one under the age of 25 should be allowed in the military.
About the Condi dilemma, that reminds me of the old question about being in a sinking boat with a preacher, a child abuser, a lawyer, a CEO, a farmer, a mother with young children, etc. One has to be thrown overboard to prevent the boat from sinking. Who should it be? I like the question that I put on the agenda at a VFP meeting. Would it be morally justifiable to kill the pilot of a plane loaded with bombs to be dropped in a civilian area?Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 11/21 at 02:15 PMInteresting article…
http://tinyurl.com/wuswePosted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 11/21 at 02:25 PMAnd a ‘bravo’ from me as well, Mickey - for asking the question. I am in two minds about the whole thing but suppose I would pull Condi back from the brink as well, as it were. Too bad she has put so many people in harm’s way - proves that women are not superior to men at all IMHO.
And hello, Peter, Keir, zenprole and Rosemarie from a quite cool Daylesford - about 70 F. What crazy weather ..
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 11/21 at 02:45 PMAnd thanks for the link to ‘Another Day in the Empire’, Mickey! Must say I was shocked by Charles Rangel’s statements - they are probably ‘old hat’ to you.
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 11/21 at 02:51 PMGood question, RMJ. I guess it all comes down to how we define “morally justifiable.” As for RFK, I’ve read a book or two about his murder and there appears to be a boat load of questions about the official story. However, I’m not one who buys any angle that he or his brother were killed because they were too liberal.
Helga: Didn’t you say it was 100 degrees yesterday?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/21 at 02:52 PMEvenin’ to all the Expendables: Helga, RMJ, Peter, Keir, and MZ.
Re: Rangel’s Wrangle: I’ve long been supportive of universal service, but not until the US closes its overseas bases and everyone is home and accounted for. Fat chance of that, I know. But it’s about the same odds as rich kids checking out of Beers ‘n’ Babes U to serve in a rifle company where the shrapnel’s flying.
A friend’s son in Germany did his national service, choosing a non-military option. Was it four years? Three? Nope. He served for nine (9) months. Imagine our rear-echelon corporate servants trying to plan a war on that basis (and none of that ‘stop-loss’ chicanery, either).
Lewis Black for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs!
Zen ProlePosted by Zenprole on from Urth 11/21 at 08:31 PMHey Zen. I’m not a fan of the draft but, as you say, it hardly matters when the system is as skewed as it is.
Btw, here’s a reminder that Hugo Chavez may be an amusing thorn in Bush’s side...but he is still a Head of State:
http://tinyurl.com/y45tejPosted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 11/21 at 08:40 PM
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