the Hyperion Chronicles
“There are not enough songs in the Gangster-Doo Wop genre”
#136 Hyperion Says (2)
IRAQ: THE ENERGIZER BUNNY OF WARS
The Bush Administration has come under fire lately when news came out that one of the intelligence claims President Bush made in the State of the Union Address earlier this year was inaccurate, and there has been a general uproar over the justification for going to war. Democrats are claiming the Administration exaggerated, stretched, or flat out lied about the threat facing the U.S., and American soldiers died in vain.
With Iraq continuing to be a quagmire, casualties mounting, Saddam apparently still alive and uncaught, and weapons not yet found, many on the Democrat side and Media types (read: often the same thing) are questioning the motives, integrity, cost, and every other measure of the war with Iraq. Congress has already launched several investigations and with the Presidential election season starting this fall, this is sure to remain an issue for at least the next year and a half.
Hyperion Says What else is new? The side not in power has always accused the other side of being a bunch of traitors intent on starving children, kicking dogs, and being mean to old people. Of course, sometimes the kettle is still black.
In my defense of war with Iraq (column #98), I wrote that war had to be undertaken to preserve U.N. Credibility (obviously now, a moot issue with those idiots), to help the millions in the region who were suffering needlessly (which was always more than enough reason for me, but I don’t like even non-white people to starve and die of dysentery; I’m funny that way), and to remove Saddam from ever becoming an imminent threat, if he wasn’t already. I also wrote (in columns #105 and #106) that the weapons would be nearly impossible to find, and that it would be more dangerous afterward than during the war. It pays to listen to me.
The intelligence item isn’t that big a deal. No one really cares about Africa and uranium. That Bush was wrong isn’t that earth shattering either. People are smart enough to understand that the Information Game is often murky and changes hourly. What I do blame Bush and Co. for is not communicating more openly. If Bush would speak plainly to the world, tell them without sound bites what has been accomplished, and what still needs to be done, I think a whole lot more people would be with him. But even if you’re a die-hard Republican, you have to admit the arrogance of power has infected this White House just like every other, so the odds that we get honest communication seem unlikely.
So, in the meantime, we get recriminations, and set-ups for the next Presidential race. The trend of the moment is to say that the Administration over hyped the intelligence. That’s probably true. It’s hard to explain to people that whatever weapons program Saddam had was probably halted when International attention came to Iraq, but that left unchecked, Saddam would eventually get to the stage where he could use the weapons himself or sell them to America’s enemies. Unfortunately, in our MTV world you have to get people’s attention right now, by saying, “Look out behind you! You’re going to die!”
But I think most people understood that. No one thought Iraq was invading tomorrow, but the people who supported war understood you don’t let the guy get into a position to hold the nation hostage. And, it’s not like no evidence has been found. They have found all sorts of paraphernalia like gas suits (and if you don’t think that’s a big deal just ask a teenager caught with a bong), but again, Bush isn’t the best at telling people plainly about this.
Bottom line Saddam is out of power, and that’s a good thing for millions of people in the region right now, and the whole world in the future. But, until the world sees Saddam’s cold dead body, or Bush learns to tell the public more, the questions will remain.
THE POLITICS OF KILLING JESUS
Mel Gibson has a new movie about the life (and more importantly the death) of Jesus Christ, called The Passion. (To watch the trailer, go here.) The film follows virtually word for word the text of the Gospels, including the dialogue in Latin, Greek, and Aramaic (with subtitles).
The movie has brought Gibson under fire for a couple of reasons. For one, Gibson is a devout Catholic (he recently even built a church in Malibu), and for Hollywood, that it seen as deviant behavior.
The bigger problem, though, has been the charge of anti-Semitism. Following the biblical accounts, many Jewish leaders are afraid the movie with stir up anti-Jewish sentiments. The Catholic Church for years collectively blamed Jews for Jesus’s death, something they only recently rectified. Further complicating things is Gibson’s father, who has reportedly denied the Holocaust among other anti-Jewish statements. (To read more on that, go here)
Hyperion Says When you can’t attack the right person, I guess any old person will do. I’ve read these “so-called” statements by Gibson’s dad, and I have my doubts as to whether these have been reported accurately, or are reports of reports of reports; that sort of thing. But even if it were completely true, you can’t hold Gibson responsible. Everyone’s dad says things their kids don’t agree with or are embarrassed about (except my dad, who rules).
The only issue should be the film itself. And here again it’s looking for hate in all the wrong places. And by the way, lest you think I’m one-sided, much of this was brought on, or at least exacerbated, by conservative Christian groups making such a big deal about the film, which didn’t help matters.
I’m not arguing here about the Biblical account. The Gospels were polemics, each written for very specific reasons, and you can debate what that means depending on your own religious faith. But if you truly believe that the Bible unfairly blames Jews for the death of Jesus, and maybe you should, your issue should be with the work itself, or religious leaders who teach it, not Gibson. To jump all over a man who is trying to make a movie because of sincere religious convictions is petty at best. The charges of anti-Semitism are ludicrous too.
Bottom Line There is no way Gibson could have survived and thrived in a town like Hollywood if he hated all Jewish people.
KOBE BRYANT: PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE
Even if you’re not a sports fan, most of you have heard about Kobe Bryant, basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, being charged with Sexual Assault last Friday. This came after two weeks of intense speculation on the part of everyone in the media as to what may or may not have happened. On Friday, Bryant held a press conference, admitting an extramarital affair, but adamantly denying any sort of forcible sexual contact.
The case could take months, and until then Bryant’s future is in jeopardy. If convicted, he faces anywhere from 4 years to Life in prison, but more immediately is the issue of marketability. Bryant, who had the most sterling of reputations before these allegations, has several endorsement deals, including one recently signed with Nike, reportedly worth at least 40 million dollars. All that is up in the air now, as Bryant fights for his life.
Hyperion Says This is a sad case anyway you look at it. Even if Bryant is telling the complete truth that means he cheated on his wife, and put himself in the position to be falsely accused and have his life ruined. And let me be clear: if it is proven that Kobe Bryant is guilty of forcible rape, I will hold to my long-standing position of advocating the death penalty. I have no use, sympathy, or understanding for this crime—above all others—and if true, I think Bryant should forfeit his life, let alone his freedom, career, and money.
But until that is made manifest to me, let me state for the record that of all the stupid, self-serving, abominable things the media does, this well may be the worst. I don’t know how to get around it with free speech, but it angers me to the point of violence when the media splashes allegations like these all over their headlines, and then talks about them non-stop.
Let’s not kid ourselves. They don’t do this to “educate” the public, but to get ratings and make money. And crime sells. Celebrity sells. Celebrities possibly committing crimes? That’s just gold.
I fail to see why the public should get to read all about these allegations, or anyone accused before they are convicted. Guilt or innocence becomes decided in the checkout lines of grocery stores. And the lawyers all know this. They do their best to contaminate the jury pool, so that all jurors “know” the defendant is guilty before the trial.
Bottom Line The presumption of innocence may be a joke in the court of public opinion, but the Media should be responsible for what they say, and if someone is exonerated they should be required to run just as big of stories, with just as big of type, declaring: “WE WERE WRONG. MAN INNOCENT.”
WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT THE FRENCH?
The French government has banned the word “email” from government ministries (for story, click here). The French Culture Ministry prefers—actually demands—the term courriel (a hyphen of the French term Courrier Electronique) be used instead. This is just the latest step by the French Government to stop the influx of “Americanized” words from oozing into the French language pool.
Hyperion Says I have been asked by the great state of Iowa for a moratorium on beating up on the French. So, in lieu of a shot across the French bow, let me just say this: I completely understand the fears of the French. Cultural erosion is a serious problem. In particular, allowing American words to infect the language could have a real detrimental affect. Pretty soon the French citizens will start thinking like Americans, and Mon Dieu, you don’t want that.
Bottom Line If the French don’t protect their culture from American influence, pretty soon they’ll want to start protecting themselves.
Hyperion
July 21, 2003
Credits
Thanks to Koz for all his ideas and information
Thanks to Tufloi for editing
@2003 the Hyperion Chronicles
“There are not enough songs in the Gangster-Doo Wop genre”
#136 Hyperion Says (2)
IRAQ: THE ENERGIZER BUNNY OF WARS
The Bush Administration has come under fire lately when news came out that one of the intelligence claims President Bush made in the State of the Union Address earlier this year was inaccurate, and there has been a general uproar over the justification for going to war. Democrats are claiming the Administration exaggerated, stretched, or flat out lied about the threat facing the U.S., and American soldiers died in vain.
With Iraq continuing to be a quagmire, casualties mounting, Saddam apparently still alive and uncaught, and weapons not yet found, many on the Democrat side and Media types (read: often the same thing) are questioning the motives, integrity, cost, and every other measure of the war with Iraq. Congress has already launched several investigations and with the Presidential election season starting this fall, this is sure to remain an issue for at least the next year and a half.
Hyperion Says What else is new? The side not in power has always accused the other side of being a bunch of traitors intent on starving children, kicking dogs, and being mean to old people. Of course, sometimes the kettle is still black.
In my defense of war with Iraq (column #98), I wrote that war had to be undertaken to preserve U.N. Credibility (obviously now, a moot issue with those idiots), to help the millions in the region who were suffering needlessly (which was always more than enough reason for me, but I don’t like even non-white people to starve and die of dysentery; I’m funny that way), and to remove Saddam from ever becoming an imminent threat, if he wasn’t already. I also wrote (in columns #105 and #106) that the weapons would be nearly impossible to find, and that it would be more dangerous afterward than during the war. It pays to listen to me.
The intelligence item isn’t that big a deal. No one really cares about Africa and uranium. That Bush was wrong isn’t that earth shattering either. People are smart enough to understand that the Information Game is often murky and changes hourly. What I do blame Bush and Co. for is not communicating more openly. If Bush would speak plainly to the world, tell them without sound bites what has been accomplished, and what still needs to be done, I think a whole lot more people would be with him. But even if you’re a die-hard Republican, you have to admit the arrogance of power has infected this White House just like every other, so the odds that we get honest communication seem unlikely.
So, in the meantime, we get recriminations, and set-ups for the next Presidential race. The trend of the moment is to say that the Administration over hyped the intelligence. That’s probably true. It’s hard to explain to people that whatever weapons program Saddam had was probably halted when International attention came to Iraq, but that left unchecked, Saddam would eventually get to the stage where he could use the weapons himself or sell them to America’s enemies. Unfortunately, in our MTV world you have to get people’s attention right now, by saying, “Look out behind you! You’re going to die!”
But I think most people understood that. No one thought Iraq was invading tomorrow, but the people who supported war understood you don’t let the guy get into a position to hold the nation hostage. And, it’s not like no evidence has been found. They have found all sorts of paraphernalia like gas suits (and if you don’t think that’s a big deal just ask a teenager caught with a bong), but again, Bush isn’t the best at telling people plainly about this.
Bottom line Saddam is out of power, and that’s a good thing for millions of people in the region right now, and the whole world in the future. But, until the world sees Saddam’s cold dead body, or Bush learns to tell the public more, the questions will remain.
THE POLITICS OF KILLING JESUS
Mel Gibson has a new movie about the life (and more importantly the death) of Jesus Christ, called The Passion. (To watch the trailer, go here.) The film follows virtually word for word the text of the Gospels, including the dialogue in Latin, Greek, and Aramaic (with subtitles).
The movie has brought Gibson under fire for a couple of reasons. For one, Gibson is a devout Catholic (he recently even built a church in Malibu), and for Hollywood, that it seen as deviant behavior.
The bigger problem, though, has been the charge of anti-Semitism. Following the biblical accounts, many Jewish leaders are afraid the movie with stir up anti-Jewish sentiments. The Catholic Church for years collectively blamed Jews for Jesus’s death, something they only recently rectified. Further complicating things is Gibson’s father, who has reportedly denied the Holocaust among other anti-Jewish statements. (To read more on that, go here)
Hyperion Says When you can’t attack the right person, I guess any old person will do. I’ve read these “so-called” statements by Gibson’s dad, and I have my doubts as to whether these have been reported accurately, or are reports of reports of reports; that sort of thing. But even if it were completely true, you can’t hold Gibson responsible. Everyone’s dad says things their kids don’t agree with or are embarrassed about (except my dad, who rules).
The only issue should be the film itself. And here again it’s looking for hate in all the wrong places. And by the way, lest you think I’m one-sided, much of this was brought on, or at least exacerbated, by conservative Christian groups making such a big deal about the film, which didn’t help matters.
I’m not arguing here about the Biblical account. The Gospels were polemics, each written for very specific reasons, and you can debate what that means depending on your own religious faith. But if you truly believe that the Bible unfairly blames Jews for the death of Jesus, and maybe you should, your issue should be with the work itself, or religious leaders who teach it, not Gibson. To jump all over a man who is trying to make a movie because of sincere religious convictions is petty at best. The charges of anti-Semitism are ludicrous too.
Bottom Line There is no way Gibson could have survived and thrived in a town like Hollywood if he hated all Jewish people.
KOBE BRYANT: PLAYING FOR HIS LIFE
Even if you’re not a sports fan, most of you have heard about Kobe Bryant, basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, being charged with Sexual Assault last Friday. This came after two weeks of intense speculation on the part of everyone in the media as to what may or may not have happened. On Friday, Bryant held a press conference, admitting an extramarital affair, but adamantly denying any sort of forcible sexual contact.
The case could take months, and until then Bryant’s future is in jeopardy. If convicted, he faces anywhere from 4 years to Life in prison, but more immediately is the issue of marketability. Bryant, who had the most sterling of reputations before these allegations, has several endorsement deals, including one recently signed with Nike, reportedly worth at least 40 million dollars. All that is up in the air now, as Bryant fights for his life.
Hyperion Says This is a sad case anyway you look at it. Even if Bryant is telling the complete truth that means he cheated on his wife, and put himself in the position to be falsely accused and have his life ruined. And let me be clear: if it is proven that Kobe Bryant is guilty of forcible rape, I will hold to my long-standing position of advocating the death penalty. I have no use, sympathy, or understanding for this crime—above all others—and if true, I think Bryant should forfeit his life, let alone his freedom, career, and money.
But until that is made manifest to me, let me state for the record that of all the stupid, self-serving, abominable things the media does, this well may be the worst. I don’t know how to get around it with free speech, but it angers me to the point of violence when the media splashes allegations like these all over their headlines, and then talks about them non-stop.
Let’s not kid ourselves. They don’t do this to “educate” the public, but to get ratings and make money. And crime sells. Celebrity sells. Celebrities possibly committing crimes? That’s just gold.
I fail to see why the public should get to read all about these allegations, or anyone accused before they are convicted. Guilt or innocence becomes decided in the checkout lines of grocery stores. And the lawyers all know this. They do their best to contaminate the jury pool, so that all jurors “know” the defendant is guilty before the trial.
Bottom Line The presumption of innocence may be a joke in the court of public opinion, but the Media should be responsible for what they say, and if someone is exonerated they should be required to run just as big of stories, with just as big of type, declaring: “WE WERE WRONG. MAN INNOCENT.”
WHAT CAN WE SAY ABOUT THE FRENCH?
The French government has banned the word “email” from government ministries (for story, click here). The French Culture Ministry prefers—actually demands—the term courriel (a hyphen of the French term Courrier Electronique) be used instead. This is just the latest step by the French Government to stop the influx of “Americanized” words from oozing into the French language pool.
Hyperion Says I have been asked by the great state of Iowa for a moratorium on beating up on the French. So, in lieu of a shot across the French bow, let me just say this: I completely understand the fears of the French. Cultural erosion is a serious problem. In particular, allowing American words to infect the language could have a real detrimental affect. Pretty soon the French citizens will start thinking like Americans, and Mon Dieu, you don’t want that.
Bottom Line If the French don’t protect their culture from American influence, pretty soon they’ll want to start protecting themselves.
Hyperion
July 21, 2003
Credits
Thanks to Koz for all his ideas and information
Thanks to Tufloi for editing
@2003 the Hyperion Chronicles
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