Hyprocrites, Zealots and Priests, oh my!

They should learn from Sharon. Even that sadistic zealot - and the Israel defense apparatus in general, realized long ago that trying to scare the shit out of their enemies just created more enemies who are all the more willing to kill themselves in the name of their own zealotry. Anyone willing to kill oneself for a "cause" is certainly not going to be deterred by the possibility of torture, etc. As I've mentioned before, the only conceivable explanation for the U.S. government's open admission to torture and other crimes against humanity is, firstly, that they can, and secondly, that it will serve to deter the enemy through fear. They need only ask their closest ally in the Middle East.

Speaking of zealots, I've seen progressive journalists and opinion writers using the words "draft dodger" recently to describe people like Cheney and Bush, et. al. Now, it is understandable that they would want to drive home the utter, unabashed hypocrisy of these people. But "draft dodger" has built-in negative connotations derived from its use during the Vietnam war, when it was used to describe those who refused to participate in that war. The left should not be falling into the trap of throwing a negative light on all those who refused to fight in that horror show. While it is useful to shed light on the hypocrisy of Cheney, Bush and the other chickenhawks, it should be remembered that it isn't their decision not to go to Vietnam that is worthy of criticism, but their decision to send thousands more to kill and/or be killed for a less-than-justified cause.

And while we're on zealots, the Ratzinger Church hierarchy has reached a new level of absurd hypocrisy with its latest "no gays" edict. In fact, it's pretty funny. One can easily imagine so many of those sleazy old bastards squirming in their seats during the reading of the text...

Now, according to this document, the good, Christian, decent, loving Church directors must "evaluate all of the qualities of the personality and assure that the candidate does not have sexual disorders that are incompatible with priesthood" Sexual disorders. Jeeezus. This from an institution that has been denying and rejecting any healthy form of sexuality for as long as anyone cares to remember. Then, when, accordingly, the huge army of gays inside the church are forced to closet their desires even more, the text accuses them of "an inauthentic attitude that does not correspond to the spirit of truth, loyalty and availability that must characterize the personality of one who considers himself called to serve Christ"...Christ. Poor poor Christ. Truth, loyalty and availability. Absolutely hilarious.

Bonzo vs. Mr. Smith

While meandering through the satellite tv's film offerings today, I ran into the end of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...you know, where Jimmy Stewart is raging, quivering with fiery goodness, in front of the senate, jumping on the case of all those haughty, corrupt bastards that surround him with suits...and you can hear his voice get shakier and shakier...his face takes on the kind of mad, sainted glow that could well be part of some religious agitprop film (jeez, how Capra used light and focus!)...but of course not at all religious...just a regular, decent guy flung into the snakepit of mainstream politics, flipping out with the slime and shit, and standing up there and giving hell (a filibuster, no less!!). In less than thirty seconds, I was brought to tears (I knew what was coming, which made those tears flow all the more quickly and easily)...

...and I think...what the hell went wrong? Why did America choose Bonzo instead of Mr. Smith? And how have these goddam bonzos managed to claim some kind of moral high ground? Moral values...whatthefuck!!!? Shit and greed and shit and torture and ignorant revenge fantasy manipulation all wrapped inside a redwhiteandblue flag with that time-old torture symbol thrown in for good measure (you know that one...the cross). And they get enough votes to win again (he he he...or did they?)....

America chose Bonzo and his children over Mr. Smith and his progeny...

...and now all the world is paying the price.