micah holmquist's irregular thoughts and links |
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Welcome to the musings and notes of a Cadillac, Michigan based writer named Micah Holmquist, who is bothered by his own sarcasm. Please send him email at micahth@chartermi.net. Holmquist's full archives are listed here.
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Sites Holmquist trys, and often fails, to go no more than a couple of days without visiting (some of which Holmquist regularly swipes links from without attribution) Aljazeera.Net English Blogs that for one reason or another Holmquist would like to read on at least something of a regular basis (always in development) Thivai Abhor |
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Their war, their way I regularly make jokes about how the Bush Administration has created the ideological basis to allow the "war on terror" to go forever because that's what they have done, but it still surprises to see someone outside of the administration take this stance due to the bizarre nature of this position. And yet it happens. Two days ago Rush Limbaugh -who for worse is about as "mainstream" as a political figure can get in the United States due to how many people hear him, how long they listen to him and that Limbaugh can talk about pretty much whatever he wants to talk about- argued that "September 11" was not in the past but was yesterday, today and every day of the future until everything that could be done to prevent a repeat of the attacks of September 11, 2001 had been done. What a "what the fuck?" moment. There will never be a time when nothing more can be done, unless we achieve utopia, and I don't think Limbaugh's been reading Empire. So, we have a war that could on forever and apparently that fine with Limbaugh and many others. Of course, it will end, either through defeat or because the political benefits of declaring victory become greater than the loss at not having "terror" to kick around. How long did the Cold War go on for? *** Ironically, also on Friday's program, Limbaugh voiced support for the idea that failure to rebuild buildings the size of the World Trade Center represented letting the terrorists win, which was first voiced by New York City firefighter who lost a brother in the September 11, 2001 attacks and who had called in. Limbaugh made it clear that the terrorists shouldn't be allowed to alter our lives, except apparently with regard to the "war on terror." *** Limbaugh's exchange with the firefighter was also interesting because Limbaugh at least gave off the impression that he thought there should be a singular acceptable response to the events of September 11, 2001. He wants that acceptable response to be the "war on terror" and so he needs to disparage those who lost a loved one that day but who do not support that broad conception. They must be "coached" because nobody who was a "victim" could possibly criticize Bush's glorious leadership. Acknowledging this possibility would mean acknowledging that people in similar situations reacted very differently and that, despite what the President says, there was no singular set of "lessons of September 11." (Whether or not there should be a singular set of lessons is a good question for debate, but it is folly to pretend there only was one.) *** Although I didn't hear it, rushlimbaugh.com indicates that Limbaugh took a call from Ron in New Jersey on Friday. Ron said: ...my son Kyle died in Iraq back in May of last year...And then this exchange: RUSH: Looking at the clock. No, if somebody were to ask you the question Russert asked Bush, what you say?I feel like I shouldn't be laughing. If you have the correct opinion, you can say whatever you want. If you have the incorrect opinion… |