Frikkin' amazing! No US war in Syria!

I think one of the most important & surprising developments of 2013 was Barack Obama's failed attempt to intervene militarily in Syria, in the wake of September's chemical weapons attack over there. I can't list enough reasons why I opposed the prospective bombing, strafing, "humanitarian" intervention that the gung-ho among us desired, even while I agree that that what's happening in Syria every day is absolutely ATROCIOUS. But beware, I said, and say today: The slippery slope of full-fledged war, which has been a frequent consequence of "limited" US interventions during years past. All Obama's guarantees that there would be no American boots on the ground notwithstanding. Yet I wouldn't romanticize the American public's opposition - they reacted the way they did for a variety of reasons - wrong war, wrong time, dislike of Obama, and above all, simple war weariness in a country that's been in a state of permanent battle every single day since 9/11/2001. My own disdain for the idea of bombing Damascus stems mainly from a strong mistrust of US intentions, and a pretty thorough knowledge of US military history. This country MUST STOP acting as if it's obliged to get entangled in every humanitarian crisis or civil war taking place on the globe. "Our" interventions just since WW2 can be counted by the score, and have been overwhelmingly negative in their impact. USA only tends to exacerbate any crisis, anywhere, through the liberal application of its own chemical and radiological weapons - including depleted uranium and white phosphorous - as was done in Iraq, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia. To say nothing of all the other lethal toys in its arsenal. So I was pleased most of the US public opposed yet another likely, prolonged war, and also gratified that Syria's chemical weapons are apparently being successfully destroyed as a result of diplomatic efforts. Even if the destruction process itself will cause further ecological harm; it would have been even worse if Syrian storage facilities had been struck by bombs or missiles. Remember Gulf War Syndrome! Of course I regret that the atrocities being committed by the Damascus regime continue unhindered; I DON'T have the answer, DON'T know what the solution might be.... but I don't think it lies in further bankrupting an already bankrupt USA. Happy 2014, and so long 2013. Most observers I've read or heard agree on one thing - 2013 was a HELL of a year. A year with a lot of startling news, most of it negative, IMHO. Let's hope, pray even if that's your bag, that 2014 turns out to be "...a good one, without any fear."

Bangladesh

I've been agonizing lately over what a beautiful blue planet this is, at least when one can view it from say, the moon. When you get close-up and "down-to-Earth" though, the injustice, poverty and suffering that prevails in virtually every country are almost too much to contemplate, let alone reconcile oneself to live with. I watched a "Globe Trekker" episode today that showed people in Bangladesh working in almost unimaginable, toxic, potentially deadly conditions. It showed barefoot workers dismantling huge ships that are docked off Chittagong for that purpose. If I were one of the wealthiest who walk this planet... well, I have to wonder how I could ever sleep. Still, Happy New Year to you all, friends. I may not get to my laptop tomorrow, so I thought I should voice my sentiments today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifQnCpZga1M

Let Gaza Live!

Read about this in the latest Z Magazine - Israeli military strikes against Gaza have targeted both it's electric grid and sewage treatment facilities. There is a term for this type of assault - "war crime." Yet another clear indication that Israeli policy harms both Arab and Jew (and anyone else who wants the Mediterranean to remain accessible). The massive sewage spill that's taking place off Gaza now is certain to negatively affect the Israeli coast as well. This stubborn insistence in waging perpetual war against the Palestinians, and the current, fraudulent "peace process" that isn't really intended to secure peace, none of these are in the best interest of the Israeli people. But hey, whoever said most Israelis value self-interest over sadism, cruelty and vengeance, anyway? It sure as hell wasn't me! http://livefromoccupiedpalestine.blogspot.com/2013/11/in-photos-gaza-without-electricity.html

What I said when Mandela died

.I need not add anything about the loss of a truly great and brave man who has been widely eulogized by some of those who were no doubt once opposed to him. I've been listening: BBC, CBC, US Public Radio have all chimed in in Mandela's honor - yet that is actually, in the final analysis, a good thing, I suppose. So I'll just keep it simple: !Nelson Mandela Presente!

Happy XMAS

Had a hekuva Christmas! Ate like a pig; shoveled tons (literally, over the Christmas season) of snow; hauled, sawed and split multiple cords of firewood; emptied the ash bucket; visited with a few good friends; drank coffee today, even though I've "quit" and switched to caffeine tea - you probably know how jitterbugging a good strong cup o' joe is after a hiatus from that powerful drug; Hit Santa Claus and his reindeer with a long-distance slingshot that fires lethal iceballs; Ran around my hometown seeking to get important errands done; Shivered in the back of an unheated pick-up truck going 45 MPH (AIN'T I a TOUGH COOKIE!); Made damn sure to post some positive stories on Farcebook (You noticed:) and also updated a buncha FB stuff that nobody really cares about but me, Ho Ho Ho!; Went to the dollar store instead of the MALL of the AMERICAS; Would have drank red wine, but I'm not "allowed;" Listened to endless reams of Christmas music - even those FM stations you might have thought know better committed the psychic crime of blasting us all with Yuletide MUZAK!; Saw the doctor, or better yet, his Registered Nurse; Watched "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer," just to see if it hypnotizes me like it did 40 years ago - alas, not QUITE; And did a whole lotta other things, fun, pun, shun, sun, and run, run, run! "It's the MOST WONDERFUL TIME... Er, Reeeeeaaaalllly, the MOST BUSY TIME of the YEAR." So ENJOY, each and every one of youse. (Not necessarily CHRISTMAS, but being alive and awake, in and around all those beautiful snowbanks.) Above all, send me pics when you've built that igloo you been talkin' about constructin' for sooooo long....