Month: May 2011

It’s celebration time in America, but what is it they’re partying about? President Obama called it ‘justice’. It’s not that. One BBC reporter said it was a classic case of ‘the good guys killing the bad guys’. It’s not that, either.

On the surface, you might find it hard to find any similarity between the alleged assassination (for that’s what it was) of Osama bin Laden and the recent royal wedding in Britain. In fact, there’s an obvious parallel.

As the Western world teeters on the edge of economic decline, both the royal wedding and the news of bin Laden’s alleged violent demise at the guns of America’s elite troops, serve the same purpose. They provide the populace with a reason to celebrate, at least, temporarily.

Personally, I enjoyed those parts of the royal wedding that made it into the Adams’ household. It made me feel good about being British. Right now, I’m glad I’m not American. Somehow, the idea of feeling enthused and patriotic by the violent end of another human being is distinctly disturbing.

If the story, suddenly released in a blaze of media frenzy this morning, is true and bin Laden is dead, it is of no consequence to me. That old adage is invariably right, “He who lives by the sword shall perish by the sword.”

Justice, however, it is not. For the supposed leader of the ‘free’ world to state that it is, says more about the sad state of the ‘free’ world than it does about Osama bin Laden.

The mass hysteria that accompanied the news, so hyped by the US media with its videos of yelling crowds outside the White House, young men chanting, “USA! USA! USA!”, and the inevitable “Christian” gentleman assuring us that ‘God had taken his [bin Laden’s] soul and hurled it into Hell!” is as disturbing to me as any crowd of Muslim fundamentalists dancing with glee at the sight of burning towers on 9/11.

It’s a viewpoint that begs the question, “Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?”

Does it just depend which part of the world you were born into?

If so, it’s no different than the football fan who supports his local team, except the stakes are just a little higher. Is America, then, merely celebrating a home team touchdown?

Is bin Laden dead? There’s not a shred of evidence been released to substantiate the claims. So far, we have only the word of politicians to go on, and we all know how trustworthy they are. Getting rid of a body before anyone has a chance to corroborate its identity is amazingly suspect.

Still, when everyone wants to believe he’s dead, and America is once more the vengeful angel of righteousness wreaking havoc on the ungodly, who needs evidence anyway? Most Americans will now believe revenge has finally been taken for the attacks of 9/11.

Just as there’s no evidence of his sudden death, neither is there yet one shred of evidence bin Laden was involved in the 9/11 hijackings, but after ten years most Americans find it a convenient truth, and are happy to celebrate the alleged perpetrator’s violent end.

Justice has not been done, for justice must also be seen to be done. With no trial, no evidence, no defense and no prosecution to seek out the true facts behind the accusations, to even suggest justice was done is to denigrate the very process of justice.

That the man who uttered those words is not only the president of the United States of America, but a highly qualified member of the legal profession, says little for the state of justice in this land today.

Tonight, most Americans don’t care about justice. They’re celebrating a victory. In their eyes, America is suddenly great again.

I’ve used the phrase, “most Americans” on a number of occasions throughout this article. I did so deliberately.

Earlier this afternoon I received an anonymous email in my in-tray. It contained an attachment. Apparently, the Social Security Administration’s top man, Commissioner Michael J Astrue, was so overcome with emotion at the news of bin Laden’s alleged demise, he couldn’t resist sending out an email message to all his thousands of employees. I assume it was one of them who sent it to me:

Subject: The Death of Osama bin Laden

Our unified nation has taken a major step toward peace with the death of Osama bin Laden. To those of you who serve and have served America not only through your work here but also with military service, I extend my thanks for your dedication to our country.

To those of you who lost family and loved ones on September 11, 2001, as I did, I hope last night’s news brings you some measure of comfort and closure.

Michael J. Astrue
Commissioner

The emailer who sent the attachment had written these words:

Something about this message just makes me feel sick in the pit of my stomach.”

Most Americans will be rejoicing tonight, but there’s at least one out there who won’t be.

Somehow that makes me feel a whole lot better.

Filed under: High ’em high

It’s good to know that Superman and I have something in common.

When Americans I meet realize I’m from Britain, and have been living in the US for nine years, they automatically assume I’ve taken US citizenship. My response to their question induces an immediate glazing of the eyes as they struggle to comprehend my reasoning.

Quite simply, I’ve never pledged allegiance to any nation or flag, and I’m not going to start now. My right to British citizenship is a birthright, not because I swore an oath of allegiance to the country in which I just happened to be born.

While there is much that I like about America – many of its people, some of its geography, etc – and much that I dislike, acquiring citizenship is not about swearing allegiance to those factors, but to a political system that has become repugnant to me.

Apparently, Superman feels much as I do.

^{Click to enlarge}

As Guy Adams (no relation to the author) writes in the Independent this week:

He’s still a firm believer in truth and justice, but the world’s foremost superhero is no longer sure he can carry on proudly endorsing the American way. As he approaches his 80th birthday, Superman has made a shock decision: he intends to renounce his US citizenship.

The move, to be announced next week in the 900th edition of Action Comics, comes after a peculiarly topical plot twist: the Man of Steel finds himself being criticised by the White House for joining young Muslims at a rally against the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran.

“I’m tired of having my actions construed as instruments of US policy,” he wearily tells the President’s National Security Advisor. “Truth, justice and the American way… It’s not enough anymore. The world’s too small. Too connected. I intend to speak before the United Nations tomorrow and inform them that I am renouncing my US citizenship.”^[1]

Superman’s threat has upset quite a few Americans, particularly those with leanings to the political right.

“This is absolutely sickening,” commented one reader on Foxnews.com. “We are now down to destroying all American Icons. How are we going to survive as a Nation?”

As Guy Adams writes:

News that Superman’s commitment to the USA is wavering sparked comic levels of outrage among right-leaning commentators yesterday.

“We are turning into the biggest bunch of pantie-wasted sissies I’ve ever seen,” wrote one Jimmy Wallingford, of Texas, after reading of the development on the New York Post’s website. “Has anyone at DC Comics been to another country? America may have some problems, but there is nowhere I’d rather be!”

Another reader, Bernie Loverde, suggested that the development was part of a plot to indoctrinate children with left-wing beliefs. “Do progressives, with their one global life and political correctness, have no end to what they have to shit all over?” he asked.

Comic? Well, it would be if it were fiction, but for grown men to act so immaturely says much about why this country’s government is the way it is.

As for Jimmy Wallingford, of Texas, asking, “Has anyone at DC Comics been to another country?” I would venture to suggest Mister Wallingford has never set foot outside of Texas. Though, possibly he’s vacationed in Mexico?

Superman travels all over the Universe and has certainly journeyed throughout much of this globe, so it’s possible he’s realized many countries are streets ahead of America.

Europe could teach the US a lot, if only it was prepared to listen. Unfortunately, Americans are so indoctrinated against the concept of socialism (most, conveniently confuse it with communism) that they become blind and deaf, though certainly not dumb, whenever the subject is broached.

If there’s one thing America can teach the world, it’s how to cut off its nose to spite its face.

Sadly, there’s a strong possibility that Superman’s action is no more than a clever plot, by corporate Hollywood, to boost international interest in its latest movie involving the superhero. It’s probably no coincidence that the movie script for the upcoming, “Man of Steel”, set to shoot this summer, is written by David S. Goyer, who will also write Superman’s renunciation episode in the 900th edition of Action Comic.

So, despite Krypton, despite the chisel chin and rippling muscles, despite the flowing cape and cute red panties…

…perhaps, in reality, Superman is just another of those corporate pawns cleverly designed to mislead the public into believing Capitalism is the only true religion, and America the greatest nation on earth.

Oh, well, maybe Superman and I don’t have that much in common after all.

^{[1] “Superman becomes a super-rebel – and scourge of the American right” Independent, April 30th 2011}

Filed under: No Santa Claus either