Author: R J Adams

It’s all so cosy. After headlining the floods in the mid-West, the suffering of thousands of Americans whose homes are now under four or more feet of water, the subject matter turned political as American generals in charge of the “surge” in Iraq argued whether troop levels should be maintained or reduced, in view of the impending presidential elections now only fourteen months away.

Throughout it all we waited, expectant, feeling sure it was just a matter of time.

The subject matter moved on from presidential hopeful John Edwards and his sudden belligerence towards Democrat front runner, Hilary Clinton, to the two jets in Florida six months ago that failed to collide, despite the best efforts of those determined never to upgrade the air traffic control systems, so woefully out of date a catastrophe in American airspace is now just a matter of time.

Surely now was the moment, we thought, still expectant, only to watch in amazement the segment illustrating an American woman arranging an artificial turf football field in Alaska, and a couple of old ‘YouTube’ videos of otters making love.

While the sad news is generally at the start of the program, occasionally a really heart-wrenching item is kept back for better effect, so optimism failed to deflate totally until the final segment – an interview with some unknown, overweight, American soul singer whose claim to fame was…….well, frankly, we didn’t wait to find out.

Was it expecting too much? Is it a lot to ask?

Last night, the NBC Nightly News spewed forth an abundance of sanctimonious claptrap about a mother who had, apparently, “earned” the right to stick two gold stars in her window because she had lost two sons in Iraq. We remember, in school years ago, earning two gold stars for writing good punctuation in an English class. It felt good, even though we were branded “swot” by the rest of the school. It was a lot easier than losing half one’s family in a wealthy egomaniac’s war.

And so it ended, with the unknown, overweight, soul singer. There was no apology; no moment of sadness. Not even a mention.

In Afghanistan today, the news that three British soldiers were killed when an American bomber pilot dropped his bomb in “the wrong place”, was not deemed worthy of broadcast on the NBC Nightly News. The artificial turf on a football field in Alaska; the jets that never collided in Florida, and otters making love on ‘Youtube’, were deemed more important to the American people than the lives of three British soldiers sacrificed to the carelessness of an American bomber pilot, probably high on amphetamines.

It’s not the first time. Since 2003, twelve British military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan have died as a result of American “friendly fire”.

What an utterly grotesque phrase that is.

Can there ever be such a thing as “friendly fire”? Not if you’re on the receiving end. Is it coincidence that the Americans have killed so many of their allies? They’re quite adept at killing their own, as well. Only it takes them a while to own up to that.

The American people are taught that their military is the best in the world. It’s a lie. In fact, they are ill-disciplined, badly trained, and trigger-happy.

It was just such amateurish behavior that cost the lives of three British service personnel today.

Was it asking too much? Would the reputation of the great Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News be irretrievably tarnished were he to utter the words, “We’re sorry.”

Does he really believe his interview with the unknown, overweight, soul singer was more important than reporting the facts. It is, after all, what a news anchor is supposed to report.

But then, it’s not in the American psyche to say, “I’m sorry.” Why, after all, should this so perfect of nations feel the need to apologize? So it killed a few foreigners, what the heck! They got in the way.

What does it matter? After all, it’s not as though they were Americans.

Filed under: Not ours, not important

Every day in America people die from the use of firearms. Most never even make the news, or maybe just a mention on the local channel if it’s a slow news day. Occasionally, there’s a shooting that briefly lifts the consciousness of the nation, like Columbine, Virginia Tech, and a number of other avoidable tragedies where loss of life numbered sufficient for Americans to take notice – at least till the news media packed up and went home again.

It would seem the price of freedom is complacency. If, after one of these dreadful events, anyone calls for gun control, his voice is whisked away on the winds of defensiveness blasting out from organizations like the National Rifle Association, a body of individuals who innocently convince themselves that a weapon with the sole purpose of killing other human beings is an alright plaything to keep around the house.

It’s hard to believe the motto of the National Rifle Association is “Guns Save Lives”. I wonder if any of its members would be prepared to cross the Atlantic this week to argue that point with Melanie Jones of Croxteth, Liverpool, in the United Kingdom? It’s unlikely any of them would have the nerve. After all, if you need to swagger around with an AK47 in your hands before you feel like a man, you’re unlikely to have enough courage to face-up to a mother in the midst of tragedy.

Unlike America, the UK has matured sufficiently to realize it’s not a good idea having a surfeit of high-powered weaponry hanging around. The gun control laws in Britain are stiff and well enforced. Consequently, people are far less afraid of each other than is the case in America.

Of course, until we realize the greatest disservice we do ourselves, as a species, is to tolerate the evil bastards who get rich producing these destructive monstrosities, and exile them all on an island somewhere with enough of their products to eventually wipe themselves out, it will be impossible to rid ourselves of the menace completely.

UK gun law has proved reasonably effective in controlling firearms and the victims of their lethality are relatively few, certainly compared to the lawlessness experienced in the United States.

Consequently, when an innocent, eleven-year-old boy is shot to death while on his way home from football practice, the whole nation is shocked and grieving.

Little Rhys Jones was shot three times in the neck, about 7.30 in the evening, in broad daylight. He died later in his mother’s arms.

His mother is Melanie Jones.

Well, you macho guys from the NRA? Any volunteers?

Read about the shooting of eleven-year-old Rhys Jones HERE.

Filed under: Guns kill kids

Allow Sparrow Chat to offer its congratulations to Texas, and its present governor, Rick Perry. On Wednesday October 22nd, Texas will execute its 400th human being. There is no argument in favor of this bestial act that stands scrutiny in our modern age. China is regularly condemned by the world for its human rights policy, including an abundance of executions. The United States in general, and Texas in particular, are similarly guilty of inhuman barbarism.

For once, the European Union has spoken out against the practice in America and has called on Rick Perry to use his powers to prevent this killing. Perry has refused. A spokesman for the governor told the BBC:

“Two hundred and thirty years ago, our forefathers fought a war to throw off the yoke of a European monarch and gain the freedom of self-determination……….”

Indeed, Mister Governor, and what a wonderful job you’ve done with your “freedom of self-determination. You still live in an age that hasn’t existed in Europe for one hundred of those two hundred and thirty years. You and your country may have succeeded in using your “freedom of self-determination” to stockpile arms and become the most powerful, and possibly the most hated, nation on the planet, and maybe that makes you feel good, but it is hardly a record deserving of respect and dignity.

Just what is your record, Governor? You call yourself a Christian. You are on record as stating you believe all who reject Jesus Christ as their savior will go to hell. Sparrow Chat hopes you enjoy your eternal burn, governor. You may pay lip service to your religion, but you sure as hell don’t practice what it teaches.

In February 2007 you mandated that Texas girls be vaccinated with Gardasil, Merck’s latest anti-cancer vaccine. It’s easy then to cast aside your “freedom of self-determination” and force others to your viewpoint, particularly when there’s something in it for you? Merck paid $10,000 to you and eight other Texas lawmakers on the same day – October 6th, 2006 – your aides were being briefed on the vaccine. They met with Mike Toomey, a lobbyist for Merck and, unsurprisingly, your ex-chief-of-staff three times in the months before the mandatory order was issued. Of course, according to your spokesman, Robert Black, the same guy who issued your mind-blowing quote above, it was all just an amazing coincidence.

Of course, governor, it’s wrong to suggest Texas doesn’t deserve you, just as it deserved the governor into whose shoes you stepped when he became president eight years ago. The majority of Texans didn’t like your mandatory vaccine order, but not due to any infringement of rights, or because of your undoubted financial gains. Oh, no, they complained because it weakened their blinkered doctrine of sexual chastity before marriage.

They deserve you, governor. But the guy you’re going to put to death in the next few hours doesn’t deserve you. It’s not your right to play God with his life, whatever he has done.

You see, your Jesus preached forgiveness. He said to turn the other cheek. His teaching are full of just one four-letter word: LOVE.

There’s no room in your heart for love, Governor Perry. Your views smack more of the Taliban, than Christianity.

So congratulations, governor, from Sparrow Chat.

No, not for being the one to act as judge and executioner of the 400th human being to be put to death in Texas, though I’m sure there’s many will hold a party to celebrate.

In fact, governor, these congratulations are not just for you, but for the state of Texas.

Congratulations, Texas, for managing to consecutively vote into power:

                                   

probably two of the most repulsive, slimy, inhumane apologies for arseholes in America today.

And in the United States of America, that title is damned hard to achieve.

BBC Website report HERE.

Filed under: Legalized murderers