Author: R J Adams

Do we ever mature beyond the nursery years? Is there really a period of “adulthood” or is it simply a continuation of adolescence? Media portrayal of the news leaves one thinking, if we are not all immature, then certainly our leaders lack the strength of character necessary for those supposedly in such exalted positions.

Are world governments nothing more than play-centers for the mentally retarded?

Take the news today as an example:

The BBC leads with a story about Estonia and Russia – coming to blows over a statue. Russia has recalled its ambassador; Estonia says the statue is a symbol of Russian occupation, and must go.

At the end of it all – one person is already dead – it’s just a lump of stone.

Meanwhile, in India Richard Gere is facing arrest for daring to kiss an Indian film star in public. Never mind the huge amount of work Gere has undertaken in India on behalf of AIDS victims, an infantile judiciary has issued a warrant for his arrest.

Yesterday, Britain’s baby-boy prime minister lied through his milk teeth by suggesting he would “be delighted” if his son wanted to fight in Iraq. Having spent much time and effort ensuring son Euan was out the country for the duration of the Iraq war, first as an intern working for Washington politicians, and later tucked away at Yale University where he’d just happened to win a $100,000 scholarship (nothing to do with Daddy, of course) Tony Blair could happily wish his son in the midst of Iraqi insurgent bombing, knowing full well it was never going to happen.

In America, the toddlers charged with running things at the White House decided today would be a good time to announce the capture of Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi.

Who?

Dare you ask? This guy is, according to the kiddies in the State department, “……one of Osama Bin Laden’s “top global deputies”, personally chosen by the al-Qaeda leader to monitor operations in Iraq.”

Perhaps that’s why his name is Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi?

As an aside, it was also mentioned – in passing – that Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi was actually captured late last year. How late? November? December? At best, five months ago! No mention at the time, of course, that such an extremely high-ranking al-Qaeda operative had been caught. He’s been held until now in one of those secret CIA prison places that don’t exist, and only yesterday was suddenly moved, with much associated publicity, to the “George W Bush Guest House for Middle Eastern Gentlemen”, known colloquially as Guantanamo Bay Detention Center.

Of course, its not the least bit childish that our Middle Eastern friend was suddenly hauled into the limelight just a day after the much publicized furore between the American president and Congress over troop funding and their envisaged withdrawal from Iraq.

To even suggest a connection would surely be childish and immature –

– wouldn’t it?

Filed under: Baby talk

Controversy is presently raging over Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, and whether he should risk his royal neck fighting in Iraq. Harry recently completed his military training, and as a Troop Commander in the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals regiment, is preparing to take charge of a squad consisting of eleven men and four light tanks.

While official concerns for Harry’s safety in Iraq stem from a resurgence in violence around Basra, certain anonymous whispers late one evening from the Palace of Westminster Club, suggested overly-zealous, trigger-happy Yanks might prove just as fatal to the English royal prince as they were to one of their own football stars.

“And that,” one elderly Earl was heard to mutter behind his whisky glass, “could prove bloody embarrassing, eh, what?”

Filed under: Royal stutters

George W Bush and his wife, Laura, are scarcely in the “best actor” league. It’s probably just as well. The script they’ve been using for the past eight years hardly merits Hollywood status. As this ill-staged farce known as the “Bush Presidency” enters its final act, both the leading lady and her partner continue to believe their performances merit an Oscar.

Unfortunately for them, the audience is not in sympathy.

Yesterday, on the “Today” show, Laura Bush, wife of the president, told presenter Ann Curry that the American people need to know…….

“……. no one suffers more than their President and I do.”

It hardly bears mentioning, of course, that such a statement is both inaccurate and hypocritical in the extreme. Which particular definition this woman was referring to by her use of the word, “suffers”, can only be guessed at.

Webster’s gives three definitions for the word: “suffering”:

1. to endure death, pain, or distress

2. to sustain loss or damage

3. to be subject to disability or handicap.

To our knowledge, neither the president nor his wife, are disabled or handicapped – at least, not physically; neither have they sustained personal loss or damage, or endured death or pain. If either feels distressed by the course this presidency has taken, they cover it exceptionally well. Only yesterday, both were televised dancing happily with a number of African Americans.

The line was, quite simply, a deliberate attempt to display a vestige of humanity to a disillusioned electorate preparing to dump this White House in the garbage can of history; an act long overdue, in this writer’s humble opinion. If George Bush and his wife are suffering at all right now, it is from low support figures and the effort of lying bare-facedly to the world about the situation in Iraq.

Which presents another aspect most Americans will fail to consider.

Laura Bush may be attempting to present the face of a humanitarian White House to the American people, but they represent only a small minority of the rest of the world effected by the policies of her husband and his disreputable administration. It is easy for America to forget that all the action rapidly coming home to roost in George Bush’s nest, is presently taking place outside of the U.S of A.

War has a singular ability to create political fractures all over the planet. It’s the reason we end up with “World Wars”. When one nation attacks another, others are immediately drawn into the fray, taking sides and arming against their neighbors.

Since March 2003, there have been numerous outbursts of violence among nations throughout the world. The number of petty wars and skirmishes has risen sharply. It is particularly noticeable among religious groups, mainly Christian and Muslim.

While some may argue the world has never known a time without a war somewhere, the degree of unrest among peoples of our planet has risen alarmingly over the last few years, blurred only out of focus by the major conflagrations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

When Laura Bush bleats to the American people about her and her husband’s “suffering”, she may do well to remember that George Bush’s policies over the last eight years have resulted, not just in the decimation of a major Middle East nation, but in the deaths and suffering of millions around the world drawn into petty conflicts resulting from his abuse of power in the Middle East.

On their behalf, Mrs Bush, Sparrow Chat says simply this:

Neither you, nor your husband, have an inkling of suffering. You have both lived a privileged and protected life, at all times ensuring you personally are well defended against the tribulations and anguishes you have inflicted on others, born less fortunate than yourselves. Your attempt yesterday to appear “one of us” in this terror you have wreaked upon the planet, no longer raises applause from your audience. The play is almost over, Mrs Bush. The curtain is already descending. You and your husband may believe you deserve a standing ovation, but when the houselights rise you will find yourselves bowing to an empty auditorium. There will be no bouquets; no cheers, no appreciative wolf-whistles.

The audience will already have left the theater.

Filed under: Don’t call us