On Hell and Good Intentions

The following post may sound arrogant, but is not intended to be. It is the result of much thought, not a self-serving desire to pretend superiority or maturity. I don't mean hold the mantra of "reality based community" over the head of my opponents like a personal crutch born of snobishness. More and more, however, I realize that ultimate freedom is the ability to say what you believe, and let the pieces then fall into place as they may, accepting both the unfortunate and fortunate consequences of your words. Or in Orwell's prose, to admit that 2+2 = 4, and then allow it all to follow from there.

"Suzan – to whom I would love to devote some passionate words as being one of my great lovers – called me from Sydney, Australia, drunk, to tell me that Bush was the greatest threat to world peace. You shared a bed with someone like that, you had an enormous amount of fun with her, and now you have to endure the complete nonsense she dispenses and you tell yourself that really, Western civilization is built on the right to disagree with one another. It is a paradox though that a fifth column of peace birds, in which all the Suzans of this world march along compliantly, provide the exact proof that the values that are defended by Bush and Blair are of a higher standard than those of Saddam. How decadent do you have to be as a free person in the West to happily applaud at your own grave by protesting against America and not against the butchers in Baghdad?"
-Theo Van Gogh, killed 11-2-04, The Netherlands

I've read these words of Theo Van Gogh a good number of times. Mr. Van Gogh was raised in an environment completely alien to mine, I have no doubt that he and I would have clashed stridently on any number of issues. Yet I go back every few months, because it resonates personally and painfully, and it reminds me of the hurdles that we face. I've known my own Suzy. One of the kindest and charitable people I've ever met, who donated her hair to cancer victims, adopted single mothers for charity over the holidays. In other words, she did any number of wonderful things that yours truly was too self-absorbed and occupied to undertake.

She was raised in a suburb of Boston, I can imagine surrounded by the numerous gurus of tolerance and diversity that would embrace a gunman in the dark to avoid offending him. Her reaction to 9-11 was to council understanding for the attackers, something true to a wonderfully charitable character, yet horrifying in its naivety and implications.

Overall, not someone who seriously followed politics, yet still a "Why can't we just be friends?" Kerry voter. I doubt she could tell me anything substantial about John Kerry or his politics, rather than point to his image as a liberal democrat. In short, a voter by instinct rather than actual thought, groomed by the tolerance mongers and diversity police. Altogether, she’s the kind of person who votes for a candidate because he's 'progressive,' and because it makes them feel good to be “advancing” history. To be fair, she never declared Bush a greater threat than Osama, although after a few months in Europe, I wouldn't be surprised if she picked up such rubbish.

It has become almost cliché to remember Churchill’s description of political evolution:

"If a man is not a liberal [socialist] by the time he is 20, he has no heart.
If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain."

Naivety, innocence, and the substitution of emotion for thought - it is politics of the immature. I understand the attraction of such shallow thinking - we're the future, we're going to save the world, if only everyone was kind to one another, we are the world - the same shallow thinking that's attracted youth throughout history to utopian ideas such as Communism and pacifism. It is what Christopher Hitchens once summarized as the substitution of the "wish" for the "what is". I personally was never grabbed by "it". I "wish" I had been, I can imagine it's much more self-assuring and self-gratifying. Unfortunately, I always preferred my perceived reality to mythical optimism, no matter how pessimistic that reality. I was a natural born cynic, and I've got the lines on my forehead to prove it.

And yet it seems to me that more than any time in the past, many of the people who came out of the 1960s, on both continents, never grew up. Their views may have evolved minimally, but the same core childish outlook towards the world remained, even as they became the academics and elites who mold modern day public opinion through the media and future public opinion through the universities. It remains to be seen whether my generation will grow out of such naivety or will continue the narcissistic cycle. Will the trends of public opinion remain self-flattering and utopian, shielded from reality by the prosperous and largely unthreatened bubble that we occupy? Will we pass the next inevitable test? Or have we been so thoroughly humbled and emasculated that we can no longer muster the will to see the world as it is, rather than how we would wish it to be? There is bravey in breaking new ground, but also in recognizing unpleasant truth.

Thanks to the Mudville Gazette and Outside the Beltway.

Why no 9-11 post?

The shortest answer: I don't feel I can muster the ability at the moment to do that day the justice it deserves, so I'll leave it to others who are more capable.

This slideshow of the victims is also worth a somber moment.

The Flight 93 memorial was evidently designed by an emasculated idiot. He's emasculated because he designed a touchy-feely spectacle where there should be a victory monument. If you can't muster triumphalism and pride by memorializing a moment when a random group of Americans defeated Al Qaeda's A-team, you're without hope. He's an idiot because he stuck an Islamic symbol, inadvertently or not, right in the middle of it.

"Crescent of Embrace" - what a maroon.

Moral Cowardice

A month ago I suggested the tide of European appeasement showed some signs of turning in the wake of the London Bombings. Either I was premature, or some of Blair's advisors haven't yet received the memo:

"A team of advisors appointed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for the cancellation of the British Holocaust Memorial Day in order to avoid offending the country's Muslim population.

According to the Sunday Times Blair has promised to respond to the plans, but the threat to the Holocaust Day has provoked a fierce backlash from the Jewish community.

The committee's proposal suggested that the memorial day's name be changed to "Genocide Memorial Day," thereby commemorating the large numbers of deaths of Muslims in Israel, Chechnya, and Bosnia, according to the committee's wording. It would encompass genocides of other peoples as well.

The proposals will be transmitted to the British cabinet ministers within 10 days.

The advisory committee was established following the July terror attacks on London, Army Radio reported, while tackling extremism was it's main goal."

Their response to extremist Islamic propaganda, which feeds on over the top rhetoric concerning Chechnya, Palestine, and any other number of Muslim "grievances", is apparently to ape it.

From Free Republic, comes the response of a Marine NCO to Frank Rich's catagorization of America's soldiers as "have nots":

"To the Editor:

I am an infantry Marine with 12 years of service, and I am presently stationed in Falluja, Iraq. I am also a New Orleans native and my parents live in Mandeville, which is on the North Shore of Lake Ponchartrain. They have lost everything.

I take issue with "Falluja Floods the Superdome," by Frank Rich. Falluja is doing quite well. I know because my Marines are out on the streets every day. We've been here for almost seven months, and the difference is night and day since we got here.

Secondly, I have 20 other Marines in my battalion who are from Louisiana, and not one of us considers himself a "have-not." In fact every Marine in this battalion is proud of what we have accomplished, and we are proud to be Marines. Military service was a choice, not a last resort for us.

(Staff Sgt) JEFF HARILSON
Falluja, Iraq, Sept 5, 2005"

Mr. Rich is just another one of our enlightened elites that assumes because they are a nihilist, so too is everyone else. After all, who'd actually be stupid and foolish enough to fight for such a corrupted system and country, if they actually had a choice in the matter. Thankfully, many haven't yet gotten the memo.

Thanks to Outside the Beltway and the Mudville Gazette.

"Japan will propose cutting UN contributions"

According to Reuters, Japan will propose cutting UN contributions due to its failure to acquire permanent Security Council status.

"With little prospect of a seat, the government believes it will no longer be able to ensure public support for shouldering almost 20 percent of the UN budget, the Yomiuri Shimbun said, citing government sources. Japan is set to demand that permanent Security Council members should make financial contributions to match their status, an argument that is likely to face opposition from China and Russia, whose contributions would rise, the paper said.

Assuming that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi wins Sunday's election, which polls indicate he is likely to do, his foreign minister, Nobutaka Machimura, would make a speech on the need to review U.N. contributions at a General Assembly meeting in New York starting on September 19, the Yomiuri said.

The government plans to submit a formal resolution on U.N. contributions in the spring, and to try to enlist the support of other countries that contribute relatively large amounts, such as South Korea and Germany, the report said.

The U.N.'s total 2005 budget was $1.83 billion, of which Japan provided 19.47 percent and the United States 22 percent, the Yomiuri said."

Let's hope the UN doesn't come asking Uncle Sucker to pick up the slack.

Blogging's been light cause I've simply been too drained recovering from strep. David Frum says just about everything I want to say about the administration's hurricane critics. I spent much of yesterday reading left-leaning boards and it flat out disturbed me. These people have simply lost it, if space aliens invaded the Earth tomorrow they'd back ET to get rid of Bush.

Going back up to school tomorrow, so posting will continue to be light for a few days while I get everything in order.

September 24 Counter-march

The anti-war movement is apparently mobilizing for an especially large anti-war demonstration on September 24.

In response, RightMarch, Protest Warrior, Move America Forward, and Free Republic are trying to assemble a counter-march. I just stumbled across this:

"The past four years since 9-11 has seen several important and contentious elections. In the West, where the peaceful transfer of power can often be taken for granted, voters returned to power statesmen like Bush, Blair and Howard, who's War Against Terror is being waged also in support of global political liberty. Elsewhere, entire nations selected their own leaders for the first time. In Iraq, where political liberty remains under threat, many died exercising their right to vote while eight million succeeded in spite of the danger posed by terrorists and the disapproval of Western elites.

But in the United States, the Social Justice movement has shown a dismaying lack of faith in Democracy. Because the antiwar proposition lost the election, a mob intends to surround the White House this September 24th to demand President Bush's removal.

This demonstration, like other large anti-war and anti-Bush demonstrations, is being organized nationally by the usual professional activists from the extremes of the Left. It deserves a national response, both from supporters of President Bush and from people who simply oppose the destructive trend of filibusters, judicial activism, reflexively contested elections and elections disregarded altogether.

We must raise our voices and speak at this crucial time to demonstrate to the nation and the world that we are still a Republic in which the political process is respected and a plurality of views can coexist without hatred."

Spread the word. I could see myself heading to this. My father was himself a hard hat demonstrator in NYC during the Vietnam War. God, I can't believe how much I reflect him as I age.

A typically fantastic entry from the Right Wing Nuthouse on the political opportunists taking up the opportunity for their normal race-baiting. As far as I'm concerned, these people are scum.

HT: Third Wave Dave.

"Just Damn"

School bus comandeered by renegade refugees first to arrive at Astrodome:

"About 100 people packed into the stolen bus. They were the first to enter the Houston Astrodome, but they weren't exactly welcomed.

The big yellow school bus wasn't expected or approved to pass through the stadium's gates. Randy Nathan, who was on the bus, said they were desperate to get out of town.

"If it werent for him right there," he said, "we'd still be in New Orleans underwater. He got the bus for us."

Eighteen-year-old Jabbor Gibson jumped aboard the bus as it sat abandoned on a street in New Orleans and took control.

"I just took the bus and drove all the way here...seven hours straight,' Gibson admitted. "I hadn't ever drove a bus."

The teen packed it full of complete strangers and drove to Houston. He beat thousands of evacuees slated to arrive there."

For some perspective, look at this post on what the New Orleans authorities did with their other buses - absolutely nothing. They've been deep sixed by the flood.

More on Gibson:

"Authorities eventually allowed the renegade passengers inside the dome. But the 18-year-old who ensured their safety could find himself in a world of trouble for stealing the school bus.

"I dont care if I get blamed for it ," Gibson said, "as long as I saved my people."

If only our politicians and bureaucrats had his guts.

Bill Roggio with some important stuff on battles between pro-government Sunnis and Al Qaeda in Western Anbar.

"Further details emerge on the fighting in Western Anbar between pro-government and pro al Qaeda tribes. The Washington Post’s Ellen Knickmeyer and Omar Fekeiki report that of the 56 thought to be killed Tuesday, the majority are very likely to be al Qaeda; “Forty-two of them wore the black training-suits and athletic shoes favored by Zarqawi's fighters.” Al Qaeda has openly admitted to 17 of its members killed.

The clashes came after insurgents kidnapped and killed 31 men belonging to the Albu Mahal tribe because they had joined the Iraqi security forces, said Sheikh Muhammed Mahallawi, one of the tribe's leaders. "We decided, either we force them out of the city or kill them," with the support of U.S. bombardment, Mahallawi said. His tribe also had asked local residents not to aid or house Zarqawi's fighters, he said. Some of the local people refused the request, in a show of support for Zarqawi, he said."

Being a less than accomplished cook and fan of Chinese food, I've ordered out the past few nights. Oddly, both delivery men had heavy Eastern European accents. I asked the second guy tonight where he was from. Lithuania, he says. I then asked him if he was going back. He looked at me like I was nuts, and said he'd been here for 8 years and was staying. Well, welcome aboard, buddy - anyone who refers to me as "boss" is good enough for me.

Living La Vida Loca

Well, my first published piece in a newspaper, the Seattle Times. It is a section of my previous posting on appeasement and the Left.

Why the Seattle Times?

Beats me. You'd have to ask the guy who sent it in and had it published in the letters section under the name Jim Glendenning.

Good to know that someone out there likes my stuff enough to pass it on, even if in a dishonest way.

Count me in with Isaac Schrödinger, this is certainly one of the funniest Yahoo stories I've ever come across: Brits driving Austrians bonkers over rude village name".

For those offended by rude language, it may not be your cup of tea, but others will get a kick out of it. You can tell the reporter had a hell of a good time writing it.

Václav Klaus Slams "Europeanism"

The two most important Czechs in the post-Cold War period both happened to be named Václav. The first is the better known Cold War dissident playwright and first Czech PresidentVáclav Havel. The second his successor President Vaclav Klaus, a man known as a relatively odd political bird.

Officially a staunch free-marketer, commonly compared to Thatcher, he's also been accused of dragging his feet on the actual deeds. He's also generally pro-American, but backed out of supporting the US Iraq War, for domestic political reasons - not quite the most heroic performance, but not everyone can be an Aznar. Klaus is also a well-known Euroskeptic who holds few punches, and it is for this reason that I link to this story in the Brussels Journal titled "Czech President Warns Against 'Europeanism'". In it, Klaus attacks the well-advanced European strain of what John Fonte has called "Transnational Progressivism", a collection of interests whose goal is to "undermine the liberal democratic nation-state in general and the American regime in particular." [It is suggested you read that entire article in full, if you have not already done so.]

Some highlights from the Brussels article:

“Fifteen years after the collapse of communism. I am afraid more than at the beginning of its softer (or weaker) version, of social-democratism, which has become – under different names, e.g. the welfare state or the soziale Marktwirtschaft – the dominant model of the economic and social system of current Western civilization. It is based on big and patronizing government, on extensive regulating of human behavior, and on large-scale income redistribution.”

...

“Illiberal ideas are becoming to be formulated, spread and preached under the name of ideologies or “isms”, which have – at least formally and nominally – nothing in common with the old-style, explicit socialism. These ideas are, however, in many respects similar to it. There is always a limiting (or constraining) of human freedom, there is always ambitious social engineering, there is always an immodest ‘enforcement of a good’ by those who are anointed (T. Sowell) on others against their will, there is always the crowding out of standard democratic methods by alternative political procedures, and there is always the feeling of superiority of intellectuals and of their ambitions.”

...

"As substitutes of socialism, Václav Klaus cited “environmentalism (with its Earth First, not Freedom First principle), radical humanrightism (based – as de Jasay precisely argues – on not distinguishing rights and rightism), the ideology of ‘civic society’ (or communitarism), which is nothing less than one version of post-Marxist collectivism which wants privileges for organized groups, and in consequence, a refeudalization of society […], multiculturalism, feminism, apolitical technocratism (based on the resentment against politics and politicians), internationalism (and especially its European variant called Europeanism) and a rapidly growing phenomenon I call NGOism.”

“These alternative ideologies […] are successful especially where there is no sufficient resistance to them, where they find a fertile soil for their flourishing, where they find a country (or the whole continent) where freedom (and free markets) have been heavily undermined by long lasting collectivistic dreams and experiences and where intellectuals have succeeded in getting and maintaining a very strong voice and social status. I have in mind, of course, rather Europe, than America. It is Europe where we witness the crowding out of democracy by post democracy, where the EU dominance replaces democratic arrangements in the EU member countries, where [some people] do not see the dangers of empty Europeanism and of a deep (and ever deeper) but only bureaucratic unification of the whole European continent. They applaud the growing formal opening of the continent, but do not see that the elimination of some of the borders without actual liberalization of human activities ‘only’ shifts governments upwards, which means to the level where there is no democratic accountability and where the decisions are made by politicians appointed by politicians, not elected by citizens in free elections."

Suggested to be read in full. Although Klaus has the reputation of a political opportunist on some issues, he's coming out hard, fast, and accurate on this one.

Thanks to Outside the Beltway.