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Two thoughts on politics
Jul. 21st, 2006 11:24 pmNo, they're not environment-related as far as I can tell, but I'll think of a connection eventually. After all, as a wannabe ecologist, I know that there are connections everywhere.
Which is actually the point of my first thought, which is for people who like paranoia. Personally I think paranoia sucks, but every once in a while I give in and let a bit of it through my guard.
How's this for an idea: The "telescreens" from George Orwell's novel 1984 were actually invented and can be found in a majority of American households, but you don't notice them because you're looking in the wrong place. As a character named Mr. Universe observed in the movie Serenity: "Can't stop the signal, Mal. Everything goes somewhere, and I go everywhere." Well, guess where everything goes these days, including this post! That's right, the Internet. So your computer is probably watching you. Sound argument against buying a webcam? Maybe, but then again, you have to remember: Paranoia sucks.
Second, unrelated thought (or is it?): According to an article I'm currently reading (who needs to finish news articles anyway?), Israel "believes it can neutralize Lebanon's Hizbollah militia militarily." Well, I'm no tactics expert, but come on, people: they're terrorists! Mobility is their middle name! Maybe it looks like it'll be easy, but that's just because when they decide their work is done, most of them will be withdrawing into the shadows. The minute you wipe out their current presence, they'll hit you from somewhere else. Israel ought to be the expert on this stuff by now, so I'm sure they know something I don't, but still. If this keeps up, I don't think I'll be trusting Birthright Israel's claims of safety much longer.
(Update, 8/8/06: My cousin just returned from a Birthright Israel trip, where she had to hide in a hotel's bomb shelter when one of Hezbollah's bomb attacks came close to hitting it.)
Oh, and here's a bonus thought, also on the subject of mistrust (What can you do? Politics is like that.) It looks like us progressives can't trust Senator Barack Obama anymore, since he apparently voted for the Oman Free Trade Agreement, which, among many other problems, is going to be bad for the environment. There, you see? I connected it. One down, two to go.
Which is actually the point of my first thought, which is for people who like paranoia. Personally I think paranoia sucks, but every once in a while I give in and let a bit of it through my guard.
How's this for an idea: The "telescreens" from George Orwell's novel 1984 were actually invented and can be found in a majority of American households, but you don't notice them because you're looking in the wrong place. As a character named Mr. Universe observed in the movie Serenity: "Can't stop the signal, Mal. Everything goes somewhere, and I go everywhere." Well, guess where everything goes these days, including this post! That's right, the Internet. So your computer is probably watching you. Sound argument against buying a webcam? Maybe, but then again, you have to remember: Paranoia sucks.
Second, unrelated thought (or is it?): According to an article I'm currently reading (who needs to finish news articles anyway?), Israel "believes it can neutralize Lebanon's Hizbollah militia militarily." Well, I'm no tactics expert, but come on, people: they're terrorists! Mobility is their middle name! Maybe it looks like it'll be easy, but that's just because when they decide their work is done, most of them will be withdrawing into the shadows. The minute you wipe out their current presence, they'll hit you from somewhere else. Israel ought to be the expert on this stuff by now, so I'm sure they know something I don't, but still. If this keeps up, I don't think I'll be trusting Birthright Israel's claims of safety much longer.
(Update, 8/8/06: My cousin just returned from a Birthright Israel trip, where she had to hide in a hotel's bomb shelter when one of Hezbollah's bomb attacks came close to hitting it.)
Oh, and here's a bonus thought, also on the subject of mistrust (What can you do? Politics is like that.) It looks like us progressives can't trust Senator Barack Obama anymore, since he apparently voted for the Oman Free Trade Agreement, which, among many other problems, is going to be bad for the environment. There, you see? I connected it. One down, two to go.
