During the past few years, I have
become increasingly embarrassed and ashamed of being a citizen of the United
States. Actually, I am paraphrasing something Michelle Obama said in 2008 about the America that existed before the nomination of her husband to be president of the United States, while I am speaking about his performance and accomplishments since his election to that unique office. I am speaking about the deterioration and the demise of America since the advent of Obama.
I was not alive when Adolph Hitler
invaded Poland in 1939, but, to me, it is no different now when Vladimir Putin
sends troops into the Crimea and eastern regions of the Ukraine. And, it seems to me,
the governments of the so-called "free world" learned absolutely nothing
about how to say "no" to tyranny and tyrants in spite of the deaths of millions
during World War II.
Leaders of the "free
world" ignored reports of what was going on in concentration camps scattered around Europe during World War II, then acted shocked when the war ended and the light of day revealed the "extermination" of millions. The leaders of the "free world"
initially did nothing about the literal massacres of civilians during the genocidal
Balkan wars of the 1990s.
Now, Islamic
extremists/terrorists/fanatics are on the march in Iraq and Syria and the
leader of the most militarily powerful nation on the face of the earth (the guy
in the photo, in case you are buzzed in Colorado or Washington) plays golf and
basketball while thousands of children, women and men have been brutally
murdered and thousands more are in immediate danger of this nightmarish inhumanity.
Obama golfing
while the world burns .... just like Nero fiddling while Rome burned.
Memo to Norway: This
is what happens when the Nobel Peace Prize becomes the Nobel Peace Price. So
much for your credibility. To stand by and to do nothing when in a position to save lives seems to be the act of a war criminal, not a peace maker, to my way of thinking.
By the way, if you do not understand the Obama "JV" reference, it is to an interview he did last January referring to the Al Qaeda (ISIS) Islamist terrorists now conquering Iraq and Syria as the "jayvee team," which in American sports parlance means "junior varsity," i.e. the inexperienced, young kids. This "secondary, trivial, student team" obviously has more experience, talent and determination than does Professor Obama.
By the way, if you do not understand the Obama "JV" reference, it is to an interview he did last January referring to the Al Qaeda (ISIS) Islamist terrorists now conquering Iraq and Syria as the "jayvee team," which in American sports parlance means "junior varsity," i.e. the inexperienced, young kids. This "secondary, trivial, student team" obviously has more experience, talent and determination than does Professor Obama.
This might be a post
in progress because I do not think I have ever before been so disgusted and sickened by U.S.
leadership. So, finally (for now), whatever the U.S. role in the world might be, I cannot believe/accept/acknowledge that it is to allow for innocents to be murdered without American intervention. And, evidently, these murders -- of children, of women, of men; in the thousands -- are just fine with His Majesty Barack Hussein Obama.
P.S. I have no idea who took the photograph of Obama, but it certainly describes his presidency perfectly....
12 comments:
Although we sit on opposite ends of the political spectrum (seems to me) I agree with your post almost 100%. Especially on Obama's passivity. He hasn't closed Guantánamo and is being reactive on foreign affairs rather than proactive. You forgot to mention the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, whichever camp you side with. It doesn't really matter, that should have been sorted out. It hasn't. When you analyse what's happening in Iraq and Syria and what's happening in Gaza. Then, put that together with Ukraine, then add on a bellicose Iran, then... mate, the mind wanders. It's as if all of a sudden that entire region could just one day blow up and whatever is left after won't be recognisable to even people born and bred there. Putin just takes the mick out of Obama (to use a British phrase). Putin knows he is untouchable. China knows they are the ones holding the aces when they come to the negotiation table with Obama. I read a very good article on Obama the other night and this is from a guy who supported Obama (I raise my hand, I did two, twice). This journalist's conclusion was that Obama will go down in history as the "at least I tried" president. Which when you look at the conflicts around the world, especially in the Middle Eadt, is not good enough.
Rant over, now, let's get back to our respective camps, shall we? :-)
Greetings from London.
I have been wondering if anyone would respond to this post. The sheer numbers of people who wander through here seem to double or triple or increase even more when I write sort of fiery words, but they seem to be passive about expressing their own opinions. This makes me think they largely disagree with me or are too timid about publicly stating their own viewpoints or are afraid of what others might think of them if they would state their own viewpoints. Then, too, there is the curse of political correctness.
So, I am glad you put in an appearance and left your thoughts here about my commentary, CiL.
Actually, in a political sense, I suppose I have followed the typical pathway of a white, Anglo, (brought up) Protestant male raised in small-town, middle America -- which is to say I have become increasingly conservative as the years pass. But, I only tend to be a redneck when I am undercover (the chameleon, in a manner of speaking). In fact, I even voted for Wild Bill Clinton the first time around.
As for Barack Obama, it is too soon to write the final chapter in his presidential book, but at this point in time the copy I have is reading "failed presidency" and has the chance of even slipping into the category of "disgraced presidency," depending upon his actions (or lack of actions) during the next two years. Such presidencies have happened before and, no doubt, will happen again.
As for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I have met survivors of the Warsaw Ghetto and understand where the nation of Israel comes from, but, sometimes I think they did not always learn the right lessons. I have some friends who call me Ibn Ian, but I do not believe in making war on civilians. I also have been to the "battleground" recently, and that affects my objectivity.
I guess my bottom line, CiL, is that most of us have mixed feelings, but there often are times when we must be decisive and make decisions according to what is clearly good vs. evil, rather than dancing around popular opinion, political expediency or personal philosophy. His inability (or simple refusal) to make such decisions is Obama's flaw. It is either that, or he is delusional.
Thank you, for being here, CiL. I really appreciate it. Keep a shine on your cowboy boots, amigo.
This post, my answer to you, your answer to me, my post today (shameless plug there, sorry) and an essay I read last Friday and which I will try to link in the comments section of my latest post, make all for a nice continuum.
I guess that I would call myself a liberal in the British sense (for French liberals are more of a rightwing nature and adopt the free market as their ideology. Go figure). I doub my loyalties will go rightwards as I get older. Then again that contrasts with what many Cubans are like when they relocate abroad. Either they are apolitical (i.e., indifferent) or become rabid rightwingers, even worse than homegrown ones. I think for me to have a choice as to what I want to be played a major role in my political and social awakening. Plus, I am an immigrant, there's no two ways about it.
I believe that people should be able to post whatever they like as long as there's a modicum of decency in their posts. Yours is pretty mild compared to what I have read about Mr O. Keep up the good work.
Greetings from London.
News from or about Britain and Europe (and, I suppose most other counties beyond the borders of the United States) is what it is, and there is no way for an American to understand events in detail or to know how much news is fact vs. opinion without engaging in in-depth work/research.
The same, of course, is true in reverse. Listening/watching CNN International/World news regarding the U.S. while I was living in Poland was laughable, I thought, and, quite literally, out of touch with reality and often bordering on fiction. French and (believe it or not) Russian broadcasts available in Warsaw were the most factually reliable in terms of my knowledge and experience. Of course, there is the internet, for those who have the inclination and the time to do more probing -- which few of us do.
My only knowledge and experience regarding Cuban expatriates comes from those who fled the Castro Regime and ended up in places like Florida and New York. Needless to say, they were of the far-right variety. You, as a liberal of Cuban extraction, are providing an education for me, CiL. (Thank you !!)
As for Barack Obama, I think the man truly is frightening and, in a sense, dangerous. He either is ideologically motivated to a degree of fanaticism in his decision-making processes or he is narcissistically driven to delusional actions and reactions .... these are the only explanations which enter my mind regarding his presidency. I will be interested to learn how history views him, but, right now, only the next two years concern me.
I cannot not help but wonder who you would be today had you ended up in the U.S. rather than in England, CiL. But, either way, you will always be Cuban first.
And, I am very glad our paths crossed.
I love "neck of the woods". I use it whenever I can. :-)
The Who. Thi sis the band that came (for me) after the Zep, The Fab Four, the Stones, Pink Floyd, Queen (of course! The first one) and all the hair metal bands from the 80s. Then I got to uni and this guy played Tommy and... I just lost it, mate. I kept wondering for the rest of that year (I was a freshman at the time) how someone could play guitar like that, sing like that and hit the drums like that. The Who have always been my own, personal low-profile band, like Jethro Tull. I always imagine that I have a deep connection with them that others don't have (yes, I know, straitjacket for me, mate!). I hope you enjoyed the concert. It must be amazing to see Pete do the windmill and Daltrey throwing the mike around.
As it happens your avatar has been on my mind. I am re-reading White Fang and the Call of the Wild and... well, there's no escaping from your profile photo. I first read Jac London's book when I was still a child, in Spanish, in my native Cuba. The book scared the beejesus out of me but now as a grown up it is having a similar effect. In fact I feel more scared. London's descriptions are so vivid and the fact that he writes long passages in short sentences adds to the suspense. I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I am.
I look forward to reading about the concert.
Greetings from London.
The Twin Cities of Minne-e-e-e-e-s-o-o-o-t-a-a-a "ain't" Los Angeles, but concerts by contemporary bands are a dime a dozen here. The only problem, for me, is that rock "ain't" what it used to be and someone would have to pay me to attend the majority of those concerts coming from today's groups. Bob Dylan will be in town in a couple of weeks. He is more "my style," and otherwise it might be quiet around here until The Who arrive.
As I note in my profile, the photograph of me is me. Moving right along, you may or not believe that, but possibly you will recall posts I wrote in the distant past which include mention of two occasions on which I actually encountered wolves in the wild: Once, when I was bear hunting, and the second with a wolf so close to me that I could have reached out and touched him. Now that I think of it, I suppose those incidents could tie in with my "end of hunting" commentary in my post this week. Although, I prefer to think of the wolf incidents as sort of "telepathic links."
Sliding sideways over to Jack London, my favorite novel to emerge from his prolific pen is "The Sea-Wolf," with "an individualist, a materialist, and, logically, a hedonist" by the name of Wolf Larsen guiding the lives of its characters. (Actually, I would have preferred his name to be "Larson.")
I have read probably one-third of London's books, most when I was a teenager and at a time when I wanted to emulate his personal experiences. It is speculation, but I think that having read so many of his books while living where I did is a primary factor in why I feel at home while hunting in deep woodlands or when sleeping in a snow hut while a storm rages around me. Such things became perfectly natural aspects of life for me, which probably could not happen to a boy living in Cuba reading those stories or even to a man living in contemporary England. Yep, fascinating.
Thank you, as always, CiL. It seems you have become the last one who leaves comments for my posts. I think I must be on the verge of extinction !! Well, other wolves have "returned from the dead." We shall see.
Take care, CiL, and consider going with a dessert or a cocktail next time .... those make for a "light lunch" in my neck of the woods ....
Hello soldier!i have not forgotten you!nice posts:)
I dreamed agian about you 2 days ago!1what a dream!cruising around the Mountains like teens!!wow
Beautiful dream
Happy week to you Fram
why i did not respond is you are quite to wise and innteligent!dont know what to say
Buen analisis del gobierno de Obama, y que mejor leerlo de ti que estas cerca y sabes del tema.
Hmmmm ....
Are you certain you have not fallen in love and been on a Mediterranean cruise with another man, Anita? You usually are not away for so long. I was beginning to worry about you.
Your dreams must be dull and boring if I am among the characters, but it is sweet that you have them. You make me feel that I am not so much alone as I usually feel that I am.
I think that if ever I were to climb to the top of some of your Bergen mountains, I would need to find a hang glider to make my descent. Do they make them to hold two people -- a double-glider ??
Well, if my posts are about Barack Obama, all you have to say is, "I fully agree with you, Fram." Teasing ....
Thank you, for arriving safe and sound, and for leaving your words and dreams for me, Anita ....
Thank you, Boris, for the compliment.
From my viewpoint, the administration of Barack Obama has been an economic disappointment and, most importantly, has created considerable instability and chaos in the world. His beliefs, indecisiveness and lack of personal character have created wave after wave of death and destruction.
And, thank you, Boris, for leaving your comment. I appreciate your visits to my page.
-heh heh Two hangliders hehe..yes it excist..you are in a kind of canoe..and then hangglading!
About dreams ..i dont know why I do dream about you..but they are soo great!
But you are always in a hurry in those dreams,,So i have a bit problems holding on to you..Yes you always want to ekplore something, a bar or something else..But i am with you like a dog hehehhe
Ok dear Fram.I wish you could shoots some of those Woodpeckers!
See you later then!Here its raining but I have to go for a walk :)❤
I do not shoot birds, Anita. I feed them, year round. Besides, one of the woodpeckers was a pileated woodpecker, which is somewhat of a rarity in my neck of the woods. I have seen only three of them in my life. And, even when I was a hunter, my philosophy generally was: If you are not going to eat it, do not shoot it.
Your dreams reflect reality, it seems. I usually am in a hurry, not in the sense of walking/moving fast, but in the sense of walking/moving continuously without stopping or even slowing down. I often have described myself as someone who is slow to begin motion, but when I do begin, I do not stop until either I drop from exhaustion or the object of the movement has been achieved.
So, Anita, thank you again for visiting me here. Happy dreams !!
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