It may just become reality.
I can't help but think that this era in American history is playing out like a biblicly influenced Shakepaerean comedy.
The faux election of our story's antagonist, Georege W., in 2000 was an apt start to the story of the decade to follow. The plot seems almost a product of intelligent design; the right wing pundits hiding behind the curtian much like the Wizard in L. Frank Baum's version of Orwell-ian fascism.
The tragic, but arguably orchestrated, timing of the "attack" on NYC and the American economic base was the first of many plot twists that would eventually be spun into just cause for [military]action taken to further advance the ideals, morals, and trust funds of those responsible for the 2000 electoral folley. In cunning fashion usually reserved for the New York Time's Bestseller List and soundstages in Hollywood, the auteurs of this decade instilled a fear system, color-coded for palatability, that allowed them to smoke and mirror their way into a middle eastern country rich with oil and just enough political unrest to make their democratic "intentions" resemble that beacon of light portrayed in political illustrations circa WWI/II (you know - the ones found in high school history/propaganda texts).
Cut to a dark alley somewhere in D.C.: The American media is picking up new manuscripts and a paycheck from the US goverment. For dramatic effect, the check is signed with the blood of thousands of US soldiers and the novelty slogan "Freedom isn's free" printed below on the memo line.
Of course, poetic license allows the designers of our story to edit the coverage given to those opposing Bush's administraion. The protests on the DC mall, the returning soldiers speaking out against the war, and the sub-culture of internet information are likely to hit the cutting room floor.
Enabled by the brilliant Homeland Security policy of never actually allowing the terror level to drop below yellow, Americans agree "unanimously" to turn the government into a paternal power in the name of safety and patriotism. This false sense of hope gives our antagonist free reign to cut taxes [for the wealthy], cut health care initiatives [for the poor], enact [christian] moral implications into constitutional law, win/rig another election, and modify (read: abolish) laws that protect the environment in order to rebiuld American industy (read: increase revenue without increasing jobs). All of this effortlessly done while vacationing at one of his family's million acre estates.
Along the way we see short montages of nepatism, including the revelation that a government actor/porn star was planted among the reporters in the breifing rooms of the White House. As a soundtrack that includes Bob Dylan protest songs played in the background, we witness the previously "unbiased" media begin to turn on the hand that once fed it fearing that this "plant" has somehow put their position on the lap of US government in jeopardy.
Enter the anti-hero of our generation: Cindy Sheehan - the proverbial pea in the wavering stack of matresses that our president had been lying upon.
As the story begins to unravel, we begin to see that the emperor isn't wearing any clothes. Fueled by the fear of not knowing where their next meal is coming from, a new generation of media seems to be coming forward to report the discrepancies evident in the Republican government. Coverage touts Sheehan as a great American hero and thousands of citizens are now visable in their protests.
As Bush and Co. ignore "Camp Sheehan", the screen fades to black.
We hear wind and rain and screams.
In quick, dramatic fashion via NBC's must see favorite "ER", we are given glimpses of what appears to be a hurricaine sweeping through a beloved and secretly poverty-stricken American city.
In the ensuing weeks, stones are thrown from both ends of the bipartisan arena; And in geurilla reporting not seen since Vietnam, Americans are force fed the facts that Uncle Sam and the uni-partisan government aren't the people they seem to be - the wizard behind the curtain is not actually a wizard at all.
Heads roll, lipservice is paid, and just as it seems blame for Katrina is being securely placed into the hands of the local government of New Orleans and homosexuals around the country (read: Ellen Degeneres), a storm slowly fueld by the politically warmed waters of the Gulf threatens to evoke an answer to a question that has been but a whisper in many social circles since Katrina touched down and destroyed the socioeconomic equivalent of America's black sheep:
"What would have been the reaction of the government if this region had been a region full of upper middle class anglo-saxon christian conservatives?"
It seems the longer the story goes on the more cautious we should be with rhetorical ideas.
Since 2000, we have been victims of a power hungry leader and a room full of his extremely talented script-writers. I am afriad to ask the questions now floating around in my head, because although they seem to be a step behind on many things, the once-fictional images found on the golden screen and words once limited to the pages of the Bestseller List are, unquestionably, only a scene or a page turn away for the good old boys writing the history of this decade.
My heart goes out, in a period of impending destruction, to those about to live through the most immediate horrors of three more years in a story that has become just too gruesome to watch, yet just scary enough to be the reality of this Bush era.
At the time of this posting, Hurricaine Rita is trucking along at 140+ MPH on a direct course for the western Gulf coast of Texas and surrounding areas already hammerred by Katrina. My thoughts are with all of those in that area (including those at Rita Blogapalooza).
Better times are ahead.
Hopefully Bush's auteurs will catch wind of that rhetoric.
The faux election of our story's antagonist, Georege W., in 2000 was an apt start to the story of the decade to follow. The plot seems almost a product of intelligent design; the right wing pundits hiding behind the curtian much like the Wizard in L. Frank Baum's version of Orwell-ian fascism.
The tragic, but arguably orchestrated, timing of the "attack" on NYC and the American economic base was the first of many plot twists that would eventually be spun into just cause for [military]action taken to further advance the ideals, morals, and trust funds of those responsible for the 2000 electoral folley. In cunning fashion usually reserved for the New York Time's Bestseller List and soundstages in Hollywood, the auteurs of this decade instilled a fear system, color-coded for palatability, that allowed them to smoke and mirror their way into a middle eastern country rich with oil and just enough political unrest to make their democratic "intentions" resemble that beacon of light portrayed in political illustrations circa WWI/II (you know - the ones found in high school history/propaganda texts).
Cut to a dark alley somewhere in D.C.: The American media is picking up new manuscripts and a paycheck from the US goverment. For dramatic effect, the check is signed with the blood of thousands of US soldiers and the novelty slogan "Freedom isn's free" printed below on the memo line.
Of course, poetic license allows the designers of our story to edit the coverage given to those opposing Bush's administraion. The protests on the DC mall, the returning soldiers speaking out against the war, and the sub-culture of internet information are likely to hit the cutting room floor.
Enabled by the brilliant Homeland Security policy of never actually allowing the terror level to drop below yellow, Americans agree "unanimously" to turn the government into a paternal power in the name of safety and patriotism. This false sense of hope gives our antagonist free reign to cut taxes [for the wealthy], cut health care initiatives [for the poor], enact [christian] moral implications into constitutional law, win/rig another election, and modify (read: abolish) laws that protect the environment in order to rebiuld American industy (read: increase revenue without increasing jobs). All of this effortlessly done while vacationing at one of his family's million acre estates.
Along the way we see short montages of nepatism, including the revelation that a government actor/porn star was planted among the reporters in the breifing rooms of the White House. As a soundtrack that includes Bob Dylan protest songs played in the background, we witness the previously "unbiased" media begin to turn on the hand that once fed it fearing that this "plant" has somehow put their position on the lap of US government in jeopardy.
Enter the anti-hero of our generation: Cindy Sheehan - the proverbial pea in the wavering stack of matresses that our president had been lying upon.
As the story begins to unravel, we begin to see that the emperor isn't wearing any clothes. Fueled by the fear of not knowing where their next meal is coming from, a new generation of media seems to be coming forward to report the discrepancies evident in the Republican government. Coverage touts Sheehan as a great American hero and thousands of citizens are now visable in their protests.
As Bush and Co. ignore "Camp Sheehan", the screen fades to black.
We hear wind and rain and screams.
In quick, dramatic fashion via NBC's must see favorite "ER", we are given glimpses of what appears to be a hurricaine sweeping through a beloved and secretly poverty-stricken American city.
In the ensuing weeks, stones are thrown from both ends of the bipartisan arena; And in geurilla reporting not seen since Vietnam, Americans are force fed the facts that Uncle Sam and the uni-partisan government aren't the people they seem to be - the wizard behind the curtain is not actually a wizard at all.
Heads roll, lipservice is paid, and just as it seems blame for Katrina is being securely placed into the hands of the local government of New Orleans and homosexuals around the country (read: Ellen Degeneres), a storm slowly fueld by the politically warmed waters of the Gulf threatens to evoke an answer to a question that has been but a whisper in many social circles since Katrina touched down and destroyed the socioeconomic equivalent of America's black sheep:
"What would have been the reaction of the government if this region had been a region full of upper middle class anglo-saxon christian conservatives?"
It seems the longer the story goes on the more cautious we should be with rhetorical ideas.
Since 2000, we have been victims of a power hungry leader and a room full of his extremely talented script-writers. I am afriad to ask the questions now floating around in my head, because although they seem to be a step behind on many things, the once-fictional images found on the golden screen and words once limited to the pages of the Bestseller List are, unquestionably, only a scene or a page turn away for the good old boys writing the history of this decade.
My heart goes out, in a period of impending destruction, to those about to live through the most immediate horrors of three more years in a story that has become just too gruesome to watch, yet just scary enough to be the reality of this Bush era.
At the time of this posting, Hurricaine Rita is trucking along at 140+ MPH on a direct course for the western Gulf coast of Texas and surrounding areas already hammerred by Katrina. My thoughts are with all of those in that area (including those at Rita Blogapalooza).
Better times are ahead.
Hopefully Bush's auteurs will catch wind of that rhetoric.
posted by brian. at 4:30 PM
