So I haven’t done this whole “blog” thing in quite some time. Truthfully, I’ve been quite busy, and also, I haven’t really had anything important happen to me that warrants blogging about. I do have a few things I’d like to bitch about today however.
First, I’m sure you’ve all seen, or read, the news stories about the Seven New Wonders of the World list that was released. What I have to say about it is quite simple: The list sucks. The list sucks for one major reason: The whole list is nothing more than buildings, or structures of some kind.
So, in order for something to be a man-made wonder, it has to be a building or a structure? So, the Christ Redeemer Statue in Brazil is more of a wonder than, let’s say, the Internet, or fucking Penicillin?! The Internet has literally changed the world is almost every way, including communication and finance. Penicillin has saved countless lives since it was discovered in the early 20th century. Yet, these things aren’t buildings, so they can’t be considered for the 7 Wonders list.
I can think of discovery after discovery that could be considered an amazing wonder. Space flight and the Human Genome Project are two I can think of off the top of my head that are scientific in nature. What about structures that actually serve a purpose, like the system of dikes that keep half of the Netherlands from being flooded by the North Sea?
The writings of Shakespeare? Nope, not a building, so sorry.
The next thing on my agenda of bitching is this little news story I read the other day:
So members of the NAACP want to take the word Nigger “out of their minds” by holding a mock burial for it? What the fuck?! I guess there’s nothing like burying your head in the god damn sand and pretending it isn’t an issue anymore. The Michigan Gov. had this to say about it: "Let's say good riddance to this vestige of slavery and racism, and say hello to a society that embraces all its people,"
So holding a dumb-ass mock burial for a word is going to be some amazing event that will herald a new, better society where everyone loves everyone and free puppies are to be had by all? Well, at least you dumbshits are optimistic. This isn’t going to stop people from using the word. It isn’t going to stop hate. And it sure isn’t going to erase history.
As you can read in the story, the Chairman of the NAACP added this: "This is not an acceptable term for anyone to use," he said. "We need to make sure that no one denigrates people no matter who they are. We need to protect the denigration of our people by our people." Why the fuck isn’t it acceptable? Sure, it may not be the nicest word, but it’s a part of history, and there is a little thing called freedom of speech. If a KKK member in his big white pointy hat wants to scream about how niggers are polutin’ this countries’ gene pool, then he has every god damn right to say it, no matter how wrong he may be, no matter how stupid he sounds saying it. If a black man calls another black man “nigger” as a term of friendship, then how is that wrong? If neither are offended, then what the hell is the problem?
I’d sure like to never hear the phrase “Sean Crow has a really small dick” ever again, but burying it won’t stop people from saying it, and repeating it, and laughing at me while I quietly sob to myself.
My last order of bitching has to do with a local story here in the Denver area. A woman is flying the United States flag upside down in a silent protest to the war. Her Home Owners Association is telling her she must take it down or fly it correctly, otherwise she’ll be fined quite a lot of money. Obviously her HOA hasn’t heard of Freedom of Speech either, much like the NAACP. Maybe they’ve heard of it, but just don’t realize how god damn important it is.
There are many shitty arguments I’ve heard against this woman’s silent protest, and this is perhaps the worst one, that I’ve heard at least 3 people, all former soldiers, say:
“It’s disrespectful because I fought for that flag.”
Newsflash: If you fought for the flag, then you fought for the wrong god damn thing. Did we decide to go to war in 1941 because the Japanese bombed our flags at Pearl Harbor? Did we go to war in Iraq because Saddam Hussein had one of our flags on his desk and was poking it with a stick? FUCK NO. We go to war to protect (and in some cases, spread) the beliefs and values that are the foundation for this country. The flag is a fucking piece of cloth that identifies an area of land as belonging to the United States.
I worked with an old Vietnam vet once, and although he hated the idea of people burning the flag, he told me that he went to war and fought to protect the rights of the people, and that burning the flag was one of those rights. Even he, who watched friends die next to him, isn't so damn jaded as to think the flag itself is the living embodiment of the country as a whole.
“Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism” is a quote often misattributed to Thomas Jefferson. However, the idea is still true. This woman’s choice to fly the flag upside down is her way of protesting, and no matter if it’s viewed favorably or not, protest and dissent was viewed as a necessary function, as Thomas Jefferson DID once say:
“The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then.”
I guess this particular HOA association doesn’t realize that it’s operating here in the United States and not a fascist society where hanging a flag upside down would be illegal. And, if you really want to get technical about disrespecting the U.S. flag, what about the guys you see at the swimming pools wearing U.S. flag designed Speedos? I think wrapping up your junk in the American flag is way more disrespectful than a peaceful, quiet protest.
Stupid fuckers the lot of ‘em, I tell you.
1 comment:
I certainly agree with your point that the seven greatest wonders of the modern world would certainly be things and not buildings. BUT, this list is meant to be a parallel to the ancient 7 wonders of the world, which were all buildings and structures (the Great Pyramids, the Colossus, etc.). In concocting this new list, they're creating a modern equivalent of the original, which leaves them within those established parameters. From that perspective, it makes sense. From any other perspective... it's pretty dumb.
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