“Human history becomes more a race between education and catastrophe.”
-- H.G. Wells 1866-1946: “The Outline of History” (1920)
One of the highlights of the Ann Arbor summer is the http://www.annarborsummerfestival.org/ . Besides showcasing the appearances of big time performers like Diana Krall, and Los Lobos, the period between Friday, June 12, and Sunday, July 12, also features a component called Top of the Park, a free outdoor venue that features a variety of local and outstate groups.
FUFAR has been awarded the honor of both commencing the festivities and opening for a way cool ensemble of young dudes, NOMO, who are simply excellent. Also, as is a tradition at TOP, the mighty, mighty George Bedard and the Kingpins will close the festival on July 12th.
Some quick asides.
Mr. Mcgee, you know, the guy in the raspberry beret, is doing well, and, since he will be playing the kazoo, I personally can’t wait to test his wind on “With A Little Help From My Friends” (which will be a group sing-a-long).
Why the photos?
A constant in the political narrative of this blog has been the theme of torture. Not surprisingly, now that the Bush-Cheney regime is behind us, this issue has come to the fore. The Obaman can talk all he wants about letting bygones be bygones, but the chickens have come home to roost. This ain’t about him; and his historical stature, no matter how lofty it may be, will be but a footnote to this shamefull and appalling chapter in American history. As Frank Rich (NYT 4/26/09) puts it, “”It won’t vanish into a memory hole any more than Andersonville, WWII interment camps or My Lai.”
The pathetic myth that resides in the collective cultural memory, and one perpetuated by romanticized Hollyood fables like “24” and “Rules of Engagement,” is that our policy of torture was really a well intentioned, albeit morally suspect, attempt to save us from a horde of Arab assassins and another 9/11. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Neo-con justification for torture was this: it provided a means to establish a connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq, and therefore as a way to sell the war, and had nothing remotely to do with ensuring domestic security in any local sense.
I’ll say much more about this later.
-- Randyman
-- H.G. Wells 1866-1946: “The Outline of History” (1920)
One of the highlights of the Ann Arbor summer is the http://www.annarborsummerfestival.org/ . Besides showcasing the appearances of big time performers like Diana Krall, and Los Lobos, the period between Friday, June 12, and Sunday, July 12, also features a component called Top of the Park, a free outdoor venue that features a variety of local and outstate groups.
FUFAR has been awarded the honor of both commencing the festivities and opening for a way cool ensemble of young dudes, NOMO, who are simply excellent. Also, as is a tradition at TOP, the mighty, mighty George Bedard and the Kingpins will close the festival on July 12th.
Some quick asides.
Mr. Mcgee, you know, the guy in the raspberry beret, is doing well, and, since he will be playing the kazoo, I personally can’t wait to test his wind on “With A Little Help From My Friends” (which will be a group sing-a-long).
Why the photos?A constant in the political narrative of this blog has been the theme of torture. Not surprisingly, now that the Bush-Cheney regime is behind us, this issue has come to the fore. The Obaman can talk all he wants about letting bygones be bygones, but the chickens have come home to roost. This ain’t about him; and his historical stature, no matter how lofty it may be, will be but a footnote to this shamefull and appalling chapter in American history. As Frank Rich (NYT 4/26/09) puts it, “”It won’t vanish into a memory hole any more than Andersonville, WWII interment camps or My Lai.”
The pathetic myth that resides in the collective cultural memory, and one perpetuated by romanticized Hollyood fables like “24” and “Rules of Engagement,” is that our policy of torture was really a well intentioned, albeit morally suspect, attempt to save us from a horde of Arab assassins and another 9/11. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Neo-con justification for torture was this: it provided a means to establish a connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq, and therefore as a way to sell the war, and had nothing remotely to do with ensuring domestic security in any local sense.
I’ll say much more about this later.
-- Randyman
2 comments:
I will say a little something about it now. Persecuting is one thing and justice is another. Everyone of those lying, war profiteering, election stealing, constitution raping, right wing zealots really need some serious jail time. That would be justice. And not to pile on Congee the Quota, but how sweet of a gig did she have? Get to fly everywhere, always, and since the Bush/Cheney gand was not interested in diplomacy, she got to do NOTHING. Late, Billy D.
Dear Obaman:
Please disregard the recent allegations that Condi -- or as I like to call her -- my precious E.T., ever signed written documents specifically authorizing torture. Although nothing gets me hotter on a sultry Baghram night than imagining her saying "Get my whip, fishnets, and bustier, I'm puttin the boots to these cocksuckin Koranic prudes," there is no truth these unsubstantiated left-wing lies!
Sincerely - Dick Cheney
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