A trip to the country

Now, I am not the type of person that pry into the conversation of others, but every once in a while you find yourself that there is no way to avoid it, such was the case a few days ago when I went to visit my daughter in North Carolina. It had been an uneventful trip, I had driven to the border of NC when I stopped for gas and to switch driving duties with my wife, I was looking forward to some relaxation as a passenger, although, it is an unwritten rule on our trips that the driver is not only the captain of the of the automobile but the commander of the radio. Here I must pause and let the reader know some important facts: 1. My wife is a born-again Christian, I am an atheist, 2. She likes Religious talk radio, I like PBS and news (other than Fox), 3. She likes country music, I prefer jazz and world music, and 4. We both prefer to turn-off the radio than to listen to the other bitch about our choice. It was under those auspicious beginning of the second leg of the trip that I eventually settled down to read the local paper I bought at the gas station's quick mart.

"Marines to issue involuntary call-ups" was the headline.

The article began "WASHINGTON: US President George W.Bush has authorised the US Marine Corps to begin the involuntary call-up of thousands of inactive marines for service in Iraq ... " - later, during her confession, my wife will tell me that what I read was " Bizarro World leader George W. Bush has ..." And that is when she decided she had enough of my company and offered me a mint knowing that the sugar will put me to sleep like a baby - I am diabetic.

It was under that state of mind that I began to involuntary hear the following conversation. I said involuntary because I had no choice, these people were inside my head and speaking very loud and clear.

"Maw" shouted the elder man "fetch them boys. Them mules need tending"
"Oh, Paw. Them boys ain't her"
"What yew saeying maw. Where they's go?"
"Paw. The president of the united state hollered fo' them"
"He did? din't he? What in Lords name he wan with them young-uns?"
"Ah cuddint unnerstand a wurd he sed ... som'thin 'bout your maw"
"Maw, yew aint makin no sense"
"Paw. ah's telling yew like the lord is watchin, thats wha h'ssay"
"Ah thank ah'll have a bare while yew recollect them words"
"Set a spell, ah'll fetch a bare paw"
"Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, ah sur do hope they is back home soon"
"her is yew bare paw"
"Maw wha bout my maw Irene?"
"The president of the united state sa'd yew mawIrene was in need of help over yonder. Could them young-uns help?
"Ah says, sure 'nuff, Ah recon them could. But wha's ailin my maw-irenes?"
"what he says maw?
"Paw, som'thin or 'nother bout haven to fight furiner ailments. Ah recon is a new ill"
"What in the Sam Hill is them young-uns gonna do? them aint no doctors, bless ther hurt"
"Aint no need Paw, the president of the united state sa'd he learn them everwhichways"
"Ah bleeve we ought to go to church this Sunday, maw"

It is about this point when the loud screech of a car's brake and the thump of a head against a dash-board woke me up

Balancing my book (8/12/06)

The Cost of Iraq War calculator is set to reach $318.5 billion September 30, 2006, the end of fiscal year 2006. That is according to a tab prepared by the National Priorities Project (NPP), a nonpartisan and nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization, http://costofwar.com/numbers.html. This is a conservative amount, some notable economists are quoting numbers in the trillions. The lower figures can be explained easily since NPP does not include all costs associated with the war, for instance, spending only includes incremental cost which is to say that normal expenses such as soldier's pay are not included, but combat pay is. Additionally, future costs for medical care for those returning soldiers are not included in the tally, neither is the cost of human life - the war has led to the deaths of 2,601 American soldiers, an average of 2 soldiers a day (according to icasualties.org). Over 19000 American soldiers were wounded. Notice I say "American", none of these figures include coalition forces and civilian casualties.

The president and his political allies are telling us, the American people, that we are much safer now than we were before - presumably when he was not in charge - because his administration is tough on terrorism. He is telling us - at the very least insinuating - that the whole world hate Americans, because they are envious of our freedom and religious rights. He is asking the American families to sacrifice their sons and daughters to fight those evil societies, cultures - lately, called Islamic Fascist - so that the world could learn to live in peace and enjoy democracy - that is, democracy American style. One should not question his intentions, lest one should be branded a traitor, an enemy combatant (Purgatory, the real Hell, where you get put in torture and forgotten).

I have been known to be stupid and stubborn, so I will risk a little trip to Purgatory and I will ask, Mr. President:
1) Why are we fighting the Iraqis and not the terrorist? I noticed that the Pakistan and the British Police who thwarted the alleged plot to blow a number or civilian planes by terrorist did not involve American help. I noticed that none of the accused are neither descendants, nor citizens of Iraq.
2) How have you been tough in terrorism? I notice that you fought a war to bring down a tyrant but powerless dictator, a man that had being contained and that presided over a military equipped with obsolete arms, ill-trained troops with dissatisfaction in their ranks and a lot of absenteeism. According to most of your Generals in the fields, the Iraqis were not a formidable force, rather they were a decaying force. Worst of all a man that had nothing to do with the 9/11 attack, that man is still at large - do you remember him? Bin Laden? But let me be fair, Mr. President, I congratulated you, Hussein's payments to families of suicide bombers in Israel has come to an end.
3) What makes you think we are safer? Does the British and Pakistan police gives you a sense of security for the American people and do you feel compelled to take credit for their good work? Forgive me for not remembering, you did capture that Puerto Rican guy, what was his name? Padilla? Whatever happened to him?. I am sorry for the sarcasm, I know you have done a lot to protect us. Why, I can go to an airport and safely assume that all travelers not only have clean underwear but that they would not be able to bring those odious perfumes and after shave smells I really detest. Your diplomacy has been exemplary. The groping of Chancellor Angela Merkel was priceless, I am sure those GERM-an people loved it. Your way of educating people is outstanding, how else would the Muslim world would have know that they were Islamic Fascist.
4) What would all that money spent in the Iraq war would have bought us in terms of real security if we had used it to strength our ports and borders? I would think, at the very least, a little less inconvenience and a real sense of security. Don't you think so?

For my dad

Dear Dad,

I am making this blog for you because you say that if you say you're going to do something, you should do it. This morning on my break, I said to myself, "I'm going to make a blog for my dad." So here it is.

Now we can see just how much interest the rest of the world takes in your "opinions" and "thoughts". You don't have to contribute anything especial. Just let me know if I can post something funny or interesting or shocking you wrote, and I'll put it in here.

Hope you like it!

Love,
JE