Don't blame me, I wasn't old enought to vote for Gore.
Published November 16, 2002
It just dawned on me that maybe people are always looking for an adversary. I'm thinking about this mainly in context to the obnoxious academic climate I live in day to day. Even more specifically I'm thinking about Iraq. Every day, whether I'm waiting for an elevator, walking to class, or reading any new media, I'm getting messages about how terrible our nation is for taking action against Iraq. I was at a show a few weeks ago where Jonah (from onelinedrawing) took a minute out of his set to tell kids to refuse to register for the draft, because "it's not our war."
NYU has got to be one of the worst places in the world to be conservative. Every now and then you run into someone else who has the same beliefs, and it's like some sort of secret club where you're both giddy that you found another member. I'm sure the same can be said about being gay in the part of suburbia that I was raised in, but nonetheless, being an ideological minority is kind of odd. It just seems like the liberalizing nature of higher education is a pit, and all of these kids are falling into it.
Next Wednesday, there's a walk out planned for noon, or possibly 12:45, depending on which flier you see. A big gathering in Gould plaza to protest our unjust oil war. My plans are roughly the same as they would be any other day at 12:45, watching an episode of The Simpsons on my computer. Meanwhile, a couple of thousand kids from NYU and Columbia will be getting collectively pissed off by reciting the same rhetoric they've been rehearsing for the past month. I think that even then I'll continue not to get it.
I'd like anyone reading this to think about the qualities that Americans look for in a just government, democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to protest peacefully, suffrage for women and minorities, education, affordable health care, etc. Now think of regions that have governments like these. There are a bunch in Western Europe, a few in Central and South America, North America is doing alright, Australia is fine, Africa could be better. Now think about the Middle East. You'll be hard pressed to find any governments even remotely resembling that description other than Israel. Yes, the same Israel everyone loves to call racist, or bigoted, or war mongering. But Israel isn't my focus here, that's another essay. My point is that Iraq unilaterally none of those things.
Freedom of the press? None. You can't write an article against a totalitarian dictator like Hussein. Freedom of speech? How many other countries that you can think of vote unanimously for one candidate (though it's more convenient when nobody else can run). Right to assemble? No. Rights for women? No. Suffrage? No. There's no way you can call it a democracy. Iraq is a wreck of a nation, but everyone will blame it on the United States.
- Don't blame me, I wasn't old enought to vote for Gore.
- Published: November 16, 2002
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- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Video: News
- Writer: Craig Kleemann
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"Ask most people who dislike President Bush why they find him objectionable, and an alarming amount of the time they'll reply "Because he's so dumb!" Bush-isms aside, isn't this a bit of a trite answer?"
I dislike the fact that the majority of Americans did not vote for him yet his father's court gave it to him anyways. I dislike the fact that his choices for terribly important government posts are just friends who are forcing their personal views on the citizens of this country. Ashcroft being one of them (RELIGIOUS ZEALOT). I dislike the fact that Cheney, whose company made millions of dollars from oil spill cleanup efforts post-Gulf War, is now the VP and chomping at the bit to return to the scene of the crime (WAR MONGER). I dislike the fact that the second day of GWB's administration, he pardoned an oil company (friend) which was previously tried and found guilty of spilling 50 million gallons of arsenic into the ocean, but now gets off scott free (CORPORATE WHORE). I dislike the fact that you claim to understand the connection between corporations, stock markets, foreign affairs, and your possible future success in a career yet you forget that the people you support have nothing in common with your goals or future (MISLED). The Bush administration is comprised of millionaires. Your concerns are monetary. Theirs are not. They do not need more money, they see this as an opportunity to shape the futures of millions of people according to their own personal beliefs, which are truly held by a minority. If you think I'm being a little far fetched, try looking into the WWII activities of the Bush family (DID BUSINESS WITH THE NAZIS DURING WARTIME).
By the way, I seriously doubt that the NYU students who are protesting this pre-emptive war drive Escalades all the while failing to see the connection. I also believe that the NYU students are not happy with their prospects because of what got us here in the first place. Their generation will not have the luxury to retire at a reasonable age, they already understand that they will have to work 60 hours a week to have the same standard of living their grandfathers had only working 40 hours. They understand that life is not about work. They understand that life is not about making a corporation successful. I think it's too easy for young people who claim to be "conservative" or "republican" to actually be "complacent" or "submissive" with their lot in life and the world as they know it.
Your ex-girlfriend was trying to tell you that your youth is what gives you the advantage when trying to affect change. When you reach your mid-life, you won't have that kind of fire/spirit because you'll be more concerned about yourself, not others.
Thanks for providing a forum to voice an opinion.
Matt, Every word of what you say could be true (other than your interpretations) and Craig would still be right in terms of priorities.
Bush is far from perfect and I don't like crony capitalism any more than you do, but he has grasped what is most important for the future of our way of life and for the world and is not afraid to act upon this apprehension.
The majority is not always right, although in this case, if you take a look at the polls, they are.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/1863)
You got my vote Criag - very well done and persuasive.