Monthly Archives: December 2010

Catching up

You’d think being unemployed would give me all the time in the world to post.

Well, obviously it hasn’t.

Some of it is watching Gabriel all day, some is actually looking for work. Other time is spent (still) unpacking.

And, I guess, a lot of it has to do with depression. I don’t think I’m non-functional yet, nor is this a pity post. I am, however, noticing that it takes a lot more oomph to get me motivated these days past the things I need to be doing.

Gabriel and Mono are cared for, the errands get done. Nothing is going to pot except maybe my mind.

I don’t do resolutions. You have to want to get your shit in order EVERY day, not just when you’re loaded up on champagne and finger foods.

But I *am* going to have to get my ass in gear if I am going to have a shot of getting past this spot of trouble we’re in. Call it what you want, but I need to resolve – there’s that word after all – to do better at this.

Granted, posting random thoughts and links aren’t going to do it. But the very fact that I haven’t been doing that little is a pretty good sign that I’m in deeper than I want to admit.

Secession Defended on Civil War Anniversary – NYTimes.com

The big thing across the South is to pretend that the Civil War had nothing to do with protecting slavery from being abolished.

The New York Times began the most recent focus on the issue, pointing out some BS crap across the south this month such as a Secession Ball in South Carolina, a Treason-Lovin’ Parade in Alabama (not sure what it was called so I just named it), and a re-swearing in of Jefferson Davis to boot.

Yeah, I get it, you want to honor your ancestors service. But remember, they didn’t just fight for Virginia or Georgia or Arkansas. They were traitors to the United States of America.

The Daily Show did this dishonest racial bullshit it’s due: Comedy Central video link.

The point is, however, how and why are these cretins allowed to celebrate both treason and slavery? You can’t fly a Nazi flag or call for the genocide of Jews in Germany. You can’t look west, fly the Rising Sun and lick your lips hoping to rape Korean women in Japan. It’s not just uncivilized, it is illegal in both places.

Here? You can have a treasonous battle flag on your state flag and have everyone from Trent Lott to Newt Gingrich to Haley Barbour lament the loss of an age where you could be as racist as you want to be.

These folks should be breaking rocks for these thoughts, not constantly elected to public office. Also, they should be reminded that they LOST the Civil War. It wasn’t a draw, nor anything close to it. And honestly, we should have sat on that place for three generations if this was how it was going to turn out.

Oliver Willis has some views on the subject worth reading. Here is another perspective that has WAY more merit than that of the White South/GOP.

Virginia’s history texts are full of outright lies. They aren’t alone. For all the stuff about Texas’ attempted changes, even back in ’80s we got a really slanted view of the “Second War of Independence” and other such crap told about the Civil War.

E.J. Dionne checks history and finds that it was very clear that the South fought to protect and maintain slavery. Case closed.

Sadly there is more on this. To be covered later.