Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela

Today is Nelson Mandela’s birthday. He turned 91. It is also the first Mandela Day, a day to be devoted to transforming our world into a better place. While we take this day to celebrate the life, struggles, and accomplishments of Nelson Mandela and all other people who have struggled against the fists of oppression, may we also remember that every day should be a Mandela Day. As he reminds us, “after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”

Oh, so NOW It’s Torture.

I thought it was fairly well established that waterboarding is torture. Well, now that a couple of conservative blowhards agreed to actually experience it, we can all rest assured that it really is torture and not simply the latest socialist fantasy dreamed up by President Obama and his legions of anti-United States, terrorist minions.

Yeah, I’m a tad cynical about these latest ploys. Seems like a plan to backpedal to me.

“Oh, we didn’t really know that it was torture. How could we until we got some conservative white dudes to go through it?”

Because, of course, nothing is true until a couple of conservative white dudes experience it.

And while I am saddened that anyone has had to experience this type of torture (even if it’s to try and prove a point that can’t be proven, for political gain), I just gotta say, I’m not impressed when you have the get out of jail free card at your disposal. Neither Hitchens or Muller have a clue about what it really means to be waterboarded. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m guessing that most of the interrogated tortured don’t get to call a time out within 6-14 seconds.

I’m not impressed, but if it makes more people realize how fucked up some of the things we, as a nation, do? Well, I can’t be mad at that.

Stoopid Quotation of the Day

“What better way to sneak a virus into this country than to give it to Mexicans?”

–Neal Boortz, suggesting that terrorists are giving Mexicans Swine Flu as an act of bio-terrorism against the United States.

Wow. The logic fail here is amazing, but the racist, knee-jerk, let’s cynically blame it all on the brown folks and whip up even more anti-immigrant sentiment and terrorist paranoia is, sadly, par for the course for these cretins.

Sorry dude, but you are not “thinking loudly.” You’re not thinking at all.

See also: Virus Brings Swine-Hearted Lobby into Foreground

Dear President Obama,

I admire your willingness to reach across the aisle and attempt to gain bipartisan consensus with your fellow politicos. I really do. And it’s great to see that you stepped into office and started getting shit done with the quickness. Guantanamo Bay, the Gag Rule, Lilly Ledbetter, SCHIP…nice work.

But here’s the thing: I suspect that your optimism, nay, faith in people, may be clouding your judgment a tad. Not that you should give any of that up, but y’see, compromise is a two way street. It’s all about the give and take, it takes two to tango, and every other cliche that I can’t think of right now. So, I really hope that you’re watching your back with these Republican asswipes (sorry, I’m not as gracious as you are). They will continue to get you to compromise on whatever it is that helps poor women, or brown people, or the disabled, all in the name of bipartisanship, and they will continue to play you like a sucka when it’s all said and done.

Sometimes it’s best to just say “fuck ‘em.” That’s just my not-asked for two cents.

Sincerely,

Kevin

P.S. I still can’t get over writing “President Obama.” That’s pretty figgin’ cool.

Did I Really Just Read This?

I can’t read any more about Gaza. The “Hamas ‘thugs’ to Blame for Violence” article pushed me over the edge. And no, I’m not linking to it. You can Google it with ease.

Why is it so easy to rationalize away the killing. I hate it.

Leaves me speechless.

I’m just going to go and find a bunch of youtube videos to post, because this shit is too much. I’ll come back to it tomorrow, or after I’ve finished moving, or after I’ve finally got my mind back in a good place, whichever.

Regarding Mumbai

My heart goes out to the people of Mumbai. I really have nothing else to say. It just saddens me to no end.

If you’re on Twitter, I suggest that you follow Liza Sabater of Culture Kitchen’s tweets. She’s doing a fantastic job of keeping up with the news. Who needs Google News when you’ve got Liza.

Darfur Activist Loses China Visa

Well isn’t this messed up. Joey Cheek, co-founder of Team Darfur, who participated in the conference call set up by the Afrosphere Action Coalition, has had his visa revoked by China

Former Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek had his visa revoked by Chinese authorities Wednesday, hours before he was set to travel to Beijing to promote his effort urging China to help make peace in the war-torn Darfur section of Sudan.

Cheek, the president and co-founder of a collection of Olympic athletes known as Team Darfur, was planning to spend about two weeks in China, when he received an unexpected call from authorities.

The 2006 American gold medalist said they told him they were denying him entrance into the country and were “not required to give a reason.”

“I didn’t see it coming,” Cheek said. “I figured once they gave me a visa, I wouldn’t imagine they wouldn’t allow me to come in later. That was a big shock. I wasn’t expecting to get a call the evening before I was leaving for Beijing.”

White House press secretary Dana Perino said the U.S. would protest China’s decision to deny the visa.

One of Cheek’s key initiatives was urging the international community to persuade Sudan to observe the ancient tradition of the Olympic truce during the Beijing Games.

It’s obvious what’s going on here. I don’t think you can be any more obvious.