It’s no big secret that George Bush, by his very nature, drives those who hate him insane. Just look at Former Vice President Algore. However, I think a non-partisan holiday (lest you be a self-hating American who is ashamed of the country’s economic and military power) such as Memorial Day — and the current state of our superior military brought on by the sacrifices and achievements that we remember on Memorial Day — deserves better chatter than that of Oliver Willis (who by the way is not a self-hating American who is ashamed of the country’s economic and military power). Says O-dub:
In World War II, the thing that amazes me most is that we didn’t know going in that we would win. Think about that. It’s very different from nowadays, where regardless of the merits of the battle — it’s a given that we have the firepower to win. We didn’t know that when we invaded the beaches of Normandy, or when we entered the Pacific theater. It wasn’t a perfectly fought war, but it was a right war for the right reasons.
Today, we are threatened by an ideology with much in common with the Nazis, and the policy we’ve prosecuted to date would have lost us WWII. The response to fanatical terrorism isn’t to invade and occupy unaffiliated nations and make them into terror havens, but it is to seek out those who want to destroy us and eliminate them wherever they are, cut off their money, and secure the homeland.
— Oliver Willis: The Lesson of WWII
What would amaze me most is if we entered into a right war for the right reasons while not keeping in mind that the merits of battle include the application of overpowering power and force. What would amaze me most is if we entered into a right war for the right reasons while, in order to learn the lesson of WWII, we cut down our military capacities and reduce “the firepower to win” perhaps in the name of amazing Oliver Willis. Because, between shooting a guy approaching you with a knife in a dark alley, and engaging him in a knife fight in order to relive the glory of winning an uncertain battle, the knife fight would amaze Oliver Willis. Amazing desire for amazement, this man has, on Memorial Day.
(Hat tip: Sean, who also notes that Matt Yglesias continues to bray like an ass, as I noted previously.)
2004-05-30, 14:04
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Filed under:
Politics
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2 Comments
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So I spend six hours reformatting my computer. I visit Boi From Troy for a refreshing catch-up with his latest adventures in style and taste and all things gay and this is what I come across lower down his front page (quoted in full):
Seen in New York the latest redux: The Eighties.
Think polo shirts with collars up (as seen at right). Could Members Only Jackets be next?
All across New York trendy boys wearing Polos and Brooks Brothers were flipping their collars up…and if theirs weren’t, I would kindly let them in on the trend.
My question is…will it last long enough to make it to the Left Coast?
— Boi From Troy: Trendspotting: The 80’s are back!
Unpredictable people make for exciting experiences, but if 80s retro is upon us I’ll be the first to go on record that its expedited adoption, first by the “hip and cool” and then by the “trendwhore” preppy boys and girls would lead to its near-instant demise. Such a trend deserves nothing less. Now, where was that old New Order casette lying around the house?
2004-05-30, 5:31
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Filed under:
General
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4 Comments
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Apropos of this article in the New York Times:
As some make gossip out of everything, so others make much ado about everything. They are always talking big, [and] take each other seriously, making a quarrel and mystery of it. You should take very few grievances to heart, for to do so is to give yourself groundless worry. It is a topsy-turvy way of behaving to take to heart cares which you ought to throw over your shoulder. Many things that seemed important [at that time] turn out to be of no account once ignored; and others, which seem trifling, appear formidable when you pay attention to them. Things can be easily settled at the outset, but not so later on. In many cases the remedy itself is the cause of the disease; to let things be is not the least satisfactory of life’s rules.
— Baltasar Gracian, as quoted in Law 36 of The 48 Laws Of Power by Robert Greene
2004-05-28, 19:46
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General
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To Matt Yglesias: You bray like an ass! Since when did Matt become a bastion of bad faith (not to mention disingenuousness)?
Since when did I become such a fountain of naivete?
2004-05-28, 17:57
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General
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First he takes on a Jezebel of the blogosphere, and then proceeds to give licensing advice for SixApart.
Considering the things I’ve had to deal with lately visiting his blog sure has lightened up my day.
2004-05-27, 20:04
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Filed under:
General
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