by Jennifer Johnston
William Blake's original plate for The Tyger (ca. 1794)
I actually managed some time ago to block bogus Nigerian Princes and their dubious get-rich-quick schemes. I've kept a flood of unwanted ads and pitches for products of questionable efficacy from my "main" Inbox by having an "alternate" e-mail account that I use anytime I must register to enter a site of interest. BTW ... it works like a charm!!! That "alternate" e-address gets hundreds of spam-mails over the course of just a day or two ... while my real Inbox remains reasonably pristine and available for the "important" stuff (at least to me) of staying in touch with friends, sending/receiving birthday wishes, planning get-togethers and other (ideally lovely) things.
Unfortunately, in the "you never know what you're gonna get" category, I sometimes (once would be too often) get idiotic, inane, rabble-rousing and/or nasty e-mails, written (I imagine) by a band of drooling neo-Neanderthal cretins in a moss-covered cave without sanitary facilities (although this may be broadly unfair to Neanderthals in general) ... e-mails that are then mindlessly (or maliciously) passed on by some of those with whom I normally exchange pleasantries, despite my repeated requests to stop sending me such trash.
The latest "poison mouse" missive came yesterday from someone I have reconnected with in the last few years, though we have never been close friends. The e-mail (which also purported to have been "verified by Snopes" ... a half-truth at best) told the inflammatory story of how Tiger Woods was supposedly invited to speak at President Obama's inauguration, but that those who invited Tiger were stunned (I am put in mind of shocked! shocked!) when Woods "did not deliver the message [the inviters] had expected." The e-mail also said that the media swept this alleged affront to Tiger (and his message about god and military service) "under the rug" and went on to imply that "a certain element" (liberals ... ooooh, scary!!!) were "ticked off" (I have used a euphemism here) at Tiger because of what he said.
Balderdash!!! Let's shed some truth and light on this warped "story." Tiger was NOT invited to speak at the inauguration of President Obama. He was invited to be one of several performers/personages to appear at the "We are One" pre-inaugural special which appeared on HBO. As an HBO subscriber, I watched the entire "We Are One" presentation ... actually recorded it and watched it again because it was so incredibly moving and uplifting ... and I am here to tell you that Tiger DID appear and deliver the speech quoted in the e-mail, as had been planned for him to do.
Tiger's portion of the program was specifically and purposefully dedicated to the Armed Services of the United States of America ... which appeared in the planned program of the event. Tiger did not slyly and/or patriotically "slip something by" his "inviters" or then President-Elect Obama, as this ridiculous e-mail implies. Further, President-Elect Obama, sitting just a few feet away from the stage, smiled and nodded as Tiger spoke, joined the applause at the end of the presentation, and then walked onstage and spoke with and shook the hands of those who had appeared, including Tiger.
Though the e-mail accurately quoted Tiger's remarks, it becomes a lie because it distorts the truth about the incident, Tiger's participation and purpose, and Obama's and the media's (oooh, scary again!!!) actions. Nothing about Tiger's remarks was "swept under the rug" ... by anyone. His speech (and the participation of the other people involved) did not receive wide media distribution because HBO decreed that only HBO subscribers, or those willing to pay for viewing the special, would have access to the entire pre-inaugural program. (Obama's speech was carried by the major news networks, the distinction being that it was labeled as "news" and not "entertainment.") I am personally disappointed that the special was not available on the major networks, because it was beautiful, moving and (again) uplifting. Unfortunately, capitalism and the profit motive reared their hydra-heads again ... and that trumps uplift nearly every time....
Tiger Woods
Tiger's speech did indeed praise the U.S. military, mentioning of course his own father's military service, and spoke of the sacrifices military personnel and their families make in the cause of freedom and defense of our nation. However, after quoting Tiger's remarks, whoever originated this e-mail went totally off the rails, frothing at the mouth and making all sorts of ridiculous claims, such as:
- Liberals have been mad at Tiger for decades for not joining their "ranks;"
- Tiger "didn't want to be there" (I didn't see a gun to his head when I watched "We Are One" ... and Tiger himself has said that it was a great honor for him to take part in the celebration);
- Tiger specifically and intentionally did not mention Obama once and spoke instead of the military (well yes ... but not everyone who participated in the special did mention Obama directly ... and despite the e-mail's implications, the presentation was intended not as obeisance to Obama, but as a celebration and tribute to our country, to our "one nation, indivisible"); and
- Tiger was "his own man" and said what he wanted to anyway, knowing that "his love for America and appreciation for our military men and women would anger them [guess who?] further."
Oh gag me with a spoon.... Unlike the innuendo of the e-mail, it should be noted again that these were remarks that Tiger (who is considered apolitical by himself and others) planned to deliver ... that were part of the program presented ... and in no way did Tiger venture bravely off the reservation like some ornery maverick to gore Obama and/or liberals. This rabid, scurrilous, distorted (and bottom-line lying) attempt to rile people up and demonize liberals is just beyond the pale, is contemptible, and has no place in a reasonable, civilized society.
- News Flash: Many liberals (and I proudly wear the label, even ... especially ... when "bleeding heart" is appended to it) are just as patriotic, just as appreciative of our great country, just as supportive of our military, as the most ramrod-straight, crew-cut conservative. Yes, there are far-left fringe morons with whom I don't agree ... just as there are far-right looney 'toons (like whoever originated this e-mail) who are seriously damaging our nation and our sense of community by passing around lies and incendiary exhortations to anger, pandering to the lowest common denominator. Most of the people in this country fall somewhere in the center politically ... and recent polls have shown that more now identify as slightly left of center than right ... which IMHO is a very good thing.
The e-mail goes on to note approvingly that after his speech, Tiger went on to introduce the Naval Academy Glee Club. Based on the implications of the e-mail, some might assume that Tiger had, on his own initiative, brought the Naval Academy singers to the celebration and wrangled them himself into the program despite great personal peril ... just to thwart liberals and Obama. Somebody needs to get a serious grip here....
And speaking seriously ... this is just one (the most recent and one of the more laughable) of such e-mails that I've received recently ... and frankly, I am afraid that some of the more gullible and less informed of our citizens will once again be panicked into acting against their own interests. There is a great hue and cry right now over proposed health care reform (which hopefully will include universal health care for every citizen of this nation, which is long overdue). However, those who would keep this country following the same failed policies of the past several years are vigorously raising the old shibboleths of Socialism ... Communism ... other "isms" which we were taught from the time we were small to equate in knee-jerk fashion with "the Devil," "Hell" and eternal damnation.
- News Flash: We already live in a quasi-Socialist society, and have throughout our lives. Think Social Security, Medicare, food stamps, the public school system, unemployment benefits ... all of which have been under egregious attack by certain elements over the past few decades. But ... which of these things do you really think we can and should live without? Are you truly ready to see more people living under bridges and in tent cities, and children and adults starving in the streets? I know there are a few of you who say we can do without all these safety nets ... and I am happy if you feel you can personally get along without them (in which case, don't use them) ... but I'll wager that most of us (and our families) have benefited from these things, and will continue to benefit in the future. And you might take some pause to consider that your comfortable circumstances may be based as much on luck and circumstance as on your own abilities and "true grit." I recommend a book called Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, as well as the book Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, both of which may give you some food for thought on this subject.
Thomas Jefferson, Liberal
Third President of the United States
Principal Author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence
Portrait by Charles Willson Peale (1791)
IMHO ... Socialism and Capitalism, like many philosophies, are unworkable in their "pure" forms ... partially because they do not take human nature and the "real world" into account. Our current economic debacle (which has been long in coming and did not arrive with President Obama) is a perfect example of laissez faire capitalism run amok. I will even go out on a limb here to posit that the ideal form of government may be a judicious blend of Socialism and Capitalism. Although I do not practice the Christian faith, nor believe many of its tenets, I do believe there is wisdom in some Christian thought ... and I am sure that many of you profess Christianity. I think from my earlier upbringing and understanding of his work that Jesus Christ would highly favor certain aspects of Socialism.... Feed the hungry, house the homeless, minister to the sick ... blessed are the poor, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers.... I don't seem to recall Jesus (or his original disciples) saying anything about his followers going out and accumulating lots of property and wealth, and leaving their neighbors to twist in the wind. To the contrary, something comes to mind about camels and eyes of needles.... And the bedrock Ten Commandments of Judeo/Christian ethos warn strictly against bearing false witness. But I digress....
Despite assertions by parochial (and I don't mean Catholic) interests, the universal health care systems of Canada, Great Britain, France and other enlightened countries are models which we should study and emulate. The people who receive universal health benefits there (especially preventive care, which is so important to leading a healthy and hopefully longer and better life) would not consider for a moment changing their health care system for ours ... no matter how often opponents of universal health care try to claim this. It is ipso facto a lie. (I am sure a few people disgruntled with their health care systems can be found in those countries, but I speak here of the majority.) It is well past time for us to catch up with the other leading industrialized nations on this, which became more and more apparent to me as Yahn's recent medical bills climbed past $150,000.00 (to match the $150,000.00 plus the removal of my kidney in 2004 cost) ... or medical treatment will indeed soon be the sole province of the very wealthy.
One of the bêtes noires of the lunatic fringe is the proposal to put all medical records into electronic form. There has been all sorts of heavy breathing about "millions of people" possibly having access to your personal records, even information concerning whether you've had a drinking problem or an abortion, etc. Take a deep breath and understand that under a system of electronic medical records, few if any more people would have access to your records than do now to your written, paper records. Believe me ... if you find yourself in a medical crisis with a doctor you've never seen in a hospital you've never visited ... you may be exuberantly grateful (not to mention alive!) if they have immediate access to your electronic medical records and thereby some clue as to your medical history, medications, and how to administer the most efficacious treatment as expediently as possible. You do not want to be dependent on the Pony Express ... or U.S. Mule ... to get those records to them. Converting medical records to an electronic system will also create jobs ... which are sorely needed. We live in the 21st Century ... not the 19th, nor even the 20th. I personally don't want to go back to the 1950s, no matter how nostalgically I sometimes look at those days ... and I suspect most of us don't want to either.
Another hysterical contention of recent e-mail(s) has been that if we adopt a more inclusive (not to say the dreaded universal) health care system, we may not be able to get the treatment we need (or want ... and there is a difference) and that medical care will be rationed. Well, guess what??? We are already in that situation ... if you don't have money or health insurance (and millions of our fellow citizens don't, and couldn't afford it if it was available to them) ... medical care and treatment are rationed to that segment of the population which has money and/or coverage ... those excluded are left to fend for themselves ... and no, a visit to the Emergency Room is not adequate, and ultimately costs us more to treat those without insurance than it would have if they had access to free preventive and other medical care.
As for a doctor or hospital determining what treatment you need as opposed to treatment you may want ... again, that's already the norm. But for purposes of this post, let's consider a heart transplant. There are a finite number of hearts available for transplant. Perhaps one day a truly viable artificial heart will be invented, and can be mass-produced.... BUT: Given the current state of medical technology, I don't believe that someone who is 65 or 70 or older should have the same right and access to an available heart as does a 35-45 year old who has a family. Sorry if that seems cold ... and yes, 65 and 70 look younger to me every day ... but it just makes sense not to waste a heart on someone who arguably only has a few years of life left anyway ... and may have or develop Alzheimer's or other debilitating conditions which will cut the elder-life short. Americans have got to get over the idea that we are going to live forever if someone just discovers the appropriate pill, surgery or nostrum. And it makes absolutely no sense to prolong life irrationally and unreasonably ... to the point where those whose lives have been prolonged lose control of their faculties and their bodies.
Under universal health care, if you need a knee or hip replacement, or other standard treatment, it will likely be available to you ... as it is in the advanced countries mentioned herein.
Thomas Paine, Liberal
"The Father of the American Revolution"
Painting by Auguste Milliere (1880)
But ... back to e-mails, briefly. I am chagrined, and incredulous, to report that there are still people out there who persist in circulating the discredited notion that President Obama is somehow not eligible to be our Commander in Chief because of specious and suspect allegations about his birth. There are those who cling to and propagate this untruth because (for whatever reason ... racial, political or otherwise) they simply cannot and will not concede Obama's victory last November and his right to represent the Executive Branch of our government. These people need to get over it ... get a non-biased book, magazine or newspaper ... get a life, and move on. They are wrong. WRONG ... period.... The matter has been thoroughly examined and adjudicated and found to have no merit. Obama was born in the State of Hawaii ... therefore is a U.S. citizen ... therefore is qualified under our Constitution to hold his office. This, and all the other Obama "hate mail" ... including the one that he is really a Muslim; the one that he is like Hitler; the awful smear using the insane theories and "conclusions" of a gadfly wannabe doctor (with suspect credentials) named Sam Vaknin, which I won't dignify here by repeating; and the aforementioned e-mails ... should be filed in the "circular" file ... and then DUMP the TRASH.
I leave you with a few random thoughts which touch on other e-mails I have received, and about which I will likely hear more ... unless I can convince people to stop sending me such things:
- It has always struck me as exceedingly strange that some of the most fervent and vocal supporters of the death penalty also seek to outlaw abortion because of the "sanctity" of human life. It is worth noting that in the past several years, numerous people have been freed from death row, or from life (or at least very long) prison sentences because new and improved DNA techniques proved that they were innocent. It is well known that eye-witness, even victim, testimony may be inaccurate.
- In a CNN poll this week, 80% of Americans support embryonic stem cell research. We have lost ground in this promising area over the past eight years due to the intransigence of a fanatical 20%, and again, it is time to join the 21st Century in an effort to make life better for those who live ... not for non-sentient entities which are going to be discarded anyway. I am proud that President Obama rectified this matter this past week.
- Conservative writer David Frum (a former speechwriter for George W. Bush, and author of a cover story in a recent Newsweek magazine that explains "Why Rush is Wrong") noted Sunday in an appearance on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS that a new poll shows that for the majority of Americans, Rush Limbaugh is less popular than the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
To my mind, leaving such ideas unchallenged and without contradiction has allowed them to fester and grow, and has divided our country in many ways. These things need to and must be challenged and exposed for the frauds they represent. Never again should we fail or fear to speak when the Emperor (or anyone else) has no clothes ... but we must speak the truth ... not smears and lies. And I intend to do my part in the debunking of these idiocies ... not just passively and meekly hitting "delete." I have known for some time that I am probably NOT one of the people who is destined to inherit the earth according to Blblical teachings ... grin....
Succinctly, you have the right to your own beliefs and ideas. You have the right to disagree with our government (as I did frequently and vehemently during the Bush years) ... and with me ... although optimally your disagreement will be based on reasoned, rational thought with at least a dose of reality ... and not on wild-eyed hysteria of questionable veracity. You do NOT have the right to poison the community well or yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater ... or otherwise disseminate poisonous material. So....
Caveat sender to anyone who forwards such things along to me....
)O(
