United 93
So. United 93. I don't have much left to say about it. If you haven't yet read my review, do so, then come back and read on.
The truth is, I have an almost endless supply of things to say about United 93, 9/11, the Bush administration, and what's gone on in this country over the last few years, but I boiled the essentials down into this week's angry tirade of a comic. The one thing I didn't talk about that I'd like to address here, however, is my reason for inserting my "Author Popitorial" into the comic this week.
If I ever do draw myself into the strip again, I won't depict myself in such a realistic way. I'll do it more like Jeffrey Rowland does with Overcompensating, and create a mutated, wacky versions of my life. Doing it that way allows you to talk about real life stuff without boring the crap out of people. Who gives a shit if you had peas for dinner! But if the peas all had lightsabers, and they fought the whole way down, well, that's interesting. That's why I came up with the Popcorn Picnic approach to movie "reviews" in the first place. Who the hell cares what I think? What Marlon Brando thinks, though? I dunno about you, but I sure wish I knew what ol' Marlon was thinking. And I mean EVER.
Anyway, I decided this particular, exceptional strip not only allowed me to write my own loud-mouthed opinion, it demanded it! The one point I don't get into in the strip -- at least in so many words -- is the general apathy we citizens of the U.S. have shown towards doing or saying anything critical of our government since 9/11. Call it patriotism if you like, but calling a dog a turtle don't give it a shell. I mean, we friggin' impeached our last president because he gunked up a woman's dress -- a woman who wasn't "asking for it," but who was TOTALLY into the gunking -- and then tried to hide it. President Bush, though, our current president? What'd he try to hide? Um, uh, just prisoner abuse. No biggie. Oh, and torture. Whatever. And, um, wiretapping. Ho-hum. Also, the jailing of pretty much anyone who could possibly be associated with terrorism in the slightest way. Snore. In Cuba. Zzzzz. In poor conditions. Ho-hum. Without charging 'em. Hm. Indefinitely. Hey! How 'bout them Cubs?
What. The. FUCK?! President Clinton lies about a few BJs y'all KNOW Hillary was okay with and gets impeached, but President Bush lies about beating the shit out of war prisoners and putting 'em on leashes and all he gets is a low approval rating and an in-his-face scolding from Stephen Colbert -- which was brilliant, by the way. Haven't seen it? Oh, man. You gotta.
PART 1 : PART 2 : PART 3
By the way, it's a good thing they nailed that stupid girl who was holding that Iraqi prisoner's leash, 'cause I'm pretty sure she was actually responsible for the whole thing.
Anyway, I offered my direct opinion in this week's strip because if there's any time people should be worried and critical and loud about abuse of privilege, it's when there's a war going on. People in power think all crazy when there's a war. Actions that are awfuller than awful start to look justified -- means to various ends. But you know what?
They're NOT.
They're still AWFUL.
:C
6 Comments:
Breaking from forumla now and then is both good and welcome.
Also: how on Earth did Colbert even get invited to give that speech? Who invites a known enemy to come speak on their behalf?
Also, I've decided that "not funny" must be the new codeword for "painfully accurate."
Actually, inviting an enemy combatant like Colbert is kind of a tradition, I think. Thing is, it's also traditional for the comedian to play softball. They make fun -- it's a roast, after all -- but they don't go too far.
Colbert's risk in harshing the president was considerable. If he'd done it a couple years ago, his career would've been killed. He has the president's low approval rating (now at 31%) to thank for his continued cultural existence, and even so, there may still be backlash. People don't like loose cannons; they don't HIRE loose cannons, and he proved himself about as loose as you get.
I admire him enormously for having the balls to critcize the president to his face, but it wouldn't surprise me to see less and less of Mr. Colbert as various venues and advertisers decide not to hire him 'cause he's unpredictable.
:C
I can't say I disagree.
This is probably why I don't read many blogs unless I know the person personally or if they're about other topics. Incidentally, I found this comic from the webcomiker's blog. A blog of a guy know personally, but also NOT a journal.
For the record: I agree that some of the indescretions in the last administration got blown out of proportion, but I think that the impeachment of Clinton was more about a breach of security issue. Kenneth Star just happened to put his own personal signature on it by making it a morality crusade.
"A breach of security?" Um, do you mid if I ask what you mean by that, Grant? My impression of the Clinton impeachment is that it was all about Clinton lying under oath. Which is bad and all, but I'm pretty sure he was only lying about personal issues -- nothing that affected the well-being of the country.
Sorry to be so vague. I agree that lyinh under oath was part of it, but what I meant by breach of security, was that all the hanky panky happened in the oval office where he was supposed to be "working". I'm not saying life is like a james Bond movie, but people have been known to sleep with powerful men to get classified information. Fortuanatly that didn't happen.
So when was the last time we had president who wasn't slimey? Was it Carter?
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