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Tit for Tat? Tat for Tit? |
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Rants -
Entertainment Rants
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Written by Mike Lewis
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Wednesday, 25 June 2008 16:21 |
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I am sure that everyone is aware of the political poker game that often gets played by nations when they deal with diplomats. A Chinese embassy staffer gets busted for espionage, and so the US kicks him out. In response, the Chinese identify some poor American staffer and kick him out in response. We kick out three Russian diplomats, and the Russians respond by expelling three American diplomats. Yeah, I don't get it - if you are busted for a crime and get booted from a country, expelling some other poor schmuck doesn't really save your country face any. But, it happens. But, I am intrigued if two events that occurred this week are related to the game of tit-for-tat. First, on Saturday, the UK said they would not allow Martha Stewart to enter the country. It seems her felony conviction is the culprit. So, Martha Stewart can't go to Britain. But then, yesterday, the US said that Boy George can't enter the United States. The State Department won't comment, which makes it all the more suspicious. Some say it is due to Boy's (or is it George's?) upcoming trial for false imprisonment. But I think I know the real reason: someone in the State Department is a huge Martha fan and decided to do the tit-for-tat thing. |
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Rants -
Political Rants
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Written by Mike Lewis
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Friday, 13 June 2008 03:16 |
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In a sign of the times, Barack Obama's campaign announced today that they are launching a new web site to fight the rumors going around about who he is. The site - fightthesmears.com - promises to clear up the recent rumors about him. It's sad that he should have to do this, but apparently, it must be done. What I can't figure out is that the same people who get upset at Obama's association with his Christian minister Reverend Jeremiah Wright are the same ones who still think he is a Muslim because his middle name is Hussein and think he'll be sworn in on a Koran. They condemn him for being associated with a Christian and being a Muslim. In short, they don't like him and won't ever will. At least he's trying to head off this year's version of a "swift boat" ad. It's just sad that it is something he has to do. But I can't figure out why the conservatives are spreading these rumors. Nor can I figure out why they are going after their other target: that's right, they're going after Rachel Ray. Conservatives pressured Dunkin Donuts into pulling an ad featuring Rachel Ray because they thought she was wearing an Arabic scarf. Huh? Islamophobia has gone too far. Rachel Ray is NOT a terrorist - nor is anyone who wears an Arabic scarf. A very good friend of mine was Palestinian, and he wore one like we would wear a baseball hat. It's like I said after September 11th and I say it again now - every time we stereotype anything Arabic or Muslim as associated with the terrorists, the terrorists win. They want us to hate and fear Arabs and Muslims, and as long as we as a society continue to do that - and this pulling of the ad is proof of that - they win. Besides, is Rachel Ray's scarf and Obama's middle name really the only things to worry about? What about the fact that the President and much of his cabinet lied and mislead the country into the war in Iraq? How about the fact that he appears eager to do it again in Iran? That is what everyone should be focused on. Well, I guess that's a sign of the times. |
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