Well, the first leg is completed, Bush. We flew Jet Blue from Long Beach airport for the first time, and found it a perfectly easy way to get to New York City for a lot less money than the bigger airlines. The hardest part was saying goodbye to our George--the dog, Bush: surely you remember?--who reportedly was "bummed", accordingly to the note that was awaiting us from our charming dog- and house-sitter by email when we arrived at our hotel. At least until he found something else to catch his interest.
It felt good to be back in New York for the evening. We wandered the streets a bit in the midtown area, and ended up at an Italian restaurant for a too-expensive but otherwise good meal. And wandered back to the hotel for a bit of emailing--good to find out that this little computer hooks up nicely with the Internet away from home. Here's hoping for equally easy access from Egypt.
On the news front, nothing but Terri Schiavo. The cab driver had the story on loud all the way into town from JFK, and CNN was still running it on the eleven o'clock news. What strikes us is that the reports get slanted, always, toward the dramatic and the controversial: we hear from the angry family member who's demanding her survival, not from the husband who wishes only, quietly, for her release. We hear from the Catholic brother describing the poor woman in the same breath as Ausschwitz victims, not from the doctors and nurses tending to her peaceful, pain-free death. And this continues despite the fact that the vast majority of the American public simply want to allow her to depart this world in peace. The blowhards of the media have to whoop it up.
Sad, Bush, isn,t it? Perhaps tomorrow, in Egypt, we'll find some release. Unless the story is all over Al Jazeera. They're probably making hay over our hypocrisy. No?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Glad to hear you arrived safely and sorry that Georgie was bummed. Did your sitter try the ball?
Agree with you about Schiavo. After reading a bit of the history, it appears that Mr. Schindler may be a grandstanding opportunist. It seems that he wanted some of the malpractice award money that was awarded to Michael Schiavo, and troubles began when Michael wouldn't go along. In all fairness, there may be more here than meets the eye since the Schindler family helped out the young married Schiavos quite a bit in the first part of their marriage, and maybe Daddy Schindler thought he was owed something. Still, given what Michael went through with his wife, Schindler's request smacks of greed.
Michael tried vigorously to help his wife before he realized all efforts were useless. He became a gadfly at the nursing home and even enrolled in nursing school himself. When he finally realized that Terri wasn't going to improve he decided it was best to let her die, as per her wishes. Aside from what Michael says Terri said to him directly, his brother, Scott Schiavo, testified to Terri's wishes, also. When his and Michael's grandmother was being kept alive by artificial means, Terri Shiavo was disturbed enough to say she didn't ever want that done to her. Her wishes were clear, and the courts must honor them, so the fight is divisive and the arguments, specious.
Of course we can count on the Bush dynasty (you heard it here first, Jeb will be the next President) to do all it can to exploit any divisiveness it can't create itself, and use the law to do it. The next fight is going to be over who gets the ashes. Maybe the Bush brothers can engineer custody of Terri's urn, before they secure a burial plot for next stolen Presidency.
Plus, did you hear about the guy they've arrested for offering a $250,000 reward on the internet to kill Michael? These right wing Christians who call themselves "pro life" are so far gone inside their self righteous little worlds that they don't see what life really is to them: cheap. All that's needed is money to kill. Unless I've missed something, isn't that what we're doing in Iraq these days? Lordy, if those Christians ain't marchin' right in step with the guvmint they voted for! I have to say, the Christian Right's grip on morality is something to behold. I'm wonderin' if even their Lord has a touch of indigest'n. Prob'ly not, since it's likely He's the Beast Hisself. Amen.
Looking forward to your take on Egypt. Fair winds to you both.
Marilyn said...I agree too much attention on this Schiavo matter. For me, I just turn to FRANCE TV 5. What a difference in programming! Le Journal has a lot more to say and about the matters with importance to a whole group of countries and the world in general.
Hope to read about your trip and experiences in Egypt. My husband reads The Jerusalem Post daily. Keep writing, Peter. I read it, Marilyn I haven't decided on what I am as an identity but I do read your articles. I am an other I think.
Post a Comment