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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:51 pm Post subject: Terrorball: The new political game |
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It isn't really new, but it's a brilliant metaphor for the mess we've gotten ourselves into. It's from Lawyers, Guns & Money, a good site to check on from time to time.
"I�m quite sure I could beat LeBron James in a game of one on one basketball. The game merely needs to feature two special rules: It lasts until I score, and as soon as I score I win. Such a game might last several hours, or even a week or two, and James would probably score hundreds and possibly thousands of points before my ultimate victory, but eventually I�m going to find a way to put the ball in the basket.
Our national government and almost all of the establishment media have decided to play a similar game, which could be called Terrorball. The first two rules of Terrorball are:
(1) The game lasts until there are no longer any terrorists, and;
(2) If terrorists manage to ever kill or injure or seriously frighten any Americans, they win.
How else can one explain the extreme and ongoing over-reaction to last week�s botched attempt to blow up Northwest flight 253? "
http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/2010/01/terrorball.html
The massive over-reaction we've seen shows the politics of fear is still with us. For a day or two it looked like we had found a better way to look at the problem: Crotchfire/The Testicle Toaster are examples, but we soon descended into absurdity, abetted by the media.
Disappointing.
For a different, but appropriate 'blast' from the past:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5puAN1PGQw |
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Leslie Cheswyck

Joined: 31 May 2003 Location: University of Western Chile
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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Yata, this is just a game of "Look Over There!"
You're not falling for it, are you?
Answer this: How many Americans died the week of December 7, 1941? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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Leslie Cheswyck wrote: |
Yata, this is just a game of "Look Over There!"
You're not falling for it, are you?
Answer this: How many Americans died the week of December 7, 1941? |
That's a remarkably weak analogy. Worse, I suspect if my dad were still alive, he'd be insulted by someone comparing the failed Undie Bomber with Pearl Harbor. Even 9/11 is a poor comparison. The first WTC attack, or maybe the destruction of the East African embassies, possibly even the attack on the USS Cole would all be better comparisons to Dec. 7. By 9/11 everyone knew, or should have known, there was a major threat.
To think that in a war you won't suffer casualties is sheer fantasy. You will even suffer defeats. When it happens you drop back, regroup, rethink and then move on. What you don't do is panic, throw your hands in the air while running around in circles screaming about it. It's a waste of energy and a distraction. |
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Leslie Cheswyck

Joined: 31 May 2003 Location: University of Western Chile
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, you think because the pantybomber failed it means nothing? No, Ya-ta, I say the attempt is bad enough.
You don't see the forest for the trees; the failed attack is merely one part of all this.
That link of yours there is just more of this "Oh, more people die on the freeways" kind of garbage.
Those 300 passengers needed protection. They didn't have any; they just got lucky, that's all. And that would-be bomber should be waterboarded morning, noon, and night... every day, and for the rest of his life.
And what exactly, in your mind, is this "panic, throw your hands in the air while running around in circles screaming about it"? |
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