Well, as my begin-the-semester post promised, I've been a busy guy. Though I haven't had to take up residence in the library yet, I have been considerably out of action as far as fun and hanging out go. Another thing I've missed is reading the news. I did a little bit of this lately, and I'm pleased to report that it's just as funny as ever. Who needs The Daily Show? Headlines like this take care of themselves.
Though it's not really funny, the biggest news for me lately has been the beginning of the Olympics. This biannual international athletic spectacle has always been one of my favorite things to watch. The winter ones are so much fun. I mean, who'd have guessed you could make so many sports out of sliding around on ice? Come to think of it, curling is kinda funny...he he he, brooms.
In international news, Muslims are upset (and by upset, I mean rioting in the streets) because a Danish newspaper published a comic depicting the prophet Muhammed as having a turbin that was actually a ticking timebomb. And it's not like there are a few looneys trying to get political in the streets...in nearly every Muslim majority country, people have been gathering in throngs to chant anti-Danish slogans and burn Danish flags, parliaments have passed resolutions comdemning newspapers. In some cases, the rioters have stormed embassies and newspaper offices. Can you imagine if this sort of thing happened in the US? What if the Republicans rioted in the streets every time a cartoonist depicted Bush as a monkey? Or, even more parallel, what if mobs of Christians razed local FOX affiliates every time Family Guy depicted Jesus in an insulting way? None of us would get a moments peace, or American Idle for that matter!
Iraq has recently elected a new prime minister, who happens to be a Shi'ite. The Sunnis say they're being oppressed as retaliation for the oppression of Shi'ites under Saddam Hussein, and the Kurds say that they're not getting enough sovereignty. Meanwhile, a large U.S. military force occupies the country, trying to keep the three factions from being blown to bits while they chomp at eachothers' throats.
Speaking of Saddam Hussein, they made him come back to his trial. He responded by screaming things like "Down with Bush!" and "Long live Iraq!" and calling the judge a criminal. I can't really say I blame him though. Nobody stays in power for 30+ years by being stupid, and anyone with half a brain would know he's totally going down. I guess he figures if he's going out, he might as well do it with a bang.
Speaking of dignified politicians, VP Dick Cheney shot some guy this weekend while they were hunting quail. Nobody died, but tell me, is anyone surprised by this, at all?
In local reports, in a recent interview with Hornets rookie Chris Paul, former NBA star and TNT commentator Charles Barkley recently refered to Oklahoma, and the city specifically, as a "vast wasteland". Maybe that's because HALF THE STATE IS ON FIRE! He also said that it "wasn't a place for" black people. Well, anyway, Paul responded by calling Barkley lazy. This whipped the local media into a frenzy, with every leading personality from the local TV stations and newspapers, and even the Governor to challenge Barkley to come to the city and enjoy a Hornet's game, dinner, et cetera. He'd probably change his mind if he came, but then, that might not be a good idea, as some overly-proud country boy would probably punch him in the face.
So, that's my take on the weekend's news. Feel free to leave me comments, and I will feel free to make fun of, I mean answer them.
5 comments:
ha ha... cheney shot a guy, who happened to be a contributor to the Bush/Cheney campaign, and a small one at that... $1K the first time around, and $2K the second time around... you think that he got shot as a result of not agreeing to more? Maybe he made fun of haliburton.
Oh yeah, & te he, curling... men with brooms... great movie.
A good part of the reason the Muslims are so upset about the cartoon is because in their religion, a physical depiction of the prophet is absolutely forbidden. It's like Christian's with not saying God's true name but much stricter because Muslim's are much stricter about everything. The Danish paper that ran the cartoon actually started with making fun of that tenet of their religion and, in the same article, they asked for submissions of a cartoon with a drawing of Muhammed so they could print their favorite.
Islamic countries are definitely over-reacting (Just yesterday some priest in Pakistan put out a $25000 reward for any one who would kill a person involved in the producing or printing of the cartoons.) However, I think it's interesting that our news media never really let us know exactly why they're so upset. Talk about cultural bias.
Oh, and...
I'm not really all that sensitive to be honest. I think this is really, really funny.
Yeah, I realized that Islam is strict about images of the prophet, but I'm just saying...in western countries, we disrespect eachothers' sacred things all the time, and there's rarely more than a lot of yelling. When I think about it though, this really shouldn't surprise me (or be as funny as it is); Islam began fighting wars over principles of faith, therefore, it will probably always have its militant radicals, whether or not they are an accurate representation of the Muslim population at large.
Oh, great link by the way. Le Mayo, totally.
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