nighty night

[ciroccoj]

Not so great a day. Spent most of it feeling sick. The boys seemed fine, until we walked back in the door after being at my mom's and Justin threw up.

Chris is on call, so he can't be here to take care of Justin if Justin ends up throwing up all night like Daniel did last week. And tomorrow bright and early, I have my Property exam.

And...


I've been feeling increasingly sad about the Saddam situation as the day has worn on. When I first heard the news, I was jubilant. I think snarkhunter captured my feelings completely when she wrote, "being opposed to the war doesn't mean I have to be opposed to good things that happen, like *finally* accomplishing *one* of Bushs's stated goals."

But then... I was watching the news most of the day when I wasn't sleeping or feeling ill. And... damn.

I fully understand feeling happy about this. I fully understand many people feeling like (a) at least one good thing came out of this (I feel this myself) or (b) see? we were right all along! Invading Iraq was a good thing!

But damn. All day long I've been watching (and occasionally reading) crowing and gloating and putting down all the other wusses and "enemies" (eg, Canada, France, and Germany) who didn't join in, and who've just been proven wrong, and Who's sorry now? and Now the whole world agrees with invading Iraq! and rah rah rah and nyah nyah nyah and...

God. It's sickening. And incredibly sad. As the opinion of the rest of the world turns from jubilant to slightly taken aback to annoyed to ::eyes rolling:: there they go again, boy these Americans really have no idea how much they're hated right now, do they?

I once analogized to Leslie that I saw the relationship between Canada and America as sort of a "famous, wealthy, flamboyant rock star older brother and quiet, somewhat boring accountant younger brother." And I said a lot of the time it seemed that a lot of the Canadian attitude towards America was of jealousy and resentment and "Mom always liked him best", but there was also a great deal of admiration and love mixed in there too. And I said that maybe the younger brother should grow the hell up and realize that being an accountant was good - that while he might not inspire anybody or grab as many hot chicks, at least he didn't have to deal with drug addictions or bad press or being surrounded by ass-kissers who flattered while secretly hating the older brother.

What I'm feeling right now, to further the analogy, is a little like... like younger brother helplessly watching older brother spin waaay out of control. The addictions getting worse, the ass-kissers getting more and more malicious and vicious, the press circling like hawks. And the older brother almost completely unaware that all his fame and glory isn't winning him any real friends, that he's alienating everyone around him, that what was good and inspiring about him is slowly getting buried by all the nasty shit, and he's heading for some bad, bad places.


Almost nobody in the world agreed with or agrees with the war in Iraq. Other than in America. But it seems like voices of dissent, foreign and domestic, are getting thoroughly shut down or ignored until the pro-war faction is convinced that not only were they right to go to war: everybody else thinks they were right too.

No, they don't.

This is just building more and more hatred and resentment. I keep getting a sick feeling in my stomach like when the next terrorist attack happens on American soil, almost nobody will be left who will give a damn, outside of America. And that a rather huge proportion of the world will actually cheer. And that's frightening, and very, very sad.

Comments

[sangerin.livejournal.com]

The chill that went down my spine reading that last paragraph...because I can see that happening.

I think that will be the point at which I'll have to move to America for my own sanity.

As for the rest: I agree that the reactions to Saddam's capture/arrest/whatever are making me uneasy. But the thing itself? Better in the long run.

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

But the thing itself? Better in the long run.

Yeah, no argument from me there. If there's any good that's come out of this (and there has been a lot of good - like getting him out of power, starting to rebuild Iraq, etc)... capturing Saddam tops the list.

[heathers.livejournal.com]

Notice how Bush never mentions Bin Laden, though? I'm all for ending mistreatment of Iraqi people, but Saddam living in a hole isn't as scary as some dude out there STILL planning terrorist attacks. This is all just a "victory" for the sake of smoke screen. I'm at the who the fuck cares stage. It doesn't mean we'll be ending the combat, so who cares?

-H, looking forward to her immigration to Canada

[tudorlady.livejournal.com]

Ditto on that last paragraph.

And anyone in their right mind *knows* that the younger brother who's the accountant is the *much* better catch...

'Dee (who is always flattered when people assume I'm Canadian. Supposedly I "sound Canadian" - whatever that means. I don't *have* an accent...)

[bast2.livejournal.com]

i wish i had a printer because i would love to print this out.

and you're right. and it's scary.

God Bless America

[jenniferjames.livejournal.com]

I know I may be in the minority here (which is by no means a new thing for me), but I am proud to be an American. I'm not apologizing for it anymore.

Have we and our allies earned the right to 'gloat' a little? Hell yes.

What's scary to me is the idea that 'civilized people' who abhor the violence of war would cheer for an act of terrorism. ?????

That's my two cents, which I'm sure many will think is all it's worth. But what can you expect? Look where she's from...

Re: God Bless America

[tudorlady.livejournal.com]

's okay. I agree with you. You can love someone/thing, and know they're not always right. Which is pretty much how I feel about this whole mess. I just loathe having leadership (such as it is) that doesn't speak for me. I worry about our troops. I worry about the people wherever. And all of the cats and dogs that happen to be living there as well, if it means anything. If I think about it too much, the pain would kill me. (Bring 'em home. End theocracy. Love one another. All that stuff.)

Re: God Bless America

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

You can love someone/thing, and know they're not always right.

Thank you. Well said.

I don't think it should be seen as a mark of Anti-Americanism for anyone, American or foreign, to be opposed to the war in Iraq. It's a difference of opinion, not necessarily treason or hostility.

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

I know I may be in the minority here (which is by no means a new thing for me), but I am proud to be an American. I'm not apologizing for it anymore.

I don't think being proud to be an American is anything to apologize for either. I think Americans should be proud of where they're from, because America has a hell of a lot going for it. I don't think they need to apologize to anybody.

What's scary to me is the idea that 'civilized people' who abhor the violence of war would cheer for an act of terrorism. ?????

Yes, it is. And I hope you're not lumping me in with people who would cheer an act of terrorism on American soil. If I was one of them, what's going on right now wouldn't scare and sadden me.

But what can you expect? Look where she's from...

If you're directing this at me ("look where she's from") I think you may have missed the entire point of my post. I happen to love America and most of what it stands for. I am just frightened of what's going on and feeling saddened for the fact that it seems Americans are alienating the rest of the world. Again, this wouldn't bother me if I hated America - I'd probably cheer every single act of American jingoism and arrogance and violence, and every time somebody put America down whether America deserved ir or not.

[jenniferjames.livejournal.com]

I was directing my comment to those who think that being an American puts you on the same level as say-- pond scum. The general vibe I got from this whole discussion is that Americans are out of control villains who are just too dense to realize how we much we are alienating ourselves from the rest of the world.

What I realize is that a lot of people seem to be talking a lot of smack about my birthplace. I don't happen to think we are so terrible. Are we perfect? No. Do we make mistakes? Yes. Have we earned being labeled the red haired step child of the world? I don't think so. I'm tired of turning on my t.v. or my computer or picking up a magazine only to see or read about how 'out of touch' I am with the world.

These people don't know me. They don't know my dreams or my hopes or aspirations. They don't know my fears. They don't know what I pray about when I go to bed at night. They don't know jack about me, and it hocks me off to learn that they are passing judgment on me. As an American who knows what I stand for (peace,please!)and what I believe in (helping people who cannot help themselves) it makes me ANGRY.

I'm sorry if I offended you Cirocco, truly. But this has been building up in me for a long time. Frankly, after all is said and done, I wish America would just mind our own business and leave being the conquering hero of the world to somebody else.

[snarkhunter.livejournal.com]

Being a globally-conscious American right now is a difficult thing. Because, yes. I love my country, and I am sometimes proud to be an American, but then I look at the damage we've wreaked across the world lately, and I am ashamed. And it's not fair.

I don't remember who said it, but I think that "love your country, fear your government" is absolutely the right sentiment these days. America in the abstract is a great idea. We've done a lot of good things and a lot of bad. And, like every country who has ever been a major military power, we have fucked up royally more than once. But this administration *scares* me. I mean, it scares me a LOT. Enough that, from time to time, I do seriously consider Canada as an option.

But, at the absolute worst, it's only another four years. (And God help us all if Dubya gets reelected.)

I dunno. I do think jenniferjames has the right idea. I wish we'd just settle back into our own affairs and let someone else be the loud kid for a while. I think England should go back to being in charge. That would be fun.

[ciroccoj.livejournal.com]

But this administration *scares* me. I mean, it scares me a LOT. Enough that, from time to time, I do seriously consider Canada as an option.

Well, don't pack your bags yet ;) There's a New Man in town, and we're not too sure where he's going to take us.

I must admit I was kind of looking forward to Chretien going, in part because to my mind he'd kinda screwed up a bit with respect to our relations with the US. But Paul Martin... ::shaking head:: I'm reserving judgement, but seeing as how one of his first acts was to appoint as Federal Minister of the Environment a man who proudly wears a seal-skin coat everywhere he goes, and gleefully claims that he'd love it if all the seals off Maritime waters were clubbed to death... not real impressed so far.

I think England should go back to being in charge. That would be fun.

LOL!!!

My first reaction to this was, Why, because they did such a bang-up job in India? The Falklands? South Africa?

Sorry, that just tickled me for some reason. I'm post-exam giddy ;)