I think it's a positive development in the Trump era that people are much less eager to cede to media narratives about "profiles in courage" or whatever and the "gloating" is, like Simon said, more of a corrective on this sickness than simply being glad a 94-year-old man finally died
cheering when Bin Laden was killed was muted anyway because it happened a decade after 9/11 and two awful unnecessary wars. it was a dulled, cloudy, anticlimactic feeling. if he were taken out in Tora Bora I think Americans would've celebrated as they did at the death of Hitler, not that much of a stretch.
― flappy bird, Friday, 7 December 2018 20:02 (five years ago) link
xp. my reaction is more sam jackson in a time to kill
― ( ͡☉ ͜ʖ ͡☉) (jim in vancouver), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:03 (five years ago) link
Shakespeare was right:
Tired with all these, for restful death I cry,As to behold desert a beggar born,And needy nothing trimmed in jollity,And purest faith unhappily forsworn,And gilded honor shamefully misplaced,And maiden virtue rudely strumpeted,And right perfection wrongfully disgraced,And strength by limping sway disablèd,And art made tongue-tied by authority,And folly, doctor-like, controlling skill,And simple truth miscalled simplicity,And captive good attending captain ill.
Tired with all these, from these would I be gone, Save that to die, I leave my love alone.
― A is for (Aimless), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:04 (five years ago) link
Jarvis Cocker was right:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd6E1JpwMj4
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:08 (five years ago) link
many xps - Alfred, why Dawn Powell?
― flappy bird, Friday, 7 December 2018 20:09 (five years ago) link
hottake: probably at least 50% of American presidents are both war criminals AND "decent people." It's function of being at the helm of American Empire.
― Fedora Dostoyevsky (man alive), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:09 (five years ago) link
― flappy bird,
She wrote well and was no one's fool, hence she's a hero.
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:12 (five years ago) link
fortunately i have never cared what 99% of America thinks (fuck "Family Feud")
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:23 (five years ago) link
no argument there but I think the usual definition of "American hero" excludes artists, business, and most people... it's someone that made a (largely) selfless and substantial contribution and impact on the country/world... so Bill W. is obvious, MLK as well. Jackie Robinson also an easy pick despite being paid for his work. Jonas Salk is another big one I forgot. the guy that invented air conditioning? maybe.
xp
― flappy bird, Friday, 7 December 2018 20:27 (five years ago) link
xp we know, morbs.
― A is for (Aimless), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:28 (five years ago) link
the "war criminal" stuff always seems a bit glib to me. there are valid criticisms of FDR's conduct of WW2 but i still wouldn't be comfortable throwing it in the same category as W's invasion of iraq.
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:34 (five years ago) link
For me it's simple: how many Americans had their lives improved thanks to a president's leadership? Hence my not giving two shits about James Polk's comfy residence in the upper echelon.
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 7 December 2018 20:36 (five years ago) link
here's a Poppy grace note I learned: James Baker snuck in a Morton's steak and a bottle of Grey Goose one time that Jefe was in the hospital.
― Your sweetie-pie-coo-coo I love ya (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 7 December 2018 21:26 (five years ago) link
I assume everyone who wanted to read Maureen Dowd's lengthy paean to her friendship with Bush has done so w/out a link here.
biggest yuk: GWHB referred to Dubya as "my son Quincy"
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 11 December 2018 01:34 (five years ago) link
that picture of them in front of the Xmas tree is something else
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 11 December 2018 04:57 (five years ago) link
Can't wait till we get back to normal. pic.twitter.com/QtdjNgKBCB— Dennis Perrin (@DennisThePerrin) May 30, 2020
― brooklyn suicide cult (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 3 June 2020 11:31 (three years ago) link