deja vu all over again
Mar. 20th, 2003 01:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bronwynrhHmmmm
Such a strange mix of feelings today. Corto was right when he suggested that "petty, marginally informed judgments" are, well, less than useful right now. I started punching pillows last night when I heard people calling into C-SPAN to spout ignorant crap as if it were fact and launch themselves into foolhardy diatribes.
Stop. Think. THEN speak.
Better yet. . . Stop. LEARN. Think. Speak.
I'm still amazed at how little people know, but how much they THINK they know, just from watching one local news broadcast, or reading one local paper - or worse, from listening to their favorite Talking Head. Scary, scary shit.
Another thought rolling around in my head. . . If I were still living in Ras Tanura right now, I would have been out on the beach last night watching the sky. I wouldn't have been scared at all. I think I would have been a little excited, maybe hopeful. If you know me well, you'll understand this. If not, you may think I'm a sick fuck. . . maybe you'll have the insight to understand, though. Either way, there it is.
I've heard that civilians have been injured, 40, I think? One Jordanian has been killed. . . but I've heard no confirmations. I assume this was when the compound was hit - the one where Hussein and his sons were holed up. But then again, none of us has any way of *really* knowing, do we?
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Added in later edit: And the ground campaign has begun. . . Well, we're really in it now. The networks have come up with their annoying names and theme music, graphics and crawl designs. Gulf War I was the first fully televised war, sure. But this one. . . this one sure looks ready to take the cake for reality (reality?) tv.
How surreal to be seeing it from this side of the ocean this time. It feels so different, but different as if I'M the one in the wrong place. . . ? I'm 12 years older and 10,000 miles away this time. There will be no tramping out into the desert to take comic books and chili and watermelons to our boys in desert camo, no bringing them home for a holiday dinner. The first time 'round, at least a few thousand of them knew that at least a thousand of us cared about and supported them, because we were THERE and could SHOW it. I don't think anybody has that opportunity now, but I may be wrong. I hope I'm wrong :-)
How very, very weird.
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Please please please please please let this campaign/war/action/whateverthehell we're calling this thing take as few lives as possible. Please let this be done well and soon and as safely as humanly possible.
Such a strange mix of feelings today. Corto was right when he suggested that "petty, marginally informed judgments" are, well, less than useful right now. I started punching pillows last night when I heard people calling into C-SPAN to spout ignorant crap as if it were fact and launch themselves into foolhardy diatribes.
Stop. Think. THEN speak.
Better yet. . . Stop. LEARN. Think. Speak.
I'm still amazed at how little people know, but how much they THINK they know, just from watching one local news broadcast, or reading one local paper - or worse, from listening to their favorite Talking Head. Scary, scary shit.
Another thought rolling around in my head. . . If I were still living in Ras Tanura right now, I would have been out on the beach last night watching the sky. I wouldn't have been scared at all. I think I would have been a little excited, maybe hopeful. If you know me well, you'll understand this. If not, you may think I'm a sick fuck. . . maybe you'll have the insight to understand, though. Either way, there it is.
I've heard that civilians have been injured, 40, I think? One Jordanian has been killed. . . but I've heard no confirmations. I assume this was when the compound was hit - the one where Hussein and his sons were holed up. But then again, none of us has any way of *really* knowing, do we?
---------------
Added in later edit: And the ground campaign has begun. . . Well, we're really in it now. The networks have come up with their annoying names and theme music, graphics and crawl designs. Gulf War I was the first fully televised war, sure. But this one. . . this one sure looks ready to take the cake for reality (reality?) tv.
How surreal to be seeing it from this side of the ocean this time. It feels so different, but different as if I'M the one in the wrong place. . . ? I'm 12 years older and 10,000 miles away this time. There will be no tramping out into the desert to take comic books and chili and watermelons to our boys in desert camo, no bringing them home for a holiday dinner. The first time 'round, at least a few thousand of them knew that at least a thousand of us cared about and supported them, because we were THERE and could SHOW it. I don't think anybody has that opportunity now, but I may be wrong. I hope I'm wrong :-)
How very, very weird.
----------
Please please please please please let this campaign/war/action/whateverthehell we're calling this thing take as few lives as possible. Please let this be done well and soon and as safely as humanly possible.
I remember, too.
Date: March 20th, 2003 01:14 pm (UTC)I'm very glad we don't have to worry about you this time. SA