Information is.... a distraction???

So...we have a sitting US President talking about and attacking the new media (cable news and the internet-related activities). Why these forms of expression, you ask? Well – let’s face it, the traditional 3-letter mainstream media networks are pretty much doing Obama’s flack work for him. There isn’t bare spot on his shiny bottom that doesn’t have lip-prints from ABC, CBS or NBC. Those folks he oh-so-carefully leaves alone. Now – in the so-called “new” media (e.g. Drudge, Fox news, blogs, etc), Obama isn’t feeling the love (by which I mean that they are treating the man fairly -- much better treatment than George W got -- which looks to Obama’s over-tender feelings like a resounding bashing, of course). Ever notice that Dems dish it out just fine, but run like little girls when it is their turn in the pit?

Is it a coincidence that our President is attacking the new media? Media that by and large doesn’t love him (well MSNBC puckers up every chance they get, but who with any sense pays attention to MSNBC)? When Pamela Furr the talk show host says that people need to think a little bit more about stepping away from technology a pace or two, it is one lone radio talk show host encouraging her audience to enjoy the moments they are in. When the Chief Executive of the most powerful nation in the world attacks news outlets and other venues that criticize him, be afraid my friends and kinfolk. Be very damn afraid. Betcha they are going to try some form of censorship before too long, but they won’t call it that, of course. In their best Orwellian voices, they will call it Freedom Editing or Fairness Doctrine or something similarly nauseating to the thinking public (for instance, all y'all reading this), but palliative to most of the masses (Reagan hated that word, "masses," because it invokes images of socialism -- well it depresses me to say that we are edging there, my friends and kinfolk, bit by bit). I am getting skeerd. And so should you be.

TO THOSE WHO BLED & DIED, I SALUTE YOU

It was a beautiful evening last night. The temperature was a nice, chilly 60 or so degrees. The sun was spreading its muted orange fire across the horizon as it set on yet another Confederate Memorial Day... a Memorial Day that went unremarked, I think, by most Carolinians. You may have heard Bill and me as we paid our respects on THE MORNING RUSH yesterday morning -- the morning of 10 May, and brought out some good discussion about why it is NOT racist to respect and to even fly the Confederate Battle Flag -- the “Stars and Bars” – if one chooses to do so. But after our show was over at 9, I did not hear a whole lot more about this unobserved holiday throughout the day. Not in the news nor by our leaders, elected and otherwise.

Let me take that latter point first. When it comes to politicians making a fuss about the honorable Southern dead – well, you wont see too much of that these days. Because the precious jewels that are the truth of our Southern history (chief among them is that the war was mainly NOT fought about slavery and was instead fought about States rights) – these precious stones of truth with their pure and nuanced light have been slathered over and over again with the thick paint of false history. So much so that it is damn near impossible to tell where the paint ends and the jewels begin. Not too many politicians have the stomach to peel away the pigment and explain the truth to the masses. Politicians these days just aren't built like that I am sad to say (I thought about this line a bit more after I read through it -- surely some politicians must be proud of this heritage -- I have to think / hope that, anyway).

Now, as for normal folks – differentiated from the politicians, I say, tongue only partially in cheek -- I think I understand why most folks feel the way they do. I guess that many of the great great grand sons and daughters of those who fought and sometimes died for what they viewed as their country all those many years ago are probably now ashamed or (what would be worse, in my mind) indifferent of a heritage that is as honorable to this girl’s heart as that of the Revolutionary War or any other war fought by praiseworthy people who believe in the justness of their cause.

Blame poor education or the loss of an oral tradition or the terror that comes with being labeled racist or some other nasty name. Whatever the reason, nowadays a lot of folks want to let the Secessionist part of their heritage just moulder over and turn dusty, like a precious book sitting ignored and unread in the attic. And yes , that hurts my heart a bit, friends and kinfolk. A book that their parents and grandparents read with pride because it was one that THEIR grandparents wrote.

But not everybody feels this way, I am so very, very proud to tell you. Last night I had the honor to attend a hushed respectful service, held on sacred ground. Ground that was consecrated by the remains that were interred there -- which represented the lives these men led and the sacrifices they made and hardships they and their families endured, oh so long ago . Last night men and women and children all gathered together to celebrate the lives and commemorate the passing of the honored Confederate dead. No one there was a racist -- anyone who thinks such a thing is missing the point. There was no hate in this service. No one shouted nor uttered anything resembling an epithet, at least not within my hearing.  No, this was not about disrespecting anyone. It was about respecting a proud past and an honorable heritage. I am proud of the people who came to this service and I am not even a little bit ashamed of the tears I cried as I stood there among them. To all who stood there with me: Thank You, from the bottom of my heart!

Wearing the American Flag Insensitive?? WTH??

I am a down to earth daughter of the South who has been gifted with a caring heart, a mind that reacts to illogical absurdities and a mouth that is prone to running off a bit (a touch more often than the Lord would probably like sometimes) over life’s inequities.

Today ALL THREE of those body parts are engaged, friends and kinfolk, because today I just read about something it has set my grits to bubbling over! [ I apologize in advance for those who are allergic to metaphor and redundancy-- I use them both sometimes to help me make a point or two, as you will soon see.]

Recently some American high school students (out near San Francisco, I know, but that is still America doggone it) wore some T-shirts that had the American flag on them and it got them kicked out of school for their trouble. Happened on the 5th of May -- Cinco de Mayo, get it? -- a day which commemorates some MEXICAN folks whomping up on some FRENCH folks during the Battle of Puebla, in MEXICO (and hey, good on 'em I say, but when did Mexico become America). So when those American kids wore their country's flag on the 5th of May, 2010 --- did I mention that I am referring to California the US State– not Baja California, the Mexican state --- when those US High School students wore the Stars and Stripes, their US High School principal -- showing the leadership and patriotism I have come to expect from US public High School principals in the last decade or so – this paragon of bravery and virtue barred his students from wearing the stars and stripes and sent our country's flag home, along with the children who wore it.

OK, I admit it -- to me Cinco de Mayo has always been pretty much just another excuse to have a margarita. A drinking and eating establishment that I would sometimes frequent in my mis-spent youth used to put cute little Mexican flags in their tequila drinks on 5 May, about where the umbrella might go in a fancier drink. After margarita #2 or so, I might even wave the tiny little drink flag around a bit and reflect very lightly on the fact that we have a neighbor to our south that, Pancho Villa and Santa Anna not withstanding, is by-and-large full of some more or less nice folks. There, for me anyway, is where the holiday (remember, NOT AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY) pretty much began and ended. Gotta say I never really put much thought into the Battle of Puebla.

All that to say that I guess I am dismayed but not really surprised that an American educator would determine that wearing the stars and stripes is somehow offensive to the sensitivities of the Mexican kids and/or the Mexican American kids on that day, many of whom I'd bet were busily waving the MEXICAN flag all around school. A large one it is to be presumed and without the benefit it is also to be presumed (and hoped for) -- of margaritas.


Tell you what -- I'd be willing to not care if anyone of any ancestry tied to any country who wants to wear or wave the flags of that country (be it Mexico, Holland or Pago Pago, I do not care) on whatever high holy days are important to their particular country. But for goodness' sakes, please dont prevent Americans (or anyone, for that matter) from wearing the AMERICAN flag IN AMERICA on any damn day they want to!

The same AMERICAN flag (minus some stars) that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner when he saw that the British couldn't shoot it down in the War of 1812. This same flag that a lot of brave Marines and their equally brave Navy Corpsmen fought to get up Mount Surabachi on Iwo Jima in the hell that was the island hopping campaign of WWII. The same flag (and by granny I am proud to say it is the ONLY flag) sticking in the sunny soil of the Moon. Some high school principal has deemed that this US flag is inappropriate to wear on ANOTHER COUNTRY'S HOLIDAY in an AMERICAN High School. I bet other schools have the same policy. Probably a lot of them.

I don’t like where this country is going. And no American should.