This Little TV Girl has HAD it! Now go blame someone.
05/06/2003
2:45 p.m.
I must be going insane 'cause this is what I read on the internet this morning. Organized crime was involved in the looting of Iraq's national museum and the United States will fully back international efforts to retrieve the stolen artifacts, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft told an Interpol meeting Tuesday.The comments came at a conference of art experts and law enforcement officials aimed at creating a database listing items looted in the aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. "From the evidence that has emerged, there is a strong case to be made that the looting and theft of the artifacts were perpetrated by organized criminal groups criminals who knew precisely what they were looking for," Ashcroft said. "Although the criminals who committed the theft may have transported the objects beyond Iraq's borders, they should know that they have not escaped the reach of justice," he added, praising Interpol's efforts so far. Ashcroft did not say whether he suspected international organized crime such as the Mafia was involved in the looting, but other experts at the conference said they did not have any evidence of such involvement so far. "We are waiting for more information," said Jean-Pierre Jouanny, an Interpol specialist in theft of cultural objects. In other words, the mob did it. At least that's what 'ole Johnny Boy is saying. We can't find Osama, we seemed to have misplaced Saddam, so now we're gonna go blame some stuff on Joey Soprano. Pardon me if I'm laughing a little too loud for you. Y'know, I work in the news. I am part of the television media. I hear about silly things happening every day. But this takes the cake. Am I the only one who thinks that the government is just going to continue ponting fingers at whoever gets on their nerves? And, of course, are we as a nation going to continue to follow blindly, not questioning? 'Cause, y'know, if you do question your government, then you are a bad American. Bad, bad, bad. It's like they're thinking As long as we keep giving the American people someone else to be mad at, they'll forget about all those other things we said that haven't really turned out to be true. Excuse me, now I must roll my eyes. I've pretty much had it. There was more to this article, but, really, what's the point? It all says the same stuff: We're making all these accusations. We have no real proof, but you better believe us. 'Cause we're the government. That makes us right. And pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! (Oh, fine. Here. Go read it for yourself.) John Ashcroft is like that annoying hall monitor in elementary school that nobody liked who really enjoyed giving detention. Except on crack. And with a lot more power. I'm so tired of being told that I need to be mad at this person or that group or that country. What is this, high school? Did the head cheerleader dump you, President Bush, and now your entire clique has to hate her? Are we going to tp her house tonight after the football rally? Ok, now I'm just ranting. Lemme get back to the point. Remember that little thing back in the 1700's called the Revolutionary War? This country was founded by a group of people questioning their government. Back then, a person was a true patriot when they stood up for what they believed in. Now, you're only a patriot when you whole-heartedly believe what your government tells you to believe. Why, all of a sudden, are the Dixie Chicks un-American? Why is Susan Sarandon overstepping her bounds? Why are we putting so much stock into the opinions of entertainers? They're just personal opinions. Guess what, folks? These are citizens - just like the rest of us. It's part of their constitutional freedom to think differently than others. Why can't anyone tell me where those weapons of mass destruction are? Have we completely forgotten about Osama Bin Laden? Does anybody know for sure if we took out the Taliban? Are we just going to keep attacking countries that disagree with us until the entire world is one big pile of rubble from us "liberating the people"? And what's with those "freedom" fries anyway? I have a few friends that also work in the media who are probably going to frown at me after reading this, but you know what? I don't care. I'm tired of being afraid that someone is going to slap my hand if I disagree. I'm tired of worrying whether I'll be labelled un-cool. This is not a popularity contest! There was a movie that came out in 1995 called The American President starring Michael Douglas, Annette Benning, Martin Sheen, and Michael J. Fox. I'm gonna leave you with some quotes from that movie. They keep ringing in my ears. Let's see what you think. AJ McInerney(Martin Sheen) - The President doesn't answer to you Lewis.
Lewis Rothschild(Michael J. Fox) - Oh yes he does AJ, I'm a citizen, this is my President! And in this country it is not only permissible to question our leaders, it's our responsibility.
President Andrew Shepherd(Michael Douglas) - The symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.
President Andrew Shepherd(Michael Douglas) - You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil who is standing center stage advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. Sometimes you can learn a lot from the movies.
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� Lysistrata 2003-2004
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