Wandering Aimlessly About a Changing Backdrop of Faux Scenery

I have tried to stay away from thinking too deeply about the Oil Disaster.  I find it quite depressing on so many levels.  Have seriously contemplating taking some time off to go down and help clean animals, but I know that if I finally made it down there I would never leave. Course I am not discounting going either ... thoughts ...

I don't know what is worse ... the fact that the disaster has happened ... the Corporate Greed that created this horrifying nightmare ... the blind eye of Government Interest ... or the public and private reactions ... the division, the arguments, the trauma ... and the complete obliviousness to the obvious.  Why are people still arguing over response times, who does what, who hasn't done that, won't consider this ... who cares???? People are devastated and ... get over the politics.  Get over the strings that are being pulled to evoke emotion, we are all of the same race, the same population and the cleanup of this disaster belongs to everyone.  The Greed that has fueled the love affair with gas-guzzling SUVs and the like shoulder just as much responsibility as those who holler Drill Baby Drill.  Are you serious??

It goes well beyond the superficial addiction ... we have been conditioned as Pavlov's Dogs ... but have we given any thought to the hand ringing the bell??? We salivate for reasons fermented in false reliance ... similar to anxiously waiting for Santa to show up, only to learn that he does not exist ... problem being, the public has yet to learn that the "reasons" they acquaint with our fuel dependency are just as mythical as the jolly man in the velvety, plush red suit ... and more exploitive than the seasonal employment of elves ...

But that aside, the way I see it, if you have nothing constructive to contribute, keep your "incite-full" opinions muted.  But that is merely opinion. I dunno ... everyone IS entitled to their opinion, but in a time of crisis, if the words being spoken have no real value to invoke constructive action then they are merely a waste of energy and time.  

It is everywhere.  In all the recent events we've witnessed be they good, bad, indifferent, there is a plot at work, a subplot writhing beneath the surface of that plot and a master plan nudging, coaxing, bribing both plots onward ... And these are not Christian Soldiers ...

Arguments overseas regarding the placement of a crucifix, debate over the 10 commandments in courthouses across this nation ... and do you hear of any yelping over the positioning of a pentacle anywhere?? Of course not.  And yet, there are those who still derive immense amusement and implied moral gratification by acting out their compulsions to save the souls of others through the application of guilt, fear, intimidation, and threats when the fate of their own soul is jeopardized by the inherent hypocrisy of the speech spewed by their forked tongues and the violence inflicted by their wagging fingers.  Alas, I have fallen back when I should continue forward.  My apologies.  

We have evolved slightly enough to no longer burn people at the stake (physically anyway) but there are still standards in place that one does not question or defile.  We pride ourselves of being a people of acceptance and opportunity.  Opportunity, sure.  Acceptance, not so much.  We have half-heartedly allowed the religious differences to quietly shuffle off in different directions of quite acceptance and a truce-like stance ... leave my god out of this and I too shall not taunt yours ... However, such courteous agreements have not been offered in the wake of the Immigration Production.  Especially now.  Though religion has established a Working Foundation, we continue to wobble on the fence over racial and ethnic acceptance as they are precariously balanced opposite moral responsibility and humanitarianism.  Some individuals poking others with forceful fingers and words to see if they shall fall.  Teetering, the poking and verbal assaults continue to no avail.  Don't exhale too forcefully.  For many sway within the seas of confusion, discussion, and division.  

I don't want to feed into the dark rhetoric that is the stuff of nightmares and the driving hints of some MSM outlets, but I cannot help but to see a picture forming that should not be.  I wrote over at Lucid about the Kagan hearings and the timing of the confirmation as it will arrive alongside, or shortly ahead, of the hearings over Arizona's Immigration Law.  Word broke recently that the president's immigration legislation is soon to face Mass Exodus ... the Parting of the Congressional Sea ... the proposal is sure to be cut, hacked, essentially slaughtered to the point that it no longer resembles even the intent of the original thoughts put to paper ... all b/c those who have been elected to office have too many allegiances that do not agree or travel the same moral highway ... as a result, there will be no agreement, plenty of loud conversations and intense arguments ... and the death of a proposal.  All in the absence of a Burning Bush.

Healthcare was nothing compared to the conversations soon to be birthed from the contested womb of the weighty argument over who is worthy and who is not ... who is legal ... who is not ... who is undocumented ... and who has the moral clout to sit upon high and cast judgment upon those whom he does not know ... and I am not talking about going to church on Sunday either ... though I guess it would fit.  Same difference, just no plate being passed for money... only papers.  

In its place, an executive order will probably be penned to bridge the gap, appease the majority, and pave the way for further demonstration, dissent, discussion, and division ... though not necessarily in that order.  Whatever the case, I believe that mass amnesty will be granted and the aftermath will serve to create a new era.  Of what, not sure, but it is guaranteed to be a helluva ride.  Allegiances continue to narrow.  

The scenery backdrop continues to shift ... as a chameleon as he wanders aimlessly through a multicolored, multi-textured environment ... full of gullies, rocks, cliffs, meadows, and unforgiving deserts. 

Watched parts of the rehearsed, robotic drilling (no pun intended) of BP's chief Tony Hayward. Just interesting to see the reaction of the representatives, etc ... How they handled the opportunity to have the Mascot of the Nation's Ire before them for questioning.  Everyone knows that it was nothing more than a momentary sideshow.  Does anyone REALLY believe that anything will come of the hearings.  Maybe I am wrong.  I hope so.  But Hayward's answers were nothing short of mind-numbing-stubborness (but his job probably depended on it ... can't give up an estimated 6 million dollar salary for one glimmer of straightforwardness that could potentially cost the company his salary AND holiday pay indefinitely for many years to come) that would have the prolonged effect of producing immense waves of further outrage in those who are watching this situation unfold.

Was amazed at Hayward's composure.  He had to have rehearsed for hours to maintain that flat affect. Despite the horrendous nature of this catastrophe, the scope of this situation goes beyond Hayward and everyone knows it.  He shouldn't have been up there alone.  They should have lined all of them up, everyone who possessed enough clout to be included in the meeting with the president should have been up front and center today on Capital Hill.  Guess we have to wait for Part Two.  But, of course, to truly hold all those who were involved accountable would mean wrangling up more than those associated with BP, but we can't rock the boat.  Everyone's attention is focused sharply ... BP it is.  Later ...

"We care about the small people," said Svanberg.  Now, now ... tell us how you REALLY feel!

Are you serious??!!?? Yep.  There you have it people.   

Care continue your chanting.  Can you honestly say with a straight face that you condone the despicable actions of these filthy Corporate Swine, the chairman of BP who so eloquently allowed the American people a brief glimpse into his gold-plated psyche??? And then there were the testimonies of his fellow oil drilling cronies who candidly admitted that they possessed no feasible clean up plans if they happen to find themselves in the same unfortunate circumstances.

And, yet, the people Tweet on ... can you throw a tantrum on twitter??? Confine the stamping of pissed off feet, pouting and quivering lips, and irate rhetoric to ... what, 140 characters???? Guess not.  So we continue to be inundated with the all-to-familiar R vs D, blah, blah, blah ... back and forth about slowed, inadequate reactions ... the uselessness of boycotts ... etc .... Yep, let's continue the arguing ... meanwhile, the corporate Swine who brought about this disaster via their cost-cutting methods is held accountable through two minute soundbites recorded before they board their corporate jet in time for onboard-caviar-snack-time as they fly back over the pond to fall into their easy chairs with a heavy sigh as they flip the remote to find the news channel carrying their lame, superficial statements all the time wondering if the camera framed their most flattering angle.  And America's addiction has enough of a stronghold that the majority of people feel compelled to argue that they MUST have their OIL ... God forbid they are asked to make a real sacrifice or act on their convictions by taking actions like, oh, I dunno, parking their SUVs and walking or biking to work???  Or taking some other creative approach to curbing their enthusiastic support for the further ravaging of our delicate environment? Course, this is all assuming that the immediate-gratification personality has room to accommodate a leaning towards social consciousness ... a genuine leaning.

I know, I ask too much.  But consider this.  We are Guests.  We cannot conquer Nature.  As much as an affliction as we've become, the earth will find a way to purge Herself of the parasite that is continuously ravaging Her taking precious resources as a means of fueling further destruction without giving anything back other than more plastic, pollutants, etc ...  But as the Late, Great Carlin once said, maybe that is our purpose ... to make plastic??? Whatever the case, I don't understand the logic behind such selfish behaviors without any regard for consequences or the slightest glance at the big picture.  People are jumping up and down about the federal deficit the American government continues to build and the irresponsible passage of this debt onto future generations, but have they stopped to consider that MAYBE the debt will be the least of their worries??? How do they feel about leaving their children and grandchildren with an environment that isn't even fit to be inhabited??? 

But then, I guess the Small People aren't supposed to have such long-range, complex thoughts ... after all ... those with the money, those who hold the power will make sure that they are looked after ... taken care of ... given what they need to survive.  Least that is what those who control the strings would like the people to believe.  And the public is eating it up like candy.  

All or Nothing

People never cease to amaze.  The news of BP's alleged cutting corners, sacrificing safety for the sake of making more money ... and the jaws dropped.  HUH??  Are you serious?  This is NEWS?  I thought it was a foregone conclusion.  But then, knowing it and actually hearing it kind of drives the point home, so to speak.

There is outrage.  And as I have said before, all those responsible for this horrific disaster should carry the full weight of responsibility for however long it takes to make it right.  Period.  But we all know that no matter what is said now, the true impact of things is yet to come.  

There are still those who are croaking about drilling ... cringing at the possibility of an indefinite moratorium.  This has been a long time coming, had to wait for the perfect opportunity ... and here we are.  And what is the reaction ... MORE TALKING ... about the WRONG things.  Amazing.  But then, I guess I shouldn't be amazed ... people don't care about what goes on unless it touches them personally ... and threatening the Gravy Train of Big Oil and the ever-so-precious sensations that immediate gratification brings are construed as fighting words.  As I mentioned in my posting at Lucid, re: the immigration production, allegiances are narrowing.  A closer reflection of one's convictions is in order ... 

Anyway, just a moment's musings.  More to come later.  Until then ....

A Moment's Thoughts ... Minor Distractions

It would seem that the whole world is going to Hell ... @ least to the casual observer.  

I think that those who religiously adhere to the Gospel dispelled by the MSM need an intervention. Each generation supposedly believes that they had it worse than subsequent ones ... not sure about that, I can only speak as a part of this one ... and YES it would appear that things are going South quite quickly. But let's take a moment and examine where the attention of the "masses'" is focused.

Random headlines from the MSM:

The Oil Spill Still Gushes:  Alright, so they FINALLY found a cap that would "fit", but oil is STILL escaping and poisoning our waters, killing wildlife, and devastating entire communities. If it is still leaking, it is still gushing.  One drop of the toxic filth is one drop too many.  But, HEY!, it's alright!  BP is working to clean up its image ... spending how much on a PR campaign??? Shouldn't that money be going to help fund the clean-up and compensation efforts of the major F*&% UP????? Just sayin'.  Coverage is still heartbreaking to watch ... and the worst part of it all??? Just like Katrina, Haiti, and most recently the Flotilla Massacre, this too shall pass silently into the abyss in the company of other tragedies that have exhausted their 15 minutes.  The "newness" will wear off and there may be a snippit here or there in the average newscast to offer a well crafted "UPDATE" on the situation ... and that will be all.  So much for IN DEPTH coverage.  NO ONE'S pockets are deep enough to fund that kind of venture ... what were you thinking????  Once you learn that it all comes down to photo-ops, politics, and the other related filthy ilk the disappointment you feel may not sting so much ... maybe.  Anyone with any degree of social conscious is going to feel complete outrage and deep sense of helplessness and guilt regardless .... What better ingredients than those to spark some kind of action, reaction, or utterance to refocus attention to those things that matter most ...  Nothing big really ... just personal and moral responsibility to ourselves, one another, all living creatures, love, hope ... you know, all the things that DON'T boost profits, sell shares, or thrust a corporate agenda onto the shoulders of an unassuming public.  I bet if they made a commercial about valuable, good karmic principles, presented them in a fashionable, shiny manner and strategically placed them in valuable spots during prime time tv the glazed look of the average, trusting "public" might just crack for an instant ... a yearning for that which might actually contribute to filling that cold void that  until the present only had material goods, false promises and false hopes thrown at it but to no avail ... and, yet, we wonder why the ache lingers ... 

Comedy Central is out to "smear" or "get" Christians via its satirical and "offensive" portrayal of Jesus Christ:  Oh, and they "exalt" the Muslim faith ... The only question I have: What about the satirical commentary on the direct "In YOUR face" immediate issues we face as a society?? You know, all the taboo subjects that make most blush even though they KNOW there is a problem? Oh, that's right, push it to the side with the force of denial, cover it with the silky smooth judgment of the sinful ... and proceed to make snap judgments on things about which you know nothing ... and it is all OK b/c our faith tells us so.  

People raising Hell in NYC re: the proposed Mosque near Ground Zero:  Much ado about What?? All I will say is this, to negate or condemn the Muslim faith for the actions of a few radicals is insanity.  To condemn the entire faith b/c of a few fanatics is pure hypocrisy.  What about the nut-wing, gun-toten Christians who shoot up abortion clinics?  Don't care for that? Then let's humbly shuffle through history ... Inquisition, Burning Times, Crusades, Catholic vs. Protestant ... etc.  Thou should not cast stones ... For thy house is already shattered.

Immigration Reform:  Refer to Lucid.

Primary Races this coming Wk: Wouldn't be such a bad obsession if those who tout it would realize that just as all the other "shinies" dangling before the masses, this too shall pass with little to no impact on the overall picture.  Things are still screwed up and will continue to be so until people start to look at the overall picture.  Many a lesson could be learned from revisiting the Founding Documents. And just to give a heads-up, we ARE a Constitutional Republic ... NOT a democracy.  Look it up.

On more lighthearted notes ... wait ... wait ... I got it! .... Whoops, lost it. Wait ... Damn, lost it again. Gonna go look for some substitutes.  Back later.