Time to Move On…

The following was posted at the Alas Babylon Yahoo Group

Adam Whaley from Wales wrote:

It really got to me today, not the anthrax; not the bombing; not the political lies and deceit; not the you-know-you-major league assholes, not the markets crashing – nope, none of all the usual TEOTW stuff…

‘Herself’ wanted to go shopping! That, in itself being particularly arduous I can usually just about handle, but not today…

As seen:

No. 1. Plastic helium-filled balloons with an attached pre-printed message of one’s choice – presumably intended for its unwitting recipient. One of these stated “help save the planet – give someone a hug today”. It was made worse because it was captioned as spoken by a smiling cartoon dolphin!

No.2. A book on display in a mainstream bookshop entitled “Spells for Teenage Witches”. Subtitled: If you need extra help with exams…” that was as far as I got.

No. 3. Our usual coffee shop, a tempting slice of strawberry pavlova. On seeing a strange glittery phosphorescence coating said treat I enquired as to its edibility as was told: “Its sprayed on, they’ve all got it now, it makes it look better”.

No. 4. Everywhere. Harry Potter fridge magnets. Harry Potter absolutely bloody everything.

No. 5. Supermarket. Sushi comes to Wales. Yep, they bring this fish in by refrigerated air freight from you name it; New Zealand; Indonesia – unbelievable!

No. 6. A cardboard ’tissue box cover’ in various opalescent colours to colour-co-ordinate your decor. (£2.99).

No. 7. A six foot high CD tower made of exotic African hardwood in the stylised form of a giraffe.

We’re going to hell in a handbasket and the sooner the better I say. Let the lunatics take over the asylum, they’re welcome to it.

I’m outta here, it’s all been said before a thousand times.

Thanks Scott, Thanks Jay, Thanks everyone. It’s been real.

Ron Resnick responded:

Sorry to see you go Adam, but I think I understand.

There’s a point when you realise that what we have been discussing and speculating and sharing reaches a point where peeling off is just a natural progression.

One day you’re the bird.

One day you’re the windscreen.

…and then you may realise that you are both the bird AND the windscreen.

In another post at the Alas Babylon Ron Resnick responds to comments about a New York Times article stating that the United States is not in a religious war:

…”crusade,” an explicitly religious term, and one that simply ignores the fact that the last few major American interventions abroad—in Kuwait, Somalia and the Balkans—were all conducted in defence of Muslims.”
>>>>NOT IN DEFENCE OF MUSLIMS…BUT IN DEFENCE OF REGIMES WHO WOULD WORK WITH THE NEW WORLD ORDER
>>>>I find this NYT article just another bit of spin to divert people’s attention from the real fundamentalism… The need to control ENERGY resources.

Resnick’s response:

America and the other ‘New World Order’ states are fighting this war as the Imperial powers of the past fought theirs…for the control of vital resources. The rest is rhetoric and bunk.
If the big oil pools were in Africa, it would be there.  If the big oil pools were in Australia, then the focus of US policy would be there…I would not make the mistake of being deliberately distracted that there is a serious religious element to to all this.  The only religious element is the desire of the ‘free traders’ to extend their influence over ALL of the planet.  And when they’ve got rid of the Taliban regime, and Fidel and Saddam WHAT NEXT?  Well I believe the people who were on the streets in Seattle and protesting since will then become the enemy of the New World Order.
The legislation is in place.  The civil rights already being rolled back.  The crushing of dissent and waving of flags has begun.  And what of the founding fathers?
What of those men who opposed the British imperial rule over the 13 colonies?
They must be spinning in their graves.
Ron Resnick   Nelson N.Z.

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made….
“Simon and Garfunkel
‘The Sounds of Silence’

Joe White, Oregon, USA reading Resnick’s post was reminded of these other words by Paul Simon from his song American Tune:

Many’s the time I’ve been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I’m alright, I’m alright
I’m just weary to my bones
Still, you don’t expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far a-way from home, so far away from home

I don’t know a soul who’s not been battered
I don’t have a friend who feels at ease
I don’t know a dream that’s not been shattered
or driven to its knees
Oh, but it’s alright, it’s alright
for we lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the
road we’re traveling on
I wonder what’s gone wrong
I can’t help it, I wonder what’s gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The Statue of Liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying

We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the a-ge’s most uncertain hours
and sing an American tune
Oh, and it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
You can’t be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow’s going to be another working day
And I’m trying to get some rest
That’s all I’m trying to get some rest