[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcJn5XlbSFk]
I should react to FOX”s recent comments about the Canadian military with reflex tribal outrage. How dare they insult our country, our troops and our mounties? I should pander, wave a flag about and engage in some sort of grotesque, reactionary demagoguery. Perhaps I could demand a law, a ban or an apology.
It would be easy and I could do a good job of it. The people who usually hate me would love me. And I won’t lie, it’d be nice to be congratulated rather than attacked for my political opinions. But I won’t do it. I couldn’t look in the mirror if I did and, if there’s one thing I love, it’s looking in the mirror.
I insult our country, its symbols and our cops/soldiers/bureaucrats all the time. And I catch a fair amount of flak, death threats and assorted nonsense for it. In any country that approximates a free one, you’re certainly allowed to insult whatever and whomever you please for any reason you please.
And you’re allowed to object when people offend you. But never forget: Freedom is never forcing someone to shut up as long as they never force you to listen.
There should be no ban of FOX, our elected leaders overstepped their office by even commenting on this so-called issue and we are not owed an apology.
And don’t get me wrong — I hate FOX as much as the next man. But, looking at this comedy bit, I’m reminded of Canada’s CBC and it’s repeated, tax-funded anti-Americanisms. I’m not talking about intelligent critiques of their policy, media or culture. I’m talking about “Talking to Americans.”
This sort of thing.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhTZ_tgMUdo]
I did not hear a lot of outrage from Canadians about that being unfair as well as unfunny. I didn’t see any sort of outrage about it being hate propaganda.
And it is.
If you did the same bit, and titled it “Talking to Jews/Blacks/Gays/Natives/Arabs” it would have actually been illegal. And shit, you want to see some real pig ignorance, how about “Talking to Afghani Tribal Leaders.”
And don’t fool yourself. You could do the bit that way. Americans aren’t particularly or exceptionally stupid. Ignorance is not a measure of intelligence and neither quality knows any ethnic, religious or national boundaries.
It’s quite easy to stick cameras in faces, ask about something and make people look stupid. People are stupid.
“Hey Canuck, quick now and without google, who is the president of Brazil?”
I don’t know either. I’m not even sure if that’s how you spell Brazil. I’m not claiming to be an exception. I’m just sayin’ neither are you.
People like to make other people look stupid because it makes them look smart. What a cheap little thrill. What a smug and ridiculous country is this when our government can fund “Talking to Americans” and then get up on its high horse about what some hack comedian says in the dead of night.
Seriously: If you want to start comparing and contrasting cultures, FOX News is the lowest gutter of their culture. The CBC is the apex of ours. What the fuck does that tell you? Nothing good about us.
If Canadians are angry about that FOX bit, that’s fine. But, for a change, I’d like to see some human outrage that comes from a principle rather than a tribal reflex. People who object to bad traits in others should first object to these traits in themselves. Otherwise they’re not objecting to a trait but to a group.
The next time Obama does something, prints up a trillion dollars, makes fun of handicapped bowlers, gives a fortune to corporations, sends robots to attack Pakistani villages, just ask yourself how you would feel if Bush did that. Then feel that way. It’s the right way to feel. Right and wrong is non-partisan.
I loathe both Canada and America but my problems with the people who carry either passport is on a person to person basis. What I loathe is the state, the Nation and the involuntary membership in a tribe no matter what tribe it may be. You’re born into a club, a race and a class. It stinks.
And we’re all complicit in this horror-show because, as it stands, the state is the only institution capable of delivering its goods and services. We’re like abused children sucking at Ma’s teat. Can’t yet support ourselves so we have to take it.
But this shouldn’t stop us from looking to the future. Especially now, when it’s so obvious that Mama State has cancer and is looking to hand our custody to over to Step-Daddy Corporation. And that guy beat her, molested us and drinks.
I object to the FOX bit because they want more war, more war and more war. After that, they’ll take some more war. I object to it because it’s boring.
But I objected to FOX a long time ago. That’s why I don’t watch the shit.
Or the CBC.
And unlike FOX, the CBC still forces me to pay for them.
You can decide what’s worse.
5 comments
Froggie2121
March 26, 2009 at 10:28 am (UTC -5)
You are an idiot.
Ryan Oakley
March 26, 2009 at 12:25 pm (UTC -5)
You’re right. But at least I’m not an anonymous idiot.
John
March 27, 2009 at 6:34 pm (UTC -5)
You’re still an idiot.
Ryan Oakley
March 28, 2009 at 1:31 am (UTC -5)
And you’re still an anonymous idiot, John.
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March 30, 2009 at 8:30 am (UTC -5)
In the UK we pay TV licence fee of approximately £140 per year, which not only goes towards paying for BBC News, but also salaries of overblown annoying presenters and hosts, who earn millions of pounds a year. And if you don’t pay it, because you don’t have a TV, or you only use your TV for DVD’s, you get the priveledge of receiving threatening letters and visits to your door by heavies threatening court. It’s true!