The Music Of the Primes

A guitar can be considered both, a musical instrument as well as percussion. Therefore a man alone with a guitar can often make credible music. Percussion came first - the big bang - then another, and another (echoes)… Then came a more gentle sound, probably in the form of wailing. When the wailing adapted itself to the beat, music was born. Finally, there was the ‘word’ and history began in earnest.

Similarly, harmony is a blend of the secular and the spirit. For the spirit to soar, it needs the discipline of a steady pulse. There has been undue emphasis on just pulse lately. Sound has been allowed to become discordant - the din of people expressing disparate agonies - every nation divided, pulling both ways. Voices shouting slogans in short, bumper sticker bursts mimic the staccato of an incomplete drum set. It has become a lingering sign of our times - 'The WHO' destroying their instruments at the end of the set. Drumsticks tossed into the audience. What are they going to do with them except clobber each other?

We are regressing. The drums of war are heard all around. Even God has been roused from his lofty abode and is seen hurling lightning bolts mindlessly here and there. The ground under Haiti trembles, and over a year later we still cannot cope. Iran threatens, and we shrink from our duty to stop it. And today, Japan stands helplessly while watching a wall of water advancing.

America too watches helplessly as it is being consumed by a tsunami of debt. In New York, the most expensive musical ever is being kept off-line while the bodies drop from the wires.

Curious about Spiderman: The day before Glenn Beck quit the airwaves in New York, he delivered and impassioned endorsement of Spiderman. He claimed that it represents a huge step forward in live theater, akin (perhaps) to switching from watching black and white to color TV. He spent a full half hour praising this show, saying (and I paraphrase) it is definitely worth the price of an over-inflated ticket and even the added cost of a flight from anywhere.

I remember thinking that Beck might simply be honoring some contractual obligation. Or, did he really believed what he was saying? I was torn, but leaning towards the latter. For one thing, he had high praise for the script (and music). He warned that liberals - especially New York liberals - would not like the story. Ticket sales spiked immediately after Beck’s show. Then, other reviews started filtering in. These, as expected, were overwhelmingly negative.

It is entirely possible that a conservative narrative cannot survive on Broadway. In today’s hyper-partisan climate, even the skeletal music of Bono, it seems, cannot endure the drumming of the ideological fist.

While in many ways the staccato bursts of gunfire in the Middle East seem to dominate our own narratives, 'The WHO’s classic coda to “My Generation” comes immediately to mind. And with it, the final scene of smashed guitars and sparking amplifiers.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

Same As The Old Boss

With the illusion of American influence in world affairs rapidly fading, there are several players already making moves to fill in the gap. Of these, perhaps the most visible, is the UN. The UN, however, represents only a small shift away from U.S. (non)-policy. It is also strapped for cash, riddled with corruption, and highly politicized. It is either unable or unwilling to use force, depending instead on containment, negotiation and the paying of bribes. The UN takes no firm positions, tending instead to go along with the strong horse.

These are also the tendencies that have led to America’s downfall. There is no reason to expect the UN to succeed with the very same methods that have rendered America clownishly irrelelevant. Therefore, a UN high-profile presence in any of the world’s trouble spots will ultimately not make a significant difference.

Thus far the UN has been used primarily to reap money and concessions from America. It is fully in support of ‘global warming’ initiatives which are then used to put pressure on the United States to give more money and retract its claws. UN soldiers have been accused of plunder and rape. They have been accused of extortion. They have been uses as human shields. Though blind themselves, they have been used as seeing eye dogs. They are well recognized scofflaws to which any cop in New York can readily testify.

Where Israel is concerned, the UN’s bias against it has been legendary. The UN is heralded by New York’s liberal elites (including Jews) and Washington progressives as the 'be all and end all'. This is in part because of the UN’s appearance of civility. Members of the UN are well paid. They are given a lofty platform from which to opine; they tend to smile a lot; except when it is in their best interest to frown for a laugh line, usually at the expense of Israel.

If the people of the Cote D’Ivoire are depending on the UN to settle things, they’ve got a long wait. They’d do much better to look to themselves if their aim is to avoid another African genocide. I understand it’s in the blood over there. A volatile mix of religion - especially Islam - and politics practically guarantees chaos. This time the U.S. won’t ride to the rescue. Look at what’s just happened in Haiti, less than a thousand miles from our shores. We’ve engaged the services of not less than three living U.S. presidents (along with much fanfare) to help. The reason there has been no reporting on this is because all three have failed.

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Insufferable

I don't think we can trust the Russians to do our bidding. The Russians are like a rusty old knife - impossible to cut anything without mangling it. If anything, China is the sharper tool in the drawer. We, remain the only ones with some inkling of reality. We are the last hope of having it be right for at least some of us.

Unfortunately, we're in the midst of a class struggle. It's been called other things, but it's basically about class. The elites have grown too big for their britches and have become insufferable to the rest of us. They got the shock of their lives when they discovered that not everybody thinks they're so great. Before we solve that particular problem among ourselves, international intrigue remains off limits for us. We may even have to leave Haiti and Israel go.

I doubt if the next couple of elections will solve much of anything. What it will do is separate us according to where we are willing to take a stand. Then comes the battle. The losers won’t want to throw in the towel - and it'll go on like that for a while. Who knows how it'll end up? All I know is that the rift has grown too deep. It can't possibly come together in my lifetime.

Guilt: A Texas (sized) Gusher

Rahm Emanuel’s now famous phrase, "You don't ever want a crisis to go to waste." comes to mind. A crisis always generates guilt. Guilt is as good as money. Guilt needs time to incubate. If I remember right, in the schoolyard nobody was spared if they happened to be a little different, or obviously weak. The bullies were merciless. Guilt (or shame) was something that was taught by rote. “Go and apologize!” took the place of ten Hail Mary’s. Once the pump is primed, guilt spews like a Texas gusher. I’ve heard reporters returning from Haiti say, they felt guilty coming home to a fully stocked refrigerator. Many have been moved to contribute significantly to charities that concern themselves primarily with Haiti relief.

No doubt, slavery was one of the great stains on our own history. To this day we are made to feel guilty about it. It has spawned a great industry – rivaled only by holocaust and ‘global warming’ advocates - that promotes guilt for purposes of extortion. (I support the existence of the State of Israel not because of the holocaust but because it is the right thing to do now.) Guilt is the cash currency that derives from disaster.

Extortion is not the only game in town. Preferential treatment and quotas are also in play. If carried to extreme, it can kill meritocracy itself and result in tyranny by an ‘aggrieved’ minority. This is what happened when we elected Barack Hussein Obama.

Those who play this game never tell the whole story; that those profiting from disaster – especially after so many years - should actually be the ones profoundly ashamed for allowing themselves to be treated better than others who might have contributed more than mere ancestral suffering. To my mind it would be highly insulting to receive special consideration on the basis of skin color alone, or having lived x number of years; or having red hair; etc. Such an empty gesture, anyone with eyes can see, would be bestowed without merit and, thus, would be essentially worthless and condescending. I would politely refuse to participate in a scheme by which I am used as a mere tool to quiet somebody else’s throbbing conscience. I would not dare to come between any sinner and his God in this way – especially if the sin was specifically contrived for some devious purpose.

Unfortunately there are those who play that game to the hilt. They persist because they can catch many fish. Satire directed at Obama is not acceptable because he’s black; satire directed at Bush is acceptable because he’s white. We have entire populations falling for the gig. Two years ago, America fell for it. Even now, that Obama has proven himself to be supremely inept, it is still unacceptable to ridicule him. Any criticism of his actions must always be couched in, “…but we like him personally.” I’d like to know just how many of those who say that, actually know him personally.

We Are Leaderless

I recently read a short story by Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811) entitled, "The Earthquake in Chile". German writers of that time wrote with the intention of making a grand, universal statement, rather than (what has become fashionable of late) presenting simply a 'slice of life'. Kleist's intent was to buttress the theme that the effects of any sudden and unexpected act of God, resulting in cataclysmic death and destruction, will be overcome in relatively short order and the affected population continues exactly as before.

This is quite opposed to the notion that the temporary leveling of cities and the social order will result in a fresh and optimistic start for the survivors. No, Kleist clearly maintains by example that what was bad before, remains bad; and what was good, remains good. We have seen in our own recent history as Germany has emerged as a world power even after having been bombed into the Stone Age. The same is true of Japan. Both countries had advanced and resourceful populations that refused to give up hope. It must be said that both nations accepted material aid (primarily from us) and knew to use it to their advantage rather than waste it on kleptocrats that know nothing but beggary.

Haiti was a failed state to begin with. It will resume as a failed state. Only now it will have an excuse to blame any number of (preferably) foreign actors, history and, of course, God. As such it will collapse even deeper into need. There is no viable government in Haiti. The people have existed in abject poverty despite the good graces of self-loathing charities and NGO's. A while back, I watched a program on the BBC showing a ‘slice of life’ in which a Haitian woman made her meager living on the streets of the capital making and selling mud pies for people to eat. What Haiti needs is a strong benevolent hand.

America could fit the bill but is reluctant to take the reigns. Already we have been accused of trying to take over the country. We are unsure of ourselves and thus are sensitive to the accusation. It is as though we are moved to help by the grace of God even with our hands cut off.

I've heard it said that the best solution for Haiti would be to evacuate the country and bring the people here. In the meantime we could rebuild the nation. Sounds plausible; even practical. But already there is a vocal political opposition in place that would balk at the mass influx of potential Democrat voters. "Spend the money now and keep them there," they say, "because in the long run it will cost us more to have them on our welfare rolls."

What is necessary now is decisive leadership that is capable of assigning priorities and cutting red tape. Additionally, this leadership must have the support and trust of the people both here and in Haiti. Currently we have neither. We don't have leadership as to what to do with the people of Haiti specifically, and we don't trust our own leadership to do the right thing in any case. The election of Barack Hussein Obama has rendered us leaderless. We, as they, are entirely on our own. If the result of the election tonight in Massachusetts does not confirm this fact, nothing will.

If John McCain Would Be President Now

The narrative of America as exploiter and oppressor is as much a myth as ‘global warming’ ever was. It has worked so effectively for America’s enemies that even with palpable proof to the contrary, they are loath to let it go lest America’s convenient standing as global pariah be diminished in any way.

We now see a concerted effort by the Ummah, Venezuela and others to attack America’s motives in its humanitarian effort in Haiti. It is and will be a difficult task for months to come and, as the days drag on, it will only get more difficult. Every set-back will be noted and broadcast widely and laden with blame; every triumph will be marginalized. The same strategy was in play during the Bush administration. In the end, we can expect either to be sued by Haiti’s earthquake survivors for gross malfeasance, or face trial for war crimes in The Hague. (By the way, is it true that the marines’ guns in Haiti aren’t loaded?)

As most anti-American rhetoric originates in America itself, where it is scripted and disseminated by highly organized Leftist groups (concentrated primarily in academia, unions, and the media), we will thankfully be able to avoid the worst of it thanks to our current president. Even the most rabid America haters find themselves painfully divided. On one hand they see Barack Hussein Obama as their best hope of bringing this once great country to its bloody and shattered knees; on the other, they are an impatient lot, wondering what is taking him so long.

Just a thought: What do you think would happen if Rush Limbaugh went on air today and openly called for the people of Massachusetts to commit election fraud? I’d expect he would not be doing his show tomorrow. And it would be right. Yet, the Left in this country can get away with anything. We’ve become immune to its outrages. We no longer hold them to account. We dismiss even criminality when anyone of the card-carrying Left is involved. Go down the list and see how often it’s happened. You think mere lies about our soldiers in Haiti (and elsewhere) and their reason for being there would draw condemnation from anyone? Just imagine what would have been said if John McCain would be president now!