Misterimpatient

It was announced by the Army that at least one of their bases has decided that rather than honoring, individually, the sacrifice of the fallen, they’ll wrap these ceremonies in a neat little bow and hold them once a month. The article from the NY Times goes on to explain the rational for this. In short, these ceremonies on Army bases are a new thing with this war. Because we have an all volunteer Army, soldiers have real relationships with their Army base and the community around. In the past, drafted soldiers only spent enough time on an Army base to get trained and shipped out. The commander’s logic here is that these ceremonies are new, require a lot of resources and distract from other tasks. There are other ceremonies in the unit and the soldier’s home time.

The family is what matters here. As long as another soldier’s life isn’t put in harm’s way, these individual ceremonies must continue.

Later…

Filed by misterimpatient at 3:30 pm under Patter, Un-categorized Outrages
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I came across the serialized story of Jill Carroll’s captivity in Iraq. This was for me a riveting tail of powerlessness. After reading it, I’m not clear how I feel about her captors. Disgust, certainly. But what else? I don’t know.

I do know that anyone who thinks the Iraqis can avoid an all out civil war, (as opposed to the short story version underway), is going to have to explain how they deal with these bastards and the 1000’s of others like them. With more being minted everyday, this seems to be the impossible dream.

Later…

Filed by misterimpatient at 10:45 pm under Un-categorized Outrages
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OK. Just no justice:

From News of the Weird

Wheelchair-confined Richard Paey committed almost exactly the same violations of Florida prescription drug laws that radio personality Rush Limbaugh did, with a different result: Limbaugh’s sentence, in May, was addiction treatment, and Paey’s, in 2004, was 25 years in prison. Both illegally possessed large quantities of painkillers for personal use, which Paey defiantly argued was (and will be) necessary to relieve nearly constant pain from unsuccessful spinal surgeries after an auto accident, but which Limbaugh admitted was simply the result of addiction. (In fact, if Limbaugh complies with his plea bargain, his conviction will be erased.) Paey’s sentence now rests with a state Court of Appeal. [Tampa Tribune, 2-8-06]

Is there more to say about this? Sure. Things like…So? New?

Later…

Filed by misterimpatient at 9:38 pm under Justice, sometimes, Un-categorized Outrages
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If you’re not a NY Times Select subscriber, you won’t be able to see this link so maybe you should buy the tree-based version of today’s paper.

In short: Girl is kidnapped. Girl is brothelized (yes, it is so common it deserves it’s own verb). Years pass. She fights, she escapes. She faces death.

Can you guess what country and culture fosters this sort of outrage? Well, maybe our president can help:

“America treasures the relationship we have with our many Muslim friends, and we respect the vibrant faith of Islam which inspires countless individuals to lead lives of honesty, integrity, and morality. This year, may Eid also be a time in which we recognize the values of progress, pluralism, and acceptance that bind us together as a Nation and a global community. By working together to advance mutual understanding, we point the way to a brighter future for all.”

Presidential Message Eid al-Fitr
December 5, 2002

Slight less short version: Aisha Parveen was kidnapped at the age of 14 and forced into a brothel. She refused to have sex with customers. She was beaten, tortured and drugged. Finally, a man with honor helps her escape and marries her. What happens? The brothel owner (there has to be a better description then this) claims she is his wife and goes to court to have her returned. She is also being charged with adultery. The court is hearing this case tomorrow.

Where is the ” integrity, and morality” in this? What am I missing? OK. The court may decide this case correctly, which would be both surprising and joyous. On the other hand, why the hell is it even in court? Why isn’t the BO on trial?

Is it really possible to engage this culture rationally? Are we, once again, embracing an evil simply because it suits our short term needs (compare this to our embrace of dictators of the past like Pinochet).

Something is very wrong here and I haven’t even started to on the death penalty for converting from Islam. I honestly do NOT want to judge a culture based on the “bad news” in the press but can someone show me the positive side of this culture as practiced today?

Later…

Filed by misterimpatient at 7:47 am under Un-categorized Outrages
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