Minority Report

Remember the Tom Cruise movie Minority Report , where in the future, criminals are pursued,caught, charged, and tried before the crimes they commit, ? If so, this, Two N.Y. Girls Held Over Terror should be as chilling to you as it is to me.
"Investigators were concerned that the girls might be recruited sometime in the future for a suicide mission by a suspect in an ongoing terrorism investigation, one of the officials said. They decided to detain the pair before they could become involved, the official added..
"The Times cited a government document that said the FBI believed the girls posed "an imminent threat to the security of the United States..."
"Two law enforcement officials, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the case is pending,...suggested that it may have exaggerated the threat."
"Marc A. Raimondi, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (search), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (search), would confirm only that two juveniles had been arrested on "administrative immigration violations" and remain in federal custody."
Is this life imitating art? Or has the future arrived?
posted by wanda at 8:26 AM

Reality TV Politics

Carl Jung, one of the fathers of psychology, oft remarked "people cannot stand too much reality..."
Which may explain why this latest news on Tom DeLay , is really more of a non-news kind of thing.
How is it there could be any doubt this man is almost (?) the most immoral man in politics? Which considering the bottom feeding scum that are attracted to and make their living in this particular occupation, is saying a lot .
How is it no matter what crap comes out about him, he always comes up smelling like roses? Either that, or people just damned well don't care. Of course one only has to look at the President to know it's more likely the ladder. Bill Clinton was nailed to the wall for lying about a blow job. Apparently in this mostly red state/return to old fashioned morals country, sex is the only thing one is not allowed to lie about. Anything else is carte blanche! What else could explain the continued support of men like DeLay and Dubya?
Mr Jung, nailed this one dead on.
posted by wanda at 8:31 AM

The Prime Directive, Part Deux

With all the talk about Living Wills . I've been pondering the idea of what I'd really put in mine. Which has lead me to wonder. Suppose (for the sake of argument) I were to actually want something similiar to what I posted in the orginal Prime Directive (see March 29th post). What would people think? Would they think I'm being selfish for wanting to go on existing and placing such a heavy responsibility on my family? I'm guessing most would. In reality it's not about what I'd want at all. It's about what would be easier and less stressful for my family. Which of course would be, pull the plug and kick my butt to the curb (or crematorium as the case may be).
Even if my family were willing to bear the burden of my care, would it matter if there was no family money to support that wish? Or would the state, regardless of my wishes or theirs(my family), pull the plug anyway. I'm betting they would. So, all this talk about living wills is moot. As long as you go along with what's easiest and cheapest, then your wishes will be respected. Otherwise, all the kings horses(family,politicans,Priests,Ministers), and all the kings men (Governor's/President's) won't keep you alive.
What do YOU think?
posted by wanda at 6:46 AM

Go Rest High Upon That Mountain

Pope John Paul II has passed.

A tireless and outspoken campaigner for world peace and humanitarian causes, Pope John Paul II was the most traveled pontiff in history. Criss-crossing the globe on missions that were often as political as they were religious. There is no doubt, he was an instrumental part of the fall of the Soviet Union.

Regardless of your opinions of church doctrine or politics, you have to admit that were it not for his involvement with the Solidarity Movement in Poland before the fall of the Soviet Union, Poland would have remained firmly entrenched in communism far longer than it did.

He is gone. God rest his soul. We now pray for God to watch over the College of Cardinals and guide them to select a worthy successor to the throne of St. Peter.[ source]

I can think of no greater tribute than to say, (with the possible exception of his position regarding Priests and their abuse of the children in their charge) he represented all that was good and decent about Christianity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So,Go rest high on that mountain
Son your work on earth is done
Go to heaven a shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son!
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hear the song -- Go Rest High On That Mountain .
posted by wanda at 5:43 AM