Commentary

491 posts

The Sandstorm

On one of the innumerable field ops leading up to the order to cross the line of departure into Iraq, we ranged deep into the desert of Kuwait, farther yet than we had been.

By that point, we of the Comm Platoon were used to our assigned jobs; as soon as the vehicles stopped, we raced out of them and set up the antenna hill as quickly as humanly possible. We became very efficient over time with putting together and throwing up the 20-foot-tall OE antennas, breaking only one or two of the things per op. Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Bullying

Right now Gawker has a post up about a 15-year-old Staten Island girl who committed suicide after essentially being slut-shamed by her high school football team. As is becoming the macabre norm, the young girl took to Twitter leaving hints of her state of mind before carrying out the act two days later. “I cant, im done, I give up,” she said. What is going on? And why does it seem like “bullying” has taken on a whole new genesis in the last two decades? Continue reading →

“Retard” is Ann Coulter’s “Go To” Word

Oh, remember a couple months ago when reigning Worst Person in the World, Bill O’Reilly, said an outrageous thing about DNC speaker, Sandra Fluke? And he made us all bubble up with loathing and face-igniting rage? Well, his mate in abominable-person hell has spoken up and challenged him for the position of soul-sucking, earth-destroying bringer of cosmic doom from the sheer amount of detestable, turgid shit-spew they’ve launched into the world. Why, hello, Ann Coulter. Have a seat. Continue reading →

Presidential Debate Liveblog: Around the World in 90 Minutes

We live in a world where new threats constantly emerge, power structures are frequently in flux and diplomacy is increasingly important to those who hold power. As leader of the free world (in theory) the President of the United States must posses a nuanced and thoughtful world view.

The best way for candidates to display that worldview is in a series of soundbites spread out over 90 minutes to an audience of folks who would have a hard time finding the Middle East on a map. Fortunately, we’ll hear nothing of the President’s secret war, nor of Mitt Romney’s dis-interest in putting a stop to it. Nor will we hear about the vast powers to make war that the Executive branch has accumulated in the last 30 years, because acknowledging it might mean giving some of them back.

Continue reading →

President McGovern is Dead

Former President George McGovern died Sunday morning at the age of ninety, at his home in Sioux Falls, S.D. A two-term senator from South Dakota, McGovern served as vice-president under Robert Kennedy from 1969 to 1977. After a contentious primary battle, McGovern narrowly lost the presidential election of 1976 to the Republican ticket of Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. He was elected President in 1980, and re-elected in 1984. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982, and the American Society of Historians ranked President McGovern ninth in their list of Ten Greatest Presidents in 2004. Continue reading →

Akin, Ryan, and Walsh, the “No Exceptions” Anti-Abortion Crusaders

Just when you think the Republicans have learned their lesson when it comes to speaking about all the mystical goings on inside enchanted lady-wombs, here they go again, proving that they should just come forth and say that they really believe magic storks should bring babies down from Heaven or Nova Scotia, or Xanadu, whatever. Women, yeah, you need not apply. Continue reading →

As the Election Heats Up the Racists Take their Cue

We’ve apparently reached the part of the 2012 election where all the racist assheads emerge from the shadows in full bigoted regalia.

While not surprising, it does just make us….well, what? What does this particular demonstration make us feel? This may seem like an easy question, but maybe it isn’t so easy. Is it enraging? Sure. But by this point it’s also so cliché and mundane that it’s almost like expecting the jerk after the tap on the knee. It’s not that we thought these folks went anywhere after the 2008 election. No, of course not. Due to the Tea Party, which has been noticeably absent during much of the 2012 campaign, we saw the many, many, racist signs and slogans and t-shirts and whatever the first time around. So, where has this guy been? Continue reading →

Why Men Doing “Women’s Work” Is a Good Thing

Recent labor reports indicate that men are doing “women’s work.” More men are cropping up in ‘pink collar’ jobs. At first glance one could presume that traditionally ‘pink’ jobs (i.e., health care, home care, etc.) are a growing field and that is where the jobs are. But a little more digging indicates that there is something larger afoot.

There was a time that the crassness of the business world or the filth of the industrial world was just too horrible for women to endure. If she were to work, it should be in jobs that weren’t too taxing to her delicate sensibilities (you know, like caring for people in the throws of debilitating disease.) She should not have to dirty her hands in factories or investment banking, but instead stay unsullied wiping both ends of children. Continue reading →