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BBHQ Boomer Essays: |
| Our Boomer-In-Charge here at BBHQ, Hershel Chicowitz, writes frequently about current events... from a boomer perspective. He is sometimes funny, sometimes provocative, sometimes a little of each. We hope you get a kick out of our Boomer Essays. |
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In the long, hot, miserable, deceitful summer of 1998, when I thought I could no longer believe anything, the Washington Post published an essay by Michael Kelly called "I Believe." That essay went a long way toward restoring my faith in America and the collective judgment of the people.
Well, here we are, six years later, in the long, hot, miserable, deceitful summer of 2004 when, once again, I had no idea what to believe. So, while you were cooking on the grill last week, I did some serious thinking. This is what I came up with. This catharsis has helped set me straight. Perhaps it will do the same for you:
I believe that George Bush's IQ is 91. I believe it because someone sent me an e-mail message that said so.
I believe that George Bush sat down and carefully made a calculated decision that he was willing to send hundreds, perhaps thousands of American soldiers to their death for the benefit of his oil interests. I believe that money (his own money) is more important to George Bush than are the lives of American soldiers. I have to believe that if I believe the blood-for-oil claim, which, of course, I also believe.
I believe that George Bush traded blood for oil, even though the U.S. and U.S. oil companies have not taken over any Iraqi oil fields, though they have had every opportunity to do so.
I believe that George Bush cares more about his financial relationship with the Saudi royal family than he does the security of the U.S. After all, it is not like he has all the money he needs. And as we all know, it is tough for an ex-president to make money. So, he needs all he can get. He has chosen to make money the way he does because he cares less about the United States than he does his own balance sheet. (Of course, that's pretty much true of all Republicans.) I have thought about this at great length. I really believe that.
I believe that George Bush went to war in Iraq to help his friends, the Saudis, even though democracy in Iraq is not in the interest of the Saudi rulers.
I believe that George Bush lied to the American people, even though I can document no example of a lie that he told.
I believe that George Bush used cocaine, even though I can find no credible evidence that he did.
I believe that George Bush knew about the terrorist attack of 9/11/01 before it happened. I believe that he sat back and allowed terrorists to hijack four commercial airliners and allowed them to kill thousands of Americans. I believe that George Bush could have prevented it; but he did not. I believe that he did nothing in order to help his friends in the oil business, even though I cannot find any connection between the two.
In fact, I believe that George Bush was involved in the terrorist attack itself. I believe that because rap artist Jadakiss said so ("Why did Bush knock down the Towers?") in his hit single, "Why"?
I believe that George Bush went to war for partisan, political purposes, even though he has not benefited politically at all as a result. I believe that because Senator Ted Kennedy said so.
I believe that the Bush administration cares more about burning books than reading books. I believe that because Howard Dean said so.
I believe that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, even though we have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. I believe that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, even though we have spent less time looking for them than we did the Rose Law Firm billing records, which I also believe do not exist.
I believe that George Bush said that Iraq presented an imminent threat to the U.S., even though he said exactly the opposite. I believe that because the TV network news programs said so.
I believe that George Bush was willing to sacrifice U.S. relationships with France, Germany, Russia and other countries for his own selfish interests in oil.
I believe that the Jews are giving marching orders to George Bush, even though I have no evidence of that.
I believe that VP Dick Cheney is really running the government. I believe so because John Kerry said so, and John Kerry obviously knows more about what goes on in the White House than I do.
I believe that George Bush hates Muslims, even though his decisions have resulted in freedom for over 40 million Muslims.
I believe that George Bush went AWOL from the Air National Guard, even though the records indicate otherwise.
I believe that George Bush would do anything to become president, unlike Al Gore, who graciously walked away from the presidency in 2000.
I believe that film maker Michael Moore has more credibility than does George Bush.
I believe what I feel, not necessarily what is true; it's easier that way.
We just love response to our essays. This is, so far, our favorite this week:
| "I believe everything this person says, because there is NO PROOF that these things ARE NOT true since everything has been either destroyed, or locked away. Too much secrecy and loss of civil and constitutional rights. AND JUST BECAUSE BUSH is a LIAR." |
Hershel replies: This response pretty well speaks for itself, does it not? Apparently this reader missed the part of the essay that reads, "I believe that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, even though we have found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq." Yep; there is no proof that George Bush has NOT lied, so he MUST be a liar. I would love to communicate with this visitor, explain the concept of proving a negative, and offer him/her the $500 reward offered by BBHQ for documenting a lie told by this president. But this coward has not the courage of his/her convictions, as he/she provided no e-mail address. (Most of the shallow, hate-filled writers do not.) "Just because," huh? Oh wait... that is why Bill Clinton fooled around with Monica, too, huh? "Just because." (As Neal Boortz has said, the ignorant voter is the Democrats' best friend.)
Meanwhile, visitor Dianne writes:
| "Hershel's point here has nothing to do with George Bush. It has everything to do with our uncanny ability to persist in beliefs that support our own emotions and ingrained habitual thinking, no matter how much evidence to the contrary exists. And why are we humans like that? Because fear lives in the depths of our psyches and guts." |
Boy, has THIS Canadian visitor nailed it! Bravo, Dianne! (Though Hershel says that his essay does have at least a little to do with George Bush.)
The BBHQ Election 2004 Guide -- These essays document what the mainstream press does not want you to know. Read these essays, and then explain to us why you still believe that John Kerry should be president:
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If you like what we're doing here at BBHQ, please help us by buying stuff through our link to Amazon.com:
| The BBHQ Album of the Month is "Old Friends Live on Stage (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD/1 DVD)," by Simon & Garfunkel. If you were fortunate enough to see them in concert last year, I do not have to sell you. The concert was terrific! This album collection includes 55 songs, plus their new recording, "Citizen of the Planet," and one of the songs sung by the Everly Brothers during the concert. The DVD was recorded during their concert in Madison Square Garden in 2003. For any S&G fan, this is a must have! But then, you knew that already, didn't you? |
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The BBHQ Book of the Month is
"Vinyl Highway," by
Dee Dee Phelps. You remember her as Dee Dee, of Dick and Dee Dee.
Together, they took a decade long ride on the rock and roll roller
coaster. It was a heck of a ride! Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, the Beach
Boys, Glenn Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Vinton... Dick and Dee Dee
rubbed shoulders with all of them. This is her "behind the scenes" story.
It's pretty cool.
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