Where are Proportion and Consistancy?

As I was driving between jobs this morning, I noticed three police cars arranged in a semi-circle blocking off a through road nearby. As I drove on I passed a police command-and-control truck as large as a fire truck racing toward the scene. But, a little further away on a side street I found the front of a sub-division where one of my schools is located blocked.
I went on to my destination, another school and went about my business. Later, I found out what the scare was about: a woman threw a box under a bus while both were stopped at a stoplight; and the bus had proceeded on to its destination, a minor elementary school. Now, when the police are called they must do their thing and go by the book. But who called and why? Did a student on the bus exaggerate someone littering to avoid a test or overdue homework? Or did some passerby see someone dispose of their McDonald's breakfast out the window? Or maybe, it was a serious but inefficient serious threat from the bus driver's jilted spouse or lover? In any reasonable event, it was not an international jihadi terrorist going to claim her 72 virgins at Minor Elementary.

But all this is prelude to my point. After hearing the news report on the radio I spoke with several people at a nearby middle school who were all of the opinion that we can't be too careful in this day and age, it just might be a Muslim terrorist. Now why the Muslim extremists would pick this minor elementary, Minor Elementary, I have no idea. World Trade Center, Pentagon, Eiffel Tower I can see. But a minor school in the middle of nowhere in suburban Atlanta? Why start here?

But even this is only prelude. MY real observation is that these women that are telling me that there is every reason to always fear the worst about the possibility of terrorists attacking this group of kindergarteners through fifth graders are the very same ones by whom I recently was lectured about how the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks on 9/11 were Bush's staged inside jobs. Now, which is it? Are they out to get us or aren't they? Or are they only really out to get us if a Democrat is President?

But seriously, ladies, if the world is that scary and fearful a place, maybe you better go home and hide under your bed - all day, every day.

Tea Party

Tea Party
Originally uploaded by luxomni

Yep, I did it. I went down to the State Capitol to stand in a crowd of strangers to show my displeasure with a government that see me only as a chattel of the state. I walked four long cold walks to stand around in a crowd. I stood in a couple of packed subway trains. It was the least I could do for those guys who put up with so much to secure this land and our wonderful Constitution.

I have no idea how many people were actually there at any one time. I only know that when I went there a little after eight the was a steady line of people going from the MARTA (subway) station to the Capitol ... and a steady line coming back from it. I could not get closer than two blocks to the Capitol stage. I tried from about four different places to get either closer or a better view. The speakers were clear, so I could hear and (mostly) understand the speeches even if I had no idea who was speaking. Mostly they said what I thought. The news derided the assembly and low-balled the count - but who didn't see that coming days before the event. Then again, that's half the reason I went. I wanted to make the media's lies harder to make. I had better things to do. I could even write this blog. But no, I had to stand up so they could see me even if they would deny I was there.

Once more the News media do not understand or even listen.
I have heard it said that we are Republican shills. They miss the point.
We have been angry with the Republicans too for not being fiscally and feduciarily responsible. We held our noses to vote for Republicans. They miss the point.
I have heard we are racist, although the only color we are concerned about is green. The green of the fruits our own labor not the green of jet-setting ruling class elites like Al Gore. They miss the point.
They think we are anti-American, but it is the media and the ruling political elite who have left America behind. They miss the point.

They miss the point, or do they deliberately distort it? Someone ask Susan Roesgen .