Ignophobia – Nathan Mallory's Weblog

While dusting off my balcony this afternoon, I noticed a rather massive nest of hornets constructed in the corner. In what might have been under different circumstances a rather suicidal move, I carefully leaned out from the haven of my balcony door, brandishing my broom by its base. All it took was one swift thrust to the corner to send the nest to the floor, and stir its contents into a frenzy. I retreated forthwith to the safety of my apartment, to plan my next move.

Several hours later…

I slid the balcony door open with the utmost caution. There I found the nest all but abandoned where it had fallen, though it did not take me long to discover where its inhabitants had congregated. Indeed, they were exactly where the nest had once been!

Those foolish insects.

Yes, like a good, war-loving Republican I had brought a chemical weapon to deploy on the unwelcome guests. Leaning out the doorframe again in the same fashion as earlier that day, I was amazed by the nearly instant collapse of the collective. Their ranks tumbled from ceiling to floor as if they had been asleep or dead all along! Within moments, a grim visage remained, and not a flying creature was to be seen.

One Man Raid on the Balcony Hive.

Entertainment Software Association president Doug Lowenstein, in his E3 2005 keynote:

We can use things like the American Constitution’s guarantee of free speech as a shield to legitimize virtually any content. Indeed, the very essence of art is that it has no boundaries, and the critical acclaim accorded various paintings, photographs, or books attests to that. But I submit to you it is one thing to say a product is protected speech, which it is, or that it is rated and parents need to accept responsibility for shaping the quality and values of the culture we live in. We’ve all seen games that depict content that is constitutionally protected artistic expression and yet which also raises the question of whether it really was necessary to realize the designer’s artistic vision. That’s not a call for censorship or government intrusion into videogame sales. But it is meant to say that it is fair for critics, and us, to ask whether everything that is cool and pushes the envelope is, in fact, creatively necessary.

Like flag burning, racial slurs, and pro-Nazi propaganda, maybe once in a while Rockstar could stop making GTA and Bully and The Warriors, and ask that just because they can make it (and it will sell like mad), should they?

As you may or may not have noticed, the immediately below post was not written by me! It was Chad Dayton, a pal from law school with an opinion. While I have no intention of making it a regular thing, if anyone (with whom I am personally acquainted) has something pressing they’d like to weigh in on and it comports to the rather loose themes of this site, let me know and we might work something out.

People in New Orleans are getting an illustration of what we members of the right have preached for years: “You can’t expect the government to cover everything.” At some point, you have to be willing to look to yourself. It’s amazing that in this day and age people expect instantaneous response. Never mind the fact that the hurricane was only a cat. one when striking Florida. No one knew where exactly the hurricane was going to strike. If the ships had been there earlier, they would have been subject to the fury of the storm, just as the oil rigs and everything else.

However, having said that, the first line of defense for the city of New Orleans resided first in the local law enforcement. While notable exceptions remain, few will confuse the actions of the local police here with that of the heroism of the 9/11 firefighters. Allegedly, many of the local police threw their responsibilities out the window. In addition, others allegedly chose to join the mobs in the destruction and looting.

Beyond the city police, the people were looking to the National Guard. However, it was the responsibility of the Governor of LA to call up the National Guard. Guard members from neighboring states were ready and waiting for the call that was delayed. When the residents of New Orleans were looking for a Rudy Giuliani, what they got was a sobbing finger pointer. Why use your own state funds, when you can wait a few days for a national response and then blame them for slow response? Never mind the fact that this is the largest national relief effort to date. What happens when relief does arrive? Citizens of the town fire weapons at rescue vehicles. Is this gratitude?

You are left with a relief effort that many of us are feeling is under appreciated at best. I realize when you are in a deplorable situation spirits are not going to be high. However, those of us who have given or are contemplating donating our dollars to charities would at least like to think that our funds are going to be well managed and appreciated. It’s hard to muster support for hoodlums and looters. Make no mistake, while some looting may have been for food, the images charred into our mind is that of men and women taking T.V.’s and sneakers. Not just from New Orleans, but communities many miles away. Add to that the complete and utter lack of compassion for the fellow man with the rapings, beatings, and alleged murders of people within the Super Dome.

After 9/11, communities received funds to prepare in the case of an emergency. What if anything had the city of New Orleans done with the Federal funds? Would this situation have been any different if there had been a terrorist attack? Coordination on the ground has been difficult because of the loss of cell phone towers. Why is this the technology of choice? Perhaps the finger pointing is a distraction technique. Members of the left know the true cause of the societal breakdown and the ensuing tragedy, but would rather look to the past, to the Right, and most unfortunately of all, President Bush.

So if Black Lawmakers (their title, not the one I would give) want someone to blame, perhaps they should look at themselves: at their policies, at their inadequate spending of resources since 9/11, at the entire doctrine of the left which has diluted the moral fiber of this country thus allowing a population turn almost feral, and most of all at the decision to blame. Instead of standing up, leading, and working with others to save the people of New Orleans, these law makers would choose to blame, and that is the biggest tragedy of all.