Between The Lines

There was an interesting juxtaposition of headlines in an online news medium today, a set of articles which rather spells out just how feckless the media and the public are in this nation.

First was an article by Rebecca Solnit headlined, “2013’s unexpected lesson: Hope isn’t dead.” It was accompanied by a picture of President Obama, so I was able to surmise it’s content and did not bother to read it. Put hope in one hand an have your dog poop in the other one, and see which one fills up first. That sounds cynical, but the subsequent headlines rather proved my point.

The next headline was “Holidays marked by drone strikes.” What better way to celebrate the birth of Christ than to go out and slaughter a bunch of Muslims? While vacationing in Hawaii, no less.

Following that was, “Egypt government declares Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization.” This is the government which we referred to as a “coup” taking over “the first democratically elected government in Egypt.” Having condemned said “coup,” we are sending it great piles of military aid and standing mute as it declares that the democratically elected government it deposed is a bunch of terrorists that need to be imprisoned without trial. Yes, hope is not dead, but hope for what?

Finally was “US quietly rushes drones, missiles to Iraq.” This is how we restore peace to a country which is increasingly torn by violence and strife; send the wherewithal to create additional violence.

The last one is particularly priceless, because the subhead is that we are sending “Hellfire missiles and surveillance drones” to Iraq at the request of the peaceful and comprehensively democratic leader, Nuri al-Maliki.

Not to mention that in Iraq wwe are supporting a Shiite government to suppress the Sunni rebels, while in Syria we are supporting the Sunni rebels to overthrow a Shiite government.