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More on authoritarianism
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Last week, I posted a comparison between Israel and the authoritarian Arab countries with respect to patent productivity. Well, this week, someone else has done some leg work for me, and has an op-ed about authoritarianism, sustainable development, and economic prosperity.
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Posted On 8/23/2002
by Kieran Lyons |
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You hurt my feelings!
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That's what my 4 year old says when we tell him 'no'. It's also what our staunch allies, the Saudi's, are saying. This is just too rich to pass up.
Even the title is a joke:
Many Saudis feel betrayed by America
Oh, you feel betrayed, do you. Well I can see how you would, having to stand in line for a visa. All you did was create a medieval culture and murderous religion that spawned 15 misogynistic nihilists who murdered 3000 of our innocent civilians. I can certainly see how making you wait in line can seem like a betrayal.
Of course, they have to get a few money quotes from unhappy visa applicants. Man-in-the-street stuff, so to speak. Of course, they're only quoting men, since the women can't go out in public or speak to a reporter.
Well, you got one out of three. We don't hate you, although we hate your ideas about slaughtering infidels and subjugating women, and we hate what some of your murderous Islamic brothers have done. It's not that we don't want you. Hey, come on over, get an education, make a few bucks. Just don't spend those bucks promulgating your Wahhabi fanaticism. Don't bring your odious culture with you. Leave the violence and hatred at home. You are right that we regard you with suspicion, but hey, we're a bit gun shy at the moment. Or plane-shy. Maybe you could come over on a boat or something.
Of course, our mutual love and respect are not exactly at an all time high right now, but Dapper Don says:
Without offering any specifics, US officials say the Saudis are giving exceptional help in law enforcement and intelligence since Sept. 11, and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said this month he was happy with the relationship.
We all know Rummy is a straight shooter, so it must be true. Right?
We have to mention the Sauidi's legitimate concerns about us.
Saud told the AP the Kingdom will not allow the United States to use Saudi soil for an attack on Iraq.
Gee, that's OK. We only built and staffed those bases to protect you from that naughty neighbor of yours. Now that they're actually needed, it's OK if you get cold feet. We're not going to let a little thing like sticking it to your "ally" come between friends. Perish the thought.
This being the Arab News, it all must somehow be the fault of the Jews.
Then there’s the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Senior Saudis, accuse the United States of tilting further toward Israel, and ordinary Saudis have expressed their anger by raising tens of thousands of dollars for the Palestinians.
Yeah, our siding with those darn Jews against the peace loving Palestinians is certainly a good reason to harbor some resentment. Raising money for Hamas and Islamic Jihad seems like an emminently reasonable response. Hey, we're dissappointed with the Americans! Let's blow up some Jewish kiddies, to show them we mean business!
This all must take a terrible toll on the delicate nerves of our Saudi friends.
Saudi nerves are also jangled by stories in the Saudi press as well as unsubstantiated hearsay about Saudis being held in US jails, US landlords not renting to Saudis and Saudis being singled out for humiliating searches at US airports.
That darn unsubstantiated hearsay. It is pernicous, isn't it. Especially when Irish nuns or Medal of Honor winners might be boarding a plane with tweezers or something.
These poor Saudis also suffer from a lack of experience with our efficient bureaucrats.
Outside the embassy, 42-year-old Ali Hassan was full of understanding when he arrived to apply for a visa to travel to Orlando, Fla.
"I don’t mind waiting. I don’t like it, but you have to understand the global situation," said Hassan as he settled into line.
But after waiting more than eight hours for a two-minute interview with a consular officer, he said he had changed his mind.
"I thought the whole thing would take maximum three hours," he said. "But nine hours? That’s not only humiliating. It also doesn’t make any sense."
Try renewing your tags at the DMV pal.
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Posted On 8/22/2002
by Kieran Lyons |
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This is what baseball is all about
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My son just turned 4 years old, and one of the gifts he received was a baseball mitt. Not just any mitt. This mitt, given by his grandmother, is a Wilson Don Zimmer signature glove. Don played from '54 to '62, so I assume this glove is at least 40 years old. It's in great shape, with soft, supple leather, and it is small and flexible enough for my boy to use.
Last evening after work, I picked up Sean from preschool. He is usually kind of tired and grumpy by the end of a school day, but yesterday he was in a great mood.
Me: How was school today?
Sean: Can we play baseball?
Me: Were you a good boy today?
Sean: Can we play catch?
Ok, Dad's no fool, so of course I said yes. We trundled home, did a few chores, and scooted out to the yard.
Now, Sean is only 4, so catch can be a bit exciting. He throws very hard for a little kid, but he's not always sure where it's going to go.
Me: Sean, let's move away from the cars.
Sean: OK, (runs about 25 feet down the driveway, turns, and throws right back at the car.)
Me: Never mind.
This is all new to Sean, so he misses more than he catches, but that doesn't bother him at all. One drawback is, we're using a regular baseball, which can hurt a bit if it hits you. Every few throws, the ball is bouncing off his shoulder, his tummy or his foot, and he takes it really well. He grimaces a bit, looks over to me for my reaction, and then shakes it off and chases the ball.
It was terrific, until one throw hit him on the point of his hip. He dropped to the ground and let out a loud "OWEIIEEEE!", and tears burst out of his eyes. I went over to check on him, and he seemed fine, with no mark to show the impact. I picked up his glove and the ball, and scooped him up in my other arm.
Me: Let's go inside and start on dinner. I'll get you some juice.
Sean: Ok.
I looked down at his little face, splotched red from crying and the heat, tears running tracks through the red dust on his cheeks. He looked right back at me, and said in a little voice:
Daddy, can we do this again tomorrow?
You bet we can.
Bud Selig and Don Fehr, you can kiss my ass.
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Posted On 8/20/2002
by Kieran Lyons |
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This is a certified BLOGGER FREE ZONE™. That means this site's archive/publishing software actually work. Yes, I once used blogger, but I just became fed up with its bugs and outages. I'm more of an embedded software guy by trade, so this is my first foray into web based programming. I'm about as web-illiterate as a geek can be. Please bear with me, and let me know if links are broken, or if anything else gets hosed.
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