Potatoes of Defiance

Divine Wind

Paul Thompson — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:19:38 EDT

In the waning months of WWII, the Japanese generals were facing dire prospects. They knew they couldn’t win the war but they couldn't admit defeat, either. They believed in the divine purpose behind their cause. Further, to admit defeat was a catastrophic loss of face.

The generals would not sue for peace. They would press on in the face of certain failure.

So, with their resources depleted, they dreamed up a new tactic: Kamikaze. With no real resources left, their military in shambles, the Japanese used what precious little they had in a dramatic, if desperate, attempt to win the war. They sent young, mostly untrained, pilots on missions designed to destroy their enemy. There was no real logic to the attacks -- just get through the defenses and crash into the enemy. Do the most damage possible.

And they caused considerable damage to the American fleet. Scores of American vessels were sunk or badly damaged; thousands of sailors died.

And for what?

It was a plan destined to fail. Worse, it proved to the American military that the Japanese were willing to do anything to stay in the war. That thought factored into the decision to use atomic bombs on civilian targets in Japan. Hundreds of thousands died unnecessarily.

What of the pilots? Well, they were expendable. They got rousing sendoffs as they began their last missions. Some were too frightened to resist; they died. Some were caught up in the moment; they died. Some were real believers; they died, too. In the end, each died alone, perhaps not realizing that the forces of their enemy were beyond their pitiful attacks.

What of the Japanese generals? Most committed suicide rather than admit defeat. In that way, they didn't have to face the people at home. It was a cowardly act disguised as the ultimate in bravery.

Uncommitted in Michigan

Paul Thompson — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:22:15 EDT

I do not support Barack Obama.

I do not support Hillary Clinton.

I live in Michigan.

It seems to me that I may be the only qualifying person to go to the convention and vote for Michigan's block of uncommitted delegates.

Would you want me as a delegate to the convention? You may want to consider that carefully (be careful what you wish for).

For the record, I voted for Dennis Kucinich in the Michigan primary. Had the full list of candidates been on the ballot, I would have voted for Dennis Kucinich.

Good spelling is its own guerdon

Paul Thompson — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:40:32 EDT

Are you smarter than a 13 year-old?

Restore Memorial Day

Paul Thompson — Mon, 26 May 2008 00:04:07 EDT

I prefer the traditional Memorial Day.

Originally, Memorial Day was called Decoration Day and it occurred each year on May 30. Then, someone got the great idea of moving it to the last Monday of May, which would provide a 3-day weekend for most U.S. workers.

And totally destroy the meaning of the day.

The day was meant as a day of remembrance. A day of solemnity. One of national pride in our fallen service members.

Now, it's just a day for big savings on gas grills at the Gargantuan Home store (take the back streets, Main Street is closed for some parade or other).

Move the day back to it's original home, May 30. That's where it belongs. There are plenty of other days for sales.

Conundrum

Paul Thompson — Sat, 24 May 2008 11:46:23 EDT

Just a few years ago, the Republicans controlled the White House and both houses of Congress. Their glee was palpable; their behavior atrocious; their laws and policies damnable.

Today, Democrats control Congress, are quite likely to strengthen that control, and almost certainly will take the Presidency.

What can be done to assure that Democrats do not engage in the same kind of power-politics that so delighted the Republicans? How can we keep the Democratic Party from becoming another Politburo?

The Supreme Court is in place as a valuable check on that power, but what's to keep the Democratic Party from packing the Court to offset those already on it? FDR tried it, so it's theoretically possible. In today's all-for-me political environment, I think it is far more possible than 70 years ago. There are no Constitutional limits on the number of active Supreme Court justices.

Basically, I'm worried that tomorrow's Democrats will become yesterday's Republicans. I've been pondering this for some time and, whatever I finally conclude, it will inform my voting choices in November.

At The Death House Door

Paul Thompson — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:55:58 EDT

I listened to an interview on NPR's Fresh Air, yesterday. Terry Gross spoke with the chaplain -- the subject of an independent film documentary -- of a Texas prison. The chaplain, Carroll Pickett, talked about his transformation from capital punishment supporter to death penalty foe.

Rev. Pickett discussed the difficulty of being with prisoners as they were going to the death chamber. It was really a moving interview. He actually had to minister to a man who murdered two members of Pickett's church.

The documentary will be on the Independent Film Channel on May 29. If it's as good as the NPR piece, it's going to be a powerful look at capital punishment in this country.

This is the Truth

Paul Thompson — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:20:49 EDT

Stick with this through the end. It ends the exact way it begins only much better.

Really.

Military Recruiting

Paul Thompson — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:48:50 EDT

In the movie Stripes, Harold Ramis elicits a laugh when the Army recruiter asks if he'd ever been convicted of a felony: "Convicted?"

Apparently, that line has lost its humor. According to Yahoo News, more and more people convicted of serious crimes are being allowed into the Armed Services.

People convicted of arson, burglary, aggravated assault and sex crimes are being issued M16s and khaki underwear. Well, only if the sex crimes were not of a homosexual nature, of course...

God bless America.

Tonight on Frontline...

Paul Thompson — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:50:37 EDT

...healthcare around the world.

T.R. Reid examines the health systems of other democracies, comparing them to ours. Most are cheaper than we have here in the USA and provide much better care.

How is that possible?

On PBS tonight. Check your local listings.

Experimentation on the vulnerable

Paul Thompson — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:18:41 EDT

It looks like the American government, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, continues to conduct experiments on unwitting, ill-informed, vulnerable people.

This time, sludge from treated sewage was spread on the yards of poor folks. The subjects of the test were told it was an attempt to reduce potential lead poisoning in their children. They were not told of potential pathogens in the sludge.

Those who participated in the program got food coupons and a new lawn. Apparently, a new lawn was not enough of a lure into the program. If it had been, thousands of lawn-conscious suburbanites would have been standing in line, begging for sludge. Instead, people who needed food were chosen for the program.

God bless America.

The McCain Girls

Paul Thompson — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:59:51 EDT

I'm really not sure what to make of this. I'm betting that John McCain isn't too sure, either.

Raining McCain

Howard Dean

Paul Thompson — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:29:43 EDT

I just got an email from Howie. It starts off well enough:

"John McCain is so wrong on Iraq, he can't even get the basic facts about the situation on the ground correct.

Today, as he was questioning Gen. David Petraeus, he again confused the difference between Shiite and Sunni Muslims."

Somehow, though, as he always does, he finishes asking for money.

Doesn't he ever write just to say hello?

Morning Edition, Wednesday April 2

Paul Thompson — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:09:00 EDT

Tomorrow, on NPR's Morning Edition, there's gonna be a news piece about how Clinton and Obama (and their supporters) are driving people away from the Democratic Party. Apparently, someone at NPR noticed all the negativity in the campaigns and has done some research (which they're gonna share with the world tomorrow).

Live from Philadelphia, it's Wednesday Morning!

Earth Hour

Paul Thompson — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:23:54 EDT

"Lights out, sweetheart. Close your eyes and dream of me." Nat King Cole used to close his performances with the song, "Lights Out". Very pretty.

Today, March 29, 2008, is the day we observe Earth Hour. It's an effort to cast some light on the problems of the environment by turning the lights out. It started last year in Australia and is now being observed worldwide.

So, please consider turning off your lights (you can keep your PC running) at 8:00 PM local time. In this way, there should be a single time zone going dark each hour as time marches around the planet.

Be part of it. Google is.

My decision for 2008

Paul Thompson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:35:20 EDT

I have read all the postings put here saying that if so-and-so doesn't get the Democratic nomination, the posters will abandon the Democratic Party and vote for the (gasp!) Republican nominee, John McCain. At first, I thought such rhetoric to be just buffoonery.

But no longer.

I have decided that, if my candidate is not the Democratic Party nominee, I will look elsewhere.

Sometimes, elected Democrats are Republicans' best assets

Paul Thompson — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:49:58 EDT

The entire front page of today's Detroit Free Press (print version) covers nothing but Democratic Party news. The entire thing.

There is a piece about the value of a re-vote for the Michigan and Florida primaries. The online version also includes a very tiny story about a abused cat.

There is an article about Eliot Spitzer, the elected Democratic governor of New York who couldn't control his sexual urges and brought disgrace upon himself, his family and his office.

Then there is an article about Kwame Kilpatrick, the elected Democratic mayor of Detroit who couldn't control his sexual urges and brought disgrace upon himself, his family and his office.

Oddly enough, there are voters in this land who see these creeps as proof that Democrats are morally bankrupt. There are a lot of people who don't look at issues (we've seen that on PartyBuilder) and look only at personalities. Republicans get elected by playing to those voters.

With friends like these, Republicans hardly need advertising agencies.

Warning: This posting is about an actual issue

Paul Thompson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:20:58 EDT

According to the United Press International, a study is being released this week that says -- are you sitting down? -- there were no ties between Saddam and al-Qaida. Even though Dumbya and his administration swore there was a tie, apparently there wasn't one. Even though people like my parents and my in-laws still believe there was a link, there wasn't one.

Ain't that a kick in the ass?

March 13th is World Kidney Day

Paul Thompson — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:32:17 EDT

Thursday, March 13, 2008, is World Kidney Day. It is a day for celebrating kidney health and observing the need for more awareness of kidney disease.

The National Kidney Foundation has a message for us all. Please take a moment to read it.

Part of fighting kidney disease is just attaining and maintaining good health and nutrition. So are medicines and medical research. And, of course, organ donation.

Each of these, when accessible to everyone, improves the day-to-day lives of people around the globe.

Be part of the solution to kidney disease. Visit the National Kidney Foundation website. Maybe even donate a buck or two.

Thanks,

Paul Thompson,

Kenny's dad

Open Mouth, Change Feet and Dance

Paul Thompson — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:16:21 EST

Crooks & Liars has a neat vid to watch. Interviewer Dan Abrams asks Obama-critic Congressman Jack Kingston where his lapel flag is. Kingston, who has suggested that Obama isn't a patriot because he doesn't wear a flag pin, answers.

Amazing what passes as good politics these days.

I Don't Care

Paul Thompson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:10:23 EST

I've spent a lot of time thinking about this over the last couple of months. And, for some reason, it all became clear to me last night as I watched The Daily Show.

Simply put, I don't care.