Fairy Tale Endings

[Phox]

Every generation needs their boogeymen. We living in the Civilized West^TM got rid of one of our nastier ones recently, as we all know. Obviously, there was a bit of contention about this event. Personally, I've avoided voicing my opinion for no other reason than I've been too busy, but my initial reaction to the news was essentially the same as LMNO's and Nigel's. My stance has not changed as of now.

But that's not why we're here, is it? What we want from this particular forum is rants. Well, listen here, kids, and I'll explain to you what's got me hot-and-bothered about this issue.

The fairy tale: Osama planned 9/11, and his people carried out the attack. The U.S. invades Afghanistan to bring him to justice. 10 years and two wars later, Osama is killed in Pakistan. And there was much rejoicing.

The reality of this situation has already been talked to death elsewhere, and it's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that otherwise intelligent people* are BUYING IN to this sort of BS hook, line, and sinker.  Perhaps it's the peril of living with the 24-hour news cycle, but I apparently have not learned that people will always disappoint when it comes to thinking through the tripe they get force fed by talking heads and politicians. I'm getting real tired of this "America Fuck Yeah! USA! USA!" bullshit, and it's starting to bother me on a different level.

Who's the next Osama? I'm not referring to who will take his place within Al Qaeda or anything like that. But who will be the next boogeyman? If Osama's death is comparable to the fall of the Berlin Wall, then "Terrorists^TM" are blasé, just like "Commies^TM" Who should we make the next boogeyman? We in America love our fairy tales, and this one has come to a close. Osama's dead, which means that terrorism is over, and Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, and all the rest of those countries with funny names are going to fade into obscurity again. Or that's how the fairy tale ends. But the fallout of this elimination of a boogeyman is going to continue. There will probably be lots more hooting and hollering about the "Terrorists^TM" but in no time at all, the fairy tale ending will be the way people remember it. The ten years in between? A footnote at best, but more likely completely ignored. And even people who lived through it will buy into it. But hey, it's no less than we've come to expect from the general population, right?

Or fucking kill me.

*Not referring to anyone at PD.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I still have a great deal of trouble with the idea that it's somehow wrong to be glad the bastard's dead, or with the idea that being glad he's dead somehow means I can't see all the other problems that are out there.

Also, OBL had nothing to do with 9/11?  Are you becoming one of those "truthers"?

[Phox]

I still have a great deal of trouble with the idea that it's somehow wrong to be glad the bastard's dead, or with the idea that being glad he's dead somehow means I can't see all the other problems that are out there.

Also, OBL had nothing to do with 9/11?  Are you becoming one of those "truthers"?

No, nothing like that, Roger. I'm not saying either of those things. I'm saying that the people who don't see the problems are pissing me off. I'm complaining about the oversimplification of the situation, and the fact that it's just as likely going to be the oversimplified version that people are going to remember say 20 or 30 years from now.

I'm certainly not sad to see Osama go, and I'm not sure where you get that he had nothing to do with 9/11? The use of fairy tale?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

No, nothing like that, Roger. I'm not saying either of those things. I'm saying that the people who don't see the problems are pissing me off.

Oh, well.  Americans are looking at things in a myopic way?

STOP TEH PRESSES!   

You may as well get mad at the sun for rising.  Me, I see the humor in these things.  I even drove over to Walmart to see all the new bumperstickers, and enormously fat people using the American flag as an article of clothing/tarp.

[Phox]

No, nothing like that, Roger. I'm not saying either of those things. I'm saying that the people who don't see the problems are pissing me off.

Oh, well.  Americans are looking at things in a myopic way?

STOP TEH PRESSES!   

You may as well get mad at the sun for rising.  Me, I see the humor in these things.  I even drove over to Walmart to see all the new bumperstickers, and enormously fat people using the American flag as an article of clothing/tarp.

Like I said, I simply haven't learned that lesson well enough yet.

Incidentally, this is precisely the reason I like hanging out around here, Roger. You always make me laugh at the stupidity of it all. 

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

For the record, I'm very happy Bin Laden is dead. Does it give me closure, no.  My family is mixed, some feel justified, some don't.  I'm still furious. People I love are still overseas.   

I like this and I see exactly where Phox is coming from.


Thing is, and this is just because yes, I am, that jaded, I see the humor as well.


It will take more than 30 years, but yes, this will be a blot in history in about 60 - 70 years.


I do think we shall see much worse before, or if, I live to see it get better. People are going to get hurt and more are going to die. It truly depends if whoever tries to take over thinks and how quickly and where he acts.  As Roger has said and I fully agree, there's a 90 day window. That will determine the next "Boogeyman".


This does slow down my martial law thinking to about 3 years. 


Let me stew and I will give this better justice when I get to my computer at work.

[Freeky]

No, nothing like that, Roger. I'm not saying either of those things. I'm saying that the people who don't see the problems are pissing me off.

Oh, well.  Americans are looking at things in a myopic way?

STOP TEH PRESSES!   

You may as well get mad at the sun for rising.  Me, I see the humor in these things.  I even drove over to Walmart to see all the new bumperstickers, and enormously fat people using the American flag as an article of clothing/tarp.