F., Such a Nasty Word

Pity We Have To Bother Our Beautiful Minds With The Manure in Washington
Gloriously beautiful, mild country day, portending good cocktails and a sumptuous dinner. If only, as a group, we were not all so interested in politics and what is going on around us and around the world. After everybody arrived, Schuyler served those who wanted a cocktail a Kamikaze, which he made with Grey Goose vodka and Rose's Lime Juice. I think the cocktails help to lessen the pain of talking about what a mess this administration has pooped on the country. We're no longer seen around the world as this beacon of decency, nor are we seen as a culture to emulate, rather, we're seen as the slime Bush & Co. have turned us into. We're seen as instruments of torture, maiming and killing. Thugs, in other words. Culture of Life
Beatrix and Jeremy have been in England for a long time, visiting relatives and friends.

 

What they report about how poorly we're seen by the British is astounding. They both said that perhaps the only friend we had in Britain was Tony Blair. Jeremy suggested that a lot of this dislike for us has its roots in Dubya's tired old phrase, 'culture of life.' The British, Beatrix told us, are a lot smarter than the 59,054,087 mindless, spineless lemmings that followed Dubya's many prevaricating homilies indicating that he subscribes to the theory of a 'culture of life.' Well, they both told us, not our lives, not your lives: only the lives of those who think like Dubya AND have enough money to live on Mullholland Drive, up and down Dallas' tony Turtle Creek, in Brookline, Massachusetts, in Georgetown D.C., in Grosse Point or Bloomfield Hills or ritzy River Oaks in Houston. That's the life Dubya's talking about. If you don't have enough money to put on the Ritz, then your life doesn't count: just ask the victims of Katrina, Rita and now Wilma.

 

Opposite of Culture of Life
Wring his little cojones just a tad and I'll bet he'll scream out, 'Well, you've got it all wrong, it's really a culture of death." Finally, one truth out of that mollescent little mendacious man. At this point, seething, Alex asked, for the entire nation, as Richard II did in regards to nettlesome Thomas à Becket: "Will no one rid [us] of this man?" Oh, that we would be so lucky. When asking to snuff poor Chávez in Venezuela, methinks Pat Robertson was targeting the wrong man, and since the rabid religious right didn't find anything offensive in that snuffing, they shouldn't find one here at home offensive either, should they, since they're not hypocrites?

 

Old Raccoon Eyes
No, not beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow, who has been accused of using too much eye makeup, but sycophant little Ms. Miers. Squinty, overly-painted little eyes, harboring a heart of steel, and colder'n a witch's tit, or is that Lady Macbush?

Anyway, as Bush's number 1 (sorry Condosleazza) admirer, Meirs proclaims that for years she has been on Bush's side on every issue, which has to mean, she approves of his 'culture of death.' So, how'd you like that on your Supreme Court Bench?" As The New York Times reported, when Ms. Miers' colleagues were asked to fill us in on what she'd been up to all these years, they couldn't cite any one example of her effect on Bush or his policies because she had affected them all, i.e. her thumbprint was on every action taken by Bush since he's been in office. Including approving torture.

 

F. That Nasty Word and The Culture of Death
Fascism, an ideology that has to be talked about with extreme caution and in an atmosphere of discretion. One thing that isn't controversial anymore, because the question is pretty much settled, is that fascism is about The Culture of Death. The great American novelist, Sinclair Lewis, warned us about fascism in his novel It Can't Happen Here. Well, seems we didn't pay enough heed. When there's wafting smoke of fascism in the air, can the full blown conflagration be far behind?

 

Bob gave us a few examples of what comprises fascism:

• Disregard for Human and Civil Rights
• According The Military Absolute Power and Limitless Funds
• Outing of Enemies and Liberals
• Abusive Control Over the Media
• Powerful and Controlling Nationalism
• Overwhelming Sexism
• Rabid Obsession with National Security
• Erasing of the Lines Between Government and Religion
• Overzealous Protection of Big Business
• Disdainful Attitude Towards the Arts and the Intelligentsia
• Rabid Attempts To Trample on Workers' Rights
• Unnatural Obsession with Punishing Crime
• Suspect Electoral Processes
• Widespread Corruption and Cronyism

 

Well, A.J. asked, does any of the above sound like anything that's been going on here since the presidency was usurped in 2000?

 

Elizabeth and Beatrix on The Culture of Life
These two gentle but wise ladies both had read an article by a writer we all need to read and learn from, Michael Blanding. He wrote an article, titled The Culture of Life Top Ten. Elizabeth and Beatrix gave us his list of Top Ten actions this nasty administration could take if it were remotely interested in promoting a Culture of Life, and not of Death:

• Withdraw the Troops
• Stop the Death Penalty
• Pass Effective Gun Control Laws
• Fund Social Services
• Create Universal Health Care for Children
• Research Alternative Energy
• Investigate Prisoner Abuses
• Support AIDS Clinics Abroad
• Implement a Fair Guestworker Program
• Join the International Criminal Court

 

Please, this is an excellent author, whose humanity comes through very clearly in his writing. Please read the entire article at: www.michaelblanding.com/cultureoflife.htm.

 

The Dinner Gong: a Brillat-Savarin Moment
Beatrix and Jeremy, recently returned from an extended trip to their homeland, England. They seemed so happy to be back, and happy to fall back into our way of living: living independently on our farms and ranches, but enjoying the company of all the neighbors nightly, together with the interminable political discussions. We had the feeling that their absence had left them with a desire to return to helping feed, magnificently, 28 adults and approximately 12 youngsters.

 

Beatrix, as soon as we were all seated, served us some tiny but exquisite Soy Sauce Duck and Radicchio Tartlets. She and Jeremy paired the tartlets with a wonderful Bland des Blancs, and we knew were off to the "Brillat-Savarin Moment." They paired the delightful Parmentier Soup, potato and leek soup, with a delicious Antinori Orvieto white wine. Their wine cellar, which is truly a cellar deep in the ground, with wine, did not need any tending while they were away.

 

Beatrix and Jeremy brought with them from their dining experiences in England, a dish we had never tried, Shrimp with a Medley of Wild Mushrooms Encased in Zucchini. Jeremy suggested pairing it with a dry white wine, a Puligny-Montrachet. After dollops of rhubarb sorbet, we were ready for out next course in which Max joined to help out. Max helped Jeremy prepare Seared Pork Tenderloins. The sauces used in the preparation of the dish were mushroom and fig sauce. A Pinot Noir was an excellent accompaniment to this dish. They chose a well-priced Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Berry from Oregon. On the plates, Beatrix, Jeremy and Max served roasted carrots, parsnips, turnips and potatoes.

 

We told you, this was a Brillat-Savarin moment. For dessert, we were served English Trifle, one of the best sweets from Beatrix and Jeremy's homeland. We had ours with small snifters of Courvosier. Tonight, we'd like to thank Eric LeVine, of Cellar Tracker, for helping us chose our wines. You can get invaluable help from his companty at www.cellartracker.com

 

Protecting our Young
We re-joined the younger set in the great room, where they were also finishing their splendid Trifle. We wished we could throw our arms around them and protect them from the F. thrusts this administration was trying to embed in the fabric, and the soul, of this great country. We, who put up with Dubya's doubtfully valid reelection, bear the responsible for never again letting anything like that monster ever hold sway over our beloved United States again.

 

Summary:
Fascism isn't dead. Some nefarious neocons are doing everything they can to keep it alive, here, in the United States. Pretty heavy charges, but at least, think about it.

©Copyright 2005 Grindstaff Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.
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Reprinted from The Grindstaff Chronicles Newsletter which is published in the USA by farmers, ranchers, and neighbors.

It is intended to share the thoughts and lifestyle of people who work hard, like to relax and enjoy life, and are often dismayed by news, politics, and the events of the day that defy common sense.
http://www.GrindstaffChronicles.com
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