I downloaded these visuals from the Internet years ago and by now do not recall sources in order to offer credits, but I appreciate the talent of the artist and photographer responsible.
In 2013, the
"congratulatory" cartoon reaches closer to truth than fiction. The world's on fire while, simultaneously,
the mighty keys of freedom and liberty forged in blood, sweat and turmoil by
those who came before us to create the United States and escape tyranny appear
to be rusting to dust, one by one, at least temporarily. Good teachers -- great teachers -- and
students populate every state, but statistics still warn of the perilous status
of secondary school, high school and college education in the United
States. If anybody really thinks
increasing the power of the Department of Education and initiating Common
Core and other big brother systems into local education formats is the
solution, good luck. In the meantime,
some teachers can't teach, a disturbing number of students can't learn,
learning disabilities seem to abound and dropout rates soar. The educational dilemma's essence, however,
is centered firmly in the solid and secure family unit -- which is well on its
way to disintegration, and what remains of it (one parent families, for
example) is all too quick to blame schools and educators for their children's
learning problems. Taking personal
responsibility has almost gone the way of the dinosaur -- our president
certainly doesn't hold himself responsible for anything in his Administration
except maybe for almost single-handedly killing bin Laden -- and for not
firing Eric Holder. Birds of a
feather, etc., etc.
But you're
wondering about the other illustration, the cryptic image in the photo shown above. I wanted to include that in stark contrast to
the humor image, because this is a now apparently weather-beaten memorial in
Russia, dedicated to boys and girls murdered by the Nazis in Leningrad during
World War II. I guess this photo seemed
appropriate because, while on one hand we can condemn the state of education in
this country, during WW II children seen as obstacles were deprived not only of
opportunities to learn, but of their very lives. Forever. Opportunities to learn in one's youth vs. opportunities
to die young. As the world turns, such
choices continue, choices often unfortunately manipulated by circumstance. An advanced society indeed -- advanced in what?
MORE ABOUT
EDWARD SNOWDEN: If an IRS official can get away with
clamming up and taking the 5th, thus negating her unique responsibility as a
government employee to tell the truth and nothing but the truth by default
before Congress, I guess Snowden can do whatever he wants. No?
Well, maybe let's do this:
Various members of Congress are screaming for his head and demanding he be
captured and questioned as a traitor.
First of all, yes, he violated his oath, but he doesn't appear to have
revealed much that wasn't already known or suspected -- and certainly enemy
forces were far more aware of government operations than the man in the
street. If Congress wants Snowden, and
if the president wants Snowden, all one has to do is issue either an Executive Order or legal promise of
immunity from prosecution if Snowden returns to the U.S. Impossible?
Outrageous? Well, how badly does the
government want Snowden? Otherwise, it's
probably going to be a cat-and-mouse game with the Chinese, and he may also
have time to think about disclosing more essential information publicly -- or
to the Chinese communists.
The interesting
and almost obvious thing is that Snowden, though said to have been a third
party voter, at first was all for Obama until he discovered the president
wasn't anything he anticipated, and frustration grew from there. I'm thinking that Snowden represents a time
bomb of sorts, and can almost hear the ticking in expectation that more
disappointed young people will start emerging from the shadows of phony and
irresponsible existence in which they've dwelled since Obama hypnotized them
and claimed their souls in the process. Lies and evasive P.R. maneuvers from the White
House don't make good umbrellas once the inevitable storms move in.
Get it? Snowden IS the Obama generation, and
that generation hosts plenty of members. Or did, because his poll numbers are dropping like flies in an insecticide factory.
If young and impressionable folk aren't already upset about their choices, they soon will be
because this Administration has been applying the silent shackles for years,
and those entrapments are about to surface via "Obamacare" and other
serpentine directives. And if anybody
should fight new immigration legislation tooth and nail, it's the young
American citizens who might be starting to get a clue that Obama is
nothing more than a Wizard of Oz, an empty suit stuffed with special interest
agendas destined to "fundamentally transform" youth into the new
slave class. The new USA.
SPEAKING OF CONGRESS: If wisdom comes with age, I wish a bucket
load of those old bastards affiliated with any and all political parties who
have "served" longer than a dog's life span in Congress would exhibit
the wisdom to just retire and get out.
Two terms is enough for anybody, and while it's easy to say people
should have the option of being elected for as long as the voters will have
them, it should be clear currently that a lot of voters are just too lazy to
research any other name on the ballot, and choosing the familiar,
well-established incumbent name in the booth is all too easy. The USA desperately needs new, younger blood
in the driver's seat -- and I have every confidence that young folks in the age
range including Edward Snowden would agree.
Same old deal, Mr. or Ms. member of Congress -- the youth are running
short on trust regarding your actions.
