I thought Obama's speech killed - a good balance between the necessary nuts-and-bolts policy stuff and the broader ideological or post-ideological themes that give his candidacy such appeal. But was I the only one having a moderate internal freak-out after it was all done? Once his speech was over, every minute he was standing around on-stage with his family watching the fireworks made me a little more nervous, because I'm paranoid about assassination attempts. It was probably just the super-dramatic music they chose to employ as a backdrop for the loud banging noises of the fireworks. Fortunately the security was as good as it ought to have been.
Jezebel's on-site liveblogger said she had to go through three metal detectors just to get inside.
One other thing that caught my attention was the "American Voices" series on Day 4. They had several military or ex-military personnel up to speak briefly on why they are supporting Obama. One was Capt. Nathaniel Fick, one of the subjects of an extremely interesting book I read recently.
Generation Kill has an embedded reporter following a platoon of Reconnaissance Marines into Iraq in Spring 2003. If you have talked to me lately, I've probably yammered at you about the unmitigated fantasticness of the miniseries HBO made out of the book, though it is uncomfortably postmodern (a TV show of a book put together from magazine articles about real events?). The Reconnaissance Marines were not sent to Iraq to do their usual job, which is usually to act in small, dispersed, highly mobile units travelling under the radar to gather intelligence in hostile environments. Instead, they roared around in Humvees being ambush-bait for the
fedayeen and the last of the Republican Guard. It was, one Marine says, like putting a Ferrari in a demolition derby. Reading it has really made me think about the nature of the armed forces. It has given me greater respect for the people who sign up for these extremely difficult jobs.
Most of the Marines didn't particularly care whether the rationale for the war in Iraq was just - you can't care, can you, when your job is to do go where you are sent? - but they all had obvious interest in seeing the invasion executed well. Nobody had the troops' back on that one. Instead, their command structure in Iraq told the higher-ups what they wanted to hear. Nearly everyone back home was so concerned about showing Patriotism(tm) that the basic questions about how to deal with the invasion were never asked until the situation had escaped control. Everyone with power ignored the early indications on the ground that foreign fighters were coming in to fight the Americans and that initial unrest would become explosive. Not only did Iraqis deserve better, but the soldiers deserved better. I don't know how a human being can process that: the country you signed up to defend is making seriously questionable decisions, then carrying out those decisions in a manner that will endanger you and those serving with you. Suppose someone gave you an order that you thought would make things worse, and that was likely to get you killed. Would you follow it? If so, would you call it honour? I would imagine you'd have to shut down the part of your brain that asks questions like that in order to avoid going absolutely insane.
Fick told the crowd that at 18 he registered Republican and voted for McCain in the 2000 primaries. He said,
It took seven years of hard experience to get me on this stage. But we cannot afford more of the same. That’s why we need Barack Obama and Joe Biden to lead us beyond the tired divisions of the past. They have the judgment to make the right decisions, leading our military, and uphold our highest ideals.
I'm looking forward to an America with good judgment and high ideals.
If you missed out on being there in person, but still want to catch one of the acceptance speeches, fear not! Apparently there are still 10 000 tickets left to John McCain's. This is in a 12 000 seat venue. Ha ha ha.
I thought Obama's speech killed - a good balance between the necessary nuts-and-bolts policy stuff and the broader ideological or post-ideological themes that give his candidacy such appeal. But was I the only one having a moderate internal freak-out after it was all done? Once his speech was over, every minute he was standing around on-stage with his family watching the fireworks made me a little more nervous, because I'm paranoid about assassination attempts. It was probably just the super-dramatic music they chose to employ as a backdrop for the loud banging noises of the fireworks. Fortunately the security was as good as it ought to have been. Jezebel's on-site liveblogger said she had to go through three metal detectors just to get inside.
One other thing that caught my attention was the "American Voices" series on Day 4. They had several military or ex-military personnel up to speak briefly on why they are supporting Obama. One was Capt. Nathaniel Fick, one of the subjects of an extremely interesting book I read recently. Generation Kill has an embedded reporter following a platoon of Reconnaissance Marines into Iraq in Spring 2003. If you have talked to me lately, I've probably yammered at you about the unmitigated fantasticness of the miniseries HBO made out of the book, though it is uncomfortably postmodern (a TV show of a book put together from magazine articles about real events?). The Reconnaissance Marines were not sent to Iraq to do their usual job, which is usually to act in small, dispersed, highly mobile units travelling under the radar to gather intelligence in hostile environments. Instead, they roared around in Humvees being ambush-bait for the fedayeen and the last of the Republican Guard. It was, one Marine says, like putting a Ferrari in a demolition derby. Reading it has really made me think about the nature of the armed forces. It has given me greater respect for the people who sign up for these extremely difficult jobs.
Most of the Marines didn't particularly care whether the rationale for the war in Iraq was just - you can't care, can you, when your job is to do go where you are sent? - but they all had obvious interest in seeing the invasion executed well. Nobody had the troops' back on that one. Instead, their command structure in Iraq told the higher-ups what they wanted to hear. Nearly everyone back home was so concerned about showing Patriotism(tm) that the basic questions about how to deal with the invasion were never asked until the situation had escaped control. Everyone with power ignored the early indications on the ground that foreign fighters were coming in to fight the Americans and that initial unrest would become explosive. Not only did Iraqis deserve better, but the soldiers deserved better. I don't know how a human being can process that: the country you signed up to defend is making seriously questionable decisions, then carrying out those decisions in a manner that will endanger you and those serving with you. Suppose someone gave you an order that you thought would make things worse, and that was likely to get you killed. Would you follow it? If so, would you call it honour? I would imagine you'd have to shut down the part of your brain that asks questions like that in order to avoid going absolutely insane.
Fick told the crowd that at 18 he registered Republican and voted for McCain in the 2000 primaries. He said,
4 comments:
I saw somewhere that people were lined up for 6 miles outside the stadium in Denver hoping to get in. Wonder how long the lines will be for McCain?
What do you think of McCain's choice of VP? Seems to me he did the only thing that might shake loose some femDems.
Obama's been endorsed by Lieutenant Fick? Yay!
BY THE WAY. This book and its matching TV series have EATEN MY LIFE. Jerk. :) isssogoooood
<3
Hahaha! It is so wonderful - Jacob and I watched the first couple episodes last night and he likes it too. I am like some kind of book/TV missionary. Screwby.
Any femDems who get shaken loose by this are not paying attention. But hey, when have the American people ever been known not to pay attention? In the words of Kucinich in his Convention speech, "wake up, America!"
Post a Comment