103In the deepest, darkest days of Dubya’s woeful term in office - at the height of his corrupt and warmongering tenure - a listener sent me a joke. He said it reflected the way he felt about the USA and its absurdly volatile and gullible people......
There is a question the Bible does not answer. During the Flood, what did Noah do with all that manure that all those animals on the Ark produced. Well, he did exactly what you would expect him to do. One day, he shovelled it all together and tipped it over the side; vast unmeasurable quantities of the most revolting ordure imaginable. And there it remained until Christopher Columbus discovered it in 1492.....
The habitual hatred the world felt for the USA at the time made this joke mildly but acceptably funny; after all, the USA was almost universally loathed. And that loathing included its hapless population, who had elevated to the highest office in their land a pig-ignorant buffoon (to say the very least). Furthermore, they did it TWICE.
These incomprehensible acts have quite properly made Americans the butt of endless bitter sarcasm and invective ever since.
But it’s the same incomprehensibility (wow - what an amazing word!) that is now forcing us all to eat our words. With breathtaking decisiveness, those selfsame people have installed in office their first black President - something which countless millions of Americans never even dreamed would ever happen, at least not in their lifetimes. They have re-affirmed their immovable faith in the principles of democracy, change for the better and ‘the American dream’ in one fell swoop by going out to vote in larger numbers than ever before. It’s as if they wanted to make collectively sure that this unbelievable and momentous decision, which will change the world’s political map for ever, really was about to happen and that no-one anywhere should doubt it.
Once again - as so often before - the people of the USA, having given the rest of us unease, doubt and fear, have redeemed themselves in the most astonishing and life-affirming way.
I’m really glad to have seen the day it happened. And I know already that - along with the rest of this anxious world - I will never ever forget it.
The world is now a little less anxious than it was before 4 November 2008.
Thankyou, USA.
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Ian Robinson, The Nightshift, BBC Radio Newcastle, Spital Tongues, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE99 1RN
NOTE
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25 comments:
THANK YOU IAN
Some dreams do come true.
THANK YOU Dr. Martin Luther King for passing on your belief in them.
And may I repeat your closing words, Ian
THANK YOU USA
Hi Ian,
I wholeheartedly agree with your comments, although don't think we should name call Bush when we've had our own warmongerers!
Wow Ian, couldn't agree more. I intend to down load Barack Obama's speech and put it onto a cd. Just for my own listening.
Vivienne, If I had put a pound in a box every time I've cursed 'Bushybaby' (as he's known in our house) I would be very well off indeed. Our own idiots are/were called just as much mind.
Sid, that's a great idea about downloading Obama's speech. Hope I can figure out how to do it. If I succeed maybe I can figure out how to record other programs - insert winking smiley face.
Hi Ian,
I appreciate that you've turned your blog into a 'White House' maybe out of respect for Obama, but I preferred your old colourful template. Sorry!
It's pure coincidence, Viv. I just thought it would be cool to ring the changes a little. Sorry you don't approve!!
Off to The Sage now to see (and, of course, hear) the Faure Reqiuem, which I LURV. So if I sound a little melancholy at 0600 tomorrow morning, you'll know why. X
Hi Ian,
I'm totally jealous. I forgot Faure's Reqiuem was going to be on tonight. I was looking through the Sage programme a few days ago, and thought I should see if I could still get a ticket. It must be an age thing! Anyway, enjoy!!!
Love, Vivienne xxx
Hello everyone,
Inga, I hope this helps with Barack Obama's speech. http://filepedia.org/audio/obama-victory-speech-november-2008
I have found a couple of sites that give video of the speech, sad to say it has been reported that some folks have jumped onto the shirt tails of Obama's success, and the video version may be infected with a virus. I have scanned the audio version from the afore mentioned site, and it came up clean. If you have any bother just let me know and I'll send it to you in an e-mail. (he says, fingers crossed)
Thanks, Sid - I will give it a try and let you know.
Hi Sid,
Thanks, I'm listening to Obama right now.
Viv - re: posting 103.
I thought that the message was how unimportant color can be! Interesting how such a subtle change can carry different messages to different people.
Viv...it was LOVELY. If I'd known you were interested I would have reminded you. We could have hooked up (as they say these days) and had a coffee.
Hey maybe we should all organise some kind of Christmas get-together. What do you think?.....
Viv...PS That's a smashing tree!
Hi Ian,
I'm really pleased you enjoyed your musical evening. I think that's a super idea to meet up for a Christmas get-together, although I doubt Inga could join us. We could take some photos and send them to her, or even post a couple on our blogs.
I found the lovely tree at Ford. Inga's sent me a photo of two beautiful trees, which I'm planning on posting on M&D's blog. Maureen's also sent me some lovely Autumn photos too, which I'm also going to post.
Have you seen what Inga found 'On Her Doorstep'? I've posted it's photo on M&D today, or rather yesterday as it's just gone midnight. It's called a katydid. murphyanddorastravels.blogspot.com
Maybe you could add a bit to our Halloween Story while you're taking a look?
It would be great fun to join all of you for a Christmas party. I have to admit, though, that the winter would not be my pick me to come join you for any kind of party. I am just not used to extreme cold temperatures any more as I found out when I went to Berlin to watch the wall come down. I was sick for weeks with two consecutive colds. So I hope you'll send lots and lots of pictures of the party as a consolation.
Good Morning Lawrence,
It was lovely to hear your son being interviewed by Ian. He sounded really at ease and so confident. I can't believe Daniel is only 16yrs old. You must be very proud of him.
Hi Everyone - don't know if you heard Ian talking about an argument he had with a friend about election procedures in the UK. Apparently heated words were exchanged and Ian said he felt badly about how he reacted. Stomping feet were mentioned. I replied since he asked for our opinion but since I haven't seen any from you, I wanted to explain what the comment from Dr. Inga was all about!
Last night he told us what to expect next week and I do believe he has effectively solved the problem of how to attract more traffic to the blog. It will feature sex research results !! With such a keyword, all I can say - get ready :-) !!! :-)
Morning everyone, its wet and windy here this morning Inga, mild though, at about 10C.
If Ian does the sex research results that should be a laugh. Has anyone on here ever taken part in such a survey, and would you tell the truth ? Thought not. Ask any fisherman how big his last fish was...It gets bigger each time he's asked.
I'm going to have a busy day today, going to collect leaves at my allotment shortly, and then make some Christmas cards at home this afternoon.
Inga, the photo is of my daughter Gillian, 'The Boss'.
I'm just off out on one of those essentially 'English' adventures; the village bonfire and fireworks at Stamfordham. I'll give a full report in my next posting - and on Monday morning's live half-hour. Enjoy the rest of your weekends! (If you're local and can make it in time, why not come to Stamfordham?)
I have no way of getting there but long as you know I would have if I could have! I've been through Stamfordham, nice village green for the fire, a pub or two, bet you have a super night. What's this about "The Nightshift Christmas get- together"? I could plan ahead for that, see if my son will chauffeur me! Inga, did Ian say how he has effectively solved the problem of how to attract traffic to the blog?
I'm afraid I missed Daniel the other night. I have school on Fridays, so I'm off to bed before The Nightshift begins.
Anybody done their Christmas Shopping yet? I had some friends round for supper last night and one of them said that her presents were all bought and WRAPPED!! Heck!
Maureen, have you fallen off of the edge of the earth? I hope you are having a wonderful time wherever you are and sincerely desire that you are not ill or troubled.
Good morning everyone,
Inga, I was thinking the same about Maureen. I hope you're enjoying an Autumn break somewhere nice, Maureen.
Ian, I hope you enjoyed your firework display in Stamfordham. If you'd given us a bit more warning I could have arranged to come with Hildie. Hildie, if we arrange a get-together I can come and give you a lift.
Sid, I've never taken part in a sex research and don't imagine I ever will. However, as you say, it should be a good laugh.
My following comment may end up as a short novel about a novel. I'll try very hard to keep it as short as possible. I was reading my book this morning and in just one chapter a little boy was introduced to several things by his grandfather. He taught him the alphabet by finding plants from A for Aubrietia, to Z for Zinnia; even finding one for X: Xeranthemum. This wonderful grandfather not only bought the seeds, he showed the little boy how to plant and take care of them. In the same chapter his parents help him overcome his fear of meeting a severely disabled man. When I finished reading, I went to check my emails and found your comment mentioning your allotment and introducing me to your daughter! Just what kind of telepathy is going on here? Sid, in any case, from now on I will always think of your daughter's smile whenever I feel sorry for myself for some unreasonable reason.
Please tell me more about making Christmas cards. Do you paint/draw pictures? Use special paper? Do you sell them? If yes, sight unseen, I'd like to buy one or however many you can part with.
I also have some questions and comments about allotments but I promised to keep this short which I haven't, so that will have to wait.
Say Hello to the "Boss"! Do I dare ask what endearing name you have given your wife, if Gilly is the boss? :-)
Hello everyone, it's one of those days when I can't find time to do all I want.
Inga, I have two 'bosses'. As my wife Jean points out it takes both of them to keep me in some kind of order.
The card thing just 'started' a few years ago.
I use several software packages to design any form of greetings cards. I like to personalise them, and then add whatever embelishments they may need. The verse inside gives me a lot of fun, you should see me wandering around the garden muttering to myself, and then dashing for pen and paper before the words disappear.
Last year a card I made had a scene depicting a huge fireplace with a large log fire. Hanging above the fireplace was a picture. I managed to put in the picture frame a photo of the folks I was sending it to. It was just 'different'.
Strangely enough I buy the blank cards and envelopes from a company in West Berlin New Jersey, and the inks for my printer come from Manville in the same state.
I don't sell the cards, but will gladly send you one for Christmas.
Vivienne, that is really kind of you to offer, hopefully I won't have to drag you all the way through to Dipton as Liam is usually very good with me regarding lifts. I think I have mentioned on here before that it never fails to make his friends laugh when he says, "I have to go and pick my mam up from school." If there is any problem I will give you a shout, and thank you again. I was wondering if you saw, on the local news, that amazing rescue of the man who was piloting a small plane over Yorkshire - he suddenly lost his sight (I believe it was later found that he'd had a stroke) - anyway, they sent a plane up, from R.A.F. Linton on Ouse, to fly shot-gun beside him and to guide him down. Incredibly, he landed safely. His predicament doesn't bear thinking about, does it?
I have to say, "Isn't the weather dreich?!" I've been wanting to say it for days now, but had to find out from Sid how to spell it!
Hello Everyone - it was too cold today to lounge around on the dock so Wendell and I went to one of our favorite State Parks and enjoyed a 5 mile walk along a creek with a little bit of the fall colors left. Afterwards we had a good meal and a few appropriate spirits at our favorite restaurant. Found all of your comments at both blogs upon returning and all I can say right now is that I just love you all, all of you, or whichever expression you want to use for "everyone". What a great bunch of people you are and what a fascinating life you lead. But right now I feel like curling up on the couch with my book and so I will talk to you all again tomorrow.
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