Archives for January 2005

Drudge links to this story, which makes no sense:

Actor Richard Gere has recorded a TV commercial urging Palestinians to vote in their election Sunday.

In a transcript obtained by The Associated Press, he said: “Hi, I’m Richard Gere, and I’m speaking for the entire world. We’re with you during this election time. It’s really important: Get out and vote.”

Appearing with Gere in the spot are the head of the Islamic court in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the spokesman for the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem.

The spot is apparently an attempt to use both glamour and religion to get Palestinians to the polls. It will air soon. It’s unclear what kind of sway Gere may have with Palestinians. One man who appeared with him in the spot said he’d never heard of Gere.

I really have a hard time believing that a great number of Palestinians will know who Richard Gere is, let alone be persuaded by him. The article references attempts to use ‘glamour and religion’ to get out the vote. I guess Gere falls under the glamour category, since the article doesn’t even mention that he is a Buddhist. Not that the Palestinians will know or care anyway.

Weird Spokes PersonsPost + Comments (3)

Andrew Sullivan, yesterday:

QUOTE FOR THE DAY I: “I’d much rather be doing this than figthing a war,” – helicopter pilot Lt. Cmdr. William Whitsitt, helping the survivors of the south Asian tsunami. Earth to Whitsitt: you’re a soldier.

A reader responds, eloquently, to Sullivan, pointing out in polite terms what a %$@# idiot Sullivan is and what the soldier really meant. A snippet:

EVERYONE in the military would rather be saving lives than taking them. More important, most military personnel don’t see any difference between the mission in Iraq and the mission in tsunami-stricken south Asia. The goal is to help people who have been ravaged by forces beyond their control to get back on their feet and join the community of nations so they won’t continue to be a burden (or danger) to us.
Relief work is hard and dangerous and unpleasant. No one enjoys the stench of rotting corpses, whether its in Fallajuh or Banda Aceh. Military personnel will be exposed to any diseases that break out. Working in the tropics with only rudimentary living conditions (as those assigned onshore to the cleanup and reconstruction will face for months) is no picnic. Flying supplies off of ships to remote locations over miles of ocean and jungle will not be accident-free.

LCDR Whitsitt’s point is, he’d rather risk his life helping the Indonesians than fighting in a place where some of the very people he’s risking his life for are indifferent at best, and gunning for him at worst. However, like virtually every other person in the military, he’ll do his best to accomplish the mission assigned to him by the nation’s leaders… in Baghdad or Banda Aceh.

Andrew’s Response:

My point is not that bringing relief to stricken people is somehow less worthy than fighting wars. My point is that the military is primarily about fighting and winning wars – not disaster relief.

People pay $1300.00 a month for a blogad on a website offering that type of deep insight. Unbelievable. The only point showing, Andy, is the one on the top of your head.

The Sweet Taste of Shoe LeatherPost + Comments (10)