It is a time of freedom and fear, of Gaia and of borders, of many paths and the widening of a universal toll road, emptying country and swelling cities, of the public bought into privacy and the privacy of the public sold into invisible data banks and knowing algorithms. It is the time of the warrior's peace and the miser's charity, when the planting of a seed is an act of conscientious objection.

These are the times when maps fade and direction is lost. Forwards is backwards now, so we glance sideways at the strange lands through which we are all passing, knowing for certain only that our destination has disappeared. We are unready to meet these times, but we proceed nonetheless, adapting as we wander, reshaping the Earth with every tread.

Behind us we have left the old times, the standard times, the high times. Welcome to the irregular times.


 
George W. Bush has helpfully explained why he doesn't read newspapers or even watch the nightly news on television: "I like to have a clear outlook. It can be a frustrating experience to pay attention to somebody's false opinion or somebody's characterisation, which simply isn't true." Yes, exposure to other points of view can pose a pesky problem for one's clarity. It might even change one's mind. Thank goodness Mr. Bush avoids that problem.

Speaking of clarity, we do need to clarify the unfairly broad statement that George W. Bush doesn't read newspapers. You see, says White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, "He does not dwell on the newspaper, but he reads the sports page every day." The sports pages! Oh, well then. That's different. Thank goodness we have a president who's familiar with earned run averages in the American AND National Leagues.

Although George W. Bush does not read articles in the newspaper, Laura Bush does. Good for you, Mrs. Bush! She tells her husband all about her opinion on the stories she thinks are important. "Frequently," says White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, "I find that his reaction kind of reflects Laura Bush's take." Do we have an independent thinker as a president? Er, nope. Feeling comfortable yet? (Source: Washington Times May 11, 2004)


Posted by James Cook at 5:43 AM. # (permalink)




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