(Swans - June 16, 2014) There is something to be said about sport. It keeps you off the news -- and the news are rather bleak. We had a spectacular and surprising Roland Garros tennis tournament; the 24 hours of Le Mans (tiring to keep seeing Audi win again); the World Cup in Brazil, of course, the largest sporting event in the world. Yes, it's football dude, not soccer. Only non-cultured Americans call it soccer. Soccer, what the f**k does it mean? Can't you understand football? As usual the US press has been quite dismissive and critical of Brazil's organization of the Cup. They were not prepared. They were spending too much money, which would be better spent on the poor. The press emphasized the popular protests and predicted it would be an utter failure. Jeez, do they have any idea what football means to Brazil? Do they? They did the same hatchet job on the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia (as the U.S. was fomenting the Ukrainian coup). Turns out Sochi was a spectacular success. So too will be the World Cup. Then we'll have Wimbledon, and the beloved Tour de France -- a full summer of joy. Who needs the news?
Thinking of it, the news are not particularly rejoicing. Let's not talk about France: It has become a tragicomedy. The conservative party is mired in corruption scandals. The socialist party loses election after election. Only the nationalists (Front National) are profiting from the mess -- a mess that extends to the entire economy with growing unemployment. Here, in our blessed land, the USA, the economy is pretty much in stagflation; people are losing their savings (for the few who have some) thanks to negative interest rates courtesy of the FED and the Treasury. One has to wonder how long will it take for the banks to actually steal our money with the total acquiescence of the government. If you need a job, try McDonald's or Walmart. Minimum wages have not risen in decades.
However, if you are part of the few, the very, very few, be happy. Your compensation rose by almost double digits. One CEO made $141.9 million last year. Lawrence Ellison (of Oracle and America's Cup fame) made $78.4 million. Poor Leslie Moonves of CBS only made $65.6 million. He was very disappointed. Anyway, all is well for the rich and famous.
But there is more, much more. Everybody with a brain knows that the US infrastructure is crumbling, the severe drought is decimating our agriculture, manufacturing is history, and on, and on, and on. Things are not that bad, though. The U.S. remains by far the #1 war machine in the world. Killing is a great pastime. See what Obama said in his foreign policy speech at West Point on May 28, 2014. I'd recommend you read the entire speech. Here are very short excerpts of that speech:
The United States is the one indispensable nation.
America must always lead on the world stage. If we don't, no one else will. The military that you have joined is, and always will be, the backbone of that leadership.
Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail.
the United States will use military force, unilaterally if necessary, when our core interests demand it - when our people are threatened; when our livelihood is at stake; or when the security of our allies is in danger. ... International opinion matters. But America should never ask permission to protect our people, our homeland, or our way of life.
I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being!
"Indispensable nation...we must lead on the world stage...we will use military force, unilaterally if necessary... American exceptionalism..." Sure, Sir, talk about international law. We have a word in French: you are un gâcheur, sadly a very destructive one.
This is the guy who received the Nobel Prize for Peace! He just sent two B-2 stealth, nuclear-ready bombers to England in order to "defend" Ukraine. He also just dispatched an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf. International law, anyone? Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, it never ends -- war, war, war.
So, right now, I'm enjoying sport and ignoring violent stupidity, which cannot be changed.
If you find Gilles d'Aymery's article and the work of the Swans collective
valuable, please consider helping us
Legalese
Feel free to insert a link to this work on your Web site or to disseminate its URL on your favorite lists, quoting the first paragraph or providing a summary. However, DO NOT steal, scavenge, or repost this work on the Web or any electronic media. Inlining, mirroring, and framing are expressly prohibited. Pulp re-publishing is welcome -- please contact the publisher. This material is copyrighted, © Gilles d'Aymery 2014. All rights reserved.
Have your say
Do you wish to share your opinion? We invite your comments. E-mail the Editor. Please include your full name, address and phone number (the city, state/country where you reside is paramount information). When/if we publish your opinion we will only include your name, city, state, and country.
About the Author
Gilles d'Aymery on Swans -- with bio. He is Swans' publisher and co-editor. (back)