Enter the Heroes
Bill O' Reilly said something that I agree with! On his most recent "talking points" memo, usually a place to spout off his most ridiculous facts and opinions about how we're all gonna die, and how we all need to be vigilant, right-wing Christians if America's going to stave off the impeding doom of the forces of liberal evil. . . Well, he finally made a little bit of sense.
Aside from the loaded terminology and insistence that it's us against every Muslin in the world (feh), he did make the connection that our dependence on foreign oil creates the inevitability of future armed conflicts. Granted, this has been a given for many of us for years and years. . . But for Bill to see the writing on the wall enough to make this change in perception. . . Well, it's great!
While I am curious to see how the Fox News channel will eventually spin this stance into a conservative vs. Liberal debate (as ridiculous as that sounds, those guys are wickedly smart. . . They'll find a way to shepard the herd), what makes me happier is the return of science as a respected entity.
I know it's early, but in a couple of years, politicians all over this country are going to fall all over themselves to praise science and technology. As they make a concerted effort to pump exobertant funds into energy research and invention, they lowly lab coated warrior will gain a heroic public face, as "bold innovators who's minds and obsessive effort churn with endless abandon to stemmed eh tide of barbarism and return the standard of American living. . .," or something like that. Even better, this stance will be embraced by the core of conservatives. . . Leaving behind the increasingly marginal Christian right.
If only we could all learn this the easy way. Why do we have to struggle through the same mistakes, brushing aside intellectuals and thinkers for the easy worship of sand-in-the-clit fighters and the slow trumpet of the hero's burial? Sadly, in twenty years, will we remember what it took to get hydrogen fuel cheap and viable? Will we remember how we thought, and who we looked up to?
No matter. At least for now, the world is about to get better.
The best thing is, I can see this happening sooner than later. I can't wait for Bush's SOTU address Tuesday. He's going to lead the charge towards a better future, putting science and innovation back on the pedestal where it belongs. It will be too late to save his administration, but it will put the right ideas back into the minds of the average American, and reassess our priorities and values in a way that aligns with reason.
posted by Chris W. @ 11:54 AM
