Feet on the air, head on the ground

Posted by unbrand on 4 July 2005 | 4 Comments

Tags: government

Where is my mind? July 4th is coming soon. Growing up in America, this is the celebration of the day of Independence. When I was in the 6th grade, I lost out on a spelling bee because I spelled “independence” as “independents.”

So here I am in New Zealand reading blogs and American news items about the celebration of American independence. If I was in America right now, I think I’d be pissed off. About Iraq, Afghanistan, the fiat money system, PATRIOT Acts, destruction of the middle class, etc. Now I’m just curious about it all.

There’s nothing like having a nice dinner with a couple of Kiwis to remind you of Janet Jackson’s “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” when they describe how America and England have been telling NZ how and where to fight for 100 years, with NZ agreeing and losing many men, then to see the Axis of Good punish NZ for not towing the line with Iraq to really get a good taste of what it means to be independent.

Helen Clark is independent. She gave the Israelis a big “Fuck you” when they didn’t admit there were Israeli spies trying to steal New Zealand passports.

Independence is taking a moral stand and telling the Last Remaining Superpower™ that we don’t want to play their reindeer games.

Way out in the water, see it swimming.

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Comments

  • <p>Was it raining hard at that party?</p>


    <p>I&rsquo;m looking forward to testing the &ldquo;at least keep in touch &ndash; no matter where you are.&rdquo; bit</p>

    Posted by don, 01/07/2007 11:39am (1 year ago)

  • <p>Thanks for the comment Ed. Here&rsquo;s a toast to the cool Americans who have managed to escape.</p>

    Posted by unbrand, 01/07/2007 11:39am (1 year ago)

  • <p>Right there with ya chief. These days I&rsquo;m slightly saddened, but more amused, in a schadenfreude way, by the news back in the homeland. This is my 2nd 4th out of country; last one I spent all day on the Fire Service training ground in Kilbirnie. Looking forward to a whole lot more irrelevant 4ths.</p>

    Posted by Ed Hintz, 01/07/2007 11:39am (1 year ago)

  • <p>heh, thought I&rsquo;d check it since we talked &lsquo;bout it the other night.</p>


    <p>Well done you on spotting the wariness of the kiwi after previous WW&rsquo;s. At one <span class='caps'>TNC</span> long ago I abused a fellow (US) escapee on describing &lsquo;war good for creating markets&rsquo; as a fucking idiot (dammit you asshole). This reaction was explained by an englishman sitting beside me as someone who has already lost half a nation to war.</p>


    <p>Admittedly I&rsquo;d never thought of it like this.</p>


    <p>But it&rsquo;s probably true. War, what is it good for?</p>


    <p>Personally that&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m helping build our part of The Internet. War and conflict, I hope comes about through lack of communication and understanding. Hopefully we can create a mechanism that makes it easy for humans to understand each other &ndash; or at least keep in touch &ndash; no matter where you are.</p>


    <p>I went to a party on top of a hill at the turn of the century where strangers were friendly to each other. Why can&rsquo;t life be like that? Call me naive and idealistic. But if that&rsquo;s what it takes then that&rsquo;s fine by me.</p>

    Posted by j-me, 01/07/2007 11:39am (1 year ago)

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