Real Good Thing!

Yep, it’s all about the ’80’s, baby!

What’s Your Karaoke Theme Song?

Something that’s been bouncing around the space between my ears today.
“The ends justify the means.” 
I’m having a problem with some things I used to support because I realize that someone can justify any action based on their own worldview or perspective.  If you are convinced that your objective is the morally correct outcome (as our President seems to believe) then it’s easy to convince yourself that it doesn’t matter what it costs to get there.

If you are trying to “do the right thing” but using the wrong methods to get there are you still “in the right?” For example, a free Iraq without Saddam Hussein’s ruthless, bloody tyranny would unquestionably be a good thing. But did we use the right means to try and get there? I say “try” because we aren’t even close.  And if the ends justify the means then shouldn’t we be in Sudan, Somalia, North Korea and dozens of other places. Shouldn’t we be willing to kill, and sacrifice ourselves, just as much as we seem to be doing in Iraq & Afghanistan? If not, why not?

You see my answer, when people would ask, “If we should be in Iraq why aren’t we in Sudan, etc.?” used to be that we should be. But should we?

Who thinks “waterboarding” isn’t torture? Show of hands, people. Now, are you freaking nuts?

As it has been explained by experts (i.e., those who’ve experienced it) it is basically drowning. Now, I’m not a great swimmer. In fact I’m a pretty poor swimmer, and there’ve been times, especially when I was younger, that I found myself in over my head. Literally. I can remember the sheer terror of those moments. The fear. The panic. The frantic, desperate struggle to get my heard back to the air. Now if someone forced that kind of experience on me, I’d sure call it torture.

Second, those who’ve experienced this, even in a “safe”‘ training environment have declared that they would have done or said anything to make it stop. Anything. That makes any information gained from such tactics dubious at best. Given all the above why is there any debate on this subject?

You can have my heart
Though it isn’t new
It’s been used and broken
And only comes in blue
It’s been down a long road
And it got dirty on the way
If I give it to you will you make it clean
And wash the shame away

You can have my heart
If you don’t mind broken things
You can have my life if you don’t mind these tears
Well I heard that you make old things new
So I give these pieces all to you
If you want it you can have my heart

So beyond repair
Nothing I could do
I tried to fix it myself
But it was only worse when I got through
Then you walked into my darkness
And you speak words so sweet
And you hold me like a child
Till my frozen tears fall at your feet

by Julie Miller