Mood:  incredulous

I was sitting at one of my many "offices," i.e., Starbucks, here in Tucson the morning after Christmas, and there were two people sitting next to me, discussing Bhutto's assassination. The older guy hadn't even heard about it, a day after it had happened, and the older woman, who, just moments earlier declared herself a conservative, but one who will have liberal friends, said that we should nuke the whole of that area to a glassy desert and just start over. I nearly choked on my venti no-foam latte. I realize that not all conservatives nor republicans are complete idiots, but why do so many seem more than eager to use violence as a means to resolve any problem? (Not even counting the fact that this would only exacerbate the situation...) It reminded me of a comic book I drew at age 9 - the end panel of *every* story was GI Joe solving the case and saving the day by blowing up something. Granted, as a 9-year old boy, that seemed to make sense. At some point around 11, I'm pretty sure I wised up. Why didn't this happen to everyone else? 

My guess is that because the people in question, you know, those Muslims, aren't white, English speaking, Christians, that it's perfectly OK to nuke them off the face of the Earth. Actually, the willingness to lob a few nukes around probably extends to targeting white Christians, just not those residing in much of the US, New England excluded.

Anyhoo, to my good pals near and far, I send you tidings of joy, peace, and happiness for the holidays and the coming year. My Christmas cards are going out late, but out they will go in January.

Cheers, and have a safe and wonderful New Year's!