Damian G. is a brilliant young American. I say that with sincerity. On my previous post, The Things That Really Matter, he said:
I think that combining serious events with funny/gross pictures is a tad disrespectful to the victims, but I get your point nonetheless.
You are absolutely correct. It is disrespectful, but perhaps you didn’t get the point, because that was the point. Sure, I simplified it, and I gave it greater impact by using images rather than words. Images of 9/11 or mass graves, or whatever else tend to have greater impact, and provoke a greater emotional response than mere words.
You see, when something offends me, my response is to offend. I lampooned positions that are taken seriously by pundits, Mainstream Media, and elected representatives of the United States. The point is not just that there are people Hell-bent on blaming President George W. Bush for all of the worlds evils and ills, and that such a position is ridiculous. The point is that doing so is offensive to me, and disrespectful to the victims.
So what offends me? Jackass MurthaFxxxer calling our Marines “cold-blooded killers” offends me. Michael Berg declaring President Bush to be a worse terrorist than the man responsible for the greusome decapitation of his son offends me. People blaming the aftermath of a hurricane on the President offends me.
Saying that 9/11 was an inside job offends me. Blaming it on the President offends me. Saying Iraq was better of under Saddam offends me. People with no regard for what the Nazis actually did, and throwing the term around so loosely, and with no historical perspective offends me.
So was my post offensive? You bet your ass it was. That’s the point. Will I take it back? Yes, I will take it back when I no longer have to hear an Elected representative of the United States call our troops “cold-blooded killers.”
I will take it back when an American President, any American President is no longer compared to Hitler, and instead people see the sobering, and horrific atrocities commited by Hitler, and realize that very few people in this world are anywhere near that evil. When they realize that a minor political difference does not equate, even remotely, with the genocide of millions, I will take it back.
When people realize that we are at war with a very real, very brutal, and sadistic enemy, I will take it back. When they realize that it’s not Bush’s or even America’s fault that we are at war with this enemy, and that it is not “Bush’s War” but Freedom and Democracy’s War, I will take it back.
When I am no longer offended in these ways, I will take it all back. Each and every one. Until then, I will continue to offend.
**
Trackbacked on Mudville Gazette
2004–2008
11 responses so far ↓
1
fmragtops
// Jun 20, 2006 at 11:03 pm
Great explanation, Fitch. Illustrating absurdity with absurdity.
2
FIAR
// Jun 20, 2006 at 11:13 pm
Exactly.
3
richj
// Jun 21, 2006 at 12:34 am
A fine rant to which I reply, “Fxxx Yea! That’s what I’m talkin’ bout!”
4
Sssteve
// Jun 21, 2006 at 2:54 pm
Niiiiice!
5
LittleOrangeFox
// Jun 21, 2006 at 9:57 pm
I salute you at doing something better than I do it! I wish I could speak with such conviction like this! You got kahonas man. I see your points everytime.
6
FIAR
// Jun 22, 2006 at 12:17 am
Thanks Foxy.
7
richj
// Jun 22, 2006 at 12:21 am
Sorry about the F-bomb. Got a little overexcited.
8
FIAR
// Jun 22, 2006 at 12:27 am
Eh. No big deal. It took me a whole day to edit it, and I knew it was there the whole time.
9
Damian G.
// Jun 22, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Ahh. I still don’t get it, though.
What does a picture of Ted Kennedy’s Jabba the Hutt stomach have to do with beheadings and terrorism?
The pictures of those tragic events in and of themselves are not offensive; in fact, they ought to be broadcast each and every day to remind America what we are fighting.
But I just think that superimposing that which is funny with that which is evil is wrong.
Regardless, it is still your right to do so, and you are still my brother in blogging.
10
fmragtops
// Jun 22, 2006 at 8:37 pm
Well, it’s more than that Damian. Yes, there is an element of hyperbole aimed at Swimmer, but that’s not really the point. Fitch is in a satirical, or sarcastic way pointing out that people with the viewpoints of Kennedy push us towards the type of horrific things pictured further down the page.
The humor in the poke at Kennedy is a counter-balance, and a feint to the more gravely serious point that Fitch is making. This is not a straight humor piece. It’s more like, I guess satire, but after reading the article on satire at The Sqwib, I have no idea what satire is anymore. The humorous picture makes the serious part of the message hit you like a hammer.
This is the kinda blogging that Fitch is the best at. I don’t think there is anyone better than him at this style of writing.
I hope this helps. And I hope I’m not coming off as preachey.
11
Damian G.
// Jun 22, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Gotcha, Fmragtops.
I just wish that the victims of terror weren’t used in that sense.
Once again, I’m not horribly, unacceptably offended, just a tad shaken.
Thanks. (^_^)
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