Reprise on Contemplation on this Age of Opinion...

[Steve Plonk]

CONTEMPLATION ON THIS AGE OF OPINION : A Blast From the Past
By Steve Plonk

Years ago, at around November 30, 1967,
the U. S. population passed the marker of 200 million people.
Now, these amazingly short historical years later, we are
crossing the marker of 300 million people .

All these many people need housing , a place to shop, and have an opinion.
They appear to be shopping with finesse and contributing to
an economy which is now fueled by the inflation of increased
gas prices and several overseas “Twilight Zone Wars” Against
Terrorism. We are collectively aware that these wars are directly or indirectly a
result of attacks on the Trade Towers in New York City, the Pentagon,
and so on… I wonder how folks will react to the latest incident in
international intrigue in North Korea. North Korea has apparently set off
some kind of underground test of a nuclear device, as of October 8, 2006.

The U.S. and five other countries got their wheels turning to hopefully get, from North Korea,
an agreement to dismantle the nuclear reactor(s) and bomb material. Negotiations, after the Democrats won back both houses of congress, have brought even more movement toward such an agreement by North Korea. However, as of March 7, 2007, negotiations are still in progress for North Korea to dismantle its nuke program according to the “New York Times” article.

In addition, there was a summit, about this same time, by several arab countries, the USA, the Europeans, China and Russia in Iraq to iron out differences, and so on, about border security and nuclear disarmament. Negotiations are crucial to insure the borders of Iraq are more tightly wrapped and that Iran will not try to develop and/or detonate a nuclear weapon. Negotiations are still on-going about that situation… I fully support the idea of nuclear non-proliferation in both North Korea and Iran… In my view, the arab countries surrounding Iraq need to get their more radical Muslim populations under control and not “aid and abet” border incursions and gun running. Let’s also not forget the fluid borders between Pakistan and Afghanistan. But that is a subject for another column…

Are my readers are wondering about how one of my siblings is doing in Saudi Arabia? All I can say at this point is: “So far, so good”. He’s had no more items stolen from his baggage and is settling into his contract job… According to a recent “Parade” magazine article, the King of Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s top ten dictators and/or autocrats. I sent my brother a clipping of an earlier column I wrote in which he was featured… There have been dragnet arrests recently of foreigners in Saudi Arabia who have gone to “mixed” drinking parties. The situation in Saudi Arabia is such that a trip to the post office may cost more than one would bargain for. My sibling has ceased to send e-mails because it is “more trouble than it is worth”. Furthermore, all mail is sent back and forth by company courier now… Br’er says the Arabian drivers drive like madmen and make any stateside big city traffic look like it is going in slow motion…


-2- Steve Plonk.


Moving right along, yes, we are into the “Age of Opinion”. One may say anything
one pleases, providing one is given the right editors. There are still stodgy old
censors who want to keep certain people from getting printed what they want to.
Some of these folks are on the left, some are on the right, and some are flying
over your head filming 24/7! Of course, one still shouldn’t be shouting “Fire!”
for no reason, in a proverbial crowded theater.

Yes, one may pretty much say what one wants to within reasonable limits.
If a person has disputed facts, he/she must be able to back them up and do
this with finesse and without running on rooftops. Unfortunately, some people
like to fly over rooftops and get film by eleven p.m. I think I draw the line
there in most cases. Everyone needs their “Owl Farm” sanctuary. A person’s
home is still one’s castle isn’t it? Have personal boundaries been breached by
the media? Does the public really need to know if one has a barbeque on friday
night and what groceries s/he cooks out with? What is the deal with the media’s
obsession and/or scrutiny with folks personal information? Next, they’ll be
delineating a person’s toilet habits and what kind of paper s/he uses. Does the
“star” have a “band-aid” on the left or right knee?... Who needs to know this?

Yes, the “star” wears a bathrobe when s/he goes out and picks up the newspaper.
Is it the media’s job to shadow people like an errant pooch? I don’t think so.
Spare me the minute privacies of a star’s life. What would media moguls think
if the “shoe was on the other foot”? Think about it, kind folks and gentle people…

However, I feel, in the case of North Korea and Iran, I think we should have spy satellites flying over to confirm or deny the existence of the nuke facilities/a-bombs in question. In addition these countries should allow inspectors back in. After all, North Korea , especially, is a pesky “roaring mouse” of a country and we collectively have a need to know what’s up. The North Koreans also have a one million strong standing army. What if China only slaps their collective wrists and North Korea gives Iran ideas about how to connive to get nukes? (What’s the frequency?) Will diplomacy work or no? Inquiring minds would like to know! Let’s hope that “sweetness and light” prevails. Oh, a parting shot—word from the grapevine has it that Halliburton is moving its operations to Dubai. Oh Wow! Such a tasty world we live in…

[Steve Plonk]

This is my author's note on this Reprise. I reprinted it in my "Life in the Horse Lane" column section in case folks want to refer back to it directly, instead of going back to the General Discussion forum. Enjoy.

[stilltrucking]

We don't talk about the nine hundred pound rhino in the middle east

I sure don;t want to talk about it either.


.

[Steve Plonk]

Metaphors are great. I assume you may be talking about Iran. I also assume that you may want to leave the door open to discuss Iran.
Iran's stubborn resistence to inspectors would be a good place to start.
Accusing lost hikers of "spying" would be another awesome place to start talking. Let me know what is on your mind and if I am correct about your
metaphor. What happened in Iran is similar to what happened in nazi Germany before World War Two... At least, that's my take on it.

Pakistan is also another possible choice, along with India. These two countries have been at each other for years. Willing to discuss, but would have to make it another topic. Both these countries have been nuclear powers for quite a while. Pakistan is a Muslim country, whereas India has mostly Hindus. I will contemplate these countries and pick a topic as soon
as my column site gets off the ground a wee bit more.