Willowmist's Wanderings

The world is officially ridiculous.

Last week the Nobel prize people gave an award to President Obama.

Why?

What has he done?

The answer is nothing.  He gives a good speech and he has a lot of lofty ideas.  I mean it.  I love universal health care.  I think it would be fabulous if he managed to get through the thick American skull that the life in ‘life, liberty and pursuit of happiness’ includes health.  But he hasn’t actually done that yet.  I think it would be better than awesome if he brings home all the American troops currently wasting their time in Iraq.  I know he has a plan in place.  But he hasn’t actually done that yet.  Seriously, if he does even half of what he talks about, then he would probably deserve a Nobel Peace prize - but, that’s my point - IF.  He hasn’t done it yet!  How are you going to give a guy a prize for talking about good shit?  I don’t want to suspect that a black man got a prize for getting elected president in the U.S.  If that is really the case, then shouldn’t the U.S. as a whole get the Nobel Peace prize for actually (and here’s that word again) doing the electing?

So this evening, I read an article about a stupid Halloween costume that has created a huge political stir in Miami.  It’s a space alien wearing a orange prison-type jumpsuit with the words ‘illegal alien’ emblazoned across the front.  It comes with its own green card, which I immediately observed would technically legalize our little alien, but I guess that irony is lost on the target market for the most part.  Anyway, some college professor who clearly needs to get out of his library once in awhile explains to us common masses how this costume perpetuates some idea about foreigners being strange, scary criminals and that the green card actually exacerbates the issue by illustrating how they remain scary and strange even when in possession of legal documents.  Besides that, the orange jumpsuit is similar to those worn by immigrants being held in detention centres while waiting for their fates to be judged and this, he insists evokes many painful memories. 

As an upstanding example of fair and balanced reporting, our story chooses William Gheen to represent the pro-costume side.  He is the head of North Carolina’s chapter of Americans for Legal Immigration and he thinks any attempt to have the custumes pulled amounts to an attack on free speech.  He urges us all to purchase the costume in protest.  He also, the reporter tells us, you know, just incidently, has publicly announced that Latin Americans are perpetuating a Tuberculosis epidemic in the U.S. although, our faithful reporter observes, government data suggests that incidences of the disease are at an all time low.

So hard-working, long-suffering legal immigrants are offended by it and half-baked, insensitive conservatives support the costume.

Not to inject any much-needed logic into this debate, but might I just point out that it’s A FUCKING COSTUME…!!??  Golly folks.  What happened to our senses of humour?

I’ll tell you what:  if Obama can broker peace over the illegal alien costume, I’ll accept that he has earned a Nobel Peace prize.

Happy October 20 everyon.