#314 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Friday April 1)
Happy April Fools’ Day!
The origins of the day’s celebration is debated. It seems cross-cultural. I find the most plausible explanation is that the Julian calendar began at the Spring Equinox (roughly April 1) before the Gregorian calendar set January 1 as the beginning of the year. Those who weren’t quick to accept the change were called “April Fools.” Sounds as good an explanation as any.
I’M JUST A SOUL WHOSE INTENTIONS ARE GOOD: OH LORD, PLEASE DON’T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD*
I received a rather harsh assessment of my writing in a Facebook post last month. The writer challenged me on the “hubris” that I state my opinion as if it’s fact. I think I do a pretty good job of differentiating between the two but no doubt can always do better. But it should be fairly straightforward. I think I go out of my way to get my facts right. But I also think there is a misunderstanding as to what is fact and what is fiction. Here are some examples of statements I’ve made, characterized as to whether they are fact or fiction.
FACT: This person disputed my statement that there were those on Fox News who were less than supportive of our government and the Ukrainian cause. Well, here is Tucker Carlson on February 17th:
“And of course, they’re promoting war, not to maintain the democracy that is Ukraine. Ukraine is not a democracy. It has never been a democracy in its history and it’s not now. It’s a client state of the Biden administration. It’s a place in which opposition media and opposition political candidates are completely shut down by the government. Is not a democracy at all. And it’s insulting they would suggest otherwise.”
FACT: Several people have complained that I have focused unfairly on the attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It has been proven that officials and attorneys inside the White House were doing just that—attempting to overturn the most transparent and fair election in history. And while we may never learn the number and nature of calls from lawmakers on the Hill, we know of many such calls—either urging overturning the election or cautioning Trump to back-down for political reasons. Most disturbing recently were the revelations that Ginny Thomas (Clarence Thomas’s right-wing conspiracy embracing wife) and others actively lobbied Mark Meadows and others in the White House to circumvent the results of the 2020 election. And many in the White House, including then-President Trump, considered various extra-legal means to stage a coup and overturn an election where States sent certified electoral slates based upon results that have been proven not to be affected by the widespread fraud (a canard that has been proven false in multiple court rulings).
FACT: This person disputed that President Trump was sucking up to Putin and constantly defending Putin, even when many in his party saw Putin for what he is: a bully, an oppressor, and a danger. I cited the fact that Trump denied funds to Ukraine in an effort to enlist them to find dirt on Biden, and praising Putin repeatedly and shamelessly, refusing to acknowledge his interference in our elections. These are facts.
OPINION: A bunch of Trump-fans have suggested that President Biden is weak and Trump would have done more. It is my opinion that Trump would not have intervened in Ukraine, nor would he have taken the steps President Biden successfully imposed with our allies. This is my opinion. It is based upon Trump’s prior statements and actions.
OPINION: While not conclusively proven, it is my belief that the pandemic began in the Wuhan wet market. This has been verified by several scientific studies of its origin. It is possible a nearby bio-lab’s work on biological weapons caused this, but it’s unlikely. In any event, the pandemic’s origin story ought not be used for political gain. There are plenty of bad Chinese behaviors to rail about (including the treatment of the Uighurs and the brutality in Hong Kong); it isn’t necessary that the virus originated in a lab in order to reach the conclusion that they are bad actors in so many ways.
OPINION: The Republicans are bracing to challenge the results of elections in 2024. This is my opinion, based upon the myriad laws being put in place by Republican state governments that provide the opportunity for manipulation by partisan oversight of elections and certifications that are inconsistent with the final fvotes. It may be that they really are changing oversight from non-partisan election commissioners and Secretaries of State because they believe a Republican-led legislature will be more scientific and fair-minded in their decision-making. I just don’t think that point of view is nearly as plausible or provable.
* With thanks, apologies and appreciation to The Animals.
THEY’RE JUST MUSINGS
Finally, while I try to be fair, I have no affirmative duty to provide equal time to other positions, particularly those that are unsupported by fact. And even if they were, these are my musings and not some sort of town hall or journalistic endeavor with an obligation to cover everything. They’re just…well…musings. But everyone is free to join.
NEOLOGISMS
The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational invited readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition:
1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.
3. Intaxicaton: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
6. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
7. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
8. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit)
9. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
10. Decafalon(n):The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
11. Glibido: All talk and no action.
Have a great day,
Glenn
From the archives: