It's Revolting: Why Aren't We?

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/7325

It's Revolting: Why Aren't We?
by Stephen Pizzo | May 8 2007

Tonight our monkey will climb into a monkey-suit and dine in regal splendor with an anachronism.



snip//

Am I the only one that feels tonight's state dinner for the Queen has the feel of a red-hot blast of cognitive dissidence -- remarkable even from this White House in it's feeling of unreality?

US and British men and women are being blown by the dozen every day in Iraq. The public in both England and the US overwhelmingly want their governments to rescue their troops from that hopeless hell-hole of a nation. But tonight the leader of one of those countries will fete the pretend-leader of the other country in a lavish dinner, as though at that very moment one or more of their soldier's life is not likely to be soaking into Iraqi sand.

snip//



Meanwhile, in Iraq their soldiers will wake up to another 100-degree plus day. They too will put on their monkey suits – 12-pounds of body armor, helmet, ammo, rifle – and three square meals... (that are actually square.)



While the food and ambiance at the White House and Embassy dinners will surely be to die for, in Iraq the troops will surely be doing just that.

And still we are not in the streets.

[hobbit709]

1. AH! But the ruling classes are entitled their little perks

After all, it's what separates them from us peasants.:sarcasm:
What the ruling class always forgets is that the peasants always outnumber them-especially when it comes to torches and pitchforks time.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. What the peasants tend to forget....

Is that when it comes to torches and pitchforks time, the ruling class have superior torches and pitchforks, plus a loyal army well trained in how to use them against the hoi-polloi.

[hobbit709]

6. But how loyal does the army remain?

Ask Louis XVI and Nicholas II how loyal their armies were.

[KansDem]

9. Did Louis XVI and Nicholas II have "Blackwater?"

http://www.blackwaterusa.com/">BlackWater

I'm not that versed in European/Russian history, but did they have mercs?

Perhaps the question should be, "Can the 'torch-and-pitchfork' class afford mercs to combat mercs?" After all, "loyality" with mercs means $$$. Maybe a bidding war, like when a hit man's contract is bought by the target who then redirects the hit-man back to the original buyer (at least as the way it's portrayed in the movies and on teevee)?

[hobbit709]

10. Mercenaries know when to cut their losses

FLOWERS IN THE NIGHT
MUSIC & Lyrics: Jack Traylor

Paine and Pierce and Robespierre, Juarez and Danton,
Luther, King and Lumumba dead but far from gone
Lenin, Cleaver, Jesus too, outlaws in their nations,
Revolutionaries all, dreamed of liberation
God is up in heaven his agents here on earth

The church has said that this man rules, he's best because of birth.
But what's that noise down in the street, who dares to shout and sing?
With all his courtiers at his side, who dares to touch the king?
Old man get some soldiers, keep them close at hand
There's a fire in the country, there's a flame come to the land
Seven thousand loyal troops, in ranks they stretch so far
With seven thousand well armed men, no one can touch the czar.

Louis watch the prisons, send the goons around
Is that Paris burning, is the Bastille falling down?
And where are all the mercenaries - paid for by the king?
Have they joined the mob you say, doesn't money mean anything?
Old men get some soldiers, keep them close at hand,
The seeds that were sown yesterday now flower in the land
And guard yourself most carefully with military might.
For plants that cannot bloom by day must flower in the night.

[bdamomma]

7. us peasants better get it together, we the peasants have the numbers

if only we would realize that.

[babylonsister]

4. OFF with their heads!

Only kidding; they pay no attention to history, so I'm sure the reference will be seen as all in good fun. :eyes:

[Rev. Mother Ramallo]

2. Bush and the Queen...

...NOT eating dinner wouldn't make one bit of difference to the war effort. Everyone here screams about building alliances--well, how do you think that is done? The Queen hosted the Bushes several years ago; they are merely reciprocating. Britain is one of our best allies. If you want us to have a better image around the world, than a dinner like this can only help. I could bitch about a lot of things Bush has done--but this isn't one of them.

[Virginia Dare]

5. Outlaw Starbucks coffee...

or Blackberrys, then you will see people rioting in the streets.

[bdamomma]

8. take away all their "toys" and they will act.

[Nederland]

11. The peasants are too divided to revolt

They disagree about education, abortion, religion in politics, health care--you name it.

So long as the war only affects those people that volunteered to serve (and their families) there will be no revolt.

[aikoaiko]

12. "cognitive dissidence"?????

que?