Real Journalistic Commentary In Baghdad

There is nothing like reporting the truth. Lies, distortions, slants, bias in reporting all fall short of the object of journalism which is to inform and by implication to deliver a kind of entertainment. And there is nothing more interesting than the truth. It always hangs together and is believable while being simple .

And so the lesser forms of expression which include poisoned op-ed pieces, political lampoon, satirical cartoon, no-confidence votes, negative polling results and losing elections pale along side the truthful drama of Baghdad reporter Muntander al-Zaidi. This past weekend in Baghdad he threw his 2 shoes at our coward-in-chief George Bush along with the appropiate description of the U.S. president who has caused the death and dislocation of millions of innocent Iraqis.

Unfortunately Bush ducked and we only have a symbolic attempt recorded for history on video. Next time real journalism makes its way on to the front page hopefully a more effective puncture and punctuating scene will be seen.

What Does It Mean To Be Queer ?

New York City is about to let sex-confused or NOT confused- depending on who you ask- to alter original birth certificates. This latest mutation in the civil rights movement is certainly breaking new ground. Notably, one needn't have had a sex-change operation to qualify. A simple declaration is sufficient. Evidently the Trojan Horse for this new rule is discrimination against those who could not afford an operation. Advocates cite this as a monetary hurdle that makes the New York Health System " biased".

The question is, who is queer? The poor confused- sexually conflicted individual or the health officials who are indulging them? The latter seem to be more queer. Because presumably they know what sex they are but are willing to let others question and discard the need for truth in the phyical world. I.E passion and emotion trump fact.