Baxter here. It's been Some Week around here. My Humans have been Very Busy, so they left Me in charge of paying Attention to the News.The Big Story of the Week, of course, was the Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Arrest, which Unfortunately eclipsed what President Obama wanted us to be talking about.
In case you have been Living Under a Rock, Mr. Gates, an African-American Professor at Harvard, was arrested by Cambridge police when he had been sighted trying to get into His Own House by a Passerby...who happened to be White...and she called the Police. A Cambridge Policeman, who also happened to be White, showed up, and because Mr. Gates got Understandably Annoyed at being Accused of being a Burglar of his Own House, arrested him for "disorderly conduct."
Not sure who is right or wrong in this Mess, I'm sure there may be Blame on Both Sides, but there is a Tendency among Humans to still harbor Racism even if they don't believe they feel that way. Ask any African-American and I'm sure he or she will Regale you with Many Tales of being treated unfairly by Humans Who Are White, I'm Sorry to Say. This analysis shows how both sides may have interpreted everything Differently because of their Different Backgrounds. But in My Opinion, this situation would not have happened had Mr. Gates been an older White Man.
Be That As It May, President Obama had an Unguarded Moment during his recent Press Conference and happened to let slip what he REALLY felt about the case - said the Cambridge Police acted "Stupidly" - and all Hell broke loose. Suddenly the Conversation about Health Care became a Non-Issue and the Henry Gates thing became The Big Issue of the Week.
I think Jon Stewart explains both the Health Care Issues and the Gates debacle all in one good clip:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| White House M.D. | ||||
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Of course, the Loyal Opposition known as the GOP (and their Minions) are Making a Big Deal out of this to Distract the Public from wanting Health Care. And in the Meantime they are trying to Scare Everyone by talking about Bureaucracy and the Government Making Your Health Care Decisions for you - as if the Insurance Companies don't do that already.
I'm glad, as a Cat, that my Humans make all my Health Care decisions. But as my Female Human's mother likes to point out, she has a Government Health Care program - called Medicare - and she's never been denied anything she needed done.
Moving On. My Female Human's mother told her about an Ad she just saw against taxing Soft Drinks. So I searched on Youtube and found it, being an Enterprising sort of Cat. Sure enough, there it is; an ad by "Americans Against Food Taxes," whoever They are, complaining about Congress plotting to take our "Simple Pleasures" away. I wonder who Really Paid for that ad? Lobbyists for soft drink manufacturers is My Guess. No one is trying to take anyone's Simple Pleasures away. They're just trying to think of ways to pay for Health Care so Poor People don't die in the Streets from lack of care. Anyway, what more does Anyone need than to have a Purring Cat in their Laps? That is the kind of Simple Pleasure that is always free! Here is the Ad in case you are Interested.
Let's see, what Else can I tell you about? Oh yes, my Humans went up to that Place they call the Cabin again a couple of Weekends ago and while they were there they bought and had delivered a Propane Refrigerator and a Propane Stove. They also put up some Shelves and other stuff. Then this Past Weekend, the Male Human and That Dog went up there By Themselves to await delivery of some Rustic Furniture that the Humans had ordered. I am a Suburban Cat so am not sure what Rustic means but I think it means the stuff is made out of Logs or something.
My Female Human stayed home because her Aunt had an operation on Friday. She is doing well but my Female Human had to visit her and also take care of my distant cousin, Geoffrey, who is the Cat that owns her.
Anyway. My Female Human and I had the House all to Ourselves on Friday night. It was Wonderful. I slept on the Bed with her all night and That Dog wasn't there to chase me off. We had a Lovely Time and I Purred a Lot. Unfortunately the Male Human (who is fine by himself but he usually has That Dog next to him) and That Dog came back the next Night.
My Humans did want me to share a few pictures taken up at the Cabin so you can see how it is all coming along. So Here they Are.
The Bedroom - with new corner shelves added (the only Things that Fit in that Little Space).
Bathroom - with Propane-Powered Lights, new Medicine Cabinet with Mirror, and new Shelf over Toilet.
Views of new "Rustic" Furniture Below and farther Below:
Propane-Powered Refrigerator and Stove:
That Dog relaxing on the Deck:
From what I Understand, the Cabin still does not have Running Water. The Humans brought Water with them last Weekend when they stayed there. The only step left is to have the Generator hooked up to the Well Pump and then they can Stay There for a Long Time. They keep telling Me that if they go for a Week they will bring Me up there too.
I have Mixed Emotions about this. I am a Cat that likes Routine and does NOT like to have it Disrupted. However, I might enjoy looking out the Windows at Strange Birds that may come by the Cabin. We shall See.
In the Meantime, enjoy your Catnip and I will see you Next Week. Let's all hope that President Obama can get Congress and the Nation back on Track to finalize some Health Care before the Autumn sets in. I think he is at a Precarious Moment in his Presidency and needs to get a Victory. I am hoping that he has been Playing with the Opposition the way we Cats like to play with Mice and that in the end he will get what he Wants.
15 comments:
I hope so too.. I think mostly we need to have you in there kicking some Blue Dog asses...lol
Thanks for the round up and the wrap up Baxter..great job as always. I love your perspective and look forward to it.
Baxter, you have enlightened me again. I hope your human's truly appreciate you though. I should hope that your excursion to the "cabin" will be a good one when the time comes. Put your paw down - and let them know that you are the boss also. Have a good week Baxter!
Nice to see you again Baxter. You give the news better than most broadcasters. The cabin looks really pretty and I'm sure you will find a few neat places to curl up. :P
A man being arrested in his own home after providing proof of identity has every god dammed right to be mad at being harassed by the fucking cops. I've been harassed by them so I admit to being biased on this particular issue. The cops have TOO MUCH POWER!
And now everyone's patting themselves on the back because the caller didn't mention race in her 911 call about Gates.
Which begs the question, of course:
Would she have made the call at all if he hadn't been black?
Oh, propane makes such delicious burgers. Have them fix you up some!
The cabin is looking really great.
The question I have about the Gates fiasco is this: Disorderly conduct is a public nuisance type of crime. How can someone commit disorderly conduct in his own home??? It doesn't seem possible to me.
Baxter~ Are you sure they are not feeding you photos from Better Cabins magazine? That place is so inviting, it is looking like the Cadillac of cabins.
As for the trip up there.... don't let that dog think she runs the place. You probably should go up there & shed some fir or something like that.
Ooops! About the Gates thing.... that danged Cop still has not apologized.
And even after a beer Summit, he still has not really changed his tune.
They really do owe an apology(the Cambridge police) to Gates.
Confusion aside.... if he had ID showing he was in his own home & a College Prof (Harvard ID)..... that really should have been the end of story-- even if Gates had some creative words for the officer.
Who would not be pissed off in that situation?
Driver's licenses have a photo and home address.... it was all there for the Officer to resolve.
Far as I am concerned, Obama got it right... he had acted Stupidly, too bad that strayed from the Health Care focus.
The politicians on the take well over $3 million bucks on the deciding committee for what health care plans make it to the floor for full vote is crazy.
They too are acting stupidly.
If anything begs for ethics reform- it is that situation.
What if the politicians themselves were required to have to take the same health care plan they are now working on?
If the us & them & theoretical element were removed?
Oh! In a perfect world.
baxter can you please run for office
as for the beer summit. i remember we used to have a president that was elected because he would be fun to have a beer with
If only there was a national media journalist with your penetrating insight, Baxter.
Walter Cronkite was the last of your breed. (Reporters, not felines, of course.)
Baxter, tell your humans their cabin is the shizzel, or you can put it more bluntly. (Oh, and tell them we look forward to their return, especially that female one.)
That Baxter, there's one smart kitty, there.
And Maui, your cabin looks awesome!
Thanks everybody! So glad to hear from you all when I've been such a bad blogger this week. Hope to get back to more regular posts shortly!
Baxter said he's willing to step into the breach once again but I told him I was determined to post myself next time.
Both he and I agree with everyone's comments about the Gates fiasco. The police definitely overreacted and Gates should never have been arrested in his own home. And I agree, it wouldn't have happened if he had been white.
It's true the cops have too much power, and usually they are guys who like to exercise that power because it feeds their egos. (In my humble experience anyway - I know there are good ones too).
-Maui
Well done, Baxter! Another wonderful explanation. I'm reading a novel called The Help about black maids back in the twentieth century. It was truly appalling the way one lot of humans could treat another lot.
I'm sure you'll enjoy going to eth cabin. That rustic furniture looks good to sleep on.
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