Service This, Asshole...

Washington Monthly dink Steve Benen puts on the thinking cap and decides the Bush Way is the Correct Way:

As the eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, the White House has designated Sept. 11, 2009 as a "National Day of Service." It seems like an appropriate way to honor the tragedy.

No, actually, it doesn't sound like anything of the sort. I'll decide what, if anything, I will do to remember 9/11. Not you, me. And I sure as shit don't need Barack Obama's guidance on the matter, either. Or George W. Bush's:

But let's just note a few relevant details. First, George W. Bush called for community volunteer work on the anniversary of 9/11, and the right didn't find it controversial. Second, victims' families have recommended making 9/11 a national day of service for years. Third, Alex Koppelman explained, "Check out the official Web site set up for the day: They're asking people to come up with their own events. So if you don't want to help out at anti-American places like food banks and community gardens, you can organize your own event."

The fact that George W. Bush endorsed this sort of flapdoodle should be enough of a clue, in and of itself, that a day of self-indulgent good works might not be the best of ideas.

Just about the last fuckin' thing I need is someone else - anyone else - telling me what I ought to be doing on 9/11. What I do, or don't do, on that day is intensely personal. As such, it is my business and nobody else's. Period.

No, I don't see the "National Day of Service" as Obama's version of "Strength through Joy". I see it as something far more sinister... Someone intruding on my privacy in matter that is, as I said, intensely personal. So to Obama I say exactly what I said to Bush:

Service this, asshole!

Comments

[David]

"What I do, or don't do, on that day is intensely personal. As such, it is my business and nobody else's. Period."

Well, sure, but how would that be different from any other day?

I propose celebrating 9/11 by invading Saudi Arabia, home of most of the 9/11 crew. I'm sure our newly-minted Democratic war party would support any extension of The War On (some) Terror.

Alternately, we could just execute the "David Peace Plan For The Middle East (including Israel)": irradiation.

Actually option #2 doesn't sound so bad.

[markg8]

Dennis don't you think it's dishonest not to mention that Benen's post was all about this wingnuttery:

"Matthew Vadum has a piece in the far-right American Spectator, arguing that President Obama's service proclamation is part of a plan to "desecrate" 9/11. In all sincerity, this is not a parody:"

The Obama White House is behind a cynical, coldly calculated political effort to erase the meaning of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the American psyche and convert Sept. 11 into a day of leftist celebration and statist idolatry.

This effort to reshape the American psyche has nothing to do with healing the nation and everything to do with easing the nation along in the ongoing radical transformation of America that President Obama promised during last year's election campaign. The president signed into law a measure in April that designated Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service, but it's not likely many lawmakers thought this meant that day was going to be turned into a celebration of ethanol, carbon emission controls, and radical community organizing. [...]

The plan is to turn a "day of fear" that helps Republicans into a day of activism called the National Day of Service that helps the left. In other words, nihilistic liberals are planning to drain 9/11 of all meaning.

"They think it needs to be taken back from the right," said the source. "They're taking that day and they're breaking it because it gives Republicans an advantage. To them, that day is a fearful day." [...]

With the help of the Obama administration, the coalition is launching a public relations campaign under the radar of the mainstream media -- which remains almost uniformly terrified of criticizing the nation's first black president -- to try to change 9/11 from a day of reflection and remembrance to a day of activism, food banks, and community gardens.

Nobody is ordering you to do anything Dennis. Nobody is even sinisterly insisting you wear a flag pin or salute the flag during the national anthem either. You are welcome to sit around eating Doritos in your backyard or wee-wee in your boots over Al Qaeda if you like. Seeing as you and some of your readers no longer think Afghanistan is a war worth fighting or winning I doubt you'll be doing the latter.

But it is fascinating that the American Spectator thinks 9/11 ought to forever be relegated to a "day of fear" that helps Republicans. And if this is some sinister underground plot why is the Obama administration "carrying it out under the under the radar of the mainstream media -- which remains almost uniformly terrified of criticizing the nation's first black president"? Seems to me the media would be a valuable asset for spreading something like this if they're such Obama lapdogs.

But you do as you like, we liberals will have fun with our little day of service, doing things for the American people, while you conservatives can spend your day doing what you always do, concentrating on something intensely personal. I suggest you spend the day rearranging your stock portfolio if you haven't already. Those health insurance company stocks aren't going to be looking too good by 9/11.

[mantis]

Who would be intruding on your privacy, exactly?

[Dennis the Peasant]

Mark-

That Benen's post was in response to Vadum's nonsense makes no difference to the point that I was making. Had you read what I had written, you'd know that.

Mantis-

Those that feel it necessary to instruct me as to what I should or should not be doing on 9/11.

[mantis]

Oh, are they busting in to your house to instruct you?

[Smellerbee]

"I'll decide what, if anything, I will do to remember 9/11. Not you, me"

First of all it's a state holiday and not a mandatory observance.

If you actually follow that logic through then you must also be opposed to all national holidays because they "decide" how to publicly observe special anniversaries.

[Dennis the Peasant]

Actually, I am against all national holidays. By their very existence they cheapen that which they purport to celebrate.

[VoodooJock]

How come the same assholes that tell everyone to volunteer to 'improve' their community, to help out their fellow man, invariably are the same assholes who won't lift a finger without at least a campaign contribution of 5 figures or more?

But shit, the labor of us proles is cheap and expendable when compared to theirs.

[BC]

But you do as you like, we liberals will have fun with our little day of service, doing things for the American people jerking off having convinced ourselves that the rest of the country wants, nay, needs, to slurp down our spooge.

[BC]

Fixed that for you, markg8.

[markg8]

That Benen's post was in response to Vadum's nonsense makes no difference to the point that I was making. Had you read what I had written, you'd know that.

Oh I know Dennis, I figured as long as you were making the same hysterical point as Vadum I'd point that out.

BC what grade are you in? 6th or 7th?