Central Coast News Mission
Tom Hutchings
Some Thoughts Before a Return Visit tothe U.S.
Thomas Hutchings
2 September 2006
Ho Chi Minh City - Today is a holiday in Viet Nam. It's the 61st anniversary of the country's independence. Ho Chi Minh drafted Viet Nam's Declaration of Independence, borrowing from America's declaration. It's a fun day here as people revel in their nation's independence, flags of the country - a five-point gold star on a red field - fly everywhere, even on the front entry way to my house.
I am preparing for a 2 week visit to the states. First, there will be a 5 day trip to Colorado where I'll give a presentation about living in Viet Nam to my fellow airmen at our reunion. There weren't many of us who flew on the EC 47s, the electronic military version of the DC-3. Then, I'll be winging on to California to take care of personal business.
As I get ready, I think about some of the things that fill the pages of international and national news - news items that reveal a state in America that doesn't look too good from the outside. Living in Viet Nam for the past two years has given me a different perspective of actually seeing the trees and the forest from the outside.
The fact that Tom Cruise's daughter's first poop has been cast and made into a sculpture is the epitome of, what is the word I want to use here? I'm not quite sure, but as a photo of the sculpture is listed as one of the most emailed photos on yahoo!, it demonstrates the base attitude of many. Literally, who gives a s**t? It seems many do.
I see that the Bush administration is still looking at the American War in Iraq through rose colored glasses while the Pentagon releases a report illustrating the violence is increasing as 12,000 more troops are assigned to Bush's never-ending "waronterror." Bush has nearly given up on finding Osama bin Laden, as he used his personal war in Iraq to cover up his own inadequacies.
Cheney and Rumsfeld are also trying to paint a rosy picture of the war. If those two aren't on drugs, I think they ought to be.
Ernie Dalidio is complaining that the downtown businesses do not support his ballot measure to approve a damaging shopping mall on his ranch in the middle of San Luis Obispo. He must believe that environmental effects and traffic will only occur on his property and he would be exempt from environmental impact reports. Did I use the word "complaining"? I meant to write "whining." Hey Ernie! Wake up and realize the impact of your private property rights extend a little bit beyond the boundaries.
The continuing saga of the Los Osos Community Services District and the beleagured sewer has become a very sad comedy of errors involving so many people.
A newborn is taken out of seat to be breastfed a couple years ago and is killed in a very tragic accident. The Latino mother is charged with negligence. A 22 month old boy darts out into traffic and the parents are not charged, though one could argue they were also negligent. Both events are so very tragic and I understand the suffering the parents go through, but it also clearly shows the bias of law enforcement. (Should anyone wonder, I lost a newborn 35 years ago and memories are not quickly forgotten.)
This will be my last blog until the end of September. When I return to Viet Nam, I'll catch up on local news, some positive, some negative, but I must admit, the news here isn't on the level of the crap news in America. The media in Viet Nam doesn't adhere to the rule of "if it bleeds, it leads." The media here goes by the rule, "let's inform the people of what is really meaningful."
Until the end of September, live good, and remember, it's all smoke and mirrors (especially the news out of Washington D.C).
Thomas Hutchings
2 September 2006
Ho Chi Minh City - Today is a holiday in Viet Nam. It's the 61st anniversary of the country's independence. Ho Chi Minh drafted Viet Nam's Declaration of Independence, borrowing from America's declaration. It's a fun day here as people revel in their nation's independence, flags of the country - a five-point gold star on a red field - fly everywhere, even on the front entry way to my house.
I am preparing for a 2 week visit to the states. First, there will be a 5 day trip to Colorado where I'll give a presentation about living in Viet Nam to my fellow airmen at our reunion. There weren't many of us who flew on the EC 47s, the electronic military version of the DC-3. Then, I'll be winging on to California to take care of personal business.
As I get ready, I think about some of the things that fill the pages of international and national news - news items that reveal a state in America that doesn't look too good from the outside. Living in Viet Nam for the past two years has given me a different perspective of actually seeing the trees and the forest from the outside.
The fact that Tom Cruise's daughter's first poop has been cast and made into a sculpture is the epitome of, what is the word I want to use here? I'm not quite sure, but as a photo of the sculpture is listed as one of the most emailed photos on yahoo!, it demonstrates the base attitude of many. Literally, who gives a s**t? It seems many do.
I see that the Bush administration is still looking at the American War in Iraq through rose colored glasses while the Pentagon releases a report illustrating the violence is increasing as 12,000 more troops are assigned to Bush's never-ending "waronterror." Bush has nearly given up on finding Osama bin Laden, as he used his personal war in Iraq to cover up his own inadequacies.
Cheney and Rumsfeld are also trying to paint a rosy picture of the war. If those two aren't on drugs, I think they ought to be.
Ernie Dalidio is complaining that the downtown businesses do not support his ballot measure to approve a damaging shopping mall on his ranch in the middle of San Luis Obispo. He must believe that environmental effects and traffic will only occur on his property and he would be exempt from environmental impact reports. Did I use the word "complaining"? I meant to write "whining." Hey Ernie! Wake up and realize the impact of your private property rights extend a little bit beyond the boundaries.
The continuing saga of the Los Osos Community Services District and the beleagured sewer has become a very sad comedy of errors involving so many people.
A newborn is taken out of seat to be breastfed a couple years ago and is killed in a very tragic accident. The Latino mother is charged with negligence. A 22 month old boy darts out into traffic and the parents are not charged, though one could argue they were also negligent. Both events are so very tragic and I understand the suffering the parents go through, but it also clearly shows the bias of law enforcement. (Should anyone wonder, I lost a newborn 35 years ago and memories are not quickly forgotten.)
This will be my last blog until the end of September. When I return to Viet Nam, I'll catch up on local news, some positive, some negative, but I must admit, the news here isn't on the level of the crap news in America. The media in Viet Nam doesn't adhere to the rule of "if it bleeds, it leads." The media here goes by the rule, "let's inform the people of what is really meaningful."
Until the end of September, live good, and remember, it's all smoke and mirrors (especially the news out of Washington D.C).
posted by thomashutchings at 12:21 AM
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