Mustang Rambles

This is just in from My Way, AP News

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is warning his country may respond to a U.S. missile shield in Europe through military means.

Medvedev says that the deployment of an anti-missile system close to Russian borders “will of course create additional tensions.”

“We will have to react somehow, to react, of course, in a military way,” Medvedev was quoted as saying Tuesday by the RIA-Novosti news agency.

Russian officials have already warned of a military response to the U.S. plans, but the statement by the Russian leader was likely to further aggravate already tense relations with the West. The comments come after Medvedev recognized two Georgian regions as independent nations, prompting criticism from the U.S. and Europe.

With the US troops dispersed elsewhere, it looks like its up to NATO and EU. So far, these organizations have shown no muscle and no grit. Things are getting pretty tense here, let’s hope the presidential candidates show a solid strong response

The President (puppet) of Russia today recognized the independence of the two breakaway provinces of Georgia, thereby creating a precedent that may have severe repercussions in the United States.  By going against all diplomatic and international tradition and laws (for all I know), the stage is set for Mexico to recognize Arizona and Southern California and other traditional Spanish speaking areas of the US.  Canada can have a close look at Seattle, and Miami can break away to its own independent state.

Russia seems insistent on throwing its weight around and running those antique tanks and personnel carriers all over the roads of Georgia.  The huge question is, what will the EU and NATO do about it?

Seems others were not too happy about Mayor Boris Johnson and the London performance in Beijing.

As Britain’s magnificent Olympians returned home on Monday, they left behind a fierce debate in China over London’s eight-minute contribution to Beijing’s glittering ceremony - and in particular, the performance of Mayor Boris Johnson.

While some Chinese media and bloggers praised the creativity of London’s segment, others were damning with Johnson described as ‘arrogant, rude and disrespectful’ when accepting the Olympic flag.

There were mixed opinions too about the cameo performance featuring a London bus, David Beckham, singer Leona Lewis, rock guitarist Jimmy Page, dancers and singers which was very different from the rest of the spectacular show staged by the hosts.

This quote from the Daily Mail in the UK is part of a long article detailing a long list of angry Chinese complaints about the conduct of the new London Mayor. One of the big words used often was “disrespect”.

It seems I wasn’t the only one offended by his conduct and put off by the show.

This blog, the 3rd on the Olympic Closing Ceremonies concerns the poor guy who’s now the new mayor of London. He needs some help on deportment, and his dress and manners at official functions. I was shocked that the mayor of the town that brags about Saville Row and the excellent quality of its tailors couldn’t have a suit that he can button during the formal official ceremony of handing over the flag. He was the only dignitary without his suit coat buttoned for any formal exchange or presentation. Another thing where he was lacking, was that no one apparently had the good sense to tell him what he was supposed to do on the stage during the flag exchange. Then he looked like a buffoon in not knowing how to hold the flag, his hands were too close together, or how to pass it to the Chinese man who was supposed to receive it when he was done. This is a gross failure on the part of his staff. Another failure was he should have been told he was not up there to wave at people or to acknowledge the cheers. He was there to accept the flag for London and the 30th Olympic games. His waving to the crowd at several times, while important things were going on on the stage reminded me of President Bill Clinton running around and waving at people the first time the band played “Hail to the Chief”, his first official honor as the new President. It made him look like a neophyte to public office. Lastly, if he is to represent the city of London, and to represent it seriously, he needs to get an adult haircut.

This may sound a bit harsh, but I have a lot of respect for the British people and the people of London. My father was there during the blitz and had nothing but high praise for Londoners. Maybe I was expecting too much. I was very disappointed in the decorum of the new Mayor of London. He has four years to grow up and act like a representative of a proud people.

In my second blog on the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games. I would like to ask a question about the eight minutes London presented. I understand the use of the double-decker bus to represent London, and I understand the umbrellas used by some of the dancers. I don’t understand the message or the vision that the eight minutes was presenting. There was a rock singer famous worldwide, apparently, and the guitarist from the Led Zeppelin. Also, you had Beckham kicking a soccer ball out into the crowd. The thing that got me was that the costuming of the dancers in the choreography was so, I would say “punkish” and to me not indicative of London’s glorious past and culture. I was severely disappointed.

I highly recommend that London hire an artist of the caliber of the Chinese director of the opening and closing shows. Now I know that London can’t spend $40 billion on their show and that they probably can’t call on a million volunteers, although they probably have that many people on the dole. Of course the fact that there are that many on the dole would indicate that they are not retrainable in any new endeavor and would not be of much use in an opening ceremony. I do recommend that what ever London does that at least they do it with dignity, true artistic expression, and with the knowledge that more than hip-hop kids will be watching the Olympics.

I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed, because, frankly, I rate their show right along with the ‘96 Atlanta ceremonies. Please, London, no stainless steel cabs. Atlanta’s pickup trucks have already dug that artistic grave.

I’m going to write three blogs about China from the Olympics.   This first one is again about the artistic supremacy of Olympic presentation.  I understand that the Chinese were able to spend the $40 billion on the Olympic Games, and used over or close to maybe a million volunteers to make it right.  Still, I think the artistic vision and the expression of the Chinese spirit will probably never be surpassed by any other country or city.  The closing ceremonies were almost as good as the opening ceremonies.  That means we have seen two shows that will probably rank one and two of all Olympic shows ever.  London will not be able to have such an extravaganza.  That is a shame for London and the British people because they, too, have much to be proud of.  Too bad the bar is set so high.

I am surprised, yet I am chagrined at how naive I am about China.  Obviously, from everything I’ve seen and heard on the Olympic Games, the Chinese people are proud and generous and welcoming to the rest of the world.  They have a long way to go in the areas of personal freedom and political freedom, but they have come so far from the cultural Revolution in such a short period of time.  Those who call for immediate changes in the political structure and in political philosophy of China do not understand that change does not take place overnight.  I say give China a chance.  The next 20 to 30 years will bring incredible changes to the Chinese political and economic structure.  They will play a major role on the world stage.  One day, we will be proud to call them friends and allies.

I see in the paper today that several places across the United States have decided that ninth grade students should have their own school.  It seems that it’s such a critical year for starting high school that it should not be left to the four-year schools were upperclassman tease or harass or otherwise distract young ninth graders.  When I was young, elementary school went to the sixth grade and junior high school was seventh eighth and ninth grade.  This meant that these fragile ninth graders who are having a tough time in the four-year high school were top dogs in the three-year junior high system.  This was during a time when American education was very highly rated.

It seems some educational professors decided somewhere that a middle school of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders was the best, and that the system should be change.  Perhaps just because Change would be good, or at least they would get credit for it.  Then they did away with all the junior high schools.  Could it be that these liberal draft dodging, professors of the 60s and 70s were wrong as they had been in so many other educational pursuits?  Now it is coming back to the old system where ninth graders are either to be separated all by themselves so that they can learn how to study in a high school situation.  Or maybe we should just go back to the old junior high school where ninth graders were given a whole lot of positive reinforcement as the big kids in school.  This no doubt lead to a greater self-esteem (earned, not gratuitously awarded) and confidence in their abilities.

It turned out some pretty good kids.

Watching all the news about Russia and Georgia and the reaction of NATO and now the G7 countries has caused me to try to understand what is really going on.  Having studied Russia, not as a great scholar but as an interested party, I learned that there has always been a great paranoia about other countries invading them.  The only successes I can find are the early Vikings called the Rus who were asked by the locals to govern them, and the mongol hordes of Gengkis Kahn that actually overran Russia with such destruction that it was said you could walk through the city of Kiev on the skulls of the dead inhabitants.  However, since then, Russia has proven very strong and resilient.  It’s size and weather dictates that no one can successfully invade and control Russia.  The two greatest conquering powers of the last two hundred years, Napolean and Hitler both found that out the hard way.  It just can’t be done.

Now, Russia has a very large land mass and during the good old Soviet Days was able to control many countries beyond its borders by brute force.  This Soviet Empire attempted to assimilate many ethnic groups that spoke different languages and had different cultures.  After the Communist failure and the fall of the Soviet Empire, many of these groups declared their independence.  Some have fought a running battle with Russia, some were successful in reclaiming their ancient lands, such as Ukraine and Georgia.  But in the main, Russia seemed to have the chance to settle down within its borders and begin the long struggle to economic prosperity that it had missed during the Soviet years.

Now, Russia is trying to throw its weight around by invading Georgia and threatening Poland and probably Ukraine, sort of like a bully on the block who moved away for a while and then came back to find things changed.  I blame this bullying attitude on the old generation of Russians that served the Soviet so well.  They haven’t forgotten the power of armed dominance, and they like it.  They don’t know how to function without it.  That generation will have to die off before things will get better.

It is a shame that the Russian people must wait for reasonable government.  It is a great country with a long, sad heritage.  It’s great, wonderfully warm and friendly people have persevered in incredible circumstances.  It has a rich cultural background in song, dance, and literature.  Many talented people in all walks of life have come from Russia.  There are natural resources in abundance.  With good leadership, and firm policing of democratic laws and a good democratic constitution, Russia would become an economic power and a leader of a peaceful world.

Too bad Putin and his cronies can’t let go of the Soviet Empire mindset.

Well, so Obama picked Joe Biden for his Vice President.  Interesting.  Joe has 36 years experience in the Senate and is Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.  That’s a lot of know-how and know-who to back up Obama’s lame credentials.  But it raises the question… CHANGE THAT YOU CAN BELIEVE IN.  How much change is there going to be when Obama must rely on 36 years of his veep’s experience?  How can Obama challenge McCain as a stodgy old timer with no new ideas when he picks a guy with even more time in office?

This is going to be an interesting race, and the more I see, the more I see the weakness of the Democratic Party.

While traveling to Charleston, SC from Florida last Sunday I drove on several named highways.  You’ve all seen them, the highways dedicated to local politicians, the special ones for heroes of all types, some are individual such as the “PFC…… Memorial Highway” or the “Fallen Troopers Highway” that is part of US 17 in South Carolina.  Eventually you stop paying particular attention to the highway, just register the name and move on.  Sometimes though, you just have to stop and think.

Just a half mile from my hotel a new named highway starts.  Again, it is part of US 17 and runs north of Mount Pleasant, SC.  It caught my eye and has caused me to think of how it was named, why it was named, and why it hasn’t made the news nationwide.  It is named for what is obviously a special group of people.  While their contribution to society may be small, at least I guess it is, there must be something special.  One the surface it is so mundane as to cause a visual double-take first time you see the sign.  Your first thought is, “What the hell??”  It starts you thinking.

Now, thinking is a good thing.  We should all do more of it and I’m all for things that make you think.  Our congressional leaders need to spend a little more time thinking and less campaigning.  Therefore, I recommend that everyone take a little ride on the “Sweetgrass Basket Makers Highway” on US 17, just north of Charleston.