What’s Happening Could Be Better

This is a history-making time. But when isn’t it? It’s just that now all day long we can tune in to some channel and find tragedy after tragedy in numerous areas of the world. What seem to be civil war and genocide in Libya are a horrifying blot on the conscience of mankind and a paralyzing shock at the inaction of the United States. If we were waiting till all Americans were out of Libya to do anything, then why weren’t we Johnny-on-the-spot with planes or ships as soon as we got out of there? I cannot imagine this sort of waffling from Ronald Reagan or even John F. Kennedy.

I remember, many years ago my husband and I listened to the radio in the late-night hours as the citizens of Hungary begged for America’s help. The citizens of Tripoli, with their houses boarded up against Gadhafi’s henchmen, must be calling for Americans to free them. What other power can but the USA?

Then there is the sordid demonstration in Wisconsin. Governor Walker is just doing what he promised to do in his political campaign, trying to get Wisconsin’s financial crisis in order. One possible disappointing outcome is that other governors may be too wimpy to do anything about cutting their states’ expenses. But the buck stops with each governor.

Other trouble spots exist but I don’t have enough information to hold much of an opinion on those. But one thing for sure, the minute one unrest takes a hiatus on our screens, another is already in the making. Perhaps Saudi Arabia next?

While I’m protesting here, a word about last night’s Oscars. Wouldn’t it be great if actors and actresses could perform as well at these Academy Award events as they do in the roles they’re awarded for? Although this year’s ceremony was more sensible than last year’s, it still had some speeches lacking in some respect. The men’s speeches were much better, as a whole, than the women’s, with Colin Firth doing a great job with his. And again, one of the best actresses in modern filmdom, Helen Mirren, got short shrift, not from the Hollywood audience this time, but from AOL. It didn’t show her beautiful gown online. Most of the gowns were, as usual, overdone and ridiculous, but hers was just right.

As I watched the performance, with interest only in one film—The King’s Speech—I wondered if any of the stars knew anything about Libya’s plight. Directors and screen-writers probably keep up with the news because of the nature of their work, but actors may be busy with their stylists, their clothes, and other ingredients that go into making a star. They don’t have to know anything outside of that world.

One good happening in the last few days was seeing again my grandson, his wife, and baby home from Libya, safe inside the USA. They visited me here, with a news channel on all the time in the background. We watched the ferry land at Malta and news people get aboard, but we didn’t see a stream of Americans alight. It was enough to know they could.

For me, back to the news now, as I prepare my simple lunch.

♥