PIRATES!

tyrone power, gene kelly, those of penzance, johnny depp...
who doesn't love pirates? part swashbuckler, part lost boy pirates epitomize the coloring outside the box, gusto life we secretly dream about. yo, ho, ho and ...
juxtaposed against this sword-wielding fantasy pirate are the terrorists-on-boats, the somali pirates of late.
the movies sort of present pirates as guys just making a living under different terms. can't see yourself in a suit and tie? don't like to be tied down to a desk? then maybe an eye patch and wooden leg are just the ticket.
in the stark reality of last week, these modern day somali pirates aren't just looking for booty. they are lawless, life-hating terrorists. with the twisted reasoning of a death-culture mind, they attack an u.s. ship filled with relief supplies, kidnap the captain, hold an AK-57 at his head, threaten the crew and then complain when we choose to save our own. we have now become their worst #1 enemy for caring about the life of our citizens. would they have sent us valentines if we had just cooperated? told us we "were the best" for handing over our ship and all of its goods?
not likely. making a show of their terror is pretty high on their list. like an old worn out chant, the u.s. again becomes the #1 enemy of someone. so interesting is it all, that nearly everywhere i look in my town, there are somalis shopping, working and benefiting from being in the united states. sucking the #1 enemy's teat dry and eschewing assimilation is o.k.-- but it is not o.k. for the u.s. to do the basic job of government-- protect its citizens from attack.
it is all so tiring.
other governments can protect their own, we can't protect ours. other governments can put limits on immigration, ours can't. other governments can reject this or that because it doesn't benefit them, we can't. the u.s. is hog-tied by its skewed desire to be accepted by the worse bullies on the block.
we don't feel safe.
our enemies feel just fine.
i used to love pirates. aaargh, matey! now it has become another avenue of oppression.
where's my parrot?