Saturday, January 27, 2007

Announcing For 2006


Yes, I have finally got my bum in gear and decided to post the long anticipated Neville Chamberlain award for 2006. Please read the 2005 Neville Chamberlain award for the context and reference of this illustrious event.

I like to think of this announcement as my version of the Oscars, the Superbowl and Time's Person of the Year. I take all three award ideas and roll them into a bundle and then I throw them all away and start again with a better idea. My award goes to someone who was obsequious, annoying, politically disgusting and remarkable only in his, her or their ability to be unremarkable. It goes to the worst sheep of all. The person(s) who caved to what everyone else thought of them and took the easy way out. I make no pretences of any kind with this award. But as I am the creator of the award I think it is only fair that another should present it. I give that honor to my holiday monkey, Neville, pictured on the right hand side of the screen. Yes, he's presenting the award backside first, because that is the nature of this award.

So . . . announcing, for 2006 *sound of a whoopie cushion* the Neville Chamberlain award, presented for the most spineless act of appeasement during 2006. This year it goes to:

The Iraq Study Group!

They have received this dishonrable award for giving in to the crowd of media and the general pessimism and refusing to research ways of winning in Iraq. Insteadthey sought ways of losing, favorably. Whatever that means.

Truthfully, the only way we can escape the mess we've made in Iraq is if we have the balls to win. We started this all on the basis of fighting terrorism. We may have gone outside the bounds of that idea by ousting Iraq's former regime, but backing away and apologizing will take us to no good place. Radical Islam is not a system that respects weakness. Instead it inspires, fosters and engenders weakness. There is one way to send it packing, and that is to have the strength of will to stop being afraid of our own shadow. It would do us some good to remember that history proves war powers have been handed back to the people after the war president's tenure ended. There is no reason to think it will not happen again. We deserve better than to collapse under the weight our own cowardice. I for one, think it would be nice of somebody in the academic community would give us some intellectual ammunition rather than promoting ideas that make us fear our own strength and back away from helping anyone else in the fight against terrorism.

6 comments:

tully said...

Good choice.

Truthfully I only submitted GW's name by virtue of his digression into cowardice in the past few years, whereas there are so many politicians in Washington (the likes of Ted Kennedy) to whose depths he has not yet sunk. Of course, like the President, the members of the Iraq Study Group should have known better, so it only seems appropriate that they should be honored this year.

Gino said...

i would give the honor to CA's governor, the AH-nold.

Esther said...

It's all very subjective to my opinion of course. Maybe next year I should take nominations -- subject of course to possible dismissal if I think I have a better idea than the nominations received.

Xana Ender said...

I like the Iraq Study Group. Good choice.

tully said...

Esther, my comment was completely in jest. It wasn't funny, but I did not fabricate anyone. I hope you've known me long enough to trust me and to continue our blogging relationship. Forgive me and my twisted sense of humor, and PLEASE make note of the (; used in the comment in question.

tully said...

(Sorry folks, I'm referring to a comment on my blog)