Well according to the U.S. media nothing else is happening in the world except the Abu Ghraib prison scandal which our administration is “shocked” and “disgusted” about. Of course we had to hold W’s and Rummy’s feet to the coals before they acquiesced and released belated half-assed apologies. When I was young and got in trouble I would always blurt out an insincere apology in the hopes of leniency with my parents. My mom would always respond, “Are you really sorry, or are you sorry because you got caught?” And she was dead right, if I was really sorry I would have ‘fessed up before I got busted.
Similarly the administration is sort of sorry only because of the pictures catching us red-handed. If it had been just a report, it would have been filed away and the appropriate reprimands and staff reshufflings would have happened without any public scrutiny or notice. But I don’t really blame the administration, they’re only doing what we want them to do. If we really are such a moral, decent, nation as W keeps professing we are, we would demand pictures and proof that the Guantanamo detainees were not being similarly tortured. We would demand similar scrutiny and human rights standards for all the military aid we dump on Colombia and Israel. But considering we can’t afford human rights training for our own soldiers, why would we care about anyone else?
The truth is the U.S. doesn’t care about what is right and just in the world. If we did we would be outraged that our little pre-emptive war had no sound basis. We would shutdown the School of the Americas, and we would stop extorting other soveriegn states to do our bidding. The U.S. just like adolescent sandblade, feels bad when we’re caught. Like Dorian Grey we despise and hide the picture of our true selves, and want the world to only see the freedom loving nation we pretend to be.
I always want another bicycle, but if I were a ga-bilionaire (that is a real number), here are the bikes I’d get.
- Richard Sachs Custom Racing Bicycle - I think no one builds better steel bikes than Sachs, and he has racing bikes down. I’d get it in signature red with ivory head tube and seatpost panel.
- Rivendell Mixte - this would be an eccentric towny bike with a wicker basket and Nitto front mini-rack. I’d probably get honjo aluminum fenders, Nitto Dove handlebars, Rohloff 14speed internal hub, 650B wheels and centerpull brakes just to be different.
- Mariposa Randonneur - Mariposa is probably the nicest randonneur bike you can get. I’d get it kitted with custom fenders, integrated lights, and custom rack. Color wise I’d go with all black and an ivory headtube with gold trim around the lugs.
- Waterford X-22 Cyclocross - Well Waterford is so well known for steel bikes, that it only makes sense to get one. I’d do it up with chromed lugs and fork crown. I’d make it an 8spd bike with only a rear derailer and a TA Cyclotouriste crank in the front with only one chainring and chainguards on the sides.
- Ritchey Breakaway Bike - I think Ritchey’s breakaway system is brilliant for traveling. The breakaway creates a folding bike with no compromises and looks much nicer than S&S couplings. A good idea and good looking too
- Seven Alta - This is the only non-steel bike in the bunch. Someday they will stop making lugged steel bikes, and Ti will be the only good alternative. Ti’s not a bad alternative. It’s tough, comfortable and light. I like Seven because their design philosophy is still in the spirit of custom framebuilding. I have no idea why people buy Colnago C50’s when they could get a custom made Seven.
Well I guess that’s the list for now. I know I’m missing more but that will be another post for another time. The default saddle is of course Brooks.
This is my first attempt at blogging, so be patient, sitback, and wait for the brilliance to come…