Shaken, Not Stirred: Politics.

Jim Bond

Shaken, Not Stirred: Politics.

#ShakenNotStirred.

Shaken, Not Stirred. A blog by Jim Bond.

Sponsored by Pro-Master Carpet Cleaning, 231-757-9061, promastercarpetcleaning.com.

A couple of weeks ago (September 25) I watched President Barack Obama dine in a Hanoi street restaurant with Anthony Bourdain on CNN’s “Parts Unknown”. They consumed bun cha, a Vietnamese dish of grilled pork and rice noodles, some greens, and Hanoi beer. 

While the whole event had been kept secret until the last minute, security was minimal and the restaurant was open to the public during the meal.

It was an astounding sight. Here was the president of the United States, sitting in a cheap plastic chair in the middle of the Vietnamese capital, a city of almost 8 million people. After all these years, I still think of ‘Hanoi Hilton’ (Hỏa Lò Prison) when I see or hear the city’s name.  

I was thrilled to see this for a variety of reasons; a reconciliation between warring nations, the development of this nation which suffered decades of domination, enmity, and bloodshed.

But 58,000 American lives were lost in those years, in addition to scores of thousands who have subsequently perished or have been maimed physically, mentally, and emotionally as a result of the war. Actually, our involvement began in 1950 with the decision to assist France in quelling issues within their colony.

What the hell for? All that heartbreak…because of a theory; the ‘Domino Theory’.

Which got me to wondering; what are the current relations between those countries with which we waged battle throughout history?

The American Revolution and the War of 1812 with the British. We’re colleagues  now.

The Franco-American War of the late 18th century. We’re allied with the French now.

The 1836 War of Texas Independence. We’re friends with Texas now. Well, kinda, sorta.

Mexican-American War; amigos.

American Civil War; we’re, um…(see Texas, 2 lines above).

Spanish-American War. Allies. World War I, World War II…we’re all friends now except the Russian issues.

You’re getting the idea without me listing additional conflicts.

I’m not anti-war and I am certainly for establishing peaceful relations after the conflicts are over. I am also resoundingly in favor of protecting ourselves through warfare if absolutely necessary.

But the question which has been nagging at me for a couple of weeks now is: at what point will there be a television show showing the President of the United States supping on mantu or kabuli palaw (Afghanistan favorites)? Or the national dish of Iraq, Masqouf? 

I won’t be around to see it. Neither will most of you reading this.

And, of course, I’m fully aware that the chaos in which we’re currently embroiled is not necessarily nation against nation; rather independent ideologies fomenting holocaust within some of those countries. But it’s similar to what we faced during WWII. There’s ISIS (ISIL, Daesh), Syria, Yemen.

With all of the maneuvering going on during the most insane political season I’ve ever witnessed, can we all join together in a unanimous pledge in the future to make sure we elect a president with a deity-like wisdom, a discernment, a humanitarian prudence? Shall we look for integrity? A candidate who is more focused on the furtherance of understanding than the progression of the “military industrial complex” that President Eisenhower cautioned against in 1960?

It’s too late for this election cycle. In my opinion (never humble) none of the four candidates possess all the qualities necessary for the job, as listed above. Can we not find someone such as Josiah Bartlet (West Wing, 1999-2006) rather than Francis Underwood (House Of Cards, 2013 to [I hope forever because I LOVE that show])?

Aren’t we all emotionally exhausted by scores of thousands killed, maimed, irretrievably damaged mentally and emotionally, by ‘crotch-grabbing’ egomaniacal politicians, whose successors will ultimately sup in the capital of our former enemies?

Anthony Bourdain was recently asked whether he could envision sharing a meal with Trump or Clinton, he was rather emphatic. I would quote his response here but the editor would edit it out. See for yourself at http://www.thewrap.com/anthony-bourdain-dining-donald-trump-exclusive/

The opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect those of Media Group 31, LLC or its affiliates — Mason County Press, Oceana County Press, Manistee County Press.