The media pundit's pundit. Written by NYC insider Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine covers news, media, journalism, and politics.
Luxury kills
: Time says that the terrorists were planning to use limousines to blow up the Prudential Building and other targets — because limos are hardly ever checked and because they have darkened windows and, no doubt, because it’s symbolic: They love to turn our symbols of success against us. What’s next: exlpoding Manolo Blahniks?
They love to turn our symbols of success against us.
It is capitalism symbolically imploding on itself.
So, Zimmer, you’re a terrorist, then?
I’d like to treat them like the rats they are–exterminate…even if I have to fumigate every mosque….have terrorism implode on itself. Right, Zimmer?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39872
I do think the news reports this morning are quite disturbing and, to be honest, not surprising. Terrorists might use tourist helicopters, limousines, speedboats, and scuba divers. Okay, so they’re using all the things that a lot of Americans have been saying they were surprised weren’t used already. In other words, all available methods of doing anything.
Capitalism will never implode. People who want freedom (capitalism) will always want it more than people who don’t want control over their lives (socialists, such as yourself, Zimmer).
Get a grip.
Jeff said: “So, Zimmer, you’re a terrorist, then?”
What?!?! Please guide me through your logic on that one…
Easycure: Freedom does not equal capitalism (nor the other way around). The world is much more complex than that.
Like all religious zealots, they don’t realize symbols are just physical objects. The meaning we give them had the value, and that can’t be taken away.
When the towers, the ultimate symbols of capitalism and trade, went down, they didn’t take America with them. The value lost was in human life. Everything else was conceete and steel, untimately worthless.
If some idiot burns a flag, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s a piece of cloth with some stripes on it. The MEANING of the flag is ingrained in my heart and mind. That can’t be destroyed, no matter how many you burn.
I don’t know how much this (limos) would constitute turning our symbols against us; I think the practical issues mentioned would be the biggest attaction to using them.
There isn’t enough security in the world to protect every square inch of the US from these lunatics. They know it, we know it. We’ll be fighting this fight for decades.
Hey Michael – were the 3,000 Americans murdered on 9/11 only killed “symbolically”? Clueless marxist twit.
Jack:
An act of violence can both be material (that is, death) as well as symbolic (the tools/images acting as signifiers…the twin towers signifying western capitalism, say).
(oh, and thanks for the insult. it’s nice to know this “citizen’s media” is so open-minded & ready to engage in rational discourse)
You notice in Iraq the opposition isn’t using Arab designed rifles. They aren’t using Arab designed rpgs. They are not driving Arab designed autos and trucks. Back when I was selling live lambs for them to kill for religious celebrations they couldn’t even sharpen a knife. I had to supply sharp knives. They are excellent at dulling knives though. In 1990 during Ramadon 36 of 38 lamb-killers wanted Saddam to beat the US. Remember the Palistinians dancing in the street after 9/11. They just want to kill us. A good sheep is a dead sheep. They consider us sheep Allah Akbar!
Doug – Good point. Take a look at how Halah butchers operate and compare it to Kosher. Just look at the knives they use.
Michael – You are not making sense. Not at all. Further if you don’t like being called a marxist twit, you shdn’t act like one.
Not sure about the Prudential Building (its been awhile since I’ve been to Newark), but as I documented this weekend, they would have no problem using a limo and/or tanker truck to take down the IMF/World Bank buildings in D.C.
http://countertop-chronicles.blogspot.com/2004/08/dc-security-or-lack-thereof.html
Freedom = Capitalism.
Capitalism = what people do when left to own devices. No govt interference, no authoritarian controls, no learned wisemen making pronouncements, just people bartering goods and services at rates of value set in the marketplace.
Symbols of capitalism = symbols of freedom. Afterall, if no demand or offer of value then there would be no supply.
So what are you saying, Zimmer? That you would support terrorism if it only attacked the “symbols” of capitalism without the collateral loss of human lives?
That makes you, at best, an anarchist. I really hate anarchists. They offer no positive alternatives, but only a silly notion that somehow people would be more free in the absence of capitalism. The problem they don’t address is that capitalism springs up in myriad ways in the course of ordinary human interactions, and to completely eradicate capitalism would require the sort of overwhelming, all-pervasive government force that anarchists profess to find anathema.
Go figure.
“It is capitalism symbolically imploding on itself.”
Ahhh the old because they are poor and we have wealth so it is our fault they have gone apeshit.
Do people parroting this talking point think it will save their ass? Do they think that terrorism makes distinctions?
Or better yet you complain later about debate and conversation, who are you conversing with? Your one note post was intended to inflame not discuss. You cry about people making assumptions when that is exactly what you wanted.
Socialiss/Communists. Progressives whatever Orwellian terms you folsk apply to yourselves these days love this conflict. It swells the ranks with the uniformed. There’s no need to do anything beyond decrying the system, and offer little in the way of solutions.
“The world is much more complex than that.”
Really…you seem to believe capitalism has caused terrorism. That’s pretty damned simplistic.
Interesting Zimmer – when someone disagrees with your inflamatory comment with another one, you accuse them of not being “open minded.” That is such a popular term on the average college campus. Not “open minded” = someone who doesn’t agree with me or takes exception to my views.
Sorry, Catherine. I guess I was responding to the need for others to use insult when they don’t like someone else’s viewpoint. If someone calls me a twit becuase of my view, I consider them without an open mind.
As for the other commenters, no I don’t support terrorism in any form, no I don’t think capitalism causes terrorism, and no my comment wasn’t meant to “inflame.” It was meant to refine Jeff’s point that they’re using symbols of our success against us. It was meant to be provocative – yes, even in just one single line. An inflamatory post would likely include insults (“clueless marxist twit”, ad hominems, non sequitors (“That makes you, at best, an anarchist”), etc.
The Pru building is the most prominent building in Newark. It’s a noticable symbol.
Regarding Limos – most people who have meetings from Manhattan at the Prudential Building or any outside Manhattan location usually take a car service their employer provides. All car services (not taxis) use Lincoln Town Cars or the equivalent, not a “limo.” All of my employers in the last 14 years use them as transport for client meetings.
They really aren’t LUXURY cars like Manolos are to shoes. They are more often like yellow cabs painted black these days (a cranky driver with a strong enough “natural” scent to make you gag who has no idea how to drive anywhere or speak English).
The buildings that I have worked in since 9/11 inspect every car, top bottom and inside of the garages in their building. Maybe Pru didn’t think they would be a target in Newark?
OK Zimmer, so blame the individual, not the medium. He could have just as easily called you a commie/pinko-democrat on the street. :) Kidding.
Point well taken, Catherine.
Turning our symbols of success against us, eh? Y’know, if they start blowing up Starbucks shops, I may have to rethink the moral bankruptcy of this terrorism thing.
/levity
On behalf of the Starbucks downtairs in my building:
Ha. Ha.
Oh Zimmer, admit it: you’re clever comment imploded on itself. Sure, I figured you were just trying to be cute, but people tend to take snark about terrorism a bit more seriously than they used to. I wonder why…