Random thoughts, again

Christmas is nearly upon us, and with it another season of gift-giving.  For as long as I can remember, I've always appreciated getting people gifts more than I've enjoyed receiving them.  To find something that a loved one wanted, or might want, excites me more than unwrapping a beautiful present.   And this despite the fact that I can't wrap a present presentably in the slightest. 

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Psy, the Korean singer with a cloyingly annoying song that's all the rage, has been discovered to have recorded a virulently anti-American song on the eve of a visit with the President.  For those of us who were clueless, here are some of the offensive lyrics:

“Kill those f---ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives,” he said.

“Kill those f---ing Yankees who ordered them to torture.”

“Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers.”

“Kill them all slowly and painfully.”

(Psy and several performers were protesting the execution of a Korean missionary who had been captured by Islamists demanding that South Korea not aid the U.S. in the war.)

When called out, Psy offered a much-belated apology that regretted in reality only that he'd been found out.

I have long been a proponent of withdrawing our troops to allow the critical Koreans from the South to repatriate with their brethern from the North.  If that's their true desire, I say let 'em.

But in this case, to attack the US for the death of a fellow South Korean at the hands of Islamofascists and then benefit from the largesse of American kindness, apologizing only when the jig's up, is appalling to me.  I'm all for free speech, but stand up for what you believe.

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Last night there was another awards show on television.  As a general rule, I don't understand the notion of handing out awards for art.  Hollywood has made a cottage industry of the art of handing our awards, going so far as to hand out awards to people for producing awards shows.

But the nihilistic urge is apparently unbounded on the Left Coast.  Last night's awards show was the American Giving Awards.  This is entertainment?  Already, groups give awards to celebrities who support their causes.  Apparently, celebrities have found a way to garner even more air time by turning the tables.

(c) 2012 The Truxton Spangler Chronicles