You lost me at the “misguided and mis-elected government” statement. It’s all so routine now to bash the US and Bush. Oh well, I’ve better things to spend my time on.

Thanks anyway.

You let our first amendement right to free speech ruin your chance to read a terrific article about music?

How sad for you….

thanks so much for sharing. it’s so interesting to read your stories!

You caught my attension at the “misguided and mis-elected government” statement. Great story.

actually I think that the world always have been divided; at least in 2: rich/poor… communism/capitalism etc etc.

Maybe its not about being different, but about acceptance of that, and of course trying to make the balance in the world more equal; something that the us goverment is not doing at all, in my opinion.

btw. I didnt know that kid and the coconuts had members form sweden and denmark.

peace, Henrik, copenhagen, denmark.

Bravo, Alan. Bravo!!

Great and thought provoking post Hucky. Some may feel “bashing the US and Bush” has become routine but wouldn’t it have been great if there was no legitimate reason to do so? The facts about this current administration more than speaks for themselves and more is the pity to those who refuse, or even worse, CANNOT see the facts and judge the facts objectively enough to not come away with a screaming indictment of incompetence, self-serving, short sighted, ill-thought, and quite simply wrong decisions.

Our country (America) has essentially isolated itself from most of the world, and has played a significant role in the level of destablization in the world now, and that is no thanks to our current administration and it’s cronies.

Kid Creole’s lyrics seemed to be prophetic because we currently appear to be in the world he sang about.

Oops, I just realized Alan Leeds was responsible for the initial post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Mr. Leeds and thanks to Hucky for allowing it.

By the way, give your brother five for me.

loved this story and oh so true…just got into a similar conversation this morning. spike lee’s katrina film was on last night and some other military wives and i were discussing it. i think i may have said something anti-bush and one of my neighbors got offended–oh well, you can’t please all the people all the time! being the huge prince fan that i am and being a fellow travel-lover, i was drawn to this piece–well written! and thank you!

stef

Thanks for the reminiscing. I lived in Antibes for a while so in this story I can see where it’s set. In that era of after-cold war and 1 so-called enemy we couldn’t truly see what lied ahead. Thanks for your insight. I always enjoy reading them.

Thanks Huck. You know anyone who read my comments as being “anti American” has their heads as far in the sand as Bush does. Rainman could figure out how our wasted and foolish invasion of Iraq has contributed towards - not fought back - the terrorists whose criminal acts so threaten the world today. As for anyone who thinks Bush won elections fairly, they obviously haven’t heard about Florida in 2000 or Ohio in 2004. I am proud to have been born American (none of us choose where our parents give birth, you know). I am NOT proud of how SOME of our government officials represent us to our fellow man. Period.

spot on ‘none of us choose where our parents give birth’ remark. In the end we all could be American, Iraqi or Antartictican. If we lucky we live a prosper life somewhere on this Earth wherever the crib was. That is what makes us Human.

You can only represent yourself when accounting for oneself.

Thanks for the great read. I love to hear these kind of stories.

And “miselected” government - I loved that.

I am shaking my head after Reading the comments by Alan Leeds.

You have your opinion on the war and politics.
It is only an opinion.
There is no black or white,no right or wrong,only opinions when it
comes to politics.
For you to state your opinion as if it is a fact is the epitome of arrogance.
It is for anyone.
To say “this is the way it is” and if you don’t agree with me you are wrong
or as dumb as Rainman is very condescending.

The thing that amuses me with all of politics is this.
One guy points the finger at the other guy and says your ‘e stance is wrong
because of reasons A, B and C.
Then he deduces that this makes him right by default.
Incorrect.
They can both be wrong.
And the guy pointing the finger can have a worse plan than the one he is
criticizing.

If you are as intelligent as you fashion yourself to be,
you may take these comments to heart

I don’t fashion myself as any more inteligent than the next guy….and I happen to agree with you on POLITICS. Politics is about selling ideas - usually ideas full of hidden agendas and seldom based on facts. As my father taught me, “forget what they say and watch what they DO”. That goes for Republicans, Democrats and any-damn-body else who is in the game.

But innocent citizens and dedicated soldiers dying is NOT politics. And it’s not opinion. Whether it’s in Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Great Britain or the World Trade Center it’s ice cold fact.

What IS arrogant is for a President to put HIS politics ahead of the truth - consistently misinforming his nation about their government’s activities. To wage an invasion on false pretenses and continue to describe the results contrary to what eye witnesses - our own loyal soldiers and credible reporters say is the truth. Those are not opinions - those are facts.

It takes two sides to have a war. Even President Bush (reluctantly) now admits Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. That too is a fact - not an opinion. We know who attacked the W.T.C. and it was not a government or a nation.

I recognize that certain FACTS about what’s been going on under this President are uncomfortable for many Americans who subscribe to Republican politics. But trying to convince yourself that facts are merely opinions is a punk way to avoid admitting we Americans sometimes make mistakes. It’s not arrogant (or even particularly inteligent) to speak up or point out our mistakes - it’s just common sense.

There’s an old saying that goes, “opinions are like assholes - we all have them”. On the other hand, facts are facts and inteligence is inteligence - and we all DON’T have those.

An interesting response.
I guess I missed the part where you state facts to support your opinions.
I don’t see one

Do you believe it is possible to take a set of cold hard facts
and with those draw an inaccurate conclusion?
Absolutely,it happens all the time.
Look at science and medicine.

Look at yourself.
You take what I write and draw you own conclusions.
I quote ***I recognize that certain FACTS about what’s been going on under this President are uncomfortable for many Americans who subscribe to Republican politics. But trying to convince yourself that facts are merely opinions is a punk way to avoid admitting we Americans sometimes make mistakes. It’s not arrogant (or even particularly intelligent) to speak up or point out our mistakes *****

If you were paying attention,I never said what my position was
on the war or this President.
For all you know I may be a Republican,Democrat or a Communist.
I never gave any opinion.

What I did say is it is the height of arrogance for you or anyone else
to determine what the truth is and then force feed it to everyone else.
Face it,everyone has their own take on the situation and yours is no more
or less valid than anyone else’s.
That was my only point.

Mr Leeds,

Thank you for another great story! I always am eager to read stories because I get the feel of an objective perspective of things (as much as possible anyway), so than you once again.

About the mis-elected government: you’re 100% right (i.m.o.).

Erwin Barendregt
The Netherlands

When I called our government “misguided”, that WAS an opinion – BUT an opinion based on numerous facts that are common knowledge to anyone who has followed the news from Iraq. Thus it’s an opinion shared by many, many American citizens, military officials and world leaders across the globe.

When I called the government “miselected”, that was NOT an opinion, but a fact. Countless reports by credible government officials and reporters have revealed clear evidence of polling irregularities in both the 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections – irregularities that inevitably (statistically) favored the Bush ticket. It’s water over the dam now, but these are facts – not opinions.

A blog by definition consists of a writer’s opinions, hopefully supported by facts. I didn’t set out to write about politics – there are tons of bloggers already doing that. I wrote about a song. A song written almost 20 years ago that predicted the possible outcome of a terrorist-threatened world community. The song wasn’t about Republicans or Democrats and neither was my blog. But the parallel of Kid Creole’s song and today’s international climate was the whole point. So it required at least a passing reference to the sources of our current problems – problems which many believe have been exacerbated by Bush’s policies and what seems to be his unwillingness or inability to understand the culture of our “enemies”. Like a boxer who failed to study films of a future opponent, Bush and Rumsfeld should have done more homework before bullying their way into Iraq. Maybe they could have won their “war” without so many lives lost. And without having to destroy the infrastructure of an entire nation while creating an atmosphere ripe for what appears to be turning into a civil war. Now since you don’t want to accept anything I say and you need facts to back me up, read the newspapers. Not just liberal newspapers…… any damn newspapers.

You’re right - of course it’s possible to take hard facts and misconstrue them into a false reality. (In fact that’s exactly how Bush got us into Iraq in the first damn place). You say that I “determine what the truth is and force feed it”. Nonsense. Facts determine truths – not me or you. As for force feeding? I write my blog…you can write yours…. and nobody is forced to read or believe anything!

As to your own politics, no you did not state an opinion on the “war” or our current President. Since your dialogue has been about MY politics, maybe you should step up and declare your positions too. But that too is misconstruing facts. Because while you failed to state your own positions, if you agreed with me you wouldn’t have responded the way that you did. Your irritation at what you chose to interpret as my “arrogance” strongly suggested a position opposite of mine. Which, at the end of the day, is what America is supposed to be all about.

Maybe it would be a little more American if our administration stopped painting all those who oppose their policies as unpatriotic and blog readers stopped painting all writers with whom they disagree as arrogant.

You want me to state my opinions on things?
O.K. fair enough

I was never critical of your opinions,only the way they were stated.

Do I like George Bush?
No. I think he is a bumbling idiot.
If it were not for his father,he never would have been elected dog catcher!

Do I think Iraq was a mistake?
It certainly looks that way at this point,no deneyong it.
You can’t escape the fact that the inteeligence must have shown something
to warrant this invasion.
That inteeligence was shared with senior members of Congress and
then they overwhelmingly voted for an invasion.
The decision was not Bush’s alone as most commonly and inacuraly state at this point.
Look at the voting record of congress..Those are facts.

Will Iraq be a huge mistake in the U.S.’s history?
I have no idea…I don’t think that will be known for a lot of years.
However,Hussein was as bad a guy as they come.
He innocently murdered almost a million of his own people.
Keep in mind it was very unpopular ,at the time,for the U.S. to join
the fight in Europe against Hitler.
It is now regarded as one are greatest military achievements.

What would you be critical of regarding this war?
They rushed in without world support and stuck us with the damn bill.
I never saw the urgency.
The only intelligent person in his cabinet was Collin Powell and they
would not listen to him.

Was the election stolen in 2000 or 2004?
That is absurd.
Like it or not,we have our system for electing the President.
Both elections were very scrutinized
The U.S. Supreme Court decided 2000.
Bush won,if you can’t accept it, too bad..those are facts.

That’s all I have to say,
you can have the last word

There are many ways to unfairly influence election results. In 2000 the Supreme Court “decided” the election only after Florida election officials discarded thousands of legitimate votes. In both 2000 and 2004 there were well documented, cohesive efforts to hinder the registration and discourage the voting accessibilities of aged and financially disadvantaged citizens in heavily democratic precincts throughout Florida and Ohio. One could chalk this up to inevitable imperfections in the process, except for the fact that they almost exclusively effected minority groups that historically voted Democratic!

As for the war, there is also documented evidence that Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld were focused on an invasion of Iraq prior to 9/11. Witnesses in their own administration have admitted as much. 9/11 supplied them an unexpected opportunity to frighten and persuade many Americans, including Congress, to support the invasion that apparantly you and I agree was improperly prepared and poorly executed.

Of course Hussein was a monumental bad guy BUT what his immoral regime DID do is keep the lid on a country historically beset by deep divisive ethnic differences. A new report issued today by the Pentagon states that despite our troops, violence is spreading (not subsiding) and that over 10,000 Iraquis have been killed since May!! That’s an astounding total…..over three times more deaths than occurred in the 9/11 incidents! So it’s not like either Hussein’s absence or the American presence has stopped the carnage. With so little potential for a peaceful Iraq and the fertile ground we’ve provided for additional Islamist terrorists, it seems the riddance of Hussein was a step backwards in the war against terrorism.

I’ve enjoyed this discourse…..it’s not about anyone having the “last word”. The “last word” is really that you and I agree on more than we disagree. Have a great holiday weekend!

BTW (guess I’m taking the last word anyhow - LOL)…Hitler wanted to rule the world and conduct ethnic cleansing wherever he went. He was the agressor. In Iraq WE were the agressor. Hussein was content to rule his own little country and bothered only with those who would bother him. I’m not trying to soften Hussein’s heinous misdeeds…just point out the huge difference between him and Hitler.

I just want to say thanks to Alan for a great story about your time in Nice. You painted a great picture. “They vamp too long”, love it!!!

Hunting down some Kid Creole now!

Hey Mr. Leeds,
Damn all of that gov’t stuff. That’s why I come to sites like this. To get away from that stupid s***.
Thanks for a great story and reminisce about hangin in Nice, France. As bad as they have bashed “Under the Cherry Moon” for the last twenty years, I still love it as a guilty pleasure. It’s a fun film and I give Prince a lot of credit for having the courage to take that risk. I saw it here in the summer of 1986 at this slummy theatre in downtown Detroit, The Adams and for a 16 year old, it was like being transported to another world. It was a real fantasy trip and the b&w made it even moreso. Thanks to all of you who contributed to those great ole days when Prince was King!

Take care
S.C.

Great story, Alan.

Now for the politics…

“You can’t escape the fact that the inteeligence must have shown something to warrant this invasion.”

Sorry, but you’re wrong. The intelligence was cherrypicked, and the sources were few and almost invariably unreliable (one being a notorious drunk).

“That inteeligence was shared with senior members of Congress and then they overwhelmingly voted for an invasion.”

Wrong again.

“Will Iraq be a huge mistake in the U.S.’s history? I have no idea…I don’t think that will be known for a lot of years.”

Sigh… Look, it is already a total disaster. Even your own government now admits so and published report after report that things are now WORSE than on 9/11. And unlike Vietnam, this war does have farreaching consequences.

“However,Hussein was as bad a guy as they come. He innocently murdered almost a million of his own people.”

Yup. Guess who helped him? Reagan, Rumsfeld etc: they gave him WMDs, and they gave him satellite pics to ensure the WMDs woudl hit actual targets.

“Keep in mind it was very unpopular ,at the time,for the U.S. to join the fight in Europe against Hitler.”

It was unpopular among Republicans. BTW The Dems who ruled the government at the time didn’t just battle the nazis, they also went after war profiteers. Bush et al meanwhile are all too happy to let Halliburton report record proficts each quarter.

“Bush won,if you can’t accept it, too bad..those are facts.”

Nope, the facts are that there was massive fraud.

“from the narrowest of minds comes the broadest statements”

I will not dignify your idiocy with a response.

Have a great day

Kid Creole and The Cocconuts are such an underrated 80’s band. I loved their take on the Funk with the Carribean rhythms and the Funk. I am thinking about writing a book about Black Music from 1980- 1987 and the Nu Wave punkfunkrocksoulthang with the usual suspects. I always tell folks that Black Music did not die out after 1979 or the death of Disco and “The Kid”and MJ were not the only ones doing compelling music back in the day. Reading the article bought back memories of “Parade” and it’s French sound and Leeds talking about travel before terrorism made it such a pain is interesting I would love to go to France and soak up that romantic atomosphere.

From the norrowest minds comes the broadest statements- Guess that speaks to the “width” of your vision, Bob.. or lack therof. Oh, and your refusal to dignify what you see as idiocy with a response…, you failed. That statement is a response. Graple a thought before referring to one as an idiot. Most important, there is a reason why your view is in the minority here.. the same reason why you really think that Bush”honestly” won each election. Though it’s the stuff of which fantasy is made, you are entitled to your opinion. However rightfully unpopular it may be.