I know how this is going to make me look to some people, but I just stop reading certain emails when I realize it’s their attempt to convince me that voting for Stephen Colbert is a waste of my vote. Is it because I’m intellectually lazy or obstinate? No. I just know from their opening statements that they are working from a premise I do not hold: the elections for president of the United States are legitimate.

I voted for the winner of the past three presidential elections, and Bill Clinton was the only one who actually got into office. And even then, I didn’t know what I was voting for, really. I just knew I didn’t like that weasel whose last name was code for a wimp, and I wanted a saxophone player in the office over him. Yes, that’s how deeply I thought about politics the first time I voted. Sadly, since I’ve become aware of politics and my world, I’ve participated in two of the biggest frauds in American history. Popular vote? That don’t matter none! We done had arselves a elekshun! Two-thirds of the nation doesn’t approve of the incumbent, and yet he gets re-elected? That don’t matter none! We already had arselves a elekshun! An’ besides, them terrists maht git us!

But, I digress…

Until I see proof that our elections have been overhauled, I can’t feel any regret for wasting an already worthless vote. I mean, our elections should (at least superficially) reflect the desires of the people, right? People will go on and on about the same things I used to say. Things like, “this election is too important to throw away.” Well, I’ve got news for anyone who thinks this election is too important: every election is too important to throw away. This is supposed to be a democracy, right? To me, the fact that the elections are rigged is the main issue, not which puppets or parties might be better suited to “run” this nation.

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate their concern, and in the past I would otherwise be on their side. But I’ve seen and read things that have convinced me that the presidential election is a farce. And, therefore, all assumptions based on the premise that they are leigitimate is just plain illogical. So, trying to convince me of the merits of a pseudo-democracy and an archaic electoral system is a complete waste of my time and theirs. I definitely see their point, but it’s just not relevant to me anymore.

Steve Metze was a veteran of Desert Storm back in the early 90′s. Several years and one 9/11 later, he got married and his wife got pregnant. Weeks later, he got a call and found out he would be serving in Iraq for (at least) a year. Being a documentary filmmaker and an officer with PR skills, he decided this would be a perfect opportunity.

Regardless of what you think of the war, this documentary will move you. It doesn’t have a political slant, so it’s accessible to everyone, and it’s touching and humorous enough to hold you in its grip until the very end. You won’t leave with a changed opinion of the war, but it will definitely leave you with a fresh perspective about the life of a solider.

http://yearatdanger.com

Well, we must’ve gotten on someone’s mailing list or something because around 16:00 yesterday, our traffic skyrocketed. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but the video that caught my host’s attention was apparently not supposed to be there. So, the site (actually, 95% of our sites) were suspended until I deleted it. Hope everyone had a good time getting the videos they wanted because they’re not there anymore. Someone must still be making money off that particular film…