4 Responses

1. ed
   October 5th, 2006 at 2:51 pm

   One word: Yes.

   More than one word: I once spent a lovely afternoon in the late 90’s with my girlfriend at the time, watching the Blue Angels soar across the Golden Gate Bridge. When I sent her a letter, on the envelope, I drew an elaborate picture in colored pencils of the Angels soaring across the Bridge with the two of us holding hands. I recall the Blue Angels having less practice time. This changed when Bush became President, when what had seemed a relatively innocuous celebration had turned into a priapic “Top Gun”-style five-day aural assault. All in the name of “practice.” The Angels once woke me up from a much-needed nap after I had worked thirty hours straight on a film shoot and I felt powerless. They came closer to the buildings, closer to our lives. The dogs barked more frequently. How much gasoline and oil did they wake on this “practice?” What good did celebrating military might really do? How many toddlers and adolescents at heart were deluded? And what of veterans who were frightened to death by the sounds of warfare?

   Fleet Week is pointless bombast as subtle as the Star-Spangled Banner, and just as exploited.

2. Victoria E
   October 5th, 2006 at 2:51 pm

   Yay for their skill, but not good for the environment for folks trying to work … they annoyed me today, yes.

3. Anonymous
   October 5th, 2006 at 3:26 pm

   Well said, ed…and I’ve got one more gripe to add. They woke Oscar up from his nap. Now that just ain’t right, people.

4. Susan
   October 5th, 2006 at 6:58 pm

   I hate them with a passion and fury. I have often had very uncharitable wishes of a midair collision or crash. It’s just a lot of militaristic adrenaline-pumping WE ARE NUMBER ONE bullshit.

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