Thursday 3 February 2011

tough problem, easy problem


So who would want to be sitting in Obama's chair right now? Come on, let's see those hands.

Not me. I'm pretty sure Mubarak is a bad guy. But he's America's and Israel's bad guy -- a poor ally, but the only one they have. The angry crowd in Cairo sure seems to have a case, but if they are going take over the government they need a leader. And who will that be -- a sensible tolerant thoughtful get-along guy, or a tough extremist? Exactly.

Whatever Obama does, it'll be wrong. And if he does nothing, that'll be wrong too. Ain't it fun to good to go to work in the morning? Oy.

The papacy is a different case. (You know, I thought I would talk about Jersey Shore today. That's more my speed. But the article on the op-ed page of the Globe this morning -- ALL OBAMA'S FAULT -- got me pondering here at the high-stakes table and now I can't stop). Partly because the pope is the supreme ruler. And partly because the solutions are, you know, not hard. If I were pope (another strong no thank you) I would at least know the right things to do. There'd be no nagging doubt about making the priests leave the altar boys alone (Are you, uh, sure, your Holiness? Have you considered the ramifica -- Yes. Well, uh, if you're sure. Yes, we're sure.), or letting them marry, or giving women a larger role in the church, or ... well, you get the idea. I wouldn't want the job of pope, but I figure I could get the church on the right track in a couple of weeks. Really, no reason for it to take longer than that. Then I'd proclaim international ice cream day and give out free samples. Maybe then -- here is where I might need advice -- we could talk wardrobe.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know--hahaha--I can hardly type. It's the hat. Maybe if it were a fez. Yes, in a fez I could imagine you swooping in and solving all the problems in the world.

Sand

Richard Scrimger said...

I do have a soft spot for the fez. If Groucho can wear one ...

Heather said...

I'm hoping its not another revolution like Iran in the '70's. The Shah may have been a bad guy,but the ensuing theocracy, not to mention their current president who is awaiting the arrival of the 12th Imam or caliphate, sitting on a nuclear weapon...well I digress...Not holding much hope for Egypt and democracy when the opposition is the Muslim Brotherhood...Welcome to the new Boss...same as the old boss...

Richard Scrimger said...

Yeah, but the old boss at least took your money and knew your name. The new boss ....