Modernity's Black Death

As yet another effort to stop the worst oil disaster in history failed, one couldn't help but notice how tragically fitting it continued over the weekend of Memorial Day.

For what are the symbols of our Memorial Day Weekend but two large auto races where hundreds of thousands travel great distances in gas-guzzlers to watch other vast quantities of oil propel a series of never ending left-turns (the only left-turns tolerated in America, apparently)?

Before each race, we are told to pause to remember those American kids who are sent abroad to "protect our way of life" (via James Dobson at one, who personally thanked Jesus for NASCAR) meaning we stay out of car pools, buses, and other forms of mass transit.

Memorial Day is purportedly about remembering the sacrifice of others -- what have we often sacrificed those others for? The history of the last 100 years could accurately be described as too often meaning red blood being spent for black oil. Two world wars; the exploitation of and resulting resentment by a culture leading to global terrorism; innumerable environmental catastrophes all have oil being a major cause.

Oil may have helped make modern America, but it didn't exactly make America "free".

[cross-posted at Firedoglake]