On a Bed Of Roses

Nobody’s Opinion: It’s an American tradition around our house. New Year’s Day, everyone lies around in their pajamas, eats junk food, and watches TV. In my case, I usually watch the Rose Parade and then Twilight Zone reruns. But this year, they actually merged into one big unknown space of---What kind of “international globalization, let’s all merge into one big happy family melting pot New World Order” twilight zone is this?

I’m talking about the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade. You know---the one that started out as an all-American celebration of football and flowers?

Thank goodness I had Rod Serling to help me figure it out.

The parade theme this year was “Passport to the World’s Celebrations,” which someone in some vast governmental Sims City office somewhere (probably in Dubai) decided that this particular parade, which millions all over the world would be watching, was the perfect time to get us all feeling a little more enthusiastic about this ‘One World International Government rules by a handful of politicians and political leaders’ stuff.

Think I’m crazy?

The president of the parade---CL Keely---who by the way, has a Masters in International Relations, a Masters in Business, and has spent years in Hong Kong, said:

“I want our parade to give people a glimpse at other festive traditions around the world.”

A glimpse? Try more like overkill.

China had more floats and awards than any other country, including us. We heard a Swiss Army Band, (to honor the bankers no doubt) and there were three “green” displays---the funniest one being replicas of the boats in the Los Angeles harbor which displayed huge electrical sockets in their rears to show that now the ports deliver green electrical power for the ships at sea. The sockets looked as tall as twenty foot waves--- making sure that all the kids in the world will now think all boats are run by electric, just plug em’ in!

And bless their hearts---the Japanese sent a “green” band, which was going to play the next day and donate the proceeds to help the people whose homes were burned by recent fires in San Diego…which of course were caused by global warming, not arsonists, although they suspected arson in most of the fires.

In order for us to be equal with the world and make them feel better about us, I suppose we have to now take charity. Thanks Japan, Chevez…

Next thing you know, Ahmadinejad will be sending us bottled water.

The last half of the parade was devoted to the Latinos. It went something like this: American band playing John Phillips Sousa…China float: American band playing Anchors Away…China float with rat: American band playing God Bless America…China float with stupid looking dolls: American band playing Stars and Stripes…here comes the Sombreros! Buenos!

At first, I was really mad that this American parade had been taken over to promote China and the Latinos’--- but when I heard all the bands playing The Stars and Stripes, I beamed. Well, I thought...at least all the band directors were still patriotic.

Later, after watching an episode of the Twilight Zone called, “No. 12 Looks Just Like You,” did I realize that it was just our government’s way of bringing in our corporate merging with China, and our physical “merging” with Mexico---on a bed of roses.

Or should I say, a “carrot” of rosy optimism.

In this brilliant Twilight Zone futuristic episode, the leaders have decided that in order to get rid of injustice forever, all the people must go through plastic surgery to look alike. There is one girl who is quite happy with the way she looks, and does not want to be forced into this procedure. She remembers reading books like Shakespeare, and Keats…banned books. She wants no part of the transformation.

The leaders tell her, “No one has ever been forced to take “transformation” if you don’t want it. The important thing is to discover why you don’t want it and then make the necessary corrections.”

Of course, she is “transformed” anyway into a real plastic surgery beauty, with the brain of a pea. She was stupid and wonderfully happy.

Too bad the Rose Parade wasn't an episode of the Twilight Zone. No, this is real time---not the premonistic warnings of great writers foreseeing our future.

By the end of the day, I had no doubt, this year the Rose Parade was just one of the necessary corrections being used to transform a reluctant America into 'their' new world vision of One World utopia.

A transformation being done--- on a bed of roses.