Subtitle: “Why I Think I MUST be a De-constructionist”
So… according to the AP, as reported in the Washington Post and others…
(This photo removed due to complaint)
*** Bank (name removed), fresh off their $ 25 BILLION (can you even imagine a monetary value like that?) influx from the U.S. “T.A.R.P.” (read “bailout”)…
Is booking the ***** (hotel whose name I have removed due to a complaint filed with my host) and the (Further hotel name removed for the same reason) in Las Vegas for 12 nights to “host the annual conference for company’s top mortgage officers” (Which in the past was approx. a thousand people)?
This? In a country trying to figure out how to stay out of a depression worse than anyone has ever experienced?
This? In a culture trying desperately to convince itself we are NOT the most narcissistic people ever to inhabit the earth?
(Photo also removed – see paren. above)
This? When you and I know people going without food and medicine today?
And a company spokesperson has the gall to say something like, “Recognition events are still part of our culture,” spokeswoman Melissa Murray said. “It’s really important that our team members are still valued and recognized.”
Are we insane? Is this it? Have we finally reached the pinacle of absurdity?
If this is how we “save ourselves”… maybe we might as well burn it all. I hate to be such a cynic but… Some people… They’re just no damn good.
(Maybe Deridda, Foucault, Rourty, et. al. were more on target than we really want to admit.)
Update: 10 PM:
It seems that this “conference” actually has been cancelled. You gotta love the power of free speech! Here’s the follow up question: Would it have actually been canceled without the sentinments expressed this afternoon in at least 12 major U.S. newspapers and on the Internet?
FWIW, Rodger, Wells Fargo probably had that hotel booked at least a year ago if not further in advance — before this economic meltdown became apparent. So … not to justify them doing it, but … they may have not had much of a choice to get out of it. Still, it looks bad and sends a negative message to me, you (obviously), and many other Americans that tarnishes the Wells Fargo brand. Not smart.
Hey Steve: Found out the problem. You were getting treated as a spammer – think I got that fixed. As to thoughts, yeah, I’ll grant that — Am just really (REALLY) wondering if the “no choice, commitments made, status quo” is going to work very much longer. That’s not covering much up here in NoDa right now – too many people hurting in a major way. I’ll admit I’m pretty negative at the overall “response” to what I’m seeing in the ‘hood every day. It’s worse on the street than most folks are thinking.