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Opening Arguments

Fiddlesticks

Poor Nero. His name is now synonymous with people who occupy themselves with amusements while ignoring the crisis around them. But he allegedly "fiddled while Rome burned" in AD 64, and there was no such instrument as the fiddle until at least the 16th century:

Secondly, the story may be completely false and Nero may very well not have neglected his duty at all. Nero died four years later, and we should remember that history is written by the victors. The historian Suetonius records the Nero was responsible for the fire and that he watched it from a tower while playing an instrument and singing about the destruction of Troy. Others record this story merely as a rumour.

These days, it's "Bush golfed while New Orleans drowns" when the Democrats are writing the story, and "Obama has golfed more so far than Bush did in eight years while the oil still gushes" in the GOP playbook. Now, Tony "I want my life back" Hayward has taken the heat off all of them by having the audacity to yacht in clean water while Gulf Coast residents are wading through oil-spotted beaches.

Enough already. If these people were pursuing frivolous amusements instead of doing what they should be doing, they'd be open to fair criticism. But there's nothing wrong with them trying to have some kind of normal life. There's plenty of substance to judge them on without al

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