America's new enemy

The last time I made a point of walking by the Newseum was the day after the 2008 election, when all the newspapers announcing Obama's election were on display. There were lots of people there, posing in front of and taking photos of the various front pages, and everyone was generally really happy.

Yesterday, I headed over there to see the various announcements of bin Laden's death, and like before, there were lots of people there, posing in front of and taking photos of the various front pages, and everyone was generally really happy. A bizarre kind happiness where someone being shot in the eye and dumped into the ocean brings us pleasure. But still really happiness.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's was my favorite front page.

Simple. To the point. Red font, evocative of blood. In fact, I think the only way it could have improved is if if the letters had been dripping blood, but I guess the AP Stylebook would probably frown on that.

As I was perusing the newspapers, a group of high school kids walked by and upon seeing the papers, one kid moaned, "Great, we need a new enemy now."

At first, I didn't think much of it, but when I got back to work and checked Twitter, I found this, via @briantruitt and @Fowler_IGN.

I think America just found its new enemy.

As an artist, there are certain things you don't do. You don't try and improve on the Mona Lisa, you don't take it upon yourself to write a sequel to Catcher in the Rye, and you don't butcher Smells Like Teen Spirit. I love the song, too, Miley. That doesn't make me qualified to get up in front of a big crowd and sing it.

Now am I saying that we should treat Miley Cyrus the same way we did bin Laden, sending in a SEAL team to capture or kill her? No. But after this, I don't think rendition to Gitmo should be taken off the table.