Hypocrisy

Blatant hypocrisy!

In one part of the world, the Powers-That-Be have rallied around the cause of removing an autocrat from power, potentially liberating his long-suffering subjects from the self-enriching ravages of his and his family's regime. Meanwhile, these EXACT SAME Powers-That-Be have turned a blind eye to the even greater suffering of those subject to an even longer-serving autocracy.

We are speaking, of course, of Bud Selig and other executives of Major League Baseball.

A few weeks ago, Selig decided that the despotic regime of Frank McCourt would not stand. He liberated the Dodgers and established a veritable no-fly zone where the ex-dictator could no longer tread. Though perhaps uneasy at Selig's takeover, the international community of baseball fans has largely accepted the developments.

At the same time, though, on the other side of the continent, long-suffering New York Mets fans are understandably perplexed at the international community's continued neglect of their situation.

"We're DYING here," one longtime Mets fan who wished to remain anonymous commented to the Solipsist. "The Phillies, the Braves. . . even the Marlins. . . . They're butchering us, and nobody seems willing to do anything!"

Indeed, Commissioner Selig has gone so far as to offer his support to Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, the architects of Mets-nation's misery.

When asked for his assessment of the situation, one diplomat with long experience in the region explained that he understood the commissioner's dilemma. "Look," he said, requesting anonymity, "nobody likes to see the atrocities being perpetrated against Met's fans. I mean, just the situation at second-base is worthy of investigation by the International Criminal Court.

"At the same time," he continued, "you have to be careful any time you consider intervening in the workings of a sovereign entity."

Asked whether he foresaw any change in the Commissioner's dealings with the Mets, the diplomate was not optimistic. "I would love to see Mets' fans dancing in the streets, throwing off the yoke of incompetent ownership. But I suspect outside help will not arrive any time soon."