Sunday, September 17, 2006
Speak out against Bush & Co.
There's an important struggle taking place around Bush's intention to keep the doors open for illegal treatment of detainees (story). The Senate may be passing a bill that will at least put the brakes on (war crime trials will have to wait). The US has squandered any moral authority it has through the use of illegal detention, spying on its own citizens, Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, extraordinary rendition (kidnapping and flying people to hidden prisons in unmarked jets), 'ghost' prisoners and more.A quote to think about:
"Naturally, the common people don't want war, but after all it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along...All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism. It works the same in every country."
- Hermann Goering, Nazi leader - at his Nuremberg trial
Here's an Amnesty action for US folks to consider.
Check out the flash movie - Connect the Dots
Get sad... Get mad...Say something...Do something. Hug your kids. Don't give in to fear. Send them packing in November.
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Bravo Gary, I need to get that quote out too. Goerring was not for nothing a master in propaganda!
Ingrid
Ingrid
Yeah, I read that quote before and others of him like the one: "If you tell a lie over and over again, at some point people believe it to be the truth" ... the man was "brilliant" - if you know what I mean. Cheney is far from that "perfection" - though I must say he did "good" strides.
In my post today I compared the US to a salami - before you know it, it is gone ... and I was also thinking about the transitional time between WW1 and WW2 and how people got swept away in an illusion then, and now have little or no recollection of the parallels in history. There is a Sting song "History, will teach us nothing" -
I like some of Sting's albums or songs, but that one I always rejected in the past ... now I changed my mind :)
Does anyone remember today that WW1 started due to the assassination of the prince of the Austrian Empire by a Muslim in Sarajevo? I don't think so ... Does anybody remember that the treaty in Versailles after the war was complete bullshit, unobtainable demands on Germany and actually fed the breeding ground for the Weimarer Republic to collapse, plowed the way for Hitler to fill a vacuum? I don't think so!
But let us get back to US empire matters. My alarm bells are on high pitch because I see some parallels of how fascism can enter unnoticed until it is too late, just like it did in Germany. People are lame, even when they are complaining (including me) ... it has no effect.
I don't know what to do anymore Gary except bracing myself for the inevitable collapse and in the mean time teach children and adults an artistic approach to sane and positive values in our life.
In my post today I compared the US to a salami - before you know it, it is gone ... and I was also thinking about the transitional time between WW1 and WW2 and how people got swept away in an illusion then, and now have little or no recollection of the parallels in history. There is a Sting song "History, will teach us nothing" -
I like some of Sting's albums or songs, but that one I always rejected in the past ... now I changed my mind :)
Does anyone remember today that WW1 started due to the assassination of the prince of the Austrian Empire by a Muslim in Sarajevo? I don't think so ... Does anybody remember that the treaty in Versailles after the war was complete bullshit, unobtainable demands on Germany and actually fed the breeding ground for the Weimarer Republic to collapse, plowed the way for Hitler to fill a vacuum? I don't think so!
But let us get back to US empire matters. My alarm bells are on high pitch because I see some parallels of how fascism can enter unnoticed until it is too late, just like it did in Germany. People are lame, even when they are complaining (including me) ... it has no effect.
I don't know what to do anymore Gary except bracing myself for the inevitable collapse and in the mean time teach children and adults an artistic approach to sane and positive values in our life.
# posted by 
: 7:03 pm
: 7:03 pm
I have always felt that Bush started the war in Iraq so he would be elected to a second term in office. It was pure politics. He knew the American people did not like to change presidents during a war. And he knew he had not been elected the first time.
He will walk away and leave the mess for someone else to clean up. He doesn't care.
Even his followers have been sold a bill of goods, and they will find that out very quickly.
He will walk away and leave the mess for someone else to clean up. He doesn't care.
Even his followers have been sold a bill of goods, and they will find that out very quickly.
Ingrid and Zee, are you not confusing Herman the German Goerring with Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda architect of the third reich? Goerring was the Luftwaffe guy. :o/
I was at least pleased to see Colin Powell confirm he had decided to "publicly oppose the Bush administration's bid to more narrowly define protections for prisoners under the Geneva Conventions because it fuels world doubts about the United States."
"If you just look at how we are perceived in the world and the kind of criticism we have taken over Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and renditions... whether we believe it or not, people are now starting to question whether we're following our own high standards," Powell has told the Washington Post in an interview published last Tuesday.
Powell also argued that the Bush administration's proposal to "clarify" U.S. obligations under the Geneva Conventions could backfire on American soldiers.
John McCain is also against it, ironic that those with combat experience, who have been exposed to the terrors of war, are so firmly against these horrendous proposals. McCain said "the world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism." I think the world thought that a long time ago.
Best wishes
"If you just look at how we are perceived in the world and the kind of criticism we have taken over Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and renditions... whether we believe it or not, people are now starting to question whether we're following our own high standards," Powell has told the Washington Post in an interview published last Tuesday.
Powell also argued that the Bush administration's proposal to "clarify" U.S. obligations under the Geneva Conventions could backfire on American soldiers.
John McCain is also against it, ironic that those with combat experience, who have been exposed to the terrors of war, are so firmly against these horrendous proposals. McCain said "the world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism." I think the world thought that a long time ago.
Best wishes
We'll always have suspicious about what happened in Florida in 2000 and we know what happened prior to the mid-term elections in 2002 but there's some pretty clear evidence that they were voted out in 2004. See http://www.blackboxvoting.org/
for links and further info about what should be a huge public scandal.
susan
for links and further info about what should be a huge public scandal.
susan
# posted by : 9:46 am
: 9:46 am
Good comments all and yes Lindsay, I heard Powell's comments - maybe he can redeem himself somewhat with some honesty...
None of Bush's senior team has seen combat. But damn they're good at sending young men and women to kill others and die themselves. That's not new in history.
Susan - yes, why isn't there outrage about some of this evidence? Well, word of mouth, blogging, talking and voting will be useful - even if the mainstream media is busy with Survivor and Brad Pitt.
None of Bush's senior team has seen combat. But damn they're good at sending young men and women to kill others and die themselves. That's not new in history.
Susan - yes, why isn't there outrage about some of this evidence? Well, word of mouth, blogging, talking and voting will be useful - even if the mainstream media is busy with Survivor and Brad Pitt.
Ian - oh shit!
I am too distracted these days, but you are right. Goebbels was the brilliant mastermind of propaganda in the "third reich".
Thanks
I am too distracted these days, but you are right. Goebbels was the brilliant mastermind of propaganda in the "third reich".
Thanks
# posted by : 6:25 pm
: 6:25 pm << Home
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