1.25.2003
Remember the "war on terror"? Give that link a view/listen.
A couple more tools:
War is Sell(link fixed 1.27.03) An informative link from PR watch; you might remember them as the folks who authored "Trust Us We're the Experts" (book flyleaf art by Tom Tomarrow) This website is an invaluable aid to gaining an understanding of 'spin'.
An interesting activity, looking at the money trail. The Center for Responsive Politics has a motherlode of information.
This is just the the charting of the present administration, Cabinet and Advisors. I'll leave to you to look at them indepth, at your leisure. Now when you hear a vote on an issue, you have a new tool to explore some possible 'hows and whys'.
A good resource to bookmark.
I initially was looking up some background on Tom Ridge, knowing of him only for the draconian measures he employed at the 2000 GOP convention. He is not listed at Open Secrets, due to, I suppose, the fact that he as just sworn in today in his new Homeland Defense post.. News reports paint him as a decorated veteran of the Viet Nam conflict... judge for yourself.
Who makes money from war? The folks that make cruise missiles sure will. You know, their board members, execs, investors. And so will the people taking money from them to fill out their political campaigns' "war chest", many of the same the folks just spoiling to launch them. Chicken Hawks feathering their nests. Wasn't there a TV commercial that went something like "use all ya want, we'll make more..."
1/25/2003
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1.24.2003
"If you depend on the news for your worldview, friends, you're in a sad place." Garrison Keillor 11/9/02
Quotation taken from Orion Online
The 'news' is filled with coverage of the immanent escalation of aggression on Iraq. Are you aware that our Environment has long been under attack under the present administration? We don't hear much about the merchandising and destruction of our physical world.
The National Resources Defense Council is a valuable tool to keep up with what is going on during this assault on clean air, clean water and the natural world we cherish. This link will help keep us abreast of the latest developments. If you familiarize yourself with just one area of environmental interest a week from thier homepage, from nuclear issues to the health of our oceans, to toxic chemicals and health and more, you will have enough knowledge to share for " a month of Sundays" as the old saying goes. Please share it, "pay it forward". We just don't learn these things from the nightly news.
This article speaks of some of our National Parks at risk.
A very interesting piece by Bill McKibben on the value of hybrid vehicles, and the changes to ones point of view they can afford.
This link is pretty eye opening and will generate much food for thought and discussion. I know that Whitley Strieber has some pretty controversial views; the subject of Earth Changes is pressing and recieves NO media attention; this piece is straightforward and informative. Give it a read; tell me what you think. Thank you, Greg for bringing this site to my attention.
Follow ups :
The Senate has voted to block funding for the "Total Information Awareness" program. (Covered here on 1.17.03)
The pilots involved in the 'friendly fire' incident fatal to some Canadian soldiers in Afganistan last April have apologized... (initially covered here in the 1.10.03 entry) A heartfelt thanks to Chris Floyd for taking the time to give me more background material- and some happily received encouragement.
1/24/2003
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We don't seem to think what people in the Middle East think about America attacking Iraq. Some food for thought...
1/24/2003
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1.23.2003
I've included some links to blogs I enjoy daily right <= there on the sidebar for your reading pleasure...
The following quote is joyfully lifted from Ruminate This.
"The nonviolent resister must often express his protest through noncooperation or boycotts, but noncooperation and boycotts are not ends themselves; they are merely means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent. The end is redemption and reconciliation. The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community, while the aftermath of violence is tragic bitterness."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr. 1957, The Martin Luther King Papers Project at Stanford University
Give this about 7 minute RealAudio file from Counterspin a listen, if you would ( this related issue covered here1.06.03.) Then you'll have a bit more background for this article on some Bush staffers rather ironic, given the tax cuts, (in the context of what you just listened to) censorship.
1/23/2003
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1.22.2003
Well, according to this news article the U.S will be holding Iraq's oil in trust for the Iraqi people- and U.S troops won't be mired there for years- that anyone official will admit to.... (remember this contrasting link about Iraq the 51st state? posted here 1.8.03) Russia might be willing to help America administer this oil trust- they have economic interests. Russian media sees the attacks coming in February. The whole world has a stake in what happens. But not everyone's aboard in the international community. France won't be steamrollered. Nor will the Democrats, hey, they are speaking up... Let's encourage them. Read this (please, and if you have time click on the 'The Iraq Debate' link on the Post's webpage as well...) to see just how long this has been planned. One might think weapons have very little to do with events planned against Iraq...
You are probably familiar with past UNSCOM weapons inspector Scott Ritter and his outspoken stand as a military man who voted for George Bush that sees us rushing into an unwarranted military action. He has an arrest record from 2001 involving a sting operation having to do with the internet and underage girls...
This is a personal voyage of discovery:I didn't initially post the Ritter story myself when I saw it at Byte Back because I thought " Obviously this is 'news'; but what does this have to do with the facts he is presenting about Iraq?" "Nothing." I tend to be disinterested in the sex lives of public people, it seems a sphere of being that is not publicly pertinent, moral questions aside. But it sure has a lot to do with the messengers image, his percieved veracity and if it were a Bush staffer, yup, I'd probably post it. It makes me disappointed to read about Ritter, but it also led me to think about honesty and integrity... that basically, I might self censor 'cuz I feel it will save innocent lives and help keep America to its stated values. The truth is what this project is about. Warts and all. And what gives the democratic medium that is the weblog community such hope as a valuable resource.
Speaking of community, you'll note that now there is now an email link on the page. I am getting a really nice sense of community since starting this project; a sense heightened when Dimn let me know my sight was missing all its postings (I had a desolate horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, a sense that something had died; until I fixed it- I'm hooked on this medium). The link will allow you to easily air your thoughts and suggestions until I figure out a public comment system.
Speaking of comments, dial up the White House comment line, let him know your feelings on attacking Iraq.The line only accepts calls from 9-5 EST., Monday thru Friday. Just call the White House at 1-202-456-1111. A machine will detain you for only a moment and then a living human being will listen to your opinion.
1/22/2003
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I'd like to thank Adrian for this MLK quote:
We must rapidly begin the shift from a `thing-oriented' society to a `person-oriented' society.
When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important
than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered....
Martin Luther King
1/22/2003
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1.21.2003
So was N.Korea something that surprised you? Not our Prez. Read this. Hersh is good,,,
The "No fly zone" skirts international law, at best. Will that be our excuse to war? Sure sounds like we have an excuse for war brewing. We should keep in mind that America has been bombing Iraq for years. Then we should think about the affect the sanctions have had on the Iraqi people.It may be hard for them to see us as Liberators, even from a despot.
Blood for oil is wrong. Like you need me to mention that....
Peace
1/21/2003
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So was N.Korea something that surprised you? Not our Prez. Read this. Hersh is good,,,
The "No fly zone" is illegal. Will that be our excuse to war? Remember we ( America) has been bombing them for years. Would you be looking to us for "liberation" from Sadddam"? Sounds like we have an excuse for war brewing.
Blood for oil is wrong.
1/21/2003
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1.20.2003
On this official day of celebration Of the life of Martin Luther King let us think about about what he had to say and a bit about his importance to us today. I'm going to give you the text (from Tompaine.com) of his "Why I Oppose the War In Viet Nam" speech as well as a recording of the speech itself (from DemocracyNow.com) . I think what made King such a threat to the status quo was the clearheaded ability to communicate facts, to lead from a moral high road that was based on a premise of truth, justice and dignity allowing the listener to weigh and judge the case presented. We hear a different speech giving technique generally today I believe, one styled more to grab the listener viscerally, to circumvent the mind, the intellect, structured to appeal to the knee jerk reaction. And our American democracy is the worse for it. A people not thinking are handing away thier powers of discernment, a foundation of Democracy, in trade for the security and excitement of the crowd, the mob. For blind obedience is fostered by a quickening of the blood, a clenching of fists rather than by utilizing what is best in our nature, our morals and mind, the tools we need for reasoning out a complex situation. We are handed a description of the speakers appearance rather than facts that would aid in the analysis thier substance, by the the majority of mainstream media I encounter; we are handicapped in our understanding by a lack of context, accepting a political figures' utterings over an examination of thier "track record"on an issue. Just look to how Dr King is represented to us today. Does one hear of the Poor Peoples Crusade? I'm betting you will hear accounts of his wonderful civil rights work that finally started at least to give citizens of African descent the rights that are what set our country apart and give it such promise. But he was much more than an advocate for the fulfilment of Americas' promise for our countries' minorities. I'm hoping that you hear about his firm and exclusive use of non-violence, following the modern day example of Ghandi and the time honored example of Jesus. Will you hear that he spelled out his reasons historically for opposing the war in Viet Nam? He gave a primer of U.S involvement in Viet Nam in his speech at Riverside Baptist Church that day, probably the most comprehensive that most Americans would hear. Should the speech be mentioned you will no doubt be informed that he lost many supporters due to it. I wonder if you will get a sense of his championing the dignity of all people. Dr. King seems framed in media discourse as a advocate of solely African Americans. His struggle started there, but with the success of the non-violent struggle for civil rights, his perspective continued to widen, encompassing the great web of variables social and economic that the struggles for dignity and social justice are framed in. Before he was killed Martin Luther King and the progress he was a part of acted as a sort of catalyst; a coalition of people from across the grain of American life was pulling together, and they were focused on bettering our country. The classic technique to keep peolple of common interest apart and weak is to attempt to turn "us" into "us and them"; an attempt to belie reality: systemic injustices touch the lives of citizens across a broad spectrum. One way to keep people from acknowledging thier common plight is to emphasize petty differences and demonize the "other" in an attempt to banish the truth while appealing to ones need to fit in, letting anger fill the place of self respect while promoting fear, clannishness, and if only on a tacit level, violence. Short circuiting intellectual response. An appeal to to what is basest in people while obscuring thier shared humanity. And it is sadly effective.
Martin Luther King was a moral/spiritual man/political man who advocated the fulfilling of Americas' promise as outlined in our Constitution and Bill Of Rights, as stated in our pledge "With Liberty and Justice for All". He was no saint, he was a human with all the foibles that we humans have. He was a good man who did what he could for his fellow man and our country.
1/20/2003
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1.19.2003
Some food for thought. Martin Luther King birthday weekend. Things have gotten better, so we are told, but the media tells us a great deal of things, eh? Until today I heard that our Presidents poll ratings are high, especially about going to war, or so it was reported during all yesterdays radio coverage about Peace protests throughout America and the world. I'm proud to stand beside thinking folks who don't believe the hype... The CIA doesn't believe the this proves it all let's go to war rah rah hype that the White House and news outlets are promulgating. Should we?
1/19/2003
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