3.22.2003
In NYC til Sunday night...
I'll be back blogging late.
If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when??
-Rabbi Hillel
3/22/2003
|
3.21.2003
I post this because it has come to me from more than a few sources. Into the Darkness by William Rivers Pitt.
If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?”
-Rabbi Hillel
Food for thought...
3/21/2003
|
3.20.2003
"One reason the U.N. was founded after the second world war was to confront aggressive dictators, actively and early, before they can attack the innocent and destroy the peace."
O.K, I'm not saying Saddam Hussein is innocent. But I am saying that my country, under the leadership of Mr Bush and his administration have subverted the one global democratic world body, the UN.
Here is a relevent quote from the UN Charter:
All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered. All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations." -- UN Charter (Chapter I, Article 2)
Inspector Hans Blix wishes he had more time to be effective.
Israel and Turkey top the list of nations violating United Nations Security Council Resolutions as you can read in this list compiled by Stephen Zunes.
In the print version of The American Prospect, I read an article entitled "The Republican Railroad" which touched on the phenomenon of the Republican majority in the House stopping Democrats from offering amendments on the floor; quoting Barney Frank "The House of Representitives is not in anyway a deliberative body anymore." This tactic, it has to be said, had been used by the Democrats themselves; but not to the extent of such instances as only eight of seventy- seven amendments offered by Democrats reaching debate while condsidering the No Child Left Behind Act in the House. Only five of 106 ammendments posted by Democrats were heard concerning the Securing Americas Future Act. Another illustration of the crippling of the democratic process is illustrated by Committee on the Judiciary Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) willfully ignoring a decades old rule that saw a requirement of at least one member of the minority having to vote with the majority before debate on judicial nominations can be cut off in commitee. Hatch has ignored this rule which was honored by Democrats when they were the majority, allowing the Republican minority to block nominees. I wish the article was available on line...
Then we have Justice Scalia of the Supreme Court. He would not allow independent media to cover a free speech award he recieved in Cleveland. Here is a quote from the linked article about that event about another area of concern: "In response to a student's question, Scalia said it was "a wonderful feeling" to have led the Supreme Court's rejection of a recount of the Florida vote, thus handing the election to Bush. Mr Scalia has some rather non-democratic views, read the entire reference by Seeing the Forest to this article by Scalia:
He believes God chooses humanity's leaders, and democracy obstructs God's wishes by imposing ordinary people as the decision-makers. He condemns the "tendency of democracy to obscure the divine authority behind government".
If one believes this, then one has the problem of how to identify the leaders that God chooses. Scalia appears to think that the way to identify legitimate God-chosen leaders is when they seize power in conflict, demonstrating that God chose them over others. He writes,
"These passages from Romans represent the consensus of Western thought until very recent times. Not just of Christian or religious thought, but of secular thought regarding the powers of the state. That consensus has been upset, I think, by the emergence of democracy. It is easy to see the hand of the Almighty behind rulers whose forebears, in the dim mists of history, were supposedly anointed by God, or who at least obtained their thrones in awful and unpredictable battles whose outcome was determined by the Lord of Hosts, that is, the Lord of Armies. It is much more difficult to see the hand of God—or any higher moral authority—behind the fools and rogues (as the losers would have it) whom we ourselves elect to do our own will. How can their power to avenge—to vindicate the “public order”—be any greater than our own?"
THIS is the thinking of the guy who, in an electoral conflict, put Bush into the White House, blocking the democratic recount because a vote count showing Gore winning would harm Bush's legitimate position as president-elect. Does Scalia see the Bush v Gore case as a "battle" that demonstrated that god chose Bush over Gore? Did Scalia think that he was acting as the people's - the Constitution's - agent in this, or instead as God's agent?
Now read this article.:"The government has room to scale back individual rights during wartime without violating the Constitution, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Tuesday."
Scalia is a member of Opus Dei, as was FBI traitor Robert Hansen. You might be interested to read this piece by Joe Conason about Hansens possible right wing connections...
In reference to the quote at the top of the page; we are being led into an illegal war, by a President that has mislead us repeatedly about this life and death issue. The Legislative branch of our government adheres to Mr Bush's policies and any real debate seems squelched. The judicial branch also shares Mr Bush's policies and in fact appointed him president while voting among themselves down idealogical lines.
Mr Bush might not be a dictator but he sure is putting countless innocent lives in danger due to his failed diplomacy and what looms larger: a seeming will to rush to war.
I'll defer to the eloquence of Senator Robert Byrd, read his speech "Today I weep for my country."
When our troops are put in the line of danger, when millions of innocent civilians are in the line of fire because fate has them living in Baghdad, when this attack may throw our whole world out of political balance; is this the sort of behavior you expect out of your leader, a leader who was AWOL from his relatively cushy hitch in the Air National Guard, at one time patrolling the skies of Texas while less fortunate people went to war in Viet Nam.
" Minutes before the speech, an internal television monitor showed the president pumping his fist. "Feels good," he said. "
Commissioner of Baseball, maybe, Leader of the Free World- I don't think so.
Oh yes, in explanation for yesterday's "martial law" references; I had read this article equating a "code red" terrorist alert with an imposition of martial law.
3/20/2003
|
3.19.2003
I have to admit that there is so much to read, ponder, write of, and to link to, I am overwhelmed. From concerns of martial law ( then we couldn't vote him out) to being concerned about the folks that will be on the ground 'over there', both US troops and the innocent civilians subjected to our bombs and missiles.
So excuse me. Didn't rest well last evening and am just not myself.
Is the attack on Iraq illegal? According to the UN charter it is. Listen to this piece on Counterspin (it is streaming RealAudio).
I imagine the people of the world see the US as a bully, acting without the support of the UN.
Scroll through this to get to the information on Martial law.
I thought the FEMA, Martial Law stuff was all bunk, conspiracy stuff.
And you are aware of the shadow government? Oddly enough it has no Democrats involved in it, not even the semi-Republicans of the DLC. Here is a RealAudio clip of WBUR's Show "The Connection"
Where's our Humanity?
On March 3, 9 month pregnant Nuha Sweidan was also by a bulldozer knocking down houses in the Occupied Territory; she bled to death in the rubble of her home while cradling her 18 month old daughter.
I've been reading about "transfer", the expulsion of Palestinians from their homeland, the Occupied Territories. It is feared that the attack on Iraq will see them moved out of the West Bank and Gaza, areas in the 90's that were expected to have some sort of Palestinian self rule.
"Transfer as an official political platform dates to 1986, when Rehevam Ze'evi began drafting plans for the founding of Moledet. Ze'evi took care to note his differences with Meir Kahane's Kach Party, which sought the unilateral expulsion of all Palestinians west of the Jordan River. By contrast, Ze'evi specified that he sought "transfer by agreement," that is, the exodus of Palestinians within the framework of negotiations with Arab states. Of course, no Arab government ever agreed to such an idea, nor did any Arab state have the authority to terminate Palestinian claims to Palestine. But the rhetoric of "agreement" served for Ze'evi, as for previous generations of Zionists, as a convenient cover for the forcible ejection of Palestinians: "I am not proposing to sit around and wait until we reach transfer agreements in the framework of peace agreements," he explained. Meanwhile, the Israeli government ought to create "conditions of a negative magnet that will bring the Arab population to prefer to emigrate."
In trying to grasp the scope of possible effects that a US War on Iraq can bring about I'm gaining exposure the Israeli/Palestinian issue...
Posters for thinking people. Click on the images. Go buy them here (plenty more to look through)
3/19/2003
|
Saw this over at Mousemusings: Your Religions Stance on Iraq
Also this: Carl Levins Senate Floor speech
We don't need this Fascist Groove Thang.
Just for the record: If you haven't caught on yet; I do not advocate violence. {note added- something about the Flash link makes me say that}
3/19/2003
|
3.18.2003
A link to a letter by Rachel Corrie.
I've happened into some pretty distasteful, hateful and ignorant writing concerning this young woman. I'll admit I did see a picture of her seething with anger holding what looked to be a destroyed facsimile of an American flag. She was surrounded by children.
A pretty reasonable seeming man offered this to me as documentation of her being an America-hater. By that logic Mr Bush is an Anti-Semitic person for his quote stating that Jewish folks can't get into Heaven, insinuating they don't have Gods favor. I would not use my rather facile example of how you can't typecast folks by just one incident to bring in the Bushfamily/Nazi historical angle... alright, I will, cuz if you read the hateful, judgemental tripe I have today about the death of this young woman, a little fact based criticism is a relief. Or perhaps that he hates born-again Christians due to his mockery of Karla Faye Tucker("During an interview with Talk Magazine, Bush mocked Karla Faye, whimpering "Please, don't kill me" in an imitation of her voice").
Here is a quote from Christianity Today about Tucker:
""It's no secret that evangelicals have been stalwarts behind the death penalty." But Tucker's execution, he said, produced a "moral revulsion" among evangelicals "because she is a woman of such obvious spiritual change." This change led Pat Robertson and other conservative leaders to plead her case. "Any justice system that is worthy of the name must have room for mercy," said Robertson. Executing Tucker "is more an act of vengeance than it is appropriate justice."
Not all people killed by the IDF are terrorists. These extrajudicially killed young men were Isrealis.
Young people dying is a tragedy. Rachel Corrie, Yoav Doran and Yehuda Ben Yousef are all victims. Our hearts should go out to their loved ones... In a situation like this the people on all sides of the equation are victims. Killers as well as killed. Where is the humanity?
Rachel Corrie was a complex multifaceted human being like we all are. One quote, one photo cannot do justice to the portrayal of our character.
Read the letter linked above. Get a thumbnail sketch about life under occupation. You don't hear about it on the evening news; and you should, because you fund it.
3/18/2003
|
I mentioned the Mother Jones Article " The Thirty-Year Itch" by Robert Dreyfuss a while back, read it now.
3/18/2003
|
Buzz Flash brings us a straightforward interview: "Janeane Garofalo, Concerned American Citizen and Patriot".
Here is Howard Dean from his website:
Those Americans who opposed our going to war with Iraq, who wanted the United Nations to remove those weapons without war, need not apologize for giving voice to their conscience, last year, this year or next year. In a country devoted to the freedom of debate and dissent, it is every citizen's patriotic duty to speak out, even as we wish our troops well and pray for their safe return. Congressman Abraham Lincoln did this in criticizing the Mexican War of 1846, as did Senator Robert F. Kennedy in calling the war in Vietnam "unsuitable, immoral and intolerable."
This is not Iraq, where doubters and dissenters are punished or silenced --this is the United States of America. We need to support our young people as they are sent to war by the President, and I have no doubt that American military power will prevail. But to ensure that our post-war policies are constructive and humane, based on enduring principles of peace and justice, concerned Americans should continue to speak out; and I intend to do so.
I just got This American Prospect in the mail containing this article. I'm still trying to suss Dean out. Tell me what you think...
And to the kind folks sending me links, both audio and print, Thank You. I appreciate the help in making this site better.
3/18/2003
|
I was going to comment on last nights War speech and I can't bring myself to do it. It seems so fraught with projection, hypocrisy and utter contempt for the intelligence of American citizens and the Democracy that is our birthright
Here's the transcript.
What comes to mind is "who is disturbing the worlds peace" as inspections were working? Didn't the US change its mind about the disarmament/lift sanctions deal of resolution 687? We've been peacefully and diplomatically waiting for 12 years? Look at our record of bombing Iraq. Iraq bugged folks, you mean like our NSA bugging the other members of the Security Council? Couldn't Mr Bush better uphold the Constitution he swore to stand by, by following it's dictates? Congress declares war. Not the executive branch. And on and on...
What has become of America?
The Pope is still speaking out for Diplomacy: pointing out that the aggressors are responsible before God and history.
The World Council of Churches has spoken out against this fatal folly
File under "Oh The Irony"- While the richest 1% of Americans will likely be enjoying record tax breaks the survivors of those who die in battle will lose a prospective tax-break:
" It was a setback for organizations representing military families, which have fought for years for the provision. It would have eliminated all taxes on a $6,000 special payment the military makes to the survivors of a service member killed in combat. Currently, $3,000 of that amount, called a ''death gratuity'' by some, is tax-free".
3/18/2003
|
The woman who answered when I called the Pope today said that the it would better serve the Pontiff to recieve faxes (as opposed to phone calls) concerning saving the innocent people of Iraq from the horror of the "shock and awe" bombardment. This would also save our president from committing a crime against humanity and disgracing America; flying in the face of all it stands for.
Here is the telephone contact number
011-39-06-69-82
Fax number the Vatican person gave me: 011.39.06.69.88.5255
The fax number listed with the Caldicot information I posted earlier does not work
3/18/2003
|
3.17.2003
Remember: kind conscious caring folks are the majority .
3/17/2003
|
An interesting Joe Lieberman/fundamentalist Christian link.
Just so you know: Here is Mr Bush answering a question about Iraq/Al Quaid during a joint press conference with Tony Blair, from the Whitehouse transcript.
Q One question for you both. Do you believe that there is a link between Saddam Hussein, a direct link, and the men who attacked on September the 11th?
THE PRESIDENT: I can't make that claim.
Read this Globe article is entitled "Dubious claims erode US credibility"
Two of the many reasons I gave a reporter for being against an attack on Iraq...
3/17/2003
|
You really ought to go to Dave Neiwerts blog Orcinus and read his fine series of articles Rush, Newspeak and Fascism . I look forward to seeing it come out as a pdf file and will let you know when it does. You really owe it to yourself to read him daily.
3/17/2003
|
Just a reminder; of Baghdads population of 5 million civilians around 50% are kids under 15.
Last night people around the world (see photos) gathered with candles lit to advocate Peace. It was encouraging here in Nashua to see so many people out in the chill evening air. I could count on one hand the angry instances of support for an attack on the people of Iraq while countless cars went by honking and waving in support of our vigil.
Here is a the text of a speech by Granny D. If this struggle to justice seems overwhelming to you, you need to read it. The people selling the war in popular media are experts at grooming public attitude. Even though we have the facts on our side it looks like Mr Bush will get his attack. But we have to thank him for polarizing folks who would usually just shake their heads and shrug. The assault on everything from the environment to civil liberties to the respectability of America on the world stage by the Bush administration is hard for even the most overworked, least informed American to ignore. What we think and what we do collectively at this moment in history will shape America and our world for generations to come. What sort of world will we bequeath to our children, our childrens children? Will it be a "Land of the Free" and a democracy or will it be a privatized fundamentalist police state? I know, it sounds dramatic but look at the changes that have unfolded in these United States. From a President appointed by the Supreme Court to the far reaching ramifications of the Patriot act to "pre-emptive attack" America has had quite a devolution. Let us do what we can to help the US to live up to its promise.
I guess it is no surprise but it sounds as if Mr Bush will be attacking Iraq. He has given Saddam Hussein an ultimatum "Get outta Dodge or else". Sad to say Hussein has not folded and his people will suffer the consequences. UN workers have been called out of Iraq by Kofi Annan.
Mr Sharon says he will not agree with the creation of an independent Palistinian state as proposed by the US, EU, UN and Russia.
It is sad that the Palestinian people have to live under the conditions of apartheid, much like the treatment of Native Americans in our history; are you aware that there are fears that the Palestinian people will be subject to 'population transfer' a move that in a different context would be called what it is: ethnic cleansing.
Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist was killed while standing in front of a Palestinian home that the Israeli Defense Forces was going to demolish illegally. Please read the linked article. This article talks a bit about what the International Solidarity Movement does and experiences.
3/17/2003
|
3.16.2003
Be part of the solution. Show where you stand this evening. Find out where others in your community will be standing in solidarity with a world that wants peace. The Global Vigil for peace is tonight.
3/16/2003
|
Do you remember what you read in 'The Brothers Karamozov' during the chapter 'The Grand Inquisitor' about how Christ was treated by Church authority on his return:
" "'Is it Thou? Thou?' but receiving no answer, he adds at once. 'Don't answer, be silent. What canst Thou say, indeed? I know too well what Thou wouldst say. And Thou hast no right to add anything to what Thou hadst said of old. Why, then, art Thou come to hinder us? For Thou hast come to hinder us, and Thou knowest that. But dost thou know what will be to-morrow? I know not who Thou art and care not to know whether it is Thou or only a semblance of Him, but to-morrow I shall condemn Thee and burn Thee at the stake as the worst of heretics. And the very people who have to-day kissed Thy feet, to-morrow at the faintest sign from me will rush to heap up the embers of Thy fire. Knowest Thou that? Yes, maybe Thou knowest it,' he added with thoughtful penetration, never for a moment taking his eyes off the Prisoner." "
I linked to the whole chapter, if you have time you might want to read it. It speaks a great deal to organized religion and hierarchy- you know if Christ, the fellow widely thought of as "God as Man" did come back he sure wouldn't be invited on any Fundamentalist talk shows.
Mr Bush and the Republican party would have no room at the table for this Peacenik. Not to mention the other conscious caring Liberal views he espouses in the Bible. I imagine Mr Ashcroft as the Inquisitor cited in the Dostoyevsky text.
Just so you know, our government is consulting Michael Drosnan, a fellow who has written books on a code he claims to have found contained in the Bible. Read the NY times article " Is it good for the Jews?"
Done be scared. Organize.
3/16/2003
|
A friend e-mailed me this link and I wonder what you think...
Word is made flesh as God reveals himself... as a fish.
Now, if the fellow was an atheist instead of a "devout Christian" the fish would probably still be among us, and who knows? Just another argument against the Talibanization of America.
God killed by a Christian. I imagine Mr Nivelo just finished the job that Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Mr Bush and his fundamentalist supporters started.
Go figure.
3/16/2003
|
Gas prices are high and getting higher. I bet you wonder just how they are arrived at. Read about oil refiners and price manipulation, learn about such gasoline esoterica as 'zone pricing' and keeping the market 'tight'. This is taken "From the Statement of Senator Carl Levin, Chairman, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations; Hearing on Gas Prices: How Are They Really Set? US Senate, 30 April 2002:" Scroll down to access the full report.
3/16/2003
|
|
|
