In the melancholy moments of a childhood remembered, I was inspired to put these words to paper.......
GROWING UP..... By Mike Staples
When I was a child and would play...
On my stomach in a foxhole for hours I'd lay.
I'd fight the war to right all wrongs....
Accompanied by all the military's songs.
For truth and justice I'd endure all pain...
To be the hero like John Wayne.
I never questioned if the battle was just...
Or if my weapons showed signs of rust.
I never feared for the enemies I'd kill...
It was my quest their blood to spill.
This game I played for years and years....
With no regrets and little fears.
It was my goal, it was my right...
To defend my country with all my might.
And as I grew I learned to be...
The man my parents hoped for me.
But what I found as I did age...
Were ideals of youth that fell to rage.
The nation of justice and of right...
Became invaders in the night.
Instead of values I'd been taught...
I saw those values had all been bought.
Paid for in blood on desert sands....
As we aggressed in to their lands.
Where once we were defenders of right...
Now we were executioners of might.
No honor fought, no honor gained...
Our righteousness was now all feigned.
We dealt death's blows with our first strikes....
While all the while we cried like shrikes.
We're victims we cried with indignation....
While behind it we sought provocation.
And from my childhood foxhole I peered....
And deep inside me my shame seared.
How could we be these awful foes....
To cause so many earthly woes.
It's not the country I defended...
There is no right like I pretended.
What happened to helping those in need....
When did we circumvent to greed.
Where are the values of Mom and Dad...
And when did we go from good to bad.
Have we sold our souls for pieces of gold....
To realize this makes my blood run cold.
It's sad to say goodbye to truths...
And harder yet to ignore the proof.
But here we are on planet Earth...
Our only values are what we're worth.
We've killed the good and destroyed the seed....
We've spurned it all in the name of greed.
We've changed the world, but not for good...
We've lost the meaning of what we should.
It could have been such a lovely place...
But when we're through there'll be no trace.
Mankind remembered, a strange species...
He turn his garden in to feces.
And in his vision, he lost all sight....
Of what was good, and what was right...
And mankind disappeared into the night.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
I can't imagine Myself Agreeing with Bobby Jindal,..... But He Might Be Right on this one. Whoa!
This is posted in context from NPR News.
December 28, 2010
Next week, hordes of conservative Republican lawmakers will descend on Washington to take their seats in the freshman class of the 112th Congress. But some prominent conservatives suggest the best thing lawmakers can do to fix Capitol Hill is to stay the heck away from it.
"We used to pay farmers not to grow crops. Let's pay congressmen to stay out of Washington, D.C.," Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal recently told Human Events. In a new book, Jindal makes a serious case for a return to a part-time Congress, among other things. He argues that once elected, lawmakers who once promised to change Washington "become part of the problem" and turn into a "permanent governing political class."
His solution? "Make them part-time, give them term limits. Don't let them become lobbyists. When they have to live under the same rules and laws they pass for the rest of us, maybe you'd see some more common sense coming out of Washington, D.C."
Echoing Jindal's call for a return to a citizen-legislature, conservative columnist Cal Thomas writes on his website, "The Founders were keenly aware of the danger of a Congress divorced from the realities of the rest of the country."
[My comment follows...MS]
The truth is our members of congress are so out of touch with the American people they don't seem to have a clue what we want or need. The fact that Republicans had to be shamed into stopping their filibustering of the "9/11 Health Bill" is a graphic example just how out of touch they are. The lack of the "Public Option" in the recently passed "National Health Care Bill" is another example of just how out of touch they are.
In one of my posts dated December 2, 2010, written by A.B., she states that Congress should hold a "Constitutional Convention" for the purpose of enacting a "28th Amendment to the United States Constitution".
The proposed 28th Amendment to read as follows........
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
Maybe it is time for Congress to get back into the job pool, and work for a living. Term limits would definitely help. In this age of computers, however, it's not like they couldn't stay tuned in from their constituent's districts. Their connection to their constituency, is skewed in perspective of the problems that Americans face on a daily basis. Special interest lobbyist have their constant ear, while the American people have to voice their concerns from afar, and in most cases those concerns are further diluted by filtering through their representative's aides. If Congress had to go back to the real world, even on a part time basis, it would break down their "elitist" perspective of how they relate to real America.
December 28, 2010
Next week, hordes of conservative Republican lawmakers will descend on Washington to take their seats in the freshman class of the 112th Congress. But some prominent conservatives suggest the best thing lawmakers can do to fix Capitol Hill is to stay the heck away from it.
"We used to pay farmers not to grow crops. Let's pay congressmen to stay out of Washington, D.C.," Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal recently told Human Events. In a new book, Jindal makes a serious case for a return to a part-time Congress, among other things. He argues that once elected, lawmakers who once promised to change Washington "become part of the problem" and turn into a "permanent governing political class."
His solution? "Make them part-time, give them term limits. Don't let them become lobbyists. When they have to live under the same rules and laws they pass for the rest of us, maybe you'd see some more common sense coming out of Washington, D.C."
Echoing Jindal's call for a return to a citizen-legislature, conservative columnist Cal Thomas writes on his website, "The Founders were keenly aware of the danger of a Congress divorced from the realities of the rest of the country."
[My comment follows...MS]
The truth is our members of congress are so out of touch with the American people they don't seem to have a clue what we want or need. The fact that Republicans had to be shamed into stopping their filibustering of the "9/11 Health Bill" is a graphic example just how out of touch they are. The lack of the "Public Option" in the recently passed "National Health Care Bill" is another example of just how out of touch they are.
In one of my posts dated December 2, 2010, written by A.B., she states that Congress should hold a "Constitutional Convention" for the purpose of enacting a "28th Amendment to the United States Constitution".
The proposed 28th Amendment to read as follows........
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
Maybe it is time for Congress to get back into the job pool, and work for a living. Term limits would definitely help. In this age of computers, however, it's not like they couldn't stay tuned in from their constituent's districts. Their connection to their constituency, is skewed in perspective of the problems that Americans face on a daily basis. Special interest lobbyist have their constant ear, while the American people have to voice their concerns from afar, and in most cases those concerns are further diluted by filtering through their representative's aides. If Congress had to go back to the real world, even on a part time basis, it would break down their "elitist" perspective of how they relate to real America.
Monday, December 27, 2010
So Much For "Peace on Earth"... "Good Will Towards Men". Israeli Foreign Minister says Peace Agreement is "Simply Forbidden"
Yeah,... That's what I call a real "pisser". I mean, Come on! What's up with that? I am not anti-jewish, but,.... I think the attitude of Israel is unconscionable. They have proven themselves time and time again to be the heaviest handed, most aggressive country, in the entire middle east. Can someone out there tell me why we support their arrogance? Has our government cast all values of freedom and fairness aside?
Why should millions of Palestinian refugees buy into the Israeli insistence that the "Jewish right to statehood is a tenet of international law"? Every one of Israel’s governments has made a profession of violating international laws such as those embodied in the Geneva Conventions. So, this claim is simply hypocritical. Why should anyone give credence to Israel’s assertion that it be accorded rights it has systematically denied others?
The assertion of recognition of Palestinian rights is a weak red herring. The only way the Israelis recognize the existence of the Palestinian people is by evicting them daily so as to clear the way for their illegal colonization of conquered land.
President Obama stated that Israel must stop the illegal settlement of Palestinian land. So, what is going on here? Why, at this particular time, do we get an emphasis on Israel as a "Jewish state?"
Judaism is a religion that, at its best, demands tolerance and acceptance of the other. Zionism is a political ideology centered on an ethnic exclusiveness that leads, almost inevitably, to apartheid. The truth is that Israel is not a Jewish state. It is a Zionist state. For years Zionists have sought to make the two synonymous. But they are not the same, and as long as Israel fails to recognize Palestine as being legitimately entitled to their own state, with an inalienable right to self-determination in its homeland, there will never be peace.
It is a matter of mutual respect for the right to exist. President Obama has stated the guidelines that need to be respected and observed, if there is to be legitimate talk of peace. Israel must stop its invasion and colonization of Palestinian land. Why then,... do we keep supporting Israel, when Israel chooses to oppress and invade Palestine, and ignore all mutuality in negotiations?
Why should millions of Palestinian refugees buy into the Israeli insistence that the "Jewish right to statehood is a tenet of international law"? Every one of Israel’s governments has made a profession of violating international laws such as those embodied in the Geneva Conventions. So, this claim is simply hypocritical. Why should anyone give credence to Israel’s assertion that it be accorded rights it has systematically denied others?
The assertion of recognition of Palestinian rights is a weak red herring. The only way the Israelis recognize the existence of the Palestinian people is by evicting them daily so as to clear the way for their illegal colonization of conquered land.
President Obama stated that Israel must stop the illegal settlement of Palestinian land. So, what is going on here? Why, at this particular time, do we get an emphasis on Israel as a "Jewish state?"
Judaism is a religion that, at its best, demands tolerance and acceptance of the other. Zionism is a political ideology centered on an ethnic exclusiveness that leads, almost inevitably, to apartheid. The truth is that Israel is not a Jewish state. It is a Zionist state. For years Zionists have sought to make the two synonymous. But they are not the same, and as long as Israel fails to recognize Palestine as being legitimately entitled to their own state, with an inalienable right to self-determination in its homeland, there will never be peace.
It is a matter of mutual respect for the right to exist. President Obama has stated the guidelines that need to be respected and observed, if there is to be legitimate talk of peace. Israel must stop its invasion and colonization of Palestinian land. Why then,... do we keep supporting Israel, when Israel chooses to oppress and invade Palestine, and ignore all mutuality in negotiations?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
So now that we're Over Christmas...... It's back to the politics of Hypocrisy.... I knew the good stuff couldn't last.
From the hallowed halls of commerce...... Our Government Pushes Profits Before Policy... Every Time.
This was brought in by "Care 2" make a difference" Website. Posted there by Christina Chew.
"Over the past decade, the United State government has allowed American companies to do business---billions of dollars of business---with countries blacklisted as state sponsors of terrorism.
An investigation by the New York Times has discovered that a little known office of the US Treasury Department, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, has approved over 10,000 licenses for business deals with countries including Iran that have been 'cast into economic purgatory, beyond the reach of American business.' Companies that have benefited include Kraft Foods and Pepsi, not to mention some very large banks.
A law makes it possible for such licenses to be approved despite the sanctions on the basis of agricultural and medical humanitarian aid. But the law is written so broad that under the category of 'humanitarian aid' are: cigarettes, Wrigley’s gum, Jolly Time popcorn, Louisiana hot sauce, weight-loss remedies, body-building supplements and sports rehabilitation equipment which were sold to the institute that trains Iran’s Olympic athletes."
[Opinion from here on is all mine]
Can you F*%#ing believe it? Our government..... the same government that's pushing for you and me to be constantly surveilled for any sign of supporting terrorist organizations, is sleeping with the enemy to the tune of "billions of dollars of business". It seems our government has no regard for its own policies where business is concerned. They have even allowed imports from North Korea after restrictions were loosened, when North Korea promised it would renounce its nuclear weapons program. That agreement has fallen apart, but the license remains.
Talk about supporting "Terrorism".... Just when I was feeling all fuzzy about our President and his accomplishments.....
Cha-ching! The cash register supersedes all the moral values of our illustrious leaders. How can we be sending our troops to fight and die while we are supporting the countries that have sworn to see our demise?
"Hypocrisy" isn't a strong enough word for this action. I'd say "Treason" would be closer to it!
It's no wonder we (the good old U.S.A.) are revered far and wide as the "Evil Empire". We are the world's "whores'. Just show us the money, and we'll do anything.
So,... How much "bailout" money do you think actually went to North Korea and Iran from those "very large banks"? Probably enough to pay for those high roller's tax breaks, and then some.
This was brought in by "Care 2" make a difference" Website. Posted there by Christina Chew.
"Over the past decade, the United State government has allowed American companies to do business---billions of dollars of business---with countries blacklisted as state sponsors of terrorism.
An investigation by the New York Times has discovered that a little known office of the US Treasury Department, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, has approved over 10,000 licenses for business deals with countries including Iran that have been 'cast into economic purgatory, beyond the reach of American business.' Companies that have benefited include Kraft Foods and Pepsi, not to mention some very large banks.
A law makes it possible for such licenses to be approved despite the sanctions on the basis of agricultural and medical humanitarian aid. But the law is written so broad that under the category of 'humanitarian aid' are: cigarettes, Wrigley’s gum, Jolly Time popcorn, Louisiana hot sauce, weight-loss remedies, body-building supplements and sports rehabilitation equipment which were sold to the institute that trains Iran’s Olympic athletes."
[Opinion from here on is all mine]
Can you F*%#ing believe it? Our government..... the same government that's pushing for you and me to be constantly surveilled for any sign of supporting terrorist organizations, is sleeping with the enemy to the tune of "billions of dollars of business". It seems our government has no regard for its own policies where business is concerned. They have even allowed imports from North Korea after restrictions were loosened, when North Korea promised it would renounce its nuclear weapons program. That agreement has fallen apart, but the license remains.
Talk about supporting "Terrorism".... Just when I was feeling all fuzzy about our President and his accomplishments.....
Cha-ching! The cash register supersedes all the moral values of our illustrious leaders. How can we be sending our troops to fight and die while we are supporting the countries that have sworn to see our demise?
"Hypocrisy" isn't a strong enough word for this action. I'd say "Treason" would be closer to it!
It's no wonder we (the good old U.S.A.) are revered far and wide as the "Evil Empire". We are the world's "whores'. Just show us the money, and we'll do anything.
So,... How much "bailout" money do you think actually went to North Korea and Iran from those "very large banks"? Probably enough to pay for those high roller's tax breaks, and then some.
Friday, December 24, 2010
When the Smoke Cleared...... The New Sheriff Holstered His Guns and Smiled....... And Millions Smiled With Him.
And, I have to admit,..... in the overall scope of things, "you done good, Mr. President".
Yeah, I felt like so many other liberals. Lost and alone while the Fat Cats got their tax breaks, but in the long run of accomplishments, I'd have to say President Obama definitely ended this session of Congress on a pretty high note. Like so many others, I felt he had thrown us under the bus and gone over to the "Dark Side". (that would be republicanism)
I still have mixed emotions about some of the things that were compromised on, but,... the things that didn't get shelved, or otherwise diluted to the point of absurdity, (the health care program comes to mind) I'd have to say we are all probably better off because of his level headed approach and diplomacy.
The repeal of "DADT" is huge. The Nuclear Arms Treaty, another big hit. Saving unemployment also good, at least for a while.
Medical Coverage for 911 workers and residents,... that's a score as well. There's a whole list of veterans issues that needed to be addressed, and were. Every one of those issues got passed. Not too bad.
Yeah, he had a few failures, too. "The Dream Act".... down for the count, at least for a while. "Guantanamo Bay",.... A festering sore on the idea of democracy, and still it exists. There's a bunch of things I good stay pissed off about, and will,... but, I have to give credit where it's due, and it's due for the results of this "Lame Duck" Congress' last hurrah.
There's another side benefit to all this last gasp political hoopla, and that is,... the American people got a good close look at the outright lack of concern for all of us, by the Republican Party. They held us hostage so that they could get their tax breaks. They showed themselves to be more than "The Party of NO". (Maybe "Less"or "Lower" would be more appropriate) At any rate, their exposure of their true colors and distain for the American people, and our values, might actually be enough to wake America up and inspire us to make the changes necessary to start taking back this country.
I Hope so. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Is Racial Identification In Itself ..."Racism" ?
Yesterday, when I received my email news from NPR, I noted an interesting article on the NPR Blog titled "Biracial or Black: Choosing an Identity". It struck me that choosing an identity, in itself is a form of promoting racism. In a society where racial profiling seems to be the norm (at least if you intend to fly, or get stopped by a cop) there is an over shadowing prevalence of racism.
When I became a firefighter, I took tests for several different cities. On every one of those applications was a space marked "Race". Caucasian, Afro-American, Hispanic, Asian, Etc., and then..."Other". When I finally got a job with the City of Berkeley, I was given a personnel form to fill out. There on the form was the section marked "Race". I filled in the form with the response of "Human" in the space. I thought sure someone would come back to tell me that was an inappropriate response, but no one ever did. Then I thought, perhaps,... just perhaps, this liberal city that I'd grown up in really didn't care that I had responded that way. Maybe they saw the truth in the statement that I'd made. I suspect in reality they just missed it, but one can hope.
Then came the era of "Affirmative Action", and with it a sweeping surge to hire "minorities", and make up for all the racial inequality that had plagued this country up to then. It put the shoe on the other foot for a change. With affirmative action, however, there came a form of discrimination that fed the fires of racism, rather than quench them. Reverse discrimination suits were filed, and in some cases won. Granted it opened a dialog that had remained unspoken for far too long, but sometimes that dialog became the rhetoric of hatred and abuse that disparaged all of us, no matter what ethnic origin we were from.
I guess what I'm really trying to point out is that with all the things that face the human race on our planet today, selectively separating each other by "race" serves no purpose. Other than identifying our looks, it's divisive and encourages racism by promoting thinking in those terms. We are in a world where with each generation the color of people becomes more neutralized. I'm sort of an olive beige color, you're brown, black, white.... So what? Other than strictly for identification purposes, our colors and cultures are different; but, our race is "Human".
If we can learn to recognize that fact alone,.... what do you think our relationships to each other might be? Could we learn to treat all people as we would have them treat us? Would respect for all people of the world have a mutual baseline? We might not like or agree with all peoples. We surely would find reasons to oppose or reject certain ideas and cultures, and no doubt we would even find reasons to fight, but,.... we could come to realize that the bottom line here, is that we are all of the "Human Race", and we are all on this planet together.
A young man, I recently met face to face, created a word that sums up the perfect idea for ending racism. That word is "ERACISM"...."e-ra-cism"... "The removal from existence of the belief that one race is superior to another". It makes perfect sense. If we promote eracism, we can help change our future. It couldn't hurt. If you agree, type that word into your computer. You'll find a variety of clothing promoting that idea. I don't mean to sell T-shirts, but I do mean to help sell an idea. The more people that promote that idea, the sooner it might come to be accepted.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Until it's a done deal,.... Don't count your chickens...etc.
The big news from Capital Hill is the vote to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell". President Obama is due to sign the bill into law next week. However, there's a sixty day waiting period for the military to make sure it "won't hurt combat troops fighting ability".
What's up with that? Do they think there will be a mass turn in of their combat boots for stylish pumps? I mean....Come on!
Seventeen years of this disgraceful policy is enough.
I worry more about those sanctimonious opponents, lead by John McCain, doing something underhanded, like getting some bought and paid for Federal Judge to file an injunction to stop it. That is way more worrisome than our combat troops being hurt by this law. Those stodgy Generals that still have problems with this are going to do anything they can to drag their feet and slow down the process of finally giving our troops the respect and rights they deserve.
Of course,.. it will take the some wind out of the backstabbers sails. You know them..... they're the ones that just look for a reason to get the rest of us in trouble. A way to make themselves look good by dumping on someone else. Maybe hoping they'll get a promotion out of it. They were in the military service, when I was there. They're in service today. Hell,...... they're all over the government today. They'll lose a bit of ammo when this goes through.
We all know that this is the right thing to do, but,... before you sigh and rest easy,........ don't count your chickens, yet. This still needs to hatch.
U.S. Waging war on investigative journalism........ Published on Friday, December 17, 2010 by The Guardian/UK
Julian Assange: WikiLeaks Faces 'Very Aggressive' investigation by US
Organisation's founder says he is reliant on public opinion to rein in 'superpower that does not appear to be following rule of law'
by Peter Walker
WikiLeaks faces a "very aggressive" and secretive investigation by US authorities stung by a perceived loss of face following the release of thousands of secret American diplomatic cables, the organisation's founder, Julian Assange, said today.
Speaking to reporters outside Ellingham Hall, the Norfolk house at which he is staying on bail following his release from prison, Assange said WikiLeaks faced "what appears to be an illegal investigation ... certain people who are alleged to be affiliated to us have been detained, followed around, had their computers seized and so on".
He said he believed it was "80% likely" that the US authorities were seeking to prepare an attempt to have him extradited there to face charges of espionage.
He added that he was reliant on public opinion to rein in "a superpower that does not appear to be following the rule of law".
"I would say that there is a very aggressive investigation, that a lot of face has been lost by some people, and some people have careers to make by pursuing famous cases, but that is actually something that needs monitoring," he said.
He criticised the way Swedish authorities have sought to have him extradited to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault – the reason he was held in jail for 10 days.
"That is something that actually needs monitoring, it needs scrutiny," he said. "We have seen this with the Swedish prosecutor in representations to the British government here, and the British courts say that it did not need to provide a shred of evidence – said this three times – and in fact has provided nothing, not a single shred of evidence in its extradition hearings, in the hearings that ended up putting me in solitary confinement for 10 days.
"Similarly, in the United States, what appears to be a secret grand jury investigation against me, or our organisation – not a single comment about what is actually going on."
The bulk of WikiLeaks' efforts were currently devoted to fending off various attacks, including technical assaults on its website, Assange said.
"Over 85% of our economic resources are spent dealing with attacks – dealing with technical attacks, dealing with political attacks, dealing with legal attacks, not doing journalism," he said. "And that, if you like, is attack upon investigative journalism."
Assange said he was worried about the prospect of being sent to the US, adding: "There have been many calls by senior political figures in the United States, including elected ones in the Senate, for my execution, the kidnapping of my staff, the execution of the young soldier Bradley Manning ... that's a very, very serious business.
"The United States has shown recently that its institutions seem to be failing to follow the rule of law. And dealing with a superpower that does not appear to be following the rule of law is a serious business."
US efforts to prosecute Assange appear to rely on connecting him to Manning, the presumed source of the leaked cables.
Assange, an Australian, was at pains today to stress his remove from Manning, referring to him as "a young man somehow embroiled in our publishing activities" and saying WikiLeaks did not know who its sources were.
Targeting him personally would not stop the work of WikiLeaks, Assange pledged. "People like to present WikiLeaks as me and my backpack. It is not true. We are a large organisation.
"It is resilient. It is designed to withstand decapitation attacks, and our publication rate actually increased during the time I was in solitary confinement."
Assange was held in jail because prosecutors argued that as a non-British national with no permanent ties to the country he was a potential absconder.
To satisfy the judge he had to post £200,000 in surety, provided by supporters, and agree to stay at Ellingham Hall, owned by his friend Vaughan Smith. He must wear a tag, observe a curfew and report to a police station daily.
© 2010 Guardian News and Media Limited
Organisation's founder says he is reliant on public opinion to rein in 'superpower that does not appear to be following rule of law'
by Peter Walker
WikiLeaks faces a "very aggressive" and secretive investigation by US authorities stung by a perceived loss of face following the release of thousands of secret American diplomatic cables, the organisation's founder, Julian Assange, said today.
Speaking to reporters outside Ellingham Hall, the Norfolk house at which he is staying on bail following his release from prison, Assange said WikiLeaks faced "what appears to be an illegal investigation ... certain people who are alleged to be affiliated to us have been detained, followed around, had their computers seized and so on".
He said he believed it was "80% likely" that the US authorities were seeking to prepare an attempt to have him extradited there to face charges of espionage.
He added that he was reliant on public opinion to rein in "a superpower that does not appear to be following the rule of law".
"I would say that there is a very aggressive investigation, that a lot of face has been lost by some people, and some people have careers to make by pursuing famous cases, but that is actually something that needs monitoring," he said.
He criticised the way Swedish authorities have sought to have him extradited to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault – the reason he was held in jail for 10 days.
"That is something that actually needs monitoring, it needs scrutiny," he said. "We have seen this with the Swedish prosecutor in representations to the British government here, and the British courts say that it did not need to provide a shred of evidence – said this three times – and in fact has provided nothing, not a single shred of evidence in its extradition hearings, in the hearings that ended up putting me in solitary confinement for 10 days.
"Similarly, in the United States, what appears to be a secret grand jury investigation against me, or our organisation – not a single comment about what is actually going on."
The bulk of WikiLeaks' efforts were currently devoted to fending off various attacks, including technical assaults on its website, Assange said.
"Over 85% of our economic resources are spent dealing with attacks – dealing with technical attacks, dealing with political attacks, dealing with legal attacks, not doing journalism," he said. "And that, if you like, is attack upon investigative journalism."
Assange said he was worried about the prospect of being sent to the US, adding: "There have been many calls by senior political figures in the United States, including elected ones in the Senate, for my execution, the kidnapping of my staff, the execution of the young soldier Bradley Manning ... that's a very, very serious business.
"The United States has shown recently that its institutions seem to be failing to follow the rule of law. And dealing with a superpower that does not appear to be following the rule of law is a serious business."
US efforts to prosecute Assange appear to rely on connecting him to Manning, the presumed source of the leaked cables.
Assange, an Australian, was at pains today to stress his remove from Manning, referring to him as "a young man somehow embroiled in our publishing activities" and saying WikiLeaks did not know who its sources were.
Targeting him personally would not stop the work of WikiLeaks, Assange pledged. "People like to present WikiLeaks as me and my backpack. It is not true. We are a large organisation.
"It is resilient. It is designed to withstand decapitation attacks, and our publication rate actually increased during the time I was in solitary confinement."
Assange was held in jail because prosecutors argued that as a non-British national with no permanent ties to the country he was a potential absconder.
To satisfy the judge he had to post £200,000 in surety, provided by supporters, and agree to stay at Ellingham Hall, owned by his friend Vaughan Smith. He must wear a tag, observe a curfew and report to a police station daily.
© 2010 Guardian News and Media Limited
Friday, December 17, 2010
There's a War Coming...... And We're at Ground Zero.... again.
So far this latest attack has been waged in the halls of our Senate and Congress. Who's the "Enemy"? It's beginning to look like you and I are. ("Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class America") And,.. who are the "Invading Forces" in this aggressive battle? It's the same folks who brought you "Tax Breaks for The Rich", and "Corporate Bailouts". That's right, our own elected, hypocritical, elitist, "Representatives". We were all on the same side when they needed our votes, but now,..... we're just the "Rabble" that pays the bills. They don't care what we want. They don't care what we need. They just care that we can keep footing the bills so that they can get richer and richer. But, wait!..... There's more. There's the insidious undermining of our rights. That part is still being orchestrated.
This "War" started long before we were aware of it. Before the Three shots in Dallas, or the hail of bullets in Manhattan, or the one fired in Memphis, or the three in Los Angeles....... Before any of those killings this "War" was started. President Eisenhower tried to warn us of it, but we weren't listening. We were naive to the concept that our own government would trade the ideals of freedom for the benefits of profit. After all, weren't they the protectors of our freedoms? We believed them to be. We elected them to be. We trusted them to be...... We were wrong! Eisenhower was right on the money!
On September 11th, 2001...... The culmination of all those previous events reached a crescendo never before seen in the world. Genocide released on our own, and in all likelihood by our own, with very specific purposes in mind. This was the true declaration of this "WAR". The American people rallied around patriotism. Flags were flown like they had been during WWII. We were united against our "Enemies". Now, if we only knew who our "enemies" really were.......
As we waited for our leadership to declare war on "somebody".... "anybody", our President declared "War on Terror". Then came "The Patriot Act". But, who were the real "Terrorist"? Was it Saddam Hussein..... Osama bin Laden? It couldn't be Saudi Arabia? Of course not,.... they're our "Allies". But, wait! I thought Iraq was our allies, at least they used to be, until they invaded Kuwait. Then, it was imperative that we had to invade them. "Saddam needed to be stopped." There were weapons of "Mass Destruction". How did we know this? Because we sold them to him............ for big profits. And,... let's not forget the OIL. We don't need to talk about it, but let's not forget it.
And as... "the bombs bursting in air,.... gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there" we were lead into "The war without end". The war without reason. Oh,... it had a reason for some. The rich got richer, and the profits piled up like never before. So much profits, that our leaders couldn't allow those profits to be scrutinized by just anyone. It was time initiate the real war. The "WAR" of The Classes". The war that no one but the privileged few even knew existed.
Then something unprecedented happened. People started listening to dissenters. Like WikiLeaks, and Truth Out, and Bradley Manning. Films and photos leaked from Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo Bay exposed an evil never before known as actions by Americans. Film of heavily armed helicopters murdering civilians while the crew reveled their atrocities emerged. When that happened, the "War" took on a new direction. The war on Terror, became a war on anyone who dissented from the party line. Instead of holding the architects of these acts accountable, our government circled the wagons and touted a new Leader. A man of "change" who pledged "transparency" in government.
And, as we waited to be reaffirmed as a truthful, and just people in the world's eye, our new President ignored the cry for justice. In his first acts of "change" and "transparency" he quietly pardoned the architects of America's shame. All the while smiling at his people, and telling us that there was no point in dwelling on the past. It was time to forge a new future. A "green" future, where new technologies would lead us in the world market and out of our looming recession.
Where are those "green" jobs that were going to help boost the economy, Mr. President? Where's the "change"? From where I sit, it's looking like business as always. You and your elitists in government and corporate industry get more and more of the wealth, while we, the people get unemployment,.... if only for a limited time. That just doesn't seem like a fair trade to me. This is the same "trickle down economics" that Ronald Reagan pushed into place. It was "Bullshit" then,.... and it's "Bullshit", now.
People like Julian Assange and Bradley Manning have become declared the "terrorists". The internet being their weapons of mass insurrection. This is the "danger to national security" you would have us believe? This a threat that must be stopped? If you allow us to talk to each other, who knows what kind of cockamamie ideas we might get? We might even figure out you've declared war on us. The battle is just beginning.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Free Bradley Manning..... Seven months in prison without charges filed is something you'd expect from North Korea,.... not the U.S.A.!!!.
Is there no point of justice that our own government respects? That would be a "NO". Our beloved President is too busy trying to screw the American people who elected him, and climb on board the Republican bandwagon. He doesn't have time to fight for justice.
Does he think we don't remember his campaign promises to protect whistle-blowers, and promote "change" in government? He's too busy lining the pockets of corporate CEO's with bailouts, and forcing their programs down our throats, while he helps his elitists buddies in Congress save the tax breaks for the rich. Meanwhile,.... the middle class (soon to be part of the destitute class) gets worked over more each day. And, with each day that goes by our "Democratic President" becomes more and more like his predecessors. Ignoring the rule of law, eroding the rights of Americans everywhere. Whether it's soldiers or civilians, it doesn't matter.
How about trying to initiate those promises that got you into office, Mr. President? How about just upholding the Constitution? You remember that, don't you? That document you swore to uphold at you inauguration. It's the same document that you and your fellow elitists are attempting to TRASH!
Does he think we don't remember his campaign promises to protect whistle-blowers, and promote "change" in government? He's too busy lining the pockets of corporate CEO's with bailouts, and forcing their programs down our throats, while he helps his elitists buddies in Congress save the tax breaks for the rich. Meanwhile,.... the middle class (soon to be part of the destitute class) gets worked over more each day. And, with each day that goes by our "Democratic President" becomes more and more like his predecessors. Ignoring the rule of law, eroding the rights of Americans everywhere. Whether it's soldiers or civilians, it doesn't matter.
How about trying to initiate those promises that got you into office, Mr. President? How about just upholding the Constitution? You remember that, don't you? That document you swore to uphold at you inauguration. It's the same document that you and your fellow elitists are attempting to TRASH!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Where is this country headed? This scary article might just tell you.... BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING
Justice Department Prepares for Ominous Expansion of "Anti-Terrorism" Law Targeting Activists
Saturday 11 December 2010
by: Michael Deutsch, t r u t h o u t | News Analysis
In late September, the FBI carried out a series of raids of homes and antiwar offices of public activists in Minneapolis and Chicago. Following the raids, the Obama Justice Department subpoenaed 14 activists to a grand jury in Chicago and also subpoenaed the files of several antiwar and community organizations. In carrying out these repressive actions, the Justice Department was taking its lead from the Supreme Court's 6-3 opinion last June in Holder v. the Humanitarian Law Project, which decided that nonviolent First Amendment speech and advocacy "coordinated with" or "under the direction of" a foreign group listed by the Secretary of State as "terrorist" was a crime.
The search warrants and grand jury subpoenas make it clear that the federal prosecutors are intent on accusing public nonviolent political organizers, many of whom are affiliated with Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), of providing "material support" through their public advocacy for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The Secretary of State has determined that both the PLFP and the FARC "threaten US national security, foreign policy or economic interests," a finding not reviewable by the courts, and listed both groups as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO).
In 1996, Congress made it a crime - then punishable by 10 years, which was later increased to 15 years - to anyone in the US who provides "material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization or attempts or conspires to do so." The present statute defines "material support or resources" as:
... any property, tangible or intangible, or service, including currency or monetary instruments or financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safe houses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel and transportation except medicine or religious materials.
In the Humanitarian Law Project case, human rights workers wanted to teach members of the Kurdistan PKK, which seeks an independent Kurdish state, and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which sought an independent state in Sri Lanka, how to use humanitarian and international law to peacefully resolve disputes and obtain relief from the United Nations and other international bodies for human rights abuses by the governments of Turkey and Sri Lanka. Both organizations were designated as FTOs by the Secretary of State in a closed hearing, in which the evidence is heard secretly.
Despite the nonviolent, peacemaking goal of the Humanitarian Law Project's speech and training, the majority of the Supreme Court nonetheless interpreted the law to make such conduct a crime. Finding a whole new exception to the First Amendment, the Court decided that any support, even if it involves nonviolent efforts towards peace, is illegal under the law since it "frees up other resources within the organization that may be put to violent ends," and also helps lend "legitimacy" to foreign terrorist groups. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts, despite the lack of any evidence, further opined that the FTO could use the human rights law to "intimidate, harass or destruct" its adversaries, and that even peace talks themselves could be used as a cover to re-arm for further attacks. Thus, the Court's opinion criminalizes efforts by independent groups to work for peace if they in any way cooperate or coordinate with designated FTOs.
The Court distinguishes what it refers to as "independent advocacy," which it finds is not prohibited by the statute, from "advocacy performed in coordination with, or at the direction of, a foreign terrorist organization," which is, for the first time, found to be a crime under the statute. The exact line demarcating where independent advocacy becomes impermissible coordination is left open and vague.
Seizing on this overbroad definition of "material support," the US government is now moving in on political groups and activists who are clearly exercising fundamental First Amendment rights by vocally opposing the government's branding of foreign liberation movements as terrorist and supporting their struggles against US-backed repressive regimes and illegal occupations.
Under the new definition of "material support," the efforts of President Jimmy Carter to monitor the elections in Lebanon and coordinate with the political parties there, including the designated FTO Hezbollah, could well be prosecuted as a crime. Similarly, the publication of op-ed articles by FTO spokesmen from Hamas or other designated groups by The New York Times or The Washington Post, or the filing of amicus briefs by human rights attorneys arguing against a group's terrorist designation or the statute itself could also now be prosecuted. Of course, the first targets of this draconian expansion of the material support law will not be a former president or the establishment media, but members of a Marxist organization who are vocal opponents of the governments of Israel and Colombia and the US policies supporting these repressive governments.
In his foreword to Nelson Mandela's recent autobiography "Conversations with Myself," President Obama wrote that "Mandela's sacrifice was so great that it called upon people everywhere to do what they could on behalf of human progress. … The first time I became politically active was during my college years, when I joined a campaign on behalf of divestment, and the effort to end apartheid in South Africa." At the time of Mr. Obama's First Amendment advocacy, Mr. Mandela and his organization the African National Congress (ANC) were denounced as terrorist by the US government. If the "material support" law had been in effect back then, Mr. Obama would have been subject to potential criminal prosecution. It is ironic - and the height of hypocrisy - that this same man who speaks with such reverence for Mr. Mandela and recalls his own support for the struggle against apartheid now allows the Justice Department under his command to criminalize similar First Amendment advocacy against Israeli apartheid and repressive foreign governments.
Saturday 11 December 2010
by: Michael Deutsch, t r u t h o u t | News Analysis
In late September, the FBI carried out a series of raids of homes and antiwar offices of public activists in Minneapolis and Chicago. Following the raids, the Obama Justice Department subpoenaed 14 activists to a grand jury in Chicago and also subpoenaed the files of several antiwar and community organizations. In carrying out these repressive actions, the Justice Department was taking its lead from the Supreme Court's 6-3 opinion last June in Holder v. the Humanitarian Law Project, which decided that nonviolent First Amendment speech and advocacy "coordinated with" or "under the direction of" a foreign group listed by the Secretary of State as "terrorist" was a crime.
The search warrants and grand jury subpoenas make it clear that the federal prosecutors are intent on accusing public nonviolent political organizers, many of whom are affiliated with Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), of providing "material support" through their public advocacy for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The Secretary of State has determined that both the PLFP and the FARC "threaten US national security, foreign policy or economic interests," a finding not reviewable by the courts, and listed both groups as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO).
In 1996, Congress made it a crime - then punishable by 10 years, which was later increased to 15 years - to anyone in the US who provides "material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization or attempts or conspires to do so." The present statute defines "material support or resources" as:
... any property, tangible or intangible, or service, including currency or monetary instruments or financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safe houses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel and transportation except medicine or religious materials.
In the Humanitarian Law Project case, human rights workers wanted to teach members of the Kurdistan PKK, which seeks an independent Kurdish state, and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which sought an independent state in Sri Lanka, how to use humanitarian and international law to peacefully resolve disputes and obtain relief from the United Nations and other international bodies for human rights abuses by the governments of Turkey and Sri Lanka. Both organizations were designated as FTOs by the Secretary of State in a closed hearing, in which the evidence is heard secretly.
Despite the nonviolent, peacemaking goal of the Humanitarian Law Project's speech and training, the majority of the Supreme Court nonetheless interpreted the law to make such conduct a crime. Finding a whole new exception to the First Amendment, the Court decided that any support, even if it involves nonviolent efforts towards peace, is illegal under the law since it "frees up other resources within the organization that may be put to violent ends," and also helps lend "legitimacy" to foreign terrorist groups. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts, despite the lack of any evidence, further opined that the FTO could use the human rights law to "intimidate, harass or destruct" its adversaries, and that even peace talks themselves could be used as a cover to re-arm for further attacks. Thus, the Court's opinion criminalizes efforts by independent groups to work for peace if they in any way cooperate or coordinate with designated FTOs.
The Court distinguishes what it refers to as "independent advocacy," which it finds is not prohibited by the statute, from "advocacy performed in coordination with, or at the direction of, a foreign terrorist organization," which is, for the first time, found to be a crime under the statute. The exact line demarcating where independent advocacy becomes impermissible coordination is left open and vague.
Seizing on this overbroad definition of "material support," the US government is now moving in on political groups and activists who are clearly exercising fundamental First Amendment rights by vocally opposing the government's branding of foreign liberation movements as terrorist and supporting their struggles against US-backed repressive regimes and illegal occupations.
Under the new definition of "material support," the efforts of President Jimmy Carter to monitor the elections in Lebanon and coordinate with the political parties there, including the designated FTO Hezbollah, could well be prosecuted as a crime. Similarly, the publication of op-ed articles by FTO spokesmen from Hamas or other designated groups by The New York Times or The Washington Post, or the filing of amicus briefs by human rights attorneys arguing against a group's terrorist designation or the statute itself could also now be prosecuted. Of course, the first targets of this draconian expansion of the material support law will not be a former president or the establishment media, but members of a Marxist organization who are vocal opponents of the governments of Israel and Colombia and the US policies supporting these repressive governments.
In his foreword to Nelson Mandela's recent autobiography "Conversations with Myself," President Obama wrote that "Mandela's sacrifice was so great that it called upon people everywhere to do what they could on behalf of human progress. … The first time I became politically active was during my college years, when I joined a campaign on behalf of divestment, and the effort to end apartheid in South Africa." At the time of Mr. Obama's First Amendment advocacy, Mr. Mandela and his organization the African National Congress (ANC) were denounced as terrorist by the US government. If the "material support" law had been in effect back then, Mr. Obama would have been subject to potential criminal prosecution. It is ironic - and the height of hypocrisy - that this same man who speaks with such reverence for Mr. Mandela and recalls his own support for the struggle against apartheid now allows the Justice Department under his command to criminalize similar First Amendment advocacy against Israeli apartheid and repressive foreign governments.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
What are the True Goals of Prosecuting Julian Assange....?
According to Julian Assange's attorney,.. he may be facing spying charges in the U.S.A. His attorney told ABC News they believe an indictment is imminent. His attorney contends that "WikiLeaks" is a publisher, and therefore protected under First Amendment Rights. The definition of "Publisher" has not yet been tested in the digital age.
So far, the Justice Department hasn't commented beyond Attorney General Holder's initial comment that he was authorizing a "criminal investigation" of Assange. Of course, in the mean time, Assange's network and financial connections have virtually been shut down, sparking a cyber-war between hackers and those financial institutions that closed the doors on WikiLeaks assets.
So,.. what's the real bottom line here? The U.S. government doesn't seem to want to take on Great Britain's "The Guardian", for publishing the embassy cables. They just want Julian Assange....... WHY? I'll tell you why..... Because they need a fall guy. One who can't respond,... if he's had all his assets blocked. And,... the resistance mounted by internet hackers worldwide ... is "Futile". Why?? ...... I thought you'd never ask. Because it isn't about the release of documents, as much as it is about the control of a media..... The Internet Media.
The bottom line is that the government.... ours, theirs, any of them that have bought into the "Corporatocracy" are part of that true power structure. The structure that needs to control the ways we speak to each other.
The internet has become the rogue warrior, here. The instant tie that can unite us against an oppressor like North Korea, or the good old U.S.A., or B.P., for example. The ability for us to pass and disseminate information without censorship is the threat they fear the most.
If enough people outside the power structure know what's happening, then those who manipulate us for their profits are weakened each time we act together. If trampling the First Amendment is part of their solution,....... then so be it. If trampling the middle class is part of that same solution,......... We're toast! They only want one thing,... and that's control of what we see and hear.
With it comes power and money beyond our wildest dreams. While we run amuck, each fighting the power as individuals, we are systematically rejected and overruled. But!!, when we communicate, and see the true nature of the "Beast". The soulless shadows that wield the true power around the world are exposed to the light. That exposure is why they want Julian Assange crucified.
If he can be successfully demonized to demonstrate the destructive power of an internet uncontrolled, then they can push the gates closed on the uncontrolled source of dissent. A final slam in the name of combating... "Informational Terrorism". Just ignore the content of all those cables,.... what's really important here, is that we're all being protected from too much information. Surely they will tell us if there's anything we really need to know.
So far, the Justice Department hasn't commented beyond Attorney General Holder's initial comment that he was authorizing a "criminal investigation" of Assange. Of course, in the mean time, Assange's network and financial connections have virtually been shut down, sparking a cyber-war between hackers and those financial institutions that closed the doors on WikiLeaks assets.
So,.. what's the real bottom line here? The U.S. government doesn't seem to want to take on Great Britain's "The Guardian", for publishing the embassy cables. They just want Julian Assange....... WHY? I'll tell you why..... Because they need a fall guy. One who can't respond,... if he's had all his assets blocked. And,... the resistance mounted by internet hackers worldwide ... is "Futile". Why?? ...... I thought you'd never ask. Because it isn't about the release of documents, as much as it is about the control of a media..... The Internet Media.
The bottom line is that the government.... ours, theirs, any of them that have bought into the "Corporatocracy" are part of that true power structure. The structure that needs to control the ways we speak to each other.
The internet has become the rogue warrior, here. The instant tie that can unite us against an oppressor like North Korea, or the good old U.S.A., or B.P., for example. The ability for us to pass and disseminate information without censorship is the threat they fear the most.
If enough people outside the power structure know what's happening, then those who manipulate us for their profits are weakened each time we act together. If trampling the First Amendment is part of their solution,....... then so be it. If trampling the middle class is part of that same solution,......... We're toast! They only want one thing,... and that's control of what we see and hear.
With it comes power and money beyond our wildest dreams. While we run amuck, each fighting the power as individuals, we are systematically rejected and overruled. But!!, when we communicate, and see the true nature of the "Beast". The soulless shadows that wield the true power around the world are exposed to the light. That exposure is why they want Julian Assange crucified.
If he can be successfully demonized to demonstrate the destructive power of an internet uncontrolled, then they can push the gates closed on the uncontrolled source of dissent. A final slam in the name of combating... "Informational Terrorism". Just ignore the content of all those cables,.... what's really important here, is that we're all being protected from too much information. Surely they will tell us if there's anything we really need to know.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
About Our Economy..... Some ideas from "Uncle Bob"
This was sent to me for one of my former co-workers...... Food for thought. What do you think?
Hi Mike, it's nice to see that you have mellowed out in your old age!
The only thing saving this Country now is that we are not on the Gold Standard, our currency is "still" the world standard, and we own the printing press.
Here are a few views on how to fix some of our problems.
1. Transfer over to a value added tax system.
2. the IRS agents that are no longer needed, place 1 in every hospital in the country, to be in charge of auditing medicare billing and have an increasing fine structure against Doctors and establishments who overbill or bill for services not rendered.
3. Bring the corporate heads of all major Companies to Washington and give them the task of How to bring jobs back to America. If they are unable to suceed, let them know that the Govt. will have to impose such penalities on imports that it may not be financially feasible for them to sell their products in the USA.
4. Put penalities on ALL politicians who accept bribes in any way shape or form, including manidatory jail time in the Az. Desert, and a ban from any future political position.
5. Eliminate Lobbyists.
6. This is a no brainer that would solve alot of our present labor and housing problems:
We currently have 11.5mil more houses than families to occupy them.
Any foreclosed house or commercial structure that falls back to Fannie or Freddie , and cannot be sold for more than land value within 30 days, first sell the salvage rights (for recycleing), then bulldose them to the ground and clean up the lot. Once the Supply is reduced below demand, prices will stabilize and start going back up, Contractors and laborers will be put back to work, America will start producing the supplies needed to keep up with the new demand.
Freddie and Fannie, sit on the lots until they can sell them for a fair price, little maintenance or liability.
We are in Bullhead City, Az. for the winter, everyone carries a gun and there is very little crime,.
Hi Mike, it's nice to see that you have mellowed out in your old age!
The only thing saving this Country now is that we are not on the Gold Standard, our currency is "still" the world standard, and we own the printing press.
Here are a few views on how to fix some of our problems.
1. Transfer over to a value added tax system.
2. the IRS agents that are no longer needed, place 1 in every hospital in the country, to be in charge of auditing medicare billing and have an increasing fine structure against Doctors and establishments who overbill or bill for services not rendered.
3. Bring the corporate heads of all major Companies to Washington and give them the task of How to bring jobs back to America. If they are unable to suceed, let them know that the Govt. will have to impose such penalities on imports that it may not be financially feasible for them to sell their products in the USA.
4. Put penalities on ALL politicians who accept bribes in any way shape or form, including manidatory jail time in the Az. Desert, and a ban from any future political position.
5. Eliminate Lobbyists.
6. This is a no brainer that would solve alot of our present labor and housing problems:
We currently have 11.5mil more houses than families to occupy them.
Any foreclosed house or commercial structure that falls back to Fannie or Freddie , and cannot be sold for more than land value within 30 days, first sell the salvage rights (for recycleing), then bulldose them to the ground and clean up the lot. Once the Supply is reduced below demand, prices will stabilize and start going back up, Contractors and laborers will be put back to work, America will start producing the supplies needed to keep up with the new demand.
Freddie and Fannie, sit on the lots until they can sell them for a fair price, little maintenance or liability.
We are in Bullhead City, Az. for the winter, everyone carries a gun and there is very little crime,.
Here's one that's High on the Hypocrisy List.....
This came to me this morning on NPR.org......
Military Chaplains are worried about their careers if "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is lifted. "As many as 3000 military Chaplains are Evangelical and believe that if "don't ask don't tell" is repealed, it may affect how they do their jobs."
"Ronald Crews, a retired Army colonel and chaplain, works with active chaplains from his evangelical denomination. A few months ago, he began asking military chaplains what they thought about repealing don't ask, don't tell. One response in particular bothered him. The chaplain had just returned from a briefing by a general about the impact of changing the policy and asked if the military would protect him if he asserted that homosexuality is a sin.
"And the response he received from this four-star general was, 'If you cannot accept the changes coming, you have an option: You can resign your commission,' " Crews says.
"Dennis Camp, a retired colonel and Army chaplain for 27 years, says the proposed rules clearly protect a chaplain's religious rights. What chaplains can't do, he says, is act like "moral policemen" and openly condemn homosexuality. The chaplain's job is to serve everyone — religious or not, gay or straight. Camp says the objections raised by evangelicals are a smoke screen."
"They have made it an issue because they want to fight this thing on moral grounds," he says. "That's not the kind of fight it is. It's a civil rights issue."
[MS Comment]
Is anything more hypocritical than refusing to serve the needs of the soldiers they've sworn to provide assistance to? I guess if the troops aren't up to their high moral standards, they're just out of luck..... "NO GOD FOR YOU!"
That's what I call a nice Christian attitude. Kind of like the Boy Scouts.
Military Chaplains are worried about their careers if "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is lifted. "As many as 3000 military Chaplains are Evangelical and believe that if "don't ask don't tell" is repealed, it may affect how they do their jobs."
"Ronald Crews, a retired Army colonel and chaplain, works with active chaplains from his evangelical denomination. A few months ago, he began asking military chaplains what they thought about repealing don't ask, don't tell. One response in particular bothered him. The chaplain had just returned from a briefing by a general about the impact of changing the policy and asked if the military would protect him if he asserted that homosexuality is a sin.
"And the response he received from this four-star general was, 'If you cannot accept the changes coming, you have an option: You can resign your commission,' " Crews says.
"Dennis Camp, a retired colonel and Army chaplain for 27 years, says the proposed rules clearly protect a chaplain's religious rights. What chaplains can't do, he says, is act like "moral policemen" and openly condemn homosexuality. The chaplain's job is to serve everyone — religious or not, gay or straight. Camp says the objections raised by evangelicals are a smoke screen."
"They have made it an issue because they want to fight this thing on moral grounds," he says. "That's not the kind of fight it is. It's a civil rights issue."
[MS Comment]
Is anything more hypocritical than refusing to serve the needs of the soldiers they've sworn to provide assistance to? I guess if the troops aren't up to their high moral standards, they're just out of luck..... "NO GOD FOR YOU!"
That's what I call a nice Christian attitude. Kind of like the Boy Scouts.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Has slavery reemerged to rear its Ugly Head.... Rumor has it Republicans "Own" Our President.
What I hate even more than saying something positive about G.W.B., is saying something that has a racist connotation in any way, shape, or form..... But,... Damn! Mr. President,..... what the hell are you smoking? You need to break the chains of the republican overlords, and get real. In the words of Mr. Spock..... "The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few". I listen to you talk about the same things that were present when you "pushed"(an interesting term when considering your stance on most items, so far) for Health Care. You equate them to what is happening with the issue of the tax cuts. You're right!.... It is the same. And, you have caved in on this issue, just like you caved in on Health Care! I mean,........ What the F#*%? I guess a crappy health care plan, is better than none at all, but,... is that the scale you're willing to settle for? If so,... then I guess you're right,... again.
When do you actually find the word in your vocabulary for "NO" ? The republicans know it. What will it take for you to step up and smack those useless bastards with their own sanctimonious messages for the American people. I mean for God sakes!.... You agreed with John Boehner!!!!!!!!!! Are you insane? What's next???? Are you going to quote Sarah Palin? Come On!
It's time to get down to the core issues that we elected you on. Screw those guys! You want things accomplished? Then put them out in front of the American people for everyone to see. Show the people what kind of useless jerks those guys really are. It's self evident. They're part of that .02% that doesn't give a rat's ass what happens to the rest of us. I don't want to be worked over any more than anyone in America does, but,.... sometimes,..... sometimes, you've just got to take one for the team.
If you choose to fight, we'll choose to fight. It's time! If you keep trying to reason with these people, we will all suffer, and nothing will ever "change". Except for possibly whose President, come 2012.
When do you actually find the word in your vocabulary for "NO" ? The republicans know it. What will it take for you to step up and smack those useless bastards with their own sanctimonious messages for the American people. I mean for God sakes!.... You agreed with John Boehner!!!!!!!!!! Are you insane? What's next???? Are you going to quote Sarah Palin? Come On!
It's time to get down to the core issues that we elected you on. Screw those guys! You want things accomplished? Then put them out in front of the American people for everyone to see. Show the people what kind of useless jerks those guys really are. It's self evident. They're part of that .02% that doesn't give a rat's ass what happens to the rest of us. I don't want to be worked over any more than anyone in America does, but,.... sometimes,..... sometimes, you've just got to take one for the team.
If you choose to fight, we'll choose to fight. It's time! If you keep trying to reason with these people, we will all suffer, and nothing will ever "change". Except for possibly whose President, come 2012.
My Home Town.... Berkeley, California.... Well, you sure can't say they're scared of a little controversy..
This was noted in The Guardian.co.uk, reported originally by the San Francisco Chronicle....
"The [Berkeley city] council is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to declare its support for Bradley Manning, who's suspected of providing WikiLeaks with classified military documents and a video depicting an Army helicopter attack in Baghdad in which 11 civilians were killed.
Manning, 22, currently in the brig in Quantico, Virginia, faces 52 years in prison if convicted. Manning has not commented on his guilt or innocence.
"If he did what he's accused of doing, he's a patriot and should get a medal," said Bob Meola, the Berkeley peace and justice commissioner who authored the resolution. "I think the war criminals should be the ones prosecuted, not the whistle-blowers."
[comment from MS, from here on]
I was a firefighter for the City of Berkeley for 29 years. I was also a firefighter's union negotiator in Berkeley. In my 29 years working there, I rarely agreed with the City Council on just about anything, but this time...... I'd say they might be right.
"The [Berkeley city] council is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to declare its support for Bradley Manning, who's suspected of providing WikiLeaks with classified military documents and a video depicting an Army helicopter attack in Baghdad in which 11 civilians were killed.
Manning, 22, currently in the brig in Quantico, Virginia, faces 52 years in prison if convicted. Manning has not commented on his guilt or innocence.
"If he did what he's accused of doing, he's a patriot and should get a medal," said Bob Meola, the Berkeley peace and justice commissioner who authored the resolution. "I think the war criminals should be the ones prosecuted, not the whistle-blowers."
[comment from MS, from here on]
I was a firefighter for the City of Berkeley for 29 years. I was also a firefighter's union negotiator in Berkeley. In my 29 years working there, I rarely agreed with the City Council on just about anything, but this time...... I'd say they might be right.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Democrats on the endangered species list..... A Virus which seems to remove their spines has taken over.
Man! ... I hate to compliment Bush for anything, but at least "The Decider" wasn't afraid do something. Sure,... most of the time,.. it was stupid,... it was usually wrong, or at best an outright lie,... but he stepped up to the plate swinging.
Democrats have wasted two years trying to get a handle on what to do with their majority. Our President, the lead Democrat, has demonstrated how perfectly reasonable he can be. Unfortunately, he's had his hat handed to him on every conflict that has arisen. Of course, showing up with your hat in your hand for each of those conflicts hasn't helped.
By being acquiescent, yet again, President Obama is condemning us to a life of servitude to the rich, and he is doing his best to be a "One Term President". Mr. Obama clearly stated his opposition to Bush-era economic policies and ridiculed the idea that "we should give more and more to millionaires and billionaires and hope that it trickles down on everybody else. But,... look. Here we are again... capitulating to the Bush-McCain philosophy. The exact thing he campaigned against.
The President and Congressional Democrats have bungled the tax debate from the beginning. This issue was a "No Brainer", but could the Democrats come up with a plan prior to the last election? Hell no!!! They don't even have a plan, now! And, it's way to late come up with one. It was "The Rich" against "The Middle Class" right from the start. As former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said recently: “If we can't win that argument we might as well just fold up.” You're right Governor, but in order to actually "win" that argument,..... you have to "have" that argument. Has anyone out there actually heard President Obama argue,... I mean seriously... fist on the desk... argue,.. about anything?
He's been too busy "reaching across the isle" embracing bipartisanship. Take a close look at those hands embracing you back, Mr. President. If you can find any, they're in your pockets... picking them for all they're worth. President Obama's posture on the tax cuts is almost a clone of his stance on the public option during healthcare reform. The President says he wants the policy, but does absolutely nothing to fight for it. And, the American people are once again cast into the abyss.
Come on Mr. President! ..."Man up! ... Show some gumption! That's what we elected you for. Your self-destructive, gentlemanly, attitude isn't working. They're not listening! Show some backbone, and maybe Congressional Democrats will find their spines, as well.
Democrats have wasted two years trying to get a handle on what to do with their majority. Our President, the lead Democrat, has demonstrated how perfectly reasonable he can be. Unfortunately, he's had his hat handed to him on every conflict that has arisen. Of course, showing up with your hat in your hand for each of those conflicts hasn't helped.
By being acquiescent, yet again, President Obama is condemning us to a life of servitude to the rich, and he is doing his best to be a "One Term President". Mr. Obama clearly stated his opposition to Bush-era economic policies and ridiculed the idea that "we should give more and more to millionaires and billionaires and hope that it trickles down on everybody else. But,... look. Here we are again... capitulating to the Bush-McCain philosophy. The exact thing he campaigned against.
The President and Congressional Democrats have bungled the tax debate from the beginning. This issue was a "No Brainer", but could the Democrats come up with a plan prior to the last election? Hell no!!! They don't even have a plan, now! And, it's way to late come up with one. It was "The Rich" against "The Middle Class" right from the start. As former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said recently: “If we can't win that argument we might as well just fold up.” You're right Governor, but in order to actually "win" that argument,..... you have to "have" that argument. Has anyone out there actually heard President Obama argue,... I mean seriously... fist on the desk... argue,.. about anything?
He's been too busy "reaching across the isle" embracing bipartisanship. Take a close look at those hands embracing you back, Mr. President. If you can find any, they're in your pockets... picking them for all they're worth. President Obama's posture on the tax cuts is almost a clone of his stance on the public option during healthcare reform. The President says he wants the policy, but does absolutely nothing to fight for it. And, the American people are once again cast into the abyss.
Come on Mr. President! ..."Man up! ... Show some gumption! That's what we elected you for. Your self-destructive, gentlemanly, attitude isn't working. They're not listening! Show some backbone, and maybe Congressional Democrats will find their spines, as well.
Today,...Julian Assange Turned himself in to British Authorities
So,.... what happens next? Will the thousands of pieces of information that was stated to be released by WikiLeaks come to view?
Whether it does or not, you can bet there will be a push by the government to censor the internet. They don't like being exposed to the light. Like the hypocrite mushrooms they are, they prefer to stay in the dark, steeped in their own warm manure filled caves, giving us the illusion that they are working in our best interest. Yet, when WikiLeaks started disseminating information that proved to be embarrassing to them, they burst from their hiding places and roared with righteous indignation.
The content wasn't their issue. The demonization of Julian Assange was their focus. Shades of Daniel Ellsburg, make Julian Assange the new "Most Dangerous Man in America", and everywhere else, apparently. But, is he really?.... Or, are the real dangers those that have lead us to this point in our history. A point where governments of nations are fronts for a global corporate conspiracy. A place where profit is king, and law is an inconvenience, that only applies to you and me. A place where our leaders can lie to us, and take us into a war that has no just reason for existing.
Today, Julian Assange posted a story in "The Australian". It is posted on the internet on "Common Dreams.org". The title of this article is "The Truth Will Always Win". In it Mr. Assange explains the reasoning that makes WikiLeaks necessary. I would tend to agree with him. I urge anyone who reads this to take a look at his article. It ends with the words of the U.S. Supreme Court.....
"only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government".
Do you think we've been deceived a time or two? If your answer is "yes", then you are in the same corner as Julian Assange. Keep the fight going. Support free speech, and maybe,....just maybe..... "The Truth Will Always Win".
Whether it does or not, you can bet there will be a push by the government to censor the internet. They don't like being exposed to the light. Like the hypocrite mushrooms they are, they prefer to stay in the dark, steeped in their own warm manure filled caves, giving us the illusion that they are working in our best interest. Yet, when WikiLeaks started disseminating information that proved to be embarrassing to them, they burst from their hiding places and roared with righteous indignation.
The content wasn't their issue. The demonization of Julian Assange was their focus. Shades of Daniel Ellsburg, make Julian Assange the new "Most Dangerous Man in America", and everywhere else, apparently. But, is he really?.... Or, are the real dangers those that have lead us to this point in our history. A point where governments of nations are fronts for a global corporate conspiracy. A place where profit is king, and law is an inconvenience, that only applies to you and me. A place where our leaders can lie to us, and take us into a war that has no just reason for existing.
Today, Julian Assange posted a story in "The Australian". It is posted on the internet on "Common Dreams.org". The title of this article is "The Truth Will Always Win". In it Mr. Assange explains the reasoning that makes WikiLeaks necessary. I would tend to agree with him. I urge anyone who reads this to take a look at his article. It ends with the words of the U.S. Supreme Court.....
"only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government".
Do you think we've been deceived a time or two? If your answer is "yes", then you are in the same corner as Julian Assange. Keep the fight going. Support free speech, and maybe,....just maybe..... "The Truth Will Always Win".
Monday, December 6, 2010
Hee-Haw.... Does anybody remember this Jack-ass?
That was May 1st 2003, aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. President Bush declared..."Mission Accomplished" in Iraq.
Then,..... everything changed..... or, did it?
President Obama declared that "all combat troops were finally leaving Iraq, no later than August 31, 2010. We actually saw our news media broadcast the "ahead of schedule departure" of all those "combat" troops.
What we didn't see, however, was the renaming of regiments from "combat" to "advisory". Had their jobs changed? Did they have different equipment? Were they any less armed? That would be a "NO" to all those questions.
What really changed, was the media coverage. It moved on to the new "War without End", and with it, went a portion of "Hope", and a sinking feeling that real "Progress" was as elusive and unattainable as the "Change" we were promised.
Then came the end of "Don't ask, Don't tell". Oh Yeah, that hasn't changed either. Our troops are still being treated like second class citizens, while Congress debates on an issue that never should have been an issue to begin with! How about a little human rights, here? This is "Progress"?
Where's the leadership we've been waiting for. Where's the President that I voted for? You remember,.... the one that was going to "stop the war, and bring our troops home", not just ship them to fight some place else? Where's the President that was going to put an end to "Don't ask, Don't tell"?
I'm still waiting for him to show up.
And, the longer I wait,.... the more I loose "hope".
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Assange hides out in Swiss Windmill, while the US Government Closes in......Hey!.....It could Happen.
Since the monster our government has created from years of underhanded dealings around the world, has come out to expose them for their deeds in the form of "WikiLeaks",... they have taken up torches and are attempting to trap him in the windmill known as Switzerland.
Is Julian Assange the true "Monster" they have painted him to be, or is he a champion of free speech, destined to bring down the real "monster"...... our government's arrogance? For decades our government has operated on two levels. The one they show us as the righteous democratic bastion of freedom,.... and the other seamy, highhanded, secret government that sleeps with its enemies, and tries to dictate its mandates around the world through any means it can.
Now that this monster has escaped from the Lab, and is showing itself in the form of thousands of documents that were never meant to be made public, the rallying cry from the government is......"Burn Him!" Never mind all that evidence of just how unscrupulous we really are,..... just "Burn Him"!
As the U.S. ramps up its search, by trying to eliminate outlets for WikiLeaks use, it continues to use the same intimidation tactics that are exemplified in some of the exposed documents. (quoted from an NPR article) "The U.S. ambassador to Switzerland, Donald Beyer, also told the newspaper that Switzerland "should very carefully consider whether to provide shelter to someone who is on the run from the law."
What do you suppose he means by that? What are the possible consequences for Switzerland?.... No more Army Knives in the U.S., perhaps? Is that really the voice of "Free Speech"? If the government has its way this will be the result of their manhunt........... and WikiLeaks will go up in smoke.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
The Smoke and Mirrors of Those "Changes" we were promised, are getting Smokier by the day.....
While most of the coverage of WikiLeaks has been focussed on the search for Julian Assange, the underlying facts that our government would like to distract us from, are a few cables that contain some damning information for the U.S.
In his first months in office, President Obama worked side by side with Republicans to lean on the Spanish to drop their investigation of several of the Bush administration for "War Crimes".
According to the confidential cables, pressure was applied to Spanish officials to drop the matter entirely. With the threat that the "prosecutions would not be accepted in the United States and would have an "enormous impact" on the bilateral relationship of the two countries."
The story reported in Mother Jones, by David Corn, details the correspondence. It is an enlightening truth our government would prefer stayed under the rug.
Guardian.co.uk has printed the entire cable of May 5, 2009. Also a very enlightening read.
[my comment - MS]
"What we have here,..... is a failure to communicate"..... truthfully that is. It's becoming more apparent every day that the "Villains" trying to tear down this "Democracy", just might be our own leaders. If suppressing the truth is more important than the "Truth" itself, what's that say for our country's leaders? What's that say for "Democracy" itself?
The saddest part of this whole WikiLeaks thing, is that not one person in our government has the courage of facing the truth, and taking responsibility for the deeds that are being exposed by these documents. Instead,..... like cockroaches, when the light goes on,... they run for cover, and hope the light will go out.
I say,... It's up to each and every one of us to expose tyranny and injustice. "It's the American way." If you want freedom, it requires truth.
In his first months in office, President Obama worked side by side with Republicans to lean on the Spanish to drop their investigation of several of the Bush administration for "War Crimes".
According to the confidential cables, pressure was applied to Spanish officials to drop the matter entirely. With the threat that the "prosecutions would not be accepted in the United States and would have an "enormous impact" on the bilateral relationship of the two countries."
The story reported in Mother Jones, by David Corn, details the correspondence. It is an enlightening truth our government would prefer stayed under the rug.
Guardian.co.uk has printed the entire cable of May 5, 2009. Also a very enlightening read.
[my comment - MS]
"What we have here,..... is a failure to communicate"..... truthfully that is. It's becoming more apparent every day that the "Villains" trying to tear down this "Democracy", just might be our own leaders. If suppressing the truth is more important than the "Truth" itself, what's that say for our country's leaders? What's that say for "Democracy" itself?
The saddest part of this whole WikiLeaks thing, is that not one person in our government has the courage of facing the truth, and taking responsibility for the deeds that are being exposed by these documents. Instead,..... like cockroaches, when the light goes on,... they run for cover, and hope the light will go out.
I say,... It's up to each and every one of us to expose tyranny and injustice. "It's the American way." If you want freedom, it requires truth.
Friday, December 3, 2010
U.S. Denies they are urging a technical "Takedown" of WikiLeaks.
(It must have been some man came in through the window and is trying to stop WikiLeaks. Could this have been the real problem?... Sounds plausible........... if you're four years old! ) [MS]
The following is stated out of context from an article on CNN politics page, Dec. 3, 2010.....(note: I recommend you read the entire article on CNN.)
"In written answers to readers' questions posted on the website of the British newspaper The Guardian, WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange alleged "abusive elements of the United States government" were behind the site's technical problems.
A State Department spokesman disputed that the U.S. government was involved."
"I am not aware of any conversations by the United States government with either any internet host here or any government over there at this point," said spokesman P.J. Crowley.
A Defense Department official also denied causing the technical problems slowing the WikiLeaks release of secret U.S. government documents.
"I am not aware that the Department of Defense is behind any of the problems that WikiLeaks is experiencing," Col. Dave Lapan, Pentagon spokesman, said Friday. "We are not aware of what is causing the problems that WikiLeaks is experiencing."
Lapan said the military's Cyber Command has both defensive and offensive capabilities but is limited where and how it can operate.
"Cyber Command is to protect DoD networks," Lapan said at an off-camera question session with journalists. "There are other agencies of the U.S. government that get involved in the commercial side. So there are certainly legal and other boundaries that would have to be considered."
[My comment....MS]
"The commercial side"...... Kind of makes it sound like they view the site like it were selling soap. "WikiLeaks"....... brought to you by White Wash Are US. Like the wash, our government is being hung out to dry. They are definitely not pleased with the facts being disclosed.
What do you think? Does the public have a right to know? ....... I vote.... You're damn skippy we do!
The following is stated out of context from an article on CNN politics page, Dec. 3, 2010.....(note: I recommend you read the entire article on CNN.)
"In written answers to readers' questions posted on the website of the British newspaper The Guardian, WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange alleged "abusive elements of the United States government" were behind the site's technical problems.
A State Department spokesman disputed that the U.S. government was involved."
"I am not aware of any conversations by the United States government with either any internet host here or any government over there at this point," said spokesman P.J. Crowley.
A Defense Department official also denied causing the technical problems slowing the WikiLeaks release of secret U.S. government documents.
"I am not aware that the Department of Defense is behind any of the problems that WikiLeaks is experiencing," Col. Dave Lapan, Pentagon spokesman, said Friday. "We are not aware of what is causing the problems that WikiLeaks is experiencing."
Lapan said the military's Cyber Command has both defensive and offensive capabilities but is limited where and how it can operate.
"Cyber Command is to protect DoD networks," Lapan said at an off-camera question session with journalists. "There are other agencies of the U.S. government that get involved in the commercial side. So there are certainly legal and other boundaries that would have to be considered."
[My comment....MS]
"The commercial side"...... Kind of makes it sound like they view the site like it were selling soap. "WikiLeaks"....... brought to you by White Wash Are US. Like the wash, our government is being hung out to dry. They are definitely not pleased with the facts being disclosed.
What do you think? Does the public have a right to know? ....... I vote.... You're damn skippy we do!
Evidently... Not Everyone thinks WikiLeaks is such a bad thing
This came from NPR..... Transcript is of a portion of Talk of the Nation.
"It is one of the largest government leaks in history. More than 250,000 secret diplomatic documents were obtained by WikiLeaks, which released some of them Sunday in agreement with media outlets in the United States and Europe.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called it an attack on U.S. foreign policy interests and the international community. Attorney General Eric Holder announced an ongoing criminal investigation into the leak and those responsible.
The public's response has been mixed, quite honestly. On NPR's news blog The Two-Way, more than half of those who responded to a very unscientific survey, 55 percent, agreed that the public has a right to know, versus 45 percent who said the release is wrong because it puts lives at risk."
"It is one of the largest government leaks in history. More than 250,000 secret diplomatic documents were obtained by WikiLeaks, which released some of them Sunday in agreement with media outlets in the United States and Europe.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called it an attack on U.S. foreign policy interests and the international community. Attorney General Eric Holder announced an ongoing criminal investigation into the leak and those responsible.
The public's response has been mixed, quite honestly. On NPR's news blog The Two-Way, more than half of those who responded to a very unscientific survey, 55 percent, agreed that the public has a right to know, versus 45 percent who said the release is wrong because it puts lives at risk."
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Terrorist,..... Hero, or Patriot? You decide.
WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange is being hunted by our government for being a "Traitor and Terrorist". As I write this, our government's best legal eagles (or perhaps "Hawks" would be a better phrase) are racking their brains, and searching through every statute they can think of, trying to find the best one that they can prosecute him on. Of course, they have to find him first. But, if I know our government, no expense of our tax dollars will be spared in bringing him to "justice".
The United States has officially opened a criminal investigation, since the release of "tens of thousands" of secret documents were made public. This is the third massive document release by WikiLeaks. Each one has been an embarrassment to the government. It's got them down right pissed off, and out for blood. Attorney General Eric Holder said, "To the extent that we can find anybody who was involved in the breaking of American law,.. they will be held responsible."
(Of course that probably doesn't pertain to anybody exposed by these leaks and their content. But, I'm just guessing on that.)
Sarah Palin, ever eager to jump on her iconic soapbox, has called Assange "an anti-American operative with blood on his hands." according to an article by Newsmax.com. (I suspect she feels that way about anyone who doesn't tow the party line that's consistent with her viewpoint.)
The other bottom line on her is..... Who cares what she thinks?..... Didn't she used to work in the government, somewhere? ;-}
The really scary part of this whole thing, besides the down and dirty content of these documents, is... What about the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Remember that little document we all used to believe in? Is the Constitution becoming one of those "gaps in the laws" that Attorney General Holder is moving to close?
I pray not,...... but things are looking bleak on the fronts of Liberty.
Always remember..... "Secrecy Breeds Tyranny". It's our country, we deserve a say in the roll it plays in the world.
The United States has officially opened a criminal investigation, since the release of "tens of thousands" of secret documents were made public. This is the third massive document release by WikiLeaks. Each one has been an embarrassment to the government. It's got them down right pissed off, and out for blood. Attorney General Eric Holder said, "To the extent that we can find anybody who was involved in the breaking of American law,.. they will be held responsible."
(Of course that probably doesn't pertain to anybody exposed by these leaks and their content. But, I'm just guessing on that.)
Sarah Palin, ever eager to jump on her iconic soapbox, has called Assange "an anti-American operative with blood on his hands." according to an article by Newsmax.com. (I suspect she feels that way about anyone who doesn't tow the party line that's consistent with her viewpoint.)
The other bottom line on her is..... Who cares what she thinks?..... Didn't she used to work in the government, somewhere? ;-}
The really scary part of this whole thing, besides the down and dirty content of these documents, is... What about the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Remember that little document we all used to believe in? Is the Constitution becoming one of those "gaps in the laws" that Attorney General Holder is moving to close?
I pray not,...... but things are looking bleak on the fronts of Liberty.
Always remember..... "Secrecy Breeds Tyranny". It's our country, we deserve a say in the roll it plays in the world.
The Time Has Come.....
This post was sent to me by a good friend who's a Fire Officer in California. She's right on the money with this. From A.B.
The Time Has Indeed Come!
Governors of 35 states have already filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
An idea whose time has come!
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest was to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform ... in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have elite that is above the law.
I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. A Constitutional Convention - this is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come. And, with the advent of modern communication, the process can be moved along with incredible speed. There is talk out there that the "government" doesn't care what the people think. That is irrelevant. It is incumbent on the population to address elected officials to the wrongs afflicted against the populace...you and me. Think about this...
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this Email to a minimum of twenty people on their Address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
(My Comment Follows)
I'm taking her advice and forwarding this to twenty people on my email list. I advise all of you to do the same.
The Time Has Indeed Come!
Governors of 35 states have already filed suit against the Federal Government for imposing unlawful burdens upon them. It only takes 38 (of the 50) States to convene a Constitutional Convention.
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
An idea whose time has come!
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest was to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform ... in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have elite that is above the law.
I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. A Constitutional Convention - this is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come. And, with the advent of modern communication, the process can be moved along with incredible speed. There is talk out there that the "government" doesn't care what the people think. That is irrelevant. It is incumbent on the population to address elected officials to the wrongs afflicted against the populace...you and me. Think about this...
The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.
Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.
I'm asking each addressee to forward this Email to a minimum of twenty people on their Address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution:
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
(My Comment Follows)
I'm taking her advice and forwarding this to twenty people on my email list. I advise all of you to do the same.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
It's about time... Any bets on how long it will take the slugs in Washington to act?
This was sent to me, yesterday, by "The Human Rights Campaign".
"As of this afternoon, there is absolutely no excuse to delay the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Now it's time to act.
The Department of Defense has released its landmark study, 9 months in the making. It came to the same conclusion as numerous experts' reports and 25 other countries.
They all agree on one simple, inescapable truth: Lesbians and gays should serve openly in the U.S. military.
My fellow troops have spoken. Generals have spoken. Think tanks have spoken. The American people have spoken."
[From this point on, this comment is mine]
But now comes the question...... Will our illustrious representatives (a term I use loosely) actually do something about it? Or,... will they sit on their thumbs and debate about their sanctimonious moral outlooks, until it's time for the new representatives to come in and sit on their thumbs?
It's time we stop treating our men and women in the armed services of America like second class citizens. These people lay their lives on the lines "fighting to keep Democracy safe" (another term I use loosely). But, it's true! Whether you agree with the principles or not, these men and women deserve better than we're giving them in the individual rights department. They are us, and as "us", they deserve the rights afforded all Americans.
Tell your representatives anyway you can.... It's about time..... It's about freedom.... It's about what's right!
"As of this afternoon, there is absolutely no excuse to delay the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Now it's time to act.
The Department of Defense has released its landmark study, 9 months in the making. It came to the same conclusion as numerous experts' reports and 25 other countries.
They all agree on one simple, inescapable truth: Lesbians and gays should serve openly in the U.S. military.
My fellow troops have spoken. Generals have spoken. Think tanks have spoken. The American people have spoken."
[From this point on, this comment is mine]
But now comes the question...... Will our illustrious representatives (a term I use loosely) actually do something about it? Or,... will they sit on their thumbs and debate about their sanctimonious moral outlooks, until it's time for the new representatives to come in and sit on their thumbs?
It's time we stop treating our men and women in the armed services of America like second class citizens. These people lay their lives on the lines "fighting to keep Democracy safe" (another term I use loosely). But, it's true! Whether you agree with the principles or not, these men and women deserve better than we're giving them in the individual rights department. They are us, and as "us", they deserve the rights afforded all Americans.
Tell your representatives anyway you can.... It's about time..... It's about freedom.... It's about what's right!
A comment by...."Epona" says ..."Football, I've finally had it."
I've been a football fan for over 30 years. I've finally had it.
Of course, its all about the money. Everyone knows that, but the fact that the Eagles took back -- and are celebrating -- Michael Vick, despite what he did is intolerable.
Yes, he served his time, but it was a slap on the wrist and shows young fans that its OK to do something that despicable and still be a star in football.
What Michael Vick did was torture and murder, and promoted torture and murder in others. I'm wondering, is there any crime SO heinous that the NFL would refuse the prospect of making a buck off it?
ARTICLE ON VICK:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke-20101117,0,5163298.column
The OTHER football issue that galls me is that the team of our nation's capital is called the Redskins -- a pejorative term if ever there was one.
I guess it doesn't matter to anyone in the NFL that the GENOCIDE of Native Americans in North America stands as THE MOST horrific in history -- topping Hitler and Stalin. What a slap in the face that must be for all the First People in this country! But, if the OWNERS and FANS want the name to stand, no reason for the governing body to stand up for the ETHICS of change.
The NFL is a bunch of "bubbas", and I'm fed up with the lot of them.
Do you care about these issues? Don't moan and wring your hands at the horror. You're on the internet right now! Go to the websites of the NFL and the Eagles and let them know how you feel. AND check their sponsors page and email them too. They all have "contact us" on their sites just BEGGING for you to write.
Money talks. Its the most important thing in our country, it seems. Write a form letter and send to all of them. Let them know you are pulling your financial support.
My letter to the NFL says, "I'm making it my personal crusade to make sure that everyone I know understands how I feel about Michael Vick's glorification by the Philadelphia Eagles. I am letting all the corporate sponsors know I will no longer support them."
When a particular corporation wrote back that they had sponsored the team for years and didn't take a position on issues between teams and players, I responded --
"This is not a issue between a corporation and a player. This is about ethical responsibility. Since corporations in the US have "personhood", as a "person" you can take a stand. Many corporations do on many issues, such as not testing products on animals or being green.
There are many, many choices in [this business] -- you are but one. There are millions of pet owners in the US who feel very strongly about this issue. There are also many parents who do not want to see this kind of hateful violent behavior trivialized by glorifying Michael Vick. I'm sure you can make the connection."
(Note: This post was sent in in response to "Remem ber Scoop Nisker?" Thanks to "Epona")
Of course, its all about the money. Everyone knows that, but the fact that the Eagles took back -- and are celebrating -- Michael Vick, despite what he did is intolerable.
Yes, he served his time, but it was a slap on the wrist and shows young fans that its OK to do something that despicable and still be a star in football.
What Michael Vick did was torture and murder, and promoted torture and murder in others. I'm wondering, is there any crime SO heinous that the NFL would refuse the prospect of making a buck off it?
ARTICLE ON VICK:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke-20101117,0,5163298.column
The OTHER football issue that galls me is that the team of our nation's capital is called the Redskins -- a pejorative term if ever there was one.
I guess it doesn't matter to anyone in the NFL that the GENOCIDE of Native Americans in North America stands as THE MOST horrific in history -- topping Hitler and Stalin. What a slap in the face that must be for all the First People in this country! But, if the OWNERS and FANS want the name to stand, no reason for the governing body to stand up for the ETHICS of change.
The NFL is a bunch of "bubbas", and I'm fed up with the lot of them.
Do you care about these issues? Don't moan and wring your hands at the horror. You're on the internet right now! Go to the websites of the NFL and the Eagles and let them know how you feel. AND check their sponsors page and email them too. They all have "contact us" on their sites just BEGGING for you to write.
Money talks. Its the most important thing in our country, it seems. Write a form letter and send to all of them. Let them know you are pulling your financial support.
My letter to the NFL says, "I'm making it my personal crusade to make sure that everyone I know understands how I feel about Michael Vick's glorification by the Philadelphia Eagles. I am letting all the corporate sponsors know I will no longer support them."
When a particular corporation wrote back that they had sponsored the team for years and didn't take a position on issues between teams and players, I responded --
"This is not a issue between a corporation and a player. This is about ethical responsibility. Since corporations in the US have "personhood", as a "person" you can take a stand. Many corporations do on many issues, such as not testing products on animals or being green.
There are many, many choices in [this business] -- you are but one. There are millions of pet owners in the US who feel very strongly about this issue. There are also many parents who do not want to see this kind of hateful violent behavior trivialized by glorifying Michael Vick. I'm sure you can make the connection."
(Note: This post was sent in in response to "Remem ber Scoop Nisker?" Thanks to "Epona")
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Remember "Scoop Nisker" ?
He was KFOG's famous news reporter who used to say...... "Hey,... if you don't like the news, Go out and make some of your own".
In the same spirit of that statement..... If you have thoughts on this post,..... speak up and post a comment of your own.
Inquiring minds are waiting to hear you.
In the same spirit of that statement..... If you have thoughts on this post,..... speak up and post a comment of your own.
Inquiring minds are waiting to hear you.
Monday, November 29, 2010
GOT RIGHTS?
Is it me,... or is that heavy breathing behind me, my government watching out for my best interests?
Remember when things were actually made in this country? When manufacturers made products that made jobs, and futures?
I keep hearing about the "Global Marketplace", and how it's the future of a new world order. If PROFIT is what you live for, then that's probably true. At least from a corporate point of view.
But,.. what about you and me? Remember when your vote actually counted for something? You know,.... before corporations could pump millions into elections.
Our Supreme Court has sold us down the river, and it's a river of "corporate personhood". That's right...... "PERSONHOOD". With all the individual rights of you and me, but, with the money to make things go their way.
Everyday our government erodes a little bit of our personal rights away. Today,... it's just a little thing, like the "Habeas Corpus". And,... Tomorrow, it's tapping your phone lines without a warrant. But that's just the tip of the ice burg. Our government would have us believe that it's in our own best interests to be monitored and tapped into like "1984". They tell us it's in our own interest of safety, and some rights have to be suspended, in order to provide security to the nation. Why do we think it's called the "Patriot Act"? They would have us believe giving up our rights is a patriotic thing to do. Yeah,... right!
While our elected officials subjugate the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to fit their corporate agendas, we are told it's a necessary evil in today's dangerous world. Meanwhile,.... back at the WARS... Democracy is being fought for. (Whether they want it or not) And,.. is there profit to made? You bet there is. Just not for you and me,.... unless you happen to be an arms dealer, or a federal contractor of some kind. How many billions of tax dollars could be saved if we weren't militarily stretched around the globe..."protecting our interest". Who you mean "our" ????
Remember when the phrase "Question Authority" was a cry for true democracy? Now,... to question authority, is overstepping our bounds. If they want you silenced, they just label you a "terrorist" of some kind. Having the right to question the actions of our own government is a risk to "Homeland Security".
I say..... Question everything! Don't take what they say as the real deal. Go out and research it for yourself. The truth is not always self-evident, and it's definitely not coming out of Washington.
Remember when things were actually made in this country? When manufacturers made products that made jobs, and futures?
I keep hearing about the "Global Marketplace", and how it's the future of a new world order. If PROFIT is what you live for, then that's probably true. At least from a corporate point of view.
But,.. what about you and me? Remember when your vote actually counted for something? You know,.... before corporations could pump millions into elections.
Our Supreme Court has sold us down the river, and it's a river of "corporate personhood". That's right...... "PERSONHOOD". With all the individual rights of you and me, but, with the money to make things go their way.
Everyday our government erodes a little bit of our personal rights away. Today,... it's just a little thing, like the "Habeas Corpus". And,... Tomorrow, it's tapping your phone lines without a warrant. But that's just the tip of the ice burg. Our government would have us believe that it's in our own best interests to be monitored and tapped into like "1984". They tell us it's in our own interest of safety, and some rights have to be suspended, in order to provide security to the nation. Why do we think it's called the "Patriot Act"? They would have us believe giving up our rights is a patriotic thing to do. Yeah,... right!
While our elected officials subjugate the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to fit their corporate agendas, we are told it's a necessary evil in today's dangerous world. Meanwhile,.... back at the WARS... Democracy is being fought for. (Whether they want it or not) And,.. is there profit to made? You bet there is. Just not for you and me,.... unless you happen to be an arms dealer, or a federal contractor of some kind. How many billions of tax dollars could be saved if we weren't militarily stretched around the globe..."protecting our interest". Who you mean "our" ????
Remember when the phrase "Question Authority" was a cry for true democracy? Now,... to question authority, is overstepping our bounds. If they want you silenced, they just label you a "terrorist" of some kind. Having the right to question the actions of our own government is a risk to "Homeland Security".
I say..... Question everything! Don't take what they say as the real deal. Go out and research it for yourself. The truth is not always self-evident, and it's definitely not coming out of Washington.
What's wrong with this picture?
Today, as I watched the news, I saw President Obama set a wage freeze in place on all "Federal Employees". Now, I supported the President's election, but the idea of limiting salaries sounds a lot like something Nixon did. Except,.... at least he had the balls to freeze prices, as well.
I didn't hear the President talk about limiting Congress' salaries.... Or the fat cats in the Senate! Instead, he dumps the burden of bailing out the government on the Postal Workers, the Government Clerks, the people just like you and me, trying to get along.
While corporate America makes billions in profit, and rapes this country for every dime it can squeeze out of us,.... who gets saddled with wage freeze??? WE DO. Hey!! You want to freeze wages? Stop spending billions to finance wars we don't want or need.
How do you say "please Sir, I'd like another good buggering in my backside. I'm sure it will help the economy if you just keep ramming it home. God forbid those "Upper Crusters" should suffer the ravages of paying their fair shares."
While we,... the American People, foot the bill for useless, bullshit wars around the world, our President freezes our wages. Does he think that will help bring the "Global Economy" closer together? Oh yeah! That'll help put food on the table in your house.
I hear people rail about "Socialism". How a national health plan is the first step to the destruction of democracy.... Wake up.. Fools! Democracy is on its death throws as we speak. We not a Democracy..... we're a "Corporatocracy". We've had socialized health plans for DECADES!!!!! Ever heard of "The V.A."? Or,.. "Medicare"? In this country, those two programs have worked for years.
Your "Representatives" would like you to believe it's the road to wreck and ruin, but in reality...... It's your right to have decent health care! And, it shouldn't take someone making a huge profit for it to be available! What exactly are we paying taxes for? To have our wages frozen while we spend billions around the world? That's not the "change" I voted for, Mr. President. Where's the new jobs? Where's the green economy?
I didn't hear the President talk about limiting Congress' salaries.... Or the fat cats in the Senate! Instead, he dumps the burden of bailing out the government on the Postal Workers, the Government Clerks, the people just like you and me, trying to get along.
While corporate America makes billions in profit, and rapes this country for every dime it can squeeze out of us,.... who gets saddled with wage freeze??? WE DO. Hey!! You want to freeze wages? Stop spending billions to finance wars we don't want or need.
How do you say "please Sir, I'd like another good buggering in my backside. I'm sure it will help the economy if you just keep ramming it home. God forbid those "Upper Crusters" should suffer the ravages of paying their fair shares."
While we,... the American People, foot the bill for useless, bullshit wars around the world, our President freezes our wages. Does he think that will help bring the "Global Economy" closer together? Oh yeah! That'll help put food on the table in your house.
I hear people rail about "Socialism". How a national health plan is the first step to the destruction of democracy.... Wake up.. Fools! Democracy is on its death throws as we speak. We not a Democracy..... we're a "Corporatocracy". We've had socialized health plans for DECADES!!!!! Ever heard of "The V.A."? Or,.. "Medicare"? In this country, those two programs have worked for years.
Your "Representatives" would like you to believe it's the road to wreck and ruin, but in reality...... It's your right to have decent health care! And, it shouldn't take someone making a huge profit for it to be available! What exactly are we paying taxes for? To have our wages frozen while we spend billions around the world? That's not the "change" I voted for, Mr. President. Where's the new jobs? Where's the green economy?
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