Monday, December 13, 2004
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Battlefield Earth - It's time to take care of ourselves!
In this speech, Bill Moyers talks about the right-wing religious agenda of triggering the end of the world (and theoretically, their entrance into heaven) by supporting all-out war in the Middle East and destruction of the environment.
My question, when confronted with this seemingly desperate ideology, is to wonder why people would ever think this could be a good thing. I have a similar question about why people would allow "leaders" to come into power and then go to sleep for 4 years as these "leaders" take us towards such horrific events.
I think these questions have the same answer. I believe that they come from our very human fear that we don't really know how to take care of ourselves, we don't know how to understand complex world issues, we don't know how to solve big issues, we don't know how to directly connect spiritually with something greater than ourselves - so we need "them" to do it for us. Of course, "they" have different faces at different times, but "they" are the ones who we expect to fix it for us, and who often claim that they know more than we do.
So, I submit that it is time for us to start taking care of ourselves, to start recognizing that we do know how to do these things for ourselves, to realize that we have it within each of us to make our lives the way that we want them to be and in the process, help transform the world so that everyone can enjoy their lives they way they want to.
Here's another important point - you create what you defend against. The solution here is not to fight "them," which only ever adds energy to whatever they are doing. I believe that the recent election is a good example of what happens when many people create a movement against something, rather than for what they really want. How many voters actually voted against Bush, rather than for Kerry? No matter what the actual mechanism was in the election, which most probably included lots of voter fraud, it was the energy going towards the Bush campaign that allowed it to happen. It's time to start going for what we really want.
Major transformation happens when we are triggered in a major way to see it is necessary. The time is now. We each have our own unique role to play in this transformation. Each of us has something that really excites us, gets our juices flowing in a good way. Think of what yours is. Is it seeing children happy and healthy? Is is an artform that celebrates some beautiful aspect of our world? Is it maintaing wilderness trails so that more people can get in touch with the environment that sustains us? Is it understanding and sharing information with others about new technologies that lead us toward a more sustainable way to live? Find yours now and become involved with sharing your enthusiasm and joy with others. That is what will transform the world. Give every ounce of your energy to moving towards the world you want to live in and at some point, the balance will tip and that world will become reality.
AlterNet: EnviroHealth: Battlefield Earth
My question, when confronted with this seemingly desperate ideology, is to wonder why people would ever think this could be a good thing. I have a similar question about why people would allow "leaders" to come into power and then go to sleep for 4 years as these "leaders" take us towards such horrific events.
I think these questions have the same answer. I believe that they come from our very human fear that we don't really know how to take care of ourselves, we don't know how to understand complex world issues, we don't know how to solve big issues, we don't know how to directly connect spiritually with something greater than ourselves - so we need "them" to do it for us. Of course, "they" have different faces at different times, but "they" are the ones who we expect to fix it for us, and who often claim that they know more than we do.
So, I submit that it is time for us to start taking care of ourselves, to start recognizing that we do know how to do these things for ourselves, to realize that we have it within each of us to make our lives the way that we want them to be and in the process, help transform the world so that everyone can enjoy their lives they way they want to.
Here's another important point - you create what you defend against. The solution here is not to fight "them," which only ever adds energy to whatever they are doing. I believe that the recent election is a good example of what happens when many people create a movement against something, rather than for what they really want. How many voters actually voted against Bush, rather than for Kerry? No matter what the actual mechanism was in the election, which most probably included lots of voter fraud, it was the energy going towards the Bush campaign that allowed it to happen. It's time to start going for what we really want.
Major transformation happens when we are triggered in a major way to see it is necessary. The time is now. We each have our own unique role to play in this transformation. Each of us has something that really excites us, gets our juices flowing in a good way. Think of what yours is. Is it seeing children happy and healthy? Is is an artform that celebrates some beautiful aspect of our world? Is it maintaing wilderness trails so that more people can get in touch with the environment that sustains us? Is it understanding and sharing information with others about new technologies that lead us toward a more sustainable way to live? Find yours now and become involved with sharing your enthusiasm and joy with others. That is what will transform the world. Give every ounce of your energy to moving towards the world you want to live in and at some point, the balance will tip and that world will become reality.
AlterNet: EnviroHealth: Battlefield Earth
Discovery Network to launch The Military Channel
The continuing, horrifying trend of glorifying and substantiating war as something that we should focus lots of energy on.
WorkingForChange-Discovery Network to launch The Military Channel
WorkingForChange-Discovery Network to launch The Military Channel
Saturday, December 11, 2004
American Born, Addicted to Happiness
This essay is the beginnings of what I believe about what's going on in the world right now. Namely, that we have to wake up to what is going on as a first step towards changing it.
I differ from the author, however, in her belief that we have to be willing to live in a place of suffering and that hope grows out of suffering. To be sure, we've been living in a fantasy world of an "American dream" built upon denial of what really allows it to happen. The happiness she speaks of is a facade, a mirage. Waking up from that fantasy certainly does have its own suffering and fear attached to it. But whatever we give our focus and energy to grows, so if our expectation is to need to suffer, we will certainly do that in increasing amounts.
I believe that our way out of this, our way to hope, is to believe and focus with everything we have that it is possible to have a world that works, where there truly is hope for everyone. We don't yet know what that looks like because we've never been there. However, the only way to move towards it is to believe that it is possible and let our wildest dreams help us imagine what it can look like. It is that belief in those wildest dreams that will take us there.
American Born, Addicted to Happiness
I differ from the author, however, in her belief that we have to be willing to live in a place of suffering and that hope grows out of suffering. To be sure, we've been living in a fantasy world of an "American dream" built upon denial of what really allows it to happen. The happiness she speaks of is a facade, a mirage. Waking up from that fantasy certainly does have its own suffering and fear attached to it. But whatever we give our focus and energy to grows, so if our expectation is to need to suffer, we will certainly do that in increasing amounts.
I believe that our way out of this, our way to hope, is to believe and focus with everything we have that it is possible to have a world that works, where there truly is hope for everyone. We don't yet know what that looks like because we've never been there. However, the only way to move towards it is to believe that it is possible and let our wildest dreams help us imagine what it can look like. It is that belief in those wildest dreams that will take us there.
American Born, Addicted to Happiness
More Evidence FDR Knew About Pearl In Advance
This supports the pattern of government behavior that may have continued with 9/11 of either allowing or facilitating an attack on US soil in order to trigger citizen support for a war.
More Evidence FDR Knew About Pearl In Advance
More Evidence FDR Knew About Pearl In Advance
Friday, December 10, 2004
Understanding the roots of the problem
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Millionaire Kerik Was Once A Deadbeat - December 7, 2004
Ok, I know that this type of hatchet job (Millionaire Kerik Was Once A Deadbeat - December 7, 2004) is smoking gun's stock-in-trade. It's just disappointing when a "news story" like this tends to obscure more than it illuminates. Unfortunately, having this article with its "facts" is like assailing Hitler because he had odd sexual proclivities (http://slate.msn.com/id/2059222/). Hitler's bedroom antics weren't really the key point of his immorality, were they?
The most logical noxious issue about Kerik is that he would seem to be one of Guiliani's (link to backgroud) lackeys: these men have been some of many criminals who were either part of the 911 plot, or they are just part of the cover up.
The most logical noxious issue about Kerik is that he would seem to be one of Guiliani's (link to backgroud) lackeys: these men have been some of many criminals who were either part of the 911 plot, or they are just part of the cover up.
Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall: December 05, 2004 - December 11, 2004 Archives
Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall: December 05, 2004 - December 11, 2004 Archives
I hate to be critical of people with might be friends, but it is the height of sheer idiocy to think that the crisis that we are facing which Mr. Beinart (author of the article linked in the Marshall Blog) is proposing an antidote to has to do with liberal / conservative values or pro national security / anti national security support. Arguments like this are a total diversion.
Although I believed Kerry would be a less heinous choice than Bush, there is nothing to indicate that Kerry, nor even Dean would address the hugh crime committed within the US on 911 or any of the related corruption.
I hate to be critical of people with might be friends, but it is the height of sheer idiocy to think that the crisis that we are facing which Mr. Beinart (author of the article linked in the Marshall Blog) is proposing an antidote to has to do with liberal / conservative values or pro national security / anti national security support. Arguments like this are a total diversion.
Although I believed Kerry would be a less heinous choice than Bush, there is nothing to indicate that Kerry, nor even Dean would address the hugh crime committed within the US on 911 or any of the related corruption.
BlondeSense...: Fuckface of Defense Meets Troops
Oh come on, little missy, don't be so angry: it's just death and destruction for the benefit of the elite.
BlondeSense...: Fuckface of Defense Meets Troops
BlondeSense...: Fuckface of Defense Meets Troops
Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Opinion / Op-ed / Afraid to look in the moral abyss
Although there is much to laud in this editorial, it perpetuates myths such as intelligence failures rather than exposing the complete political corruption of honest intelligence gathering.
Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Opinion / Op-ed / Afraid to look in the moral abyss
Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Opinion / Op-ed / Afraid to look in the moral abyss
Can't pass up this posting to fill out the picture....
I don't see anything that is posted that shows Andrew Sullivan "ungentlemanly" and it seems to me his words in the debate are extremely powerful.
The Dawn Patrol
The Dawn Patrol
My sarcastic remark not meant to minimize pain or reality of serious emotional trauma
Any competent medical professional would prescribe an SSRI (such as Prozac) (based on iron clad peer reviewed scientific studies) too, wouldn't she?
After abortion
After abortion
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Overdoing the Christian Perspective, but with an interesting 911 Reference
At the very end of this blog entry, we get the wisdom of a cabby, which may indeed have merit:
"Especially when, blaming security checks for the tunnel traffic, he started going off on how "seven overpaid government officials who get overtime" were responsible for 9/11."
The Dawn Patrol
"Especially when, blaming security checks for the tunnel traffic, he started going off on how "seven overpaid government officials who get overtime" were responsible for 9/11."
The Dawn Patrol
Is planned parenthood guilty of egregious enticement and encouraging illegal acts?
The Dawn Patrol
Is that why people vote for Bush?
If so, what can be done?
Note: I fully support Planned Parenthood's approach.
Is that why people vote for Bush?
If so, what can be done?
Note: I fully support Planned Parenthood's approach.
The 'Joy' of Abortion
This discussion (as shown in the linked blog entry) is rhetorically dishonest (totally taking the word Joy out of context). I think that it is instructive (in how much it is a scorched earth approach) to see what coarse words are meant to be accepted as reasonable debate.
Jumping back to a bird's eye view, I'm not sure we saw a great deal of honor and rhetorical honesty in the statement Kerry made during the debates, which was along the lines that he respected the moral concerns of those who don't want the gov't funding abortion but the government had already decided that it's a issue of freedom of choice, and we shouldn't be trying to change that.
Here's the quote exactly:
(begin)
SARAH DEGENHART: Senator Kerry, suppose you are speaking with a voter who believed abortion is murder and the voter asked for reassurance that his or her tax dollars would not go to support abortion, what would you say to that person?
KERRY: I would say to that person exactly what I will say to you right now.
First of all, I cannot tell you how deeply I respect the belief about life and when it begins. I‘m a Catholic, raised a Catholic. I was an altar boy. Religion has been a huge part of my life. It helped lead me through a war, leads me today.
But I can‘t take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn‘t share that article of faith, whether they be agnostic, atheist, Jew, Protestant, whatever. I can‘t do that.
But I can counsel people. I can talk reasonably about life and about responsibility. I can talk to people, as my wife Teresa does, about making other choices, and about abstinence, and about all these other things that we ought to do as a responsible society.
But as a president, I have to represent all the people in the nation.
And I have to make that judgment.
Now, I believe that you can take that position and not be pro- abortion, but you have to afford people their constitutional rights. And that means being smart about allowing people to be fully educated, to know what their options are in life, and making certain that you don‘t deny a poor person the right to be able to have whatever the constitution affords them if they can‘t afford it otherwise.
That‘s why I think it‘s important. That‘s why I think it‘s important for the United States, for instance, not to have this rigid ideological restriction on helping families around the world to be able to make a smart decision about family planning.
You‘ll help prevent AIDS.
You‘ll help prevent unwanted children, unwanted pregnancies.
You‘ll actually do a better job, I think, of passing on the moral responsibility that is expressed in your question. And I truly respect it.
(end quote)
Of course, my sense of truth would have Kerry renouncing his Catholicism, and Christianity in general, so where would that leave his politcal fortunes?
Refocusing on what Kerry might have said: I would say Kerry is trying to discuss the subject at a much more detailed level than serves the purpose of winning a Pres. debate, which is just sad for a veteran office holder.
The Dawn Patrol
Jumping back to a bird's eye view, I'm not sure we saw a great deal of honor and rhetorical honesty in the statement Kerry made during the debates, which was along the lines that he respected the moral concerns of those who don't want the gov't funding abortion but the government had already decided that it's a issue of freedom of choice, and we shouldn't be trying to change that.
Here's the quote exactly:
(begin)
SARAH DEGENHART: Senator Kerry, suppose you are speaking with a voter who believed abortion is murder and the voter asked for reassurance that his or her tax dollars would not go to support abortion, what would you say to that person?
KERRY: I would say to that person exactly what I will say to you right now.
First of all, I cannot tell you how deeply I respect the belief about life and when it begins. I‘m a Catholic, raised a Catholic. I was an altar boy. Religion has been a huge part of my life. It helped lead me through a war, leads me today.
But I can‘t take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn‘t share that article of faith, whether they be agnostic, atheist, Jew, Protestant, whatever. I can‘t do that.
But I can counsel people. I can talk reasonably about life and about responsibility. I can talk to people, as my wife Teresa does, about making other choices, and about abstinence, and about all these other things that we ought to do as a responsible society.
But as a president, I have to represent all the people in the nation.
And I have to make that judgment.
Now, I believe that you can take that position and not be pro- abortion, but you have to afford people their constitutional rights. And that means being smart about allowing people to be fully educated, to know what their options are in life, and making certain that you don‘t deny a poor person the right to be able to have whatever the constitution affords them if they can‘t afford it otherwise.
That‘s why I think it‘s important. That‘s why I think it‘s important for the United States, for instance, not to have this rigid ideological restriction on helping families around the world to be able to make a smart decision about family planning.
You‘ll help prevent AIDS.
You‘ll help prevent unwanted children, unwanted pregnancies.
You‘ll actually do a better job, I think, of passing on the moral responsibility that is expressed in your question. And I truly respect it.
(end quote)
Of course, my sense of truth would have Kerry renouncing his Catholicism, and Christianity in general, so where would that leave his politcal fortunes?
Refocusing on what Kerry might have said: I would say Kerry is trying to discuss the subject at a much more detailed level than serves the purpose of winning a Pres. debate, which is just sad for a veteran office holder.
The Dawn Patrol
"Waxman Report Is Riddled with Errors and Inaccuracies"
In the same fashion that watching Newsmax (http://newsmax.com) provides a clear picture of the slime that Rightwingers are tossing, this posting at a blog After Abortion, whose authors seem to have an honest interest in pointing out harms and challenges for women and society relating to abortions, becomes a vehicle for crazy talk.
Waxman Report: http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/pdfs/pdf_politics_and_science_rep.pdf
After abortion
Waxman Report: http://www.house.gov/reform/min/politicsandscience/pdfs/pdf_politics_and_science_rep.pdf
After abortion
Yahoo! News - House Passes Sweeping Intelligence Reforms
Woo hoo!!!!
Glad we finally got the "structural weaknesses" fixed, aren't you.
Kean and Hamilton shoud be proud!
Wonder what is more scary: the idea that Kean and Hamilton believe the BS that they spew, or that they are knowing parts of the murder coverup.
Yahoo! News - House Passes Sweeping Intelligence Reforms
Readers: anybody have ideas about what actions can be taken to successfully protest against this mockery?
Glad we finally got the "structural weaknesses" fixed, aren't you.
Kean and Hamilton shoud be proud!
Wonder what is more scary: the idea that Kean and Hamilton believe the BS that they spew, or that they are knowing parts of the murder coverup.
Yahoo! News - House Passes Sweeping Intelligence Reforms
Readers: anybody have ideas about what actions can be taken to successfully protest against this mockery?
Rumsfeld; "You go to War with the Army You Have"
Billions and Billions are tapped, and this is the lame answer!
AMERICAblog: Because a great nation deserves the truth
AMERICAblog: Because a great nation deserves the truth
What price an American Empire? Part Two Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire by Niall Ferguson, Penguin Press, 2004, ISBN 0-713-99615-3
Background Info.....
Reviewed Book captures True History of Imperialism?
Don't let the fact that it comes from the World Socialists Web Site spook you.
What price an American Empire? Part Two Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire by Niall Ferguson, Penguin Press, 2004, ISBN 0-713-99615-3
Reviewed Book captures True History of Imperialism?
Don't let the fact that it comes from the World Socialists Web Site spook you.
What price an American Empire? Part Two Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire by Niall Ferguson, Penguin Press, 2004, ISBN 0-713-99615-3
Mike Ruppert: 9-11 Saboteur
This posting links to a somewhat personal posting on the wingtv.net web site Link. My desultory remarks below:
1) Victor Thorn isn't the only Ruppert detractor within the 911 Movement.
2) This esculation to mudslinging takes away for a strong appeal to the public, but it a free country still to some extent. Victor was scorned by Ruppert, and he isn't taking it sitting down.
3) Ruppert's book "Crossing the Rubicon" is quite interesting and worth a read.
4) I don't think Ruppert represents some strong force to cover up the truth of 911. However, I don't think the peak oil argument Ruppert makes is the lynch pin to make sense of the murderous deeds of unknown agents behind 911 and other deadly crusades.
5) It does seem Ruppert is building his own empire-like organization to make a living from his background and efforts.
6) Since Thorn mentioned Catherine Austin Fitts, I'll make the comment that I'm not sure Ms. Fitts is a natural ally with Ruppert.
As with everything about the 911 story, it's hard to find answers to the many unanswered questions.
1) Victor Thorn isn't the only Ruppert detractor within the 911 Movement.
2) This esculation to mudslinging takes away for a strong appeal to the public, but it a free country still to some extent. Victor was scorned by Ruppert, and he isn't taking it sitting down.
3) Ruppert's book "Crossing the Rubicon" is quite interesting and worth a read.
4) I don't think Ruppert represents some strong force to cover up the truth of 911. However, I don't think the peak oil argument Ruppert makes is the lynch pin to make sense of the murderous deeds of unknown agents behind 911 and other deadly crusades.
5) It does seem Ruppert is building his own empire-like organization to make a living from his background and efforts.
6) Since Thorn mentioned Catherine Austin Fitts, I'll make the comment that I'm not sure Ms. Fitts is a natural ally with Ruppert.
As with everything about the 911 story, it's hard to find answers to the many unanswered questions.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Monday, December 06, 2004
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