In the beginning, there was the sun. Then there was Constantine.
This is not what made up my mind, but it offers a compelling perspective:
http://zeitgeistmovie.com
Sunday, December 30, 2007
US War Funds
Read the Price of Liberty By Robert Hormats, which explains how past and current US governments have funded the war.
The was in Iraq was estimated to cost $50-60 billion at its onset, but its cost 10x that much. The US spends now $300 million A DAY for Iraq, which doesn't include Afghanistan. What's more, even people in Congress don't know where the money is coming from!
So far, each American family spends $7500/year on the war. Money that could go to health care (at least for kids!), reduce education costs (ie. bribery to get poor students to enlist in the war), and crime reduction. Inflation is on the rise. But where does the government find room for tax cuts? Sure it's pleasing to the public now, but HELLO where is the money coming from to fund the $6 trillion (to date) wars?? Out of the pockets of future generations. The dollar is decreasing, 2/3 of Americans (even Republicans in Bush's own cabinet) oppose the war. Money is being borrowed from emergency funds to pay for the war...And of course Bush will be laughing his way out of office. Good luck to his successor!
The was in Iraq was estimated to cost $50-60 billion at its onset, but its cost 10x that much. The US spends now $300 million A DAY for Iraq, which doesn't include Afghanistan. What's more, even people in Congress don't know where the money is coming from!
So far, each American family spends $7500/year on the war. Money that could go to health care (at least for kids!), reduce education costs (ie. bribery to get poor students to enlist in the war), and crime reduction. Inflation is on the rise. But where does the government find room for tax cuts? Sure it's pleasing to the public now, but HELLO where is the money coming from to fund the $6 trillion (to date) wars?? Out of the pockets of future generations. The dollar is decreasing, 2/3 of Americans (even Republicans in Bush's own cabinet) oppose the war. Money is being borrowed from emergency funds to pay for the war...And of course Bush will be laughing his way out of office. Good luck to his successor!
Fired Up, Ready to Go.
I don't want you to think I am a crazy political rally fanatic. Hell, I'm not even American! But just hear me out.
The presidential election campaign is firing up. I had the pleasure of shaking Mr. Obama's hand yesterday at his rally in Boston's Park Plaza Castle. But beyond that, I have never felt more moved by any candidate (American or Canadian) in my entire lifetime. Until recently, my take on textbook politics was a pessimistic one. I have never cared very much about it because, let's face it: there's nothing to care about these days. Everything that I am passionate about, every problem we face, is not being countered. We won't ratify Kyoto, we don't do anything about Darfur. Children are sick and hungry at home and abroad. School is too expensive and so young minds are deprived of intellectual satiation.
It makes me sick, and it saddens me. And yes, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney have made it very difficult for every single candidate in the running. The platter of problems that the next president will carry is excruciating in its weight. The country is in debt trillions of dollars, growing by billions BY THE DAY. And it is tomorrow's youth that will be responsible for paying it off.
Oh yes, and though I am not American, I feel strongly about this man. As a Canadian, what happens in America will directly affect me. So yes, I care. Bedfellows of the U.S., we have to care. And though I can not vote, I am doing my best to get Americans to cast their vote for me and for their selves.
Everyone's number one argument against Obama is his lack of experience or his middle name, Hussein. Well as he says, anyone who focuses on a name knows nothing about politics. And experience? Senator Obama, an undergraduate of Columbia University and a graduate of Harvard University, may have only served 2 terms as senator, but his votes agains Iraq and Iran have been consistent (unlike Hillary Clinton who changes her mind on votes at the last minute). And needless to say, "experience" has certainly not given a hand up to any president in the past 20 or more years. "Experience" seems to jade the system of politics, of leadership, of changing the way we see things. Obama has more "experience" than Lincoln, the "great unifier" had. We haven't seen a JFK, a Roosevelt, a Jefferson, a Lincoln, or a Trudeau in ages. Isn't it time to see a real change?
If you listen to this man, and see the passion in his eyes, his voice, his words, his motions, I think you will understand what I mean.
He sets precise dates for when he expects goals to be accomplished. For example, 16 months into his term- the US will be out of Iraq.
He speaks for women, the environment, cultural tolerance, all genders, human rights, peace, security, and a REAL and TANGIBLE approach to accomplishing change. BARACK OBAMA IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB.
Obama speech (this one from Jefferson Jackson dinner):
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/11/10/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_33.php
Oprah endorses Obama:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/oprah-endorses-obama-2/
Obama campaign website:
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
Obama speaks out for women:
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/12/02/feminist_pitch_by_a_democrat_n.php
Women for Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=10598AB3DAF007E2
Hillary's negative campaign:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CRhV
The presidential election campaign is firing up. I had the pleasure of shaking Mr. Obama's hand yesterday at his rally in Boston's Park Plaza Castle. But beyond that, I have never felt more moved by any candidate (American or Canadian) in my entire lifetime. Until recently, my take on textbook politics was a pessimistic one. I have never cared very much about it because, let's face it: there's nothing to care about these days. Everything that I am passionate about, every problem we face, is not being countered. We won't ratify Kyoto, we don't do anything about Darfur. Children are sick and hungry at home and abroad. School is too expensive and so young minds are deprived of intellectual satiation.
It makes me sick, and it saddens me. And yes, Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney have made it very difficult for every single candidate in the running. The platter of problems that the next president will carry is excruciating in its weight. The country is in debt trillions of dollars, growing by billions BY THE DAY. And it is tomorrow's youth that will be responsible for paying it off.
Oh yes, and though I am not American, I feel strongly about this man. As a Canadian, what happens in America will directly affect me. So yes, I care. Bedfellows of the U.S., we have to care. And though I can not vote, I am doing my best to get Americans to cast their vote for me and for their selves.
Everyone's number one argument against Obama is his lack of experience or his middle name, Hussein. Well as he says, anyone who focuses on a name knows nothing about politics. And experience? Senator Obama, an undergraduate of Columbia University and a graduate of Harvard University, may have only served 2 terms as senator, but his votes agains Iraq and Iran have been consistent (unlike Hillary Clinton who changes her mind on votes at the last minute). And needless to say, "experience" has certainly not given a hand up to any president in the past 20 or more years. "Experience" seems to jade the system of politics, of leadership, of changing the way we see things. Obama has more "experience" than Lincoln, the "great unifier" had. We haven't seen a JFK, a Roosevelt, a Jefferson, a Lincoln, or a Trudeau in ages. Isn't it time to see a real change?
If you listen to this man, and see the passion in his eyes, his voice, his words, his motions, I think you will understand what I mean.
He sets precise dates for when he expects goals to be accomplished. For example, 16 months into his term- the US will be out of Iraq.
He speaks for women, the environment, cultural tolerance, all genders, human rights, peace, security, and a REAL and TANGIBLE approach to accomplishing change. BARACK OBAMA IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB.
Obama speech (this one from Jefferson Jackson dinner):
http://www.barackobama.com
Oprah endorses Obama:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nyt
Obama campaign website:
http://www.barackobama.com
Obama speaks out for women:
http://www.barackobama.com
Women for Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/vie
Hillary's negative campaign:
http://my.barackobama.com/
"Iranium" Miscalculation
New CIA "Intelligence": IRAN HALTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM IN 2003.
WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence has determined that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 but believes it is continuing to develop technical capabilities that could be used for building a bomb, a government report said on Monday.
The latest National Intelligence Estimate released by the Bush administration also said Iran would likely be capable of producing enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon "sometime during the 2010-2015 time-frame."
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WBT008012.htm
Bush supports Russia sending enriched uranium to Iran
17 Dec 2007 17:24:41 GMT
Source: Reuters
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Dec 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday he supports Russia sending enriched uranium to Iran for civilian power use because it meant that Tehran did not need to pursue their own enrichment capabilities.
"If the Russians are willing to do that, which I support, then the Iranians do not need to learn how to enrich," Bush said. "If the Iranians accept that uranium for a civilian nuclear power plant, then there's no need for them to learn how to enrich."
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WBT008077.htm
Notes:
I am so tired of hearing Republicans and certain Democratic candidates flip-flopping on decisions...and it seems they continue to do so, and probably will continue for eternity. The decisions made by the US affect the entire world. No, I do not want to see a world ruled by China, a rising superpower in the global hierarchy. But I also KNOW that the US can not maintain its influence and supremacy by continuing to be dependant on funds loaned from China and a number of other countries, as the US dwindles in debt amounting to trillions of dollars. These band-aid solutions of borrowing/stealing from emergency relief funds and military defense funds will not support the nation in the long term.
Since 9/11 the fight for global peace and democracy (REAL solutions that do not cost trillions of dollars) has decreased significantly as the US and its unfortunate "supporters" has kneeled down to terrorism and helped Osama achieve his primary goal: to instill fear of black turban-clad, eye-lined Islamic suicide terrorists in the hearts of "God-fearing" Americans (aka "enemy # 1").
If anyone is interested in finding out more about how bombs and war are NOT the solution to ending the infamous "war on terror," read the book "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, go to:
http://threecupsoftea.com/
"Osama is not a Product of Pakistan or Afghanistan. He is a creation of America. Thanks to America, Osama is in every home. As a military man, I know you can never fight and win against someone who can shoot you once and then run off and hide while you have to remain eternally on guard. You have to attack the source of your enemy's strength. In America's case, that's not Osama or Saddam or anyone else. The enemy is ignorance. The only way to defeat it is to build relationships with these people, to draw them into the modern world with education and business. Otherwise the fight will go on forever."
- Brigadier General Bashir Baz of Pakistan
"As the US confronts Saddam Hussein's regine in Iraq, Greg Mortenson, 45, is quietly waging his own campaign against Islamic fundamentalists, who often recruit members through religious schools called madrassas. Mortenson's approach hinges on a simple idea: that by building secular schools and helping to promote education-particularly for girls- in the world's most volatile war zone, support for the Taliban and other extremist sects will eventually dry up."
-Kevin Fedarko, Parade cover story, April 6, 2003
At a Congress presentation:
Q: Californiia Republican Congressman: "Building schools for kids is just fine and dandy, but our primary need as a nation now is security. Without security, what does all this matter?"
A: Greg Mortenson: "'I don't do what I'm doing to fight terror. I do it because I care about kids. Fighting terror is maybe seventh or eighth on my list of priorities. But working over there [in Pakistan/Afghanistan], I've learned a few things. I've learned that terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or Afghanistan simply decide to hate us. It happens because children aren't being offered a bright enough future that they have a reason to choose life over death'..."He spoke about Pakistan's impoverished public schools. He spoke about the Wahhabi madrassas sprouting like cancerous cells, and the billions of dollars Saudi sheikhs carried into the region in suitcases to fuel the factories of jihad. As he hit his stride, the conference room became quiet, except for the sounds of pens and pencils furiously scratching."
"I supported the war in Afghanistan. I believed in it because I believed we were serious when we said we planned to rebuild Afghanistan. I'm here because I know that military victory is only the first phase of winning the war on terror and I'm afraid we're not willing to take the next steps...People in that part of the world are used to death and violence, and if you tell them, 'We're sorry your father died, but he died a martyr so Afghanistan could be free,' and if you offer them compensation and honor their sacrifice, I think people will support us, even now. But the worst thing to you can do is what we're doing--ignoring the victims. To call them 'collateral damage' and not even try to count the numbers of the dead. Because to ignore them is to deny they ever existed, and there is no greater insult in the Islamic world. For that, we will never be forgiven...I'm no military expert, and these figures may not be exactly right. But as best as I can tell, we've launched 114 Tomahawk cruise missiles into Afghanistan so far. Now take the cost of one of those missiles tipped with a Raytheon guidance system, which I think is about $840, 000. For that much money, you could build dozens of schools that could provide tens of thousands of students with a balanced, nonextremist education over the course of a generation. Which do you think will make us more secure?"
Q: US military officer: "Could you draw us a map of all the Wahhabi madrassas?"
A: Greg: "Not if I wanted to live."
Q: US military officer: "Could you put up a school next to each of the madrassas?"
A: Greg: "Sort of like a Starbucks? To drive the jihadis out of business?"
Q: US military officer: "I'm serious. We can get you the money. How about $2.2 millin? How many schools could you build with that?:
A: Greg: "About one hundred."
Q: US military officer: "Isn't that what you want?"
A: Greg: "People there would find out the money came from the military and I'd be out of business."
WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence has determined that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 but believes it is continuing to develop technical capabilities that could be used for building a bomb, a government report said on Monday.
The latest National Intelligence Estimate released by the Bush administration also said Iran would likely be capable of producing enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon "sometime during the 2010-2015 time-frame."
http://www.alertnet.org/th
Bush supports Russia sending enriched uranium to Iran
17 Dec 2007 17:24:41 GMT
Source: Reuters
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Dec 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday he supports Russia sending enriched uranium to Iran for civilian power use because it meant that Tehran did not need to pursue their own enrichment capabilities.
"If the Russians are willing to do that, which I support, then the Iranians do not need to learn how to enrich," Bush said. "If the Iranians accept that uranium for a civilian nuclear power plant, then there's no need for them to learn how to enrich."
http://www.alertnet.org/th
Notes:
I am so tired of hearing Republicans and certain Democratic candidates flip-flopping on decisions...and it seems they continue to do so, and probably will continue for eternity. The decisions made by the US affect the entire world. No, I do not want to see a world ruled by China, a rising superpower in the global hierarchy. But I also KNOW that the US can not maintain its influence and supremacy by continuing to be dependant on funds loaned from China and a number of other countries, as the US dwindles in debt amounting to trillions of dollars. These band-aid solutions of borrowing/stealing from emergency relief funds and military defense funds will not support the nation in the long term.
Since 9/11 the fight for global peace and democracy (REAL solutions that do not cost trillions of dollars) has decreased significantly as the US and its unfortunate "supporters" has kneeled down to terrorism and helped Osama achieve his primary goal: to instill fear of black turban-clad, eye-lined Islamic suicide terrorists in the hearts of "God-fearing" Americans (aka "enemy # 1").
If anyone is interested in finding out more about how bombs and war are NOT the solution to ending the infamous "war on terror," read the book "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, go to:
http://threecupsoftea.com/
"Osama is not a Product of Pakistan or Afghanistan. He is a creation of America. Thanks to America, Osama is in every home. As a military man, I know you can never fight and win against someone who can shoot you once and then run off and hide while you have to remain eternally on guard. You have to attack the source of your enemy's strength. In America's case, that's not Osama or Saddam or anyone else. The enemy is ignorance. The only way to defeat it is to build relationships with these people, to draw them into the modern world with education and business. Otherwise the fight will go on forever."
- Brigadier General Bashir Baz of Pakistan
"As the US confronts Saddam Hussein's regine in Iraq, Greg Mortenson, 45, is quietly waging his own campaign against Islamic fundamentalists, who often recruit members through religious schools called madrassas. Mortenson's approach hinges on a simple idea: that by building secular schools and helping to promote education-particularly for girls- in the world's most volatile war zone, support for the Taliban and other extremist sects will eventually dry up."
-Kevin Fedarko, Parade cover story, April 6, 2003
At a Congress presentation:
Q: Californiia Republican Congressman: "Building schools for kids is just fine and dandy, but our primary need as a nation now is security. Without security, what does all this matter?"
A: Greg Mortenson: "'I don't do what I'm doing to fight terror. I do it because I care about kids. Fighting terror is maybe seventh or eighth on my list of priorities. But working over there [in Pakistan/Afghanistan], I've learned a few things. I've learned that terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or Afghanistan simply decide to hate us. It happens because children aren't being offered a bright enough future that they have a reason to choose life over death'..."He spoke about Pakistan's impoverished public schools. He spoke about the Wahhabi madrassas sprouting like cancerous cells, and the billions of dollars Saudi sheikhs carried into the region in suitcases to fuel the factories of jihad. As he hit his stride, the conference room became quiet, except for the sounds of pens and pencils furiously scratching."
"I supported the war in Afghanistan. I believed in it because I believed we were serious when we said we planned to rebuild Afghanistan. I'm here because I know that military victory is only the first phase of winning the war on terror and I'm afraid we're not willing to take the next steps...People in that part of the world are used to death and violence, and if you tell them, 'We're sorry your father died, but he died a martyr so Afghanistan could be free,' and if you offer them compensation and honor their sacrifice, I think people will support us, even now. But the worst thing to you can do is what we're doing--ignoring the victims. To call them 'collateral damage' and not even try to count the numbers of the dead. Because to ignore them is to deny they ever existed, and there is no greater insult in the Islamic world. For that, we will never be forgiven...I'm no military expert, and these figures may not be exactly right. But as best as I can tell, we've launched 114 Tomahawk cruise missiles into Afghanistan so far. Now take the cost of one of those missiles tipped with a Raytheon guidance system, which I think is about $840, 000. For that much money, you could build dozens of schools that could provide tens of thousands of students with a balanced, nonextremist education over the course of a generation. Which do you think will make us more secure?"
Q: US military officer: "Could you draw us a map of all the Wahhabi madrassas?"
A: Greg: "Not if I wanted to live."
Q: US military officer: "Could you put up a school next to each of the madrassas?"
A: Greg: "Sort of like a Starbucks? To drive the jihadis out of business?"
Q: US military officer: "I'm serious. We can get you the money. How about $2.2 millin? How many schools could you build with that?:
A: Greg: "About one hundred."
Q: US military officer: "Isn't that what you want?"
A: Greg: "People there would find out the money came from the military and I'd be out of business."
Rest in Peace Benazir Bhutto
Copied from my Facebook note (27/12/2007):
Today we mourn the loss of a great woman and role model, Benazir Bhutto, born June 21, 1953, assassinated this day, December 27, 2007.
At only 35 years old, Benazir Bhutto became one of the youngest chief executives in the world and the first female prime minister of an Islamic country. Her main priorities included bringing education, basic amenities, health care, housing, and food to the people of Pakistan (beginning with the rural poor).
A very condensed biography of this remarkable woman:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2228796.stm
Peace be with you, amira.
Today we mourn the loss of a great woman and role model, Benazir Bhutto, born June 21, 1953, assassinated this day, December 27, 2007.
At only 35 years old, Benazir Bhutto became one of the youngest chief executives in the world and the first female prime minister of an Islamic country. Her main priorities included bringing education, basic amenities, health care, housing, and food to the people of Pakistan (beginning with the rural poor).
A very condensed biography of this remarkable woman:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi
Peace be with you, amira.
FYI on Islam
FYI...Islam is a monotheistic religion originating with the teachings of the prophet Muhammad. The word Islam means "submission", or the total surrender of oneself to God (aka "Allah" in Arabic). An adherent of Islam is known as a Muslim ("one who submits to God"). There are approximately 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide, making Islam the second-largest religion in the world, after Christianity.
Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, God's final prophet, and regard the Qur'an and the Sunnah (words and deeds of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam. I am not Muslim, but I think Islam is a great, misunderstood (even by some of its "followers") religion.
Dictionaries often define jihad as "Muslim holy war or spiritual struggle against infidels" but any Muslim who has read the Qu'ran will tell you that jihad really means "to struggle in the way of God" or to improve one's self and/or society. Which is exactly why "Islamists" and terrorists/extremists should be regarded as two completely different camps, instead of thrown into the same category time and time again. I also recommend that you read about wahabbi madrassas and how Islamic extremism originates.
For all the people who read books like Londonistan without having an objective viewpoint, or any knowledge of the Muslim world, or any alternative sources to support your opinions, I hope you realize that families like mine could possibly have been killed in Pakistan had England not made it easier for them to have refuge. The book, by Melanie Phillips, portrays England as a country in disarray due to open policies of multiculturalism, "moral relativism" and "wrongheaded" ideals for human rights. Phillips uses the word "Islamic terrorism" and "Islamic jihad" persistently, and in a review of the book in the London Daily Telegraph, the editors refused to disassociate the word "Islam" with "terror" or "Islam" with "Osama Bin Laden." Among recommendations for solving the "Islamic problem," Phillips advocates abolition of wrongheaded human-rights legislation, tougher immigration controls, prosecution of Islamist radicals in special courts, bans on organizations and individual clerics who advocate extremism (which itself is vaguely defined), close monitoring of mosques as well as of Muslim charities and schools—what in the hell?? In addition, I understand that the author is a Zionist, which i have no problem with, but I realize it creates a LOT of bias. In fact, I support the Jewish homeland. I do, however, have a problem when Zionists project their own insecurities on other cultures/religions (I put it this way since Islam always seems to get lumped in some wildly misplaced category), prosecuting them in the same way their own culture has been prosecuted in the past. History is useless, people, if we choose not to learn from it. If you are too lazy to read, go see the Mist-- a horrible movie, but a perfect example of the human animalism I am speaking of.
Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, God's final prophet, and regard the Qur'an and the Sunnah (words and deeds of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam. I am not Muslim, but I think Islam is a great, misunderstood (even by some of its "followers") religion.
Dictionaries often define jihad as "Muslim holy war or spiritual struggle against infidels" but any Muslim who has read the Qu'ran will tell you that jihad really means "to struggle in the way of God" or to improve one's self and/or society. Which is exactly why "Islamists" and terrorists/extremists should be regarded as two completely different camps, instead of thrown into the same category time and time again. I also recommend that you read about wahabbi madrassas and how Islamic extremism originates.
For all the people who read books like Londonistan without having an objective viewpoint, or any knowledge of the Muslim world, or any alternative sources to support your opinions, I hope you realize that families like mine could possibly have been killed in Pakistan had England not made it easier for them to have refuge. The book, by Melanie Phillips, portrays England as a country in disarray due to open policies of multiculturalism, "moral relativism" and "wrongheaded" ideals for human rights. Phillips uses the word "Islamic terrorism" and "Islamic jihad" persistently, and in a review of the book in the London Daily Telegraph, the editors refused to disassociate the word "Islam" with "terror" or "Islam" with "Osama Bin Laden." Among recommendations for solving the "Islamic problem," Phillips advocates abolition of wrongheaded human-rights legislation, tougher immigration controls, prosecution of Islamist radicals in special courts, bans on organizations and individual clerics who advocate extremism (which itself is vaguely defined), close monitoring of mosques as well as of Muslim charities and schools—what in the hell?? In addition, I understand that the author is a Zionist, which i have no problem with, but I realize it creates a LOT of bias. In fact, I support the Jewish homeland. I do, however, have a problem when Zionists project their own insecurities on other cultures/religions (I put it this way since Islam always seems to get lumped in some wildly misplaced category), prosecuting them in the same way their own culture has been prosecuted in the past. History is useless, people, if we choose not to learn from it. If you are too lazy to read, go see the Mist-- a horrible movie, but a perfect example of the human animalism I am speaking of.
Where Are the "Terrorists?"
"When you hear a threat which is "probably" made by bin Laden, just remember that he's "probably" dead.
Also think about who benefits from your believing he's alive."
-http://whatreallyhappened.com/osama_dead.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3uag5wZ4mI
Westerners have been blind to the real causes of "terror", and have simply given terror a face--The diabetes-afflicted man by the household name of Osama.Bin.Laden. The Bush-Cheney administration (after cutting some family ties) gave middle America a face to spit on, step on, put fire to, in its brash, boorish response to the 9/11 attacks. And somehow according to Benazir Bhutto (bless), who was recently coincidentally assassinated (after numerous other suicide attacks and threats), Osama's been dead for a while now and she states it matter-of-factly (in a Robert Frost interview--I have it posted above and in my facebook posts) as though it's common knowledge in the Middle East.
What a shocker. We live in this Western bubble where we suffer from lack of diversity in news, and hey, wouldn't you guess it? A large proportion of Pakistan and most other middle eastern countries don't have access to the same "caliber" of news that we are so greedily accustomed to (the filtered, store-bought kind). What was old news to them is shocking for us. And they would probably be equally shocked at how ignorant we are (blame the media).
It is very difficult to put into words what I feel so passionate about, what I want you to feel passionate about. This is our world, we live here, we have family in these places, your friends may have family in these places, it doesn't matter-- we have an obligation to humans of any kind. How, to any respectable person, does it feel fair to kill in response to killing?
I am also reminded briefly of the period in time when 9/11 occurred and how difficult it was to admit that I was partially Paki/Afghani/Indian/Persian when I had classmates asking if my last name was linked to any terrorists?? And forget being proud of my heritage in the day and age when I was only 15 years old and the towers went down...Sacranie's statements goes for all of terrorism, when he declared after the attacks on London, “the real victim of these bombings is the Muslim community of the UK [and the rest of the world].” And of course (not that I concede to this notion 100%, but to a fair degree) most of these ignorant ideas of the entire Islamic (which grows to encompass any brown person, even though there are a multitude of other religions practiced in the middle east and Pakistan, depending on who you're talking to) world are rooted in family trees, history, religion, what-have-you.
It's not hard to see what's really causing all the fear that lives in the heart of Americans. As if it isn't bad enough seeing propaganda like "we will never forget," bits and pieces of the world trade center (which still--6 years later--sits as a depressing pile of rubble that acts as a monument to the war on terror) lying around, and constant radio/subway station/etc ads and warnings reminding all good citizens to report suspicious activity, on a DAILY, HOURLY, MINUTELY BASIS.
say in 2001 when the 9/11 attacks were fresh in people's minds, when people believed that a "war on terror" would avenge the lives of the lost (omg, like, why didn't I think of that! blood for blood-- always a fair trade in the mind of men), that finding Osama Bin Laden would bring peace and democracy to Afghanistan>Iraq>Iran>>>>>>? when in 2003 Bush is quoted as saying that Osama Bin Laden is not his priority and that he don't really care where Bin Laden is at the moment (probably because he's dead!).
OR
My fellow Americans, we put the blame on this one guy but yuh see, we didn't realize just how many guys are claiming to be Al Qaeda or Taliban (whatchamacallit) running around these days in black turbans and eyeliner who are willing to blow themselves up just because they feel oppressed...and those mountains--don't let em fool ya! They look pretty but they sure are big and cave-ridden and hopeless in real life. Not that I've ever been there or anything, but I've sent over the country's finest young men who have no idea what this war is really about, or what [insert middle eastern country about to be attacked here] is like. I mean, even I don't know what it's really about. I mean, what I mean to say is that I mean business, and that's the oil business, which is America's business. And if that business fails, America fails, and then the world fails and, well, we don't take failure very easily here in the Oval office.
Yes, I can totally picture Bush uttering these exact words (if he hasn't already) with Cheney on his right cringing at the malady he is attempting to control. Poor Bush, his hair has gone completely white as a result of his presidency.
Even the White House allows transcripts from press conferences to be available right away?? We are living through a historic period of time. I'm always arguing about what exactly gives humans the idea that they are so sacred, so intelligent, that whomever is in charge will admit a sinful human to heaven but would never think twice about animals or plants in those terms? As if they are our servants or underlings. We forget that they are our beginnings and our nourishment. And the answer has always been the same: because humans have the ability to think about their own mortality (and invent religion to deal with our mortal "terror"), because only humans could create this (wonderful?) world that we live in today with inventions like virtual reality (because, well, real reality isn't good enough, duh).
If we are so intelligent, if we are so deserving, how can we not find solutions to problems that beg and grovel at our feet? The glitter and booze and TV and movie stars are nothing but distractions from much bigger problems that it seems we are too weak, or too scared, or too JADED by politics or the Past or personal experiences, to face.
I find it hard to believe that there is some master scheme to all this war nonsense, or that Bush had it all planned out, or anything like that, even if he is Cheney's puppet. Cheney is a man who initially failed in educational institutions, but knows how to wield power. Of course I can just hear all the videogame-guzzling/power-worshipping/gun-wielding/politic-savvy guys or girls who say, "what else matters" or "idealism doesn't apply to politics। the glass is half empty and there's nothing we can do about it so let's go drink a beer and forget about it " This is as straightforward as it gets, folks. If you have been doing your economics homework, the "war" hasn't been very profitable at all, in response to the many ridiculous claims I have heard. The next two or more American generations will face a huge debt, and I won't go into an economics lesson just yet, but seriously, hysterical how vivid our imaginations are. America's own citizens have been completely neglected for the past 6 or so years. Education and health care are more expensive than ever, crime is rising, and what-else-more-need-I-say. Except that OF COURSE the US chooses sides in the Israel-Palestinian conflict, one of the most controversial issues of our time, and ignores the pleas from Palestine that are echoed in the 9/11 attacks.
So take all this, put it in your hand. Hold it close to your face, hold it away from your face, close one eye, close the other, and see how it all comes together for you. Bhutto is dead, and with her death came news that Osama has been long dead. America has attempted to keep him alive in order to strike fear in the common heart, in order to justify a war personified by Bin Laden. Think again, who benefits from you believing he is alive?
Peace n love,
Danielle
Also think about who benefits from your believing he's alive."
-http://whatreallyhappened.
http://www.youtube.com/wat
Westerners have been blind to the real causes of "terror", and have simply given terror a face--The diabetes-afflicted man by the household name of Osama.Bin.Laden. The Bush-Cheney administration (after cutting some family ties) gave middle America a face to spit on, step on, put fire to, in its brash, boorish response to the 9/11 attacks. And somehow according to Benazir Bhutto (bless), who was recently coincidentally assassinated (after numerous other suicide attacks and threats), Osama's been dead for a while now and she states it matter-of-factly (in a Robert Frost interview--I have it posted above and in my facebook posts) as though it's common knowledge in the Middle East.
What a shocker. We live in this Western bubble where we suffer from lack of diversity in news, and hey, wouldn't you guess it? A large proportion of Pakistan and most other middle eastern countries don't have access to the same "caliber" of news that we are so greedily accustomed to (the filtered, store-bought kind). What was old news to them is shocking for us. And they would probably be equally shocked at how ignorant we are (blame the media).
It is very difficult to put into words what I feel so passionate about, what I want you to feel passionate about. This is our world, we live here, we have family in these places, your friends may have family in these places, it doesn't matter-- we have an obligation to humans of any kind. How, to any respectable person, does it feel fair to kill in response to killing?
I am also reminded briefly of the period in time when 9/11 occurred and how difficult it was to admit that I was partially Paki/Afghani/Indian/Persia
It's not hard to see what's really causing all the fear that lives in the heart of Americans. As if it isn't bad enough seeing propaganda like "we will never forget," bits and pieces of the world trade center (which still--6 years later--sits as a depressing pile of rubble that acts as a monument to the war on terror) lying around, and constant radio/subway station/etc ads and warnings reminding all good citizens to report suspicious activity, on a DAILY, HOURLY, MINUTELY BASIS.
say in 2001 when the 9/11 attacks were fresh in people's minds, when people believed that a "war on terror" would avenge the lives of the lost (omg, like, why didn't I think of that! blood for blood-- always a fair trade in the mind of men), that finding Osama Bin Laden would bring peace and democracy to Afghanistan>Iraq>Iran>>>>>
OR
My fellow Americans, we put the blame on this one guy but yuh see, we didn't realize just how many guys are claiming to be Al Qaeda or Taliban (whatchamacallit) running around these days in black turbans and eyeliner who are willing to blow themselves up just because they feel oppressed...and those mountains--don't let em fool ya! They look pretty but they sure are big and cave-ridden and hopeless in real life. Not that I've ever been there or anything, but I've sent over the country's finest young men who have no idea what this war is really about, or what [insert middle eastern country about to be attacked here] is like. I mean, even I don't know what it's really about. I mean, what I mean to say is that I mean business, and that's the oil business, which is America's business. And if that business fails, America fails, and then the world fails and, well, we don't take failure very easily here in the Oval office.
Yes, I can totally picture Bush uttering these exact words (if he hasn't already) with Cheney on his right cringing at the malady he is attempting to control. Poor Bush, his hair has gone completely white as a result of his presidency.
Even the White House allows transcripts from press conferences to be available right away?? We are living through a historic period of time. I'm always arguing about what exactly gives humans the idea that they are so sacred, so intelligent, that whomever is in charge will admit a sinful human to heaven but would never think twice about animals or plants in those terms? As if they are our servants or underlings. We forget that they are our beginnings and our nourishment. And the answer has always been the same: because humans have the ability to think about their own mortality (and invent religion to deal with our mortal "terror"), because only humans could create this (wonderful?) world that we live in today with inventions like virtual reality (because, well, real reality isn't good enough, duh).
If we are so intelligent, if we are so deserving, how can we not find solutions to problems that beg and grovel at our feet? The glitter and booze and TV and movie stars are nothing but distractions from much bigger problems that it seems we are too weak, or too scared, or too JADED by politics or the Past or personal experiences, to face.
I find it hard to believe that there is some master scheme to all this war nonsense, or that Bush had it all planned out, or anything like that, even if he is Cheney's puppet. Cheney is a man who initially failed in educational institutions, but knows how to wield power. Of course I can just hear all the videogame-guzzling/power-w
So take all this, put it in your hand. Hold it close to your face, hold it away from your face, close one eye, close the other, and see how it all comes together for you. Bhutto is dead, and with her death came news that Osama has been long dead. America has attempted to keep him alive in order to strike fear in the common heart, in order to justify a war personified by Bin Laden. Think again, who benefits from you believing he is alive?
Peace n love,
Danielle
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