I’ve been inspired by my neighbor, Claudine, to pick up some plants for the apartment. She has all these cool looking plants and things all over the place. It makes my apartment look very shabby and boring. So, today in a bout of activity and impulsiveness I went to the local nursery and picked up a plastic pot containing a shrub. Apparently, it’s a gardenia and it’s supposed to put out some sort of blooms. I’m looking forward to that. It looks quite nice in front of my doorway. Maybe I’ll try getting some hardy thing for the inside next.
23
Oct 02
The stench of corruption
Bush and the rest of his fellow ‘Republicans’ are trying very hard to maintain their regime, and to gain the reins in Congress. It’s not like their Democratic doppelgangers are very different, but a Republican triple-crown would be a scary thing indeed. Bush Enlists Government in GOP Campaign: Cabinet Members, Memos to Workers, Photo Ops Employed to Push for Midterm Success
23
Oct 02
As US war-mongers lose momentum…
…the ‘War’ gets delayed.
U.S. May Have To Slow Gulf Forces Buildup:
Senior defense officials said yesterday they knew of no decision yet to halt this flow. But they said military planners were considering ways of adjusting it to accommodate a new round of U.N. weapons inspections that may begin later and last longer than once envisioned.
“It’s fair to say there’s some recalibration going on,” one senior defense official said.
I thought this next little bit showed how desperate the Bush administration has become to justify this ridiculous war.
“For the sake of peace at home, for the sake of peace in the Middle East, for the sake of determining whether or not that international body is going to be the League of Nations or the United Nations, Saddam Hussein must disarm, and we expect you, the world, to disarm him,” Bush said, referring to the Iraqi president.
“But my fellow Americans, if they won’t act, and if Saddam Hussein won’t act, for the sake of peace, for the sake of our security, we will lead a coalition to disarm that man,” Bush added.
He sounds so pathetic. The coalition is a coalition of the US and its toadies. Nothing more. And ‘disarming’ is the effective deposal of the government (no matter how authoritarian) and the seizure of the natural resources of an entire people.
20
Oct 02
Tomorrow…
- “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more; it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
William Shakespeare, Macbeth, V.v.19-28
20
Oct 02
Big Brother Propaganda for the proles
Military using its promotional arms in theaters:
Aware that Americans’ perception of war gets fuzzier with each generation, the Marines and Navy have joined forces for the first time to produce a polished four-minute, 48-second movie trailer full of Hollywood-style scenes and sound bites from the war on terrorism.
Until the trailer debuted last month at theaters in Southern California, New York and Denver, moviegoers had not seen a rah-rah military booster film since World War II.
“Enduring Freedom: The Opening Chapter” cost the military $1.2 million to make. The high-quality mini-movie is designed to bolster civilian support for the armed forces.
20
Oct 02
Have you heard ‘The Good News’?
Onward Christian soldiers. What took you so long? Dissent is coming from all quarters – even in Bush’s own church:
But the most dramatic intervention comes from President George Bush’s own United Methodist church which launched a scathing attack on his plans for war.
Jim Winkler, responsible for the application of the church’s teachings to social policy, said war against Iraq was ‘without any justification according to the teachings of Christ’.
After careful study of Christian doctrinal writings on Just War, Winkler said he was ‘told flatly’ by the church’s scholars, ‘that they simply did not apply to this situation’.
Winkler said ‘we keep the lines of communication open’ to the White House, but added: ‘I regret that the lines have been one way. I hope and pray that the President has considered the church’s teachings.’
Winkler’s sentiments have an impact beyond the usual circles of dissent in a church-going society that, for the most part, supports Bush.
Related:
20
Oct 02
Iraq declares amnesty for all prisoners
Meanwhile, our own domestic dictator in the Whitehouse, presides over a nation with an estimated 2 million strong prison population. Bush, a self-described “Christian”, personally presided over the state murders of hundreds of prisoners in Texas during his term as governor. See, but we’re the good guys and they’re the bad guys. It’s simple really, isn’t it?
20
Oct 02
The Kurds have their own ideas
I wonder what will happen with this. If the Kurds try to broaden their power what will Turkey or Iran do? Is the US giving secret support to the Kurds so as not to arouse the ire of Turkey? Or, are the Kurds trying to help Hussein by trying to alter the playing field? Things like this are not expressed publicly without reason.
WASHINGTON – Iraqi Kurdish military commander Hamid Efendi said yesterday that his forces would try to capture nearby oil-rich areas if the United States strikes at Saddam Hussein’s regime.
The Kurdish goal of extending their authority to the prized oil fields around the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul – outside the Western-protected Kurdish enclave – carries military and political risks that could trouble Pentagon planners.
Iraqi Kurdish fighters could face direct combat with the more powerful Iraqi forces and open a new front that might divert attention from the goal of toppling Hussein. It would also enrage neighboring Turkey, which controls crucial trade routes for the landlocked Iraqi Kurds.
19
Oct 02
Patrick Henry’s speech from 23 March 1775
“Mr. President, no man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
“Mr. President, it is natural for a man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove to be a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the instruments of war and subjugation — the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British Ministry have been so long forging.
“And what have we to oppose them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to treaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the Ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation.
“There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free; if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending; if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon, until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained; we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight!! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
“They tell us, sir…that we are weak, unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature has placed in our power. Three millions of people armed in the holy cause of liberty and in such a country as that which we possess are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.
“Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged. Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable — and let it come!! I repeat it, sir, let it come!!!
“It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace; but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
“Forbid it, Almighty God — I know not what course others may take; but as for me — give me liberty or give me death!”