Thursday, December 30, 2004
Notes on a Patriot.
I'm going to revisite this topic again and again. Here are some notes I wrote last night, not very cleaned up:
I feel compelled to delve into this subject because there has been a great deal of chest beating over this issue recently. It's used like a political football.
I wonder sometimes the percentage of the population who don't even believe in the existence of patriots any longer.
How many of those who use the issue like a political football, really understand their heart's definition of a patriot? The truth shall set you free.
It is an outmoded term to some, quaint even, charming in a way, whose definition, is easily dismissed, usually for the convenience of aiding in the aquisition of more power, or more wealth, or more...stuff.
The putting aside of principle for personal gain, is antithetical to the definition of patriot. The putting aside of principle for personal gain has now become a threat to our republic, indeed, to our world.
Can one be a patriot while aquiring power, wealth and stuff?
A corporation can be composed of one individual, or two, or three, but it exists because of the individuals who compose it.
As a patriot defends the rights of the individual, the corporation can therefore, never be stronger than the patriot, than the individual.
There are those like myself, and many of my friends, who really do want to live a life as close to their ideal as possible, and are miserable right now because of the evolving political landscape.
"Negative" events are driving a wedge between, we believe, our dreams and a quality future, and the potential to realize our dreams.
The United States doesn't know it yet, but it is in a state of emergency.
The young feel their dreams threatened, wether by economic catastrophe, the war and a potential draft, or tired and discouraged from the constant, national hyped threat of danger that sits like a guest in the living room now. You wish it were time for them to go away, but they have actually just arrived.
Terror threats are here to stay as long as we invest in the mis-understanding of other nations and peoples.
What is a patriot? Someone who realizes that the structure of the United States Government was designed to address the individual need for freedom and the pursuit of its own happiness. A patriot understands, that if the quality of life of the individual human beings is damaged and decayed, then the republic is threatened.
A patriot recognizes that if the practice of an economy allows the aggrandizement of a corporate state, over and above the individual in laws and practice, then the republic is threatened.
A patriot is not necessarily bound to any political party, stands for its individual, self-understood beliefs that are flexible to aquired awareness and knowledge. The individual joins the political party for its own reasons, often to share in a community of interests, but the individual does not need the party for existence. The party however, needs the individual, for its own existence. It is nothing without the thought, awareness and actions of individuals.
It is my judgement, that the political parties' need for individuals has aquired the monstrous proportions of unfettered greed for power and money. The political parties urge towards self-preservation has superceded the needs of the individual it purports to represent. The party wants devotion and loyalty from you. How devoted to your principles is the party?
The elected official, we tell ourselves, is the servant of the people, at least, that is the ideal, is it not?
It is my judgement, that the people have become the servants of the elected official. The elected official benefits from a multi-pronged attack in the quest for power: government involvement and corporate involvement, in one lifetime, and sometimes at the same time.
It is my judgement that this corporate involvement, distorts and changes the viewpoint of the elected official, and affects decision that are made with the public's interest at heart. The role as defined for poiticians in modern America, is for the elected official to "balance" the interests of corporate, and the individual. But it is not working.
The climate of corporate America has become one of convenience and excuse. The tremendous outsourcing of jobs from the modern hubs of America does not benefit the individual, yet guaruntees a growing crisis, manifested in the growing numbers of those in poverty.
The corporation, though legally classified as an "individual", is a structure created by individuals. As much as the individual sublimates it's own sense of individual identity into the corporation, surrenders its individuality, to that extent, the individual begins to self-identify with the corporation, and so its primary purpose becomes one of corporate-preservation.
The individual becomes dependent on identity with the corporation, and begins to believe that the individual needs the corporation for self-preservation. Many have this sense of identity though they don't necessarily work for a corporation. How many people really believe it would be best to destroy the corporate structure and replace it with an organic model of individuals organizing for the common good? This is not necessarily a subject much talked about widely.
We take the need for the existence of corporations for granted. We have come to believe that it is the only viable option with which to organize individuals around, though we fail to see that the corporation, because it has no soul, does not benevolently open its arms to the individual to address the true needs of the individual.
The corporation creates needs, from which it prospers as individuals convince themselves that these needs must be fullfilled, satisfied. The corporation creates its reason for existence, (needs for the individual), and convinces through PR work, the "true" existence of those needs for the individual. The corporation, through profit, is primarily concerned with self-preservation.
See the documentary, "The Corporation", and you will begin to understand that the corporation "legally" has taken on identity as though it were an individual. The corporation is nothing though, without the individual that composes it. We can demand that the corporation reflect what brings quality to the life of the individual.
If the corporation harms the individual, then it is a threat to the republic, as the republic is composed of individuals, and a patriot is concerned with the rights of individuals.
America is asleep. The patriot is asleep. Will she awaken in time to save her republic?
I feel compelled to delve into this subject because there has been a great deal of chest beating over this issue recently. It's used like a political football.
I wonder sometimes the percentage of the population who don't even believe in the existence of patriots any longer.
How many of those who use the issue like a political football, really understand their heart's definition of a patriot? The truth shall set you free.
It is an outmoded term to some, quaint even, charming in a way, whose definition, is easily dismissed, usually for the convenience of aiding in the aquisition of more power, or more wealth, or more...stuff.
The putting aside of principle for personal gain, is antithetical to the definition of patriot. The putting aside of principle for personal gain has now become a threat to our republic, indeed, to our world.
Can one be a patriot while aquiring power, wealth and stuff?
A corporation can be composed of one individual, or two, or three, but it exists because of the individuals who compose it.
As a patriot defends the rights of the individual, the corporation can therefore, never be stronger than the patriot, than the individual.
There are those like myself, and many of my friends, who really do want to live a life as close to their ideal as possible, and are miserable right now because of the evolving political landscape.
"Negative" events are driving a wedge between, we believe, our dreams and a quality future, and the potential to realize our dreams.
The United States doesn't know it yet, but it is in a state of emergency.
The young feel their dreams threatened, wether by economic catastrophe, the war and a potential draft, or tired and discouraged from the constant, national hyped threat of danger that sits like a guest in the living room now. You wish it were time for them to go away, but they have actually just arrived.
Terror threats are here to stay as long as we invest in the mis-understanding of other nations and peoples.
What is a patriot? Someone who realizes that the structure of the United States Government was designed to address the individual need for freedom and the pursuit of its own happiness. A patriot understands, that if the quality of life of the individual human beings is damaged and decayed, then the republic is threatened.
A patriot recognizes that if the practice of an economy allows the aggrandizement of a corporate state, over and above the individual in laws and practice, then the republic is threatened.
A patriot is not necessarily bound to any political party, stands for its individual, self-understood beliefs that are flexible to aquired awareness and knowledge. The individual joins the political party for its own reasons, often to share in a community of interests, but the individual does not need the party for existence. The party however, needs the individual, for its own existence. It is nothing without the thought, awareness and actions of individuals.
It is my judgement, that the political parties' need for individuals has aquired the monstrous proportions of unfettered greed for power and money. The political parties urge towards self-preservation has superceded the needs of the individual it purports to represent. The party wants devotion and loyalty from you. How devoted to your principles is the party?
The elected official, we tell ourselves, is the servant of the people, at least, that is the ideal, is it not?
It is my judgement, that the people have become the servants of the elected official. The elected official benefits from a multi-pronged attack in the quest for power: government involvement and corporate involvement, in one lifetime, and sometimes at the same time.
It is my judgement that this corporate involvement, distorts and changes the viewpoint of the elected official, and affects decision that are made with the public's interest at heart. The role as defined for poiticians in modern America, is for the elected official to "balance" the interests of corporate, and the individual. But it is not working.
The climate of corporate America has become one of convenience and excuse. The tremendous outsourcing of jobs from the modern hubs of America does not benefit the individual, yet guaruntees a growing crisis, manifested in the growing numbers of those in poverty.
The corporation, though legally classified as an "individual", is a structure created by individuals. As much as the individual sublimates it's own sense of individual identity into the corporation, surrenders its individuality, to that extent, the individual begins to self-identify with the corporation, and so its primary purpose becomes one of corporate-preservation.
The individual becomes dependent on identity with the corporation, and begins to believe that the individual needs the corporation for self-preservation. Many have this sense of identity though they don't necessarily work for a corporation. How many people really believe it would be best to destroy the corporate structure and replace it with an organic model of individuals organizing for the common good? This is not necessarily a subject much talked about widely.
We take the need for the existence of corporations for granted. We have come to believe that it is the only viable option with which to organize individuals around, though we fail to see that the corporation, because it has no soul, does not benevolently open its arms to the individual to address the true needs of the individual.
The corporation creates needs, from which it prospers as individuals convince themselves that these needs must be fullfilled, satisfied. The corporation creates its reason for existence, (needs for the individual), and convinces through PR work, the "true" existence of those needs for the individual. The corporation, through profit, is primarily concerned with self-preservation.
See the documentary, "The Corporation", and you will begin to understand that the corporation "legally" has taken on identity as though it were an individual. The corporation is nothing though, without the individual that composes it. We can demand that the corporation reflect what brings quality to the life of the individual.
If the corporation harms the individual, then it is a threat to the republic, as the republic is composed of individuals, and a patriot is concerned with the rights of individuals.
America is asleep. The patriot is asleep. Will she awaken in time to save her republic?
# posted by scorpiorising : 5:11 AM |
Monday, December 20, 2004
Wanted: Activists to help take back our country.
Strategy is a new one for me. It is imperative to develop, and coordinate strategy, to take back our country.
It is imperative that many of us cooperate for certain goals, in order to accomplish this. It is imperative that we agree on a sound foundation of principle from which to idealogically move from.
I think I've found such a group. The question is: will it hold together? We're just getting off the ground (and during the holiday season at that). Two people have already threatened to quit, and I am realizing groups have to deal with childish tendenies in adults to quit the game if it isn't going their way. Another fellow in a committee meeting threatened to quite if we didn't include, eventually, the running of our own candidates under a reformed democratic ticket, or a third party ticket.
Putting aside his childish threat, this suggestion challened myself and a few others to think big. Think success. Think possibilities.
In terms of a group holding together, not so easy in a subjective universe. You've got to constantly remind people of what brought us together in the first place. Our love of the earth. Our love of each other. Our love of principled interactions with each other.
We, all of us exist in a subjective universe, and we pass judgement on others, on groups. These judgements form a solid, kryptonite wall, around our own functioning in this subjective universe, and we no longer see the other.
We must learn to transcend our internally created limitations and reach out to other groups to find the common ground.
You see, I happen to think it is possible even to cooperate with some republicans on certain issues. But that's a whole other story.
First we have to learn how to cooperate with each other.
One woman who wanted to quit our group, came into our coffeeshop yesterday and stated she was thinking of dropping out, because the group is all bread and no meat. I said simply, don't drop out, give it a chance.
It takes time to cook, to bake, the meat and bread of any organization. She's feeling frustrated like many of us are feeling. Many of us don't understand the dedication and commitment it takes to launch a group such as this.
We're in uncharted territory, many of us. We're not sure of our navigation skills, but we are going to have to apply all that we have learned in our lives to this task. Not only is this necessary, it is imperative that we organize now, and that organization take place on a local, state, then national level.
My favorite word of the day: imperative.
Dire straits is another phrase that pops into my head every now and then. It is much harder now to ignore the dire straits this country finds itself, and the world for that matter. So much in the world seems predicated on our behavior it seems. You don't need to look any further than Europe for examples of corruption in the capitalist market place; for as in Europe, as in most places in the world now, it is capitalist hegemony that determines and influences the behavior of the people, of the government. It is as though we have all been hypnotized that this is the only way.....I have news for you: the free market doesn't exist, because, in the vernacular of Janis Joplin, there ain't nothin' free my friend.
I digress. When so obviously the extremes of capitalism are showing their true, ugly face, now is the time to organize, because there will be opportunities. We must understand what will be required of us, in order to take advantage of those opportunities.
For example, there is an opportunity now to galvanize democratic supporters around the issue of election reform. Particularly African Americans. Here in New Orleans, there is quite possibly a chance to galvanize people against a new stadium for the Saints football team.
At times, we might find ourselves adopting some of the republican tactics. Actually, more like a "version" of those tactics. One tactic that we can make benign and make our own is the tactic of creating groups, with a name, around certain issues, and make them public, and gather supporters who gell on that particular issue.
For example, the new stadium that is like a shadow over this city right now. Supposedly, this idea has been all but ditched in favor of renovation of the super dome, which is costly enough in and of itself. However, the big pimple is ours and we need to keep it up. It will create jobs. However, I don't trust that these business men have given up on a new stadium.
We need to trump them. We need to form a group to oppose a new stadium. We need to discuss wether or not we support the renovation of the dome.
A new stadium though, will literally take food out of the mouths of hungry children. Public funds will pay for this stadium. The NFL isn't willing to put their money on the line for a city as poor as our's. Ironically, this means this poor city will have to pay for their own new stadium.
Guess what? We can't afford it.
And, we can't afford to not organize at this time in our personal, national and world history.
It is imperative that many of us cooperate for certain goals, in order to accomplish this. It is imperative that we agree on a sound foundation of principle from which to idealogically move from.
I think I've found such a group. The question is: will it hold together? We're just getting off the ground (and during the holiday season at that). Two people have already threatened to quit, and I am realizing groups have to deal with childish tendenies in adults to quit the game if it isn't going their way. Another fellow in a committee meeting threatened to quite if we didn't include, eventually, the running of our own candidates under a reformed democratic ticket, or a third party ticket.
Putting aside his childish threat, this suggestion challened myself and a few others to think big. Think success. Think possibilities.
In terms of a group holding together, not so easy in a subjective universe. You've got to constantly remind people of what brought us together in the first place. Our love of the earth. Our love of each other. Our love of principled interactions with each other.
We, all of us exist in a subjective universe, and we pass judgement on others, on groups. These judgements form a solid, kryptonite wall, around our own functioning in this subjective universe, and we no longer see the other.
We must learn to transcend our internally created limitations and reach out to other groups to find the common ground.
You see, I happen to think it is possible even to cooperate with some republicans on certain issues. But that's a whole other story.
First we have to learn how to cooperate with each other.
One woman who wanted to quit our group, came into our coffeeshop yesterday and stated she was thinking of dropping out, because the group is all bread and no meat. I said simply, don't drop out, give it a chance.
It takes time to cook, to bake, the meat and bread of any organization. She's feeling frustrated like many of us are feeling. Many of us don't understand the dedication and commitment it takes to launch a group such as this.
We're in uncharted territory, many of us. We're not sure of our navigation skills, but we are going to have to apply all that we have learned in our lives to this task. Not only is this necessary, it is imperative that we organize now, and that organization take place on a local, state, then national level.
My favorite word of the day: imperative.
Dire straits is another phrase that pops into my head every now and then. It is much harder now to ignore the dire straits this country finds itself, and the world for that matter. So much in the world seems predicated on our behavior it seems. You don't need to look any further than Europe for examples of corruption in the capitalist market place; for as in Europe, as in most places in the world now, it is capitalist hegemony that determines and influences the behavior of the people, of the government. It is as though we have all been hypnotized that this is the only way.....I have news for you: the free market doesn't exist, because, in the vernacular of Janis Joplin, there ain't nothin' free my friend.
I digress. When so obviously the extremes of capitalism are showing their true, ugly face, now is the time to organize, because there will be opportunities. We must understand what will be required of us, in order to take advantage of those opportunities.
For example, there is an opportunity now to galvanize democratic supporters around the issue of election reform. Particularly African Americans. Here in New Orleans, there is quite possibly a chance to galvanize people against a new stadium for the Saints football team.
At times, we might find ourselves adopting some of the republican tactics. Actually, more like a "version" of those tactics. One tactic that we can make benign and make our own is the tactic of creating groups, with a name, around certain issues, and make them public, and gather supporters who gell on that particular issue.
For example, the new stadium that is like a shadow over this city right now. Supposedly, this idea has been all but ditched in favor of renovation of the super dome, which is costly enough in and of itself. However, the big pimple is ours and we need to keep it up. It will create jobs. However, I don't trust that these business men have given up on a new stadium.
We need to trump them. We need to form a group to oppose a new stadium. We need to discuss wether or not we support the renovation of the dome.
A new stadium though, will literally take food out of the mouths of hungry children. Public funds will pay for this stadium. The NFL isn't willing to put their money on the line for a city as poor as our's. Ironically, this means this poor city will have to pay for their own new stadium.
Guess what? We can't afford it.
And, we can't afford to not organize at this time in our personal, national and world history.
# posted by scorpiorising : 4:20 AM |
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Direction of the Party
From Salon.com...
I think the need for the direction of our party is crystal clear:
On the night after John Kerry lost to George W. Bush, Dean told supporters on a Meetup conference call that the Democratic National Committee is "at a crossroads" and that DNC members "have questions to ask themselves." But now, as Dean prepares for his Bush II coming out and weighs a bid to replace Terry McAuliffe as the head of the DNC, it's the DNC members who have questions for Dean: Where does he want the party to go, and is he willing to put aside his own presidential aspirations to help take it there?
Dean will address the first of those questions Wednesday. He'll argue that the Democratic Party should be rebuilt from the grass roots up, that it should be driven by millions of Americans who make small contributions rather than by a handful of moneyed interests, and that the party should focus not just on presidential politics in swing states like Ohio and Florida but also on down-ballot races even in the reddest of states. On matters of substance, Dean may not resurrect his borrowed line about representing the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," but you can count on him to make it clear he isn't joining the "go along to get along" wing of the party, either.
I think the need for the direction of our party is crystal clear:
On the night after John Kerry lost to George W. Bush, Dean told supporters on a Meetup conference call that the Democratic National Committee is "at a crossroads" and that DNC members "have questions to ask themselves." But now, as Dean prepares for his Bush II coming out and weighs a bid to replace Terry McAuliffe as the head of the DNC, it's the DNC members who have questions for Dean: Where does he want the party to go, and is he willing to put aside his own presidential aspirations to help take it there?
Dean will address the first of those questions Wednesday. He'll argue that the Democratic Party should be rebuilt from the grass roots up, that it should be driven by millions of Americans who make small contributions rather than by a handful of moneyed interests, and that the party should focus not just on presidential politics in swing states like Ohio and Florida but also on down-ballot races even in the reddest of states. On matters of substance, Dean may not resurrect his borrowed line about representing the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," but you can count on him to make it clear he isn't joining the "go along to get along" wing of the party, either.
# posted by scorpiorising : 8:39 AM |
Monday, December 06, 2004
Falluja Gulag
From http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/12/05/returning_fallujans_will_face_clampdown?pg=full
By Anne Barnard, Globe Staff December 5, 2004
FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The US military is drawing up plans to keep insurgents from regaining control of this battle-scarred city, but returning residents may find that the measures make Fallujah look more like a police state than the democracy they have been promised.Under the plans, troops would funnel Fallujans to so-called citizen processing centers on the outskirts of the city to compile a database of their identities through DNA testing and retina scans. Residents would receive badges displaying their home addresses that they must wear at all times. Buses would ferry them into the city, where cars, the deadliest tool of suicide bombers, would be banned.
Marine commanders working in unheated, war-damaged downtown buildings are hammering out the details of their paradoxical task: Bring back the 300,000 residents in
time for January elections without letting in insurgents, even though many Fallujans were among the fighters who ruled the city until the US assault drove them out in November, and many others cooperated with fighters out of conviction or fear.
One idea that has stirred debate among Marine officers would require all men to work, for pay, in military-style battalions. Depending on their skills, they would be assigned jobs in construction, waterworks, or rubble-clearing platoons.
"You have to say, 'Here are the rules,' and you are firm and fair. That radiates stability," said Lieutenant Colonel Dave Bellon, intelligence officer for the First Regimental Combat Team, the Marine regiment that took the western half of Fallujah during the US assault and expects to be based downtown for some time.
Bellon asserted that previous attempts to win trust from Iraqis suspicious of US intentions had telegraphed weakness by asking, " 'What are your needs? What are your emotional needs?' All this Oprah [stuff]," he said. "They want to figure out who the dominant tribe is and say, 'I'm with you.' We need to be the benevolent, dominant tribe.
"They're never going to like us," he added, echoing other Marine commanders who cautioned against raising hopes that Fallujans would warmly welcome troops when they return to ruined houses and rubble-strewn streets. The goal, Bellon said, is "mutual respect
By Anne Barnard, Globe Staff December 5, 2004
FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The US military is drawing up plans to keep insurgents from regaining control of this battle-scarred city, but returning residents may find that the measures make Fallujah look more like a police state than the democracy they have been promised.Under the plans, troops would funnel Fallujans to so-called citizen processing centers on the outskirts of the city to compile a database of their identities through DNA testing and retina scans. Residents would receive badges displaying their home addresses that they must wear at all times. Buses would ferry them into the city, where cars, the deadliest tool of suicide bombers, would be banned.
Marine commanders working in unheated, war-damaged downtown buildings are hammering out the details of their paradoxical task: Bring back the 300,000 residents in
time for January elections without letting in insurgents, even though many Fallujans were among the fighters who ruled the city until the US assault drove them out in November, and many others cooperated with fighters out of conviction or fear.
One idea that has stirred debate among Marine officers would require all men to work, for pay, in military-style battalions. Depending on their skills, they would be assigned jobs in construction, waterworks, or rubble-clearing platoons.
"You have to say, 'Here are the rules,' and you are firm and fair. That radiates stability," said Lieutenant Colonel Dave Bellon, intelligence officer for the First Regimental Combat Team, the Marine regiment that took the western half of Fallujah during the US assault and expects to be based downtown for some time.
Bellon asserted that previous attempts to win trust from Iraqis suspicious of US intentions had telegraphed weakness by asking, " 'What are your needs? What are your emotional needs?' All this Oprah [stuff]," he said. "They want to figure out who the dominant tribe is and say, 'I'm with you.' We need to be the benevolent, dominant tribe.
"They're never going to like us," he added, echoing other Marine commanders who cautioned against raising hopes that Fallujans would warmly welcome troops when they return to ruined houses and rubble-strewn streets. The goal, Bellon said, is "mutual respect
# posted by scorpiorising : 9:34 AM |
How do I know?
How do I know that we have the numbers on our side? Because our policies and beliefs support the enhancement of humanity, the improvement of the quality of life for everyone. And, we must continue to examine every one of our proposed policies and laws, that they are supportive of the quality of life, and not degenerative.
The numbers are on our side, yes, even those who don't participate in politics, consider them as part of our community, as well as republicans and renegades from the republican party. They are ultimately with us, because we possess the power of reason and love for humanity and the ecology of the earth.
This is no small matter. We empower ourselves through the affirmative belief in our own principals. So examine them closely and examine them well.
We have most of the world on our side, and some of you might scoff at this, but this is extremely important. We have the power of the press in other nations. Ironic, isn't it, but significant. Because if, and when the true movement begins to take back our country, we will have a sympathetic foreign press, arousing, as in the Ukraine election crisis, international outrage and interest. Rember, also, that this foreign press represents the intent of the world's people, for intelligent, compassionate leadership to emanate from this country. We haven't yet lived up to our own ideal, but this is a subject for another day.
Our democratic leaders in Congress have not yet realized that they don't have to suck up to broken policies and soul-sucking beliefs as a method of appeasement, or support war as a method of diplomacy, as a replacement of diplomacy. And appeasement as a form of co-existence is ultimately soul-killing. Our democratic leaders have not yet realized that if they raise their voices in support of their true beliefs, support will come, fast and ravenous like the true, hungry beasts we are, starving for quality in public discourse.
We are smart people. Some of us are brilliant. We are all geniuses in some measure, waiting for recognition. We must, first of all, recognize ourselves. So put down your cloaks and your veils, there is nothing to hide from, except eventual success and quality of life.
The numbers are on our side, yes, even those who don't participate in politics, consider them as part of our community, as well as republicans and renegades from the republican party. They are ultimately with us, because we possess the power of reason and love for humanity and the ecology of the earth.
This is no small matter. We empower ourselves through the affirmative belief in our own principals. So examine them closely and examine them well.
We have most of the world on our side, and some of you might scoff at this, but this is extremely important. We have the power of the press in other nations. Ironic, isn't it, but significant. Because if, and when the true movement begins to take back our country, we will have a sympathetic foreign press, arousing, as in the Ukraine election crisis, international outrage and interest. Rember, also, that this foreign press represents the intent of the world's people, for intelligent, compassionate leadership to emanate from this country. We haven't yet lived up to our own ideal, but this is a subject for another day.
Our democratic leaders in Congress have not yet realized that they don't have to suck up to broken policies and soul-sucking beliefs as a method of appeasement, or support war as a method of diplomacy, as a replacement of diplomacy. And appeasement as a form of co-existence is ultimately soul-killing. Our democratic leaders have not yet realized that if they raise their voices in support of their true beliefs, support will come, fast and ravenous like the true, hungry beasts we are, starving for quality in public discourse.
We are smart people. Some of us are brilliant. We are all geniuses in some measure, waiting for recognition. We must, first of all, recognize ourselves. So put down your cloaks and your veils, there is nothing to hide from, except eventual success and quality of life.
# posted by scorpiorising : 8:24 AM |
A New Dawn Coming
After waking up so many mornings with a post election hangover, and going to bed so many nights with a post election soul-searching angst, this morning was positively golden in comparison. Nothing has changed really; I mean, my income is where it was yesterday, earning far enough above poverty to plan a vacation, and close enough to see the trail of tears all the way to the free food line.
I'm still single and too old for the young people I work with and too young for the old fart that made a pass at me the other day in the bar...middle aged life is good, ain't it?
Actually, it ain't that bad...I'm developing tolerance for my post 40's moods and emotional peccadillos; I look at thoughts posted online and realize I've got more than enough share of good sense and intelligent responsiveness to my environment. I look at the fucked up lives of my friends, the various shades of denial we all engage in, and I feel a sense of companionship, at least.
Yesterday, and now today, though, I feel a noticeable difference. I'm feeling, empowered. God, yes, empowered. I'm coming down with a cold, and I feel empowered. I live in a swamp surrounded by water, where it's difficult to get a really good look at the sky, and I feel empowered.
Brown-shirt fascist types are taking over our country, and I feel empowered.
I feel empowered, because we have the numbers game up on them 200 percent. And Bush didn't even get all of the votes he claims to have gotten. You may wonder how I figure we have the numbers game won.
Because we have a monopoly on good decent values and common sense. The only thing keeping us from taking our country back, is a lack of aggressiveness.
There is an epidemic of passivity. People love to flap their jaws though. Just go over to the DailyKos for a day. There is an awful lot of talking going on over there; we're in the middle of a stolen election that hasn't been certified yet, and everyone is dancing around the goddamned elephant in the bathtub. And, they throw shit at Beverly Harris to complete the process of dancing in one's own feces, like monkeys without a clue.
I'm going to forsake the ineptitude of progressive paralysis; the wringing of the hands, oh my god ain't it awful; we already know how awful it is and how awful it's going to get. What are we going to do about it for God's sakes?
I'm still single and too old for the young people I work with and too young for the old fart that made a pass at me the other day in the bar...middle aged life is good, ain't it?
Actually, it ain't that bad...I'm developing tolerance for my post 40's moods and emotional peccadillos; I look at thoughts posted online and realize I've got more than enough share of good sense and intelligent responsiveness to my environment. I look at the fucked up lives of my friends, the various shades of denial we all engage in, and I feel a sense of companionship, at least.
Yesterday, and now today, though, I feel a noticeable difference. I'm feeling, empowered. God, yes, empowered. I'm coming down with a cold, and I feel empowered. I live in a swamp surrounded by water, where it's difficult to get a really good look at the sky, and I feel empowered.
Brown-shirt fascist types are taking over our country, and I feel empowered.
I feel empowered, because we have the numbers game up on them 200 percent. And Bush didn't even get all of the votes he claims to have gotten. You may wonder how I figure we have the numbers game won.
Because we have a monopoly on good decent values and common sense. The only thing keeping us from taking our country back, is a lack of aggressiveness.
There is an epidemic of passivity. People love to flap their jaws though. Just go over to the DailyKos for a day. There is an awful lot of talking going on over there; we're in the middle of a stolen election that hasn't been certified yet, and everyone is dancing around the goddamned elephant in the bathtub. And, they throw shit at Beverly Harris to complete the process of dancing in one's own feces, like monkeys without a clue.
I'm going to forsake the ineptitude of progressive paralysis; the wringing of the hands, oh my god ain't it awful; we already know how awful it is and how awful it's going to get. What are we going to do about it for God's sakes?
# posted by scorpiorising : 7:53 AM |
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Fear and Politics and the Political Body
From my post on the Daily Kos today:
More importantly...
how do our current leaders help construct and build walls between people within our own borders? Fear is the primary weapon of choice now for one political party. It is an effective weapon and it is used well and the use of it has created divisions within our communities that need not be there.
Fear of the other. Fear of what is different from us.
Not to mention the use of fear in Iraq. Some of the overkill in the tactics of the Pentagon, such as the destruction of Falluja, are prized not for the numbers of insurgents killed, but the fear and terror they strike in the people. It seems our primary weapon now is to induce obedience through fear.
Madness, madness
Madness tight on the heads of the rebels
The bitterness erup's like a heart blas'
Broke glass, ritual of blood an' a-burnin'
Served by a cruelin' fighting
5 nights of horror and of bleeding
Broke glass, cold blades as sharp as the eyes of hate
And the stabbin', it's
War amongs' the rebels
Madness, madness, war
I love Linton Kwesi Johnson. I have Dread Beat An' Blood. Thank you for making note of him and bringing up the issue of the use of fear in politics. A subject much in the need of discussion, and how to counteract it.
More importantly...
how do our current leaders help construct and build walls between people within our own borders? Fear is the primary weapon of choice now for one political party. It is an effective weapon and it is used well and the use of it has created divisions within our communities that need not be there.
Fear of the other. Fear of what is different from us.
Not to mention the use of fear in Iraq. Some of the overkill in the tactics of the Pentagon, such as the destruction of Falluja, are prized not for the numbers of insurgents killed, but the fear and terror they strike in the people. It seems our primary weapon now is to induce obedience through fear.
Madness, madness
Madness tight on the heads of the rebels
The bitterness erup's like a heart blas'
Broke glass, ritual of blood an' a-burnin'
Served by a cruelin' fighting
5 nights of horror and of bleeding
Broke glass, cold blades as sharp as the eyes of hate
And the stabbin', it's
War amongs' the rebels
Madness, madness, war
I love Linton Kwesi Johnson. I have Dread Beat An' Blood. Thank you for making note of him and bringing up the issue of the use of fear in politics. A subject much in the need of discussion, and how to counteract it.
# posted by scorpiorising : 6:18 PM |
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