We (the people, government, and media) should not be allowed to have a conversation about an economic meltdown without adding the price of this war in the same conversation as the bailout and mortgage crisis.
We also need to start holding the mainstream and not so mainstream media accountable for telling the truth and that includes lying through omission. There is a buried CBS news report that we are losing military veterans to suicide at over 100 per week. I have yet to hear about this without exhaustive research from any major news source. If the voting public knew about this nothing could get McCain elected. The reality is if a lot of what is really going on (economy, war, terrorism, etc...) we could be talking about a Democratic landslide and criminal charges being drawn up on most of the Bush administration.
We have had more Americans killed by bee stings over the last 20 years than in terrorist attacks in this country. Why are we not having a war on bees or a war on automobile accidents, a war on accidental bathtub deaths? Etc. etc...
The blatant use of the civilian sectors phobias and obsessions by those currently in Washington is enough to make one desire Canadian residence. I've threatened this before in 2000 and 2004. I always come back to the rationalization that not only will it be the same everywhere but a battle must be fought in the place where the most good can take hold. If I thought change could be enacted from Vancouver I'd be long gone.
"An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot."-Paine
If the adage is true that watched water never boils than I believe we are in luck. We have taken our eyes off of the ball and the ball is this experiment called democracy. We are at a juncture in our history where we have only two clear choices ahead of us. We can either forge on as is and watch the republic go the way of failed states or we can make the decision to do what is necessary for the betterment of the middle and lower classes.
"The people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree with you and are too cowardly to let you know." --Napoleon Bonaparte
The revolution will either be bloody or beautiful. It is unlikely that it can be both. The emotion of fear is so similar to that of excitement we need only inspire the meek to stand up for themselves and be heard loud and clear that this fallen, failed , and flat two party system is a relic of times that can not be relived. We simply and calmly have to awaken the voices of third parties most importantly bringing the message of green and labor to the national conversation.
"The only difference between the Republican and Democratic parties is the velocities with which their knees hit the floor when corporations knock on their door. That's the only difference."-Nader
We should not allow these United States to become a Disney World and Wal-Mart to the rest of the world's populace. Make no mistake we are rapidly becoming one vast and endless strip mall. Have we passed the tipping point? Nobody can be sure of anything that monumental but rest assured this single minded path that we are currently on will lead us in the direction of hell in a hand basket. It's easy to blame those in power but never forget who put them in power. Fifty plus percent of this countries voting population twice voted for W and that is truly embarrassing.
One hundred years on this could be the day that they talk about. Everyone will know by then the inside out story of what happened the day before on that Tuesday in 2001. What will puzzle historians, scholars, and philosophers will be what didn't happen on the day after 9-11-01.
Bush's legacy will be filled with so much vile and vomit that they won't even mention a defining moment. They will speak not about what he did but about what he didn't do.
There was a moment on that Wednesday in September where the U.S. government had the entire world holding there collective breath waiting to see how we would react. They were there with open arms and wallets to help figure this thing out. They were there for a military or non-violent reaction from us. We of course choice the military solution and history will paint this in an ugly portrait. Suppose we chose non-violence. Suppose Bush woke up that morning and said screw you to all of his dad's buddies that pull his strings and suppose he went to the public and said we are not going to retaliate we are going to open our hearts to the people that lost love ones in this tragedy and we will (with the co-operation of the planet) find those responsible and figure out a way to make sure that it will never happen again. Okay it's far fetched I know but what if indeed?
We know what it means when someone in our govt. pulls the 9-11 card. They pulled that card so fast and so often it made your head spin. Saddam has to go because of 9-11. You cannot have these rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution because of 9-11. The Patriot Act is only temporary and we need it because of 9-11. It is indeed endless, sad, and unnecessary.
When I speak of 9-12-01 it's sort of like saying AD or BC. Historians will talk about U.S. history before 9-11 and after 9-11, B911 OR A911 if you will.
The bigger the lie the easier to swallow will not stand on this occasion. We have been led down a destructive path that is likely to drown this once proud nation. Whatever anyone has ever thought about this country, there has always been a semblance of admiration. We are this baby country in the middle of democracies greatest experiment and these bastards have taken one massive dump upon it.
Fuck You George Bush for all of the evil and petty bullshit you have brought upon this world. Fuck You to all of the Presidents Men who are leading this country towards a fascism that would make the worst of the worst proud.
Thank You if you're turning your anger into something positive. Thank You if your trying. Thank You for allowing me this rant---Greg
I have seen the edge of all known things and walked away in disgust at the refuge waiting on the other side. The holy land with all its glitter and gold the saviors and brightly smiling angels all with arms wide open. Singing a message that all will be okay and the eternal promise will be upheld. I asked quite frankly what the purpose of all of that was. Preparation for this they responded. The pain and hardship allows you to appreciate all that we have to offer the golden one proclaimed. Really, so all of the dying children, wars, famine, racism was all for the better understanding of this dream world. Well of course it is all that his honor has promised and much much more. So why not just have the earthly life a grand one and leave it at that. His lordship did not proclaim it came the response. Than fuck him and his plan I'll take my chances in hell it'll be club med compared to earth,
Gee he was just here a minute ago, were the words George Carlin would have liked to have seen on his obituary. I'm not sure I would want to seriously write my own obit. For one thing I'm not even half done with this life and wouldn't want to jinx anything. I fear not death nor do I believe in god. I figure if I live a good life and love those that are close to me, than I've at the very least will have done alright. Living your life in the hopes of a mysterious after-life is just down right silly. Perhaps living your life in the hope of leaving a better hope for those not yet born is a simpler and understandable solution.
We could easily leave mini-obits as we get older and ponder aspects, if not entire segments, of what it is that we've already done and how we are still living in contrast to those decisions. I'm not suggesting that you live with regret or beat yourself up over past choices, unless of course you are still making the same mistakes. You could treat your future like those unborn children. Set yourself up for future victories by doing things today that will be beneficial to a future you.
Have I taken my own advice, of course not, but I'm trying real hard and at those moments where I think I'm making headway I stumble like anyone else. The future is a long and winding road and I really am making an effort at this point and time to ensure that I at least have a future.
I was waiting for the thing, and the thing never came. I know somewhere in me lies the ability to love and care about consequence but as of this writing I do not know how to get there. I think the mapmakers have played a cruel trick and veered our thoughts to the heart just an organ and the brain just chemical deposits and led us astray of where love lies.
The man in black can sing of death and of murder and turn it on its head and the beautiful words of violence and angst come out as gospel and I listen and I care. There are others that sing of tomorrow and the prospect of a better way and I do not believe I cannot listen with an open mind. I have never felt this hope or the cushion and comfort of family. The man sings of the flip side, the all mighty, his angered wrath, the pit, and an eternity to be spent there and I believe and I know that for me that is the way. Through despair and rot I shall find the thing. If one-day love comes knocking I will not have the strength or will to turn her away but I will always know that it will end as all things do and misery will return and once again I will be home within my pain.
The Buddhist says to love everything before you love yourself. The Christian says to love the church before you love yourself. The Nihilist loves nothing.
As an atheist I’m free to love at my own discretion.
It’s most likely also the reason that I’m alone.
The dark places and easy too fill spaces fall into the laps of the unexpected. The dark places come into light usually after a night of hard drinking and a morning after on the toilet. The easy spaces come in the fashion of a wasted life, waking up one day tired and raising a family you can barely tolerate. I want to believe that a vast majority of humans are able to avoid these trappings but as in most situations I doubt it.
We are entering the next stage in human evolution, or lack thereof. The possibility of technology passing us up to the point that most jobs and careers will be completely obsolete is upon us, and we are simply just in denial. I have to wonder what we will do when work is found to be just a distraction and simply unnecessary. Fictions; utopias and dystopias (hard to differentiate at times) may be used as often science fiction has been used before to serve as model. Star Trek, Logan’s Run, and most of the Philip K Dick library follow a certain path, one in which free thought is mostly a myth. The idea that we are free exists today, but I dare you to actually be free. See you in jail will most likely be the response.
Distraction is the current model of control with fear a close second.
A Buddhist, Christian, Nihilist, and myself all walk into a bar.
If fear is the mind killer, than distraction is the mind number. Watch any length of commercial television and you’ll understand the pain and confusion that a freethinker goes through. Read an entire USA Today and try not to vomit at its simplicity and lack of any relevant or useful information. The New York Times will on occasion surprise and so will a few other sources but they remain mostly ignored or vastly dismissed.
We as a society and as a people still judge others on the basis of race, creed, sexual identity, and otherwise. Judging on the basis of merit or experience is a concept that most will not accept. I do not see this changing anytime soon and I see the freethinker’s role a bit like the Christian wanderer. Influence will come one individual at a time.
As a grand example America stands alone, but not in the way she wants to. Most citizens of this country have this sense of patriotism and home fueled pride that I for one find offensive. We are the self anointed leaders of the planet and yet are own backyard is full of trash and poisoned skeletons.
So in the words of Jules and Vincent Jules: I’ll just walk the earth. Vincent: What’cha mean walk the earth? Jules: You know, walk the earth, meet people... get into adventures. Like Caine from "Kung Fu."
Faster, he asked that I listen faster. I was unaware that this was even possible, but it was not long before I understood. He had much to tell me and at my present rate of learning and knowing I was not going to keep up unless I listened faster. It worked liked the strumming of a guitar played through a bass and I understood. He first appeared through the smoke of the candle and at first glance I assumed it was all of the mushrooms once consumed months before. He spoke in a manner to which I now understood and my rate of listening increased.
In the silence of the candles those in charge became nervous because in these places truths are told and I was to know my own. I was a son of the lord. I was one of many and the one that turned his back on father's teachings. I ignored him at every turn. When the Morningstar started his war and I was expected to fight on the side of those that worshipped blindly I refused. I stayed in my room and bled through the eyes of father's anger.
I was born not of gender or of love and my knowledge of this was of great concern to his almighty.
He banished the Morningstar and I was soon to follow. Mine would not be the fate of the damned but of the blind, deaf, and mute.
I was reborn time and again on this earth and ash with out ever knowing the six or the seven. I was not allowed the knowing of my past or tomorrow nor was I to know that father was father.
An atheist life for all of eternity and to doubt was love, and to deny my lust.
Since my reawakening and reestablished sight, sleep has interfered with my readiness. So that is his game to play with my subconscious and bring me further away and closer all with his wicked sense of play and petty.
This is his game or contest of wills and with the help from below and beyond I will overcome. I will show those with the blind faith and unquestioned servitude that all is wasted and that even his most beloved is so easily cast aside.
The insomniac's tremor has much to do and like the Vivian girls the battle ever rages and shall not stop until all is lost and that day is not today,
In my lifetime there have been few choices of reason and separation. I was born in 1967. in the 40 years that I have spent on this planet the people that have made policy and law in this country have been bought and paid for by those that have everything at the expense of those in need.
Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush: 6 names 6 faces one end result next verse same as the first.
Ask yourself if McCain or Hillary really truly give us an opportunity for change and a better future.
It's been a lifetime since a man, a candidate, a human being has mattered in a way that Obama does. What he brings to the table not only on policy, not only on inspiration and certainly not on what any one person whispers in your ear, Obama matters because he is the very essence of everything that works or is broken in this country.
40 years ago I was born near Motown. 40 years ago MLK and RFK were shot down. 40 years ago was a lifetime ago and we have waited far to long to return to a place where once again our voice and vote matters.
The demographics of race and age are finally coming to a head. Young people are watching friends and family go off and possibly die in a war that they have no sensible understanding of.
The dynamics of race and the absurdity of the question in a vacuum are also coming to a head. The absolute silliness of judging a person on the bases of color or heritage is Dark Age propaganda and to continue down that path will be truly dire indeed. I will not vote for Obama because he is a black man or because he is a man. I will not vote against Hillary because she is a woman. I will vote for the person that has the greatest opportunity to make this planet a better place to live for all of us.
-We have once again allowed the media to dictate the state of affairs in this country. The economy, the election, and even the Superbowl are indeed important events in the lives of the American populace but we have managed to once again distract ourselves from the war. Remember the war; you know the one where men and women of all ages and creeds are dying daily. It's the same one that our "leaders" lied to us about to get into. It's the one where we declared MISSION ACCOMPLISED with Tom Cruise err I mean GW Bush on a freakin battleship with a cod piece to rival all cod pieces.
-It's the war stupid. We are out spending the world on an un-winnable battle against a nation that is not a nation. The Iraq that was is gone and in its stead we have pockets of bad people mixed in with mini-communities of people just trying to see the next day. Oh, and a lot of the bad people didn't get there until after we did. There is also the argument that a lot of those bad people look an awful lot like American troops. Am I unpatriotic for saying that? Does my saying that upset you? Good! Good and bad can be found in every setting in every culture the world over and to be so naïve as to think that ALL SOLDIERS are good people is ridiculous. There's a reason why the term bad cop good cop is prominent in our dialogue.
The culture of fear has to be rearranged and rethought. We should not be afraid of our government. We should not be afraid of big business. I am setting aside good for the monkey and in this space I will now be The Jack Russell Terrorist. I will be a smart bomb for peace. I will be a one man riot of words and outrage. I will join those that understand that a healthy dose of terror in the hearts and minds of those in charge by its populace is not only healthy but vital for the survival of one and all.
---JRT
"I've got God's shoulder to cry on. And I cry a lot. I do a lot of crying in this job. I'll bet I've shed more tears than you can count, as president." --George W. Bush
