Monday, September 11. 2006
Remembering September 11, 2001
Today is the anniversary of September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center towers in New York City, New York were destroyed by terrorist attack. As Americans mark this anniversary, we must remember some important things that September 11, 2001 changed for us.
We are in more danger now than we were before September 11, 2001. There is more danger from abroad as our heavy-handed foreign policy and brash handling of worldwide affairs have inflamed anti-American sentiment and created enemies out of people who were once at most ambivalent to the United States. There is more danger from within as we are threatened with losing personal freedoms, privacy and individuality in the name of "security."
If there is not another terrorist attack on the United States, the federal government will proclaim the effectiveness of their freedom robbing efforts toward greater security (the Patriot Act, NSA wiretapping, unwarranted searches, illegal detentions and torture). They will use the lack of attack as evidence that their policies are working and they will seek to further them in the interest of "tightening" security. We will continue to lose freedoms and liberties which we will not soon (if ever) recover.
If there is another terrorist attack on the United States, the federal government will use it as "proof" that not enough is being done in the interest of security. They will use the fear and confusion generated by the attack to quickly increase their power and further subjugate citizens and aliens alike. The loss of freedom will be swift and permanent and we will certainly not understand the impact of the new laws until well after we have already sold our souls for protection.
September 11, 2001 saw not only an attack on the United States by terrorists but also ushered in an attack on the United States by a US federal government interested in increasing and solidifying their own power. As we mark September 11, 2001, we must remember that truly patriotic and heroic people resist terrorism and fear mongering in all its forms.
As the famous quote goes: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
We are in more danger now than we were before September 11, 2001. There is more danger from abroad as our heavy-handed foreign policy and brash handling of worldwide affairs have inflamed anti-American sentiment and created enemies out of people who were once at most ambivalent to the United States. There is more danger from within as we are threatened with losing personal freedoms, privacy and individuality in the name of "security."
If there is not another terrorist attack on the United States, the federal government will proclaim the effectiveness of their freedom robbing efforts toward greater security (the Patriot Act, NSA wiretapping, unwarranted searches, illegal detentions and torture). They will use the lack of attack as evidence that their policies are working and they will seek to further them in the interest of "tightening" security. We will continue to lose freedoms and liberties which we will not soon (if ever) recover.
If there is another terrorist attack on the United States, the federal government will use it as "proof" that not enough is being done in the interest of security. They will use the fear and confusion generated by the attack to quickly increase their power and further subjugate citizens and aliens alike. The loss of freedom will be swift and permanent and we will certainly not understand the impact of the new laws until well after we have already sold our souls for protection.
September 11, 2001 saw not only an attack on the United States by terrorists but also ushered in an attack on the United States by a US federal government interested in increasing and solidifying their own power. As we mark September 11, 2001, we must remember that truly patriotic and heroic people resist terrorism and fear mongering in all its forms.
As the famous quote goes: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Sunday, May 7. 2006
Three Cheers for Colbert
Stephen Colbert (from Comedy Central's The Colbert Report was the headlining guest speaker at the White House Correspondent's Dinner on Saturday, April 29th, 2006.
His masterfully written and expertly delivered speech was uncomfortable and insulting to President Bush and the attendants of the dinner, but exhilarating, cathartic and down-right hilarious (in an ouch, burn kind of way) to 68% of Americans.
If you didn't get to catch it on CSPAN, take a look at the video rip. It was a pleasant surprise for me and something I had to watch over and over.
Colbert's silver tongue and sharp wit served Mr. Bush, members of the current administration, and the American press, a healthy meal of bitter irony when he spoke as the misguided right-wing pundit character he plays on his show.
It's surprising that he was granted the opportunity of a headlining speech at this dinner. His words were so scathing, so humiliating and so damn funny that you'd think the whole thing was staged. It wasn't.
Colbert deserves an award for this performance. Not only for the beautiful writing, excellent delivery and perfect acting, but for his ability to stand up and say exactly what millions of American's already think about President Bush. He showed all of us that while you can buy off the press, bury facts and silence critics, you can't stop everyone. Colbert should at least get a Presidential Medal of Freedom for exercising his right to free speech, directly in Bush's face.
His masterfully written and expertly delivered speech was uncomfortable and insulting to President Bush and the attendants of the dinner, but exhilarating, cathartic and down-right hilarious (in an ouch, burn kind of way) to 68% of Americans.
If you didn't get to catch it on CSPAN, take a look at the video rip. It was a pleasant surprise for me and something I had to watch over and over.
Colbert's silver tongue and sharp wit served Mr. Bush, members of the current administration, and the American press, a healthy meal of bitter irony when he spoke as the misguided right-wing pundit character he plays on his show.
It's surprising that he was granted the opportunity of a headlining speech at this dinner. His words were so scathing, so humiliating and so damn funny that you'd think the whole thing was staged. It wasn't.
Colbert deserves an award for this performance. Not only for the beautiful writing, excellent delivery and perfect acting, but for his ability to stand up and say exactly what millions of American's already think about President Bush. He showed all of us that while you can buy off the press, bury facts and silence critics, you can't stop everyone. Colbert should at least get a Presidential Medal of Freedom for exercising his right to free speech, directly in Bush's face.
Saturday, March 4. 2006
FSM
I've found my religion: Pastafarianism! I first learned about Pastafarians when I read about the supreme deity; Flying Spaghetti Monster. I realized that all my life I've felt the power of FSM and everything up until now has been exactly according to FSM's grand design. I hope they begin teaching this in classrooms soon. Evolution has finally been debunked!
Thursday, April 28. 2005
The Bush Energy Plan
Have you heard President Bush's energy plan? He claims it's not oil production that is the problem, it is domestic refining of that oil.
Bush and his dad have made a system of closing military bases. And now, in the midst of skyrocketing oil prices, Bush asks federal agencies to work with communities to see if refineries can be built on these unused bases. I wonder who exactly would build these refineries?
Hmmm... If this does not sound like a pre-meditated construct to you, what does?
This guy has no individual's interest at heart. Bush is a corporate patsy catering to the largest businesses out there (BP makes an annual profit of $17.5 billion). Bush would rather you pay more for gas - he doesn't buy gas and his friends are the ones selling it! Please don't believe this administration's bullshit.
You are not so naive!
Bush and his dad have made a system of closing military bases. And now, in the midst of skyrocketing oil prices, Bush asks federal agencies to work with communities to see if refineries can be built on these unused bases. I wonder who exactly would build these refineries?
Hmmm... If this does not sound like a pre-meditated construct to you, what does?
This guy has no individual's interest at heart. Bush is a corporate patsy catering to the largest businesses out there (BP makes an annual profit of $17.5 billion). Bush would rather you pay more for gas - he doesn't buy gas and his friends are the ones selling it! Please don't believe this administration's bullshit.
You are not so naive!
