"Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure. A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help preserve man's self-respect and inherent human dignity. It is not easy for a people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is right to free themselves from the enervating miasma of fear. Yet even under the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural state of man."
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Quote of the Week of January 29, by Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, who should have become prime minister of Burma (Myanmar) in 1990, has been under house arrest or detention in that hapless country most of the time since then by Burma's corrupt military dictatorship. But she has always continued the struggle for freedom and justice despite the abuse and oppression so widespread against both her and all advocates for real democracy in Burma. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts in 1991, which, if nothing else, has made it harder for the generals to eliminate her. Despite all her pain and suffering at their hands, she remains a commited apostle of Gandhian non-violence and an advocate for fearlessness in the face of oppression. The following quote is from her famous "Freedom from Fear" speech (http://www.dassk.org/contents.php?id=416 ):
*****
"Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure. A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help preserve man's self-respect and inherent human dignity. It is not easy for a people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is right to free themselves from the enervating miasma of fear. Yet even under the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural state of man."
"Within a system which denies the existence of basic human rights, fear tends to be the order of the day. Fear of imprisonment, fear of torture, fear of death, fear of losing friends, family, property or means of livelihood, fear of poverty, fear of isolation, fear of failure. A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help preserve man's self-respect and inherent human dignity. It is not easy for a people conditioned by fear under the iron rule of the principle that might is right to free themselves from the enervating miasma of fear. Yet even under the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for fear is not the natural state of man."
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Webb Watch: Dear Condi:
Senator Webb is definitely on the job. Unlike Senator "spec" (R-PA) who loves to talk loud and do nothing, Webb is dutifully checking off each box as he circles the wagons around this White House. Finally we have a Senator willing to do his congressional duty and protect our constitution from this rogue White House. Webb is also protecting us from our "alleged" leaders and "their decisions" that are 180 degrees in opposition to what "we the people want."
Finally a Senator who is doing something....I will bet anybody that this is just one step in Jim
Webb's plan to "do something" in this once notorious do nothing Congress that "spec" relished.
Here's the latest Webb Watch....Webb is making sure that Condi doesn't evade the important question. whiff whiff...do a smell a bill in the planning stages?
Finally a Senator who is doing something....I will bet anybody that this is just one step in Jim
Webb's plan to "do something" in this once notorious do nothing Congress that "spec" relished.
Here's the latest Webb Watch....Webb is making sure that Condi doesn't evade the important question. whiff whiff...do a smell a bill in the planning stages?
January 29, 2007
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Rice:
During your appearance before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on January 11, 2007, I asked you a question pertaining to the administration’s policy regarding possible military action against Iran. I asked, “Is it the position of this administration that it possesses the authority to take unilateral action against Iran, in the absence of a direct threat, without congressional approval?”
At that time you were loath to discuss questions of presidential authority, but you committed to provide a written answer. Since I have not yet received a reply, the purpose of this letter is to reiterate my interest in your response.
This is, basically, a “yes” or “no” question regarding an urgent matter affecting our nation’s foreign policy. Remarks made by members of this administration strongly suggest that the administration wrongly believes that the 2002 joint resolution authorizing use of force in Iraq can be applied in other instances, such as in the case of Iran. I, as well as the American people, would benefit by fully understanding the administration’s unequivocal response.
I would appreciate your expeditious reply and look forward to discussing this issue with you in the near future.
Sincerely,
James Webb
United States Senator
Sunday, January 28, 2007
My Day at the March
Getting up at 4:30 am to catch the bus was not a highlight...but after two cups of coffee, dressing and packing water, lunch and nibbles into a backpack we are almost ready. First...let the dogs out and "hope" they'll be able to maintain until my brother comes at 1:30 ( AND then until we return after 10pm...)
We catch up with folks we haven't seen in awhile as our two bus convoy heads to DC. We get off at Pentagon City and we fill up the subway station waiting for our train. The organizers remind us we want the yellow line. Jean and I jump on the blue line instead (b/c we're tired of waiting for the yellow line AND we know the blue line ends up at the same place) The car is empty except for three women from New York...who are also in town for the March. We share "activities" etc and one woman who has a strong interest in the Palestinian situation exchanges info with us b/c we know some folks she'll want to connect with.
We end up at the mall at 10:45 and we head for the Native American Museum to hook up with Valley from the Crawford Peace House. We enjoy lunch together by the water falls and then head out to connect with the Veterans for Peace bus folks and listen to the rally. We discussed what was working and not working in our communities. I obtained some wonderfully creative media reform information that I will be useful in Hampton Roads. I am definitely inspired by what the Dallas folks are doing.
I enjoy meeting the vets for peace folks...they are usually friendly, salt of the earth types.
The speeches you will be able to catch or read transcripts (I enjoyed Sean Penn for brevity...and though my fave is Susan Sarandon I enjoyed Tim Robbins speech more than Susan's. (Unlike Rick Howell's opinion that Susan was better than Tim.)
We decide to march for a little while and then head to "mingle" and watch the march. The folks attending the march were very laid back...it was a pretty day and basically a relaxed march. (There was a "small" group of young anarchists who decided to challenge the park police at the capital building. I don't believe any arrests took place there. I did hear the young anarchists also challenged the police at the end of the march and refused to leave the street when asked to do so when the march ended. I have no idea if anyone went all the way to getting arrested or not.) My observations were that the police were laid back during most of the march...and maybe there more active members were "busy" with this small group of folks. I have never observed so much just "mingling" and waffling" around before. I can see how some pictures may give folks the impression that the march was smaller than it was.
I would "love" to say this march was incredibly huge....(actually since the organizers originally "planned" on 10k...it really was huge) but there were definitely at "least" 100k there and I believe it was probably 150K....200K is "possible....anything "estimated" below 100k is definitely in error. I base this on "lots of attendence at marches" and the fact that one grid of the mall was very packed and a second grid was filled with a decent amount of folks along the sides of the mall and across the street in the grassy area on the Capital side of things.
So that's my march experience...lunch was great and if I owned a laptop I could have sent a post from the march but c'est la vie....we grabbed desert before heading back to the buses....and slept on the bus ride home...greeted and played with our dogs before "hitting the sack."
It was a pleasant day spent with interesting pleasant, progressive folks throughout the journey.
We have friends who will be "lobbying" on Monday and we plan to email and call all of our elected officials in DC to let them know we marched and we want to "lobby" them the best we can on this issue.
We catch up with folks we haven't seen in awhile as our two bus convoy heads to DC. We get off at Pentagon City and we fill up the subway station waiting for our train. The organizers remind us we want the yellow line. Jean and I jump on the blue line instead (b/c we're tired of waiting for the yellow line AND we know the blue line ends up at the same place) The car is empty except for three women from New York...who are also in town for the March. We share "activities" etc and one woman who has a strong interest in the Palestinian situation exchanges info with us b/c we know some folks she'll want to connect with.
We end up at the mall at 10:45 and we head for the Native American Museum to hook up with Valley from the Crawford Peace House. We enjoy lunch together by the water falls and then head out to connect with the Veterans for Peace bus folks and listen to the rally. We discussed what was working and not working in our communities. I obtained some wonderfully creative media reform information that I will be useful in Hampton Roads. I am definitely inspired by what the Dallas folks are doing.
I enjoy meeting the vets for peace folks...they are usually friendly, salt of the earth types.
The speeches you will be able to catch or read transcripts (I enjoyed Sean Penn for brevity...and though my fave is Susan Sarandon I enjoyed Tim Robbins speech more than Susan's. (Unlike Rick Howell's opinion that Susan was better than Tim.)
We decide to march for a little while and then head to "mingle" and watch the march. The folks attending the march were very laid back...it was a pretty day and basically a relaxed march. (There was a "small" group of young anarchists who decided to challenge the park police at the capital building. I don't believe any arrests took place there. I did hear the young anarchists also challenged the police at the end of the march and refused to leave the street when asked to do so when the march ended. I have no idea if anyone went all the way to getting arrested or not.) My observations were that the police were laid back during most of the march...and maybe there more active members were "busy" with this small group of folks. I have never observed so much just "mingling" and waffling" around before. I can see how some pictures may give folks the impression that the march was smaller than it was.
I would "love" to say this march was incredibly huge....(actually since the organizers originally "planned" on 10k...it really was huge) but there were definitely at "least" 100k there and I believe it was probably 150K....200K is "possible....anything "estimated" below 100k is definitely in error. I base this on "lots of attendence at marches" and the fact that one grid of the mall was very packed and a second grid was filled with a decent amount of folks along the sides of the mall and across the street in the grassy area on the Capital side of things.
So that's my march experience...lunch was great and if I owned a laptop I could have sent a post from the march but c'est la vie....we grabbed desert before heading back to the buses....and slept on the bus ride home...greeted and played with our dogs before "hitting the sack."
It was a pleasant day spent with interesting pleasant, progressive folks throughout the journey.
We have friends who will be "lobbying" on Monday and we plan to email and call all of our elected officials in DC to let them know we marched and we want to "lobby" them the best we can on this issue.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Speech
Listen to The Speech
Think about it....
Then send money to support Senator Webb's work. After all, Senator Webb is working for "us" not the corporate robber barons....Here's Senator Webb's Born Fighting PAC link.
Imagine what politics would be like if EVERYONE, including the President, had to write their own speech...We would see the genuine article and not a PR image of a politician reading the script that has been drafted/adapted/by PR folks to get us to buy their crap. No wonder modern day politicians are so often accused of not being able to walk their talk.
Finally Virginia has a Senator who walks his talk. A Senator who represents Virginians and is not "owned" by corporate lobbyists.
Think about it....
Then send money to support Senator Webb's work. After all, Senator Webb is working for "us" not the corporate robber barons....Here's Senator Webb's Born Fighting PAC link.
Imagine what politics would be like if EVERYONE, including the President, had to write their own speech...We would see the genuine article and not a PR image of a politician reading the script that has been drafted/adapted/by PR folks to get us to buy their crap. No wonder modern day politicians are so often accused of not being able to walk their talk.
Finally Virginia has a Senator who walks his talk. A Senator who represents Virginians and is not "owned" by corporate lobbyists.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Quotation of the Week of January 22, by Yogi Bhajan
(Yogi Bhajan, who died several years ago, was a Sikh Master from India who came to the US in the 60's to found the 3HO Foundation (http://www.3ho.org/), which became a series of ashrams that have spread across America teaching Yoga and a more spiritual lifestyle. He was a very wise man and an advocate for the Aquarian Age, which, in the bleakness of today's landscape, we tend to forget we are now moving into. There is light at the end of the tunnel.)
*****
What is the one principle that is most absent in the actions and philosophies of the hard Right-wing, the Neocons, the Apostles of war, violence and fear, those who want to dictate to the world at the point of a gun and who seek to divide humanity with hatred?
In a word, love. Progressive forces must fully recognize this, lest we adopt some of their wretched tactics. It is love which gives our cause meaning, and which will sustain us as we work to manifest the brotherhood and sisterhood of humankind.
Yogi Bhajan often spoke eloquently about love. Here is an excerpt from what he said in a lecture in June 1970:
"Man has to live in love - love which is not lust. Love where there is no possession, no slavery of another person. Love which is a giving. Love which is for the sake of love. Love which lasts forever. Love which is a total sacrifice. Love which is more than the grace of God itself. Love which gives a halo around the face of the person. Love through which one can see God in the eyes of the person. Love with which the body shines, the words become sweet, and the communication is absolutely beautiful. That love for which one sacrifices his own life to save a little bit of injury to another person. That love with which one pleasantly and peacefully takes all the pain into his heart to redeem another fellow being. That love can only flow when one knows how to tune into that universal God."
-from Aquarian Times, volume 5, number 6, Nov/Dec 2006, p.28.
So tune in to the heartbeat of the planet, the highest energies of the Cosmos, and the Truth in our souls. Channel the positive force of love into ourselves and out into the world until it becomes a momentous force for transformation.
In a word, love. Progressive forces must fully recognize this, lest we adopt some of their wretched tactics. It is love which gives our cause meaning, and which will sustain us as we work to manifest the brotherhood and sisterhood of humankind.
Yogi Bhajan often spoke eloquently about love. Here is an excerpt from what he said in a lecture in June 1970:
"Man has to live in love - love which is not lust. Love where there is no possession, no slavery of another person. Love which is a giving. Love which is for the sake of love. Love which lasts forever. Love which is a total sacrifice. Love which is more than the grace of God itself. Love which gives a halo around the face of the person. Love through which one can see God in the eyes of the person. Love with which the body shines, the words become sweet, and the communication is absolutely beautiful. That love for which one sacrifices his own life to save a little bit of injury to another person. That love with which one pleasantly and peacefully takes all the pain into his heart to redeem another fellow being. That love can only flow when one knows how to tune into that universal God."
-from Aquarian Times, volume 5, number 6, Nov/Dec 2006, p.28.
So tune in to the heartbeat of the planet, the highest energies of the Cosmos, and the Truth in our souls. Channel the positive force of love into ourselves and out into the world until it becomes a momentous force for transformation.
Sporadic Posting until Tuesday....
Due to: 1) changing internet providers and servicemen here to disconnect and reconnect (today), installing a third computer onto our network (Wed) and traveling to and from the March (Sunday), posting is likely to be sporadic at Mosquito Blog until Tuesday....
Hope LOTS of folks are attending the march AND planning to communicate with your Senators on Monday about withdrawing from Iraq asap and NO support for escalating the conflict.
ALSO, ask your congressman to pass legislation to insure that Bush cannot invade Iran (or any other country) without congressional approval...this last one is probably the most important. Now that we have grown ups in the Congress they need to stand up and be firm about their congressional duties.
Buzz...Buzz...
Hope LOTS of folks are attending the march AND planning to communicate with your Senators on Monday about withdrawing from Iraq asap and NO support for escalating the conflict.
ALSO, ask your congressman to pass legislation to insure that Bush cannot invade Iran (or any other country) without congressional approval...this last one is probably the most important. Now that we have grown ups in the Congress they need to stand up and be firm about their congressional duties.
Buzz...Buzz...
World Poll on US Government
Mid-East role The BBC has published the World Service Survey. Respondents from 26 questions were asked their opinions about the Bush administration's performance in six areas of foreign policy:
- Detainees in
- The war in
- Israeli-Hezbollah war: 65% disapproved of Washington's policies across the 25 countries (50% in the
- Global warming: In
The polls were conducted in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Here's the source.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Reminder--State of the Union Watching Parties
Hampton Roads Democrats-
SUPPORT JIM WEBB
WHEN: TUESDAY, January 23rd
Beginning around 8:30 PM
WHAT: State of the Union Watching Parties (Actually Jim Webb Response Parties!)
Come join your neighbors and fellow Democrats for SOTU/Democratic Response watching parties. You can make a game out of the mangled syntax of the Decider while we await Senator Webb’s response. Come on out and make some new friends, while supporting the Senate’s newest superstar. The press will be invited to attend in hopes of some positive coverage for our very own Senator Jim Webb!!!
WHERE: Peninsula Location
Plaza Azteca Restaurant
50 Towne Center Way (off Hampton Roads Center Parkway opposite the AMC 24)
Hampton, VA 23666
RSVP to: Charles Stanton
757-877-2553
Norfolk Location
The New Belmont
2117 Colonial Ave Norfolk, VA 23517
RSVP to: Nancy McPherson
757-339-1682
Virginia Beach Location
Jewish Mother,
31st and Pacific Ave
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
RSVP to: Susan Mariner
757-692-0989
Please distribute this information widely!
See you there!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Fox News Exposes Bush's Flopping Point....
It seems to be more than a tipping point....I'd have to say it's a flopping point. The latest Fox News Poll shows that Bush's "unfavorable" rating is larger than Dick Cheney's. George has surpassed Dick in the "un-favorability" factor by a whopping 5% (Bush is 58% to Cheney's 53%).
It gets even more interesting. Bush wins by a whisker (1%) over Cheney in"favorability" (38% to 31%) Those Fox viewers...way to go folks.
Fox has also "uncovered" that the two most important issue in our country today are the War in Iraq is overwhelmingly the number one issue concerning Americans 45% followed by healthcare/prescription drugs at 10%, Economy/Jobs/Employment is the number three concern at 7%.
No wonder that John Edwards appears "to be" the heartthrob of the nation at this time.
Buzz...Buzz...
Poll Sources are:
TPM CAFE
Fox News Poll
It gets even more interesting. Bush wins by a whisker (1%) over Cheney in"favorability" (38% to 31%) Those Fox viewers...way to go folks.
Fox has also "uncovered" that the two most important issue in our country today are the War in Iraq is overwhelmingly the number one issue concerning Americans 45% followed by healthcare/prescription drugs at 10%, Economy/Jobs/Employment is the number three concern at 7%.
No wonder that John Edwards appears "to be" the heartthrob of the nation at this time.
Buzz...Buzz...
Poll Sources are:
TPM CAFE
Fox News Poll
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Senator Warner is not committed......
I was talking to Mosquito a little while ago and I was told to check out the Daily Kos and I saw this:
I found this interesting because I called Warner's office today to voice concerns with one of his aides. I started with..."It is rumored that Senator Warner will be running for re-election...." The aide then stated, "The Senator has not made a decision on whether he will run again."
Now this is very interesting. I think the Dems oughta start looking for thier ideal candidate now. You can bet the Republicans are already planning and looking ahead.
I am hesitant to list this race so high because of two reasons. First, I am unsure that Warner will follow through with his commitment to run. If he bows out, this seat could be obtainable as the Democrats have won two close elections in a row with Tim Kaine in 2005 and of course Jim Webb in 2006. The other fact that remains is whether or not former Governor Mark Warner will challenge for the seat. If Gov. Warner challenges Senator Warner than this race could be one big Warner-for-all, with the only certain outcome being that a Warner being the next Senator from Virginia.
I found this interesting because I called Warner's office today to voice concerns with one of his aides. I started with..."It is rumored that Senator Warner will be running for re-election...." The aide then stated, "The Senator has not made a decision on whether he will run again."
Now this is very interesting. I think the Dems oughta start looking for thier ideal candidate now. You can bet the Republicans are already planning and looking ahead.
Riverboat Gambling in Portsmouth and Norfolk??
VA has utlilized the Lotto to help send our educational system to the front of the nation. They also okayed a race track with race track betting, and unfortunately instead of locating this track near tourist territory (where it would have had more success such as in Portsmouth) they located it in a rural area where it often had difficulty drawing a crowd. But the satellite off track betting centers are allegedly doing a decent business. However, since a private industry is running this venture I doubt that VA is reaping the benefits as it does with the lottery.
Why doesn't Norfolk and Portsmouth request legislation to allow them to utlilize riverboat gambling? The proceeds could be used to help fund another tube to add two lanes to the midtown tunnel to ease the notorious traffic congestion between Norfolk and Portsmouth. The majority of the proceeds could then be earmarked to help with other Norfolk/Portsmouth issues that are so often unaddressed such as affordable housing/homelessness and other programs that are needed in these two urban areas that need additional resources.
It's just a thought as I sip tea on a rainy afternoon....
Why doesn't Norfolk and Portsmouth request legislation to allow them to utlilize riverboat gambling? The proceeds could be used to help fund another tube to add two lanes to the midtown tunnel to ease the notorious traffic congestion between Norfolk and Portsmouth. The majority of the proceeds could then be earmarked to help with other Norfolk/Portsmouth issues that are so often unaddressed such as affordable housing/homelessness and other programs that are needed in these two urban areas that need additional resources.
It's just a thought as I sip tea on a rainy afternoon....
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Check out the Raging Grannies
Check out the Raging Grannies over at the women's post.
Thanks to Vivian for inviting me to join the other wonderful women over there. I'm glad I've finally been able to help out and get a post put up.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
united for peace & justice
Now it's time to walk the talk. Mark your calendars for Sunday January 27th and prepare to march on Bush, Cheney, Rice, Gates, et al and let them know we want out of Iraq asap and shut down any plans they have for opening another war front with Iran.
IF you can take the day off on Monday January 28th for lobby day, make an appt. with your Senators and Representatives ahead of time so you can drop in and let them know we are serious about making this president "hear" the voices of the people he is supposed to represent and we expect Congress to INSIST that we are heard and respected.
For more information and details for planning your sacred journey go here.
Get a van load of folks and plan to march and/or lobby together. There's a bus going up for the Sunday march from Tidewater VA. Leave a comment if you need bus info.
UPDATE:Date Correction it's SATURDAY Jan 27th
Monday, January 15, 2007
Quote of the Week of January 15, by Krishna
For those of you who are disheartened and depressed by the arrogance, criminality and wanton greed, cruelty and destructiveness of the powers that be in the world today, especially our own corrupt and degenerate federal government, epitomized by the hubris-intoxicated Neocons, let us recall that, as Archbishop Desmond Tutu so often points out, we still live in a moral universe where actions have consequences.
The Divine does not forever abandon the oppressed and the righteous, nor does Divinity forever withhold judgment against those who routinely violate others. Consider what the planet is collectively going through now as a test of Faith, and take note of the famous words of Krishna, the Hindu incarnation of the Godhead, to his protégé, the warrior Arjuna, in the great Hindu classic, The Bhagavad Gita, in describing those power-addicted elitists who only worship their own egos and lusts:
From Chapter 16 (Sir Edwin Arnold translation),
The Divine and Demonic Natures Defined:
12) Ensnared in nooses of a hundred idle hopes, slaves to their passion and their wrath, they buy wealth with base deeds, to glut hot appetites.
13) "Thus much, today," they say, "we gained! thereby such and such wish of heart shall have its fill; and this is ours! and th' other shall be ours!
14) To-day we slew a foe, and we will slay our other enemy tomorrow! Look! Are we not lords? Make we not goodly cheer? Is not our fortune famous, brave, and great?
15) Rich are we, proudly born! What other men live like to us? Kill, then, for sacrifice! Cast largesse, and be merry!"
16) So they speak, darkened by ignorance; and so they fall, tossed to and fro with projects, tricked, and bound in net of black delusion, lost in lusts down to foul Naraka.
17) Stubborn and proud, dead-drunken with the wine of wealth, and reckless, all their offerings have but a show of reverence, being not made in piety of ancient faith.
18) Thus avowed to self-hood, force, insolence, feasting, wrath, these my blasphemers, in the forms they wear and in the forms they breed my foemen are, hateful and hating.
19) Cruel, evil, vile, lowest and least of men, whom I (Krishna) cast down again, and yet again, at end of lives, into some devilish womb, whence - birth by birth - the devilish wombs re-spawn them, all beguiled.
20) And, till they find and worship Me, sweet Prince, tread they that Nether Road."
*****
The scriptures of other Faiths also address the perennial folly of the rich and powerful as they lord it over humanity. Perhaps some of our readers would like to share other passages with us.
The Divine does not forever abandon the oppressed and the righteous, nor does Divinity forever withhold judgment against those who routinely violate others. Consider what the planet is collectively going through now as a test of Faith, and take note of the famous words of Krishna, the Hindu incarnation of the Godhead, to his protégé, the warrior Arjuna, in the great Hindu classic, The Bhagavad Gita, in describing those power-addicted elitists who only worship their own egos and lusts:
From Chapter 16 (Sir Edwin Arnold translation),
The Divine and Demonic Natures Defined:
12) Ensnared in nooses of a hundred idle hopes, slaves to their passion and their wrath, they buy wealth with base deeds, to glut hot appetites.
13) "Thus much, today," they say, "we gained! thereby such and such wish of heart shall have its fill; and this is ours! and th' other shall be ours!
14) To-day we slew a foe, and we will slay our other enemy tomorrow! Look! Are we not lords? Make we not goodly cheer? Is not our fortune famous, brave, and great?
15) Rich are we, proudly born! What other men live like to us? Kill, then, for sacrifice! Cast largesse, and be merry!"
16) So they speak, darkened by ignorance; and so they fall, tossed to and fro with projects, tricked, and bound in net of black delusion, lost in lusts down to foul Naraka.
17) Stubborn and proud, dead-drunken with the wine of wealth, and reckless, all their offerings have but a show of reverence, being not made in piety of ancient faith.
18) Thus avowed to self-hood, force, insolence, feasting, wrath, these my blasphemers, in the forms they wear and in the forms they breed my foemen are, hateful and hating.
19) Cruel, evil, vile, lowest and least of men, whom I (Krishna) cast down again, and yet again, at end of lives, into some devilish womb, whence - birth by birth - the devilish wombs re-spawn them, all beguiled.
20) And, till they find and worship Me, sweet Prince, tread they that Nether Road."
Martin Luther King -- The Peace Advocate
I often wonder what our world would be like today if Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, and John Kennedy had not been assassinated in the prime of their lives and as they attempted to steer this country on a course of greatness.In spite of folks attempting to box Martin Luther King into a box labeled Civil Rights Advocate only...King broke out of the box to speak out forcefully and passionately against the Vietnam War.
Our 1964 Nobel Peace Laureate's words on peace are appropriate today, unfortunately.
Every American should read Martin Luther King's speech
"Beyond Vietnam--A Time to Break Silence" today.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Buzz...Buzz...This Can't Be Legal....
Can an assistant secretary of defense--Charles Simpson--suggest that CEO's boycott law firms who choose to do a public service--pro bono representation of Gitmo detainees?
This is domestic "intimidation" and an attempt to influence the legal profession''s ethical code and duties.
Here's the link for the latest assault on civil liberties in America.
This is domestic "intimidation" and an attempt to influence the legal profession''s ethical code and duties.
Here's the link for the latest assault on civil liberties in America.
Media Watch: Joe Lieberman and the Myth of the Left...
Media Watch--Why is the Corporate Media insistent on featuring Joe Lieberman in so many places when they should have a "real" Democrat speaking?
Lieberman is an INSULT to the Democratic party...I can't wait until 2008 when Lieberman won't be needed by the Senate Dems and he can be justly booted to the curb and stripped of any chairmanship.
Joe Lieberman is such a shameless bushitte! This man is and has been a neo-con Republican for a long, long time.
When the Corporate Media continues to propagate the lie that anti-Iraq War sentiment is due to the left wing. The TRUTH is the MAJORITY of the American people (more than 60%--consisting of Conservatives, Moderates, and Liberals) want a withdrawal (not an escalation or "surge") from Iraq asap. Only 11% of Americans support Bush's "surge."
Thank Heavens there are some Dems setting the record straight whenever a corporate media professional puts forth the lie of only liberals wanting to leave Iraq.
But you'll not hear Joe Lieberman correct the propaganda. Instead, he insists on selling it.
I'm so sick of Joe Lieberman I have to change the channel whenever I hear "that" voice or see his face. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Maybe when their ratings fall they will start putting up an equal number of REAL Democrats or at least put Lieberman in one of the seats reserved for the Republican viewpoint.
I'm so glad I don't live in CT; I wouldn't be able to walk around with my head held high like I can thanks to Senator Jim Webb!!
Lieberman is an INSULT to the Democratic party...I can't wait until 2008 when Lieberman won't be needed by the Senate Dems and he can be justly booted to the curb and stripped of any chairmanship.
Joe Lieberman is such a shameless bushitte! This man is and has been a neo-con Republican for a long, long time.
When the Corporate Media continues to propagate the lie that anti-Iraq War sentiment is due to the left wing. The TRUTH is the MAJORITY of the American people (more than 60%--consisting of Conservatives, Moderates, and Liberals) want a withdrawal (not an escalation or "surge") from Iraq asap. Only 11% of Americans support Bush's "surge."
Thank Heavens there are some Dems setting the record straight whenever a corporate media professional puts forth the lie of only liberals wanting to leave Iraq.
But you'll not hear Joe Lieberman correct the propaganda. Instead, he insists on selling it.
I'm so sick of Joe Lieberman I have to change the channel whenever I hear "that" voice or see his face. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Maybe when their ratings fall they will start putting up an equal number of REAL Democrats or at least put Lieberman in one of the seats reserved for the Republican viewpoint.
I'm so glad I don't live in CT; I wouldn't be able to walk around with my head held high like I can thanks to Senator Jim Webb!!
Buzz Buzz
Buzz Buzz....
Mosquito's back!! My relative is doing better and no longer needs my assistance.
I'm not sure how "prolific" I'll be beyond a daily post because we have some exciting changes coming up which are going to require some extensive set up work....but I think you'll like what we end up with over here.
In the meantime...I have been cruising around as much as possible and visiting the other VA bloggers. I must say that I'm so proud of Virginia's progressive bloggers!! I know the majority are democratic and not independent sorts like Mosquito who will go for the best progressive candidate I can find....but in the end (in VA at least) that has meant a Democratic candidate. You folks ROCK!! New folks are emerging and I say the more diversity, the more voices, the better off we'll all be!!
My New Years Resolution included "..to continue making this a better world and in that vein I hope to promote stuff like a "PEACEFUL AMERICA," more reporting on local grass roots groups and their projects, improved public media, net neutrality, voter verification, instant run off voting....Hopefully in my lifetime there will be instant run off voting so I can vote for the person I want and then make a second choice in case my "ideal" candidate is not able to capture the majority. At least it won't mean that my LAST choice for a candidate for public office won't slip in there by mistake....
So Buzz Buzz to everyone!
Mosquito's back!! My relative is doing better and no longer needs my assistance.
I'm not sure how "prolific" I'll be beyond a daily post because we have some exciting changes coming up which are going to require some extensive set up work....but I think you'll like what we end up with over here.
In the meantime...I have been cruising around as much as possible and visiting the other VA bloggers. I must say that I'm so proud of Virginia's progressive bloggers!! I know the majority are democratic and not independent sorts like Mosquito who will go for the best progressive candidate I can find....but in the end (in VA at least) that has meant a Democratic candidate. You folks ROCK!! New folks are emerging and I say the more diversity, the more voices, the better off we'll all be!!
My New Years Resolution included "..to continue making this a better world and in that vein I hope to promote stuff like a "PEACEFUL AMERICA," more reporting on local grass roots groups and their projects, improved public media, net neutrality, voter verification, instant run off voting....Hopefully in my lifetime there will be instant run off voting so I can vote for the person I want and then make a second choice in case my "ideal" candidate is not able to capture the majority. At least it won't mean that my LAST choice for a candidate for public office won't slip in there by mistake....
So Buzz Buzz to everyone!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Quote of the Week, By Voltaire
In light of President Bush's "surge" speech this Wednesday tonight on national television, this quotation seems particularly appropriate:
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
-François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
-François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Watership Down
Okay...I had to take Vivian Paige's challenge on the book quiz.
You're Watership Down!
by Richard Adams
Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.
Friday, January 05, 2007
False Flag Ops - Some History
From time to time I'm going to throw out a few terms, definitions and expositions on the political science (or political voodoo?) subject one might call Modern Machiavellianism 101. Today's term is "false flag operation", a term most readers are familiar with, but not all, so here is how Wikipedia briefly defines it:
"False flag operations are covert operations conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to appear as if they are being carried out by other entities. The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors; that is, flying the flag of a country other than one's own."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag)
I guess the old Hollywood pirate movies would be a perfect example of literally flying a false flag, when a pirate ship would hoist an innocent-looking national ensign as it approached its intended victim, beguiling the crew, and then haul up the Jolly Roger at the last minute as it attacked. In real history, a classic example would be the German Raiders of WWII, vessels which had hidden guns and torpedo-launchers on board what were converted merchant ships flying false flags as they approached other vessels. They would raise the German flag at the last moment, demand the other ship's surrender through signal flags, or some other means, to give the crew a cursory opportunity to escape if the German captain was feeling gracious, and then strive to sink it whether it surrendered or not.
But the type of false flag operation I am specifically referring to today is when one entity commits a crime or stages what looks like a crime while pretending to be another entity, so as to have all the blame cast on the second entity. For example, the infamous Reichstag Fire in Germany in 1933, which was originally blamed on the mentally challenged communist, Marinus Van der Lubbe, who also confessed, after Nazi interrogation, to the fire, is now widely accepted as an "inside" job by the Nazis themselves to promote a murderous purge against German communists and catapult Hitler to dictatorial power through the Enabling Act.
It was later revealed that an underground tunnel running from Hermann Goering's residence to the cellars of the Reichstag allowed storm troopers, led by SA leader Karl Ernst, to steal undetected into the building to engage in their own significant arsonist activities while Van der Lubbe, clueless, apparently ran amok, half-naked, using his shirt as a torch. Apparently undercover Nazi agents had befriended him and knew the time of his arson attempt.
The Nazis also employed a sinister false flag op against Poland in 1939, staging an attack on the Gleiwitz radio station on the German border with Poland. One of several slightly different historical accounts has the Nazis dressing up several German-held convicts in Polish uniforms, shooting them and then arranging their bodies as if they had attacked the station. A German agent then read anti-German polemics over the air in Polish, conjuring up the imagined scenario that Poles had overrun the station across Germany’s air waves. German citizens were outraged and Hitler dutifully invaded Poland the next day, citing this and several other alleged incidents as justification.
False flag operations have been used repeatedly throughout history, dating back to Nero framing the Christians for the great fire of Rome and beyond. There are now widespread arguments that this Machiavellian technique has become an ongoing tool in both the American and British Establishments' clandestine bag of dirty tricks, the Gulf of Tonkin incident with North Vietnam often cited as one prominent example, not to mention the historical controversy surrounding the justification for the American invasion of Mexico in 1846, as well as the controversy surrounding the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor that led to the Spanish-American War in 1898.
Currently, there are powerful allegations that both 9/11 and the London Terror Bombings also fall into the false flag category, as shock and awe catastrophies designed to jerk the public's chains in the United States and Britain and then manipulate them into the frenzied service of war. Various draconian terror alerts and “uncovered” terrorist plots also raise questions, particularly in those cases where we learn that government agencies had conducted surveillance operations for months or even run sting operations. A good case in point is last year’s melodramatic announcement of a “Liquid Bomb Plot” against some 14 airliners, a case which has slowly been unraveling as various suspects both in Britain and Pakistan have been quietly released or had their charges downgraded for lack of serious evidence, as opposed to mountains of dubious circumstantial “evidence”. I am sure viewers of this website have their own opinions on all of this.
What is worse is that there are now heightening rumors and predictions that a new false flag operation is underway to justify retaliatory attacks or full-scale war against Iran and/or Syria. Let us hope that this is overwrought paranoia, for the last thing the planet needs is another war. But if another major terrorist attack does occur, let us not be shocked and awed into stupidity, but start to analyze the event immediately with a healthy dose of skepticism.
"False flag operations are covert operations conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to appear as if they are being carried out by other entities. The name is derived from the military concept of flying false colors; that is, flying the flag of a country other than one's own."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag)
I guess the old Hollywood pirate movies would be a perfect example of literally flying a false flag, when a pirate ship would hoist an innocent-looking national ensign as it approached its intended victim, beguiling the crew, and then haul up the Jolly Roger at the last minute as it attacked. In real history, a classic example would be the German Raiders of WWII, vessels which had hidden guns and torpedo-launchers on board what were converted merchant ships flying false flags as they approached other vessels. They would raise the German flag at the last moment, demand the other ship's surrender through signal flags, or some other means, to give the crew a cursory opportunity to escape if the German captain was feeling gracious, and then strive to sink it whether it surrendered or not.
But the type of false flag operation I am specifically referring to today is when one entity commits a crime or stages what looks like a crime while pretending to be another entity, so as to have all the blame cast on the second entity. For example, the infamous Reichstag Fire in Germany in 1933, which was originally blamed on the mentally challenged communist, Marinus Van der Lubbe, who also confessed, after Nazi interrogation, to the fire, is now widely accepted as an "inside" job by the Nazis themselves to promote a murderous purge against German communists and catapult Hitler to dictatorial power through the Enabling Act.
It was later revealed that an underground tunnel running from Hermann Goering's residence to the cellars of the Reichstag allowed storm troopers, led by SA leader Karl Ernst, to steal undetected into the building to engage in their own significant arsonist activities while Van der Lubbe, clueless, apparently ran amok, half-naked, using his shirt as a torch. Apparently undercover Nazi agents had befriended him and knew the time of his arson attempt.
The Nazis also employed a sinister false flag op against Poland in 1939, staging an attack on the Gleiwitz radio station on the German border with Poland. One of several slightly different historical accounts has the Nazis dressing up several German-held convicts in Polish uniforms, shooting them and then arranging their bodies as if they had attacked the station. A German agent then read anti-German polemics over the air in Polish, conjuring up the imagined scenario that Poles had overrun the station across Germany’s air waves. German citizens were outraged and Hitler dutifully invaded Poland the next day, citing this and several other alleged incidents as justification.
False flag operations have been used repeatedly throughout history, dating back to Nero framing the Christians for the great fire of Rome and beyond. There are now widespread arguments that this Machiavellian technique has become an ongoing tool in both the American and British Establishments' clandestine bag of dirty tricks, the Gulf of Tonkin incident with North Vietnam often cited as one prominent example, not to mention the historical controversy surrounding the justification for the American invasion of Mexico in 1846, as well as the controversy surrounding the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor that led to the Spanish-American War in 1898.
Currently, there are powerful allegations that both 9/11 and the London Terror Bombings also fall into the false flag category, as shock and awe catastrophies designed to jerk the public's chains in the United States and Britain and then manipulate them into the frenzied service of war. Various draconian terror alerts and “uncovered” terrorist plots also raise questions, particularly in those cases where we learn that government agencies had conducted surveillance operations for months or even run sting operations. A good case in point is last year’s melodramatic announcement of a “Liquid Bomb Plot” against some 14 airliners, a case which has slowly been unraveling as various suspects both in Britain and Pakistan have been quietly released or had their charges downgraded for lack of serious evidence, as opposed to mountains of dubious circumstantial “evidence”. I am sure viewers of this website have their own opinions on all of this.
What is worse is that there are now heightening rumors and predictions that a new false flag operation is underway to justify retaliatory attacks or full-scale war against Iran and/or Syria. Let us hope that this is overwrought paranoia, for the last thing the planet needs is another war. But if another major terrorist attack does occur, let us not be shocked and awed into stupidity, but start to analyze the event immediately with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Sporadic posting at Mosquito blog...
I "thought" I was taking a Christmas break but didn't...Now my mom is in the hospital so this will most likely interfere with daily posting...
Star and Mac are on board but their commitment was more "as they can...and as the mood strikes..." so hopefully you will enjoy our posting when we can get to it. I believe Star has a family member in the hospital too so please bear with us.
And keep up the good work Virginia Bloggers....I've been visiting some sites today and you are wonderful!!
Buzz...Buzz...
Star and Mac are on board but their commitment was more "as they can...and as the mood strikes..." so hopefully you will enjoy our posting when we can get to it. I believe Star has a family member in the hospital too so please bear with us.
And keep up the good work Virginia Bloggers....I've been visiting some sites today and you are wonderful!!
Buzz...Buzz...
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Ask Virginian Pilot to carry Amy Goodman's Column
Award winning independent journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now has a syndicated newspaper column. The Virginia Pilot should carry this column if it has any hope of reflecting the diversity of its readers in Hampton Roads.
Here is a sampling of Goodman's columns.
Contact the Virginian Pilot ask them to carry Amy Goodman's column. I'd like to have a reason to subscribe to my local paper. This would give it to me.
Here is a sampling of Goodman's columns.
Contact the Virginian Pilot ask them to carry Amy Goodman's column. I'd like to have a reason to subscribe to my local paper. This would give it to me.
Rep. Virgil Goode wins award...Goode remains in the news
Congratulations Rep. Virgil Goode. You won this one hands down.
Jan.'07 Evil GOP Bastard of the Month
MEDIA WATCH--Top 25 Censored News Stories of 2007
Top 25 Censored
news stories of 2007
#1 Future of Internet Debate Ignored by Media
#2 Halliburton Charged with Selling Nuclear Technologies to Iran
#3 Oceans of the World in Extreme Danger
#4 Hunger and Homelessness Increasing in the US
#5 High-Tech Genocide in Congo
#6 Federal Whistleblower Protection in Jeopardy
# 7 US Operatives Torture Detainees to Death in Afghanistan and Iraq
#8 Pentagon Exempt from Freedom of Information Act
#9 The World Bank Funds Israel-Palestine Wall
#10 Expanded Air War in Iraq Kills More Civilians
#11 Dangers of Genetically Modified Food Confirmed
#12 Pentagon Plans to Build New Landmines
#13 New Evidence Establishes Dangers of Roundup
#14 Homeland Security Contracts KBR to Build Detention Centers in the US
#15 Chemical Industry is EPA’s Primary Research Partner
#16 Ecuador and Mexico Defy US on International Criminal Court
#17 Iraq Invasion Promotes OPEC Agenda
#18 Physicist Challenges Official 9-11 Story
#19 Destruction of Rainforests Worst Ever
#20 Bottled Water: A Global Environmental Problem
#21 Gold Mining Threatens Ancient Andean Glaciers
#22 $Billions in Homeland Security Spending Undisclosed
#23 US Oil Targets Kyoto in Europe
#24 Cheney’s Halliburton Stock Rose Over 3000 Percent Last Year
#25 US Military in Paraguay Threatens Region
news stories of 2007
#1 Future of Internet Debate Ignored by Media
#2 Halliburton Charged with Selling Nuclear Technologies to Iran
#3 Oceans of the World in Extreme Danger
#4 Hunger and Homelessness Increasing in the US
#5 High-Tech Genocide in Congo
#6 Federal Whistleblower Protection in Jeopardy
# 7 US Operatives Torture Detainees to Death in Afghanistan and Iraq
#8 Pentagon Exempt from Freedom of Information Act
#9 The World Bank Funds Israel-Palestine Wall
#10 Expanded Air War in Iraq Kills More Civilians
#11 Dangers of Genetically Modified Food Confirmed
#12 Pentagon Plans to Build New Landmines
#13 New Evidence Establishes Dangers of Roundup
#14 Homeland Security Contracts KBR to Build Detention Centers in the US
#15 Chemical Industry is EPA’s Primary Research Partner
#16 Ecuador and Mexico Defy US on International Criminal Court
#17 Iraq Invasion Promotes OPEC Agenda
#18 Physicist Challenges Official 9-11 Story
#19 Destruction of Rainforests Worst Ever
#20 Bottled Water: A Global Environmental Problem
#21 Gold Mining Threatens Ancient Andean Glaciers
#22 $Billions in Homeland Security Spending Undisclosed
#23 US Oil Targets Kyoto in Europe
#24 Cheney’s Halliburton Stock Rose Over 3000 Percent Last Year
#25 US Military in Paraguay Threatens Region
Monday, January 01, 2007
MEDIAWATCH--WHY WASN'T THE WAR PROFITEER OUTED?
The Corporate Media REFUSED to report that Vice President Cheney's Halliburton stock rose 3,281 percent last year according to an October, 2005 Raw Story
So much for the Corporate Media Myth that the press/media has a liberal bias. Buzz...Buzz...
No one has pressured Congress to pressure Vice President Dick Cheney to divest himself from all financial ties with Halliburton. Hopefully the New Congress will insist on this. Contact your Representatives and Senators and ask them to demand that VP Dick Cheney eliminate all financial interests with Halliburton.
This sort of corruption and war profiteering from awarding no bid contracts is unforgivable.
This is #24 of the Project Censored 2007 list of the top 25 news stories that were ignored by the Corporate Media.
So much for the Corporate Media Myth that the press/media has a liberal bias. Buzz...Buzz...
No one has pressured Congress to pressure Vice President Dick Cheney to divest himself from all financial ties with Halliburton. Hopefully the New Congress will insist on this. Contact your Representatives and Senators and ask them to demand that VP Dick Cheney eliminate all financial interests with Halliburton.
This sort of corruption and war profiteering from awarding no bid contracts is unforgivable.
This is #24 of the Project Censored 2007 list of the top 25 news stories that were ignored by the Corporate Media.
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