Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Top Ten Ways to Change the World in 2007
Hi expendable nation,
how about bringing your own bags to the store and exhorting your fellow man to give up all he has and follow you… somewhere…
but seriously i’d have to say, or paraphrase, commit random acts of kindness and break the mould.
people se me all the time and they just can’t remember how to act, their minds are filled with big ideas, images and distorted facts..
and i know you know where thats from z.
\wishing you the best in these the darkest hours,
love declan
Posted by declan on from just another part of it 12/20 at 06:59 AMPs
what a great buk piece yesterday…
Posted by declan on from just another part of it 12/20 at 07:05 AMBeautifully understated satire, with a deft and subtle sarcasm. Simple, direct, and right on target.
Posted by Greg on from 12/20 at 08:12 AMHi Greg and Declan...Life does not get much better than this. I am here at Mickey’s and have Robert Fisk in the background. He is on Democracy Now today. Catch it if you can.
The paper published part of a letter that I wrote. Thankfully, they did not cut the mention of MickeyZ. One way to change the world is to visit sites like this one and to spread the word so that more will come here.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 09:03 AMAn editorial column in today’s paper.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 09:10 AMVote democrat? Even if you don’t like who’s running? I don’t buy it. Now, if Kucinich can win in the primaries, THEN and ONLY THEN would I vote Democrat. In fact, it’s important to vote in the primaries. Do I really want another Gore or Kerry? No! In fact, if anyone here likes Kucinich, start contributing to his campaign early. We vote with our dollars too.
Posted by Kathy on from 12/20 at 09:32 AMExcellent letter, RMJ, and the editorial was quite good as well.
I think that what you are doing shines a light on the absurd way our society severely and efficiently punishes those that break insignificant laws but rewards those that commit crimes against humanity and life in general.
Great list, Mick.
So you got an earful from the left after posting it?
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 12/20 at 09:34 AMYou forgot candlelight vigils.
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 09:35 AMKathy...the list is a joke. So is Kucinich…
I just looked at the comments, Mick...that’s hilarious...and sad.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 12/20 at 09:39 AMBy the way, any of you Ward Churchill heads at the New School speech?
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 09:42 AMIn Mickey’s listI like # 8 and 10 the best. Great under-played satire.
Kathy...I was a Kucinich supporter way back when he was opposed to the war. Then he caved in and joined with the other Dems. Never trust a politician. He did hold a good Congressional hearing last week, I will say that much for him. It is now offical in the congressional record, 650,000 civilian deaths since 3/20/03.
John...were you there? Tell us about it.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 09:52 AMNope wasn’t there. But I co-host a Denver media blog that’s paid a lot of attention to the good professor over the last year and we stumbled on the latest round of dirty tricks by the anti-Churchill bloc, including paying off the unemployed to show up with scripted questions, staging interviews for an upcoming anti-Churchill documentary, and etc. (Details here: http://tinyurl.com/tzapz) Anyway, they were out in force at the New School and I was hoping y’all might have something to add.
Also, if you haven’t seen http://www.wardchurchill.net, check them out. Tons of free audio on the Ward Speaks page.
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 10:06 AMHello Expendables. It finally felt a little like winter here this morning but it’s already warming up.
RMJ: The beat goes on for you, huh? When will they realized they picked the wrong grandma to mess with? Bravo…
Welcome John and Kathy. I say “yes” to Churchill and “no” to Kucinich.
It’s been extremely educational to witness the reaction to my little list and how many people didn’t “get it.” At first, I chalked it up to my obscurity. If more folks were familiar with me, they’d immediately recognize the disconnect. But...a fair amount of those who know me believed I was being serious. So, it’s more than just the fact that I’m a nobody.
Other possible reasons:
1. 99.9% of humans are oblivious to how deep the problems are and thus believe that such choices might be enough
2. 87.4% of humans are lazy bastards and readily embrace simple solutions like wearing a message t-shirtWhaddya think?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/20 at 10:23 AMBtw, JOS...I did notice that you signed up at Smirking Chimp and left a comment. Couldn’t take much more, huh?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/20 at 10:41 AMSix of one, a half of dozen of the other, I suppose. I think it was Utah Phillips who once described such junk as rearranging deck-chairs on the Titanic. For most people it seems like some kind of enforced naivete which nothing but years of radical therapy could break through. We have the discussion around here quite a bit.
Since we’re on the subject, I think Churchill had the mindset pretty much pegged in both “Pacifism as Pathology” and “On the Justice of Roosting Chickens” (the book).
Great post.
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 10:42 AMJohn: Ward’s Roosting Chickens will be highlighted here on Friday. Hope you’ll stop by.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/20 at 10:44 AMI’m here everyday (at least via Google Reader). Ward Churchill and Charles Bukowski - how could I not be?
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 10:47 AMno...I couldn’t take it.
Has anyone ever noticed that besides here at Mickey’s that people who leave comments on the popular blogs are one or more or all of the following?:
1. Ignorant
2. Angry
3. Sarcastic
4. CluelessPosted by JOS on from Chicago 12/20 at 10:50 AMJOS… about the “other” blogs, I would add
5. Crude
6. Vulgar
7. Too out of touch to even be in denial
8. Pathological
I sometimes feel like I need to take a bath after I visit some other sites....
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 11:26 AMHey now, I resemble that remark.
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 12:49 PMWatch More PBS,
Listen To More NPRPosted by Buddhamonkeydevil on from USA 12/20 at 01:50 PMI understand the point of the post today. What bothers me is the question of blame. Perhaps this should be topic for a post Mickey? But I can’t help feel that you and and the commenters here (including me) have a very unhealthy contempt for most people (also known as people who don’t think like we do about just how fucked this planet is). Can we seriously lay the blame for their ignorance solely at their doorsteps? What about the media’s role? What about governments’ roles in supporting corporations (including media corporations) to just keep going merrily about the business of destroying the earth. I really have a big problem with insisting that people need to take personal responsibility for their actions on an individual level and that this is the answer to fixing things. If that were true wouldn’t we all just be right wingers and insist that it is everyone’s personal repsonsibility to just stop whining, get a job, work hard and then everything will be just great? Because after all, we can all be anything we want if we just work hard and take personal responsibility for our lives right? Isn’t this line of thinking considered just a little too simplistic for us when it comes from the right wing nutjobs? Why is it any different for us?
Chau for now
Edson
Posted by Edson Castilho on from Halifax 12/20 at 02:06 PMYes, the list is both hilarious and sad.
The best communicators are the one’s who encourage individuals to develop their own ideas and to work them out by means of wider reading and more informed, disciplined, and polite discussions (read Mickey’s blog). We’re so used to obediently parroting the “important” people that when a rare communicator emerges (read Mickey) we don’t get off our asses and do our homework. Until we do so we will never understand
A)Who has the power?
B)Why they have it- what are the sources?Posted by fiona on from san diego 12/20 at 02:49 PMEdson...You bring up very important points. How much of the responsibility should be laid at the feet of the media and also the school system? A lot, but who is responsible for that? This line of reasoning could take us back to Adam. Then we could start all over again and approach the arguement from a purely philosophical view and debate “free will v determinism”. BUT, in doing that we would be overlooking an important point point: while we debate the issues, people are being slaughtered. I guess I am willing to give up the purist view and simply say that everyone, over the age of reason, is responsible for his actions. Any other position might make the world an even less inviting place than it already is.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 02:56 PMIn the spirit of the holiday shopping season:
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 12/20 at 03:29 PMRosemarie
I don’t disagree with you that we need to take persoanl responsibility for our actions. And I do see your point about this discussion going nowhere while people continue to be slaughtered and the planet continues to be raped.
However. My point is we shouldn’t be blaming people for their ignorance as their sole responsibility. I think the actions you took that have put you in so much trouble (with a ludicrous system that would jail someone for silently protesting a war) support my point of view. You are doing what you can to enlighten, inform, raise awareness of the very people that aren’t enlightened, aware and informed. You are taking personal responsibility for doing something about the situation as you see it and know it. It is this context that I feel is important. We can only act responsibly when we are fully informed. The majority of people aren’t.
I think you hit it on the head as well when you said our education system needs reforming. But the reality is most people see education as a means to the end of getting a great job so you can buy lots of stuff.
We are up against it, I know, but blaming individual Americans, Candians, whomever, is also unhelpful. The system is the problem and needs destroying and rebuilding.Chau for now
Edson
Posted by Edson Castilho on from Halifax 12/20 at 03:40 PMI see your point Edson...one thing that I have noticed again and again, however, is that the majority of people I meet everyday are actually well informed as to the state of what we are doing to the planet, what crimes our (the US and others) government commits, etc. and accept it. That is their responsiblity.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 12/20 at 03:44 PMHello again, everyone.
Buddhamonkeydevil: Thanks for the useful additions to my list.
Fiona: Thank you for your kind words and your steady presence here.
Edson: While RMJ and JOS posted fine replies to you, I’d like to state that the list I posted today is meant to highlight how so many of those who label themselves “left” are in complete denial. I appreciate your comments but I think it’s important to note that, as far as I can tell, no one is saying the fucked up society we live in is solely the responsibility of the “people.” We all share the blame—some far more than others—but we can’t just pawn it off on some faceless system. As Chomsky sez: “We are responsible for the predictable consequences of our actions.”
Captcha sez: deep
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/20 at 03:50 PMYou know...I couldn’t believe the list when I saw it, Mickey and RMJ! What a dunce I am! It just didn’t sound like you. But, I guess I have been too busy and rushing through things these days, I didn’t even pay attention. Normally, I catch these things.
I will definitely read up more on Kucinich. I’ve never voted Democrat...I’ve always voted “other parties” and by my conscience, not what the mass thinks and certainly never the lesser of two evils. What crap! Is Churchill really running? I’d like that.
I’ll pay more attention next time...Yikes! I do still believe, though, that we vote with our dollars too. Give to the candidates you believe in. They can’t win without the moolah. At least these days.
Posted by Kathy on from 12/20 at 04:02 PMHey man-- this simple little list is one of the coolest things I’ve seen lately to generate so much buzz. I think my favorite comment was from that Bullet guy or whoever that mentioned that Mickey must have so much more money than us so maybe he could adopt us too. Something like that.
Really, if you could come down off your rich, white upper class ivory tower then maybe you’d understand us all… this whole thing really brightened up a tough day, thanks. Depending how you look at it. Now excuse me while I save the world with my organic fair trade coffee and filtered water.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 12/20 at 04:24 PMI better not see you using styrofoam, James.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/20 at 04:32 PMI think after reading some the reactions, both here and on the Smoking Chimp, I’m taking the gentleman who suggested buying an AK and 5000 rounds at his word. (If I didn’t already have one or two buried around property.)
I’m with you on personal culpability, RMJ. Why on God’s green Earth should we cut adults slack on their own ignorance? Jesus, we’ve got plenty of public libraries. If you’re over the age of 12 and you ain’t figured out that voting Democrat has yet to have any affect whatsoever on US foreign policy (nor any other issue of any import that I can think of) I’m not sure you’re teachable.
Besides which, ignorance doesn’t seem the problem to me. For instance, tery few citizens seems unaware of of the human toll in the abattoir we’ve made Iraq. And no one seriously pretends that anything besides US economic/strategic interests are at play. They just don’t care.
Heh, it just occurred to me that we ought to be starting movements to increase our presence in Iraq.
We’re providing some really solid training (not to mention damn fint target practice) for this budding insurgency. And nothing’s been shown to stunt US expansionism like a thorough ass-whipping.
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 04:38 PMSorry for all the typos. Obviously, I need to start opening the window when cleaning the aforementioned AKs.
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 04:40 PMEdson...yes, I like what you say, but I would add that there is a difference between blaming just to be obnoxious, and speaking up so as not to be a complicit enabler to crimes against Humanity. Now is a time in history when silence is the greatest of all crimes.
Everybody know what 650,000 means?????
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 04:46 PMKathy...I’m planning on voting for Nader/Churchill in the next election....that is unless JOS or Mickey want the job.
Drudge is reporting the Pentagon wants another 99 + BILLION. If Congress did not fund the war, there would be NO war. GWB doesn’t own any tanks, planes, or bombs. The congressional voting record shows that many who go back to their districts and claim to be opposed to the war, actually (behind the scene) keep funding it.
Also another thought, ever since the 1940s when the Black Budget was started, no informed votes have been cast by the people. Right? How can a voter cast an informed vote, without having access to that information. Therefore, it can be argued that the USA has never had a legal government since the 1940s. Right?
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 05:05 PMFYI:
http://tinyurl.com/yxwhsmPosted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/20 at 05:17 PMMickey #36...It has been reported that they were flying the bodies back in the baggage compartments, along with suitcases, luggage, pets, etc.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 05:26 PMBy the time we get out of Iraq there will most likely be between 1 and 2 million deaths in Iraq because we illegally invaded and continue to occupy Iraq. Something similar to what we did to Southeast Asia in the 60’s and 70’s. We lost around 60,000 soldiers at the time...today we’re at 3,000, perhaps 6,000 before we’re done. This doesn’t include the wounded, legless, armless or DU and chemical weapon poisoned soldiers (or Iraqis either!)...
In other words...war, as always, murders the innocent...in massive numbers. Never believe the lies we are told about precision.
650,000...1 million...2 million...next time more of us should become uncivilly-disobedient.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 12/20 at 05:38 PMGood points, Mickey! I could think of a couple more but not on this, another hazy day in Daylesford. Some locals have taken to wearing face masks because of all the smoke which has been drifting our way although the bushfires burn hundreds of kilometres away.
And ‘hi’, Declan, Greg, Rosemarie, Kathy, JOS, John Moredock, Buddhamonkeydevil (now here’s an interesting name), fiona, Edson Castilho and James. Hope I have not forgotten anyone.
Now I’ll click on a few links ..
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 12/20 at 06:00 PM‘Evenin’ Expendables. The International Space Station just cruised by overhead. Some argue that NASA could save time and trouble by firing money directly into space.
Bravo for MZ’s list. “Utter failure of left strategy and tactics” is a phrase I often use. Spurring a clearer examination of these is always in order. There’s also a long way between an us/them view of a larger public (something left media outlets must avoid - that means you, Adbusters!) and holding up a mirror. That said, there isn’t much cover for failing to understand the nature of this imperial beast.
Re: Kucinich. As meaningless as party platforms are, the DNC chair crowed about “not giving up a thing [in the platform]” in order to reel in the DK voters last time. When sports teams lose big, there are usually repercussions…
Posted by Zenprole on from Urth 12/20 at 06:51 PMZenprole...about just firing money into space, yes, and also instead of spending all of the money on killing the people in Iraq, we should just give the money directly to Halliburton, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin. Just follow the money. The Iraq War is the biggest, most successful money laundering campaign in the history of the planet...and the Dems say that GWB is not very smart. GWB Inc. has won, the people have lost.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 07:23 PMAbout the list on the front page....I confess, Sometimes Colbert makes me laugh. One of the most important rules of life is to be sure to get at least one good belly laugh per day, or else you die. That’s the rule.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 07:32 PM# 42 was rule #1
Here is rule # 2...Never miss an opportunity to be “uncivily-disobedient”, as JOS says.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/20 at 07:36 PMThat’s what I was trying to address in my very muddled and all-too-flip way: the “utter failure of left strategy and tactics.” As Mickey Z so deftly pointed out, most of what passes for resistance here in the US is laughable at best. I don’t know if that’s because tactics have been narrowed to meaningless gestures, or because leftists feel flat overwhelmed by what it is they’re supposed to be up against.
Either way, Iraqi insurgents are broadening their tactics, diversifying, and against all odds, winning. Yes, at an enormous cost, but they are winning That seems something worth taking a look at, and taking heart from.
Anyway, audio of Ward Churchill’s New Speech talk is up, for all you Churchill-heads: http://tinyurl.com/yjh2sy
Posted by John Moredock on from 12/20 at 10:24 PMHey Mickey,
Didn’t you forget “watch Keith Olbermann”... He’s right up there with Stewart, et al.Posted by Josh Frank on from 12/22 at 01:21 PMGood point, Josh. I could’ve also added: Boycott Fox News and Go see the new Michael Moore movie.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/22 at 01:45 PM
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