Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Monday, January 22, 2007
Newsweek's cover boys
American media and popular culture in general are despicable mind control tools.
You are right about the image, that is what will be digested by most numbskulls who can’t be bothered to read anything.The spoon-fed imperial sound bites from the vacuous American television media are never questioned.
I (briefly) viewed some imperial pabulum on the “liberal” (ridiculous) CNN the other night.
It was Christine Amanpour (sp?, who gives a ####) bleating about the British “war within” against its domestic Muslim population.
British Muslims are pissed off watching their government’s mass murder in Iraq and Afghanistan, lickspittle compliance with the Bush/Cheney Cartel’s “war of terror” and vilification of every non-white in country.
Some are becoming “radicalized” within their wonderfully marginalized position in Western society.A Muslim rapper who writes songs about resistance and makes “controversial” videos was asked if he thought his videos encouraged and applauded those in occupied countries and in Britain who would consider “jihad”.
The rapper deftly replied something to the effect that the imperialism and state terrorism of Western nations and Israel were doing far more to incite “jihad” then his music ever could.
Christine, ever the dutiful the propagandist, looked disappointed by the simple logic of his reply and without skipping a beat incredulously and disdainfully asked him,
”Are you serious?”
I was waiting for her to ask him why he beat his wife next.
The media here in Canada is much the same way with supposedly “liberal” talk hosts and comedians posing with “the troops” while allowing military spin artists and government officials to play the moronic “support the troops” (never question, just support the war), jingle with nary a critical question or reality based supposition to be found.
Of course if they say it on TV or in corporate print it must be true.
I am distraught at how quickly Canadian “consumers” (formerly citizens / people) have lined up to be brusquely and incuriously lobotomized by what passes for news and opinion in our controlled media.There is no truth to be found on the idiot box anywhere in the West and I am sure the print media also answers to the Neocon/Zionist forever war cultural behemoth.
No wonder the Pentagon and Western corporatists want to shut down or regulate the flow of information online, it is the only place left to find objective reportage or opinion.Thanks for the article Z
Posted by Youngfox on from Neoconada 01/22 at 09:06 AMMorning all. Chilly but clear roads this morning in pentagon land.
That newsweak cover got my blood boiling. How is that little boy any different from the millions of american boys growing up with g.i. joe and whatever other military toy is the rage now. And the little boys going hunting with their dads? You hear hunters bragging about that all the time, taking little johnny and jane out hunting when they’re barely old enough to walk on their own. The first kill before they’re teenagers, etc. It isn’t like the military is less romanticized in this country, after all.
Captcha says “sun” and I say “yes, please.”
Posted by Deb on from NoVa 01/22 at 09:09 AMp.s.
I hope those asshole occupation storm troopers torturing that already suffering dog see the hard end of an RPG or roadside bomb.
They don’t deserve to eat that poor dog’s shit let alone live another day.
What can one expect, really, when one observes how these little psychopaths treat their fellow humans?Posted by Youngfox on from Ex-canada 01/22 at 09:18 AMMickey, thanks for your latest article. It is an article that needed to be written. Last night CNN did a program that was also Islamaphobic, like the Newsweak article. The title was “The War Within”. The hate mongers in the Press have been busy. On the other hand, Helen Thomas was on DN today. She was recently “allowed” to ask a question at a White House Press conference. It was the second question that she was allowed to ask in the past year. If the other members of the WH press had a sense of journalistic ethics maybe they would give their time for questions to Helen at future press conferences.
The level of hatred has been growing in this country. Yesterday, while on my way to the Vets meeting, I had a talk show from Albany on the car radio. Many of the callers said that they want the usa to fire bomb Iraq like we did in WW2. That’s the way to win a war, they said. The talk show host, who identified herself as an anti-war liberal, actually made the statement that “those” people in Iraq are different from us because they don’t fear death like we do.Phil Donahue was silenced. Helen Thomas allowed only 2 questions a year. Mickey, maybe the fate of the world is on the shoulders of writers like you. Thanks for all that you do.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/22 at 09:21 AMHi Deb and Youngfox. We were symultyping. Youngfox you make me happy. I am glad that I was not the only one upset about last night’s CNN propaganda. You said it better than I did.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/22 at 09:28 AMThe usa, Canada, Japan, Australia and others are protesting because China shot down one of its own aging weather satellites. The usa is well on its way to militarizing space and enriching usa corporations, that should be met with worldwide opposition.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 01/22 at 09:40 AMHello Expendables.
Great comments here today.
That poor dog, he is in hell and being taunted by demons. :(
Don’t worry Youngfox with all the DU floating around, roadside bomb or not they’ll be in as much pain as that dog someday. With our leaders laughing a them like demons....
Almost wish I still watched any sort of mainstream news just so I can jump in an bash some too.
Peace and Love,
LunaCaptcha says “own” like in “pwned” laf
Posted by Luna_C on from the Delta 01/22 at 10:44 AMRobert Fisk did a good piece last year on Canada’s attempt to emulate it’s big brothers (with an added ‘eh’ ;)
Posted by sk on from 01/22 at 11:21 AMHello my fellow Expendables...from a seasonably cold Astoria.
I share Youngfox’s rage and, Luna sez: Great comments here today.
Deb: Any luck with the apartment hunt?Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/22 at 12:01 PMYou know the 30,000 - 40,000 or more injured US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan...many of whom should have died if it wasn’t for the body armor and the advanced medical treatment they receive that allows them to live after losing multiple limbs, massive trauma, etc?
Well, there is a reason why we should be careful about trying to “cure” all ills, save even the most horribly injured and stay the #### out of wars:
You know, I’m no religious maniac waiting for the Apocolypse...but with mutating viruses, nuclear bombs, genetic engineering, global warming possibly releasing 3000 times the current amout of methane gas in the air and I could go on and on...I wonder, how much longer do we got?
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/22 at 12:14 PMHello Every Expendable,
Not nearly enough words for me to find any which haven’t already been used today to express my rage and disgust with the western portrayal of, well, almost everything.
I came across the video of that unfortunate dog over the weekend myself. Truly disgraceful - you said it Luna - he’s in hell being taunted by demons.
Mickey, as ever you bring opinions otherwise brushed aside into the light. As RMJ said: Thank you for all that you do.
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 01/22 at 01:13 PMJOS, I suspect that those of us without access to the latest underground bunkers or modes of travel not available for regular retail purchase have a little less time than others.
Hardly acts of god though, so I don’t think we need be believers of religious dogma to consider apocalypse.
Captcha says “local”, it’s right!
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 01/22 at 01:35 PMRight on, Amelopsis.
Hey...here’s a poem I just wrote about ‘civilized’ man that makes me laugh...yeah, I do that sometimes, make myself laugh, it helps to keep from crying:
The Civilized Man
decided to sit in one place
about 10,000 years agoplanted his ass
there in the cradle
the fertile crescent
and grew rootsbut unlike a tree
his roots sucked and sucked
and he gave nothing back to the worldnothing
back to his surroundingshe just ate and ate
and drank and drank
and forced the earth to produce
only his favorite foods
and he shat
his poisons into the earth
and rivers
and lakes
and seasand he grew
fatter
and
fatterspreading his flabby cheeks
wider and wider
until the Earth was literally
inside his assand then he got worried
and wondered
where else he could take from
to feed his ferocious appetite
and after
a whilehis right calf
started looking mighty
delicious.Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/22 at 01:59 PMLove the poem, JOS...a perfect metaphor (or is it an allusion or maybe an allegory?).
Hello Empress...a pleasure, as always.
Captcha knows..it sez: “Friend”
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/22 at 02:27 PMHow about all three? Thanks…
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/22 at 02:33 PMJOS (and anyone else): Here’s a page of links for online publications that might be into your poems:
http://www.tarpaulinsky.com/links.htmlPosted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 01/22 at 02:36 PMcool, Mick, thanks.
By the way, a poem I shared here a while back called Singapore Sling will be published here:
http://www.zygoteinmycoffee.com/
on 2/12. It’s a great poetry site to check out.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/22 at 02:56 PMJOS, I’m not a big Marvel comic buff, so there’s likely a backstory of which I’m ignorant, but in reading your poem I wondered if it’s how Galactos got his start at devouring planets.
Congratulations on your publications streak! Well done!
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 01/22 at 03:03 PMI think you’re right, Amelopsis and thanks.
You know, it looks like Hollywood is about to ruin another of my favorite childhood comic book heroes...Ghost Rider. I’ll give it a chance, but after seeing what they did to Daredevel, I am not keeping my hopes up.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/22 at 03:12 PMSorry to repeat myself but: you are sooo brilliant, Mickey! I had the exact same thoughts as you when I saw the ‘Newsweek’ cover. How come CHRISTIAN fundamentalists are rarely if ever talked about whereas their MUSLIM counterparts get all the blame?
Hi, Youngfox (the Australian media are not far behind the American ones either, and that includes our public broadcaster), Deb, Rosemarie, Luna_C, sk (Australia emulates the US all too well), JOS and Amelopsis - from a sunny Daylesford. We need more rain but then it is nice to see the sun rising ..
Auf Wiederemailen.
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 01/22 at 03:15 PMHi Helga…
I guess the UK is being poisoned by toxic gases originating in the US:
In a related story, France has complained that the UK is poisoning them, same goes for North African countries accusing France...wait a minute, I see a pattern developing here.
Seriously...the US is the worst the world has ever seen.
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 01/22 at 03:51 PMAnd youngfox #1: ‘No wonder the Pentagon and Western corporatists want to shut down or regulate the flow of information online, it is the only place left to find objective reportage or opinion.’ That’s the best thing about the Internet: it cuts the time one previously devoted to reading papers and listening to TV and radio news to almost zero.
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 01/22 at 03:54 PMHere is Norman Solomon on the Pentagon and a free press:
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3033captcha: ‘ideas’ - do we need lots of fresh ideas, or what?
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 01/22 at 03:56 PMRosemarie #6: ‘The usa, Canada, Japan, Australia and others are protesting because China shot down one of its own aging weather satellites. The usa is well on its way to militarizing space and enriching usa corporations, that should be met with worldwide opposition.’
Was appalled at the double standards when I heard this newsitem on Australian radio yesterday - do ‘journalists’ ever think these days?
I was
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 01/22 at 04:26 PMThe video of the injured dog and the taunting American soldiers has ruined what’s left of this day. What has happened to us?
Posted by The CultureGhost on from Concord CA 01/22 at 06:05 PMJust got home from work and am in no mood to watch dogs being tortured by these next Imperialists… suffice to say I don’t approve!!! Great concise article, though. It really is Weak what a wide audience that magazine reaches compared to stuff here…
So when did St. Mark’s bookstore move to 9th Street? And at least the old cool record shops, like Smash and Sounds, are still on S.M. Place. And a few other old assorted shops, but balance out the Subway sandwhich place and the Gap, etc. Ah well, I guess it can’t be 1989 forever…
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 01/22 at 07:15 PMJOS you have to think positively about Ghost Rider, okay? For every Daredevil failure, there’s the X- and Spider- Man movies lately. Plus it stars Nicolas Cage, who no, does not have red hair like Johnny Blaze, but did take his stage name from Luke Cage, and that has to give him some credibility, right?
As for Galactus, god help us, but:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486576/Okay, I gotta go read Counterpunch or something.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 01/22 at 07:53 PMHorrendous video. Atrocious. And thoroughly unsurprising. I wish those perverted bastards all of the mercy and compassion they demonstrate in their little movie. And then I hope they are torn to shreds by hungry dogs.
PS: Hi Expendables. Good points in the article MZ.
Posted by Keir on from the hague 01/22 at 08:28 PMThe United States continues to be the leader in space militarization, but China’s recent test is extremely troublesome regardless. The Chinese test was most likely aimed at Japan, which has in the past five years launched a fleet of military reconnaissance satellites designed to survey Chinese arms programs. China wants to show Japan it could destroy such satellites from the ground, which is a very tricky proposition, technologically speaking.
Hypocritical or not, the countries that protested the move were right to do so.
Posted by Jordan on from 01/23 at 12:02 AM
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