Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Happy New You
Good morning, Mickey and all yet to arrive here.
Today started with the showing of the more complete video of the hanging of Saddam. I believe that it was recorded on a cell phone and not shown before this morning. I just keep thinking about the rush to the gallows, which I think was done in order to prevent the second trial. It most likely would have dealt with the gassing of the Kurds and there would have been too much evidence exposed that would have implicated the usa. Maybe Saddam was the man who knew too much.
It looks like there will be protests when the 3000th soldier dies. This will give the message that “our” dead are more important than “their” dead. It seems to me that believing that our lives are more valuable than their lives is not a message of peace but is really a justification for war. Please, won’t someone out there tell the so-called peace activists that they continue in so many ways to support war.
About tonight’s celebrations...news reported that a person is killed by a drunk driver every 32 minutes on a normal day. Be safe.Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/31 at 09:29 AMI feel no sorrow for Saddam. However, the fact that the USA can go into another country on false pretenses and execute it’s leader because he no longer serves our purpose really frightens me.
2006 has been a year of enlightenment for me. I no longer worship blindly at the alter of patriotism. This enlightenment is not comforting to me. It scares me. It’s hard not to fall back. It’s easier to think things are ok.
Peace!
Posted by David on from Louisville KY 12/31 at 10:47 AMDavid
You may have good reason to be frightened. As a non-violent Canadian, I have been threatened by several pro-war American citizens with military action against Canada if I didn’t stop with my anti-Bush comments. Been called the lowest of the low. There definitely is a segment of the population who, regardless of the reason, welcomes any kind of military offensive.
Here’s hoping the New Year will somehow be better than the old one. Best Wishes to you all.
Posted by Canadian Observer on from 12/31 at 11:25 AMHello Expendables. It’s yet another warm winter day here.
Thanks for the great comments. I have a quote for David, from Oliver Wendell Holmes: The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/31 at 01:58 PMDavid...you are not alone. I, too, once “worshiped blindly at the altar of patriotism”. I often think back in shame and wonder how I could have been so misinformed, but I know how that happened. I made the mistake of believing what I was taught in school. I have been struggling for years trying to unlearn what my teachers and the textbooks taught me.
Canadian Observer...I just got home from the grocery store where I had a conversation on the same topic. I think that the consensus is growing that we all have a lot to fear and that nothing will get better until things get worse. I now know people, a lot of them, who have cancelled their plans to ever have children. Also, know a lot of people who are trying to figure out ways of relocating and migrating to Canada and other places. Does Canada have room for all of us? I often remind people that Canada is a Capitalistic country that participates in wars along with the usa military. The answer that I usually get to that statement, is that those facts are true, but the Canadian people are a lot “nicer” than many here.
Mickey...about climate change. This is the first time I have ever seen green grass in Vermont on Christmas. Amazing…
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/31 at 03:11 PMRMJ: As I walk around, I look at my fellow humans. They appear to me like a deer, oblivious as they prance through a toxic meadow, utterly unaware that they are caught in a hunter’s sight.
Captcha sez: “united” (if only...)
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/31 at 03:40 PMLooks like my first comment here this morn might be relevant. I just received an e-mail saying that the 3,000th usa death is now being reported. I hope someone remembers the 650,000+ civilians.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/31 at 03:43 PMI’m afraid it’ll be much like Vietnam. All the focus on roughly 50K dead Americans. No attention paid to the 2-3 million dead Southeast Asians.
Captchas sez: life
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/31 at 04:19 PMDisturbing news from Venezuela:
http://tinyurl.com/yagjacPosted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 12/31 at 05:07 PMHappy New Year Every Expendable!
Where there is life there is hope.
Let’s hope we’re all still around this time next year.
Peace, love and best wishes to a better future for everyone on the planet.
Luna
Posted by Luna_C on from the Delta 12/31 at 05:15 PMRMJ
Unfortunately, you are correct. Canada does participate in wars, although not necessarily with those of US instigation, for example, Vietnam, Iraq, etc. Many times it has been under the umbrella of the UN as a peace keeping mission but too often, I am ashamed to say, it’s of a less humanitarian nature. Our troops are currently engaged in Afghanistan.
Canada, in the past, has welcomed American citizens who were in opposition to the wars the U.S. participated in and I would hope that this is still case.
Posted by Canadian Observer on from 12/31 at 05:16 PMMaybe Chavez isn’t all that different after all.
Posted by David on from Louisville KY 12/31 at 05:36 PMAP reports, “...Asked about the 3,000 figure, deputy White House press secretary Scott Stanzel said Sunday that the president “will ensure their sacrifice was not made in vain.We will be fighting violent jihadists for peace and security of the civilized world for years to come. The brave men and women of the U.S. military are fighting extremists in order to stop them from attacking on our soil again,...”
There you have it. We will be fighting for years to come. The future has been laid out. It’s like the ending to those old movie cartoons....Ttthhhaaattt’s all folks !
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/31 at 05:37 PMDavid...Chavez is not perfect. He’s just better than some of the others who are in power. Also, considering the attacks and CIA interventions in his part of the world, maybe we should cut him a little slack. One of the gifts I received a couple of days ago was a copy of “This Revolution Will Not Be Televised”. It is regularly broadcast on the local TV channel. Really worth seeing. Also, does Endgame suggest that all options should be on the table, also Malcolm said, “By any means necessary” so therefore, how can we condemn Chavez for not renewing a TV license? Living here in a country where corporations have person-hood and money has the power of freedom of speech, I’m sorry but I just cannot get upset about the TV license in Venezuela. We in the usa should be so lucky as to have some of the rights and freedoms that those in other countries have. In my last Appeal in the State Supreme Court, I requested the same level of justice that they have in China. I gave supporting documentation. My Appeal was denied.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 12/31 at 05:53 PMHowdy, MZ.
Good to see that you’re still making noise these days (fine article on Hussein & Ford, btw).
And warm hellos and howlows to all else. Still no internet access, so not much time for Expending energy in the comments section as of late…
Speaking of noise, I’ve been keeping busy with my brand new band, and all is well on that front: jazz, blues, soul, and r&b (w/ female vocalist). We still haven’t finalized the band name, but we could be playing out live as early as February. I’ll keep you posted.
Until then… happee 2007.
Posted by RT on from The Buyou City 12/31 at 07:19 PMThis http://tinyurl.com/yhsmjd may help to explain the Chavez vs Free media debate.
I visited Caracas in 1996 and what struck me was the makeshift housing that thousands of people had constructed in the mountains. The Government was trying to run the people out of the mountains because they were ruining the scenery. I hope it’s different there now.
Posted by David on from Louisville KY 12/31 at 11:27 PMhappy new year to all the expendables.
p.s.
homeward bound soon and loving it
Posted by michael on from exile 12/31 at 11:33 PMOne of my resolutions is to post more often on here! I’m checking in regularly and it’s still top notch stuff Mickey, keep it up. Hope everyone has a great 2007.
re: the link to energybulletin - Do you believe that peak oil is going to have a radical impact and quick? I’m unsure, but it makes sense to instigate a lot of the Peakoilers recommendations as it’s all about simple living, self sufficiency etc.
I was looking into getting an allotment with a friend, but it fell through. I work 9 to 5 so couldn’t put in many hours and my friends interest waned I think. Something to look into.
RMJ, I agree that people think that their own troops and citizens lives are worth much more than others. This is patriotism, eh?
I remember one thing that annoyed the #### out of me just after 9/11. The big Murdoch owned tabloid here in Scotland - The Sun - had an American flag as its centre pages with “9/11 - We are all Americans now” or some shit.
I lived in a really run down working class area at the time and was surprised and appalled to see quite a few people had posted it on their front windows to show their solidarity. Fucked up how only when it’s the US that’s attacked do they notice and care. But that’s right it was “Terrorist Islamofascists” and “everything changed after 9/11”...
Well, I’ll try and check in more often. Hopefully keep the wordcount down a bit next time, eh?
Posted by Paul M on from Scotland 12/31 at 11:37 PMWelcome to 2007, Mickey and Rosemarie, David, Canadian Observer, Luna_C, RT, Michael and Paul M.
Thanks for a great blog, Mickey - may it go from strength to strength!Captcha: pressure. Keep the pressure on!
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 01/01 at 01:26 AM
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