Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The Iraq War did not "begin" on March 19 (plus: Happy Meatout to You)
Friend of mine in Russia sent me this, still trying to see what I make of it:
http://www.exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=17534&IBLOCK_ID=35
Rainy miserable day here in the center of the world today.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 03/19 at 06:51 AMSo I guess Bush the lesser’s Iraq War should be more accurately described as the first surge.
Posted by Charles on from Jersey City 03/19 at 09:22 AMI agree that mocking Bush and Co. doesn’t help anyone to achieve any worthwhile goals. I agree that it shouldn’t be just about the last 5 years of war, and maybe not even about the war in Iraq, but about wars in general. I do, however, think that it’s good that people are willing to stand up and protest the war by whatever means possible and with whatever misguided ideas or incomplete information or misunderstandings of the larger context they might have. We need more voices opposing the status quo.
Posted by SH on from 03/19 at 09:31 AMGreat front page again today, Mickey. Thanks for reminding everyone that this is NOT the 5th anniversary of the war. And that looks like April Glaspie - the silenced diplomat who has not been allowed to tell what she knows. I’ll always “Remember April”. 5 years ago I was going around putting up “WANTED” signs with her photo hoping that some would try to inform themselves. Looking back, I see how useless that was. I bet that 95% of USAers never heard of Glaspie.
Charles...the surge that just keeps going on and on and on - like an evil Eveready Bunny.
James...miserable here too. I am on flood watch. Wish I could find a mason to patch the small hole that was knocked in the wall of my basement during the last storm before more water and mud come in. Here it is every man for himself, even during emergencies.
Posted by RMJ on from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/19 at 09:42 AMSH...we were symultyping. I see your point but on the other hand “voices” have not saved one life. I believe that Ward Churchill calls this “feel good” politics. It does feel good to voice protest (I do it all the time), but I think that actions speak louder than words. Someday, some few will take an action that does accomplish the saving of innocent lives - I hope.
Posted by RMJ on from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/19 at 09:49 AMOh dear, Rosemarie, it’s not really so bad here and I’m sorry you’ve got so much household and such thing to deal with there. Today’s it’s dreary weather to match the mood but no real trouble from it. I pay a relatively high rent for the space (though lately splitting that with my girlfriend helps), but at least everything always works in the place, 5th floor walk-up.
And as for my situation now, the only really bad part of it is how sudden it is. 2 days notice, oh no! But I still like everyone here-- it’s a decision from the corporate office in LA to hire staff proofreaders instead of us temps who are here through a staffing firm, and if they did hire us directly, they’d have to pay a fee to the staffing agencey, something like that… well I’m off to something during lunch today and I’ll see how that goes.
Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 03/19 at 10:33 AMRMJ,
Yes, I agree that actions sometimes speak louder than words, but words and protests are also actions. The goal of protesting (at least to me) is not to make myself feel good, although it certainly does, but to show everyone who is listening how strongly we feel about the situation (whatever it might be). The hope is that someone might hear our outrage over what’s going on and will start questioning the lies there were fed since childhood. It also help people to remember that they are not alone in this struggle. Whatever you might think about educational efforts and getting thru to people in such ways, you must admit that it beats silence, which is what we get from the majority of the people these days.
Posted by SH on from 03/19 at 11:13 AMI’ve been outraged with living life as defined by the u.s. long before the Vietnam War...that I was ‘invited’ to participate in. I told them I wasn’t interested, I had better things to do, just like Dick Cheney stated, but they said, “sorry joe, but we’d like you to stop a bullet or two”
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/19 at 12:15 PMHello Expendables...from rainy Astoria. I guess my response to SH is that some protest can have a negative effect. Some protests help foster the illusion of democracy and give false hope and give the elites an unearned reputation for openness to dissent. Marching in a protest parade in predetermined “free speech zones” and focusing mostly on Republicans, in my view, only makes it less likely that serious social change will occur. I feel the same way about voting for Obama.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/19 at 12:31 PMMickey,
I completely agree with not focusing mostly on Republicans and not voting for Obamas of the world. And of course, the propaganda machine will use whatever it can to give false illusion of freedom and false hopes to the millions. But the same can probably be said about most of everything we do. We write blog posts and articles only in “virtual free speech zones” (nobody with radical views is allowed anywhere near “the main street” of the mass media). And they are using the fact that we exist in the remote corners of Internet to give false illusion of freedom. Nevertheless, we continue to believe that even while marginalized and ignored, it is still important to continue to write, educate and otherwise protest what we see as injustices and crimes. I just think that we shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss those who stand up for what is right even if we don’t necessarily agree with everything they do or the way they do it.
Posted by SH on from 03/19 at 01:23 PMGreat comments going on here.
In honor of the day, here’s a quote.
“Actually, it’s quite fun to fight them, you know. It’s a hell of a hoot. It’s fun to shoot some people....I like brawling...” Major General James Mathis - just another one of the troops who gets honor and glory from slaughtering fellow human beings.....And remember the US sniper who said, “The chick was in the way”, after he shot and killed an Iraqi woman.Posted by RMJ on from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/19 at 01:23 PMI agree, SH. Until we (including me, of course) work up the nerve (or the desperation) to take more drastic, urgent steps, we’re all left scrambling.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/19 at 01:28 PMSH...One of the things that we all could do - legal and non-violent - is to give public support every time someone who speaks out is under attack. When the character assassination of Ward Churchill was happening there was silence from the so-called peace groups. Now there’s Jeremiah Wright. I don’t agree with everything he said, but most of what he did say should be defended. I love his one comment about this country being run by rich, white folks. That one really shocked the pundits....also 9/11, Tuskegee, etc…
Posted by RMJ on from Ward Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 03/19 at 01:48 PMI’ve been taking a similar tack, RMJ. usually, I will pick my spots as to when I might “speak out.” I realize now that it’s a powerful and essential form of activism to speak your mind as often as possible...but here’s my advice: keep your cool and get your facts straight.
Captcha sez: progress
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/19 at 05:42 PMRMJ, yes, I agree that we should publicly support those who deserve it and in need of support. I can’t say much about “so-called peace groups” you are referring to. Regardless of what their position on Ward Churchill or Jeremiah Wright might have been though, if they do something to stop the war - that’s very good.
Mickey, it’s a good advice.
Posted by SH on from 03/19 at 06:46 PMWell...I speak out against everything, everywhere I go...which is one reason I’m not on any popularity list...I was once at the bottom of list. I’m too negative they say...they’re correct...Joe, can’t you say anything positive...is this like positive and negative Ions...negative being the good ones? Here’s another positive thought about america...I Have seen numerous WoodPeckers in the last few days…
Posted by joe of maine on from 03/20 at 10:41 AMHello Expendables. A new post is up.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 03/20 at 10:44 AM
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