Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
"The PATRIOT Act violates at least six amendments..."
Thanks for the plug, Mickey. Also thanks for the link to the Josh Frank interview with Churchill. I read it and it is good...though it is a little sad that so much space and electronic air time on TV is being spent on dealing with the ad hominem accusations against Churchill. The important points about U.S. history and foreign policy that Churchill makes in his writings seem to get lost.Hopefully this Frank, frank interview will end some of the personal attacks so that Churchill’s message can get out. Attacks on Churchill have been coming from the right and the left. I believe that he is probably the most misquoted man on the planet, these days. His recent mention of “fragging” is a perfect example. Churchill merely asked a question in an attempt to make people think, but almost everyone in the media misquoted him. After reading all of Churchill’s writings that I can find, I see a lot of reasons to support him.
Posted by rosemarie jackowski on from 07/19 at 09:54 AMHi Mickey & Rosemarie -
Nice interview, Mickey. ( And a nice piece with Mr. Churchill. Yes, of course, he’s being screwed: That’s the point. The only point.)
You’ve done some good work, too, Rosemarie. Yes, we have a history of barbarism, and a history of twisting it all into an official chronical of spreading freedom and justice to the world.In your interview, Mickey, I’d have to take exception to Mr. Brasch’s comments about our “Founding Fathers” being appalled - about Bush. I tend to doubt it. I read an amazing book, a few years ago, which I’ve been rereading, recently: Toward An American Revolution - Exposing the Constitution, and Other Illusions, by Jerry Fresia. Fresia’s basic thesis is that our good fathers were not at all interested in democracy, or in general freedoms for the ordinary citizens of the US. They were very much afraid of, and disgusted by, democracy. He contends that our “systems of checks and balances” were developed to check and balance the potential power of ordinary people against the interests of the rich and powerful. The creation and implementation of the Constitution was a slick, and probably criminal act designed to create a land dedicated to preserving and increasing wealth and power for the few, and keeping the ordinary people down - - - forever. Our “founders” set out to create a heartless empire, in which elites would be free to do business without being interfered with - and that’s just what they got.
I stopped reading the book, years ago, because it disturbed me so much. This time, I must be a bit more hardened against my own distress - I don’t know. It’s an amazing read…
Posted by joe on from Oregon 07/19 at 02:00 PMI’m with you, Joe. The Founding Fathers are just another great American myth...still I felt it best to present Walt’s comments and leave room for discussion like this. There’s gotta be room for each of us to disagree on some particulars.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/19 at 02:15 PMHi Mickey -
Oh, absolutely. It was a tasty interview - and it got my blood moving, as it were. Lately, I’ve been amazed by all of the “Left” pieces I read, in which our bloodlust and madness are somehow seen as aberrant, and that we’ve got to (Aargh!) “get back to our beloved democratic principles...” Those “democratic principles” are amply presented in Rosemarie’s essay. Our great “experiment in freedom” began with the freedom to butcher native Americans, expanded outward to the Caribean and Mexico and Central and South America, then outward to the world at large. Ever widening circles of blood and death for profit and power. And, all the while, the American population was being hoodwinked into believing that it was all for “the good, the right, the just...”Surely, this is not what we “want to get back to...” Somehow, we’ve got to start over. But how? The empire was designed, first and foremost, to be able to defend itself against its own population… That would be - us!
Posted by joe on from Oregon 07/19 at 02:34 PMYeah, we hear all about the good old days and how we have to take our country back. When was it exactly that “we” had it?
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/19 at 02:37 PMGood conversation going on here Joe and Mickey. All of this talk about founding fathers reminds me of a day, a long time ago, when I was teaching in the local high school. One of the really smart students asked me what I thought of the U.S. Constitution, an odd question because it had nothing to do with the topic that day. I gave a very evasive and SAFE answer and have felt guilty ever since. I was thinking about my own job security. What an opportunity I missed. It has bothered me ever since. That is a mistake I will never repeat.
Posted by rosemarie on from 07/19 at 05:08 PMI’ve made many, many such mistakes, over the years, Rosemarie - mostly due to “self-interest,” and often due to outright cowardice, of one sort or another… Fortunately, there have also been times when I “stood up,” when it seemed dangerous to do so. Most interesting, perhaps, is that I was never certain of what I would do - until after I did it. Like you, I “plan” to live the rest of my life “on my feet.” ( We’ll see...)
Posted by joe on from Oregon 07/19 at 05:38 PMI’d say Joe and Rosemarie would be voted most likely to not to play it safe.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/19 at 05:43 PMHey, that is an idea for another one of your winning contests, Mickey. WHAT ACTION OR MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? There is a contest-idea for you. Joe, the first time that you “stand up” it is really hard (at least it was for me). It is getting less traumatic now. By the time that I am in the old folks home, maybe I will be satisfied with myself...or maybe not.
Posted by rosemarie on from 07/19 at 06:16 PMGood idea, Rosemarie.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 07/19 at 07:13 PMthanks for all those links, Mickey! And did Westmoreland really say that?
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 07/20 at 11:00 PMRosemarie and Joe--
I recently taught 1984 and The Crucible to my 10th-grade classes. There’s always the standard comparison to McCarthyism and the staged “2-minute hate.” As much as the Patriot Act terrifies me, I was glad to have a link through literature to bring this attempt on our current freedoms to the attention of the kids. They were flabbergasted, especially those who have been led to believe that it’s worth it to sacrifice personal freedom for the greater good. It was extremely enlightening all around. I can’t prove it, but I believe I was denied tenure because I encouraged the students to form their own opinions when presented with the facts.
Posted by lghink on from quogue 08/01 at 06:45 PMNow you have to tell us the whole tenure story, LGH...on the next “Storytelling Saturday.”
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 08/01 at 07:50 PM
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