Mickey Z

Cool Observer

Monday, February 27, 2006

U.S. racism and fear at the ports: Nothing New

Posted by Mickey Z on 02/27 at 05:43 AM

Thanks for the wok suggestions on Saturday, they all sound lovely. I went with the “cosa con la cosa” as suggested by Keir (everone loved it, cheers) and I´m anticipating trying the rest out. The afternoon was delightful, I recorded our conversation over the table and spliced in what we played after dessert (strawberries with lemonjuice and sugar) with it, the giggles and clatters of chopsticks and glasses went perfect with an oddly-phrased waltz we came up with.

Posted by Owen on from Barcelona 02/27 at 08:30 AM

make yer own A.E. blackboard here - http://tinyurl.com/by2sf

Posted by Albert E. on from Reality 02/27 at 08:31 AM

Greetings to MZer’s everywhere, I have Democracy Now on in the background. The topic right now is USA torture and the Black Prison System. My stomach starts churning every time I hear discussion on this topic. Maher Arar is speaking now. He might be one of the prisoners who tried to sue after he was released but a Judge dismissed his suit????
Mickey, I love your Lady Justice this morning. Is she peeking to find justice or is she peeking to make sure that no justice comes?
Mudge and Helga thanks for your moral support in last night’s comments. About the $117,000. I am not too upset. I would be more worried if it was a bill for several hundred dollars because I would feel obligated to pay it. A bill for $117,000 when you only have $18. in your checking account is a lot like the way Vermonters feel when the temperature goes below Zero. Minus 10 and minus 30 feel just about the same. Yes, I will do everything I can to appeal the bill. I have just found out that the procedure for doing that here is pretty bad. Makes me want to move to Canada.
This morning I received a long E-mail from Joe. He sounds OK but I think he is stressed. He says to tell everyone here, “Hello”. I hope that he comes back soon. I will answer his e-mail and remind him how everyone here misses him.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/27 at 09:12 AM

I know what you mean Rosemarie, there comes a time when it is just so much money it´s beyond your care threshold.

Posted by Owen on from Barcelona 02/27 at 09:20 AM

p.s. found this here http://tinyurl.com/qq98r :

Apparently the FBI and British “intelligence” quizzed Morrissey after speaking out against both governments. It’s not uncommon for the Moz-father to speak out against government, so what is the deal?
According to Contact Music, Morrissey explains, “The FBI and the Special Branch have investigated me and I’ve been interviewed and taped and so forth. They were trying to determine if I was a threat to the government, and similarly in England. But it didn’t take them very long to realize that I’m not. I don’t belong to any political groups, I don’t really say anything unless I’m asked directly and I don’t even demonstrate in public. I always assume that so-called authoritarian figures just assume that pop/rock music is slightly insane and an untouchable platform for the working classes to stand up and say something noticeable. My view is that neither England or America are democratic societies. You can’t really speak your mind and if you do you’re investigated.”

Posted by Owen on from Barcelona 02/27 at 09:24 AM

Glad the thing with the thing worked out, Owen. I notice in that Morrisey link that there’s a mention that Bush has financial ties to the the Dubai port company---I hadn’t heard that before, but I’m somehow not surprised. Somehow.

This is totally hokey, but I guess there are a few people here who might dig it.

Posted by Keir on from The Hague 02/27 at 10:08 AM

Good morning everyone,

RMJ, Maher Arar is a Canadian whow was stopped and arrested at a US airport while returning home from a holiday with family. He ended up in a Syrian (his country of birth)prison where he was tortured and upon his return to Canada (after his wife tirelessly campaigned for his release) it came to light that the RCMP provided intelligence on him to the US who in turn were supplying this info to Syria. There’s been an inquiry into the Cdn. govt’s complicity in his extradition and torture that (not suprisingly) came up with few answers. His wife is now an MP in the Ottawa region. This is Maher’s website which has great detail on his detention and up to today: http://tinyurl.com/hoa94

“Albert’s” post didn’t come up quite right:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~youngfox69/einsteinshow 09_11.jpg

Keir I’d read about Bush’s links to Dubai as the fuss was breaking out. Not suprising in the least. In fact I think I’d be very suprised if there are any deals that are done without greasy palms or back scratchers.

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/27 at 10:53 AM

Oh for the love of pete. I don’t know why that picture didn’t show again. Apparently the underscores are not appreciated when posting a jpg here.

Just check it out ok - it’s full of fun to be had

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/27 at 10:55 AM

Yeeargh twas I who attempted to post the A.E pic I made for me latest blog post.
I see T-thumper has already done his blackboard.
COOL!

After 9/11/01 the Cheney administration spent millions identifying Muslims and Arabs as the world’s new subhumans worthy of extermination in the minds of your average American TV watcher zombies.
They needed to vilify in order to invade.
For them to turn around now and attempt to actually do business with their newly minted subhuman enemy is a stark example of their unmitigated arrogance.

But hey, it now gives the right wing control mech. bastards a chance to condescendingly call all of their screeching hatemonger supporters “racists”, making themselves appear as tolerant and benevolent.

Their thought conducting worked too well but they do not really care what the #### anybody thinks. They would just as soon sacrifice every one of their dumb ass supporters now they have got their endless war.

A hate filled Cheney/Bush lackey feels betrayed and screeches about the evil A-rabs on the excellent new site “Calling all Wingnuts”

http://tinyurl.com/lp8ph

Wake up right wing dupes your government has pulled down your pants and left you standing in the wind. They ARE the enemy.
Evil knows no race, borders and flags – it lives in the hearts of all humans! Ethnicity is irrelevant.
Words and deeds are all that counts.
It must hurt to realize you have been used and tossed away. Boohoo to all you racist robots.

Posted by Youngfox on from Neoconada 02/27 at 11:47 AM

Youngfox, very well said there in # 9. It is also interesting watching Hillary C. bash the Ports Deal. Sounds like racism to me.
Amelopsis, thanks for the link to Maher’s site. That is an under-reported story. I had heard about it before but was not sure of the details. I also sort of remember that a young Canadian child was one of the many children held at Guantanamo for a long time.
Child torturers R us.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/27 at 11:58 AM

Ah yes Rosemarie - a young member of the Khadr family. They are a complex family with a very complex mix of issues right now and are entirely under-reported because of it. I have a post cooking about that but time fritters away and it’s as yet unfinished.

Captcha: “army” hmm. Who’s I wonder?

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/27 at 12:08 PM

thanks youngfox - i think i could have a bit more fun with that toy..

you might like this one as well http://tinyurl.com/8zmxr

i made this one…

Posted by michael on from scotland 02/27 at 12:15 PM

oops, i didn’t put the link in…

http://tinyurl.com/8zmxr

Posted by michael on from scotland 02/27 at 12:25 PM

ooops - RMJ thank you for updating us on Joe. I can imagine that flood clean up does nothing to help a person relax. I hope he & Suzanne are ok though. Do say ‘hi’ to him for us.

Owen - will you post a link to your weekend’s kitchen/audio experiment? The thing with the thing with the chopsticks is intriguing me now.

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/27 at 12:31 PM

I like this. It was just posted at Dissident Voice by Kim Petersen.

“...A world without weapons is of course preferable. But in the scenario where one side produces weapons and aims them at another side, sound logic demands the development of equally effective weaponry in a self-defense capacity. In his essay “Pacifism and the War,” George Orwell wrote, “Pacifism is objectively pro-fascist. This is elementary common sense. If you hamper the war effort of one side, you automatically help out that of the other...”

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/27 at 12:38 PM

Hello Expendables. Lots of great comments and images here but this is one of those days where I might not ever catch up. For now, I wondering why no one has commented on the tree-hugging image. Wait till Mudge and the Cat Lady get here.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 01:43 PM

Oversight of typing only, MZ - I think those are great - I’m sure Mudge’s reason for not commenting on it is that he’s out with Alfred snapping pics of themselves hugging trees as we speak! Catlady might be trying to find the right one to hug.

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/27 at 01:57 PM

Yes, Amelopsis, that’s part of the issue, but also, if Cool Observer gets me fired for viewing this eco-smut while at work, I’m gonna sue!

Anyone know a good lawyer… agh.

I wish RMJ had the good luck I did when I got arrested at the RNC. Only cost $500 all told for several months work to drop the misdemeanor charges. The National Lawyers Guild is the best.

Posted by James on from work 02/27 at 02:13 PM

that is taking tree-hugging to an entirely new level, Mick.

Posted by JOS on from Chicago 02/27 at 02:24 PM

James, you are lucky. Getting arrested is a lot less tragic than being run over by a Government Dump truck. National Lawyers Guild is great but they don’t take civil cases.

Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 02/27 at 02:37 PM

Thanks for the history lesson, Mickey! There really is nothing new under the sun ..
And ‘hi’ to Owen, Albert E., Rosemarie, Keir, Youngfox, James, JOS and Michael - hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.
Can’t think of anything else to say today, so it’s bye for now.

Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 02/27 at 03:14 PM

Tree-hugging? More like tree-buggering.
If a tree is sodomized in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a noise?

Posted by Cart on from near Warshington DC 02/27 at 03:15 PM

Now we’re talking. I knew it wouldn’t take more than a little prodding to get the Expendable minds in the gutter.

Michael: Love the “oil” painting.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 03:19 PM

Speaking of gutters. Look what came out of this one.

Posted by Cart on from near Warshington DC 02/27 at 03:34 PM

Thanks, Cart. You gotta just laugh when Kissinger declares: “The Hamas-controlled government would be obliged to renounce violence.” Why is it that only those not allied with the US are “obliged to renounce violence”?

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 03:42 PM

Oh that is a fine piece. Not a single paragraph fails to rattle my cage.
I particularly like the suggestion that Sharon’s is a secular perspective while the Palestinians’ is a religious one.
Excuse my while I toss my lunch.

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/27 at 03:44 PM

Men like HK and Sharon are cut from the same cunning, predatory mold. HK admits in the linked piece that Sharon was ruthless. Fun fact: None other than Donald Rumsfeld once called HK “the mosr ruthless man I’ve ever met.”

Ruthless is as ruthless does, right Forrest?

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 03:48 PM

Yes and that’s one box of chocolates that seldom suprises.
(funny - did you also just watch that on the idiot box the other night?)

Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 02/27 at 04:29 PM

I’ve only seen Gump once...many moons ago. I came away unimpressed.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 06:55 PM

Gump stank up the place. Awful.

Fast dip-in...Thor/Baldur didn’t go home.

Bye!

Posted by Mudge on from Austin 02/27 at 07:20 PM

I third that-- that movie couldn’t be over fast enough for me. Every intelligent person I’ve ever spoken to about it has hated it.

So I understand correctly-- Hillary, et al decry the UAE port deal because they’re racists, but Bush, etc. have been all for it because even though they’re racists too, they gain financially in some sort of way. Meanwhile, the UAE has no real ties to terrorism, but Pakistan has plenty but we do plenty of business with them… or am I missing something?

Have fun in Asgard, Mudge…

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/27 at 08:10 PM

James, you just summed up the ports controversy in a few sentences. They should book you on Meet the Press this week.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 08:13 PM

Nah. McLaughlin Group.

But thanks, makes me feel better for all the day’s end of CO posts/comments when I felt like I had no idea what was going on, but lo and behold…

Issue #1-- Anti-Arab bigotry and our nation’s harbor security…

Issue #2-- Veganism and sexual addictions: our unbiased panel will now discuss the connection…

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/27 at 08:20 PM

Good analysis on port issue: http://tinyurl.com/p2xbq

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 08:29 PM

“UAE sent $100 million in relief funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina.”

Yeah, if that’s the terrorism they’re involved in, I say “bring it on”.

Posted by James on from Hell's Kitchen 02/27 at 08:34 PM

anyone see Running Scared?

Posted by JOS on from Chicago 02/27 at 08:42 PM

pure entertainment...nothing else...but I kinda liked it.

Posted by JOS on from Chicago 02/27 at 08:45 PM

Thanks for providing a sane commentary on the port (non)issue. Apparently, capitalism is fine, just so long as its us buying up other countries and not vice versa.

Capitalism is like democracy that way. Democracy is fine, just so long as people we like are elected. If not, democracy is an abhorrent abberation.

That photo of the tree is strangely arousing. I can’t explain it, but I think I’m getting a WOODY. (Ok, ok, nobody quote me on that, it’s a joke!)

Posted by Jeremy on from Taiwan 02/27 at 09:09 PM

JOS: Yeah, I saw the ad for Running Scared. It’s a Tarantino-style flick, huh?

Jeremy: I am outraged by your comment...simply because I did not think of the “woody” line first. This blog ain’t big enough to two punsters.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 09:19 PM

yes...prety violent...but pretty good.

Posted by JOS on from Chicago 02/27 at 09:30 PM

G’night, all. I’m sorry I didn’t get to comment much on the earlier conversations.

Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 02/27 at 10:12 PM

“I am outraged by your comment...simply because I did not think of the “woody” line first. This blog ain’t big enough to two punsters.”—MZ

LOL!!! Sorry, man. I’ll try to control myself.

Posted by Jeremy on from Taiwan 02/27 at 10:37 PM

Wood you guys just calm down? Two punsters? Mickey, yer barking up the wrong tree. Now yer gonna have to deal with the tree of us.

Oof.

Posted by Keir on from The Hague 02/28 at 05:52 AM