Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
East Timor: December 7, 1975
Where in the world is East Timor?
On this tragic 30th anniversary, we begin with a geography question of sorts: What nation has the largest Muslim population? Not Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq or Egypt...but Indonesia. With a populace more than 90 percent Islamic, this South East Asian island nation has conveniently avoided America’s notorious anti-Muslim bent by holding claim to the South Pacific’s largest supply of oil, the world’s most abundant reserve of natural gas, and a bloody anti-communist history. Therefore, while Palestinian Muslims are labeled terrorists for having the audacity to revolt against fifty years of Israeli repression, Indonesian Muslims can get away with murder. Literally. Just ask Pat Moynihan.
But first...some more geography: East Timor is another island nation – a former Portuguese colony just above Australia – that became the target of a relentless and murderous assault by Indonesia 30 years ago today: December 7, 1975. That assault was made possible through the sale of U.S. arms to its loyal client-state, the silent complicity of the American press, and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Pat Moynihan’s skill at keeping the UN uninvolved at the request of his boss, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. Henry Kissinger. Over one-third of the East Timorese population (more than 200,000 humans) lost their lives due to war-related starvation, disease, massacres, or atrocities. Proportionally, the depth of this slaughter is on par with the Nazi Holocaust.
For an old article of mine, re: East Timor: http://tinyurl.com/bobdq
For an old article of mine, re: Pearl Harbor: http://tinyurl.com/9p3lc
Carl Sagan sez:
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It is simply too painful to acknowledge—even to ourselves—that we’ve been so credulous.”
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A happy December 7 note: Today is Noam Chomsky’s 77th birthday
Mmmmm...birthday cake...
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The Demo Man does B&N
It was hardly the biggest crowd I’ve ever drawn, but last night at Barnes & Noble went well and the events coordinators were pleased enough to invite me back. I should have lots of images to share soon. Expendable James did the intro (and he may even have a few minutes of video), I had plenty of support from friends and family, plus: a decent number of interested and enthusiastic folks skipped the Xmas shopping for one night to hear me. More details soon...for now, here’s a shot of me in front of the store with a 50AR sign in the window (behind a friggin’ teddy bear?):
(photo by James from Hell’s Kitchen)
I’m outta here...
Copyright © 2005-2007 Mickey Z.
