If, as Schmookler suggests, there is only one choice once violence is initiated and if violence is the story of history as we know it, then how, given the constraints of populations and resources, can we hope to relieve the current situation?
Populations of humans qua humans are clearly too large for the planet under almost any metric. Humans qua individuals are valued by religions, city-states and other individuals and it is entirely repugnant to consider reducing populations in the short term for this we know as murder and genocide. How do we craft a vision for the future that expresses an inherent love of our own species but marries it to a moderation that allows a real and relatively rapid trend downward in populations? The collapse of economic systems and the visions of freedom that must be abridged first to be fully reborn later are consequences as real as the effects of climae change are and will continue to become.
How than do we hope for resolution to the contraindications of our situation? To what can we appeal? Religion - ineffectual. Philosophy - too left-brain and faddish. Heart? What is it we seek and what is it that we lack that can allow enlightment and true understanding?
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Been Wondering About This
So, how come humans arise on the African plainsin the Rift Valley and coffee arises in the hills of South America? This is too perfect a combination to have happened by chance. Were we separated at birth by the rending of an ancient continent? We were evolved for each other and then became lost?
I'll get back to you on this one.
I'll get back to you on this one.
Change of View
Alright, the impeachment of George W. Bush is not a good idea. Its not because he shouldn't be or because he didn't commit impeachable offenses. It is simply because the best course of action is to put energy into a constructive process which will ensure the replacement of this administration with one that is principled and can act within the powers vested by the Constitution.
This is a case where the remedy that screams out to be done is not the best course of action. The Democratic Party is not ready to lead this nation out of the morass the current administration has brought us to. Surely, a properly elected President can appoint qualified individuals where partisan dunces now work, or stop the illegal spying, pull the plug on an unjust war, rip the heart out of anti-environmental policies that have been put in place, undo the tax cuts and the medicare law, etc. All of this is the easy part.
The hard part is having a vision and goals that take us beyond undoing the wrongs and bring us to a new place from which to consider oour actions. The hard part is winning fairly against trumped up issues and smears in elections that are stolen. The hard part is speaking the truth when the truth is not easy to hear. The hard part is finding the strength to deny those individuals with large war chests a nomination if they are business as usual.
It is time to roll sleeves up and help bring about a positive change to bring out the best candidate that can be found. It is time to help craft a message that has the strength to stand against smears and deceptions cooked up by an unprincipled opposition. It is time to stand for more Americans than can be deceived by politics as usual.
And while we work on this positive message and positive vision we can let W twist in the wind with each new entanglement that is uncovered. We'll have to let history do the work of slaying this embarassing little man's reputation and legacy. Surely the riches and comfort that he and his lackeys will continue to have in their lives will be painful to see. I want to see this man flayed in the sun and I want no one to come to Cheney's funeral. Yet these will not pull the dents out of the Constitution nor redress the ills these men have perpetrated on the world. It is far better to get to work to help undo the pain and suffering such poor leaders have wrought.
This is a case where the remedy that screams out to be done is not the best course of action. The Democratic Party is not ready to lead this nation out of the morass the current administration has brought us to. Surely, a properly elected President can appoint qualified individuals where partisan dunces now work, or stop the illegal spying, pull the plug on an unjust war, rip the heart out of anti-environmental policies that have been put in place, undo the tax cuts and the medicare law, etc. All of this is the easy part.
The hard part is having a vision and goals that take us beyond undoing the wrongs and bring us to a new place from which to consider oour actions. The hard part is winning fairly against trumped up issues and smears in elections that are stolen. The hard part is speaking the truth when the truth is not easy to hear. The hard part is finding the strength to deny those individuals with large war chests a nomination if they are business as usual.
It is time to roll sleeves up and help bring about a positive change to bring out the best candidate that can be found. It is time to help craft a message that has the strength to stand against smears and deceptions cooked up by an unprincipled opposition. It is time to stand for more Americans than can be deceived by politics as usual.
And while we work on this positive message and positive vision we can let W twist in the wind with each new entanglement that is uncovered. We'll have to let history do the work of slaying this embarassing little man's reputation and legacy. Surely the riches and comfort that he and his lackeys will continue to have in their lives will be painful to see. I want to see this man flayed in the sun and I want no one to come to Cheney's funeral. Yet these will not pull the dents out of the Constitution nor redress the ills these men have perpetrated on the world. It is far better to get to work to help undo the pain and suffering such poor leaders have wrought.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Pretty Much Says It All
The New York Times editorial
This adminstration does not want to stop terrorist activity. It wants to appear to stop it, to appear to be standing up to terrorists while consolidating power unto itself under the ruse of fighting terror. The ruse has been extremely successful. Here, we see it all again - an open breach of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty by actions with India coupled with a pat on the back and a smile for Pakistan. A move that helps military/industrial corporations in the US make money while breaking existing law or treaty coupled with a photo op with someone, Musharef in this case, that can make the adminstration appear to be doing all it can to fight terrorism while really doing the opposite.
These actions seem geared exactly to enriching the buddies back home while keeping the heat simmering on the pot so the perpetual "war" can be said to be ongoing. As the nuclear efforts in the world rachet up so will our rights and opportunities as citizens be screwed down from the further developments of these actions.
What will it take for Citizen Kilroy to recognize the graffiti on the wall?
This adminstration does not want to stop terrorist activity. It wants to appear to stop it, to appear to be standing up to terrorists while consolidating power unto itself under the ruse of fighting terror. The ruse has been extremely successful. Here, we see it all again - an open breach of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty by actions with India coupled with a pat on the back and a smile for Pakistan. A move that helps military/industrial corporations in the US make money while breaking existing law or treaty coupled with a photo op with someone, Musharef in this case, that can make the adminstration appear to be doing all it can to fight terrorism while really doing the opposite.
These actions seem geared exactly to enriching the buddies back home while keeping the heat simmering on the pot so the perpetual "war" can be said to be ongoing. As the nuclear efforts in the world rachet up so will our rights and opportunities as citizens be screwed down from the further developments of these actions.
What will it take for Citizen Kilroy to recognize the graffiti on the wall?
Monday, March 06, 2006
Plenty of Oscars but No Dads
Oscar Night review quote (from a non-pundit): "I heard several winners thank their mothers and some even came with them as 'dates' but I didn't hear anyone thank their Dad."
What's up with that?
What's up with that?
Thursday, March 02, 2006
More Outrage
The almost-mainstream media (aMSM) reports on the lies that George Bush, Dick Cheney and others of this administration openly present to the public. Publications like The Nation, The New Republic, and Harpers, et al, are willing to call the plays as they are. Meanwhile, the MSM will resort to using the word "lie" only when it has a cover, as in "Ex-Cabinet member claims that President Bush lied ...." The MSM will use the word "misled" or maybe "deceived" but are reluctant to use "lied" as an active past-tense transitive verb.
While I find the MSM's fear to be disappointing at the very least, I am rather appalled at the quietude of the public. It seems that the population is unable to rouse a feeling about the state of things. It remains comatose, bathed in complacency and self-delusion.
The actions of this administration are impeachable and have been so repeatedly. When Lewis Lapham can call for impeachment in the cover story of Harpers magazine, any doubts about the legitimacy of claims of wrongdoing have been called to the floor for reckoning.
Yet, the public remains silent, watching the wreck of the life it has been taught to know and cherish and seems to think will automatically perpetuate itself forever based on some intrinsic goodness. It is true that the ability of the Congress to call this President and his mean-spirited administration out currently remains out of reach. This is because the elected members of the Congress largely view their obligations to the public as secondary to those of the lobbyists and the corporate world. It is not true that this is an inalterable situation.
If the members of Congress would learn from those who employ them that they are to be issued a pink slip, their allegiances would be called into question quickly. We know this because as the 2006 election inches closer, we see ripples in the rank and file Republicans who know a "hot" issue when they see one. They know that the Dubai port control issue is one of percepton, a perception that could cause trouble back home. Suddenly they "stand" against the President, wanting to "investigate" the issue. They know that this will give them a cover back home with the voters so they can remain in power and return to suckle at the money teat back in Washington.
If they were to know that they would not be returning or would have to answer honestly for their record and their actions, it is possible that the Congress might break step with the administration and call this President out.
It perplexes me as a father that people tolerate lies from the highest officials in the land. Countless times I have seen parents become indignant and outraged by the lies their children have told them. Full of anger they admonish, scold, even punish their children in these most poignant of betrayals. Yet, when confronted with the same form of betrayal, not once but repeatedly, not harmlessly but literally lethally to our soldiers, not unintentional but fully premeditated and emotionlessly executed, from their elected officials, they roll over and play dead.
Where is the outrage? Where is the end to the complacency? Where has the desire gone to be in control of our own destiny? Where is the community necessary to a population united in government and purpose?
If we allow a lower standard for our politicians and elected officials and let their hypocrisy run freely over us, what message does this send to those we strive to teach the ways of good citzenship and fealty? What double standard are we perpeuating on our own children? How are we betraying them?
Where is the outrage when these crooks can insinuate themselves between the messages we teach our children and the reality those children see us live? This isn't about political parties, its about trust, the bedrock of any civilized society. In our own it is receding faster than the ice shelves off the coast of Antarctica.
While I find the MSM's fear to be disappointing at the very least, I am rather appalled at the quietude of the public. It seems that the population is unable to rouse a feeling about the state of things. It remains comatose, bathed in complacency and self-delusion.
The actions of this administration are impeachable and have been so repeatedly. When Lewis Lapham can call for impeachment in the cover story of Harpers magazine, any doubts about the legitimacy of claims of wrongdoing have been called to the floor for reckoning.
Yet, the public remains silent, watching the wreck of the life it has been taught to know and cherish and seems to think will automatically perpetuate itself forever based on some intrinsic goodness. It is true that the ability of the Congress to call this President and his mean-spirited administration out currently remains out of reach. This is because the elected members of the Congress largely view their obligations to the public as secondary to those of the lobbyists and the corporate world. It is not true that this is an inalterable situation.
If the members of Congress would learn from those who employ them that they are to be issued a pink slip, their allegiances would be called into question quickly. We know this because as the 2006 election inches closer, we see ripples in the rank and file Republicans who know a "hot" issue when they see one. They know that the Dubai port control issue is one of percepton, a perception that could cause trouble back home. Suddenly they "stand" against the President, wanting to "investigate" the issue. They know that this will give them a cover back home with the voters so they can remain in power and return to suckle at the money teat back in Washington.
If they were to know that they would not be returning or would have to answer honestly for their record and their actions, it is possible that the Congress might break step with the administration and call this President out.
It perplexes me as a father that people tolerate lies from the highest officials in the land. Countless times I have seen parents become indignant and outraged by the lies their children have told them. Full of anger they admonish, scold, even punish their children in these most poignant of betrayals. Yet, when confronted with the same form of betrayal, not once but repeatedly, not harmlessly but literally lethally to our soldiers, not unintentional but fully premeditated and emotionlessly executed, from their elected officials, they roll over and play dead.
Where is the outrage? Where is the end to the complacency? Where has the desire gone to be in control of our own destiny? Where is the community necessary to a population united in government and purpose?
If we allow a lower standard for our politicians and elected officials and let their hypocrisy run freely over us, what message does this send to those we strive to teach the ways of good citzenship and fealty? What double standard are we perpeuating on our own children? How are we betraying them?
Where is the outrage when these crooks can insinuate themselves between the messages we teach our children and the reality those children see us live? This isn't about political parties, its about trust, the bedrock of any civilized society. In our own it is receding faster than the ice shelves off the coast of Antarctica.
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