I often feel like I must be getting closer to that edge, that at any moment i might suddenly find myself one foot over. Its things like the random emotions, the always present but only slight anxiety, the fears, but at the same time with each day i grow prouder of myself for being able to ride whatever edge it is... I like the feeling of still being happy, of experiancing fun things, but being close enough to trouble that the sadness and anxiety feels real... Its an interesting point. I expect things to get worse simply because I know the homework will build up soon. But so far im handling it.. im doing homework a day early sometimes... Im putting off computer games and movies sometimes -and at others saying "fuck homework" the edge....
The music speaks to me when im not listening entirely... not the specific vocals the words... but the intention behind them (or my perception) and the last song spoke of how we are all struggling to find balance... and I felt sorry, because currently im winning the balancing act, but not all are.
I spoke to my mom at dinner for a few hours... we talked about all sorts of things... family issues and more. Later I read about this ministry that these guys are doing. throughout the book, i kept wondering why i was reading it, it didnt really appeal to me, but i wasnt sure if the need to read was trying to tell me something like "listen up idiot!" or like "you can do this too, only do it right"
The kid handing out the materials and selling shit might have been one of the kids i saw in sauk center a while back... its a band, and a group and they give speeches and perform services and whatnot. Christianity is a tricky thing, never as easy as they make it seem. Which voice do you listen to, and when it works for you is that good enough? or do u have to conform to the strictest of guidelines... Im relatively happy, not struggling in life, blessed with many people and things, not necessarily seeking too much more... for all intents and purposes have my beliefs not lead me to feel like im leading a good life? The guy who started it said he was constantly struggling, constantly felt guilty, constantly knew his actions were wrong and did them anyway... of course he also believes that drug addictions, eating disorders and homosexuality are all choices and sinful. He says dont blame the guns blame the guy/girl behind them. dont blame the sexist culture that taught him blame the rapist. He also says there is a difference between physical disipline and beating a student, and that the ten commandments posted everywhere would make this country righteous again, as if it ever were....(keep the state out of religion not the religion out of the state, and by religion he means christianity not paganism or satanism "all other religions."
The kid peddling the stuff seemed like he believed, but also like he had a temper.. He called a woman a liar for asking about the stuff and then taking off before making a purchase... as if it wasnt ok to change her mind without an explanation. he wanted to persuede me, and so when we got on issues of war he said he agreed the iraq conflict was stupid, meanwhile pushing the same propaganda merchandise as the repubs... when i asked what issues they talk to kids about, he said drugs suicide and vets... a strange list... i asked about the vets... he said they support them because they have no choice, they are just following orders... but the entire premise of this ministry is that you always have a choice... even disorders, disease and orientations are choices.... so how does that add up?
anyway heres a link
Saturday, September 30, 2006
My mom and grant are on the atkins diet... grossness aside, they ask if i want dinner, i ask what they are having, chicken, beef maybe some rice for you guys. They ask me if i will make broccoli and rice not because they are busy, but because (i assume) they will be too tempted to have some. I look for rice, there is none. Pasta? I look at the broccoli, its covered in mold... Grant says to wash it off.... i throw it away... my mom says try the canned veggies... I look, corn niblets are the only thing in there...
This diet is terrible for family food supplies.
I watched flight 93 or whatever today and scary movie 4... both entertaining, but not neccesarily good movies... i showed my mom some of the consipracy videos...
I guess I will have lots of time to do homework tonight... so thats nice, maybe even get some done so im not in a mad rush tomorrow.
This diet is terrible for family food supplies.
I watched flight 93 or whatever today and scary movie 4... both entertaining, but not neccesarily good movies... i showed my mom some of the consipracy videos...
I guess I will have lots of time to do homework tonight... so thats nice, maybe even get some done so im not in a mad rush tomorrow.
Spent the night hanging out. My mom's friend doug (who's wife just died) came over and had dinner, it was good to hear laughing and stories, i asked how things were going to my mom in private, she said tears and jokes. Doug and grant (my step dad) were both missionaries in different parts of papua new guinea... apparently it is a beautiful but dangerous country. I spent at least an hour on the phoen with illy, talking about child care, relationships and the state of being a early 20 something without much direction.. She asked me to marry her (a joke of course) I told her no, fairly easily.
zach and I and hollie might get together on sunday apparently... im not sure whats going on yet tomorrow, cuz i havent gotten a hold of becky. last i heard she might have to work, might not... i think.
I finished (kind of) one of two papers due monday. I thought it was due today and stayed up really late... not really getting the paper done, but collecting all the sources and making all the points i wanted to make. I been working on it for a few hours now... it doesnt have any citations, and im not sure if it really fits the criteria for the paper... but hopefully he will like it.
Heres a long ass copy of a paper for you while i got watch a movie at 3:00 AM
please leave comments if you read it. it hasnt really been edited....
War Theory and Justification in Music
The event of war often brings about many forms of expression and dialogue on the subject, poetry, stories and essays are often written during or after war, commenting either for or against it. Historically music has also been used to express ideas of war, traditionally to rally troops and later used as is the case now, to object to war as well. The wave of pro war music during our current crisis has been met with if not exceeded by music proclaiming anti war sentiments. Much like other forms of war expression the lyrics of popular songs present justifications both for and against the war. These come from a variety of perspectives including from the rational, pacifist and just war theories. Another form of reflection on the war can be seen in the way the war is depicted by the songwriters, it is easy to identify verses within a song that assume or deny the myths that Baritz points out such as the “City on a hill” myth, the assumption that America shines brighter than other countries and should thus lead and guide, or protect the principles of the nation by any means. Also found in popular lyrics much like popular movies is a belief that American technology is superior to the point of invincibility or some how shows American moral superiority. In short popular lyrics display not only the theories behind war, but also are a part of the structure that promotes or objects to American nationalism.
The songs used in this essay are all either from noted popular artists, or from songs that have charted highly with the exception of Sage Francis’ “Makeshift Patriot” which was a popular underground hip hop success. Interesting dilemmas of categorization will be explained when needed or when problematic. Songs that are used for specific points and quoted will be printed out and attached. They are also underlined in the following list.
The artists and the songs mentioned or alluded to are as follows:
The Beastie Boys, “In a World Gone Mad”
Clint Black, “I Raq and Roll”
Sage Francis “Makeshift Patriot”
Lee Greenwood “God Bless the USA”
Toby Keith, “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (The Angry American)”
Pearl Jam, “World Wide Suicide”
System of a Down, “American Dream Denial” “Attack” “Boom” “Soldier Side” and “War?”
Darryl Worley, “Have You Forgotten”
Neil Young, “Lets Roll” and “Living With War”
All songs and view points presented in this essay, will be interpreted by me, hopefully without making any factual errors.
After the events of September the eleventh, 2001 when several U.S. landmarks were strategically attacked using United States’ commercial planes, resulting in the deaths of just under 3000 people on American soil, there was an almost instantaneous wave of patriotic sentiment that spread throughout the United States. Among the displays of patriotism were new songs created to commemorate the events and to celebrate the spirit of the United States. Also included in many of these songs was an embodiment of the patriotic sentiment which justified the retaliation for the attack. The retaliation began within one month, when the United States Government under a justification of a “War on Terror” decided to go to war with the Government of Afghanistan, and continues today with simultaneous wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and several other parts of the world.
Although most musicians and Americans in general reacted positively to the news of the war in Afghanistan, one extremely critical objection was made by popular underground rapper Sage Francis who came out with the song “Makeshift Patriot” on October eleventh, 2001 (4 days after the war began) in which he criticizes the seemingly unquestioning and non “objective” media with lines like “While a camera man creates news and shoves it down our throats on the West Bank, With a ten second clip put on constant loop to provoke US angst” the violent reaction of politicians “Some of them dug for answers in the mess...but the rest were looking for trouble” “It's the one we rally behind, He's got a megaphone...and he's promising to make heads roll” and the stagnant American public who either blindly followed or watched on, even in horror “The viewers are glued to television screens Stuck... cause lots of things seem too sick” and his final objection and response to the public “Don't waive your rights with your flags.” Sage Francis, in his objections criticizes the patriotism found in the songs like Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (The Angry American)” which was also written shortly after 9/11 but which charted at # 25 on the U.S. country charts in 2003. Although “Makeshift Patriot” does not seem to evoke any kind of justification for war or peace, it does highly criticize the rationality of even preparing for war with another country before knowing the facts.
Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (The Angry American)” begins by pronouncing that American children and citizens are aware of the sacrifices of the fallen, who’s deaths have allowed them to be at peace. He then moves on to suggest that his father was one such patriot who taught him that the U.S. and its flag was something to be proud of and was a “land of the free.” This is a popular background in many pro-war songs found in the U.S. and leads to the justification that when “the land of the free” is attacked the just thing to do is to fight back; “Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack. A mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back. Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye, Man we lit up your world like the Fourth of July.” is Toby Keith’s response. From the Realism perspective, Keith makes the point that his country was attacked and thus should be defended, but he goes on using criteria for just war theory in a sense, with the line “soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye” which in a sense suggests that the U.S. had thought through the decision and had weighed the options. The singer also chooses to inform the perpetrator that “he” is now in trouble, and continually refers to “you, your, his” which in a sense refers to the requirement of discrimination, it is not the world, a state, or civilians but the perpetrator himself that the U.S. is going to war with. Furthermore, the song resounds in the myth that the U.S. is the embodiment of freedom and justice in the world. The “city on a hill” myth is not spoken plainly by Keith but he uses popular images associated with American iconography such as “Uncle Sam”, “the Statue of Liberty” the “eagle” “mother freedom” and even the American flag, which all arguably are noted as symbols that embody the “city on the hill” myth. Thus Keith uses his song, to justify the war and uses symbols within the song to inspire patriotism and assure the audience that they must be doing the right thing, because they are American.
Also seemingly in direct confrontation with “Makeshift Patriot” is Darryl Worley’s “Have You Forgotten” in which he uses similar imagery as Francis; “fire,” “hell,” falling “towers,” explosions, and even the images on “T.V” to present the opposite view. Like Keith, he sees the 9/11 attacks as justification for the war though he does not draw lines to limitation of the conflict, in fact quite the opposite he objects to statements like “they say we don’t realize the mess we’re getting in” by implying that whatever the cost it will be worth it because of the attacks on 9/11. “Some say this country’s just out looking for a fight, After 9/11 man I’d have to say that’s right” in this line he seems to promote a Realism point of view, but he also implies in the song that the U.S. is more than a nation attacked, but a nation of “heroes” of “freedom” and that those who have died should never be forgotten.
The Iraq war which soon followed the invasion of Afghanistan found much more resistance, but songs similar to Keith and Worley’s, like Clint Black’s “I Raq and Roll,” seemed to follow the justifications found in earlier pro war songs. “Some see this in black and white, others only gray, were not beggin for a fight, no matter what they say, we have the resolution, that should put ‘em all to shame, but its a different kind of deadline, when I’m called in the game” suggests that this is a just war, one in which the rules of jus ad bellum were followed in that it was a last resort, or; “it might be a smart bomb, they find stupid people too, and if you stand with the likes of Saddam, one just might find you” which indicates the requirement of discrimination. His lyrics also point out the city on a hill myth in which the war is fought not because of a direct attack (which is contrary to just war) but because they are protecting and defending freedom; “there’s no price to high for freedom” a position the U.S. is uniquely comfortable with because “the stands America’s taken are the reason that you can (have the freedom to protest).” Black also implies a position that the U.S. is uniquely set up to use technology for the purpose of war, which is another widely believed American myth that Baritz points out. “I’m back and I’m a high tech GI Joe...it might be a smart bomb...I’ve got infrared, I’ve got GPS” also that the terrorists are “cowards” who “wont show us their weapons” where as the U.S. will demonstrate their military ability, which he believes shows our moral superiority, and the “obvious” conclusion that the U.S. will win. From Black’s portrayal of the Iraq war we are justified, and will be undeniably victorious.
With the increasing pattern of war on the part of the U.S. the public began to grow weary and soon began criticizing the efforts. This was echoed by the music community, and popular artists like the Dixie Chicks, the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam and Neil Young as well as many others came out against the war. Neil Young for instance recently released an entire C.D. dedicated to his criticism of the war which was entitled Living With War. The title track “Living With War” includes the lines “I join the multitudes, I raise my hand in peace, I never bow to the laws of the thought police, I take a holy vow, to never kill again.” a statement which seems notable in its pacifistic tendencies, but Neil Young himself release a seeming pro war song shortly after the 9/11 attacks called “Let’s Roll” which was based on the conversations heard on flight 93 during the retaking of the cockpit which may have lead to the downing of the plane in Pennsylvania. “Let’s Roll” has lyrics similar to the pro war country artists, “you’ve got to turn on evil when its coming after you, you gotta face it down, and when it tries to hide, you gotta go in after it and never be denied.” which speaks of the same Realism tendencies of the earlier songs, and furthermore advances the “city on the hill” myth with; “lets roll for freedom, let roll for love, goin after Satan on the wing’s of a dove, lets roll for justice lets roll for truth, lets not let our children grow up fearful in their youth.” Young seems to imply that we are fighting on the side of God versus the devil, and that God is helping us because we are the defenders of “freedom, love, justice, and courage.” This is not to say that his later C.D. is somehow discredited, but it speaks to the differences some Americans saw between the two conflicts.
A rather popular song and video for the anti war movement was System of a Downs’ “BOOM!” a song that reflected the horrors of war, but also spoke out against the possible causes the band saw as pushing the war agenda “commercialism, capitalism, desensitization, mirrorism (the media’s portrayal of information), modern globalization, money.” The video itself showed the anti-war protest movement around the world in demonstrations, and pictures of civilians as well as a cartoon depicting Tony Blair, George Bush, Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein all riding bombs as they fell to destroy homes. The point of the video and song, seemed to be that just cause for war was not found or noted, and that the jus in bello or way the war was carried out was also not acceptable. System of a Down is an interesting band with many songs about or noting issues of war, in their song “War?” they exclaim “Call of the righteous man, Needs a reason to kill man, History teaches us so, The reason he must attain, Must be approved by his God, His child, partisan brother of war,” this song was written well before the current conflicts but it could be assumed that the audience of the band would be familiar with their work, and thus System acknowledges the “city on a hill” myth in a different way by noting that history often shows that wars are fought (on either side) with the validation of God. System also comments in a song called “American Dream Denial” on the way in which they feel the “city on a hill” portions of the American Dream were used in an unjustifiable way; “we fought your wars with all our hearts, you sent us back in body parts, you took our wills with the truth you stole, we offer prayers for your long lost soul,
your remainder is an unjustifiable egotistical power struggle, at the expense of the American dream.”
An interesting pattern can be seen in many anti war songs, which is that anti-war songs often depict alternate causes for war. They emphasize that the war is not just, by pointing out causes that do not fit the just cause of war criteria. These include from System of a Down “egotistical power struggles, global profits, religious beliefs, riches, international security, and money” and from Sage Francis cover ups for empowering “radical rebels,” power struggles, justification for oppressive laws, such as “racial profiling, curfews” commercialism, and nationalism for the sake of nationalism. Francis may make the most cutting attack on the “city on a hill” myth when he mocks “Bush” or perhaps “Giuliani” (the man with the megaphone) stating “We’ve unified over who to kill, so until I find more relevant scripture to quote, remember our god is bigger, stronger, smarter and much wealthier. So wave those flags with pride, especially the white part.”
These remarks on the various other “unjustified” reasons for war tend to fill anti-war songs, where as the pro war songs pay them very little attention. Anti-war songs often have the effect of being considered anti-nationalist as they call in to question the motives and pursuits of the country, where as the pro war songs tend to promote nationalism.
Music that reflects on the topic of war, much like other mediums of expression, demonstrates the theories and causes of war. It also reveals the popular American myths associated with going to war. Popular musicians such as Clint Black, Toby Keith and Darryl Worley demonstrate in their lyrics that the realist and just war theories are used to justify war. Where as anti-war musicians such as Neil Young and System of a Down tend to show pacifistic tendencies, or at least a questioning of the just war causes delivered by the Government. All tend to remark on American myths such as the “city on the hill” myth or the myth that American technology makes us superior both morally and in combat. Thus popular songs are a telling source about the nature, depiction and justifications of war.
zach and I and hollie might get together on sunday apparently... im not sure whats going on yet tomorrow, cuz i havent gotten a hold of becky. last i heard she might have to work, might not... i think.
I finished (kind of) one of two papers due monday. I thought it was due today and stayed up really late... not really getting the paper done, but collecting all the sources and making all the points i wanted to make. I been working on it for a few hours now... it doesnt have any citations, and im not sure if it really fits the criteria for the paper... but hopefully he will like it.
Heres a long ass copy of a paper for you while i got watch a movie at 3:00 AM
please leave comments if you read it. it hasnt really been edited....
War Theory and Justification in Music
The event of war often brings about many forms of expression and dialogue on the subject, poetry, stories and essays are often written during or after war, commenting either for or against it. Historically music has also been used to express ideas of war, traditionally to rally troops and later used as is the case now, to object to war as well. The wave of pro war music during our current crisis has been met with if not exceeded by music proclaiming anti war sentiments. Much like other forms of war expression the lyrics of popular songs present justifications both for and against the war. These come from a variety of perspectives including from the rational, pacifist and just war theories. Another form of reflection on the war can be seen in the way the war is depicted by the songwriters, it is easy to identify verses within a song that assume or deny the myths that Baritz points out such as the “City on a hill” myth, the assumption that America shines brighter than other countries and should thus lead and guide, or protect the principles of the nation by any means. Also found in popular lyrics much like popular movies is a belief that American technology is superior to the point of invincibility or some how shows American moral superiority. In short popular lyrics display not only the theories behind war, but also are a part of the structure that promotes or objects to American nationalism.
The songs used in this essay are all either from noted popular artists, or from songs that have charted highly with the exception of Sage Francis’ “Makeshift Patriot” which was a popular underground hip hop success. Interesting dilemmas of categorization will be explained when needed or when problematic. Songs that are used for specific points and quoted will be printed out and attached. They are also underlined in the following list.
The artists and the songs mentioned or alluded to are as follows:
The Beastie Boys, “In a World Gone Mad”
Clint Black, “I Raq and Roll”
Sage Francis “Makeshift Patriot”
Lee Greenwood “God Bless the USA”
Toby Keith, “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (The Angry American)”
Pearl Jam, “World Wide Suicide”
System of a Down, “American Dream Denial” “Attack” “Boom” “Soldier Side” and “War?”
Darryl Worley, “Have You Forgotten”
Neil Young, “Lets Roll” and “Living With War”
All songs and view points presented in this essay, will be interpreted by me, hopefully without making any factual errors.
After the events of September the eleventh, 2001 when several U.S. landmarks were strategically attacked using United States’ commercial planes, resulting in the deaths of just under 3000 people on American soil, there was an almost instantaneous wave of patriotic sentiment that spread throughout the United States. Among the displays of patriotism were new songs created to commemorate the events and to celebrate the spirit of the United States. Also included in many of these songs was an embodiment of the patriotic sentiment which justified the retaliation for the attack. The retaliation began within one month, when the United States Government under a justification of a “War on Terror” decided to go to war with the Government of Afghanistan, and continues today with simultaneous wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and several other parts of the world.
Although most musicians and Americans in general reacted positively to the news of the war in Afghanistan, one extremely critical objection was made by popular underground rapper Sage Francis who came out with the song “Makeshift Patriot” on October eleventh, 2001 (4 days after the war began) in which he criticizes the seemingly unquestioning and non “objective” media with lines like “While a camera man creates news and shoves it down our throats on the West Bank, With a ten second clip put on constant loop to provoke US angst” the violent reaction of politicians “Some of them dug for answers in the mess...but the rest were looking for trouble” “It's the one we rally behind, He's got a megaphone...and he's promising to make heads roll” and the stagnant American public who either blindly followed or watched on, even in horror “The viewers are glued to television screens Stuck... cause lots of things seem too sick” and his final objection and response to the public “Don't waive your rights with your flags.” Sage Francis, in his objections criticizes the patriotism found in the songs like Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (The Angry American)” which was also written shortly after 9/11 but which charted at # 25 on the U.S. country charts in 2003. Although “Makeshift Patriot” does not seem to evoke any kind of justification for war or peace, it does highly criticize the rationality of even preparing for war with another country before knowing the facts.
Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red White and Blue (The Angry American)” begins by pronouncing that American children and citizens are aware of the sacrifices of the fallen, who’s deaths have allowed them to be at peace. He then moves on to suggest that his father was one such patriot who taught him that the U.S. and its flag was something to be proud of and was a “land of the free.” This is a popular background in many pro-war songs found in the U.S. and leads to the justification that when “the land of the free” is attacked the just thing to do is to fight back; “Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack. A mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back. Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye, Man we lit up your world like the Fourth of July.” is Toby Keith’s response. From the Realism perspective, Keith makes the point that his country was attacked and thus should be defended, but he goes on using criteria for just war theory in a sense, with the line “soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye” which in a sense suggests that the U.S. had thought through the decision and had weighed the options. The singer also chooses to inform the perpetrator that “he” is now in trouble, and continually refers to “you, your, his” which in a sense refers to the requirement of discrimination, it is not the world, a state, or civilians but the perpetrator himself that the U.S. is going to war with. Furthermore, the song resounds in the myth that the U.S. is the embodiment of freedom and justice in the world. The “city on a hill” myth is not spoken plainly by Keith but he uses popular images associated with American iconography such as “Uncle Sam”, “the Statue of Liberty” the “eagle” “mother freedom” and even the American flag, which all arguably are noted as symbols that embody the “city on the hill” myth. Thus Keith uses his song, to justify the war and uses symbols within the song to inspire patriotism and assure the audience that they must be doing the right thing, because they are American.
Also seemingly in direct confrontation with “Makeshift Patriot” is Darryl Worley’s “Have You Forgotten” in which he uses similar imagery as Francis; “fire,” “hell,” falling “towers,” explosions, and even the images on “T.V” to present the opposite view. Like Keith, he sees the 9/11 attacks as justification for the war though he does not draw lines to limitation of the conflict, in fact quite the opposite he objects to statements like “they say we don’t realize the mess we’re getting in” by implying that whatever the cost it will be worth it because of the attacks on 9/11. “Some say this country’s just out looking for a fight, After 9/11 man I’d have to say that’s right” in this line he seems to promote a Realism point of view, but he also implies in the song that the U.S. is more than a nation attacked, but a nation of “heroes” of “freedom” and that those who have died should never be forgotten.
The Iraq war which soon followed the invasion of Afghanistan found much more resistance, but songs similar to Keith and Worley’s, like Clint Black’s “I Raq and Roll,” seemed to follow the justifications found in earlier pro war songs. “Some see this in black and white, others only gray, were not beggin for a fight, no matter what they say, we have the resolution, that should put ‘em all to shame, but its a different kind of deadline, when I’m called in the game” suggests that this is a just war, one in which the rules of jus ad bellum were followed in that it was a last resort, or; “it might be a smart bomb, they find stupid people too, and if you stand with the likes of Saddam, one just might find you” which indicates the requirement of discrimination. His lyrics also point out the city on a hill myth in which the war is fought not because of a direct attack (which is contrary to just war) but because they are protecting and defending freedom; “there’s no price to high for freedom” a position the U.S. is uniquely comfortable with because “the stands America’s taken are the reason that you can (have the freedom to protest).” Black also implies a position that the U.S. is uniquely set up to use technology for the purpose of war, which is another widely believed American myth that Baritz points out. “I’m back and I’m a high tech GI Joe...it might be a smart bomb...I’ve got infrared, I’ve got GPS” also that the terrorists are “cowards” who “wont show us their weapons” where as the U.S. will demonstrate their military ability, which he believes shows our moral superiority, and the “obvious” conclusion that the U.S. will win. From Black’s portrayal of the Iraq war we are justified, and will be undeniably victorious.
With the increasing pattern of war on the part of the U.S. the public began to grow weary and soon began criticizing the efforts. This was echoed by the music community, and popular artists like the Dixie Chicks, the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam and Neil Young as well as many others came out against the war. Neil Young for instance recently released an entire C.D. dedicated to his criticism of the war which was entitled Living With War. The title track “Living With War” includes the lines “I join the multitudes, I raise my hand in peace, I never bow to the laws of the thought police, I take a holy vow, to never kill again.” a statement which seems notable in its pacifistic tendencies, but Neil Young himself release a seeming pro war song shortly after the 9/11 attacks called “Let’s Roll” which was based on the conversations heard on flight 93 during the retaking of the cockpit which may have lead to the downing of the plane in Pennsylvania. “Let’s Roll” has lyrics similar to the pro war country artists, “you’ve got to turn on evil when its coming after you, you gotta face it down, and when it tries to hide, you gotta go in after it and never be denied.” which speaks of the same Realism tendencies of the earlier songs, and furthermore advances the “city on the hill” myth with; “lets roll for freedom, let roll for love, goin after Satan on the wing’s of a dove, lets roll for justice lets roll for truth, lets not let our children grow up fearful in their youth.” Young seems to imply that we are fighting on the side of God versus the devil, and that God is helping us because we are the defenders of “freedom, love, justice, and courage.” This is not to say that his later C.D. is somehow discredited, but it speaks to the differences some Americans saw between the two conflicts.
A rather popular song and video for the anti war movement was System of a Downs’ “BOOM!” a song that reflected the horrors of war, but also spoke out against the possible causes the band saw as pushing the war agenda “commercialism, capitalism, desensitization, mirrorism (the media’s portrayal of information), modern globalization, money.” The video itself showed the anti-war protest movement around the world in demonstrations, and pictures of civilians as well as a cartoon depicting Tony Blair, George Bush, Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein all riding bombs as they fell to destroy homes. The point of the video and song, seemed to be that just cause for war was not found or noted, and that the jus in bello or way the war was carried out was also not acceptable. System of a Down is an interesting band with many songs about or noting issues of war, in their song “War?” they exclaim “Call of the righteous man, Needs a reason to kill man, History teaches us so, The reason he must attain, Must be approved by his God, His child, partisan brother of war,” this song was written well before the current conflicts but it could be assumed that the audience of the band would be familiar with their work, and thus System acknowledges the “city on a hill” myth in a different way by noting that history often shows that wars are fought (on either side) with the validation of God. System also comments in a song called “American Dream Denial” on the way in which they feel the “city on a hill” portions of the American Dream were used in an unjustifiable way; “we fought your wars with all our hearts, you sent us back in body parts, you took our wills with the truth you stole, we offer prayers for your long lost soul,
your remainder is an unjustifiable egotistical power struggle, at the expense of the American dream.”
An interesting pattern can be seen in many anti war songs, which is that anti-war songs often depict alternate causes for war. They emphasize that the war is not just, by pointing out causes that do not fit the just cause of war criteria. These include from System of a Down “egotistical power struggles, global profits, religious beliefs, riches, international security, and money” and from Sage Francis cover ups for empowering “radical rebels,” power struggles, justification for oppressive laws, such as “racial profiling, curfews” commercialism, and nationalism for the sake of nationalism. Francis may make the most cutting attack on the “city on a hill” myth when he mocks “Bush” or perhaps “Giuliani” (the man with the megaphone) stating “We’ve unified over who to kill, so until I find more relevant scripture to quote, remember our god is bigger, stronger, smarter and much wealthier. So wave those flags with pride, especially the white part.”
These remarks on the various other “unjustified” reasons for war tend to fill anti-war songs, where as the pro war songs pay them very little attention. Anti-war songs often have the effect of being considered anti-nationalist as they call in to question the motives and pursuits of the country, where as the pro war songs tend to promote nationalism.
Music that reflects on the topic of war, much like other mediums of expression, demonstrates the theories and causes of war. It also reveals the popular American myths associated with going to war. Popular musicians such as Clint Black, Toby Keith and Darryl Worley demonstrate in their lyrics that the realist and just war theories are used to justify war. Where as anti-war musicians such as Neil Young and System of a Down tend to show pacifistic tendencies, or at least a questioning of the just war causes delivered by the Government. All tend to remark on American myths such as the “city on the hill” myth or the myth that American technology makes us superior both morally and in combat. Thus popular songs are a telling source about the nature, depiction and justifications of war.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Im listening to No Doubt's Return to Saturn. A Cd that took them something like 5 years, and what we get from Gwen is a reestablishing of her feminist ideals to include her insecurities and secret desires.... the break up of the relationship she had based so many of her earlier songs on, a source of strength that had let her mock patriarchy with "im just a girl" and video scenes in which she liberates herself realizing that the prince would never really come...
Return to Saturn has so many references to what seem like abusive (emotionally) situations that its hard to really be sure whats going on... Is saying you love to wash in (his) old bathwater as equally liberating? Is it feminism, is it a woman just trying to be herself? is it a call for help?
As you may have guessed these are thoughts im pondering for real life situations, just seems an interesting background.
She talks about family situations, wanting to get married having babies...
She talks about how her image is fake, how she feels strength in that because those who know are the ones she is vulnerable to, and shes afraid to be vulnerable.
Is entitlement a male thing? I just heard of a situation and it reminded me of things I have said, and I wonder if Im wrong, or if Im right to stand up for myself, but wrong to assume that a woman would too.
Gabi told me she doesnt assume people will change in a relationship... and I wonder if this is a self defeating attitude or if it (given standards) is the ideal to pursue. If it is true that that is the ideal, than should we try to make up for mistakes, try to forgive or just accept/move on? When a person disappoints, doesnt match up, breaks are trust...
Well.... I dont like Gwen's dance music or even the previous No Doubt cd(big disappointment), but that doesnt mean I assume she or they are so different, I wasnt sure about the changes betwen Tragic Kingdom and Return to Saturn, but I felt it was an honest portrayal (not disappointing)... but I didnt buy in to them just because I had liked them in the past. ((((Im trying to figure out, if something silly like everyday music choices is the same process overall that we take in life)))))
but I dont really know...
anyway.... what is feminism anyway? how do we find equality in relationships when there are always certainly differences between our perceptions, and also in different areas of life and the relationship always ineqality....
whatever
Return to Saturn has so many references to what seem like abusive (emotionally) situations that its hard to really be sure whats going on... Is saying you love to wash in (his) old bathwater as equally liberating? Is it feminism, is it a woman just trying to be herself? is it a call for help?
As you may have guessed these are thoughts im pondering for real life situations, just seems an interesting background.
She talks about family situations, wanting to get married having babies...
She talks about how her image is fake, how she feels strength in that because those who know are the ones she is vulnerable to, and shes afraid to be vulnerable.
Is entitlement a male thing? I just heard of a situation and it reminded me of things I have said, and I wonder if Im wrong, or if Im right to stand up for myself, but wrong to assume that a woman would too.
Gabi told me she doesnt assume people will change in a relationship... and I wonder if this is a self defeating attitude or if it (given standards) is the ideal to pursue. If it is true that that is the ideal, than should we try to make up for mistakes, try to forgive or just accept/move on? When a person disappoints, doesnt match up, breaks are trust...
Well.... I dont like Gwen's dance music or even the previous No Doubt cd(big disappointment), but that doesnt mean I assume she or they are so different, I wasnt sure about the changes betwen Tragic Kingdom and Return to Saturn, but I felt it was an honest portrayal (not disappointing)... but I didnt buy in to them just because I had liked them in the past. ((((Im trying to figure out, if something silly like everyday music choices is the same process overall that we take in life)))))
but I dont really know...
anyway.... what is feminism anyway? how do we find equality in relationships when there are always certainly differences between our perceptions, and also in different areas of life and the relationship always ineqality....
whatever
Im listening to No Doubt's Return to Saturn. A Cd that took them something like 5 years, and what we get from Gwen is a reestablishing of her feminist ideals to include her insecurities and secret desires.... the break up of the relationship she had based so many of her earlier songs on, a source of strength that had let her mock patriarchy with "im just a girl" and video scenes in which she liberates herself realizing that the prince would never really come...
Return to Saturn has so many references to what seem like abusive (emotionally) situations that its hard to really be sure whats going on... Is saying you love to wash in (his) old bathwater as equally liberating? Is it feminism, is it a woman just trying to be herself? is it a call for help?
As you may have guessed these are thoughts im pondering for real life situations, just seems an interesting background.
She talks about family situations, wanting to get married having babies...
She talks about how her image is fake, how she feels strength in that because those who know are the ones she is vulnerable to, and shes afraid to be vulnerable.
Is entitlement a male thing? I just heard of a situation and it reminded me of things I have said, and I wonder if Im wrong, or if Im right to stand up for myself, but wrong to assume that a woman would too.
Gabi told me she doesnt assume people will change in a relationship... and I wonder if this is a self defeating attitude or if it (given standards) is the ideal to pursue. If it is true that that is the ideal, than should we try to make up for mistakes, try to forgive or just accept/move on? When a person disappoints, doesnt match up, breaks are trust...
Well.... I dont like Gwen's dance music or even the previous No Doubt cd(big disappointment), but that doesnt mean I assume she or they are so different, I wasnt sure about the changes betwen Tragic Kingdom and Return to Saturn, but I felt it was an honest portrayal (not disappointing)... but I didnt buy in to them just because I had liked them in the past. ((((Im trying to figure out, if something silly like everyday music choices is the same process overall that we take in life)))))
but I dont really know...
anyway.... what is feminism anyway? how do we find equality in relationships when there are always certainly differences between our perceptions, and also in different areas of life and the relationship always ineqality....
whatever
Return to Saturn has so many references to what seem like abusive (emotionally) situations that its hard to really be sure whats going on... Is saying you love to wash in (his) old bathwater as equally liberating? Is it feminism, is it a woman just trying to be herself? is it a call for help?
As you may have guessed these are thoughts im pondering for real life situations, just seems an interesting background.
She talks about family situations, wanting to get married having babies...
She talks about how her image is fake, how she feels strength in that because those who know are the ones she is vulnerable to, and shes afraid to be vulnerable.
Is entitlement a male thing? I just heard of a situation and it reminded me of things I have said, and I wonder if Im wrong, or if Im right to stand up for myself, but wrong to assume that a woman would too.
Gabi told me she doesnt assume people will change in a relationship... and I wonder if this is a self defeating attitude or if it (given standards) is the ideal to pursue. If it is true that that is the ideal, than should we try to make up for mistakes, try to forgive or just accept/move on? When a person disappoints, doesnt match up, breaks are trust...
Well.... I dont like Gwen's dance music or even the previous No Doubt cd(big disappointment), but that doesnt mean I assume she or they are so different, I wasnt sure about the changes betwen Tragic Kingdom and Return to Saturn, but I felt it was an honest portrayal (not disappointing)... but I didnt buy in to them just because I had liked them in the past. ((((Im trying to figure out, if something silly like everyday music choices is the same process overall that we take in life)))))
but I dont really know...
anyway.... what is feminism anyway? how do we find equality in relationships when there are always certainly differences between our perceptions, and also in different areas of life and the relationship always ineqality....
whatever
Monday, September 25, 2006
rroma, bush, 9/11, speech, complaints and more!!!!!
So last night, probably too late, and while I was supposed to be doing some work for classes (which i skipped today)... I suddenly realized I could be listening to great rroma music (gypsy) online using youtube... and it was awesome... unfortunately I didnt know what to look up. I started with random searches and found a grup called koshka (i think) which played a really beautiful song on violin and guitar, and then started looking up other random things. My problem is, other then a band whos name i can never remember that Lex introduced me to, I cant find anything that is exactly what im looking for (style wise). I found this website that talked about the different styles associated with each region and country. Like the gipsy kings are are the sort of pop spanich flamenco style, Django is the french jazz. this guy Saban Bajramovic (that I have) is the heavy brass influenced stuff. I have lots of different options, but none of it is the rock sounding stuff i want. Part of me wonders if maybe the sound is changed when it is recorded, maybe the artists dont actually want that distortion and what not and its just the off feed from the fact they are playing such fact highly energetic music (often a signature).
The website also debated whether there was a Roma style, if Roma sound distinctly different from others, In the recordings that I knew were by Rroma people I always hear a sound that sounds different, but they talked about how heavily influenced the groups are by their home region and this is also very obvious... i.e. the difference between flamenco and samba vs jazz, or bulgarian wedding music.
I even have a couple of compilations that have varieties on them and they are good, but nothing exact...
I wish I could find that band I saw in Slovenia and make them play for me every night... I hear the influences of these other pieces in their work, but they were decidely unique so far...
Bush is an idiot.... More and more Im sick of reading this shit, not that i stop. But i dont understand why this man, this cabinet is allowed to continue to rule, and i dont understand how people didnt stop him in the first place.
hey clinton for that matter is an idiot, but at least he tried. There is all this controversy all of a sudden because he stood up to some asshole fox news journalist when the guy asked him a biased question. Now it wasnt that the journalist shouldnt ask, its that people shouldnt be upset when Clinton stands up for himself.
9/11 I been watching a lot of the 9/11 conspiracy stuff and its really awful to look at. Im not sure to what extent its believable but most of it is really just pointing out problems in the official story and asking for evidence... and that seems legit... its hard not to wonder when these things come up. And I wonder if in 50 years it will just be released, like it was with past events that we have been swindled and brought in to war for nothing... oh and we were brought in to war for nothing... as the latest info shows that (like most of us have been saying) we are less safe now that the iraq war has happened, there are more people who sympathise or are part of the "terrorist movements" and overall (like we been saying) the whole thing was stupid and is now a big mess. meanwhile they are now announcing they will hold troops there longer, and call up more... meanwhile also the leader of afghanistan is condemning the iraw war efforts as being wasted money that could have stabilized his country but instead it is now being retaken by the taliban...
um im behind... in a sense on my work for my speech tomorrow at 2:00. I have a lot of drawing to do... but if i dont get that done, at least i have printed out "paint" versions off the comp. Im not behind in my classes but i can see how i will be rather soon if i dont start working... i have a paper due fri... a test and a paper due at the beginning of next week.... a couple of research papers i havent even started.... overall... its bueno.
um i had complaints... i think.... um maybe i got them out.... back to homework!
maybe go home this weekend or next.
So last night, probably too late, and while I was supposed to be doing some work for classes (which i skipped today)... I suddenly realized I could be listening to great rroma music (gypsy) online using youtube... and it was awesome... unfortunately I didnt know what to look up. I started with random searches and found a grup called koshka (i think) which played a really beautiful song on violin and guitar, and then started looking up other random things. My problem is, other then a band whos name i can never remember that Lex introduced me to, I cant find anything that is exactly what im looking for (style wise). I found this website that talked about the different styles associated with each region and country. Like the gipsy kings are are the sort of pop spanich flamenco style, Django is the french jazz. this guy Saban Bajramovic (that I have) is the heavy brass influenced stuff. I have lots of different options, but none of it is the rock sounding stuff i want. Part of me wonders if maybe the sound is changed when it is recorded, maybe the artists dont actually want that distortion and what not and its just the off feed from the fact they are playing such fact highly energetic music (often a signature).
The website also debated whether there was a Roma style, if Roma sound distinctly different from others, In the recordings that I knew were by Rroma people I always hear a sound that sounds different, but they talked about how heavily influenced the groups are by their home region and this is also very obvious... i.e. the difference between flamenco and samba vs jazz, or bulgarian wedding music.
I even have a couple of compilations that have varieties on them and they are good, but nothing exact...
I wish I could find that band I saw in Slovenia and make them play for me every night... I hear the influences of these other pieces in their work, but they were decidely unique so far...
Bush is an idiot.... More and more Im sick of reading this shit, not that i stop. But i dont understand why this man, this cabinet is allowed to continue to rule, and i dont understand how people didnt stop him in the first place.
hey clinton for that matter is an idiot, but at least he tried. There is all this controversy all of a sudden because he stood up to some asshole fox news journalist when the guy asked him a biased question. Now it wasnt that the journalist shouldnt ask, its that people shouldnt be upset when Clinton stands up for himself.
9/11 I been watching a lot of the 9/11 conspiracy stuff and its really awful to look at. Im not sure to what extent its believable but most of it is really just pointing out problems in the official story and asking for evidence... and that seems legit... its hard not to wonder when these things come up. And I wonder if in 50 years it will just be released, like it was with past events that we have been swindled and brought in to war for nothing... oh and we were brought in to war for nothing... as the latest info shows that (like most of us have been saying) we are less safe now that the iraq war has happened, there are more people who sympathise or are part of the "terrorist movements" and overall (like we been saying) the whole thing was stupid and is now a big mess. meanwhile they are now announcing they will hold troops there longer, and call up more... meanwhile also the leader of afghanistan is condemning the iraw war efforts as being wasted money that could have stabilized his country but instead it is now being retaken by the taliban...
um im behind... in a sense on my work for my speech tomorrow at 2:00. I have a lot of drawing to do... but if i dont get that done, at least i have printed out "paint" versions off the comp. Im not behind in my classes but i can see how i will be rather soon if i dont start working... i have a paper due fri... a test and a paper due at the beginning of next week.... a couple of research papers i havent even started.... overall... its bueno.
um i had complaints... i think.... um maybe i got them out.... back to homework!
maybe go home this weekend or next.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Remember that one F i got in college? the one that a lot of people agree with me is relatively bullshit but whatever.... well I been checking the class listing to take it again for like 6 months, turns out it is being offered this semster only it wasnt listed under social science even though its a social science seminar....
anyway its too late to get in now... so im screwed, and will probably have to take it next year while im doing my education stuff. Yea!
This woman today, told me and a couple other cats that we could be the 7th generation, meaning the generation that brings positive change or something...
I woke up feeling sick, and on and off i have been in pain, and or feeling like im gonna toss my cookies... but i cant afford another day off..
im doing a speech with visuals on tuesday.... its gonna be a lot of work this weekend.
whatever peace to you
anyway its too late to get in now... so im screwed, and will probably have to take it next year while im doing my education stuff. Yea!
This woman today, told me and a couple other cats that we could be the 7th generation, meaning the generation that brings positive change or something...
I woke up feeling sick, and on and off i have been in pain, and or feeling like im gonna toss my cookies... but i cant afford another day off..
im doing a speech with visuals on tuesday.... its gonna be a lot of work this weekend.
whatever peace to you
Monday, September 18, 2006
I cleaned my room yesterday in order to bring about a sense of peace, then when it wasnt organized, I did that, then when it seemed chaotic and unimproved, I said fuck it and through up a bunch of shit randomly on the walls... I vacuumed. i organized some of the movies. It still all looks crappy and lived in. so many things still in the mix.
Its fucking cold today, I've had 48 degrees quoted to me twice... but i bet right now its either like 55 outside or like 12... you never know when you spend your day inside. My dad tried to instill in me a sense of purpose when it comes to exercise or something... so this morning i thought about it when i saw the rain, and decided I couldnt manage it, I was worried about the cross campus trek I make every monday wenesday friday. the North lot to the science building.... why my class is in there I have no idea... i think technically i shouldnt have to set a foot in there again....
I sent an e mail to a former professor and asked for an A on an incomplete he has me marked for from last fall. I think I deserve one (more so because what other people have mentioned their grades as).
I got lots of homework but its all that kind that isnt for tomorrow but for the future... like i got a speech next week that I havent started on, 5-7 minutes with visual aids. I got a paper next friday too, and a couple tests that next monday and tuesday. I got a directed study i need to start.
this semester is gonna have a lot of final projects. war class , soc methods, systems of oppression plus my directed study.
i fucking hate having a cold. sneezing is ballsack.
sarah campbell is coming up this weekend i guess for homecoming, which is weird cuz im like wondering when we started celebrating homecoming round here.. becky is supposedly coming too but Im not sure she even has the dates.
Im so off with shit.
We were reading some buddhist shit for my war class, and i forgot how peaceful it is to be focusing on something worthwhile. a reminder not to get tripped up on the illusion.
Its fucking cold today, I've had 48 degrees quoted to me twice... but i bet right now its either like 55 outside or like 12... you never know when you spend your day inside. My dad tried to instill in me a sense of purpose when it comes to exercise or something... so this morning i thought about it when i saw the rain, and decided I couldnt manage it, I was worried about the cross campus trek I make every monday wenesday friday. the North lot to the science building.... why my class is in there I have no idea... i think technically i shouldnt have to set a foot in there again....
I sent an e mail to a former professor and asked for an A on an incomplete he has me marked for from last fall. I think I deserve one (more so because what other people have mentioned their grades as).
I got lots of homework but its all that kind that isnt for tomorrow but for the future... like i got a speech next week that I havent started on, 5-7 minutes with visual aids. I got a paper next friday too, and a couple tests that next monday and tuesday. I got a directed study i need to start.
this semester is gonna have a lot of final projects. war class , soc methods, systems of oppression plus my directed study.
i fucking hate having a cold. sneezing is ballsack.
sarah campbell is coming up this weekend i guess for homecoming, which is weird cuz im like wondering when we started celebrating homecoming round here.. becky is supposedly coming too but Im not sure she even has the dates.
Im so off with shit.
We were reading some buddhist shit for my war class, and i forgot how peaceful it is to be focusing on something worthwhile. a reminder not to get tripped up on the illusion.
Its fucking freezing in morris... bout to eat china.
Robyn's travel journal (some great pictures)
also if you want more snl stuff go to nbc's website... the snl digital videos or whatever are classic
especially natalie raps and lazy sunday
um more later...
Robyn's travel journal (some great pictures)
also if you want more snl stuff go to nbc's website... the snl digital videos or whatever are classic
especially natalie raps and lazy sunday
um more later...
Sunday, September 17, 2006
maybe one shouldnt drink koolaid and coke while eating frozen pizza, but my arm hurt and it made me wonder what would happen should i have a heart attack.
Thins appear a mess, in some ways i spose... i mean they arent all that hard to fix, clean an organize a little... study for the test... try to enjoy the rest.. But it aint always that easy when your not particularly looking forward to anything.
Ben (my housemate) and I were talking about that, in terms of getting away from vices, you gotta have something else to motivate.... not always so easy to find the motivation.
Thins appear a mess, in some ways i spose... i mean they arent all that hard to fix, clean an organize a little... study for the test... try to enjoy the rest.. But it aint always that easy when your not particularly looking forward to anything.
Ben (my housemate) and I were talking about that, in terms of getting away from vices, you gotta have something else to motivate.... not always so easy to find the motivation.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
The other day Lex gave me a choice between natalie merchant and paula cole, I chose natalie being more familar with her work... since then I have listened to the paula cole cd a few times...
(much nicer)
I found this song particularly moving..
"long white arms
losing their strength and form
sixty year man on twenty year old skin
skeleton your eyes have lost their warmth
look to your father for some support
CHORUS:
hush hush hush
says your daddy's touch
sleep sleep sleep
says the hundredth sheep
peace peace peace
may you go in peace
cruel joke you waited so long to show
the one that you wanted wasn't a girl
all your life you kept it hidden inside
now when you step
you stumble
you die
chorus
oh maybe next time
in the end you will be henry the VIII
wake up tomorrow
alexander the great
open your eyes in a
new life again
oh maybe next time
you'll be given a chance
hush hush hush
hush hush hush
hush hush hush
hush hush hush
hush..."
(much nicer)
I found this song particularly moving..
"long white arms
losing their strength and form
sixty year man on twenty year old skin
skeleton your eyes have lost their warmth
look to your father for some support
CHORUS:
hush hush hush
says your daddy's touch
sleep sleep sleep
says the hundredth sheep
peace peace peace
may you go in peace
cruel joke you waited so long to show
the one that you wanted wasn't a girl
all your life you kept it hidden inside
now when you step
you stumble
you die
chorus
oh maybe next time
in the end you will be henry the VIII
wake up tomorrow
alexander the great
open your eyes in a
new life again
oh maybe next time
you'll be given a chance
hush hush hush
hush hush hush
hush hush hush
hush hush hush
hush..."
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
from james (my older brother)
who is the only one in weeks to have commented on a post...
but also more politics
Great speech from Keith Olberman. This is the transcript from his broadcast from ground zero, NY.
Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.
All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.
And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.
I belabor this to emphasize that, for me this was, and is, and always shall be, personal.
And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft,"or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante and at worst, an idiot whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President.
However, of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast -- of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds -- none of us could have predicted this.
Five years later this space is still empty.
Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.
Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.
Five years later this country's wound is still open.
Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.
Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.
It is beyond shameful.
At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial -- barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field -- Mr. Lincoln said, "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.
Today our leaders could use those same words to rationalize their reprehensible inaction. "We cannot dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground." So we won't.
Instead they bicker and buck pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they're doing instead of doing any job at all.
Five years later, Mr. Bush, we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir, on these 16 empty acres. The terrorists are clearly, still winning.
And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.
And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is its symbolism of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.
The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.
Those who did not belong to his party -- tabled that.
Those who doubted the mechanics of his election -- ignored that.
Those who wondered of his qualifications -- forgot that.
History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage.
Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people.
The President -- and those around him -- did that.
They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused, as appeasers, as those who, in the Vice President's words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists."
They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken, a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated al-Qaida as much as we did.
The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had 'something to do' with 9/11 is "lying by implication."
The impolite phrase is "impeachable offense."
Not once in now five years has this President ever offered to assume responsibility for the failures that led to this empty space, and to this, the current, curdled, version of our beloved country.
Still, there is a last snapping flame from a final candle of respect and fairness: even his most virulent critics have never suggested he alone bears the full brunt of the blame for 9/11.
Half the time, in fact, this President has been so gently treated, that he has seemed not even to be the man most responsible for anything in his own administration.
Yet what is happening this very night?
A mini-series, created, influenced -- possibly financed by -- the most radical and cold of domestic political Machiavellis, continues to be televised into our homes.
The documented truths of the last fifteen years are replaced by bald-faced lies; the talking points of the current regime parroted; the whole sorry story blurred, by spin, to make the party out of office seem vacillating and impotent, and the party in office, seem like the only option.
How dare you, Mr. President, after taking cynical advantage of the unanimity and love, and transmuting it into fraudulent war and needless death, after monstrously transforming it into fear and suspicion and turning that fear into the campaign slogan of three elections? How dare you -- or those around you -- ever "spin" 9/11?
Just as the terrorists have succeeded -- are still succeeding -- as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero.
So, too, have they succeeded, and are still succeeding as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans.
This is an odd point to cite a television program, especially one from March of 1960. But as Disney's continuing sell-out of the truth (and this country) suggests, even television programs can be powerful things.
And long ago, a series called "The Twilight Zone" broadcast a riveting episode entitled "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street."
In brief: a meteor sparks rumors of an invasion by extra-terrestrials disguised as humans. The electricity goes out. A neighbor pleads for calm. Suddenly his car -- and only his car -- starts. Someone suggests he must be the alien. Then another man's lights go on. As charges and suspicion and panic overtake the street, guns are inevitably produced. An "alien" is shot -- but he turns out to be just another neighbor, returning from going for help. The camera pulls back to a near-by hill, where two extra-terrestrials are seen manipulating a small device that can jam electricity. The veteran tells his novice that there's no need to actually attack, that you just turn off a few of the human machines and then, "they pick the most dangerous enemy they can find, and it's themselves."
And then, in perhaps his finest piece of writing, Rod Serling sums it up with words of remarkable prescience, given where we find ourselves tonight: "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men.
"For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children, and the children yet unborn."
When those who dissent are told time and time again -- as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus -- that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American...When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"... look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me:
Who has left this hole in the ground?
We have not forgotten, Mr. President.
You have.
May this country forgive you.
who is the only one in weeks to have commented on a post...
but also more politics
Great speech from Keith Olberman. This is the transcript from his broadcast from ground zero, NY.
Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.
All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.
And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.
I belabor this to emphasize that, for me this was, and is, and always shall be, personal.
And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft,"or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante and at worst, an idiot whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President.
However, of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast -- of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds -- none of us could have predicted this.
Five years later this space is still empty.
Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.
Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.
Five years later this country's wound is still open.
Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.
Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.
It is beyond shameful.
At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial -- barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field -- Mr. Lincoln said, "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.
Today our leaders could use those same words to rationalize their reprehensible inaction. "We cannot dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground." So we won't.
Instead they bicker and buck pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they're doing instead of doing any job at all.
Five years later, Mr. Bush, we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir, on these 16 empty acres. The terrorists are clearly, still winning.
And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.
And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is its symbolism of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.
The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.
Those who did not belong to his party -- tabled that.
Those who doubted the mechanics of his election -- ignored that.
Those who wondered of his qualifications -- forgot that.
History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage.
Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people.
The President -- and those around him -- did that.
They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused, as appeasers, as those who, in the Vice President's words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists."
They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken, a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated al-Qaida as much as we did.
The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had 'something to do' with 9/11 is "lying by implication."
The impolite phrase is "impeachable offense."
Not once in now five years has this President ever offered to assume responsibility for the failures that led to this empty space, and to this, the current, curdled, version of our beloved country.
Still, there is a last snapping flame from a final candle of respect and fairness: even his most virulent critics have never suggested he alone bears the full brunt of the blame for 9/11.
Half the time, in fact, this President has been so gently treated, that he has seemed not even to be the man most responsible for anything in his own administration.
Yet what is happening this very night?
A mini-series, created, influenced -- possibly financed by -- the most radical and cold of domestic political Machiavellis, continues to be televised into our homes.
The documented truths of the last fifteen years are replaced by bald-faced lies; the talking points of the current regime parroted; the whole sorry story blurred, by spin, to make the party out of office seem vacillating and impotent, and the party in office, seem like the only option.
How dare you, Mr. President, after taking cynical advantage of the unanimity and love, and transmuting it into fraudulent war and needless death, after monstrously transforming it into fear and suspicion and turning that fear into the campaign slogan of three elections? How dare you -- or those around you -- ever "spin" 9/11?
Just as the terrorists have succeeded -- are still succeeding -- as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero.
So, too, have they succeeded, and are still succeeding as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans.
This is an odd point to cite a television program, especially one from March of 1960. But as Disney's continuing sell-out of the truth (and this country) suggests, even television programs can be powerful things.
And long ago, a series called "The Twilight Zone" broadcast a riveting episode entitled "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street."
In brief: a meteor sparks rumors of an invasion by extra-terrestrials disguised as humans. The electricity goes out. A neighbor pleads for calm. Suddenly his car -- and only his car -- starts. Someone suggests he must be the alien. Then another man's lights go on. As charges and suspicion and panic overtake the street, guns are inevitably produced. An "alien" is shot -- but he turns out to be just another neighbor, returning from going for help. The camera pulls back to a near-by hill, where two extra-terrestrials are seen manipulating a small device that can jam electricity. The veteran tells his novice that there's no need to actually attack, that you just turn off a few of the human machines and then, "they pick the most dangerous enemy they can find, and it's themselves."
And then, in perhaps his finest piece of writing, Rod Serling sums it up with words of remarkable prescience, given where we find ourselves tonight: "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men.
"For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children, and the children yet unborn."
When those who dissent are told time and time again -- as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus -- that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American...When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"... look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me:
Who has left this hole in the ground?
We have not forgotten, Mr. President.
You have.
May this country forgive you.
Monday, September 11, 2006
turns out it was a big miss understanding...
so i sent a big e mail
here read
Well colleen, I’m glad you were the bigger person here to some extent, because though I wouldn’t necessarily change many of the ideas i wrote about-- I think my reaction to this e mail this morning says a lot. (i was saddened and sorry... in that I felt bad about the way I had conducted myself) I was running late this morning or I would have written back to tell you so, but I’m glad I didn’t have time because today was a good day for processing.... maybe some of this will be the same old, but it was good for me.
Despite feeling badly about the accusations as well as the whole incident this morning I also had a reaction of wanting to say why these things come up with me so hard, and I think the majority of what will come is explaining that...
So my first thought this morning was about uncle Tony, and wondering why he would send this stuff... I saw a book in you guy's office that someone said he had sent and in general i get the impression that he has some pretty "hardcore" beliefs in process, that sort of get to me.. I used to listen to both Tony’s with admiration, I thought they spoke very well, were educated and passionate, but made conclusive statements focused on reasonable evidence, and though I haven’t had a conversation with either of them lately, more and more I get the impression this is not the case (anymore). I read some of that book on the floor, maybe just the back cover and it horrified me that anyone would write something like that. (the book was basically depicting Muslims as anti Christian war mongers) and I felt that was both unjustified and unreasonable in terms of throwing out that accusation to an audience who is obviously hoping for information to help them understand serious topics.
this is why I bring up the stuff on the Quran, because though the book itself was at times hard for me to read because in conjunction with going to Muslim countries, it helped me understand the mind set and background of a group of people who are "alien" to me, but what’s more it made me realize they aren’t alien at all... nothing to fear, worry about, etc than anything/one in the US.
And it made me sad, that that the people I met/befriended would be depicted in such a way. it seems no better than Islamic fundamentalists who depict Americans the way they do without further examining the issues.
My friend Gabi was helping me understand some of this stuff, she and I have both had a pretty liberal education as well as extensive travel time, and more than anything she pointed to travel and getting outside of one's own culture that bridges the gap that we saw Americans having... (it appeared to us that Americans have a hard time understanding others, but when we seek out others we become much more inclined to be empathetic/sympathetic in terms of foreign policy) for instance, last week when we had our little dispute...
A lot of the stuff I felt was justified, you felt was manipulation of the truth.. what i meant by writing something out as an explanation, is that I say things that jump to the point assuming factors that are often not the case with people who haven’t had my same experiences...
Thus why I make accusations pointing out the death toll on both sides, because from my perspective people are people, it doesn’t matter who's right or wrong in the political reasoning for the war, the death toll is not ok. I think that is a valid statement, but its hard for me to remember that when you say something like "they attacked us" and I say "we attacked them" the two sound very different to your ears, though they sound the same to me.
Its not that I’m right or you are, its that we are coming from different backgrounds, and i think you try to jump back to that a lot, and remind me but I get so caught up in it that I forget.
I think in those terms its hard for passionate liberals to not get overwhelmed in the same way that anti-abortionists get caught up in their cause... it seems a matter of life and death, and both sides cant figure out why its not important to the other.
The American thing came up today in my class (I’m taking a class on depictions of war, partially the reason all of this seems so immediate, and threatening to me) we were discussing the effects of 9/11 on the population of the US, and how for most Americans things like war don’t come as an immediate understanding, or an immediate empathy, because we have not had many wars, and when we do they happen on other people's land. 9/11 is particularly painful for people because it was surprising, and took us out of our myth of "exemption from bad things" its not that bad things don’t happen, they happen elsewhere... but on 9/11 it happened here, and for some this was a wake up that meant we need to change things for the better here and abroad by using the methods that we haven’t in the past -turning away from vengeance and war, to embrace the world community to say "we are now with you, we understand." but for others they took it as a sign that said "we need to go back to being more hard line against our enemies so they understand us." and that meant shunning the UN and world popular opinion to create situations which they felt were better for US policy (overthrow a few govts, keep the fight over there rather than here). but in general that approach means assuming that 9/11 was a flook, that Americans should go back to their myth of being untouchable... and in terms of that, 9/11 (despite the horrible incident) is actually an easy thing to go back to life from, a few buildings (out of millions) a few thousand people died (not the majority by any means, and not even related to the majority) an economic recession (but not collapse that throws people in to panic, or cuts people off from resources) and not every day violence, instability, fear and hurt, pain, hunger, sickness, death or even (despite liberal propaganda) the terribleness of having a gov't that does not care about you, your needs, or is downright oppressive terrorizing...
9/11 made Americans trust Bush, the wars didn’t stop that, his biggest popularity crash was after Katrina, when Americans felt -uncared for, sick, hurt, hungry, etc etc.
what I’m saying I guess, is that its hard for us to understand what others are going through.. me you and the next guy. But, that that is where a lot of my "propaganda" comes from, it comes from reading, talking to, and researching the "other".
Now I know you are not new to this stuff, I mean you do it all the time with cases within the US... but that’s why its hard for me to understand stopping there. I think James and I both get frustrated a lot because we see the potential to go down the same path, and don’t understand why you guys go your way and we go ours... to us there is a disconnect there, and maybe you feel it to, and that’s what is so frustrating.
today there was a memorial on the main lawn of campus, it was a 1000 or so flags lined up like graves... and I immediately felt a sense of cynicism... and wondered why? throughout the day i kept running in to them, and then finally at lunch i brought it up to a friend (a more moderate friend)... I said "is it wrong that I get so aggravated by something like that? that I question it?" and she said "its not wrong, but you shouldn’t go out of your way to bring it up…” and I thought a little more….
I guess the 3 things that got to me, were
A) not all the people who died on 9/11 were American, so why all American flags?
B) where is the memorial to those who have died from American bombings?
And then addressing my defensiveness…
C) why is it that we are expected to solute, or not react to memorials, when in fact that is what they are for? Is the purpose to remember and think fondly, or to question why the event happened? What was it worth?
For me 9/11 has since the beginning been met with cynicism, because I felt like we never got the message. Instead of thinking about it, we reacted (similar to how we might when we are frustrated) well though this is a common element in people, I always thought governments were supposed to do the right thing, not react like humans, not like the crowd, but be the responsible one… Humans are good, but we are reactionary, so we set up institutions that act for are better interest when we are incapable… we allow the police and courts to dish out “justice” when we might hurt the person. We take drugs from drug addicts for their good. We give food/money/shelter to those who cant find it because as a society we know that is right, where as individuals we don’t always know…
Well I had high hopes that our government would act responsibly, but instead they did the same thing right back to (not the terrorists alone) but to countries filled with people.
And I felt like we a bully in our own “right” got stood up to, and hit right back rather than changing are bullying ways. There is no doubt that we bullied and scavenged our way to the top, but we did so saying that once we got there we would do a better job than the other guys, and I just don’t see it. For every positive thing about the US, there is many a negative thing as well, and though this does say there are two sides to each issue, it also says there is controversy…. and if we were as “righteous” as we claim why would there be controversy?
The other guys (a miniscule minority) hurt us, and we decided to kill them all so it wouldn’t happen again… when is enough enough?
What I was trying to get across the other week was that, its not only the common people who act like this, but our governments as well, and having seen the reaction of our own government I don’t understand how we can presume that leaders in less powerful states would act any differently… in the “game of power” they are trying just as hard to stay on top (if not rise) through what ever means they can, democratic or not, militarily or not… thus we cannot give Iraq, Iran, Israel, or Saudi Arabia weapons and expect them not to use them. We would use them given their situation in the same way we use thousands of bombs to revenge the deaths of a few thousand of our own. Its true that Israel was not at first responsible for the current war with Lebanon, but Hezbollah was provoking a response and they got it in sense proving what Hezbollah has always said “Lebanon is not safe from Israel” well, Israel charged in and proved their point.
I guess lastly
I do take a condescending tone when it comes to religion being brought in, because it bothers me that so many Christians (including myself often) have such terrible records in following Christ, I don’t make claims to being a good Christian because of this, and I rarely say it at all because though I strive to be better I hate how often Christianity is used with such condemning terms. At the same time it makes me sick to see how some “Muslims” claim they are following the right path when they do things that are so obviously not Muslim.
But anyway I was thinking about that when it came to Tony, and wondering why it is that he feels his Christian/American identity is so under attack…
It especially bothers me when I know how much influence religion has on him, as well as how much that religion teaches, not only in terms of that “peace and not judging are better than their opposites” but also in terms of the education value…. The Christian Bible is a wonderful history book, if not always (in my view) for factual information than at least for contextual information about the time. In the same way you find the Quran both identify, support and condemn “the peoples of the book” (jews and Christians) when Mohammad is trying to get Jewish support he tries to impress them with his understanding of the teachings, when he becomes more powerful and sees them actively confronting him, he acts as leaders do, and condemns them. He comes out of the same traditions interpreted by the slight changes in culture that a few hundred miles brings about, and its fascinating as much to see the differences as the similarities…
For instance that thing about praying…
Well the big building Muslims pray around is believed by them to be the first church ever built to God by Abraham, (I believe after the would-be sacrifice of Isaac).
All three traditions speak of this event, and all in different ways.
The last remaining piece of Solomon’s temple revered by Jews, is also revered by Muslims who feel Mohammad visited it in one of his most influential dreams guided by the Archangel Gabriel… I mean it’s clear that the tradition comes from the same roots, and its hard to understand why people use religion so furiously when the religions all teach relatively the same principles…
The word Muslim means “one who submits to God” is that not a Judeo-Christian principle? So its hard for me to understand where some Christians feel so afraid, or feel so righteous in condemning those they don’t seem to understand, which is why I get so defensive when it comes to things like that e mail, or that book, because I feel like there are millions out there trying to understand, and that very biased misinformation doesn’t help the situation…. I guess I’m particularly sensitive to this lately A) because like I said earlier I feel that the whole 9/11 and following wars have been caused by such misinformation when questioning why? Might have been more appropriate… and B) because also like I said before, I am in a class right now that deals with depictions of war, and it is so common and abundant in history, in the media etc to see misinformation start terrible things… pretty much any war ever has been depicted without question, and propped up on misinformation to sway public opinion for support.
The former Secretary of state Robert McNamara admits in his biographical documentary
“fog of war” that the Viet Nam war was started because of a mistake without enough questions…
“did they fire on us?” well in Viet Nam it turns out they didn’t, but that was never told to the American Public who got sucked in to a war for a decade.
Cheney just yesterday was asked if the Iraq was the right decision based on the fact that there were no WMDs and he said “(it )was the right thing to do, and if we had to do it again, we would do exactly the same thing,”
And though a lot of people for the war say that’s fine… its hard for me to understand why its ok that we attack and overthrow a country based on rumors of weapons, and when we don’t find them we don’t even say “we were wrong, we wont do it again” instead we already are planning the next one. If this is the way we run the world, we are no better than terrorists, we are no better than Napoleon or Attila the Hun or Genghis Khan, we are Stalin and Mao or even Castro imposing our will on others and saying it is for their own good. And I don’t think that is acceptable, but it certainly needs to start with us questioning…
So in conclusion… not that this was supposed to be a formal essay… I’m glad to hear you were in fact questioning that e mail, despite the fact that you felt it was from credible source. And I’m sorry for misinterpreting the situation., so I hope that doesn’t happen again.
Thanks for listening to me babble and um just for the record, the whole formal word thing, isn’t just in response to you, but rather because a number of people have felt I jump to conclusions or am not explaining myself, and so I thought maybe I need to return to basics and learn how to get back in the habit of explaining things.
Peace and love
taff
so i sent a big e mail
here read
Well colleen, I’m glad you were the bigger person here to some extent, because though I wouldn’t necessarily change many of the ideas i wrote about-- I think my reaction to this e mail this morning says a lot. (i was saddened and sorry... in that I felt bad about the way I had conducted myself) I was running late this morning or I would have written back to tell you so, but I’m glad I didn’t have time because today was a good day for processing.... maybe some of this will be the same old, but it was good for me.
Despite feeling badly about the accusations as well as the whole incident this morning I also had a reaction of wanting to say why these things come up with me so hard, and I think the majority of what will come is explaining that...
So my first thought this morning was about uncle Tony, and wondering why he would send this stuff... I saw a book in you guy's office that someone said he had sent and in general i get the impression that he has some pretty "hardcore" beliefs in process, that sort of get to me.. I used to listen to both Tony’s with admiration, I thought they spoke very well, were educated and passionate, but made conclusive statements focused on reasonable evidence, and though I haven’t had a conversation with either of them lately, more and more I get the impression this is not the case (anymore). I read some of that book on the floor, maybe just the back cover and it horrified me that anyone would write something like that. (the book was basically depicting Muslims as anti Christian war mongers) and I felt that was both unjustified and unreasonable in terms of throwing out that accusation to an audience who is obviously hoping for information to help them understand serious topics.
this is why I bring up the stuff on the Quran, because though the book itself was at times hard for me to read because in conjunction with going to Muslim countries, it helped me understand the mind set and background of a group of people who are "alien" to me, but what’s more it made me realize they aren’t alien at all... nothing to fear, worry about, etc than anything/one in the US.
And it made me sad, that that the people I met/befriended would be depicted in such a way. it seems no better than Islamic fundamentalists who depict Americans the way they do without further examining the issues.
My friend Gabi was helping me understand some of this stuff, she and I have both had a pretty liberal education as well as extensive travel time, and more than anything she pointed to travel and getting outside of one's own culture that bridges the gap that we saw Americans having... (it appeared to us that Americans have a hard time understanding others, but when we seek out others we become much more inclined to be empathetic/sympathetic in terms of foreign policy) for instance, last week when we had our little dispute...
A lot of the stuff I felt was justified, you felt was manipulation of the truth.. what i meant by writing something out as an explanation, is that I say things that jump to the point assuming factors that are often not the case with people who haven’t had my same experiences...
Thus why I make accusations pointing out the death toll on both sides, because from my perspective people are people, it doesn’t matter who's right or wrong in the political reasoning for the war, the death toll is not ok. I think that is a valid statement, but its hard for me to remember that when you say something like "they attacked us" and I say "we attacked them" the two sound very different to your ears, though they sound the same to me.
Its not that I’m right or you are, its that we are coming from different backgrounds, and i think you try to jump back to that a lot, and remind me but I get so caught up in it that I forget.
I think in those terms its hard for passionate liberals to not get overwhelmed in the same way that anti-abortionists get caught up in their cause... it seems a matter of life and death, and both sides cant figure out why its not important to the other.
The American thing came up today in my class (I’m taking a class on depictions of war, partially the reason all of this seems so immediate, and threatening to me) we were discussing the effects of 9/11 on the population of the US, and how for most Americans things like war don’t come as an immediate understanding, or an immediate empathy, because we have not had many wars, and when we do they happen on other people's land. 9/11 is particularly painful for people because it was surprising, and took us out of our myth of "exemption from bad things" its not that bad things don’t happen, they happen elsewhere... but on 9/11 it happened here, and for some this was a wake up that meant we need to change things for the better here and abroad by using the methods that we haven’t in the past -turning away from vengeance and war, to embrace the world community to say "we are now with you, we understand." but for others they took it as a sign that said "we need to go back to being more hard line against our enemies so they understand us." and that meant shunning the UN and world popular opinion to create situations which they felt were better for US policy (overthrow a few govts, keep the fight over there rather than here). but in general that approach means assuming that 9/11 was a flook, that Americans should go back to their myth of being untouchable... and in terms of that, 9/11 (despite the horrible incident) is actually an easy thing to go back to life from, a few buildings (out of millions) a few thousand people died (not the majority by any means, and not even related to the majority) an economic recession (but not collapse that throws people in to panic, or cuts people off from resources) and not every day violence, instability, fear and hurt, pain, hunger, sickness, death or even (despite liberal propaganda) the terribleness of having a gov't that does not care about you, your needs, or is downright oppressive terrorizing...
9/11 made Americans trust Bush, the wars didn’t stop that, his biggest popularity crash was after Katrina, when Americans felt -uncared for, sick, hurt, hungry, etc etc.
what I’m saying I guess, is that its hard for us to understand what others are going through.. me you and the next guy. But, that that is where a lot of my "propaganda" comes from, it comes from reading, talking to, and researching the "other".
Now I know you are not new to this stuff, I mean you do it all the time with cases within the US... but that’s why its hard for me to understand stopping there. I think James and I both get frustrated a lot because we see the potential to go down the same path, and don’t understand why you guys go your way and we go ours... to us there is a disconnect there, and maybe you feel it to, and that’s what is so frustrating.
today there was a memorial on the main lawn of campus, it was a 1000 or so flags lined up like graves... and I immediately felt a sense of cynicism... and wondered why? throughout the day i kept running in to them, and then finally at lunch i brought it up to a friend (a more moderate friend)... I said "is it wrong that I get so aggravated by something like that? that I question it?" and she said "its not wrong, but you shouldn’t go out of your way to bring it up…” and I thought a little more….
I guess the 3 things that got to me, were
A) not all the people who died on 9/11 were American, so why all American flags?
B) where is the memorial to those who have died from American bombings?
And then addressing my defensiveness…
C) why is it that we are expected to solute, or not react to memorials, when in fact that is what they are for? Is the purpose to remember and think fondly, or to question why the event happened? What was it worth?
For me 9/11 has since the beginning been met with cynicism, because I felt like we never got the message. Instead of thinking about it, we reacted (similar to how we might when we are frustrated) well though this is a common element in people, I always thought governments were supposed to do the right thing, not react like humans, not like the crowd, but be the responsible one… Humans are good, but we are reactionary, so we set up institutions that act for are better interest when we are incapable… we allow the police and courts to dish out “justice” when we might hurt the person. We take drugs from drug addicts for their good. We give food/money/shelter to those who cant find it because as a society we know that is right, where as individuals we don’t always know…
Well I had high hopes that our government would act responsibly, but instead they did the same thing right back to (not the terrorists alone) but to countries filled with people.
And I felt like we a bully in our own “right” got stood up to, and hit right back rather than changing are bullying ways. There is no doubt that we bullied and scavenged our way to the top, but we did so saying that once we got there we would do a better job than the other guys, and I just don’t see it. For every positive thing about the US, there is many a negative thing as well, and though this does say there are two sides to each issue, it also says there is controversy…. and if we were as “righteous” as we claim why would there be controversy?
The other guys (a miniscule minority) hurt us, and we decided to kill them all so it wouldn’t happen again… when is enough enough?
What I was trying to get across the other week was that, its not only the common people who act like this, but our governments as well, and having seen the reaction of our own government I don’t understand how we can presume that leaders in less powerful states would act any differently… in the “game of power” they are trying just as hard to stay on top (if not rise) through what ever means they can, democratic or not, militarily or not… thus we cannot give Iraq, Iran, Israel, or Saudi Arabia weapons and expect them not to use them. We would use them given their situation in the same way we use thousands of bombs to revenge the deaths of a few thousand of our own. Its true that Israel was not at first responsible for the current war with Lebanon, but Hezbollah was provoking a response and they got it in sense proving what Hezbollah has always said “Lebanon is not safe from Israel” well, Israel charged in and proved their point.
I guess lastly
I do take a condescending tone when it comes to religion being brought in, because it bothers me that so many Christians (including myself often) have such terrible records in following Christ, I don’t make claims to being a good Christian because of this, and I rarely say it at all because though I strive to be better I hate how often Christianity is used with such condemning terms. At the same time it makes me sick to see how some “Muslims” claim they are following the right path when they do things that are so obviously not Muslim.
But anyway I was thinking about that when it came to Tony, and wondering why it is that he feels his Christian/American identity is so under attack…
It especially bothers me when I know how much influence religion has on him, as well as how much that religion teaches, not only in terms of that “peace and not judging are better than their opposites” but also in terms of the education value…. The Christian Bible is a wonderful history book, if not always (in my view) for factual information than at least for contextual information about the time. In the same way you find the Quran both identify, support and condemn “the peoples of the book” (jews and Christians) when Mohammad is trying to get Jewish support he tries to impress them with his understanding of the teachings, when he becomes more powerful and sees them actively confronting him, he acts as leaders do, and condemns them. He comes out of the same traditions interpreted by the slight changes in culture that a few hundred miles brings about, and its fascinating as much to see the differences as the similarities…
For instance that thing about praying…
Well the big building Muslims pray around is believed by them to be the first church ever built to God by Abraham, (I believe after the would-be sacrifice of Isaac).
All three traditions speak of this event, and all in different ways.
The last remaining piece of Solomon’s temple revered by Jews, is also revered by Muslims who feel Mohammad visited it in one of his most influential dreams guided by the Archangel Gabriel… I mean it’s clear that the tradition comes from the same roots, and its hard to understand why people use religion so furiously when the religions all teach relatively the same principles…
The word Muslim means “one who submits to God” is that not a Judeo-Christian principle? So its hard for me to understand where some Christians feel so afraid, or feel so righteous in condemning those they don’t seem to understand, which is why I get so defensive when it comes to things like that e mail, or that book, because I feel like there are millions out there trying to understand, and that very biased misinformation doesn’t help the situation…. I guess I’m particularly sensitive to this lately A) because like I said earlier I feel that the whole 9/11 and following wars have been caused by such misinformation when questioning why? Might have been more appropriate… and B) because also like I said before, I am in a class right now that deals with depictions of war, and it is so common and abundant in history, in the media etc to see misinformation start terrible things… pretty much any war ever has been depicted without question, and propped up on misinformation to sway public opinion for support.
The former Secretary of state Robert McNamara admits in his biographical documentary
“fog of war” that the Viet Nam war was started because of a mistake without enough questions…
“did they fire on us?” well in Viet Nam it turns out they didn’t, but that was never told to the American Public who got sucked in to a war for a decade.
Cheney just yesterday was asked if the Iraq was the right decision based on the fact that there were no WMDs and he said “(it )was the right thing to do, and if we had to do it again, we would do exactly the same thing,”
And though a lot of people for the war say that’s fine… its hard for me to understand why its ok that we attack and overthrow a country based on rumors of weapons, and when we don’t find them we don’t even say “we were wrong, we wont do it again” instead we already are planning the next one. If this is the way we run the world, we are no better than terrorists, we are no better than Napoleon or Attila the Hun or Genghis Khan, we are Stalin and Mao or even Castro imposing our will on others and saying it is for their own good. And I don’t think that is acceptable, but it certainly needs to start with us questioning…
So in conclusion… not that this was supposed to be a formal essay… I’m glad to hear you were in fact questioning that e mail, despite the fact that you felt it was from credible source. And I’m sorry for misinterpreting the situation., so I hope that doesn’t happen again.
Thanks for listening to me babble and um just for the record, the whole formal word thing, isn’t just in response to you, but rather because a number of people have felt I jump to conclusions or am not explaining myself, and so I thought maybe I need to return to basics and learn how to get back in the habit of explaining things.
Peace and love
taff
(a 9/11 post later maybe)
I get in fights with my rents, my dads side... my uncle Tony sent my dad and colleen (his wife)a list of things that basically glorified Israel, condemned Palestine, Muslims and the UN. I sent them back an abrasive reply and a counterargument I found on line. the counter argument had supporting evidence (though admittedly a controversial attitude)... she sent back- agreeing that i was being abrasive and judgmental, stating that they were two sides of an argument both supported with propaganda, both not bringing a sense of clarity to the issue, but that her intent in passing on this e mail was not a statement of any kind but rather just a passing on a letter.... I sent her a reply saying im sorry im being that way, but i cant not question bullshit and the difference between my side and hers is that mine is more consistent with truth and hers merely propaganda. and that i think its bullshit to say you are passing something along when it is so extremely biased, (attempting to convince the uneducated that they should be pro-Israel with blatant lies) and in providing such evidence makes "a case" for brutal atrocities.
She feels attacked every time I question her following along. She says things like "you don’t know the whole truth." when I counter her bs... "they are both lying, they are both making propaganda" when she feels I’m distorting evidence... "I hate how polarized these issues become" when she’s losing..."you're manipulating what i am saying" when I point out her biases..."Michael Moore manipulates the truth" when she wants to criticize "liberals"
I know I’m not 100 % right on everything, but that’s why i keep looking in to it. I am certainly open to educated discussion/debate on the facts, but conversations with her some times are like talking to the counterweight, not the people, the people know they are bullshitting and so they don’t talk as much in person, like talking to someone who is clearly wrong, uneducated and biased all the while claiming innocence and truth.
She’s not a bad person, neither is my dad or my uncle, they just don’t know what they are talking about but keep bringing it up.
I get in fights with my rents, my dads side... my uncle Tony sent my dad and colleen (his wife)a list of things that basically glorified Israel, condemned Palestine, Muslims and the UN. I sent them back an abrasive reply and a counterargument I found on line. the counter argument had supporting evidence (though admittedly a controversial attitude)... she sent back- agreeing that i was being abrasive and judgmental, stating that they were two sides of an argument both supported with propaganda, both not bringing a sense of clarity to the issue, but that her intent in passing on this e mail was not a statement of any kind but rather just a passing on a letter.... I sent her a reply saying im sorry im being that way, but i cant not question bullshit and the difference between my side and hers is that mine is more consistent with truth and hers merely propaganda. and that i think its bullshit to say you are passing something along when it is so extremely biased, (attempting to convince the uneducated that they should be pro-Israel with blatant lies) and in providing such evidence makes "a case" for brutal atrocities.
She feels attacked every time I question her following along. She says things like "you don’t know the whole truth." when I counter her bs... "they are both lying, they are both making propaganda" when she feels I’m distorting evidence... "I hate how polarized these issues become" when she’s losing..."you're manipulating what i am saying" when I point out her biases..."Michael Moore manipulates the truth" when she wants to criticize "liberals"
I know I’m not 100 % right on everything, but that’s why i keep looking in to it. I am certainly open to educated discussion/debate on the facts, but conversations with her some times are like talking to the counterweight, not the people, the people know they are bullshitting and so they don’t talk as much in person, like talking to someone who is clearly wrong, uneducated and biased all the while claiming innocence and truth.
She’s not a bad person, neither is my dad or my uncle, they just don’t know what they are talking about but keep bringing it up.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Nick Hedberg made a wonderful point on facebook on how things could be if the energy applied to complain about facebook this last week, was applied to public policy in the US. we might change some shit.
Its a friday, exhausted, hw kind of worked out... too much reading and not enough concentration but up till 3 listening to jason and sl-amber kind of fun.
green tea stolen from a roommate. POS. cheetah print head scarf. serrah langin today at 3ish
i better get off to school...
"we gotta stop falling for these double speakers from the double features. we gotta keep em in the theaters."
Its a friday, exhausted, hw kind of worked out... too much reading and not enough concentration but up till 3 listening to jason and sl-amber kind of fun.
green tea stolen from a roommate. POS. cheetah print head scarf. serrah langin today at 3ish
i better get off to school...
"we gotta stop falling for these double speakers from the double features. we gotta keep em in the theaters."
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
caught a little off guard.
Feeling odd this morning. no one is around to put my possibly worries in check. 30 pages unread for first class.
radio show from 2-4
dems meeting is tomorrow night.
i guess more time to do nothing things... tv, movies, computer games. things that hadnt really been at the top of any agenda.
a damn country song in my head.
2 donuts in my tummy.
this juice is awful in the morning.
Feeling odd this morning. no one is around to put my possibly worries in check. 30 pages unread for first class.
radio show from 2-4
dems meeting is tomorrow night.
i guess more time to do nothing things... tv, movies, computer games. things that hadnt really been at the top of any agenda.
a damn country song in my head.
2 donuts in my tummy.
this juice is awful in the morning.