< HOME  Monday, March 20, 2006

The Most Powerful Weapon in the World

The MEDIA - hands down.
The death of Justin, a 1st Cavalry Division machine gunner, stunned his parents . . .

[A] year and a day after his son was killed, [Joe] Johnson was [in Iraq], pulling escort duty for fuel convoys on the bomb-pocked desert highways from Jordan.
Why did he go?
"[A] sense of duty. I was pissed off at the terrorists for 9/11 and other atrocities."
Now where did he get that idea from?
Second, I'd only trained. I wanted combat." And then, he said, "there's some revenge involved. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't."
But there was more . . .
"I don't really have love for Muslim people," Johnson said. "I'm sure there are good Muslims. I try not to be racist."
But, the media has him programmed.
[H]e hasn't read the Quran, or spoken with Muslims, [but] he has "heard" the Islamic holy book "teaches to kill Jews and infidels. And it's hard to love people who hate you."
And from where did he get this false impression?
He could love Iraqi children, though, and said he'd hoped "to see them grow up to know right and wrong."

[W]hen speeding civilian cars passed the Americans' Humvees and Johnson failed to level his gun and open fire, which "I think anyone else," fearing car bombs, "would have done."

"I really don't want to kill innocent people," he now says. "I don't want to live with that the rest of my life."
But what about revenge?
"If I go home and didn't kill a terrorist, it's not going to ruin my life," he said. "Maybe I'd just as soon not. I don't know what it would do to my head."
Nevermind what it does to the so-called "terrorist."
[Joe's] elder soldier son, Josh, 26, might [also] be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan.

"I don't like that Joe's there," Jan Johnson said when called by satellite telephone from al-Asad. "But it's something he felt he had to do. People heal in different ways. This is how he heals after Justin's death."
Like Joe and his brother Justin, Josh must be propelled by his sense of patriotism and his intolerance of 'evil' Muslims.

And the rest of the images that flank this AP piece?

No pictures of the family leading ordinary lives. Every image is draped with flags or patriotic messages of support. This is not by chance. The producers don't care about who these people are. They only care about what they represent.

This man's life and the lives of his sons were consumed by the fear and intolerance fabricated by the media, all in the name of an abstract notion of freedom and nationalism that simply does NOT represent reality.

Wakeup America. This is the height of fascism. You're being manipulated and controlled by the media to serve a war machine that feeds corporate interests.

Remember, everything is relative. Your sacrifice may be worth it to them. But, it's not worth it for you.

24 Comments:

At Monday, March 20, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very good piece. Informative and thought provoking but a little confusing at some points. Thank you fro sharign what is becoming a growing disdain for the facist leaders of America. I, myself, am Canadian and so I watch with horror the events unfolding to the south and look with regret to our leader at home. He's no better it would seem.
Good work, keep the truth alive.

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

And this of course isn't new, it just got a handy wrapper in recent years.

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

All these fascists need is one more big excuse to declare martial law. One more false-flag attack like 9-11, and suddenly these U.S. war-mongers have the supposed "justification" to invade Iran, declare Martial Law, prohibit the internet, lock Americans up for speaking out against military actions, etc.

They can stage-manage it so that Bush looks like a hero--"My wiretapping efforts were able to minimize this latest attack on our nation [suitcase nuke near a sea-port, anyone?], so you see, I AM keeping you safe, and evil Muslims ARE trying to destroy our country! Now let's invade Iran!"

The neo-cons laid it all out in their Project for a New American Century (PNAC) manifesto, for all to see. They realize how few Americans pay close attention--after all, they do their best to keep this nation dumbed-down at every chance they get. Cut education funding, boost "defense" funding... Our kids get dumber, and war-profiteers like Halliburton, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, Bechtel, etc. get richer, and richer, and richer...

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Blogger Citisucks said...

Hi qrswave,

The stupid fucking neocons at dailykos won't let me post anymore. They apparently would rather have people at dailykos who compare all women to Ann Coulter. Anyway I will definetly be hanging around here more and I have created a second blog too :http://progressivesagainstdemocrats.blogspot.com (the first one being Citisucks). Anyway would be happy to have you guest post their if you tell me how to do an invite, although I won't be on the computer much. I am planning on doing so real life work for the Green Party.

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks, "the end," but what now should we do?

Thus we need decisive religious movement: a RATIONALIZATION--getting rid of traitors, heretics, and apostates like the "Judeo-Christians" (JCs) led by such as Falwell, Robertson, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, et al. Ck Whtt.org for definitive expo.

Isn't this a lot like the Roman empire, now enacted upon Orwellian "perpetual war for perp. peace"?

Who suffers?--Jews and their gentile accomplices and co-conspirators, why not? Honest elections and death to the Fed. Thor

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Most times I pity these people because I know they are manipulated. It's so sad.

But then, the next minute, it's hard not to get frustrated at the attitude which lends itself to manipulation and say, "See, you get what you look for."

I have to constantly remember to let go of my own violence.

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I forgot to add people can ck for more essays like the "Mighty Thor's," above, at NewNation.org--click "commentary" heading, then "Apollonian." Thanks, Thor

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Blogger Unknown said...

Systems start to fail at the edges:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/03/20/news/blacks.php

Mind-boggling statistics.

The same enlightened compassionate greatest nation on earth who despise Muslims despised blacks and still do. Black Muslims are part of parcel of Muslim blood all over North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and Saudi Arabia.

Also, here is how the Iran war was averted (temporarily?) The analysis is long, but please connect the dots - Hormuz, UAE, meeting between Kuwait and UAE emir, Bush's threat of veto:
(see below - i typed it out because ther is no online version):

It is heart-rending to see the nation of Jefferson (I always called myself an American at heart) fall into a moral abyss so low - so fast - that they utterly exposed the worst side of Western civilization -- and that too in the information age! Quelle horreur! Move over - time for a new civilization.

Pity the neocons - the balancing act between the Zionists and the Arab regimes is crumbling (with the Arab street and American bubbas taken along for the ride) - and even the most secure and prosperous Arab rulers will not bargain their honour:

Enjoy (this is as harsh as it gets):

===================================
The Emir of Kuwait met with the Ruler of Dubai and the next day, the Gulf News editorialized:
===================================

Be Wary of Such Friends

US view of the UAE is a lie based on a falsehood wrapped in a misconception

One must reserve a certain amount of admiration for former US Senator Gary Hart. As a guest speaker of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies he expounds the view that there should be a global force to police the Gulf – a sort of UN2.

It takes considerable gall to make such suggestions to your host nation, thereby implying a level of incompetence in the ability of the UAE and other Gulf countries to protect their own. But then, that sort of talk has been permeating the corridors of power in Washington in recent weeks, ever since the DP World bid for P&O. It would seem the UAE, all of a sudden, is no longer fit to handle its affairs competently and securely. And this, after more than 30 years of collaboration between the US and the UAE.

Suddenly, the UAE which is a keen buyer of US defence equipment; which is anxious to do business with US industry; which is thought fit engouth to service and equip US navy boats; which is host to many thousands of American citizens going about their daily business and recreation – is no longer deemed fit to be called friend and collaborator. Worse it is seen as inept and, as is being misspoken by many US politicians, in need of the US to survive.

What a pity so many allegedly intelligent American politicians are too lazy or too indifferent to find out for themselves exactly what the UAE is all about: its aims, endeavours and its achievements. What a pity if is that so many American politician, rather than speaking to on a subject with knowledge, prefer instead to grab the the main chance in domestic political manoeuvring and misinform their public. Such has been the way with American politicians for some time, but we expect better of our guests.

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Blogger Yukkione said...

The attitude is no diffeent than the American wars with native tribes. We killed those "Savages".

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I cannot believe how easily you Americans have been manipulated into doing someone else's killing. You have lost control of your country and soon you will have lost control of your own lives. But most of all I am so very shocked that you all can give in without a fight. I must be missing something but I just can't see why you would surrender all that you had to such an evil bunch of war mongers. I guess it is safe to say that the American experiment, which started about 230 years ago, is now a dismall failure.

How sad.

A Canadian.

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Blogger AJ said...

"I must be missing something..."

With due respect to our Canadian friend, you are.
There are only a handful of countries in the world that do not have a 'Central Bank' aka Federal Reserve system, and Canada is
not one of them.
If you insist that we have given in without a fight, I must ask you what would you consider us fight with?
Votes? Obviously futile. Guns? Get real.
The very existence of this blog suggests some people are doing what they can, however minor, to fight the perception of ignorance.

There is one other way we can fight, and that is to begin to cease using money in transactions. Bartering. There is a way. We all need to put our heads together and think of them.

 
At Monday, March 20, 2006, Blogger qrswave said...

Hey, we got some great comments, here.

Thanks, everyone.

AJ, You're absolutely right; it all comes down to money. But, not for its own value - it has none - but for its ability to make each and every one of us WORK.

We must plan a general strike for this 4th of July, like the one they had in Greece and the one that's about to happen in France.

There's only one way to bring this war machine to a halt. And that's to stop FINANCING it with our sweat and blood.

Apart from that anyone who has cash in the bank take it out and pay off your debts if you have any, to avoid paying interest. If you have no debts, lend it to a family member or friend that does have debt, so they can stop paying interest.

We must act. Time is running out.

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger yusuf chun said...

q, been thinking the same, as in why americans don't have the gumption to unite as they did in france and greece. and i'm thinking no unions.

maybe that's why. maybe we're just too "independent": we really buy into the save yourself and let the rest hang mentality, the whole elite meme about "rags to riches".

everyone's like "as long as they ain't my rags," now they might realize that they soon could be.

all of us rags being ruled the the riches.

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger yusuf chun said...

*by the riches.

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger dingo said...

Cogent post. Classic staged nationalist propaganda to get the "true believers" worked into a frenzy.

Did you all notice, by the way, that this guy is an ardent "Christian missionary" who has traveled around the world, including Peru, to convert more Christian warriors?

Well, if you can't convert em' I guess you kill em'--that seems to this family's "Christian" outlook .

This country is producing some scary people. Of course it's the pathological junta at the top that is truly horrifying.

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

9/11 theres your answer. the truth is in 9/11, the pentagon, the owners of the towers, the explosives to bring it down, find the truth there ! Maybe 3,000 died but they had at least 15,000 family/relations looking for blood
and bush and the VP especially the VP are right in the thick of it...
9/11 all the way

from KIWI land (were watching !)

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger AJ said...

Wave- I think it is more important to understand that changing the way we do work-and except payments-is more important than simply taking money out of the bank.You know as well as I that there is not enough money in the world to cover all debts, and if people kept paying it off, there would be a major recession.
My humble suggestion is incorporating a system where we can use each other, NOW. Everyone here has a value that someone else might want. What is yours? Writing? Researching? Law? Mine is in construction. Another might be farming. Installing roofs, windows, driveways ect.
There is a way that we could form an alliance that would use all these in a totally volunteer system to work with each other using a barter/credit use.
The key would be to do it so the administrators of the plans were also credited for their work, but did not get rich, like many existing barter plans available. I have worked with some, and they suck, inherantly bent towards inflation and rewarding the admin.
I like your plan about setting a day in the future that we all can look at-but refusing to work that day will only create hardship for those who have to work.
I have some ideas on this, I've been kicking around for years, but now seems to be the time to share them. With your talent, and your very capable visitors, I believe we can come up with a decent workable plan.

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger qrswave said...

AJ, let's do it then.

The open money link might be a good place to start.

All in favor, say Aye!

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger AJ said...

Q, what are you doing home? At least I have a reason (I'm the boss!):)
I'm in. The link you provided is interesting but it will take a bit of research to understand.
We might do well in contacting him with ideas, but my main idea would be to incorporate LOCAL area interests first, then begin branching off to bigger ones. First off, everyone needs to have an idea of what value they have or could have to share.Most transactions occur on a local level, just because we are physically where we are right now-we have needs at this point is space and time right now. Some advantages could be long distance. Take for example a book. I have a book by Koonz that you want, and you have a book by Shakespear that I want. If we are close, we just meet up somewhere and exchange-ergo no money transactions. Unfortunately distance creates added costs and time, ie postage, driving to the post office ect.
Most commodities cannot be given long distance, like services on your home, auto, taxi.
But once we establish a stong local level composite, then those localities can "trade" with longer distances, and grow with it's own momentum.
Tell me in short, what do you like the best about the Transitioner's ideas?

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger Unknown said...

I was in the Army a long time ago. I never saw action, and I'm glad I've still never killed anyone. At the time I expected Reagan to get us into a war soon, and he bombed Libya while I was in Basic Training. I still sport the Army vocabulary of cuss words that before was less offensive if not more eloquent. That's how the army brain-washes the trainees to become blood-thirsty fighting machines. I know that our troops are conditioned, and although Bush lies his ass off to deny that he ever linked AlQaeda to Saddam Hussein the lie he told about Iraq and AlQaeda has taken its toll and isn't going to correct itself soon. Soldiers are conditioned these days to fight in Iraq for "revenge against 9/11". This is a terrible lie because it not only has turned a people faced with a foreign invader into "terrorists", but it has also polluted the honor of our soldiers who are being reduced to tactics of torture and conduct unbecoming of an American soldier. According to a recent poll, over 70% still believe they are in Iraq to avenge 9/11. Bush has lied and his lies have perverted what it means to be an American soldier, but its only the soldiers taking the blame, while Bush denies he said any such thing linking Hussein and 9/11. War, however has always been the distraction and the real attack is on America. There will probably be another terrorist attack involved but the real undoing will be when America itself commits suicide in response. Bush has his tongue so far up the big oil corporate butt that he will sell America out to his war profiteering corporate back-pocketeer handlers to the demise of all of US just to pay them off.

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger Citisucks said...

Annoymous Canadian,

How right you are! One of the biggest problems with America is it lacks any real opposition party with power. The only real opposition party is the Green Party. The Democrats are really just GOP lite. They care more about a shopping spree that funds their suppossed enemies, than any real governmental change. America is a nation full of terrorists (republicans) and terrorist apologists (democrats).

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, for christ sake the same guys running US are running Canada. I live here in Canada, what kind of choice do we have with election? People just don't understand that all those people put up on the voting systems are actually being "advised" by same guys behind the curtain. What's more is it's almost easy to see these things as the "choices" are selected from same places, same circle of people...

Canadians like to think of themselves as superiors to Americans, but they are just as easy manipulated. What's worse the whole f*cking world is becoming manipulated. Unless you want to live on North Pole it's very hard to get away from these crooks.
Does anyone really believe we have some say in election? Give me a break. Nothing changes if the green, white, red or blue guy wins = it's the show for people. I refuse to go to election until I am given the proper choice and more and more people are doing this too, but these crooks have rigged the system so they don't even need your vote. I am sure a lot of dead people vote in elections. Oh wait - that can only happen in countries where they don't like the outcome of democraticaly selected gov like Palestina or Belarus? Apparently democracy is only democracy if the selected candidate is one that is appropriate for them. They are not giving us even that illusion of freedom anymore.

I like this blog. It's refreshing to read that there are people interested in uncovering the truth, even if it's a very dangerous process.

 
At Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Blogger Citisucks said...

I don't believe that elections are legitimate either. 2000 should have showed everyone that every vote counts is bullshit. The current system is the United States is designed by the rethugs and gives their friends the demoncrats a few elections. I was simply talking in terms of ideology I agree with the Green Party, which also acknowledges that elections are fraudulent.

 
At Thursday, March 23, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Qrswave,
You are not the only one to suggest a strike. Another blogger has been planning something similar. Maybe if we can get all the groups together, it will have more of an impact.

http://junerevolution.blogspot.com/2006/03/action.html

Also, in response to the thread, it is very sad that people like that exist. Unfortunately, I see a lot of them in the military. Not all, just to make that clear. A blogger I know carried the same story. He was psyops in Iraq.

http://www.inkwellinsurgency.com/?p=424

 

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