Vermillion

Vermillion is the beginning and the end
First light of morn purple violet hues
Broken by the bright white of the sun
Or the snow
Or the clouds
Not to be seen again for the rest of the day
Till the sun tumbles down
The clouds conceal the light
The snow makes colors blend
Like vermillion in the beginning...now the end

Summary: This is my rip-off of Robert Frosts' 'Nothing Gold Can Stay'. Vermillion is the color of sunrise and sunsets. I just thought of it today. Hope you like. Written 1/1/2008

Ode to Jack & Angie & the "Lemon Party"

Eyes are shocked
All lines are crossed
The scenes I see are bold and embossed
I can’t believe just what I’ve seen
Man to man let’s talk old farty
And have yourself a lemon party
Not me of course it’s not my bag
I didn’t know what I saw that day
Old men face to face being gay
How was I to know what to expect
One man skinny the other a lardy
Damaged for life by the lemon party
Why did they tell me where to see
www dot was what they said
But by my looking I’m better off dead
I saw things I could have lived without
Old as dirt but hard as a rock
Grampa suckin what rhymes with dock
Thanks Jack, thanks Angie cause of you I’m scarred
My retina seared by what it did see
Searching for that lemon party

Second Time Around

Boiling blood in my veins runs through
Forgetting a love that I never knew
Come now my love move closer to swoon
Tonight you and I will sleep like spoons
Reveal your thoughts to me be assured
You aren't the first girl ever I lured
Into my trap, though bitter I seem
It seems after our first, all's been a dream
Don't look in my eyes, it may show the pain
I know you'll never love me again
Listen to my voice, let it hypnotize
But to play my game would be unwise
Let me entice, let me draw you in
Let me see if it's your love I can win
Ah, closer, yes, that's it...come very near
It's your soft sweet voice I long to hear
Yes, come closer still, I feel your heat
Beneath your breast I hear your heartbeat
Be wary though, for I may strike
With acts of passion and the like
I'm unfeeling, yet I cry
I'm in pain and I don't know why
I want this second chance you see
I want to hurt you like you hurt me
It should be simple, not hard to do
But all anger evaporates when I look at you
Damn...I hate you I loathe you, you cause me disgust
Please, I beg you to come closer, in me you can trust
Strange things are most certainly abound
Since you've come a second time around.

Written by Dan Johnson during his college years

Protest

Look down the silos
Look towards the sky
Look in the country's heart
Look at the darkness
Look at the blood
See that the soul is dark
Oh, but that's not why we compromise
Spreading the "truth" but hiding the lies
How many people are gonna die
Oh the time to act is now
We've got movies for weapons
And Weapons for movies
And all things in-between
We've got missiles in the water
And missiles in the air
Oh the time to act is now
And it's time that we all crack down
Shooting stars and shooting men
They never think of now or then
They only want to win my friend
Oh and the time to act is NOW
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!

Written by Dan Johnson during his college years

Strength in Nature

A bubbling river over pebbles doth run
Much like the heat from the rays of the sun
In September the leaves of a tree doth fall
Sounding much lik a whooperwill's distant call
Soft almost silent yet for those who know
It cometh like the air of a trumpets blow
All things in comparison are much to the like
Yet all things differ from forest glade to mountain peak
A beauty is evident in all that is seen
And we must tell the children we ween
Nature was here long before man
Nature's survival was God's master plan
A tree can stand for all eternity
Such an ancient thing is magnificent to see
Nature shall strive over any tribe or race
Even when Satan rears his ugly face
Nature is strong, it will never fall
Nature survives below nothing, above all

Written by Dan Johnson during his college years.

Divided

The white man
In his white robes
They burn their crosses
A sacreligious deed
The black man
In his gold chains
They shoot their own
All out of greed
Together we stand
Divided we fall
What will help us through it all
God created
Men Destroy
Destroying the world
With dangerous toys
God is good, God is great
Man is filled with greed and hate
Let us stop this endless chain
Man has endured too much pain
Slaves from the South have fought with pride
To free themselves from chains
Jews have fought Hitlers genocide
After him, few remained
United we stand
Divided we fall
How will we live through it all?

Written by Dan Johnson in his college years

When You're Away

See the cage around my soul
See it close and become whole
...My heart is won
Though our love is fairly young
Our souls have joined and become one
...And you know I love you...
...How much I love you
My eyes weep when you're away
My heart's fulfilled when you stay
I never thought I'd feel like this
I never knew I'd need your kiss
I never thought I'd feel as though I'd die
It's strange the way I feel inside
All these emotions I can't hide
...Tell me honey what should I do
But of all these things I've said and done
Of all the people, everyone
Of all the things I ever knew
...I know that I love you.

Written by Dan Johnson during my college years

Untitled (To Endure)

Horizon colors changing hue
Sparkles on the morning dew
The water fountain starts to spew
It's water that is pure
From the window there is a view
Of trees...all of two
These two trees grow of life anew
Forever to endure
Together they grow, at first a sprout
This is what life is all about
Two trees grow without a doubt
Forever to be secure
First there are leaves, then there are flowers
Over all others they start to tower
Together they are an invincible power
Forever to endure...

Dan Johnson (while in college)

The Story of Poe & Coleridge

I wrote this in College:

Dread thee who readeth this
Ye shall not return to bliss
The serpent's tongue that tells us bad
The curing plant that drives us mad
Visions of darkness, of death abound
Other times there are colors around
An infinite rainbow of color explodes
As the mind of man slowly erodes
Mad as a killer but able to write
Death overpowers, unable to fight
Visions so strange but all to real
Cause one to write of what they feel
Fantasies and nightmares come alive
And for opium perfection these men will strive
To let us see all that they've beheld
As in black England when the bell knelled
The corpse of a memory, the ghost of a mind
The artist's words become unkind
Frightened by this vision of drug
To past memories they cling and hug
But all is lost, forever gone
Never again will the day dawn
For all is twilight, all is unreal
For opium dreams that the mind doth steal...

Summary:

Basically it refers to the drugs being such a big part of their body of work. Were they great in spite of the drugs...or BECAUSE of the drugs? YOU decide.

Bill Maher, love him or hate him...this is too true...

Funny, yet sad...yet true!

New Rule: Republicans changed their party before -- from the party that freed the slaves to the party that freed Scooter Libby -- and they survived. Now it's time for them to stop pretending they're still the party of Reagan and take up a new banner: The Party of Superfreaky Superfreaks.

This week, the chairman of the St. Petersburg, Florida, City Council was accused of having sex with his two adopted daughters and their nanny. And he could have been in real trouble, too, if it turned out the nanny was an illegal. But he got ahead of the story when he killed himself by sitting in the garage with the doors closed and the riding lawn mower on.

Two guesses which party he was a member of. And the first guess doesn't count. And that's not fair. You knew he was a Republican, because even in death, he was still wasting gas. Republicans sex scandals are getting to be like Iraqi car bombings. By the time you hear about one, there's been another.

Ted Haggard, Mark Foley, Bob Allen, Vitter, Craig... It's like "Clue" only the answer is always "A Republican... in the washroom... with his cock." The Republicans should run on that. "America: You're 230 But We'll Still Fuck You." Especially if you're a dude. It's not really inspiring, but it's better than "Mitt Romney: He Has Hair."

Free Lunch

Another email that I received with a deeper meaning. Makes you think. It was from a conservative friend of mine. I am not editing this and will leave in it's entirety. Don't like the line at the end that tries to persuade you...(DRINKING THE PURPLE PUNCH) but I think the rest of it has some merit.

Free Lunch
There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some Exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government. In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a Strange question.

He asked, " Do you know how to catch wild pigs?"

The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. "You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.

Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom.

They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.

The young man told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America . The government keeps pushing us toward communism - socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. While we continually lose our freedoms- just a little at a time. (We should remember "There is no such thing as a free Lunch"; and "You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.) If you also see all of the government "help" as a problem for the future of democracy in America , please send it on. And remember which political party has been pushing the "free lunch" programs on you for decades now.

My letter to "The View" regardin Whoopi's comments on Michael Vick & dogfighting.

I am still trying to wrap my mind around what Whoopi said today regarding Michael Vick. It just doesn't make sense to me and her statements in my opinion don't hold any water. I have noted a few things for her to study up on before she espouses on something that she surprisingly knows little about but seems to be able to debate on national television.

First, Michael Vick is NOT from the "Deep South". I have LIVED in the deep south (I graduated from High School in Jacksonville, AL). In my humble opinion, even to the least knowledgeable person...when has VIRGINIA *EVER* been considered the "deep south"? My wife and I discussed this (she was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Selma and Prattville, AL). The Deep South USUALLY refers to the following states, and the term itself is traditionally used to imply the stereotyped "backwoods" ignorant type, though I could be wrong. These states are usually Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and sometimes Arkansas. Some people will throw in Kentucky or Tennessee but I don't see them as being "deep south" either geographically or culturally. Some people will also throw in the Carolinas, but the same thing goes with these two states as with KY and TN in my opinion.

Please have Whoopi reasearch Newport News, VA. I have taken the liberty for you folks to make it easier to verify:http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/state/virginia.html

Newport News ALSO has over 100k people...not really a "backwoods" town that would have a "culture" of illegal dogfighting. It's actually the 6th largest city in a fairly large state:http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108283.html

Furthermore, as a former Marine, I had the opportunity to be stationed for a period of time in Norfolk, VA and Chesapeake, VA which are both SOUTH of Newport News. Never once did I feel as if I were in the "Deep South". I would know...I lived there.

Moving on, she mentioned "cock fighting" in Puerto Rico. Major point to note. It is LEGAL in Puerto Rico! It is KNOWN to be illegal in all states but Louisiana currently (though there is legislation that is expected it to be banned in that state by August of 08). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockfight.

So cultural or not...cockfighting OR dogfighting...if you are doing it in the United States...you KNOW you are breaking the law.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogfighting

By Whoopi's logic, it's ok to do crack cocaine because in certain geographical areas (urban inner cities mostly, though it HAS spread out a bit) this is the culture and what people do? Sounds kinda ridiculous doesn't it... Think about that for a second. In certain cultures (African and some Middle Eastern) it is ok to remove a womans sexual genitalia or mutilate a womans sexual organs. So by her logic, it's ok to come to the United States and do that here? I don't think so. We have laws for a reason.

Mr. Vick was not raised in Puerto Rico, Thailand, Mexico, India or any other number of foreign countries where "cockfighting" is legal. and as for dogfighting, as in the earlier link I had which I will put again HERE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogfighting

Dogfighting is ILLEGAL in all 1st world countries and ALL of North America! Same as where he was raised in Newport News, VA. In the United States: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vick

This isn't a matter of race or culture. It's a matter of right and wrong. Why did he use the name "Ookie"? Because he didn't want his real name used. Why? Because he KNEW it was wrong. That is why in his indictment, (page 15 #68) it states (and I QUOTE) "During the fightC.W.#3 (corroborating or cooperating witness) was criticized by a person unknown to the Grand Jury from "Bad Newz Kennels" for C.W.#3's having yelled out VICKS name in front of the crowd during the dog fight".

That's a smoking gun. It shows that they (Vick and his buddies at Bad Newz Kennels KNEW that what they were doing was wrong and/or illegal). That's why they don't film these things, or when they do, people have masks and bandanas over their faces to protect them from being recognized and/or punished for their criminal activities.

In closing, I can only say that today, I was dissapointed by what I heard from Whoopi. I've never written a show before about something like this. But after seeing some clips on ESPN, I felt that I HAD to give you my opinion. I'm neither a fan of Whoopi's nor am I NOT a fan, I've always been "indifferent" to her career to be honest. I am a Libertarian in politics, (the reason I state this is to prepare you for my next statement). However, I thought she handled herself EXCEPTIONALLY well with Bill O'Reilly (who I think is a bully and often sets up his guests to be "straw men"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

However, he has some interesting things to say regarding child welfare laws etc. I don't want to come across as a right winger or neocon either. I'm a centrist libertarian. I just hope that the folks that read this can see that I have done some due diligence, stated my case with an informed and intelligent argument and will hopefully be used to highlight the "average" American's thoughts regarding Whoopi's statements today.

Please feel free to read my blog if you want to know where I'm coming from as I will be adding THIS letter to my blog. A response from Ms. Walters, Ms. Goldberg or your staff would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and I truly hope that Whoopi can succeed in her new role, but in the future, choose her words a bit more carefully before stating opinions on such a sensitive issue.

Sincerely,

Dan Johnson
http://pocketlintandpurplepunch.blogspot.com/

About Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand was an "objectivist" thinker and brilliant woman that was far before her time. Though some of her views are a bit more progressive than I am (at this stage in my life anyhow), there is no denying her sheer GENIUS when it came to her socio-political ideologies. Recently, I received a quote in my MySpace Bulletin from someone who posts as Ayn Rand (though they are moreso a forward thinking group I believe...of people) and they sent me this nugget: "Inflation is not caused by the actions of private citizens, but by the government: by an artificial expansion of the money supply required to support deficit spending. No private embezzlers or bank robbers in history have ever plundered people's savings on a scale comparable to the plunder perpetrated by the fiscal policies of statist governments."-- Ayn Rand, "Who WIll Protect Us From Our Protectors"? The Objectivist Newsletter, May 1952

Thank you to the folks at this site who are able to provide these words of wisdom. All I can say is keep them coming! I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.

Interesting email I received about the welfare state...

Someone sent this to me via email. Some of it at the end (the commentary part) I don't think I would use the verbiage they have chosen to use, but the sentiment goes along with my Libertarian views. However, the email itself and the parable as it is written uses an EXCELLENT analogy that I don't think I would have thought of. Your comments as always are appreciated. I am pasting it in it's entirety:

We bought a bird feeder. I hung it on the back patio and filled it with seed.
Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.
But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue.
Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table...everywhere.
Then some of the birds turned mean: They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket.
And others birds were boisterous and loud: They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food.
After a while, we couldn't even sit on our own back porch anymore. It was unbearable.
I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone.
I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio and soon the back yard was like it used to be...... quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.

Now let's see....... our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, free education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen.

Then the illegals came by the millions....

Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families: you have to wait 4 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor: your child's 2nd grade class is lagging behind other schools because 1/2 of the class doesn't speak English: Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to press "one" to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than "Old Glory" are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.

Maybe it's time for the government to take down the bird feeder.

Here is the link to my previous post...sorry

http://digg.com/videos/educational/The_Black_Urban_Culture

Digg - The "Black/Urban Culture"

Digg - The "Black/Urban Culture"

Free Thinker "The Infidel Guy" Reginald Finley Sr. has some interesting insight on the African American race and culture. Interesting video. Let me know what you think.

Outrage!

These three young lives were snuffed out (and a fourth was intended to be another victim with a shot to the head as well) by several people. TWO suspects are ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/ALIENS. There is no mention of the one guy in custody (28 year old Jose Carranza) as being an illegal with a history of crime and violence here in the USA. Why is this not mentioned? Is that not odd/strange to you? Is this the "liberal media's" attempt to just "wash" this little fact over? There is another suspect they are looking for named Rodolfo Godinez. In this article it says he is a Nicaraguan "National"...but doesn't that just mean he is not a citizen of the United States...or worse yet, an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT/ALIEN to the United States? The apparant lack of clarity or transparancy on this issue is appaling and quite simply MIND boggling! It is a travesty that these young people whom seem to have had a history of good morals, character and judgement had to have their lives ended/wasted so brutally by people that did not have the legal right to even BE here. And we KNEW about them!

This in no way implies that this would be any less tragic had these young people been shot/killed by citizens any more acceptable, justifiable or understandable. Heinous is heinous. However, it points to a much greater problem in the security of our own borders...or at least in the inability or unwillingness of the states to ENFORCE current laws that are in place to prevent just these kinds of things.

This article uses words like "undocumented immigrant" from Peru and Nicaraguan National etc. Why don't they just come out and say it. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT/ALIEN!? Carranza has had TWO previous indictments from alleged sexual assault of a minor ...sadly they have this mis-reported and/or misrepresented by CNN's reporting by saying that it was a 13 year old girl. What it was is: "Carranza was indicted by grand juries in New Jersey twice this year — in April on aggravated assault and weapons charges; and in July on 31 counts which included aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13 years old and endangering the welfare of a child he had a duty to supervise". There is a big difference in the reporting. How come Fox News got it right? This indictment was in additon to VARIOUS and MULTIPLE weapons and assault charges. But not once do they use the term "illegal alien". Amazing. THESE are the very sorts of things that create RIFTS and BI-Partisanship and distrust in any and all media. You have to go to MULTIPLE sources to get the truth or get to the nuts and bolts. That is WRONG.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/10/schoolyard.killings/?iref=mpstoryview

This local CBS news affiliate said it like it is. Used the word "ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT"/ALIEN for Carranza and stated that it is believed that Godinez is a CITIZEN of Peru (in other words...illegal immigrant/alien). http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_223110502.html

This local blog from the NJ Star Ledger calls it like it is too: http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/

Of course FoxNews is going to be ALL over this and aggressively going after these guys...but they do a pretty good job of stating the obvious and just through prose...seeming to get the reader to ask the obvious...WHY were these people still here and WHY were they able to continue to commit crimes after they had been caught the first time? Where did Carranza come up with the money to pay his bail on his previous arrests and/or indictments? Sad indeed. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292717,00.html

Good intentions for all...

I'm just sitting here thinking. I do believe that the liberals have good intentions...I really do. However, I also feel that those intentions for the most part are socialist and thus, unconstitutional and still provide FAR too much power to the feds. I think it was Toqueville (sp?) that said that socialism was slavery, but I could be wrong. Medicare is not covered under the constitution, nor is Social Security. The right is leaning towards fascism (power of the "State" 'read- the country' takes precedent over the power of the people). This is also unconstitutional as the PEOPLE and the individual states have authority over the federal government (per the constitution). That's why I like Ron Paul. He is a constitutionalist for the most part. Though he isn't afraid to state his own PERSONAL beliefs and opinions...I have a firm trust and belief in this man...that he would not let his personal ideologies or beliefs/value systems change the constitution. But who knows...just my musings.

What's Happening to me?!

WTF! I'm becoming more and more of a freak with my politics and I don't know why, other than I'm convinced that the polarizing characters involved in modern-day popular politics in the United States are just plain DANGEROUS! As time goes on...I'm more and more dissillusioned and dissapointed with what the "dual monarchy" has to offer "WE THE PEOPLE".

Let me start by giving a brief synopsis of my former background. I am a proud and former United States Marine. 0331 Machine Gunner (Infantry) was my primary MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) and secondary was 8152 (Security Forces). I was hard core conservative and Republican. Based on my personal experience, I think to truly succeed in the Marine Corps you need to be a conformist and a believer in "the system".
I was meritoriously promoted to both LCpl and Cpl and made Sgt. (E-5) in less than four years (which at that time was almost unheard of and VERY rare in my MOS). I was selected Marine of the Month (Twice) and competed for Marine of the Year (out of over 500 Marines) and came in 3rd out of 5 contestants. Point I'm making is I was a good Marine, followed the rules, was squared away and "believed" in the system.

That is why my relatively rapid change in my politics is such a shock to me. Here is why:
Marijuana should be legalized. I'm not a pot smoker (though in all honesty I have tried it before...and yes I inhaled and yes, I did it more than once). There are a lot more intelligent people than I that feel this way, so I will leave those people to define the medicinal benefits of marijuana as well as the scientific facts regarding it's efficacy, lack of true "physically addictive qualities" etc. But from the "laymans" perspective as I see it. It's simple math. I have seen INNUMERABLE fights and violence when people were drunk on alcohol (also a depressent, but it is also known and proven to be both physically and psychologically addictive). I can't EVER remember seeing someone stoned and violent....just doesn't happen. Coincidence? Again, these are "lame" arguments, but are valid from my point of view.

Secondly I believe that marijuana "weed" is something that has grown naturally for THOUSANDS of years and is something that God has put on this earth. It is a NATURALLY occuring natural product. However, I personally have never "stumbled" upon a free flowing pool of vodka in nature (see where I'm going with this)? Why is marijuana in a catagory of drugs with Opium, LSD, Heroin and Cocaine? All I can say, is if you have the balls...do some research on this. The governments case is pretty lame and standing on some "weak" legs if you actually look into it. Does this mean that I think we should all be toked up and wasted...going through our days or our lives "half baked". No...of course not. However, I do believe it can be regulated (like alcohol, tobacco or any other number of schedule 2 through 5 category drugs which as I've already stated have physically destroyed FAR more lives). Instead, the U.S. Government keeps marijuana in Schedule 1 category (which is the worst of the worst and is by far the most restricted of all drug schedules/categories).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_rescheduling_in_the_United_States

There are MANY reasons why I say this. Drug companies make far too much money (the root of all evil and corruption) and there are too many reasons for them to make all of these drugs that are out there (which they even say "this drug may not work for everyone"...) and some of the side affects AND addictive qualities of some of these Schedule 2 category drugs are FAR worse than marijuana can and will ever be, but again, marijuana is in the Schedule 1 category. Doesn't this seem odd to you?

Moving on...I watch the O'Reilly factor almost daily. For years, I can say I was a fan, even a BIG fan. Why? Because good ol' Bill was pushing all of the right buttons. He urged the masses of MAINSTREAM America NOT to be the "silent majority". To speak out against the liberals and fight back on their own turf. For too long, the "Left/Liberals" were broadly painted with the unflattering "intelligencia" moniker. It worked...for a while. And for me...PERSONALLY, the biggest kicker on the left is that there seems to be a concentrated effort to remove GOD from everything. However, our own Constitution clearly states that GOD gave "we the people" our rights. Our RIGHTS are from GOD. The power of the government comes from the people. In other words WE THE PEOPLE allow the government to have the power it has, but we have the authority and RIGHT to LIMIT that power (of the government). But then you listen to him now (Bill). And I still do. But he says things that are fucking SCARY!

In one sentence, he says he is all for free speech and freedom of the press, but then he talks about how a website should be scrutinized because they aren't "policing" their site and allowing free speech (Bill calls it hate speech and hate-mongering and inciteful). It may be ALL of those things, but in THIS country...MY FUCKING COUNTRY, I have the right to say it. Are you kidding me Bill? Sometimes listening to his rhetoric scares me because he goes on witch hunts! He is one man, with a great deal of power and influence...he needs to use it wisely. Still, in his defense, many of the things he is passionate about, I firmly support. He is a HUGE proponent of "Jessica's Law" and has started a crusade (ironic words I know) to shame state legislatures into passing the bill into law in their respective states. Good for him. Still, I don't think that is HIS job to do...he is just a reporter, not a law-maker. Again, VERY slippery slope, very dangerous ground.

His book "Culture Warrior" had some excellent points. The main one that I got out of it (now this is ME talking, read the book and you come up with YOUR own conclusions) is that the district courts are using the legal systems (and liberal judges are spearheading this movement) to over-ride the voice of the people (that would be you and me). If Americans VOTE and the vast majority do not support legalizing homosexual/gay marriages, then the people have spoken...period. Still, history has shown us that oftentimes it takes the voice of one (or a very few) brave and forward thinking souls to be heard over the din of the masses (racism, Jim Crow laws etc) when sometimes the voice of reason IS the courts. Is this one of those times?

I don't know. As a Libertarian (damn near leaning to anarchist) I believe in basically live and let live. If you want to bugger some dude, that is up to you. MY GOD will judge you according to my beliefs and ideologies...but it is not my job to judge you. This goes back to the marijuana thing. Conservative Christians have pushed their ideology on our country to make laws that fit their Judeo-Christian ideologies, dogma and philosophies (anyone remember prohibition)? This can be said about marijuana too. YES...our country was indeed founded on these philosophies and that should always be recognized and acknowledged....still, because the CHURCH says that schlepping your schlong in some guys pooper is wrong doesn't mean that our FEDERAL government should force that just because it's whats in the bible.

I was taught "a sin is a sin". Sins aren't ranked...they are ALL sins. So a lie, rape, murder, coveting your neighbors wife...all of that is EQUAL in the eyes of God (based on the theology I was raised on and believe). So who am I to judge? God will ultimately judge the character of the person and their heart. Last thing on religion. I am a "spiritual" christian (not quite a Deist). This means that I believe in God and I feel that the following two things are critical to my eternal salvation. 1. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and that He died for the sins of all people. 2. I adhere to the belief that one must have a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ (not the church) and that if you truly have that, that you will go to heaven. Maybe a juvenile view of it, but that is what I belive...take it or leave it. I do pray daily (at the weirdest times) and I do have a personal relationship with Jesus and I do believe that He died for our sins...nuff said.

So the polarization of my country (YOUR COUNTRY) scares the shit out of me. The far left liberals scare me (and I think the majority of Americans) because they want to remove GOD from pretty much everything. A Christmas tree is offensive (but other religions can practice their religions openly and we as Americans have to acquiesce to their desires and spiritual needs?). Does this make sense to anyone? Not me. That's the right wing side of me shouting out in protest. In this country EVERYONE can worship however they wish FREELY. If the pledge of allegiance offends you, then you do not have to participate (and children should be tought not to tease others for being "different") and should not fear reprisal. But don't stop ME from participating.

Don't come to MY country and try to turn it into the very country that YOU left due to oppression and twisted ideologies! If your country and it's customs are so awesome, then stay there. But DO NOT turn MY country...the United States of America into mini-Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China, Mexico or anywhere else. Accept America for the melting pot that it is. With PEOPLE FROM Cuba, Saudi Arabia, China and Mexico and everywhere in-between.

I'm tired...there is so much more to say. But those of you who have read on I truly appreciate your interest into reading into just a little piece of ME and my mind. I hope it has interested you a little and at the very least maybe challenged you to rethink your own reality. I believe that the USA is the greatest country in the world. I also believe I am truly BLESSED to have been born and raised here and consider it an honor and a privelege. I am proud to have served my country and proud to be an American. But that does NOT mean that I think that what the representatives of my country are doing in government are moral, legal and/or ethical. Don't blindly follow, step back and ask some simple questions. Iraq (why are we REALLY there)? How would WE as Americans feel if someone decided that George W. Bush were an "evildoer" or "evil dictator" and that country (or coalition of countries) came to our "rescue" and decided to depose our fearless leader and force upon us an entirely new ideology/form of government? Seriously, think about that and remember this simple fact...DEMOCRACY was NEVER earned through the force of a gun to the heads of the people! Democracy (true democracy) is an organic thing that is grown and cultivated from within (just like REVOLUTION). Till a later date, thanks again and your comments and input would be greatly appreciated. Next time I have a stream of consciousnes blog, I will drink some coffee first!

Yours

Dan

14 Traits of a Fascist State

I must admit that I have shamelessly copied this from others. I just added my own little spin and editorials on it. Please feel free to offer up some more ideas and facts to add to it. Thanks!

One more thing...14 traits of a fascist state. Read VERY carefully.

Read this closely. YOU do the math. Just as an FYI...fascism is defined as:

Fascism is an authoritarian political ideology (generally tied to a mass movement) that considers individual and other societal interests subordinate to the needs of the state, and seeks to forge a type of national unity, usually based on, but not limited to, ethnic, cultural, or racial attributes. Various scholars attribute different characteristics to fascism, but the following elements are usually seen as its integral parts: nationalism, authoritarianism, statism, militarism, corporatism, populism, totalitarianism, anti-communism, racism and opposition to economic and political liberalism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism


1.. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism (America anyone...it's US agains the world!)
2.. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights (opposition to gay marriage, IRAQ and Guantanamo Bay to name but a few).
3.. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause (Midlle East anyone)?
4.. Supremacy of the Military (is this getting scary yet)?
5.. Rampant Sexism (I personally don't see this...but I'm a guy...I could be wrong lol).
6.. Controlled Mass Media (That's what FOX NEWS would like)
7.. Obsession with National Security (now it is DEFINITELY getting scary)
8.. Religion and Government are Intertwined (slippery one here as the party in power ALWAYS invokes God for their particular causes)
9.. Corporate Power is Protected (money=corruption...how does Hillary Clinton AND Obama both have over $30MILLION in their coffers? Makes you think doesn't it. And if it doesn't...it SHOULD)!
10.. Labor Power is Suppressed (why are our jobs going overseas where our corporations don't have to pay OUR countries taxes, but we do? Why are the corporations exempt but WE aren't? Something smells fishy).
11.. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts (Touchy for me because I don't like the liberal bullshit being CRAMMED down our throats i.e. global warming etc.). Play this game with me...next time you open up MSN.com...see if there is SOMETHING that refers to the Earth Day concerts (which are like two weeks passed already) OR if there is a reference to global warming. Go ahead...try it. There IS and AGENDA on both sides of these crazy fucks!
12.. Obsession with Crime and Punishment (that has been never-ending in the U.S.of A. Here is an idea, legalize marijuana and put DANGEROUS criminals behind bars and not the guys that toke up now and then...gee ya think?)
13.. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption (All hail the USA)
14.. Fraudulent Elections (I voted for Bush...it was the lesser of two evils...I'm sorry. Still, the freaks on the left have been arguing the legitimacy of BOTH of GW's elections. Interesting eh?

You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming. This was only a test. If this were a REAL alert regarding the dangers facing our nation, there would have been an audible and VOCAL outcry by the PEOPLE and there would have been legitimate 3rd and 4th parties presented for the next election. Thank you and good night.

The Danimal

Refuting my hard line Neo-Con Friend Tim from Indiana

Please allow me to preface this blog by stating that it is in DIRECT reference to some comments that my friend Tim from Indiana (he is a Neo-Con...but I love him) had on one of my MySpace blogs (prior to this blog). I will see if I can attach his response and will paste my original blog seperately from here. It was titled "What is happening to me!" Tim is very firm on his belief that we should be in Iraq and that the war is justified...here is the original blog:

Tim…this is my THIRD attempt to respond to your response to my last post regarding my political leanings. I've tried before and spent HOURS (literally) in creating a response that is both intelligent and civil.

First off…as you know…I love you as a brother. However, some of the things you have written need to be addressed in "laundry list" format. Just because it is TRULY my hope that you will POSSIBLY reconsider some of your statements and/or beliefs. But I know that is asking/expecting a lot of ANYONE…so hopefully this will be at the very least thought provoking for you and any others who may happen to review this blog.

I will do more research on our founding fathers before I respond to your interesting dialogue on what our founding fathers intended. That will be for a different day and a different blog. This blog is primarily to debate your perception of and belief in our current war in Iraq.

You started off by saying that Saddam needed to be "dealt with". According to who? Because he is/was an "evil dictator"? So now it is OUR job…the United States of America's job…to go and round up every evil dictator in the world? Why start with Saddam? Why END with Saddam. I've compiled a short list of "evil dictators" throughout the world and I'd like to know who we need to go Cowboy on next, China? Pakistan (who both have WMD's)!

Lets start with the most obvious!

Our good friend Kim Jong Il. He has ALSO ignored UN warning and sanctions and has openly despised the USofA. Did I mention that we KNOW he has weapons of mass destruction and that he has been firing missles off in testing (ICBM's) dangerously close to Japan btw. Lets go kick his ass first Tim! But don't forget that most of his nation is starving and without electricity at night.
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/UN_Weighs_Punitive_Measures_In_Response_To_North_Korean_Missile_Tests_999.html
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/missile/td-2.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/dprk/dprk-dark.htm

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Kim Jong Il's excellent record *sarcasm* of free press, civil liberties, political rights/freedoms and overall repression of his people with over 100,000 "dissidents" in political prison.

Now…let's look at our friends in Africa! There is an entire CONTINENT that is dealing with corruption and evil dictators around every turn!

Let's go to Omar Al-Bashir from Sudan. I'm sure you have heard of Sudan…as in "the lost boys of Sudan". We had a couple working at the local Meijer store a few years back. He is the dictator of a country that with his blessing has CONSISTENTLY provided safe harbor and sanctuary for many KNOWN terrorists. This would include the Carlos the Jackal (whom he betrayed and turned over to the French). Here is a knee slapper…because he is such a dubious character, he oftentimes provides sanctuary for terrorists only to eventually turn them in for "favors" and money. This includes his offer the United States in 1996 (NINETEEN NINETY SIX) for a guy you may have heard of…Osama bin Laden. Another hilarious point…you keep hearing the liberals whining about Darfur? Well that is in Western Sudan. Currently since the conflict began in 1993, the U.N. has estimated close to ½ million people have died of violence and disease.

I think we should stick to Africa for a minute…the dictators there are SO very interesting.

Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is a hell of a character. I mean, with deferring international humanitarian aid to his people and blocking the people's access to this aid (basically starving his own people)…you might want to send HIM a Christmas card! You'll laugh at this. He holds "elections" but limits the oppositions ability to advertise and campaign and does not allow media outlets that "sympathize" with his opposition to continue to stay in business. Even so, his last political opponent STILL got over 40% of the vote. I guess I would vote against him too if inflation were over 500% and unemployment soaring around 70%! Did I mention that in ONE YEAR (2002) Amnesty International reported that good ol' Bobby killed or tortured over 700,000 people?! Why are'nt we going after THIS evil dictator Tim? And he has been in power for how long? You guessed it...over 25 years!
http://thereport.amnesty.org/document/14

There is King Mswati III of Swaziland. In Swaziland he has ULTIMATE power and authority. He cannot be investigated and he can overrule any and all laws. He's a swell fella when you consider that he spent over $40million on a private jet. That's more than twice the healthcare budget of the nation (which btw has the HIGHEST HIV/AIDS rate in the WORLD) at over 30% infected. Glad he has his priorities!

Here is one that had me rolling Tim…I mean I actually PEED a little when doing research on our next "winner". It's our old friend…King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia…C'mon down…you're the next contestant for our evil dictators club. But wait…we're FRIENDS with this guy?! I mean…out of all of the terrorists involved in the plane hijackings of 9/11…(19 in all) FIFTEEN were from where? You guessed it, Saudi Arabia. However, due to the "oil tit" as you call it, we have ALIGNED ourselves with and allowed this guy to do intolerant things like: It is illegal for Saudi citizens to practice ANY religion other than Islam; school textbooks are vehemently ANTI-American, ANTI-Christian and ANTI-Semitic; and it is common to be FLOGGED for being with someone of the opposite sex unless they are a family member in public (this includes taxi's etc); They are one of the FEW nations in the world that do not hold elections…however, the King has said that the nation would "soon" hold parliamentary elections…but it hasn't happened…yet. *don't hold your breath either*. So tell me Tim…why don't we cowboy up and kick THEIR asses?! BTW…they own the LARGEST oil reserve in the world.

Hopefully I've made my point on EVIL DICTATORS. Trust me…there are many more out there (like in Eastern Europe and some of the Soviet States). Now, lets look at another phenomenon. It's FASCINATING and goes along with a solid philosophy as to why we should stay out of the affairs of foreign countries.

Look up a term called the "blowback effect" which is a term commonly used by both the FBI and CIA. Here are a couple of links for you to check out:

http://www.schillerinstitute.org/lar_related/2002/may1wbct-txt.html
http://www.defraudingamerica.com/legal_index_right.html
http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=607
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HDN/is_1999_June_2/ai_54800604
http://www.educatorstostopthewar.org/PermanentWarScript.pdf
http://www.mathaba.net/info/27a.htm

You need to know your history with regards to America's involvement in not only the Middle East, but also how we have meddled in the internal affairs and policies of countries which eventually "blows back" and bites us in our own ass. For example:

After WWII America had HUGE influence in the affairs of the Iranian Shah. In 1953, because of their concerns with Anti-Western (read Anti-American) influence in the opposition of the Shah (Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh) and how the Tudeh Party (which was later banned as a party in Iran) may be leaning towards the Soviet power (or at the very least not denying any Soviet leanings) and all of the oil resources could possibly be going away from US/British control and towards the Soviets. We decided to help in "removing" Dr. Mossadegh DIRECTLY with our own own agencies and bureaus.

25 years later (almost to the day) there is civil unrest and dissatisfaction with the direction the country has taken. Iran was becoming Westernized, less adherent to the strict codes and Islamic laws which it had been following for MILLENIA and was seen by many Islamic loyalist as being a "pawn" to the Evil Empire in the West (the United States).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_PahlaviOil_nationalization_and_the_1953_coup

This is what the Blowback Effect is Tim. But let's dig deeper. After Iran became an Islamic State in 1979, they were no longer our "pawn". So we need an ally in the Middle East to keep Iran in check. So let's look at who we provided money and arms to. Oh…that was Saddam Hussein. The Iraq/Iran war that took place from 1980-1988. Funny how it started less than one year after the hostage crisis in Iran. But note that this wasn't an issue of "East vs. West". Even the Soviets supported Saddam during this time. The reason? Everyone was afraid that the Islamic Revolutionary movement would move into Iraq as well and the secular regime that Saddam oversaw would topple to the ultra-conservative (if not radical) Islamic movement. So note the dates we started helping. September of 1980. Almost 25 years later what happened? You guessed it…we are once again battling the very person/region that WE had supported with arms, money, training and covert operations. See a pattern here Tim?

But wait…it gets even better...this is the "RonCo" of blowback effects. It slices, it dices...it even makes Julienne Fries!

Lets look at Osama bin Laden. This will have you rolling in laughter. It's a real gut-buster…trust me. What's REALLY funny is once again…the dates. In 1979, Afghanistan is "invaded" by the Soviet Union. Yep, our old pals the Russians wanted to support the communist party in power and prevent the overthrow of that government by the Mujahideen (a pro-Islam/Anti-Marxist insurgency). After almost 10 years and BILLIONS of dollars spent (read waste/lost) Russia pulled out completely in 1989. Less than 2 years later the Soviet Union and a huge communist superpower had completely collapsed. Ever heard the term "learn from the mistakes of others" and "if we don't learn from the mistakes of our past, we are doomed to repeat them"? So we start providing arms and money to Bin Laden in 1980 and over 20 years later (not quite 25 this time) he's orchestrating the flying of planes into the twin towers. This is no longer even remotely funny Tim.

I think you are smart enough (God I hope so) to see a pattern here. When we involve ourselves in the policies of and try influencing the governments of other nations, it has consistently and catastrophically come back to haunt us. BLOWBACK EFFECT

One more thing…BAY OF PIGS and other attempts to interfere with Cuba's government. That was the benevolent USofA trying to overthrow good ol' Castro.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuban_Project
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Pigs_invasion

Moving down the laundry list. You mentioned oil and how we should tap our oil reserves in Alaska. The problem with this is that oil (ours and that of anywhere else in the world) is a FINITE commodity. It isn't endless and it WILL eventually dry up. My question to you is this: If Brazil (which is damn near a 3rd world country) can create the infrastructure for and support ethanol based fuel primarily made from sugar cane. Isn't it interesting that .54 on the dollar is TAXED for importation of this Brazilian fuel to the U.S.? Is this looking out for the best interest of our people and our economy and our need to get off the teet of the dangerous and unstable Middle East oil conglomerates? Or (hold on…here comes a zinger) could this be just another way for big time corporations (read Oil Companies/Barons) to continue to have there way with us through the influence of power in the government?

Like the old song…"Things that make you go hmmm". You will hear the argument that this is being done to encourage our OWN internal ethanol production. However, the government is NOT doing what it needs to do to support the INFRASTRUCTURE to allow for the expansion and use of ethanol fuels domestic or foreign. Sweden for examples has laws in place REQUIRING an alternative to fossil fuels (i.e. ethanol).

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/10/news/ethanol.php
http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=6817

I do agree with you on nuclear power as well as the fact regarding building an oil refinery in 30 years. What a joke. Some of the oil barons have homes that cost more than it would to build a new refinery! However it must be noted that there are currently around 145 refineries currently in the U.S. with Texas being by far the state with the most refineries. It should also be noted that only two are doing over ½ million barrels a day.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/rankings/refineries.htm

Tim…next you mention that Saddam repeatedly fired upon our "patrols". Is this the same "OUR" that was continuously dropping bombs on THEIR "targets of opportunity" and other targets of perceived "military value" in THEIR country for over ten years? Simple thing to consider. Put YOURSELF in the same situation. We have…oh…I dunno, let's say Chinese "patrols" in the United States. While the Chinese are "patrolling" our land, they happen to be bombing Nebraska. So you come upon a patrol of these altruistic and benevolent "patrols" in Indiana…would YOU take a shot? Here it comes…your gonna love this one! Call me CRAZY! Something tells me you wouldn't be inviting them in for tea and scones…but I could be wrong?!?

Next…you mentioned how there may be (admittedly little) evidence of Saddam supporting Al-Quaida and/or other terror groups. Would this be anything similar to the U.S. government being in DEEP negotiations with the mafia and assorted members of crime families and possible efforts at an assassination attempt of our pal to the south Castro? Or, let's just remove the middle man and use "support" our OWN government agencies as terrorist groups!

http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1982/04/review-bitterfruit.html

Check out the CIA's "Family Jewels"…it has some great stuff regarding assassination attempts in detail (more than one) and our overall benevolence. http://www.foia.cia.gov/search.asp

Now Tim…here is where I get "somewhat" personal. Hopefully, I will communicate my thoughts clearly enough for you to see WHY I took this particular part of your response personally and I must preface this by saying that I mean this with all due respect.

You would rather "fight them now than have your son fight them". THAT my friend is bullshit. When it was YOUR turn to fight (i.e. join the military) you chose NOT to do so. When MY time came around I chose to volunteer for my country. I will respectfully acknowledge that we were both at different points in our lives and there are reasons you chose not to join and reasons why I chose to volunteer. But the fact of the matter is that when it WAS my turn…I was there. Now it is ME…not you…who has a son/stepson who has chosen to serve his country as well. And it is MY stepson (not your son) who is fighting this war, has HIS balls on the line and is as we speak, literally on a boat to Northern Iraq. It's easy to be a hawk when you have never served and when you never were in the military. Traditionally, most former military officers and enlisted personnel (contrary to popular myth and portrayal) are loathe to put men and women in harms way (from my experience) and are more than aware of the horrors and unacceptable cost of war. So it's "in my opinion (IMO) of your statement" easy to say let's fight them now so my son doesn't have to fight them.

Don't make that statement Tim, unless you are willing to leave your job, your family and your way of life…TODAY and go join the military…TODAY and get in a boat and go to Iraq…TODYA...otherwise YOU aren't fighting shit though you may support the men and women who are fighting (which I DO support our military volunteers as well). You are watching (and encouraging) OTHERS do the fighting for you. That is the definition of a "chickenhawk"! Chicken when it's their turn, but a hawk when it's someone elses turn to do the fighting! Please don't take that personally, I know you are not "chicken" or a coward in any way, so if that is what you are interpreting, let me be forthright in stating that this is NOT my intent or in any way what I think of you and/or your character. It just so happens that one of those "others" (as in when OTHER people do the fighting) is my stepson. Though I'm not a huge fan of Nick and his attitude...I still raised him like he was my own son, supported him and provided for him and was his parent if not his father. And lastly I'm exceptionally proud of him and his accomplishments in the Marine Corps. He has EARNED the title of Marine.

You also mentioned that they cannot break us militarily. But when we spend unnecessary BILLIONS on this war, they can (and eventually will) break us financially (again, read above for what happened to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan). You also said that we would break them like we broke Russia. I'm not convinced that WE had as much to do with "breaking" Russia as RUSSIA did in breaking themselves by spreading themselves too thin and fighting a fruitless and ultimately un-winnable war and forcing unnecessary financial hardships on their nation while supporting their war.

Interesting guy to listen to is Ron Paul. Republican candidate for president and fomer Libertarian nominee for president. Check out some of his speeches regarding some of the very things we have discussed. What I like about him is that as a member of the GOP, he has an actual SHOT at the presidency. Whereas if he were still running as an independent he would have far less of a chance at election due to the electoral college and how the votes would play out (it would be killed by the majority two party system "by state" in power before it had a chance to get off the ground) NOT in the popular vote, but through the electoral college vote.

I have included another link with direct definition of "chicken hawk" and an EXCELLENT analogy as to why we would invade Iraq instead of staying in Afghanistan where we belonged! Summed up best by a simple statement. Invading Iraq is similar to if after December 7th, 1941 we attacked Korea and not Japan. Why you ask? Cause Their ASIAN TOO! Same thing isn't it?! Enjoy.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Sm2weLS5gJ4
http://youtube.com/watch?v=G7d_e9lrcZ8

These are some things to stick on your fork and chew! Lol. My Pickle always has been and always will be for you only! Lmao. I seriously hope I at least made you think a little and I hope you reviewed the response from Richard in response to my previous blog which I am responding to here. NOW you can see why I was so pissed since I have typed this TWICE before! To those of you who read this (I hope it's EVERYONE in the world) I would appreciate your feedback.

Again, it's IMPOSSIBLE to get someone to suddenly change their core beliefs and value structure and see things "your way" (see what is happening in Iraq LMAOROF) but I do seriously hope that this blog will at the very least provoke some desire and thought into looking deeper into what our country (which represents us in the world) does which if it was being done to US, we would rebel, fight back and protest as well. Your "non-personal or attacking" comments would be greatly appreciated!

Peace, Love and Unicorns, Rainbows and Teddy Bears for all!

Read it and weep :(

The other day I happened to literally stumble upon a DEFINITION when I was looking up a person on the internet. This definition must have been divine provenance because it was so unbelievably on the mark. But there are some links you need to read my friend. Check out the term Straw Man that I happened to stumble upon. Unbelievable! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

What makes this so very interesting is the argument that I hear Bill O'Reilly use to great effect. Now I have a definition for it! He will oftentimes boil things down to the lowest common denominator or accuse someone of being draconian (read the definition/link and you will understand). The best description of this is when he asks a seemingly simple question. "Do you want America to 'WIN' the war in Iraq". I would have to admit it is a simple yes or no question. However, on the surface, though it may be simple...it's in fact a VERY loaded question. If you say "yes" it implies that you are for the war and want us to succeed in forcing a nation or region to accept and adhere to our own ideologies (read- Democracy). If you say no then you are an Anti-American, Anti-Military person who wants (or so it is IMPLIED) the ENEMY (or so it is implied) to win or defeat the American way of life and what we represent. Just something to chew on.

This next link was freaky for ONE critical thing. The quote at the end from the Nuremburg Trials in Germany. I will provide the quote first...then the link: Of course the people don't want war...That is understood. But...It's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg Trials in NINETEEN FORTY SIX 1946! Holy Shit that is scary! http://www.constitution.org/tyranny.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Diary

The reason I looked up TYRANNY is because President George W. Bush used it in his Second Inaugural Address he discussed how he would use the spreading of democracy as a core of his foreign policy. In this address President Bush said it is the "Policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world". What that tells me that it is OUR job...the job of the United States of America not just to "seek and support the growth" of, but to proactively go out and FORCE it upon nations that may or may not want it! The definition of tyranny is pretty clear. http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/tyranny So what this tells me is that the ends justify the means. That because our hearts are in the right place, and "we know best", we can force a nation to adopt democratic principles. Even if it means overthrowing a non-democratic leader/dictator to do so. I'm not in Iraq right now, so I honestly don't know if they (the Iraqis) feel that we are actually true "liberators" or if they look at us as the definition suggests...as an "oppressive power"...or an "oppressive power exerted by government". Please note...it doesn't say that it is your OWN government...it can mean ANY government...including the U.S. Government. "A rigorous condition imposed by some outside...force". Again the question is asked. Do the ends justify the means?

Which brings up my next point. We push for and encourage free elections and democracy, but then when the PEOPLE of that (other) nations vote for someone that is Anti-American or not pro-Western, we view the people/culture as ignorant, violent or worse. Then we set our sights on THEM. Iran is a perfect example. But there is also Gaza (who elected Hamas), Lebanon empowered Hezbollah and again...Iran elected their loony assed president. To those of you reading this blog, democracy does NOT translate to PRO AMERICAN! So why are we so big on "spreading" democracy? I do not doubt that our involvement in and efforts to "liberate" Iraq were not well meaning or without some good intentions. But it is still being FORCED. As you have seen me state before, what if someone came to YOUR country and was well meaning and earnest and sincere to change your ideology...your government, your way of life (for us...over 232 years now). How would WE feel? It may be hard for you to empathize/sympathize because we are currently the "big dog". But how long will that be for?

We as a nation and as a people opine about how other nations are at fault, or other nations aren't transparent...when our very own democracy is so very NON-Transparent. How much influence do they have (the government) in our businesses and the media (or better yet, how much influence does the media and the businesses have over them)? As always...I hope you have enjoyed today's readings. Please...PLEASE reply with your thoughts and ideas...as that tells me you are thinking about it and actually HAVE ideas! From a selfish standpoint, it makes me feel like my thoughts aren't totally off base and mayber there is someone else out there SOMEWHERE who can understand, relate or intelligently refute what I am thinking and offer me a different perspective. And as always, I request you take some time to read some of my other political blogs and review others comments on them as well as make your own. I hope we continue to work as a nation in fixing OURSELVES before we try to fix everyone else in the world. As the bible says...Jesus said to Matthew, "why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye". Matthew 7:3-5 The irony of that is that it applies to me and this blog too! Irony...has a bitter taste to it...kinda like lickin' a 9volt battery! ;-)

Peace, love, unicorns, teddy bears, warm fuzzies and hershey's kisses to all.

Refuting the argument that Iran had a "rigged" election

A friend of mine and I were having a friendly debate while on the phone recently. He is for "planting the seed" of democracy in the Middle East and therefore that is part of his argument for the justification of the Iraq War. When I mentioned that Iran was a democratic nation already and had freely elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he was pretty fired up about that statement...which goes into my blog that is titled "Read it and Weep". He stands by his assertion (and I am paraphrasing) that Iran did NOT run a free election, and that the people were not given freedom to vote, were threatened or were not provided full disclosure and details on every and all candidates.
My buddy will be getting his information to me. I will ask that he post that in comments in either THIS blog...or in my "Read it and Weep" blog so that you the viewer may read both sides and decide. I have read the pros and cons and feel that it was truly a free election (much like we have here in the United States). There were MULTIPLE candidates representing multiple political and/or religious ideologies represented. And in my humble opinion, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected because he was seen as a radical reformer (similar to what Ross Perot or even Jesse Ventura were seen in our country) and was an outside candidate that got the people to see his vision (be it right or wrong...as he is extremely Anti-American) while generating huge support from the working class and especially the poor. My friend said that many people were restricted from voting (or so I am paraphrasing...again, no quotes here), yet others say there was OVER 60% voter turnout and over 30million people voted! The other numbers I have read range from 12% to 30% and again, up to 60%. I'm not sure which one I believe...but I will say that I don't think people were RESTRAINED from voting or prevented from voting...rather they MAY have boycotted voting or protested and objected to certain officials being elected (which we do here by the way) but again, were not physically threatened were in fear for their lives to vote for one particular candidate over another. But that is a peoples free will, not because they were coerced or intimidated which I think is a completely different thing.
As with any election...there are always controversies. But it seems to me from what I have read (and provide for you to read and determine yourself), that the PEOPLE spoke and they liked Mahmoud Ahmadinejad more than the alternatives even though he was initially NOT a major candidate and was not on anyones radar (or so it sounds) to actually WIN the election. But read some of these links and determine for yourself. What may be surprising to you all who have not looked deeper into this issue before...it is important to note that Ahmadinejad is considered a liberal reformist by some and a hard line conservative reformist by others (and is relatively secular compared to all previous elected presidents) and is the first freely elected non-hard line right wing conservative CLERICto be elected in the almost 30 year Iranian (democratic) republic!
Your input feedback would be appreciated. In the meantime, once my buddies has all of HIS resources available, I ask that he provide THOSE to you in HIS comment on this or my previous blog. That way we can figure out wherein lies the truth (somewhere in-between perhaps)? Thanks for your interest and thanks in advance for your responses and thoughts. Read the links here and realize that some of these articles were written AS the elections were taking place (or about to take place):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_presidential_election,_2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/654135.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/658166.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/652597.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/646449.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/651189.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/643526.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/619419.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/618649.stm http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/06/18/iran.ballot/index.html
This was a VERY interesting articles that tied in the USA in interesting ways: http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0628-25.htm
These articles refute the turnout or the legitimacy of certain aspects or all of the votes (or whether it was corrupted): http://www.nationalreview.com/ledeen/ledeen200402231057.asp http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601056.html http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/12/A2B68F48-0826-40EC-A196-5DF742E49616.html
This one isn't about the presidential elections, but is about the "assembly of experts" (think...congress or senators or house of representatives). Much like what happened when the people of the United States showed their dissaproval of the Republicans and voted Democrats into power in both the house and the senate. Interesting article...looks like President Ahmadinejad's days might be numbered! http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-irandemocracy/iran_election_4268.jsp