Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Fascism is the new frame
George Bush and some Republicans have begun to call Islamic terrorists fascists, and those who disagree with their policies as fascist sympathizers. These are very powerful words and they frame the discussion on Iraq war and other Bush administration policies with scary and repulsive images. Who would want to be associated with fascism?
I found some interesting definitions on fascism written by Chip Berlet in 1992. It seems to me that Bush and his cronies have their own similarities with fascist ideology.
Fascism was forged in the crucible of post-World War I nationalism in Europe. … The humiliation imposed by the victors in the Great War, coupled with the hardship of the economic Depression, created bitterness and anger. That anger frequently found its outlet in an ideology that asserted not just the importance of the nation, but its unquestionable primacy and central predestined role in history.
In identifying "goodness" and "superiority" with "us," there was a tendency to identify "evil" with "them." This process involves scapegoating and dehumanization. It was then an easy step to blame all societal problems on "them," and presuppose a conspiracy of these evildoers which had emasculated and humiliated the idealized core group of the nation. To solve society's problems one need only unmask the conspirators and eliminate them.
Fascism and Nazism as ideologies involve, to varying degrees, some of the following hallmarks:
*** Nationalism and super-patriotism with a sense of historic mission.
*** Aggressive militarism even to the extent of glorifying war as good for the national or individual spirit.
*** Use of violence or threats of violence to impose views on others…
*** Authoritarian reliance on a leader or elite not constitutionally responsible to an electorate.
*** Cult of personality around a charismatic leader.
*** Reaction against the values of Modernism, usually with emotional attacks against both liberalism and communism.
*** Exhortations for the homogeneous masses of common folk to join voluntarily in a heroic mission; often metaphysical and romanticized in character.
*** Dehumanization and scapegoating of the enemy - seeing the enemy as an inferior or subhuman force, perhaps involved in a conspiracy that justifies eradicating them.
*** The self image of being a superior form of social organization beyond socialism, capitalism and democracy.
*** Elements of national socialist ideological roots, for example, ostensible support for the industrial working class or farmers; but ultimately, the forging of an alliance with an elite sector of society.
*** Abandonment of any consistent ideology in a drive for state power.
From: NLG Civil Liberties Committee
Sept. 27, 1992 by Chip Berlet
http://www.remember.org/hist.root.what.html
I found some interesting definitions on fascism written by Chip Berlet in 1992. It seems to me that Bush and his cronies have their own similarities with fascist ideology.
Fascism was forged in the crucible of post-World War I nationalism in Europe. … The humiliation imposed by the victors in the Great War, coupled with the hardship of the economic Depression, created bitterness and anger. That anger frequently found its outlet in an ideology that asserted not just the importance of the nation, but its unquestionable primacy and central predestined role in history.
In identifying "goodness" and "superiority" with "us," there was a tendency to identify "evil" with "them." This process involves scapegoating and dehumanization. It was then an easy step to blame all societal problems on "them," and presuppose a conspiracy of these evildoers which had emasculated and humiliated the idealized core group of the nation. To solve society's problems one need only unmask the conspirators and eliminate them.
Fascism and Nazism as ideologies involve, to varying degrees, some of the following hallmarks:
*** Nationalism and super-patriotism with a sense of historic mission.
*** Aggressive militarism even to the extent of glorifying war as good for the national or individual spirit.
*** Use of violence or threats of violence to impose views on others…
*** Authoritarian reliance on a leader or elite not constitutionally responsible to an electorate.
*** Cult of personality around a charismatic leader.
*** Reaction against the values of Modernism, usually with emotional attacks against both liberalism and communism.
*** Exhortations for the homogeneous masses of common folk to join voluntarily in a heroic mission; often metaphysical and romanticized in character.
*** Dehumanization and scapegoating of the enemy - seeing the enemy as an inferior or subhuman force, perhaps involved in a conspiracy that justifies eradicating them.
*** The self image of being a superior form of social organization beyond socialism, capitalism and democracy.
*** Elements of national socialist ideological roots, for example, ostensible support for the industrial working class or farmers; but ultimately, the forging of an alliance with an elite sector of society.
*** Abandonment of any consistent ideology in a drive for state power.
From: NLG Civil Liberties Committee
Sept. 27, 1992 by Chip Berlet
http://www.remember.org/hist.root.what.html
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Polygamisti
Warren Jeffs pidatettiin Las Vegasin lahella vastikaan. Han on Yhdysvaltain tunnetuin ja vaarallisin polygamisti, joka on naittanut nuoria teinityttoja vanhoille miehille ja samalla potkinut nuoret kilpakosijat ulos uskonlahkostaan [mormoni]. Hanella itsellaan on tiettavasti yli neljakymmenta vaimoa ja kuutisenkymmenta lasta. Han kuvittelee ilmeisesti olevansa uusi Abraham.
Monday, August 28, 2006
New Orleans
On kulunut vuosi siita kun Katrina iski New Orleansiin ja tuhosi melkein koko kaupungin. Korjaus ja kunnostus on edennyt erittain hitaasti. Suuri osa kaupungista on edelleen rojun peitossa, ja kaupungista puuttuu infrastruktuuri: sairaalat, koulut, ruokakaupat jne. Monet entiset asukkaat (erityisesti mustat, koyhat) ovat tilapaisissa asunnoissa ympari maata, eivatka voi palata enaa takaisin, silla heidan kotejaan ei ehka koskaan kunnosteta. New Orleansista tulee "vitivalkoinen" ja steriili, tynka kaupunki...
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Torniossa 31.5.1956
Alatornion Kourilehdossa Liakanjoella eilen sattuneen kuusi ihmishenkea vaatineen hukkumisonnettomuuden tutkimukset aloitettiin tanaan. Koululaisia kuljettanut ruuhi on todettu vanhaksi, lahoksi ja vuotavaksi.
Tallaisia kuljetuksia on Alatornion rannassa suoritettu kolmessa paikassa. Koulujen johtokunnat ovat antaneet kuljetustehtavan sovitusta maksusta, jonka kunta suorittaa, jollekin henkilolle taman omalla veneella.
Onnettomuusruuhta ei ollut kunnanviranomaisten toimesta ennen kuljetukseen hyvaksymista tarkastettu, vaikka se olisi heille kuulunut. Nyt on myos todettu, etta tasapohjainen ruuhi ei ole sopiva ylikuljetuksiin virtapaikoissa, vaikka se on hyva suvantopaikoissa.
Lehdistotilaisuus
Will Durst kirjoittaa satiirisessa kolumnissaan presidentti Bushin viimeisimmasta lehdistotilaisuudesta. Presidentti kehittelee uusia sloganeita, silla vanhat eivat enaa tepsi. Tavalla tai toisella eparoivat ja epailevat amerikkalaiset on vakuutettava siita, etta Bush on oikealla asialla ja kaikki muut vaarassa [wrong].
Dubya's Latest Press Debacle by Will Durst
A lot of trees died in vain as newsprint this week reporting on the time President Bush wasted in a desperate attempt to float a new trial balloon in his tortured six year war against logic, reason, gravity and physics.
Apparently he's in need of a new sack of gas to tie his failed Iraqi war plan to. Due to the fact his most recent verbal bag of helium: "stay the course" has been tossed onto the same discarded pile of shriveled rubber as "dead or alive," "smoking gun as a mushroom cloud" and "welcomed with flowers and candy."
He held an hour-long press conference in an elastic attempt to sound reasonable and succeeded the same way a rabid flatulent weasel hiding in a half empty Whole Foods spinach fettucine bin does. Trotting out a series of mantras, the President tried appealing to average Americans who recent polls say still retain their admiration for the man for his stick-to-itiveness, though they remain a bit skeptical of his synaptic activity. Much like a man intent on breaking through a brick wall using only his forehead. While you got to admire his persistence you probably don't want him doing math.
Experimenting with the calibrated residue of Karl Rove's extensive hot air polling of focus groups, Dubyah introduced the new official buzz phrase of the Iraqi occupation: the word "wrong." Cutting and running is "wrong." The Democrats are patriotic but "wrong." Spandex on NFL linemen. Screw Kappa Napa. Its all just "wrong." He went on to say if we don't finish the job in Iraq, the world will see us as quitters and you know what they say about quitters. "Quitters bruise their shins and winners never evacuate and are destined to bloat up like poisoned toads," or something like that. He wasn't really clear. As usual.
"There's a lot of people -- good, decent people -- saying, 'Withdraw now.' They're wrong," Bush said. "There are a lot of people in the Democrat Party who believe that the best course of action is to leave Iraq before the job is done, period. And they're wrong." Unfortunately he steadfastly refuses to tell us exactly what job he is talking about. I'm thinking it has to do with developing a falafel based oil substitute.
He further explained if we leave, the terrorists will follow us home. And if they follow us home, we'll have to walk them twice a day and feed them and brush them and they'll need shots and let me tell you right now, they're sleeping outside, mister. Oh sure, they're cute when they're young, but when terrorists grow up, they're just like animals. Constantly begging for scraps and whimpering because they're afraid to be left alone. "Allah is watching." Chewing shoes. Peeing on their prayer rug.
At the end, he waxed weirdly poetic and at the same time loopy. "Sometimes I'm frustrated. Rarely surprised. Sometimes I'm happy, you know. But war is not a time of joy. These aren't joyous times. These are challenging times... and they're straining the psyche of our country." And as one who's had my psyche strained, I got to admit, he's right. "We're not leaving so long as I'm the President." Okay Mr. President, whatever it takes.
Will Durst is a political comic, syndicated columnist and AM radio talk show host.
http://www.willdurst.com/
Dubya's Latest Press Debacle by Will Durst
A lot of trees died in vain as newsprint this week reporting on the time President Bush wasted in a desperate attempt to float a new trial balloon in his tortured six year war against logic, reason, gravity and physics.
Apparently he's in need of a new sack of gas to tie his failed Iraqi war plan to. Due to the fact his most recent verbal bag of helium: "stay the course" has been tossed onto the same discarded pile of shriveled rubber as "dead or alive," "smoking gun as a mushroom cloud" and "welcomed with flowers and candy."
He held an hour-long press conference in an elastic attempt to sound reasonable and succeeded the same way a rabid flatulent weasel hiding in a half empty Whole Foods spinach fettucine bin does. Trotting out a series of mantras, the President tried appealing to average Americans who recent polls say still retain their admiration for the man for his stick-to-itiveness, though they remain a bit skeptical of his synaptic activity. Much like a man intent on breaking through a brick wall using only his forehead. While you got to admire his persistence you probably don't want him doing math.
Experimenting with the calibrated residue of Karl Rove's extensive hot air polling of focus groups, Dubyah introduced the new official buzz phrase of the Iraqi occupation: the word "wrong." Cutting and running is "wrong." The Democrats are patriotic but "wrong." Spandex on NFL linemen. Screw Kappa Napa. Its all just "wrong." He went on to say if we don't finish the job in Iraq, the world will see us as quitters and you know what they say about quitters. "Quitters bruise their shins and winners never evacuate and are destined to bloat up like poisoned toads," or something like that. He wasn't really clear. As usual.
"There's a lot of people -- good, decent people -- saying, 'Withdraw now.' They're wrong," Bush said. "There are a lot of people in the Democrat Party who believe that the best course of action is to leave Iraq before the job is done, period. And they're wrong." Unfortunately he steadfastly refuses to tell us exactly what job he is talking about. I'm thinking it has to do with developing a falafel based oil substitute.
He further explained if we leave, the terrorists will follow us home. And if they follow us home, we'll have to walk them twice a day and feed them and brush them and they'll need shots and let me tell you right now, they're sleeping outside, mister. Oh sure, they're cute when they're young, but when terrorists grow up, they're just like animals. Constantly begging for scraps and whimpering because they're afraid to be left alone. "Allah is watching." Chewing shoes. Peeing on their prayer rug.
At the end, he waxed weirdly poetic and at the same time loopy. "Sometimes I'm frustrated. Rarely surprised. Sometimes I'm happy, you know. But war is not a time of joy. These aren't joyous times. These are challenging times... and they're straining the psyche of our country." And as one who's had my psyche strained, I got to admit, he's right. "We're not leaving so long as I'm the President." Okay Mr. President, whatever it takes.
Will Durst is a political comic, syndicated columnist and AM radio talk show host.
http://www.willdurst.com/
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Takki paalle
Kuudelta heratessani ulkona oli pimeaa. Avoimesta vessan ikkunasta solui yon viilentamaa ilmaa sisalle. Lahtiessani toihin laitoin takin paalleni ensimmaisen kerran koko kesana, silla ilmassa oli kirpean, syksyisen aamun maku.
Yksi kesa on taas ohi. Seattlessa lapset paasevat koulusta vasta juhannuksen tienoilla ja aloittavat uusiksi syyskuun alussa. Tuntuu kuin puolet kesasta olisi jo ohi ennen kuin se vasta alkaa (lasten kouluvuosihan maarittelee kesan).
Kesat olivat niin pitkia 60- ja 70-luvuilla; silloin kun olin itse lapsi. Nyt kesa on jo ohi ennen kuin sen huomaa saapuneen. Missa onkaan se tunne ikuisesta poutapaivasta ja kiireettomasta onkireissusta?
Yksi kesa on taas ohi. Seattlessa lapset paasevat koulusta vasta juhannuksen tienoilla ja aloittavat uusiksi syyskuun alussa. Tuntuu kuin puolet kesasta olisi jo ohi ennen kuin se vasta alkaa (lasten kouluvuosihan maarittelee kesan).
Kesat olivat niin pitkia 60- ja 70-luvuilla; silloin kun olin itse lapsi. Nyt kesa on jo ohi ennen kuin sen huomaa saapuneen. Missa onkaan se tunne ikuisesta poutapaivasta ja kiireettomasta onkireissusta?
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Amerikan kuningas
Viime viikolla liittovaltion tuomari Anna Diggs Taylor tuomitsi presidentin salakuunteluohjelman perustuslain vastaiseksi ja laittomaksi. Hanen mukaansa Bushin hallitus on kayttaytynyt kuin kuningas joka perii vallan, ja jonka ei tarvitse vastata tekemisistaan kansalle. Tama on demokratian ja Yhdysvaltain kansalaisoikeuksien vastaista. ACLU [American Civil Liberties Union], jonka jasen minakin olen, vei hallituksen oikeuteen ja voitti ensimmaisen eran. Bush on puolustanut salakuuntelua raivokkaasti terrorismin vastaisen sodan nimissa. Taistelu kansalaisoikeuksista jatkuu...
http://www.aclu.org/
The judge said the government, in defending the program, appeared to be saying the president had the "inherent power" to violate laws of Congress.
"It was never the intent of the framers to give the president such unfettered control," Taylor wrote in a 43-page opinion. "There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution. So all 'inherent powers' must derive from that Constitution."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2003209970&slug=nsa19&date=20060819
Monday, August 21, 2006
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
Political Survival
Bush's Political Survival Depends on Terror Threats
By William Greider, TheNation.comPosted on August 14, 2006, Printed on August 14, 2006http://www.alternet.org/story/40280/
An evil symbiosis does exist between Muslim terrorists and American politicians, but it is not the one Republicans describe. The jihadists need George W. Bush to sustain their cause. His bloody crusade in the Middle East bolsters their accusation that America is out to destroy Islam. The president has unwittingly made himself the lead recruiter of willing young martyrs.
More to the point, it is equally true that Bush desperately needs the terrorists. They are his last frail hope for political survival. They divert public attention, at least momentarily, from his disastrous war in Iraq and his shameful abuses of the Constitution. The "news" of terror -- whether real or fantasized -- reduces American politics to its most primitive impulses, the realm of fear-and-smear where George Bush is at his best.
So, once again in the run-up to a national election, we are visited with alarming news. A monstrous plot, red alert, high drama playing on all channels and extreme measures taken to tighten security.
The White House men wear grave faces, but they cannot hide their delight. It's another chance for Bush to protect us from those aliens with funny names, another opportunity to accuse Democrats of aiding and abetting the enemy.
This has worked twice before. It could work again this fall unless gullible Americans snap out of it. Wake up, folks, and recognize how stupid and wimpish you look. I wrote the following two years ago during a similar episode of red alerts: "Bush's 'war on terrorism' is a political slogan -- not a coherent strategy for national defense -- and it succeeds brillantly only as politics. For everything else, it is quite illogical."
Where is the famous American skepticism? The loose-jointed ability to laugh at ourselves in anxious moments? Can't people see the campy joke in this docudrama called "Terror in the Sky"? The joke is on them. I have a suspicion that a lot of Americans actually enjoy the occasional fright since they know the alarm bell does actually not toll for them. It's a good, scary movie, but it's a slapstick war.
The other day at the airport in Burlington, Vermont, security guards confiscated liquid containers from two adolescent sisters returning home from vacation. The substance was labeled "Pure Maple Syrup." I am reminded of the Amish pretzel factory that was put on Pennsylvania's list of targets. Mothers with babes in arms are now told they must take a swiq of their baby formula before they can board the plane. I already feel safer.
The latest plot uncovered by British authorities may be real. Or maybe not. We do not yet know enough to be certain. The early reporting does not reassure or settle anything (though the Brits do sound more convincing than former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who gave "terror alerts" such a bad reputation). Tony Blair is no more trustworthy on these matters than Bush and Cheney. British investigators are as anxious as their American counterparts to prove their vigilance (and support their leaders). The close collaboration with Pakistani authorities doesn't exactly add credibility.
One question to ask is: Why now? The police have had a "mole" inside this operation since late 2005, but have yet to explain why they felt the need to swoop down and arest alleged plotters at this moment (two days after the Connecticut primary produced a triumph for anti-war politics).
The early claim that a massive takedown of a dozen airliners was set for August 16 is "rubbish," according to London authorities. So who decided this case was ripe for its public rollout? Blair consulted Cheney: What did they decide? American economist Jamie Galbraith was on a ten-hour flight from Manchester, England, to Boston on the day the story broke, and has wittily reflected on other weak points in the official story line.
The point is, Americans are not entirely defenseless pawns. They can keep their wits and reserve judgment. They can voice loudly the skepticism that Bush and company have earned by politicizing of the so-called "war" from the very start. Leading Democrats are toughening up. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid uses plain English to explain what the Republicans up to -- using genuine concerns of national security "as a political wedge issue. It is disgusting, but not surprising."
Instead of cowering in silence, the opposition party should start explaining this sick joke. Political confusion starts with the ill-conceived definition of a "war" that's best fought by police work, not heavy brigades on a battlefield. Forget the hype, call for common sense and stout hearts.
All we know, for sure, is that Bush and his handlers are not going to back off the fear-and-smear strategy until it loses an election for them. Maybe this will be the year.
William Greider is the author of, most recently, "The Soul of Capitalism" (Simon & Schuster).
By William Greider, TheNation.comPosted on August 14, 2006, Printed on August 14, 2006http://www.alternet.org/story/40280/
An evil symbiosis does exist between Muslim terrorists and American politicians, but it is not the one Republicans describe. The jihadists need George W. Bush to sustain their cause. His bloody crusade in the Middle East bolsters their accusation that America is out to destroy Islam. The president has unwittingly made himself the lead recruiter of willing young martyrs.
More to the point, it is equally true that Bush desperately needs the terrorists. They are his last frail hope for political survival. They divert public attention, at least momentarily, from his disastrous war in Iraq and his shameful abuses of the Constitution. The "news" of terror -- whether real or fantasized -- reduces American politics to its most primitive impulses, the realm of fear-and-smear where George Bush is at his best.
So, once again in the run-up to a national election, we are visited with alarming news. A monstrous plot, red alert, high drama playing on all channels and extreme measures taken to tighten security.
The White House men wear grave faces, but they cannot hide their delight. It's another chance for Bush to protect us from those aliens with funny names, another opportunity to accuse Democrats of aiding and abetting the enemy.
This has worked twice before. It could work again this fall unless gullible Americans snap out of it. Wake up, folks, and recognize how stupid and wimpish you look. I wrote the following two years ago during a similar episode of red alerts: "Bush's 'war on terrorism' is a political slogan -- not a coherent strategy for national defense -- and it succeeds brillantly only as politics. For everything else, it is quite illogical."
Where is the famous American skepticism? The loose-jointed ability to laugh at ourselves in anxious moments? Can't people see the campy joke in this docudrama called "Terror in the Sky"? The joke is on them. I have a suspicion that a lot of Americans actually enjoy the occasional fright since they know the alarm bell does actually not toll for them. It's a good, scary movie, but it's a slapstick war.
The other day at the airport in Burlington, Vermont, security guards confiscated liquid containers from two adolescent sisters returning home from vacation. The substance was labeled "Pure Maple Syrup." I am reminded of the Amish pretzel factory that was put on Pennsylvania's list of targets. Mothers with babes in arms are now told they must take a swiq of their baby formula before they can board the plane. I already feel safer.
The latest plot uncovered by British authorities may be real. Or maybe not. We do not yet know enough to be certain. The early reporting does not reassure or settle anything (though the Brits do sound more convincing than former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who gave "terror alerts" such a bad reputation). Tony Blair is no more trustworthy on these matters than Bush and Cheney. British investigators are as anxious as their American counterparts to prove their vigilance (and support their leaders). The close collaboration with Pakistani authorities doesn't exactly add credibility.
One question to ask is: Why now? The police have had a "mole" inside this operation since late 2005, but have yet to explain why they felt the need to swoop down and arest alleged plotters at this moment (two days after the Connecticut primary produced a triumph for anti-war politics).
The early claim that a massive takedown of a dozen airliners was set for August 16 is "rubbish," according to London authorities. So who decided this case was ripe for its public rollout? Blair consulted Cheney: What did they decide? American economist Jamie Galbraith was on a ten-hour flight from Manchester, England, to Boston on the day the story broke, and has wittily reflected on other weak points in the official story line.
The point is, Americans are not entirely defenseless pawns. They can keep their wits and reserve judgment. They can voice loudly the skepticism that Bush and company have earned by politicizing of the so-called "war" from the very start. Leading Democrats are toughening up. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid uses plain English to explain what the Republicans up to -- using genuine concerns of national security "as a political wedge issue. It is disgusting, but not surprising."
Instead of cowering in silence, the opposition party should start explaining this sick joke. Political confusion starts with the ill-conceived definition of a "war" that's best fought by police work, not heavy brigades on a battlefield. Forget the hype, call for common sense and stout hearts.
All we know, for sure, is that Bush and his handlers are not going to back off the fear-and-smear strategy until it loses an election for them. Maybe this will be the year.
William Greider is the author of, most recently, "The Soul of Capitalism" (Simon & Schuster).
Friday, August 11, 2006
Politikointi
Terrorismilla politikointi on alkanut. Oikeisto vakuuttelee, etta terrorismin torjumisessa on oikeasta sodasta kyse, ja etta he pystyvat pitamaan amerikkalaiset turvassa. Vasemmalta kuuluu, etta maan suunta on nurinkurinen: Irakin sota on vain lietsonut lisaa fanaattisia muslimi-terroristeja, ja Israelin puolueellinen tukeminen pahentaa tilannetta. On ahdistavaa ajatella, etta jos oikeisto voittaa viela yhdet kongressin vaalit, niin seuraavat kaksi vuotta jatkuu samanlaisena sotimisena, luonnon, kansalaisoikeuksien, tyontekijoiden, elakelaisten, vahemmistojen, keskiluokan tallomisena. Kaikki "terrorismin torjumisen" nimissa.
Valtiotieteen professori Washingtonin yliopistosta vertasi Bushin kautta 1920-lukuun. "Ryovari-paronit" [robber barons] veivat kaiken hyvan ja yltakyllaisyyden omaan pussiinsa tyontekijoiden ja luonnon kustannuksella. Juhlat jatkuivat vuoteen 1929, kunnes talous romahti rutkasti. Tuli maailmanlaajuinen lama. Nyt ollaan samankaltaisessa tilanteessa, jossa "paroneilla" on suunnaton valta ja vauraus, ja poliitikot takataskussaan. He eivat eparoi kayttaa mitaan taktiikkaa pitaakseen status quon ylla.
Joidenkin tahojen mukaan [Ron Suskind] bin Laden halusi Bushin valittavaksi toiselle kaudelle, silla hanen ollessa Yhdysvaltain presidenttina terroristijarjestojen on helppo saada lisaa halukkaita jasenia. Tavallaan seka Bush etta bin Laden ovat toisillensa hyodyllisia...
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/40169/
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Pelottelu
Nyt on siis varsinainen vaalikausi Yhdysvalloissa alkanut (kongressin vaalit marraskuussa): terrorismilla pelottelu alkoi - aikaisemmin kuin osasin odottaa. Kasivoide, vesipullot ja huulipuna on kielletty matkustajien kasimatkatavaroista. [Huulipuna-terroristi?] Onneksi ehdimme pois Havaijilta ennen kuin matkustajien riepottelu alkoi.
Amerikassa on nostettu "uhkataso" punaiseksi, eli uhkaa pidetaan valittomana. Nyt sitten eletaan taman pelon vallassa ainakin pari kuukautta; ilmi tulee jatkuvasti jotain terrorismiin liittyvaa, mutta hyvin "epaselvaa", kunnes media kyllastyy siita kertomaan ja ihmiset unohtavat olla varuillaan. Sitten onkin jo aika laskea "uhkataso" normaaliksi. Mutta ei ennen kuin vaalivoitto on taattu turvalliseksi todetuille uhoa ja voimaa uhkuville republikaaneille.
Tallaista on vaalikansan manipulointi Amerikassa.
[Totta kai terrorismin uhka on todellinen, mutta ei se silti vaadi kansanhysteriaa tai vapauksista ja oikeuksista luopumista. Mutta jatkuva pelon olotila vaatii.]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4781185.stm
Amerikassa on nostettu "uhkataso" punaiseksi, eli uhkaa pidetaan valittomana. Nyt sitten eletaan taman pelon vallassa ainakin pari kuukautta; ilmi tulee jatkuvasti jotain terrorismiin liittyvaa, mutta hyvin "epaselvaa", kunnes media kyllastyy siita kertomaan ja ihmiset unohtavat olla varuillaan. Sitten onkin jo aika laskea "uhkataso" normaaliksi. Mutta ei ennen kuin vaalivoitto on taattu turvalliseksi todetuille uhoa ja voimaa uhkuville republikaaneille.
Tallaista on vaalikansan manipulointi Amerikassa.
[Totta kai terrorismin uhka on todellinen, mutta ei se silti vaadi kansanhysteriaa tai vapauksista ja oikeuksista luopumista. Mutta jatkuva pelon olotila vaatii.]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4781185.stm
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Joe Lieberman
Connecticutin demokraattinen senaattori Joe Lieberman havisi esivaalin haastajalleen Ned Lamontille, joka vastustaa Irakin sotaa. Lieberman oli kuusi vuotta sitten Al Goren varapresidenttiehdokas. Mutta han on ollut liian innokas Irakin sodan ja presidentti Bushin kannattaja. Nyt on aika maksaa laulujen lunnaat.
Lieberman aikoo viela yrittaa senaattiin syksyn vaaleissa "itsenaisena" [independent] ehdokkaana. Mutta kansa on todella tyytymaton sodan kulkuun ja Bushin toimiin. Toivottavasti se nakyy myos syksylla kun valitaan uusi kongressi. Pelkaan, etta neokonservatiivit keksivat jotain "pelottavaa" ennen vaaleja, ja siten pelastavat republikaaneille viela voiton. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Price of Gas
The price of gas is going through the roof! Because of the shut-down of BP oil production in Alaska due to leaks in the pipeline, Washington State may see the price of gas go up to $4.00/gallon by the end of this week. Yikes! Almost like in Europe. Except that here all the money goes to the filthy rich oil companies and we end up with nothing but our gas-guzzling SUV's hungry for more. In Europe the price of gas has been high (taxes) to discourage excess driving and to build better quality public trasportation systems so that ALL benefit. It has also created a huge market for alternative/green energy production. What a concept!
Jimmy Carter spoke about conserving energy and changing the American energy policy to be less oil-dependent - in the 70's! But America has gone backwards since then thanks to Ronald Reagan and all the other short-sighted Republicans that followed. Now we are up to our eyeballs in fossil fuels. Not to mention climate change...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003182601_oil08.html
Jimmy Carter spoke about conserving energy and changing the American energy policy to be less oil-dependent - in the 70's! But America has gone backwards since then thanks to Ronald Reagan and all the other short-sighted Republicans that followed. Now we are up to our eyeballs in fossil fuels. Not to mention climate change...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003182601_oil08.html
Monday, August 07, 2006
Vendetta
Katsoin eilen elokuvan V for Vendetta. So oli pelottava ja mielenkiintoinen kauhuskenaario lahitulevaisuudesta. Suosittelen.
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
http://vforvendetta.warnerbros.com/
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."
http://vforvendetta.warnerbros.com/
Friday, August 04, 2006
Siniset Enkelit
Joka kesa Seattlessa on festivaali "Seafair", jossa Yhdysvaltain merivoimien Blue Angels [Boeing F/A-18 Hornets] suorittavat akrobaattisia temppuja ilmassa, ja ihmiset pitelevat korvistaan kiinni, silla koneiden aani on murskaava. Yritan pysya poissa kaupungilta kun festivaali on meneillaan, silla en kesta ruuhkaa ja mellastavia kansanjoukkoja (ihmiset keraantyvat Washington jarvelle koko viikonlopuksi ryyppaamaan ja juhlimaan ja katsomaan sinisia enkeleita seka merirosvolaivoja ja moottorivenekilpailuja).
Koneet ovat harjoitelleet nyt toista paivaa Seattlen ilmatilassa, ja vaikka en koskaan mene itse festareille, on jannittavaa katsoa kun siniset enkelit lentavat ohitse valtavan pauhun kera.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Rapurallaa!
Hei!
Minun nimeni on Velma. Olen rapu syomassa juuri hernetta. Minut on kasvatettu pienesta munasta lahtien kotona pienessa akvaariossa; nyt olen jo noin 10 senttia pitka. Syksylla olen taysikasvuinen ja pelkaan etta joku haluaa syoda minut, silla olen monelle herkkua. Toivottavasti ihmiset ovat niin kiintyneet valloittavaan persoonallisuuteeni, etta he eivat edes ajattele minulla maiskuttelua...
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Kuuban dilemma
Kuuban pitkaikainen johtaja on joutunut sairaslomalle ja antanut vallan nuoremmalle veljelleen "toistaiseksi". Villit huhut kiertavat kuubalaisten emigranttien ja muidenkin keskuudessa: onko Fidel Castro henkihieverissa, vai onko han jo kuollut? On ymmarrettavaa, etta Kuuban johto ei halua kertoa asiasta kovin avoimesti, silla sen pahin vihollinen ja lahin naapuri Yhdysvallat on jo kohta viisikymmenta vuotta halunnut paasta eroon Kuuban kommunistisesta hallituksesta. Yhdysvalloilla on pitka historia sekaantumisesta Kuuban sisaisiin asioihin; pelko on siis aito. On mielenkiintoista seurata, mita tapahtuu lahiviikkoina.
Eras ystavani on saanut luvan matkustaa Kuubaan tieteen nimissa (amerikkalaiset eivat saa sinne matkustaa kuin erityisluvalla), silla han on Washingtonin yliopistossa farmakologian professori ja luennoi maailmalla omasta alastaan. Toivottavasti han ei joudu hankaluuksiin historiallisella hetkella...
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/279697_castro02.html
Eras ystavani on saanut luvan matkustaa Kuubaan tieteen nimissa (amerikkalaiset eivat saa sinne matkustaa kuin erityisluvalla), silla han on Washingtonin yliopistossa farmakologian professori ja luennoi maailmalla omasta alastaan. Toivottavasti han ei joudu hankaluuksiin historiallisella hetkella...
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/279697_castro02.html
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Aloha!
Hawaii is absolutely beautiful with tropical trees, birds and fish. The mountains of Oahu are green and inviting, and Honolulu is a vibrant city, but the best of all is the beach! The water is warm but cool, and the waves are just perfect for swimming, floating or snorkeling.Hawaiians have a positive outlook. They are funny and friendly and very patient with the millions of tourists who swarm their islands on a yearly basis. Aloha!
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