Saturday, July 03, 2004
ON TREASON
AND THE ODIOUS PRACTICE OF SHOUTING "TRAITOR" AT PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH YOU
I haven't explicitly been called a traitor for a few months, but the college newspaper that publishes some of my contributions got some hate mail recently that mentioned me by name and came pretty close to impugning my patriotism. The missive did remind me, however, that I have been called a traitor. I have been told to leave the country because I see flaws in the two-party system. I have been accused of supporting terroroism and hating America because of my editorials critical of the Bush Administration and its stupid war. One correspondent threatened to report me to the FBI for my opinion pieces. (I never heard from them. Very disappointing. Bring them on, I say.)
I am not upset by it because the people who make such friviolous and reckless statements are obviously unbalanced, and the fact that they feel they have to resort to such vile tactics reveals that they probably don't have much to back up their beliefs. They are right because they are right. And anyone who tries to challenge their beliefs with a little common sense or a few facts ... well, only a damned TRAITOR would even dare to ask questions and try to point out the inconsistencies, the manipulations and the lies of the Bush Administration.
Treason is a serious crime. Which makes it a serious charge. It is not an accusation that should be hurled without careful consideration. Because if the charge isn't true, then the accuser is taking a chance on wrongfully ruining the reputation of an innocent person. To use it as a rhetorical tactic against someone whose beliefs you don't like is unforgiveable.
If I am a traitor, then I should be in jail. I should be incarcerated and awaiting trial. If I am a traitor, then it is a serious breach on the part of law enforcement authorities to let me run around loose, unpunished, unrepentant, planning more treason.
But if I'm not a traitor, then it is surely unacceptable and even despicable for anyone, no matter how passionately they support the war and the president, to accuse me of treason.
It is almost as despicable to suggest that dissenters hate America or that they hate the troops or that they support the terrorists or that they love Saddam Hussein. These are all lame and emotionally charged tactics to intimidate critics into silence and to deflect the argument away from any unpleasant but legitimate criticism of the effectivenes of the so-called "War on Terror."
Dear Bush supporters: If you have any valid facts and arguments, bring them on. But leave your beastly and divisive accusations at home.
I'm saying this for your own good. Because you look really stupid when you say those things. Especially now that more and more Americans are finding out that Bush's critics had valid concerns from the start.
Have a great Independence Day! And remember: there's more to being an American than waving the flag and shouting "Traitor" two or three times a day.
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I haven't explicitly been called a traitor for a few months, but the college newspaper that publishes some of my contributions got some hate mail recently that mentioned me by name and came pretty close to impugning my patriotism. The missive did remind me, however, that I have been called a traitor. I have been told to leave the country because I see flaws in the two-party system. I have been accused of supporting terroroism and hating America because of my editorials critical of the Bush Administration and its stupid war. One correspondent threatened to report me to the FBI for my opinion pieces. (I never heard from them. Very disappointing. Bring them on, I say.)
I am not upset by it because the people who make such friviolous and reckless statements are obviously unbalanced, and the fact that they feel they have to resort to such vile tactics reveals that they probably don't have much to back up their beliefs. They are right because they are right. And anyone who tries to challenge their beliefs with a little common sense or a few facts ... well, only a damned TRAITOR would even dare to ask questions and try to point out the inconsistencies, the manipulations and the lies of the Bush Administration.
Treason is a serious crime. Which makes it a serious charge. It is not an accusation that should be hurled without careful consideration. Because if the charge isn't true, then the accuser is taking a chance on wrongfully ruining the reputation of an innocent person. To use it as a rhetorical tactic against someone whose beliefs you don't like is unforgiveable.
If I am a traitor, then I should be in jail. I should be incarcerated and awaiting trial. If I am a traitor, then it is a serious breach on the part of law enforcement authorities to let me run around loose, unpunished, unrepentant, planning more treason.
But if I'm not a traitor, then it is surely unacceptable and even despicable for anyone, no matter how passionately they support the war and the president, to accuse me of treason.
It is almost as despicable to suggest that dissenters hate America or that they hate the troops or that they support the terrorists or that they love Saddam Hussein. These are all lame and emotionally charged tactics to intimidate critics into silence and to deflect the argument away from any unpleasant but legitimate criticism of the effectivenes of the so-called "War on Terror."
Dear Bush supporters: If you have any valid facts and arguments, bring them on. But leave your beastly and divisive accusations at home.
I'm saying this for your own good. Because you look really stupid when you say those things. Especially now that more and more Americans are finding out that Bush's critics had valid concerns from the start.
Have a great Independence Day! And remember: there's more to being an American than waving the flag and shouting "Traitor" two or three times a day.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
MAYBE THERE WAS NOTHING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION COULD HAVE DONE ABOUT THE SEPT. 11 TERROR ATTACKS ...
BUT THEIR INCESSANT LYING ABOUT THE WARNINGS DOES NOT PROVIDE MUCH BASIS FOR CONFIDENCE
Here's an article with the great title "It's the Stupidity, Stupid!" It's a pretty good article.
How do the Bush-drones spin such obvious lies and the predictable demoralizing effect? Does incessant lying not matter because we are at war? (Which makes it very attractive to always be at war if you don't want to answer difficult questions.) Will they say that we would all be happy and content if we didn't know about all this administration lying, which makes it the fault of the liberal media? When you have such a highly developed talent for self-deception, you can rationalize everything. You are always right, consistency be damned.
Not totally unrelated, don't you love the way George W. Bush had to continually refer to himself as the "war president," as if to remind everyone? How many times did Franklin Delano Roosevelt feel it was necessary to refer to himself as a "war president"?
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Here's an article with the great title "It's the Stupidity, Stupid!" It's a pretty good article.
How do the Bush-drones spin such obvious lies and the predictable demoralizing effect? Does incessant lying not matter because we are at war? (Which makes it very attractive to always be at war if you don't want to answer difficult questions.) Will they say that we would all be happy and content if we didn't know about all this administration lying, which makes it the fault of the liberal media? When you have such a highly developed talent for self-deception, you can rationalize everything. You are always right, consistency be damned.
Not totally unrelated, don't you love the way George W. Bush had to continually refer to himself as the "war president," as if to remind everyone? How many times did Franklin Delano Roosevelt feel it was necessary to refer to himself as a "war president"?
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
WHO'S AFRAID OF GEORGE W. BUSH?
"The current flows fast and furious. It issues in a spate of words from the loudspeakers and the politicians. Every day they tell us that we are a free people fighting to defend our freedom. That is the current that has whirled the young airman up into the sky and keeps him circulating there among the clouds. Down here, with a roof to cover us and a gas mask handy, it is our business to puncture gasbags and discover the seeds of truth."
-Virginia Woolf
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-Virginia Woolf
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
KEEPING TABS ON THE AXIS OF EVIL
The Axis of Evil has returned!
SEE how they are doing!
WATCH as they bravely face the future without their beloved friend Saddam!
THRILL to their adventures as they plot the destruction of the free world!
Don't be the last person in your neighborhood to jump on the Axis of Evil bandwagon!
Click here to read their latest exciting exploit, "Our Hearts Will Go On"!
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SEE how they are doing!
WATCH as they bravely face the future without their beloved friend Saddam!
THRILL to their adventures as they plot the destruction of the free world!
Don't be the last person in your neighborhood to jump on the Axis of Evil bandwagon!
Click here to read their latest exciting exploit, "Our Hearts Will Go On"!
Monday, June 28, 2004
REAGAN MEETS DILBUSH ... AND HE ISN'T VERY IMPRESSED.
Yes, Dilbush has returned to the pages of the Sundial, seemingly on a regular basis.
Click here to see the new Dilbush cartoon but be warned: I'm not very nice to Dilbush.
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Click here to see the new Dilbush cartoon but be warned: I'm not very nice to Dilbush.
IT'S UNFAIR TO COMPARE US TO NAZIS ... YOU NAZI!
Everybody's calling each other Nazis now.
In January, MoveOn.org displayed some short videos that compared George W. Bush to Hitler. When the Republicans stated that MoveOn.org had stepped over the line, MoveOn.org promptly removed the offending images.
Clearly, the Republicans were very upset that their Fuehrer was being compared to Adolf Hitler. I wonder why they keep their silence when other Republicans make such comparisons? (Well, consistency has never been a prominent characteristic of these people.)
For example, Rush Limbaugh has been using the phrase "Feminazi" for years when he refers to feminists. You know, those extremist, goose-stepping, Sieg-Heilers who (gasp) want equal rights and equal protection for women.
And where was the oh-so sensitive Republican Party when gubernatorial candidate Tom McClintock compared the Ku Klux Klan to the Chicano student activist organization known as M.E.Ch.A.? Some members of M.E.Ch.A. may be a little overbearing at times but they have never burned crosses, terrorized sharecroppers, denied voting rights, destroyed black newspapers, or lynched and mutilated thousands of defenseless black men. In McClintock's defense, he is astoundingly ignorant and probably just didn't know any better. But one of his fellow Republicans could have tried to inform him that his statement might be a little out of line.
Now, the Bush campaign - yes, the official Bush campaign, not an advocacy group like MoveOn.org - has released a video that shows clips of Al Gore, Howard Dean, Michael Moore and john kerry. And compares them to ... Hitler!
As usual, Republican rules don't apply to Republicans.
The only reason the Republicans aren't more like the Nazis is because they haven't had time and because the system set up by the Founding Fathers has worked to stop it ... so far. The Bush Administration has suspended basic Constitutional guarantees for thousands of people, including several U.S. citizens. They have used a national emergency to extort broad powers and discretion for themselves, to gather intelligence, make arrests, tap phones, infiltrate "dissent" groups, and to control the media. They have organized their drone-like minions to intimidate and harrass dissenters (people who ask questions when things look fishy) so that they will be silent.
The Republicans are not as bad as the Nazis. Not yet. But it's not for lack of trying.
If the Bush Administration doesn't like it when they are compared to the Nazis, maybe they should quit acting like Nazis!
Why don't you try that some time!
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In January, MoveOn.org displayed some short videos that compared George W. Bush to Hitler. When the Republicans stated that MoveOn.org had stepped over the line, MoveOn.org promptly removed the offending images.
Clearly, the Republicans were very upset that their Fuehrer was being compared to Adolf Hitler. I wonder why they keep their silence when other Republicans make such comparisons? (Well, consistency has never been a prominent characteristic of these people.)
For example, Rush Limbaugh has been using the phrase "Feminazi" for years when he refers to feminists. You know, those extremist, goose-stepping, Sieg-Heilers who (gasp) want equal rights and equal protection for women.
And where was the oh-so sensitive Republican Party when gubernatorial candidate Tom McClintock compared the Ku Klux Klan to the Chicano student activist organization known as M.E.Ch.A.? Some members of M.E.Ch.A. may be a little overbearing at times but they have never burned crosses, terrorized sharecroppers, denied voting rights, destroyed black newspapers, or lynched and mutilated thousands of defenseless black men. In McClintock's defense, he is astoundingly ignorant and probably just didn't know any better. But one of his fellow Republicans could have tried to inform him that his statement might be a little out of line.
Now, the Bush campaign - yes, the official Bush campaign, not an advocacy group like MoveOn.org - has released a video that shows clips of Al Gore, Howard Dean, Michael Moore and john kerry. And compares them to ... Hitler!
As usual, Republican rules don't apply to Republicans.
The only reason the Republicans aren't more like the Nazis is because they haven't had time and because the system set up by the Founding Fathers has worked to stop it ... so far. The Bush Administration has suspended basic Constitutional guarantees for thousands of people, including several U.S. citizens. They have used a national emergency to extort broad powers and discretion for themselves, to gather intelligence, make arrests, tap phones, infiltrate "dissent" groups, and to control the media. They have organized their drone-like minions to intimidate and harrass dissenters (people who ask questions when things look fishy) so that they will be silent.
The Republicans are not as bad as the Nazis. Not yet. But it's not for lack of trying.
If the Bush Administration doesn't like it when they are compared to the Nazis, maybe they should quit acting like Nazis!
Why don't you try that some time!
MMC TOP STORY OF THE WEEK: "SPEED RACER" MOVIE BACK ON TRACK!
Yes, it's true! The eagerly awaited Speed Racer movie, on hiatus for so many months, has gotten the green light to start production! With Johnny Depp as Speed and George W. Bush as Chim-Chim, the "Speed Racer" movie will be directed by Martin Scorsese and is being scheduled for release late 2005.
Time out!
Does this seem kinda trivial? Especially in a week with a new round of attacks in Iraq, impending sovereignty in Iraq, the opening of "Fahrenheit 9/11," Clinton's new book, a Supreme Court decision that upholds Cheney's contention that the government has no responsibility to the people, another videotaped police beating, the president was questioned about the leak that exposed a CIA agent, Cheney's foul mouth on the Senate floor, the UN's refusal to extend US immunity to war crimes charges (maybe we should have made more of an effort to prove that we deserved such an exemption), and a doping scandal among America's track and field elite.
That's how I feel when I check my e-mail and see MSN's top stories. Britney to wed again! Secret marriage of J.Lo! Dating secrets! The latest on "Spider-Man 2"!
Who cares! (But I think I can forgive Britney because she provides Moore with the funniest moment in the "Fahrenheit 9/11" with her perceptive comments on the current political environment. If anybody knows how to get in touch with her, MMC would love to interview her on how she gained such insight into the president's character.)
By the way, the story about the "Speed Racer" movie is true. Except for that part about George W. Bush.
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Time out!
Does this seem kinda trivial? Especially in a week with a new round of attacks in Iraq, impending sovereignty in Iraq, the opening of "Fahrenheit 9/11," Clinton's new book, a Supreme Court decision that upholds Cheney's contention that the government has no responsibility to the people, another videotaped police beating, the president was questioned about the leak that exposed a CIA agent, Cheney's foul mouth on the Senate floor, the UN's refusal to extend US immunity to war crimes charges (maybe we should have made more of an effort to prove that we deserved such an exemption), and a doping scandal among America's track and field elite.
That's how I feel when I check my e-mail and see MSN's top stories. Britney to wed again! Secret marriage of J.Lo! Dating secrets! The latest on "Spider-Man 2"!
Who cares! (But I think I can forgive Britney because she provides Moore with the funniest moment in the "Fahrenheit 9/11" with her perceptive comments on the current political environment. If anybody knows how to get in touch with her, MMC would love to interview her on how she gained such insight into the president's character.)
By the way, the story about the "Speed Racer" movie is true. Except for that part about George W. Bush.
"LIBERAL" NEWS MAGAZINE MISREPRESENTS MOORE FILM
Newsweek, which my step-father likes to call "that liberal rag," has joined Moore's critics with a sidebar in the latest issue that purports to expose a few errors in "Fahrenheit 9/11." I read it last night and I thought, "Is this the best they could do? Even if Newsweek's assertions are all true, it really doesn't amount to much when you consider Moore's most damaging allegations against the Bush Administration."
Turns out that Newsweek's lame attack, as weak as it is, has its own problems. Moore has responded on his Web site. I've provided a link here for all MMC readers who want to know the truth about the Newsweek article.
I challenge the Moore critics and the Bush-drones to pull their heads out of their asses, recognize that the idea of the "liberal" media is a myth, and take a hard look at the never-ending stream of lies that are necessary to make George W. Bush presentable.
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Turns out that Newsweek's lame attack, as weak as it is, has its own problems. Moore has responded on his Web site. I've provided a link here for all MMC readers who want to know the truth about the Newsweek article.
I challenge the Moore critics and the Bush-drones to pull their heads out of their asses, recognize that the idea of the "liberal" media is a myth, and take a hard look at the never-ending stream of lies that are necessary to make George W. Bush presentable.
