Day 4 of VA Hunger Strike

It's storming ice and snow here now. Has been for a few hours. Then I remembered that the ramp to my front door can be a challenge when iced over. So, I slipped some clothes on over my bedclothes and made the arduous trip out to my shop where I stored the salt from last year.

I've gotta tell ya, sleet propelled by 50 mph wind striking you in the face is kind of like getting sand blasted. It's no fucking fun at all. But then, neither is begging the government to live up to its end of the military service agreement.

Ooops. Gotta go. A tree limb just came through my roof.

Oh, and fuck the VA and the USA.

---

New Directions

I know of at least one veteran who has gone on a hunger strike because the Veteran's Administration won't treat him. On day 3 now.

---

Yep, that ought to fix everything!

Compounding my multitude of health problems, I have lost three significant others recently. I called my psychiatrist at the Veteran's Administration who told me to come ASAP for a review and augmentation of my anti-depressant therapy.

When I arrived, we spoke for a few minutes. Then, as if this were his prescription, he said, "I think you ought to go to church". He then said he'd see me again in four months.

Of course, I objected and he made some minor changes to my therapy.

I checked my "Pocket Constitution" real  quick, just to be sure, and there under the First Amendment it read:

AMENDMENT I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I find it highly offensive to hear an employee of a federal institution tell me that I need to go to church while acting in an official capacity.

Besides that, yeah, I'm sure chanting to some imaginary friend in the sky will fix everything!

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I agree with the "Tea Party"...

Yes. As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with Sarah Palin on one thing (and one thing only):

Mainstream Media is definitely lame. And Lamestream Media is a good name for them.

"Why?", you may ask. Well, I'll tell you.

For two decades I have clamored about the need for another political party to emerge and be recognized. And for much longer than that there have been a whole host of other political parties in existence in the United States. There are the Libertarians, the Greens, the Socialists, the Communists, the Anarchists, and many more. When I envisioned a "third party", I actually envisioned one with some common sense--some interest in fairness and their common man. Something more forward thinking than the capitalists who currently run our nation and its economy.

But what did our Lame Stream Media pick up for us as a "viable third party"? You guessed it. The Tea Party: an organization that is so hauntingly similar to the National Socialist Party of Germany from which the Nazi's were spawned. THIS is what they think is a "viable" third party! Not a party interested in equal rights. Not a party interested in health care for all. Not a party that is interested in reinvesting in America. Fascists. Haters. War mongers. That are the values of the organization that the media believes is worthy of their attention, the platform from which to shout their vile filled bilge, the free public megaphone of their 27/7 coverage.

The Tea Party.

That's who the media believes deserves their promotion. Haters.

That is exactly why I not only support the Turn Off Fox Campaign, but also no longer watch HLN, CNN, MSNBC, nor any of the other corporate backed cable news networks. Nor do I lend any credence to the New York Times, Washington Post, nor any other corporate backed news outlets.

If you have not noticed a theme in my discretion here I will point it out to you. Fascism is a government which, if not outright owned by corporations and industry, caters specifically and wholly to corporate and industry interests and needs. The single most important strategy for these special interests to maintain their control over the masses is to keep the masses afraid of each other.

The "divide and conquer" strategy is at least as old as Sun Tzu's "Art of War". And the mindless masses buy off into the illusion of the perceived threat that we each hold for each other. Until we realize who the enemy truly is, fascism, we will be doomed to live in bondage and fear.

I, for one, choose not to live under this delusion.

Officials overreacted to protest, they say; "Don't tase me Bro" Redeux

Anti-war and free-speech advocates joined angry parents and students in their battle with Berwyn school district officials who may expel a group of students who took part in an Iraq war protest at a school last week.

The lunchtime protest Nov. 1 in the Morton West High School cafeteria was viewed as a peaceful sit-in by students, but school officials charged two dozen of them with "gross disobedience and mob activity," which call for suspensions and possible expulsions.

Read the whole story and watch the video at the Chicago Tribune.

The military can say what they want at high schools across the nation, but the students are prohibited from stating their minds!

It's "Don't tase me, bro!" all over again.

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Study finds that veterans are a quarter of the homeless

Veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States, though they are only 11 percent of the general adult population, according to a report to be released Nov. 8.

And homelessness is not just a problem among middle-age and elderly veterans. Younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job.

The Veterans Affairs Department has identified 1,500 homeless veterans from the current wars and says 400 of them have participated in its programs specifically targeting homelessness.

The Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education nonprofit, based the findings of its report on numbers from Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau. 2005 data estimated that 194,254 homeless people out of 744,313 on any given night were veterans.

In comparison, the VA says that 20 years ago, the estimated number of veterans who were homeless on any given night was 250,000.

This is a symptom of a much deeper problem in Amerika. The Ruling Class simply don't give a fuck about the people it kills, the ones it sends to do the killing, nor the working class in its own nation. " 744,313", almost one million people who are homeless in what used to be the wealthiest nation in the world!

And homelessness is an issue that comes before the Amerikan inability to provide adequate health care to its citizens. It is simply a disgrace!

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Spanish King Tells Chavez to 'Shut Up'

SANTIAGO, Chile — The king of Spain told Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to "shut up" Saturday during a heated exchange that soured the end of a summit of leaders from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

Aznar, a conservative who was an ally of Bush as prime minister, "is a fascist," Chavez said in a speech at the Ibero-American summit in Santiago, Chile. "Fascists are not human. A snake is more human."

Spain's current socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, responded during his own allotted time by urging Chavez to be more diplomatic in his words and respect other leaders despite political differences.

"Former President Aznar was democratically elected by the Spanish people and was a legitimate representative of the Spanish people," he said, eliciting applause from the gathered heads of state.

Chavez repeatedly tried to interrupt, but his microphone was off.
Spanish King Juan Carlos, seated next to Zapatero, angrily turned to Chavez and said, "Why don't you shut up?"

The Venezuelan leader did not immediately respond, but later used time ceded to him by his close ally Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to answer Zapatero's speech.

"I do not offend by telling the truth," he said. "The Venezuelan government reserves the right to respond to any aggression, anywhere, in any space and in any manner."

In his speech to 18 heads of state gathered in Santiago, Chavez claimed that Aznar in 2000 asked him to distance Venezuela from Cuba and join "the club." Chavez, a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, said he'd refused.

Saturday's exchange between Chavez, Zapatero, and Spain's king overshadowed the conclusion of the three-day summit.

Leaders pledged to fight poverty and increase regional cooperation. They signed a landmark accord that will allow nearly 6 million migrant workers in Latin America, Spain and Portugal to transfer social security benefits between their nations. The leaders also vowed to fight "all forms of terrorism" and called on the U.S. to end its economic embargo against Cuba.

Isn't that the way it always is? Fascism seeks to silence any and all opposition. Way to go Hugo! You keep speaking truth!

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Documentary 'The Israel lobby - The influence of AIPAC on US Foreign Policy

Do you REALLY believe that "most" Amerikan's are sympathetic to Israel? I can only speak for myself when I say, Bull Shit. Israel is the primary problem in the world today!

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America's Mayor has turned into America's Maniac

Torture, says Rudy Giuliani, is smart. He endorses the medieval practice of waterboarding, revived in CIA torture chambers after 9/11, in which a person is strapped to a board, tipped back and forced to inhale water to induce the sensation of drowning.

"It depends on how it's done," Giuliani said when asked about waterboarding and whether it is torture. "It depends on the circumstances. It depends on who does it." Giuliani used to be a federal prosecutor. Would he have used similar logic in the prosecution of an accused torturer?

The mayor-turned-monster even used a campaign stop in Iowa to mock the victims of sleep deprivation, long acknowledged by international law as one of the severest forms of torture. "They talk about sleep deprivation," he said. "I mean, on that theory, I'm getting tortured running for president of the United States. That's plain silly. That's silly."

Waterboarding causes pain, brain damage and broken bones (from the restraints used on struggling victims), and death. Survivors are psychologically scarred. "Some victims were still traumatized years later," Dr. Allen Keller, director of the Bellevue/New York University Program for Survivors of Torture, told The New Yorker. "One patient couldn't take showers, and panicked when it rained."

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Nuclear Warheads in the White House

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Bush Broke the Law

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Bush Makes 'Dry Run' at Martial Law

Bush Makes 'Dry Run' at Martial Law

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - As a Proxy for George W. Bush in a study on World Reaction to the Suspension of Democracy through declaration of Martial Law, Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 coup and is also head of Pakistan's army, suspended the constitution on Saturday ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on whether his re-election as president was legal. He ousted independent-minded judges, stripped media freedoms and granted sweeping powers to authorities to crush dissent.

Police fired tear gas and battered thousands of lawyers protesting President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule, as Western allies threatened to review aid to the troubled Muslim nation. More than 1,500 people have been arrested in 48 hours, and authorities put a stranglehold on independent media. Police officers fire tear gas at lawyers inside the Lahore High Court, protesting against Pakistani... Police officers in plain clothes arrest a lawyer who was protesting against state of emergency...

Though public anger was mounting in the nation of 160 million people, which has been under military rule for much of its 60-year history, demonstrations so far have been limited largely to activists, rights workers and lawyers. All have been quickly and sometimes brutally stamped out.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington was reviewing its assistance to Pakistan, which has received billions in aid since Musharraf threw his support behind the U.S.-led war on terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

At a news conference in the West Bank on Monday, Rice urged Musharraf to follow through on past promises to "take off his uniform."

"I want to be very clear," she said, as a team of U.S. defense officials postponed plans to travel to Islamabad for talks Tuesday because of the crisis. "We believe that the best path for Pakistan is to quickly return to a constitutional path and then to hold elections."

Britain also said it was reviewing its aid package to Pakistan, and the Dutch government suspended its aid on Monday.

Musharraf reiterated to foreign ambassadors Monday that he was committed to complete the transition to democracy, though, under a state of emergency, elections scheduled for January could be pushed back by up to a year, according to the government.

Critics say Musharraf imposed emergency rule in a last-ditch attempt to cling to power.

His leadership is threatened by the Islamic militant movement that has spread from border regions to the capital, the reemergence of political rival and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, and an increasingly defiant Supreme Court, which has been virtually decimated in the last two days.

Since late Saturday, between 1,500 and 1,800 people have been detained nationwide, an Interior Ministry official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. They include opposition leaders, lawyers and human rights activists who might mobilize protests.

At least 67 workers and supporters of Bhutto - who has held talks in recent months with Musharraf over an alliance to fight extremism - had been arrested, said Pakistan People's Party spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

Lawyers - who were the driving force behind protests earlier this year when Musharraf tried unsuccessfully to fire independent-minded chief justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry - attempted to stage rallies in major cities on Monday, but were beaten and arrested.

Chaudhry was removed from his post on Saturday, just as the Supreme Court was preparing to rule on whether Musharraf's Oct. 6 re-election. Opponents say he should be disqualified because he contested the vote as army chief.

In the biggest gathering Monday, about 2,000 lawyers congregated at the High Court in the eastern city of Lahore. As lawyers tried to exit onto a main road, hundreds of police stormed inside, swinging batons and firing tear gas. Lawyers, shouting "Go Musharraf Go!" responded by throwing stones and beating police with tree branches.

Police bundled about 250 lawyers into waiting vans, an Associated Press reporter saw. At least two were bleeding from the head.

In the capital, Islamabad, hundreds of police and paramilitary troops lined roads and rolled out barbed-wire barricades on Monday to seal off the Supreme Court.

Only government employees heading for nearby ministries were allowed through. Two black-suited lawyers whose car was stopped by police argued in vain that they should be granted entry. They were eventually escorted away by two police cars.

A few dozen activists from hard-line Islamic parties gathered nearby, chanting slogans including "Hang, Musharraf, hang!"

As well as calling for protests, lawyers' groups have vowed to boycott all court proceedings held in front of new judges sworn by Musharraf.

Rana Bhagwandas, a Supreme Court judge who refused to take oath under Musharraf's proclamation of emergency orders, said he has been locked inside in his official residence in Islamabad and that other judges were being pressured to support the government.

"They are still working on some judges, they are under pressure," Bhagwandas told Geo TV in a phone interview.

Authorities have imprisoned or put under house arrest key Musharraf critics, among them Javed Hashmi, the acting president of the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif; cricket star-turned politician, Imran Khan; Asma Jehangir, chairman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; and Hamid Gul, former chief of the main intelligence agency.

Pakistan's largest religious party Jamaat-e-Islami reported that more than 500 of its workers and supporters had been detained since Sunday, including its leader, according to senior members of the party and police.

Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said Sunday a new panel of Supreme Court judges would rule "as early as possible" on Musharraf's eligibility for a new five-year presidential term.

All of this is just a 'Dry Run' for the Bush Administration. And they would be wise to acknowledge the intolerance of the people to Musharraf's attempt to subvert true Democracy by Military Rule.

And Americans should take heed to the extremes that they may need to go to in the not too distant future if their leaders don't see the folly of their ways.

If the Bush Administration conducts a 'False Flag' Operation, or equally likely if we truly do have a national emergency, and declares Martial Law, there will be the same kind of Civil Unrest and 'the rounding up' of 'dissidents'.

Is EVERYONE prepared for this?

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Disparity Reporting of Israel

A guest on CNN's the Lated Edition at around 10:20 Sun, 4 Nov 2007 stated that the central issue in the middle east was the Golan Heights, or something to that effect. I think that more to the point, the unbridled genocide of the Palestinians by Israel is more pressing than the mere occupation of territory. Don't get me wrong, occupation by ANYONE, ANYWHERE is of major import. But I think that genocide tops the list, anywhere, anytime. Why is it that one can find the daily death tolls of innocent civilians anywhere in the world on the web, if you know how to look, yet U.S. Media never even mentions these sadistic acts of brutality?

Israel periodically mounts massive invasions into Palestinian communities, using tanks, helicopter gunships, and F-16 fighter jets. Palestinian fighters resisting these forces possess rifles and homemade mortars and rockets. A minute fraction strap explosives onto their own bodies and attempt to deliver their bombs in person; often they kill only themselves.

While the large majority of Palestinians oppose suicide bombings, many feel that armed resistance has become necessary - much as Americans supported war after the attack at Pearl Harbor. Nevertheless, only a small portion take an active part in the resistance, despite the fact that virtually all support its aim: to create a nation free from foreign oppression.

1,025 Israelis and at least 4,308 Palestinians have been killed since September 29, 2000.

0 Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians and 4,170 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since September 29, 2000.

Israel currently has 223 Jewish-only settlements and ‘outposts’ built on confiscated Palestinian land. Palestinians do not have any settlements on Israeli land.

(Statistics from: If Americans Knew.org/ )

MARKET WATCH

"The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which carries out the central bank's open market operations, moved Thursday to inject $41 billion in temporary reserves into the U.S financial system. It came as part of ongoing efforts designed to ensure that the markets -- which have suffered through a period of turbulence over the last few months -- function smoothly. The cash infusion came in three separate operations.

A New York Fed spokesman said it was the largest single day of operations since $50.35 billion was pumped into the system on Sept. 19, 2001, following the terror strikes on New York and Washington. He declined further comment."

MARKET WATCH

Thu, 1 Nov 2007 14:18 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 13,710.12 -219.89
NASDAQ 2,823.76 -35.36
S&P 500 1,524.93 -24.45

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 13:21 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 13,436.51 -224.43
NASDAQ 2,780.16 -45.02
S&P 500 1,493.32 -26.95

Thu, 8 Nov 2007 13:08 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 13,183.45 -116.57
NASDAQ 2,678.31 -70.45
S&P 500 1,463.05 -12.57

Fri, 9 Nov 2007 15:30 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 13,042.74 -223.55
NASDAQ 2,627.94 -68.06
S&P 500 1,453.70 -21.07


My personal hopeful expectation: a crash. Simply a complete and total failure of the market and of the United States (puppet) Government. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Who knows, perhaps the (big) heartland earth quake that I have been waiting for will hasten the collapse of the market!

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:58 AM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,986.57 -190.22
NASDAQ 2,595.02 -42.22
S&P 500 1,434.97 -23.77

The DOW has fallen now 1000 points in roughly 4 weeks after a record high of over 1400 points. I anticipate a continued decline for the next 15 months at minimum. Though it may have brief recovery periods, it will continue to fall until George Dumbya Bullshitler and Company are removed from office. I have no idea at this time what that alone will do to world market investment confidence. (Could you imagine being THAT hated world wide?) But regardless of any reaction to a change of regime here in the United States, the declining trend will continue. The damage has been done. It will take 20 years or more for the World to recover from the arrogance and misdeeds done by the American Government world wide.

While the market has not closed at < 1300 as of this writing, it is coming. The trend will continue as the world writhes under the oppressive hand of fascism.
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,799.04 -211.10
NASDAQ 2,562.15 -34.66
S&P 500 1,416.77 -22.93
WOO HOO! To my friends whom this 'market crash' is hurting, I am sorry for your losses. But did you really think that the natural correction of society would come without pain? Take your remaining gains and invest them in survival equipment and supplies. It can only get worse before it gets better.
Sat, 24 Nov 2007 13:21 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,980.88 0.00
NASDAQ 2,596.60 +34.45
S&P 500 1,440.70 +23.93
And Black Friday did nothing to restore investor confidence. Can I get a big "Awwwwwe".
Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:15 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 13,264.82 -101.05
NASDAQ 2,652.28 -22.18
S&P 500 1,468.36 -10.13
Wed, 2 Jan 2008 17:53 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 13,043.96 -220.86
NASDAQ 2,609.63 -42.65
S&P 500 1,447.16 -21.20
Fri, 4 Jan 2008 17:22 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,800.18 -256.54
NASDAQ 2,504.65 -98.03
S&P 500 1,411.63 -35.53
Wed, 9 Jan 2008 08:25 AM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,589.07 -238.42
NASDAQ 2,440.51 -58.95
S&P 500 1,390.19 -25.99
Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:15 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,501.11 -277.04
NASDAQ 2,417.59 -60.71
S&P 500 1,380.95 -35.30
Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:18 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,099.30 -59.91
NASDAQ 2,340.02 -6.88
S&P 500 1,325.19 -8.06
The stock market world wide took a nose dive as Wall Street had the day off in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Let's see what tomorrow brings, shall we?

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:46 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 11,971.19 -128.11
NASDAQ 2,292.27 -47.75
S&P 500 1,310.50 -14.69
Woo Hoo! The day opened with a 460 sell off but rallied some of its losses by days end. Let's shoot for 10,000 now, shall we.

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:45
PM Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,270.17 +298.98
NASDAQ 2,316.41 +24.14
S&P 500 1,338.60 +28.12
Boo Hiss! Looks like someone is buying the lie. Certainly not me!

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:02 PM
I only just realized that I should be watching the value of the dollar a little more closely as compared to other currencies. Let's watch the value of the dollar drop worldwide...
US CAD EUR GBP CHF JPY AUD
1.0000 1.0099 1.4878 1.9921 0.9215 0.0094 0.8983

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 17:56 PM
US CAD EUR GBP CHF JPY AUD
1.0000 1.0073 1.4831 1.9738 0.9195 0.0094 0.9080

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 20:09 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,200.10 -65.03
NASDAQ 2,278.75 -30.82
S&P 500 1,326.45 -10.19
US CAD EUR GBP CHF JPY AUD
1.0000 0.9940 1.4632 1.9608 0.9122 0.0094 0.8944
Now, let's try this again. Come on <12,000 !

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:25 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,284.30 -142.96
NASDAQ 2,299.78 -27.32
S&P 500 1,342.53 -17.50
US CAD EUR GBP CHF JPY AUD
1.0000 0.9890 1.4821 1.9632 0.9190 0.0093 0.9193
Over the past two weeks the market has attempted to rally and fluctuated amid rumors and speculation over the economic stimulus package and its ability to have any effect. Today, the bubble busted. More to the point, the world economy along with political stability took a tremendous jolt today. Several world events have rattled the establishment to its foundation during the course of the past week. And more will follow. If this is not the beginning of the end, then the end is already well under way.

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:31 PM
Symbol Price Change
DOW 12,266.39 -315.79
NASDAQ 2,271.48 -60.09
S&P 500 1,330.63 -37.05
US CAD EUR GBP CHF JPY AUD
1.0000 1.0132 1.5171 1.9883 0.9603 0.0096 0.9291
For the past week the market has been trying to rally and recover its losses based on the false promises and "rose colored glasses" outlook of the Chimp in Chief and his minions. When will they get the fact that he is a liar and a thief? Anyway, today the market tumbled over 300 points. The fact that jobs are being sent out of country at an unprecedented rate, the underhanded faulty loans that were bundled into junk bonds, and the rest of the world has lost all faith in Amerika and its worthless legal tender is finally coming back to haunt the sheeple.

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 16:37
PM Symbol Price Change
DOW 11,893.69 -146.70
NASDAQ 2,212.49 -8.01
S&P 500 1,293.37 -10.97
US CAD EUR GBP CHF JPY AUD
1.0000 1.0099 1.5352 2.0130 0.9752 0.0097 0.9276
WOO HOO! Do I hear <11,000? style="color: rgb(0, 0, 136); text-align: right;">Powered by Qumana

Cleaning up the Nation's streets

FALCON 2007 continued to promote these important efforts, but took on a more focused, long-term approach by targeting twenty-seven cities and regions experiencing elevated levels of criminal activity. Working in conjunction with the Department of Justice, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and other agencies, the U.S. Marshals Service identified and targeted the communities most in need of assistance. The Marshals then reached out to their many partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement to coordinate a sustainable push designed to safely apprehend the maximum number of violent predators. Deputy U.S. marshals teamed with agents, investigators, detectives, officers, and deputies to form a powerful unit that located and arrested 6,406 fugitive felons, ensuring a greater level of safety on the streets of America.  

They're rounding 'em up and locking them away. Hold on to your seats!

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Confronting the War President on October 27, 2007

http://www.oct27.org/



One might venture to say, on October 27, 2007, where ever you are, make a public statement against the war! Stop the insanity! Wear a black arm band, burn a flag, any act of defiance would be fine. Don't work. Don't go to school. Don't BUY ANYTHING, ANYWHERE!

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George Bush Hints of New (sic) Secret Weapon

"-we got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel. So I've told people that if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from have the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."
George Bush

The secret weapon that Bush & Co. has that destroys "knowledge" is The Church . Tithe regularly!

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Growing weary of the 'debate'? I am...

Nancy Pelosi, Meet Your Replacement!

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The plight of World Buddhism, "the American Way", and the Apathy of Mankind

In September 1949, Communist China, without any provocation, invaded Eastern Tibet and captured Chamdo, the headquarters of the Governor of Eastern Tibet. On November 11, 1950, the Tibetan Government protested to the United Nations Organisation against the Chinese aggression. Although El Salvador raised the question, the Steering Committee of the General Assembly moved to postpone the issue.

On November 17, 1950, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama assumed full spiritual and temporal powers as the Head of State because of the grave crisis facing the country, although he was barely sixteen years old. On May 23, 1951 a Tibetan delegation, which had gone to Peking to hold talks on the invasion, was forced to sign the so-called "17-point Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet", with threats of more military action in Tibet and by forging the official seals of Tibet.

The Chinese then used this document to carry out their plans to turn Tibet into a colony of China disregarding the strong resistance by the Tibetan people. What is more, the Chinese violated every article of this unequal 'treaty' which they had imposed on the Tibetans.

On September 9, 1951 thousands of Chinese troops marched into Lhasa. The forcible occupation of Tibet was marked by systematic destruction of monasteries, suppression of religion, denial of political freedom, widespread arrests and imprisonment and massacre of innocent men, women and children.

On March 10, 1959 the nation-wide Tibetan resistance culminated in the Tibetan National Uprising against the Chinese in Lhasa. The Chinese retaliated with a ruthlessness unknown to the Tibetans. Thousands of men, women and children were massacred in the streets and many more imprisoned and deported. Monks and nuns were a prime target. Monasteries and temples were shelled.

On March 17, 1959 the Dalai Lama left Lhasa and escaped from the pursuing Chinese to seek political asylum in India. He was followed by unprecedented exodus of Tibetans into exile. Never before in their history had so many Tibetans been forced to leave their homeland under such difficult circumstances. There are now more than one hundred thousand Tibetan refugees all over the world.

The following is from the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations:

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

While the Buddhist monks and civilians continue to be imprisoned and killed indiscriminately in Myanmar, the World continues to passively watch and do nothing about unmitigated aggression on fundamentally peaceful people.

So, I say without hesitation nor apology, that it is not JUST Americans that are asleep at the wheel while the war machine called Capitalism continues to trample the dead bodies of the peaceful. If you want to call everyone in America in general lazy, uneducated, bigoted bores, take a look in the mirror before you do. There is enough criticism to go around.

What there is NOT is enough people to stand together in unity against the machine of oppression and slavery of mind and body to make a positive change for the better for the world at large. When will I see true leaders emerge to unite the people of the world? Better yet, when will the people of the world strike down this concept of "us and them"?

We will all pay, indeed are already paying, for the general apathy associated with living in the contemporary model, of allowing the Corporations to dictate the fate of mankind. Their point of view is only short term, the exploitation of humanity and of world resources for monetary gain. It can only end in ruin for us all.

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Hard line: Debra Cagan stunned the MPs with her comments

What's with this chick(?) anyway? Is that REALLY a Maltese Cross she is wearing? Is Bush & Co. REALLY getting THAT brazen in their fascism to easily identify with The Third Reich? And the red leather jacket sets the ensemble to the tune!

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