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Politics : Dutch Central Bank Sale Announcement Imminent? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sea_urchin who wrote (18247)	5/8/2003 3:53:37 PM
From: philv	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81402

Yes, I agree, this culture prevails everywhere. Most of our media comes from south of the border. They say when the US sneezes, Canada gets a cold. But here in Canada, we have similar problems, and although influenced by the US, we are the authors of our own misery so to speak, and indeed, sometimes try to out-do the Americans in their headlong rush to this new world. I forgot to add in my previous post the Afghan prisoners. That was another neat trick. Although the US waged war, invaded the country and wiped out the government, these prisoners are not prisoners of war. Strictly speaking, to be thus designated, they would enjoy certain privileges, so what to do is to re-classify them, put them into a kind of legal limbo, where you don't have to worry about any convention or scrutiny. They are now "unlawful combatants". They have no rights, and could stay prisoner forever. The war is over, the US has won, but these guys ain't goin nowhere soon, unless they meet certain conditions. That is the kind of whittling away of human rights, through spin and slant that I am sure the fathers of the US constitution would have abhorred. Yes, I too believe the US has changed, has lost its idealism and is now advertising its new status. I see her in full battle dress, daring anyone to oppose her. It's not a pretty picture. Unfortunately, most Americans see a different image in the mirror. Phil

To: sea_urchin who wrote (18247)	5/9/2003 9:16:47 PM
From: sea_urchin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81402

> Today, whether the Americans like to admit it or not, the US is unquestionably a fascist nation, indeed a tyranny I should know --- I lived under a fascist regime for 45 years. Here's an American who agrees with me about the US. counterpunch.org >>>These people are fascists, and they make Mussolini look like a mezzafinook. There is no component of American liberty of which they are unwilling to relieve us, and no aspect of American life upon which they are unwilling to relieve themselves. Where to begin? First, we must define 'fascism'. Fascism is an extreme right-wing ideology which embraces nationalism as the transcendent value of society. The rise of Fascism relies upon the manipulation of populist sentiment in times of national crisis. Based on fundamentalist revolutionary ideas, Fascism defines itself through intense xenophobia, militarism, and supremacist ideals. Although secular in nature, Fascism's emphasis on mythic beliefs such as divine mandates, racial imperatives, and violent struggle places highly concentrated power in the hands of a self-selected elite from whom all authority flows to lesser elites, such as law enforcement, intellectuals, and the media. -.-.-.-.-.-.- The president isn't supposed to wear a uniform. He's a civilian. Rough Rider Teddy Roosevelt strapped on a pistol now and then and we've had generals who made president before. That Kennedy fellow was a war hero, too, and Bush Senior, the one who got elected, did his bit in the Pacific while Grampy Prescott was supporting the Nazis in Europe. But when they were president none of these men put on military uniforms. They understood that there are three sacred lines with regard to American democracy that can never be crossed: the line between privilege and power, the line between Church and State, and the line between civilian and military leadership. Cross any of them, and you're at fascism's doorstep. Cross two, you're on the threshold with your hand on the doorknob. George W. Bush, son of unimaginable privilege, crossed the first line when he was selected to be president by the Supreme Court and accepted the job. He crossed the second line when he revealed his divine imperative, such as when (after the disaster of 9/11) he spoke of being "chosen by the grace of God to lead at that moment." (attributed by Tim Goeglein, deputy director of White House public liaison and a barrel of laughs at any party.) When George climbed out of that airplane in his shiny new war suit, he didn't just carry his own cute little self across the deck: son of privilege, chosen of God, and wearing a military uniform, he passed through the doorway from mere wickedness to fascism. Our struggle in the time ahead is to resist the urge to follow him.<<<