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 14 Jan 2004 @ 03:42, by ming. Violence, War
Via Metafilter, an article, "Terrorism's new Mecca" by Jessica Stern. It examines the causes of terrorism.Several possible root causes have been identified, including, among others, poverty, lack of education, abrogation of human rights, the perception that the enemy is weak-willed. I've been interviewing terrorists around the world over the past five years. Those I interviewed cite many reasons for choosing a life of holy war, and I came to despair of identifying a single root cause of terrorism. But the variable that came up most frequently was not poverty or human-rights abuses, but perceived humiliation. Humiliation emerged at every level of the terrorist groups I studied — leaders and followers.
The "New World Order" is a source of humiliation for Muslims. And for the youth of Islam, it is better to carry arms and defend their religion with pride and dignity than to submit to this humiliation. Part of the mission of jihad is to restore Muslims' pride in the face of humiliation. Violence, in other words, restores the dignity of humiliated youth. Its target audience is not necessarily the victims and their sympathizers, but the perpetrators and their sympathizers. Violence is a way to strengthen support for the organization and the movement it represents. It rings true more than anything else. No, it is not people who "hate freedom". It is people who's family, who's culture, who's religion, who's countries, who's leaders have been humiliated. And it is people who's pride and dignity are more important to them than their lives. It shouldn't be that hard to understand. Stop carrying out programs of organized humiliation. Better yet, help these folks having something to be proud of. More >
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2 Jan 2004 @ 02:00, by gili. Violence, War
In Israel/Palestine there is a grassroots peace movement of Moslems, Jews and Christians. It is the Sulha, or reconciliation.
[link]
It is being led by religious leaders. Those of Hamas and those of the settlers, it seems that by choosing the language of "The Land of the Prophets" and "The Children of Abraham" there is a common ground, literally...From my brief glimpse of the sulha process, I see one state in Israel/Palestine, one state for two nations.
[link]
The common religous roots of the Palestinians and the Jews can be used as a bridge between them. It is a radical idea for me and I am not sure about it. It seems impossible, yet the more I think about it the more sense it seems to make. The two government bodies would be merged. There would be a truth and reconciliation hearings much like in South Africa where people would recieve amnesty for their testimony. The Israeli Defense Forces would be transitioned into providing relief and refugee for the two peoples.
The issue of the Palestinian Right of Return has been the most problematic issue for the negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinians. Israeli society is very much against the Right of Return and sees it as the end of the Jewish homeland.
Yet, the Palestinians need to be heard, their Right of Return must be honored. This is where sulha comes in. This is where the religious and spiritual leaders need to show the rest of the population that peace is possible by coming together. And they are doing just that.
Another related article...
[link]
I want to believe in the one state solution but I am scared to. It seems so simple, yet it is very radical, almost too radical. I do not know...There is so much to forgive...so much suffering...
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 16 Dec 2003 @ 13:45, by ming. Violence, War
Well, I didn't really know what to say about Saddam Hussein being captured, as I'm not sure I believe the whole scenario. But in the spirit of celebration, getting rid of the bad guys, new beginnings, and general unreality, this piece that I received in the mail today seems to capture it well.BAGHDAD (Plausible News Service) -- The apparent arrest of Saddam Hussein brought a traumatic chapter in the millennia-long history of Mesopotamia to an end earlier today, with immediate and wide-ranging effects being felt throughout the country. Flowers spontaneously erupted across vast stretches of Iraqi desert. Power and water service were restored to millions of Iraqi homes, some of which have never had it in the first place.
"My cable is working again! I can get Bravo channel now! They must have arrested Saddam!" cried a jubilant Walid al-Jibra, dancing in the street in front of his formerly bombed-out store, which was found miraculously restored moments after the announcement. Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis alike were seen joyfully embracing in Basra, while a number of children previously thought to have been killed during the invasion were found to be alive and perfectly healthy. Hospitals reported increases in stocks of medicines, "but hey, we don't need them anyway, half our patients just got up and walked away," according to one staffer.
A statement released by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden acknowledged the defeat for the radical Islamic movement signified by the Saddam arrest.
"Oh well, we might as well just hang it up, as you say," said the emaciated terrorist leader on a video broadcast by al-Jazeera television shortly after the arrest announcement. "This just shows that you can't mess around with the ol' US of A."
Troops met the news with relief. "Well, I am sure enough glad that's all over with," said Sgt. Paul Tarbabe of Tuskeegee, as he began packing his gear for the return home. "Just in time, too -- we oughta all be able to get back home for Christmas now. I've got a six-month-old daughter to meet!"
Donald Rumsfeld and senior Pentagon officials have indicated that with Saddam out of the picture, "our work here is finished," as Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told a press briefing at the Pentagon early this morning. Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and other officials, for whom the planning and execution of the Iraq operation has been an obsession for years, intend to retire next week and "set up a think tank in Samoa or someplace like that," Wolfowitz said.
The forecast for Baghdad for today and the foreseeable future is sunny, with bright blue skies, a few fluffy white clouds, warm but comfortable temperatures, and copious birdsong. More >
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9 Dec 2003 @ 19:01, by gsosbee. Violence, War
As a result of my recent experiences as documented in detail on my website at www.sosbeevfbi.com I am certain that the men and women of the fbi and cia (and their affiliates ) actually watch in real time as the Targets of the inhumane assaults described in my site commit suicide. The despicable activities of these fbi and the cia agents, operatives, thugs and assassins must be revealed to the world in order to offer some protection to all of mankind from a phenomena politely referred to as non-consensual human experimentation; in actuality this barbarous United States program is born of devilish minds, and wicked hearts, and is implemented by pathologic personalities of the lowest type. We must stop these confused and pathetic creatures now. Thanks for this forum.
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January 21, 2002: This once great nation, the United States of America, is ruled by thugs, terrorists and assassins who (desperate to consolidate power by going to war at will) regularly and as a matter of course...
...murders, tortures and terrorizes human beings when its corrupt legal process fails to imprison or kill the targets;
...destroys other nations by the use of nuclear, biological, chemical, or conventional weaponry, when the threat of such force fails to subjugate the peoples of the targeted nation;
...wildly labels individuals and nations as criminals and terrorists even as the United States sends professional assassins to kill specific humans and to disrupt political and economic stability in the targeted nations;
...manipulates the global media by use of blackmail, extortion and financial isolation in order to control the daily news broadcasts;
...terrorizes and silences the most viable and credible critics of the United States by the use of a combination of some of the above mentioned methods;
...supports patently corrupt governments when such governments cooperate in the extermination of the targets;
...insures the continuance of the permanent underclass in the world by stocking the prisons and hospitals with people who cannot find work, who cannot gain social standing and who refuse to bow to corrupt and unjust authority;
...abandons any concern for the basic Rights of the majority of the world's population and treats the targets (for death) as no better than discarded refuse.
The failure of the world leaders to stop this tyranny is an indictment of them for the same offenses described above. Geral Sosbee
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___________________________________________________
Sosbee writes:I pose the following rhetorical question on behalf of the Worldwide Network Of Friends Of The Accused And Terrorized:
What duty do we (you and I, now) owe to all of mankind, to humanity, as we discover that a corrupt and murderous band of thugs and their misguided supporters ( whether private or government sponsored, such as those in the fbi/cia ) systematically, routinely and often ritually threaten, torture, imprison and kill our brothers and sisters around the globe?
Stand up to the tyrants and suffer the consequences ourselves in our time, or slink from all sense of Right and leave the ever worsening task for the next generation which may be even less prepared than we for the slightest of heroic deeds.
History now records for all times our names, each of us, individually, in a real as opposed to a rhetorical sense,and the manner by which we answer the above question.
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See:
[link] More >
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 13 Apr 2003 @ 23:22, by quidnovi. Violence, War
Who are we fooling here?
Nuclear weapons have been scratched off the list a long time ago already.
Chemical weapons? Biological weapons? None, so far, have been used.
Have we found any, yet? Rumors abound. Chances are that we might still find some traces of them---though probably not in any significant amount if we do, and certainly not anything that would amount to the evidence of the "grave and gathering" threat of which it was question before the war started.
But what does it matter now, whether we find some or not?
We now all know that it was all false pretense. The cat is out of the bag. We are there for REGIME CHANGE (and darn proud of it, too.) That's what this has always been about. And Iraq is just the tip of the iceberg.
We have apparently become the self-appointed "liberators" of the Middle East. And while some have found this a cause for celebration and others see there cause to re-evaluate their positions on Iraq, there are those who are expressing some concern over what kind of signal we are sending to the world: More >
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10 Apr 2003 @ 00:14, by mmmark. Violence, War
I imagine that there have been many postings about the war-mongering going on, some pro and some con, so I make this post to place my picture of center in the log annals of NCN.
I believe that the human race has to find a different way of living, where competition and squabbling over natural resources is handled in any way that is healthful, hopeful, non-aggressive, and of course non-violent. At the same time, citizens must not empower their governments to make war, in business, technology, or with political support, or we will remain buried in our destructive stupidity as a species. The wave of new consciousness has revealed once again the undeniable reasoning that Love is all you need, not to mention that you can't be here without it. Let us keep our hearts tuned to cocreating a society of peace, specially after the dust settles from this immediate skirmish.
My heart is particularly touched by those mislead and ungrounded family members who are willing to prepare for and die in a violent conflict. Most are impressionably young and ignorant of the consequences their actions will bring to generations that follow. I see no glory in wasting any life, nothing is won, yet much is lost.
I rest now in prayer of thanks for all those selfless warriors risking loss of life and to those relatives that no longer dwell in the body.
Namasté > > > Mark More >
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 22 Mar 2003 @ 00:50, by rishi. Violence, War
Inside the Mind of War
Are the Thoughts of a Society
Gone Mad
By Matthew Webb
What endless unrest churns these human creatures to wreak havoc upon their fellows? An off-world visitor would surely ask themselves this question with intense interest. What they do to themselves is completely astonishing! Upon these humans aliens would likely look with some sense of uneasy fascination, wondering how a normally intelligent, progressive species with great evolutionary promise, residing on a pristine and bountiful planet, could ever make such an unnecessary mess of their world. What prompts them to make wars, to destroy in the name of petty and arbitrary nations, base material ambitions, and on behalf of petty and arbitrary gods? How bizarre it is to see them dash to and fro in their polluting machines with no particular purpose in mind, seeking happiness and finding none, when in fact there is none to be found within the goals they have set for themselves! They have forgotten the purpose of life…
These could well be the musings of an alien race, upon encountering the dilemma of modern Homo Sapiens.
Indeed, what does cause us to move into the next millennium with bombs falling, police batons clacking and people living in fear of each other? What are the motives behind such madness? Of course many will give the standard, often quoted political reasons, or speak of religious, ideological and national extremism, or talk about social and economic inequality. But as always, these answers don’t really satisfy the question, because “Why?” can again be asked. In realizing that humanity’s difficulties are WORLDWIDE, finding expression on every continent, every country, every cultural setting, every city and almost universally in EVERY SINGLE MIND, such political, social and economic explanations ring very hollow. The fact is, religious leaders. governments, professors, think tanks and the greatest authors and thinkers of our day, are for the most part at a loss to explain WHY the human race is in such trouble. Every “expert” has their own personal slant and offered short-term remedy, and they ALL fall far short of really addressing the human condition as it globally exists. Seemingly, no one is able to articulate why war after war occurs around the globe every decade, bringing our species ever closer to the brink of disaster.
Similarly, no one seems able to clearly explain WHY we wantonly destroy the environment for the sake of money, only to be forced to spend billions years later to deal with the effects of pollution, when prevention would have been much simpler. Instantaneous gratification of governments and citizens alike, each one accumulating as much debt as possible in the shortest period of time, is now the social norm. The attitude of our time is to live for today alone, for tomorrow is irrelevant. Realistic planning for a better future through logical, measured practices in the present, is viewed as politically dangerous and socially boring.
Neither does anyone seem able to explain why people are in such a stressed state of mind and body, What was rare 20 years ago, is now the common practice of taking mood altering drugs just to make it through another day. Oddly enough, we work more and enjoy far less, calling that, “success” and a “higher standard of living”. It’s “more convenient” to take a pill to reduce fat or gain sexual appetite, rather than working out or eating sensibly. It’s argued that “there’s just no time” for life on the 9 to 5. In the case of disease, why engage a change of lifestyle, when the family surgeon can just cut out the cancer or remove another organ? This is what many evidently think, as they go about sacrificing their lives for the sake of fulfilling the, “financial goals” of consumerism.
Shockingly, all of these questions have a common and final answer, a bottom line which underlies EVERY problem in the modern world. Whether we’re talking about the motives for war, disease and famine, neighborhood crime, social inequality, the corruption in government, or any other problem around the globe, this final “bottom line” explains it all.
Beware of thinking that what comes next is too simple to be useful….
The fundamental problem confronting human beings is;
THE HOLDING OF WRONG VALUES
By “values” I mean those guiding beliefs and cherished goals which shape our daily lives. By “wrong” I mean not in accord with reality, as in untruthful or false, and therefore personally and mutually destructive. “Wrong values” means holding life goals and a lifestyle based upon them, which are not evolutionary or life affirmative. As such, these values are incompatible with nature and the natural laws which govern everything in the universe, (including our own bodies and the principles which make technology possible).
As a species we are living in a fashion that is fully contrary to the designs of the Cosmos. To put that in more theological terms, we’re living in a way that is opposed to the intent of that which is called God. The primary wrong value which permeates society today, is the selfishness seen in the worship of the Dollar above all else. For the sake of monetary profit, human beings willingly and even contemptuously destroy nature, thereby undermining the very life blood of the planet upon which they depend for survival. Humans behave as though they think of themselves as machines, which are superior to nature and natural beings. Because they think of themselves and their society as indestructible machines, (whose worn out parts simply get replaced indefinitely) it is a common notion that we’re not vulnerable like other living creatures. It’s become easy to imagine that we’re somehow immune to our own pollution, environmental destruction, the contaminants of war, unnatural chemicals in food, agriculture and industry. We imagine that our technology and social structures will protect us from the natural reality, but this is simply not so. This is why it’s also easy for many to ignore the effects of war, so long as the bombs aren’t dropping in their own neighborhood.
Let us explore the “holding of wrong values” in relation to the current war on Iraq, and its‘ impact on the world. We’ve all heard the endless commentaries on why war is or is not desirable, as well as who is for or against it. Everyone agrees, at least in principle, that war is both tragic and wrong. Yet, here we have another war which threatens the very fabric of international relations and treaties, for all time. It’s not unlikely that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, will cause such widespread social unrest and international enmity, that World War III is right around the corner in human history. No one can argue convincingly that this is not a strong possibility. Nor is it hard to predict that in a short time, the collapse of economies will continue to accelerate. Personal and national debts are at an all time high, and are only spiraling further out of control with each day that passes. Currencies will implode and become worthless, as entire banking institutions declare insolvency from all the failed loans they’ve accumulated. Unemployment is soaring and will continue to increase. And it is very likely that the U.S.-Iraq war will only speed these processes along, toward worldwide economic and political instability, to the point of mass panic. Why is all this happening?
Because of the holding of wrong values, on the part of governments, social institutions and the individual people which compose them.
Many millions of people around the world are rightfully upset about developments in the Middle East, and are showing their resolve to oppose wars of international barbarity and aggression. They are taking to the streets with their signs, practicing “civil disobedience” in many forms, and writing urgent letters of appeal to government leaders. Some advocate a working class uprising through self governance. Spiritual pundits abound with channeled messages or scriptural advice. Some propose the adopting of a peaceful state of mind, employing meditation in groups to ease social tensions. Some pray to God asking for a peaceful resolution to a war-torn world. Others work as volunteers, seeking to educate the public or by providing hands-on assistance to those in need. These are all noble sentiments and social attempts at world change, there can be no doubt. But equally doubtless is that absolutely NONE of these are going to really change anything in the long term. They all address the symptoms of an imbalanced world, but not the cause. None of these measures are going to save humanity, or fundamentally transform our human civilization. Why? Because society will still, in that long run, be based on wrong values. These will always seep back into noble endeavors, governments or philosophies, no matter how lofty such enterprises may initially set out to be. They will induce a rot, just as bad fruit will soon spoil by contact what was fresh and healthy. A fine example of this fact, is the current corruption and wholesale disregard for the intent of such documents as the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. Those who became noble by learning the lessons of oppression and ill-guided government, are now the oppressors themselves. The power of kings is once again in the hands of despots and tyrants, who kill in the name of preventing murder, legislate oppression in the name of freedom, and wage war in the name of peace.
Another example of the corrupting influence of wrong values, is how the message of Christ, (in living life lovingly and simply) has been largely ignored in the modern day. Rather than being used as a guideline for living, it has been transformed instead into a self serving, ritualized, church hierarchy, that is more concerned with acquiring tithe-paying devotees, than with carrying out the intent of Christ. Those who call themselves “Christians” today, are just as likely to advocate war as they are peace, while fully mindful that this is something Christ would have never done.
This is the story of history repeating itself yet again.
It is very curious if not ironic to understand that the vast majority of those who rightfully protest war today, are not advocating an alternative world, other than to say they want “peace”. But what is peace other than the opposite of war, and from whence does it come? The word “peace” has come to mean, “a state of being without war” rather than as a state of consciousness, or as a living, daily lifestyle. And this is where we come down to the bottom line once again, in that;
War is the result of holding wrong values.
Peace is the result of holding right values.
Both war and peace are the effects of a deeper cause, not an ultimate cause in themselves.
There will always be war so long as the people themselves, (collectively known as “society”) hold wrong values in their daily lives. So long as money, ego-driven fashion and notoriety, are the guiding forces of social interaction, our species is truly doomed to extinction. So long as we value things over people by disregarding the spiritual qualities of honesty, love and unity, there will be no peace, not now and not ever. So long as the cult of consumerism, credit card impulsiveness and thing-fetish mentality drives the world, humanity will never live to see the next century, let alone the next millennium.
After reading the above, most will protest, “although much of what you say is arguable, I’m different than all that. I do my part in my own way, and that’s all a person can do”. But I must beg to differ, so allow me to explain. To be very realistic, it’s necessary to point out that there is no real or fundamental difference between the values of government corruption through World War mongering, and those of the average person. Comparing these values will show this beyond a reasonable doubt, as follows;
Materialism and Greed
1) Wars happen largely because governments value things over people…through greed they seek to exploit other countries, while asking, “How can our ‘national interests‘ be served?“. This is also why, “economic interests” and commodities take precedence over all other considerations in foreign policy.
1) Social conflict happens largely because the average person values things over people….through greed they seek to exploit other individuals, while asking, “What can I ‘get’ from this person, and how will they serve my interests?”. This is also why, “financial goals” and careers take precedence over all other considerations in personal life.
*****
Security
2) Money interests are what usually drive government relations with other countries, (especially when it comes to acquiring natural resources of value). The main purpose of diplomacy is to make such resources available on a dependable basis.
2) Money interests are what usually drive personal relations with other people. The main purpose of marriage is that of a financial contract, to make such resources available on a dependable basis.
*****
Sacrificing the Truth
3) Government media tells lies or distorted facts, in an effort to influence public opinion. Truth is considered either irrelevant and inconvenient so long as it is inconsistent with current policies. Facts are rarely debated honestly with the intent of gaining greater collective wisdom, beyond the limits of political norms.
3) People tell lies or distorted facts, in an effort to influence the opinion of others. Truth is considered either irrelevant and inconvenient so long as it is inconsistent with current personal preferences. Facts are rarely debated honestly with the intent of gaining mutual understanding, beyond the limits of social norms.
*****
A Battle of Wills and Domination
4) Government policy is generally not for the benefit of all. It is instead the implementation of the will of a few, over the will of the majority.
4) Social interaction is generally not for the benefit of all people equally. It is instead the implementation of the will of one person or group, over the will of another, (or others).
*****
Projecting an Image
5) Government/corporate statements and appearances are designed to impress the world in a way that boosts their collective ego, in comparison to the rest of the world. The truth of such statements is not considered the main issue. The main issue is that image is considered more important than reality. This is the whole approach behind modern advertising…sell an image, (logo and emotional association) rather than a physical product.
5) Personal statements and appearances are designed to impress the neighbors and co-workers in a way that boosts one’s ego, in comparison to them. The truth of such a projected self image is not considered the main issue. The main issue is that image is considered more important than reality. This is the whole approach behind modern relations…sell a self image, (fancy clothes and rehearsed replies) rather than reveal what the real person underneath is all about.
*****
Self Indulgence at the Cost of All Else
6) The national debt grows larger and larger as spending increases and social benefits diminish.
6) The average consumer debt grows larger and larger as spending increases and personal benefits diminish.
*****
If YOU held public office…
Who among you cannot be bribed at any price by the corporate world, such as are the presidents and senators of our time, because you hold so steadfastly to a higher spiritual calling? Who among your ranks can always resist the endless pressure or intimidation of powerful global interests, urging you to use the power of your office for ends which are not in the common good? Only those who hold radically different values than the current norm, could honesty say they could and would do so.
To conclude about these comparisons of personal to national values, one must realize that there is no essential difference between the two. Thus, when we speak of government corruption, we must also speak of the corruption of the people who compose it, and the social values which serve as their daily guide. Many complain that the mass media is not honest, yet where can consistent honesty be found in personal relations? Many shout, “no blood for oil!” and yet drive SUV’s or luxury cars to their 2000 to 6000 square foot house or apartment, whose daily utility costs alone, are greater than the monthly wages of half the world’s population.
We may rightfully criticize government greed, corruption and bad policy-making, but at the same time, it is necessary to take a step back to clearly see how our own life values and accompanying lifestyles, are alarmingly similar. The fact is that the current U.S. government policy is but a reflection of the same values which permeate our society at every level. They can be summed up by calling them the “me first” type of selfish disregard, for anything which does not immediately cater to personal or national interests. In selfishness we destroy the Earth and all of its creatures, for the sake of money and material possessions. We heap these things in great piles like monuments to our name, hoping perhaps to rival the heirlooms of ancient kings. We acquire these possessions as a demonstration of our supposed worth in the eyes of others, such as the fancy new car, expensive outfit or larger house. In both the national and personal sense, what we now do is not truly necessary for our survival or even our happiness. What we do rests instead with a socially approved and encouraged egotism, that has absolutely NO practical or spiritual reason for continuing on as it is. Yet magazine stands and commercials abound, in praise of such lavish waste. The Earth cannot sustain such a demand, nor are our lives truly benefited by the goals of consumerism, such as those seen hourly on television.
In speaking of war or any other social disease, let us look to its’ underlying cause, rather than just futilely addressing its various effects. The effects of wide-spread planetary calamity are upon us all, whether or not we yet feel them. The cause of all such effects is the holding of wrong social values. Until such values are willingly changed in each of us, there will be no peace, nor world for future generations to enjoy. As a species we will have failed to evolve and pass the test of fitness to survive, which in this case is being honest about the facts of modern life, and making the appropriate daily changes which embrace life, rather than self indulgent death.
Although it may be readily argued that protests and letter writing have their place for social change, it is a better strategy to advocate a change of basic values and lifestyles, to our fellow human beings. It is better that we actually LIVE OUT a better way, rather than begging, pleading or demanding change from unresponsive government “leaders”. The time for begging and demanding are over. It’s time that the people changed their own ways and learned to govern their own lives, outside the small, paltry box of consumerism and mass media hype. To do this we absolutely MUST reject the current values of society, and in fact, society in general. By “reject” I mean thoroughly question and then discard those social beliefs and norms, as can be seen on any street corner and magazine stand, in any town or city anywhere in the world. We must reject the false idea, (beyond simple practicality) that things equal fulfillment, and that money equals happiness. They do not.
There will be no end to wars in this world through protest. You can attempt to change presidents, legislation or governmental forms, and in the off chance that such efforts are fully successful, there will only in time come yet another tyrant to take the place of the impeached, so long as the same social values remain in place. War will be replaced by peace ONLY at such a time when those wrong values, or motives for its’ very existence, are replaced in the public mind by spiritual and natural ways. Any debate regarding this simple fact of war, beyond the primary cause of VALUES, will remain both superficial and entirely beside the point, for the sake of world peace and human evolution.
Many reading this will want to know far more specifics than what has been offered here, with regard to real life changes. Know that this work has already been accomplished and carefully explained in my “Survivalists’ Guide for the New Millennium” book, posted on the World Mind Society website at [link] In this free book, the detailed reasoning behind the need to reject modern society can be found, along with recommended, practical measures for creating a far more sane way of life.
In love and clarity,
Matthew Webb visionquest@eoni.com
Founder of the World Mind Society [link]
Note;
I may not have the opportunity to answer replies at this time. Please read The Guide on-line before making serious inquiries. You have my permission, (and gratitude) to reprint this article.
More >
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 17 Mar 2003 @ 23:59, by ming. Violence, War
Seems reasonable today to hear what Salam, the lone local blogger in Baghdad, has to say. He seems like a normal, intelligent guy, who says what he thinks, but he has been very courageous in sticking his neck out so publically. He supports a regime change, but he doesn't support war, and he thinks the human shields should go home."No one inside Iraq is for war (note I said war not a change of regime), no human being in his right mind will ask you to give him the beating of his life, unless you are a member of fight club that is, and if you do hear Iraqi (in Iraq, not expat) saying 'come on bomb us' it is the exasperation and 10 years of sanctions and hardship talking. There is no person inside Iraq (and this is a bold, blinking and underlined inside) who will be jumping up and down asking for the bombs to drop. We are not suicidal you know, not all of us in any case.
I think that the coming war is not justified (and it is very near now, we hear the war drums loud and clear if you don’t then take those earplugs off!). The excuses for it have been stretched to their limits they will almost snap. A decision has been made sometime ago that 'regime change' in Baghdad is needed and excuses for the forceful change have to be made. I do think war could have been avoided, not by running back and forth the last two months, that’s silly. But the whole issue of Iraq should have been dealt with differently since the first day after GW I.
The entities that call themselves 'the international community' should have assumed their responsibilities a long time ago, should have thought about what the sanctions they have imposed really meant, should have looked at reports about weapons and human rights abuses a long time before having them thrown in their faces as excuses for war five minutes before midnight.
What is bringing on this rant is the question that has been bugging for days now: how could 'support democracy in Iraq' become to mean 'bomb the hell out of Iraq'? why did it end up that democracy won’t happen unless we go thru war? Nobody minded an un-democratic Iraq for a very long time, now people have decided to bomb us to democracy? Well, thank you! how thoughtful." More >
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15 Mar 2003 @ 14:40, by sharie. Violence, War
Smoke from the Gulf War oil well fires created an environmental catastrophe. Dick Cheney's company got the contract to put out the oil well fires, and he reportedly pocketed over $30 million. He was the U.S. Secretary of Defense during the Gulf War.
Years ago, I came across a report that contradicted our media reports on who actually started the oil well fires. Our newspapers and television reporters told us it was the Iraqi's who started the fires. Where did these journalists get their facts? Were they there? No. They weren't there, or else they would have stopped the arsonists, or notified the military to stop arsonists. Who witnessed the arsonists in action? Our military reported that the Iraqi's started the fires? Our military saw the tired, hungry and thirsty Iraqi's start the fires? I heard the following report years ago. It's online for anyone who wants to look beyond the corporate headlines:
The following is a transcript taken from a conversation with a Gulf War veteran who claims to have taken part in such a mission.
JR: What was the branch of service that you served in.
GV: For different reasons, I’d rather not state that.
JR: Fair enough. There are a lot of people afraid of retaliation from the Gulf War. Do you understand why they feel that way.
GV: Yes I do. I learned do to what I did in the service, to live in a different world that most people have been lead to believe exists only in their worst nightmares.
JR: Now you were involved in an operation in Kuwait that really no one has heard about until this point in time. We’ve had five, four other reports of people similar to yourself that have brought this to our attention. You were chosen for a mission; and why do you think you were chosen for this mission?
GV: We’re all a product of our environment, as a young man I watched different movies and television shows, and I remember thinking how incredibly cool Rambo was and… things of that nature. There was so many media in the form of movies, and commercials television that primed me to except the idea that to win was everything.
JR: And so the military sort of capitalizes on that feeling?
GV: Oh very much so. They, they find… a lot of times before they even get you into boot camp where they can use your personality and…. your morals and… they capitalize on these things and, and steer you as it were into the training avenues where you will be most beneficial to them.
JR: Lets go to the time of this mission in Kuwait. You were, where were you when you learned about this mission?
GV: We had just gotten back into camp the day before, on a different mission, and we were actually in our quarters resting when we were told to muster out into the briefing tent, at which point a gentlemen who I originally, who I had first assumed to be American but I was concerned because he was wearing a U.N. uniform and insignias. He began to brief us on the operation. He pointed out the strategic points. And we were briefed as a group. There were probably 30 to 40 in the group. And then… we were asked to leave, and our individual commanders were given the objectives for their group. At which point our individual commanders briefed us on our individual objectives, and then we went and… we drew our gear. We were transported via armor personal carrier close to the front at which point we set out on foot, I acted alone.
JR: Why were you told that you were going to be doing this mission? What were you told was the purpose of this?
GV: There was concern that America, the American public, might see this conflict as an unnecessary thing, and we were asked to do this… or we were ordered to do this in order to remove any… to sway any public opinion… American public opinion to remove any doubts whatsoever that Saddam Hussein and his regime were a terrible evil that had to be dealt with.
JR: And what branches of the service were represented in this briefing tent?
GV: I recognized faces from the Navy Seals, Marine Force Recon, and Delta Force.
JR: Ok, now you’re on your way on your mission. You’ve been taken by armored personnel carrier, you’re dropped off to your area and what do you do then?
GV: Well then we moved through gaps in our lines to where we’re actually forward of the front… As the popular expression says “behind enemy lines”. We traveled up, well I say we, well I, I was acting alone. My mission objective was assigned to me personally. I did not have a, an operative with me. I moved forward and I… I carried out my mission parameters, and then I moved, and then I withdrew and concealed myself until such a time as the front moved past me.
JR: Ok let me back up a second. You carried out your mission, lets talk about that mission.
GV: Yes
JR: What was your mission? What were you told that you were supposed to do?
GV: To damage… I was given (number deleted) Kuwaiti oil wells to damage and to start a fire.
JR: And how did you do this?
GV: With the use of explosives and incendiaries.
JR: And how did you utilize these explosives? What were these explosives?
GV: The explosive I used was C4. It’s light weight, its easy to use, its very safe to transport. You take it and… a wellhead is nothing more than a pipe sticking out of the ground with… with valves, and it’s not like a water well where it, where you have a top that you can take off. It is completely sealed due to the environmental concerns involved with crude oil. The… depending on the sight of the well… the, the valve is any where from three to six feet off of the ground. I placed the explosive on the wellhead and the incendiaries near by so that after the… after the wellhead was damaged, that the incendiary could light the crude oil to fire.
JR: And did you light it yourself?
GV: No I actually transmitted a signal via a transmitter to a central location.
JR: Which basically told them the well had been set?
GV: The well had been set and they could detonate it at their leisure.
JR: And what did you do then?
GV: Then I removed myself from the area… I egressed from the area and concealed myself until our units had advanced forward of me.
JR: And, I don’t understand. Help me understand what you mean by that.
GV: The whole idea behind the operation was to make it as if look as if the Republican Guard, while they were retreating, had set the oil wells a fire in a panic to keep us from getting them… and to villainize them. This mission would not have been achieved if our forces saw those involved were not Republican Guard.
JR: In other words you were in fear of your own men seeing you basically?
GV: That is correct.
JR: Did you see any body else in the oil well field at the time that you were there?
GV: No I did not.
JR: So you then egressed from the area, made sure that your own men did not see you, and then the oil well fires were started?
GV: Yes
JR: Did you see them start?
GV: I actually, due to where I was concealed I could not see them, but due to the nature of … the operation you could feel the explosions and you could hear the fire.
JR: So the story that we are told, that the Republican Guard in their retreating, they started them very hastily, is not accurate?
GV: That is correct.
JR: Did you see any Republican Guard?
GV: In the entire (deleted) months that I spent in that theater of operations I did not see one individual that wore a Republican Guard uniform.
JR: Did you see any Iraqi troops that wore uniforms?
GV: I saw quite a few Iraqis troops that wore uniforms.
JR: But you saw no Republican Guards?
GV: I saw no Republican Guard Uniforms.
JR: After this period of time when you started the oil well fires, did you have any concerns that you had started these fires, or did you think it was for the best thing for this country?
GV: At the time, like I say due to the nature of my mind set, it did not bother me.
JR: That was your job and your mission and you carried it out.
GV: That is correct.
JR: Well I appreciate very much your being frank with us and open about this because there are many people that are now coming forward and saying the same thing. That there were no Republican Guard anywhere around, and that it was the American troops that actually started the oil well fires. I want to thank you very much, is there any thing you want to say in closing?
GV: I believe it’s a shame that our government is getting ready to repeat mistakes… I believe. I went over to fight what I thought was a common enemy of the world, and I watched my friends bleed and die for this cause, only for us to be stopped short of our objective, our final objective. I have no reason to believe that it will be any different this time. And I understand the necessity for the loss of life to protect our country. But loss and waste are two very different things.
JR: And why are you coming forward, right now in saying this?
GV: I feel that for us to return over there with this current administrations mind set that it would, that history would only repeat itself.
JR: Thank you very much, I do thank you, I salute you for what you are doing.
From:
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 13 Mar 2003 @ 00:51, by quidnovi. Violence, War
"Justice is about Truth, and truth has many sides. Justice and Truth have shapes that change among nations and throughout the seasons of history. Mercy is Love, and that has the same strength and beauty for all people, for all time. I serve Mercy, not Justice."
---A. A. Attanasio, The Wolf and the Crown
Operation Desert Storm was about the "good guys" liberating one Arab state, Kuwait, from occupation by another Arab state, Iraq. But the roles are not so clearly defined in the current conflict and while I'd love to have the same kind of self assurance as G. W. Bush has been displaying that we are doing the right thing and that God is on our side, this new situation with Iraq looks to me (and to others) uncomfortably too much like an effort to install a client regime in Baghdad.
Worse, while some have been denouncing oil as the motivating factors of our current administration for its military presence in the Gulf region, there have been some troubling and alarming signs from the administration that Iraq is only the tip of the iceberg: More >
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