Intellectual Intercourse

Obama, Peace is Now

2009-10-15T21:04:00.002-05:00

By Dustin Axe

By now it is common knowledge that Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Critics are looking for tangible results worthy of this prestigious award. They point out that he has merely delivered speeches and set forth changes to policies established by the Bush Administration, but that there have been no tangible results to date. Asking why he won is a valid question, especially when the President himself questions it, “To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize.” I will attempt to argue the contrary. I will argue that Barack Obama is definitely a valid recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and I will explain that we are living in one of the most peaceful times in history.

I am in no way suggesting that Obama is somehow responsible for world peace. After all, he has had national and global attention for only a couple of years. Even though he rightfully established a time line for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, he has elevated fighting in Afghanistan in order to bring “peace and stability” to the region. Even the morning he won the Nobel Peace Prize, he met with military advisers to discuss the possibility of deploying 40,000 more troops to the region. This will only fuel terrorism and instability in an already unstable country. The philosophy that invading a country will create peace, the so-called Bush Doctrine, is ludicrous. There is a protest sign that reads, “Bombing for peace is like fucking for virginity.”

However, if one has a problem with Obama winning they actually have issue, not with Obama, but with the Prize itself. As it is defined, it is awarded to a person or organization that is in the process of resolving a conflict or creating peace. It is a symbolic award given to someone who ushers inspiration and creates momentum for a set of just causes. Martin Luther King, for example, won in 1964 for advancing equality. In no way was this goal reached in 1964, nor is it accomplished in 2009, but he definitely created momentum for a just cause. Similarly, climate change was not reversed in 2007 when Al Gore brought to light the reality of global warming, but he too created momentum for change.

Obama had taken on many challenges that definitely have not been met, but they are in the process of being resolved. He is establishing a time line for the withdrawal from Iraq, reversing policy regarding climate change, ending torture, and closing Guantanamo Bay. He has also ushered inspiration and changed the hearts and minds of millions of people. The rekindling of international diplomacy has redefined America’s place in the world and changed the attitude people have towards the United States. These are tangible results that are important during a War on Terror where hatred fuels terrorism. Likewise, he has given hope to millions of people in the United States and around the world that the past eight years are finally over; that hatemongering and terror brought to millions of people from the Bush Administration is coming to an end.

Barack Obama, without a doubt, deserves this "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” What is more peaceful than fostering diplomacy and inspiring millions of individual people to make the world a better place? Critics are quick to point out that he has merely delivered speeches, but they forget that Martin Luther King’s accomplishments came from speeches and rhetoric alone, and Al Gore merely delivered presentations. Both of these men, however, are valid recipients, and so is Obama. What more does he have to do? After all, this is the 21st century. Even with George Bush’s War of Terror, the 21st century, put into historical context, is already one of the most peaceful times in recent history.

The Bush Administration’s decision to invade a country that did not threaten America has already cost more than a half million people their lives and millions more have developed deep seeded hatred for the United States, which will only fuel more war. But the reality is war and violent crimes have declined in the past two decades. There is merely a perception that we live in dangerous times, because information technology creates the feeling that somehow each day we are closer to danger and the end is near. We are constantly inundated with information technology that gives us a distorted impression that somehow the world is much more dangerous and violent than it really is. Our daily lives are flooded with headlines from the internet, radio and 24 hour news television. Every international conflict around the world is reported in doomsday fashion, and we hear reports and see images of every storm, child abduction, and shooting from around the nation as if somehow these are the only things taking place.

I am in no way dismissing tragedies in Rwanda, Darfur, North Korea, Tibet, or Saddam’s Iraq as less then horrible. But conflicts around the world today, taken together, do not compare with histories of the past. The events on 9/11 and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 21st century pale in comparison to Germany’s desire for world domination, the Holocaust, Soviet expansionism, nuclear armament, Stalinism, and Maoism of the 20th century. The American Civil War alone made the 19th century more bloody than anything we experience today. Two percent of the American population was killed, which would well exceed 5 million people today.

Throughout most of history societies in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia had an elite warrior class, whose trade was his or her ability to fight. When called upon, a knight or samurai, for example, would have to appear with his soldiers fully armed to defend a lord or vassal state. Likewise, every peasant or serf at one point in his life would have to rise in defense of home and hearth. Many soldiers today, on the other hand, choose to fight, not because they have to, but because they want a jump start in life. Millions of people seek more education and training opportunities by joining the armed forces. They see it as a stepping stone to a better life, not an actual way of life. This, of course, does not include millions of people in war zones who do not have the luxury of choice, such as child-soldiers in Africa. But in general, the warrior class in many societies has been replaced by a middle class that is almost entirely peaceful. Even the middle class base of the conservative party in the United States, despite their drum beating and war chanting, is peaceful. They cheer lead war from the sideline, but they do not fully believe it is worth fighting, otherwise they would join the army.

I once wrote, “We have made no moral progress towards eliminating war. Yet, war has made insurmountable progress towards eliminating us.” After spending the better part of my adult life reading and studying war and its affects on everyday people, especially the poor, I find I must reconsider this statement. Humans have not only made progress towards eliminating totalitarianism, theocracy, and slavery, but there has also been a conscious effort to eliminate war.

Why? I honestly do not have an answer at this time. It may be a positive outcome of two world wars in the 20th century. After World War I Woodrow Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Price for his efforts in creating a governing body, the League of Nations, designed to prevent war. Wilson was stonewalled by politicians in his own country, so the United States did not join the League, but global efforts were still being made to eliminate war. (This is very similar to stonewalling Obama’s is experiencing with ending torture, closing Guantanamo Bay, etc.) The Second World War was by far the deadliest war in history. Over 100 million soldiers worldwide were mobilized to fight on nearly every continent. Cities were firebombed, million of people were systematically cremated, and atomic bombs were dropped. In all, 60 million people lost their lives in what is known as a ‘total war’, one that completely blurs the distinction between civilian and military life. Following the war, millions of people called for the eradication of war, either through governing bodies, such as the United Nations, or through just plain international consensus.

Perhaps efforts to end war is not due to the effect of two world wars, but rather nuclear armament and high-tech weaponry developed during the Cold War. Perhaps the stockpiling of large arsenals in the last half of the twentieth century and the threat of nuclear proliferation in our time has made war far too dangerous, in terms of weapons and technology, to be treated like it has been throughout all of history. Regardless the reason, there has definitely been a shift in consciousness to end war.

Unfortunately, neo-conservatives and everyday Americans seem to be slow in recognizing this trend. For 30 years, starting with the Regan Administration, neo-conservatives have threatened world peace by recklessly disregarding cultures, traditions, religions, and governments by invading other countries. And too many everyday Americans are easily fooled into thinking these wars are justified. This is party because of the overall lack of understanding of history, particularly of WWII. The greatest consequence of that war is that it gave Americans the perception that somehow war is justifiable and profitable. Most other countries that experienced war firsthand in the 20th century see it as something that should be questioned and opposed. But even in America, war is questioned more and more. The longer Americans experience the new War on Terror, the longer they see it for what it is--bullshit. As Bob Dylan suggests, “times they are a-changin.” Merely 30 percent of Americans continue to support the current occupation of Iraq.

Yes, armed conflict will continue forever and millions of people will perish in war, many of which will be preventable. Nation states will continue to draft and conscript soldiers to create standing armies. Obedient citizens will continue to be misled into supporting war, and private armies and terrorists will continue to kill for personal gain. But more and more people will join millions of regular people who look at war critically. They will ask what we can learn from it and how we can prevent it. They will engage in nonviolent civil disobedience, such as marches, tax refusal, and active refusal to take up arms, and parents will discourage their children from joining an army. The Military Industrial Complex cannot exist without consent or soldiers.

Without soldiers the common defense would be determined by individuals, not corporations or governments. If a nation was threatened by an enemy that directly threatened its citizens it would have no problem fielding an army. Citizens would rally together, train, fight and defend their home. Instead, governments lie to their citizens to gain support for wars that benefit a small number of people and corporations. Of course war existed before the state, but today’s governments are responsible for war by letting special interests of select individuals influence decision making. A truly democratic nation that held its officials accountable for their actions and one that only carried out the will of the majority of the people would not fight in unnecessary wars.

This is why we must oppose government at all costs. But we cannot forget that war is ultimately fought by individuals who make a choice to do so. Individuals have a responsibility to disobey and oppose governments who wage unjust wars. It is up to individuals to not only refuse to participate in war, but to also treat their neighbor with respect and to help those who are less fortunate. Mohandas Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” In other words, it is up to us to create a peaceful world. Obama recognizes this when he graciously accepted the Nobel Peace Prize by saying it is a "call to action” to create peace that does not belong to just him and his Administration; that the responsibility of creating peace does not belong to presidents or governments. It is up to individuals everywhere to make a conscious decision that war and violence is wrong.

Peace is now.

Long Live the King

2009-06-25T18:51:00.011-05:00

By Dustin Axe

Michael Jackson is truly one of the most remarkable people to have ever lived. His life was one of flamboyant clothing and hair, bizarre behavior, mystery and controversy, and above all entertainment. His cinematic music videos, jaw dropping dance moves, and unmatched singing makes him superior to all. He really is the King of Pop. Michael Jackson is without a doubt the world’s number one entertainer of all time. Not only is he the best musician of all time, but he’s pretty good at making us laugh. He's the butt of every joke imaginable, and one can’t help from laughing when he adopted a chimpanzee or when he appeared in court dressed in pajamas. To be sure, Michael Jackson’s death came as shock to many people who have been entertained by him for decades.

I remember using a VHS to record and watch the Martin Bashir interviewed of Michael in 2003. When it was over I danced around my room and got lost in his music like I always do. I remember thinking how disturbed he was and how horrible absolute fame and wealth must be. Michael told stories about his childhood and he tried to give us insight to who he really was. He seemed to be a genuine person who lived a tragic, yet magnificent life. It’s hard to understand it.

To really understand someone you must overlook outward appearance and behavior, and instead focus on underline emotions. Michael was abused by his father and denied a childhood. He spent 90 percent of his life as an international superstar. Imagine having no childhood and being a prisoner in your own home. Imagine always being in the limelight and your appearance constantly ridiculed by your father. I’m sure this would create emotional problems for any of us. Now imagine having absolute wealth that allowed you to purchase anything you wanted. The theater, zoo, amusement park, statues, prescription drugs, and continuous cosmetic surgery are nothing more then Michael seeking earthly solutions to underline emotional insecurities.

In a world of materialism, science and money enables any of us to find these “solutions.” Do we not all alter our own appearance in one way or another and take prescription drugs that make us happy? How many of us go to tanning beds, dye our hair, and purchase things that supposedly enrich our lives. All Michael did was do it bigger and better then anyone, something he did in every aspect of his life. He may seem bizarre, but in a way, we are all Michael Jackson.

I have always been a Michael Jackson fan, and I have always defended his bizarre behavior and criminal accusations. He was a self proclaimed Peter Pan who loved binging around children partly because he was denied a childhood, and partly because children didn't ask for money or tell him what to do. We’ll never know for sure if he ever cross the line with those boys, but we do know he tried to help disadvantaged and sick children. This is evident though his music and charity work, and in a sense he was a role model for these children. How many performing artists do illegal drugs, carry guns, and abuse spouses? Michael never did any of this, so let us remember him, not for his faults, but for his intentions.

Michael Jackson’s death is an event people will remember. As I am writing this there are millions of fans waking up all around the world who are hearing for the first time that he is dead. He is one of the most well known people to have ever lived, and people are already comparing his death to Princess Diana's. When I saw an internet headline that read “Michael Jackson goes into cardiac arrest” I immediately thought nothing of it. This is coming from a guy who wears a germ mask, walks under an umbrella no matter what the weather is like, and who sleeps in hyperbaric oxygen chamber. I thought this was Michael being Michael. Unfortunately, he passed way today, June 25, 2009, from cardiac arrest. He was 50 years young. I am absolutely shocked.

The world lost an icon today. I remember growing up watching Michael Jackson videos in the 1980's, and I remember his 1993 Super Bowl halftime show as if it were yesterday. His music career dwindled in the 1990's, because of a personal life full of lawsuits, trials, plastic surgery, divorce, and scandals. I always paid attention to his trials and I kept up on tabloids. I laughed and shook my head at his antics, but I always remained a fan. In 2001, I remember waiting for months for his newest album, Invincible, and hours before it was due out I was dancing to “Billy Jean” and “Smooth Criminal” in my dorm room. I went to Wal-Mart in West Lafayette that night and I had it in my hands at midnight. I had to get employees to open the boxes. I wasn’t alone.

As a good friend of mine, Mark McCormick, put it, Michael Jackson makes music come to life. This is so true. Personally, I have no musical talent at all. I can't sing, dance, or play an instrument, but I always find myself lost in his music, singing and dancing, wishing I had talent like him. I attempt to do the worse moonwalk you’ve ever seen, but it’s fun as hell!

His death comes a few days before a scheduled tour in July 2009. Lets be clear here, this wasn’t a comeback tour. It’s important to remember that MJ has never left. His music has always been here and it always will. There are millions of people all over the world who absolutely love his music and millions more will discover it after his death. He is the most influential and successful entertainer of all time. Michael Jackson will NEVER die.

Rest in peace.

The War on Terror

2009-06-10T18:17:00.003-05:00

By Dustin Axe

President Obama has repeatedly regarded Afghanistan as the top priority of his foreign policy agenda. As a consequence, there has been an escalation of fighting in the region and increase concerns about advances by the Taliban into Pakistan, as well as untold civilian deaths. On May 6, 2009, over 100 innocent people, including children, were destroyed by U.S. war plans. Total deaths could reach 200. If so, that would make this single act of terror the most deadliest since the start of the campaign to topple the Taliban in 2001. By shamelessly killing innocent people, the United States has brought nothing but more terror to a country wrecked by war for over 30 years. Author Noam Chomsky wrote, "There is no flag big enough to hide the shame of killing innocent people ."

In his book, The Audacity of Hope, President Obama writes, “I wonder, sometimes whether men and women in fact are capable of learning from history--whether we progress from one stage to the next in an upward course or whether we just ride the cycles of boom and bust, war and peace, ascent and decline." He wrote this just before he expanded the war in Afghanistan, where the armies of Alexander the Great, the British Empire, and the Soviet Union threw in the towel. I agree with the President; Americans are ignorant of history, and so is he.

Just what is the “The War on Terror?” The U.S. spends billions of dollars on high-tech weaponry and it sends soldiers all over the globe to wreck havoc on the world in order to defend itself against loosely organized bands of terrorist. According to FOXNEWS footage, these terrorists train on monkey bars and practice leapfrog, a child’s game. The Bush Administration claimed these individuals hate freedom and democracy. Yet, these terrorists appear to be targeting military and economic symbols of U.S. hegemony around the world--the World Trade Center, embassies in Africa, the U.S.S. Cole, and basically anything associated with the Pentagon, including the Pentagon itself. This should be a clear message that these so-called terrorists do not hate freedom or democracy, rather they hate U.S. global occupation.

Millions of people, not just Islamic fundamentalists, but good-willed people all over the world, dislike America, largely because of our military influence. We are the most militaristic country, above and beyond everyone. Of the 121 nations evaluated for the Global Peace Index in 2007, America is ranked 96, between Yemen and Iran. The United States has 700 military installations throughout the world and over 310,000 military personnel stationed in 120 countries. How did it come to this?

For the last half of the 20th century the Military Industrial Complex was justified by a cold war with the Soviet Union. This included nuclear armament and endangering the world with nuclear proliferation--the U.S. has enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world five times. It also included building bases and stationing troops in satellite nations around the world and fighting wars in Korea and South East Asia.

But a brief review of the history of our new “War on Terror” reminds us that much of our problems in the Middle East are a direct result of twenty-five years of failed foreign policy, dating back to the Reagan Administration. Reagan's cabinet gave billions of dollars in aid and military support to Saddam Hussein when Iraq was actively using chemical weapons against its own people; armed and trained Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan; funded and trained terrorists in Central America; and ended the Iran-Contra scandal by secretly selling weapons to Iran.

The Reagan administration triple the national deficit in only eight years party due to the $2.5 trillion spent on the military, which is more than all the money spent on the military since the end of World War II. Some pundits and historians claims this helped win the Cold War. Though, many believe it was more Soviet reforms then anything. Either way, the Cold War ended and millions of people gained freedom. However, the way it was done has given us our problems today. Not only did the Reagan administration break the law, but it provided arms and created alliances with terrorist networks and brutal dictators all over the world.

Unfortunately, the same men who served under Reagan for eight years, also served under George Bush I, and they serve George Bush II. Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rove, etc. all played major rules. These men and women are opportunists with no moral convictions. They find quick military solutions for the moment, and in the process they recklessly disregard cultures, traditions, religions, and governments of other countries involved, ultimately creating even bigger and more global consequences for the future. Twenty-five years of failed foreign policy has given us new problems involving the same names today: Saddam Hussein, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Osama bin Laden.

U.N. sanctions in the 1990's, implemented by the United States, deprived innocent people of medicine, water, electricity, and basic necessities for life. This cost hundreds of thousands of innocent people their lives in the 1990's under the Clinton administration. The current occupation of Iraq has killed more then a half million people.

Currently, the War on Terror further warrants a massive military budget and global military occupation. America spends well over $400 billion a year just to maintain the military during peace time. Add another $500 billion or more for the War on Terror. For 2008, President Bush requested between $600-$700 billion, including money for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Adjusted for inflation, these current wars have cost more than every war in American history with the exception of World War II.

The War on Terror is based on preemptive war on countries with abundant resources that have little to nothing to do with Islamic fundamentalism. In order to justify war in Iraq the Bush Administration lied to the American people leading up to the war's beginning in March 2003. He repeatedly said there were WMD's in Iraq and a direct link between Saddam and 9/11. Finally, in June 2009 former Vice President Dick Cheney admitted to these were lies by saying, "I do not believe and have never seen any evidence to confirm that [Hussein] was involved in 9/11. We had that reporting for a while, [but] eventually it turned out not to be true."

If the United States was engaged in a “just war” with clear objectives and enemies that were directly threatening its citizens it would have no problem fielding an army pumped up on nationalism. But, instead, these wars are unjust and based on lies, so President Bush had to lie to the American people, as well hire private military companies, such as Xe, formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide, to maintain occupation.

In short, the War on Terror has been completely fabricated. It is nothing more then propaganda justifying an interventionist foreign policy all around the world, used by corporations to increase profit and to protect international finance capital. The words, “War on Terror”, are nothing more than propaganda used by leaders to justify an endless war that benefits corporations. Throughout all of history when pharaohs, kings, emperors, caesars, and presidents speak about “national security” and protecting “our interests” they are really talking about protecting the economic interests of the rich. The interests of Haliburton and ExxonMobil are not the same as the interest of average Americans. Michael Moore was right when, during his 2003 Oscar acceptance speech, he said, “We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons.”

Further analysis of the War on Terror reveals that most acts of terror are carried out by domestic terrorists. Ironically, they are often by right-wing, Christian fundamentalists, such as the Ku Klux Klan, which has been terrorizing, lynching, murdering, and intimidating blacks, Jews, and immigrants for over a hundred years. Not only did the government not protect victims of violence from the KKK, but it actually participated in state sponsored racism and violence. Unfortunately, a black president, a poor economy, and continuous non-white immigration has led to more and more domestic acts of terror. In the first half of 2009 a prominent abortion doctor was assassinated in Kansas and a neo-Nazi, white supremacist stormed into the Holocaust Memorial Museum with a rifle and opened fired on guards. These terrorists, along with the likes of Timothy Mcveigh, are from the radical Right, but be sure, the Left has produced domestic terrorists, as well. Ted Kozinski, the Weather Underground, and the Earth Liberation Front are only a few. The point is most acts of terror, both past and present, have been carried out, not by Islamic fundamentalists, but by Americans.

If America chose to work on things humanely and bilaterally, we would be in a position to rule the world--peacefully. If America was a kind "global citizen,” by waging peace on the world, we would no longer be feared and hated; we would be loved and respected. America would have a peaceful say in everything countries do, and we could lead a “community of power” against tyranny and hate. And if Americans chose to rule justly and democratically within our own borders by treating all our citizens with respect we would have less problems here at home. Instead of wasting a 1 trillion dollars in Iraq while levees break in New Orleans, steam pipes break in New York, and bridges collapse in Minneapolis we should insure that all Americans have affordable housing, retirement plans, health insurance, adequate schools, and unemployment relief. This is real national security in a time of economic hardship.

Democracy as Propaganda

2009-03-27T16:14:00.000-05:00

Democracy is a form of government where power rests with the people who all have an equal voice in the governing processes. For it to succeed, all men must be seen as equal, and most importantly, all men must be treated as equal. The Founders wrote the words, “all men are created equal,” but they did not truly intend this. Women, slaves, Indians and anyone outside the merchant class were not treated equally or given an equal voice in the government. In fact, Democracy, since its rebirth during the European Enlightenment has been nothing more than convenient way of spreading out power among the rich. During this time, cities grew larger as science and technology improved, and a middle class emerged. More people demanded more power, parliaments grew stronger and Kings grew weaker, until revolutions broke out. Democracy was their answer. It was never meant to free people from an oppressive king or queen, or to hold leaders accountable for their actions. It was merely a convenient way of shifting power from a monarch to a few more wealthy individuals.

Howard Zinn reminds us that the Founders setup a government to protect the interests of merchants, traders, slaveholders, and land owners, to establish law and order, and to prevent rebellion. They did not created a system where power exist with a majority vote; they created a system where power rests with those who have wealth. Sure they established a system of checks and balances so no one person or institution would become too powerful, but they left out the most important element to checks and balance--the people. Real checks and balance exists, not within three branches of government, but with the people checking and balancing the government. The Founders saw this as a threat to their interests, so they created a government that checks the people in order to carry out the interests of the rich. It gave tax cuts to the rich, land to railroad companies, and it used armed forces to displace and kill Indians and Mexicans.

Our founders did not create a democracy, nor did they intend to. The word “democracy” was a bad word in 1776. It does not appear anywhere in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, or any state constitution. In fact, Democracy was not part of our nationhood until the Great War, when Woodrow Wilson vowed to “make the world safe for democracy.” He was using the notion of democracy as propaganda to unite a country, just as George W. Bush is doing ninety years later. Bush justifies an interventionist foreign policy in the Middle East with the claim that “our aim is to build and preserve a community of free and independent nations, with governments that answer to their citizens.” This is nothing more than propaganda used by the ruling class to give everyone a sense of cooperation and togetherness. It gives us a sense of nationality; that we are all in this together. This allows us to see all our interests--those of presidents, multinational corporations, and average Americans--as one and the same. The truth is, when presidents claim to be exporting democracy, whether to Eastern Europe, South East Asia, or to the Middle East, they are actually using it to justifying global military occupation and economic exploitation.

Our own Republic evolved over the course of centuries, how can it be forced onto another country through war? Take the Iraq for an example. Not only will you find no democratic tradition in Iraq, but, with the exception of Turkey, you won't find it anywhere in the Middle East. Democracy engineered by marshal law under these conditions is doomed to fail. Henry Kissinger once said: "Democracy in the West evolved over centuries. It required first a church independent of the state; then the Reformation, which imposed pluralism of religion; the Enlightenment, which asserted the autonomy of reason from both church and state; the Age of Discovery, which broadened horizons; and finally capitalism, with its emphasis on competition and the market. None of these exists in the Islamic world."

The power structure not only uses the idea of democracy as propaganda to create support for wars that benefit the rich, but it also uses it to suppress Americans at home. They give us a false notion that somehow voting will make things better. For example, in 1963 both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations endorsed Martin Luther King and put him at the head of the Civil Rights Movement, because he was advocating nonviolence. By embracing Martin Luther King and his message of passivity, the government was able to channel a violent revolution into a movement that advocated voting rights. Sure enough, thousands of people registered black voters in 1964, and the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. But nothing changed. Voting did not end discrimination, racism, poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, or the war in Vietnam. Voting was not a fundamental solution to any problems, and the power structure used it to divert change.

Activist Abbie Hoffman once said, “Democracy is not something you believe in . . . it's something you do.” Unfortunately, Americans believe in democracy, but they do not practice it. It is an abstract concept, floating in the air. No where is it practiced. More people vote for American Idol every week then those who vote for the President. This is partly because they know their American Idol vote will actually count. It is virtually impossible for votes to get counted in a general election because of disenfranchisement, electronic voting machines, confusing ballots, and gerrymandering. And what is one vote out of 330 million? People also don't participate in democracy because they are watching mindless television or rotting their brain with some new electronic device. Not to mention, people are demoralized and indebted and find themselves with every little time to get in the streets.

Additionally, people do not practice Democracy because it is not taught in our schools. History in general is not taught correctly. George Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act only holds schools accountable for student productivity on reading and math tests, causing other subjects, such as history, to get shorted. What better way to prevent people from thinking about the present then by keeping them ignorant of the past. Adolf Hitler once said, “What luck for rulers that men do not think.” The power structure knows that an educated populace is hard to govern, so there has been a well orchestrated plan to dumb down the public school system. It is much easier to govern when students are indoctrinated with nationalism, forced to recite allegiances and bow to flags, and taught to be mindless consumers in a world where everyone is equal in their ability consume and waste.

* In theory, if all men were treated equally, all men would have a equal voice in the governing process. In reality, all men are created equal, but not all men are treated equally.

* In theory, if power existed with a majority vote, it would shift power and wealth from the rich to the poor, creating a balanced system that benefits everyone. In reality, power does not exist with a majority vote, because in America, the more dollars you have, the more votes you have. This is a systems where the minority rules.

* In theory, if a government was ran based on a system of checks and balance, no one person or institution would become too powerful. But in America, people forget that real checks and balances lay, not between three branches of government, but between the people checking the government. This is not practiced. In fact, political dissent is shunned.

* In theory, if governments were accountable to their people there would be no war, because people do not wage war. Governments, corporation, and the ruling class wage war.

Democracy does have flaws, as the American system has shown, but I still accept it as a way of solving problems. It seems to be a much better way of enhancing society than war or technology. A situation where individuals sitting around a campfire making decisions based on the needs of the many, rather than the few, would be just. If a small group of people did not agree with the decisions made, then they could vote with their feet; they could simply walk away and start another tribe. This, however, would be impossible today. There are too many borders and fences and just not enough freedom for any dissent. We are stuck with our current system until enough people decided that democracy and a more egalitarian system is worth having.

The best thing about true democracy, according to Harry S. Truman, “is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected.” Unfortunately, however, America does not have system where the people can simply point out problems and correct them. If this was the case America would not have an interventionist foreign policy. Current polls suggest that nearly 70 percent of Americans are against the occupation Iraq. Democracy would end this war. Likewise, in 1916, Woodrow Wilson said World War I would have never occurred if democracy was practiced: "I am convinced that only governments initiate such wars as the present, and that they are never brought on by people, and that, therefore, democracy is the best preventive of such jealous and suspicions and secret intrigues as produce wars among nations where small groups control rather than the great body of public opinion."

The problem with democracy is that it gives too much power to too many people. This gives hundreds of people in the ruling class the chance to profit from a system designed for them. Democracy cannot exist outside a small town, and it definitely cannot exist in a country with 330 million people. But was it ever meant to exist in the first place? How can someone actually buy into the false sense of democracy in this country? There is no democracy, and the very idea of democracy is a tool used to suppress us. In reality, we live in a country where the few rule the many. Oligarchies are the most common form of government in history, and it does not have to be a bad thing. But it is bad if we live in an oligarchy and we think we live in a democracy. Democracy is propaganda.

Society

2008-09-07T16:53:00.002-05:00

hmmm ooh hooo hooo

It's a mystery to me
we have a greed
with which we have agreed

You think you have to want
more than you need
until you have it all you won't be free

society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me

When you want more than you have
you think you need
and when you think more than you want
your thoughts begin to bleed

I think I need to find a bigger place
'cos when you have more than you think
you need more space

society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

there's those thinking more or less less is more
but if less is more how you're keeping score?
Means for every point you make
your level drops
kinda like its starting from the top
you can't do that...

society, you're a crazy breed
I hope you're not lonely without me
society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

society, have mercy on me
I hope you're not angry if I disagree
society, crazy and deep
I hope you're not lonely without me

Jerry Hannan and Eddie Vedder

Settlement of Indiana

2008-05-05T22:21:00.002-05:00

The French explorer, Robert La Salle, navigated the Great Lakes regions and the Mississippi River in the late 1600's, including the waterways of Indiana in 1679. He saw vast tracks of unused land, Native American goods, and new plants and animals as something that could be profitable for his home country. He quickly claimed the entire area for France, including what would become Indiana.

Trading posts were established around Native American populations and along major rivers in Indiana. In days before railroads and automobiles, rivers were used for transporting goods. Therefore, riverbanks became places of commerce, mission work, and settlement. Military posts were built to protect these areas from rival European powers. Three major posts of the 18th century are Indiana cities today: Post Vincennes, established in 1732, is presently Vincennes; Fort Quiatonon (1717) is near present day Lafayette; and Fort Miami (1721) is now Fort Wayne.

Benefits of Trade
The story of the fur trade is usually one of genocide, the death of millions of Native Americans because of disease and war, but there was also considerable amount of peace between Europeans and Indigenous people of Indiana through trade. Bartering is a win/win situation, because people only trade when they are expecting to gain something. In addition, the voluntary nature of trade between two people creates peaceful relations and cultural awareness. There is evidence of these peaceful relations in Indiana between Europeans and Native Americans.

Native Americans initially embraced French settlers and traders, because of the benefits of trade and because there were too few Frenchmen to threaten their way of life. As trade expanded, more interaction between the two people created peaceful relations. Alliances were built by trading goods and friendships were developed by exchanging gifts. It was important to learn languages and customs of the other side to determine what trading goods were desired. For example, European traders made iron arrowheads, something that was not part of their culture, because they knew this was a marketable item with Native Americans. Cultural awareness also lead to integrated wardrobes, and Europeans sometimes chose to live among Indian tribes, some even married and raised families.

Native Americans bartered for items such as firearms, cloth, metal tools, jewelry, and alcohol. They were interested in obtaining items that had practical use in their daily lives. For example, arrowheads and cooking utensils made of metal simply replaced existing tools made of stone. Furthermore, because trade allowed European goods to arrive in places long before Europeans themselves, Native Americans often tried to position themselves as middlemen in larger trading networks with other Indian tribes to improve their trading power and social prestige.

The French were interested in trading for animal furs and skins from Native Americans. Companies entrusted goods to traders who transported them by canoe to exchange for deerskin, and beaver, muskrat, and raccoon pelts. The furs were then sent to Paris to satisfy fashion demands in Europe. A beaver pelt hat, for example, was popular among the aristocracy; it was a symbol of wealth and prestige.

Costs of Trade
The benefits of trade, however, came at a cost. European tools often made daily life easier for Native Americas, but trade creates a problem of dependency. For example, using metal arrowheads may have made daily life easier, however over time ancient skills of making stone arrowheads by hand were lost. This made Native Americans dependent on trade with Europeans to obtain more iron arrowheads. Another example of dependency involves firearms. Once an individual relies on the use of a gun, he or she becomes dependent on trade to maintain it; one must obtain shot, powder, spare parts, and anything else to keep the gun working.

Though Native Americans traded for European tools, they did not trade beliefs and values. They resisted ideas about property rights, year-round farming, and religious beliefs. Therefore, as more and more settlers arrived, the culture difference between the two people intensified. Another cost of trade included the exchange of diseases. Europeans spread diseases, such as smallpox, measles, tuberculosis, and influenza, to indigenous people of the New World, who had no immunities against them. Disease, along with war and genocide as a result of culture differences and racism, led to the death of millions of people and nearly a complete annihilation of an entire race of people.

One Land, Two Peoples
Competition between Native American tribes for European goods, along with competition between France and Britain, reached a turning point in the 1760's during the French and Indian War. Native Americans generally chose to fight alongside the French, because they were more dependent on French trading goods and because the British were more interested in settling large tracks of land. Great Britain won the war in 1763, giving them dominance over trade relations with Native Americans for a short period of time. The British traded items that reflected an empire–tobacco, guns, and rum. This lasted until the Revolutionary War and the birth of America. Eventually, in the 1800's, more and more Americans moved west of the Appalachian Mountains because of cheap land and resources. As more settlers arrived to places like Indiana, conflict with Native Americans intensified. This conflict, along with fashion changes in Europe, helped bring an end to the fur trade around the 1850's.

Howard Zinn on Empire

2008-04-23T20:21:00.004-05:00

Howard Zinn is the single most influential author/historian in my life. This is my creed.

"Have we not reached a point in history where we are ready to embrace a new way of living in the world, expanding not our military power, but our humanity?"

Astronaut Jesus

2008-04-17T21:16:00.002-05:00

Jesus died. He is on his way to Heaven. Heaven has to be a large place, considering all the people that apparently fit in there with great comfort. Therefore, we can conclude that, because astronomers can see billions of light years into space, Heaven cannot possibly be anywhere near earth, otherwise we would be able to see it.

Lets assume that some how Jesus was traveling at the speed of light. This means he is roughly 2,000 light years away from earth. This means he has 23,000 more years just to reach the center of our galaxy. That is, assuming he didn’t have to go around the sun to get through our solar system. If he was not going in that direction, then he is probably heading in the direction of one of the billion of galaxies out there. It will take him 160,000 years just to reach the nearest one. Whatever he is going, he has a long way to go. The billions of galaxies in the universe are each constantly moving apart, so there are millions of light-years between each one. So, considering the universe is mostly empty space, it is safe to say that Jesus is still traveling in space and he is billions of years from his destination.

Also, do not forget astronomers know approximately how fast the universe is expanding, and it has be doing so for 10-15 billion years. This gives Jesus little hope of ever actually getting closer to his destination. That is, if he even knows where he is going! Chances are he is lost. Our galaxy alone is filled with too many stars and clouds of dust to see the center (hence the name Milky Way). With all the stars, planets, moons, asteroids, meteors, comets, dust clouds, and dark shadows with no light between galaxies, there is a great chance that Jesus is aimlessly drifting in space. Even worse, he is probably caught up in some asteroid field or black hole, or he might be caught by some planet’s gravitational pull. This would mean he is aimlessly orbiting a planet!

Despite all this, I will give him the benefit of doubt. After all, he cured the sick and walked on water as a man, so I’m sure he knows how to get back to Heaven. (Though, I doubt he is there yet.) After all, he was sent by God and somehow got to earth in the first place, so I am sure he can find his way back. However, what about all the other people on their way to Heaven, too. I doubt anyone knows the way or has the capabilities to get there.

Wait a minute. I want to know how Jesus got to Earth in the first place! Considering (a.) the distance from Heave to Earth is billions of light-years, and (b.) the age of the earth is 4.6 billion years. This means he had to have started traveling here billions of years before Earth even existed--billions of year before he knew humans needed a savior!

Wow. Maybe I’m thinking too hard. In any case, I do know that there is a certain point in childhood development that children learn concrete items much easier then abstract concepts. They do not learn abstract ideas like patriotism, freedom, or racism until a latter age. They learn by picturing abstract ideas as concrete imagines in their head. This is why people believe stories in the Bible are actually true. They believe God is sitting on a cloud with angles feeding him cherries and playing harps for him. This isn’t likely.

Lets read religious text metaphorically. The messages, themes, and lessons should be taken seriously, not stories that divert what is really important. This logic, of course, can be applied to any story, such as Lord of the Rings. The messages and lessons taken from this book are as deep and meaningful as the Bible. Lord of the Rings is my religion. Gollum died for my sins.

"We Will Reign Them In"

2008-04-13T19:58:00.010-05:00

My question for Hillary Clinton:

"War has always been privatized in the sense that it benefits the rich at the expense of the poor. However, war is being outsourced and privatized at an unprecedented level in American history. My question is regarding private military companies and what your Administration will do to hold them accountable and to give them oversight--or dismantle companies such as Blackwater, Worldwide."

"We Will Reign Them In" More to come.......

Faceless Generation - updated

2008-03-21T21:47:00.004-05:00

I wouldn’t say our generation is entirely nameless. Perhaps the “Faceless Generation” is a suitable name for a generation that takes an active role of ignorance and privilege acceptance; one that is complacent with its way of life and apathetic towards poverty, war, and suffering. Many people I have come in contact with seem to lack intense or enthusiastic political beliefs, and not many have meaningful interests or convictions. Very few seem to question any authority or challenge the status quo. There seems to be a generation void of thought.

Tony Benn, a former member of the British parliament, reminds us that, “We are the first generation in the whole of human history that has the money and technology to resolve the world’s problems.” We could just as easily send recruiters into schools that inspire students to become teachers and doctors, rather than soldiers in the military. We could build schools, hospitals, and homeless shelters, rather than developing high-tech weaponry that destroy such things.

This will not happen without political dissent, but there simply is not enough participatory democracy. But it does not have to be this way. There have been many silent generations in the past that have spawned the greatest revolutionary periods in our history. A simple action by Rosa Parks can inspire people to question the status quo; a charismatic leader, such as Martin Luther King, can animate a crowd towards a common goal.

But what will it take to motivate people today? There is a lot injustice taking place, yet very few people seem to notice. It is time we start. Lets stand up against the injustice taking place. And let us remember that America’s greatest qualities--qualities that separate us from the developing world--have not been achieved through victory on the battlefield. The eight hour work day, child labor laws, workplace safety laws, the right to vote for women, and desegregation were won, not with guns and tanks, but through protest and dissent against our own government. This country is great because of boycotts, strikes, rallies, marches, petitions, sit-ins, tree sitting, hunger strikes, pickets, candlelight vigils, tax refusal, go-slows, blockades, draft refusal, and public demonstrations.

There is hope!

The Nightwatch Man

2007-09-11T17:40:00.000-05:00

Independence Day: Peace is Patriotism

2007-07-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

Author J. F. Bierlein writes that civic mythology acts as a social glue, holding a country together: “National identity is based on a shared history and shared symbols of a nationhood. The basis of the founding and legitimacy of governments, the civic myths of countries unite their citizens by an acceptance of common symbols.” American civic myth consists of many symbols such as the flag, the Statue of Liberty, the national anthem, bald eagles, our money, and a shared history with former Presidents. Civic myth is a religion. It is sacrilegious, for example, to burn the flag incorrectly or to sit during the nation anthem.

But civic mythology is used to create nationalism and blind obedience. National symbols are indoctrinated in us from our days of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in school to being told to rise for the national anthem before games. I am reminded of Nazi Germany, where 70 million superpatriots were brainwashed through nationalism to carry out the vision of a madman. Millions of people died because of allegiances such as ours.

National symbols and patriotism in this country are closely linked to militarism. “The message is clear,” writes Michael Parenti, “patriotism and militarism go together. A flag in one hand, a weapon in the other, that is what makes America great; that is what supposedly makes us free and independent, safe and prosperous.” This is a shame, because this makes it difficult to criticize the Military Industrial Complex.

Instead, let us attribute patriotism with peace. Let us start fighting for real national security that involves assisting people with affordable housing, retirement plans, health insurance, adequate schools, and unemployment relief. And let us remember that America’s greatest qualities--qualities that separate us from the developing world--have not been achieved through victory on the battlefield. The eight hour work day, child labor laws, workplace safety laws, the right to vote for women, and desegregation were won, not with guns and tanks, but through protest and dissent against our own government.

Put away your flags! Peace is Patriotism!

Sicko Trailer, See it June 29th

2007-06-09T07:07:00.000-05:00

I have first hand experience with the atrocious U.S. health care system. Not long ago I was one of the 47 million people without health care. That is right, I was on the George Bush Health Plan for over a year. Now I am one of 50 million people who are under insured. Furthermore, I was a social worker at a non-profit mental health hospital where I provided assistance for children who were living without basic needs and who were suffering from mental health problems. The hardest part of the job was denying assistance to several impoverished children because they did not have health care insurance. They were denied Medicaid, because their parents made too much money. Often, the household income, provide by two working parents, put the family below the poverty line. Yet, they had too much money to qualify for health insurance assistance for their children.

The United States of America is the richest nation in the world, yet nearly 1 out of every 5 child is born into poverty. These children are deprived basic needs, such as health care, affordable housing, and adequate schools, all while the war machine is well funded. A bumper sticker reads, "It'll be a great day when schools have all the money they need and the Air Force has to have a bake sale to buy a bomber."

The United States spends $2.1 trillion on health care, twice the money per capita then the next country does, yet our health care system is ranked 37th in the world. We have a system based on profit, not people. The Pharmaceutical industry, along with health insurance companies, rack in billions of dollars for their CEO’s and shareholders, while the poor go uninsured or under-insured. It is a crime to be sick in this country.

We do not need to raise taxes to pay for health insurance for all citizens. All we have to do is prioritize money away from the colossal war budget and give it back to the American people. Instead of stealing money from people in order to pay for failed war overseas, lets use the money for real national security–health care, schools, tuition loans, retirement plans, affordable housing, etc.

I do not need to see a documentary about the U.S. health care system to know it is horrible. I have my own personal experiences to show for the truth. But I will see this movie and so should you.

Blackwater, Worldwide

2007-06-08T21:15:00.000-05:00

In all, the United States has over 700 military installations throughout the world, and over 310,000 military personnel are stationed in 120 countries. Every branch of the military, along with sixteen intelligence agencies, make up the military industrial cartel, at an extreme price. For 2008, President Bush has requested $600-700 billion, including money for the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. This is more than the rest of the world combined. Included in war budgets is money for private mercenary armies, such as Blackwater, USA.
Watch!

Happy Malcolm X Day

2007-05-20T08:11:00.000-05:00

We declare our right on this earth to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary. — Malcolm X

War OF Terror

2007-05-10T18:03:00.000-05:00

Victims of war.
Victims of war.

There were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. They were called U.N. sanctions, implemented by the United States. Sanctions that deprived innocent people of medicine, water, electricity, and basic necessities for life. Sanctions that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people. And now there are more Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq--the U.S. military. The people of America have brought a war to Iraq that has killed more then a half million people. This is unacceptable if there is ever going to be peace in the world. As Howard Zinn states, “war now, in our time, in the time of high-level bombing and long-range shelling and death at a distance, inevitably means the indiscriminate killing of huge numbers of people. " These innocent people are children. War will not kill the enemy, because the enemy is war.

The Road I Must Travel

2007-05-03T15:45:00.012-05:00

There are several reasons why I am politically active. First, I have read dozens of books about history, government, religion, poverty, and war. I also spend hours reading the news and analyzing world events. I do not claim to be a historian; at best I am a diligent student of history and world events. Yet over the course of my studies I have developed stronger and stronger beliefs, and I have grown less tolerant of war and injustice. And as Howard Zinn reminds us, "you can't be neutral on a moving train."

I believe problems exist in this nation that are inconsistent with American ideals. I am also willing to stand up for these beliefs, whereas most people are not. Malcolm X said, "If we don't stand for something, we may fall for anything." This is true for most Americans who are complacent with their way of life and who are apathetic toward anything other than themselves. This allows America to be misled into war time and time again. I, on the other hand, believe that the health of a democracy depends on informed citizens taking action and that each citizen has an individual responsibility to do so, and our right to petition against the government is the best thing we can do. Therefore, I am an outspoken activist. Activist Abbie Hoffman once said, “Democracy is not something you believe in . . . it's something you do.” I truly believe this.

I believe the first step towards making change begins with educating, not only oneself, but others as well. I have worked in the pubic schools for three years, and I am currently an Education Specialist at the Indiana State Museum. Often times oppressed people are not aware that they are oppressed, someone must teach them. For example, during the Antebellum Period, slave masters prevented their slaves from learning how to read in order to keep them passive and to prevent them from reading a map that led to freedom. Many slaves simply did not know what freedom was. Harriet Tubman, a woman who led hundreds of slaves to freedom using the Underground Railroad, once said, "If I could have convinced more slaves that they were slaves, I could have freed thousands more." This is why I am an educator.

I believe if a person is not influenced by books or education, then one can be influenced by personal experiences. Historian Terry H. Anderson reminds us that a black person growing up in Alabama in 1960 did not need to read any books to be exposed to discrimination, poverty, and suffering, all he had to do was walk down the street. This type of experience can be extremely motivating to a person to want to change his or her environment. Personally, I have not experienced poverty to this degree, but I have witnessed it while working as a social worker. I provided help for children living without basic needs who had mental health problems, mostly due to their harsh environments. The hardest part was denying assistance to several impoverished children because they did not have health insurance. I have also witnessed extreme poverty on an Indian Reservation. In short, I have seen Americans being oppressed by an endless cycle of poverty, all while public officials siphon money away from human services and while billionaires profit from war.

Ultimately, I am politically active because I possess enthusiastic beliefs and meaningful convictions. I believe humanity should reconsider its perception of war. Humans have made progress towards eliminating totalitarianism, theocracy, and slavery, but we have made no moral progress towards eliminating war. Yet, war has made unsurmountable progress towards eliminating us. We have to start treating war differently, especially in our time. Howard Zinn states, “war now, in our time, in the time of high-level bombing and long-range shelling and death at a distance, inevitably means the indiscriminate killing of huge numbers of people, and therefore cannot be accepted as a way of solving problems.” In other words, war is far too dangerous, in terms of technology and global consequences, to keep treating it like we have throughout all of history. H. G. Wells was right when he said, “If we don't end war, war will end us.”

I do not see myself as a patriot, at least not as it is defined by the United Sates. Patriotism in this country is always associated with war. Why? Well, because, as international peace activist Cindy Sheehan wrote, “all through school we are taught that somehow our leaders are always right and have our interests at heart when they wave a flag and convince us to hate fellow human beings who stand in the way of their making immense profit from war.” I am extremely glad I got through eighteen years of institutionalized education without believing this. I was taught that Christopher Columbus discover the New World; that the Constitution included everyone; that Manifest Destiny was put forth to spread freedom and democracy to “uncivilized” people; that Lincoln freed the slaves; that nuclear weapons had to be used on Japan; and that it is unpatriotic to question our leaders. I was brainwashed for eighteen year! Nevertheless, I do not posses false ideas of patriotism; because, as Mark Twain suggests, I never let school interfere my education.

Instead, I believe in the equal treatment of all human beings, not just Americans. I believe it is important to stand up for all people of the world, and to stand up against every war. It takes a considerable amount of integrity to speak out when others are not. Current polls suggest most people are against the Iraq War and the current state of affairs, yet only a minority are passionate enough to do something. Again, Mark Twain was correct when he said that Americans have three precious things: “freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them.” This is unfortunate, because the health of a democracy depends on informed citizens taking action, and our right to petition against the government is the best thing we can do. This is exactly what I am doing. I try to educate people, agitate policy makers, and motivate others to march with me. The road is long, but it can be done.

The End I Cannot See
Summer 2004 - I joined the Lafayette Area Peace Coalition (LAPC) in protest to America’s interventionist foreign policy. I also joined an organization called Change 2004. It was a coalition of organizations in the Lafayette area that came together to campaign for the 2004 election. I passed out flyers, tabled at dozens of community events, including county fair, the Jazz festival, the Taste of Tippecanoe, and outside of Plan Parenthood. This was all in an attempt to spread information about the election, spread anti-war material, and to gain support for candidates in the election. Change 2004 registered 10% of all new registered voters in Tippecanoe county. We supported Indiana Representative for District 26 Democrat Joe Micon. He won by 640 votes.

Aug. 2004 - I met John Kerry in Las Vegas. Pic.

Aug. 2004 - Began working in the public schools in special education departments.

Fall 2004 - I continued to campaign for progressive candidates and register voters weekly. I helped comply lists and made several dozens calls to newly register voters.

Nov. 2004 - I voted. I had met every candidate I voted for.

Spring 2005 - I continued to be an active member of the LAPC and Change 2004, which was renamed Progressive Alliance of Greater Lafayette (PAGL).

March 2005 - I attended the Midwest Peace Summit in Indianapolis. I met author Michael Parenti, attended various workshops, and heard progressive thinkers discuss current issues around the world. It felt like being part of a teach-in.

March 2005 - I attended a anti-war rally in Indianapolis marking the 2 year anniversary of the war in Iraq. It was part of the world wide protest of the war. Pic

April 2005 - I attended Homeward Bound, a 5k walk for the homeless in Lafayette. I pledged money and altogether the walk generated nearly $50,000 for homeless.

July 2005 - I began working at Wabash Valley Hospital as a child and adolescent case manager. I provided direct assistance to impoverish children with mental health issues within a school and helped them gain access to community services.

Summer 2005 - I continued to be an active member of the LAPC and PAGL. I also joined Lafayette’s branch of Democracy for America (DFA). I was also part of several subcommittees for these organizations, including the coordinating committee and Alternatives to Military Recruiting for PAGL, and I was the Garage Sale Coordinator for DFA. I was extremely active in the community: I tabled all time, passing our flyers at the movie theaters, the Farmers Market, and several community events; I attended various candle light vigils; helped create flyers; attended Drinking Liberally weekly; and I helped raise money for Katrina victims and to bring Iraqi artist Wafaa Bilal to Lafayette.

September 2005 - I was the garage sale coordinator for Lafayette’s branch of Democracy for America. I organized volunteers, tables, items and posted signs. The sale generated $350 for the 2006 election.

September 2005 - I marched on Washington with hundreds of thousands of people. Pics
March 2006 - I attended the 2nd annual Midwest Peace Summit in Indianapolis. I met Ann Wright and heard her speak twice.

May 2006 - I voted in the Primary. I have met and campaigned for everyone I voted for.

May 2006 - Moved to Indianapolis where I am less active then I would like to be; however, I try to be active in my career as an educator. I also try to raise conciseness of everyone I come in contact with through conversation. I pass on knowledge by making points about war and injustice, and I make suggestions regarding a good book or good website.

Nov. 2006 - Voted in the Midterm.

Jan. 2007 - Another massive march in Washington D.C. for peace and justice. Pics

April 2007 - Attend 3rd Annual Midwest Peace Summit with my family in Indianapolis. There were several organizations from the state advocating peace and social justice. It was filled with music, food, art, tabling, and a wide variety of workshops and speakers. I met international peace activist Cindy Sheehan and the former chaplain at Guantanamo Bay, James Yee.

December 2007 - I relocated to Chicago to work at the Museum of Science and Industry. I continue to be active through my career as an educator, and I plan to be get involved in the great city of Chicago, the birth place of working-class politics in America.

Jan 2008 - Heard civil rights activist Angela Davis speak in Chicago.

March 2008 - I attended a rally and march in downtown Chicago to mark the 5th year anniversary of the occupation of Iraq.

April 2008 - Saw Hillary Clinton speak on the campaign trail in Valparaiso, Indiana. I asked her to hold private military companies accountable for their actions.

April 2008 - Met Ralph Nader and heard him speak in Chicago.

May 2008 - Saw the "Justice Tour" with the Nightwatchman and Ben Harper.

September 2008 - Saw Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzales speak on the campaign trail.

Oct. 2008 - Saw Barack Obama speak on the campaign trail in Indiana

Nov. 2008 - Voted in a truly historic election.

Peace Summit 2007

2007-04-22T10:24:00.000-05:00

I attended the 3rd annual Midwest Peace Summit with my family. This year’s summit was once again a success. There were several organizations from the state advocating peace and social justice. It was filled with music, food, art, tabling, and a wide variety of workshops and speakers.

Keynote speaker Cindy Sheehan was sensational. She delivered a passionate speech about the death of her son and her experience as an international peace activist. She became very emotional when telling the crowd that she wishes her son did not die in vain fighting an illegal war for criminals in the White House. She stated that peace and love, rather hate, is the answer. She said, “I do not hate George W. Bush, because hate only hurts the hater.” She went on to say that Bush and all his cronies should be impeached and tried for war crimes against humanity.

James Yee, former chaplain at Guantanamo Bay, spoke out against human rights abuses taking place in the Cuban prison by sharing stories about the torture and beatings he witnessed. He described his experience trying to work for religious freedom for detainees. He also spoke about his experience being arrested, imprisoned, and falsely accused of working as a terrorist under the Patriot Act.

I was disappointed at the low attendance at this year’s summit. It is a shame that Indianapolis, a major metropolitan area, can only draw 200-300 people to see an international peace activist speak. This is, however, not entirely surprising considering how conservative and backwards Indiana has always been. Indiana is the northernmost southern state. The apathy Hoosiers show, however, is by no means a reflection of the size and strength of the antiwar movement, nor is it a refection of the overall mood of the rest of the country. In fact, the majority of the country opposes George’s War of Terror, and nonviolent direct action is increasing. Only in places such as Indiana do you find such apathy and complacency.

Night

2007-03-08T18:37:00.000-06:00

Never shall I forget that night,
the first night in the camp
which has turned my life into one long night,
seven times cursed and seven times sealed.

Never shall I forget that smoke.
Never shall I forget the little faces of the children
whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke
beneath a silent blue sky.

Never shall I forget those flames
which consumed my faith for ever.
Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence
which deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live.

Never shall I forget those moments
which murdered my God and my soul
and turned my dreams into dust.

Never shall I forget these things,
even if I am condemned to live
as long as God Himself.

Never.

Elie Wiesel

BOOKS

2007-03-08T18:24:00.002-06:00

Never let school interfere with your education. Here is the list of books I have read since receiving an institutionalized education:

2004
History:
Parallel Myths
The Way of Alexander the Great
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Dude Where's My Country
The Best War Ever
Against All Enemies
Slaughter House Five
Utes: The Mountain People
A People's History of the U.S.
The Legacy of Conquest
History of the American West
Nation of Nations
America: A Concise History

Fiction:
The Runaway Jury
The Summons
King of Torts
Bleachers
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
LOTR and Philosophy

2005
History:
The Good Old Days
Drawn with the Sword
What They Fought For
The Way of King Arthur
Legends, Lies, Myths of Amer. History
Don’t Know Much About History
A History of Knowledge
Alexander the Great
The Way of the Crusades
Malcolm X Speaks

Fiction:
The Last Juror
The Partner
A Time to Kill
The Da Vinci Code
The Fellowship of the Ring

Comparative Religion:
When Religion is Evil
The Power of Myth
Meditations

2006
History:
Alexander the Great, Journey to the End of the Earth
A Short History of Progress
The Cold War, A New History
Against Empire
The Movement and the Sixties

Fiction:
The Two Towers
Inca Gold
Interview with the Vampire
The Vampire Lestat
The Children of Men

Comparative Religion:
Rituals for Life

2007
History:
A Power Governments Cannot Suppress
The Culture Struggle
Superpatriotism
Night
Don't Know Much About History
Don't Know Much About the Universe
Peace Mom
Orginal Zinn
Johnny Got His Gun
Peoples and Empires
Don't know Much About Geography
Passionate Declarations

Fiction:
Animal Farm
The Firm
Angels and Demons
Playing for Pizza

2008
History:
Folly of Empire
A People's History of American Empire
The Post-American World

Fiction:

Animal Farm

2007-03-05T18:01:00.000-06:00

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
- George Orwell

A Power

2007-02-20T18:08:00.000-06:00

"When we organize with one another, when we get involved, when we stand up and speak out together, we can create a power no government can suppress." -Howard Zinn

I recommend Howard Zinn's newest book, A Power Governments Cannot Suppress.

Cultural Revolution

2007-02-13T09:54:00.000-06:00

Change will occur in America if there is a revolution. A violent revolution would fail because Americans live in a repressive system that would use military force to protect itself, and even if it was successful it would not guarantee a change for the better. What America needs is a slow, peaceful revolution. A revolution that changes the way society thinks and acts, the way we live, and the things we value. America needs a Cultural Revolution.

We Value the Wrong Things

Americans value the wrong things. First, America values a large economy. We think we have to join the rat-race, the endless pursuit of wealth through work, to find happiness. This is why millions and millions of people suffer from depression and mental health problems. The polls suggest that Americans are no more happier now than 80 years ago when the economy was smaller and spending power was less.

Secondly, Americans value technology too much. We are too reliant on technology to ensure our survival, and we are overconfident that more technology will better society and somehow create a utopia. Sure, technology has made improvements in many areas. However, with each new solution more problems are created; more problems create the need for more solutions through technology, and each time the negative consequences grow steeper. Sure technology has made advancements in medicine and increasing our life expectancy, but the human body did not evolve to live 90 years. Our bodies have 3.5 million plus years of experience as a doctor; the human body can cure and prevent more diseases then any doctor ever will, yet we are obsessed with altering our appearance and living forever through technology. Have you ever been to a nursing home? Frankenstein is not science fiction anymore! Yes, it has increased our quantity of life, but it has decreased our quality of life. We can thank technology for allergies, asthma, cancer, depression, and weapons of mass destruction. We can also thank technology for global warming in which the United States in a major contributor–we are responsible for twenty percent of the world’s CO2 emittance. America’s obesity problem is partly due to technology--136 million Americans are overweight, and one third of all American children and teens are overweight. This is partly because we merely walk from our cars to our computers to the couch to watch television–a new study shows that children spend 6.5 hours a day using electronics. Consequently, we have no practical reason for our body; it does not directly relate to our survival anymore. In addition, we have made no moral progress toward defining new technologies. Our debates over technologies that abort babies, deliver nuclear bombs, and clone humans are endless, yet we continue to build these machines.

The Way We Think

Americans need to change the way they think. We need to change the way we think about happiness. We are socialized by corporations to believe we need expensive name brand products, lots of technology, and a large economy to be happy. Therefore, we join the rat-race to make as much money as possible, thinking we are in the pursuit of happiness, but we are not. Rather than living moderately, we work, consume, waste, and spend money on popular culture and technology. We will do anything to live forever with computers, cell phones, stock options, a trim waistline, and the nicest car on the block. Americans view these things, not as wants and desires, but as necessities that ensure our survival.

We also need to rethink our views regarding democracy and freedom. We claim to spread Democracy to the Middle East and elsewhere, yet we do not even practice it here. Too many people are passive obedient, and very few people question authority or engage in political dissent. This is clear by the fact that more people vote for American Idol than they do for the President. Most people are locked in their homes watching mindless reality TV. Mean while, they claim to live in the most democratic nation in the world. This is hypocrisy not democracy.

The Way We Act

We need to change the way we act. We have the most violent and militaristic culture in the world, and we really seem to hate each other. We have the highest murder rate, most hand guns, and most violent crimes in the world. And people seem to be apathetic toward the poverty and suffering of others, choosing instead to profit from the poverty and war. We live in the richest country in the world, yet eighteen percent of American children are impoverished. All together, 37 million Americans live in poverty, 45 million Americans do not have healthcare, and 13 million hard-working Americans make $5.15 an hour, all while affluent people in the suburbs do little to help. Instead they blame the poor for society’s problems and seek authoritarian solutions.

To protect us from our militaristic culture, the government uses authoritarian methods to enforce millions of laws through martial law. The United States and Japan are the only two developed countries that use capital punishment, and America is home to 22% of the world’s prison population; yet America constitutes only 0.05% of the world’s total population. Unfortunately, the American people seem to support state sanctioned violence--strict rules, regulations, surveillance, and social control–as long as the large economy is maintained. Ultimately, people are complacent towards crime, violence, and poverty, as long as they are safe and secure in their homes; Americans would rather enjoy technology, a large economy, and security, rather then freedom.

The way we act is also destroying the world. Our corporations use cutthroat competition as an excuse to exploit other people and the environment. We keep impoverished countries poor forever through the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, free trade agreements, and our interventionist foreign policy bullies our economic and political agenda around the world; in short, our government preserves our large economy through multinational corporations, globalization, and military occupation. We spend more on the military than the rest of the world combined. We have enough Weapons of Mass Destruction to destroy the world five times, and there are thousands of U.S. military installations and personnel around the world. American hawks ignore peace treaties, break Geneva Convention rules, and dismiss the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by torturing others and engaging in state sponsored terrorism (see Guantanamo Bay and the School of Americas).

How will a Cultural Revolution Happen?

I do not advocate a violent revolution because I am a passivist, and I do not believe in war. I do, however, advocate a Cultural Revolution that would completely overthrow the American system. How will a Cultural Revolution happen? We first need to reform the institutions that create our values. There is a massive conservative infrastructure consisting of schools, corporations, churches, and the government that currently produce poor values:

1.) Schools - Schools teach our children that “all men are created equal” in their ability to consume and waste; that figures of authority never lie; and they discourage free thinking and critical thinking. Ultimately, schools are run like assembly lines, mass producing mindless clones for future generations. Sure, people value education, but for the wrong reasons. Many go to graduate school, not because they enjoy learning, but because they hope to increase their future spending power. The process of learning would be less painful if it was shifted away from financial goals toward learning goals. Maybe then we can start making some moral progress toward a better future.

2.) Corporations - Through commercials and advertisements, corporations socialize Americans to believe happiness is defined by wealth. They use fear to sell their products by saying we can not possibly be happy unless we have the newest gadget or the best cosmetics. So we spend our lives in pursuit of things we do not actually need. We have developed a culture based on corporate greed, rather than tradition and necessity.

Author Michael Parenti wrote, “A large part of our culture is now mass-marketed product, aptly designated as “mass culture,” “popular culture,” “media culture,”and even “mass-mediated culture.” This mass-media culture is owned and operated mostly by giant corporations whose major concerns are (a) to accumulate earnings and (b) to make the world safe for the overall corporate profit system. The result is a society organized around exchange value rather than use value, centralized social control rather the communal creativity.

He goes on to write, “Much of mass-marketed culture distracts us from thinking too much about the larger realities.” In other words, it is easier to be entertained than be informed; Americans are dumb and numb, because of sporting events, realty TV, sitcoms, celebrity news, media personalities, fads, and fashion styles. This culture is not a product of the free market either, corporations are not merely reacting to demand. Instead, it is based on the notion that supply creates demand.

3.) Churches - Churches and organized religion are responsible for keeping America conservative and unwilling to accept change even when our world is forever changing by new thinking and new technologies. Churches teach conformity, consensus, homophobia, xenophobia, and they use fear to teach us that every natural impulse in our body is wrong. They also teach about domestication and the domination of plants, animals, and people. And during elections, they allow politicians to divert what is really important to less important social issues, such as abortion, sexuality, and stem cell research.

4.) Government - The government’s role is to maintain what makes Americans happy: a large economy. The American government uses interventionist foreign policy, authoritarian solutions, surveillance, strict law enforcement, etc., to provide America with security and a steady flow of resources from abroad. The government also uses social control through propaganda, corporate media outlets, fear, schools, and churches to create blind obedience and nationalism, so it can carry out the goal of maintaining a large economy.

I do not mean to generalize all Americans as having these values because certainly not all Americas do. But by participating in society, one unwillingly participates in the above fore mentioned: corporate profit, exploitation of people and natural resources, the reliance of technology, work, debt spending, consumption, waste, popular culture, privilege acceptance, apathy, compliancy, conformity, hypocrisy, fear, rules, regulations, social control, xenophobia, homophobia, global military occupation, war, terrorism, global warming, authoritarianism, less freedom, less democracy, more crime, more laws, and more prisons. Not all Americans directly values these things, but these are the seen as “necessary evils” that bring us what we ultimately want: a large economy and lots of technology.

American culture is no longer based on values, tradition, and necessity; instead, it is based on monetary wealth. A Cultural Revolution would tear down the current definition of happiness and replace it with something much more sane. A Cultural Revolution would emphasize freedom, family, vacation, education, health, and participatory democracy. It would call for an end to the destruction of the environment, and people would value helping others who are less fortunate. Happiness would be non-monetary and nontaxable. It would be peacefully obtained.

Is there hope?

No. To illustrate this I will reflect on the small cultural revolution in the late 1960's and early 1970's. After years of failed protests and demonstrations against the American system, people took two different approaches: 1.) A few people embraced a cultural revolution and said, “Well, if we can’t change the world, we’ll change our world.” They redefined happiness, not as something with monetary value, but as something abstract. They changed their life styles and advocated environmental protection. History has been used as propaganda to lead us to believe that hippies only cared about sex, drugs, and rock ’n roll. This is hardly the case. They engaged in a cultural revolution that had political intentions. 2.) Others grew impatient with a slow change, so they moved toward radicalism and militancy by joining empowering movements that endorsed self-defense. They carried guns into courthouses and there were hundreds of riots.

However, most Americans saw political and cultural dissent as sinful, and the government was too powerful to let anything undermine its ability to rule. It responded to both of these movements with assassination, "dirty tricks”, censorship, and "extreme governmental misconduct" through CONINTELPRO. The government also suppressed movements through a drug war on crack cocaine in the 1980's. The cultural revolution did not bring change to the American way of life.

Have no doubt, we live in an even more repressive system today. The government can legally suppress grassroot movement with intimidation and surveillance through the Patriot Act, and it can discredit and smear movements with propaganda through its corporate media outlets. The government also has many means of social control through blind obedience and nationalism, created by the conservative infrastructure. Addicting television shows and numbing technologies are also tools of social control that keep people mindless, disorganized, and less willing to change their culture.

There is little hope a cultural revolution will happen any time soon. People are afraid of change and they will do anything to protect the status quo. The events on 9/11, for example, only created a massive backlash, causing Americans, not to change their life style, but to want more war to secure our privileged life style and more rules and regulations to keep us safe. Our solution was not to ask tough questions and change our life style; it was just the opposite. The President told us to keep shopping and consuming in order to maintain our large economy, and we went forward with more war and violence at home and around the world; more of the same reasons that got us here in the first place.

Forget it!

I am not a sociologist, but I do see that many problems in this country exist because of American culture. We could change our culture by simply redefining happiness. We should stop valuing monetary wealth and technology. Instead, we should appreciate family, vacation, leisure time, education, and democracy. We can pursue these values peacefully, without bringing suffering and poverty to others and without destroying the environment. Currently, America reminds me of Mordor from the Lord of the Rings, dark and deadly. If we lived more moderately we could turn America into the Shire, a place of peace and serenity. In order to do this, we have to model our culture after Hobbit Culture.

Hobbits dislike complex machines, they have little government, and they live moderately, in harmony with the earth. They take pleasure in simple, abundant things that are easily obtained--stories, coffee, books, shire weed, hot baths, beer, parties, and sunsets. They are a little fat, but that is from all their leisure time and enjoyment they find in life. They busy themselves with working around the house, gardening, and spending time with family. Hobbits are simple people who live in their small part of the world. They have no need for war or weapons of mass destruction, because they have no enemies. They do not work all day, and they do not profit from the suffering of others. Hobbits are happy people because they do not worship wealth, technology, and power. A life spent in the pursuit of these things will turn you into Gollum, slimy and lonely.

Stand Up

2007-02-09T20:12:00.000-06:00

Here is a poem by an early supporter of Hitler who was eventually imprisoned in a concentration camp. It’s a nice little reminder of the social chaos that escalated during this period; something that otherwise might have been prevented if people would have stood up.

They came first for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

This was written by Martin Niemoeller, an early supporter of Hitler who was eventually imprisoned in a concentration camp.

If you are a person who realizes crimes are taking place today, stand up for what you believe in, because someday it might be too late.

Ronald Reagan

2007-02-04T08:55:00.000-06:00

In Ronald Reagan’s 1985 State of the Union address he said , “We honor the giants of our history not by going back but forward to the dreams their vision foresaw.”

As we honor Ronald Reagan in his death we are honoring another “giant of our history.” Yet, I am not one to blindly accept anyone as just another figure in our past who helped engineer our wonderful country, without first reviewing some facts. A brief review of the history of our new War on Terror reminds us that much of our problems today are a direct result of twenty-five years of failed foreign policy, starting with the Reagan Administration.

Reagan's Cabinet: gave billions of dollars in aid and military support to Saddam Hussein when Iraq was actively using chemical weapons against its own people; armed and trained Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan; funded and trained terrorists in Central America; and ended the Iran-Contra scandal by secretly selling weapons to Iran. At the time, these things seemed “okay"; history claims these things helped win the Cold War. (Many believe it was more Soviet reform then anything.) Yes, the Cold War ended and millions of people gained freedom; however, the way it was done has given us our problems today. Not only did this administration break the law, but it provided arms and created alliances with terrorist networks, brutal dictators, and nations all over the world. The hypocrisy of supporting thugs to fight our wars for twenty-five years has caught up with us today.

Unfortunately, the same men who served under Reagan for eight years, also served under George Bush I, and they now serve George Bush II: Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rove, etc. These men and women are opportunists with no moral convictions. They find quick military solutions for the moment, and in the process they recklessly disregard cultures, traditions, religions, and governments of other countries involved, ultimately creating even bigger and more global consequences for the future. Twenty-five years of failed foreign policy has given us new problems involving the same names today: Saddam Hussein, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Osama bin Laden.

In addition to foreign policy, “Reaganomics” is a complete failure. It first promises tax cuts, which in theory will increase investment and spending, thus generating more taxes; and secondly, government spending is cut, which is supposed to balance budgets. This sounds great in theory; however, this is not what happens, as we are again seeing with G. W. Bush’s economic plan. First, tax cuts do not benefit the middle class or the poor, rather they help only Fortune 500 companies and the richest 1 percent of Americans. This is evident by the fact that the top 1 percent of Americans have increased their wealth by 50 percent, while the middle class and poor Americans have lost billions of dollars in wealth, and CEO wages are astronomically high. Second, a decrease in government spending is codeword for a decrease in welfare programs, entitlements, and affordable housing for the poor, and it is not a decrease in the already colossal military budget. In only eight years the Reagan Administration spent $2.5 trillion on the military, which is more then all the money spent since the end of World War II. As a result of Reaganomics the national debt tripled, and the distribution of wealth between the rich and poor worsened.

Indeed, Ronald Reagan is a “giant of our history”; history has already treated him very, very well. However, as much respect as he has gotten since his death, I caution you in how you view his Presidency given our problems today.