Okay, enough is enough. I realize it's close to the anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp in Poland called Auschwitz, but there was much more to WWII than the Holocaust. Ever notice there is no German side to any of the stories?
I personally don't know what to believe when it comes to the true history of WWII, mainly because I realize that the history of a war is written by the victor. Here in North America our views of history have been shaped by government, media and the education system - and continue to be. You can see it daily by watching the news or reading the paper.
You may not realize it, but the presentation of news information is designed to intentionally lead you to a desired opinion. Take the Israel/Palestine issue in the middle east. Perhaps the most telling situation of all when it comes to opinion shaping in a society.
When reporting a suicide bombing against Israeli civilians, the western media does not put the situation in context...it is as simple as 'Palestinian militant blows self up killing X number of innocent Israeli civilians in the act'. Notice the use of the words militant and innocent. Now, if the story were to be given context it might go something like "Palestinian freedom fighter with no other available means of fighting the illegal Israeli occupation sacrifices own life to strike the enemy'. See the difference?
For some reason (a whole other story) those who control the flow of information in the west - especially in North America - have decided that no matter the truth of the situation, western societies should be led to believe that the Israeli's are the victims in the conflict. Any honest look at the conflict from it's beginnings up until present day shows that the Israeli's have been the aggressor, antagonist and chief benefactors of the occupation and the retaliation it brings.
It is this obvious attempt to shape western opinion on this one issue which led me to look further into other events of historical importance to find my own 'truth'. And this brings me to the Holocaust and how it has been and continues to be morphed into the only part of WWII which we should learn from and about.
At this point in time I would suggest that the part of WWII history which would be most important to have been taught is how Hitler rose to power, and how he manipulated the German people into supporting his actions. That certainly would have made it alot harder for the Bush regime to use the exact same methods to take unprecedented control over the U.S. and its government agencies, and lead the world down a dangerous path of unprovoked aggression.
The media manipulation is obvious every day. For example the neocons are denying they've stated as fact the connections between Saddam, WMD and Al Quiada...now it is liberation and democracy. Have you seen any mainstream media type point out the obviousness of how the story changes to suit the political climate, or changes to include facts that they can no longer ignore? We all remember the 'mushroom cloud over a U.S. city', or 'biological weapons attack on an American city which could kill millions' comments. Why does the mainstream media ask for explanations on why these comments were made? Why don't they point out all the obvious lies and contradictions?
The reason the world is in the position it is in is because of the control of information the mainstream media has, and the fact that they are beholden to corporate interests. It is more important to the New York Times or Washington Post to get advertising revenue from corporate America than to tell the truth of how corporate and government interests have merged to form a semi-Fascist government, which is using the military and financial assets of the American people to pursue its own economic interests.
In my opinion the government isn't to blame for the current mess in the Middle East, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the corporate media, and the shills who call themselves journalists. If the people had all the facts without the spin, the Fascist police state would either still be working to take hold, or be put down for good. There will always be politicians with evil in their hearts, what we need to ensure is that there is always an honest media to bring this information to light so the public can make informed decisions.
If only people weren't too lazy to get information on their own, and base their opinions on their interpretation of facts rather than letting a stakeholder in the situation tell them what their opinion should be.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Monday, January 24, 2005
American values, and why they are inherently evil
This will be a short one today even though it has been almost two weeks. I have come to the conclusion that unless death, destruction and bigotry are to be considered values, America as a nation has none. Whether or not they ever had any is a whole other topic, and I am going to stick as close as I can to the title of this post.
If there were any values in America the majority of them wouldn't continue their daily lives as if nothing is wrong. But they do. They wouldn't get up in the morning and complain about the weather while their army was killing and pilaging another society on the other side of the earth. But they do. They wouldn't turn a blind eye to all the evidence proving it was lies the Bush regime used to justify the killing and stealing and then re-elect them again. But they did.
America is a nation of arrogance, ignorance, hatred and greed. They pat themselves on the back and keep telling themselves they are good and right, meanwhile the vast majority of the rest of the world sees them for what they are....arrogant, ignorant, biggoted and greedy.
Wake up America, you still see yourselves as leaders of a free world but you are nothing but ignorant thugs.
If there were any values in America the majority of them wouldn't continue their daily lives as if nothing is wrong. But they do. They wouldn't get up in the morning and complain about the weather while their army was killing and pilaging another society on the other side of the earth. But they do. They wouldn't turn a blind eye to all the evidence proving it was lies the Bush regime used to justify the killing and stealing and then re-elect them again. But they did.
America is a nation of arrogance, ignorance, hatred and greed. They pat themselves on the back and keep telling themselves they are good and right, meanwhile the vast majority of the rest of the world sees them for what they are....arrogant, ignorant, biggoted and greedy.
Wake up America, you still see yourselves as leaders of a free world but you are nothing but ignorant thugs.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Newfoundland and their whining
So Newfoundland is whining because the feds won't let them keep all of their oil revenue. They say it's their's blah blah blah. CBC just showed viewer comments and one lady from B.C. says something like "it's theirs so they should get to keep the cash". Here's a clue lady, because you obviously don't have one.
If our confederation worked that way there would be next to no infrastructure anywhere but Ontario. That's why there is something called Equalization. You know, that plan where Ontario gives and everyone else takes? The one where Quebec somehow always gets a better deal than everyone else? Sound familiar yet?
The truth is that your province - (B.C.) - is in line for over $800 million this year. Where do you think that money comes from? It comes from us - Ontario. More recently Alberta has joined us in contributing to equalization, but for the most part we have been sharing the wealth all along, mostly on our own.
Now, we look at Newfoundland and some recent equalization history. Between 1994 and 1998 Newfoundland recieved over 40 cents in equalization money for every dollar in provincial revenue. So basically, for every dollar Newfoundland took in, Ontario gave them another 40 odd cents.
So now I think it is self explanatory why Newfoundland should not be able to keep all their oil revenues to themselves. After being on the tit for so long you would think they would show some gratitude towards those of us who could have more if not for equalization and the idea of sharing the wealth.
If our confederation worked that way there would be next to no infrastructure anywhere but Ontario. That's why there is something called Equalization. You know, that plan where Ontario gives and everyone else takes? The one where Quebec somehow always gets a better deal than everyone else? Sound familiar yet?
The truth is that your province - (B.C.) - is in line for over $800 million this year. Where do you think that money comes from? It comes from us - Ontario. More recently Alberta has joined us in contributing to equalization, but for the most part we have been sharing the wealth all along, mostly on our own.
Now, we look at Newfoundland and some recent equalization history. Between 1994 and 1998 Newfoundland recieved over 40 cents in equalization money for every dollar in provincial revenue. So basically, for every dollar Newfoundland took in, Ontario gave them another 40 odd cents.
So now I think it is self explanatory why Newfoundland should not be able to keep all their oil revenues to themselves. After being on the tit for so long you would think they would show some gratitude towards those of us who could have more if not for equalization and the idea of sharing the wealth.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Book Review (sorta, not really)
So i'm currently reading 'Crossing the Rubicon : The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil' by Michael C. Ruppert. This type of thing is right up my alley - books i've read recently include 'The Sorrows of Empire' , 'Killing Hope:US Military and CIA Interventions Since WWII', 'The Best Democracy Money Can Buy', and 'Seeds of Fire'.
There's nothing better to awaken you to how the world really works than to read it for yourself, with endnotes and appendix's to back it all up. This is why I am so cynical. I see outright lies accepted as truth, the sheeple too dazed and confused by media spin to see the wolves for what they are.
Anyway, this book is more thorough than anything i've seen in providing the evidence and tying it together - obviously the fact that Ruppert is a former LAPD detective helps. It kicks it at a little under 700 pages, but surprisinly it is not a hard read. If you are interested in this type of thing, you know - the truth behind the news - then you find it hard to put down.
If this type of thing doesn't interest you, then all I can say is I hope life is better for you with your blinders on, or in your little bubble or whatever you do to pretend it's all okay and the world isn't going to be left more dangerous for your children.
Wake up America. Peace.
There's nothing better to awaken you to how the world really works than to read it for yourself, with endnotes and appendix's to back it all up. This is why I am so cynical. I see outright lies accepted as truth, the sheeple too dazed and confused by media spin to see the wolves for what they are.
Anyway, this book is more thorough than anything i've seen in providing the evidence and tying it together - obviously the fact that Ruppert is a former LAPD detective helps. It kicks it at a little under 700 pages, but surprisinly it is not a hard read. If you are interested in this type of thing, you know - the truth behind the news - then you find it hard to put down.
If this type of thing doesn't interest you, then all I can say is I hope life is better for you with your blinders on, or in your little bubble or whatever you do to pretend it's all okay and the world isn't going to be left more dangerous for your children.
Wake up America. Peace.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Bring on *hl hockey! And stop stupid illegal wars!
I hope the show i'm watching on the History channel here in Canada is being broadcast in the U.S. It is called "Ghosts of War" and it is sort of a documentary on a journalists experiences covering war in Vietnam, as he draws parallels to the U.S. in Iraq today. And i'm also watching a St. John's Maple Leafs game against Edmonton (AHL game).
Anyway, like I said - I really hope "Ghosts of War" is being broadcast south of the border. They really need to look at the current situation in Iraq and see through the media spin. They are in the wrong, they are losing, and they have to look for a way out. Hopefully seeing this program and being able to see similarities with the current war will stir them to seek more information on the lies that led them to an unjust and sickening imperial quest.
Anyway, back to the game. St. John's is winning 1-0, but it's only the first intermission so there is lot's of hockey left to play. Speaking of hockey, I sort of hope the NHL folds and a new league emerges with hard and fast salary rules, and a commitment to calling play by the book. Start up right away with say 18 - 24 teams with a salary cap at $25-30 million, and see how fast the NHLPA members do an about face and come streaming back. They will have no other choice.
Staying in Europe is not an option for these guys. First of all there is the mindset, which will be hard to shake, that this is only temporary - to "keep in shape". No matter what any of them say, you can be guaranteed that none of them went over there with the expectation of staying for the long term.
Second, the lure of coming home will weigh heavy. Yes, I know that many of these players have brought their families over, and as nice as it may seem right now to be living in a different society, coming home to the lifestyle they are accustomed to will win out. Plus, once the same or better money is again available here why stay there?
Third - and this is just my prediction - I think the European leaques will enact rules to limit the number of foreign players that can be signed. Like Canada, they hold hockey in high regard and put resources into their national development programs. If they see a danger to thier national programs they will act.
Anyway, Rummy is telling me that "it's a different time, it's a different place". Okay Rummy. Some stats that just flashed on the screen - 58,000 dead, 120,000 verteran suicides after the war, 1/3 of the fighting force addicted to drugs. How could Americans not learn from this kind of lesson? They got spanked by the Vietnamese, and remained arrogant, learning nothing.
I'm switching back to hockey, I already know how wrong the U.S. is in Iraq, and have read enough about their past crusades to skip the rest of this show. Right on - 5 minute powerplay for St. John's early in the second, still 1-0. Go Leafs!
Anyway, like I said - I really hope "Ghosts of War" is being broadcast south of the border. They really need to look at the current situation in Iraq and see through the media spin. They are in the wrong, they are losing, and they have to look for a way out. Hopefully seeing this program and being able to see similarities with the current war will stir them to seek more information on the lies that led them to an unjust and sickening imperial quest.
Anyway, back to the game. St. John's is winning 1-0, but it's only the first intermission so there is lot's of hockey left to play. Speaking of hockey, I sort of hope the NHL folds and a new league emerges with hard and fast salary rules, and a commitment to calling play by the book. Start up right away with say 18 - 24 teams with a salary cap at $25-30 million, and see how fast the NHLPA members do an about face and come streaming back. They will have no other choice.
Staying in Europe is not an option for these guys. First of all there is the mindset, which will be hard to shake, that this is only temporary - to "keep in shape". No matter what any of them say, you can be guaranteed that none of them went over there with the expectation of staying for the long term.
Second, the lure of coming home will weigh heavy. Yes, I know that many of these players have brought their families over, and as nice as it may seem right now to be living in a different society, coming home to the lifestyle they are accustomed to will win out. Plus, once the same or better money is again available here why stay there?
Third - and this is just my prediction - I think the European leaques will enact rules to limit the number of foreign players that can be signed. Like Canada, they hold hockey in high regard and put resources into their national development programs. If they see a danger to thier national programs they will act.
Anyway, Rummy is telling me that "it's a different time, it's a different place". Okay Rummy. Some stats that just flashed on the screen - 58,000 dead, 120,000 verteran suicides after the war, 1/3 of the fighting force addicted to drugs. How could Americans not learn from this kind of lesson? They got spanked by the Vietnamese, and remained arrogant, learning nothing.
I'm switching back to hockey, I already know how wrong the U.S. is in Iraq, and have read enough about their past crusades to skip the rest of this show. Right on - 5 minute powerplay for St. John's early in the second, still 1-0. Go Leafs!
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Why I am cheering for Iraqi insurgents AND the American invaders
So the U.S. has invaded a country based on lies. They've arbitrarily charged and arrested members of a soveriegn government, and caused the deaths of more than 100,000 innocent civilians. Over and over again their "smart bombs" kill innocent civilians. Over and over again we see reports of war crimes against the Iraqi's and their liberation force. And make no mistake - it is a liberation force supported by the majority of the population.
The average citizen hears reports of U.S. bombs killing a wedding party, hitting the wrong house and killing its innocent occupants. They see that since the U.S. invasion their country has fallen into anarchy, and it is likely someone they know has been killed. Why would they not want to help those who are fighting back against the foriegn enemy? And dont' think there isn't a strong memory of Gulf War 1 and the unillateral sanctions by the U.S. and U.K. just recently lifted once 'control' was established. These people have every reason to want the occupiers killed or kicked out of their country.
The point I am trying to make is that if you look at the hard facts objectively, and non-biasedly, you can come to no conclusion other than siding and supporting the Iraqi liberation forces. They are doing what I hope I and my fellow Canadians would do if we were invaded and our resources exployted - fight back using all means necessary.
But I think we must also support the average American soldiers. They are the ones who are being killed and crippled in war of choice, based on lies, and getting worse by the day. No fake election is going to change anything in Iraq other than solidifying the defiance and determination of the resistance when the elections are seen to be fraudulent - or in the case of officials elected who are against the U.S. occupation - ignored by the 'coalition of the willing'. You don't actually think they will let an anti-U.S. candidates form a government do you?
As a Canadian there is not too much I can do. But i'll tell you one thing - Americans should be organizing in huge numbers to wrestle control of their nation's destiny out of the hands of those rich maniacs who care not about them, but only about corporate control of the worlds wealth. I wish they'd hurry up and awake to the reality of a Fascist government, before they wake up to death and destruction coming home to roost on a large scale. The rest of the world will not allow their corpo-imperial ambitions to go unchallenged, and the average Joe American is eventually going to reap what their government sows.
The average citizen hears reports of U.S. bombs killing a wedding party, hitting the wrong house and killing its innocent occupants. They see that since the U.S. invasion their country has fallen into anarchy, and it is likely someone they know has been killed. Why would they not want to help those who are fighting back against the foriegn enemy? And dont' think there isn't a strong memory of Gulf War 1 and the unillateral sanctions by the U.S. and U.K. just recently lifted once 'control' was established. These people have every reason to want the occupiers killed or kicked out of their country.
The point I am trying to make is that if you look at the hard facts objectively, and non-biasedly, you can come to no conclusion other than siding and supporting the Iraqi liberation forces. They are doing what I hope I and my fellow Canadians would do if we were invaded and our resources exployted - fight back using all means necessary.
But I think we must also support the average American soldiers. They are the ones who are being killed and crippled in war of choice, based on lies, and getting worse by the day. No fake election is going to change anything in Iraq other than solidifying the defiance and determination of the resistance when the elections are seen to be fraudulent - or in the case of officials elected who are against the U.S. occupation - ignored by the 'coalition of the willing'. You don't actually think they will let an anti-U.S. candidates form a government do you?
As a Canadian there is not too much I can do. But i'll tell you one thing - Americans should be organizing in huge numbers to wrestle control of their nation's destiny out of the hands of those rich maniacs who care not about them, but only about corporate control of the worlds wealth. I wish they'd hurry up and awake to the reality of a Fascist government, before they wake up to death and destruction coming home to roost on a large scale. The rest of the world will not allow their corpo-imperial ambitions to go unchallenged, and the average Joe American is eventually going to reap what their government sows.
Friday, January 07, 2005
I can read tab, i'm just lazy
So I've been playing guitar for a while now, and am competent enough that I can play and sing quite a few songs. But I use the chord files available online at places like Ultimate-Guitar.com rather than the Tab files. The problem is that my friends (the guys I jam with) both use tab and although I tell them I can't read it, I can - i'm just too lazy.
Sure the tab is usually more accurate and allows you to learn the solo's, but i'm not looking to play a flawless rendition of the song. I just want to be good enough to be able to play around a campfire on my parents beach, play some good jams with Stu and Devo, or do some rhythm at one of Bayford's cottage jambourie's for those two. I'm not looking to be the go to guy here, just to be involved in an overall good sound. The chord files allow me to do this. Plus once I learn the songs with them I can play around myself and pick up on things I didn't notice earlier.
I really like Jack Johnson and Donavon Frankenreiter, and can play some Jack songs pretty decently. I've also recently learned and am trying to improve on 3 Donavon songs, and with all the time i've put in trying to play it like the album i've realized that you can play their songs a little wee different, and they still sound great. That is the beauty of their music.
If you've heard live versions of any of their songs (like the stuff available here) you know they play their songs different all the time, and they always sound great.
So. My friends can have their tab. I am happy with being able to play a few songs good, and a whole bunch good enough. Speaking of playing guitar....
Sure the tab is usually more accurate and allows you to learn the solo's, but i'm not looking to play a flawless rendition of the song. I just want to be good enough to be able to play around a campfire on my parents beach, play some good jams with Stu and Devo, or do some rhythm at one of Bayford's cottage jambourie's for those two. I'm not looking to be the go to guy here, just to be involved in an overall good sound. The chord files allow me to do this. Plus once I learn the songs with them I can play around myself and pick up on things I didn't notice earlier.
I really like Jack Johnson and Donavon Frankenreiter, and can play some Jack songs pretty decently. I've also recently learned and am trying to improve on 3 Donavon songs, and with all the time i've put in trying to play it like the album i've realized that you can play their songs a little wee different, and they still sound great. That is the beauty of their music.
If you've heard live versions of any of their songs (like the stuff available here) you know they play their songs different all the time, and they always sound great.
So. My friends can have their tab. I am happy with being able to play a few songs good, and a whole bunch good enough. Speaking of playing guitar....
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
The greatest story of our lifetime...
The greatest story of our lifetime is happening right now, as we sit back and watch on tv. The images that have been flashed all over the internet, television screens, newspapers and magazines give us a sense of the devastation. We hear numbers like 155, 000 dead so far, with over 50,000 of them being children.
This isn't the current US oil/military push in Iraq and Afganistan i'm talking about. It's the tsunami caused by a 9.0 strength earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004.
This is death and destruction on a massive scale that man had nothing to do with for once . With one swift move, the earth and its natural processes have shown us that it doesn't take wars over dwindling natural resources to cause massive death and destruction. As Colin Powell said, he's seen war, but nothing he's seen compares to the destruction wreaked by the tsunami of Boxing Day 2004.
This disaster has wiped out entire families and villages. Those left behind have not only lost loved ones, but have lost their homes and livelyhoods. Nature can wipe away any evidence of your existense in the blink of an eye without warning.
We are seeing nations and governments step up with what seems like huge amounts of aid. We are seeing and will continue to see a great outpouring of grief and shock from all parts of the world.
But the skeptic in me knows that the amounts given in aid will be dwarfed by the amount those same nations spend on their man made tools of destruction. If only the masses would look at it in this context, and demand more from their governments.
What a shame when death is a higher priority than life come budget time, and most of us don't even realize it.
This isn't the current US oil/military push in Iraq and Afganistan i'm talking about. It's the tsunami caused by a 9.0 strength earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004.
This is death and destruction on a massive scale that man had nothing to do with for once . With one swift move, the earth and its natural processes have shown us that it doesn't take wars over dwindling natural resources to cause massive death and destruction. As Colin Powell said, he's seen war, but nothing he's seen compares to the destruction wreaked by the tsunami of Boxing Day 2004.
This disaster has wiped out entire families and villages. Those left behind have not only lost loved ones, but have lost their homes and livelyhoods. Nature can wipe away any evidence of your existense in the blink of an eye without warning.
We are seeing nations and governments step up with what seems like huge amounts of aid. We are seeing and will continue to see a great outpouring of grief and shock from all parts of the world.
But the skeptic in me knows that the amounts given in aid will be dwarfed by the amount those same nations spend on their man made tools of destruction. If only the masses would look at it in this context, and demand more from their governments.
What a shame when death is a higher priority than life come budget time, and most of us don't even realize it.
A New First
Well i'm jumping into the blog world, feet first - but here none the less. I've seen some diary type blogs, breaking news blogs and political op-ed blogs. This will be a combination of all - and likely more. Basically i'm going to post whatever is on my mind for whoever to see, and if you like you can post a comment. Here goes...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)