| Proposals for a Reorganized Justice system - Cross-post from RevLeft |
[Oct. 4th, 2009|07:36 pm] |
There are a few fundamental changes which must come about to create a fairer justice system.
-First, the focus on crime should be around defense of people rather than institutions.
-Secondly, the barbaric legislation against prostitution, drugs and similar prohibitory transgressions should be removed.
-Third, the focus of prisons must shift from a pseudo-punitive to a totally rehabilitative one. In a progressive, reasonable society we have no place for punishment, and every need for a positive, intensive rehabilitative system which guarantees reduced sentence time for behavior which has proven correlation with lessened rates of recidivism. In other words, prisoners which display behavior indicative of non-recidivism are given years off their sentences.
-Lastly, openness should prevail and an active regulatory and wide-ranging representation of civil society should play a key role in the direction and maintenance of the legal system. |
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| AJE: Guantanamo's 'more evil twin'? |
[Aug. 21st, 2009|11:39 am] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Alice in Chains - Dam That River | ] |
Guantanamo's 'more evil twin'?
It is a US-run prison built from scratch on an US military base to hold "enemy combatants" captured in the so-called "war on terror".
Those imprisoned there have never been charged with a crime, nor do they have any meaningful way of challenging their detention.
The inmates allege abuse at the hands of their captors, ranging from sleep deprivation to brutal beatings. And no, it is not Guantanamo Bay.
...
Last summer, while Barack Obama campaigned on promises to close Guantanamo Bay and end CIA detentions, the US government approved plans for a $50mn redevelopment of the prison at Bagram.
Construction of the project is now well underway.
There you still have it: Obama has re-invigorated the torture and extrajudicial penal system overseas. He is a a public relations master and a vile totalitarian capitalist, nothing more. |
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| Inconsistent messages from the West |
[Aug. 21st, 2009|11:20 am] |
AJE: Al-Megrahi return to Libya riles UK
Britain has described celebrations in Libya upon the return of the man convicted of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie in Scotland as being "deeply distressing".
"Obviously the sight of a mass murderer getting a hero's welcome in Tripoli is deeply upsetting, deeply distressing," David Miliband, Britain's foreign minister, said on Friday.
-The UK Government released him.
-Al-Megrahi claims innocence. Who is to say that the celebrators don't think the same?
-His release was in fact a legal maneouvre meant to keep evidence hidden
-Don't you think the family of the victims would rather hear evidence than some limey bastard whining about a foreign prisoner's compatriots celebrating his realease in the air of supposed innocence?
'Political motivations'
"It would have revealed a lot of new information. But a lot of parties were not keen for it to go ahead because it would have shown new evidence which would probably reflect that al-Megrahi was not the culprit or at least not the main culprit." |
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| I heard you liked healthcare |
[Aug. 20th, 2009|02:52 pm] |
This is in response to all the shallow libertarian histrionics going on about the "socialisation" of healtcare:
Uh, no. You do know that the government doesn't intend to ration healthcare. Despite your hysteric rhetoric, it is well known among those who read the news that the government is in fact attempting to exploit the untapped healthcare market that other capitalist entities have failed to corner. Those morons who think this is somehow socialist should appreciate Obama's plan:
-It's still centrally controlled
-It still relies on the profit motive
-Recipients will have to pay for it
-Other capitalist entities remain totally intact.
Ever wonder why the pharmaceutical companies have aired commercials in support of the bill? You people are so fucking dense.
They're all fucking you, and giving the corporations more power and the state less will only remove the last fragment of democracy / decentralisation that our nation exhibits.
I'm really tired of all this whining about socialism. It's just not relevant. |
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| Norman Finkelstein, Wolf Blitzer and Martin Jenco and the Ideology of Love / Agape |
[Feb. 11th, 2009|11:16 pm] |
The 1989 Discussion
Finkelstein offers a curt, unapologetic defense of the Palestinian cause - by the end of the discussion, the roars of applause show that he got through to the audience.
Zafar Bangash is good, and clearly cuts through Blitzer's misrepresentation. He correctly explaine dthat Muslims have a more unified attitude about religion, without the unclear distinctiosn which are present in the west.
But Martin Jenco offered a couple wonderful points which really speak to me.
Firstly, he responded to accusations that he needs to "care about the Christians" by saying that we should be concerned with the wellbeing of all people, and that all people should be full citizens of all states - the politest way of rejecting that racist notion.
Later on, a question was raised about the teachings of Israeli versus Arab children, inferring that Arabs are taught hate, while Israelis are taught love. He correctly responded that the Muslim moral code is the same as the Christian one, and he offered an anecdote. He said that he was performing Mass in Beirut, and concluded with the term "Shalom." A woman took him aside and said "what gives you the right to use a Jewish word in my house?" Of coruse, Jesus would have used that term, being Jewish (don't forget the Muslim "Salaam"). He said that he asked the children what kind of world they envisioned, and they relayed images of peace, and this really touched some of the adults.
So, that really grabbed me. In the last couple years I have kind've shyed away from love - not in any rhetorical sense, but I have ceased to use the term broadly. I am reminded of Joseph Fletcher and his discussion of "Agape," as well as Fromm.
The notion of love as a universal attitude is so basic to me at this point. To love someone in a true, penetrating way is ultimately to love their core humanness, which is present in all other people - the notion is that unconditional love basically strips away the relevance of all of the built up distinctions which seperate them from others. Those distinctions are conditions. Of course it follows that any true love is accompanied by a universal adoration of the human race, and this is actually a critical connotation of Christian Agape. |
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| Writer's Block: Half a Glass |
[Feb. 10th, 2009|10:12 pm] |
I am an optimist and a pessimist.
It is important to appreciate what these terms really mean. To be an optimist is to have faith in a brighter future - of course, as a communist, that is a fundamental attitude. My faith is a part of the whole program for social revolution - without the active and trusting attitude towards a positive future, it is doomed before we can even judge its viability.
I am pessimistic because I am unyeilding in my focus on the terrible systems in this world. This is why I focus on Israel so much. I am revolted at the apathy and blind support given to Israeli White Nationalism, and I unapologetically oppose the Apartheid policies of the regime.
At the same time, I am very critical of those who would suggest that Judaism or Jewish migration is to blame. It is very sad that poor and destitute Jews were put on the front line, controlled by their poverty by a brutal system which uses them as human sheilds, forces them into military servitude and psychologically dominates them by manipulating their basic needs. The Israeli oppressed and working class Jews are a key to real freedom and justice in the region.
I am a realist in some ways, I guess. But what worth is that question? Idealism is just a rejection of the morality of reality, not a rejection of what is real. And since our minds are each material fact in their own right, it is disingenuous to claim that the mind can be "un-realist" unless a deeper schizophrenia is present.
I guess what I am trying to say is that the rejection of realism does have some manifestation, but almost never as a conscious ideology, but rather a deep sickness. I sincerely hope that I am a realist, and that's all I can assert.
As for the "spirit" of the wuestion - am I more positive than negative? I don't know. I like to think that that depends on the world around me - that is, my attitude is negative when the world is shittier. But in regards to my orientation towards society, I strive - deeply - to be a positive force among people. I am unapologetic where I am controversial, but I will always maintain an attitude of love, as a basic driving force and ideal. |
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| The Numbers Game |
[Jan. 21st, 2009|09:15 am] |
Usually, the numbers are a crude way of ascertaining the facts of any war. But in this case, the numbers tell the story themselves.
B'Tselem:
Update for 18 January '09, morning (GMT+2)
Gaza: at least 1,205 killed, of them at least 410 children and 98 women. More than half those killed since the ground incursion began (580) are women and children. Over 3,520 injured, of them over 350 severely (Palestinian Ministry of Health figures).
Israel: 13 killed, of them 1 woman and 10 soldiers. Over 82 civilians injured, of them 4 severely injured, not including those treated for shock , and 113 soldiers injured, of them one in critical condition and 20 suffer moderate or severe injuries.
AlJazeera:
Palestinian health ministry figures list more than 1,300 people dead from Israel's offensive, including 410 children. Another 5,300 people were wounded, 1,855 of them children. A total of 13 Israelis died, three of them civilians.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/20091218281740670.html
What does this mean?
-Overwhelmingly civilian casualties - over half were women and children.
-33% of the killed were children. 44% of the population are children. Israeli attacks were either indiscriminate, or they didn't care about the civilian cost.
-25% of the deaths reported by Israelis were civilian.
-There were nearly 100 Palestinian deaths for each Israeli death - military or otherwise. (perhaps more, the body count is still going on).
The western world has proudly proven one thing: 100 Palestinians aren't worth the life of a single Israeli. |
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| Holding Court on the Eve of the Apocolapyse |
[Jan. 20th, 2009|10:19 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Lard - Sidewinder | ] |
So, we have a new prez. We all know he is a right - wing twat. But it's also time for reflection. What did comrade Bush bring to the table? More specifically, how was Bush worse than golden boy Clinton, or our "clean and articulate" black man?
Escalation of the nationalist war on Iraq.
Clinton was responsible for bombing campaigns throughout the 90s; U.N. estimates put the death toll for these bombing campaigns and sanctions between 300K and 1 million - half of which were children. Obama has routinely voted in favor of the arming and escalation of this campaign.
Escalation of the war in Afghanistan
Obama supports redeployment to Afghanistan.
Total obstinance to the Palestinian issue.
Clinton enabled the Israelis to both stall the palestinians and grab more land, continue to circumvent international law. Arguably, Bush let this go further, by all but ignoring the peace process until a democratic senate was achieved in 2006. Obama has the most right-wing, anti-Palestinian stance out of any former U.S. president.
Increased corporate welfare.
Obama voted in favor of the 700bn bailout fund, and is working on a new, 900bn bill now. Clinton oversaw one of the most effective deregulation campaigns with Rahm Emmanuel - now a top member of Obama's administration.
Patriot act / civil liberties.
Obama voted to maintain the patriot act. "Don't ask, don't tell" policy implicitly condemns homosexuality and opens it to further criticism - especially when they do "tell."
Here's a good article contrasting King from Obama:
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/theobamapresidency/2009/01/200911917451334647.html
Exciting, right? |
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| Ramattan News Agency |
[Jan. 10th, 2009|02:26 pm] |
Ramattan News has been a great independent news center during the present conflict in Gaza. Many of the dramatic, chilling footage seen recently on Haaretz and Aljazeera have come out of the agency. It is important to appreciate the group as the primary independent news outlet in the territory.
There is also a very good article on the CNN misrepresentation of Gazan media from Ramattan.
The Israeli white nationalist system can not be allowed to continue on as it has. As it stands, there have been at least 800 deaths and 3000 casualties, mostly civilians. The 18 month seige on Gaza has left medical supplies, hospitals, food and water desperately deficient. Furthermore, Egypt has refused to allow the wounded passage through the Rafah crossing - maintaining and collaborating with the Israeli - backed segregation and genocide of the Gazan people. Electricity is lost for a majority of Gazans; hospitals have lost power. Aid, medical and media workers have been targetted, while all foreign outfits have been denied entry - UN aid workers, as you may know, have left out of fear of more Israeli targetting.
I urge you all to give generously to ChristianAid, who have a presence in Gaza. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 9th, 2009|12:44 am] |
Jon Stewart, paraphrased:
"An Israeli politician compared Hamas to a 'crazy man' at your door who promised your destruction. You can't expect anything else if you lock him in the hall and force him to go through checkpoints to take a shit." |
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| Writer's Block: Revolutionary Thought |
[Nov. 8th, 2008|10:42 am] |
A lot of people will point to the mechanical drugs we take very day: television, cell phones, etc.. But those items don't have moral consequences or offer, in and of themselves, philosophical standards as religion does.
So what does fit this? What is the new "spirit of a spiritless world"? I think certain cultural morals have started to take on this role. The rise in individualism-fetishism in the U.S. is a good example of this. Individualist politics have risen to the role of a deity, and yet even a basic analysis of the concept is totally forbidden. The notion of the dominant political atmosphere is to worship individualism uncnditionally. The State has also risen to the Prophet of the New World. U.S.ians seem blind to the fundamental failings of our nation, and candidates who offer "change" become superstars, desptie the fact that their rhetoric and voting record are squarely opposed to change.
It seems to me that the human spirit is going to the wayside, unfortunately. |
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| Welcome |
[Nov. 5th, 2008|01:37 am] |
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Welcome in 8 more years of international terror and imperialism. Yay! |
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| Election 2008 |
[Nov. 4th, 2008|08:57 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Chumbawamba - The Candidates Find Common Ground | ] |
"Full employment!
Slave labour and schemes!"
"An unemployed workforce
The capitalist's dream!"
"But let's keep Britain working
Either way we must keep Britain working"
"Conventional weapons
To kill people nicely!"
"Nuclear weapons
To keep the peace!"
"But weapons definitely
Either way we must defend ourselves"
"Nationalism
With one big boss!"
"No, privatisation
With lots of little bosses!"
"But someone in control of course
Either way there must be someone giving orders"
A toast to democracy
The prison guard of this society
Sides in the voting game
Disappear into the same machine...
A toast!
To US bases and nuclear weapons
To stopping pickets, pulling down fences
To British troops in Northern Ireland
To the wonderful victory in the Falklands
To the plastic bullet and the riot police
To the UDM and the TUC
To isolating gays and to law and order
To richer bosses and poorer workers
To longer hours and ess pay
To the courts (for those we get in the way)
To the beating of people who step out of line
To the use of troops to break a strike
To the expulsion of extremists
To political witch hunts
To repatriation and to benefit cuts
To peaceful settlements
And no strike agreements
To authority, to power, to governments
To the annual rise in the MP's wage
To vested interests, to privilege
To the party who wins the next election
By definition a victory to capitalism! |
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 13th, 2008|10:30 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Chumbawamba - Lie Lie Lie Lie | ] |
Wonderful.
Now please extend to rest of Palestine. |
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| Obama |
[Oct. 13th, 2008|09:41 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Chumbawamba - Amnesia | ] |
Obama?!?
Out with the old, cheated by the new! Do you suffer from long term memory loss?
Obama, fuck off with your xenophobic, anti-worker filth. And please stop singing your siren's song to otherwise good people who oppose your disgusting foreign policy proposals. |
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| Ossetia, Georgia, Russia and NATO |
[Aug. 13th, 2008|09:57 pm] |
This is how fucked the western media is.
While in Pittsburgh, I didn't bother with the internet. I just enjoyed the trip. While watching the TV, however, I picked up some recent news on the Ossetian crisis. Specifically, I watched NBC, CNN, FOX and some local channel, I don't remember the network. I also read an article in a major Pittsburgh newspaper.
The media gave me this impression, quite strongly: Ossetia had broken away from Georgia and this was to Russia's benefit, and in this interest Russia decided to help this revolt by attacking other parts of Georgia. In other words, Georgian soverignty was being threated by forces which were born specifically and exclusively of Russian aggression. This was my cynical view of the media, too, understanding it in terms of russophobia.
Clearly, this is false. Ossetia has been broken off for years now, and the recent clashes are a result primarily of US, Israeli and otherwise western militarization of Georgia. Not to mention, of course, that Georgia invaded Ossetia - this was all completely ignored in the media. I only heard of Russia's "disproportionate response," but the "response" was given no context, except in the sense that Ossetia was a breakaway region of Georgia.
And now I am to believe that NBC, CNN and FOX have some stake in whether or not the Ossetian people benefit more from Russian or Georgian control. It is pretty fucking pitiful that the larger context of anti-Russian sentiment is the only compulsion here, and that the rights of the local people and Georgian and Russian politics - the obviously rational stage which this conflict should be set in by the media - is completely ignored. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 24th, 2008|08:35 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Chumbawamba - Come On Baby (Let's Do The Revolution) | ] |
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry to all the Muslims in the world. I am sorry we have persecuted your people. I am sorry that millions of your people have been murdered by cluster bombs, economic terror and colonialism in the last century. I am sorry that more than 87,000 people, mostly muslim and middle eastern, are held in CIA-run torture camps around the world. I am sorry that to the western world, false security is more important than human decency and equality.
I am sorry that the westerners have been such complacent, heartless bastards content to murder and sanction death and terror in your part of the world. I am ashamed that I was once ignorant enough to respect these monsters. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 11th, 2008|10:47 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Simon and Garfunkel - Sparrow | ] |
I wish I had more money for charity. I feel like I'm derelicting my duty, considering my morals. |
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