Barackface

Monday, December 18, 2006

Laughing Liberally Brings The House Down December 30

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Bushism Means No Talk, All Gunfire, Just Flatten Them Out

Bushism is a terrorist ideology. It says you put out a political philosophy, and then you demand submission, and if that does not happen soon enough, you flatten them out.

That is what Bin Laden does. He says he wants a fundamentalist Islamist government in your country, and if he is not going to get it, he is going to send in suicide bombers to create "spectacular" acts of destruction.

I know from my Nepal democracy movement experience
(The First Major Revolution Of The 21st Century Happened In Nepal) that the Nepalis in the city played a key role in the magic that happened in Nepal in April. That has got to be potentially true also of the Arab immigrants. But guess what Bushism doles out to them? Racist demonization. If you are Arab, you are a terrorist. I suspect you.

There are millions of Arabs in the US and Europe. They came for the good life. They are mainstream, want the best by their families, are harmless, and are pretty much boring like the millions of Christians, and Jews, and what have you.

There might be a few terrorists here and there. But then there are also murdereres and rapists in society. They stand uneliminated. How many white males have been demonized for every Unabomber that there was?

These Arabs in New York City would be the front line soldiers of non-violence for raging democracy movements in the Arab world which is the only recipe for lasting peace in the region.

Iran holds elections at all levels. But the US does not get along with Iran, does not so much as want to talk to Iran. The Saudis hold no elections whatsoever. Bush and the Saudis are buddy buddies. What's wrong in the picture?

Political solutions have to be sought. The military options always have to come in last. And if the political options are sought to the point of exhaustion, the military options need not be harnessed.

But Bushism goes the other way. Talking is too many words for Bush. He is too in love with his few, simple phrases. Dumbo. And so the guy goes and creates havoc.

9/11 cost a lot of innocent lives. That was the tragedy of the situation. These were not soldiers fighting a war. Innocent lives lost during the American adventurism in Iraq fall in the same category. Third World lives are not less valuable than American lives.

Democracy as an ideology, and nonviolent organizing is the way to go. I am not exactly talking nonviolence, although that I am. I am talking nonviolent militancy, to be precise. I am also talking war, but I am talking war with communications technology. I am suggesting The Matrix as the tool to organize New Yorkers to help spread democracy into the nooks and corners of the world.

In The News

Hamas rejects Abbas call for early elections Euronews.net
US seeking to engage Raul Castro Jamaica Gleaner
Negroponte says Castro near death AlaskaReport
Bihar teenager in UNICEF campaign NDTV.com
WiMAX to Roll out in India Red Herring all broadband subscribers using the services of state-owned carrier Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) would be entitled to a New Year freebie. .... Their 256 kilobits per second (Kbps) broadband connections would be upgraded to 2 megabits per second (Mbps) speeds for no extra fee. The tariff of 250 rupees (slightly over $5) per month would also remain unchanged ..... Throwing a challenge at private sector competitors such as Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel, and Tata Indicom, Mr. Maran said BSNL’s rivals would have to offer similar or better services to keep their customers happy. .... WiMAX also has a range of up to 30 miles, making it attractive for countries such as India that want to provide broadband connections even in regions where basic landline phone connections are not available. ..... , Chennai, and Hyderabad .... Kolkata in eastern India, Ahmedabad in west India, and Pune, an up and coming high-tech city about 120 miles south of the country’s financial capital, Mumbai. ..... The government wants India to have 9 million broadband connections by the end of 2007, an ambitious target considering there are just 3 million or so broadband connections currently...... Maran expects broadband connectivity to be widespread by the middle of 2008, following a similar trajectory as mobile phone growth. India is currently adding over 6 million new subscribers to its mobile phone network every month. ..... In India, 2007 has been christened as the year of broadband.
Uphill run for repairing Taco Bell MarketWatch
Nepal finalises interim constitution Hindustan Times According to the constitution, which has 167 articles, all executive powers as well as those enjoyed by the King in the previous Constitution now vest upon the Prime Minister, Rajendra Mahato, General Secretary of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, who was also present during the meeting said. ..... All powers of the 238-year-old monarchy have been stripped, making King Gyanendra a civilian king, state-run Radio Nepal said adding the powers, including those enjoyed by the head of the state, will also vest upon the Prime Minister. ..... Of the total 409 Constituent Assembly seats, 205 will be elected directly and remaining will be elected through proportionate representation. One third seats in the 209 seats of the Constituent Assembly would be reserved for women.
Groundswell of support tries to sway Obama Boston Globe
Hawaii group launches Obama for president effort WQAD
Obama raises $1 million this year in small donations WQAD
Obama's candor is worth admission to '08 presidential race Salt Lake Tribune
Democrats 2008: Hillary at 39%, Obama Second Angus Reid Global Scan Barack Obama is second with 17 per cent, followed by former North Carolina senator John Edwards with 12 per cent, former vice-president Al Gore with 10 per cent, and Massachusetts senator and 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry with seven per cent
Taking cue from Obama, senator gears up spiritual side of ... WorldNetDaily
Behind the Obama bounce Washington Times
Huaneng Power: Power and Profit in China Motley Fool
China, at energy summit, urges oil consumers to unite NDTV.com
Tim Johnson Brain Can Tip US Balance Bayou Buzz
Google releases Google-flavoured version of Internet Explorer 7 iTWire
US wants real progress in N.Korean nuclear talks Reuters
One in 10 Russians Say Their Special Services Killed Litvinenko Bloomberg
British police say making progress in hunt for prostitute killer International Herald Tribune
One of serial killer's five victims was pregnant Sydney Morning Herald
Dell gets non-compliance letter from Nasdaq CNET News.com
Dell mulls buying Chinese PC maker Gulf News
India for building of strategic oil storage Financial Express
India open to new ideas on Kashmir: Manmohan Hindustan Times
Indian PM welcomes Musharraf proposal on Kashmir Reuters AlertNet
PM welcomes Musharraf's 4-point offer NDTV.com
Bush rejects most dramatic Iraq options San Jose Mercury News
Baghdad blitz on cards in Bush plan Unison.ie (subscription)
Report: Bush Administration Considering Troop Increase in Iraq Voice of America
White House criticizes senator's trip to Syria Boston Globe
Democrats Determined to Take the Lead Managing Mideast Unrest OpEdNews Sen. Bill Nelson traveled to Syria this week and sat down with President Assad for an hour asking for the Syrian leader's help in managing the partisan conflicts in Iraq. Assad, Nelson said, "clearly indicated a willingness to cooperate." Nonetheless, the Bush cabal reflexively criticized the efforts as "lending (Syria) a further specter of legitimacy" and, "undermining the cause of democracy in the region." ..... Democratic Sen. John Kerry is presently traveling in the Mideast, meeting with Egyptian leaders and others in the region before he flies to Syria for an anticipated visit with President Assad. While asserting that "Syria needs to respect Lebanon's sovereignty," Kerry also declared that he thinks "it's important to talk, to have dialogue." Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., are also expected to visit Syria. As Sen. Nelson pointed out, these visits are part of their "constitutional role" as members of Congress.
HarperCollins Fires Judith Regan Who Backed OJ Simpson Book Bloomberg
From sleeping on the streets to Wall Street CNN
Breast Cancer Drop Tied to Hormones Washington Post
Breast cancer rate dropped with halt in hormone use Houston Chronicle
Over 250 sick after eating at Indiana Olive Garden Reuters.uk
300 now report illness after eating at Indianapolis Olive Garden Chicago Tribune

Pages

Monday, December 18, 2006

Laughing Liberally Brings The House Down December 30

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Bushism Means No Talk, All Gunfire, Just Flatten Them Out