Oct 04 2007
We all know about Chevron’s involvement in Burma. If we are serious about Burma then we should be serious about putting pressure on Chevron. And putting pressure on those that support Chevron.
So take the pledge and refuse to view DailyKos until this ad is dropped and a Front Page post renounces it. Or is renouncing only good for O’Reilly and Limbuagh?
Oct 04 2007
In her new book: “The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot,” Naomi Wolf lists the 10 steps from Freedom and Democracy to Fascism. This administration has taken us to the brink of America’s destruction as a nation of Civil Liberties and Freedom.
Oct 04 2007
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has a strange “morale” booster. What’s next? Teaming up with Blackwater for a competition to see which government entity can kill the most of us?
Oct 04 2007
My note: As I am writing this, the House of Representatives just passed a bill that would subject ALL contractors to US law, so this is a big step in the right direction. Of course, the White House opposes this and my guess is that it will be vetoed if passed in the Senate. The House vote was passed with an overwhelming vote of 389-30.
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With all of the news and the controversy surrounding Blackwater USA over the past few months (or years), I have been waiting for a couple of questions to be asked and answered. I can come up with a partial answer to some of them, but it still doesn’t sit well enough with me and I think it should be discussed a bit further.
First, the questions, and then a bit of analysis and “likely answer” to some of this, but still something that falls far short of something that is acceptable, especially given the events that have happened with Blackwater employees over the past few years.
Oct 04 2007
This temple symbolizes the endless wisdom (Ananta Panna) of the Buddha just as the Thatbyinnyu temple symbolizes the omniscience of the Tathagata. Hence the name Ananta, which changed later to Ananda, the name of Buddha’s cousin.
The gilded htee (umbrella) caps the whole at a height of 168 feet above the ground. The interior consists of two vaulted and high but narrow corridors running parallel to each other along the four sides of the temple. They are connected by low and narrow passages in front of the window by which light is admitted and further intersected by four large corridors into which access is obtained through the porticoes.
In the center is an enormous cube, on the four sides of which are deep and high niches enshrining four colossal standing Buddhas of the present world who have appeared and entered Nirvana. The images are represented in the following order: north-Kakusanda; east-Konagamana; south- Kassapa; and west- Gotama. Each of them is 31 feet high above the throne, which itself is nearly 8 feet in height. Of these images only those on the north and south are the original ones contemporary with the foundation of the temple ; those on the east and west were put up later to replace the original images which were destroyed by fire.
Other Interesting features of the temple are the numerous glazed terracotta tiles (left page top) ornamenting the base and the receding terraces which represent the Jataka stories and the hosts of Mara’s army. Each of these plaques is inscribed with a Mon legend. The interior walls are honey-combed with niches in which are set small stone Buddhas in various postures. The most notable among the sculptures is a series of eighty relief’s in the two lower tiers of niches in the outer corridor, illustrating the life of the Bodhisattva from his birth to the attainment of supreme wisdom. The western sanctum also enshrines the life-size statues of its founder, Kyanzittha and the primate, Shin Arahan
Oct 04 2007
Mans inhumanity to man seems never-ending.
As do the excuses that enable it. It cuts across all races and nationalities and religions. Despite all of the true and noble words that have been written, despite codes and laws and edicts and commandments. At the first sign of trouble at the drop of a hat, at the slightest excuse all of the good intentions and all of the eons of philosophy and religion are thrown out the window and slaughter begins anew. From Hammurabi onward we make laws and rules for ourself….which we promptly and fervently ignore or rationalize into meaninglessness as soon as the collective ‘we’ feels threatened.
Then the atrocities begin again.
As they have in Burma.
Oct 04 2007
You live in the most powerful terrorist state on Earth. Yes, YOU! You, too, over there, shaking your head in denial. You, as well, holding the sign not in my name.
Your Constitution is not a valid representation of your system of government. You are ruled by two fascist dictators. They are waging was using you as their raw materials.
They are torturing your fellow citizens and anyone they catch in their traps of human misery.
Take a good look at the definitions around state-sponsored terrorism and then read the excerpts from the New York Times story by Scott Shane, David Johnston and James Risen.
One and the same.
Is there a difference between terrorism and the use of specific tactics that exploit fear and terror by authorities normally considered “legitimate”? Nations and states often resort to violence to influence segments of their population, or rely on coercive aspects of state institutions. Just like the idea of equating any act of military force with terrorism described above, there are those who equate any use of government power or authority versus any part of the population as terrorism. This view also blurs the lines of what is and is not terrorism, as it elevates outcomes over intentions. Suppression of a riot by law enforcement personnel may in fact expose some of the population (the rioters) to violence and fear, but with the intent to protect the larger civil order. On the other hand, abuse of the prerogative of legitimized violence by the authorities is a crime.
But there are times when national governments will become involved in terrorism, or utilize terror to accomplish the objectives of governments or individual rulers. Most often, terrorism is equated with “non-state actors”, or groups that are not responsible to a sovereign government. However, internal security forces can use terror to aid in repressing dissent, and intelligence or military organizations perform acts of terror designed to further a state’s policy or diplomatic efforts abroad.
They intentionally, deliberately and willfully lie to you.
They take away your homes, they force to you to buy worthless insurance policies. They deny you life saving health care. They force worthless school curriculae on your children.
They deny children, the elderly, the mentally ill and the vulnerable access to safe shelter, to reliable transportation, to nutritious food and to basic health care.
What are you doing about this?
Oct 04 2007
Well, summer is gone for sure now. Rain comin’ down, grey and cold here in the Northwest/Lower Mainland. A couple of songs to warm you up…
Remember, don’t rec pony parties!
Oct 04 2007
Cross-posted from DailyKos
See Not So Far Away – by Rusty1776
Make a Difference – Make Yourself Heard – Hit The Icon – Do It Now
ABITSU (All Burma I.T. Students Union) and Free-Burma.ORG have designated October 4 as
Free Burma Day.
The aim is to bring attention to the cause of the Burmese people by channeling global internet traffic for one day to one site to register protest.
Given the role of bloggers in reporting on the situation, international media attention is now focused on the power of blogs so we politely request your support of this action without fail.
Oct 04 2007
This page has a beautiful Photo-journal of some of the sights, and offers some insights, captured around Myanmar.
Travel guide link for pictures of Myanmar
Even the Wikipedia page for Myanmar is closed off……sigh
Here is the link to the page where you can find the embed code to post this video elsewhere today…or any day…should you encounter someone who needs to see it…watch…be heard…make noise…YELL LOUDER!!!!!
Oct 04 2007
Here’s my first IAB diary. This is a collaborative effort. I am going to try to post as much as I have and keep updating this as I go. Positive suggestions and critiques only, please.
DemFromCT is all over this one, so this is great, but let’s get more specific.
Democratic leaders scheduled the showdown for Oct. 18 to allow two weeks for pressure to build on Republicans. A union-led organization said it would spend more than $3 million trying to influence the outcome.
Still working on finding out exactly how many votes are needed in each house of Congress to win this, and what we know about who’s voting how. If you have that available, post in comments and let me know. I’ll update.
Oct 04 2007
Yesterday Armando was blogging about the Netroots being at a crossroads regarding specifically issue action and especially about Iraq, and I proposed a strategy for altering that trajectory called Investigative Issue Action Blogging. I’d like to flesh out that idea here this morning.
Here’s the basic idea: Create blogposts about specific legislation or actions to be investigated that can be researched collaboratively and acted upon, in order to collectively lobby to move a piece of legislative action forward. This includes nominations (i.e. Attorney General), investigations (i.e. Blackwater or Wiretapping) and legislation (SCHIP, FISA, IRAQ, GLOBAL WARMING on and on and on.)