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"The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." -- Albert Einstein
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 Media Strategies and Revolving Spin
peptide, Saturday, Jun 18 2005, 9:33am
Should anyone be in shock or awe over the fact that Bush, Blair and Howard still lead their respective governments? What are the results of international exposure regarding the lies they promulgated in relation to the Iraq invasion? It is highly unlikely that any of these leaders would have survived the public outrage generated by these exposures in a historical setting a few decades earlier. But today leaders are comfortable in the knowledge that the public is not as it was and times are not conducive to integrity or public outrage.
international /
mass media /
opinion/analysis
Once Lucky
cleaves, Saturday, Apr 9 2005, 8:05am
“A slave is he who cannot think for himself.” (Euripides)
“As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.”
(Abraham Lincoln)
“The worst form of delusion is self-delusion and the most amenable slave is one who thinks he is free.” (Anonymous)
In today’s world the above quotes could not be more relevant, the whole social world drama in which we all find ourselves cast has become a master-slave dichotomy. Subservience is now the modern way of life for the majority. Few are ‘free’, if any. It would be preferable if we all took stock of our real-life circumstances before resorting to indignation born/e of denial.
international /
social equality/unity /
opinion/analysis
UN Strikes Back
cleaves, Saturday, Mar 12 2005, 5:32am
Kofi Annan recently announced the UN is attempting to define “terrorism” in a universal sense; he hopes that a ‘new’ definition would apply both to States and groups. In view of the flagrant disregard for international law and convention by the US, one wonders whether this is a flight of fancy or a feeble attempt to regain some relevance for the UN. This new definition largely hinges on ‘civilian’ attacks. Analysts would view this as a purely ideological manoeuvre. The definition of “civilian” is no longer clear.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Bush and EU (Update)
cleaves, Friday, Feb 25 2005, 11:31pm
For pure entertainment value the gloved Punch & Judy or Balinese shadow puppets are preferable to Bush and the EU leaders. The images the media presents of these flesh and blood puppets, all ‘stringed’ by their respective Transnational Corporations, are amusing if not entertaining.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Chieftain’s Lament
cleaves, Sunday, Feb 20 2005, 9:11pm
Are we fools that we cannot see that America has become everything it once despised? Is the Bill of Rights merely a fanciful document to be disregarded whenever it suits. Have the words freedom, liberty, equality been reduced in meaning to the level of advertising slogans, or worse, utilised as a veil to cloak despotism, conquest and exploitation? Are we so stupid that we believe the absurd proposition that we must surrender our liberties in order to safeguard our liberties? Reality signals an unambiguous yes to all the above. A nation is only its people and there is no blame to lay elsewhere. How profound is the contradiction that is ourselves?
international /
social equality/unity /
opinion/analysis
Malaise
cleaves, Wednesday, Jan 19 2005, 7:33am
The model of rule (government in the hands of the few) hasn’t changed since the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt! Eliminating the voice of the people at the community level is a mistake. If community leaders – elected by the people and representing the people at all times – were able to keep our leaders in check and in accord with the wishes of the majority we would prevent government taking a course that nearly half the population oppose. In this way government’s actions would truly reflect the wishes of the majority or be adjusted in a balanced compromise when necessary. To allow a government to rule unchecked for a number of years is the height of folly.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Tangled Webs
cleaves, Wednesday, Jan 19 2005, 7:31am
This situation is amusing to some analysts who know that the ‘winner’ of the Iraq intervention is Israel. Unlike the public, analysts do not have short memories or suffer from bias induced blindness. It was clear that following the missile attacks on Israel by Saddam Hussein, Zionist interests were compelled to remove this dictator from power and eliminate any further threat from Iraq. It was relatively easy to lure the ‘avaricious pig’ to the trough of Oil – a brilliant incentive to invade an eliminate Saddam.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
The First and Last Front
cleaves, Wednesday, Jan 19 2005, 7:04am
The American fiction industry has taught its citizens that an enemy will surrender when ‘superior’ force is confronted. It hasn’t taught its citizens how to cope with an enemy that will never capitulate, an enemy that continues to fight in the face of overwhelming odds. What to do? It is impossible in today’s world to "kill them all." The hard reality of US intervention is combat, men against men, and today we learn that the US military has lost what little nerve it had.
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
Condoleezza Rice
cleaves, Wednesday, Jan 19 2005, 7:00am
We would all like to ask Condy (her oil tankers notwithstanding) just what price Iraqi Oil against the life of one Iraqi child or one US citizen? Never in the history of the USA has it spawned a more dangerous group of clowns than George W and his neo-cons. They have only one motive – and that is money. The scant regard for human life is matched only by their total disregard for our environment. To watch them now attempting to contradict their way out of their previous fabrications is truly a pathetic comedy.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
 Prelude USA
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 10:28am
The recent South Asian tsunami disaster has drawn attention to geological articles and reports written by the world’s leading geophysicists. [Your favourite search engine would furnish you with ample information in this regard.] From even a layperson’s perspective it becomes clear that this type of event is a relatively minor ‘rumbling’ of the earth’s crust. (story and 1 image)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Polarisation
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 10:21am
The people of the free world have not forgotten the citizens of America who oppose the ultra-right-wing regime of Bush. A similar situation occurred in Nazi Germany with the rise of another madman to power. The population became polarised; however, those with a conscience were swept along with the fanatics to the ruin of all. Failure to act against the regime in the early stages resulted in a greater calamity for the entire nation. Let it not happen again. It is never too late to alter the course of a nation with concerted effort from those in opposition.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
New Year’s Memorandum
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 10:16am
Memo to the present US Administration:
In view of the following quote, just how long do you think your lies and deceit will prevail?
"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises. The great point is to bring them the real facts." (Abraham Lincoln)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Circus Yukos
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 10:07am
The antics of opposing groups of Oil interests played out by the performances of their respective governments have reached new levels of absurdity. As the Russian ‘due process of law’ dismantles Yukos for take-over by one of its lackey interests, the West screams outrage and accuses Russian courts of corruption, ‘confirming’ that the Russian legal system is the “tool of a corrupt government.” Really! Since when has the legal system of any nation been anything other than a tool of the prevailing regime?
international /
injustice/law /
opinion/analysis
Update (Ukraine)
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 9:59am
The observations and re-actions of various ‘experts’ to events in the Ukraine amuse some analysts. Did anyone expect the US not to intervene, do leopards change their spots? Have we all forgotten the US government is merely a pawn of Corporate Capitalism? If it wasn’t an orange scarf it may just as well have been pink – let’s not miss the ‘forest for the trees’ (and in some cases the veins of the leaves.)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Trends
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 9:55am
As American society contracts in fear and adopts the social and psychological shackles of totalitarian rule – the other side of the world expands in fearless, peaceful, Unity. The people of the Ukraine have united in opposition to a corrupt and oppressive regime. The recent (peaceful but supremely effective) demonstrations are the inevitable result of eighty years of social oppression in the form of an autocratic totalitarian system of ‘government.’ Whereas alienated American culture continues to rapidly devolve as its citizens become ever more fragmented and separated from each other.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Update (Iraq)
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 9:49am
At present, the whole world stands in "shock and awe" of the ineptitude of the US military and the whole debacle that is the Iraq intervention. Every military cadet is taught the strategies of all the great military battles of history. Napoleon, who brought the greatest ‘military machine’ (of the period) to bear on Russia was defeated by an enemy that would not capitulate – an enemy that deployed guerilla tactics and drew the world’s most powerful army into a quagmire (from which it could not recover.) The imperialism of Bonaparte was crushed soon after.
international /
imperialism /
opinion/analysis
Train
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 9:09am
But who is it that actually ‘won’ the elections (regardless of the ‘face’ or puppet that is shown to the world?) There was never any doubt, the Corporations win every time in the US. There is no real opposition in the US. Bill Clinton, the last Democrat US President stated in an interview, "don’t forget, I’m an American first." Nationalism is divisionism pure and simple – the fundamentalist ideology of the "America Way" remains unchanged regardless of the veneer of ‘leadership.’ (story and 1 image)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Comments re: Train
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 9:06am
I have received numerous responses relating to the article "Train." A variety of issues were raised; however, all essentially relate to the fundamental issues of division, fear, violence, unity, peace, and harmony (as is always the case in the affairs nations.) In the affairs of men, there is nothing new under the sun (how could there be?) We are either one harmonious human family or divided opposing groups.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
The American Dream
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 8:18am
People familiar with the US would also be familiar with the myth of the “American Dream.” It means many things to many people but in order for us not to be misled or deluded by the myth, a closer examination of this ‘dream’ is warranted. (story and 2 images)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Comments re: The American Dream
cleaves, Sunday, Jan 16 2005, 8:08am
I have received numerous comments from my American friends relating to my article, "The American Dream." I am always happy to address issues raised – discussion is always a better option than waging war – don’t you think?
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
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