Oh those crazy Canadians...

An old Kids in the Hall sketch that's terrifyingly accurate in predicting the future.....

"We thank God..."

"We thank God that it has come to us, instead of to our enemies; and we pray that He may guide us to use it in His ways and for His purposes."

That's from President Harry S. Truman's speech from a radio address to the American People in regards to the Potsdam Conference. August 9, 1945


He was speaking about the Atomic Bomb.

Freedom from thought...

Here, read this.

I don't get it. Why is Arizona trying to legislate thought and rewrite history?

Ok, perhaps that's a bit provocative to say. But, once again, I think Arizona has a basically decent idea, but one that needs lots of rewording and restructuring.

I like the idea of having classes open to ALL students in a public school, because there really shouldn't ever be a separate class closed off to anyone attending a public school. But, the part about ending classes that "ADVOCATE ETHNIC SOLIDARITY INSTEAD OF THE TREATMENT OF PUPILS AS INDIVIDUALS," is bothersome language. It seems almost to me that by asking someone to not have ethnic solidarity is like asking them to have national solidarity among their 'brethren,' and then labeling it 'individuality.'

People are never truly individuals, as much as we like to push the doctrine of individuality in this country. We all shop at the same stores that are stocked with the same items. We all see the same movies that are all shown at the same franchised theaters. We go to McDonald's and, with few variations, order off of the same menu. Television shows the same shows and most newspapers run the same stories from the AP.

But, here's the thing Arizona: Some people don't view a bleached, snowy white America, and would like to be taught some of its 'dirty' past - because, as the saying goes, if you don't learn from the mistakes of the past - you are doomed to repeat it.

Some would argue that, historically speaking, America is an imperialistic nation, bent on the subjugation of other cultures and lands to its own capitalistic ends, and that maybe America has a history of conquering and furthering its Republic on the weakened backs of people of different races. It's entirely possible that maybe America, in order to curtail the shortage of African slaves during the 1800s, shipped over slaves from China and India and South American countries. That maybe America passed something called the 'Foreign Miner Tax,' that targeted the Chinese culture specifically. It could also be stated that Chicano ancestry could be traced to before any European settlers entered this country, and that once they did, the Chicano population were forced to work as slaves. Maybe, just maybe, throughout history a lot of our endeared and enduring leaders were slave owners, or saw nothing wrong with the domination of 'foreign peoples.' I haven't even mentioned the 'Native Americans.'

These things, and all that go along with them, should never be forgotten.

But, by the same token, they should also never be taught separately. We have one history, it's true - but it's a history made up of a hodge-podge of various different cultures and peoples and those should never be discarded or ignored. Legislating individuality is futile, as is using legislation for legal racism, then hiding behind the words of Dr. Martin L. King to further your cause. It's a disgusting and insidious form of hatred, which is not so much racism as in the classical sense, but a different form in which people are manipulating key figures to help bleach the past of its impurity and yet hide behind word's of 'unity,' to excuse their behavior.

The Treaty of Tripoli, 1797

Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli, which was signed in 1797 by Pres. John Adams:

Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen (MUSLIM),—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan (MUSLIM) nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.

There's a verse in the Bible found in Ecclesiastes 1:9 - it says: "There is nothing new under the sun." I think it's appropriate for today's current state of affairs.

Well, America...

So apparently, for all your bluster and talk of freedom, you truly do want an actual fascist land?

A conservative country full of cookie-cutter people that all look, dress and think alike?

Where the government uses a standard unit of measure to compare people to, and those that are found 'too different' from that standard are then culled out of existence?

Well, congratulations, America, you're on your way...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703572504575213883276427528.html

I will no longer keep silent.

I will stand up and shout: Not me!

To those that desire power over this Nation: I will never fit your standards. I won't even try. I will accept your hate and your fear, but I will never accept your standards! I wish to live in a world where men (and women) are not judged by their appearance, by their belief (or lack thereof) in a higher power, are not judged by what they legally do behind closed doors, nor who they do it with! Where legal citizens of a country are not deemed to have 'too thick of an accent' and are sent shamefully away from steady employment!

I choose to live in a world where I am not judged.

Where is the America that cried out for Freedom from tyranny and oppression? Where is the America that said, "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it!"? Where is the America that embraced ALL of her people with the warm, tender embrace of a mother? One that takes joy and pride in the variances of her children across the spectrum, and who relishes celebrating the diverse nature of a people! A people who strove to overcome their differences and stand together as one!

Judge me if you must, but I will not bow before you - and no longer will my country!

From the shores of California to the shores of Maine I make a call to arms to this nation! Do not arm yourselves with man-made weapons of metal and powder, but arm yourselves instead with knowledge and passion for change! I know there is a rebel voice in this country crying out somewhere - we must be sensitive to hear it! It's calls out saying, "I will not conform! I will not bend, and I will not break!"

We must use our voices and say, "We will not let our country return to the old ways - We will destroy the root of tyranny that is breeding weeds within our society! Freedom Now!"

Something's missing...

So they arrested the 'Bomber.' A Pakastani-born U.S. citizen, aged 30. This is interesting, but I think there is more they're not telling. The bomb was beyond crude - it was as if someone said to themselves, "All these things can blow up individually, let me put them in this car together," but didn't bother to actually connect them and make them work in any sort of functioning capacity? AND left the car running with the hazard lights on? AND didn't bother to sit in it and blow himself up for his cause?

Something just doesn't add up. This reeks of attention getting, but why?

It was not a bomb.

A bomb goes off. A bomb explodes...or at least has the potential to explode. So what was the NYC Bomb Scare? Well, in my opinion, a very disturbed individual's attempt to bring his never-neverland fantasies to fruition. I'm serious - you want to know what the police uncovered in that SUV? Ok:

- gasoline
- propane
- fire crackers
- pressure cooker
- alarm clock
- "a thicket of wires" <= which means just a mass of jumbled, tangled wires not connected to anything
- 8 bags of "non-explosive" fertilizer

They have video of a 'white, balding man' in his 'late 40s' changing his shirt on the street outside of a building.

Now, there is speculation that if this were a real (read: actually intended to explode) bomb, that it was meant for the South Park creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker. I don't really put much stock in that because they don't live there, but it's been said that the Viacom offices were located near the evidence-laden SUV. Viacom owns Comedy Central, who in turn, own Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

I maintain it is neither Taliban nor al Qaeda - but a madman pretending that the toys of his mind are 'real.'

But, I have to ask, why so little media attention paid to the very REAL and tragic attack on the Austin, Texas Echelon Building, where two people lost their life?