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A Fundamental Evil
2007-01-25 16:24:02
January 17, 2007by Doug Soderstrom, Ph.DI have come to the conclusion that the Christian fundamentalists, also known as the religious right, are the most evil people in the world. Others (such as those of various Islamic terrorist groups) were considered, but after due consideration, the Christians won... hands down. In fact it was no contest.However, in order to support my assertion that those of the religious right are such a nasty crew, it is necessary that I clarify what I believe it means to be evil. The minimal test of evil is, of course, one of awareness, an intent, an abject willingness to be malicious, a willingness to go out of one's way to harm others, a lack of concern for the welfare of another person, an unwillingness to place one's self into that of another's shoes, a grudging reluctance to acknowledge the pain one may have caused another. Such is bad, but not as bad as having slipped to the point of having become psychically blind, effectively unable to face up to...
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State of the Union Address: Making Up Goals
2007-01-25 16:24:02
"No. President Bush's State of the Union Address was directed at Washington insiders and to the processes of political intrigue. Its was a wink, and it was a nod. It was a warm embrace the likes of which King Louis XVI and his queen, Marie-Antoinette would have recognized as quite Parisian."by Don Robertson, The American Philosopher1/24/07I watched the State of the Union speech with Katie Couric last night, and heard her say at least six times, "He faces a real-ly tough crowd tonight." But I didn't hear a single cat call. Not one brave soul stood up and challenged the war criminal. No one threw a tomato, and no one snuck in a hand grenade to throw either. Not a soul even thought of shouting, "What about Israel's nookular weapons?" For all intents and purposes, Saint Peter opened up the Pearly Gates and invited el Diablo right in. If that is a tough crowd, we are indeed a civil society.Nancy Pelosi had four noticeable orgasms before Bush got more than five words into what sent her...
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Rebellion Over Iraq: Son Against Father
2007-01-24 04:23:01
January 22, 2007by Ivan ElandThere have been pop psychology explanations that attribute President Bush 43?s aggressive foreign policy decisions to a rivalry with President Bush 41?for example, ascribing junior?s invasion of Iraq as a reaction to his father?s writings about the pitfalls of doing so. Advocates of such explanations must be trumpeting the president?s recent repudiation of the chief recommendations of the Iraq Study Group?a panel stocked with his father?s former associates?to begin withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq and to engage in direct negotiations with Iran. If junior is either consciously or unconsciously making decisions that implicitly stick it to his old man, the American, Iraqi, and Iranian peoples unfortunately are primarily the ones who will be stuck with the horrific results.Most U.S. military commanders were unenthusiastic about Bush?s escalation of the war with the gradual addition of slightly more than 20,000 U.S. forces. They correctly realized that the f...
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A Question of Conscience
2007-01-23 22:22:01
(Graphic: "Your Bad Cons cience Is Everywhere" by Yves Oswald)by John Andrews1/23/07On the day Tony Blair joined Bush?s illegal war in Iraq I resigned my cosy job as a servant of her royal graciousness? government, and created my own political party, the Organisation of Free Democrats. The time had come, I reasoned, to try to DO something, no matter how pathetic and trivial that something might be.The basic philosophy of Free Democracy, the label I gave our movement, is that ordinary citizen voters should be the sovereign decision makers of our country. Ordinary people have the right, I believe, to decide what laws are passed and how their taxes are spent. When I tried to write down my ideas in a book I came upon many intriguing puzzles, one of which was this: if ordinary citizens are to be entrusted with the real decision making power I believe they should have, what should be the ethical values upon which they should make those decisions, given that most governments align themselve...
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9/11 and American Empire: Intellectuals Speak Out
2007-01-23 22:22:01
by Carolyn Baker1/23/07originally published at Speaking Truth to Power"Surely there can be no higher duty for academics and other intellectuals at this time than to expose the big lie of 9/11, thereby undermining the primary pretext for the global domination project," says Morgan Reynolds, Professor Emeritus of Economics, Texas A& M University (P. 115 of 9/11 And America n Empire) . Professors David Ray Griffin and Peter Dale Scott have edited a masterpiece of critical thinking and scholarly analysis in this collection of articles by intellectuals who have broken silence on the atrocities of September 11, 2001. I have revered Peter Dale Scott for many years, having used his books and articles in my college history classes. This wise elder, professor emeritus of English, is one of few in academia who have addressed the United States government?s half-century role in drug trafficking and money laundering, and he has offered us the concept of deep politics, which ?p...
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Hillary Clinton And The Pro-Israel Lobby
2007-01-23 22:22:01
PM Ariel Sharon having a laugh with Senator Hillary Clint on in Washington (PHOTO: Ohayon Avi, GPO)By Joshua Frank1/23/07Originally published at Dissident VoiceGeorge W. Bush's position on Iran is "disturbing" and "dangerous", reads a position paper written in late 2005 by American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). One year ago the Bush administration accepted a Russian proposal to allow Iran to continue to develop nuclear energy under Russian supervision. Needless to say, AIPAC wasn't the least bit happy about the compromise.In a letter to congressional allies, mostly Democrats, the pro-Israel organization admitted is was "concerned that the decision not to go to the Security Council, combined with the U.S. decision to support the 'Russian proposal,' indicates a disturbing shift in the Administration's policy on Iran and poses a danger to the U.S. and our allies."Israel, however, continues to develop a substantial nuclear arsenal. In 2000 the British Broadcasting Corpora...
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Pssst! Twist One Up with The American Philosopher?
2007-01-23 10:21:01
(Graphic: Just.Say.No by Daniella Koontz)by Don Robertson, The America n Phil osopher1/22/07Cool, man. Hey, what about uppers? Downers? Qualudes? Oxy?Does human nature have any legal standing? Well, let's see.Every lawyer and judge in the country will tell you, the legal system is in a whale of a mess. The number of people in jail is preposterous, obscene and draconian, even if all this allows some misguided moralists to beat their chests about doing the crime and, doing the time. If anyone really wanted to start a revolution in this country, the penal system would be the most fertile breeding ground. Just by the numbers alone , that's a no-brainer. By every appearance, and anyone's common or popularly educated measure the legal system is largely broken for any number of reasons.The legalize marijuana and legalize all drugs crowd would argue, concerning all those in prison for drug crimes, that these are victimless crimes, and that these prisoners should largely be released. Yes, y...
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Free Speech in America
2007-01-23 04:20:02
by Gene W. DeVaux1/22/07At the risk of appearing to spew sour grapes, I have to bring up an issue that I feel is vital to free speech and the continuance of our democratic form of government. Do you remember back in 2002 and 2003 when the Bush administration and its allies in the media directed harsh criticism toward war protestors and those countries that would not agree to join Bush in his misadventure in Iraq? Many of us doubted the honesty the arguments presented to justify an attack on that country, but in Washington D.C., Congressmen would eat only ?Free dom Fries.? Our old, reliable allies were criticized as being part of Old Europe. The Dixie Chicks were ostracized by the country music industry for criticizing George W. Bush during a performance in Great Britain. Finally, some of us who wrote to criticize the Bush administration were slandered when we opposed their drive toward a full blown war against Iraq, a country that his administration claimed possessed WMD, and a co...
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Exactly how much does israel cost US?
2007-01-23 04:20:02
by Dr. Stephen Zunes and Tom Malthaneroriginally published at Wake Up From Your Slumber1/22/07It's neither by hard work, nor by chance that israel has the world's 36th largest economy.Since 1992, the U.S. has offered Isra el an additional $2 billion annually in loan guarantees. Congressional researchers have disclosed that between 1974 and 1989, $16.4 billion in U.S. Military loans were converted to grants and [this] was the understanding from the beginning. Indeed, all past U.S. loans to Israel have eventually been forgiven by Congress, which has undoubtedly helped Israel's often-touted claim that they have never defaulted on a U.S. government loan. U.S. policy since 1984 has been that economic assistance to Israel must equal or exceed Israel's annual debt repayment to the United States. Unlike other countries, which receive aid in quarterly installments, aid to Israel since 1982 has been given in a lump sum at the beginning of the fiscal year, leaving the U.S. government to bor...
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Hillary for President?
2007-01-23 04:20:02
by Cindy Sheehanwww.dissidentvoice.orgJanuary 21, 2007Thirteen people killed in a helicopter crash yesterday in Iraq. Four other soldiers and one marine were also killed.30 people dead in the last two days in a war that Senator Hill ary Clinton has supported since she first voted "yea" to give Bloody George carte-blanche to invade Iraq and her continuing support via her "yea" votes on giving the war-addict in the White House the key to the treasury. Soon after Camp Casey in August, 05, I was meeting with some Hollywood people who pretended that they supported me, but really were big money donors and supporters of Hillary. I was told that the Senator was really against the war, but she was waiting for the politically correct time to come out against it. I was told that she was the best hope for the Democrats in 2008, and I should give her a break. I don't know who Mr. and Mrs. Hollywood and Mr. Hollywood Got Rocks thought that they were talking to. My son was used as a "soldier of Ch...
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Marriage and Civilization
2007-01-23 04:20:02
"'Traditional' marriage - the basis of civilization, remember - works on one very simple, and, until quite recently (historically speaking), unshakable premise: woman is property. "by Andrew S. Taylor 1/22/07Seven states have just voted to "ban" something which does not yet exist in any of them, fixing an imaginary problem: gay marriage. You hear a lot, from "defenders" of marriage, that we are meddling with an institution which, in what they astonishingly refer to as its "traditional" form, is the "basis of civilization." If we "redefine" marriage, we are undermining civilized society.As this public debate continues through the coming year, you will hear a lot about "tradition." Dark humorist that I am, I find that there is something deeply comedic about defending a "tradition" that is hardly 100 years old.Say again?What is "marriage" then, as you and I understand it? Let's try this on for size: Man loves woman, woman loves man. Man proposes to woman, woman gives her consent. Ma...
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Obedience and Self Sacrifice
2007-01-22 10:19:01
The Humanimaleye1/20/07Civil obedience is key to any civilisation. Any communal living situation will eventually develop some system of authority. In humans, as with all social animals, obedience is a deeply ingrained behaviour. At times personal conflict arises between our sense of obedience and our sense of defiance or individual convictions. This conflict of obedience versus personal conscience has been a topic of discussion since the beginnings of human civilisation. Without civil obedience societies fast descend into chaos, but without the voicing of the individual conscience societies stop evolving.Imagine when driving late at night on a deserted road you come to a red traffic light. It seems ridiculous to sit and wait for the light to turn green when there are no other motorists who will benefit. To act rationally and simply cross the intersection against the lights would be an act of disobedience. It would be breaking the law. What might prevent us from breaking such an illo...
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Ten Paragraphs for the YouTubers
2007-01-22 10:19:01
"I suffer from YouTube r Audience Syndrome....It finally dawned on me that I needed to include more sex and gore, more self-deprecating trips and stumbles, and more trifling mentions of characters and celebrities the readers are familiar with. I asked [my editor] to name his favorite cartoon character. He asked me if I knew who Scooby-Doo was. I don't, but I didn't tell him that for fear of getting the axe. And I mention Scooby-Doo here twice in self-defense." by Don Robertson, The American Philosopher1/20/07Three times I sat down this past week to write an article. They were an article about legalization of drugs, an article about the coming Inquisition arising from genome research, and the one I published, The American Philosopher Interviews: Meir, Sadat, Carter and Dawkins, which was a failure.One always hears about writer's block, but I do not suffer from writer's block. I suffer from YouTuber Audience Syndrome, YAS for short. Even the acronym haunts me these days. It is a hi...
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ABC's of the Liberal Media
2007-01-22 10:19:01
Eric Boehlertwww.virtualcitizens.com1/20/07Spo cko, Glenn Beck, and ABCBush?s popularity has fallen to new lows, Democrats have control of Congress, and a strong majority opposes the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, but ABC has decided that the time is right to give America more conservative pundits and to attack a liberal online critic who raised questions about the network?s policy of broadcasting hate radio.Last week spotlighted ABC and its trend toward irresponsible journalism, when it hired Glenn Beck -- a chicken hawk and war cheerleader with a talent for name-calling -- to comment on the day?s events for Good Morning America. ABC was also dealing with the fallout of its wrongheaded decision to send a cease-and-desist letter to a blogger named Spocko. ABC claimed copyright infringement when Spocko posted audio clips from ABC?s KSFO radio in San Francisco, where hosts have advocated violence against progressives, Muslims, and Democratic members of Congress.While Spocko...
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(graphic: "Miss Liberty Cries" by Stephanie Bingham)"ENLARGI
2007-01-16 10:07:01
(graphic: "Miss Liberty Cries" by Step hanie Bingham)"ENLARGING ON MARTIN LUTHER KING'S PROFOUND TRUTH THAT MILITARIZED AMERICA IS APPROACHING SPIRITUAL DEATH"by Dr. Gary G. Kohls, an American physician, writer and peace activist.1/15/07"A nation that continues, year after year, to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."Those were the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., in his famous speech on April 4, 1967, one year to the day before his 1968 assassination in Memphis, TN. The people who heard that speech, articulating the immorality of the Vietnam War, recognized it as one of the most powerful speeches ever given. Some also saw that Dr. King was signing his own death warrant by having so forcefully exposed the perpetrators of what Thomas Merton accurately characterized as "the overwhelming atrocity that was Vietnam."Dr. King was speaking out from his deeply-felt sense of anguish and outrage at the horrible sufferings and...
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"They are all wage-slaves now. They thought they had an insu
2007-01-15 22:06:01
"They are all wage-slaves now. They thought they had an insurgency going, but it fizzled, just as the planners said it would.....John Brown found out, slaves do not revolt. And wage-slaves do not revolt either." by Don Robertson, The American Philosopher1/15/07The YouTube Insurgency is over, finished, defeated and as it will be remembered, LAUGHABLE. The Internet has done its job, and everyone has grown so tired of reading how outrageous the conduct of this war has been, that they have simply forgotten about the war, and most have not even noticed the real setbacks that have come to pass in the interim. Is your door locked? You had better get up and check.These kids today, the Nintendo Generation with their Transformer toys, their Internet, their Jessica Simpson and their Bon Jovi and their Britney Spears... Well, they're done. They are all wage-slaves now. They thought they had an insurgency going, but it fizzled, just as the planners said it would. Their Daily Kos and their WhatR...
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(Graphic: Obey Bush by scalleywagproduction)by John Andrews1
2007-01-15 22:06:01
(Graphic: Obey Bush by scalleywagproduction)by John Andre ws1/15/07Many moons ago, when I was a medical student, I remember having to do a physiology experiment along with my hundred or so fellow students. The doctor supervising the lab was a middle aged woman, eminently respected in her field, with degrees from prestigious universities on both sides of the Atlantic. She was a cold blooded creature, softly spoken and with pale blue eyes that stared expressionlessly at you as though you were a not very interesting growth in a Petri dish. She calmly demonstrated the experiment we all had to repeat. A trusting little white bunny rabbit was strapped to a bench and wired up to a machine that measured its blood pressure. The great scientist calmly sliced through one of the rabbit?s veins and softly asked us to observe how its blood pressure fell, and how soon death followed.We were all medical students, for Christ?s sake, supposed to be moderately intelligent. What were the chances of a si...
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"President Bush is absolutely right. There is an historic cl
2007-01-15 22:06:01
"President Bush is absolutely right. There is an historic clash of civilizations transpiring. It is a war unlike any war we've ever fought before. There are terrorists and terrorist cells right here in this country, living among us, and passing themselves off as moral philosophers, and likely a few civil libertarian bloggers too! This terrorist tripe about moral philosophy could only be written and published by terrorists seeking to debase the moral authority of the all mighty righteous war against terrorism."by Joe Weylan McLaster, Paterson, N.J.1/14/07There are plenty of warnings and warning signs in this world. One of the surest is when philosophers start proselytizing about morality. The way to avoid being taken in by these pretenders, is to get to know them for what they are. The goal of every philosopher is debauchery of tried and true convention, leading to arousing the population to seditious mayhem, insurrection and mutiny.We have been witness to just such an attempt in a ...
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by James Petraswww.dissidentvoice.orgJanuary 13, 2007In the
2007-01-14 04:03:01
by James Petra swww.dissidentvoice.orgJanuary 13, 2007In the broadest and deepest sense, understanding how the US political system functions, the decisions of war and peace are taken, who gets what, how and why, requires that we address the question of 'Who rules America?' In tackling the question of 'ruling' one needs to clarify a great deal of misunderstandings, particularly the confusion between those who make governmental decisions and the socio-economic institutional parameters which define the interests to be served. 'Ruling' is exacting: it defines the 'rules' to be followed by the political and administrative decision-makers in formulating budgetary expenditures, taxes, labor and social legislation, trade policy, military and strategic questions of war and peace. The 'rules' are established, modified and adjusted according to the specific composition of the leading sectors of a ruling class (RC). Rules change with shifts in power within the ruling class. Shifts in p...
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by Michel Chossudovsky, Professor of Economics, University
2007-01-14 04:03:01
by Mich el Chossudovsky, Prof essor of Economic s , University of Ottawa 9/12/01Centre for Research on Globalization(Michel Chossudovsky's new book on 9/11 entitled War and Globalisation, The Truth behind September 11 will be launched on October 4. For details or to order online click here) A few hours after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, the Bush administration concluded without supporting evidence, that "Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda organisation were prime suspects". CIA Director George Tenet stated that bin Laden has the capacity to plan ``multiple attacks with little or no warning.'' Secretary of State Colin Powell called the attacks "an act of war" and President Bush confirmed in an evening televised address to the Nation that he would "make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them". Former CIA Director James Woolsey pointed his finger at "state sponsorship," implying the complicity of o...

by Charles Sullivanwww.dissidentvoice.orgJanuary 13, 2007Som
2007-01-14 04:03:01
by Charles Sullivan www.dissidentvoice.orgJanuary 13, 2007Sometimes you look around and wonder how things could have gone so wrong so quickly. America has become the antithesis of everything she purports to be. We are the greatest purveyors of violence the world has ever known; the largest weapons dealers on earth; and death and misery are our principal exports. Everything is for sale here, even men's tormented souls -- at least, those who still possess them.Our imperial leader, an impish little man with clear sociopathic symptoms, is incapable of empathy for the struggles of the common people, as those born into wealth and privilege often are. The man with his finger on the nuclear detonator is mentally ill, incapable of remorse -- a fact that should terrify every world citizen. I do not say this out of malice or to demean the president; it is simply a statement of fact based upon quantifiable evidence that any student of psychology would easily recognize. The fact that such a misf...
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by Stephen Lendman1/12/07Borrowing the line from Gilbert & S
2007-01-13 10:01:01
by Step hen Lendman1/12/07Borrowing the line from Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore: "Things are seldom as they seem, Skim milk masquerades as cream." It's as true here in the US today as it was in 19th century England, and its message explains how to understand and view our affairs of state and why the title of this essay was chosen - to reflect on our national federal holidays that, in fact, represent something much different than the stated reasons we commemorate them for. Eleven such holidays are reviewed below moving chronologically through the year post-New Year's Day discussed briefly at the end because it's part of the Christmas holiday season celebration.Martin Luther King DayMartin Luther King was a Baptist minister, political activist, renowned orator, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the most noted leader of the American civil rights movement until his assassination in Memphis on April 4, 1968, two months before Robert Kennedy met the same fate in a Los Angeles hotel ...
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by Don Robertson, The American Philosopher1/12/07Within the
2007-01-13 10:01:01
by Don Robert son, The America n Phil osopher1/12/07With in the body of this short work, I will provide a system of prioritizing moral reason. The schematic of morality I provide here is not a complete schematic. I do not attempt to answer every moral question. It is surely the road map however, a basis to a veritable understanding how and why, prioritizing morality is both a sound concept and necessary to the maintenance of our humanness.Within this work you will find some examples; examples that are used to impel the reader to begin to consider how without such a schematic understanding of morality, moral judgments are rendered unintuitive and nonsensical. I further provide this schematic of moral reasoning so that humanity can finally embark upon a path toward some semblance of civilization. We have not been, and could not be civilized without an orderly understanding of morality. We are barbarians.I begin with the basic building block of all Western philosophy, the cogito, Descartes...
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Man fuel: Is it in you?
2007-01-12 16:00:01
Since Microsoft?s cofounder bought the Seattle Seahawks in 1997, the team?s price tag has surged 20% annually. Allen covered 25% of the financing of Qwest Field, which cost $430 million and opened in 2002. (Photo and caption from Forbes.com)"Of Savage Imperialism, Pigskin Monopolists, and Intellectual Emasculation"By Jason Miller1/11/07"Two things only the people anxiously desire -- bread and circuses."--JuvenalSearching for masculine bliss incarnate?Look no further than NFL football and its myriad machismo delights?.Fierce armor-clad gladiators applying wicked hits, battering each other relentlessly, engaging in bone-jarring collisions, and performing feats of near super-human athleticism?.Provocatively undressed cheerleaders manifesting our culture?s ideal of feminine perfection?..Rivers of ice cold beer gushing forth to satiate our desire to numb the mind and lower inhibitions?.And lest we forget, the NFL provides us with ?Man Law? to shield us from our long repressed anima, whi...
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The Law of Life and the Law of Death
2007-01-11 21:59:01
by Juan Santos1/11/071. The Great Emergency: Global Warming, Mass Death and Resource Wars in the 21st Century"We are the watchers. We are the witnesses. We see what has gone before. We see what happens now, at this dangerous moment in human history. We see what's going to happen, what will surely happen unless we come together---we, the Peoples of all Nations---to restore peace, harmony and balance to the Earth, our Mother." --Chief Arvol Looking Horse, from White Buffalo TeachingsAt the Sundance Film Festival Al Gore declared, "We have a category five denial of this issue [global warming]. I believe our political system is broken, however, I have optimism and hope. A rebellion is gathering." But rebellion isn?t what Al Gore is fostering. Speaking at NYU against what one commentator called a ?stately backdrop of American flags,? Gore?s comments were focused on ?uplift,? and calls to action slathered in a ?thick layer of patriotism? and good old capitalist know-how. He seemed oblivi...
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One Last Chance for Sanity in Iraq
2007-01-11 21:59:01
By Ramzy Baroud 1/11/07Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say. Please click here if you are interested in contributing.US President George W Bush's new war strategy due to be officially announced on Wednesday, which will likely meet an uphill battle at the now Democrat-controlled Congress, is a slap in the face of the majority of American voters, and indeed the democratic process.The majority of American voters made their voices heard loud and clear in November when they voted out Bush's archaic thinking, a mixture of old imperialist ideas, bent on territorial accumulation and strategic positioning, notwithstanding misguided religious beliefs.According to the latest public opinion polls, nearly three out of four US respondents now say they disapprove of Bush's handling of Iraq , while confidence in his overall leadership has fallen to record lows.Bush has yet to learn, however, that the United States is not Rome, and strengths a...
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Rupert Murdoch to the Rescue? Not a Chance!
2007-01-05 09:46:02
APR Needs Your Support....Now! 1/4/07(Editor's Note: red bold font indicates a link)The Alternative Press Review publishes a wide variety of essays from tabloids, books and magazines, it also publishes excerpts in each issue, along with reviews, commentary and columns on the alternative press scene and other alternative media.As the name suggests the organisation deals with the alternative press scene, which is usually ignored in the usual popular media. It publishes a range of articles, features and excerpts related to various global issues. The news and features that are published on the website, usually deal with the current news issues being followed all over the world.It is an independent organisation not receiving any grants or financial support from any organisation. It relies only on its readers to earn revenue.The website is clearly divided into three sections. The editorial section usually has a feature on an issue of global importance. The news section has not only world...
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Who is Delusional About Iraq?
2007-01-05 09:46:02
(Graphic: "Delusion" by ~kontur)by Steven Jonas, MD, MPHBuzzflash1/4/07Bush appears to be delusional about Iraq , at least in public. At his Dec. 20, 2006 news conference he said that the U.S. needs to increase the overall size of the Army and the Marine Corps (when neither service can presently meet its recruiting goals). He also said that insurgents in Iraq thwarted U.S. efforts at (quoting here) "establishing security and stability throughout the country" in 2006. These (quoting here) "enemies of liberty ... carried out a deliberate strategy to foment sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shia. And over the course of the year they had success." He announced that the Selective Service would be running "tests" at some time in the future related to reinstating the draft. He also pledged to work with the new Democratic Congress. Further, he announced that the first four of the 20-30,000 additional US troops to be sent to Iraq would be his two daughters and his niece and nephew, all, i...
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The Spirit of Tom Paine
2007-01-05 03:46:01
by Stephen Lendman1/4/07We only know about Tom Pain e because Thomas Edison discovered him in the 1920s. Edison believed he was our most important political thinker, and it was essential that his writings and ideas be taught in the nation's schools. It's no exaggeration that there might never have been an American Revolution without this man's writings that had such a profound influence on the nation's founders and masses of people he reached through one of the few "mainstream" means of communicating of that period.Paine was an unlikely man to have had such influence. He was humbly born and raised in England, was largely self-educated and decided to come to the colonies in 1774 after meeting Benjamin Franklin in London, who encouraged and sponsored him to do it. It was a decision that changed the world, but who could have imagined it at the time?Paine only began writing two years earlier when he took up the cause of excise (or customs) officers arguing in a pamphlet he wrote...
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I'm Feeling Good About America
2007-01-04 09:44:01
(Graphic: "McTerrorist" by Brad Busenius)by Don Robertson, The America n Philosopher1/3/07Gerry Ford was a decent man, as politicians go, a Midwesterner, as am I. "The country I come, from, is called the Midwest" is a line from one of Bob Dylan's better songs. I'm betting they fly the flags at half-mast when Bob dies too. Hey, votes is votes. But, Bob made me prouder of being a Midwesterner than Gerry Ford ever could. Though, that is where the man's heart was, like Johnny Carson, and Truman, and so many others, like Jimmy Hoffa, David Letterman and Al Capone.Midwesterners, perhaps above all other Americans have a more positive sense about America. They are generally happy to see you, and they expect you to be happy to see them too. Or, that is how it used to be. There is something quintessentially real about the Midwest. I heard a saying this past year I'd never heard before. It is so flat; you can watch your dog run away for a week or more.I returned to the Midwest after an abse...
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