Bush's activism and other wonders
Interesting headlines from the past few days:
'Martin, China trade deals' - (see next post, and December 6, 2004)
'Bush portrays self as defender of America' - CTV.ca
'Bush promises activist agenda' - azcentral.com (Associated Press)
'Bush begins second term that promises activist agenda on domestic, international fronts' - ABC 15 News
Have the words 'activist' and U.S. Republicans ever been used together before?' Seriously. Last week's Presidential Inauguration was probably a first.
Somehow, this reminds me of the supposed suicide pact by a disablity activist and her parents that happened days after my post about activists and suicide.
-----------------------------------------------------------
It Goes Both Ways
Given my comments about the Tsunami disaster, plus pointing out Martin's sudden trade deals with China, and the New Conservatives' new strategy to attract recent immigrants (see next post), I'd like to clarify that I'm equally critical of politics, people, and culture in Asia. Yet certain mindsets and strong prejudices do exist. I deal with these everyday - even from people I know.
I'm also less willing to have my views be co-opted a second time. Conservative elites have learned oodles by studying me and my experiences.
For the record, I'm not anti-conservative. I'm open to all points of view. I've sometimes been in the position of defending those who work in the private sector (majority of people), including corporate execs or politicians. We live on an interdependent planet, and each of us has our own unique skills and talents.
What I don't like is oppression, injustice, corruption, and underhanded tactics.
Intelligence agencies have found me useful because I'm open-minded, yet I also look realistically at my relationship to the world. My 'devil's advocate' reasoning has occasionally shut-down activist fervour on some listservs. Boo to me. Now, I'm seeing this trend happening widely on progressive Toronto listservs and among social groups (examples to come).
(Me, egotistical? Never. *wink* )
------------------------------------------------------
Random Thoughts On Making Change Possible
Ethics isn't a one-time deal, and integrity isn't an inborn trait. Creating a just and decent society requires constant efforts; community processes and check systems are needed.
(Note: I've been circulating studycircles.org's link since 2000, but hyped it big in 2004. Suddenly, the pictures changed. Citizens as leaders became passive subordinates, as authority figures came in. But that's just my perception.)
I recently saw The Money and The Power on A&E; it's a fascinating one-hour documentary about casinos, U.S. politics, and how John F. Kennedy came to power.
Despite everything, JFK was serious about making changes for liberation and justice. He also had a great speechwriter in Theodore Sorensen. Gotta love these quotes: 'Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.' And, 'If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.' Also, 'Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man.' (Source.)
I used to believe co-operatives and progressive non-profits had great potential. Yet I believe this 'Third Way,' between capitalism and socialism, is now being taken up by the secret puppetmasters with vigour. They have the huge advantage of using global surveillance and government powers to co-opt and control this important avenue for self-empowerment and change.
Why do I think this? I once interned with an international co-operative association, several years ago. I was working in their Asia-Pacific regional office. I believe my surveillance began in 1998, yet the harassment didn't start until just before the September 11th attacks in 2001. In 2002, I worked briefly at a health food store owned by a man who happens to be Muslim. One day, a professional photographer in a khaki vest was taking pictures of me from outside the store. When I approached him, he feigned a foreign accent. Then, I suddenly received odd emails from the co-operative association, and had other strange interactions that same week (too long to explain). Given how pervasive the control has been over here, I can only imagine what's going on elsewhere.
When I worked and travelled abroad, I wasn't thinking east vs. west, north vs. south; I was thinking: I want to learn more about this amazing world, and let's save this planet* Foolish me.
*Not that I was in Asia or India to save anybody or anything. I went there, first, to find myself and see the world; then, I wanted to learn about, understand, and hopefully, participate in socio-environmental action. Many friends I met abroad are spiritualist vegetarians, eat organically (when they can), and so on. It's been hard finding kindred spirits in this big city. I don't mean the 'lifestyle,' but simple things like respect and openness. To not be categorized solely by skin colour is almost impossible. Through my anger, pain, and surveillance, my ideals have seriously backfired. Unfortunately or fortunately, no one, except security bodies and their growing legion of moles, will ever know how much I've negatively impacted world events.
Definition of co-operative. More about co-ops.
Here's a goodsocio-environmental consultancy site. One of the few organizations I trust anymore, besides real grassroot activist orgs, like: PlanetFriendly.net and Greenspiration.org.
The 'powers that be' now emulate progressive innovation so well, people can't even tell. It's just like 'moles' - you can't tell.
'Martin, China trade deals' - (see next post, and December 6, 2004)
'Bush portrays self as defender of America' - CTV.ca
'Bush promises activist agenda' - azcentral.com (Associated Press)
'Bush begins second term that promises activist agenda on domestic, international fronts' - ABC 15 News
Have the words 'activist' and U.S. Republicans ever been used together before?' Seriously. Last week's Presidential Inauguration was probably a first.
Somehow, this reminds me of the supposed suicide pact by a disablity activist and her parents that happened days after my post about activists and suicide.
-----------------------------------------------------------
It Goes Both Ways
Given my comments about the Tsunami disaster, plus pointing out Martin's sudden trade deals with China, and the New Conservatives' new strategy to attract recent immigrants (see next post), I'd like to clarify that I'm equally critical of politics, people, and culture in Asia. Yet certain mindsets and strong prejudices do exist. I deal with these everyday - even from people I know.
I'm also less willing to have my views be co-opted a second time. Conservative elites have learned oodles by studying me and my experiences.
For the record, I'm not anti-conservative. I'm open to all points of view. I've sometimes been in the position of defending those who work in the private sector (majority of people), including corporate execs or politicians. We live on an interdependent planet, and each of us has our own unique skills and talents.
What I don't like is oppression, injustice, corruption, and underhanded tactics.
Intelligence agencies have found me useful because I'm open-minded, yet I also look realistically at my relationship to the world. My 'devil's advocate' reasoning has occasionally shut-down activist fervour on some listservs. Boo to me. Now, I'm seeing this trend happening widely on progressive Toronto listservs and among social groups (examples to come).
(Me, egotistical? Never. *wink* )
------------------------------------------------------
Random Thoughts On Making Change Possible
Ethics isn't a one-time deal, and integrity isn't an inborn trait. Creating a just and decent society requires constant efforts; community processes and check systems are needed.
(Note: I've been circulating studycircles.org's link since 2000, but hyped it big in 2004. Suddenly, the pictures changed. Citizens as leaders became passive subordinates, as authority figures came in. But that's just my perception.)
I recently saw The Money and The Power on A&E; it's a fascinating one-hour documentary about casinos, U.S. politics, and how John F. Kennedy came to power.
Despite everything, JFK was serious about making changes for liberation and justice. He also had a great speechwriter in Theodore Sorensen. Gotta love these quotes: 'Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.' And, 'If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.' Also, 'Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man.' (Source.)
I used to believe co-operatives and progressive non-profits had great potential. Yet I believe this 'Third Way,' between capitalism and socialism, is now being taken up by the secret puppetmasters with vigour. They have the huge advantage of using global surveillance and government powers to co-opt and control this important avenue for self-empowerment and change.
Why do I think this? I once interned with an international co-operative association, several years ago. I was working in their Asia-Pacific regional office. I believe my surveillance began in 1998, yet the harassment didn't start until just before the September 11th attacks in 2001. In 2002, I worked briefly at a health food store owned by a man who happens to be Muslim. One day, a professional photographer in a khaki vest was taking pictures of me from outside the store. When I approached him, he feigned a foreign accent. Then, I suddenly received odd emails from the co-operative association, and had other strange interactions that same week (too long to explain). Given how pervasive the control has been over here, I can only imagine what's going on elsewhere.
When I worked and travelled abroad, I wasn't thinking east vs. west, north vs. south; I was thinking: I want to learn more about this amazing world, and let's save this planet* Foolish me.
*Not that I was in Asia or India to save anybody or anything. I went there, first, to find myself and see the world; then, I wanted to learn about, understand, and hopefully, participate in socio-environmental action. Many friends I met abroad are spiritualist vegetarians, eat organically (when they can), and so on. It's been hard finding kindred spirits in this big city. I don't mean the 'lifestyle,' but simple things like respect and openness. To not be categorized solely by skin colour is almost impossible. Through my anger, pain, and surveillance, my ideals have seriously backfired. Unfortunately or fortunately, no one, except security bodies and their growing legion of moles, will ever know how much I've negatively impacted world events.
Definition of co-operative. More about co-ops.
Here's a goodsocio-environmental consultancy site. One of the few organizations I trust anymore, besides real grassroot activist orgs, like: PlanetFriendly.net and Greenspiration.org.
The 'powers that be' now emulate progressive innovation so well, people can't even tell. It's just like 'moles' - you can't tell.
posted by outside the box... at
4:39 PM
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