David Swanson's Blog, page 176
June 16, 2012
Dude, That Is So Killer
Are you aware, I asked a friend, that the guy you're registering new voters to vote for keeps a list of people he intends to kill? Oh well, he replied, you know.
Do I, now?
Weaponized drones should be banned, I tell a group of progressives. What? Oh no, drones are better than armies, because with drones nobody gets killed.
Is that so? Just how far do progressives have left to progress exactly?
How can we shake people out of their acceptance of murder, I ask peace activists. Easy. We'll trumpet the news of the 2,000th U.S. death in Afghanistan.
We will?
June 15, 2012
Atlas Drugged: A Review
The Florida Sun Sentinel has for many years been rather unique, as a corporate newspaper with a regular columnist who's actually good, and I don't mean just good for the context, but actually worth reading even if the masses of South Florida weren't reading along. Happily, they are.
June 13, 2012
Talk Nation Radio: Sandy Davies on War, Weapons, and Obama
Nicolas "Sandy" Davies discusses Iraq, Afghanistan, war profiteering, and the militarism of President Barack Obama. Davies is the author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq." Davies is a writer for Z Magazine and a blogger at WarIsACrime.org.
Total run time: 29:00
Host: David Swanson.
Producer: David Swanson.
Engineer: Christiane Brown.
Music by Duke Ellington.
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June 12, 2012
The State of the Anti-War Movement
A magazine asked me this morning for my thoughts on Iraq and the peace movement. What did this war produce? I replied:
· Over a million human beings killed plus extensive structural and cultural damage amounting to sociocide, which we could have prevented and didn't, which we could regret and make reparations for but instead are largely uninformed about.
· A lesson taught to other nations that nuclear weapons are needed to prevent a U.S. invasion, a lesson also taught by the assault on Libya.
· A lesson taught to other nations that might makes right and aggressive killing and torture are to be used when one can get away with it.
Peace Demonstration on Flag Day
Charlottesville has planned a pro-war Flag Day event featuring a Brigadier General from the JAG school and new recruits for ongoing U.S. wars that make little pretense of legality. We've planned a pro-peace demonstration. Please bring signs and posters in support of peace and nonviolence. We'll have large signs reading "'There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people for a purpose which is unattainable.' --Howard Zinn"
Thursday, 6 p.m.
Free Speech Wall, Downtown Mall, 605 East Main Street, Charlottesville, Va
SIGN UP HERE.
I'll Be Speaking at May Day Books in Minneapolis on July 13th
Join me there, leading up to the big event of Peacestock the next day.
Friday, July 13, 2012
7 pm at Mayday Books
301 Cedar Ave. South on the West Bank in Minneapolis
progressive, non-profit, volunteer-run bookstore, not making a profit since 1975
In the basement of THE HUB, enter on side of building. Public parking ramp behind the building.
For info, call 612-333-4719 or go to http://www.maydaybookstore.org
June 11, 2012
Israel Upside Down
Miko Peled has written a perfect book for people, including Israelis, who have always heard that the Israeli government can do no wrong. The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine is partly an account of the author's father's life. His father, Matti Peled, was an Israeli general, war hero, military governor of the Gaza strip, member of Parliament, professor, and columnist who turned against the occupation of Palestine.
June 8, 2012
The Spread of Sacrifice Zones
Chris Hedge's and Joe Sacco's new book, "Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt," is a treasure. Hedges wrote the plain text. Sacco produced the text-heavy cartoon sections and other illustrations, which even I -- not a big fan of cartoon books -- found to enrich this book enormously.
Second Thoughts on Publicly Displaying 10 Commandments
Until now, I've always opposed the idea of posting the 10 Commandments on government buildings.
I don't want a theocracy. I don't want religion at all, even separated from government. I'm embarrassed for my species that so many people imagine we haven't advanced at all in millennia. Must we really turn to an ancient book that sanctions slavery and rape, stonings and genocide, to find not only guidance but unquestionable dictates? I'm disgusted by the notion that we should behave decently merely because of an imaginary system of rewards and punishments. Even mice only behave for real cheese and real shocks. How pathetic are we, exactly?
