Friday, May 14, 2004
News at Netscape:
"The Pentagon's No. 2 general and the deputy defense secretary said they were unaware of interrogation rules
approved for use in Iraq allowing the use of dogs or days of sleep deprivation."
Whatever happend to "Ignorance of the law is no excuse"? ;oD
Besides, isn't it their JOB to know these things?
posted by Kimber
at 8:37 AM ::
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News at Netscape: "Wis. AG: School Reforms Can't Be Forced"
A kick in the ass for "No Child Left Behind"! Muahahahaha
posted by Kimber
at 8:34 AM ::
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Wednesday, May 12, 2004
MLK Papers Project Sermons: "Loving Your Enemies":
Delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama, on 17 November 1957"Now for the few moments left, let us move from the practical how to the theoretical why. It's not only necessary to know how to go about loving your enemies, but also to go down into the question of why we should love our enemies. I think the first reason that we should love our enemies, and I think this was at the very center of Jesus' thinking, is this: that hate for hate only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe. If I hit you and you hit me and I hit you back and you hit me back and go on, you see, that goes on ad infinitum. [tapping on pulpit] It just never ends. Somewhere somebody must have a little sense, and that's the strong person. The strong person is the person who can cut off the chain of hate, the chain of evil. And that is the tragedy of hate, that it doesn't cut it off. It only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe.
Somebody must have religion enough and morality enough to cut it off and inject within the very structure of the universe that strong and powerful element of love. " (emphasis mine)
1957. 46 years ago. No one is listening. No one wants to hear these words. Muslims want us to respect their right to live the way they want to without our interference. We interfere anyway because we know our way is better. They slam planes into buildings. We flatten Afghanistan. Then we storm Iraq and torture their citizens. Then they behead one of our citizens. We call them barbaric and threaten to find them and punish them.
No one is listening. It's easier to go along. It's easier to give into the hate. It feels better in the short run to some I'm sure.
No one wants to hear the words. It's not safe to be a pacifist anymore today than it was back then. Actually it's probably less safe now. If I mention to those who approach me with riteous indignation about the atrocities committed by the islamic fundamentalists that we have committed atrocities as well... That we are partially to blame for not throwing down our arms... Admitting we were wrong... Beating our swords into plowshares and extending the olive branch of peace and understanding... I am called a traitor and unpatriotic. And I'm sure somewhere Rummy adds me to a list.
I don't understand this country. I feel isolated and alienated from a land I grew up in. Everything I was rasied to believe is being twisted. Black is white and wrong is right and up is down... I call and I write and I get form letters back telling me they are so glad that I shared with them the issues that are important to me. Or autorespond emails. Those are always good. They make me feel so heard.
No one is listening. No one wants to hear the words.
posted by Kimber
at 9:07 AM ::
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