America’s physical distance from most of the world’s countries has let us all pretend that we’re not a source of violence. In fact, our history has been nothing less than an endless series of wars against other people, far away, out of sight.
War means they can divide us more easily. War means there are "true patriots" and "subversives & rebels". More justification to round up those who don't toe the line.
The USA has been violent and murderous since before it was founded as a country. It is in American DNA but disguised as "exceptionalism". Unless exceptionalism can be cleansed from the American psyche, there will be no end to violence, no end to subjugation, no end to building an empire. That cleansing will probably take generations if there were any American entity willing to undertake it. Meanwhile, America has built another exceptionalist nation on steroids, Israel, which is prepared to take the USA down with it if it is threatened. We may be close to the end of humans on the planet.
To find a nonviolent way forward, here and abroad, I recommend Healing Resistance by Kazu Haga: https://www.parallax.org/product/healing-resistance/. He is an experienced practitioner and grassroots intellectual who writes with persuasive clarity.
The Powers That Be don’t become better; they become smarter.
A large reason the public turned against Vietnam was due to the pictures coming out that demonstrated just what we were doing there. Pictures speak louder than even the most dedicated propagandist could ever hope.
So in subsequent wars, the Pentagon took what it had learned and applied it, which meant tight control of the press. They learned to market their wars the way corporations market new blockbusters and gadgets. Make sure nothing gets out that they don’t want to get out. The War On Terror came up with the “embedding journalists” innovation, making reporters feel like modern-day Edward Murrows as they repeat their Pentagon-approved talking points.
Though the problem facing the Powers That Be is that now everyone and their grandmas have little pocket-sized cameras capable of transmitting images and videos instantly. No doubt, they’re working towards solving this problem.
So vital to fight this new war. Definitely a replay but with a difference that makes it simultaneously new and old. Capitalism has changed and that's key in understanding how we must too IMO.
America’s physical distance from most of the world’s countries has let us all pretend that we’re not a source of violence. In fact, our history has been nothing less than an endless series of wars against other people, far away, out of sight.
War means they can divide us more easily. War means there are "true patriots" and "subversives & rebels". More justification to round up those who don't toe the line.
The USA has been violent and murderous since before it was founded as a country. It is in American DNA but disguised as "exceptionalism". Unless exceptionalism can be cleansed from the American psyche, there will be no end to violence, no end to subjugation, no end to building an empire. That cleansing will probably take generations if there were any American entity willing to undertake it. Meanwhile, America has built another exceptionalist nation on steroids, Israel, which is prepared to take the USA down with it if it is threatened. We may be close to the end of humans on the planet.
To find a nonviolent way forward, here and abroad, I recommend Healing Resistance by Kazu Haga: https://www.parallax.org/product/healing-resistance/. He is an experienced practitioner and grassroots intellectual who writes with persuasive clarity.
Don’t forget! In case you’re too young, Vietnam was started by a Republican, too!
Genocide was the plan there, as is Gaza. Hopefully the “plan” for Iran, isn’t the same…
At least Nixon and George Bush tried to unite us together, unlike someone else who has tried to divide
The Powers That Be don’t become better; they become smarter.
A large reason the public turned against Vietnam was due to the pictures coming out that demonstrated just what we were doing there. Pictures speak louder than even the most dedicated propagandist could ever hope.
So in subsequent wars, the Pentagon took what it had learned and applied it, which meant tight control of the press. They learned to market their wars the way corporations market new blockbusters and gadgets. Make sure nothing gets out that they don’t want to get out. The War On Terror came up with the “embedding journalists” innovation, making reporters feel like modern-day Edward Murrows as they repeat their Pentagon-approved talking points.
Though the problem facing the Powers That Be is that now everyone and their grandmas have little pocket-sized cameras capable of transmitting images and videos instantly. No doubt, they’re working towards solving this problem.
Good piece of work.
So vital to fight this new war. Definitely a replay but with a difference that makes it simultaneously new and old. Capitalism has changed and that's key in understanding how we must too IMO.
I thought he (political assassin) was a wannabee security contractor and worked in the food industry?
We as a people must quell the violence in our minds. Maybe use the same (media) tools that spread hate, to spread love and truth.