Citizen journalism will be the downfall of the Fourth Reich. The world-wide-web opened the Pandora’s Box of opinions and individual perspectives, both for and against the moneyed elite and they are worried. The Bush Administration – a den of snakes – will eventually be beaten out of every hole in which they’re hiding. Mother Nature is the uber Attorney General, for she does not play favorites with god’s children. Any race, color, creed or portfolio may perish in her wrath – equal justice for all.
America is not a democracy and hasn’t been for a very long time, if ever. It’s an oligarchy masquerading as a democracy – so the mindless sheep will not revolt. Due to fewer and fewer crumbs falling from the masters’ table, the animals are becoming a bit restless and some grow bored with chewing cud while dreaming of shepherd’s pie. Though this is not cannibalism, of course, vegans may take offense.
Video blogger Josh Wolf was released from prison, Tuesday. I understand the need to uncover evidence, but it would seem apparent that there is nothing on the videos to incriminate either Wolf or any alleged perpetrator in the case of the San Francisco police officer who had his skull fractured during the protest. While I am not a proponent of mass hysteria or violence, especially offensively, I will violently defend myself and some things, if necessary.
It seems the government was trying to make an example out of this young man, to send a message to other citizen activists who carry a camera or a pen, instead of a badge or a deadly weapon. The pen or camera will always be more powerful than the sword, for you may kill a few activists, but you will only enrage others who may pick up pipes and rocks and better weapons, if they feel disenfranchised or backed into a corner.
As long as there are fearful humans and those who would manipulate others, then there will be a degree of mistrust and potential violence. More and more there are cameras going up in communities to do the “policing” work, but is this wise when mere mortals must still interpret what they see? And in this Wag the Dog world, who’s to say that anything you see on a video can be believed? Whatever can be conceived, now, can be artificially created in pixels to elicit any emotional response the director desires. Make sure you know who’s directing the masterpiece you’re watching.
Be wary of what you encounter. Believe nothing you hear or read and only half of what you see. Over the course of my life, I’ve taken so many things with a grain of salt that I have high blood pressure. Some will laugh and say, “No, your scathing, cynical crankiness brought that on.” I say, which came first, the chicken or the egg? I remember being a happy-go-lucky child who loved to play and pretend and daydream about fun adventures with my friends. Then, one by one I found adults stealing my fun. Cranks are made, not born.
Where is the public outrage over Gitmo? Can you believe anything the Bush Administration and their cronies are coercing from tortured confessions? Why is this cockroach still breathing and speaking?
I do not need the likes of Cheney, Bush or their egomaniacal minions to protect me. If:
- locking people up in prison for five years without due process,
- using waterboarding and extreme sensory deprivation techniques to break their captives’ minds and wills,
- and coercing confessions through their heinously refined torture techniques (remarkably reminiscent of Abu Ghraib in Saddam’s heyday)
. . . is what it takes to “protect” America, then I very disrespectfully decline. I don’t want or need your protection at the expense of others, to this degree, ever, and will take my chances as I walk through life.
For a society to call itself civilized, then it cannot play down and dirty with those whom it deigns to call enemies by sinking to their alleged level – or below – in order to rout them out. Cops cannot become vigilantes in their pursuit of the criminal mind. Those of you without sin may cast the first stone.
What is most appalling is not that there are still men and women in top positions of government and society, worldwide, who believe these practices are necessary – however immature, ignorant and fearful this may be – but that the citizens of the planet are not yelling more loudly and calling for immediate ouster of these cretins. Human nature will always breed more psychotic, despotic and sociopathic imbeciles who crave power, so what’s new?
I can only assume that people must enjoy the drama. Perhaps it’s a perfectly timed spiritual phenomenon that must unfold at the proper pace. Maybe the average Joe and Jane are just numb from the shock of how depraved mankind can still act towards each other. My favorite, though, is that most people are fucking stupid and selfish and simply haven’t pulled their heads out. But I’m cynical.
If you want the world to change, you will have to become involved. Sitting on the sidelines and watching it all go by is only reserved for grandma and grandpa, rocking on the front porch down at the old folks’ home. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if, one day, you wake up with the rest of the cattle at a slaughterhouse far from civilization where the stench of your fear and disembowelment won’t waft past the upturned noses of the fat fucks feasting on your ignorance and apathy.
I wonder how many “shoulda woulda couldas” were gassed at Auschwitz. How many “Gee, maybe I oughtas” were able to sleep peacefully for the remainder of their days, knowing that their family, friends and neighbors were worked to death at Dachau? Today, this isn’t just about Jews, it’s about you and you . . . and definitely you. Wake up.
What are you going to do, today, about the chaos in our world? What calls will you make and how many letters will you write? Will you stand beside or behind your fellow man? Or does life just have you so busy and preoccupied with things far more important – in your own little world – that you can’t possibly be bothered by the bigger picture?
Those who cannot be bothered with becoming involved will be doomed to enslavement, no matter the form, by others who do not fear the work it may take to create their power base. If you think the Holocaust could never happen, again, then you do not understand the human psyche, nor have you read history. And if you believe it could never happen in America, at least, then I’ll wave to you as I pass by your slaughterhouse.
Remember, just say moo.
The Kat
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