Wilma and Al, I agree with everything you've said. I think this column by Judge Rendell about education and democracy adds to the discussion.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080915_U_S__needs_an_educated_citizenry.html These coded terms "radical Islam" and "axis of evil" demonstrate the open exploitation of the exploding ignorance and fear that dominate US society. Marx called religion the opiate of the people. But the history of the 20th and 21st centuries along with the history of the last 2000 years, show me that the organized Abrahamic religions, devoted to the concept of hell, are also among the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction. Watching the Palin revolution reminds me that radical Christianity is identical to radical Islam. Not everyone in the US is a radical crusading Christian but the role of radical Christianity is not even discussed here. It's dangerous to speak about and can lead to death threats or death. Why do so many people then assert that all people of other societies are tied to radical Islam? Why is it OK to ignore the oppression many populations in the world face while calling them radical Islam? Or is that the real reason for this coded language? Since we go along with this concept that outsiders are allies of the legions of devils and demons flying out of hell, we don't need to understand them we only need to kill them. When the US arms and pushes state sponsored terrorism as it did with Sadam Hussein, Bin laden and countless regions around the globe, we can sit back with our blissful ignorance and say, "they are evil." When we pushed and backed Sadam, a million Iranians and Iraqis died. This was revenge because the Iranians rose up and kicked out the oppressive U.S. backed Shah of Iran. Now our government is pushing Georgia like bin Laden was pushed to kill Russians and we are arming terrorists to destabilize Iran, Bolivia, Columbia, Pakistan, Venezuela and many more which have not been discovered. To me, this society looks like a state sponsor of terrorism in the name of radical Christianity. People in many parts of the world must face hopelessness for the future and the knowledge that they can be slaughtered whenever wealthy corporations want oil or gold found near them. Their fear of radical crusading Christianity can certainly lead them to radical Islam. To an outsider like me, these religions seem identical. U.S. fears are generated mostly by ourselves. We condemn large portions of our own population to stress and misery leading them to radical christianity. we keep our own people ignorant. There is no discussion about the policies that lead to failed education of the young and addiction, because we arm gangsters to kill peasants in far away places and call it the war on drugs. We can stay blissfully ignorant because we are willing to endlessly kill demons to ease our fear. With an honest study of history and literature, the young could resist these fantasies of demons flying out of hell. The monotheist organizations are not going to teach the young the lessons that people like Jesus were revolutionaries dedicated to peace and justice for all people. They won't teach that such heroes would condemn modern monotheism and the hatred which feeds it and takes humanity towards self-caused armegeddon. These organizations have become such entrenched tools of ignorance and weapons of oppression that i can't see change coming from within. The beasts are not flying from hell but arise from the ignorant and fearful portions of our own hearts. Peace, Glenn -----Original Message----- >From: Wilma de Soto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Sep 14, 2008 11:49 AM >To: Al Airone <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, UnivCity listserv <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [UC] The Sunday Inquirer-"Deceptive Advertising" > >I know they shouldn't make it that easy. As you stated it wasn't difficult >to determine the political impetus behind it. > >Nevertheless, the deceptive quality of the product placement in addition to > > the fact that many people are already afraid of Barack Obama, > > the uncanny and timely placement in the nation's newspapers > > coupled with the fact many people take the radical right's assertions at >face value as if it were The Holy Gospel > >This sets a dangerous precedent. > >A friend of mine in a high corporate position actually believed a "memo" >from the RNC stating Obama, a father of to daughters, was in favor of >teaching Kindergartners sex education. > >It made NO sense at all, he did not read the law in question, (had he done >so he would have seen it for the lie it is), yet he believed it. > >This man is a reasonably intelligent person. What about others who are not >that the RNC is hoping to instill fear in with this rhetoric and will >fervently accept it at face value? > >I suppose I would not mind as much if what they were saying was true, but >most of it is specious. > > > > >On 9/14/08 9:14 AM, "Al Airone" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> I have to say I wouldn't call it "deceptive advertising". OK, I have to say >> when I saw the CD (it was in our Inquirer, too) I first thought it was an >> advertisement for Liz Taylor's perfume, but once I started reading the copy, >> I was pretty sure what it was: a free copy of a partisan film that otherwise >> wouldn't get much play. >> >> "Radical Islam's War Against the West" , "an 'insider's view' of the hatred >> the Radicals are teaching...and their goal of world domination." - I think >> I've heard Dick Cheney use the same phrases. Heck, even the fact that they >> capitalize "Radicals" - like they're a formalized national state, or at >> least a single organization with a logo and a membership card - advertises >> that this is a highly political and highly partisan effort, relying on >> rhetoric and media-savvy communications techniques rather than, say, actual >> content. >> >> Hey, that's it - I would have to say this type of CD is __sort__ of like an >> educational campaign, except that with an educational campaign you have >> actual __content__. >> >> Yes, the radical right producers of this thing are hiding behind a URL >> instead of coming right out and saying, "Brought to you by the same people >> who brought the Swiftboat lies", but we can't expect them to make it that >> easy. >> >> >> >> - Al Airone >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Wilma de Soto" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "UnivCity listserv" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2008 8:40 AM >> Subject: [UC] The Sunday Inquirer-"Deceptive Advertising" >> >> >>> My Sunday Inquirer included two DVDs called "Obsession". >>> >>> At first glance it looked as if it were some type of action film. >>> >>> However, it is a product of "The Clarion Fund" a non-profit, >>> "non-partisan" >>> organization for national security through education. Its focus? Radical >>> Islam. >>> >>> http://clarionfund.org/ >>> >>> Although quite subtle in its presentation there are references to "Who >>> Will >>> Be Able To Lead Our Country?", it raises questions >>> >>> Yesterday, there was an article under Recent News on their sister site: >>> http://www.radicalislam.org, by the way it was removed today, stating the >>> DNC had given a platform to a woman who has ties to Radical Muslims and >>> allowed her to make a Keynote Speech. >>> >>> First, I wish to state I believe The Clarion Fund has every right to >>> advertise in newspapers. My beef is they should be up front with who they >>> are and what they do instead of masquerading as a motion picture. >>> >>> It seems it seeks to cloak scare tactics in a veil of education and give a >>> perfunctory appearance of fairness in discussing other sects of Islam. >>> >>> My gut feeling is the timing during the Holy month of Ramadan, the >>> Presidential Campaign with a candidate that has a Muslim name is by >>> subliminal design an effort to connect said candidate with radical Islam. >>> >>> This deceptive advertising at best and an attempt at indoctrination of >>> those >>> who do not know better nor care to research their findings. >>> >>> A slipper slope. >>> >>> >>> ---- >>> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >>> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see >>> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. >> >> ---- >> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see >> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > >---- >You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see ><http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
