|
I have to add here that the U.S. is a large nation with many forBut as an aside, why was a defense not even attempted during the two hours of airplanes being used as missiles against our country on September 11, 2001???? It defies all rational logic and reason. What the hell was our military playing at? Tiddlywinks? Canasta? There are set procedures regarding hijackings in US airspace: that is...the FAA informs NORAD which in turn informs the relevant AFBs in the area, and jets (usually F15s or F16s) are routinely scrambled in order to intercept a rogue airplane. Recall the Payne Stewart incident in summer 2001? Jets were scrambled within minutes of that plane straying from its prescribed course, and chased it for some 500 miles before catching up. On the morning of 9-11, these orders and procedures were either not carried out or deliberately scuppered from a higher authority, despite their being numerous airbases within 15 minutes flight distance to the hijacked airliners. WHY is this? Nobody is even *asking* these questions in the media. I feel it is our civil DUTY to insist on asking and eventually knowing, and raising these points for open discussion, no matter how painful. Soon, our individual and collective emotionally-driven myopia will evaporate when it is considered OK to indulge ourselves in reasoned discussion of such events and controversial questions that are still considered taboo by much of the public. I hope and trust, for the sake of our Nation that this happens before this inept, criminally irresponsible and rogue Administration has finally run its evil course.
I have nothing against the armed services when they are used in furthering the cause of this nation. However, when they are used by a corrupt and un-elected "administration" to attack other nations, bomb innocent civilians and cause mass unrest thereby breeding terrorists and anti-American feeling all over the world, then We-the-People need to put our collective foot down firmly, and bring this this misuse of military resources to an end. There are also many questions regarding the proportional budgetary quota of our military in comparison to other essential services pertaining to tha maintenance and protection of our society., together with the often extraordinary lack of efficiency at the Pentagon and wildly inflated costs, but that is beyond the scope of this journal account.
After two hours of interviews, chanting and some guerilla "countersurveillance" from the side of the road, we called it a day. Tired but exhilarated after a day of doing what we feel is so right in an ongoing battle between right and wrong, carrying the Flag high above my shoulder, we bade farewell to some like-minded patriotic Americans, and loaded the car and headed back East throught the hills towards Santa Barbara. I sincerely feel that the Founding Fathers would be more proud of OUR actions of the day, in comparison to the way this Administration is doing their utmost to trash anything and everything worthwhile in a civilized society. They must be turning in their graves while watching the Bush-Cheney-Ashcroft mob in action.
For any skeptics who think that these protesters are just a bunch of hippies and 60s relics, *think again*. These people who turned out to protest in support of their country and against the actions of a team of psychopaths who are hijacking democratic government are a complete cross-section of society. Yes, there *were* some hippies and peaceniks in Birkenstocks and tie-dyes, that is only to be expected, but they were hugely outnumbered by regular folk and professional people from all walks of life, all the way from laborers to well-heeled businessfolk. I apologize for shattering any media-induced propagandized images.
Tuesday 8 October: Channel 17 TV aired Peace March, Episode #2
Thursday 10 October: Channel 17 TV aired Peace March, Episode #3
Our Representative, Congresswoman Lois Capps announced (yesterday) that she would vote *against* the Bush Administration's headlong rush to "War at any Cost". (That cost has been estimated at some TWO HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS! This is money that we do not have in these recessional times where the surplus generated during the tech boom of the 1990s was squandered in 2001 to grant tax cuts to the wealthy. Yes, somebody, and you can guarantee they are close to the Bush Mafia, is going to make a $$$killing$$$, literally unfortunately, as well as figuratively. Think defense contractors and oil companies).
Well, today Ms. Capps speech to the House was true to those promises: she arrived at the logical and sensible conclusion that the Bush Administration had not only failed to prove it's case but also that "pre-emptive war" would NOT be beneficial to America's national security. Perhaps the wonderful turnout here in Santa Barbara, her home city, together with the series of videotaped documentation of local opinion from not only us, but Mary Jones and Lauren's video-letters, thousands of phone calls, emails etc......had some effect!
Whatever the factors involved, Thankyou Lois Capps, for these pro-American sentiments in amongst a seeming Congressional desert of commonsense, where so many house members are still blinded by the ridiculous notion that 'to not conform to the Bush Crew's "with us or against us" blackmail is being un-patriotic. Unfortunately, the Bush motion passed in the House, a very sad day for everyone. Fortunately however, for America and the rest of Planet Earth, an increasingly large number of us feel the absolute opposite. Hopefully we will very shortly be a majority.
Saturday 12 October:
Peace March # 4!
I was up early, around 7-45 am, and it felt very fall-like; I could even see my breath! I finish my second monster sign, 20 feet long and 3 feet tall: this one was also emblazoned in black and blue two-foot tall letters with the following slogan: "BUSH FOREIGN POLICY: HIJACKING U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY". I made another placard, and by 10 am, I am wishing that I had started an hour earlier! This happened last week too, despite the previous days preparations. Penny and I set off and get a parking space right next to the assembly point. Weare back at Vera Cruz Park, and also competing with two other popular and well-attended events, Santa Barbara Gay Pride and the Harbor Festival. There is also an industrial dispute/strike at the UCSB (a living wage issue), so I was expecting our numbers to be down from the 1000 to 1500 in attendance last week. However, the Park was filling up rapidly to the accompaniment of more political speeches.
I find a lad and a bunch of girls to display the "foreign policy" banner. This time we have a police permit to march in the street, so we take up the whole of the width of State Street, and as last week, we lead off with my big banner! It attracts a bunch of media photographers; great...the bigger the message, the more attention it gets! It is awkward to handle, but finding people to display it isnt difficult! I have no idea of the size of the crowd, but my estimate is about 1500 again, with many folk on State St spontaneously joining in support. We march slowly and noisily up State Street without incident, and this time, there's even more drumming to accompany us! I have no clue as to where Penny is, but finally I see her flitting through the moving crowd, getting shots and doing interviews (despite the noise!). The march ended up at the top of State Street where there was a rally. The speakers included the Mayor of Santa Barbara, Marty Blum, who has been most supportive of the cause, and another local activist who delivered a very pointed speech, basically leveling a charge of Bush issuing illegal orders, and encouraging the armed services not to follow such illegal orders. Well said!
I also talk with the lad who got himself arrested last week, an 18 year old City College student called Josh, for a show of civil disobedience. Josh is a singer/guitarist and he has written a song called "Remembering 9-11". I offer him a free recording session at our studio...he is actively opposing the Bush Mafia, so I want to help him in doing his bit for our country.
The march turns around and makes its long, straggling return back down both sidewalks of State Street, which had been reopened to traffic, and back in the park, Penny manages to do a few more interviews while the crowd dispersed. I buy a T-shirt from an Indian vendor named “Sri” with an American Flag and the slogan "I support a regime change in the U.S." Great sentiment, and so do I! On the rear of the t-shirt was printed the “TOP 10 Operation Names for an Iraq Attack”:
10. Operation George Oilwell (that one made me laugh!)
9. Operation Belated Fathers’ Day Gift
8. Operation War is Peace, Presidenting is Dictatoring
7. Operation We Couldn’t Find Bin Laden
6. Operation Let’s Incite More Terrorism
5. Operation For Starving CEOs of Defense and Oil Industries
4. Operation No Whining About Recession When We’re At War
3. Operation Pre-Election Enron Amnesia
2. Operation Endless Oil From New Iraqi Puppet Government
1. Operation Let’s Scare The Country Shitless So Ashcroft Can Steal More Freedoms
Well, Sri, you have hit the nail on the head 10 times! Good work!
Tired and beat up, we adjourn for lunch at the Natural Cafe, talk with Mary and Lauren the videographers who also documented the march again!
You don't have to be in the army to fight in the war!
Thursday October 17, 2002
Channel 17 now regularly scheduling the video-documentaries of the pro-peace (or anti-war) feeling.
The facts that many other cities throughout America are holding peace marches and rallies, and the number of participants is increasing exponentially is most heartening. So also is the recent news that one of the largest anti-war demonstations ever seen in Britain attracted a crowd estimated between 150,000 and 400,000 people in the streets of London. The Tony Blair government in Britain is the sole ally of the Bush Administration in its policy of declaring unilateral war against those with whom we disagree, and negotiating after the fact. (Imagine what the world would be like if all nations followed this example???!!!!).
Saturday 19th October 2002:
Peace March, #5.
I was truly wondering, as I made up a couple of new signs in the back yard after breakfast, if the turnout was going to be maintained, or if the energy level was going to drop off, since these demonstrations have been happening every Saturday without a break. It is quite tiring, emotionally draining and intense doinf this, specially when getting into the video journalling aspect. But when there’s a job to be done, then you just get on with it. When we arrived at the Vera Cruz Park, my fears evaporated. Already a substantial crowd was assembling, and speeches were being made. Penny took a turn to speak; she appealed for funds to assist in the distribution of copies of the compiled edited tapes of the marches, and the POPs (Pissed Off Patriots) got a collection going for us. Awesome, guys!
At 11-30, we started the slow trek to State Street via Haley Street this time round. As for the first three marches, we had to stay on the sidewalks as we didn’t have a street permit this week, but no matter...somehow the message seems to come over better, and the demonstration has more impact and interface. There were no untoward incidents...well hey...we are marching for peace and as such we tend to stay on the right side of the law, unlike those in the Bush White House. In 5 marches involving some 12 hours of street protest averaging 1000 persons in 5 separate marches, there has been just *one* arrest, and that was for a deliberate and theatrically staged act of non-violent civil disobedience. Not bad, specially when compared what happens every Saturday afternoon at regular sporting events! Also the fact that only *two* people were arrested during the recent gigantic 400,000-strong London protest just underscores that we really are a law-abiding bunch of folk. I also have to commend the Santa Barbara Police Department on the excellent policing during the marches. However, we were informed by one of the speakers before the start of this march that during the previous Saturday’s protest, there were plainclothes officers from apparently out of town armed with ‘still’ and videocameras, documenting and surveilling the participants. The same thing happened on this latest march, and Penny tried to film the surveillers.
Monday, 21 October 2002
:
Videographers Mary Jones with her partner Lauren, and Penny too came up with this idea: In this climate of anti-war sentiment, it is all very well and good demonstrating that a change of attitude must happen and rationality must prevail, but once that aim has been achieved, then there must be practical solutions. With this aim in mind, the website
http://www.peopletopeople.tv
is being created. We are in communication with The Carter Center in Atlanta GA regarding this.
In the evening, we retire to the studio and mix a rough version of “Not in our Name” , a political protest statement type song in a slow, quasi rap format, with lots of chanting. This is being put as a soundtrack to a 4 minute video “short” compilation of the demonstrations. It’s emotional stuff for sure.
Tuesday, 22 October 2002
:
Penny is due to leave for Atlanta on Thursday so she is frantically editing footage to take with her, to take to the Carter Center.
In the afternoon, we take the camera equipment to City Hall: SAfter sitting through two hours of local city council business, Item #18 comes up....a resolution condemning the Bush Administration policy of pre-emptive strikes. There were lots of cameras there, including the local TV channels and several independent videographers, including the redoubtable Mary Jones, who had some part in introducing the resolution. The City of SantaCruz passed a similar resoltion recently, and a number of members of the public got up to speak in the chambers, all in support. If I had had something prepared I would have also spoken, but as it happened most of the relevant bases were covered. Mac Bakewell did an outstanding job, as did a number of other speakers, which included at least two Vietnam veterans. it was a little nerve racking as the motion went to the five Council members and the Mayor who spoke in turn. One support, then one abstention, followed by a vote against. Ouch... But then the rest of the voting went all our way, the two remaining Council members, and then mayor Blum all voting in support! This received a long standing ovation from the crowded public benches! Thats now two cities in California formally telling the Bush White House in no uncertain terms to obey the Constitution. Now we need *every City*, not only in California but throughout the nation.
Peace related actions in Santa Barbara are occuring on a daily basis now:
Tuesdays: Vigil and petition against the death penalty, 5 to 6 pm from Farmers’ Market.
Wednesdays: Silent Vigil for Peace, in front of the UCSB Library in the “Hate Free Zone”, 12 noon till 1pm.
Thursdays: Peace Actions: State and Anapamu...Noon to 1pm
Fridays: Santa Barbara in Black (formerly Women in Black): Vigil Against Violence, Noon to 1pm
Saturdays: Peace Rally and March, starts 11AM Vera Cruz Park.
*
Why are so many people around the world horrified by what is a bout to happen?
1. Pre-emptive action against nations without provocation blatantly contravenes international law and all standards of moral decency and civilized human conduct.
2. If the U.S. can do this and "justify" it, then anyone who has a dispute or grievance with their neighbors will feel "justified" in invading first and negotiating later. If America does it, then we can too.
3. Saddam Hussein, in this present example is not even seen by his *neighbors* as being a threat worthy of sending a taskforce of some 250,000 troops. Nobody in the region wants to see a war, since it will cause enormous regional de-stabilization.
4. If Iraq is attacked and it's administration is backed into a corner, then Saddam Hussein in desperation may order chemical weapons to be used against US troops. We know that he has them, as do many other nations: after all, they were suppled to Iraq under Saddam Hussein by the U.S. during the 8 year Iraq-Iran war of the 1980s, when secular Iraq under Hussein was considered by the Reagan White House to be an ally against Islamic fundamentalist Iran under the Ayatollahs. Saddam Hussein's military was smashed to shreds during the Gulf War in 1991, and he *still* didnt use any weapons of mass-destruction, even when his nation's military was being systematically shredded by the Coalition forces. In the 11 years since the end of the Gulf War, he has neither used chemical weapons nor threatened their use. The often repeated mantra cited by the Bush Administration to mislead people to believe that Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against the Kurdish population of Northern Iraq is most likely untrue since a detailed CIA report found that "virtually no evidence exists to link Iraq with the attacks, instead finding that in most probability that it was the *Iranian* military was responsible." The bluster and jingoism of the Bush Administration in trying to "justify" a war is vastly overblown.
5. America is in an economic downturn, fueled by this administration's fiscal irreponsibility. A war against Iraq will drastically aggravate the problem. During the last Gulf war, thousands of small businesses, from small retailers to hi-tech goods went bankrupt. The public do not buy things during times of war.
6. The last Gulf War was directly responsible for the rise of bin Laden's al'Qaida terrorist network. An unjustified and unsupported war against Iraq, as far as the world community is concerned, will undoubtedly act as a beacon for any loose cannons in the region (there are many!) to turn against America. It will cause fundamentalist Islamic hotheads to go beating pathways to the likes of bin Laden and his cohorts. A few of these people are known to get angry enough to do such horrendous things as slamming commercial aircraft into skyscapers. Have the Biush crew forgotten about 9-11? America's heavy handed policies in the region have caused us to generate countless enemies around the world. We are "informed" that we are involved in a "war against terrorism". Since when is a war against terrorism the same thing as a bin Laden recruitment drive? Are we laying another round of al'Qaida Bait? I feel that such foreign policies which are deliberately designed to reward a few favored privately owned business and corporate elites using heavy handed and intrusive policies funded by the US taxpayers so as to cause people desperate enough to try to attack us are by definition, ANTI- AMERICAN to the fullest extent. It's a no-brainer. I would go as far as to describe such actions as TREASON.
7. Bush's accusation that Iraq has "Nukular Weapons" (oi, veh!) has been debunked soundly by Scott Ritter, who was in charge of the UNSCOM weapons inspectors until 1998. He is a little more in the picture than White House arch-weasel Ari Fleischer. (Actually if Iraq *does* have a nuclear capability, then spy satellites would pick up the radiation signatures with little trouble. Nuclear weapons, specially the weapons grade fissile component are extremely difficult to conceal). Furthermore, the accusation that Iraq has flouted the U.N. security council resolution signed by Saddam Hussein at the end of the Gulf War on 16 occasions bears little significance: Israel has flouted U.N. security council resolutions at least 69 times in the same period. Talk about a blatant double standard. Furthermore, the accusation that Iraq was flouting the UN by firing at patrols in the "no-fly zones" in Northern and Southern Iraq is another media and White House whitewash. The no-fly zones were never a part of U.N. Sevurity Council Resolution 668. According the the UK's Guardian newspaper (a rather more reliable news source than the US corporate media), U.N. Secretary General Annan has said "that no resolution justifies these no-fly zones". And to add, the fact that the US military has used over 600,000 lbs of depleted uranium shells against the Iraqis causing an environmental disaster, with incidents of childhood cancer over 25 times the normal background in some areas is just one of numerous factors that are causing peoples overseas to look at us as a 'rogue nation'. When we commit such atrocities it is hardly surprising that we end up generating enemies overseas in droves.
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
*************
Whatever this Administration tells you via the compliant media propaganda machine is probably an outright lie or deception, or a half truth at best. Whatever the Bush crew says, then don't believe them. Read between the lines. Examine, research and scrutizine. Be VERY skeptical. The Bush Administration is NOT ON THE SIDE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, period. I cannot emphasize this enough. Their interests and loyalties solely lie with an elite who are of the same philosophical and ideological background. Their claim to represent the American people as a whole is a fraud and a fake. They lie, they cheat and they deceive, on a grand scale, and unfortunately, most of the U.S. (and British) public hasn't woken up to this unpalatable fact that this bunch of criminals are tarring our nation's reputation. I fervently hope that in the next Presidential Election, we the people overthrow this cartel of treasonous thugs at the ballot box. It is our patriotic duty.
|
|
|
