Thursday, November 30, 2006

We, the people, in order to form a more perfect prison...

The figures for the US tell a strikingly different story than the latest Chevy Truck jingle. Of course, you'll hear that "Freedom" song everywhere, but has anyone mentioned that in 2005, one in every 32 Americans was either on probation, parole or imprisoned? That means 7.4 million Americans. 7.4 million! And for what? Petty drug charges. The War on Drugs... The War on drugs damages more US families per year than drugs do! Now with the War on Terror being waged full force against the American people, Hasn't anyone snapped to the Reality of the situation? Here's a hint...

"This is War... This is your War on Drugs... This is your War on Terror....


Any Questions?"

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Matter and Antimatter... Meet the Anti X.

Why do people believe in concepts rather than examine the information available and test the facts in order to acquire knowledge? This is not a rhetorical question. This is a serious problem. I would go so far as to say this is the root of all evil. Whether it is out of intellectual laziness, lack of curiosity or simple necessity of creature comforts such as the false sense security a person experiences from a self delusional reassurance that there is a benign wisdom ordering everything to a positive end, it will be the downfall of humanity.
That being said, I'd like to introduce you to an enabler of such dysfunction. The host of X Zone radio, Rob McConnel.
This guy runs a "Ufo and bigfoot" speculation show. He appears to be a curious, intellectual with very little fear of investigating the dreaded unknown. He is a jackass who uses his position to broadcast ignorance and fascist idealism. Please read his article on 9-11 and either tear it apart, logically, for yourself or reprint the parts you find no fault with and I'll show you what's wrong with them. As is, I believe I have found the Anti me, but due to my nature I wish to examine and test that hypothesis in order to discover if he really is the anti me. For that I need to engage his opinions. Maybe a number of you can assist me in getting his attention.

ps- I have no knowledge of evidence validating the existence of either UFO's or Bigfoot, but the statistical probability of either to exist would appear to favor the UFO and cast serious doubts on bigfoot. Unless of course one factors in the bigfoot as possible occupants of the UFO's. In that case, I have no opinion whatsoever.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Open to Interpretation never sounded so bad

By now everyone should have heard about Bush's trip to Viet Nam and his rip to history. But just in case you missed it. When asked a question about what lessons he had learned from Viet Nam, he responded, “We’ll succeed unless we quit.”.

Now I know that this subject has been beaten to death over the last couple days, but I thought now would be a good time to point out that that is simply Bush's interpretation of the stark and unmistakeable lessons learned from the cluster fuck of pride and propaganda called the Viet Nam War. Anyone still feel comfortable with relying on the sound ability of Bush to properly interperet the Geneva Convention's definition of Torture? I see this ending badly for us. Call it foreshadowing if you will.

BTW, here are those obscure and ambiguous definitions as held in International Law.

DEFINITION OF TORTURE UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW
COMPILATION

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966

Article 7

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.


Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984

Article 1

For the purposes of this Convention, the term "torture" means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.

This article is without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which does or may contain provisions of wider application.


European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950)

Article 3

No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

American Convention on Human Rights (Pact of San José, Costa Rica, 1969)

Article 5 Right to Humane Treatment

Every person has the right to have his physical, mental, and moral integrity respected.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment or treatment. All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.
Punishment shall not be extended to any person other than the criminal.
Accused persons shall, save in exceptional circumstances, be segregated from convicted persons, and shall be subject to separate treatment appropriate to their status as unconvicted persons.
Minors while subject to criminal proceedings shall be separated from adults and brought before specialised tribunals, as speedily as possible, so that they may be treated in accordance with their status as minors.
Punishments consisting of deprivation of liberty shall have as an essential aim the reform and social readaptation of the prisoners.


Rome statute of the International Criminal Court, 1998

Article 7 Crimes against humanity

For the purpose of this Statute, "crime against humanity" means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack:
(…)
Torture;
(…)
For the purpose of paragraph 1:
(…)
(e) "Torture" means the intentional infliction of severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, upon a person in the custody or under the control of the accused; except that torture shall not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to, lawful sanctions;

Article 8 War crimes

The Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of war crimes in particular when committed as part of a plan or policy or as part of a large-scale commission of such crimes.
For the purpose of this Statute, "war crimes" means:

Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following acts against persons or property protected under the provisions of the relevant Geneva Convention:
(…)
(ii) Torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments;
(…)
Other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, within the established framework of international law, namely, any of the following acts:
(…)
(xxi) Committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment;
(…)
In the case of an armed conflict not of an international character, serious violations of article 3 common to the four Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following acts committed against persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention or any other cause:
(…)
Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
Committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment;
(…)
Paragraph 2 (c) applies to armed conflicts not of an international character and thus does not apply to situations of internal disturbances and tensions, such as riots, isolated and sporadic acts of violence or other acts of a similar nature.


Elements of Crime as contained in the finalised draft prepared by the fifth session of the Preparatory Commission for the International Court held in New York from June 12 to 30 2000:

Article 7 (1) (f) Crime against humanity of torture

Elements

The perpetrator inflicted severe physical or mental pain or suffering upon one or more persons.
Such person or persons were in the custody or under the control of the perpetrator.
Such pain or suffering did not arise only from, and was not inherent in or incidental to, lawful sanctions.
The conduct was committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population.
The perpetrator knew that the conduct was part of or intended the conduct to be part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population.

Article 8 War crimes

Introduction

The elements for war crimes under article 8, paragraph 2 (c) and (e), are subject to the limitations addressed in article 8, paragraph 2 (d) and (f), which are not elements of crimes.

The elements for war crimes under article 8, paragraph 2, of the Statute shall be interpreted within the established framework of the international law of armed conflict including, as appropriate, the international law of armed conflict applicable to armed conflict at sea.

With respect to the last two elements listed for each crime:
There is no requirement for a legal evaluation by the perpetrator as to the existence of an armed conflict or its character as international or non-international;
In that context there is no requirement for awareness by the perpetrator of the facts that established the character of the conflict as international or non-international;
There is only a requirement for the awareness of the factual circumstances that established the existence of an armed conflict that is implicit in the terms “took place in the context of and was associated with”.

Article 8 (2) (a) (ii)-1 War crime of torture

Elements

The perpetrator inflicted severe physical or mental pain or suffering upon one or more persons.
The perpetrator inflicted the pain or suffering for such purposes as: obtaining information or a confession, punishment, intimidation or coercion or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind.
Such person or persons were protected under one or more of the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The perpetrator was aware of the factual circumstances that established that protected status.
The conduct took place in the context of and was associated with an international armed conflict.
The perpetrator was aware of factual circumstances that established the existence of an armed conflict.

Article 8 (2) (a) (ii)-2 War crime of inhuman treatment

Elements

The perpetrator inflicted severe physical or mental pain or suffering upon one or more persons.
Such person or persons were protected under one or more of the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The perpetrator was aware of the factual circumstances that established that protected status.
The conduct took place in the context of and was associated with an international armed conflict.
The perpetrator was aware of factual circumstances that established the existence of an armed conflict.

Article 8 (2) (c) (i)-3 War crime of cruel treatment

Elements

1. The perpetrator inflicted severe physical or mental pain or suffering upon one or more persons.
2. Such person or persons were either hors de combat, or were civilians, medical personnel, or religious personnel taking no active part in the hostilities.
3. The perpetrator was aware of the factual circumstances that established this status.
4. The conduct took place in the context of and was associated with an armed conflict not of an international character.
The perpetrator was aware of factual circumstances that established the existence of an armed conflict.


Article 8 (2) (c) (i)-4 War crime of torture

Elements

1. The perpetrator inflicted severe physical or mental pain or suffering upon one or more persons.
2. The perpetrator inflicted the pain or suffering for such purposes as: obtaining information or a confession, punishment, intimidation or coercion or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind.
3. Such person or persons were either hors de combat, or were civilians, medical personnel or religious personnel taking no active part in the hostilities.
4. The perpetrator was aware of the factual circumstances that established this status.
5. The conduct took place in the context of and was associated with an armed conflict not of an international character.
6. The perpetrator was aware of factual circumstances that established the existence of an armed conflict.


Article 8 (2) (c) (ii) War crime of outrages upon personal dignity

Elements

1. The perpetrator humiliated, degraded or otherwise violated the dignity of one or more persons.
2. The severity of the humiliation, degradation or other violation was of such degree as to be generally recognized as an outrage upon personal dignity.
3. Such person or persons were either hors de combat, or were civilians, medical personnel or religious personnel taking no active part in the hostilities.
4. The perpetrator was aware of the factual circumstances that established this status.
5. The conduct took place in the context of and was associated with an armed conflict not of an international character.
6. The perpetrator was aware of factual circumstances that established the existence of an armed conflict.

Guest Writer- Eliyse Bontrager. One of the few sources of true positivity I've ever known.

Dear Fellow Americans:

Please take the time to read this email. If you agree with it's contents, pass it on. Please read it to it's conclusion. It concerns all of us, and our children, and children's children, etc, for generations to come.

Here we go again, more navel forces have been deployed to the middle-east, to be stationed on the boarder of Iranian territory. Action must be taken now. Write you congressmen and senators, or the new ones to be installed in January. Enough is enough! It must be obvious that the plan is to take over the middle east by now, isn't it? Doesn't anyone have a problem with the tactics taken by this unlawful government? They have broken more laws than I think any other administration before them, and are on par with Nixon. I have tremendous respect for the offices held by these individuals, but I have little to none for these people themselves. They have destroyed our foreign relations, and the only nations that stand behind England and the US in all of this, do so out of fear.

If you are an American, stand for Americans and our rights. One of those is the right to live in a world of peace. The more we anger these so called terrorists, the less likely peace will ever exist. The attacks of September 11th had absolutely nothing to do with Iraq, and they have nothing to do with Iran, which is where our troops are heading now. The reason other countries want nuclear power, is to protect themselves from the threat of the US, and other countries with nuclear arms. Our government has shown them they need to for safeties sake.

Violence by Muslims first started by our support to the Jewish taking land that rightfully belongs to Palestinians. You do know, for decades, we have been supplying training, arms, and tanks to help them in this endeavor, don't you? In 1947 Israel claimed the right to be it's own governing state, with boundaries set and agreed upon. Many decades ago they started the attempt to gain more land. They have been leveling home after home, sometimes in the middle of the night, uprooting sleeping families. They gave them a matter of minutes to grab personal effects. They did all this to gain more space, for moving in more Jewish refuges. We have been assisting, by the funds from Christian "end of the world, second coming" believers. Organizations such as On Eagles Wings, fly them there to hasten the process of this second coming of Christ. This is what I would call provoking Muslims. We were attacked for our policies dealing with the middle east and nothing else. Even though our fore fathers wrote in our constitution the law separating church and state, our many christian presidents, cabinets, and congresses have supported biblical concepts, such as this support of the Jewish. I am not against this race, or any other, but these policies are destroying our peaceful existence, not the Muslim terrorists. Let's look at the root cause.

Also to be noted, we were attacked by people acting individually, angered at our country for allowing and supporting Israeli destruction of theirs. So why are we attacking countries? Why not simply defend our boarders? Stop believing this regime, and look into the facts yourself. A world history book, or political science text will show the history of this conflict, and our aide, in one form or another to it. How many more must die before the fire is hot enough under your seat to cause you to stand up.

If you are not with the movement of peace continually growing in this country, you are against peace. If you are for the torture, and destruction currently dealt to so many innocents, including ours.. you are not for peace. If you are for depriving every citizen of civil liberties, including the writ of Habeus Corpus, now gone, you are for totalitarianism (i.e. Hitler.) If you are for this plan of One World Order, you are for violence to subdue the masses. We have no business interfering in other countries problems, especially if we have not solved the many problems here.

Call me paranoid, but that means the submission of us as well, to the governmental regime that WE have given a ludicrous amount of control. The executive branch has far more power than ever intended, or ever in the history of this county. The removal of our civil liberties is the beginning of the process. Look seriously at all the rights that have been taken so far. Doesn't this scare you? If you can find one source, beside what this regime says, or our censored media, show me. If not, for you, and your children's sake, stand up and help to STOP THIS MADNESS!!!!!

And those that comprise the supporters of the religious right of the Republican party , did not Jesus come to give you a new commandment? Does new not do away with old? Well, what would Jesus do? Was he for violence, or passive protest? Remember Caesar's government, did Jesus organize armies to destroy the threat presented to his persecuted followers? Did he instruct his disciples and followers to attack when arrested himself? Were they told to go after the government when John the Baptist was beheaded? There are so many more examples I could cite, but to those who read the bible, I am sure I don't need to do so. I believe, if the bible is historically correct as you say, the answer is a resounding NO to all of these questions posed! What does "love one another" mean, if not peace and passivity in the face of violence? And what of the meaning behind "turn the other check?" If you believe that this violence, and removal of free will (i.e. civil liberties,) is justified, your in the wrong religion. I believe that the sacrifice of life, for the betterment of the one sacrificing it, is a radical satanist concept. Aren't we suppose to fear those people?

I am beyond political correctness. I am beyond worrying if the truth of these travesties hurts feelings. I believe in AMERICA THE FREE. I do not believe in an America that allows the wool to be pulled over their eyes, and following as blind sheep, never discerning truths for themselves. We have been given sense, and reason, tools to be used, not set aside for sake of conformity to the norm. One of our fore fathers, Ben Franklin said, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." I believe that I have the right to liberty. What about you?

There are links below to organizations that could use your help. There is also a link to an article about the recent deployment of navel ships to the Middle East. Exercise your right to sound off, before it is gone too; there is power in one voice. This government was formed by we the people; it is time for we the people to take it back. The government should not tell US how this country should be run, WE THE PEOPLE are to tell them how to run this country. Has that simple truth been forgotten? Let us stand as one, united for our civil LIBERTIES, ask for JUSTICE to be done where this corrupt regime is concerned, and save our great country, FOR ALL who call it home. Change starts with you. Are you ready yet?

Standing for peace, our rights, and taking America back, with you,
Elizabeth Bontrager

www.moveon.org
www.democrats.com
www.peacetakescourage.com

Goggle peace organizations, there are many more. Contact senators, congressmen, or the white House itself. Tell them to stop the insanity, you are not willing to give up your rights, for anyone, anymore.
Turn left the next election, vote for peace.

The March to War: Naval build-up in the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.. Read the article at Global research

Monday, November 20, 2006