5 Comments so far

1. truth addict January 19th, 2007 11:37 am

   the important thing here is to cipher through the rhetoric and be cautious of the attempts to narrow the scope of discussion.

   we should begin with the legitimacy of our policies and then move forward, not accept our actions as legit and focus on who we should have sent Arar to.

2. Anne January 19th, 2007 1:12 pm

   It makes me sad. Maybe I should be angry and outraged. But I’ve been angry and outraged for so long, all that’s left is being sad. I’m sad for a country that I really do love. For a system of values I really respect.

   What Bush and Cheney have been doing is not waht we’re about

3. truth addict January 19th, 2007 3:05 pm

   anne,

   What system of values?

   When has it ever REALLY been upheld so that you may respect it?

   Is it because it is written on paper or that other leaders put on a better show at pretending to be upholding it?

   Hopefully I am wrong but I feel as if I see someone who is still chained to monumental myths, lies, distortions and legends.

   If we cannot unchain ourselves from the propaganda that feeds the perpetuation of our “countries” crimes then how on Earth can we do anything about the crimes?

   These false notions of exceptionalism and benevolent virtues is pure bullshit.

   When Japan invaded Manchuria it was to bring an “Earthly paradise” to them. You wouldnt have any problems seeing through that malarki, would you?

   When Nazi Germany was occupying Czechoslovakia Hitler said, “It will enjoy more freedom than the suppressed people of the virtuous nations.” Again, I am sure you easily see through that, but for some reason you still think we have “a system of values” that deserves respect?

   This past September Chomsky had a talk with a socio-biologist, Robert Trivers, and they talked about “the psychology of deceit and self-deception. When you start talking about groups, there are some very interesting analogies. Psychologists have shown that people make these verbal switches when they’re in a we/they situation, in a your-group-versus-another situation.” “So we generalize positively to ourselves, particularize negative and reverse it when we’re talking about other people.”

   Anne, keep your guard up. Watch out for group mentality that leads you to generalize the positives about ourselves (especially when theyre not true) and the negatives of others.

   This “system of values” is a sham. In a previous thread there is talk about Ms. Martins article on the Colbert Report and the Daily Show. She feels there are some dangers of passivity in the show; that it kills deserved anger. The illusion of a “system of values” does precisely what she sees in these two TV programs.

4. John F. Butterfield January 20th, 2007 8:09 am

   I hope everyone saw the podcast video. It should be noted that Senator Leahy requested information about the Maher Arar case from the Bush administration quite some time ago and never received a reply. It is unbelievable that Gonzales came to this hearing without the information. The entire Bush administration should be charged with Contempt of Congress.

5. daughter January 23rd, 2007 5:56 am

   test

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