Big Brother originally entered English vocabulary with George Orwell's book Nineteen Eighty-Four. Written in 1949, Nineteen Eighty-Four was a futuristic novel about the world turning (by 1984) into a dystopia, a place "opposite of utopia." Orwell believed totalitarian governmental leaders (e.g. Big Brother) would seek to control the way people think. Orwell's novel takes place in Airstrip One, the country formerly known as Great Britain, but now a satellite of the superstate Oceania. Orwell portrays the world in a perpetual state of war with omnipresent government surveillance with public manipulation by the political elite. Those in control (e.g. Big Brother) persecute individualism and independent thinking. Any opinion, thought, or spoken word that opposes the party line is considered thoughtcrime and prosecuted. Big Brother goes after individualism and independence, manipulating the population into political correctness.
Nineteen Eight-Four was Orwell's attempt to warn western civilization. Eric Authur Blair (1903-1950), who took the pen name George Orwell, didn't write in a vacuum. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Orwell's wife Eileen started working in the Censorship Department of the Ministry of Information in central London, and Orwell himself would often write against British support of fascist, communist, and socialist governments. Orwell explained his writings in an essay called Why I Write:'Every line of serious work that I've written since 1936 has been written directly or indirectly against Totalitarianism."Totalitarianism by definition means "the ideology of the whole is superior" (total - whole - arian - superior - ism - political ideology). Orwell was frightened that Big Brother would eventually be able to manipulate and control the thoughts of people to establish a collective political correctness and lead the world into Totalitarianism.
The adjective Orwellian connotes an attitude and a policy of control by propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and manipulation of the past, making certain ideas literally unthinkable. Several words and phrases from Nineteen Eighty-Four have entered popular language. Newspeak is a simplified and intentional confusing language designed to make independent thought impossible. Doublethink means holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously. The Thought Police are those who suppress all dissenting opinion. Prolefeed is homogenised, manufactured superficial literature, film and music, used to control and indoctrinate the populace through docility. Big Brother is a supreme dictator who watches everyone. Facebook can become Big Brother's tool
2016 has become Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Yesterday, Florida's Assistant State Attorney was suspended from his employment for a Facebook post he wrote after the horrific Orlando tragedy this past week, Prosecutor Kenneth Lewis wrote on Facebook:
"Downtown Orlando has no bottom. The entire city should be leveled. It is void of a single redeeming quality. It is a melting pot of 3rd world miscreants and ghetto thugs. It is void of culture. If you live down there you do it at your own risk and at your own peril. If you go down there after dark there is seriously something wrong with you. Disney does everything in its power to shield visitors of Disney from its northern blight. That doesn't change reality. Disney may be the happiest place on earth but Orlando is a national embarrassment. If this is an act of domestic terrorist it is so important that we don't publish the religion, name, or motive of the terrorist as not to offend anyone."One may not agree with what Kenneth Lewis wrote. That's not the issue. The freedom for Kenneth Lewis to think, say, and feel differently than the whole is the only way we keep America from descending into Orwellian dystopia.
You, too, may be contributing to the Orwellian nature of political correctness when you demand everyone on your Facebook feed think and write the way you do. If you really cherish freedom - not just say you do, but really cherish it - then celebrate the fact you have friends who disagree with you. Let them write what they think without de-friending them or humiliating them. That will be your contribution to building the utopia we call America.
Don't let your Facebook feed become Big Brother.
57 comments:
I think about Donald Trump. And I wonder why, since he is speaking now as THE Republican Party's candidate for POTUS, that the leaders of the Party feel they must be silenced from condemning his outrageous racist speech. I suppose they might claim, he has the right to say what he wants; but IS he speaking FOR THEM?
Believe me, I'm all for freedom of speech, but if someone is a representative of a group of people and THEY keep silent, we have to ask how much is that representative speaking for his organization. (?)
I remember when I was contracted to teach for my school system, the principal told all of us new hires to be very conscious of our behavior and speech out in the community. We KNEW what he meant. No one complained about it because we agreed with him in principle, that we were officers of the school system and we had an obligation to the parents of the children we taught to be responsible adults in our community personas. No one was 'offended' by the reminder to watch our P's and q's.
Another consideration is that FACEBOOK is not a 'private' forum. If you post on Facebook, your friends' friends on and on may come to read what you have shared. Recently, on Dr. Phil, a woman was confronted because she was posting pictures of twin girls as her own children, but they were not hers, and the parents were horrified. It was a terrible case of an unbalanced woman stalking and abusing Facebook at the expense of the peace of mind of two very frightened parents. The woman was very sick, of course, but she still managed to do a lot of harm to some innocent people.
Lots of things to consider. It's a new world out there. We are more connected and more vulnerable than ever before. It is very easy to be victimized if we are not careful. The WORST: on-line predators using facebook and chat rooms to prey on our young pre-teens and teens. Schools have begun to give assemblies to alert parents of the dangers. There is REAL need for concern about those who prey on innocent people on line.
Wade,
Wow! I’ve never read your post so ‘hot off the press’ before…in fact after I printed it, I looked back and printed it again because another picture was added saying, “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU…”
On the flip side it made me laugh because it reminded me of many many years ago when my brother, Hez, was working on a large construction job. One small group of workers were ‘Goof-offs’. The ‘dreaded’ big boss was named Joe Blew. Hez saw this group hid out smoking ‘weed’ in a basement. He went upstairs and through an air vent they heard a thundering voice; “JOE BLEW IS WATCHING YOU.” He said guys ran out of there like it was on fire.
On the serious side, it’s far too true. Once my son hung up when I was
‘blasting’ Obama. He said, “Don’t you realize you’re on a cell phone!”
On the other hand I’m not worried because there’s too many ahead of me. :)
This was on the internet today:
“Sarah Palin said President Obama is a "special kind of stupid" and deserves no respect after choosing to pursue gun control instead of "Islamic terrorist control."
"Exploiting a sick, evil, ideological-driven attack on Americans to further your twisted anti-Second Amendment mission is disgusting," Palin wrote, in a Facebook post that did not mince words.
The former Alaska governor accused the president of "demanding an 'explanation' from law-abiding gun owners," but not doing the same of followers of Islam, "the religion behind this terror."
http://insider.foxnews.com/2016/06/17/sarah-palin-obama-special-kind-stupid
With Obama’s blessings, the newspaper Daily News wrote: “50 dead…Thanks NRA”. Also the news said, “Massacre reignites gun debate in Congress.”
I disagree with Palin as Obama being stupid because I believe he is a ‘fox in the henhouse…that is proved by his WORDS and ACTIONS.
After the horrendous murders by ISIS, Obama said, “WE Christians should get off out high-horse…”
I do not believe he meant “WE” but he meant YOU as brought out by his quotes on Islam:
http://conservativetribune.com/obama-islam-and-christianity/
1. “The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam”
2. “The sweetest sound I know is the Muslim call to prayer”
3. “We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over the centuries to shape the world — including in my own country.”
4. “As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam.”
5. “Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance.”
6. “Islam has always been part of America”
7. “We will encourage more Americans to study in Muslim communities”
8. “These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings.”
9. “America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.”
10. “I made it clear that America is not – and will never be – at war with Islam.”
11. “Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting peace.”
12. “So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed.”
13. “In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.”
14. “Throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.”
15. “Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality.”
16. “The Holy Koran tells us, ‘O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.’”
17. “I look forward to hosting an Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan here at the White House later this week, and wish you a blessed month.”
18. “We’ve seen those results in generations of Muslim immigrants – farmers and factory workers, helping to lay the railroads and build our cities, the Muslim innovators who helped build some of our highest skyscrapers and who helped unlock the secrets of our universe.”
19. “That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn’t. And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”
20. “I also know that Islam has always been a part of America’s story.”
Rex,
You did pull the printer trigger quickly! :) I added the second picture because it was proportional in size for shares.
Christiane,
I understand what you are saying.
One thing that I keep thinking about is that that Mr. Trump did beat 16 other candidates without cheating. So, in essence, he IS speaking on behalf of the people who elected him as the Republican candidate.
One doesn't have to agree with him (or what he says), but one must respect he is the candidate.
Part 1
Personally, I think Orwell would be blown away by just how it has turned out...to the negative. Sometimes I wonder how much people may or may not think about just how controlled and limited they really are. In so many ways Orwells world has come true. I say they have simply done a better job of masking it.
For instance, there are two political parties. Democrats and Republicans. Yes, we have the occasional independent person or libertarian who rises up only to be squashed back down when the other two align or conspire to work against them. The two are different in positions, but I think they both have the same worldview. To me, they represent a modern day political version of WWE. Everyone gets a kick out of the WWE contenders. They all know its fake, they all know its staged, but they are entertained.. It is what politicians of today's establishment does....Whether Bush or Clinton, Pelosi or Snow, McConnell or McCain Biden or Obama. They go behind the curtain, make a deal on who will say what, act like they hate each other but do one thing together...MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO. All of it to thunderous applause.
Love or hate Trump he has taken the mask of them all in this. Hillary has been selected by her party since before last year and now leaked DNC files from hackers are showing that is precisely the case. Even though Sanders was honest with who and what he is and what he wants to do...he was doing quite well, but the DNC had their pick and the thumb has been on the scale in her favor for some time. For the GOP it was clearly supposed to be Bush. Over 100 million to start he could have bought it...that was until he was such a lousy candidate and this guy Trump came in. They even hated Cruz (or so they say) when in reality he could very well have been controlled opposition on which they eventually hung their hats on because he was the only one knocking on Trumps door. I voted for Cruz on constitutional principles.
Trump has more than simply upset their apple cart, their status quo. I am surprised he has not had an "accident" yet. Americans are responding to him at every turn because he speaks his mind and like them is sick of people telling us we cant "speak our minds." Whats more, in many things he is speaking what Americans have been wanting but BOTH parties have failed (I think purposefully at times) to do. The liars in DC have promised us security since the congress lied to and double-dealt Reagan on it....They have armed bad guys, made bad deals, squandered our national treasure, hand-cuffed our soldier's in battle and do ZERO to stop the president from all his unconstitutional actions. Trump represents the enough is enough Americans. I will gladly vote for him even with all his faults because Hillary? Well, I could go on for days but she is one of the Biggest of Big Brothers Orwell warned us about. If someone with her track record, actions and dealings could hold that office we are truly doomed as a nation because there will be no stopping the violent upheaval that would eventually come from it.
Part 2
I know a thing or two about being opposed by the powerful. In 1999 I testified AGAINST the DOD in their obscene mandatory Anthrax Vaccine program. I spoke in front of Congressman Chris Shay's committee on Guard and Reserve Affairs. I was personal threatened by a few colonels and generals. I had to watch everything I did, to whom I talked and protect myself at all costs, which I did. From phone recordings to e-mails to the fact that I never used the work computer for any of it lest it be used against me. Time and again it was really just an oppression against me and others to control us or bring us to heel for a program that in and of itself was a payoff deal by one friend to another...President Bill Clinton to for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral William Crowe. I credit God and God alone for surviving it all. I paid a price for it though. Seems in politics anymore thats what will happen. Citizens now pay a price too...sometimes a terrible one that is not at all the freedom we have but represents a new fascism by some. Conform or be destroyed. Want to act on your faith and cause zero harm in doing so, or injury? Nope you can't because if you do not conform and bake that cake for them you will be destroyed. So much for freedom of expression, so much for right of free association...so much for freedom o speech, and even more ominous, so much for your supposed freedom of religion. The same people stomping on christian bakers are the same ones refusing to speak out about radical islam...We have a very serious problem. Up is down, wrong is right a lot of the time and we are trapped with many people going to tribalism in their responses to issues and this only helps the statist...the entrenched establishment types.
Orwell was far more right than he ever could have imagined and he had an amazing imagination and wrote it well. Turns out the evil are far more cunning and intelligent than even he thought at the time.
For the above stated reasons and many more, some time ago I finally let go of trying to do battle with everything. Its what they want. While I am not at all afraid to fight (trust me I have chosen sides long ago) I do fully realize that the battle is the Lord's and the Lord's alone. For there is not one person who disagrees with my world view that could be forced to agree with me and do things my way, they will stand against me. But, they cannot defeat my God. We wrestle not against flesh and blood...right? Now, more than ever, we have daily evidence of the rulers of darkness in this world through events like Orlando but also in events in our Supreme Court...in our Congress and through the Executive.
PRAY...for the whole of the world, but please...pray for the United States.
And all these years, I had understood it to mean Big Brother was looking looking "out" for you... not so?
Chomsky, Orwell and the Myth of Press Freedom
Chomsky says that Orwell, as the author of Nineteen Eighty-Four, is normally associated with the suppression of thought in dystopian, authoritarian societies. Lesser known, according to Chomsky, is Orwell’s stress on “thought-control” in supposedly free societies such as England. Here a subtle system of censorship operates which means that unpopular ideas are rarely heard. Going to Orwell’s precise words:
"The sinister fact about literary censorship in England is that it is largely voluntary. Unpopular ideas can be silenced, and inconvenient facts kept dark, without the need for any official ban. … The British press is extremely centralized, and most of it is owned by wealthy men who have every motive to be dishonest on certain important topics. But the same kind of veiled censorship also operates in books and periodicals, as well as in plays, films and radio. At any given moment there is an orthodoxy, a body of ideas which it is assumed that all right-thinking people will accept without question. It is not exactly forbidden to say this, that or the other, but it is “not done” to say it, just as in mid-Victorian times it was “not done” to mention trousers in the presence of a lady. Anyone who challenges the prevailing orthodoxy finds himself silenced with surprising effectiveness. A genuinely unfashionable opinion is almost never given a fair hearing, either in the popular press or in the highbrow periodicals."
Very ironic that US has built the largest and complete surveillance system that is million times worse than in 1984 with bipartisan support.
And who will use this?
Herr Trumpf or a Goldwater girl, a Republican trojan horse and a warmonger?
You have made your bed.
BTW Trump got into this race at the urging of Clinton. This has been rigged from the get go.
"One doesn't have to agree with him (or what he says), but one must respect he is the candidate."
I am sorry but I don't think we have to respect anything about Donald Trump least of all that he is the candidate. It's no secret that I do not. His coming as far as he has just shows the mindset of many Republicans, not the whole country because all are not Republican and not all Republicans are for Trump.
Neither do we have to respect anything about the mindset of one who claims to be Christian but demonizes the disagreements of others if they don't follow her eschewed logic.....Debbie.
Trump has been more "Christian" in his public demeanor that all current SBC leaders put together. Just don't see much difference between the two elements.
Nor, ScottShaver, do we have to demonize those who disagree with us.
:)
I can't imagine allowing Donald Trump anywhere near the nuclear codes. And I can't imagine the people of this country allowing this to happen by electing him in November.
I think November's election will become a referendum on Donald Trump. And it will tell us more about ourselves as a divided nation than I ever really want to know, but it is what it is. Will we ever work it out? Yes. We will. But in the meantime we may have some harsh lessons to learn about giving a national platform to hatred, racism, misogyny, Islamophobia, and fear-mongering, and, yes, a massive narcissism that reveals a corrupted and deranged ethos.
A shout-out to DEBBIE: well-said. And I admire your work over at SBCvoices also. Stay strong.
The way things are going, Trump is self-destructing and HRC will probably win in a landslide.
BUT HRC's hands are blood soaked.
Trump is fairly clean here.
Donald Trump Calls Hillary Clinton “Trigger Happy” as She Courts Neocons
“On foreign policy, Hillary is trigger happy,” Trump told the crowd. “She is, she’s trigger happy. She’s got a bad temperament,” he said. “Her decisions in Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya have cost trillions of dollars, thousands of lives and have totally unleashed ISIS.”
And he expressed a rarely heard appreciation for the “other side to this story,” noting: “Thousands of lives, yes, for us, but probably millions of lives in all fairness, folks” for the people of the Middle East.
Trump implied that casualties inflicted by the U.S. military were far higher than reported. “They bomb a city” and “it’s obliterated, obliterated,” he said. “They’ll say nobody was killed. I’ll bet you thousands and thousands of people were killed every time you see that television set.”
“If we would’ve done nothing,” Trump argued, “we would’ve been in much better shape.”
In short HRC has a bigger pen** than Trump. Er, sorry, I meant bigger hands.
With such big and long hands HRC can summarily push the nuke buttons fairly easily and without any remorse. Lots of practice here.
HRC on Gaddafi: "We came, we saw, he died".
How?
Sodimized by a knife.
A bayonet to be exact.
Christiane,
I'm reminded Israel came under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar, the early Christians came under the rule of Nero, and the Christians in Germany came under the rule of Hitler. In all three occasions, great revivals of faith occurred in the land. As you know, our hope is not found in who leads our country. It is very likely Trump will become President.
Hi WADE,
when I read "It is very likely Trump will become President.", my first thought was that I can count on the wisdom of our people to defeat what he stands for. There are still enough old people who fought in WWII, and there are still plenty of mothers who want their children and grandchildren to be safe from nuclear war.
If he does get elected, I will be proven wrong. But I will work to see that it does not happen, and I will do it responsibly, as a citizen in a democracy. I do not see that man in the White House, no.
And YES, you are right about our hope being anchored beyond this Earth and all of its troubles. I hope you had a wonderful vacation; you certainly deserved a chance to rest. My prayers and good wishes go out for the good people in Emmanuel Enid. God Bless.
Christine...I have heard the charges time and again, they have loose basis in fact at best. Trump DID indeed say a moratorium on muslims from the countries that are the problem...Muslim is not a race, it is not racists to say such, it is PROFILING and quite frankly since we have told our police forces and our national security apparatuses they can't "profile" they have to exact liberty from us all to get at the bad guys and it does not work well....None the less, he did not say all that is a myth. He spoke of the ones wanting jihad and yes it meant a whole lot of them but no, not the whole religion and again, it is not a race. Had he said Arabs, it would have been different. Then there is the Mexican issue...did he say that ALL OF THEM were rapists and murderers? No, again it is his own poor delivery that gives his enemies bullets to use and they did so. He said they are sending over rapists and drug dealers and murderers...that has proven to be true. Nowhere is is verifiable that he said ALL MEXICAN he absolutely spoke to the criminal element of which very many of these criminal illegal aliens are...care to go over the crime stats on them?
All the while, its Hillary that is a better choice? Thats the most insulting thing I get from the liberal progressives on many forums....that I am either too stupid to see how much better she is or that she would be better for us vs-a-vie the "nuclear codes"...Well, I have seen first hand her actions when the 3am call comes....it meant abandonment and death for Americans, no thank you. I have seen her many shady deals with foreign nationals and governments for "Clinton Foundation" money and money for her campaign, no thank you. I have seen her many past issues from Whitewater to Cattle futures.
A responsible country would have never let people of such low moral character (Clinton and Trump) near the keys of power....nor about 90% of the current elected officials at the national, state and local levels.
Hi Mr. Panzera,
I have personally watched the speeches of Donald Trump. And I was horrified. I suppose I'm just not 'in tune' with his mindset or that of his followers, but I am appalled by what he represents openly.
In short, I have heard and seen enough to convince me that our country would be harmed by this man. I think I can believe my own eyes and ears. There is no defense for such a man, no.
What I already know has happened is that a great political party is damaged and I fear for a healthy two-party system, which I feel is important to maintain stability in our country's government.
I can only hope that the wisdom of the whole people in this country is brought to bear on the coming election. We shall see.
Thanks for interacting. I fear we see things very differently. From where I am, Trump represents a great danger to our way of life. He's already divided his own party, which may not survive what he has and will do to it.
Christine, I couldn't be happier about his "dividing" the party. What it really represents is what, perhaps you and, others seem to refuse to admit...the establishment hates the man as it is THEY acting "divided." Again, ads I said in my first post here...I wanted Cruz, for solid constitutional principled reasons, but if the public is going to use the tag lines of the DNC to dismiss Trump because he is brash and yes vulgar but say nothing of the unconstitutional and reprehensible actions of their candidate who is under FBI investigation then, well, I guess were both losers in the end.
This is extremely pertinent and interesting:
(salient part appears at 4:30)
https://twitter.com/MJGerson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
If Donald Trump is the George McGovern of the GOP, what does that make Hillary Clinton? | Corey Robin
Robert Kagan, Donald Trump, and the Liberal Imagination
Trump Talk
Adam Smith said it best:
In countries where great crimes frequently pass unpunished, the most atrocious actions become almost familiar, and cease to impress the people with that horror which is universally felt in countries where an exact administration of justice takes place.
After Distancing Herself From Bill Clinton’s Economic Policies, Hillary Wants Him as Mr. Economic Fix It
Needless to say, if Hillary doubts she can get the job done with her Cabinet and if needed, a czar here or there, and needs to bring in Bill too, this is an admission that her vaunted experience is not what it is cracked up to be. Hillary has the classic resume of someone who has failed upward: a series of every-splashier job titles, but with no or negative accomplishments.
...
So American voters are told they should welcome the return of the Clinton dynasty in the White House. Those outside the 1% who understand how the Clintons undermined their economic well-being have every reason to be leery. Like the Bourbons, they appear to have learned nothing and forgotten nothing.
Our next president. Being failed upwards.
On reflection, ALL modern presidents are essentially FAILED UPWARDS.
Not sure how this applies to Trump. :)
Sorry for short off topic snippets of links and comments. I was trying to respond to Christiane and main stream media notions of Clinton and Trump.
One thing I gather from this election cycle is candidates are basically props. What matters is ideas and forces at play. So don't take personally when your preferred candidate is being demolished or abused but instead look at the ideas that are giving life to the candidates. In most cases candidates themselves are clueless about the ideas propelling them.
Peace.
:)
This is why the right hates Donald Trump: He doesn’t question their core beliefs, but they still see the danger | COREY ROBIN
If Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination and the general election in November, it will be a victory for the GOP—and a defeat for conservatism. Not because Trump isn’t a conservative but because he is.
I am an activist. Have been for a very long time. Decades before social media. Christiane's first comment says it better than I can. In fact all her comments reflect my thoughts. At this point I cannot have an agree to disagree attitude. Our country is so angry and vile toward the "enemy" as they perceive it. Most times from Fox News or other media which is not accurate.
I admittedly have a hard time with total freedom of speech when it comes to dehumanizing others and that includes those in Orlando who were murdered or putting all Muslims in the same category of thugs. James White also has had some good thoughts that reflect mine.
I am torn on this particular post. On the one hand, if James Kelly is simply talking about crime and is telling the truth, I have no problem and do not think the truth should be squashed.
If however, going by his choice of wording such as "3rd world country thugs" and other choice of wording, and he is simply spouting to be spouting and talking of all Muslims in that area, then I have a problem and it shouldn't have been written on Facebook. I don't see it as Orwellian, but am somewhat grateful that people who write racist (and I am not accusing Mr. Kelly of this, I don't know) or hate filled messages should reveal themselves as such on social media. I think silence is not an option although I don't always speak out.
I believe with all of my soul the Bible and love reading it. I love Christ. I do not believe Muslims have the true religion and I do believe homosexuality is sin. but I see Muslims and gays as people first as I know you do. I have them as friends. Friends that I care dearly about. Some I have worked side by side with. It's the same as if bullying were to occur toward someone, I can't stand silent and watch someone be bullied. They need Christ not venom. They need love and the Gospel.
Yet I am also angry about the murderous terrorism that has taken place on and off our soil. I wouldn't vote for a Muslim, not even American born for President. But I am angry at the terrorists, the murders, the torturers, not at the whole Islam religion or all Muslims.
Because of this election and the last election I am no longer Republican but have officially applied to be an Independent because the Republican party is a party I can no longer stand with. I will not unfriend anyone as I love so many who disagree with me on this and that will not change. They are my friends in real life.
Thank you for the kind words Christiane. Sometimes I think I am too vocal, but I can't stomach venom against those who have done nothing but have a religion that is not Christian because we are at war, or have a different color of skin or gender. What's sad to me is those who believe they are doing the right patriotic thing by feeling the way they do. It's so surreal and admittedly took me by surprise.
I came across this today.
A ringing endorsement of basic personal freedom. And a scathing indictment of the U.S. justice system.
Fire from Sotomayor's dissent (PDF)
By legitimizing the conduct that produces this double consciousness, this case tells everyone, white and black, guilty and innocent, that an officer can verify your legal status at any time. It says that your body is subject to invasion while courts excuse the violation of your rights. It implies that you are not a citizen of a democracy but the subject of a carceral state, just waiting to be cataloged. We must not pretend that the countless people who are routinely targeted by police are “isolated.” They are the canaries in the coal mine whose deaths, civil and literal, warn us that no one can breathe in this atmosphere. See L. Guinier & G. Torres, The Miner’s Canary 274–283 (2002). They are the ones who recognize that unlawful police stops corrode all our civil liberties and threaten all our lives. Until their voices matter too, our justice system will continue to be anything but. *
I dissent.
Also Sotomayor cites Tanehisi Coates and Michelle Alexander in her dissent:
manner. See M. Gottschalk, Caught 119–138 (2015). But it is no secret that people of color are disproportionate victims of this type of scrutiny. See M. Alexander, The New Jim Crow 95–136 (2010). For generations, black and brown parents have given their children “the talk”— instructing them never to run down the street; always keep your hands where they can be seen; do not even think of talking back to a stranger—all out of fear of how an officer with a gun will react to them. See, e.g., W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk (1903); J. Baldwin, The Fire Next Time (1963); T. Coates, Between the World and Me (2015)
I'm sorry that should be Kenneth Lewis, not James Kelly.
Debbie,
You are never too vocal and never too much of an activist! You are what the world needs!
A musical interlude:
J.S. Bach: Capriccio on the Departure of his Most Beloved Brother, BWV 992
Sergey Schepkin, piano
Pianist and historian Sergey Schepkin puts on his teacher hat, taking us on a tour through Bach’s Capriccio on the Departure of his Most Beloved Brother. Hear the tour and the incredible piece on this week’s podcast. Recorded at WGBH’s Fraser Performance Studio on March 7, 2013.
Lady M. Here’s the smell of the blood still; all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!
Hillary Clinton’s AIPAC Speech Was a Symphony of Craven, Delusional Pandering
The 'next level' is to make all bonded slaves to israel.
Thanks, DEBBIE
You are not 'too vocal'. Is very possible you have a calling to be vocal in the interest of those who are being persecuted unjustly. Such people who are called to defend innocent folks can never be 'too vocal'. I know you get slammed a lot, but it doesn't intimidate you and that IS a sign that you very likely do have a gift and a calling for speaking out in defense of people who are being abused. I am thankful for your 'vocal' gifts. The Church needs them, DEBBIE. More now than ever. :)
If you were on trial for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?
1. “The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam.”
2. “America is not – and will never be – at war with Islam.”
3. “The sweetest sound I know is the Muslim call to prayer.”
4. “Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism.”
5. “We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith.”
6. “I have known Islam on three continents.”
7. “I know civilization’s debt to Islam.”
8. “Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance.”
9. “Islam has always been part of America.”
10. “Throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.”
11. “I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”
12. “The Holy Koran tells us, we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.”
How is the Koran holy when Islam ISIS uses 109 verses to kill such as this mother caught playing instead of working?
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-beheads-4-year-old-girl-then-forces-mother-soak-hands-her-blood-after-swearing-allah-1566529?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=rss&utm_content=/rss/yahoous/news&yptr=yahoo
Rex Ray: You don't want to me to answer that question(accusation?) Really you don't. :)
This link goes with the previous post or the one before, but there is overlap here so ...
Democrats’ War on Due Process and Terrorist Fear-Mongering Long Pre-Dates Orlando | Glenn Greenwald
Thank you Wade for your kind words.
Debbie,
Why don’t I want you to answer? Will you explain a good reason for everything he said? Will you quote Scripture that we’re not to judge?
How about? “Beware of false prophets [politicians] who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit by the way they act.” (Matthew 7:15-16 NLT)
Debbie would you explain why Obama did Not release all transcripts made by the Orlando shooter?
Today’s newspaper:
“Under pressure, the Obama administration reversed course Monday and released full transcripts of the 911 calls…”
The FBI said, “Unfortunately, the unreleased portions of the transcript that named the terrorist organizations and leaders have caused an unnecessary distraction from the hard work that the FBI and our law enforcement partners have been doing to investigate this heinous crime.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan called on Obama to reverse the Justice Department that removed references to the Islamic State, the terrorist group known as ISIS.
He went on to say, “The attempt to selectively edit the record reflects a broader, more serious problem this administration’s continued attempt to downplay and distract from the threat of radical Islamist extremism.”
My Turn: Hillary Clinton Targets the Presidency by Doug Henwood
Get to know the REAL person who will most likely be the next president. Main stream media is crap.
Excerpt from 'My Turn,' a Critical Doug Henwood Book on Hillary Clinton |
Politics, the family business of the Clintons, has been very good to them, as they have raised between $2 billion and $3 billion since 1992. |
By Doug Henwood
The Real Hillary Clinton |
Hillary Clinton’s record cuts against the claim that she’s an ardent champion of women’s rights. |
by Doug Henwood
Ramesh,
Wow! ‘My Turn’ cover picture that shows Hillary pointing a gun at you is scary!
That much money is a far cry when Sam Rayburn retired. He rejected an automobile gift from friends in government until no one gave more that $150 to pay for it.
Instead of making his small garage larger for the long car, only the size for the hood was extended.
Debbie,
Why the silence?
Hillary Clinton’s Likely Pentagon Chief Already Advocating for More Bombing and Intervention | Glenn Greenleaf
"Debbie,
Why the silence? "
1. I have not been silent, quite the opposite!
2. I will not vote evil vs. evil and pick the lesser which is why I changed parties to Independent.
3. I say no further out of respect for Wade's blog and my deep love for him. This is not the subject matter of this blog.
Rex: One last thing so you won't feel cheated, I will answer another point you made:
I am judging which is why I said what I have said and will not vote in this election.
Debbie,
In ‘plain geometry’ “Things equal to the same thing, are equal to each other.”
So if you like Wade and I like Wade then we should like each other. Through the years I’ve admired your many comments.
Why do you say? “This is not the subject matter of this blog” when the picture says, “Big Brother is watching you”, and “During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary Act.”
Is telling the truth what Obama said a “revolutionary Act”?
Debbie, it may not matter that you are not going to vote, or if anyone votes because the way the system works now is Congress (Electoral College) will select the president. That means it may be neither Trump nor Clinton will win.
On the good side if Trump wins he said he would do away with that process.
Opus,
I’m wrong about the Electoral College electing anyone. They have to vote for who is running, but some don’t have to vote the majority vote of their State.
Thank you, Wade. The only thing that keeps evil from flourishing is for the masses to give voice to the truth. Sometimes it's really scary to see how much evil succeeds in circumventing truth. So I encourage everyone who sees this post to take time to speak well-thought-out truths to counteract the nonsense that Facebook seems to help spread as much as any means I've ever seen.
Yours is a good reminder that Facebook of itself is only a tool. It's a tool that can be used for either good or evil. It takes lots of time to be involved in dialogue and perhaps some, like myself, need to spend more time on it--as my daughter has been reminding me lately.
Getting involved in society simply DOES take time. God help us as we sort out how best to use the precious hours we are given!
Just popping in here to point out that George Orwell was a Democratic Socialist.
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