Friday, April 26, 2013

Nietzsche and the Marathon Bombings



THE ABSURD TIMES







Illustration: Now that is Friedrich Nietzsche, a 19th Century Philosopher, who predicted the miserable 20th Century, all of it.  Get that straight.


          Now, last week I tuned into CNN (Capitalist News Network) and heard Wolfgang Blitzkrieg (who has been on quite a bit lately, enjoying every minute of this) interviewing another reporter.  As my mind started to wander, I clearly heard “Sources say that the real influence behind all of the bombings was Nietzsche.”  My first reaction was “Yeah, and Schopenhauer planned the escape?”

          I called some friends and asked them it they heard anything about it and they said, “Do you still watch a television?” and hung up on me.  So, there I was.  Clearly seeing mass insanity live and couldn’t do a thing about it.  I consoled myself with the thought that “At least they finally pronounced his name correctly.”

          A few days later I heard the mother of the two bombers, both Caucasian, in fact from the Caucuses, say there was a firebrand who visited in Dagestan named “Misha” who preached Islam.  Thank God (whom Nietzsche pronounced dead years ago) it was all cleared up.

          Still, many questions remain.  Why 27 million in donations to 4 dead in Boston and only 1 to dozens killed in Texas?  There are more and they are circulating wildly.  The article below explores some of the reasons for, and explanations of, the insanity.

          Me?  I’m busy with Haydn’s Paris Symphonies. 


Thursday, April 25, 2013

MORGAN FREEMAN PROBABLY DOESN'T KNOW--HELP HIM OUT

Thursday, April 25, 2013   

Help Stop Icon Morgan Freeman from Legitimizing Occupation and Apartheid! 

Dear Nick,

We need your help! On Monday, May 6, Morgan Freeman is set to receive the "Key of Knowledge Award" from the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University (CFHU) for “work in combating segregation and prejudice, and promoting knowledge and education throughout the world.” Unfortunately, CFHU works to undermine these values

Ask Morgan Freeman to decline this award from CFHU and stand with Palestinians struggling for freedom, justice, and equality!

CFHU is devoted to supporting Hebrew University, an institution that practices racial profiling and has part of its campus built on land stolen from Palestinian families following Israel’s illegal occupation (and later annexation) of East Jerusalem, in clear violation of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention. Hebrew University in itself is in violation of the same Geneva Conventions.

Far from “combating segregation and prejudice, and promoting knowledge and education,” the policies of Israel and the complicity of Hebrew University have resulted in the forced closure of Palestinian universities for years on end; the systematic, ongoing denial of Palestinian children’s access to schools; and an elaborate system of privilege and segregation reminiscent of Apartheid South Africa and Jim Crow, including more than 50 laws that discriminate against Palestinian citizens of Israel. 

Sign this letter today to Morgan Freeman asking him not to glorify Israeli apartheid! 

Your message will be delivered directly to Freeman, so make sure your voice is heard by adding your name!

Nelson Mandela, whom Freeman portrayed in the movie Invictus, has stated: “The UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” While directing the movie Bhopa! in 1993, Freemanpointed out: “These days, unless you've got your head in the sand, you’ve got to be aware of the situation in South Africa.” 

Tell Morgan Freeman, please don’t keep your head in the sand when it comes now to Palestinians living under Israeli apartheid! 

Just like in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, artists are taking a stand against Israel’s crimes and supporting the Palestinian call for international solidarity through boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns. Also, just a few months ago, Stevie Wonder cancelled his appearance for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces in Los Angeles following outcry from people like you and public figures around the world.

Public ceremonies courting moral figures like Freeman and Wonder are increasingly common and publicized cynically to whitewash Israel’s policies and to present a false image of progressive values and dedication to human rights. 

Please urge Freeman to build on, rather than tarnish, his legacy by standing on the right side of history and declining an award from CFHU today! 

Thank you for taking action! 

                                

             
Anna Baltzer                       Ramah Kudaimi
National Organizer                Membership and Outreach Coordinator 

P.S. -- If you are authorized to do so, pleaseendorse the same letter to Freeman on behalf of your organization to show the breadth of support.

Nick, please take these actions: 

1. Send a letter to Morgan Freeman asking him n
ot to glorify those supporting abuses of Palestinian human rights.

2. Share with your friends on Facebook and tweet to your followers on Twitter.  


3. Save the date for our 12th Annual National Organizers' Conference September 20-22 at George Mason University in Arlington, VA.


Support Our BDS Work Today

We can mobilize grassroot support for boycott and divestment campaigns only with grassroots support from people like you. Help us by making a tax-deductibledonation, or by joining our Olive Branch Club to make a recurring tax-deductible donation.
--Anna


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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

DIRTY WARS, SCAHILL, DRONES






THE ABSURD TIMES



There are no international war correspondents or authors better than Jeremy. 

Before you argue any points of that nature, be sure you have consulted his work first so you have facts not otherwise available in our land of the "free press".



WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013

The World Is a Battlefield: Jeremy Scahill on "Dirty Wars" and Obama’s Expanding Drone Attacks

As the Senate holds its first-ever public hearing on drones and targeted killings, we turn the second part of our interview with Jeremy Scahill, author of the new book, "Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield." Scahill charts the expanding covert wars operated by the CIA and JSOC, the Joint Special Operations Command, in countries from Somalia to Pakistan. "I called it 'Dirty Wars' because, particularly in this administration, in the Obama administration, I think a lot of people are being led to believe that there is such a thing as a clean war," Scahill says. He goes on to discuss secret operations in Africa, the targeting of U.S. citizens in Yemen and the key role WikiLeaks played in researching the book. He also reveals imprisoned whistleblower Bradley Manning once tipped him off to a story about the private security company Blackwater. Scahill is the national security correspondent for The Nation magazine and longtime Democracy Now! correspondent. For the past several years, Scahill has been working on the "Dirty Wars" film and book project, which was published on Tuesday. The film, directed by Rick Rowley, will be released in theaters in June. Click here to watch Part 1 of this interview.

The original content of this program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Please attribute legal copies of this work to democracynow.org. Some of the work(s) that this program incorporates, however, may be separately licensed. For further information or additional permissions, contact us.