Both Red & Blue states want to go green!
By Thom Hartmann A...
Congress may be divided on the issue of climate change, but the vast majority of Americans agree that we must do more to protect our planet. According to EcoWatch.com, even people in red states understand that the our nation has “a responsibility to take steps to deal with climate change.” A new study from the Program for Public Consultation found that about 80 percent of people in both red and blue districts believe that global warming is real, and that we should be doing more to fight it.
Our elected lawmakers can't even agree on whether or not the climate is changing, yet 60 percent of Americans say they'd be willing to pay more for energy to protect our planet. A majority of those surveyed said that “climate change should be given priority even if it causes slower economic growth and loss of jobs.” These statistics prove that the Congressional divide on climate science has nothing to do with what voters want, or with what's best for the American people. Republicans blocking climate actions would rather protect their fossil fuel industry donations than protect the future of our planet.
As EcoWatch points out, the oil, coal, and natural gas industries have donated more than $320 million dollars to federal candidates, super PACs, and political parties over the last decade. Some members of Congress are perfectly fine with letting our planet burn, as long as they keep getting piles of fossil fuel industry cash. This is how it all comes together. In order to save our planet, we have to take our democracy back from the corporate elite. Let's get money out of politics and elect lawmakers who are accountable to We The People.
Comments
#2
This might be a bit off topic but it is a happy, "feel good" story in the news today. My new hero. This guy should win Father of the Year. He walked in on some guy having sex with his 11 year old son. This is what happened. Miraculously this guy is still alive--for now at least. I doubt he is going to fare much better in prison:
http://news.yahoo.com/police-fla-father-beats-accused-child-abuser-193806138.html
After being asked if any weapons were involved the man said, "Just my fists and feet." The police chief commented that there didn't appear to be any reason to arrest the father. After all, "He was only being a father."
The vatican should hire this guy to "council" its priest who have abused young boys. I think that would serve justice correctly for everyone involved.
#3
It isn't just our congressional leaders who seem to want to turn a blind eye to climate change. Dispite what President Obama "says" his actions are mind-boggling. He has just agreed to allow the oil industry to have leases to explore the Atlantic off the coast of Florida but just outside the line where the State of Florida or its residents have no right to protest. The boom sounds that are shot down into the water "endlessly" to seek possible areas for drilling are at the same time driving the whales and dolphins insane. They can't communicate with each other because the booms drowned them out. Why is Obama not listening?
#4
It's time to take the bull by the horns.
#5
Please somebody make a list of politicians who vote againgst the planet so i can repost on facebook!!
#6
This is the FRUIT of BAD GOVERNMENT by
1) predatory,
2) conscience free ('liberated' from guilt feelings by the almighty Freud in order to avoid 'neurosis'),
3) social Darwinist,
4) game theory (cooperation is a guise to fool and destroy the competition) warped world view,
5) situational ethics (an oxymoron!),
6) if it feels good-DO IT
corporate consent manufacturing propagandists in the service of SHIT CANNED ETHICS for SHORT TERM PROFITS!
The SOLUTION lies in GOOD GOVERNMENT; the PROBLEM is that CORPORATIONS ARE the present BAD GOVERNMENT! They support imprisoning people that speak truth to power and giving the people the mushroom treatment for the same reason they ignore global warming and pollution: SHIT CANNED ETHICS FOR SHORT TERM PROFITS!
As part of being responsible, caring human beings, we have to pressure our government to take major action to stop the degradation of the biosphere from climate change. This is causing death and disease to both domestic animals and wildlife, all of which have done nothing to deserve such a horrible fate at our hands. It's time to eliminate the excuse our fossil fuel loving oligarchy uses for "resources" wars for oil that bring nothing but misery to us and profits for them.
I started a petition on Care2: Demand Liberty From Fossil Fuels Through 100% Renewable Energy WWII Style Effort. I'm hoping that if enough people sign my petition, we can make a difference. I have 302 signatures. Will you help me collect more by adding your name?
Full Background info on the petition at this site (Thom Hartmann):
Here's a link to the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/420/529/456/demand-liberty-from-fossil-fuels-through-100-renewable-energy-wwii-style-effort/
Thank you and please pass it on. The biosphere you save may be your own. <img>http://www.pic4ever.com/images/earthhug.gif</img> <img>http://www.pic4ever.com/images/icare.gif</img>
#7
Thank you for sharing,
We need more fathers (and the police that back them up) to deal appropriately with sex offenders as this good, caring and responsible father did.
#8
Here's a partial list that doesn't include the Senate (there's plenty of bought and paid for deniers in the service of dirty energy there too!).
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2010/11/04/206987/report-half-the-2010-...
Here is a snapshot of the GOP Class of 2010′s extremism:
ENVIRONMENT
- 50% deny the existence of manmade climate change
- 86% are opposed to any climate change legislation that increases government revenue
These were freshman Republicans in 2010 so some of them might not be there any more. Nevertheless, the ones that still are (most of them!) are responsible for the unjustified foot dragging by our government on this issue of providing a Viable Biosphere for Future Generations.
KEY: GW: Global warming denier CC: No climate change legislation
Martha Roby (AL-02) CC
Paul Gosar (AZ-01) CC
David Schweikert (AZ-05) CC
Rick Crawford (AR-01) CC
Tim Griffin (AR-02) CC
Steve Womack (AR-03) CC
Andy Vidak (CA-20) GW
Scott Tipton (CO-03) CC
Steve Southerland (FL-02) CC
Rich Nugent (FL-05) CC
Daniel Webster (FL-08) CC
Dennis Ross (FL-12) CC
Sandy Adams (FL-24) CC
David Rivera (FL-25) CC
Rob Woodall (GA-07)
Austin Scott (GA-08) CC
Raul Labrador (ID-01) CC
Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) CC
Mark Kirk (IL-SEN) CC
Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) CC
Kevin Yoder (KS-03)
Mike Pompeo (KS-04) CC
Jeff Landry (LA-03) CC
Andy Harris (MD-01) CC
Dan Benishek (MI-01) CC
Justin Amash (MI-03) CC
Chip Cravaack (MN-08) GW
Billy Long (MO-07) CC
Alan Nunnelee (MS-01) CC
Steven Palazzo (MS-04) CC
Renee Ellmers (NC-02)
Rick Berg (ND-AL) CC
John Hoeven (ND-SEN) GW
Frank Guinta (NH-01) CC
Jon Runyan (NJ-03) CC
Joe Heck (NV-03) CC
Chris Gibson (NY-20) CC
Richard Hanna (NY-24)
Anne Marie Buerkle* (NY-25) GW CC
Tom Reed (NY-29) CC
Bill Johnson (OH-06) CC
Jim Renacci (OH-16) CC
Rob Portman (OH-SEN)
Mike Kelly (PA-03) CC
Pat Meehan (PA-07) CC
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08) CC
Tom Marino (PA-10) CC
Lou Barletta (PA-11) CC
Pat Toomey (PA-SEN) GW
Tim Scott (SC-01) CC
Jeff Duncan (SC-03)
Chuck Fleischman (TN-03)
Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) CC
Stephen Fincher (TN-08) CC
Bill Flores (TX-17) CC
Francisco Canseco (TX-23) CC
Blake Farenthold (TX-27) GW
Mike Lee (UT-SEN) CC
Morgan Griffith (VA-09) GW
Keith Fimian* (VA-11) GW
Jamie Herrera (WA-03) CC
Dick Muri* (WA-09) GW
Dino Rossi* (WA-SEN) GW
Sean Duffy (WI-07) CC
Reid Ribble (WI-08) CC
These politicians are the FRUIT of BAD GOVERNMENT by
1) predatory,
2) conscience free ('liberated' from guilt feelings by the almighty Freud in order to avoid 'neurosis'),
3) social Darwinist,
4) game theory (cooperation is a guise to fool and destroy the competition) warped world view,
5) situational ethics (an oxymoron!),
6) if it feels good-DO IT
corporate consent manufacturing propagandists in the service of SHIT CANNED ETHICS for SHORT TERM PROFITS!
The SOLUTION lies in GOOD GOVERNMENT; the PROBLEM is that CORPORATIONS ARE the present BAD GOVERNMENT! They support imprisoning people that speak truth to power and giving the people the mushroom treatment for the same reason they ignore global warming and pollution: SHIT CANNED ETHICS FOR SHORT TERM PROFITS!
As part of being responsible, caring human beings, we have to pressure our government to take major action to stop the degradation of the biosphere from climate change. This is causing death and disease to both domestic animals and wildlife, all of which have done nothing to deserve such a horrible fate at our hands. It's time to eliminate the excuse our fossil fuel loving oligarchy uses for "resources" wars for oil that bring nothing but misery to us and profits for them.
I started a petition on Care2: Demand Liberty From Fossil Fuels Through 100% Renewable Energy WWII Style Effort. I'm hoping that if enough people sign my petition, we can make a difference. I have 302 signatures. Will you help me collect more by adding your name?
Here's a link to the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/420/529/456/demand-liberty-from-fossil-fuels-through-100-renewable-energy-wwii-style-effort/
Thank you and please pass it on. The biosphere you save may be your own. <img>http://www.pic4ever.com/images/earthhug.gif</img> <img>http://www.pic4ever.com/images/icare.gif</img>
#9
agelbert ~ Sir, my hat is off to you. A million thanks! I half heartedly did a quick google search to answer Douglas's question and it turned up nothing. You certainly have done your homework! I'm going to share that info on facebook too. Thanks again!
#10
Here's a shocker from Roger Casement in the Community section:
Possible Twitter Witness From Spanish Flight Controller In Kiev - Says UKR Airforce did it
http://www.thomhartmann.com/forum/2014/07/possible-twitter-witness-spani...
The story is here as well:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/spanish-air-controller-kiev-borispol-airpor...
Tells how this Spanish Air Traffic Controller who was working at the Kiev airport reported via Twitter that the Malaysia airliner, just minutes prior to it going down, was escorted by two Kiev military jets and diverted the airliner over the war zone.
#11
Palindromedary ~ The latest reports paints those tweets as bogus--coming from London.
Regardless, one stinking question remains. Why? What benefit would such an attack be for either side. To me, the only reason would be some sort of a false flag to warrant further aggression against the enemy. There is nothing militarily to be gained from knocking out a civilian transport. Besides, those missiles aren't cheap. Also, I'm sure the rebels don't have an unlimited supply on hand either. Why waste one on a target so high that doesn't pose a military threat? There is definitely something fishy about this incident; and, I can't wait to hear a convincing, logical explanation. So far, those tweets make the most sense of all.
#12
DAnneMarc: Yes, that is a possibility...that those tweets were bogus. But then so is any of the claims or "evidence" that the west is supplying. The US has been pushing a confrontation with Russia even since the cold war days when US military jets would buzz Soviet air space. Part of that was to test Russia's ability to respond. Gary Powers and Eisenhower found out. But that didn't stop the US from fly overs. When the Soviet Union tore down the wall and, ostensibly, ended the cold war...it took the wind out of the US's sails as an excuse to conquer the bad old Commies. The military industrial complex, however, lost the excuse to bilk tax payers out of their taxes. The terrorist excuse worked for a while and is still the chief bogeyman.
But the western hegemon imperialists will not be satisfied until they conquer the whole world. It is also a way of masquerading the fact that the US is broke and most of the rest of the world no longer sees the US dollar as a viable world currency. Fiat currency only has value if the people and countries have faith that it is worth something.
I definitely agree with you, DAnneMarc, that something is really fishy about all of this.
#13
DAnneMarc: Where did you read/hear that the Spanish airline controller's tweets were bogus because they were coming from London?
#14
There was another story that I heard of where the conversation of a Russian Commander and a separatist were talking about having just shot down the plane. And this was supposed to be "evidence" of Russian/separatists guilt in shooting down the plane...yet there was a timestamp on a record that the video was uploaded by the Ukrainian government a day before the downing of the plane. The Spanish tweeter's account is now being blocked.
Watch the video at:
http://www.infowars.com/video-did-ukraine-fabricate-evidence-to-frame-ru...
#15
Quote Palindromedary:DAnneMarc: Where did you read/hear that the Spanish airline controller's tweets were bogus because they were coming from London?
Palindromedary ~ Why from the very "Global Research" link you posted above. I checked back on the link to read it again yesterday and it had that update posed right under the title.
#16
DAnneMarc: Yes, I read it too. Still no credible explanation as to why the MH-17 changed course to fly over a war zone when the other airliners on the same day didn't change course.
#17
DAM -- Why don't you like the explanation that the same people who shot down the Ukranian cargo planes in the last week shot down the Malaysian airliner? They just mistakenly thought it was another cargo plane. If they just used the radar on the rocket launcher, it would be hard to distinquish the airliner from a cargo plane. I am not saying this is what happended. I am just saying whoever came up with this explanation came up with a story that fits all the commonly accepted information.
#18
Did you know that Ukraine moved their own Buk missile launchers into the Eastern conflict area prior to the shoot down? Perhaps it was in preparation to shoot down any Russian military jets that Russia might send in to fight the Ukrainians.... or perhaps it was for the purpose of shooting down an airliner so they could blame it on the Russians and/or the separatists.
It was most likely the Russians who shot down the Ukrainian military jets. The separatists most likely would not have had the training. As for the MH-17 airliner, there would be absolutely no reason for the Russians or the separatists to want to shoot it down. That just wouldn't make any sense at all. However, Ukraine had a big reason to want to shoot it down. They wanted to pin it on the Russians and the separatists in a war of propaganda that they knew would be backed up by the US and other Nato countries.
It wasn't Rusia or the separatists who had MH-17 deviate from the normal safe flight path into the war zone...it was the Ukrainian air traffic controllers that did that.
#19
chuckle8 ~ I'm sorry! I'm not sure what you are talking about. I don't remember casting doubt that the two lost Malaysian airliners had anything to do with each other. In fact, I strongly suspect that there is some sort of a link. Certainly, there is something rotten in the Ukraine. That is something I think we can all agree on. Also, I think we can all agree upon this little fact--the Ukraine sits on 1/4 of the worlds known natural gas reserves. About $1 Trillion worth I understand. Now lets just look at that from an economical perspective of the US and Russia; as well as, the perspective of the markets to which these two giants would sell too. Then, and only then, let us have a calm conversation of what happened in those two fateful airliner flights.
#20
Excellent article written by a West Point Graduate and former Army Officer
http://www.globalresearch.ca/false-flag-terrorism-to-sustain-americas-hu...
#21
Tom Reed, NY 29th, is my unrepresentative. I've been spreading the word locally about his Teapublican austerity politics. He'd much rather give another tax break to the Kochs instead of taxing them for their conspicuous role in global destruction.
In my opinion we need to redirect most of the military budget over to fighting the real enemy, the one known as climate change. Energy will have to become a nonprofit sector under the complete control of we the people. Otherwise the oil barons will continue with relentless blind greed and eventual game over for all.
#22
Excerpts from MH-17: Beware of the <>
Quote Wayne Madsen-Strategic Culture Foundation:
200 U.S. Army personnel normally assigned to bases in Germany were in Ukraine during the time of the MH-17 fly-over. They were participating in NATO exercise RAPID TRIDENT II. Ukraine's Ministry of Defense led the exercise.
-----------
From the Black Sea, the Vela Gulf was able to track Malaysian Airlines 17 over the Black Sea and any missiles fired at the plane. U.S. AWACS electronic intelligence (ELINT) aircraft were also flying over the Black Sea region at the time of the MH-17 flyover of Ukraine. Growler aircraft have the capability to jam radar systems in all surface-to-air threats.
-----------
Kolomoisky, estimated to be the second-richest person in Ukraine, also has strong connections inside Kiev's Borispol International Airport, where it has been reported that Ukrainian Interior Ministry troops stormed the air traffic control tower shortly before MH-17 was shot down. A Spanish air traffic controller, who possessed knowledge of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's involvement in the shootdown of MH-17, reportedly had his life threatened by people he described as «Maidan» troops, a reference to the Maidan Square uprising that toppled the Ukrainian government earlier this year. The Spanish controller, identified only as «Carlos,» understood that the shootdown of MH-17 was carried out by supporters of former Ukrainian Prime Minister YuliaTymoshenko and Interior Minister ArsenAvakov. Kolomoisky is a political ally of Tymoshenko and Avakov.
-----------
Kolomoisky chooses to «command» his army from the safety of Switzerland, far from the front lines and relatively safe from arrest if his ties to terrorist attacks are ever pursued by legitimate governmental authorities.Kolomoisky has a powerful «insurance policy» against any legal recriminations. He counts on the powerful Israel Lobby in the United States to support his cause. Kolomoisky has publicly spoken of Ukraine as the «second homeland» of the Jewish people. And with «The Lobby» in his corner, Kolomoisky has indirect access to the highest levels of power within the Department of Defense, NATO, and the U.S. Intelligence Community.
-----------
The seizure of the air traffic control center at Borispol by allies of Kolomoisky shortly before the shooting down of MH-17 and Kolomoisky’s strong links to Israel, which benefitted immensely from the downing of MH-17 because it drew the attention of the world’s media away from its ground invasion of Gaza, which began just as initial reports about the fate of MH-17 were being transmitted, may be the real story behind the loss of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 and the horrible deaths of its 298 passengers and crew.
http://m.strategic-culture.org/news/2014/07/21/mh-17-beware-of-the-chame...
#23
A lot of large photos of the MH-17 crash site...shows exactly where the crash occurred. Note: Google Earth spells the nearby town, where the crash occurred, as Hrabove. If you search for Grabovo, you won't find the right place. Here's the coordinates: 48° 7'54.86"N 38°38'28.27"E (or if you prefer: 48.1343176,38.6435994) of the field where it crashed. Be warned, however, that the photos at the cryptome.org web site are very graphic and shows the bodies not blurred out.
http://cryptome.org/2014-info/mh17/mh17.htm
Here are some photos of the tunnels in Gaza.
http://cryptome.org/2014-info/gaza-ugi/gaza-ugi.htm
And if you are into file sharing and Aaron Swartz you might find this interesting: Radical Tactics of the Offline Library
http://cryptome.org/2014/07/radical-tactics-offline-library.pdf
#24
Palindromedary ~ Thanks for that article by the West Point Graduate. Quite an eye opener.
Those open links in the last two posts that I just caught to Israel sure do warrant exploration. However, I'll have to wait till later. Got some errands to run for now. Thanks for sharing! Strange, just like with 9/11 Israel plays another key role.
#25
WHISY WASHY blah blah blah!!!
Your position on this, DANNEMARC, certainly comes off aggressive, and not just in favore of taking matters into ones own hands, but implying that using violant excessive force as the first measure of action is acceptable even when not necessary.
What that father did was based on pure emotional rage, resulting in hostility and unnecessary violent aggression.
Why is that you feel the fathers violant actions are justifiable? I mean the kid looks pretty scrawny and I am sure this father, a full grown man, could have stopped this kid without go so far as to "beat" him into a bloody pulp. Had it been a cop, or another G. Zimmermann that beat the kid...You would be floored and wanting to prosecute!
However since its a "sex offense"...Well that's completely different...Right!?!?
#26
Quote MMmmNACHOS:What that father did was based on pure emotional rage, resulting in hostility and unnecessary violent aggression.
MMmmNACHOS ~ "Unnecessary violent aggression?" What the hell do you think RAPE is. Not even the rape of an adult but of a child. I'm the first person to reject violence of any kind; however, there are just some situations where it is the ONLY solution. Even Jesus drew the line when it came to money changers in the temple. What about the "unnecessary violent aggression" imparted to that child? What about the permanent psychological trauma that will be with him the rest of his life? It doesn't just end in the room you know.
There is no way you can compare unprovoked police brutality or what George Zimmerman did to Trayvon Martin to what this father did. It's not even in the same ball park. Personally, I'm shocked that this rapist pedophile is still alive. It took great restraint on the part of that father not to break his neck. The plain fact of the matter is that there is nothing that father could have possibly done to that rapist pedophile that would even be close to the damage done to his son. I imagine for the rest of his life that father is going to deeply regret not having caved that rapist's skull in with a tire iron. Every time he looks his son in the eyes. I have no sympathy for that sick bastard at all. I hope he gets the favor returned with interest along with everything else he deserves in prison.
My only regret is that pedophile priests don't get the same treatment. The way they have abused the authority of God for such perversion deserves so much more backlash. I so pity them if there proves to really be a God.
#27
Palindromedary ~ Some fascinating stuff, indeed. I always imagined bodies in an airplane crash would be charred and distorted out of recognition. It is amazing how "preserved" many of those victims were. You could almost identify them without needing dental charts or fingerprints.
Equally amazing are the complexity and ingenuity of those Gaza tunnels. It is phenomenal what necessity can inspire. I respect the determination and ability of the Palestinians. I also sympathize with their cause. I wonder if Israel really is grasping how their greed and inability to compromise is directly threatening their already shaky existence as a country. Time will tell if their gamble will pay off or be their downfall. I would certainly not bet on Israel prevailing in the long run. My heart goes out to the Palestinian people.
#28
I'm with you Marc; my sympathies are for the Palistinians. I'll not let my lineage sway me. Prime Minister "Yahoo" has got to go. It makes me crazy to hear our president declare Israel's "right" to defend itself when Israel is the aggressor. It seems Obama never grasped the difference between defense and offense. - AIW
#29
DAnneMarc: now that you mention it...those people I saw in those photos didn't look torn to shreds as was the rest of the airliner. Even their clothes didn't look soaked with blood or ripped or torn. It is almost as if these people were participating in a staged setting.
Funny how even passports of alleged 9/11 terrorists were found in the rubble of the WTC towers when not even the concrete slabs remained in tact and was turned to dust. Passports are made of paper yet somehow that passport made it through the fire and collapse of the WTC tower. Yeah, right! ;-0
What you said about the Palestinians...I definitely agree!!!
They've been horribly abused...their houses and orchards bulldozed over and their lands stolen. The Neo-Nazis that are currently running Israel should be ashamed of themselves. Many Jews living in Palestine (excuse me..I mean Israel) are not happy with what their politicians and military are doing to the Palestinians.
------------
On a lighter note: I like to watch a comedy sitcom called Arab Labor which comes on KCET TV via LinkTV on Sunday evenings. Or, you can watch episodes here:
http://www.kcet.org/video/arablabor/
http://www.kcet.org/video/arablabor/#v73430
http://www.kcet.org/video/arablabor/#v73431
http://www.kcet.org/video/arablabor/#v73432
Each episode is about 25 minutes long. The themes centers around Amjad and Bushra (the wife) and his extended family Amjad's mother and his crazy father. They are Palestinians that started off living in the Palestinian section of Israel and had to go through the check points. Then in this new season they move into an all Israeli apartment building because of the water problem in the old Palestinian section apartment building.
Amjad is a journalist who works for an Israeli news organization. He works with and confides in Meir, a younger Israeli co-worker who loves Amal, who is a pretty Palestinian girl that is also close to Amjad's family. Amjad is always getting into conflicts with everyone because he is a Palestinian who, it would seem, wishes he was Israeli. So he is always caught between his Palestinian family and friends and his Israeli bosses and people he has to work with as well as his own obsequiousness and identity conflicts. He wants the good life...just like the Israelis.
Even the new apartment building that he moves his family into is all Jewish and the address is "Narcissus Street" (which is a pun on Narcissus, a Greek God, who "disdained those who loved him" and "saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus died."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_%28mythology%29
Amjad goes to great trouble to try to get his Israeli neighbors to like him and his family but it often leads to a comedy of errors.
The comedy sitcom alternates between Arabic and Hebrew depending of who is speaking to whom but the captions are in English.
#30
Palindromedary ~ Thanks for those links. By the way, I studied mythology and know the story of Narcissus. Although I think that out of all the "messed up" mythological characters King Sisyphus was probably my favorite. You just can't beat what happened to him. Also, I identify with him more so than Narcissus. I used to think of Sisyphus after almost every day at work.
Quote Wikipedia:In Greek mythology Sisyphus (/ˈsɪsɪfəs/;[1] Greek: Σίσυφος, Sísyphos) was a king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth) punished for chronic deceitfulness by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action forever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisyphus
One of my better friends growing up was named Narcissus too. We used to tease him mercilessly about it. He prefered to go by his nickname, Cisco. No one teased him for that. I guess you could say that the 'Cisco kid was a friend of mine.'
Nevertheless, it certainly is interesting that the writers of that series named the street the Jews live on Narcissus St. I wonder just how the really hard liners in Israel take that little jab and the series as a whole? It certainly seems innocent enough; however, most people I've met that are wrapped in hatred have little sense of humor.
#31
Actually, it is an Israeli production. It pokes fun at both Jews and Arabs....especially the hard liners...their prejudices against one another. I think that there are many liberal Jews who want to get along with the Arabs...and who think their government has been terrible against the Palestinians. Then again, the Jews don't want to be killed by a bus bomb or a missile strike either.
It has to be way easier to be a liberal Jew than a liberal Arab. They have been suffering far more than the Jews who have been driving them out of their lands and torturing and murdering their people. Many liberal Jews recognize this and are ashamed of what their leaders have done and are doing. They are appalled at the NAZI-like tactics and actions of their leaders.
Iron Curtain....Iron Dome...have you seen those videos showing how the Iron Dome causes the Hamas missiles to abruptly change course...looks like they are just bouncing off an invisible force field. Too bad Dhahran, Saudi Arabia didn't have one when Saddam launched his scuds against them.
#32
Yes, I remember the plight of Sisyphus and rolling that boulder uphill. I also remember a Greek play called Lysistrata where she plotted with all the women in town to withhold sex from the men until they vowed not to go off to yet another war. Very imaginative those Greeks!
I was in Athens once when I was in the military. But about the only thing I can remember about it was the coffee....very strong...just like the coffee in Rio De Janeiro...I was there for a day and a night once. Crazy drivers too!
#33
Such hatered DANNEMARC...To have no sympathy. I have sympathy for ALL those involved in this incident, and pray that they are all able to heal and find peace. Unfortunatly these types of cases and up as a 3 ring circus, sensationalized by the media, and ignorant hysteria that in the end does not bring true peace.
I did not say that rape is acceptable, however two wrongs do not make a right. What that father did may, to some degree, be understandable, however his actions should NOT be applauded as heroic, nor should they be encouraged as acceptable.
There is an investigation that may lead to the father facing charges.
As far as your beef with priest that have sexually abused children...Sounds like it hits really close to home for you. I hope someday you find peace through forgiveness. I was sexually molested when I was 8 years old by my friends older brother, (he was 17). It wasn't until I was in my 30's that I first begain to confront the issue, and it took me until just a years ago to finally feel forgiveness (for myself, and for him).
An eye for an eye and soon the whole world is blind, (Which unfortunatly most people are).
Cheers!
#34
Quote MMmmNACHOS:I did not say that rape is acceptable, however two wrongs do not make a right. What that father did may, to some degree, be understandable, however his actions should NOT be applauded as heroic, nor should they be encouraged as acceptable.
MMmmNACHOS ~ Well said! I agree! However, one must ask themselves if in that same room at the same moment just how hard it would be for you or me to pull that father off that rapist. I seriously doubt either one of us would have even tried to pull him off until we thought he was going to kill the guy. That being said, I also think it is also safe to say that we would have stopped the beating mostly to protect the father and the son from the law and not to protect the rapist from the father. Correct me if I'm wrong.
The mind is a funny thing my friend. It's easy to sit back and judge the father after the fact. However, the moment you are surprised seeing a defenseless child being accosted by an adult--your own child, a child you know and love dearly--by an adult old enough to know better, you react, you don't think. As far as that is concerned I think the father reacted appropriately; and, I really think you agree.
On the other hand, I will admit that to overreact to the violence on my part may have been somewhat inappropriate. Violence should never be sensationalized and for that I apologize--to this extent. I do have a lot of hostility toward members of the clergy who have molested children. Not because I was a victim--I wasn't. However, I am very sensitive to the pain of others. Also, I have known others who have been molested by priests. I doesn't take much for me to put myself in their shoes; and, when I do, ALL I feel is RAGE!! I can't help but know in my heart that GOD feels the same way!
This is not about an eye for an eye. If it were I would simply want to line up the priests and rape them. This is about accountability and discipline. This is about making an example to insure that this type of thing never happens again. There was never any accountability provided by the Vatican to deal with this crime. These monsters not only walked free, but in many cases walked right into new and better jobs in communities where they could exercise their predatory habits again with impunity.
All I want to do is to protect the helpless kids. If some predator needs to get beaten to a bloody pulp to do that than so be it. That isn't revenge, that is preventive medicine. Our problem as a society is that we are afraid to spank. We have made discipline into a taboo. As a result we have a bunch of self absorbed brats turned into adults walking around that still don't have any boundaries or limits. Expand that to what the 1% and our Pentagon is getting away with and it is quite easy to see just what this undisciplined, "turn the other cheek", pacifist mentality has gotten us. The fact of the matter is that if you spank the child when they are young--establishing firm limits--then you don't have to beat them to a bloody pulp when they are adults.
The same thing goes for politics. If, in 1974, when Nixon resigned and Ford pardoned him, if the people rose up and stormed the white house taking prisoners and executing civil justice, none of the evil that has been committed by the government since would have happened. No President would ever dare. Now the only thing Presidents fear is what happened to JFK at the hands of the 1%. They have no respect whatsoever for the 99%.
Perhaps it was wrong of my to gloat and cheer this case of physical abuse. I'll admit that much. Certainly I have to applaud your ability to cope with your own misfortune. It was very big of you to let that go; and, I do really admire that.
However, I also admire solutions to problems that work. You sure can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Allow the media to sensationalize what happened to this young punk as the consequences of his behavior. Personally, as disturbing as it is, I think that would have a very positive impact on preventing this type of crime in the future. Consider it a public SPANKING! Certainly, any would be molester seeing what happened would have to have that in the back of their mind when contemplating a future felony of their own. Is it really worth it? Do I really want to piss off a parent that much? For that reason, I must still stand by my decision to applaud not only the father's actions; but, the police and medias decision to publicize it--right or wrong. Bravo!!
Cheers!
#35
One hand giv'th and the other tak'th away.
Oh the tangled web we weave.
Yo DMARC, a few weeks ago my girlfriend and I were sitting on the porch after work enjoying a couple cold ones with one of her coworkers. the conversation got into some work issues; one of the installers for the solar company she manages had been abusively milking the clock and not completing jobs in a timely manner...Then another issue regarding cigerette breaks for the adminastrative staff came up; they now have to record their smoke breaks and are only allowed 3 per day. Nothing to date has been done regarding the employee who milks the clock.
So upper mangament has a hard on for tracking "smoke breaks", but turns the other cheek over an employee repeatedly not working efficently.
My point is; Lets take concern over the"real" issues that dramatically affect us all.
Hyping violence, as you suggest, will not resolve issues such as Sexual Offenses. If war beget war, instead of peace (true resolve), and I know you agree with that, then what makes you think that promoting violence will resolve or societies struggle with crime. We have thousands of Laws on the books (unfortunatly many are Draconian by design), Our country allows Capital Punishment, We have a "zero tolerance" drug policy, and many sentencing guide lines are now mandates that in most cases are over the top. None, that is NONE of these attempts are successful at quilling crime.
So you may have compassion towards the young boy, and feel elated over the fathers jab, left hook, and foot stomp, to the face of a young man who, yes is "fucked up", but what you are suggesting as a measure of resolving crimes of sexual misconduct is very warped and would only create a much bigger issue by encouraging people to go out on a rampage wit htheir pitch forks and tourches.
I believe we are better tthan that.
#36
MMmmNACHOS ~ You are so right we should be better than that. Shouldn't we? Yet we aren't, are we? Our criminal justice system is a joke. Such a crime was almost unheard of in the middle ages when we would simply take a child molester and boil him in oil in the village square. Everyone in town would look at that and walk 10 feet around any child they saw. Yet, we are so much better than that! We can put a pot smoker in jail for life and allow an axe murderer to be eligible for parole in 6 years. Yet, we are so much better than that! In Texas innocent people go to jail and are executed. When their innocence is finally found out, none of the prosecutors, judges, executioners, or witnesses are brought to justice. Yet, we are so much better than that! Edward Snowden who gave up everything he had to blow the whistle on illegal spying done by our government is facing a possible execution or assassination for his trouble. Yet Wall Street Bankers who destroyed our economy and cost a huge chunk of our population their homes get away scott free. Oh, we are so, so, so much better than that!
Yet one man stands up to defend his own son against a sick sexual predator and "Oh, my, what a travesty of justice? What a disgrace to our morality that such a beating took place? How can anyone take pleasure in that kind of violence? How can such a wrong right another wrong? Who's going to stand up for that poor, poor man whose only crime is raping toddlers." Oh sure, if it was still an egg or a zygote there would be people standing in line to defend it. But as soon as it is born it becomes free game. Who cares about the little victim? Maybe you'd like it if we sued the father, gave the money to the rapist, then let him go with an apology, and threw the father in jail? I wouldn't put that past our crazy justice system. What a great message that would send out, huh? That'll teach him to stand up for his kid! That'll teach him to take the law into his own fists. I'm sorry, but if that's the way you really feel then WE ARE NOT BETTER THAN THAT; AND, WE PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE. We are a SICK society that has lost it's moral compass. Just look at the imbeciles we have on our Supreme Court. We have twisted values and no logical sense of what is right or wrong. We don't know our ass from our nose or which way is up. It's no wonder that we have so many sick adults walking around thinking it's just fine to try and seduce a minor. Until that little (BIG) problem gets fixed we will never be better than that. When our criminal justice system takes a back seat to--and get less results than--the middle ages we really have nothing to hope for any more.
Cheers!
#37
I just wanted to tell you, Marc and Nachos, that I agree with you both.
That said, I think all rapists are scum and ought to be shot. Or at the very least... well never mind. - AIW
#38
DAM -- Where did you get video tapes from the middle ages? Are you sure they walked 10 feet away from all children, or was that a propaganda piece from the sadists that like to boil people in oil?
That being said, I think I would cheer the father and what he did. That is justice at the visceral level When "We the People" get involved in the justice, I agree with what Mmnn says.
#39
Excellent point, Chuck! Couldn't agree more.
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