That's Entertainment

No, Condoleeza Rice did not finally do something different with her hair.

While many of us continue to put on a happy face at work to make next month's rent, others in Rio de Janeiro are donning real smiles as they kick off Carnival celebrations.

I guess some Americans would call yesterday's very sanitized pseudo-puritanical Super Bowl entertainment, celebratory, but I call it pathetic and conformist.

The reactionary outcry to last year's Super Bowl reveal of Janet Jackson's left breast during a half time performance is alarming to say the least. While the portion of conservative, religious right American's continue to successfully capitalize on their influence over advertisers, others are still licking wounded egos from the very dated George Bush presidential win.

Let's face it folks, old money talks and carries a lot of weight over merit in this country (i.e., heiress Paris Hilton's huge pop culture appeal) .
The viral spread of conservativism is a constitutional right, but not when it silences those who don't conform or offer challenges to the norm.

Who Gets to Legitimize Iraq's election?

If one can tear themselves away from the sweeping corporate media concensus of successful democratization of Iraq, on behalf of the US government, let's try to get a true sense of the big picture here.

Yes, much like the U.S.'s recent re-election of George W. Bush, a "democratic" election process was successfully imposed upon Iraq. However, outside of selected depictions of Iraqi citizens celebrating in the streets singing the praises of America's democracy, American media outlets are, yet again, not examining the relevent consequences of this latest instance of US inculcation.

How exactly is the voter turnout being calculated and by whom? Yesterday, an NPR reporter stated that there's really no way to determine who exactly are voting. The Sunni (who make up about 40% of the Iraqi population) turnout are exceptionally low. Additionally, the only way government officials are identifying voters are by regional turnout.

Much like the US, election boycotts in Iraq are predictably under-reported. According to
Al-Jazzera.net, "Most citizens interviewed by the journalist said the elections reflected nothing but the will of the United States and was for its own interests."

Other questions not being examined:

• Who exactly are the candidates up for elections?
• Under who's constitution are the elections being conducted, if at all?
• What is the long-term constitutional framework for Iraq and who finalizes it?
• Why hasn't the US clearly defined their idea of sovereignty for Iraq?
• Does the US really believe that free-thing citizens of this world believe that the US's goal is to leave Iraq and its natural resources to Iraq to govern without the US?

If the US government and its corporate media are already claiming a victory over an election that has not yet been legitimized by the world community, we are a long way from getting answers to these crucial fundamental questions. The United States is the last country to be claiming victory over officiating a legitimate electoral process.

Not Right Enough Blacks in America

To this day, I can never convince myself to believe that people of African descent, living in America, could ever really fit the glove of Republican conservatism.
Someway or another token African-American right-wing pundits fall short of white conservative standards. In the same breath, they tend to betray their own historical legacy, while satisfying their own socio-economic power structure on the surface level.

Some examples that immediately come to mind are Alan Keyes, Condolezza Rice, Colin Powel and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The most recent example is conservative columnist Armstrong Williams who's recently come under fire, particularly from fellow right-wingers, for acknowledging that his company accepted $240,000 from the Bush administration to promote his No Child Left Behind law to Black audiences and giving the education secretary air time.

The repercussions of Williams's failure to promote the notion of media neutrality from the government interests, is the suspension of his weekly newspaper column by Tribune Media Services. The recent instance of mainstream media's conflict of interest speaks to the argument for the masses to challenge the popular tendency to blindly ingest corporate media's without critically examining its reporting sources.

Another issue that begs for examination is the proverbial pink elephant standing in our living room-the Black Republican.

How exactly do Black Republicans come to terms with the notion that right-wing conservatives serve their best interests? I welcome any Republicans of color to chime in of course.
I just don't see how a people with such an extensive American history of political, psychological, and socio-economic oppression from Puritanical Anglo-Saxon conservatives, can detach that history from every other oppressed group in modern day America.

American Image

As George Bush, Jr. prepares for his 2nd term presidential appointment in Washington, DC this afternoon, it's important for the remaining free-thinking individuals on this planet to remember that many people will meet today's elaborate proceedings with organized resistance, despite the heavy smog of oppression that seems to have smothered those on this planet who do not wish to be molded into the Bushs' idealogical value system.

While this nation's Inauguration Day polls welcomes George Bush with an almost 50% approval rating, a poll of 21 countries (reflecting Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia and Europe), commissioned by the BBC World Service, showed that 58% of the 22,000 participants (18 of the 21 countries) are expecting Bush to have a negative impact on peace and security during his final term.

The Bush marketers have proven that a fear-based campaign to be an overwhelming success for Bush's agenda and policy-making--at least in the US. I can only hope that the free-thinking world community can successfully impart and popularize non-imperialistic and progressive policy initiatives, enough to move out nation to impeach the seemingly un-impeachable Bush dynasty.

If this nation's democrats couldn't polish their agenda enough to pull it off, why couldn't other nations step up to the plate to take the lead?

Legacy of American Injustice

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday yesterday, me and some friends attended a free screening of Keith Beauchamp's documentary, "The Untold Story of Emmitt Louis Till," at The Brooklyn Academy of Music's BAM Rose Theaters.
This is a remarkable filmmaking achievement because it prompted the re-opening of this remarkably brutal murder case of 14 year-old Emmett Till in 1955 Mississippi, when viewed by federal prosecutors in 1994.

Unfortunately, Till's mother, Mamie Till Mobely, died in 1993 and never saw justice for her son's murder. The two white men, who kidnapped and brutalized the young teen who was visiting relatives in Mississippi from Chicago for whistling at the white wife of a local shopkeeper, were acquitted by an all white jury who deliberated for 67 minutes. After their acquittal, the men later sold their story for $4,000 to Look magazine in January 1956, knowing they could not be tried twice for the murder and speaking freely about how they killed Till.
However, there is still an ongoing investigation of others who were allegedly involved in helping the two murderers kidnap and restrain Till while he was being tortured.

This case sparked the Civil Rights Movement and continues to speak to the the inequities of the American justice system when it comes to trying and convicting people of color and the financially disadvantaged, i.e., New York State's Rockerfeller Drug Laws.

Mainstream Digest

Question: Why is Bill O'Reilly ever given the time of day to spew his right-wing madness on national television?
Answer: Because he's white, rich and he can.

As I mentioned in my Jan. 01 blog entry, there will always be some grand-standing opportunistic fool, with the right media backing, who will use the tsunami tragedy to further personal agendas.
The latest instance is FOX News's, Bill O'Reilly's criticising the legitimacy of the George Clooney's upcoming televised celebrity fund-raising efforts for the tsunami victims.

You don't have to be a George Clooney fan (which I'm not) to recognize the importance of all people banning together for a humanitarian cause. It does not surprise that O'Reilly would want to use his show to rekindle an old feud between him and Clooney--or any public figure who hasn't pledged to be a life-long Bush administration devotee.

I see how the pro-Bush agenda works for O'Reilly and his career. You only have to refer to the recent fallout domino-effect of CBS execs who followed Dan Rathers scathing (and poorly researched) 60 Minutes report on George W. Bush's checkered National Guard service.
O'Reilly is still working, while Dan Rather has "given up" his evening news seat.

But Bill, not all of us have stomaches strong enough to withstand so much Bush-ass-kissing in one lifetime. Can't you at least wait until the man's inauguration?
It'll be interesting to monitor the major network coverage and commentaries on Bush's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2005--Black Thursday.

Patriot Act and the White Man

It's not the title for a new reality series.

David Banach of suburban Parsippany, NJ could be facing 25 years in prison under the Patriot Act for "foolhardedly and negligently" pointing his laser beam at a jet and helicopter then falsely accusing his 7-year-old daughter. This fool needs to be given the max for his stupidity.

Now you know if he had a Muslim name his ass would already be held at Guantanamo Bay for a couple of years even before the case went to trial.

It'll be interesting to see whether or not he'll be given a slap on the wrist.
Does anyone know what the white:non-white ratio is of people convicted under the Patriot Act?
I'm betting Banach's a minority.

New Year and New Priorities

We start the new year off on the sad note of remembering the thousands of lives lost in the December 2004 tsunami in Asia. As the phenomenal death toll soars past 123,000, it is unfortunate that it takes a catastrophic natural event like this one to humble millions to really internalize the earth's awesome potential to regain the respect it already deserves.

While man has no control over such natural events, despite the rantings of some opportunistic doom-sayers currently using this disaster and fear-based discourse to scare the vulnerable to submit to personal agendas, I am hopeful that this natural disaster will provide a platform for world leaders to look less towards war solutions and imperialistic initiatives. Thus re-directing their resources towards ending world pandemics like hunger, disease, and institutionalized racism, classism while promoting a fairer distribution of wealth.

Although my ideological rants sound unrealistic and pie-in-the-sky, I do believe they are attainable if people exorcise their tendancy to adhere to socially engrained stereotypes and perceptions guided by the ruling class and religious institutions who thrive on total submission of the masses for identity, social norms, and spiritual dependence.

We can go on for days about this (and I welcome your thoughts via postings or alternate public forums), but I want to call your attention to links where you can donate your resources to help out tsunami victims as well as other needy people--remember there are still flood victims, extreme poverty and hunger in Haiti, earthquake victims in Iran, etc.

You choose your cause by starting here:
Tsunami relief efforts
Haiti Relief Fund
Relief International
UNICEF
Red Cross

One Torso with A Side of Emotional Detachment

At a loss as to what to give a loved one for the holidays? How 'bout a torso pillow?
That's right a styrofoam torso mock up of a bed buddy is all the rage in Japan and quickly sweeping neighboring nations. The manufactureres, Kameo Corporation, can't seem to keep their signature Girlfriend's Lap pillows and Boyfriend's Arm pillows in stock.

If you or your gift recipients can acknowledge and not take offense to this product's not-so-subtle misogynistic, objectifying themes, this just might fill the holiday lonelies void that some may be feeling at this particular time of the year.

After the holiday season blows over you can force them to critically examine the implications of how this product is a model example of how technologically advanced cultures increasingly seeks to replace real human contact with technological gadgets. Consequently, it promotes growing detachments to human emotions, self-identity (as it is constantly defined by consumer products) and increases cultural insensitivity, inactivity, attention deficit, and obesity.

Happy Holidays!

Uh...Keep the Faith Troops

As civilian resentment grows exponentially with the mass destruction and death brought to Palestinians by US-led forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tries to give US troops a pep talk.

At Camp Buehring, Kuwait yesterday (12/7/04), disgruntled soldiers gave Rumsfeld an ear-full as they openly voiced complaints about inadequate armor and lengthy deployments.
Rumsfeld retorted with an unsettling "win the test of wills"-themed speech aiming to butch-up the troops.

It's no surprise that US troops would be frustrated with the constant fear of losing their lives to hostile occupants in a war zone--especially during the holiday season.
While I am sympathetic to troops longing to return to their families, or even quit altogether, their plight should in no be given greater importance than those of the civilians that occupy
war-torn areas. They did not choose to be entangled in combat zones, or to see their families, friends and homes destroyed.

Voluntarily enlisting in the armed forces (no matter how limited one's options might be) is ultimately a choice with inherent risks.

And let's not kid ourselves about Rumsfeld's empathy for the plight of US troops in war zones.
It's very easy for him to dole out cursory remedy monologues to troops with the comfort of knowing that he's got a guaranteed private plane ride back home in time for the holidays.
None of his children have been deployed and sentenced to unpredictable life-threatening combat zones.

Seeing Is Believing

This is a typical scene at a Baghdad refugee camp populated by Fallujans. Not surprisingly, the very selective "embedded" war-time journalists, particularly Americans, who report on this war and war casualities often omit daily accounts of civilian suffering. If you're at all familiar with mainstream Western journalism norms, you know that credible reporting is often defined by a fusion of (or confused) with obligatory patriotic subtexts that conforms to corporate reporting, or administration-approved, standards. Opposing takes on current events, that radically steers away from and challenge such norms, are often dismissed as liberal babble, i.e., the downfall of Dan Rather.

What struck me the most this past week was the story of how Palestinian violinist, Wissam Tayem, was stopped by Israeli officers at a checkpoint near Nablus, and ordered to "play something sad." According to the Guardian, the dehumanizing incident was videotaped by Jewish women peace activists and struck a chord with the Israeli community.
The incident was reminiscent of when Jewish musicians were forced to play background music to the mass murders that took place at concentration camps.

Of course, now that this, among other documented accounts of "insensitivity" towards the Palestinians, have gained international attention, the Israeli officers deny that the Tayem was forced to play for them, and that he did it voluntarily.

Drawing such parallels that challenge the ideologies of the US-led war against the "axis of evil," the increasing popularity of animilizating Muslims in the media, and projected images of US soldiers coming back in coffins, are topical underlying war-time themes that typically will not be given a national platform in US airwaves, or be given the same importance as topics that are less critical of the right wing agendas.
I don't expect that the FOX network (know for its pro-Bush sentiments) would have reported on how Palestinians are degraded by Israeli or US soldiers for that matter.

Holiday Shopping:Civilian Deaths

While many Americans took their annual dose of social anesthesia called Black Friday--the post-Thanksgiving day shopping frenzy that US retailers capitalize on to launch their Christmas sales--week three of the US-led assault on Fallujah commenced.

Shopping and waiting out long lines at shoppping malls were not focal points of contention for civilians in war-torn Iraq.

Samir Hijazi, a 38-year-old physician, and 18-year-old Abd Allah al-Rahawi died from wounds sustained when Israeli tanks stormed the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza strip, firing volleys of shells and automatic gunfire.

According to Palestinian medical sources, as of Sunday (11/29/04), the death tolls since the start of the al-Aqsa Intifada, stand at 3555 Palestinians and 961 Israelis.

While the accuracy of these figures are subject to debate, the point should not be overlooked that the consistency of bystander deaths are constant and any false sense of US economic growth projected by the American news sources to mask the obvious cannot alter war casualties.

Say Goodbye Dan

It was only a matter of time until Dan Rather called it quits after going up against the Bush administration by interrogating the checkered history of George W. Bush's service as a National Guard.

The 73 year-old veteran CBS anchor announced that he will be stepping down from the league of the noteables on March 9--the 24th anniversary of his starting as the CBS Evening News anchor.

I think this story is huge because of its implications for journalist and the limitations of free speech. Yes, Rather was lacking when it came to checking his resources and is accountable for his credibility as a journalist. But we should also, consider how Rather's resignation will influence future watchdog reporting in the mainstream media--especially stories that oppose the conservation right-wing agenda.

It's already a pandemic that is being taken way to lightly be captive audiences who too often swallow the bitter pill of pre-digested current events.

Back From The War and Buying A Ford!

At the risk of promoting NBC on this forum, I must mention the shameless war-time propaganda campaign skillfully executed in NBC's prime time slot last Sunday night (11/21/04).

Ford motor company poured millions of advertising dollars to peddle their vehicles to--yes, our American war heros. The thickness with which they poured their syrupy advertising, you'd think they were giving away the damn cars or offering them at a reduced price to "our troops."

Last night's special commercial-free episode of American Dreams was sponsored by Ford.
In it, JJ Pryor, a US Marine fighting in Vietnam had been missing in action and finally comes home for Christmas.

The timely episode strategically conforms to current events and the predominant American social discourse where the war protestors in that episode were criminalized as they set fire to a military recruiting center, critically injuring an unsuspecting maintanence worker in the process.
Just as the Pryor family (a white middle-class family living in a picturesque suburb in Philadelpha, PA) gets out of midnight Christmas mass, they get word of JJ's miraculous return.
Upon his injured son's arrival, JJ's proud father rewards him with a brand new Ford.

Of course the cost of the viewers' commercial-free, special Christmas miracle episode geared for the upright Christian right citizens brigade, was a three-minute Ford commerical following the same theme of Sunday night's family episode. A white middle-class serviceman comes back from the service to his picturesque suburban American home, to be greeted by his dad with brand new Ford.

While this is all very gripping stuff, I appeal to critical thinkers out there to pluck this television propaganda event apart and recognize it for what it is--not an altruistic effort by the Ford motor company to "honor our American troops," but a calculated marketing strategy to get viewers to associate nationalism with a Ford motor vehicle purchase.
As if somehow by purchasing a Ford motor, the viewer would be fulfilling their patriotic duty.

I'll venture to submit that a more substantial way to honor our troops is to see to it that our current administration has sufficient healthcare in place for surviving US troops who will be needing costly physical and psychological therapy from this war.

Here's A Reality Show

In a bold statement contrary to the predominently infectious US propaganda, France's president Jacques Chirac continues to paint a realistic outlook of Bush's war for the world.

In a statement to the BBC last night (Wed., 11/17/04), he said, "I'm not at all sure that one can say the world is safer. There is no doubt there has been an increase in terrorism. To a certain extent Saddam Hussein's departure was a positive thing but it also provoked reaction such as the mobilisation in a number of countries of men and women of Islam which has made the world more dangerous."

It's no stretch for a free-thinking individual to piece together the likelihood of violent acts resulting in retaliatory violence. Yes, more insurgents or vigilant opposers of a hostile occupation by foreigners.

Chirac also told the BBC that he urged Britain, before the invasion, to press George Bush to revive the Middle East peace process before offering their support. Chirac stated, "Well, Britain gave its support but I did not see much in return. I am not sure that it is in the nature of our American friends at the moment to return favours systematically."

Historically, arrogance and a hunger for power was hardly a key ingredient for successful progressive movements.

Meanwhile, the death toll for US troops from assaults in Fallujah and surrounding regions is 91, while there is no indication that Fallujah resistence fighters are backing down.

I'm Not Only The Spokeman for Moral Superiority, I'm Also The President

Well, I stand corrected in thinking that the creme de la creme of the conservative reich ended with the Bush administration and the devil's whore, Lynne Cheney.

The latest figure head for extreme fundamentalism, under the guise of 'legitimate' Christianity, is Dr. Bob Jones III, president of Bob Jones University in Greensville, SC.
His November 4th congratulatory letter to George Bush made recent headlines for its extremely conservative comments. The highly moralistic (which assumes his flawless character, if he can appoint himself a position of moral judgement) university president deifies the US president with the claim, "God has graciously granted America, though she doesn't deserve it, a reprieve from the agenda of paganism. You have been given a mandate. We the people expect your voice to be like the clear and certain sound of a trumpet. Because you seek the Lord daily, we who know the Lord will follow that kind of voice eagerly."

While elevating the status of his version of Christian conservativism to an undisputable position of mainstream authority, he also bludgeons the the character of any individuals with opposing views or values. Although Bush has neither publicly endorsed nor discredited the letter, Jones has already successfully capitalized on his wealth, media access and faith-based support to circulate his manifesto to the masses and, to some extent, perpetrated instutionalized racism and religious intolerace on a wide public scale.

Factoid Aside: Bush spoke at Bob Jones University in February of 2000 during his 2000 campaign run. At the time, the private Christian college instituted a ban on interracial dating.
The school has since dropped the ban on interracial dating (I'm sure Jones' personal views have dramatically turned towards racial sensitivity).

In the tradition of the priviledged access of individuals like the Cheneys and the Bush family, much of Jones's success can be attributed to his massive wealth, media access and the successful fusing of public policy, faith-based value systems and self-imposed and unchallenged entitlement, which authorizes him to eradicate the diversified interests and value systems of lower-class Americans.

Jones's ideological American is a simplified white-washed Christian conservative who subscribes to his value system, and those outside of that cultural framework be damned.
Who else had a similar vision for his people? Ah yes, Hitler!

A successful mainstream extreme conservative right media blitz desensitizes the public to the fact that diverse cultures with oppossing inherent value systems, are further alienated and demonized towards the goal of extinction.
Baby steps towards normalizing the fusion of fundamentalist views and state policy should not go unnoticed by the masses.

Fascism = Fascism despite its subtle brush strokes.

As a Media Ecology graduate, it would behoove me not to recommend reading the writings of French theologist and sociologist Jacques Ellul (1912-1994).
His literature of the topics of Christianity, propaganda, technology and power are prophetic, timeless and appropriate for our Western technological society (I hesitate to call it a civilization).

Other Ellul Works:
Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes, 1961
The Politics of God and the Politics of Man, 1972

Your Childrens' Allegiance To The Conservative Right

VP first-lady Lynne Cheney is no novice to the coercive arts. Her calculated methodology of inculcating conservative Protestant values into America's school children is one of Cheney's many strengths. Regardless of the many diverse cultural ideologies and traditions that America's school children are reared with, Mrs. Cheney had, has and will continue to a have a say in what they should incorporate into their belief systems.

Her history as an outspoken conservative who uses her wealth and media connections to further her right-wing agenda, rivals that of her husband Dick Cheney.

In her interview with Matt Lauer on yesterday's (11/9/04) Today Show, she capitalized on her national broadcast opportunity to promote her new children's book, America: A Patriotic Primer, for "young patriots."
She then proceeded to tie her book with the war in Iraq and how the US military presence in Iraq is akin to the great American battles led by our first president George Washington.

Assuming the authoritarian position of self-appointed interpreter for the masses and embattled factions in Iraq, she continued with claims distinguishing "our" troops' fight being a righteous one--as if there are ever jusitifiable wars--and the other side (civilians included) be damned because we're the freedom fighters.

One of the reasons why Mrs. Cheney's warped sentiments of nationalism or die has such staying power is her massive influence on media outlets and her target (although not exclusively) faith-based, conservative audience's passivity about it.

If you recall, Mrs. Cheney is the former head of The National Endowment for the Humanities, where she helped fund the National History Standards (with the Dept. of Education).
This was considered a progressive step towards improving the way American public schools teach history to an increasingly diversified student body; until Cheney denounced the finished product back in 1994, with her publication, The End of History, causing a huge media blitz and uproar among education reformers.

Why? Mrs. Cheney had a problem with the Standard's " 'grim and gloomy' monument to political correctness. She pronounced the standards project a disaster for giving insufficient attention to Robert E. Lee and the Wright brothers and far too much to obscure figures (such as Harriet Tubman) or patriotically embarrassing episodes (such as the Ku Klux Klan and McCarthyism)."--G.B. Nash.
You can read the details in Gary B. Nash's article in The History News Network.

"Beware the historian," applies to anyone who chooses to recall any event that could potentially be interpreted as legacy depending on its circulation and its impact on the masses.
The cautionary quote implies that all historical claims and its sources should be up for scrutiny before it's institutionalized.
This includes myself, anchorpersons, educators, etc.
Selective historical documentation can be enticing that way. It's really up to the historian's discretion what portions of events he/she will emphasize or gloss over.

For instance, Lynne Cheney chooses to highlight her childrens book and conservative values to the masses whenever she wishes. She probably won't use her platform on The Today Show to talk about her very racey (at least by most conservative standards) and not-so-Christian conservative historical romance novel Sisters (1981, Penguin Group), which included topics such as brothels, attempted rapes, and a lesbian love affair. It's not the kind of book that would strengthen her standing with the conservative right.

I, however, have no problem using this public forum to put forth this information as it serves my purpose, which is to highlight Mrs. Cheney's selective usage of her self-portrayed moral superiority image to further her conservative agenda.

Collective amnesia should not deprive the masses of more balanced perspectives on subjects simply because mainstream media coverage is lacking.

Too often people unconsciously give up their critical thinking capacities for spoon-fed information that's widely held as factual simply because the source is "the news," or devicive media moguls like Cheney.

The newest victims--our children.

More War for the People

Here's an Iraqi girl trying to block out the piercing sounds of explosions and death in Fallujah, where US troops have launched an all-out "offensive" strike to purge insurgents.

So how do we know that the psychological and physical damages inflicted on thousands of Iraqi children like this little girl, isn't creating future generations of insurgents?
I don't see how weekly assaults around horrified civilians is acceptable for any society.
How would New Yorkers or civilians in Ohio handle their counties being transformed into war zones?

I'm inclined to believe that their would be vigiliant backlashes from residents also and that the distinction between resistent civilians who have been violated and terrorists would also be blurred.

It appears that we are a long ways off from seeing an end to the havoc that Bush and his extremist Republican right regime will advocate over the next four years, which will have long-term global effects far beyond the commander and chief's final term.

BTW: Since the beginning of the Palestinian uprising in September 2000, the estimated number of deaths is approximately 4,563, including 3,259 Palestinians and 960 Isrealis--with the advantage of US governmant backing of course. Not to mention the deaths tolls of US soldiers, allied military troops and prisoners of war.

Democracy Later...

So what's next for Amerika as we know it under the strong arm of the Bush Reicht?
I could submit dozens of speculative scenerios--none of which subscribe to my vision of a democratic society.

What I can say for certain is that the popular and the electoral votes have secured a future (at least the next four years) rife with policies, both domestic and foreign, that will reflect ultra-conservative views with little tolerance for new citizens of diverse ethnic profiles and faiths.
Thus, reversing the initiatives of the Constitution as we know it.

I don't think it's a stretch for me to envision a future where truly free-thinking Americans will have to flee to other countries in order to reap the benefits of a progressive social consciousness where it's okay to differ in ideology with the establishment.

This reminds me of a time in America when free-thinking Americans had to leave the United States in order to escape persecution because of their unpopular views, like Langston Hughes and Josephine Baker. The reality of this sweeping ideological regression frightens me to the core, but I totally advocate the survival of free thought and expression without certain backlashes. If the United States can no longer live up to its claims as the model for freedom, then it should gracefully step down and give up the pretenses it portrays to neighboring countries.

There were some great points made in today's New York Times Op-Ed columns that's great food for thought--namely Maureen Dowd (The Red Zone) and Thomas L. Friedman (Two Nations Under God).

"The Ruler Thanks The Non-Thinking Man"

"The ruler is thankful for the non-thinking man." --Adolf Hitler.

It's an awful shame that complacency and in-action will set the tone for the next four years of Bush's imperialist movement, but I will at least take comfort in the knowledge that I am not one of those complainers who didn't get out my vote. I wish to congratulate all the New Yorkers who made their voices heard and overwhelmingly rejected George W. Bush.

If you're feeling anything like I'm feeling, you're probably repulsed incensed by the irrational logic that Bush supporters used to rationalize his re-election. Of course, most likely, these are the folks who have no personal attachment (like loved ones actually fighting the war in Iraq) to Bush's 'axis of evil' war.

Some good news: California has voted to put $3 billion into stem-cell research.