Monday, December 31, 2012

Fuck* the troops

No, I'm not gay. I don't literally mean fuck the men.
No, I am not advocating raping the women either, although a lot of women in the military are being raped by the men in the military.
Yes, I know a lot of young people are led by the invisible hand of the market into the military, to escape their desperate backgrounds. And, no, I don't expect them to be all noble, when they are only cooks stationed in West Germany, while indifferent Americans watch Notre Dame play Michigan in the Sugar Bowl.

What I mean is that many American soldiers, that I believe should know better, are indifferent to the plight of prisoners and civilians in their area of operation. The opposite of love, as in love your enemy, is not hate. It is indifference. So maybe they cannot be sent to jail for what they do; but they can be sent to hell.

Hello PTSD, hello suicide.
*

Sunday, December 30, 2012

1980s, Guatemala, Rios Montt

1951, Completes class at the School of the Americas.
1954, participates in the coup of Arbenz.
1970, named Chief of Staff of the Army of Guatemala.
1978, becomes a Pentecostal. Befriends Pat Robertson.
1982, seizes power, backed by the CIA
June 9th, starts the "guns or butter" program.
December, President Reagan says "Ríos Montt is a great man".
Israel sends military aid, and gives military training in Israel.
1983, CIA cable notes bodies are "appearing in ditches"
1999, Clinton apologizes for US support of reign of terror.
1999, Guatemalan government admits massacre at Dos Erres.
2012, Ríos Montt indicted for crimes against humanity
wikipedia

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Zero Dark Thrity

Zero-Dark-Thirty, although it is a work of fiction, may cross the line of advocating "immanent lawless action". Torture is an ongoing policy of friend (Islam Karimov) and foe alike, and this movie may give aid and comfort to those who practice it. We know that the Constitution allows immoral speech, but the government in other cases has sought to constrain speech in time of war if that speech poses a threat to national security.

Cloth Mother

Monday, December 24, 2012

Friday, December 21, 2012