Voice from the Commonwealth Commentary, World Views and Occasional Rants from a small 'l' libertarian in Massachussetts
"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest for freedom, go home and leave us in peace. We seek not your council nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams
.
Praise for Voice
"A smart fellow...I do like, recommend and learn from Barbera's blog." -Roger L. Simon
"Your blog is bullshit"- anonymous angry French reader.
Twenty eight illegal aliens were arrested at Fort Worth Meacham Airport. Apparently some of them may have ties to Abu Sayyaf. They were working there as mechanics.
I won't get into a full blown diatribe on the school voucher decision. I will say that I think it was the right decision. And I think it is telling that the people most against it point to the places where it has failed on ballot initiatives. I wonder if those people would listen to the same arument on issues like the death penalty, abortion or gun control? Our Founders established a Constitutional Republic with three separate checked and balanced branches of government so we would not be ruled by the tryanny of the majority nor by the tyranny of the minority for that matter.
Debate the pros and cons of the issue. As for anything of this matter I think it best to listen to the people affected, and I have not seen one parent receiving the vouchers say that it has hurt their children instead I have seen parents. who love their children dearly, weep at the thought of them losing the chance for a good education over a politically motivated battle. The more that liberals keep up these attacks the more they will isolate groups they take advantage of and assume will always be there for them.
Not that Bush hasn't been running the same risk with some of his domestic decisions.
Hey now! North and South Korean navy ships exchanged fire.
The clash followed a series of border incursions by North Korean navy ships into South Korean waters in the area in recent months. On Friday, two North Korean patrol boats briefly crossed the border in the 10th such violation this year.
Helga, wife of U.S. presidential candidate Lyndon Larouche, was delivering a lecture on "Clash or Dialogue Among Civilizations" at the Zayed Centre for Coord-ination and Follow-Up here[Abu Dhabi].
She came down heavily on Samuel Huntington's thesis on Clash of Civilizations, claiming that it was "an actual scenario of Anglo-American policy."
"Obviously Huntington knew very little about these civilizations. His evil theory serves to rationalize war against Islam. This theory could as well serve the Anglo-American interests in the Near and Middle East as well as South Asia," Larouche said.
She warned that if 'this evil scenario' was not checked, the danger could dramatically and negatively affect the mankind and future generations. If war on terror lasted 100 years, she added, human civilization would slide into such a dark age that it had never witnessed for hundreds of years.
"The torch of progress has not been carried by one single people or one civilization, nay, it is carried by different cultures at different times, each contributes to the state of development where we are using it today," advocates Larouche.
A rabbi in Germany attempting to replant Judaism in a place that has seen its share of death and destruction.
...I have been in Schwerin since early March as the first rabbi for 68 years. Sixty years of Nazism and communism left only 55 disused cemeteries here and not a single living Jew. There are now some 1,200 Jewish migrants.
He recounts fears and hope.
A “Jewish” life in Europe has always been the product of an inner pull from the soul and an outer push in the form of anti-Semitism. In that respect today’s Germany is happily unhelpful. The atmosphere is as different from Germany’s past as mobile phone aerials are from the 18th-century watertowers that still decorate the landscape. The media and politicians, as well as the Jewish community leadership, remain edgy about the least signs of anti-Semitism. Remarks that would pass virtually unnoticed in Britain fuel headlines for days.
The nervousness came to my own front door at half-time in the World Cup semi-final between Germany and South Korea. Two police cars suddenly parked themselves protectively against the building in which my apartment and the communal offices are housed in case the German team lost and the lively crowd in the nearby market square took out their disappointment on an easy target like the rabbi’s home.
That apprehension was at variance with my daily experience of goodwill and tolerance. A Saturday evening call within two weeks of my arrival was typical. I answered it with an English “Hello”. “Who’s that?” the German voice bellowed in some irritation. “The Jewish Community Office.” “Well, why can’t you answer the phone properly?” I offered due apologies. “And why aren’t you listed in the directory under ‘churches’ where you should be?” I wasn’t sure that that needed an apology. My caller then introduced himself as the retired vicar of Boizenburg where the old disused cemetery had recently been vandalised, some stones damaged beyond repair. He had rung to offer his support. “I want you to know that I am always there for you,” he said.“Get in touch any time you like and,” he added, “please get yourself listed under ‘churches’ where you belong.”
I've been ruminating on Bush's speech and new (implied) foreign policy concerning the Israel Palestine conflict. I realized that most pundits have been leaving out Europe (except to point out they won't go along). But, I think there is something more here. Why won't they go along? If Bush hold true to his demands and sees an honest and true election and campaign among the Palestinians, what will happen? Does anyone honestly think that they will elect a moderate peacemaker? No it will be Arafat again or someone from Hamas or Fatah. But this could be precisely the point.
To start recent polls have shown that the majority of Palestinians back suicide bombings and a majority also see terrorism as a means to the destruction of Israel. That isn't going to go away as the result of a free election. Palestinians need to believe that peace is more productive than war. The apologists like to say that suicide bombings are a result of desperation. If they were truly desperate they would be clamoring to end the conflict with Israel and find some resolution. No, suicide bombings are a result of indoctrination and a culture propogated by the terrorists sending out the bombers. We continuously ask Arafat to end the hatred taught in scools and we are constantly rebuffed. Europe makes no demands on the Palestinians and UNRWA says it is not their perogative.
To date Hamas has said that they would not take part in an election, unless it were completely free. If a serious contender within the 'security' apparatus or from Hamas or another terrorist organization could create problems. Hamas is held in high regard and any serious contender from that group along with a handful of others could mount a serious challange to Arafat if it is an open election with a free press. If there is a real campaign Arafat would have to take a very hard line to protect himself from charges of being in the pocket of Westerners. It would lead to a lot of rhetoric that even the EU would be uncomfortablewith. And if it were a close election do you think Arafat or those within his organization would not try to take matters into their own hands? A civil war could be in the offing. And if somehow Arafat lost the election or were not around to win it, the new 'President' would, most likely, be someone from an outright (i.e. not even the EU could argue) terrorist organization who did not have the international lustre of Arafat. This new leader would also probably not bother to couch his true intentions in language that the apologists can cling to.
Europe would blame America and scowl mightily at us for letting Arafat fall but they would know, as we all have know for some time that, while Arafat may come here and say he supports peace, he is at heart a murderous terrorist. The only exchange would be in the facade, the true agenda would be the same Arafat or not. But with an openly murderrous leader constantly calling for the destruction of Israel would leave the EU with no choice but stop supporting the terror. The Palestinians would be isolated and would have to face the fact that if they are not willing to turn to peace the West (including Russia) will not back them. It would be a brutal and murderous time but it would make clear to the Arab world that Israel is there to stay and once that fact is accepted we can move on and try to find a true settlement in the quest for peace.
I think the EU realizes that an election could well end up forcing them to make a decision and that the choice between Israel or an openly murderous terrorist they will have to make a very uncomfortable choice.
How is that for luck? A climber in the Andes was stranded and freezing so he went to call for help on his cell phone only to find his prepaid minutes were used up. He is then saved when the phone company calls him to offer more minutes.
If you plan on holding up a store, it would probably be wise to avoid trying a gun shop. Especially if you plan on doing it with a knife. There can be only one outcome.
"There's a a price to be paid for inaction against terrorism, inaction against reform,"Who said it? Colin Powell said it in an interview today when asked about Arafat. I think he is now carrying the Presiden't message without any sort of temporizing.
Apparently the photo of the suicide-toddler is one of three things according to different Palestinian sources. 1) It is real, but you can find photos like this all over. It is a phenomenon. 2) Obviously the Zionists faked it. 3) Sure there are photos like this and it may be true, but the parents do it as a joke.
If the people can't denounce Mugabe and his murdering cohorts for killing, oppressing and starving his own people and the white farmers (who employ over 2 million Zimabweans). Maybe they can denounce them for torturing animals.
Islamic terrorists consider Seattle an "easy target" because of bad policing, the FBI warned area officials.
Charles Mandigo, FBI special agent in charge of the Seattle office, told the King County Council that terrorists consider the area an "easy target" and an undisclosed number of potential local collaborators are "willing and able" to help commit terrorism.
Silvio Burlusconi, PM of Italy, backed Bush yesterday and called for Arafat to step donw. He said it in high style, but he said it nonetheless.
"Many people are convinced that Arafat, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, should make a generous gesture and move aside," Mr. Berlusconi said. "If I were President Arafat I would make a grand gesture that would enable him to go down forever in history as the man who gave everything for the freedom of his country."
I have no problem with that. Fine step down and let their history books call him the founder of Palestine and blah blah blah. Just get the hell out!
I don't even know what kind of comment to give this. An alternative graduation celebrating thge "students'" commitment to justice, equity and compassion by having Mumia Abu Jamal, the convicted cop killer, give the commencement address.
John Entwistle is dead. I have always held that the Who is the greatest rock and roll band of all time. The Beatles don't count because like Elvis it is just unfair to make comparisons. Sure the Stones have been around longer but their music has never even been close to the technical or emotional brilliance of the Who. From the pure emotional hard raw music in the early music to the more mature and technical of Quadrophenia. And Entwistle was one of the greatest bassists (not to mention all around musicians) in rock (along with Geddy Lee). Listen to bass line in The Real Me (probably one of the greatest rock anthems of all time), it is not human.
The only time I ever got to see the Who was in 1989 at the Meadowlands. For a bunch of old geezers they played all out rock for more than four hours. As the comic store guy would say...best concert ever!
That's odd. Egypt has arrested and deported 90 mostly European women as they tried to cross the border into Israel. Egyptian Intelligence theorizes that they may have been trying to make it in to be sex-workers.
The Europeans can't bury their heads in the sand. The Islamist terrorists are and have been planning attacks in Europe targetting Europeans for years. Sitting back and pretending you are not against them won't win you a reprieve.
Do what we say or else. I though the EU was supposed to be representative. The new Danish President told Irish voters that they must vote to ratify the Nice Treaty.
The BBC waits for the end of the story about irrevocable Cuban socialism for the payoff but they do say it truthfully. Our correspondent says only the most committed sincerely believe that 99% of Cubans support Mr Castro's government, but it is clear that 99% do not feel they can oppose him either.
In PA ruled areas being a 'collberator' means getting shot and dragged through the streets. In Israel it means getting arrested and having a real trial.
Lynn Sweet spent some time in the refugee camps and suggests Henry Hyde hold public hearings to question the role of UNRWA and the job it is doing to assure its camps do not become breeding grounds for terrorism.
I thought the media was having a field day telling us Tony Blair didn't go along with Bush's plan to ignore Arafat?
Tony Blair has warned that the Middle East peace process can not move forward if the Palestinians elect a leader who is not a "serious" negotiating partner.
Mr Blair again stressed it was up to the Palestinian people as to who they elected in polls expected next January.
But he made plain his disappointment with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's performance.
``People are optimistic. Business is getting better. Refugees are coming back,'' says Fardaws, the sign painter. ``If the colors are bright, I want to paint it. People like bright colors now. And you need lots of brightness for a bright future, yes?''
A former Prime Minister of Libya has written a fantastic piece about the need for Arab reform. Excerpted in MEMRI.
"What we saw in the West could have opened our eyes regarding one truth - that they progress because they expose their [own] flaws... This could have made us sense the importance of exposing flaws, and convinced us that it is impossible to take care of [a problem] unless it is exposed."
"But this has had no effect whatsoever on our way of thought... [O]ur positions regarding the facts of our lives remain unchanged. Furthermore, we continue to convince ourselves that those who progress are merely nations full of problems and flaws. We have always acted as if our problems and flaws do not exist as long as we can hide them behind the smokescreen of memories of [ancient Arab-Islamic] civilization with its lofty values, of which all that remains are sermons in the mosques and media products."
"...All the movements calling for Arab [unity] in our era thought this could be accomplished by 'mobilizing [supportive] throats' and memorizing slogans while ignoring that [Arab unity] is a project difficult to actualize as long as there is no free individual with the right to vote. Thus, calls for unity remain part of the 'revolutionary' activity, and they fill our ears while preventing us from expressing an opinion - even about electing a neighborhood mukhtar or a tribal sheikh."
"In the absence of individual rights, talk of unity is an illusion - an attempt to cross the river before we have built the bridges."
"We think we can reach the finish line without actually running the race. This has impelled us, and still impels us, to quarrel with the U.S., which we think is our rival. Accordingly, we have mobilized all the energies of rage to punish it without engaging in achieving the capability that will allow us to match this superpower - exactly as we did, and still do, with regard to the state of the Jews."
"Have we not been quarrelling with Israel for 50 years or more, with burning tongues and throats of fire? [We do this] without considering that what we are doing is, in effect, [preoccupation] with the 'other,' and that it would be better for us to persevere in, first of all, dealing with our [own] flaws and defects and trying to obtain the capabilities that will make us an equal rival, capable of confronting [Israel]."
That's what a mediocrity promoting bueacracy gets you. Apparently the Euro is inferior, physically, to old currencies. I'm sure it costs more to produce, too.
The OIC continued their anti-Israel-fest today. Rather than address the issues facing Islam today they continue to beat the same drum. When will they start acting in a rational and responsible manner?
In an allusion to suicide bombings, he [the Sudanese Representative] said: "The Islamic nation is not terrorist even if certain individuals carry out acts to defend themselves." He described such violence a "reaction to the injustice they are submitted to". He demanded to know why the Islamic nation is "immediately branded terrorist when an isolated act is committed by a Muslim".
Non-governmental organisations helping with the training scheme and funding reckon there are one million homeless women in Afghanistan, 100,000 in Kabul.
An excellent rebuttal of Desmond Tutu's anti-Israel/Judaism rant.
Apartheid was a racial policy that distinguished all blacks and "browns" from those of European descent and limited their rights. Israel has 1.25 million citizens who are Jews originating in Middle Eastern, Asian and African nations, and another million who are Muslim and Christian of Arab ancestry, fully 37.5 percent of the population in Israel. They enjoy full and equal rights regardless of ethnicity or religious belief. Ninety-five percent of the population is literate and life expectancy is nearly 79 years.
The Syrians are teacing anti-Semitism in their schools. Duh.
Eighth-graders are taught that, "It is known that the Jews of today do not have any connection to Palestine," and sixth-graders learn that "The Prophet [Mohammed] knew about the treacherous intention harbored in the Jews' souls."
By age 15, Syrian children are read in their Islamic studies textbooks that Jews deserve to be liquidated: "Co-existence with them or having them as neighbors, is an enormous danger that threatens Islamic and Arab existence with destruction and extinction Their criminal intention should be turned against them by way of their elimination."
"I made it clear to him that the direction he was taking was leading nowhere and that he had to make a fundamental, strategic choice as to whether he was going to continue to tacitly and actively support the intifida.....or whether he would make a strategic choice to move in a new direction. So far, we have not seen him make that strategic choice."
The Australian Foreign Minister tells it like it is. Alexander Downer said that Australia would send aid money to help build a Palestinian state. If....."Absolutely, it's a point I've made myself I'm not sure if I've made it publicly but it's a point I've made privately to Arab ambassadors here in Australia and with the advent of a Palestinian state in the context of a solution to the Middle East problem, we would certainly provide significant aid to assist with the building of that state,"
However...."There is no point putting significant amounts of aid into countries which are very badly, in some cases corruptly run,"
This sounds familiar. A New Zealand politician is attacked in the media for questioning the country's immigration policy. There is no question of debate, it has just been deemed a subject that leaves you on the side of good if you are not with them you are racist.
Whenever the minister is confronted by immigration realities, what does she do? She falls back on the predictable formula for suppressing criticism - accuse whoever dares to raise the issue of immigration of being a racist, a bigot and a scaremonger.
The Europeans and Kofi Annan still don't get it. They are, for the most part, rejecting Bush's call for new Palestinian leadership. It seems like the only parts of the speech they liked were the parts about a Palestinian state and the withdrawal of Israel. The fact that there needs to be solid action and assurances fromthe Palestinians first seems to be a completely alien idea for them.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said forcing a change in the Palestinian top command could backfire. ``You could find yourself in a situation that the radicals are the ones that get elected, and it would be the result of a democratic process and we have to accept that,'' he said.
How blind and foolish are these people? What makes Kofi think the radicals aren't in control? What makes him think that Arafat has any control over the situation. If he did why has he not shown the least move to control the terror since Sept 2000? If he doesn't have any control, why is he important? If he is abetting the terrorists what good does it do to have him there?
There exists this myth that Arafat was fairly elected. He also promised a constitution, impartial courts, free media, security for Palestians (ask the thousands of dead 'collaberrators' since 1993 about security for Palestinians), an end to terror, and another round of free elections. Not one of these things has happened. Arafat remains openly conteptuous of peace and still he gets more support and respect from the UN and the EU.
Even the Guardian is reporting that Jack Straw (from Witchita) is saying that the US plan for the Middle East is the only way forward.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Straw acknowledged the US statement contained "some uncomfortable messages for the Palestinians" but welcomed Yasser Arafat's reception of the speech.
This is what most rational people have been saying about the morality of suicide bombing for some time now.
This ideology of death is not then the product of hope denied, but hope fed. Fed not just by money and arms from neighbours, but fed, above all, by the folly of the West. The hope that terror will bring concessions, the hope that the West is weakening, the hope that fanaticism will prevail, is daily reinforced. That hope is nurtured by movement towards a Palestinian state which is accelerated, not delayed, by bombing. It is encouraged by news that decisive action against one sponsor of terror, Iraq, has been delayed. It is supported by news that the world’s most energetic sponsor of terror, Iran, is to be appeased by the granting of EU trade privileges.
It is also advanced by the moral confusion which suicide bombing has produced among Western elites. The campaign has been designed to obscure the wickedness of ethnic mass murder by seeking to place the killer on the same moral plain as his targets — both are to be seen as “victims”.
But that is only true in the sense that a Khmer Rouge, Waffen SS or Interahamwe footsoldier and those he slaughters are “equally” victims of totalitarianism. One is implementing an ideology of death, the others are that ideology’s necessary sacrifices. To contextualise the acts of the killers by arguing that they have no hope, to see “nobility” in their blitheness about the consequences as they take others’ lives, is to locate moral reasoning in individuals who wish to erase the most fundamental moral principle — respect for life itself.
It is difficult for the civilised man or woman to admit that barbarism can take possession of a soul, or a society. But unless we do, we cannot stop its advance.
Joe Bob Briggs has a couple of great observations, as usual.
Well, of COURSE they promote intolerance. He's the leader of a RELIGION. They think all the OTHER religions are WRONG. I'm surprised I have to point this out.
The only people who believe that all religions are wonderful are people who don't believe in anything. That's why the People for the American Way might not like sectarian conflict. They prefer their preachers docile, harmless and invisible. But do they really believe the Constitution FORBIDS sectarian conflict? That IS the American Way.
Things could turn to genocide pretty quickly in Zimbabwe. The farmers are planning on defying Comrade Bob's order to surrender their property by midnight Sunday.
Where is Desmond Tutu decrying the 'aparthied' tactics of Mugabe? Or, for that matter, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Kuwait 10 years ago? Maybe he has something to say about slavery in Sudan or the bondage in which Malays, Indonesians, Sri Lankans and others in Saudi Arabia are held?
The EU's proposal to give the Palestinians a state based on the 1967 borders was accepted gleefully by Iran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman then went on to let us know once again what the 'Final Solution' is.
"We welcome any developments which may lead to the restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people and consider it as a step forward, but we believe that these measures are not enough and should be followed up with other measures, such as an end to the occupation of all Palestinian territories, return of Palestinian refugees and restoration of their indisputable rights," Asefi further noted.
In other words the extirpation of the country known as Israel. How many times do they have to say this before everyone gets with the program?
This is why artists should have supported the US war to remove the Taliban. Or do they only jump on when it is their favored groups that are 'opressed'?
Furious at the wanton destruction, Hashem came up with the idea to disguise the remaining works, painting over the oil pieces with watercolor images of nature mountains, lakes and trees that did not offend the Taliban's sensitivities.
"We knew if they caught us, they would put us in jail or punish us. But it was my responsibility. I had a small opportunity and I used it. I was not afraid. Whether they caught us or not, I had to do this," Hashem said.
Working for weeks on end, the three men's daring rescue mission saved some 80 pieces from sure destruction.
"You must understand, a painting is like a child to an artist. It is like a son, so he must care for it like a son, Hashem said. "Some of these paintings are more than 100 years old. If they were lost, there would be nothing left of those who had died."
Facing death for your art is oppression. Not being told you are an unpatriotic America hater (while facing no threat of violence), when that is exactly what you are.
Why aren't more Muslim leaders saying things like this?
"(The Ismaili Center) will be a place of search and enlightenment, not of anger and of obscurantism," said the Aga Khan. "Nine-eleven has scarred America -- but not just America," he said. "It has scarred the Islamic world, and hundreds of millions of devout and practicing Muslims for whom the word of the Quran is the word of God. We have clarity and direction enough when the Quran affirms that to save a life is as if to save humankind altogether."
What kinds of injuries do doctors in Israel see after suicide bombings?
But even victims who arrive at the hospital with apparently minimal injuries may need special attention, Stein said. One 13-year-old girl, for instance, appeared largely unharmed before her chest was X-rayed. The image, which Stein flashed on a screen for his audience yesterday, showed a nail -- commonly added to bombs to serve as shrapnel -- in the middle of her chest. A subsequent CT scan showed the nail embedded in her heart's right ventricle.
In another gruesome series of CT scans, Stein showed a 14-year-old girl with a nail lodged in the midst of her brain. The nail puzzled doctors initially because they couldn't find the wound where it entered. Based on the nail's position and orientation -- bomb nails fly head first -- they finally concluded that it must have entered through the girl's open mouth.
The Western Civilization and Democracy Net Ring celebrates Western civilization and its universal values of individual freedom, political democracy and equal rights for all. All sites promoting human rights and democracy are welcome.
