Posted December 25, 2002

Fragments of Faith

Regarding "Pacifist, Passive or Realistic?" by Alan Bock:

Many thanks for such a fine and direct commentary.

If there's one thing I've painfully learned over the years, it is that many, alas far too many, are very quick to not question the establishment and their policies, and to support without examining the greater implications – those positions and policies adopted by those who lead us, or as I prefer to say "lord over us". I increasingly worry that an increasing majority of folks may be more statist in nature, than true democrats (as in, truly believing in democracy), and that alas, it is such mindsets that are now dictating how one should be, behave, think and feel within democratic nations.

As a non-American, I have no qualms whatsoever in stating my belief that what Americans are undergoing today, is extremely alarming, and running increasingly counter to those greatest and most noble of principals espoused by its founders which has historically been the envy of the world. I fear daily for Americans, and my friends in America. Yet, fragments of faith remain on my behalf, that ultimately, Americans and not America Corp. – will do what is right and called for and shirk off those many attempts to stifle and diminish democracy and human rights – just as their forefathers did many centuries ago.

From a foreigner (Canadian) to you and yours, I wish you all, God speed, and too, a very Merry Christmas and prosperous 2003.

~ Hans R.

50 Million Bocks

Regarding "Pacifist, Passive or Realistic?" by Alan Bock:

Well, all I can say is this: I am now rethinking my dislike of cloning 'cause it seems to me that we need to clone Mr. Bock about 50 million times, so we can go back to the sanity of our founding fathers!

When I read the complaints against him I am ... deeply saddened that our nation is so full of fools who can't think. Mr. Bock's suggestions about our poor schools are right on the mark, and I am too often amazed at the lack of clear thinking by most of the young people I talk to! I am afraid it is too late, but will fight on with the fine folks, like Mr. Bock, who will not give up the dream of the "real" America!

~ John Randolph Ticknor

Unconstitutional Seat Belt Laws

Regarding "Pacifist, Passive or Realistic?" by Alan Bock:

The fact is, our federal government was well on its way to a police state society years before 9-11 added more reasons to move ahead in that direction. Since 1985 when seat belt laws started to pass in all the states through the efforts of auto makers who knew how to "buy" politicians for such passage, seat belt laws have expanded each year with no end in sight. The shocking news how far we have progressed to a police state society, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that it was legal for a Texas police officer to arrest, handcuff and jail a woman for not using her seat belt, along with impounding her vehicle.

We need more people writing about the unconstitutional seat belt laws. ...

~ Bill Holdorf

Coward Ratio

Regarding "Pacifist, Passive or Realistic?" by Alan Bock:

I certainly enjoyed your commentary ... [linked from] the Lew Rockwell web site concerning apparent American views on the loss of a "little freedom".

Your article hit an especially sensitive nerve because I keep running across these sickening polls which show 70 percent of Americans are willing to exchange their freedoms for a "Big Brother" assurance of security. I am ashamed to be living in a land with a 2:1 ratio of cowards to "freedom lovers". The theory upon which these wimps operate is that giving "Big Brother" a "little" of their freedom is all they will ever be asked to give. How stupid can one get? ...

I voted for George Bush, but in the last couple of years, I have come to view that as a great mistake. The alternative of course was Al Gore – a carbon copy of Clinton. My feeling is that a crook in the White House is far less dangerous than a misguided fool who feels he is protecting we Americans and is willing to make the whole world in "our image" even if it means killing every non-American in the world.

We Americans have the distinct advantage of being able to read German history and Italian history and Russian history without having had to live it. But, "we trust our politicians" to protect us. Of course Randy Weaver had "Big Brother" to protect he and his family on Ruby Ridge. The Branch Davidians also had the national police force, and the Texas Rangers and the ATF to protect them. Where are the Branch Davidians today? – dead at the hands of their protectors. Every time I hear George Bush beating his war drum about Saddam Hussein having gassed his own people I think of those women and children who were gassed by their protectors, cremated – and for those not lucky enough to have been killed – sent to prison for trying to protect themselves. Yes, I too love my country, but not to the extent of being blinded to the weaknesses we have in our leadership. In the last 60 years, I cannot think of one American president whom I consider to be great – or even average. Of course, at the bottom of the list of slime having inhabited the White House would be Lyndon Johnson, next up the "slime list" would be Clinton. From there take your pick – mediocrity and stupidity are all one has to chose from in configuring the list.

I really become ill thinking about the future that is being crafted by George II. However, I console myself by feeling that I won't be around to see the demise of our wonderful country.

Please keep writing. Articles such as yours are hard to find.

~ Nolan K. Anderson

Rove's Double Win

Regarding "Attack of the Neos" by Justin Raimondo:

Enjoyed your article today. As soon as things started to go South for Lott, I just assumed that Karl Rove was behind it, as was later reported. I imagine he developed the strategy right after the election so that they could get a more dependable puppet in the leadership post. Easily done. After all, Lott probably says something like that about once a month. Rove knew he wouldn't have to wait long.

Rove never does anything unless it's at least a double win. Here, they not only get to look righteous, but they get a drone in place of Lott, who wasn't sufficiently subservient.

The real question is why? What legislative program are they going to cram down our throats in the coming two years. I expect there will many be USA Patriot-type laws that will effectively strip the Bill of Rights of its effectiveness. Along with lots of rewards for Halliburton, of course.

Internally, we've just experienced our 1935 night of the long knives. Externally, of course, we're about to invade Poland. I speak German and have read a fair bit of history, and I've often asked myself what I would have done if I had been living in Nazi Germany during the thirties. Now I get to find out.

I'll be very interested in reading your book as soon as it comes out.

~ Norman R.

Neocon Empty-Headedness

Regarding "Attack of the Neos" and "'Colorblind' – Except for Some" by Justin Raimondo:

Your mention of the attempt to smear internationally respected journalist John Pilger and his audience made me realize, for two reasons, just to what extent the Neocons have painted themselves into a corner, and are now vehemently casting aspersions to prevent public scrutiny of their empty-headedness:

1. John Pilger's claim to fame is at least due as much to his war photography as to any words that could possibly be used to politically typecast him. Photography, by telling its own wordless story, is politically neutral, and all the more threatening for its ability to force viewers to transcend politics and confront unvarnished reality. This photography is widely available on the Internet, which leads to point #2:
2. The Neos are terrified of the uncensored candor of the true new Land of the Free and Home of the Brave - the amorphous Internet Community - and are failing to face squarely the reality that this new liberated and enlightened international community which knows no borders will not go away.

So what we appear to have in the Neos is a group of individuals who, despite their modern-sounding political name tag, are actually desperately clinging to a false authoritarianism of the past, in which they are the gatekeepers of what passes for truth, perhaps due to economic ties to that old system.

Not only do the Neos expose themselves as running scared in their hyper-criticism of Paleos and Libertarians, because all attacks not of a sociopathic nature can be traced to fear, but they also expose themselves as inexcusably ignorant in their use of the epithet "anti-Semite" to describe any person who expresses sympathy or advocates evenhandedness toward Middle Easterners descended from other branches of the Semitic family of man. Fortunately, a number of honorable Semites of Jewish descent have gone public recently to disown those who resort to this lack of erudition, further leaving the Neos out to hang on the fragile limb of their own making.

~ L. Cabirac

Immigration Law

Regarding "'Colorblind' – Except for Some" by Justin Raimondo:

I agree with your statement that the INS was sneaky in getting these Arabs to show up at the INS facility. What you failed to mention to your readers' in your article decrying these arrests is that they are in this country illegally. While the majority of these people have productive jobs, the point still remains that they have broken the law.

Another point you brought up is payment of social security to Mexican nationals living in Mexico. The little I have read on this is that the only people (Mexican) that would be eligible for this money would be those that were legal workers in the US Legal workers in this country pay social security taxes. While I don't necessarily feel they should get social security dollars in perpetuity as a resident US worker does, they have earned some right to this money.

~ Michael C., Texas

Israeli Espionage

Regarding "Debunking the Myth of 9/11" by Justin Raimondo:

I wish to thank you for having the courage to pursue the issue of Israeli espionage against the US. For 30 years I managed foreign assistance programs, many were in the Mideast region. But my acquaintance with the Mideast really began in 1955 as a marine embassy guard in Cairo. Over the years I became friendly with a number of people who worked for intelligence agencies (no, they are not always very concerned with cover.) One such acquaintance told me a few years ago that while on assignment in Beirut he had a MOSSAD contact tell him that the MOSSAD had received an advance warning of a bombing against an American military facility. Since the marine barracks were the major US military base in Lebanon at the time, the warning was surprisingly focused. This conversation with the MOSSAD operative occurred several month following the marine barracks bombing. When my astonished and angered friend asked the MOSSAD agent why they had not passed along the warning, the Israeli replied that: "it isn't our job here to nursemaid the US military".

I have been told by people who deal with these matters that Israel has a long standing policy of allowing terrorist attacks against American targets generally to go forward. Warnings are not shared. A codicil to that policy states that when such a case arises the decision to share or not share with the US lies in the PM's office. Therefore all instances of advance warnings go directly to the head of government for a decision. As a rule I believe that terrorist attacks by Muslim extremist against Americans are viewed as a good thing by Israel and I suppose by their supporters in the US as well. Anything that drives the wedge deeper between Americans and Muslims is to Israel's benefit. The Israelis are fully confident that no matter what the cost to the US no American politician is going to demand a reassessment of that relationship. In my opinion the operation of AIPAC targeting Congress, and AIPAC's direct ties with Israel constitutes acts of treason or the subornation of Congress by agents of a foreign government. After all, there is 'consideration' offered and accepted in the relationship. AIPAC gives the congressmen money and free trips to Israel and in exchange Congress given money to the Israeli government. Or am I misunderstanding the nature of subornation?

~ Neil R. Huff

Senators

Regarding "How the War Party Put Iraq on the Side of the Angels" by Chad Nagle:

This article loses all sense of perspective. The majority of US Senators are for this upcoming war including Senators Leiberman, Schumer, and Clinton. As an independent I think we ought to make note of all the people who are supporting this impending war. These shadow Democrats are right behind the Republicans all the way in their support. I have yet to hear one of them use the national news media to counsel caution, in fact, I have heard of only one senator with misgivings: Chuck Hagel, a Republican and veteran.

~ Henry P.