Tags
corporate elites, energy, environment, GOP, Japan, Libya, Manning, Michigan, Military, nuclear energy, Qaddafi, wikileaks
Word out of Japan is not good. Meltdown remains a real possibility. I understand radiation levels are increasing even in Tokyo, though they are no way alarming at this time.
Still, this scenario must be horrifying to those living and present on the island. Historic memories are recalled, and this must heighten the fear.
I am nearly numb from the pictures and the numbers. Severe quakes still continue to come ever few hours. People are washing up on shore in numbers that sear the mind. One can but wonder how relief workers can carry on. I have no words, just prayers and agonized thoughts.
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Meanwhile, things continue to be bleak for rebels forces in Libya. Qaddafi’s mercenaries are gaining ground at every turn it seems. Promises of amnesty are seen for what they are, mere lies. No one doubts that Qaddafi intends to destroy everyone connected with the rebel uprising. While everyone seems on board with a no-fly zone, none is so far implemented.
If Qaddafi gets away with this slaughter, they other tyrants will become emboldened that they too can simply murder opposition without concern for anything more than words from the International Community. This is simply immoral.
I have no doubt that there are no easy solutions, but we cannot merely sit back and watch this horror. The countries of the world must address this issue of rogue states and decide on a strategy and then implement it. Otherwise, these things will continue as they have so far decade after decade.
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Pfc. Bradley Manning is incarcerated at Quantico, Va, for allegedly turning over WikiLeaks material. I have no opinion on that frankly, although I’m predisposed to think that the more we the public knows the better. The whole idea of “secret” smacks to me of convenience whereby leadership in any country can do all manner of things intolerable to average folks in the name of “national security.”
In any event, what is happening to Mr.Manning is unconscionable and immoral. He is being kept in solitary confinement, being allowed to “walk around a room in shackles for one hour per day.” His clothes are taken from him and night, and not returned until he is “inspected” the next day. I don’t know if he is allowed any media material, books, TV or the like.
What I can tell you is this. When I was a law student, I did an in-depth study of the death penalty in Michigan, my home state. I learned that the death penalty was deliberately avoided in favor of solitary confinement, for the precise reason that it was considered more cruel.
After using it for some years, the head of the penal system begged the legislature to allow some time in general population for those prisoners. Solitary confinement tended to produce death or insanity within about three years.
Efforts to see Manning by many, the latest I believe being Dennis Kucinich, have been rebuffed.
If we are a compassionate people, a moral people, we should be contacting our representatives in Congress.
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It gets more and more painful to report how Republican legislators and their Rethug Governors are putting in place a world that is safe for corporate greed to have the day, and at the same time tax the poor.
In Michigan, the GOP passed legislation allowing the Governor to declare “economic states of emergency” in any town and move in, cancelling contracts (labor), seizing assets and selling them, and firing elected officials.
Further cuts are made against the poor and working class by cancelling a $500 child tax credit, credits for seniors and other such things, all the while cutting corporate taxes by 86%. Yes, you read that right. When added all up, the taxes fall most harshly on the poorest, while the richest people in the state suffer only 0.1% increase.
This is what you get from Republicans. They do the bidding of their corporate masters.
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And just because the news is so god-awful terrible today, this:
Related Articles
- More on Manning (feministphilosophers.wordpress.com)
- How far – and how fast – will Qaddafi’s forces push into Libya’s ‘liberated’ east? – CSMonitor.com (csmonitor.com)
Existential Ennui 
Thanks for that last picture to keep our spirits up. The news is so bad that I get up in the morning and am afraid to turn on the computer to see what happened since the night before.
I guess I was so depressed I didn’t even title this one…have to go back in and do so…lol…yeah it’s way depressing these days.
If the reports are true and Manning is being held in such unethical conditions, I’m horrified. The U.S. should be above this kind of treatment.
Speaking of emboldened regimes, you heard that Saudi Arabian troops have been dispatched to Bahrain, correct? It’s not pretty.
I did see that about Saudi Arabia, and it looks like we are going to twiddle our thumbs and Qaddafi kills everyone. Sigh..
I appreciate the last picture, too. It helps to maintain a certain balance. These days, it’s increasingly difficult to do that.
Amen to that. Margy
In general if one could stop all authoritarian regimes from inflicting abuse on its people. In reality, however, we cannot do everything.
The question is what can we do? Way too many think that we can do everything. That’s the reason we are involved in two wars already for no good reason. Let us first establish guidelines for intervention. Then we can assess Qaddafi’s case.
Talking about inflicting abuse on its people, we must fight the Republicans to stop the abuse until they are a small minority party. We had an opportunity to start the fight in 2009, but someone decided that the future belongs to the outrageous idea of postpartisanship. (Even the Bible knew that it is wrong.)
I agree. We need an international agreement setting out what is “too far” and then what steps will being taken by the world community against those that violate. Of course as my husband pointed out, there is a difference between say Somalia and China! I’m not sure how that can be done, but I fear we will have these things again and again until we put a stop to them by intervention on a broad scale.
As to the Republicans, I also agree. I’m tired of trying to get along…they are dangerous at this point…Energizing the freaks and paying off the rich….what a stinkin mix.
The Protestors: The People of Libya, soon including parts of the Army, including a General, ALL Only requested Outside NO FLY ZONE: No Government planes, Helicopters flying, all covered in greatest detail by CNN. Everything totally clear on CNN, as always. But: CIA, Our National Security ‘experts’ didn’t know who the ‘rebels’ were. Indecisive non-leader Obama, All Republican GW Bush staff, did nothing. That is how the Libyan Fighterr planes dropped a few ‘warning’ bombs, then Bombed the Freedom forces, THEN the Loyal Libyan Ground army attacked, and rettook Cities, The Oil Port, etc., etc. Obama still trying to let Others decide; The Nato Countries Will be too late. The Freediom fighters will be Slaughtered. Non-Leader Obama should Resign, as should his all incompetent and GW Bush leaders. Period. (2) The Japanese are The Experts in the World in High Tech Earthquake Damage Prevention, even push-button Sea Walls to prevent Tsunamis Swamping Tokyo Bay, And Automatic Shutdown of all Nuclear Plants. BUT: (a) Tsunami’s in North Japan caused All the tens of thousands of Deaths, and Massive Damage in Northern Japan, and Inadequate Back-up power to flood the Fuel Rods caused a few explosions. At least the Japanese Government Builds Protections Before, to Prevent damages, opposite of our USA GOP Controlled since 2000 Non-Protection of the USA Federal Government. GOP Forces have Always Not Built Up the grossly inadequate Low Sea Walls around Below Sea-Level New Orleans, or even prevention of the Widelly Predicted 9/11 attacks. The Kitten Pic is awesome, as Sherry’s eyes always are. And how do I do Paragraph Seperation in this new Blog System?
Yep, Tony, I don’t know why they are not moving forward with the NF zone. Germany is against it as well…
paragraphing? just double space …thats all I do.
I thank you for the pet pic. Much relief in the face of devastation and corruption. 🙂
lol…I thought it was just so cute…and frankly the news is just so depressing.
Sherry, this was a post of plenty. Keeping the Japanese and Libyan people in prayer. Emailed Pres. Obama weeks ago re: Manning and the conditions he’s reportedly being held. No response from the White House 🙂
Thank you for “saving us” with that beautiful photograph.
Love u, jer…
Jerry, I just gotta get away from all this bad stuff. It’s utterly depressing, and there is nothing to be done. Sad world it seems.