posted on December 16, 2006 07:50:00 AM new
Absolutely helenjw and the Neo Cons are smart to do so, it furthers their political agenda in multiple ways, doesn't it.
Do you remember either through personal recollection or reading of history, the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment for women back in the 70s? Do you remember what was attributed as one of the main reasons it was defeated?
MEN AND WOMEN WOULD HAVE TO USE THE SAME BATHROOM IN PUBLIC!!
That actually "flew" in most Americans minds, UNFREAKING BELIEVABLE, HUH?
When you take Americans as a whole, I never cease to be amazed at our gullible and stupid they can be.
posted on December 16, 2006 07:51:54 AM new
I like to post these every once in awhile to remind people to take a look around...be aware...especially of who posts what.
Carlo, number 3 and 5 are of interest here although all are tied together.
Political scientist Dr. Lawrence Britt recently wrote an article about fascism ("Fascism Anyone?," Free Inquiry, Spring 2003, page 20). Studying the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile), Dr. Britt found they all had 14 elements in common. He calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The excerpt is in accordance with the magazine's policy.
The 14 characteristics are:
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy.
6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed .
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
posted on December 16, 2006 08:00:49 AM new
Mingotree
THAT IS SO TRUE!!
It should be a wakeup call to every person who doesn't want to wind up with a government camera in their home at the end of the day.
I just finished emailing Speaker Designate Nancy Pelosi, here is a copy of the text of the email;
---------------------------------------------
Good Morning Speaker Designate Pelosi:
I am writing to you in your capacity as Speaker Designate of the US House of Representatives.
I would like to discuss the issue of same sex marriage and foreign (Canadian) marriage recognition here in the USA.
My spouse and I were legally married, via a Marriage License issued by the Province of British Columbia (Canada) in Vancouver on XXXXXXXXX XX, 2005. Living in Texas, I am told that my marriage is not recognized as being legally binding and valid.
However, when I go to the US Department of State website and search for US citizens marrying abroad, I find that the official position of the US Government is that in general foreign marriages are recognized.
Considering that Canada and the US are both signatories to International Conventions and TREATIES that confer mutual reciprocsl recognition on the official judicial acts of each other, namely marriage, that the US Senate has ratified those treaties and the US Supreme Court has held previously that International treaties are SUPREME even to the US Constitution is my understanding? Wouldn't those treaties negate the federal Defense of Marriage Act implications regarding my Canadian marriage? With that being the case and since Federal law is superior to state law, wouldn't every State be required to recognize my marriage as well as the US Federal government?
Why are both the US Federal government and various State governments in open defiance of their legal obligations regarding this matter?
Thanking you in advance for your kind assistance.
---------------------------------------------
I am looking forward to her reply with great anticipation.
posted on December 16, 2006 09:12:08 AM new
"And of course the Republican party can use the idea of gay marriage as a wedge issue, knowing that most Aftican Americans have a conservative viewpoint on this issue."
posted on December 16, 2006 09:31:09 AM new
Oh, so sad when someone doesn't recognize the word African-American...it's so foreign to them that they can't recognize it with a simple typo....must not use THAT word very often
posted on December 18, 2006 01:18:20 PM newI like it as it's been done in ALL the states...except Mass...where it's put before the voters to decide. NOT have the decision made by one judge....or ANY state legislature.
Wrong again Linda. Mass. is NOT THE ONLY STATE where the voters did not make a decision on this issue. Before you start making assumptions as fact, you better get your facts straight - no pun intended.
Both Vermont and Conn created civil unions not based on a vote by the people but it was done through the legislature.
Rhode Island and New Mexico do not have laws or constitutional amendments outlawing same sex marriages so how can you say it was "put before the voters". There are currently no laws defining marriage in either of these states.
There are also many states where the state legislature passed DOMA laws. Now how can you say Mass is the only state where it was not decided by the voters. Linda you are plain wrong in your facts. You should be doing a better job in keeping up with all the gay legislation if you want to be so knowledgeable about everything pertaining to same sex marriage.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
