Agreed. There are a number of journalists now in the West who are truly risking everything. If the establishment succeeds, they will be thrown on the fire, if only to set an example.
In general, I think that the need for heroes is problematic. It is pathetic that we even need someone like Aaron Bushnell to remind us how horrible, wrong, and cruel what is happening in Gaza is. I would prefer to see us developing a way to recognize the value of everyone. People who raise children and deal with the daily issues that entails are also "heroes". It might be better if there were more focus on the daily acts of kindness that so many people do every day.
No human is an oracle. When I was a kitten, the following quote was attributed to one of the Sex Pistols: "Kill your idols before they have a chance to embarrass you".
I have never been able to find the provenance of this quote, but it seems like.good advice.
Maybe we could avoid killing our idols if we just gave up hero worship. Idols don't always ask to be idolized. It is our weird need to have idols that is the problem.
Empires don’t go away gracefully. In the book “Silent Coup”, the authors describe how, as the British empire lay moribund, near death after 1945, greedy British capitalists set up so-called aid corporations to essentially keep their vampiric fangs deeply inserted into the carotid arteries of their former colonials. Just think how the US empire — first in history to develop a method of obliterating human life on earth — is going to try to hold onto its “stuff” as it degrades to its end. Young folks better have their guard up. Ain’t gonna be pretty. Both stories reflect the basic western capitalist ethos of concupiscence for possession and dominance of the other, celebritized by Hollywood. A basic ongoing rejection of egalitarianism, regardless of those pretty words in the US Bill of Rights.
Against this backdrop I've gotta laugh at the bellowing of dimwitted shitlib Hollywood celebrities about "threats to American democracy" from a single politician. Celebrities of terribly truncated logic.
Thanks, gypsy. Nice feedback that helps lighten the shit morning I've been having (which is a glaring possibility any time one has to interact with our chaotic "system" of medical practice; I refuse to any longer refer to it as health care).
The Berrigan brothers are amongst my longstanding heroes. But would probably elicit that same 'who?' response. Leonard Peltier for standing strong in the face of injustice, Vanessa Redgrave who stood up for Palestinian rights, long before the current era because she knew injustice when she saw it. Julian Assange is another, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald for bringing Snowden's information to the public, Lynne Stewart for her work in trying to move law in the direction of justice. Actually, there are many great American heroes, more than I can mention here, but they are pretty much never in the MSM.
Leonard rotting in prison is absolutely a tragedy. So is Snowden's exile from the US. Although I suspect he might be better off in Russia, I still can't quite get over the thought that this courageous truth teller is exiled while war criminals who murdered millions -- like Bush, Hillary and Obama -- walk around in riches.
A fake, superficial, delusional society whose fake, superficial, delusional population worships fake, superficial, delusional heroes is what you get when Hollywood manufactures the reality you're supposed to be living in.
You continue to outdo yourself! You've become a hero to me.
Last night I read an article by Larry Johnson on his site Sonar21.com. Your post this morning follows it up. One sentence in Larry's post stood out to me where he wrote about the Empire. He wrote, "They want to control the narrative but they no longer can". I agreed with him and then wrote two quotes of yours. You're both heroes to me.
Furthermore I told Larry I consider what he wrote as a great victory for the Resistance over the Empire. We've become a pantheon of heroes of the Resistance. Bloggers and commenters all. Our weapons are our ideas and we use our resources to help those in dire straits.
I think of many in the past: Dylan, Howard Zinn, ML King, Paul Robeson, Eugene O’Niell, Also, of course those who we knew and worked with or accompanied on marches, sit ins or lay ins, who will never be famous but were incredible in the moment! We can always aspire to Gandhi Ji. and all the Blacks of the southern states, and children and men and women of Gaza who manifest love and caring for each other in the midst of murderous carnal evil!
You’re a hero.
Agreed. There are a number of journalists now in the West who are truly risking everything. If the establishment succeeds, they will be thrown on the fire, if only to set an example.
Aaron Bushnell.
In general, I think that the need for heroes is problematic. It is pathetic that we even need someone like Aaron Bushnell to remind us how horrible, wrong, and cruel what is happening in Gaza is. I would prefer to see us developing a way to recognize the value of everyone. People who raise children and deal with the daily issues that entails are also "heroes". It might be better if there were more focus on the daily acts of kindness that so many people do every day.
Exactly!
No human is an oracle. When I was a kitten, the following quote was attributed to one of the Sex Pistols: "Kill your idols before they have a chance to embarrass you".
I have never been able to find the provenance of this quote, but it seems like.good advice.
Maybe we could avoid killing our idols if we just gave up hero worship. Idols don't always ask to be idolized. It is our weird need to have idols that is the problem.
It always gives me the warm fuzzies when you reference yourself as a kitten, Feral. ❤️❤️❤️
I wasn't a puppy.
Martyr hero.
Let's add Matt Nelson to that list, and Norman Morrison.
Your work is critical. I don't even have words. Thank you, Caitlin.
Empires don’t go away gracefully. In the book “Silent Coup”, the authors describe how, as the British empire lay moribund, near death after 1945, greedy British capitalists set up so-called aid corporations to essentially keep their vampiric fangs deeply inserted into the carotid arteries of their former colonials. Just think how the US empire — first in history to develop a method of obliterating human life on earth — is going to try to hold onto its “stuff” as it degrades to its end. Young folks better have their guard up. Ain’t gonna be pretty. Both stories reflect the basic western capitalist ethos of concupiscence for possession and dominance of the other, celebritized by Hollywood. A basic ongoing rejection of egalitarianism, regardless of those pretty words in the US Bill of Rights.
Against this backdrop I've gotta laugh at the bellowing of dimwitted shitlib Hollywood celebrities about "threats to American democracy" from a single politician. Celebrities of terribly truncated logic.
They have already started sucking western Europe dry.
Nothing better than starting early to get the freshest carrion.
Vin, you have such a way with words. I am so impressed with your elocution.
Thanks, gypsy. Nice feedback that helps lighten the shit morning I've been having (which is a glaring possibility any time one has to interact with our chaotic "system" of medical practice; I refuse to any longer refer to it as health care).
Some are hoping those bricks that need tearing down will be replaced by BRICS for building up.
Joy in HK, "..... BRICS for building up" - fantastic!
------The West Only Has Pretend Heroes Like Spider-Man And SpongeBob------
This fact is an embarrassment.
So very damn true Caitlin, thank you!
Not true. Bias in such a general way reinforces hate and greatly inhibits positive change.
The only positive change would be the implosion of the governments in Washington and Tel Aviv.
Well I think that is happening.
Yup, and these Communist tools are looking for the opposite of positive change. Burning it all down is the point of all of it.
The Berrigan brothers are amongst my longstanding heroes. But would probably elicit that same 'who?' response. Leonard Peltier for standing strong in the face of injustice, Vanessa Redgrave who stood up for Palestinian rights, long before the current era because she knew injustice when she saw it. Julian Assange is another, Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald for bringing Snowden's information to the public, Lynne Stewart for her work in trying to move law in the direction of justice. Actually, there are many great American heroes, more than I can mention here, but they are pretty much never in the MSM.
Definitely agree on the Berrigans. They middle-fingered two absurdly authoritarian institutions --US govt. and Catholic Church.
Leonard Peltier.........still in prison and dying.
Edward Snowden.....yes and Chelsea Manning..yes.
Vanessa Redgrave is English/Julian Assange is Australian.
I thought we were talking about Americans?
I think we're talking about the entire colonial 'West'.
Please let us not forget Leonard or Ed Snowden. Courageous men.
Leonard has been forgotten.
He will die in prison then we may here what he did do.
It's so sad that people have to die before they are acknowledged.
These young people know NOTHING about History.
Leonard rotting in prison is absolutely a tragedy. So is Snowden's exile from the US. Although I suspect he might be better off in Russia, I still can't quite get over the thought that this courageous truth teller is exiled while war criminals who murdered millions -- like Bush, Hillary and Obama -- walk around in riches.
Like you Vin.
Snowden (if he came back to the USA) he probably would move back to Russia.
I would, Jenny!
> I thought we were talking about America(ns)?
I've noticed that tendency with users of American English
Soleimani was a true hero, a Lion of Persia.
A fake, superficial, delusional society whose fake, superficial, delusional population worships fake, superficial, delusional heroes is what you get when Hollywood manufactures the reality you're supposed to be living in.
Noam Chomsky
Ralph Nader
BRAVO 👏 👏👏
“This is the civilization we live in. A mind-controlled wasteland where everything is fake and stupid.” ❤️❤️❤️
You continue to outdo yourself! You've become a hero to me.
Last night I read an article by Larry Johnson on his site Sonar21.com. Your post this morning follows it up. One sentence in Larry's post stood out to me where he wrote about the Empire. He wrote, "They want to control the narrative but they no longer can". I agreed with him and then wrote two quotes of yours. You're both heroes to me.
Furthermore I told Larry I consider what he wrote as a great victory for the Resistance over the Empire. We've become a pantheon of heroes of the Resistance. Bloggers and commenters all. Our weapons are our ideas and we use our resources to help those in dire straits.
Blessings to you and all our fellow resistors!
You state so well what so many people think and feel. And we are all distracted by foolish things so that the horror that our leaders is hidden.
I tried to think of someone. I have comrades and family who are heroes but they will never be known by the masses.
Michael Parenti is still alive but I’ve read he has advanced dementia. He is, nonetheless, a true hero.
As is Julian Assange. He will go down in history as a true hero of the truth.
The heroes not known by the masses are, in my view, the real heroes.
I think of many in the past: Dylan, Howard Zinn, ML King, Paul Robeson, Eugene O’Niell, Also, of course those who we knew and worked with or accompanied on marches, sit ins or lay ins, who will never be famous but were incredible in the moment! We can always aspire to Gandhi Ji. and all the Blacks of the southern states, and children and men and women of Gaza who manifest love and caring for each other in the midst of murderous carnal evil!
Dylan sold out.