Lynne Williams Is A Very Special Woman
Lynne Williams Is A Very Special Woman
“Lynne Williams will be the next Governor of Maine. Her victory will be unprecedented, historic by any standards. And it may very well be by a landslide. To elect her is the very least that we can do to give Peace a chance. For she is slated to creatively use her office to make a difference nationally and internationally. I can promise you that she will definitely do as much for the vast majority of people in Maine and elsewhere (on all counts) as any previous politician who’s served the state. And, most likely, much more. Vis-a-vis real advances in Health, MOFGA’s agenda, $$, etc. To support her will be to make a mark for our personal daily bread AND to take a giant step for all of humanity… very much like what was begun at 2 George Yard in 1787 Britain. Preposterously impossible, but destined to be born with your courage, your faith, your better self. Prevailing against the powers that be.” — The Ingrate Richard Oxman
“Some person should see these calamities to their end.” — The Great Thomas Clarkson
“Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind.”
– The Not-So-Great John F. Kennedy
Contrary to the understandable impression that this article is focused exclusively on who’s running for office right now, I’m equally into contributing to a political infrastructure to support progressive issues and goals over the long haul. Still “leaders” must be supported and/or criticized.
JFK, as we know, was quite the war monger. Not just an obligatory Cold War warrior vis-a-vis Vietnam; a rather cold, calculating supporter of lethal “engagement” (as per William Blum’s Killing Hope entries and much more definitive documentation… available upon request).
In short, JFK — popular, brainless publication and lazy perception notwithstanding — may have meant what he said in the above quote, but his actions contradicted the thrust behind that sentiment. Not unlike enlightened words from Locke and Voltaire respecting slavery belying the icons’ actual behavior.
And not unlike what Obama is (and has been for quite some time http://www.counterpunch.org/spinney02232009.html)
…showing himself to be (An unmitigated horror!) with regard to Pakistan and Afghanistan… and elsewhere. (Pause) Think Gaza and Congo (http://www.congovision.com/audio/keith_snow1.wma) for starters.
Read http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/20632; if it doesn’t absolutely horrify you out of lesser of two evils syndrome, you can stop reading now… and wait until I can walk (not talk) you out of your stupor in person. Read http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/20581. And/or http://www.counterpunch.org/hallinan02182009.html. Then, at your leisure, look at something that’s closer to home such as http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/20600.
Read paragraphs #4 and #5 in http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts02162009.html by good buddy Paul Craig Roberts, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration, and former Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review. Mild stuff compared to what I could send your way here… if I didn’t fear losing you over holy hero worship syndrome. Oh, heck, I will… http://www.counterpunch.org/roberts02182009.html. Maybe that angle will grab you..
Maybe — a 2nd time — tune into Keith Harmon Snow’s rap on The Abominable Church of the Ascending Obama (which I connect with Glen Ford’s brilliant http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=vie w&id=739&Itemid=34) at
http://www.congovision.com/audio/keith_snow1.wma. Keith, unlike your typical journalist (respected by the mainstream, with good pay and benefits) risks his life very often to get stuff to us. Publications with safely embedded reporters (both clearly conservative and so-called liberal pubs like the New York Times) rarely, if ever, bust through the parameters insisted upon by the powers that be. Keith’s take, be forewarned, might require quite a bit of proactive listening.
Hey, you can loosen up, and simply google Paul Street Obama to see what comes up (http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?Itemid=34&id=463&option=co m_content&task=view). There will be tons of documentation to demonstrate how the “false hope” generated by our (necessary, and timely in terms of crowd control)… changing of the guard (and the superficially “historic” entry of a minority face for Imperialism into the White House)… guarantees the continuation of our abominations*. A human face, yes. Inhumane behavior. Audacity of… Deception, yes.
*Exactly who is going to refuse the shiny rifle and high tech career he promises? About as many as will question Mr. Clean Coal (http://www.counterpunch.org/frank02132009.html) on ecocide?
The scorecard is in. And not just with respect to WAR (Let me know if you’re interested in my naming (new administration) names regarding other horrors such as http://www.counterpunch.org/sainath02122009.html).
Nevertheless, let’s focus only on war here. War which is unnecessary. All wars being unnecessary in spite of what is drummed into you by virtually all public and private education worldwide. Contrary to what is taught incessantly by mainstream media outlets, and repeated ad infinitum by most loving (and not so loving) parents… and other authority figures. Teachers on track. Teachers with jobs. Tough Love candidates. Conformity to a T. As in truly tragic.
Mark Kurlansky’s Non-Violence: The History of a Dangerous Idea (NOT pacifism!) and Howard Zinn’s Declarations of Independence (the “Just War” chapter) should help you along… if you’re at all open to what’s considered the radical notion that we can do without war. Considering what’s too loosely called “human nature”… and all the other bases for justification, all other rationales.
I have seen and smelled what war does, not just read accounts like Chris Hedges’ War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning. Been made deaf by untold genocide. I have nightmared war, sharing with sheared children. Warshorn stillborn. Nightly. Every singular hour of my heartbeats. In the soul that’s me –me–, where it’s always three o’clock in the morning. Not just been horrified by what http://www.nomorevictims.org/ has to address, live with daily. But saw –see — the face of God shine through our very silly, incessant insanity. Incessantly.
What? We’re supposed to be okay now that a certain form of slavery has been, for the most part, buried? That peace established. Whilst talk of torture distracts from torture? Detracts from doing. Dooms one and all to march. And shell out for others’ shells? On our DIMEs (http://www.counterpunch.org/hallinan02182009.html)?
In the name of my being sooooooooooo fortunate, being able to walk through the local park, unmolested with my Marcello (www.marcelsgeo.blogspot.com), I beg you to join hands with me, and make what you know is possible a reality. While my heart still beats, free of foul anchor, arteries unblocked 24×7.
Lynne will help enormously.
Richard Oxman can be reached at headburg AT YAHOO. com.
P.S. Neither the BBC nor The New York Times, nor any other conservative or so-called liberal publication (or mainstream monstrosity) is to be trusted regarding their comforting details or generic thrust concerning war-related issues, BUT… take a gander at the almost intolerably bland BBC account: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7894233.stm. Feel nothing? Well, I feel much of what’s inside those grieving fathers, for I am a decent father, soul. We do not have a soul, we are souls. We have a body. But take heart, for the warring foolishness which passes for wisdom in all well-established circles is about to come crashing down. The cynics unmasked and devoured, the cash cows killed through solidarity.
With the help of a very special woman. And you.
