| JuryFury.com
A New Issue Every Monday ! SUBSCRIBE NOW !! Online School of Politics |
||
| Areas of Interest THE USA American Foreign Policy US House and Senate US Presidents State & Local Politics Regional Politics Politics of China The British Commonwealth Indian Subcontinent Middle East The European Union Africa Latin America ASEAN NATO United Nations The Non-aligned Movement Eastern Europe New Nations of the 20th Century General Topics Constitutional Law Human Rights Nuclear Disarmament & Treaties International Warfare Environmental Law Peace Treaties Economic & Social Alliances International Organizations Journalism & Media Racism and Democracy Women in the Workplace Family Law Courts and Practices The Judicial System Higher Education Education and Government Health Care & Insurance Rights of the Disabled Copyright & Working Online Legal Representation Legal Insurance Pornography Domestic Violence Religion & Law Workers Rights Employers Rights Prison & Life after Social Organizations Welfare & Poverty Taxation and Democracy Third World Aid Programs Space Exploration Alternative Energy Petroleum Industry & Cars Nuclear Power Programs for the Arts Sports Education Policing the Internet Privacy and freedom Immigration Food and Regulation War on Drugs War on Pharmaceuticals Public Housing Pollution and Control Sexual Harrassment Discrimination Electoral Process Consumers Rights Investors Rights Abortion Death Penalty Social Security Gender & Sexuality Grassroots Organization ACLU World Watch Oxfam UNICEF United Negro Fund Ford Foundation (suggestions welcome at our chatsite) Law of the Economy Join I-Traderschool, our sister magazine, for debates and news. |
Dumbing
out of American People
America the Evil Consumer? by Sophia Barkat Trevor wrote: "I'm afraid I was concerned by the degradation of humanity by American culture long before 9-11 -and I'm afraid I can not see it as an attack on an innocent America. I do not support the attack - but I can understand the logic." Sure. It does not elude most people that something terrible happened. There is widespread discontent in the world regarding US policy in the Middle East. Of course the media will make you think Americans are shocked and don't know a thing about the world. Yet, everyone I meet has an opinion and an awareness that defeats the Corporate Media's "Dumbing Out of America" campaign. Trevor wrote: "I'm sure this is part of the wider decline in all standards because of American lead consumerism." America depends on consumerism. It puts food on the table, creates jobs and can be a good thing. The problem I think is not that we have a wide variety of things to buy, but that we start to become so vested in driving our SUVs that we don't care about the benefits to society if we took the train, or that we are so greedy that we would support the bombing of a nation just so that our country can have oil. Politicians have become CEOs. It's a tough job. Sometimes patriotism makes people selfish. That's what's happening. All you ever hear in any Press Conferences/Talk Show is "It was in Our National Interest." In fact, if I ever hear that annoying phrase again, my brain might explode. The citizen has become the consumer that pats the politician on the back for it's dirty deeds, and blames the government for using it's tax-dollars to do so. Trevor wrote: "I'm afraid I lost that fight long ago. A mentor of mine accused me of believing too much in the rational side of people - he said that to succeed one must either kiss arse or make people afraid of you." I believe in letting people do what they want. That way everyone is happy. Is it popular to Hate? by pompey_devil@yahoo.com Having toured the religious based rooms in Yahoo Chat, I have found the most racist and hate filled appear to be the Jewish ones. Now whilst these rooms are not wholly representative of any group of people, one must wonder why so many hate filled people seem to follow that religion. by Trevor Batten re: pompey_devil's post - Is it popular to Hate? I suppose the polite answer is that (like many Americans after 9-11) many Jews have been traumatized by their history. However, it is indeed time that people remembered that while the US government is apparently determined to blame the Palestinians for the current conflict -the real trigger for the break down of the last peace attempt actually came when Premier Rabin was murdered by a right-wing Jew. Since then, Sharon has managed to exploit the conflict -just as Bush has exploited 9-11. The popular "big picture" is that the Israelis are sweet, loving, people who wouldn't hurt a fly (just like the citizens of the US) -however, as in most cases, the reality is more complex. Several years ago -I saw on Dutch TV a fascinating documentary about a left-wing Israeli who only fulfilled his periodic "national service" in the Army -because of the chance it gave him (as part of the army) to protect Muslims against the aggressive Jewish settlers that he was supposed to be protecting. I seem to remember reading Chaim Potok's "The Rabbi" -in which the main character says (on hearing of the creation of Israel) "The Jews may have gained a country -but they have lost their souls". by Sophia Barkat re: Trevor's post Trevor's "big picture" is very accurate. It's as though stereotypes have been engraved into the brains of people in the US. No one wants to admit they are tired of seeing the US take sides, since taking sides and giving "Economic Aid" to one group over another is what escalates the tension. Israel is the largest recipient of US Aid. It is also has the 2nd largest reserve of nuclear weapons - none of which it can use on its enemies without destroying itself in the process too. The US Govt. gives aid to Israel's new settlers who want to settle in disputed territories of West Bank. And all this been done, the US wants to be known as the HONEST BROKER at your seasonal Arab-Israeli summits. Only in Clinton's time has there been any public voice that both parties should make peace, and it's probably because that's what he kept saying he wanted to see - even though knowing about all the shady things that have gone on irrespective of the regime it's hard to believe that Clinton was completely serious. It seems, though, there has been a popular movement in the US to seek a Palestinian State since then, as though some people have had the courage to have an opinion in opposition to the long history of it's Govt.'s policy. I think that the Press is largely responsible for not exposing this dual nature in American Foreign Policy. They can really change people's opinions or give a voice to people. But they seem to be busy exposing sex scandals of politicians because it's more acceptable to go against the person than the State. It has to do with the fallible individual as opposed to the fallible State, Regime, or Value - which are immediately endorsed as infallible and American. |
Encourage Discussion Join Juryfury Chat Promote Juryfury.com Join online discussion Groups Archives Writers Needed Be a Columnist Be an Editor Become an Owner Writing Training Program Internship Program for Students Advertise with Us Our Staff & Contributors Our Magazines Quietpoly.com I-Traderschool Juryfury.com The Company Our Address: QuietPoly Inc. 240 W. Saunders. Dr. (#146) Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Tel (928) 214-7365 quietpoly@yahoo.com Our Affiliations (pending member) MediaChannel.org IndyMedia.org |