Is it me or do we need to wake the fuck up?
 

We sit and sit idle, watching bullshit and so calloused our ass is that we have become numb to it, causing us to ignore it. Fuck - does anybody else notice the building tension around us? Tariffs on steel, causing even Allies to get pissed...Israel and Palestine are about to eliminate each other, along with India and Pakistan, while we lie on our couches, eating Doritos and watching Canada's skating couple on Rosie.
Hey - our government is running shadow a government for the first time EVER (not even in the midst of the Cold War did the government instill this option) in fear of an attack - most likely, a nuclear attack of sorts - a dirty bomb, anyone? Nuclear threats - our government is preparing, but doesn't bother to inform its public of the threat - only "watch out for brown middle-eastern types" - guess what?! I live in fucking Arizona and EVERYONE is brown! Why do we have to watch out? Didn't we elect all you fucks to put aside the bullshit and not only run our country, but also to protect it?! We have the Republicans calling the Democrats obstructionists and the Democrats calling the Republicans corporate whores - what the fuck? It's like a playground - just run the fucking country and shut up! You’re not paid to be media bitches by calling other politicians names! No parties - no bullshit - there should be NO reason why it is IMPOSSIBLE for someone to be president without belonging to a party – and why the fuck does everyone ALWAYS have to vote according to their party? Isn't this what we are supposed to avoid? - the idea of falling in line? - no voice, no opinion, no questions, no thought.

Why can't there be a prime time show that just says what everybody else is thinking? I mean, why can't anyone just say, "hey, what the fuck?!" on national television? Not only tell it like it is, but keep telling it. People like scandals - the world is full of them - especially within governments – people will tune in, no?! Talk about the bullshit that goes on - inform.

We have Bush telling the whole world that he wants to see transparent governments when, in fact, our government isn't even transparent to its public. And don't think I'm just ragging on Bush and shit - fuck, Clinton did his shit too - every president has - and that's the problem. It just happens that it's getting worse with Bush - and to a point that it's frightening - it's obvious around the world. You can't call other countries evil and expect then to have a meeting with one of them. And, isn't this the same type of RHETORIC that other countries use on us, calling the United States the Devil?!

And Bush and his rhetoric - first, abortion. Quick and simple - Bush says, "we need to protect our UNBORN CHILDREN with the law." - next, the government wants to change the title of an UNBORN FETUS to an UNBORN CHILD. Any relation?

Women - get your heads out of your asses because you're about to lose your right to choose – you want to have that kid? Well, you’re not allowed to make a mistake – have to have the kid – sorry!

And let's see. While we're talking about women, why don't we talk about Bush's 300 million dollars he's spending on his "marriage proposal package", in which the government is spending money to encourage young single mothers to get married. Yes, ladies, you heard me - don't go on welfare - get married. Don't pay any attention to love - get married for financial purposes. Oh, yeah - I forgot - 50% of young single mothers are under the age of 18. So, you high school girls – since, soon enough, you will not have the choice to KEEP the baby or NOT, you will not only HAVE to have the kid, but you better get married ASAP so you can live comfortably in the arms of a man who will probably leave you after you have your second child because our black male youth - yes, the INNOCENT black male youth - never had quality role models to follow (the Voice was cut off on April 4, 1968), and it's almost a given that the father is going to leave at some point. As of 1994, black and latino single mothers were 75% more likely to be poor than white single mothers. So, if you're a black or hispanic high school girl - not only will you NOT have the RIGHT to choose whether you want to have a child or not, but we are going to spend $300,000,000.00 on encouraging you to get married - don't worry about love - just worry about getting married so your husband can either leave you or you can get divorced like 50% of married couples do - then, you can have two kids and less opportunity - oh yeah, $110 million is going to educate you (now, after the fact) about abstinence. Hey – how about that $300,000,000.00 going to helping to educate inner city youth, period?! You know, instead of constructing elaborate websites about abstinence, why don’t we just buy computers for the students of inner city high schools who still have books from the 70’s?

Here’s another kicker, related to money disbursement – 19.2 billion dollars will be spent each year fighting the war on drugs (only 320 million for treatment). Does this seem right to anyone else? Part of that money is being used to fight a cash crop that not only would bring in a large amount of revenue, but isn’t even as harmful to your health as cigarettes and alcohol are. $19,200,000,000.00 to fight drugs.

Meanwhile, our politicians are making money off of corporations that are making money off of their own employees' retirement funds. Funny - taking money from retirement funds to invest and, hopefully, save the company - oh, wait - they lost – company bankrupt – people lost their futures – while the heads made millions by selling before the fall. Now, our government wants to BORROW money from social security - our retirement money - to help boost our economy. Ummmmm...

Agree or disagree with the politics, but I'm sure we can all agree that there's something awfully wrong in this whole mess we call our world. Even if our government was treating us right, they are treating the rest of the world like shit. Fact is, it's doing both and making it more and more dangerous for us. I don't think it's far from the United States becoming Palestine/Israel - meaning, suicide bombings at concerts, bars, street corners, buses, movie theaters, malls, etc. And, there is enough nuclear material out there that's unaccounted for to create some really disturbing outcomes. Just a suitcase full of C-4 explosives with a pound of radioactive material can take out a lot of people in a busy city like yours.

I'm tired and I just licked the tip of the iceberg. I probably was so random that none of this made sense – if that was the case, I’m sorry you read all the way through. Anybody else feel like ranting about anything related to our country/society/government/world?

I think we've sat idle enough...

He had alot to say.
He had alot of nothing to say.
We'll miss him.

So long.
We wish you well.
You told us how you weren't afraid to die.
Well then, so long.
Don't cry.
Or feel too down.
Not all martyrs see divinity.
But at least you tried.

Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud.
We'll miss him.
Ranting and pointing his finger
At everything but his heart.
We'll miss him.

No way to recall
What it was that you had said to me,
Like I care at all.

So loud.
You sure could yell.
You took a stand on every little thing
And so loud.

Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice so strong and loud and I
Swallowed his facade cuz I'm so
Eager to identify with
Someone above the ground,
Someone who seemed to feel the same,
Someone prepared to lead the way, with
Someone who would die for me.

Will you? Will you now?
Would you die for me?
Don't you fuckin lie.

Don't you step out of line.
Don't you fuckin lie.

You've claimed all this time that you would die for me.
Why then are you so surprised to hear your own eulogy?

You had alot to say.
You had alot of nothing to say.

Come down.
Get off your fuckin cross.
We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

To ascend you must die.
You must be crucified
For your sins and your lies.
Goodbye...




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http://www.canoe.ca/MusicImagesT/tool2_160.jpg http://www.michaelmuir.com/reviewpic..._lateralus.jpg http://www.9inchnails.net/remix-file...es/maynard.jpg
aim - shesellsmelsd

CLOWNS!

http://www.redhat.com/img/clowns.jpg

what were you saying again? i wasn't listening. cuz i don't care.

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http://www.canoe.ca/MusicImagesT/tool2_160.jpg http://www.michaelmuir.com/reviewpic..._lateralus.jpg http://www.9inchnails.net/remix-file...es/maynard.jpg
aim - shesellsmelsd

Are you that much of a baby? You put an offensive picture in the last one for whatever reason (because you couldn't answer anything I said?) and now you try to insult me for talking about the problems everyone in the world shares? Are you serious or really that ignorant?

yea well i say fuck israel-ariel sharon is a fucking nutcase and while palestinians need to stop suicide bombers he needs to give them their fucking land and we need to encourage that. im constantly confused about why the average american sides so much with the israeli's.

as for bush. he's hopeless.

couldn't answer, didn't feel the need to answer. i guess it's the same thing.

fuckin a man. what exactly are you trying to get out of this?

and what was so offensive about that pic? everyone poops... and eats it... everyone eats it... right?


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aim - shesellsmelsd

posting on netphoria. what a huge step.

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http://www.canoe.ca/MusicImagesT/tool2_160.jpg http://www.michaelmuir.com/reviewpic..._lateralus.jpg http://www.9inchnails.net/remix-file...es/maynard.jpg
aim - shesellsmelsd

I'd agree with that...

did you by any chance hear the details about the car israel bombed thinking it was a some hamas(sp?) leader? well it was actually his wife and kids they killed-they said their bodies were in peices and they also showed some footage. . .it made me sick.

I didn't see that, but I have been watching footage of other shit that's been happening - it's just unbelievable. Unfortunately, for the first time (for us), it is something we'll be seeing soon on our nightly news casts, on our streets...



[This message has been edited by liarsclub (edited 03-07-2002).]

*hugs yuo* that almost made me cry. thank you. do you mind if i post that to a couple of lists i'm on?

*pats you* I'm going to email that to my friends and my Bush-supporting grandparents. http://www.netphoria.org/wwwboard/biggrin.gif Can I have your first name or something so I can give due credit?

nevermind...found it on your website.

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there was a time when you let me know
what's really going on below but now you never show that to me do ya

[This message has been edited by Smiley33 (edited 03-07-2002).]

TOOL 4EVER!

MAYNARd = god

Quote:

MAYNARd = god

yea yea, i'm very impressed.

ha ha. look at me, i like tool.

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aim - shesellsmelsd

doesn't anyone realize that the president has very little to do with how the government is run?

he chose to be the figurehead, so he should be ready to take the blame.

FOO!


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there was a time when you let me know
what's really going on below but now you never show that to me do ya

dont foo me, sucka

can you dig it??

damn boy, sheeit! i can dig it! you a crazy mothafucka.



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there was a time when you let me know
what's really going on below but now you never show that to me do ya

I think the scariest part of all is that this is the first time I've agreed completely with everything you've said.

The sad thing is, nothing will change. People will say "I want to put a stop to this!" but after a couple days, a couple weeks, a couple months... they'll drop it and find something else to rally for. I don't have the greatest faith in people's abilities to stick to things.



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http://raversaregay.homestead.com/files/USA.gif
I never said I wanted to be God's disciple
I'll never be the one to blindly follow

*walks by you* That almost made me care. wait...no it didn't. Do you mind if send that to a bunch of my friends who will get all riled up go out do nothing because of it?

welcome to journalism?

I would have to disagree with that notion. I mean, he IS the leader of this country - and he may not be the sole voice in his administration *whew*, but he is a symbol of our country as a whole. That symbol is most accurately represented by its administration, which is constructed by a particular political party (in this case, Republicans, but Democrats do that same thing) - a political party consisting of representatives that the People have elected. Now, if the People, the workers at the bottom of the pyramid - if they - us - we - if we would try to elect people other than representatives like Jesse Helms, then there's a chance. Jesse fucking Helms - here, let me just shed some light on this:

After Helms announced his retirement, here's what Bush had to say (taken from newsobserver.com):

"The Senate is losing an institution with the decision of Jesse Helms to retire after three decades of distinguished public service," President Bush said in a statement. "Senator Helms went to Washington, but he never became a part of Washington. He has always remained true to his conservative principles and to the people of North Carolina who elected him five times."

Now, here are some things that Helms, himself, has said over the course of his five stints in the Senate (taken from strangecosmos.com):

On The Senate: "I've never heard once in this chamber anybody say to the homosexuals, 'Stop what you're doing.' If they would stop what they're doing there would not be one additional case of AIDS in the United States."

"The New York Times and The Washington Post are both infested with homosexuals themselves."

From a 1996 fund raising mailer: "Your tax dollars are being used to pay for grade-school classes that teach our children that CANNIBALISM, WIFE-SWAPPING and MURDER of infants and the elderly are acceptable behavior."

In response to Duke University students holding a vigil after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968: "They should ask their parents if it would be all right for their son or daughter to marry a Negro."

I can go on, but I don't want to take over this post with just Jesse Helms quotes. The point being, this is the kind of shit that is STILL being voted into our government. I'm not sure if I understand how or why these people are elected, but WE elect them! Wake up!

I also am not sure if I understand the whole "it's pointless - nothing will change" idea. If nothing changes, then why did women fight for their rights? Or blacks fight for simple equality (as humans) rights? If your mother was sick with cancer and there was a chance of her dying, would you give up and tell the doctors to back off with no attempt at treatment so she can just die - without even TRYING to help?!

And if it's all pointless, why not just have a dictatorship? Do you not have a voice? Isn't that one of the things that America is noted for? - LAND OF OPPORTUNITY - you can truly do anything in this country if you try hard enough - there is evidence of this all over the place - just open your eyes.

It's all about what you're willing to sacrifice - if you're not wiling to give anything, then no, nothing will happen. But, don't tell me that nothing will happen even if we DO do something. If you can't inspire change in others - fuck, inspire yourself to change - so you can make an immediate impact on the lives of people around you - your family, friends, son, daughter - are you going to tell your daughter that she can't do what she wants to do when she grows up because it's all pointless?! Of course you won't - you'll be somewhat of an adult by then and have a little different outlook on life - a little less selfish outlook. Responsibilities may ******* taking care of a child, whom YOU are in charge of molding, so are you going to help that child grow, or stunt its growth all because you don't want to bother yourself in the middle of watching Will and Grace – which, happens to be a show about gays, but a show so far from reality that it's a slap in the face to actual homosexuals - a show for the heterosexual, ignorant, television-watching public, so they can attempt to assimilate to a basic fact of life and also, still, ignore the struggle of homosexuals in our society. Do you want to go on to the subject of blacks, white males, women, children, latinos, asian, etc. in our society?

This generation is lazy, plain and simple - mainly because we have nothing to do. Well, there is a lot to do besides watching Fear Factor. Now, of course, I would never expect anyone to stop their daily activities and go full force into helping out a struggle, but I don't think it's too difficult to just turn on a news channel and listen - or, just turn the television off and just sit and think - or, listen to music, but that's it - don't be surfing the web or doing laundry - just listen.

I have a feeling a change is coming. I see signs, but it's teetering back and forth. The arts for example - in film, studio films are becoming less popular, while independent film is growing and getting stronger - it's a classic example of the corporate world - the money - the power - being overthrown and taken down slowly by the independent voice of the individual - everybody has a right to tell their story and bet your fucking ass that nobody is going to stop them/us now. Rock Music - a more simplistic form of music is pushing upward - a White Stripes type of simplicity - basics - blues - garage-sound - and an inner voice that howls like the unheard, collective words of the world - dead and alive. Pop will always be, but another revolution in rock is coming - when you see big, successful musicians like Trent Reznor and Billy Corgan going back to basics, you should be able to assume that music is on the move and it's going to spit everyone in the face when it comes round. I wish I knew more about gallery art or contemporary literature (including poetry) to see if there's a relation to this “basics” idea, but honestly, I don't - if anyone can give examples of how it relates or doesn't relate, it would be much appreciated! Fashion - everything, for the past couple years, has been going back to basics - straight colors - blue, black, white - a simple collection of classic styles all merging into one.

The society is also pushing away religion more and more - here comes the teeter. We actually need religion in our society, but the idea of stepping back and re-evaluating the religious system (when is the Catholic church going to police their own organization and weed out child molesters?!) is a good idea. If only Christians, Jews, and Muslims could realize that they all worship the same idea, just with different ****phors, in which, those stories and ideas are told. Tibetan monks have found that peace - all religions say the same thing - find that peace - love thy enemy - etc. If they're so involved and deeply religious, why can't they, just once, follow that basic, fundamental idea of loving your enemy? Fuck, it's not easy to do and I'm guilty of hating my enemies too, but it's an ongoing struggle within myself and I think I have much room for improvement in my character - and I'm not even religious! But, it's such a BASIC idea that needs to be grasped before they can move on and I see that happening – slowly, but it’s moving.

A good example of people not caring and giving up prematurely and blaming others while doing nothing comes from the recent news: a girl dies after overdosing on ecstasy. Now, the father of that girl is suing the friends and a friend's mother in a wrongful death suit. Okay, I understand that he's upset and yes, you would think the friends should've been more responsible, but fuck, they are 16! They're not doctors - I'm SURE those friends didn't anticipate the girl DYING. Either way, to be in that situation you have to lack the knowledge or just be blatantly irresponsible – now, the girl gets her tendencies mainly from her parents - the parents are the first contact and the prominent teachers in a child's life, for the most part, no?! Instead of trying to ruin other people's lives now, why doesn't the father deal with the fact that he did not discourage his daughter enough, OR, inform the daughter enough to avoid this situation? The girl didn't know any better - should the other 16 year old's have or should the father have? It's like blaming the gun manufacturers if a 6-year-old kills their 2-year-old brother with a gun they found in daddy's closet. Raise your kids - you can't expect everyone else in society to be liable for everything that happens to your children - you DO have some responsibility.

Well, I've ranted WAY too much AGAIN - sorry guys - I just need to vent - I would love to hear what you all have to say about everything too, so speak up!

Lastly, I feel like I should thank smiley33 and Becca for the compliments, but I'm not a fan of bringing that type of attention to myself – I do appreciate the words of encouragement though. I don't mind if you copy and paste what I've said, but I would really enjoy it if YOU wrote your thoughts down on the subject(s) and sent them or posted them as well http://www.netphoria.org/wwwboard/smile.gif...

Even though you claim not to care, it made you think enough about it to the point where you had to post a response saying how much you didn't care about it...

A New Kind of Army

LOOK BACK...on history, nothing much has changed
THOUSANDS...of soldiers of all countries, all marching the same
Every nation's leader says that our side is right
Every nation's leader says the time has come to fight
But they use the common people, to settle their scores
It's time that we refuse to fight in any of their wars!

We're looking to start a new kind of army, (that's) too smart to fight, too
smart to die
We're looking to start a new kind of army, (that's) too smart to fight, too
smart to kill...
for you!

JOIN NOW...the ranks of all nations who refuse to go to war
REFUSE...to pull the trigger of a gun for leaders 'round the world
I'd rather fight to spread some tolerance and unity
Than buy into their nationalistic brainwashing
Killing mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, common human beings
Not savages but people, like you, like me!

We're looking to start a new kind of army, (that's) too smart to fight, too
smart to die
We're looking to start a new kind of army, (that's) too smart to fight, too
smart to kill...
for you!
We're looking for a few good men
We're looking for a few good women
Who are not afraid to fight against tyranny
But refuse to fight...with tyranny

REFUSE!!!

We're looking to start a new kind of army, (that's) too smart to fight, too
smart to die
We're looking to start a new kind of army, (that's) too smart to fight, too
smart to kill...
for you!

i am talking mostly about things we dont see, you are talking about things that are flaunted or allowed to be seen by the public. at the end of the day, the president has less power than we think he does. he is a figurehead, a symbol...nothing more and nothing less.

you're a fucking idiot.

people don't care because they don't have to. until we (the majority, that is) are scared shitless enough to pay attention, will we. 2 buildings collapsing in some other city is scary, but is it enough to really change the way you live your life? i'd say to even half of new yorkers it isn't.

so???

Where you been fool? This place has sucked without you, Becca, and Rhino being around much...

I don't think I've ever seen you post what shot straight out of your gut like this. Good points, though I can't say I agree with all the criticism (particularly on the tariff debate)--of which I may or may not get around to thoughtfully debating about.

At any rate, good post. Glad to see you're back.

our government is running shadow a government... in fear of an attack - most likely, a nuclear attack of sorts - a dirty bomb, anyone? Nuclear threats - our government is preparing, but doesn't bother to inform its public of the threat

Aside from being completely aghast at the revelation that New York was possibly under nuclear threat back in October and how the government didn't breath a word of it to us, I can understand why they may choose not leak out every tiny possibility of threat to the public. It's the classic Peter and the Wolf story. People are just going to become conditioned to expect, "Oh, so they issued another warning. What's on ESPN?"

I understand that the public cannot know everything that goes on, but telling the public to watch out for suspicious looking people or activities, without informing us about anything other than "there's a serious warning" is pushing it, but to keep it from top dog's in Washington, like Daschele, is it bit scary. The way I saw it was that this was the most serious threat we've had to date, being that those in charge decided to organize the shadow government - I'm making this judgement on the actions of the government, that's all. I could have a skewed perception of it, but I'm not sure if it all fits so nicely - I mean, if the majority Senate leader doesn't know about this shadow government, then who's in it and why tell us now if we are still under major threats?!

And about people disregarding threats - in the 50's and 60's, people lived in the fear of the Reds launching bombs on us - bomb drills were common - you all can ask your parents about that. I'm not sure if that fear ever subsided because of the constance of the threat - and they didn't even realize what a nuclear bomb would do to them! I can't really speculate how people are going to take future threats if they know what those threats are or not, but I think if there is a credible threat, we need to be aware of it - use the Ground Zero air comtamination problem as an example of people who's health is going to suffer because they weren't told about the high level of toxins in the air - "just work - it looks good on the news." These are people - we are people - we all need to be informed of dangers to us - to our country, which does mean, to our world. I know there's a fine line of what should or shouldn't be kept secret, but can't we re-evaluate what that line is - or even just define it?!

Also, keeping secrets isn't something our government should be doing, while they criticize other governments about transparency. It's awfully hypocritical.

fuck. any semi-intelligent new yorker knew we were under threat of a nuclear attack.

Hence the idea of waking up, so we don't have to have another huge incident for things to change - we need to take the initiative and snap out of this La-La Land we've been living in. If we can't, there are going to be enough problems to wake everyone up and keep them up with cups of bullets-winging-by-their-heads with a couple packets of smallpox for sweetness. Do we try to avoid it by speaking up or do we try to do something about it?

I mean, fuck, how hard is voting?! Or - you write posts and emails all the time, write an email to your congressman and say, "What the fuck is going on with our government, our country, and the world that surrounds it all?!" Stop and think about how this all affects you, your family, your friends, your future wives or husbands, and your children.

Another note on the "this is pointless" idea:
Martin Luther King Jr., The Founding Fathers, Socrates, Voltaire, Marx, Darwin, Einstein, Tesla/Edison, Da Vinci, Picasso, Bach, Mozart, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth I, etc. If these people kept their mouth shut and smiled politely, who knows...

i totally agree. but not enough people are suffering to care. you need starving masses or a grossly misrepresented demographic to support anything. face it, most people in this country didn't really suffer jack shit. hell, i barely even did, although i at least lived there.

Chad, I totally agree that NY and the country should've been warned about the nuclear threat.

Oh, and of course we all knew/know there are threats to NY, but when they have actual leads and information on something specific, like the October incident, it goes without saying that it becomes a completely different urgency. And we knew squat.

There's no debating whether or not we should've known about that. The debate comes when we begin to look at or define as to what 'too much' is. We live in a completely different, desynthesized culture from the 50s and 60s, so perhaps it may not be fair to compare the people of today with those of the past when it comes to the alarm meter.

there are too many words in this thread.

What is this credible information about a specific nuclear threat that has been referenced in this thread?

Also, as far as a shadow government goes, from a strategic point of view, it makes sense. Spread out the potential targets, and make it more difficult to stop our government from functioning.

As far dirty bombs go, strategically they are very ineffective. Just another case of various media outlets crying wolf to get a good story.

David

why's this? because it's true. look at the amount of aid the US just GIVES to israel, and dont deny how fucked up the media is.

YOU'RE the fucking idiot.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...6/hl_nm/bomb_1

I don't think those experts work for the media. A shadow government is a decent idea, but, like I said, who's in it? And why weren't people like Daschele informed about it? My point was - if this is the first time we have put this shadow government in place, then the threats, one could easily conclude, were serious enough to warrant such action. If not, then what was the point and why wasn't anyone notified until they finally told the world just last week? It doesn't fit - at all.

John - about the tariffs - the irony is that Mr. Bush was all Mr. Free Trade during his campaign - now what's happening? Our economy is said to be on its way up, why then choose to go this route - a route that just pissed off the rest of the other countries who DON'T hate us?........yet.

I didn't see anything in regards to a specific nuclear threat in that article.

The closest thing I saw was "Since the September 11 attacks, fears have mounted over the use of radiological material by terrorists"

I'd hardly call that a specific threat.

David