Friday, July 28, 2006
What's Been Going On? A Short List...
Plans are afoot for something called "Camp Democracy" to be established in Washington, D.C.. It will be a place for those of us who really really object to our current government's behavior. I think it's a good idea. But...
Just a thought about...oh...the Bonus Marchers, Plaza of Three Cultures, places like that, you know. In some ways the administration would love to have something like this and then provoke some sort of incident...
Anyhow, here's an exerpt from their position paper:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072806E.shtml
Here's a sampling:
a. Illegal spying in violation of FISA and the Fourth Amendment, openly confessed to, openly promoted in signing statements, known to involve phone calls, phone records, internet use, bank records, and observation of legal nonviolent activities.
b. Illegal detentions in violation of the Fourth Amendment, International law, US Law, and a recent Supreme Court ruling.
c. Rounding up of thousands of citizens and legal residents for detention or deportation.
d. Torture, maintenance of secret camps, and extraordinary rendition, in violation of the Fourth Amendment, International Law, US Law, and openly promoted in signing statements and administration policy papers.
e. Illegal war - launched illegally under international law, launched in violation of the US Constitution, which requires that the Congress declare war, and launched on the basis of felonious misleading of Congress and the American public.
f. Use of a variety of illegal weapons.
g. Illegal targeting of civilians, journalists, and hospitals.
h. Illegal seizure of another nation's resources.
i. Illegal use of funds in Iraq that had been appropriated for Afghanistan.
j. Leaking of classified information in order to mislead the Congress and the public, and in order to punish truth-tellers.
k. Leaking of the identity of an undercover agent.
l. Retribution against whistleblowers.
m. Use of signing statements to reverse 750 laws passed by Congress.
n. Production of phony news reports at home and abroad.
o. Dereliction of duty in neglecting global warming, hurricanes, hunger, AIDS, and warnings of 9-11 attacks.
p. Facilitating Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
q. Obstruction of investigations by Congress, the 9-11 Commission, and Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald.
r. Stealing elections.
When is it enough? When does it become clear that history will view us as those who let it all go to waste, as those who sat by as they came for the Muslims and then the immigrants and then for the next group on the list, as those who saw the nation sliding into fascism and let it slide. Or, as those who rose up and resisted and restored what was most worth saving in a system of government based on the rule of law?
The time is now. On the Camp Democracy web site you can arrange to share cars, vans, buses, trains, or planes, as well as tents or rooms. Please plan to join us, and please contribute what you can to help cover expenses. Together we can turn everything around. Other people in other nations have done so. It's much easier than you think.
Just a thought about...oh...the Bonus Marchers, Plaza of Three Cultures, places like that, you know. In some ways the administration would love to have something like this and then provoke some sort of incident...
Anyhow, here's an exerpt from their position paper:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072806E.shtml
Here's a sampling:
a. Illegal spying in violation of FISA and the Fourth Amendment, openly confessed to, openly promoted in signing statements, known to involve phone calls, phone records, internet use, bank records, and observation of legal nonviolent activities.
b. Illegal detentions in violation of the Fourth Amendment, International law, US Law, and a recent Supreme Court ruling.
c. Rounding up of thousands of citizens and legal residents for detention or deportation.
d. Torture, maintenance of secret camps, and extraordinary rendition, in violation of the Fourth Amendment, International Law, US Law, and openly promoted in signing statements and administration policy papers.
e. Illegal war - launched illegally under international law, launched in violation of the US Constitution, which requires that the Congress declare war, and launched on the basis of felonious misleading of Congress and the American public.
f. Use of a variety of illegal weapons.
g. Illegal targeting of civilians, journalists, and hospitals.
h. Illegal seizure of another nation's resources.
i. Illegal use of funds in Iraq that had been appropriated for Afghanistan.
j. Leaking of classified information in order to mislead the Congress and the public, and in order to punish truth-tellers.
k. Leaking of the identity of an undercover agent.
l. Retribution against whistleblowers.
m. Use of signing statements to reverse 750 laws passed by Congress.
n. Production of phony news reports at home and abroad.
o. Dereliction of duty in neglecting global warming, hurricanes, hunger, AIDS, and warnings of 9-11 attacks.
p. Facilitating Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
q. Obstruction of investigations by Congress, the 9-11 Commission, and Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald.
r. Stealing elections.
When is it enough? When does it become clear that history will view us as those who let it all go to waste, as those who sat by as they came for the Muslims and then the immigrants and then for the next group on the list, as those who saw the nation sliding into fascism and let it slide. Or, as those who rose up and resisted and restored what was most worth saving in a system of government based on the rule of law?
The time is now. On the Camp Democracy web site you can arrange to share cars, vans, buses, trains, or planes, as well as tents or rooms. Please plan to join us, and please contribute what you can to help cover expenses. Together we can turn everything around. Other people in other nations have done so. It's much easier than you think.
