I know some of you were a bit concerned with Goldy’s claim that he was “planning to blow up SeaTac.”
And I understand your concern. It wasn’t about the safety of SeaTac. I mean, really, even the dopiest brainwashed rightwing wackjob couldn’t read Goldy’s post and seriously believe he was out to get SeaTac. Rather, the concern was the possible ramifications for Goldy’s liberties (and, who knows, maybe Goldy will yet announce that he is taking a “break”). It seemed conceivable at first glance that Goldy might get himself into deep trouble, because we now live in an America where “security concerns” are allowed to override common sense. We’ve been hoodwinked into believing that being “safe from terrorism” has a higher priority than our freedoms.
Here’s how it happened. After the initial overreaction to the attacks on 11 September 2001, an insidious erosion set in because the Bush Administration was constantly fear-peddling. America’s collective psyche sank into some kind of post-9-11 cowardly funk. Now some significant portion of our population is actually fooled into believing that their safety is tangibly threatened by terrorist acts. Sure, acts of terrorism very slightly increase ones risk of death or injury in the actuarial tables. But, this risk is trifling compared to every-day risks like crossing a busy street daily or driving an hour a day in a car.
The real injury from terrorism is the fear; the larger tragedy of terrorism is that people limit their life and willingly give up their liberties to accommodate those fears. You know who I am talking about. They’re the cowards who say things like, “I don’t care if they listen to my calls and read my emails—I have nothing to hide.”
Pussies!
I’ve written lots of negative stuff about Mike McGavick, but I completely concur with his statement from two days after 9/11 (Seattle Times, Sep 16, 2001. pg. D.2, [my emphasis]):
“I guess now I know more about the evil humans are capable of than I did before, and I’m sadder for it.”
[…]“There is nothing a coward can do to change my behavior,” he said, anger filling his voice, “and that’s a rule I’m not going to start to break.”
That’s American Spirit! But the Bush administration will have none of it. It has methodically undertaken the pussification of America (as Jon Stewart might put it)—and they’ve done it to consolidate and hold domestic political power.
Now, in our “post 9/11 world,” every time some group of crackpots, oppressed street persons, or angry youths talk to an undercover FBI agent about “the revolution,” the FBI sets up a sting operation. Someone “offers” funding and support…they bite…a bust is made. The news headlines play up the “thwarted attack” of “horrific proportions” on the skyscraper or an airport.
“But it was more aspirational than operational.” (Doesn’t the idea of an “aspirational crime” have the look and feel of a “thought crime?”)
And a few more persons of color are sent off to jail for a long, long time.
Now, when Goldy makes a point through an outrageous statement, we stop to contemplate whether this might trigger some kind of “security concern” that gets him thrown in jail. A student at Purdue University learned about this the hard way. He is in deep shit because he “threatened” Bush administration officials in a chat room:
A judge refused to throw out a Purdue University student’s indictment on charges alleging he urged the assassination of President George Bush and made threats against other administration officials, including Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife.
[…]Buddhi, an Indian national who was attending advanced engineering classes at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, faces an 11-count complaint for alleged comments he made in an Internet chat room in 2005 and 2006.
Oh…and do you think that being a foreigner with a non-Christian-sounding surname had anything to do with it?
What were those egregious threats he made?
“It is now legal under international law to bomb key sites in the USA. Iraqis! Give Anglosaxons the tit reaction for the tat action of Bush and the Republicans,” Buddhi wrote in one posting, according to federal court records.
[…]For example, on a message board pertaining to defense contractor Halliburton, Buddhi posted that “Bush is a President of Mass Destruction” and “should be electrocuted.”
[…][He called for] for someone to “Kill GW Bush” and “Rape and Kill Laura Bush”
So there you have it…”threats.”
In the past, these statements would be dismissed as sophomoric, heated rhetoric, but rhetoric that falls under the protections of free speech:
… a 1969 U.S. Supreme Court case in which an 18-year-old war protester told a crowd at the Washington Memorial, “If they ever make me carry a rifle, the first man I want to get in my sights is LBJ (President Johnson).”
The high court ruled the protester’s comments were simply crude political speech and overturned his conviction.
Unfortunately, the post-9/11 pussification of America means that Mr. Buddhi will lose his liberties for some time until a court throws out the charges.
I look forward to the day that Americans get past this post 9/11 bedwetting-chickenshit-scared phase, take a little advice from McGavick and grow a pair! Because giving up parts of the Constitution out of fear—and fear that is largely manufactured for political gain—is just so…fucking un-American!
Postscript:
On a lighter note, and just to demonstrate that I haven’t completely lost my sense of humor this evening, here is an instructional video on the topic of forbidden speech:
Well, I understand why SOME people are concerned. For example, Xmasghost has a better chance of being killed by a terrorist than of getting married.
“Now, in our ‘post 9/11 world,’ every time some group of crackpots, oppressed street persons, or angry youths talk to an undercover FBI agent about ‘the revolution,’ the FBI sets up a sting operation. Someone ‘offers’ funding and support…they bite…a bust is made. The news headlines play up the ‘thwarted attack’ of ‘horrific proportions’ on the skyscraper or an airport.”
The Busheviks have finally realized the poor and oppressed are good for something! In fact, Republicans can’t get along without them — and this proves it!
So I take it Mike McGavick is organizing the “Free Buddhi Committee”?
I saw on tonight’s TV news that a small group of young Republican protesters were politely escorted out of the building after disrupting Al Gore’s speech tonight.
By contrast, this is how Republicans “politely escort” protesters out of THEIR get-togethers: http://www.talkleft.com/story/2004/09/10/444/61260
Hey, I have no problem with hecklers … but I think we should do to their hecklers what they do to our hecklers. Deterrence, know what I mean?
Kind of frightening to think those young Republicans are going to inherit most of this country’s wealth, run its businesses, make hiring and firing decisions, etc. Al Gore’s piss has more smarts than all of them put together.
PUFF … (Protect Us From Foreigners) Meet Up
Change of meeting place form the Broadway Magic Dragon. PUFF the Magic Dragon meetings lived on the hill, with hippies and gays and other folk. Now we want to move upsacale! Tomorrow night, at Montlake Tavern. 7-8 (before DL crowd gathers). Qualified members, especially members of the Barack the Magic Negro Brigade, are invited to stay on and mix.
For liberals who do not know of PUFF, PUFF is devoted to the prevention of tourism terrorism. Foreign tourists terrorists are an obvious threat to our society.
PUFF supports President Bush’s proposal to legalize tourists who stay on in the US beyond their visas. These are hard working people who only want to enjoy our music and burgers, unlike foreigners who come here to laugh at us or blow up our buildings.
Any connection of PUFF to illegal use of inflammable intoxicants is NOT encouraged. The only intoxication allowed at the Montlake is via imibement of ethanol or ethereal conversations with DL regulars.
I’m pretty sure that if someone posted something like that about Al Gore, not only wouldn’t it be investigated, but Bush and Rove would be sitting in the White House laughing their asses off.
@7 “foreigners who come here to laugh at us”
Now that IS serious!!! We can’t have it!!! That’s a deportation offense!!!
So Darryl has started using Faux News as a source?
Richard @ 10,
Umm…the article was written by the AP. But, yeah, I link to Faux News stuff on occasion.
Hey, Buddhi!! Think you got enough equipment to fuck a Bush woman? Just remember, Mom killed a guy she used to fuck; I’m worse. Come and get it, Fucker!!
PUFF
I hope you are not endorsing the Limbaugh Lyric to the classical song about pot?
What bad taste. No wonder PUFF has been meeting in a verkochte imitation of a Chinese restaurant. You guys should ask the brown folk working there home come they are not cooking Mexican?
Richard, what is wrong with Faux? I think Faux diamonds are very nice! I even know where you can get them cheap!
Darryl
As an anthropologist we would like to invite you to become an honorary PUFF member. Is there as test we can use to identifies foreigners form Americans?
Some of our experts claim the real foreigners smell differently than American or tourists! Is this why the Homeland Security uses the swabs at airports to detect bad smells?
Back at Goldy, is he a furriner fariner farmer terrorist tourist? Do we know if he has a valid visa? maybe he is just waiting for a Bush Amnesty.
He does smell funny! Maybe it comes from living in South Seattle with all them darkish folks on tourist terrosit visas? or maybe like other furriners, Goldy doesn’t wash often enough???
Can you help PUFF?
Actually RR, Ghost – being a terrorist – could do a public service and simply kill himself – then he could claim to be killed by a terrorist.
Fear is the only thing the Publicans have ever had to run on and it’s no longer working – this is why they’re getting their butts kicked.
Roger Rabbit says: Well, I understand why SOME people are concerned. For example, Xmasghost has a better chance of being killed by a terrorist than of getting married.
06/04/2007 at 11:40 pm
Medic, Medic – Pelletbreath has lost it for good!
Pelletbreath, you seriously have a Alzheimer memory problem, or the only thing you remember is the SHIT you sling.
ChristmasGhost specifically said her husband was a Vietnam-era Naval Officer. She even asked if he was your commanding officer.
More proof Moonbat!s have no memory. Pelletbreath you need more sleep, months at a time!
Yes, the pussification of America. How long did it take to indict Dollar Bill Jefferson?
Stupidman: Still stupid and giving idiots a bad name. Ghost is a woman you baka!
Puff: At Drinking Libtardly tonight, have applications ready. But remember, drunk ‘Tards have poor penmanship, so have large blank lines, big check boxes, and multiple choice answers. Be sure to bring many crayons!
Puffybutt – your muslim wife says you’re a terrorist. And she says hi.
What freedoms or libetties have you lost Darryl?
Are you suffering some great loss of freedom?
The only weekness coming from the USA these days are the rhetoric and legislation coming out of Congress and the reporting by US news on the war on terrorism.
liberties
Right Stuff,
“What freedoms or libetties have you lost Darryl?”
Thanks for asking. Just this last month, I had to cancel my trip to Pakistan for militia training camp.
Hey Right Stuff, I hear there’s a terrorist in your neighborhood. You’d better go hide under your bed.
And use the toilet first–we wouldn’t want you cowering in your own piddle!
right and puddy….i’ll tell you what the rest of us have lost because of idiots like darryl and seattle jew. these two “rocket scientists” are PROFESSORS at the U dub. now isn’t that frightening?
can you imagine ANYONE paying good money to have their offspring polluted by these two complete idiots?
i can’t…..
so we all lost what used to be a fairly good university. oh, it’s not what the seattle-ites want to think it is ….never was…i mean it’s hardly harvard west. no matter how many fools that they employ now tell you it is.they haven’t come up with anything new for years…
and guys, rogergoldy knows that i am a woman and happily married….he just thinks [like all stupid liberals ] that he should throw sh&% like all the other monkeys to get attention.
and i have a news flash for these fools. demeaning and diminishing what happened on 9/11 and “claiming” to have lost some vague make believe rights because of increased security measures that have prevented another attack….well, isn’t that really the definition of “pussification”? ….whining like a girl???????
there are 3000 people [or WERE] that could tell you IDIOTS how it really feels to lose REAL rights [like the one to BREATHE]………but geez, your idols blew them up on 9/11.
roger IS goldy. but the other two idiots are professors…now i find THAT truly frightening.
maybe someone should start complaining before they do any more damage?
thanks for that last comment darryl…..i’m sure your department head would love to know that you were planning [in your own words even] to go to pakistan for militia training camp.
now if you could only actually do some frickin’ work at YOUR JOB.
What fucktards you are! Are we supposed to wait until he kills someone or foments the actual act? Try going to that shithole Mumbai and advocate the death of some Hindu “fakir” and see what happens. If the horsesasshole doesn’t like the USA he can go to school in fucking North Korea!!
One of the persistent mantras of the neocons is that liberals/Democrats/progressives are “cowardly.” The accusers, as with most of their mindless blather, fail to recognize the sad irony reflected in their accusation. This group—the Cheney-worshipping, chest-pounding, bomb-Mecca crowd—is the most fearful and fearmongering niche in American politics today. They are afraid of foreigners, they are afraid of anyone who is different, they are afraid of free speech, they are afraid of freedom itself. What they don’t recognize is that what once made our nation great was its openness to other influences. Our diversity of religion, political creed, ethnicity empowered us. The neocons at their heart—people like Puddybud, Christmasghost, MTR—are cowardly little fucks who want to make our nation into a bomb shelter, devoid of any liberty whatsoever.
Thank you for proving the point Darryl. The fact is you haven’t lost any freedoms or had any liberties compromised.
As for any terrorist that would mistakenly wander into my neighborhood? We as a neighborhhod community have talked about, have an emergency plan, and look after each other. You see, we value the lessons learned from 9/11 and Katrina… Despite best efforts, government can’t protect everyone all the time and as a responsible individual, and neighborhood community, we have taken measures to take care of each other, including protection.
If your heading to pakistan for militia training, I would suggest you forward your mail to Gitmo, cause that will soon be home.
The Bush regime has waged a war on freedom.
People are kicked out of public events for wearing tshirts that simple say PEACE. Votes in minority areas are suppressed by Publican operatives. People who disagree with the current regime get fired simply for not agreeing with the traitor Bush. People aren’t free to associate with each other at meetings of Quakers because of illegal FBI wiretapping. The Freedom of Information Act has all but been repealed. People go to jail without charge or trial. It’s all happening today and thanks to the Publicans. Sounds like the stuff they used to warn us about when I was a kid – citing the “commies.” Now it’s us who are the bad guys. No commies needed.
Hopefully most Americans know by now that the terrorists are already here in the form of the GOP!
RightEqualsStupid …….honey, you seriously need to get some professional help with your paranoia.
THEN you can start reading some history……….
Right Stuff @ 28
“The fact is you haven’t lost any freedoms or had any liberties compromised.”
Fact is, when any person in the U.S. has his or her freedoms abridged, we are all violated. I realize that is difficult for a chicken-shit, hater like you to understand, but every act of suppression of free speech, banning freedom of association, the suspension of habeas corpus, searches without “probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation” from a court, suspension of due process, failure to grant a “speedy and public trial,” or engaging in “cruel and unusual punishment” is a form of violence against all Americans and the Constitution.
For you, it is, apparently, ok if some people have their freedoms snatched away by this administration so long as it gives you some psychological comfort of believing that this “terrorism fighting” might make you safer (it really doesn’t). Get past your narcissism, you thumb-sucking, bed-wetting asshole.
Christmasghost @ 26
“thanks for that last comment darryl…..i’m sure your department head would love to know that you were planning [in your own words even] to go to pakistan for militia training camp.”
Well…feel free to let her know…after she stops rolling around on the floor laughing, she’ll recommend you for remedial training in writing.
pussificaton of America. Right on target!
With a vagina running the House of Representatives, we’ll be sure to be more pussified.
The only way it could get worse is if Al-Qeada Gore wins the presidency. Then, it’ll be Burka’s for everyone and praying towards Mecca 5 times a day.
@ 17:
How could ghost’s husband possibly been Roger Rabbit’s C.O.?
Everyone knows Liberals don’t serve in the military. They’re the cut-n-run crowd. If Liberals did serve in the military there wouldn’t be so many conservatives pulling extra tours of duty in Iraq.
But, somebody has to defend America and it sure aint gonna be some pussy lib.
@ 7:
Why in the word would anybody want to hang around a bunch of Barak the magic “negro” supporters?
Nothing personal, but . . . puhhhh-lease!
darryl………
“Fact is, when any person in the U.S. has his or her freedoms abridged, we are all violated. I realize that is difficult for a chicken-shit, hater like you to understand,”
AND this classic….”For you, it is, apparently, ok if some people have their freedoms snatched away by this administration so long as it gives you some psychological comfort of believing that this “terrorism fighting” might make you safer (it really doesn’t). Get past your narcissism, you thumb-sucking, bed-wetting asshole.”
WOW….and all this from a professor of anthropology?talk about remedial reading sweets. your poor students…so if they have a different point of view from YOURS is that what you call them in class?or do you ever even teach any classes? too busy doing personal blogging that no one ever reads?
and this is why, once again, the U dub has become such a “who? where?” university.
you diminish what happened on 9/11, and who it happened to [it certainly wasn’t you] so that you can try and make a point???
once again…this is why there won’t be a democrat in the white house in 2008. they think like you do. or at least, with all you big mouth/no action “heroes” out there [in the literal sense] this is what america thinks you are all about.
by all means…keep talking.
and i wouldn’t be so sure that your department head will be rolling on the floor laughing. if she is i imagine it will be her head that is rolling next……
Attention Citizens of Oceania!
Stay tuned for a Home Sec Newsflash:
Your Preznit has foiled a terrorist plot of terrifying terror by the hordes of Eastasia!
Confessions and executions to follow!
Terror! Terror! Terror!
george @34…why don’t we just shorten al’s name to ALGORDA.
that way it gets all the points across….
he’s such a GIRL….hence the ‘a’ on the end.
he’s fat as a pig…hence the gorda.
although i personally love the “goracle”..that just says it all doesn’t it?