“What I know—and what sometimes creates a deep longing in me—is that if Christians made up their mind to it, millions of voices—millions, I say—throughout the world would be added to the appeal of a handful of isolated individuals, who, without any sort of affiliation, today intercede almost everywhere and ceaselessly for children and other people.” (emphasis added) (Excerpted from Resistance, Rebellion, and Death: Essays)
Sixty years ago!
Perhaps the Dominican monks took Camus seriously; monks tend to listen. Vatican functionaries, on the other hand, tend to know it all—and typically caution the pope to be “discrete.” You saw that this past week with the pope in Washington and New York, as he forfeited the opportunity to follow the biblical injunction to speak truth to power—to speak out clearly, as Camus insisted, with whatever moral authority he could summon.
Catholics All Around
Think back to last week and the many prominent Catholics who flocked to see the pope—many of them officials with considerable influence in the Judiciary and Legislature, with important players in the Executive Branch as well.
There they were, with their families, the five Catholic Supreme Court justices, fresh from detailed deliberations on how best to implement state-sponsored killings, executions that are banned by virtually every civilized country.
Justice Scalia audibly salivated over how much noxious chemical should be shot into the veins of a “condemned,” and how quickly. (For those with strong stomachs, C-SPAN captured the proceedings.)
I am embarrassed to acknowledge that, like me, Scalia is the product of a Jesuit education (Xavier H.S. in Manhattan and Georgetown College). Despite his advocacy of “soft” torture techniques like driving nails under fingernails, Scalia continues to be lionized by many Jesuits and bishops alike.
In the House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, erstwhile doyenne of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and now San Francisco and minority leader John Boehner (R, Ohio)—also a Catholic—seem about to allocate another hundred billion dollars to death and destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan for the most reprehensibly crass of political purposes—the coming election. Congressman Jim McGovern (D, Massachusetts) last week tried to guild the lily, noting that Pelosi now insists that, in McGovern’s words, “We’re an equal branch of government; we’re no longer a cheap date.” Right.
Sadly, it appears that Pelosi’s key functionaries on House Appropriations (both of them Catholics) will cave in once again. It is not as though they do not know the right thing to do. Just six months ago Appropriations chair Dave Obey (D, WI) declared, “I have no intention of reporting out of committee anytime in this session of Congress any such [funding] request that simply serves to continue the status quo.”
Subcommittee chair John Murtha (D, PA) put it even more strongly a year before Obey did, and came close to calling the occupation of Iraq a lost cause—which, of course, it is. But it is not politic to say that before the election. Never mind the troops on the front lines.
Obey and Murtha caved last time. I will find it particularly devastating if Obey caves again now, for I have always considered him among the best legislators in Congress. And since he is from Wisconsin, Obey recognizes better than most others the McCarthy-ite demagoguery coming from the likes of Texas Republican Michael Burgess, to the effect that anything short of giving the president all the war funding he demands is “basically giving aid and comfort to the enemy.”
Pelosi also has been unusually candid in admitting that it is electoral politics, pure and simple, that explain her resistance to holding President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney accountable for high crimes and misdemeanors via the orderly procedure given us by the Founders for precisely this purpose—impeachment in the House; trial in the Senate.
If, as widely expected, the war funding goes through, several hundred more American troops are likely to die before some common sense can be injected into U.S. policy next year—not to mention how many Iraqis.
Iraq is a shambles. Two million Iraqis have fled abroad; another two million are internal refugees. Am I the only one who finds macabre the raging debate as to whether the attack and occupation of Iraq has resulted in a million or “only 300,000” Iraqis dead?
Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, the publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC. During his 27-years as a CIA analyst, he chaired NIEs: he is now on the Steering Group of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).
War is good! Just ask Halliburton, Dynacorp, Northrup, and so many other fine businesses that are ethical and pure. Exxon-Mobil may make a bissel on the conflicts to gas up the Hummers and Tanks, but that is just business.
You stupid idiots who would prevent businesses from prospering because you choose not to keep us in per-PET-ual battles necessary to keep kapitalists free from want! Stop it now before I see a recession striking the C E O's that have devoted their lives to the bottom line.
It costs money, lots of it ,to line the pockets of politicians and judges to see the true legacy of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, the Warburgs and Rothschildes, and all the Nobler Barons of the distant past.
Forget the wasteful money that could have been spent to pay for FDA, GAO, FCC, and SEC. Just keep shoveling it in as this administration has continuously, so business will prevail.
The small cost of thousands dead, hundreds of thousands wounded, are a small price to pay for industry to be victorious.
Wolfie is PET-ulant that the petty people are not servile enough for the wants of the big dog!
by
Wolfie (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 884 comments)
on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 10:14:18 PM
Can a Pope be impeached? Just kidding. . . sort of.
While many of us continue to speak out, sit-in, and rise up, I do wonder - where are today's Berrigan brothers? NRCAT does a good job of educating and lobbying, but we could use more "people of faith" willing to stick their necks out like the Catholic Left did during Vietnam. The Catholic Schoolgirls stepped up and the media demonized them and they're facing felony charges. What would happen if a few priests started taking direct action? Might we see a different response? Maybe.
I had the pleasure, Ray, of hearing you speak recently while I was vacationing near Phoenix. The question that was on my mind that night is this: What would you say is the closest institution we have today that rivals the draft board during Vietnam? Many, including the Catholic Left, were able to zero in on that successfully because it had the ability to send shockwaves all the way to the top. Would appreciate your insights on that.
We should increase actions against our members of Congress right now, but we need to figure out what to do about the complicit media. They either ignore or dismiss it. Maybe it's time groups start some direct action at media outlets...
I will leave readers with this: Father Michael Doyle, a member of the Camden 28 (still tending to a parish a few miles from me in Camden) said this about their actions 37 years ago at the Federal Building:
"What do you do when a child is on fire? We saw children on fire. What do you do when a child is on fire in a war that was a mistake? What do you do... like, write a letter?" [Camden 28 trailer]
by
Cheryl Biren-Wright (15 articles, 11 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 240 comments)
on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 11:47:26 PM
I wasn't more than 100 yards away from bush today. He was right across the street. Must have been 2,000 police, troopers and soldiers, not to mention an army of undercover agents protecting our "Torturer in Chief".
It was surreal, my mind and soul are still burning furiously over last weeks disclosures, and to think that this vile, vapid excuse of a humane-being was within shouting distance, dining on a gourmet meal we paid for, and picking his teeth with bones of the dead he's responsible for, has had me in a state of rage all day. It's a wonder I wasn't stopped at least once as I had occasion to pass very close to manned barricades all day, and unable to control myself let fly with some verbal barbs that drew stares.
I was disappointed that there was no protests of any kind. Downtown New Orleans isn't all that big and for where bush was staying 5,000 hard-core protesters could of boxed him in. Granted they would of faced the combined might of above mentioned forces, but what a show it would be! But as far as I know, I was the only one voicing any descent, as feeble as I alone may be.
And what a shame. For it seems Mr. McGovern is making a call that if we don't stand-up now to this tyranny, we'll forever be put down. And yet, there I was today, the only other person I saw up-set about bush being in town was upset, not because he's a war criminal, but, because streets were blocked-off and she couldn't get where she wanted to go with-out taking a detour.
"The Torturer" will be around tomorrow. I'll try to see if there is any organized demonstrations, but I doubt it - this week-end is Jazz Fest, and for the City of New Orleans it's the crowning jewel of the world's music festivals, only equal to Mardi Gras, and when it's a choice between politics and party, in this city, it's no contest.
But soon the party will end. Soon all the bad things people only hear about on the fringe, see on TV and read about in their media aren't going to be so abstract - soon all the horror that bush and his ilk are brewing in large batches is going to spill into all our lives, and there won't be enough music in the world to drown out screams of those that will fall pray to the torturers whip.
by
Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 1003 comments)
on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 1:31:23 AM
I'd have joined you in the barbs... and on the thought about the 5000 protesters - by now I would have thought that anywhere Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al were travel to they would met with huge overwhelming protests... I don't understand how it fails to happen... I know a lot of outraged people - but maybe we're all just looking for a way to act - that - a way we can participate.
The internet is great - but it's so completely invisible to the "masses".
We need some way to build a visible national coast to coast presence...
by
August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 372 comments)
on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 1:43:43 PM
"..state plainly what 109 bishops of the Methodist faith, George W. Bush’s tradition...."
GWB's tradition. LOL.
There is obviously a divide and rule strategy to get Christians fighting like the Shia and Sunni do. BTW, a similar article using the word "Jew" or "Zi*nist" gets labelled as a hate crime. I get warned before posting a comment with this word in it since it might be "hurtful".
Besides, we all know who controls the Vatican and the Pope today. WTF do you think happened to Pope John Paul I and his sidekicks. He was the ultraliberal Pope who lasted 33 days, repeat, 33, days, before being taken out in 1978, and then Pope John Paul II, the ultraconservative Pope gets voted in, and 1.4 billion dollars disappears (had to buy his way in I guess).
In 1958 they strong armed 53 conservative cardinals into voting for an unknown cardinal who happened to be a secret liberal. He repealed the ban on Masonry, was said to be a former Mason himself, liberalized the Church with Vatican II and liberal Cardinals and Bishops infiltrated the Church and protected those pedophile Priests. Interesting how the first and only Catholic ever elected to office, despite making up 20% of the population was assassinated. Who did the KKK target in the early 20th century: catholics, jews and blacks. Who was behind the KKK? Guess. Who killed JFK? Same people. Call them what you will, Illuminati or whatever they call themselves, but they are behind the Globalization and fascism of today.
What is the difference between the liberal and conservative cardinals and popes? One wanted to make contraceptives ok for Catholics and make women more equal in the Church. This interfered with our genocidal plans in the 3rd world. So since then, what have we got, 2 conservative Popes with connections to the Nazi's. Today, Pope John Paul II cleaned out all the liberal Cardinals, but if St Malachies prophecies are to come true, Ratzinger or the next Pope will be the last. I do not believe in prophecies, yet they can be self fulfilling.
I am not religious, but you know those Christian Zi*nists who support what is going on in Iraq, I got news for you, most of them ain't Catholics.
When I look for who is behind conspiracy, I look at which groups get away from all the sh*t throwing with nary a drop on them, and where Fox and CNN talk with one voice.
Oh, and one more thing, Pope John XXIII, he witheld the 3rd secret of the Lady of Fatima, which was supposed to be released in 1960. Instead it was delayed until 2000, and what was released appeared to many to be not the real secret . Here is what it it predicted, according to some interpretations, one year before 9/11.
"The fulfillment of the Third Fatima Secret begins the destruction of the papacy and the man who spiritually holds one billion souls ransom by claiming to be the Vicar of Christ. The same goes for Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs and others. All humans must be set free from the shackles of organized religions first because the later will not set them free to take part in the Last Judgment. The pope holds the maximum of God's children in spiritual ransom. That is why it is necessary that he is destroyed first.."
It also showed a city with big buildings that were destroyed.
So how convenient our man OBL, who is said to have knocked down a few big buildings, has also threatened the Pope. I mean, Hollywood must have written this script. Wonder how they stage the rapture (I wonder what those airplane inspections all about). I read LaHays books just for the heck of it.
That FLDS scam is simply another staged event to discredt religion, and exercise governments right to break up families. I am not religous, but believe in Freedom of and from religion. Imagine, the leaders of the FLDS have Pentagon contracts. It's hilarious. LOL.
So you see, we are not in a War on Terror. It is simply a War on Religion, and they will give us a Tribulation so those Left behind accept it as a prohecy being fulfilled. And then we get One World Totalitarian government. In the world of the Old testament, (I had to read that too), for those whom interpret it literally, as many non-Catholics seem to do, at least those who believe in creationism, we see a world where god permits slavery, parents give away their male children to the temple, animal sacrifice is required, polygamy is allowed, that children born as little girls, like animals, were mans property and must serve their master, obviously a man (I am a guy but....). This might be what the future looks like.
But we might be on an intergalactic tv miniseries, so try to play your part, and just go along like a nice sheep to the slaughter. Those who survive to becomes slaves, good luck.
by
pft (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 178 comments)
on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 3:13:32 AM
Summoning Courage - Local Strong Consistent Action
Excellent Article.
Where are all the spiritual leaders on this ongoing occupation and patently illegal war of aggression? I can't help but wonder why there isn't more condemnation in the International Community. Clearly, based on international law, this country has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. We should be judged harshly and so should every group, terrorist organization or nation that uses aggression as a tool of diplomacy.
It seems to me that in order for our representatives to understand the anger and feel the courage of everyone in this country, we need to start acting peacefully demonstrating on a more consistent level locally. Churches, schools, activist organizations should be organizing around every congressional districts home office. We should have consistent daily "End the War", "Hold them Accountable" peaceful and assemblies in highly visible locations in every town, village and city across the nation.
I think we somehow need consistent on-going local visible places to be seen - in places our elected officials cannot possibly ignore. Rotating action - that involves a visible group that grows over time.
In Corvallis, Oregon, in front of the City Hall, there is a peace protest with people rotating every night. They have been there since prior to the invasion and they have continued a rotational presence there everyday since.
None of us can be at our representatives offices 24/7/365 but collectively, we can.
I think we must begin to organize an ongoing 24/7/365 visible protest.
We need a new model, that becomes so large that the it doesn't matter any more if the MSM ignores us. So large that they cannot make the demonstrations disappear down a rabbit hole.
I'm angry, summoning up the courage to act. Have written the letters, gone to "meetings" at our representatives office (with no representative present and a 6 week delay in their response).
What efforts and how can we mobilize more consistent ongoing peaceful demonstrations?
We can't all go everyday, but most of us could carve out a few hours a week if the actions were local... maybe we can get to 24/7/365 together...
by
August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 372 comments)
on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 1:34:23 PM
Pretty shameful, isn't it? And in regards to the previous big weekend of "God and Politics" debates on CNN et al: I guess if I was to ask the Candidates ONE big Religious/Moral question, it would be,
What's the deal with this 2012 thing? Do you, (and does your religion) believe these "End Times" prophecies about that date? Because if you DO, Mr, Madam, candidates, HOW can we expect you, as president, to do anything constructive about AVERTING this damnation, which surely will include Nuclear War, rather than simply helping this to become a self-fulfilling prophecy by your actions?
BW (at 2012 North Rd.!)
by
Bia Winter (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 124 comments)
on Friday, April 25, 2008 at 9:30:06 AM
