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April 27, 2008 at 11:56:00
Relatively Courageous Rabbi, Semi-Brave Muslim Congressman Team Up to Save the World by Kevin Barrett Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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Michael Lerner may be the bravest Rabbi in America...which isn’t saying much. Rabbi Lerner, among all American rabbis, has looked at the contradictions in the official story of 9/11 and written that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if it were a false-flag conspiracy. But that’s as far as he’ll go. Keith Ellison is definitely the bravest Muslim in Congress...which also isn’t saying much, because he’s the only Muslim in Congress (at least until I get elected). Last year Rep. Ellison said that 9/11 reminded him of the Reichstag fire. After listening to the outraged howling from Fox News, he backed down and whimpered some abject apologies. Don’t get me wrong—I admire both these guys. An ounce of courage is better than none. While they’re only semi-brave, Rabbi Lerner and Rep. Ellison are totally visionary. The unlikely pair have just teamed up on a plan to save the world. They’re calling it the Global Marshall Plan: “Under the Global Marshall Plan, the United States would lead the other G-8 nations in dedicating an amount equivalent to 1-2% of each country's gross domestic product each year for the next twenty years to eliminating poverty once and for all and to healing the environmental crisis.”
The Marshall Plan, for you non-history-majors, was America’s wise and generous (and slightly self-serving) effort that rebuilt a ravaged Europe after World War II. It is credited with laying the basis for enduring peace and prosperity in Europe.
Could the rich countries, by donating just 1-2% of their GNP per year, lay the basis for peace and prosperity around the world? Rabbi Lerner and Rep. Ellison think so. Inspired by Rabbi Lerner’s vision, Congressman Keith Ellison recently introduced House Resolution 1078 to support the Global Marshall Plan...and the media completely ignored this amazing story.
It isn’t just Jewish and Muslim leaders behind this attempt to save the world. Developed by a rabbi and introduced by the first Muslim in Congress, the Global Marshall Plan is backed by an African American Protestant Congressman from Missouri, Emmanuel Cleaver, and a white male Catholic Congressman from Virginia, James Moran.
The powers that be seem to think we need to be permanently at war with something: First fascism, then communism, and now “terrorism.” If they really feel the need to organize society around some kind of hugely expensive “war,” why not fight a worldwide “war” against poverty and hunger and homelessness and disease and environmental damage?
Maybe the problem with the Global Marshall plan isn’t too much idealism, but too much common sense. The powers that be, including the controlled corporate media, just can’t deal with sanity.
Personally, I think that if the media revealed the truth about 9/11 to a shocked public, it would do wonders for visionary proposals like this one. That’s why I wish Rabbi Lerner and Keith Ellison were brave enough to go all-out for 9/11 truth.
Rabbi Lerner did make a great point in his essay “What Next: Will It Make A Difference If We End Up Exposing 9/11 As A Fraud?”: In that essay, published in 9/11 and American Empire v.2: Christians, Jews and Muslims Speak Out, Lerner wrote: “In fact, the kind of psychic trauma that would happen were charges of intentional involvement in 9/11 by the president, the vice-president, and other high office holders ever proved in a court of law would almost certainly open up political space for a serious discussion of the kinds of radical changes I’m suggesting...”
The 9/11 truth movement, while working to open up that political space, would do well to consider supporting the Global Marshall Plan, which could go a long way toward preventing future wars and the false-flag attacks that launch them.
For a page of FAQs and other information on the Global Marshall Plan, go to http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20080102191329956.
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| 22 comments |
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You have to stand up to the world.
Let is save itself. The human race is just a bunch of crooks, suckers, and lazy cowards. 911 was an inside job by Israel, Saudi Arabia and right-wing Republicans. by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1762 comments [39 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Apr 27, 2008 at 1:21:53 PM
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Reply: Debunking a hateful rumor
The following site debunks a hateful rumor: http://www.snopes.com/rumors/israel.asp by Amy Fried (45 articles, 127 quicklinks, 77 diaries, 247 comments) on Sunday, Apr 27, 2008 at 4:04:40 PM
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Rabbis Uncourageous?
To the author: What about rabbis, as a group, do you find particularly un-courageous? Rather a sweeping statement, don't you think? by Amy Fried (45 articles, 127 quicklinks, 77 diaries, 247 comments) on Sunday, Apr 27, 2008 at 4:11:48 PM
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Reply: Humor and Seriousness Are Not Mutually Exclusive
This was, of course, an attempt at humor. by Kevin Barrett (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Sunday, Apr 27, 2008 at 4:29:16 PM
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The main connection with Israel is...
the fact that five members of the Mossad were detected dancing in celebration on the opposite side of the Twin Towers. They were videotaping the catastrophe and they were arrested and held for about 20 days. They even made an appearance on Israeli television after they were returned. Many Israeli leaders have said that 911 was good for Israeli interests and half of the Neocons who plotted the invasion of Iraq had dual citizenship with Israel. The owner of the twin towers was an ardent Zionist and he ordered the Building 7 smoking gun demolition. There are many other connections especially with the coverups, but none as strong as these so far. I would say that Israel handled the technical details. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan handled the financing, and Republican traitors handled the domestic treason and enabling. by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1762 comments [39 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Apr 27, 2008 at 5:54:01 PM
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Reply: Evidence of Zionist/Israeli involvement in 9/11...
...is another reason why rabbis have to be brave to take this on. (Actually Michael Lerner, despite his hesitations, could be seen as more than relatively brave for going as far as he has.) by Kevin Barrett (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Sunday, Apr 27, 2008 at 7:19:27 PM
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Reply: Judging
Again, you mention "evidence" w/o providing any. And judging an entire group of people based on whether they share a specific conspiracy theory doesn't make much sense. by Amy Fried (45 articles, 127 quicklinks, 77 diaries, 247 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 9:06:15 AM
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Reply: Citations for Evidence of Israeli Involvement
Justin Raimondo's book The Terror Enigma summarizes much of this evidence. by Kevin Barrett (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 9:37:24 AM
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Reply: Research
The only 2002 Salon article I could find that seem related, (and I spent a long time looking) talked about how ridiculous conspiracy theories blaming Israel & Jews for 9/11, are. Of the sources you mentioned, Salon is the one I most trust. by Amy Fried (45 articles, 127 quicklinks, 77 diaries, 247 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 9:00:48 PM
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Reply: Salon.com article
It's either no longer up, or subscriber-only, at the original site. But it's archived at Rense.com: http://www.rense.com/general24/artd.htm by Kevin Barrett (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 9:09:04 PM
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Reply: 2002 Salon article
Now that you told me the title, I was able to find the article on the Salon.com archive: http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2002/05/07/students/index.html There is absolutely nothing in this article that suggests that Israel was involved in 9/11. In fact, the article assumes what you call a "blood libel" against Muslims (a choice of words I find highly offensive). In fact, they mention the proximity of some of the "art students" to the 9/11 hijackers. To accept that as a suspicious sign, you have to accept that the 19 9/11 hijackers were indeed the perpetrators of 9/11. You can't have it both ways. by Amy Fried (45 articles, 127 quicklinks, 77 diaries, 247 comments) on Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 at 1:09:47 PM
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Reply: The "hijackers" were patsies, and "Atta" spoke fluent Hebrew
Please read Daniel Hopsicker's "Welcome to Terrorland." The "hijackers" were patsies who trained at US military bases and CIA drug-smuggling airstrips. Atta's girlfriend Amanda Keller reports that the Atta she lived with spoke fluent Hebrew (there is no evidence that the original Egyptian Atta ever had the chance or desire to learn Hebrew!). by Kevin Barrett (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 at 1:32:23 PM
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Reply: Responding to John Hanks: No Evidence
This is not the first time I have seen this accusation in a comment on opednews. Conveniently, the commenters never offer any evidence of this scurrilous charge. To casually make such a charge, without even trying to offer evidence, is irresponsible. by Amy Fried (45 articles, 127 quicklinks, 77 diaries, 247 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 8:56:49 AM
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Must We Wait Till 2012 for a Truthful 911 Investigation?
The year 2012, the last year on the Mayan calender, and some say a time when the world will experience a total spiritual awakening. I for one sure hope something happens in that year or before. Millions of people in America and around the world have awakend to the truth of 911; but the entrenched power-elite in government and the media silence them and call them "conspiracy-kooks", or worse. It's like when a reporter says to Cheney, "You know that 80 some per cent of Americans want the war to end now"...His reply..."So". We are being led my lying, murders, who have no respect for human life. Hitler comes to mind with this bunch. How they are able to live with themselves and sleep at night is bewildering. Will we be able to wrest control from these evil doers and open a new 911 investigation and get justice served? It's going on 7 years. Must we wait for help from above to get the truth out? It's starting to look like it. The universal law of Karma will be served...believe it. by ronheri (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 257 comments [46 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Sunday, Apr 27, 2008 at 11:59:49 PM
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Yeah? Well ask Keith Ellison
why he went to Guantanamo Bay and did one of the worst coverups EVER of the atrocities there. I find him WAY less than heroic. Reminds me of another former, so-called progressive Minnesota Congressman that I know about. Torture is okay with them as long as it is not happening to THEM. I wish a few constituents who are against TORTURE would do a fulltime picket outside his office doors. Why any 9/11 truther would listen to Keith Ellison at this point, after he did that, is way beyond my ability to understand. Man the level of HYPOCRASY is just overwhelming in America. They have big mouths when when reality smacks them in the face, they just back off and go into lalaland. Is this Keith's new project to save face for what he did after Guantanamo Bay? www.Freedetainees.org by ladybroadoak (39 articles, 20 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 394 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 5:57:44 AM
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ps.
The Global Marshall plan? Gotta be joking. The US should be paying WAR REPARATIONS to Afghanistan, Irak, Palestine not tyring to get brownie. Again, another example of political whitewash. Let's stick to talking international LAW just for once. I would be organizing for a Nuremberg-type war crimes tribunal and a fund for those victims of torture and the focus on the right issues if I was in either of those two's shoes. They are totally wasting people's money organizing for the WRONG THING. It's first things first, as the motto goes. By the time the war is over, they isn't going to be any money left for anyone exc. the ruling class and their supporters this time, including the sheeple. Like sure, these guys are going to get media time to go and explain to the starving in America that they should be giving money in some vast global giveaway scheme .. Focus on WAR CRIMES and CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY (of which there have been many, including those done by the CLINTONS), will net you alot more organizations that already deserve support. Gee, ya think Greenpeace donations to that tune might not end those things better than some imaginery organization recently cooked up? At least Greenpeace cuts across national lines. No one "gets" YET that Canada has already been annexed and militarized, the reality of THAT has yet to sink in. I'll keep on sending MY bucks to Greenpeace, I'll tell ya. It has a better chance of going in and Making a difference when the "time" comes. by ladybroadoak (39 articles, 20 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 394 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 6:05:35 AM
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Reply: Good points
I'm in favor of war crimes tribunals, reparations, complete exposure of all criminal acts of torture followed by prosecutions...the whole nine yards. by Kevin Barrett (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 6:52:45 AM
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To all folks who drum the Israeli- Zionist 9/11 involvement
Folks, cool it. You know, I am not the one who loves Zionism and I had been saying many times that Israeli govt does a disservice to its nation. I believe the 9/11 was an inside job gone awry and that the plan was devised here, by our SOBs, Jewish or not. But.. as I have said in my diary entry, every person of Jewish origin who willingly participates in planning of such acts commits a blasphemy against the Judaism ( which paramount statement is not to do to someone what you do not want to be done to thyself) and is not Jewish anymore. This is from the formal point of view, so no matter how many yarmulkas our neocons put on her unfortunate heads, they are not the Jews anymore. Thus we should refrain from ' Jewish' surely the same as from ' Pakistani' or ' Saudi' statements because in neither case ANY normal everyday Jew, Moslem, Saudi and Pakistani ever benefited from that horrible event. Now, if the elite had concocted a plot and hired the goons, that elite has no nationality, no religion and no loyalty. We all know that. As such we should acknowledge that between us, Jews or not and be comfortable with each other because we know:they are SOBs and we are humans. End of the story. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4102 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 11:58:48 AM
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Reply: MARK SASHINE AND LADYBROADOAK
So well put, both of you. I especially find silly the idea that the U.S., with its manufacturing base having moved overseas, could now participate in a Marshall Plan to ease the poverty of the rest of the world. We are in such debt now that former administration officals have described the American economy as a house of cards ready to fall at any moment. This fact seems to have yet to register on Congress or the candidates for the presidency. But it is surly part of the ruling class's long term goal of forcing the American working class into a militaristic madness, the final step in the full maturation of American fascism. by W.M.L. (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 537 comments [52 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 2:33:44 PM
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I agree that accusations without evidence are irresponsible
Especially the accusation that 19 Muslims hijacked four airliners on 9/11! In fact, overwhelming evidence shows that no Muslims were on any of those planes, as laid out in a detailed memorandum to the UN Special Rapporteur by Icelandic human rights activist Elias Davidsson: http://www.911blogger.com/node/15221 The accusation without evidence that Muslims, rather than their enemies, did 9/11, is the biggest blood libel in history. Those participating in this blood libel, whether actively (like the media) or passively (like all those who don't challenge it) are participating in a crime against humanity. by Kevin Barrett (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 12:53:56 PM
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Reply: Even if
all those people were devoted Moslems and even if they had taped themselves singing Allah Akbar or something like that that would mean nothing. Imagine them being atheists and, say, curse God, does that mean we all should try to find an atheistic country and attack it? The US govt deliberately used just the isssue of racism for its own purposes. It would pull the libel on anyone if that suits the SOBs in power. The ' religious' aspect should not even be discussed if we had a real due process involved. And BTW who said Bush and his cabal were Christians? Surely they are not. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4102 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 1:15:03 PM
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Reply: Agreed -don't blame a group for the actions of a few members
Ethnic hatred is a terrible force. That's one reason 9/11 was so ugly - it was designed to incite ethnic/religious hatred. by Kevin Barrett (6 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 19 comments) on Monday, Apr 28, 2008 at 1:57:09 PM
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