Squeers,

Ï think it's more about heroism and patriotism as sacred cows for the unthinking zealots."

Absolutely! - these are the wrappings that cover all the other emotions you mentioned.

Besides exposing the white-washing of Simpson's character, Peter Cochrane wrote, regarding Benson's analysis of the Gallipoli campaign:

"The ANZACS had confronted what Benson referred to as "the worst influences that had assailed civilisation" and they had prevailed in "a baptism of blood that was to weld us into a nation". Their ideal suggested the dignity and purpose that a defeat could bestow. They were moral exemplars the likes of whom could again renew the nation and save the world. "

Heroism, patriotism, dignity and purpose are far easier to digest than fear, confusion, despair and hate.

Dear csteele,

I am glad you also protested.

We have a limited number of choices. We can either make a donkey vote or put a preference number to the major parties. I think it's unreasonable to fault people for not making a donkey vote.

Dear Squeers,

I forgot who said it, but I thought it was a wise comment regardless who said it.

There are parts of the Manifesto that recommend the practices of Stalin. If I write an article you can argue with it.

Dear Poirot,

I have been thinking about a possible breakup of the US and a possible rise to dominance of China. It's a big topic, and I thought I might write an olo article speculating on it. One thought is that China has made a practice of not interfering in the internal affairs of other nations so in spite of their internal repression Chinese domination might mean other nations would be freer.

I think your last post was very good.

David f.,

I'd look forward to any article you'd care to write on the subject of China's probable/possible usurping of America as the dominant world power. It's a fascinating scenario, and one that gives rise to all sorts of variables, both for America and the wider question of allegiances between various global interests.

I'll probably put a few thoughts up on this thread in a while when I've got a little more time.

Dear David F.,

An important element in any peace process is the international community and its mechanisms for restraining conflict among its members. Trade, travel, and telecommunications have made the nations of the modern world more interdependent than ever before. In a world where all nations face a common threat of direct or indirect involvement in nuclear warfare, some reliable method is needed to limit conflicts among sovereign states.

We've got two vital elements for international peace-making. The first is the United Nations, which provides a forum for world opinion and a mechanism for conflict resolution. The second is a growing body of international law that specifies the rights and obligations that nations have toward one another - particularly with respect to aggression.

The major difficulty with international peace-making is of course, that compliance with the resolutions of the UN and the rulings of its World Court are voluntary, as no country is willing to surrender its sovereignty to an international body. The Un is most effective when the superpowers are able to agree on a course of action and mobilize their blocs to support it.

Even so, the organisation provides an influential forum for world opinion, and while it does not always prevent war, it probably helps make it less likely.

David I'm not sure whether we will have another war sometime down the track. I certainly hope not. I do believe that through collective action, ordinary people with few resources other than their own determination can change a national consensus for war to a national consensus for peace. The Vietnam war came to an end largely as a result of the antiwar movement in the US. It was a social movement that consisted disproportionately of young people including many college students. Once people no longer take their world for granted, but instead understand the social authorship of their lives and futures, they can become an irresistible force in history. Whether we choose to destroy our civilisation or save it is a collective decision that hopefully may well be made within our lifetimes.

Hiya Lexi - good to see you back.

David f.,

I referred earlier to China's artificial social arrangements - and perhaps "artificial" is not exactly the word I was looking for...what I was referring to was the migration of adult workers to the cities and their abandonment of their children to the care of grandparents. This is the new paradigm in China and the practice has fueled the incredible and sustained economic growth of that country.

58 million children - or a quarter of China's children and one third of its rural children are affected in this way. In many cases, whole villages are inhabited only by grandparents and children.
Added to this that for every 100 baby girls born there are nearly 117 boys born.

So we have a country that relies on communist apparatus for controlling a population that has been set to work to compete within a capitalist economic framework - truly a force to be reckoned with.

One can't help but feel that the social implications of such an arrangement will have a knock-on effect somewhere not too far down the track.

Here are a couple of articles (one of a movie tackling the subject) that might be of interest.

http://www.last-train.com/about/

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013173770_chinakids17.html

so tell me
what role the media play
in the way..these different realities [-isms]..evolves

like hitler youth
[children hating]

first remove the mote from thyne own eyes

sad how you see
the clear media lies in other lands
but miss it

in our own backyard

too many cooking/cop/murder/police state shows[here]
not enough info or fact

to much spin
bbc reports...today hard press release
that the bin liner was running his empire
from his safe house[without phone/internet]

so likely by cammel..and on pap-irus notes...
run to the frontlines..via runners and rumours

ya gotta love how poor the spin is

here is a fat high cheekbones old person
most certainly not..the frail/old sick bin liner

note the nhand holding..the 're-mote'

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110507/ap_on_re_us/us_bin_laden

ie cia says bin liner ..LEFT HANDED
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/usama-bin-laden

even the oppisite line
to con-firm...bin liner as ever being real
now further proof of life....lol
http://whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/hes%20alive.jpg

mate hes been dead since 2001...!
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/05/04/top-us-government-insider-bin-laden-died-in-2001-911-a-false-flag/

still faking
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1384420/When-U-S-bombing-started-took-children-moved-cave-Startling-insight-life-Bin-Ladens-young-wife-gave-terror-chief.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1384420/When-U-S-bombing-started-took-children-moved-cave-Startling-insight-life-Bin-Ladens-young-wife-gave-terror-chief.html

look at her fingers
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/06/article-0-0BE8183200000578-439_634x542.jpg
PHOTOSHOP[over./lay]

all spin
http://whatreallyhappened.com/

conclusion
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/osama_dead.php
its a beat up
TO BRING IN
neo/HITLER YOUTH'ss...
to terrorise the people..in usa
into giving up life/property and freedoms

like with the natzies/jews
and chrystal naght

like
israel/palistein
http://theintelhub.com/2011/05/06/osama-bin-laden-staged-media-spectacle-to-be-used-to-ramp-up-full-scale-police-state/

lets not turn blind [moted]eyes
upon israelies..love of terror's..special powers*

like immediate dna tersting
no need to wait 48 hours..to do all them NEEDED steps..!
http://www.healthnewsreview.org/blog/2011/05/guest-blog-cnn-promotes-sanjay-gupta-as-certified-medical-examiner-in-bin-laden-story.html

bah its spin

so those who serve the same old war systems
need as an excuse to kill the lot of us..

if we dare protest in the streets

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/05/02/2011-05-02_final_bin_laden_doomsday_tape_may_be_released_by_al_qaeda_disciples_us_officials.html#community

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/05/israel.iran.bin.laden/?hpt=T2
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2011/05/07/the-heavy-weight-of-zionism-felt-daily-in-palestine/