Have we become so desensitized and apathetic that we simply?

Question

poke fun and ridicule people rather than acknowledge the severity of tyranny in our country?

It is preposterous to think that we are at war by accident or that it has anything to do with terrorism. Simply facts refute everything we have previously been told. Not theory's but facts.
You see what has happened is that we have been mislead through lies, deception and propaganda. Over and over for extended periods we were fed rubbish. Later down the road everything was retracted. Apparently it was a misunderstanding and misinformation. Quickly followed by some kind of further justification rationalizing there actions. We are reminded the importance to look forward to what we are going to do now, rather than acknowledge the lies that got us here.

Answer 1

Our society is obsessed with war. We wage war on just about everything. We name domestic public policy campaigns as "The war on...." hunger, poverty, crime, pollution, terror, fat, etc. In our foreign policy, we wage violent and deadly wars of choice, convenience, and imperialism. Our schools have long been a battleground in the war on (some) drugs. Both good and bad tactics have been used for decades in schools, from 70's "rap sessions", to "Scared Straight" tours of cons and ex-cons as motivational speakers, to DARE, to Health classes, to those driver education movies that dramatize the prior events and then show real police film footage of the car crashes. The current surveillance which includes drug-sniffing dogs is yet another tactic in the war on drugs, which, unlike those previous mentioned, are explicitly not educational and explicitly not about respecting students. Quite the contrary.

With each new domestic war waged, there comes a restructuring of the established order. On the battlefield of the school, we can expect a shift in the established academic climate. Will it be toward more resentment and (hopefully) rebellion as the police state further encroaches into the school, or toward less resentment as the school culture sheepily and sleepily assumes the notion that a militarized school culture is a good thing? Control, discipline, morality, safety...these are the buzzwords by which fascisms are sold to society.

Answer 2

Would someone explain to me why whenever Democrats express a real concern about the direction George Bush is taking this country, that we are accused' of whining?'!
I don't whine about anything! But, when I see my country torn apart by a moron with delusions of grandure, I will speak my mind!
There is nothing wrong with saying I deplore this war! I'm not saying that I don't support our soldiers! I do, and I will continue to praise them for their sacrifices!
But it infuriates me that our soldiers are losing their lives, over what is little more than political posturing by Bush! He made a mistake going into Iraq, and now he does not know how to get out of it!
And if you Republicans want to call that whining, well, whatever trips your trigger! And I'll say that you are insensitive, and naive! That is just as grand and sweeping a statement as what was said about Dems!
Caring about your country is an equal Party opportunity! And don't you forget it!

Answer 3

I wasn't taught anything about politics in school. Our history books' material ended in the first year of WW11 my senior year. There wasn't and isn't a strong 'vibe' to actively participate or even learn what's going on outside of this American Bubble. At least not in the south and certainly not if it isn't an election year.
Too many young people are 'dumbed down' and distracted by shiny things in the media(Anna Nicole, Paris Hilton, etc...)
So the American Bubble is passed down generation to generation.
We are fed the pretty picture of how America came to be and how the middle east is the enemy and we swallow it just so we can get on with our lazy, complacent lives.
The truth is ugly and most of us don't want to look at it.
D

Answer 4

Yes and no.

I think that nothing could be more healthy for our government and our republic than if we stopped taking ourselves quite so seriously, perhaps take a lesson from Jon Stewart.

However, The older generations (certainly) and definitely most of the politicians in power/ associated with the administration, have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that we are NOT the premiere world power anymore in every category. Certainly we rank highly in the top 5 and we do have an idealism about our government and feel a sense of the need to "do right" which is unique or very close to it in the world.

However, this administration in particular and Neoconservatives specifically have usurped this idealism and coupled with a serious and inexcusable inability to think clearly and deeply on the part of most US citizens especially on complex matters of foreign affairs or economics what have you.

The result is a bunch of n'er do well's over a the American Enterprise Institute who's main selling feature is that they describe everything as "good' or "evil" black or white, that that's the way the inexcusable citizenry mentioned above, like to hear it.

That the facts NEVER, EVER are black or white is a problem.

This leads to various obvious contradictions in US foreign policy.

i.e.;
Common perception is that Saudi Arabia is our ally, and strong friend otherwise.

The fact that 19 of 20 hijackers on 9/11 were Saudi (the 20th was Yemeni) and not Afghani or Iraqi among them or directly affiliated with them. Very indirectly at least a few Afghanis were involved but that misses my point.

To this day almost 50% of all violent insurgents in Iraq are Saudi. The ruling Saud family is marginally supportive of our interests otherwise, not so much.

Common perception is that Iran is our mortal enemy and works with Al Qaida. Actually for a short time was willing to assist the US in Afghanistan (before the Axis of Evil speech), and has made repeated back-channel efforts at diplomatic contacts and efforts to de-escalate circumstances. Iran currently has detained nearly as many Al Qaida "persons of interest" as we have, and while they might have occasionally been operationally involved with Al Qaida such relationships appear to be on the wane.

To be fair, the fact is that Iran, while DEFINITELY it's pursuing it's own national interests, and the Islamic Republic being no historical friend of the US, I suspect, it could be a whole lot worse.


To be fair some of the notable concerns of late, are not heartening but their are also indicative of what might be expected from any regional major power which is not totally in love with the US or US interests.

Iranians were helped by the triple-agent Ahmed Chalabi to fatally compromise US national security in the Iraq war with respect to Iran and other governments in the region.

Chalabi himself was once (and still is in some circles) touted by Neocons' as the best candidate for Iraqi president, and has worked both for and against Iraqi, Iranian and US intelligence interests.

President Ahmadinejad has made rhetorically inflammatory or otherwise unconstructive statements at nearly every opportunity.

Nevertheless, Iran currently has a legitimate and real energy shortage of oil and gas internally and therefore has a legitimate need to develop it's nuclear resources.

However while the aggressive development of centrifuge infrastructure and productions really do point towards a distinct possibility of weapons production intent than peaceful purpose.

Would we be so concerned if it was Japan or Indonesia or the Philippines or anyplace else not so geographically close to Israel, I frankly just don't think so.

On the matter of Iran finally, if push came to shove, how fast could Pakistani sympathizers in the ISI fly in a couple of nukes in support of the "revolution". So plainly speaking our angst and hype and warmongering is a waste of time.

Within the US, there is definitely the tyranny of conformity and commercialization of our political and public discourse which has all but eliminated healthy discussion on any number of subjects, this however is only exacerbated by the political parties and is only indirectly caused by various policies supporting monopolies and consolidations.

As far as hard tyranny, I suspect Mr. Bush and Co have blown their wad as far as the use of the Bully Pulpit, for domestic affairs. So barring another 9/11 or similar type event, this Administration is mercifully unable to exact any further constitutional damage, however, the precedents made and damage done, will probably be of a more lasting or permanent nature.

This administration took several sacred objects of the US public trust (the US stance on torture or human rights and aspects of our environment) and pretty much trashed them for political expedience turning them from points of national pride to political ping-pongs - fair game to be movable objects in the political "marketplace" of ideas.

Answer 5

The severity of tyranny in our country, lets see, the last time I checked you can buy a ticket and leave at any time you please. You consider that tyranny? Just what more could you want, the Gov, to BUY you the ticket? One day, and it will be soon, you will know what tyranny is, but then my friend, it will be far too late, and people like you will bring it upon this nation.

Answer 6

In my 38 years I have yet to feel this tyranny you speak of? Unless you count the time when I was 16 and my old man wouldn't let me borrow the car, he could be real tyrant!

Get over it... in a year and a half W will be gone and the great Democratic savior will be in office and then what will you complain about? Of course the American people as disgusted with Bush as they are may just decide to vote for a Republican any ways and you could keep on whining.

Answer 7

Welcome to reality and the bush administration. When the two collide the results are very ugly. I also remember how hate killed Martin Luther King Jr, how hate killed JFK, RFK and attempts on Ronnie Reagan. Hate is not a problem of Islam, it is a universal problem. Maybe we should talk instead of the fighting.

Answer 8

Maybe you have...what are you doing to stop it? I teach ESL and foreign languages to kids to have a more sensitive view to the rest of the world. I know many like me.

Answer 9

Yes.

Answer 10

Busche JUST SAT THERE !! He is GUILTY as Charged. Game, Set, Maatch.... CASE CLOSED !! http://www.911stuff.com/play-4414-911_Timeline.html http://www.911stuff.com/play-4411-Illuminati_9_11.html http://www.pentagonresearch.com/conclusions.html