There is no doubt that Julian Assange, the head of the WikiLeaks organization, and Bradley Manning, the soldier who allegedly leaked U.S. classified documents, are being singled out and made examples of by the Obama administration.
It is not a given that there is a "democratic" society in the US, but we have something we call by that name.
The efforts of the media together with other forces Noam Chomsky calls THOUGHT CONTROL. Chomsky has written on this extensively in many works.
In DETERRING DEMOCRACY Chomsky writes on page 6 as follows:
"The concept of thought control in democratic societies --- or for that matter, the structuring of options by hierarchic and coercive private institutions--- seems contradictory on its face.
A society is democratic to the extent that its citizens play a meaningful role in managing public affairs.
If their thought is controlled, or their options are narrowly restricted, then evidently they are not playing a meaningful role: only the controllers, and those they serv e, are doing so...
The rest is sham, formal motions without meaning..."
The US claims (endlessly) that it is democratic and promotes "democracy" abroad only if the and its allies win.
The uncovering of any other outcomes which do not fit the myths we wish to create are considered criminal.
Julian Assange is only one example of one who uncovers.
Already known are many other examples from events today as well as in the past.
Uncovering the development and uses of torture, of covert actions, of our conduct in wars, of our so-called "diplomacy" is always unpleasant.
One may go on a date but reading of the lurid details in the paper the next day is not enjoyable.
All uncoverings do not warrant your attention ---or mine.
Besides, we all know deep down that we have ourselves participated in coverups.
But here's to the Julian Assanges of this world and to others who have dared to enable us to see if we only have the nerve to look.
1 comment:
SHAM
It is not a given that there is
a "democratic" society in the US,
but we have something we call
by that name.
The efforts of the media together
with other forces Noam Chomsky
calls THOUGHT CONTROL. Chomsky
has written on this extensively
in many works.
In DETERRING DEMOCRACY Chomsky
writes on page 6 as follows:
"The concept of thought control
in democratic societies --- or for
that matter, the structuring of
options by hierarchic and coercive
private institutions--- seems
contradictory on its face.
A society is democratic to the
extent that its citizens play a
meaningful role in managing public
affairs.
If their thought is controlled, or
their options are narrowly
restricted, then evidently they
are not playing a meaningful role:
only the controllers, and those
they serv e, are doing so...
The rest is sham, formal motions
without meaning..."
The US claims (endlessly) that
it is democratic and promotes
"democracy" abroad only if the
and its allies win.
The uncovering of any other
outcomes which do not fit the
myths we wish to create are
considered criminal.
Julian Assange is only one
example of one who uncovers.
Already known are many other
examples from events today
as well as in the past.
Uncovering the development and
uses of torture, of covert
actions, of our conduct in
wars, of our so-called "diplomacy"
is always unpleasant.
One may go on a date but reading
of the lurid details in the
paper the next day is not
enjoyable.
All uncoverings do not warrant your
attention ---or mine.
Besides, we all know deep down
that we have ourselves participated
in coverups.
But here's to the Julian Assanges
of this world and to others who
have dared to enable us to see
if we only have the nerve to look.
email:peterloeb@yahoo.com
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