AMERICAN DREAM PT.2 REAGAN NIGHTMARE

 

Americans want to put Ronald Reagan on Mount Rushmore. Again and again he ranks high in their  popular memory. Jimmy Carter however correctly called him one of the worst presidents in US history, leaving behind a federal debt equal to all his predecessors combined. His legacy as well was was the Pax Americana’s last gasp—US bullying particularly in Latin America. His thuggery in Grenada, Panama, Nicaragua, Salvador and Guatemala made Americans feel good after the trauma of Vietnam.

But his real success was in foisting deregulation on a pliant Congress, removing all checks and balances on am already privileged people living well beyond their means. In 1986 Reagan had a chance to solve the oil crisis we face now by instituting modest regulations on oil addiction. He went the other way fulfilling the wishes of his huge backers the oil companies, Cars got bigger and bigger. Small minds like Lee Iacocca were feted. Corporate pirates were lionized. the Japanese began to develop fuel efficient cars. Wind and solar power were ignored.

During this time the poor were scapegoated. Welfare queens (read blacks) were excoriated. Unions were broken while government handouts to the wealthy continued. Tax cuts for the rich and tax breaks for corporations was the sacred creed. The Reagan Revolution of deregulation was in full swing. Environmental safeguards were gutted in the US and around the world. The Market became a religion.

Today’s economic catastrophes symbolizied by Freddie and Fanny-Lack of oversight of mortage lenders, energy brokers, accounting firms, and banks which has resulted in the housing crisis, energy crisis, Enron, Worldcom, Bear Stearns can be laid at the Great Communicator’s feet and tarred legacy.

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The American Dream pt.1

George Carlin hit the nail on the head when he said, “They call it the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

An Yanks have been asleep for decades believing it their right as 4% of the globe to consume about 40% of the world’s resources.This is the major American myth which consumes all other myths including the one myth which could counteract it—the biblical myth enshrined in the churches and synagogues.

The sub prime mortgage catastrophe is simply the latest blow to the Myth.

But this is simply part 2—part one was the savings and Loans debacle under George Bush l. Trillions were lost  as ordinary Americans were asked to pony up for the berserk lending habits of the banks which took local monies out of their  communities and speculated in property all over the country.

The main culprit was Ronald Reagan, the puppet spokesman for his corporate friends.

This ugly virus is called deregulation.

Tory government salutes Uncle Sam

Once again the will of Canadians is thwarted by a US friendly government.

The most recent  poll indicated that 64% of Ontarians said, “Let him stay.”

Robin Long was arrested in Nelson B.C. last Friday and is threatened with deportation as early as Tuesday, July 15. We must act quickly to ensure the government does not deport him before a federal judge issues a stay order.

 

At what was expected to be a routine detention hearing, it was revealed that a negative decision had been issued on Robin’s Pre-Removal Risk Assessment in early May; but the information was never communicated to either Robin or his counsel. The refusal of the federal government to stop deportations, and actions taken by the Canadian Border Services Agency, make it clear the Canadian government wishes to get rid of the conscientious objectors as soon as possible contrary to the views of a majority of Canadians and the will of Parliament.

SEND To: robertages@dccnet.com

SUBJECT LINE: For Robin Long

Robert will ensure Robin receives your message of support and encouragement. 

Please also do the following:

1. Send this email to your lists

2. Call or email Immigration and Citizenship Minister Diane Finley,613.996.4974,

finley.d@parl.gc.ca OR finled1@parl.gc.ca

and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, 613.992.4211, pm@pm.gc.ca

Ask them to stop the deportations and uphold the June 3rd motion in Parliament calling for sanctuary in Canada for all war resisters.

NDP immigration critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) and NDP MP Alex Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior) are calling on the Harper government to reexamine their decision to deport Long and allow him to stay in Canada.

“Canada has always been a country that stands up for basic human rights. Conscientious objectors who have fled George W. Bush’s illegal war in Iraq should be allowed to stay,” said Chow.

“Two war resisters’ cases are currently before the Supreme Court of Canada,” pointed out Atamanenko. “No one should be arrested or deported before the Court has a chance to make a decision.”

 

Embarrassing to be a Harperite Canadian

It’s getting harder and harder to hold our heads high on the international stage with “Stevie” Harper as PM.

The G8 Summit  was a good example. All reports indicate Canadian government has embarassed us all by blocking progress on poverty, climate change and chintzy Third World Aid.

As many critics pointed out Canada and US, also opposed mid-term targets for greenhouse gas reductions, a 50% reduction target by 2050, a time when all the current G8 leaders will be long gone and the world will be at a full boil.

Harper has yet to grasp that any talk of “harm to the economy” has to be integrated within “The Great Economy” of Creation which has sustained us for billions of years. There is no economy if the The Great Ecological Economy is shattered and as Black Elk said a long time ago: The scared hoop is broken. Not for Harper—a few short years ago global warming was a “socialist plot.”

And we’ve doubled foreign aid!

Wow—but we give virtually nothing now  and are promising $490 billion to the military in the next 20 years.

It is interesting that the “secular” prophets like David Suzuki and Maude Barlow are screaming like the biblical prophets of old who cared little about liturgy or prayer if the poor (and now the earth) were in bondage.

And then there is the cowardly failure to protest the continued incarceration of Omar Kadr, the boy soldier.Even his military lawyer in Guantanamo blew a gasket at our failure to protect one of our own citizens. 

 

U.S. navy Lt.-Cmdr. Bill Kuebler flayed Canada over the plight of Toronto-born Khadr, who was 15 when U.S. forces seized him in Afghanistan following a firefight.

 

“You (should) stand up for the rights of a Canadian citizen, you follow the law, you do the right thing, you stop taking your orders from the Bush administration,” Kuebler charged. ”You also stop being the last western leader to subsidize a clearly failed policy at Guantanamo Bay.”

 This is poodle stuff unworthy of a Canadian.

As well Harper continues to fan the flames of intolerance in Israel with his blind support of the Occupation and his refusal to hear the cries of the Palestinian people.

 

I always liked Tecumseh and somebody in Toronto did too. They named the extension of my street Palmerston after him.Of course it was in the days of our close links with Mother Albion, yet nevertheless  this is my doff of the cap to a Canadian of note as we remember the glorious first of July.

Brother  T  a Shawnee Indian joined the British side against the imperial ambition of the Yankees and was killed near Thamesville Ontario on Oct. 5,1813. He was but 45 but the brother packed a lot of wisdom into those years.

Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about his religion. Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and of service to your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place. Show respect to all people, but grovel to none. When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.

Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.” 

 

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The glorious First of July

Once again I was so proud to be an understated Canadian.

On my usual walk I only saw one flag and it was hoisted by a delightful 7 year old child. Other than that, nothing.The usual hoopla in Ottawa and fireworks in the big TO but no rousing speeches as we enjoyed the day like good old sober Canadians always do—relaxing.

Contrast this mature humility with the tale John told me.

A man was waiting to see a local lawyer who was busy. Fine he said I’ll just pop into the bar across the street and grab a sandwich and a beer. Inside  at the bar was one of those cowboys replete with his 10 gallon job. Sure enough he was from Texas. They started to talk about the US election and Obama and Johnny Canuck told the Texan what he thought of W—one of the biggest losers ever to be in the White House. The Texan simply said, “If you were in Texas and said that, I’d kill you.”

“The rockets red glare….”

I’ll take the glorious first of July.

Let them stay

 64% of Canadians say “LET THEM STAY”

According to a new Angus Reid national poll, two thirds of Canadians want Canada to grant permanent residence status to U.S. Iraq war resisters. The poll was conducted June 6-7, 2008, after Parliament passed a motion calling on the government to make a provision to allow war resisters to stay in Canada and to cease all deportation and removal proceedings that are already underway. See the full results of the poll.

Thirty-seven years ago my spouse and I came to Canada from the United States because of the illegal war being waged by the United States in Vietnam.  Since then as an affordable housing activist and public health nurse we have spent our working lives giving back to the Canadian people in thanks for the hospitality and safe haven we and other war resisters were shown by this great country.  Please add our names to the list of those who are asking the Prime Minister to stop the deportation and removal proceedings against U.S. Iraq War conscientious objector Corey Glass, who have come to Canada seeking similar refuge.  

 

On June 3rd the Parliament of Canada, consistent with it’s stance of the last 70 years since the second world war, passed a motion which called on the Government of Canada to allow U.S. conscientious objectors who have left military service related to the illegal invasion of Iraq, and their immediate family members, to stay in Canada and become permanent productive residents, and to immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals.

 The federal government’s July 10 deportation order against Glass is still in effect, creating enormous stress, anxiety and turmoil for him and for all the conscientious objectors and their families who are hoping the government will be guided by the will of Parliament.

 

Parliament’s long held position on this matter, confirmed again on June 3rd, should continue to be honoured and respected.

 Yours truly,

Jim and Sandra  Murphy

Catholic leadership missing in action

At present there is an effort to pressure the government to follow the wish of Parliament to allow American conscientious objector Corey Glass to remain in Canada. The War Resisters are spearheading the effort. They contacted me to see if there were Catholics who were sufficiently interested in “resisting war” and supporting Glass. I forwarded several names whom I thought might sign and several did.  As well I forwarded the request to a United Church minister who moved quickly. Completely absent from this endeavour is the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. Individual priests have signed but it is highly dubious that the pastors among them they would run with this in their congregations. The “risk free”gospel still abounds.

Feel free to contact Lynn Simmons if you wish to sign.

The Minister writes as follows:

I am writing to advise you, as officers of ******* United Church, that this minister has added his name to a list of those who are asking the Prime Minister to stop the deportation of conscientious objector Corey Glass.
More detail is attached. A list of faith community leaders who have also signed is below. 
My letter is as follows:
 
Dear Lynn;
 
Please add my name to the list of those in faith communities who are asking the Prime Minister to stop the deportation and removal proceedings against U.S. Iraq War conscientious objector Corey Glass, who came to Canada seeking refuge.
 
On June 3rd the Parliament of Canada passed a motion which called on the Government of Canada to allowU.S. conscientious objectors who have left military service related to the illegal invasion of Iraq, and their immediate family members, to stay inCanada and be able to become permanent residents, and to immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals.
 
The federal governments July 10 deportation order against Glass is still in effect, creating enormous stress, anxiety and turmoil for him and for all the conscientious
objectors and their families who are hoping the government will be guided by the will of Parliament.
 
Yours truly,

 
REPLY TO lynn.simmons@sympatico.ca 
 
Can you sign?
 
Subject: URGENT -PLEASE ADVISE ASAP July 10 deportation order Conscientious Objector, Corey Glass
 
 
Can you sign your names as possible signatories to the Faith Community statement and appeal to the Prime Minister which I have attached. Since the first deportation of one of the Iraq War resisters who have sought asylum in Canada is set for July 10 time is of the essence. I am attaching the statement and list of signatories below as well as our most recent media release. Reach me at any time at email or phone number below. If you wish to take the initiative by gathering signatories please do! No need to stand on any formality and we naturally welcome all support. Thank you all.
 
Signatories to date:
Meridale Dewar (Dr.)
Clerk, Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Svetlana S. MacDonald (Dr.)
Clerk, Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)
Donald G. Peters
Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee Canada
Nora Sanders
General Secretary, The United Church of Canada
(Fr.) Paul E. Hansen
Redemptorist Fathers Justice Desk
The Very Reverend the Hon. Lois M Wilson, C.C.
Ecumenist in Residence, Toronto School of Theology
Ted Schmidt
Editor new catholic times: sensus fidelium
 

$490 billion on defense? Are we nuts?

 

When will this interminable hagiography of Rick Hillier stop?

On June 28 Canada’s paper of record,the Globe and Mail  profiled, in adulatory terms “the straight talking general”  Rick “Kill the scumbags” Hilier, the chief of defense defender of the War in Afghanistan. Here the puff piece was out of touch with most Canadians’ sentiments. Polls show we still don’t buy our role in Afghanistan. We continue to be a nation of peaceniks who cringe at our change in the role of our armed forces. And now we have the dead to prove it, not to mention “the highway of heroes.”

Hillier the loquacious Newfoundlander fulfilled his role as the poster boy for the Harper government’s outrageous plan to spend $490 billion on defence in  the next 20 years.

Think about it.$490 billion—a lot of infrastructure will rot, environment will be degraded, foreign age will continue to plunge in order to protect ourselves from whom? The churches should be screaming about this awful squandering of money.

$490 billion? Have we gone insane?

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Carlin, Catholic iconoclast

George Carlin was a giant of comedy, a trail blazer and better described like Alan Watts as “a standup philosopher.” The only one close is Robin Williams.Larry King devoted an hour to Carlin the day after his death. Other comics had their say about what made Carlin tick. Jerry Seinfeld was absolutely lame while Lewis Black and Bill Maher made the most sense mainly because their comedy, unlike Seinfeld’s, actually makes a point. As Maher said  after you take out the laughs you actually heard a thought provoking lecture.

George Carlin was a natural contrarian, a man who distrusted all organizations but from all reports in his personal relationships, honoured everybody’s dignity. He probably was THE successor to Lenny Bruce who we know was hounded to death by the thought police.In a sense Bruce paved the way for Carlin. But not for Dennis Miller a smart ass who has used his gifts to suck up to imperial power rather than challenge it.

The last time I saw Carlin was about a decade ago and then he was spiralling into misanthropy, becoming dark-yet outrageously funny. 

That night I saw him eviscerate the obsessive lifestyle consumerism of North America. It was brutal. The pony tailed, cell phone at the hip “boys” in front of me were howling at his comments but as George increasingly got closer to the bone—particularly about “white guys who shave their head” the laughter got very uneasy. The awareness grew that this ain’t so funny anymore, that George was actually cutting them a new rectum. He was Dean Swift brought back to life. This was about the same time that Carlin’s wife had died so I presumed he was suffering a lot.

I have not seen anywhere Carlin’s debt to his Catholic school upbringing in Morningside Heights. I maintain that this was a key to his whole comedic orientation.

George Carlin was not shy in taking on “bad religion.” And he got plenty of it in the pre-Vatican classrooms of the late 40s. An Irish Mick he found himself in Catholic schools till he was tossed out and it showed in his comedic writings and rantings.

Carlin quite correctly skewered the “invisible man in the sky” who watches over us all the time—”big time major league bs.” This god “has 10 things he does not want you to do…and if you do them he will send you to the special place of fire, burning and anguish—-but He loves you! And He needs money.He’s all wise but he just can’t handle money.

I really tried to believe in this guy but  something is wrong—war— disease, hunger, filth..,something is wrong. This is not good work. This is what you can expect from an  office temp with a bad attitude. Now I say “this guy” he has to be a man—no woman could f… it up like this.” Well maybe Thatcher and Hilary Clinton but we get the point. We need a feminist god. The male sky god who blessed wars has had his day.

Carlin’s take on petitionary prayer could profitably be played in seminaries rather than promoting Karl Barth’s take on theodicy. God gets “Trillions of prayers—new car,success etc. Usually on sunday—His day off! Why are these people praying when God has a divine plan? How arrogant of them.Do they expect God to change His plan because of their prayers…and what if prayers were not answered?…”

Carlin was one smart observer of humanity and as it turns out, very bad theology. He pointed out the logical inconsistencies of so much human thought and activity. Did he profer solutions? No…but maybe that was not not his role. He sure made you think and he was unlike Dennis Miller (now there’s a real cynic) consistently on the side of the little guy.

I am sure if you had asked him to think through his Catholic parochial school upbringing he might even admit that the great commitment those nuns  made to the poor of New York city, in the end spoke louder than their patently inadequate theology.