Is there a cure out there?

Even in the 21st century we still face many epidemic diseases – the worst of which is Nationalism.

-Just a peasant

Digital art by Frank Picini

Brain Damage and the Neocons

Neurophysiology can be especially interesting, though sad, when it sheds light on characteristic human traits. A recent study begins to decipher some of the brain wiring associated with empathy; a primary component of morals.

“The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and private sources, suggests that an aversion to hurting others is hard-wired into the brain.”

Essentially, it indicates that those people, who conclude that it is acceptable to sacrifice the lives of a few people to save other people, have brain damage. Yes – brain damage. Now one of the theoretical scenarios presented to the participants involved killing one person for the “greater good” of others. People with intact brains have a definite problem with this while people with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex do not. Perhaps it has something to do with "the greater good" since there is often a large ambiguity associated with the idea of the “greater good.”

For instance, consider this 1855 excerpt from the pro-slavery author William John Grayson:

“I do not say that Slavery is the best system of labour, but only that it is the best for the negro, in this country.”

William John Grayson and many others supported the institution of slavery for Africans and African-Americans because it was for the “greater good” of both black people and America.

For the “greater good” of the world, the Nazis agreed that all Jews must be destroyed as the “Final Solution.” Here is an excerpt from the diary of Hitler’s propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels:

“In respect of the Jewish Question, the Führer has decided to make a clean sweep. He prophesied to the Jews that if they again brought about a world war, they would experience their annihilation in it.” (December 12th, 1941)

And for the “greater good” of the world there was a war on communism with Viet Nam as one of the main battlefields. Here is President Nixon’s tape-recorded comment to Henry Kissinger about concerns over the killing of Vietnamese civilians:

"You're so goddamned concerned about the civilians and I don’t give a damn! I don’t care.”

Therefore, I contend that if you believe that killing civilians is justified because you are bringing them democracy (or communism or religion or whatever you're selling that day) – you have brain damage.

Do you see my point yet? It is much more likely that a person with an intact brain will expend energy on all avenues to avoid war and the death of ANY persons while brain damaged people, and those with a hard-wiring deficiency, will justify many reasons to go to war.

So if you're one of these right-wing neocons, or even a left-wing totalitarianist, you need to seriously re-evaluate your system of ethics because you're not playing with a full deck.

-Just a peasant

Photo of Chinese soldiers executing Tibetan civilians for the "greater good" of the Communist state. I assure you, as later photos showed, they did pull the trigger.

The Culture of Coulter

"As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice... And if there is anything which could demonstrate that we are acting rightly it is the distress that daily grows. For as a Christian I have also a duty to my own people." - Adolf Hitler (April 12th, 1922)

One thing I have learned about people is that if they are comfortable using the word “faggot” then they are just as comfortable around the terms “nigger” and “spic” and “fucking Jews.” It has nothing to do with satire – not in this country. Make no mistake about their private conversations and beliefs. What moderate Republicans should be concerned with is the blasé acceptance, by their political leaders, of the gutter rhetoric of their primary spokespeople like Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh. It’s no compliment to Democrats either, their own smug reliance on similar radio absurdity. It will, and should, impact negatively on their images. Remember, these people hang out together at their own politically exclusive social gatherings and fund raising events. What is that old saying - Birds of a feather flock together?

Yet the concern I speak of is not about certain people acquiring an arrogant sense of entitlement as though they were the royalty this country was founded against. It is instead, the concern that these people, who pretend to entitlement, speak and behave like common gang bangers and convicted felons. They pretend that they are seekers of political discourse and seekers of truth when in fact they seek nothing more than a drive-by shooting. When the rules of civility and decency become a joke then the principles of your nation, this nation, have been subverted and compromised.

In all fairness, some Republican politicians do issue sentiments against such ridiculous statements but it’s just not enough. It’s not enough to get that ashen taste out of our mouths. It's not enough to silence the ringing in our ears. History has showed us others who expressed only simple indecencies during the day but turn to murderous rage by night. Ultimately, we know the Culture of Coulter and what its followers secretly long for – the photo above says it all.

- Just a peasant

Photo of two teenagers in modern Iran (2005) executed for being gay

I Sing the Democratic Lame

What is my opinion of politicians? See here. And although the victory of the Democratic Party was hailed as “everything is going to change” I strongly disagreed. Already the dance continues for the Democrats: cowardly and divided.

The essential force spinning the Democrats back into control was both the need to END our participation in Iraq and a realization that the Bush administration had misled the country into the war. Typical of political dances, the Democrats performed beautiful foxtrots to convince the public that they would change all of that. Well they haven’t. They continue to avoid any real confrontation with the very persons they were elected to confront. Nothing has changed.

You’ll see in this article a “new” plan whereby troops are allowed more time to “rest” before redeployment but which the Emperor Bush can “waive the rules” if he deems it in the national best interest. Yes, that’s right – no timeline set and Bush can still wantonly pencil in changes to laws. So how have things changed with the Democrats controlling the houses? Oh yes, they’re also going to make sure that the soldiers have proper equipment and even training. Wow! How generous and big of you. Proper equipment is something that should have already happened four years ago and should now have criminal repercussions in its failure to occur.

At the same time, the Republicans call this new measure, and any measures like it, a “slow bleed” on the war. Of course this is a statement made by condescending buffoons. To my Republican Overlords and their media-sheep, I will remind them that the real “bleeding” is primarily a red fluid that leaks out of soldiers and civilians in a war zone. Your analogy is gratuitously pathetic. Incidentally, you know what really demoralizes soldiers besides having a bull’s eye painted on their uniform? Fighting a war that should never have been and which has no end.

Everyday these same Democrats stress that we need to show support for our troops. Perhaps because everyday in Iraq, Juba might have you in his sights or the next sound you hear might be an IED or there is a clip of small caliber bullets with your name and address on them. Everyday, US troops have their lives put at risk. Yet these Democrats - these political dancers - are too afraid to risk even their tiny jobs. You understand of course, that if a soldier loses the day, he or she loses their life. If a politician loses his or her congressional “job” they simply return to a relatively lucrative private life. That’s right - with the exception of Power - they actually would lose very little and certainly not their life.

We wanted to change the music but still the Democrats dance and refuse to yield the floor. Still they waltz large circles of higher principles and grand designs. Still they praise the courage and sacrifice of soldiers while they themselves will not even make the smaller sacrifice - their political careers. Did you really think their true priorities could be otherwise?

You might call it sad – I call it typical.

- Just a peasant

Photo from Tango Dialogo