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cintune
climber
Penn's Woods
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Feb 13, 2007 - 07:03pm PT
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Islamofascism is defined by the New Oxford American Dictionary as "a controversial term equating some modern Islamic movements with the European fascist movements of the early twentieth century."
Simple queston, simple answer.
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cintune
climber
Penn's Woods
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Feb 13, 2007 - 08:18pm PT
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Yeah, it's a war of words. Calling BushCo fascist is equally misleading, though, really. Corporatists, yeah, but they don't hold a candle to Mussolini and his home boys. But I'll still take western pluralism over that fundie Muslim bullshit any day.
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JuanDeFuca
Big Wall climber
Stoney Point
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Feb 14, 2007 - 12:56am PT
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Multinational Corporations are your Friend.
JDF
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Wonder
climber
WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 14, 2007 - 01:02am PT
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This thread is now degenerating into now sniping at each other. Does anyone care if I delete this one?
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Wonder
climber
WA
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 14, 2007 - 01:18am PT
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Ok no problem. cont.
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leinosaur
Trad climber
burns flat, ok
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Feb 14, 2007 - 02:13am PT
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" Calling BushCo fascist is equally misleading, though, really. Corporatists, yeah, but they don't hold a candle to Mussolini and his home boys. "
Mussolini defined fascism as a marriage between the corporation and the state.
Regarding mines in Iraq check out "Turtles can Fly," the first movie produced in post-invasion Iraq. The setting is northern Iraq - Kurdistan, just before and after Saddam's fall from power, when the US was still viewed as a liberating force.
It's not a political deal, just a story. The protagonist is a kid called "Satellite," a 10-to-12-year-old businessman who knows how to set up satellites so the refugee villages can get the news.
A lot of un-lovely things happen in the film, but that's life, is it not? Certainly in Iraq. Here's a kick-ass link to real reporting from Iraq that crossfit.com turned me on to: [url]http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/walking-the-line-2007-part-one.htm[/url]
Another main character in "Turtles can Fly" lacks arms, presumably due to working in a minefield, which all the kids in the film do for money. They then sell the mines at the "gun show" end of the bazaar, and of course the American mines fetch maximum Dinars.
Interesting film, worth a look. Another recent well-made war film (WWI)is "A Very Long Engagement" made in France with the same director and most of the cast from Amelie.
Back to the OP, the picture called to mind other families who are not so lucky. The proud marine in the picture is not only alive, but STANDING! The woman in the picture is fortunate indeed, and best wishes to the happy couple.
As for her expression: who doesn't look like that in at least one photo? I know I have. Not the dress, so much.
Regarding Largo's liberal/conservative observation, while I agree with his sentiment, and am reminded of a point he made a while ago regarding argumentative dynamics and folks caring more about asserting their "rightness" than finding out the whole story (corrolary of waiting for one's chance to talk vs. listening), I think they're two of the most interesting words in politics. They've each gotten so far from the meaning of their root words, and have so many interpretations as to have become essentially meaningless.
To a self-defined "liberal," the term "liberal" probably brings to mind liberty, freedom, power to the people. To a self-defined "conservative" the term "liberal" is likely to equate with high taxes, "self-esteem" parenting and general naivety.
"Conservative" to a self-styled "conservative" probably brings to mind core values, respect, and a simpler time, while a "liberal" might think "conservatives" just want to either conserve their wealth, or enforce narrow-minded dogma, and to hell with everybody else.
It's easier to set up a "them" to blame everything on, than to seek "truth" or even multiple perspectives on a given matter.
It seems evident that the current, polarized state of the mass media is both symptom and catalyst of an ailing democracy, which would do well to kick the money-changers out of the temple. I'd wager most on the slate for '08 wish they could afford to think and feel rather than raise funds 24/7, but by the time one finds hIrself in office, they'll know only too well who their "real friends" are, and what favors will be required, or stati quo maintained, for the funding to happen again.
But, hope springs eternal and our laws and Constitution are nothing if not flexible. If the non-voting half to two-thirds of eligible Americans would eschew apathy, pull back the quasi-moral veneer and demand candidates with both heart and mind in gear, who knows what could happen?
Peace,
Rob
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