A quote that well explains the extreme measures of terrorist thinking. In his book, "Reality vs. Subjectivity" Dr. Hawkins has this to say about ego:
"The ego is not only unable to correctly access situations that are fatal but it even willingly sacrifices life for its own ends. The ego is therefore potentially deadly and would rather 'see you dead than admit it is wrong. . . The ego is intran sigent in that it fails to learn from its mistakes. Failed policies are reinstated repeatedly, even in the face of major catastrophe, and the justification is almost always a resort to some moralistic catch phrase that services the political gains of the propagandists who exploit the gullibility of the naive public."
. . . “If Obama wants to support gay equality, he knows what to do. If Pelosi and Reid want to support gay equality, they know what to do. If HRC believes in gay equality, they also know what to do. So spare us the schmoozing and the sweet-talking and do it. Until then, Mr. President, why don't you have a nice steaming cup of shut-the-fuck-up?” -Andrew Sullivan
In the media everyone is the same size. Whether it’s OJ Simpson or Joe the Plumber. Everyone and everything becomes trivial. How can the viewer discern what is an important story?
Technology gives people the feeling they are more powerful (like Batman and his utility belt) than they really are, that’s why gadgets are so popular, but it’s a false sense of power.
“Gay people should be free to marry and other people should be free to believe that our same-sex marriages are wrong because their religion forbids it or because that's how they were raised or because they just think it's icky. Just because same-sex marriage is legal doesn't mean that everyone is required to approve. Interracial marriage is legal despite the disapproval of some; inter-faith marriage is legal despite the strong and sometimes violent disapproval of most religious traditions; divorce is legal despite the disapproval of Jesus Christ himself and despite being forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church. Gay people want the same deal interracial couples, inter-faith couples, and divorced-and-remarried couples all have now: our marriages should be legal even if some people disapprove.” Dan Savage
Once upon a time, I, Chuang Tzu, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was tzu. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.
There was a lot being said after the idiot with the bomb in his underwear botched his ticket to martyrdom.
Security theater indeed. More like bad dinner theater. I knew from the moment TSA was formed it would be a joke and a huge waste of money. I am so tired of the agency talking about the seriousness of security ( which is important) only have something like this happen to prove what ignorant dumb fucks these people really are.
You know who takes security seriously? The Israeli's. Do we hear about this kind of incompetence in other countries? No. We still think our country is invincible despite 9/11 so we don't need to be vigilant like Europe and the Middle East where they deal with these dangers every day. Shlomo Dror, an Israeli air-security expert, had it right in 2002 when he said: “The United States does not have a security system; it has a system for bothering people.”
The effect of the Patriot Act and Homeland Security gave intelligence agencies carte blanc to spy on American citizens. Another attack on this country will simply be used as an excuse to increase it's spying on us rather than actually stopping the terrorists. - My comments on Stranger blog about TSA security breach 12/8/09
Eisenhower warned of the excess of government and the military-industrial complex 60 years ago:
“in the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."
“stick to politics Wanda, I don't need celebrities to tell me what to think about political issues. CBS is a private corporation and has a right to decide their programming. The Super bowl is a family show and most people don't want to have to explain why two men are kissing to their children. That's not a personal statement on my part, that's a fact.” -Huffington post blog comment on Wanda Sykes critic of CBS banning a gay dating ad on the super bowl.
My reply:
The commentator has offered a typically pedantic response. Let's take a closer look at the rhetoric, shall we.
"CBS is a private corporation and has a right to decide their programming" the networks broadcast over the public airwaves. The FCC and profits, more than anything, determine what gets aired.
"The Super bowl is a family show" A family show where steroid injected athletes violently crash into each other while fans yell obscenities and consume large quantities of food and beer. Oooookay.
"most people don't want to have to explain why two men are kissing to their children. That's not a personal statement on my part, that's a fact."
Explaining uncomfortable things to your children is the job of a parent. You are perfectly free to tell them such behavior is immoral. Unless you have the right to speak for other people -which you don't, your last statement is an opinion- intellectually limited- but still an opinion.
