Independent Progressive Thought

Go to IraqBodyCount.net and take a look. I am sure I speak for many of us when I say that the last time I looked at this site the maximum number of casualties on this page wasn a lot less (about 1600). I haven't looked at it for a few days because everyone acts like the war is over and everything is fine once again. The maximum number of dead now stands at an astronomical 2300. It is interesting that the media seem to think that it was such a minimal loss of life. When the same sort of thing happened in New York, it was a tragedy of cosmic proportions. Just to be clear, New York was no less a tragedy, but certainly no more. Just because the people who died in New York added more to global productivity, does not make their lives more valuable. The Iraqis that died are just as dead as the victims in New York.

posted by Nashib @ 10:15 PM

So should celebrities be voicing their opinions on political matters or not ? There are few more ridiculous questions than this (there are lots that are equally ridiculous and inconsequential). In the speech 'A Chill Wind is Blowing in This Nation...' given by actor Tim Robbins to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2003, appearing on CommonDreams.org, he makes a number of excellent points. Each comment he makes is important, well stated and probably too complex for Dubya to comprehend. He addresses a number of issues from the patriotism of the common people to the role of the media in the republic and lots of stuff in between. He also highlights the direct and indirect intimidation faced by people who speak out against this war. This article really should be read in its entirety.

posted by Nashib @ 9:40 PM

How hollow does this "victory" ring.
The unthinkable is becoming normal. Do not forget the horror - by John Pilger, The Independent/UK, 20 April 2003 highlights a great number of problems with the current attitude of the mainstream press about the "resounding victory"[sic] of the coalition forces. This article is a must read.

He makes a good point about how one charitable act on the part of the coalition are going to be blown way out of proportion and then all the blissfully ignorant people (most of their own choosing) are going to go on their merry way believing that their troops are off doing good work. It also shows the hypocrisy of both the media and the coalition. It tells how thousands of tons of aid is being blocked during all this madness and of course there is no mention of this in mainstream media and especially TV based news programs.

posted by Nashib @ 4:55 PM