IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME

POSTING COMMENTS IS NOW FREE & OPEN TO ALL just click on the COMMENTS button at the end of each post, then on the POST A COMMENT button on the next page. Suggestion: add your name or nik, and feel free to link it to your site and/or email addy PLEASE use this address for private communications: cosanostradamusATexciteDOTcom (AT = @ DOT = . ) thanks

NOTE: WE NOW HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT, FOR ANYONE WHO CARES TO HELP US GET BACK ONLINE HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
Please write for details.

[SEE ALSO: "GEOFFREY'S RANTS".]

TO POST A COMMENT: CLICK ON "COMMENTS," "Post a Comment" or "# of COMMENTS" just below the SOCIAL BOOKMARKING LINKS (Digg, Delicious, etc), about three inches down from here. Please do comment. Thank you.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM YOUR BLOGGERS:

Suggestion Box & Tip Jar We would like to make over this blog to make it easier to access, to read and to comment on. We would also like to serve our readers better by providing more of what you need and want to see. All serious suggestions will be considered. We hope to move to our own domain in the near future, and we would like to ask for your financial assistance in doing that, and in upgrading our hardware & software. Small one-time donations and larger long-term subscriptions are welcome. Exclusive advertising is also available. If you think we are wasting our time in doing all this, please let us know. If you wish to help us, now is the time. As always, negative bullsh*t from right-wing trolls will be sh*tcanned. Thank you to everyone else. Please send feedback & PayPal contributions to cosanostradamusATexciteDOTcom. Thanks.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: BRING THEM ALL HOME ALIVE, NOW!

TO PROFILE OR NOT TO PROFILE

IS THAT A LEGITIMATE QUESTION?

Not If It's Coming From Racists, Sectarianists, Arab-Haters, Etc.

As you read the bitter invective emailed to me, below, you may actually see some good old "common" sense in it. Sense isn't too common, these days; not good sense. See, the problem is, the world is full of people who LOOK like they MIGHT be Arabs. But they're Latinos, Mediterraneans, South Asians, North Africans, East Africans, South Africans, Pacific Islanders, Balkans, Turks, Persians, Pakistanis, Afghans, Central Asians, American Indians, even Jews... Notoriously rigourous Israeli security has been fooled by Palestinians simply dressing more like Israeli's.

We're all really one race. And that means we don't have an infinite variety of "looks." I've been mistaken for English, German, Jewish, Italian, even African-American. My looks are often remarked upon as classically Irish, wheras they are actually a result of the Viking invasions. Ancient Celts were light-skinned, but dark-haired, with longer, narrower faces. Profiling is flawed, from the get-go.

Then there are the blond Muslims of Albania and the former Yugoslavia. Chinese Muslims. Black Muslims. Philippino Muslims. Red-headed Georgian Muslims, even. Not to mention converts, like our "American Taliban." So profiling breaks down completely there.

Finally, we have our own, home-grown terrorists here in Europe, and the Americas. Remember Oklahoma City? If they're only looking for Osama's, they may miss the Terry Nichols and Timothy McVey's. And if they find out you're only letting Grannies through, well, terrorists have Grannies, too. Some may even BE Grannies, crazy as it sounds. So, you're really stuck.

There is no way to absolutely guarantee perfect airline security. Our current system lets up to 50% of all weapons, and 25% of fake bombs get through, according to the G's own tests. And that's just the stuff we screen: They don't screen cargo. Or containers on ships and trains and trucks. So, what's the point of the dog & pony show at the airport? Are they just trying to scare us? Or is this meant to reassure us: A highly-visible but ineffectual symbol that they're doing something about terrorism?

But, if that's ALL they're doing, and it's no more than 75% effective, how come no more attacks? We certainly haven't wiped out terrorism: Remermber Bali? Or yesterday, in Iraq? Why no attacks here? I'm asking. I don't know. There's more Arabs and Muslims in this country now than there are Jews. If any of them meant us harm, like the first WTC bombers, what's stopping them? In Israel, they would just shoot up a schoolbus, or pipe-bomb a pizzeria. Even such small, but horrific attacks have not happened, despite almost no defenses against it. Why not? I'm just asking.

So, no, I don't think racial profiling works. In fact, I think it could HELP the terrorists, if there are any actually out to get us. But, are they? Or is this all bullshit? Did Muslim Arabs do 9/11, or not? We have only the government's word on that. A government that was looking for an excuse to finish Dubya's Daddy's war in Iraq, even before they were "elected."

The world is not a simple place. Things are not always what they seem. It's a mistake to buy into everything the Government says. So much of it turns out to be untrue, later. Sometimes too late. Especially this government. Let's not scapegoat decent, honest, innocent people based on what the Bushies say. Especially when it doesn't always make much sense.

Let me make it simple: All Arabs and Muslims are not terrorists. And all terrorists are not Muslims or Arabs. To assume so is stupid, dangerous and racist. Racism, and hatred, and irrational fear and the stupid actions they engender are as dangerous to our way of life as terrorism itself. Maybe even more so. Let's don't go there, hm?

Thanks to Uncle Omar of "Dave Barry's Blog" for pointing this out:

HISTORY TEST

Please pause a moment, reflect back, and take the following multiple choice test. The events are actual cuts from past history. They actually happened!!!

Do you remember?
-1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by
a. Superman
b. Jay Lenno
c. Harry Potter
d. Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40

1. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by
a. Olga Corbett
b. Sitting Bull
c. Arnold Schwarzenegger
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

2. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by:
a. Lost Norwegians
b. Elvis
c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

3.During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
a. John Dillinger
b. The King of Sweden
c. The Boy Scouts
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

4. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
a. A pizza delivery boy
b. Pee Wee Herman
c. Geraldo Rivera
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

5. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by:
a. The Smurfs
b. Davy Jones
c. The Little Mermaid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

6.In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by:
a. Captain Kidd
b. Charles Lindberg
c. Mother Teresa
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

7.In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
a. Scooby Doo
b. The Tooth Fairy
c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

8. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
a. Richard Simmons
b. Grandma Moses
c. Michael Jordan
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

9.In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
a. Mr. Rogers
b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill’s women problems
c. The World Wrestling Federation
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

10. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers.Thousands of people were killed by:
a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd
b. The Supreme Court of Florida
c. Mr. Bean
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

11. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
a. Enron
b. The Lutheran Church
c. The NFL
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

12. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
a. Bonnie and Clyde
b. Captain Kangaroo
c. Billy Graham
d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Nope, .....I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you?
So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people. They must conduct random searches of 80-year-old women, little kids, airline pilots with proper identification, secret agents who are members of the President's security detail, 85-year old Congressmen with metal hips, and Medal of Honor winning and former Governor Joe Foss, but leave Muslim Males between the ages 17 and 40 alone because of profiling.

Let's send this to as many people as we can so that the Gloria Aldreds and other dunder-headed attorneys along with Federal Justices that want to thwart common sense, feel doubly ashamed of themselves - if they have any such sense.
As the writer of the award winning story "Forrest Gump" so aptly put it,
"Stupid is as stupid does."
Come on people wake up!!!
Keep this going. Pass it on to everyone in your address book.
Our Country and our troops need our support!

Following came from a bloglit whom I emailed the above stuff; her response:

I know just exactly what you are talking about.
Last year when I was flying back from Minneapolis, I was pulled over along with another grandmother, body searched and our luggage was dumped on a table and completely scrutinized by holdin up each garment (embarressing)
In the meantime an entire contingency of men from the middle east got on the plane with out any questions what so ever. They had just flown in from Canada and were traveling on to Chicago. Well, the other grandmother was probably about 4'11" and weighed 200lbs, had graying red hair, glasses, and was wearing a domestic cotton dress that looked like it was made from a 'flour sack'. But, they chose us. In Chicago, they decided to search her again. Yes, the men from the middle east cleared there too.

TO POST A COMMENT: CLICK ON "COMMENTS," "Post a Comment" or "# of COMMENTS" just below the SOCIAL BOOKMARKING LINKS (Digg, Delicious, etc), about three inches down from here. Please do comment. Thank you.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM YOUR BLOGGERS:

Suggestion Box & Tip Jar We would like to make over this blog to make it easier to access, to read and to comment on. We would also like to serve our readers better by providing more of what you need and want to see. All serious suggestions will be considered. We hope to move to our own domain in the near future, and we would like to ask for your financial assistance in doing that, and in upgrading our hardware & software. Small one-time donations and larger long-term subscriptions are welcome. Exclusive advertising is also available. If you think we are wasting our time in doing all this, please let us know. If you wish to help us, now is the time. As always, negative bullsh*t from right-wing trolls will be sh*tcanned. Thank you to everyone else. Please send feedback & PayPal contributions to cosanostradamusATexciteDOTcom. Thanks.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: BRING THEM ALL HOME ALIVE, NOW!

TEACHING AN END TO FREEDOM

SCHOOLING AWAY OUR RIGHTS

Is It Any Wonder Students Don't Know Their Rights?

[Cross-posted at Dave Marco's "Shining Light In Dark Corners".]

Wonder Why Our Civil Liberties Are In Danger?

In particular, educators are failing to give high school students an appreciation of the First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech and a free press, say researchers from the University of Connecticut, who questioned more than 100,000 high school students, nearly 8,000 teachers, and more than 500 administrators and principals. [...] The survey suggests that First Amendment rights – freedom of speech, of the press, of religion, of assembly and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances – would be universally known if they were classroom staples.
...
Among its findings: * Nearly three-fourths of high school students either do not know how they feel about the First Amendment or admit they take it for granted. * Seventy-five percent erroneously think flag burning is illegal. * Half believe the government can censor the Internet. * More than a third think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees.

This is what happens. These kids are growing up in schools where there are armed guards and metal detectors. They are subject to warrantless locker-searches and random piss-tests. Some schools have video surveillance cameras, everywhere. There is no expectation of privacy.

Courts keep ruling away students' most basic rights and freedoms. Participation in "extra-curricular" activities like sports, band, drama and other clubs is often contingent on giving up even more rights, "voluntarily." And these students all know, from early childhood, that their future in the adult world depends upon their "career" in school. If they don't "perform" and "behave," our ever-more ruthless and rigid class structure will grind them up and spit them out.

Meanwhile, many of these schools are under tremendous budgetary constraints, and more and more demanding mandates from municipal, county, State and Federal governments. Politicians, administrators, school boards, interest groups, teachers unions, taxpayers and parents all place more pressure on the schools, which respond by pre-emptively clamping down on teachers and students.

In this repressive atmosphere, how the Hell could anybody teach anyone anything, much less their theoretical rights? Students today must naturally regard things like the US Constitution as strange, incomprehensible documents of a bygone era. And maybe they are. But don't blame the students, or the teachers.

Did it ever occur to anyone that, while protecting these kids from everything under the sun, we might be teaching them by our actions that civil liberties, human rights, basic freedoms, even human dignity itself were meaningless concepts that simply do not apply, at least not under "special circumstances"? It's like a Third-World dictator's "State of Emergency:" Carte blanche to simply eliminate all rights. This is what we are teaching our children, by so restricting their freedoms: Freedom means nothing to us.




POST COMMENTS below, or send them to cosanostradamus AT excite DOT com.



GINNY'S ARTWORK


LOOK! Shiny NEW Links:

• ratboy's anvil


• By Beauty Damned


• The Dirty Ashtray


• Swerve Left


• Arran's Alley


• at ease


• democracyforcalifornia.com


• Toyblog Weblog


• It's Morning Somewhere


• The World According to Rob DAMMIT!!


• Shining Light In Dark Corners


• The American Street


• americablog


• Eschaton


• daily kos


• Dave Barry's Blog

BLOGSHARES BLOGROLLING BLOGDEX WEBLOGS
BLOGGER SITEMETER PING-O-MATIC BLOGARAMA
BLO.GS

Site Feed

FEEDBURNER: Syndicate this site

Search Popdex:

DAYPOP



News & Weblogs NewsWeblogsRSS Headlines

Technorati
Profile




Popdex Citations

The Progressive Blog Alliance

TO POST A COMMENT: CLICK ON "COMMENTS," "Post a Comment" or "# of COMMENTS" just below the SOCIAL BOOKMARKING LINKS (Digg, Delicious, etc), about three inches down from here. Please do comment. Thank you.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM YOUR BLOGGERS:

Suggestion Box & Tip Jar We would like to make over this blog to make it easier to access, to read and to comment on. We would also like to serve our readers better by providing more of what you need and want to see. All serious suggestions will be considered. We hope to move to our own domain in the near future, and we would like to ask for your financial assistance in doing that, and in upgrading our hardware & software. Small one-time donations and larger long-term subscriptions are welcome. Exclusive advertising is also available. If you think we are wasting our time in doing all this, please let us know. If you wish to help us, now is the time. As always, negative bullsh*t from right-wing trolls will be sh*tcanned. Thank you to everyone else. Please send feedback & PayPal contributions to cosanostradamusATexciteDOTcom. Thanks.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: BRING THEM ALL HOME ALIVE, NOW!