September 7 2007 Update: So I don't know whether to be more upset about the latest Bin Ladin tape, or the fact that the US is $8.9 trillion dollars in debt—with a dollar and an economy that seems to be unraveling by the day.
OK, the tape first. Why is it that these tapes surface only when it is convenient for America, or more specifically, the ruling class? There are three tapes in particular whose authenticity is disputed: Dec 14, 2001 (just after 9/11), October 24, 2004 (just before the presidential elections), and now, Friday, September 8, 2007 (just before an important military report is about to be released). After doing many, many hours of research, I find more evidence indicating the tapes depict a fake Osama bin Laden.
Some links are below so you can form your own opinion. I sifted through a variety of sources, including mainstream media, independent films, and far-left and far-right leaning media. Most articles below are left, as an overwhelming number of sources indeed express this viewpoint. Sure, that alone doesn't make one viewpoint correct, but if the right does not come out with videos and news to logically and scientifically rebut the left's perspective (instead of simply supressing it), then I how can I possibly be persuaded to agree with them? If you know of websites that present solid counter-arguments to the "conspiracy theories," please let me know.
Dec 13, 2001 The U.S. releases a video tape apparently showing Osama bin Laden speaking with several associates about the 9/11 attacks. Wikipedia's entry on the December 2001 video
9/11 Conspiracy: The Bin Laden Tape is a Fake!
Tape 'proves Bin Laden's guilt'
The Fake 2001 bin Laden?Video Tape
"Fatty" bin Laden
CNN.com - Transcript of Osama bin Laden videotape
October 24, 2004 Bin Laden addresses the American people and takes responsibility for the 9/11 attacks.
Wikipedia's entry on the 2004 video
The Fake 2004 bin Laden?Video Tape
THE SCAPEGOAT OSAMA BIN LADEN
Top Bin Laden Expert: The Tapes are Fakes
Full transcript of bin Ladin's speech
And the latest video, September 7, 2007 A bizarre 30 minute rant about democrats, global warming and other topics.
Bin Laden threatens Iraq escalation
Neo-Cons Enlist Bin Laden's Help To Counter 9/11 Truth
Bin Laden video may signal new attacks
New Osama Tape: Was It Fake?
Thoughts On The Osama Tape: Was It A Forgery?
Bin Laden Unplugged
For this latest video, how did Americans get the video before it was released on the al-Qaeda websites? Why did the terrorist groups simply tease their audience with a still photo from the video, promising to release it shortly? Yet somehow, the CIA had the luxury of examining the tape before it was released? News reports indicate: "Soon after Washington announced it had the video, all the websites that usually carry statements from al-Qaeda went down and were unaccessible, in an unprecedented shutdown, according to the Associated Press news agency. The reason for the shutdown was not immediately known."
I will say that I agree with at least some of the sentiments expressed in A Single Reason for U.S. Intervention in Iraq. Frank Salvato writes, "When did Americans lose the will to stand up for what is right? When did we decide it was acceptable to stand by, onlookers, witnesses to crime taking place, without realizing the moral obligation to act in an effort to stop the madness? "
Oh, how true you write. Let me add to your views:
"When did Americans lose the will to stand up for what is right?" Note that while our congress sent us to war, only about 1 percent of U.S. representatives and senators had a child in uniform in 2006. If they so strongly support the war, why are they not out there, actually doing the fighting? (Read more in the ABC article Absence of America's Upper Classes From the Military)
"When did we decide it was acceptable to stand by, onlookers, witnesses to crime taking place, without realizing the moral obligation to act in an effort to stop the madness? I don't know. It beats me how people can just let our government get away with the lies and propaganda, without even making a serious effort to question the madness. How is it that we say we are supporting the Iraqi people, yet many Americans still refer to Muslims with insulting names and show definite prejudice toward Islam and Arabs? How is it that we're rebuilding their country, when estimates on the number of Iraqi casualties range from 70,000 to 600,000+? (And, since those estimates are so far apart, how can we not call for additional independent studies to try to shed light on which is closer to the truth?) Our occupation has lead to a refugee crisis, with at least 2 million Iraqis fleeing their country, yet the number allowed to emigrate to the U.S. in the current year was capped at 2,000. (In August 2007, 529 Iraqis were allowed onto U.S. soil in August—more than in all of the previous 11 months combined— bringing to 719 the number to have been admitted in the current budget year, which ends Sept 30.) Why are we not welcoming more of the people we are displacing? It may not be surprising to learn that the number one cause of death in Iraq is now due to "violent causes," and some reports indicate that the majority of civilian deaths were due to "coalition forces using helicopter gunships, rockets or other forms of aerial weaponry, and that almost half (48 percent) of these were children, with a median age of 8." (Burying The Lancet Report by Nicolas J. S. Davies)
Yes, indeed. Why are Americas not standing up for the innocent Iraqis whose way of life has been altered in ways I can only imagine?
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Six Ways to Support a Prosperous Iraq
Church Folks for a Better America: Iraq War Fact Sheet
Whew, this entry lasted far longer than I thought it would. I guess I'll save my thoughts on the National Debt for later. Which, by the way, has actually now topped $9 trillion. Unbelievable. See for yourself at U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK. Oh, and if you have a hard time imagining the difference between a million and a billion and a trillion, since after all, these aren't numbers most of us encounter in every day life, consider these numbers in the context of time. Let's say you had a certain amount of money and could spend a dollar a second. How long would your money last?
- One thousand dollars = 16.7 minutes
- 42 thousand dollars = 11 hours, 40 minutes (American GDP per capita)
- One million dollars = 11 days, 14 hours
- One billion dollars = 31 years, 9 months
- 24.96 billion dollars = 793 years (Bill Gates' net worth as of today)
- One trillion dollars = 31,710 years
- Nine trillion dollars = 285,388 years
September 5 2007 Update: Hello, and welcome those who are discovering this page for the first time. You may want to skip down to September 29, 2006 for some history on how this page started.
If you've come to this page and know immediately that you plan on boycotting Blue Buddha Boutique, because you don't think politics and business should mix, please know that I support your decision. However, I respectfully ask that you boycott ALL businesses that mix politics and business. Likewise, I ask that you not support any politician that accepts contributions from business lobbyists/PACs or retains stock and other interests in corporations.1 This is a democracy, which means ruled by the people, not ruled by corporations.
Additionally, I invite anyone to email me with your thoughts. I am genuinely interested in dialog with people from all over the world and with varied viewpoints. I welcome the opportunity to learn about your life experiences and how they've shaped your views, because I believe it is through dialog that understanding is achieved, and through understanding that the world is made a better place. And I am in business to make the world a better place.
—Rebeca
1Which, in effect, means many congresspeople and presidential candidates.
April 27 2007 Update: Indeed, these stories are missing from the mainstream media. The VideoVets Project, interviews with Iraq War veterans and military families.
January 30 2007 Update: I continue speaking out, attending protests, and engaging in dialogue. I recently saw a film that blew my mind, called 9/11 Mysteries. I don't necessarily agree with everything presented, but the filmmakers raised enough compelling questions that I am now highly suspicious of the "official" 9/11 story. Some argue that it is a disgrace to the families of those who died in the attacks to suggest that our government had anything to do with 9/11. However, I think it is more disgraceful to accept everything we are told at face value without asking questions. If the questions can be satisfactorily answered, then I have no problem with the "official" story.
- The impact of a plane, and the resulting fire caused much damage to each tower of the World Trade Center. But would this really cause the entire building to be pulverized? If there was structural failure, wouldn't there still be huge chunks of steel everywhere? If the steel melted, wouldn't there be an enormous blob of steel somewhere after it cooled? What caused everything to turn to dust?
- And why did Tower 7 fall? It wasn't hit by a plane, yet it fell in exactly the same way as the first two towers. (This building housed the CIA and Secret Service, among other agencies.)
- Why were the bomb-sniffing dogs removed from the World Trade Center the week before the attack?
- Why did the buildings fall so fast? They fell at freefall speed, meaning they encountered absolutely no resistance on the way down...the whole tower gave way at once. What kind of force causes that?
- Why didn't the media make more mention of the complete "power-down" the weekend before the attacks? Supposedly, Internet servers were being updated. This means that electricity for the entire building was shut down, so no security cameras were on. Anyone could have entered or exited the building during the weekend.
- Who was a principal in the company that had the security contract at the World Trade Center? George W. Bush's younger brother, Marvin P. Bush.
See for yourself. Watch 9-11 Mysteries on Google video. Also see Billiard Balls by Prof. Judy Wood.
Updated in May and September, 2007: I was unimpressed with PBS's 9/11 Conspiracy Theories and 911 Mysteries Guide which attempted to debunk 9-11 Mysteries. Also unsatisfactory was Debunking 9/11 Myths: Why Conspiracy Theories Can't Stand Up to the Facts by The Editors of Popular Mechanics: (Author), John McCain (Foreword), David Dunbar (Editor), Brad Reagan (Editor). As I'm currently about to check out Debunking911.com to see what they present.
October 6 2006 Update: More than 230 protests happened across the country, and I am glad that I was able to express my right to assemble. The sign I carried received a lot of positive comments. One side of the sign had a colorful heart with a peace sign on one half. The other half had the word "Torture" and a few blood drops. It was enclosed in a circle with a slash going through it. Under the circle, it read, "Is this what Jesus would do?" The sign's other side had big lettering for "Democracy = Ruled by the People" and "Wake up & Participate! ... Vote" The sign in its entirety:
No More Complicity
Democracy = Ruled by the People
Wake up & Participate!
Engage in Dialogue Seek Independent Media Buy Local Know Your Rights VOTE (Remember there are more than two parties!) Question Authority Stand up for What you Believe Write Your Reps and Sign Petitions Educate Youth Be Respectful
I hope that during the next few weeks and months, people begin to ask questions such as:
- Why can the U.S. have nuclear weapons, but say other countries cannot? What gives us the right to determine who the "bad" and "good" guys are?
- How does detaining someone without charging them, and dening them access to an attorney (something which can now legally happen to US citizens) embody democracy?
- On a similar note, how does torture show the rest of the world that democracy is the "best" system of government?
- What exactly are we doing in Iraq, and why are we prepared to spend $8 billion a month there?
October 3 2006 Update: 190 protests are now planned, up from 112 just 5 days ago. If you are planning on attending a protest, please consider downloading the Multi-Lingual "Know Your Rights!" Pamphlet created by the ACLU. To get you even more pumped up for the protest, I suggest taking a listen to Changing History is Not a Spectator Sport.
Since I first posted last week, I have renewed my dedication to this movement. This is because during the past 5 days, I've handed out fliers and spoken with about 1,000 people, and it has become glaringly clear to me just how many Chicago residents are overwhelmingly dissatisfied with Bush and want him out. You can skip to the bottom of the page to read some of the comments and questions I've received.
29 September 2006: The Blue Buddha Boutique will be closed on Thursday October 5th to participate in a nationwide day of mass resistance against the actions of our government. I normally would not use my business website as a vehicle to spread my personal beliefs. However, I've concluded that it would be far more damaging to America and the rest of the world to stay silent than to speak out against the wrongs that I see around me.
Why I'm Participating in the Oct 5 Day of Protest (World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime)
Blue Buddha Boutique joins businesses across the country in closing its doors on Thursday, October 5 to protest the Bush Regime
My government does not represent me. It is more than a minor partisan disagreement. I am horrified at the actions (and equally horrified at other inactions) of President Bush and our government. Iraq alone is costing the American people $8 billion a month, while 45 million Americans go without health insurance. Our government is going so far as to condone torture. Bush cut taxes for the rich in a time of war, which has never been done before, while he took away teachers' tax deduction for classroom expenses (so when teachers pay for classroom materials out of their own pocket, they are, in effect, punished for it). The reasons for my dissatisfaction go on and on.
I feel as though every day things get worse. More and more people are being killed, and more and more people across the world are starting to hate Bush and Americans in general. I disagree with our president when he said the war has not worsened terrorism—I do think that our actions are strengthening anti-American sentiments. I know that I would be incredibly upset if another country had been bombing my homeland for three and a half years.
I don't think it's too late for us to reverse course, and try to make amends for some of the damage we've caused. But, I do think that if we citizens "wait it out" and do nothing, it could very well cross a point of no return and have devastating consequences for us and the lifestyles we've grown up with.
If you feel as though this government does not represent your views, then it's time to speak out. The Declaration of Independence says that "governments are established by the people" and the purpose of government is to ensure that people have an equal right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." And when governments become destructive of these ends, "it is the right of the people to alter or abolish the government." It has been done in the past, and we can do it again right now.
Some of you may say, "Well, isn't Bush leaving in 2 years anyway?" This is true. However, I think that if, through the efforts of the people, we can force him out of office even just ONE day early, the world will be a better place. If we can do it 100 or 250 or 700 days earlier, the world would be better yet.
If you disagree with the Bush regime, then join me and many, many others on October 5 and make a powerful statement.
—Rebeca Mojica
 buy this T-shirt or button (or choose from hundreds of other designs) from NorthernSun.com |
I'm a visual person, and so this image was very striking to me. If we all come together and speak our minds, we can make a difference. The latests polls show that 60-70% of Americans disapprove of the war. That's a lot of people. So why hasn't the government been flooded with calls, emails and faxes? It's time to stop sitting around and doing nothing. No more just complaining to friends, or grumbling to co-workers. As was said about Vietnam, "A time comes when silence is betrayal." (executive committee of Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam) Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. — Margaret Mead |
For More About Oct 5
Imagine the country grinding to a halt on one day, as millions of diverse individuals all across America (and even the world) join together to deliver a loud and clear message: "Enough is enough!" This is the purpose of October 5, a national day of protest sponsored by World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime. WCW seeks to "create a political situation where the Bush administration's program is repudiated, where Bush himself is driven from office, and where the whole direction he has been taking U.S. society is reversed." You can find a ton of info on their webite, particularly the About page. I encourage you to spend some time checking out the different areas of their site. Some pages that you may find immediately interesting are:
- Read The Call to Drive Out the Bush Regime and view the list of endorsers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More than 150 protests planned — Find or Start one in Your City
| 7 Things You Can Do Now and Beyond Oct 5 |
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1. Starting today, contact White House government officials and let them know that you do not support the actions of the government. World Can't Wait has set up a sample statement along with contact information for key members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee. Send your comments to comments@whitehouse.gov with a cc: to notorture@worldcantwait.org. At the very least, demand the president's and vice-president's immediate resignation. 2. Look up your state represenatives and contact them. You will need your full ZIP+4 code, which you can find on the United States Postal Service website. When you contact your representative, let them know that you will not vote for them, if they support President Bush. 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 every day. If Congress and the White House cannot get any work done because their faxes, emails and phones are tied up 24/7, then they will have no choice but to listen to us. It is not rocket science to send a letter or email, and you don't have to use formal language. Simply take a minute or two to state that you do not approve of Bush and you demand that he resign or be impeached. You can use the list of argulets and talking points provided by ImpeachBuch.com in your emails/faxes/phone calls. 4. Participate in the November elections. Sit down and think about the power you hold in your hands — the power to shape our country's future. Pledge to vote only for candidates who truly reflect your views on the subjects most important to you, such as education, environment, war, healthcare, justice, abortion, and immigration. There are many, many issues to consider, but several websites make it easier, such as Select Smart.com. You can also take online quizzes to help determine which political party most closely matches your views, such as WikiHow - How to Choose your Political Party. (However, pay particular attention to websites supported by a particular party, as their recommendations are likely biased!) Read newspapers and look for handy charts showing in-a-nutshell candidate viewpoints. Whenever there are judges up for retention/election, research each judge. This can be time-consuming, but once again, there are websites that can help. In Chicago, voteforjudges.org is a very good resource, with a handy 1-page sample ballot you can take with you to the polls. In other cities, you can certainly call your local bar associations (do a google search for "YOUR CITY Bar Association" and "YOUR STATE Bar Association") and ask them for a list of candidates they support. Many cities have multiple bar associations, such as African-American, Women's, Minorities, GBLT, etc., which may reflect your particular interests. Definitely ask if there is a larger list which compilies the recomendations of all the local bar associations. 5. Tell your friends. Spread the word about Oct 5, and encourage your friends to join you with in steps 1-4 above. 6. Donate to World Can't Wait. In less than one week, more than $100,000 was raised to support a full-page ad in USA today. Now that's what I call group effort. Make your donation today. 7. Create a personal statement. Make a 1-sentence statement that acknowledges your comittment to this cause, and say the sentence outloud every day. It could be something like, "I am comitted to driving out the Bush regime because...." And that is how to have a government that is truly of the people, by the people and for the people. |
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About Fear I don't want to live in a world of fear. I feel the Bush government is trying to play upon our fears to justify the most atrocious of acts. We've heard the quote below so often, that it is cliché...but stop for a moment and really think about the words. We have nothing to fear, but fear itself. — Franklin D Roosevelt
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More websites:
- Anti Bush Fun Facts - Info for Patriotic Americans
- Impeach Bush
- What Torture (waterboarding) Looks Like and Abu Ghraib Prison Photos
- Iraq Body Count
- (American) Casualties in Iraq 2006
- Beyond Vietnam by Rev Martin Luther King Jr April 1967 (substitute Vietname with Iraq and the similarities are indeed eerie)
- Compromising on Torture - Yahoo News Sept 28, 2006
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- World Can't Wait on MySpace — Check out the new video on the homepage, add them to your Friends, and change your profile photo to match theirs.
- Food not bombs
- America: Freedom to Fascism by filmmaker Anne Russo
- Fahrenheit 9/11 by filmmaker Michael Moore
Items of interest to Chicagoans:
- WCW Chicago Site
- Thank you to the Chicago Reader for their donation of a full-page, color ad supporting World Can't Wait. We appreciate it!
- The Chicago March permit is still being negotiated. Read the Chicago Tribune article.
- Enough funds were raised for ads to run on local broadcasts on CNN and Comedy Central (during the Daley Show and Colbert Report hour). Check them out!.
- Speakers during the Chicago Rally include Prof. Timuel Black, Alderman Ricardo Munoz, Bernadine Dohrn and Nick Egnatz (Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Vets for Peace).
(continued from the top)
Common Questions and Comments I heard while passing out fliers:
Only one person in about a thousand that I spoke with in various North/Northwest neighborhoods (Uptown, North Rogers Park, Albany Park, Ravenswood, Lincoln Square) said, in all seriousness and support, "I think Bush is a terrific president." About 20 people said, "I don't have any problems with Bush". Others said nothing, but didn't take the flier.
Most people I approached (perhaps 75%) took the flier, and the majority responded with emphatic agreement and support, and even asked for more fliers to distribute to others. Several people told me, "This is just about the only flier I would ever take."
When I approached people, I asked, "Excuse me, may I give you a flier to help drive out President Bush?"
The most common responses were in the vein of: "Hell yes!"
"Absolutely."
"Oh, most definitely!"
"It's about time we get him out."
Other specific comments:
"This is just about the only flier I would ever take."
"I came back, because it took a few seconds for me to process what you said...but yes, I do want one of those [fliers]!"
"!Que se vaya Bush!"
"Can I make copies for my friends?"
One common question I have been asked is, "Who should be President if Bush and Cheney are out?" That's a good question, and frankly, I don't have an answer. I certainly have ideas about who I'd like to see in office. The person I voted for last election didn't come close to winning, and if he runs again, I would certainly support him. However, I would prefer to see a minority or female as president. I think that 45 white male presidents in a row is enough. Time to have a president that represents something other than that one particular demographic. America is diverse, and our leaders should be too.
Another question I was often asked is, "What do you think this will accomplish?" While I would love to have Bush and Cheney out of office on October 6th, I don't think that will happen. I do hope that October 5th will make a powerful statement to America and the world, that Bush does not represent many of us. A single march usually does not yield immediate results. But if there are more marches, and more people continue expressing their opinions and seeing that they are not alone, change can and will happen. As the WCW website says, "A day of demonstrations, all across the country, can begin to change the whole 'political equation' in society. It can work wonders on what people think is possible, and whether they will act."
Democracy means ruled by the people. If that rule isn't happening through the normal circuits, then the people must find another way to have their voices heard. I would love to see a several month long period, where Americans have many dialogs about what issues people are most concerned with. The election process should be accessible to everyone. It should be easy to see how candidates feel about very specific issues. Enough with the political rhetoric and corruption that has alienated so many Americans. It seems as though the government is a huge, complicated entity, often shrouded in secrecy. And that is not the meaning of democracy.