Tuesday, March 25, 2008

THE FILM BBC: "A website that a Dutch right-wing politician was planning to use to release a film expected to be fiercely critical of Islam has been suspended." I am not a Wilders supporter, on the contrary; Wilders is a right-winger with some pretty weird ideas. But suspending a website without reason is going too far. There still is the freedom of expression and the press. And this kind of taking the law in their own hands is not conducive to an atmosphere of reason and tolerance. The laws of this country are clear. And everyone, Islamists and right-wingers should stick to it. Just suppose Mr Wilders is going to make public on April 1 that his film does not exist, that he only raised the subject to show how our society would react, with fear and a suspension of the freedom of expression. That would be a devastating blow to the official Dutch reaction of hysteria and fear of repercussions on Dutch financial interests. If Wilders really has a film he has the right to show it. If it breaches the law, people can file a complaint. Not earlier. 10:43:40 AM

PADDY WAGONS FOR THE REAL CRIMINALS Michael Moore: "It would have to happen on Easter Sunday, wouldn't it, that the 4,000th American soldier would die in Iraq. Play me that crazy preacher again, will you, about how maybe God, in all his infinite wisdom, may not exactly be blessing America these days. Is anyone surprised?" Send Us Not Our Grandchildren: "10 grandmothers and supporters, ages 57 to 80, tried to enlist in the US Army at an Atlanta recruiting office on St. Paddy's Day. Following the nurturing instincts of grandmas everywhere, they offered to replace young Americans in harm's way in Iraq. When their generous offer was refused, these gritty grannies stood their ground. 'We insist! We enlist!' When will the paddy wagons go to the White House for the real criminals?" If you would like to make a contribution to the Atlanta Grandmothers for Peace Legal Defense Fund, send checks to: Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition/Atlanta P.O. Box 133016 Atlanta GA 30333 On the memo line, write Grandmothers Legal Defense. Compare those peacefully protesting granmas to the violently rampaging, looting and killing Tibetan monks, and you'll see which police intervention is justified or not. RawStory: "Associated Press president Tom Curley says his news organization does not buy the government's argument that one of its photographers arrested in Iraq was working on behalf of the enemy, and he alleged the US is rounding up journalists in an attempt to control information." Reuters: "More than 200 people were arrested across the United States on Wednesday as protesters marking the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq obstructed downtown traffic and tried to block access to government offices." Guardian: "Somewhere in the Middle East, Jesus Christ is strapped to a bench, his head wrapped in clingfilm. He furiously sucks against the plastic. A hole is pierced, but only so that a filthy rag can be stuffed back into his mouth. He is turned upside down and water slowly poured into the rag. The torturer whispers religious abuse. If you are God, save yourself you fucking idiot. Fighting to pull in oxygen through the increasingly saturated rag, his lungs start to fill up with water. Someone punches him in the stomach. Perhaps this is how we ought to be re-telling the story of Christ's passion. For ever since the cross became a piece of jewellery, it has been drained of its power to sicken. Even before this the Romans had taken their hated instrument of torture and turned it into the logo of a new religion. Few makeovers can have been so historically significant. The very secular cross was transformed into a sort of club badge for Christians, something to be proud of. Two weeks ago, the most powerful Christian in the world vetoed a bill that would have made it illegal for the CIA to use waterboarding on detainees. 'We need to ensure our intelligence officials have all the tools they need to stop the terrorists,' said George Bush in a passable impersonation of Pontius Pilate. 'This is no time for Congress to abandon practices that have a proven track record of keeping America safe.'" 10:31:10 AM

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