Mind Vomit by the ikss ~ a journal
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Monday, Aug. 09, 2004letter to the DJs
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�Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead�
-Lucille Ball
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
--Theodore Roosevelt, 1918
REGISTER TO VOTE
"The time is always right to do what is right"
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The "seven social sins": Knowledge without character,
Science without humanity,
Wealth without work,
Commerce without morality,
Politics without principles,
Pleasure without conscience,
Worship without self-sacrifice."
--Gandhi
"We have not inherited the world from our forfathers -
We have borrowed it from our children."
--Kashmiri, proverb
The Department of Justice has strenuously argued that it could not release the names of detainees - even those who had not been charged or accused of terrorism - because doing so would harm national security. In a sworn affidavit, James Reynolds, then a top Justice Department official, argued that when people detained as part of a terrorist investigation are publicly identified, "terrorist organizations with whom they have a connection may refuse to deal further with them. This could eliminate valuable sources of information for the investigation. It would similarly impair the government's ability to infiltrate terrorist organizations engaged in ongoing criminal activities."[1] Apparently, this does not apply if the disclosure suits the administration's political agenda.
Last week, the administration was desperate to justify their decision to raise the threat level to orange in three states based on activity that occurred over three years ago. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice admitted yesterday that the administration - during a background briefing to reporters - identified Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan as the source of the information that prompted the terror alert.[2] According to Reuters, Khan "had been actively cooperating with intelligence agents to help catch al-Qaida operatives when his name appeared in U.S. newspapers"[3] His identification by the administration likely "cost the United States a valuable source."[4]
Sources:
1. James Reynolds Affidavit," Chief, Terrorism and Violent Crime Section, Criminal Division, DOJ
2. "CNN Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer," CNN, 08/08/04
3. "Pakistan: U.S. Blew Undercover Operation," MSNBC, 08/06/04
4. "U.S. Says Man Had Ties to Plot to Disrupt Vote," New York Times, 8/8/04
Visit www.Misleader.org for more on Bush Administration distortion
~~~
So the DJs I listen to in the mornings on my way to work (not to be confused with the radio station I listen to throughout the rest of the day, which is a completely wonderful station that totally rocks and whose free format should be supported by everyone) was discussing this morning whether or not Bruce Springsteen and other like-minded artists should voice their opinions on political issues and/or support candidates running for office.
In truth, the DJs themselves did not disagree with my position on this issue, but a lot of their callers did. So, I actually wrote a letter to them, the transcript of which follows:
Dear Kevin, Bean, Lisa and Ralph:
In regard to this morning�s conversation about Bruce Springsteen and musicians like him who have the audacity to take a stance on political issues and in support of specific candidates:
I worked for a year on the Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign. I am now working on the Kerry/Edwards campaign. For over a year, my car has been decorated with bumper stickers declaring my support for these candidates. My office at work has political stickers attached to the bulletin board within. The windows of my apartment now have Kerry/Edwards placards in them. I talk to people about politics regularly and share my opinions freely.
In addition, I have a web page which receives an average of 135 hits per day. Within this page is my personal blog, which I use to share my thoughts about anything I please. About 50% of the time, that includes politics and my very personal opinions relating to them.
My point is this: I am using the audience I have to work for and support candidates I believe in and also to defeat those I do not. My audience may pale in comparison to Mr. Springsteen�s; but you do what you can do, you use what you have at your disposal to use.
In this regard, there is no difference between me and Bruce Springsteen. And as he inferred in his Nightline interview, his political involvement does not differentiate Bruce from Tobacco companies, Pharmaceutical companies, the Timber Industry, Unions or countless other big businesses and organizations who have influenced politics since the first days of our history.
Of course, as I believe you may have noted during your broadcast, those on the Right seem to have little problem with the likes of Toby Keith and that guy who sang God Bless the U.S.A. They don�t have a problem with Bruce Willis, who is a rather vocal Republican; nor did they ever have a problem with the political involvement of our Governor Terminator.
And if you really want to talk about those who have no right to mix their profession with their political positions, lets discuss the political involvement of churches, shall we? But then, if we did that, I guess we�d have to admit that George Dubya sought the endorsement of the Pope only a few months ago and put out a call to all religious leaders in the south to preach support for him from the pulpit.
And we could of course spend hours discussing the various political opinions spouted over our nation�s radio airwaves.
It seems highly hypocritical, to say the least, for people to think that some U.S. citizens have the right to utilize some forums to voice their political opinions while others do not. As Americans, we have not only the right but, dare I say it, the responsibility to involve ourselves in the political process. Bruce did not give up those rights when he decided to play music for a living. To insinuate that Bruce Springsteen or anybody else does not have the right to vocally support a candidate or take a political stance when he has his guitar in hand is not only ridiculous, it is un-American.
~~~
Word of the Day for Monday August 9, 2004
gamine gam-EEN; GAM-een, noun:
1. A girl who wanders about the streets; an urchin.
2. A playfully mischievous girl or young woman.
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