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if we remain in obedience to the Law of Love -
evil must be overcome with good." - Peace Pilgrim
24 June 04
Betrayal of the Spirit of America
The last few weeks have been difficult for our country, despite being in the midst of all the patriotic holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, and so on. I love my country very much, but in the last three years the place has become more polluted, more divided, and much more mean. Look how we treat each other! Look at how we treat poor people and children! Just look at how we treat our old friends in R.O.W. ("Rest of World").
I for one look forward to a time when we can have better leadership in Washington. We need to act like responsible citizens on the world scene, instead of paranoid, spoiled brats. I want to be proud of the good things my country does to promote peace and equality, where we contribute something to the world instead of take what we can get for ourselves. We're like a big fat kid having a hissy fit and it's very unbecoming.
At least there's some self-awareness developing in certain quarters. Maybe that's a good sign. The best thing to do when you're in the middle of a temper tantrum is to stop, apologize, and hide out for a while. Take some time alone to straighten out your attitude, then come back when you feel better.
The last three years have played out like a curse or a bad spell. Now it's wearing off. Our country needs to do some introspection, then get it together and act right.
14 June 04
List of Bush Administration Scandals
The list of problems for the Bush administration grows:
State of the Union statements
Weapons of mass destruction
Bush ties to Enron, bin Laden family, etc.
Cheney ties to energy companies, Haliburton, etc.
Valerie Plume leak
9/11 commission Ahmed Chilabi
Abu Ghraib
Annual terror report inaccurate
08 June 04
In Memory of Ray Guns
On June 5th, President Ronald Reagan died at home at the age of 93, surrounded by friends and family. He is being remembered this week with wall to wall coverage on every TV news station, magazine, and newspaper, culminating in a burial to be held Friday. The Republicans naturally want to take comfort in the memory of a person who meant so much to them.
As long as they don't bother me (like if they start to say that the only way you can be patriotic is if you loved Reagan), I won't complain. I will make space for them to grieve. I actually feel sorry for ol' Ray Guns, dying after ten years of Alzheimers. He did the best he could, he just had values that are vastly different from mine. I disagreed with Reagan's environmental policy, Star Wars, Iran-Contra, corporate welfare and deregulation, death squads in Central America, and his massive transfer of wealth to the wealthy. I voted for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale, so don't blame me.
This reminds me of a similar death a couple of years ago. On March 15, 2002, one of the most controversial gurus of the Hare Krishna movement died in a tragic car accident in India. He did many things to ruin the organization, such as:
Instituted a chauvinistic system that forced women to accept second-class status.
Covered up child abuse.
His arrogant management style drove hundreds of people out of the organization in disgust.
He argued with his guru Srila Prabhupada, the elderly Indian man who came to America in 1965 to start the Hare Krishna movement.
He allegedly murdered Prabhupada by putting arsenic and ground glass in his food in 1977. When Prabhupada died, this man instituted the "zonal guru system" that named 11 unqualified men (including himself) to become gurus.
This fellow died a violent and painful death. Since it happened on March 15 (the Ides of March, the unlucky day for all politicians), many people leaped to the conclusion that it was his karmic payback. I did too at first, but then I got a grip on myself and stopped trying to make an association. It was just tragic, that's all.
Another thing that added to the shock was that he was set to graduate in just three months with a Ph.D. in religious studies.
This man had a large and vocal following of true believers who tried to deify him upon his death. At least with Reagan they're not calling for sainthood.
Here's a reply to this article from my friend, R.A.:
"I agree, I was caught up in the emotion of the media of Reagans passing, but, it is so important for them to gloss over the pilliaging of the poor, elderly and children done under his platform and direction. Millions of kids, seniors and mothers ended up abused, lives crushed and a budget deficit from about $1 billion to nearly $6 billion costing health care, education and better lives for tens of millions. But, there is always something sacred about death and so honoring the fallen is almost a religious obligation that supersedes our differences. Yet, in doing so, they are intentionally using it to create a legacy of his policies and that just disgust me."
04 June 04
Pray for Peace Schedule
I'll be traveling most of June, so probably won't add much to this page until the end of the month.
From June 9 - 12 I'll be at the American Family Foundation conference. Here is the paper that I will present: AFF Paper.
Everything happens at once, of course, so next month another paper I wrote will appear in a new book called "The Hare Krishna Movement," by Columbia University Press. Click here to see the book at CUP's web site.
I'm also working on a new book for the University of Illinois Press about child abuse in authoritarian cults. If you were raised in a cult, or you are a professional who helps ex-cult members, please contact me about participating in the book.
our leaders seem to thirst.
Is war the last resort,
or first?
-Glenn L. Berge
L.A. Times 04/27/04
26 May 04
Which Worries You Most: Ashcroft or Chilabi-Iran?
The quick quiz at CNN today asks if you will change your summer plans because of the latest terror warnings from John Ashcroft. (Yes 8%; No 82%) Another question asks whether you're tired of hearing his terror warnings. (Yes 61%; No 39%) For me, it's not exactly like being tired of it, but it is irritating. It's reminds me of the little boy who cried wolf. In other words, the feds should be tracking down those leads instead of issuing press releases.
A far more important story is the alleged link between Ahmed Chilabi and Iran. What if President Bush turns over control of Iraq to the fanatical Iranians on June 30? Maybe he wouldn't do it on purpose, but he could fumble things so badly that the Iranians could end up getting sovereignty by default. They'll probably at least try for it. Hey, it's all one big pile on football game out there now.
Is Bush taking any precautions to prevent Iran from wresting control? Who would benefit from an Iranian controlled Iraq? Bush would probably be out of the picture and it would be another big mess for future generations. These are the stories I wish CNN would cover instead of the latest blast from Ashcroft.
18 May 04
The Vanishing Surrealists
This arrived in our inbox last week, from David Pasquinelli. How 'bout it, artists?
"where are the surrealists? are they cowards? dead? sleeping you say! I say it's long overdue for them to get up. these are dire times we live in. in america we struggle to survive in the most oppressive and cruel regime. how cruel they are, they don't cut out our tongues, the cut out our spirits. they've made too many already into ground beef. everyone is just playing the parts they've been assigned. and the surrealists are gone.
"who would've thought that we would be for want of these disciples of the whole and wonderful heart when they're being called so loudly? our armies are spread across the world like an eagles deadliest shadow. it's unstoppable, the blood they spill. all I can do is keep my fingers crossed that the blood will make a few flowers grow. I was a fool, still am probably; I was for this war in iraq and the other in afghanistan. I thought it would make the world better. it didn't. it won't. why should these wars be different then all the others?
"the anarchist's solution would be to kill bush and burn capitol hill. the surrealist's solution is much better: present bush with a delicate tea cup filled with christmas lights and squirrel droppings and dig an immense hole atop capitol hill and fill it with the pictures of a thousand lost lovers. the wars aren't the problem, only symptomatic. power in this country has quietly changed hands. there's a man who follows us all around with a megaphone blaring his message so loudly that we can no longer live. we exist in corporate fascism. a terrible mother who poisons her child so that she'll be needed.
"and the counter force is gone. where's the graffiti to turn a humble entrance to a church into an absolutely tempting vagina? where's the soap box stander shouting awful profanities and savagely pulling the passers-by ties screaming "what a cute tail!"? who's gonna steel the megaphone and read a poem while they jump off of a sky scrapper? the world needs her crazies. this is your call. we're sliding faster, and faster, and faster then you think down a tube and into a machine. it'll grind you up, make you ground beef. and all you need to do to stop it is stand up. do what you do, do it ridiculously loud. they can't scream loud enough to drown out beauty.
16 May 04
What to Tell Your Children about Abu Ghraib
During the Bill Clinton impeachment everybody was shouting "What do we tell our children about what this president did?" Now the call has been renewed: "What do we tell our children about what the U.S. military did?" Here are some suggestions.
Tell them that sometimes sex is used to hurt people and that is what happened in Abu Ghraib. Tell them that sex is a powerful force, and like any power, people can use it for good or for evil. Tell them that these things can only go on in secret because if people know about it, then it must stop. Tell them that you hope the U.S. military has stopped this abuse now that it's out in the open. Further, tell them that the U.S. Congress and others are investigating this and that hopefully they will get to the bottom of it.
If you want to expand the conversation, you can explain that war brings out the worst in people. To prevent these abuses from ever happening again, the world must work toward better ways to resolve problems and protect the country than having wars. Tell them about other war atrocities, such as the Nazi concentration camps of World War II, the huge loss of life during World War I and the Civil War. Explain to them that the abuse in Abu Gharaib is yet another manifestation of war's terrible legacy of pain and suffering.
Encourage your children to learn to practice peace in their own lives, by learning to share and cooperate, to speak up for themselves, and solve interpersonal problems through talking. Emotional acting out and violence never solve anything, because there's always some repercussion that just makes things worse.
16 May 04
Cult of the USA
I love my country, but I get mad when people lie. For ten years I was in a dishonest guru group. I had put my faith in the guru, thinking that he represented God. It was a painful disillusionment when I found out what was really going on: drug dealing, child abuse, etc. Now I feel the same way about my own government.
When I was seven years old JFK was murdered and then the government glossed it over. Many people were unhappy with the official answer, but they conducted a mock investigation and concluded "that's the way it is." That was the first real news story that I understood as a child. That had a huge effect on how I see the world. It did not have to be that way. But if that was a lie, then they have continued lying all these years and now they have told the biggest lie in the history of the world. The only reason people believe it is because it would be more unbelievable to think someone could tell such a big lie. . . . We owe it to the children who are coming up now to straighten this out and give them a sense of resolution. If we leave this big hoax dangling, our world will slide toward hell.
The Kennedy assassination had several lingering question marks, but 9-11 has about 3,000 question marks. Why did the government ignore intelligence warnings? Why are the Bush people so afraid to investigate anything? Why did Bush sit with children at an elementary school on 9-11 after a month-long vacation in Texas? Why did NORAD stand down when the planes went off course? Why did the hijackers leave their luggage and passports behind so that authorities would find them? Why did WTC 7 implode? For that matter, why did WTC 1 & 2 implode?
I was in a cult and you may look down on me for that if you wish, but now YOU are in a cult. You have been brainwashed and indoctrinated and now you're being asked to look the other way while the leaders pursue their crimes and follies. That's called having bliners on. Your leaders are arrogant, narcissistic, careless, ruthless, and charismatic, just like cult leader gurus. Half the people love them, no doubt.
The Cult of the USA violently sexually abuses innocent people (it started with their inquisition of Clinton and continued in Abu Gharaib). In my cult they pretty much stuck to abusing women and children, but these people seem to like to abuse men too. Are these people trying to start World War III with the Moslems? It might be part of their plan to bring about the Second Coming of Christ. They like wars! They own the weapons companies, remember?
You ever feel like the world has been taken over by aliens? That's the exact feeling you get in a cult right before you're ready to leave it. If you don't like living in the cult anymore, then you better do something about it or your children and grandchildren will suffer.
07 May 04
Bush Campaign Ad Distortions
The following is taken from Jean Hudon's EarthRainbowNetwork.com newsletter:
Factcheck.org, a nonpartisan web site devoted to getting the facts right, says the Bush administration is persisting in repeating distortions of Kerry's voting record on defense. Under Bush's logic (is that an oxymoron?) Cheney and Bush the elder would be opponents of "weapons vital to winning the war on terror," because they voted against the AH64 Apache helicopter and the Bradley fighting vehicles just a few years after Kerry did.
The president also claims a 1995 Kerry plan would "gut" intelligence services. Kerry proposed a 1% cut and many Republicans approved of a similar cut.
An ad lists a number of items that Kerry voted "no" on. There were no separate votes, as this ad would have you believe. There was only one vote for the $87 billion supplemental to fund the war. Kerry voted against it, because he was trying to find a way to pay for it without increasing our nation's deficit. He felt the richest Americans could sacrifice their tax cuts for the war effort, but the Republican controlled Senate defeated his proposal.
The truth is that it is Bush who is sending our troops to battle without proper armor. Military officials have asked Congress to fill shortfalls left by the President's budget, including $132 million for vehicle armor, $879 million for combat helmets and $40 million for body armor. (www.dailymislead.org).
At the time that an army study was published in Newsweek, May 3, 2003, 190 of our soldiers had been killed by landmines, explosive devices or grenade attacks. The report continues, "almost all were killed while in unprotected vehicles, which means that 1 in 4 of those killed in combat in Iraq might be alive if they had stronger armor around them. Thousands more, who were unprotected have suffered grievous wounds, such as loss of limbs."
06 May 04
Americans Torture Iraqi Prisoners
Maybe there's a reason for the insurgency, ya think? Setting a car bomb is just their way of paying us back for the humiliation and suffering. They don't hate our freedom, they hate our abuse. Only extreme feelings of victimization would explain why they wished a horrible act like 9-11 on America. However, maybe the facts of 9-11 are much different than our leaders tell us. What drives people to act so poorly?
Soldiers passed the torture photos around like porn to dehumanize the enemy (i.e., the people we went to liberate). The guards in the prisons showed the photos to new captives and said, "Cooperate with us or this will happen to you." Is American freedom just an illusion, as Frank Zappa suggested in 1977 when he said:
"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way, and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theatre."
It certainly does not feel very proud to be American at the moment. However, if America had a dream, we'd better get it back before these time bandits steal it from us forever. We have to move America in a new direction. For some ideas on that, see the Pray for Peace plan to end the war on terror (click here). Now we must get organized for our regime change in November. Get a paper trail, get people to go vote for Sen. Kerry and any congress or senate seats open in their election. If we are successful then we must continue to campaign for honesty in government and an end to war. Maybe this train wreck of a war will end soon and the world can start to heal. If this is the last war to ever happen, then we can all feel thankful to Bush. Worry about that later.
03 May 04
Jonathan Swift on Bush?
In today's L.A. Times Letters to the Editor section, S.W. of Los Angeles complains that American's don't support George W. Bush's war. He said, "I was a young boy during World War II. I remember the very strong sense of unity and common purpose. I now watch with nausea the actions of Democratic politicians and their allies, the major media. They are willing to destroy the morale of the troops, dissolve the will of the citizenry to perservere and even to sabotage the war effort. All this is being done in a lust to regain power." He then quotes Jonathan Swift (1667-1745, author of Gulliver's Travels): "You can always tell a great man. All the little men are in league against him." S.W. concludes his letter stating, "George W. Bush, whatever his background, has risen to greatness."
Here at Pray for Peace we couldn't disagree more. First of all, there is no valid comparison between World War II and what's going on now. World War II was going on for years before American agreed to become involved; Bush purposely started the war in Iraq for no good reason. Weapons of mass destruction? Forget about it. Bringing democracy to Iraq? Not part of the game plan. Great leadership? Totally lacking.
Further, if S.W. wants to measure a leader's greatness by quoting 300 year old dead authors, fine. Swift says "little men" are in league against a great man. It's not the "little men" who oppose G.W. Bush, it's practically everyone in the world except his cronies and the brainwashed Republicans. G.W. Bush wants people to see him as a struggling lone cowboy trying to round up the bad guys, even though so many "little men" oppose him. But it's just not like that. A better comparison could be made between Bush and a crazed guru who wants to destroy the world because "God told him to do it."
01 May 04
9-11 Truth: What's the Diff?
Some Republican strategists say it makes no difference what Bush and Cheney were doing on the day of 9-11 because the Kean Commission is only supposed to investigate intelligence failures leading up to 9-11. If so, then the Kean Commission may not be the final word on 9-11 truth. There will probably have to be further investigations until the truth is revealed. If the Kean Commission does not look into the odd behavior of the President and Vice-President, then it will probably go down in history as being part of the cover-up.
Most people know that the official story is a hoax, because if America was really under attack by "hijackers" and "terrorists," who "hate us for our freedom," and there was no "silver bullet" that could have prevented the attacks, then we live in a really, really scary world. Like, they couldn't stop such a big plot? What's wrong? Plus, if the world really is that bad, and our intelligence really can't predict these things, then it seems justified to attack Moslem countries at will because "they" are "out to get us." In other words, we live in hell.
However, if the official story of 9-11 is all a hoax, that leads to the conclusion that it was an inside job, and the real "terrorists" are hiding out in our own government. If 9-11 was preventable or if it was an inside conspiracy, that would blow Bush's whole theory on why we need a "war on terror." If the White House knew about 9-11 in advance, that would explain why they ignored warnings. They needed a "Pearl Harbor-like disaster" to get Americans on-board with the war on terror. It would also explain why President Bush sat there with grade schoolers even after the attacks started. He looked like he expected the attacks and was just waiting for the dust to settle before he could get up and make his "presidential" speeches to the nation and start bombing innocent Arab countries with impunity.
For links and questions about the 9-11 hoax, see 9-11truth.html at this site.
01 May 04
Memorable Words From Bush's Press Conference
Question: Does this president act dumb when he's telling a lie? You decide.
From the transcript of the April 13 event: "I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of coming up with an answer, but it hadn't yet."
29 April 04
Bush and Cheney and 9-11
Today CNN.com had several interesting polls. At Headline news they asked, "Why do you think President Bush's 9-11 commission testimony is secret?" People answered: "national security" 11% (201 votes); "executive privilege" 6% (114 votes); "hiding the truth" 82% (1,470 votes).
At Wolf Blitzer's page they asked, "Do you believe President Bush and Vice President Cheney should answer questions from the 9-11 commission in public? That one turned out 66% "yes" (117,058 votes), 34% "no" 59,759 votes.
25 April 04
Food for Thought
Here's a letter from today's L.A. Times that sums up just about everything Bushy:
"This president ordered the invasion of a sovereign nation without the consent of the U.N. Consequently, he sent hundreds of young American men and women to their deaths and is responsible for killing thousands of Iraqis. And he lied to the American people to do it. A few years ago a president lied in a court of law about having sex and was impeached by a Republican Congress for doing so. Yet now this Republican Congress sits silently. If you are a Republican and wonder why so many Democrats are angry, please give that some consideration." - R.W., Stuido City
Also, here's an Associated Press article the Republicans should consider before they attack Kerry's patriotism: "Kerry's Military Records Show a Highly Praised Officer." click here.
20 April 04
Kerry Tacking Right?
Last week Kerry took some steps to the center, which means right. What does this mean? Does it indicate that people of peace must now vote for Ralph Nader, the only person we can actually trust? Not around here!
Instead of waiting for a totally honest politician to come along, we just have to get the ones we have now to listen to us. We have to make our voice louder. Our message must be clear and we must speak in a way that commands attention. So, instead of sitting around complaining about what other people are doing, get busy doing something to help. Speak out, write letters, help organizations working for peace, and get the message out there to John Kerry. If we elect him, at least we will be rid of old Tin Ear Bush.
14 April 04
"Press Conference"
How dare Bush say that he is bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq? He has brought violence, war, killing, looting, misery - he's obviously lying. The people he says he wanted to liberate are now the enemy, the "insurgency." Thanks to Bush Iraq has become a breeding ground for terrorists. Anyone who could listen to that press conference and come away with the impression that Bush is a "humble" man is crazy. Bush did not apologize for anything. He insulted the reporters, including one who dared to call him "sir." Bush said, "Who are you talking to?" The press conference just shows how totally incompetent he is.
Log on and Listen
AirAmericaRadio.com Al Franken and the left-wing answer to Rush Limbaugh.
Take a banner! Post it at your site. I made this and put it on the front page of both my sites: Steamboats.com and Surrealist.org. Encourage people to vote. Don't get stuck in finding fault with Kerry - he can win - and he must win or we could be facing the end of the world. he he. Happy Easter! (Click here for 9-11 banners.)
10 April 04
Condoleezza Testifies
Condoleezza Rice, an advisor to the president who is supposed to communicate with the various agencies and the cabinet, testified under oath to the 9-11 commission day before yesterday. The one thing that stands out to this viewer was her repeated denial that the Bushies had any intelligence of a pending attack in America. Then due to the diligent (if cranky) questioning from some of the commissioners we were permitted to hear the title of an Aug. 6, 2001, "PDB" (President's Daily Briefing) for the first time ever: "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside U.S."
So they had a PDB that said "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside U.S."? What else did they have? What did they do about it? Question number ten on the 9-11 families' list of things they want to ask G.W. Bush is:
"Specifically, what did you learn from the August 6, 2001, PDB about the terrorist threat that was facing our nation? Did you request any follow-up action to take place? Did you request any further report be developed and/or prepared?"
The Washington Post said, "Polls, if taken, are likely to reflect that Rice did the administration considerable good, at least temporarily." They praised her for being prim and proper, even when things got contentious. One thing we know about her for sure: she's a long talker. She can say the same thing over and over, but make you think she's saying something new. And whatever she says sounds so "nice."
One reason why Condoleezza's charm may only be temporary, however, is that the truth of what happened on 9-11 might get in the way.
01 April 04
Meditation Focus for a Better World
Global visionary Jean Hudon asks the lightworkers of the world to focus their energy on this meditation for the next two weeks. This has been getting around the Internet, becuase a number of our correspondents have forwarded it to Pray for Peace. Please join in the meditation:
Please use the following inspirational text as the backdrop of this special Meditation Focus and dedicate your prayers and meditations, as guided by Spirit, in the coming two weeks, and especially in synchronous attunement at the usual time this Sunday and the following one, to contribute in empowering this vision of a New Earth, for the Highest Good of All.
I have a vision . . .
I have a vision that one day soon all humans on Earth will recognize the powerful Force that unites us all, and behave as true brothers and sisters, caring for and cherishing each other, as they contemplate the glimmer of Love emanating from the depth of their soul through the purified window of their eyes.
I have a vision that one day soon every single living organism on the face of this planet will be seen and honored as a sacred, indissociable element of the whole Matrix of Life that for aeons has endowed this world with the sublime magnificence of its infinitely intricate perfection through the multitudinous forms of Life it has designed and animated.
I have a vision that one day very soon, Peace, Love and Harmony will prevail on Earth as it is in Heaven and that the veil which for so long has prevented embodied souls from remembering their innate divine nature will be permanently lifted and all souls, along with their angelic companions, guides and protectors, will celebrate every waking moment of their lives and rejoice at their new found sense of Oneness with ALL THAT IS.
This vision of a world in perfect harmony is the very reason we came to live at this climaxing moment in our long evolutionary journey. It is not the fantasy of a single human mind, it is the carefully planned completion of our long established common destiny. The convergence of universal assistance from space-faring, enlightened civilizations and from beings of Light beaming Love and Divine Wisdom at us from their ethereal dimension of existence is making possible the vibrational shift now lifting third dimensional Earth and all its living components into its new fourth dimensional state of radiant perfection.
We must not concern ourselves with how such an amazing metamorphosis is being achieved. We just have to welcome, as the proverbial butterfly gracefully emerging from its cocoon, the warm radiance of our inner Source of Light dispensing in every moment the perfectly balanced amount of stimulation, vital sustenance and imaginal guidance to allow us to follow our Golden Path towards global Illumination as One. As we collectively reach the Threshold of our Awakening to blissful Unity and Universal Divine Knowledge, we become in a forever more conscious manner what we have always been since the very first Spark of Life manifested Itself as an expression of the Creator's Will to Be.
Humanity is morphing from a collection of of individual, fragmented and disparate elements into a unified symphony of harmonized colors shining brightly like a globe-circling rainbow of gilded Love after a long stormy history of war and destruction.
Fear no more that fear itself could prevent us from becoming Who We Are, for Love is shining like a star in our hearts and guiding our every thought, word and deed.
Let there be Peace on Earth, joy in everyone, harmony everywhere and beauty in everything. So it is and so be it.
This whole Meditation Focus has been archived for your convenience at http://www.aei.ca/~cep/MeditationFocus107.htm
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