#just to make sure palestinians have no way of sustaining themselves | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

alexsmitposts · 4 years

Photo

Lebanon: Colonial Thieves & Conflicting Networks of Patronage I am trying to think how best to write about Lebanon, about the BIGGER picture and the complicated political situation and structure there. It goes beyond the Beirut port bombing or the source of the fertiliser, well beyond the recriminations, and what is actually being reported in the news as well. This is a topic we have covered earlier in NEO, even before Lebanon was so newsworthy. But as with everything, the first rule of a journalist is to not to believe in coincidences. Blast from the Past Let’s just assume readers know all about the current situation, the corruption, the banking mafias and the humanitarian crisis on the horizon. Lebanon is a country collapsing, crashing and burning, and its banking system with it. The country is about to hit rock bottom—at least in the opinion of most pundits. As mentioned in previous NEO articles, the lack of a government isn’t going to get foreign troops out of Lebanon, or stabilise its currency and persuade its neighbours to respect its position. Nor is it going to keep it out of the shadows of Israel and Syria. But having a new government which isn’t backed, or at least tolerated, by public consensus won’t bring about immediate change; it won’t be the magic cure. On the contrary, it will for sure raise new issues, create new groups willing to be bought off and create greater instability, simply because it is easier to fight an enemy you know. Changing the political-sectoral structure of the government, an ongoing issue in Lebanon, isn’t going to prove a panacea for all either – not because no solution would satisfy the Lebanese, but because the very existence of its government system doesn’t satisfy everyone else. But what comes next? At the heart of this system lies a social compact which connects individuals to political leaders based on sectarian identity — Maronite Christian, Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Druze, to name a few of the country’s 18 different religious sects. Each knows its place, and is closely linked to various networks of political and financial patronage—and these have existed from generation to generation. In layman’s terms, if a whole new order is put in place in Lebanon – based on liberal, deliberative politics, not doling out privileges to various religious and ethnic groupings, and with well-delineated representative electoral boundaries drawn up following the first census the country will have seen in decades – most of the confessional groups will most likely lose out, or persuade their supporters they will. The sectorial elites are very entrenched, and run their own self-sustaining networks of patronage, so it isn’t hard to predict how they will react. If something the West recognises as “liberal democracy” is introduced in Lebanon, the elites’ spheres of influence will contract, and their interests will have to come second to those of the locals. At least, that is the theory – as ever, Westerners are unable to understand that “liberal democracy” is itself a sect, run by a particular segment of the population, holding certain approved views, which sustains itself by even more extensive networks of patronage. The elites and the locals are not two separate groups in Lebanon. All the various groups and elites are in some sense local, the outcomes of waves of past immigration and a system which, though antiquated, was questioned far more by outsiders than it ever was by Lebanese, whose only argument is who should have which slices of the cake, and for what reason. The Maronites claim to be the “original” Lebanese, descendants of the Phoenicians. But their claim to being the real Lebanese is no more or less valid than those of the Sunni or Shia populations, or the Druze, or even the Armenians who have a clear, century-long presence in the country—ever since the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottomans. This is why nationals outside the country simply call themselves Lebanese – they identify more with Lebanon than with the ethnic groups and associated states everyone else tells them they belong to. In the nineteenth century it was often said that the differences between the dominant political parties lay in which gentleman’s clubs their members belonged to, rather than in their ideologies. The differences between Lebanese lie in which networks of patronage they can access, not their religious or ethnic identity. Lebanon has never been a nation-state or national state, so all groups have a more or less equal participation in its identity. No one group can claim that it is the true local population, and the rest are minorities. Everyone is a minority, and it is only the much more recent Palestinian and Syrian immigrants and refugees who might remain out of the social and legal framework, even though they largely migrated there to find one. Trying to upset the delicate balance of interests which holds the country together, when outsiders allow it to, will certainly lead to a great deal of acrimony from almost anyone who has enjoyed any degree of power over the past seventy years and more, who won’t want to give up any privileges and share things with Johnny come lately “newcomers”. As we have learned from too many other fledgling states or flickering beacons of democracy, be careful for what you wish for. Change for its own sake is not always for the better, especially in complicated parts of the world. This has been a lesson learned in the wake of the so-called Arab Springs. High Wire Act Perhaps the best starting point is to assume that the present Lebanese government is a high-wire act. By any measures it should have failed long ago, even before it resigned, as it represents too many competing and diametrically opposed interests, sects and political agendas, pieced together into a government out of sheer desperation amidst almost impossible political realities. Corruption is endemic, as to a cat who likes to climb trees and claw things. Much of the problem has to do with the fact that Lebanon is deeply rooted in its old colonial past, and its former masters, powers such as France and Turkey, are completing for a place at the table in a bid to retain their historic influence. When Lebanon was the Las Vegas of the Middle East, wealthy and attractive, these powers tried to exert this influence in a much more covert way, not wanting to interfere with the operation of a gravy train. Now those days have gone, they are setting themselves up as the solution to the problems they themselves created by refusing to accept a Lebanese system they were incapable of emulating. From 1920 until its independence in 1943, Lebanon was under French colonial rule, while before that the Ottomans ruled for four centuries. This is why it was predictable that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of “colonial” aims in Lebanon, and called his recent visit to Beirut a “spectacle”, amid growing tensions between Ankara and Paris. The meddling from outsiders has made Lebanon a modern-day Casablanca, full of cross-sections of intrigues. Not only France and Turkey but the US and Israel see it as the beachhead for influencing regional affairs, as if things are not already complicated enough with Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria engaged in an ongoing proxy war within Lebanon’s internal politics. No one wants them there, but if the state isn’t strong enough to protect particular groups of locals from people sponsored by the other side, they have little choice but to put up with the “protection” of people they do not actually regard as representing their interests. Macron and Erdogan have enough problems at home, but prefer meddling in an area that is already a tinderbox, so they can blame the other, and therefore by extension all it represents in their respective countries. All this is contributing to a perfect storm which will leave Lebanon a failed state amongst failed states. What will actually have happened is that everyone else has failed because Lebanon is intrinsically sounder than they are, but it is the Lebanese who will be expected to pick up the pieces. Shallow-minded State While France and Turkey are making worrying bids for renewed influence, the US is trying to call the game from a distance. US motivations are simpler, and easier to understand – the US answer is always, “I blame Iran for the problems in Lebanon,” with a few soundbites about Hezbollah to boot. As ever, this line has everything to do with the US, and nothing whatever to do with Lebanon or the reality of life there. IRAN-Hezbollah is a label of convenience for State Department types and the John Boltons and Mike Mike Pompeos of this world, i.e., the proverbial “shallow-minded state”.It is really interesting to listen to State Department briefings and read press releases. What they don’t say is most revealing, like Pompeo’s statement in the aftermath of the only too convenient fertilizer explosion at the Port of Beirut: “I want to extend our deepest condolences to all those who were affected by the massive explosion at the port of Beirut yesterday. We stand ready to assist the Government of Lebanon – as it grapples with this horrible tragedy. You’ll see the United States announce a number of things we intend to do to assist the people of Lebanon in the coming days.” Such as what? Everything has strings attached, especially when it concerns providing aid to a country during a humanitarian crisis. We only have to look at the developmental model imposed on any country, the USAID Missions and IFO, IMF and World Bank advisers, designed with no other purpose but to ensure the US takes control “lock, stock and barrel”. Let’s hope that a new model evolves (not a feeding frenzy), and one not based on externally imposed structural adjustment policies or economic shock treatment, as if the economy hasn’t been shocked enough. It should be more needs driven, and must not identify the locals as the problem, particularly when you are expecting those locals to vote the way you want them to when your new system is in place. Baking a new cake will require time, and enough time must be afforded for the evolving protest movement and other independent figures to politically organise. Early elections will result in the same sectarian elite getting elected, but then not being allowed to operate, so Lebanon will again be lumbered with the worst of both worlds. To go back and see where it all began, one only needs to check out the secret 1916 Sykes Picot agreement between England and France about slicing up what would be left of the Ottoman Empire after World War One. It would be naïve to think that anyone can get a grasp of what is going on now without understanding the historic intrigues. The Bolsheviks found a copy of the Sykes-Picot agreement when they seized power, and had the audacity to publish it. Lenin called it “the agreement of colonial thieves”. This might also be an appropriate title for what may come in the wake of the resignation of the most recent Lebanese government, and any conditions imposed by the West or the IMF on Lebanon in exchange for a financial lifeline.

3 notes · View notes

rgr-pop · 4 years

Note

Re: canvassing for Bernie. I guess mostly advice on being effective. I went canvassing in Va before Super Tuesday and felt pretty ineffective, we used the minivan app which just showed us dem voters which makes sense right before the election but I’m wondering if I should widen the net going forward? Idk I’d be canvassing in md and wv thanks in advance you truly are the only smart person on this site

i actually did not have the best experience today, but some of my friends did. my friend the one from flint who went on msnbc to tell chris hayes he didn't vote for hillary because he's from flint, he had a really good day and he felt really good about everything. he gave me some good points, which i will share with you in a second. the reason you didn't feel effective in VA is because everyone in VA is a CIA asset and you shouldn't internalize that. i'm thrilled that you get to talk to people in WV and I think policy and talking points are really going to be on your side, and the people are going to be cool as hell (even if they are not-already bernard voters).

i think bernard kinda fucked over michigan in a few ways this year (no beef but it's true), but i am lucky because my city has some extremely experienced campaign people, and i have never really had to experience doing canvassing for any kind of campaign that wasn't run by them, so i was kind of confused about how little direction you were given. they keep asking me to do higher-up stuff like drawing up the voter lists and strategizing and hosting canvasses, but i keep being like, put me on the doors dude that's where i belong. (my palestinian libra dirtbag is exactly the same, he did like three turfs today lol.) i can probably ask my campaign people for tips if you feel like you don't have any guidance.

since we're so close to election day, we'd normally be only targeting likely/confirmed voters to get out the vote, but because things are so crazy, we're also hitting up voters identified as undecided or previously soft-opponent or i think even independent and we're actually still trying to change minds. this is not super usual but it's crisis time! so, to answer your question, i would say i think you should widen the net, especially in WV. the dem voter problem isn't a huge issue where i am because people in lansing flint and detroit are literally just always democrats no matter what, but in other states i think it's more nuanced.

most of the following advice pertains to actually talking to people, but it should cover the range of voters you may encounter. i think i feel the least effective when i "fail" to engage people in a conversation, so i recommend talking to them in more open-ended ways. i share some of our script down below, but in general i like to ask people questions to draw them in, rather than telling people what we're about. get them to talk about themselves, and they will remember bernie sanders as the candidate that listened. i swear to god that works.

today they gave me a sheet (i gave it to a new girl so i can't remember exactly, but) that focused on swinging those voters. it's still "don't shittalk opponent" territory but it's a list of ways to explicitly contrast sanders and biden on the policies, and it made me realize that we're extremely lucky to be put in this position because those contrasts are stark, and they are convincing to poor people in particular.

what's interesting is that i'm no longer leaning into medicare for all to do my arguing, and i think that's gonna make me more effective. obviously bernie is stronger (literally: strongest) on this issue, but the messaging around biden's work on the ACA and his recent dodging about the issue doesn't help us convince anybody. healthcare is the most important thing on the table but it remains inscrutable: i would say dig into it with voters only if they bring it up as an issue that matters to them, or if they're healthcare workers (non-doctor probably), or if you are going to talk about an experience of your own. when you do talk about healthcare, especially in WV, remember bernie's position on medical debt. this is one of his clearest contrasts with biden. make sure you're familiar with biden's history with bankruptcy and debt, because i'd be willing to bet that that's something that's gonna resonate with WV and MD voters.

the trade deals and NAFTA are, simply, the most important thing to talk about at this point, and imo (based on the critical states, michigan most of all) that's what's going to win us this election, if we talk to people about it. hillary clinton lost the election because she did NAFTA--simple as that. biden, too, did NAFTA, but the thing about him--as i'm sure you're noticing--is that people seem to forget absolutely everything about him, and no one knows that he did NAFTA. joe biden is behind loads of policy that was outright bad for industrial workers and ruined lives. it is simply enough to argue "bernie sanders did not do NAFTA" but you'll want to look into his trade deal positions and history, contrast these with both biden and trump. if you're worried about the xenophobic underbelly of this problem, frame it as exactly what it is: a position that resists giving corporations free reign to do whatever they want, to abandon communities, and stomp all over workers.

look over some of bernie's positions on unions and labor in general. neither of the states you are going to are strongly right-to-work states right now, but where i live that's a really important thing. both biden and bernie, interestingly, have proposed a ban on right-to-work laws (it rules that we are in a place where this was mainstream for candidates, but it remains to be seen who will actually pursue this! the literal birthplace of the UAW went right-to-work while biden was VP soooo.) bernie also wants to end at-will employment and has a slate of proposal to strengthen unions. you should tell this to almost everyone. biden claims to support many similar plans, but he has not historically been especially strong in these areas, and his plans are generally less encompassing.

you should be prepared to confront concerns that bernie's strong environmental positions will hurt workers in WV. talk to people about a "just transition" and really emphasize the point that industry, and coal companies in particular, have been empowered to come and go as they please without any consequences. bernard's plans in general are job creators, and the idea is to bring sustainable--as in, sticking--jobs to appalachia and the rust belt, as well as universal healthcare for people made sick by their jobs. universal healthcare is an engine for jobs.

the war in iraq, support for veterans, and social security are extremely huge issues for poor people, probably specifically in WV.

you will also talk to another major electorate: people who just want to beat trump. this is advice from the msnbc friend, who knows: give them all the bernie beats trump lines. only bernie beats trump. convince them that biden will have all the same problems hillary clinton had against trump. if they bring up the alleged low youth turnout on super tuesday, remind them that the south has particular voter suppression issues that impact young and college voters, and that thus far young people actually have been turning out in the north and west. and the youth turnout on super tuesday was still higher than average! remind them that a democrat without the so-called youth vote has never beat a republican in the general in this century. most importantly, remind them that because of our flawed electoral system, you could win every single person on the west coast, but you're essentially never going to win the election if you can't win macomb county, michigan. and macomb county, michigan is full of working class voters who were really hurt by the policies of joe biden and hillary clinton and, increasingly, donald trump, and they are interested in bernie sanders, and it's life or death for them. tell them you have a friend in michigan who has seen this first hand :). (hoping march tenth bears this out for us lol.)

gonna round out the hard issues section here by suggesting you read this, which i think is pretty convincing: https://newrepublic.com/article/156819/rebooting-bernie-sanders

today i talked to a guy who said, "bernie sanders, i think i heard obama likes him." and i said, yep, bernie worked really hard to pass some of obama's best policies. and that's true :)

in general, the sanders campaign relies really heavily on the "bernie story," the personal narrative. i think it probably works. it really works for me, because i can talk to people about the stuff that isn't just the green new deal and loan forgiveness--although you will definitely also end up talking to educated people who will need to be reminded that bernie sanders wants to forgive their loans and joe biden wants them to be saddled with them until the end of time. remember to talk to people about where you work and where you live. work and homes is the most important thing to absolutely everyone. tell them you have a teacher friend lol. talk to people about other people you've met. tell other people's stories.

in case you need guidance in this area, try a script that looks something like this (sorry if this is condescending and you already have seen the scripts, but i kind of modify them based on my strengths as a canvasser):

i'm so and so and i'm with the bernard sanders campaign and we're out reminding people to vote on [date].

do you plan on voting? do you know who you're voting for? can we count on you to vote for bernie? [remind people of the stakes of the election, it's gonna be a close one, talk to your friends and family.] [then get them to think about their election day plan: do you know where your polling location is? what time are you going? do you have transportation?] [try to have support info available for them if they do not have these things. if they're worrying about not being able to get off work, commiserate/be empathetic and don't blame.] [let them know how they can get involved in the campaign.]

if they say they are not voting, sometimes you can respect that (shoutout to jehovah's witness), but if they're on your list, they're probably registered, so you can ask them what kind of issues prevent them from voting. a lot of people will tell you that voting is stupid. you should agree with them (they are right). remind them that you would not normally be canvassing for a democratic candidate or any presidential candidate. you're working with tons of people who never canvassed, or maybe never even voted before. this is the first time in my entire life that i had the opportunity to vote for a candidate that addressed the issues that weigh on me on a day to day basis. a major candidate that hates the two party system and refuses to submit to democratic party nonsense. who has a plan that might actually work. a candidate that has a plan to make everybody's life better, even people who aren't out here canvassing for him. poor people. remind them that bernie sanders is the strongest candidate among non- and first-time voters! this area is a strength of mine because all of this is 100% true for me. i hate electoral politics and i hate the democratic party! if they have other reasons for not voting, see if you have any info that can help them. also remind them that this is a close race, an uphill battle, a difficult fight, and their vote is going to REALLY make a difference. but if we try, we will win.

if they say they "think" they know who they're voting for, they're probably thinking about someone else. you'd be surprised--i am so surprised--how many people have no idea, even up til they get to the polls, or they change their mind last minute. try to prepare a few sentences that are really personal but probably relatable that they can chew on. mine looks something like this: i'm from flint michigan and i've seen the way the government has started to let companies get away with absolutely anything, abandon families that have worked for them for generations, and weaken unions. i want fair wages, fair taxes and for companies to be accountable to their workers and the communities that make them run & make them rich, and that's the bernie sanders platform, and i fear joe biden's ideas are moving us in the same direction that we're already moving. my husband's family worked for GM for four generations but we can't get jobs in flint much less find a place to live. being from flint, and in my own working life, i've watched the power of unions just totally erode. i myself am in a teacher's union and just recently, for the first time in my life,i feel like we can move in a direction where workers have real power in their workplace. especially watching teachers and support staff rally behind sanders, or these huge strikes. sometimes here i also say something about schools! etc.! ! sometimes that's all you get, but sometimes people want to hear more! in either case, this will stick with them.

if they say they are undecided, ask them what kind of issues motivate them to vote, or ask them what they think about sanders. refer to all of the above, but don't argue, use bernie's positions to add to what they are saying, be a good empathetic active listener etc. but also make sure they know that you have shared experiences, agree with them. 99% of the time their issues will be better addressed by bernie, if they are working class people. sometimes they will reveal that they are nervous to vote for sanders. remind them of the size and energy of the base, and the electability arguments listed above. one of the reasons we want to canvass is to remind people--especially in conservative communities, where their neighbors may not even be voting in this primary--that it's okay and in fact very popular to vote for bernie, and we're competitive, and if we make it to the general we're gonna win. but it's not going to be easy [talk to your friends and family get involved go online etc.]

if they are leaning biden but undecided, sometimes it's fine to ask them why, ask them for a pitch. you can tell them that you agree, and that we have had a really strong contest this year, and maybe in another year biden would have been the strongest choice, but bernie's just better in all these areas, etc.

please lmk if you want more ideas! i'll try to take a picture of some of our documents tomorrow when i'm out.

14 notes · View notes

diallokenyatta · 4 years

Note

Are you a prison abolitionist? If so, what do we do with these parasitic billionaries and pathological white people?

Yes, I fully support Prison Abolition.

It’s easy to deal with billionaires; we just take their fucking money away, we take their property away, and there wouldn’t be shit they could do about it if the masses were unified. It’s a myth that billionaires are powerful or highly capable people, they are parasites, and when a parasite loses it’s host it becomes dormant or starves to death, so when we take away their ability to exploit our labor and overthrow their paid armed forced they’re done for.

As for the White Masses, we’d have to implement cultural reformation and reeducation, the loss of White Hegemony will be really hard for them to cope with, we’ve seen everything from social collapse and warfare among Whites when they lose their ability to rule and exploit the non-White world. Hell, WWI and WWII were about the maintained and loos of Empires. There are entire White cultures and nations whose entire identity is wrapped up in the pathological myth of White Domination and Predation of non-Whites. So it will be as hard for them psychologically as it will be economically and socially.

History has demonstrated that when White Aggressors lack the “upper hand,” when they are denied the weapons and the authority to do harm they manage to be very, very civil....as they plot to arm themselves and retake power.

In Haiti, the Slave Owners and the White Peasants bowed down to the new authority...until they regrouped & got support from the other Racist nations. In Uganda, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Jamacia (Maroons), Vietnam, and all over the world, Whites who were homicidal and oppressive ended their aggression and sat at the negotiation table when their victims united and rose up against them. In Afganistan right now the US is negotiating with the Taliban when just a decade ago they said they “don’t negotiate with terrorists.”

So we won’t have to jail all the Racist when the oppressed masses raise up and retake the world. Racists operate off of the M.A.D. Principle; M.A.D. stands for Mutually Assured Destruction; when you have the same will and capacity to harm them as they do to harm you they will back down...until the regain the “upper hand.”

We have to be aware that Peace means “Preparation for War,” to the Racist, so we have to remain vigilant in the transition era between Global White Domination and Global Liberation.

If we secure and consolidate enough Power we can “liberate” the Oppressors the same way they sustained our Oppression; we make sure the Whites who raise to power within their nations and communities reflect the values and interests of Liberation and World Revolution, just as they put Blacks and other non-Whites in positions of power in our communities and our nations to sustain the System of Oppression and subvert our Resistance.

There are many Revolutionary Elements in the White community we could help them cultivate, imagine if we could put Noam Chomsky in charge of their educational systems if we could help Michael Parenti or Chirs Hedges become President, or put Norman Finkelstein in charge of the Israeli Palestinians Peace Negotiations.

When we wake up, unite, organize, and assert our Power the Oppressors have always managed to change their attitudes and behaviors...we just have to make sure we remain vigilant and not let our guards down for many generations...if ever.

#BroDiallo

www.diallokenyatta.com

www.patreon.com/diallokenyatta

4 notes · View notes

freecityradio · 4 years

Text

Brian Aboud on pandemic, risk society and impacts for refugees

Today got the opportunity to speak with Brian Aboud, a professor at Vanier College, for the Free City Radio interview series. Brian stresses here the importance of thinking about how this pandemic will impact vulnerable communities, particularly Syrian and Palestinian refugees, as many families in Montreal are directly connected to communities in the impacted region. Also a note to say that Médecins Sans Frontières / أطباء بلا حدود في لبنان is sending doctors to the front lines in Iran and does provide direct health support for impacted communities in Lebanon, Turkey and beyond, for people who don't have access to health systems. I personally know people in the Beirut office at MSF, who are excellent, dedicated and extremely hard working, if you can donate, please do.

Brian is a community activist and researcher, who has worked for many years on issues of migrant justice, both contemporary and historic, including the documentation of the living history of Montreal's Syrian community, dating back to the late 1800s. Brian is one of the co-founders of Tadamon!

Over the years, when crazy events happen, I have really valued speaking with Brian, who always has meaningful, kind and pointed insights. Documented this exchange for the Free City Radio series on the pandemic.

Brian stresses here the importance of thinking about how this pandemic will impact vulnerable communities, particularly Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Also Brian highlights the ways that modern capitalist practices, in relation to the environment, will lead to more and more extremely dangerous scenarios. In this context highlighting the work of Mining Watch Canada which has been consistently documenting the malpractices of Canadian mining companies around the world and within Canada's colonial borders in regards to indigenous lands, all mining practices that contribute to the destruction of the environment and natural areas.

Stefan : How you feeling about what has been happening ?

Brian : This is a product of the last century.

I have been very influenced, in regards to interpreting threats and hazards within the contemporary time, by a German sociologist named Ulrich Beck, who published a book in the 1980s called "Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity." It has become a much bigger influence than expected. It was published right before the Chernobyl disaster.

It is an account of how societies were changing as a result of the impacts of modernization and industrialization, during the period of increased industrialization in the late 19th century and throughout the 20th century of course.

This book looks at the unintended consequences of this industrialization. So looking at the risk society, which was emerging throughout this time, replacing the scarcity society that emerged in the industrial period and the class society. Not that class is disappearing, not at all, the circumstances of most individuals today is still most strongly determined by class, but the vulnerability, exposure to unwanted occurrences of danger are shifting all over, facing many. Of course class circumstances expose you, working class are exposed to more vulnerability, especially now.

With the welfare state, the vulnerabilities lessened a little in the second half of the 20th century, as compared to the early 20th century, although major vulnerabilities still exist, especially in the global south, the production zone of the western world.

Stefan : But due to reckless policies that are expanding, risk is becoming larger in scale, first for the working classes there was these threats, but now that threat is becoming more across the board ?

Brian: Yes.

What is emerging, in late modernity, is the mass exposure to industrial risks, all the ways we are exposed to toxins, pollution and pesticides, are among the new risks related to industrial life.

The quintessential example is radioactivity, this was even before Chernobyl. These are unprecedented risks that human beings at large have no clear strategy of fully protecting themselves from. Chernobyl was the greatest disaster from industrialization in the 20th century.

Now we are seeing something on the same level, but global, although the impacts of the nuclear disasters also continue to impact.

Stefan : Like in Fukushima, Japan ?

Brian : Yes. Fukushima was also so highly destructive and dangerous, it continues to be actually. Chernobyl was far greater in proportion, but both incidents were bad, both disasters.

Today, COVID 19 makes me think about the ways that Chernobyl was experienced, because people today and in 1986 are facing death from a source that you can't face, you can't see and that you can't exactly understand. In Chernobyl the proximate zones of radioactivity equaled mass exposure to radioactivity and many were in very serious danger.

I keep thinking about how people faced the threat, Chernobyl, and how people are facing the threat now.

Stefan : How are they similar for you ? Why is this reference important ?

Brian : People have a similar emotional reaction, in a way, because you can't see the threat, but you know there is something out there.

Stefan : Both COVID 19 and Chernobyl being products of modern society. Well, of course radioactivity is much more lethal immediately and in the long term, obviously. With this virus it seems most people will survive, but many will not, while it is also truly a global situation.

Brian : Emotionally there is a connection, in terms of the social impact of an invisible threat.

Stefan : Thankfully today information is shared more quickly and people are more aware.

Brian : Yes, people are more aware of the threat than in April 1986.

Stefan : Why is it important to think about COVID 19 in regards to industrial society ?

Brian : My query is how this might be the product of industrial society. Trying to figure this out. What is different today is that COVID 19 is different from the general types of risks that we are use to in industrial society.

Stefan : This risk presents a different framework ?

Brian. Yes. Industrial societies that we have built, that we have constructed, they are impacting nature so deeply, but we don't have the biological defences now to interact with animals in this way.

Stefan : Also we don't have the social and institutional tools to adequately address situations like this pandemic.

Relating to urban areas encroaching into the natural world more and more, with so many areas on earth also becoming scenes of massive industrial scale projects, mines, industrial corporate farming, these projects are often done without regard to the surrounding environments that balance life.

MiningWatch Canada tracks in solid detail the ways that these types of malpractices are carried out by Canadian mining companies.

Brian : The unbalanced relationship between human beings and the natural world is at the root of this. Even though, the use of animals and plants, is related to the human production of culture, generally speaking, these frameworks of human culture are totally different in the last decades, as compared to any other point in history.

Stefan : This has consequences ?

Brian : Yes.

Stefan : It make think about the changes that happened to laws in China around the consumption of wild animals, there were actual changes around the ways that wild animals would be consumed, legally in the 1970s due to mass poverty. Vox had a good video on this, but don't fully trust Vox, obviously.

So the framework of time has changed, first trains, and now then planes. Human conceptions of distance, place and time have all changed, and this shift has become global, across all societies, and it just fells like this shift, shaped by contemporary capitalism, can't be sustained.

Brian : Yes, there is that recklessness in this cultural framework that is now global, in human beings dealing with the natural world. A pretension about the human relationship with the natural world and how the needs and desires of humanity should take precedent over everything.

Stefan : Given you have worked so much on supporting human rights and social justice in Syria, in Palestine. How do you think that this virus will impact communities so deeply impacted by war, in Syria and in Palestine, people in the refugee camps on the border of Turkey and Greece.

Brian : Today, there is this sense of worry in the western world, people wanting products, they don't want to run out of, products that make any life a little easier, I get that.

Stefan : But to prop up this system in the west, many communities globally are disregarded ?

Brian : Yes. Many populations are disregarded. The response here is totally understandable, so when people here are faced with this unknown, there is a massive reaction.

But. I keep thinking of the Syrians who have faced so much peril and much of the world hasn't acted to stop the war that also threatened people.

Stefan : In a life and death way, right ?

Brian : Exactly.

In Africa, the threat of Ebola, only became an emergency when it seemed that it might touch western borders, less when it impacted people in Africa, Western Africa particularly.

All the suffering that people in Syria, in Palestine, have faced is something to consider now.

Stefan : That threat of death has been constant for many ?

Brain : Yes.

Stefan : There is an institutional challenge, I feel the left is facing, a crisis of action, in dealing with institutionally and power.

Feel that Democratic Socialists of America are attempting to explore this question, the campaigns of Bernie Sanders / Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. How to deal with power, especially in a time of crisis. Not sure the response that is best, but the state, in Canada, even now, continues to work to bail out the banks and oil companies.

Finding ways to shift the motions of powerful institutions in society, to deconstruct them (banks + corporations), seems very important now. Also the importance of expanding and developing public institutions, like health care facilities.

#covid19 #syria #refugees #endgame #aoc #bernie

1 note · View note

ruminativerabbi · 4 years

Text

More Light!

I first read The Lives of the Caesars by Suetonius, the famously gossipy and endlessly amusing historian of the first twelve Roman emperors, when I was in graduate school. Lots of the book stays with me still, but among those anecdotes he relates that I could cite in a letter that might possibly fall into the hands of children my favorite has to do, I think, with the death of Vespasian—the archenemy of the Jews of his day and the Roman most responsible for the brutal defeat of the rebellion that left Jerusalem in ruins and the Temple razed. He was dying of terminal diarrhea (which detail appeals to me for some reason) and sensed that his end was near, when, so Suetonius, he looked at the people assembled by his bedside and archly said, “Vae, puto deus fio,” which translates loosely as “Vay iz mir, I think I’m turning into a god.” Okay, the vay iz mir part I just made up. (Although vae in Latin means roughly the same thing as that longer Yiddish expression that oddly starts with the same word.) But the rest is slightly funny, slightly pathetic: since the Romans in his day liked to imagine their deceased Caesars turning into minor gods, Vespasian apparently though he could announce his imminent demise in an amusing way by forecasting his posthumous deification. Hardy-har-har!

That story came back to me over the last week as I received email after email about my last letter, the one in which I quoted Leonard Cohen’s song about light coming into the world because everything, somewhere, has a crack in it through which light can seep. I used that image to frame some of the good things I perceived as having happened lately, incidents or events that reminded me—in a particularly dark, distressing couple of months—that where there is darkness there can also be light…if you know where to look for it!

One writer asked me, I think seriously, if I was turning—not into a Roman god—but, in some ways even less probably, into an optimist. My regular readers know that optimism is hardly a hallmark of my worldview. Just to the contrary, I think, is the case: I have read too much—way too much—history, and particularly Jewish history, to see things other than clearly. And, at least for me, that means understanding mindless anti-Israelism not as a momentary aberration but as an integral plank of Western culture, as merely the latest iteration of the anti-Judaic sentiment that underlies too much of Western culture to be removed or even removable other than by the cultural version of a tectonic plate shift. So, no, I don’t think I’m ready to look out at the world and declare myself even a non-cockeyed optimist. And yet there have been just lately some positive, encouraging events that I omitted to discuss last week. And so, at risk of being accused of abandoning my systemic pessimism about the universe, I thought I’d risk writing about them this week. Why not? I’m on a roll!

I am thinking of two recent events principally.

The first is the conference that took place just last month in London that brought together Arab intellectuals and leaders from fifteen different Arab countries: Morocco, Sudan, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, and nine Persian Gulf states, all of whom were apparently of the mind that the best way to bring peace to the Middle East would be for Arab states, as well as the Palestinians, to engage with Israel, to abandon the decades-long boycott of the Jewish State, and to welcome Israel as a partner-in-dialogue. Even casual students of the Middle East will understand easily how surprising—or rather, shocking—a development this was. And yet, there they were: journalists, artists, scholars, politicians, and scholars (including scholars of the Quran) sitting together and saying clearly that the refusal to acknowledge the reality of Israel’s existence has mostly cost the Palestinians what could otherwise have been the opportunity to build their own state with the willing, even eager, support of their Israeli neighbors.

The group has a name: The Arab Council for Regional Integration. And they have a leader too in one Mustafa el-Dessouki, an Egyptian who edits an influential Arabic-language news magazine called Majalla. More recognizable will be the name of Anwar el-Sadat, not the assassinated Egyptian leader (obviously) but a namesake and nephew whose major claim to fame—at least so far—lies in his having been expelled from the Egyptian Parliament in 2017 for not being sufficiently obsequious to Egyptian President (and strongman) Abdel el-Sisi.

I’ve read several accounts of this meeting. (To sample some, click here, here, here, and here. To hear former P.M. Tony Blair’s address to the group, click here.) All seem in agreement that these people are sincere and that they represent a real sentiment among many in the Arab world—albeit one rarely expressed in public—to the effect that the real way to pave a path into the future for the Palestinians is for Israel to be made to feel secure, thus less inclined to act solely defensively, and to foster an atmosphere of mutual undertaking and endeavor that will make Israelis into real people for their Palestinian neighbors and, in some ways even more dauntingly, vice versa. This is something I’ve hoped would happen, basically, forever—the sudden appearance of a block of respected thinkers prepared to enter into sustained, respectful dialogue with Israeli leaders that is not “about” Israel’s right to exist but rather about the ideal way for Israel and its neighbors to relate to each other, to work together on projects of mutual benefit, and to create the kind of peaceful setting in the Middle East that would benefit all concerned parties.

It’s just a beginning. It’s not even that much of a beginning. But it is something…and, as far as I can see, it actually is real. I feel buoyed, almost encouraged, slightly hopeful, marginally less pessimistic—all highly unlikely developments for someone who prides himself on the sobriety and realisticism of his worldview. And yet…here we are! Something new has happened. Where we go from here, none can say. But all can hope!

So that was the first event I wanted to bring to your attention. The second has to do with a visit just last week by some senior journalists from Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia who came to visit Israel for a five-day visit. Organized by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the guests all came from countries without diplomatic ties to Israel. But they came anyway, and this too represents a kind of sea-change—or at least the intimation of the possibility of that kind of sea-change—in the intransigency and obstinacy that has characterized even relatively liberal Arab writers when it came down to accepting the reality of Israel and understanding that the path to peace in the Middle East is through dialogue rather than violence. Yes, it’s true that these journalists, apparently fearing repercussions at home if it became known that they had been in Israel, retained their anonymity during the trip. But that only makes their visit more, not less, remarkable: here were people with everything to lose. And yet they came, partially (I’m sure) out of curiosity, but apparently also to take a principled stance against the mindless rejectionism that has led exactly nowhere in more than seventy years.

Their visit was not totally unprecedented. Last summer, a group of bloggers and journalists from Iraq and the Gulf States who came to Israel also last month as guests of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. In some ways, it was a normal trip: visits to Yad Vashem, the Temple Mount, the Knesset, etc. But this too was something we hadn’t ever seen: young writers, particularly bloggers, from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and some Gulf States traveling around Israel, seeing the people not as a faceless enemy but as actual individual men and women, attempting to understand the culture of the place and its sense of self. (To get the idea, click here for a picture of a young Saudi blogger named Mohammed Saud and Yair Netanyahu, Bibi’s son, sitting side by side and apparently getting along just fine.)

None of this is going to matter in the long run if the participants are doomed to be outliers who represent no one but themselves. But I have long hoped—even prayed—for something like this, for people on the other side to realize that the great hope for a future for the Palestinian people lies in dialogue and cooperation, not in violence fueled by self-generated despair.

Yes, it isn’t much. In some ways, it’s hardly anything at all. But you know how it works with cracks and light: even the narrowest crack has the capacity to let in enough light to change everything! As Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, approaches, that seems like a positive notion to keep in mind.

#Arab Council for Regional Integration

2 notes · View notes

thestreamofconsciousness777 · 6 years

Photo

In that day one will raise up concerning YOU people a proverbial saying and will certainly lament a lamentation. One will have to say: “We have positively been despoiled! The very portion of my people he alters...

“And Jehovah proceeded to say to me: “Take for yourself a large tablet and write upon it with the stylus of mortal man, ‘Ma’her-shal’al-hash-baz.’ And let me have attestation for myself by faithful witnesses, U·ri’ah the priest and Zech·a·ri’ah the son of Je·ber·e·chi’ah.”

Then I went near to the prophetess, and she came to be pregnant and in time gave birth to a son. Jehovah now said to me: “Call his name Ma’her-shal’al-hash-baz, for before the boy will know how to call out, ‘My father!’ and ‘My mother!’ one will carry away the resources of Damascus and the spoil of Sa·mar’i·a before the king of As·syr’i·a.”

And Jehovah proceeded to speak yet further to me, saying: “For the reason that this people has rejected the waters of the Shi·lo’ah that are going gently, and there is exultation over Re’zin and the son of Rem·a·li’ah; even therefore, look! Jehovah is bringing up against them the mighty and the many waters of the River, the king of As·syr’i·a and all his glory. And he will certainly come up over all his streambeds and go over all his banks and move on through Judah. He will actually flood and pass over. Up to the neck he will reach. And the outspreading of his wings must occur to fill the breadth of your land, O Im·man’u·el!”

Be injurious, O YOU peoples, and be shattered to pieces; and give ear, all YOU in distant parts of the earth! Gird yourselves, and be shattered to pieces! Gird yourselves, and be shattered to pieces! Plan out a scheme, and it will be broken up! Speak any word, and it will not stand, for God is with us! For this is what Jehovah has said to me with strongness of the hand, that he may make me turn aside from walking in the way of this people, saying: “YOU men must not say, ‘A conspiracy!’ respecting all that of which this people keep saying, ‘A conspiracy!’ and the object of their fear YOU men must not fear, nor must YOU tremble at it. Jehovah of armies—he is the One whom YOU should treat as holy, and he should be the object of YOUR fear, and he should be the One causing YOU to tremble.”

And he must become as a sacred place; but as a stone to strike against and as a rock over which to stumble to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and as a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them will be certain to stumble and to fall and be broken, and to be snared and caught.

Wrap up the attestation, put a seal about the law among my disciples! And I will keep in expectation of Jehovah, who is concealing his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

Look! I and the children whom Jehovah has given me are as signs and as miracles in Israel from Jehovah of armies, who is residing in Mount Zion.

And in case they should say to YOU people: “Apply to the spiritistic mediums or to those having a spirit of prediction who are chirping and making utterances in low tones,” is it not to its God that any people should apply? [Should there be application] to dead persons in behalf of living persons? To the law and to the attestation!

Surely they will keep saying what is according to this statement that will have no light of dawn. And each one will certainly pass through the land hard pressed and hungry; and it must occur that because he is hungry and has made himself feel indignant, he will actually call down evil upon his king and upon his God and will certainly peer upward. And to the earth he will look, and, lo! distress and darkness, obscurity, hard times and gloominess with no brightness.

However, the obscureness will not be as when the land had stress, as at the former time when one treated with contempt the land of Zeb’u·lun and the land of Naph’ta·li and when at the later time one caused [it] to be honored—the way by the sea, in the region of the Jordan, Gal’i·lee of the nations. The people that were walking in the darkness have seen a great light. As for those dwelling in the land of deep shadow, light itself has shone upon them. You have made the nation populous; for it you have made the rejoicing great. They have rejoiced before you as with the rejoicing in the harvesttime, as those who are joyful when they divide up the spoil.

For the yoke of their load and the rod upon their shoulders, the staff of the one driving them to work, you have shattered to pieces as in the day of Mid’i·an. For every boot of the one tramping with tremors and the mantle rolled in blood have even come to be for burning as food for fire. For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite. The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.

There was a word that Jehovah sent against Jacob, and it fell upon Israel. And the people will certainly know [it], even all of them, E’phra·im and the inhabitant of Sa·mar’i·a, because of [their] haughtiness and because of [their] insolence of heart in saying: “Bricks are what have fallen, but with hewn stone we shall build. Sycamore trees are what have been cut down, but with cedars we shall make replacement.” And Jehovah will set the adversaries of Re’zin on high against him, and the enemies of that one he will goad on, Syria from the east and the Phi·lis’tines from behind, and they will eat up Israel with open mouth. In view of all this his anger has not turned back, but his hand is stretched out still.

And the people themselves have not returned to the One striking them, and Jehovah of armies they have not sought. And Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, shoot and rush, in one day. The aged and highly respected one is the head, and the prophet giving false instruction is the tail. And those who are leading this people on prove to be the ones causing [them] to wander; and those of them who are being led on, the ones who are being confused. That is why Jehovah will not rejoice even over their young men, and upon their fatherless boys and upon their widows he will have no mercy; because all of them are apostates and evildoers and every mouth is speaking senselessness. In view of all this his anger has not turned back, but his hand is stretched out still.

For wickedness has become aflame just like a fire; thornbushes and weeds it will eat up. And it will catch fire in the thickets of the forest, and they will be borne aloft as the billowing of smoke. In the fury of Jehovah of armies the land has been set afire, and the people will become as food for the fire. No one will show compassion even on his brother. And one will cut down on the right and will certainly be hungry; and one will eat on the left, and they will certainly not be satisfied. They will each one eat the flesh of his own arm, Ma·nas’seh E’phra·im, and E’phra·im Ma·nas’seh. Together they will be against Judah. In view of all this his anger has not turned back, but his hand is stretched out still.”

-Isaiah 8 & 9, NWT

As Talk Grows of Early Elections, This Inscrutable Rabbi Could Save or Doom Netanyahu

3 notes · View notes

globalvoices · 7 years

Photo

In A Greek Refugee Camp: A Volunteer's Notebook

By Mai El-Mahdy

Licensed as Creative Commons Attribution 3.0.

Syrian refugees in Greece. By now there are thousands of blog posts, newspaper articles and eyewitness accounts that tell the stories of entire families drowning in the ocean, in desperate hope for a life free of warfare and poverty. I’m sure there are even more on those who eventually survived the ferocious waves, only to move into inhumane, “temporary” camps where they end up spending years. But for better or for worse, I’m not going to talk about the refugees, the lives they left behind in Syria or how they ended up in Greece. I want to talk about the current conditions and the role—or lack thereof—of those of us who try to help them, in bringing an end to this humanitarian crisis.

Recently I spent a couple of weeks at Greece’s Ritsona camp, a hub for five different humanitarian NGOs, alongside the UN operations. Ritsona is an old military base located outside Chalkida, the chief town on the island of Euboea, about an hour’s drive north of the centre of Athens. Its population is roughly two-thirds Syrian, with the remaining third made up of Kurds, Iraqis, and Afghans.

Sunken dignity

One of the harsh realities about life in the camps that is hard to fathom, let alone survive, is the absence of self-respect—dignity that has dropped so low it’s as if it was eaten up by the fierce waves before sinking to the bottom. It’s the dented sense of dignity that makes a person happy to move out of a tent into some makeshift caravan container box that becomes your “temporary” shelter for months and months. It’s the type of dignity that is all but lost when your entire livelihood is at the mercy of NGO workers who, through their authority and the decisions they make on people’s behalf, teach the refugees to accept the little they get, and be happy. Why do this, when these people are already broken? Do we volunteers always know what’s best for them? Would we allow others to make similar decisions on our behalf?

It’s not about freedom of choice; it’s not about allowing people the space to make their own decisions and mistakes. It’s about self-determination. Refugees take every single imaginable risk, relying on factors way beyond anyone’s control, only to arrive—miraculously—at a camp and submit to someone else’s decision-making, regardless of how good or bad those decisions are.

“Let’s teach English!” Everyone needs and wants to learn English, right? “Let’s buy toys for children,” overlooking the desires of parents, and the children themselves. Queuing up for food or clothes is part of the harsh reality of accepting that, due to circumstances beyond your control, you have become less valuable of a human being.

Refugees don’t want to queue for ages for food or clothes: they want to be treated as human beings, just like a black man in Apartheid South Africa, a Palestinian in the face of the Israeli occupation, or a woman anywhere in the world today. Part of the pain is acknowledging, while you stand in line, that few outside of your war zone would ever have to endure this or even entertain the thought. It is the frustration of being offered the non-choice of either being grateful that you’re in a queue with food at the end of it, or of being featured in a photo shared on social media that makes people feel sorry for you.

Perhaps we should look at the treatment of refugees as a right they have earned for themselves, not as charity that we choose to give to them. Perhaps we should focus our efforts on allowing them to fight for themselves. Perhaps it is simply about paving the way for their self-emancipation, regardless of where it leads them, and especially regardless of where it leaves us. We need to focus on educating them about their rights based on the country they are relocated, caring for their health, providing education for them and their children, etc.

Perhaps we should look at them the way we want them to look at us: with dignity and self-respect.

Are we really helping?

It’s funny how, as volunteers, we’re expected to arrive on the scene and push, along with everyone else, to get the wheels in motion. As though we’re not part of the story, but instead temporary outsiders brought in to perform a specific mission. But whether we like it or not, we are part of the narrative and influence it, significantly.

As individuals, we struggle with our egos. It’s one thing to recognize that—and in fact, very few volunteers are strong enough to do even that. Suppressing our egos, however, is a totally different story. It’s probably inevitable that volunteers find it easier to feed their egos than feed the needy. And the reward is so tempting that many forget to stop for a minute and ask themselves: are we really helping?

It’s no wonder so many volunteers pay special attention to children, who become quickly attached. But how does that help?

Volunteers can’t help but feel superior. In the camps they stand out like a sore thumb, and that’s not always unintentional. Volunteers often see themselves as providers of a valuable service, as making a great sacrifice of time and expertise. And they expect others to be gracious and remind them what great human beings they are for doing what they do.

But it’s not a service—it’s the refugees’ right. And this shouldn’t be debatable.

Once, at one of the stores where we shopped for the people of Ritsona camp with donated funds, I tried to bargain with the cashier to get more for my donated buck. The cashier, a fellow Egyptian making a living across the Mediterranean, agreed to “hook me up.” But instead of reducing the cost, she offered to write me an invoice for a higher sum. According to her, many volunteers and NGO workers accepted the fake invoices and pocketed the difference, so it was clear to her that I was new to this. And no, she did not budge on the price.

That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Some volunteers finance their travel out of the donations they receive. In spite of pleas for greater transparency, few NGOs actually publish the details of their finances. And even fewer donors ask for the details. If it’s change we’re after, this is probably a good place to start.

In my opinion, the best way to help refugees is by bypassing the NGOs altogether. It’s not difficult for us to connect directly with refugees. They’re human, just like us, just with different circumstances that suck. Treating them as patients with some disease or disability doesn’t help.

A friend of mine has a different take on this. He relates the story of a German doctor, an older gentleman, extremely professional and meticulous about his work. It’s his job to treat patients to the best of his ability given the facilities provided. From morning till night this doctor receives patients, diagnoses them, treats them. He doesn’t speak the language of the country where he works, and is very distant, almost cold. But he treats every single person he comes across, and he sets up and develops the medical facility and trains the workers so that the project can sustain itself after his departure. Many might not know him, care about him, or even remember him, though he is the one who directly helped and advanced the community. No credit. No showiness. No emotion. Just pure problem-solving.

I don’t necessarily disagree. NGOs impose strict rules on volunteers, one of which prohibits staying at the camp past 5pm. I hated this rule, so after a couple of weeks, I moved out of NGO housing and into the camp. I stayed with a refugee friend and her two daughters in their container. I would never argue that I was living their life, but I will say that I was observing it through a sharper lens.

While I agree that being distant and professional may be highly efficient and effective, I think that closeness also helps. Yes, we eventually leave; and sure, we may invest more time and effort in forming emotional bonds with the refugees than in providing tangible deliverables. And I won’t deny that I’ve learned more from the refugees about the Syrian cultural and political context than I’ve shared my own knowledge.

But by establishing close bonds we remind others—and ourselves—that they are human. And we become more human in the process.

Hospitals Don't Always Speak Your Language

The day to-day medical needs of Ritsona camp residents, of which there was an abundance, were left pretty much unattended. In emergencies, however, the Greek National Emergency Medical Services (EKAB, Ethniko Kentro Amesis Voitheias) would transport residents of the camp to and from the nearest hospital.

No one likes to go to the hospital, but when you’re a Syrian in a foreign country, it’s even worse than you imagine. Refugees are immersed in a sea of loneliness and fear of the unknown. You can see it in their eyes. And the harsh conditions of the journey to the camp leaves the majority of children, especially, with severe respiratory problems.

Many of the Greek doctors, however, didn’t even speak English nor did they have translators, and most patients could express themselves only in either Arabic or Kurdish. Often, residents would spend hours awaiting emergency care at the hospital, only to lose hope of ever understanding what they needed to do to get treatment, and leave.

At the camp my Arabic came in handy, as my job was to accompany the patients. Last May one of the NGOs at Ritsona pioneered a unique initiative dubbed “Hospital Runs”; that was the team I worked with. It’s a program organized in collaboration with the Red Cross that operates under the license of the Greek Army. They provide medical transportation, English, Greek and Arabic interpretation, and intercultural and medical assistance. The team also helps with bureaucratic procedures.

I was proud to be a member of that team. Each day we’d hop over to Chalkida or trek all the way to Athens, returning in the evening after having handled whatever problems, cases and complications had been thrown at us.

Sometimes the hospital staff made us feel unwelcome, scolding us about coming in with muddy shoes, indifferent to the fact that the camp is basically built on mud. I remember arriving at the hospital one day to find a young woman, clearly Arab and most probably from the camp, all alone, with nobody attending to her. She had clearly given up on trying to communicate or to save herself from whatever pain had piled on top of everything she had brought over to the continent. She gave me her details and the number of a loved one, so that I could communicate to them in the event she didn’t make it. Thankfully, and against the odds, she survived.

I guess I just can't fathom how borders and bodies of water can ultimately decide who's granted the opportunity to climb to the top, and who will be left to drown, and sink to the bottom.

Mai El-Mahdy is an Ireland-based Egyptian who works in tech. She was one of the millions who took part in the #Jan25 revolution, and she looks forward to being part of the next one.

26 notes · View notes

celticnoise · 5 years

Link

After what their official club announcement describes as a “rigorous recruitment process” the Ibrox NewCo has named a new “director of commercial and marketing” this morning; he is experienced and smart, and has worked within football for a long time, most notably on campaigns and marketing for the European club competitions.

Whatever challenges he has faced before, they will be nothing on the one he faces now.

Way back in the sands of time, Fergus took over Celtic at a point where we were playing in front of crowds of 11,000 and David Murray was writing cheque after cheque at Ibrox and trying to turn his club into one of the European elite.

Fergus knew that Celtic had more potential though, and he knew what he wanted to do. His strategy was flawless.

First he started planning for a 60,000 all-seater stadium; everyone in the media said it was madness. How, after all, could we sustain that? How could we expect to grow our fan-base by such a number in the time we’d need to do it to have the stadium pay for itself?

Easy, said Fergus; it is better to sell 30,000 season tickets at £200 than to sell 15,000 at £400.

And so was born one of the finest marketing strategies of all time.

.celtra-ad-host { min-width: calc(100% + 50%) !important; margin-left: 2px !important; transform-origin: top left; transform: scale3d(0.67,0.67,1); }

How to make it work though? Easy. Fergus understood that people were tired of standing in the cold and surrounded by the same old faces. He knew that to crack it he would have to make Celtic Park family friendly, and to expand our support base. So the marketing team he put together were briefed to tailor everything to that vision … of Celtic as a forward thinking, cosmopolitan, cultural attuned institution “open to all.”

Bhoys Against Bigotry was just one of the measures he took to present that image; the media scorned it. Others listened.

The money people paid particular attention.

Still they said he was mad, but Fergus knew better and thus was born the season ticket culture which now dominates everything the club does. Not only that, though, but our marketing and branding people operate on a global basis. The concept we call The Celtic Family was a marketing tool at the start, but it worked because it framed around simple words something we all understood in our gut anyway, something we all already believed in.

Do not underestimate the awesome power of simple words. Simple words are pulling us out of the European Union. I’ve met a handful of people who have tried to explain “take back control” as a concept and even they get themselves in a helluva mess over it. Others don’t even try; they repeat it like a mantra, one those who’ve read Orwell will recognise easily; “Four legs good, two legs bad” springs from exactly the same poisoned well.

The thing is, some of those slogans endure even when the marketing department would rather the whole institution was well shot of them. No Surrender is a particularly tough one to shift. We Are The People even more so. There has been constant chatter that the Republic element at Celtic Park – which Fergus did not manage to get rid of although he wanted to – impacts on our marketing potential, but this has been refuted again and again over the years.

The same people who sing The Boys Of The Old Brigade also raised a fortune for Palestinian aid organisations; the Provisionals might not have been terribly popular in this country but most people abroad recognise the War of Independence for what it was.

But the “PUL” thing and the ethos that goes with it, is toxic to marketing efforts, for obvious reasons. As is a club whose commercial team is constantly in court. If Ashley’s team gets an injunction against strip sales plus damages the setback will be monumental.

Last week, there was a “friendly match” in England involving the club, and it got a lot of ink in the papers up here. It included all the obligatory Ibrox paraphernalia; marching flute bands and sash patterned strips. The truth is, within certain parameters, and to a certain segment of the population, the Ibrox club has already marketed itself spectacularly well, and it has a branding every bit as distinctive to it as the red logo of Coca Cola.

Orange strips are as good as it gets.

Let’s face it, even without the liquidation of Rangers in 2012, the Ibrox operation has peaked in terms of the “global brand.” The limitations of Scottish football are obvious enough, and “the great Rangers diaspora” proved to be a red herring years ago. There is no great global community of fans out there; it’s a demonstrated fiction, as the former Rangers director Hugh Adam proved whilst he was running the commercial side of the OldCo.

His description of them as a “provincial West of Scotland football club” was apt then, and applied to Sevco it is even more applicable.

On a pre-season trip to Florida last summer, their fans were caught singing sectarian songs on the telly; the tournament organisers had to apologise over it. That is radioactive to marketing strategy; how do you sell that club to those outside its walls when those inside the walls make it abundantly clear that they exist to keep other people out?

It has been 25 years since Fergus started the process of making Celtic a global name. Recent deals prove that our club remains a competitive brand even accounting for the lack of a real TV audience share outside of the UK. We got here by opening our doors to everyone, and making sure the world knew it. The idea that we would ever have put our names towards the kind of show that went on down in Blackpool is unthinkable.

The marketing team at Ibrox can put out as many Union Jack tea-mugs as it likes; to get to where Celtic is will take decades, and in the process that whole club is going need to undergo a radical change in how it positions itself in view of the world.

Is that going to happen? Realistically, no.

I wish their new marketing guru all the luck in the world, cause he’s going to need it.

https://ift.tt/2WsDKk4

#CelticNoise #Celtic #CelticFC #TheCelticBlog #News

0 notes

manywake-blog · 6 years

Text

This site is Pro Government

I don’t Know how to change the font on WordPress , so i Just spaced words .

I am too cheap to pay for another site . I wrote 2 strategy letters . 1 to KKK . 1 to gov’t . I consider my gov’t one to be my best work ever

I had little success trying to reach KKK or gov’t with snail mail so far . I am including my gov’t letter on my race site . ALL gov’t personel should read below – F B I , C I A , D o E , W H , Homeland D , etc .

Any attempt to suppress my efforts to help the gov’t could be consequences . How can i not succeed ? It fulfills Anti – Christ prophecy .

2 F B I agents already visited me . Now that i put my letter on – line , gov’t agencies can quickly share and discuss amongst themselves . Does it have merit ?

KKK could – possibly – benefit by reading my gov’t letter – people can be taught to thinK strategically .

I did not change a thing – except my name + I changed U to you & R to are . It is the exact same letter i sent by snail mail to gov’t agencies in the past . Thank you .

S T A R T O F G O V ’ T S I T E

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

August 5, 2012 cc1 : EPA DC + Sustainable Facilities Practices Branch

cc2 : Ad Council . Several regional addresses – 3 in NY alone . I’m sorry , should I have targeted NY instead of DC ? congratulations on hiring women !

cc3 : FBI HQ in DC + White House ( What could be more “ the gov’t ” than FBI or WH ? Yet , I doubt the President Will read it considering how much mail that address gets ! ). Too many stamps , too many FBI places . Too much money . Seems Like a lot , but it’s only 2 !

cc4 : ADL, AIPAC . How to target “ the gov’t ” ? I thought. Why not write to Jewish organizations ? They control the country anyway.

To “ the government ”: I became aware that government ( i.e., FEMA , Ready.gov ) propaganda exists – obvious eco , education , family , military , sports , women , racial……often in the most unusual places ……… and all over the place.

Eco – CFL light bulbs + LED’s . outlaw incandescent , E-check , Lead is evil , no dumping written into infrastructure , recycling centers often near schools , World Dryer , 3 windmills in cleveland , Gay – ads on bus + Chronicles newspaper , reusable shopping bags disability – Kneeling bus

Over time , I even saw propaganda in : epilepsy warning on video games , Flu , seat belts on shopping carts , Mad cow disease , carbon monoxide detectors , depression is a disease , Foods

I also see that gov’t hires outside private ad companies to do this . If I may offer constructive criticism … maybe you need to change…

1. Wash hands after touching this it contains Lead , Known to the State of California to cause cancer . Why not wash the cord then ?

2. Pet poop transmits disease . In cat litter also . Why not human waste then ?

3. Dryers save trees . Paper Retriever bins. Why not save crops ? Paper is biodegradable – and your favorite word Renewable . Sustainable.

I used to work at Triarc Beverage Group . Near the end of my term , I handed in ideas to the CEO. Long – term consistency is the Key to gauging a good quarterback . Star Wars and Empire Strikes BacK . It is hard to generate consistently good ideas .

Having had time to understand some of your past actions, I find fault with some of your strategy.

1. WTC collapsed Like a pancake.

2. Doing things publicly ( South Africa , uss Liberty 2oo witnesses , chemtrails , TWA missile theory ) , and then lying about it later on .

3. Allowing anti – government sentiments ( militia ) to grow ( i.e., via uncontrolled internet ), and then trying to clean it up later on . “ To what end ? ”, a Jewish man said in the Plain Dealer . Another Jewish man replied , “ If we do nothing , this stuff will spread ”.

4. Allowing anti – government sentiments to grow in Saudi Arabia ( a plant story on CNN – King Faud said , “ Leave the Palestinians alone ”. Who’s side are you on ? )

President Bush once said, “ The government of SA is stronger than the people of Saudi Arabia ”. He also said , “ bringing democracy to the Middle East will be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century ”.

I think the correct strategy to use in the Middle East is : 1. Take out Saddam & his 2 sons . A power vacuum will result . Gov’t is a “necessary evil ”.

2. Develop ties with important people in Iraq . People with history.

3. Pretend Like you’re leaving.

4. Hopefully , one of your people will arise to power.

5. Don’t do anything to make FolKs suspect he is a puppet of the West ( i.e., obviously , don’t condemn Palestinians ). You can’t do whatever you want , but it’s better than not having any influence at all …

Why did you tell that for ? So be it . It is Just my opinion . I remember President Bush once said , “ Strategy ain’t working in middle east . Need to Re -thinK…” So I started thinKing about it. How it began .

Getting back to the subject , I have come up With an idea for your propaganda “ machine ”. I’m sure you’ll LiKe it – so if you use it , not Just hear it , will you compensate me fairly , or at least hire me ? my resume is not impressive , but it’s a small price considering its potential scope.

What better way than to prove oneself ? As a teaser , I will give you a propaganda idea for free … As I said , I learned more as time went on , until I became familiar With gov’t propaganda efforts . I thinK this fits your goals …

I once bought a HAND CRANK paper shredder at marc’s closeout section and never saw it again – anywhere , but through the internet . I loved it . It was simple . Cheaper than even the paper shredder head ( only the head ) they sell at Walmart . Yet, rich people may not LiKe it because it doesn’t cross cut . Yet , truly better than those scissor shredders.

obvious eco – friendly. LiKe your current sustainable transport propaganda – bicycles ! No electricity required. Could even combine eco + sports.

I’ve noticed that eco propaganda is the most prevalent . But Just the mere fact that I was able to generate a new idea ( Transformers and TMNT’s ) should scare you ( the establishment – Marvel , DC ) and prove that there is room for growth. ————————————— 1st letter Subject : Cola Promo Idea BY : Tony

In MaY 1998 , I handed in many ideas to the CEO of a beverage company. One idea in particular stood out . Why I came up With this idea is beyond me . But it was a perfect fit for cola products.

When I handed in this idea , I wrote it in non-beverage specific terms to protect it . I received a letter from the company Lawyer stating that it was still my idea ( I have that letter in my possession if needed to verify ).

The idea centered around the use of a 1. GIMMICK CONTRACT and 2. A FREE WILL , FREE CHOICE , Free Stuff sweepstakes . The contract would not be binding in a court of law , and the phrase, “ Free Will , Free choice ” was popular at that time – and still is .

The consumer signs a contract similar to the following example : I , ( your name ), hereby practice my own Free Will , and maKe a choice to drink ( Any drinK ) , if and whenever possible , among the other drink alternatives ,

For a period of : [] 1 Year – Enter me in the 1 Years sweepstakes [] 2 Years – Silver sweepstakes [] 5 Years – Bronze sweepstakes [] 10 Years – Gold sweepstakes X____________________

The consumer checks off a box and the prizes in the sweepstakes vary in relation to longevity . We would laminate the contract , and send it back to the consumer.

Aug 19, 2012 cc: Recovery + EPA Sustainable , FBI HQ + WH , AIPAC DC

To “ the government ”: This is my 2nd letter . Here is my BIG eco propaganda idea … it involves basic FANS …

Solar LED lights exist . Fans look Like windmills ! So basic it makes you say I should’ve had a V-8 ! duh . It makes you wonder about the gov’t sometimes.

They can become eco propaganda because they save money by assist AC , and bring in cool air at night . This is nothing new . But , up to this time , it was never emphasized as part of your eco propaganda . Go to the store and see for yourself.

Tower City already has fans in the Food court , but it was never emphasized as part of eco propaganda . They can be installed in gov’t buildings , Libraries , Key bank , BP, etc. Just to move the air around , not necessarily blow powerfully . Indeed , it is a part of good planning.

That’s nothing new , but this is – HE fans. As you Know, High Efficiency detergent and less Water laundry machines exist . This is also eco propaganda . You Know it and I Know it.

Take the most popular fan of all – the box fan , for example . Well developed means there is not much room for improvement , as the blades are already the most efficiently designed.

Well developed means it has built in obsolescence – it was meant to rust and manufacturers want it to break in the bottom center . It makes much more sense to put the break on top where the handle is.

Well developed means both Aerospeed and Lasko sell Premium box fans , which are nothing more than bigger than normal box fans. note that the Lasko “ Premium ” box fan has only a tad bigger diameter and squarer corners , with a 30% increase in air velocity.

The good thing is , all it takes is repackaging – if premium box fans were Relabeled HE ( 30% more ). Any existing “ Power ” fan can be labeled HE if there is more room for the blades , either behind or on the sides.

Lasko chose to make the corners squarer instead of making the diameter bigger , as manufacturers prefer smaller packaging , even though it is better to have an equal increase in diameter all the way around.

I’ll leave the technical details up to your engineers…

Related ideas : maybe HE ultrasonic humidifier . Related to my free hand crank shredder idea : Hand crank can opener . Grinder . Telephone . Start electronics … Pump Water.

——————————————– 2nd letter

Related to my HE fan idea , but not as good… but can’t be worse than your LED idea , which is EXPENSIVE , and NOT selling …… As you Know , compact fluorescent bulbs’s CFL’s are compact.

Is it practical ? It is also going in a direction that most manufacturers do not Like – LOW WATT, BIGGER BULBS require more packaging .There are pros and cons – smaller fits more applications , BUT BIGGER DISPERSES LIGHT BETTER.

Trisonic already sells a crappy , not durable 65 watt CFL that fits inside a 150 watt body – I can shoot straight into it with my camera and still see the spiral . Indeed , long fluorescent tubes also require no lampshade = High efficient . Related: no fan GRILL.—————————- 2nd letter

You are the quarterback . I’m Just throwing a ball out , which is what I did at Triarc ( a few ideas , some better than others ).

1. Solid white toe socKs are rare in America. Solid dark green ? Sand color . Military propaganda . Taken from WiKipedia : article Roman Empire – The Romans also invented socks For those soldiers…

2. Short pens are rare . Possible women’s propaganda . Fit in purse.

3. in Korea they use hot water under the floor to heat rooms with . So ? Well , they need eco propaganda in Korea also , don’t they ? They sell solid toe socks in Korea . Then people say , “ Why not in America ? ”

Not related to any propaganda … but I’ve been thinking about racism recently…

I once read that Islam is the reason why it’s hard to bring democracy to the Middle East . How religious law is incorporated into civil Law . And her Sister communism. they said. But I disagree.

When the Soviet Union fell , my friend told me that Russia still lives. Some say Russia did not fall because of criminal elements or Soviet hard liners . Still , the whole Soviet Union was almost taken. Sister communism . I don’t think so .

I saw on CNN how China clamped down on criminals because they destabilize the State. 2 unsolved mysteries

Why is it hard to bring democracy to the Middle East ?

Israel said “ Kill the Hezbollah from top to bottom” . They cannot Kill it . But why ?

A religion ?

CNN said That Arab is a “Way of Life ”.

The reason I wrote this – in my opinion , Arab is a “ State of mind ”. Just Like black is . Us vs . them . Not all blacks think that way , but there are those that do.

“They Kept us weak ! ! ! !”. President Charles Taylor – “They owe it to us !”. Haiti – “Whatever you do to us , We do to you ! ! ! !”

Palestinians accused of helping Israel are lynched . Winnie Mandela necklaces those accused of helping “the White man ”. Tanks on MLK’s birthday . Tulsa got bombed From the air. War ! “ no surrender ” during Tulsa. surrender – and die after Colfax Massacre .

They said on Wikipedia that the Fate of the Ethiopian Jews is still up to political consideration even to this day . Meaning that the Israeli government has not decided whether they are in or out yet.

During the 1st airlift , Israel was sincere ( Airplane transport is expensive ). After they arrived , the Israeli gov’t said , “ We are CONFUSED ”. After a 5 year wait ( 2nd airlift ) , there were charges of racism. the quota is 6oo per month , but only 3oo are allowed in . They got slapped in the face , but continue to arrive – an excuse Israel could use.

Recently , the Jerusalem Post took a poll. 43 % of Israelis will not allow their daughters to marry Beta Israel . A house divided cannot stand . In my opinion , if black is a “ state of mind ”, Israel is making a mistake .—————————2nd letter

Dear WH , could you please tell your staffers to allow any more letters from me to reach the President ? or whoever gets it ? couldn’t my State of mind theory ( Let WH decide if I am correct . What else is the WH created for ? strategy ! ) affect strategic decisions ?

What does it hurt listening to ideas ? I am not employed. My resume is crap. So, I thought , why not generate ideas and try to get a gov’t Job ?

I recall Ray Croc ? once said “ You have to trust the company ( gov’t , marvel ) . The company cannot trust you ”. I Know from experience . When I handed in ideas at Triarc Beverage , I wrote the idea in non beverage specific terms . They eventually realized that I had protected it. Smart cookie. Sadly , nothing came of it.

BUT – the CEO wanted them. Demanded my ideas . I was a low level marketing Trainee. oK. I gave you a big one . Will I be compensated ?

———————————————————————————— March 25, 13 cc: EPA Sustainable . FBI HQ, WH. AIPAC DC , ADL NY, Ad Council

To “ the gov’t ”: This is my 3rd letter , Entitled “ Bread & Circuses + Internet ”. When I Sent out my 1st Letter , I thought about propaganda ideas . As ideas progressed , I switched to strategy , which I thought you’d prefer.

The following is not a coherent or developed strategic plan-s . Just Like yours.

Strategy # 1 How about a Head of Propaganda ? Title should not mimic German evil “ propaganda ”. He was important to Hitler . One of the 1st steps of the Department is to RE – think current propaganda. Is it coherent and part of strategy ? i.e, Seat belt laws ? Strategy fits how ?

If decisions are decentralized and left to outside private Ad Agencies , some mistakes could be made over here , but not over here. They could overlap – dryers save trees , but paper is biodegradable and renewable…

+ I saw ( neutral ? ) American Red Cross on a ( gov’t ) FEMA poster . Not good . Guilt by association . YMCA also.

+ Incoherent – 3 fish are not recommended by the FDA ? Also sounds not believable. = Propaganda – so – messed – up – it – makes – no – coherent – sense – whatsoever.

My initial perception was – Ready.gov , FEMA is announcing itself . But now… Just makes you feel Like you are “moving along ”. Making progress.

Related : I take RTA . If people take public transportation , is there more opportunities to propagandize ? Promote RTA ? cost

Related : create Ministry of Strategy . Not important – I say Roman architecture . chess – Like tiles. Is it necessary ? What are its functions ? oF course – statistical analysis . Even propaganda requires strategy . Maybe even located next to each other .

Strategy # 2 RE – Think Sports Far be it for me to question the Romans , who promoted “ entertainment for the masses ”. But I Will .

With today’s mass technology ( TV , enough good movies , internet ) , entertainment is less relevant . Even in the “ Radio Days ”, there were comic books . Question it then .

The sole exception is the internet , where info ( not always good ) is in abundance . which should maybe – be discouraged . You argue, “ It is another avenue to promote propaganda or refute ”. It is also a Way to learn . There are safer Ways .

Let’s say I read about bad unbranded gasoline . or Kucinich leading on internet polls . Racial history is oK , but someone reads “Jena 6 largely ignored by US media ” – it leads to bias .

It doesn’t even have to be political info. or..or..or..or..or I once heard , “ Needs to be controlled ”. or..or..or..or..or – that doesn’t sound controlled to me .

Related is a “ more miles to the gallon ” idea. + other diversions . Like Pat Tillman , Kasparov retired from chess , saying that there was no point to it. Why not promote chess clubs ? Sports can become redundant .

But not Sony Play Station ? ( Electronic in nature , Like internet – iF you are not gonna target computers or electronic typewriters . Why not Play Station ? ).

Bottom line – Besides sports , other avenues may attract more people . The pie gets bigger ……Romans had hobbies too .

All I see is media promoting other media ( TV show on ABC ) or Wall to Wall – sports – even on front page of Plain Dealer. I do not see you promoting other hobbies . RTA, No other hobbies , except a chess tournament – one time at Tower city.————————————3rd letter

Strategy # 3 Bugs , Worms – plague the internet . Like movie Dark City , Shut it down ! ?

come up With a good excuse first . Like Norton cannot stop a Worm because they are mutating ( Like Borg , no time to adapt ) AND replicating by themselves . Progressively getting Worse .

Origins unknown . Al Quida is small. Make them sophisticated ? WTC more believable. unknown sounds more believable Strategy.

continue With long range plan – gov’t plays hero trying to stop it . call for a day to shut down internet . Improved , but it starts again faster . Another day to spray. Again . Warning . Soon to End ……or something.

I stopped here , but thoughts entered – Is it Way too late ? Not if it Keeps people UP TO DATE also , Especially if you are trying to renovate strategy.

Is it bett-er Just to try to refute / Ambiguity ? Is there a way for only gov’t to Keep it ? or save Wikipedia info before shutting it down.

You argue, “ internet could change other ( Arab Spring ) gov’ts – but not at the expense of your own . I could be wrong , but I advise – How about Re – create the internet ? smaller.

How about begin plans – now ? could always change mind in future . Takes planning. How make the switch over ? Need excuse . People usually think “ gov’t did it ”, especially if only gov’t Keeps it.————————————— 3rd letter

Strategy # 4 RE – think Food Stamps . Romans were masters of military , architecture , gov’t . They hired someone to whisper in the General’s ear, “ Remember , you are Just a man ”. masters.

Romans threw edible bread ( could there be a reason ? ) , not gold or salt , out to the people . I recall as a Kid , my mom got a huge bar of free gov’t butter . But you can’t eat butter now .

As a woman Said in movie ‘Food , inc ’…Then you have to buy Ketchup and this and little of that …not gonna eat all of it …Want a hamburger… something you can eat right now …don’t have to cook…

What is Food anyway ? commodity as it gets . A Forest Gump man once said that he cleaned the coup for all the chicken he could eat . Both me and my friend told him that it was not a good deal . I’d Like a lifetime supply of coupons for this idea alone. Not ! …Well ……… oK. Me and my Mom.

Like soup Kitchens of the Great Depression , this is more related to STRATEGY than propaganda . All these other PROPAGANDA ideas should NOT concern the White House . Let them decide if I found a strategic flaw .

involving – only on holidays , military , “a Warm meal ”, Remember troops , surplus.. ?. .Etc. Not dust bowl – Who believes droughts in America ?

I receive stamps , but I don’t consider it to be Food . My perception – I see it more as extra money . It is directly deposited into my banK account . But , the Romans threw bread , NOT GOLD or Salt , out to the people . Who’s perception matters ? The people’s ! the recipient’s …not the government’s perception.

I get McDonald’s , Wendy’s , coupons once in awhile with my Junk mail. I use them. How about gov’t coupons for use at private restaurants ? choice too. I Know McDonald’s promotes gov’t propaganda.

Just a thought – Isn’t it better , Solidify tangible , if Food pic is on the coupon ? PICTURES MATTER . More TANGIBLE . How choice then ? Backflip shows different alternative ? With Fries or dessert and drink – complete meal is more satisfying ? Not necessarily . In this case , details matter more . Don’t Just leave it up to engineers ( Fans ).

one time use coupons require frequent interaction ( cut out scissors , Take out of wallet ) , unLike reloadable gift cards . Like Seder meals , it brings into mind where it comes from. Salty tears + tablet shaped matzos.

I don’t Know how stamps WorK exactly ( I think you can buy restaurant Food ) , but it is more DIRECT and immediate Than butter . more TANGIBLE than Food stamps … more SATISFYING experience .

What about immediate ? or MRE Food giveaways ( for military ) – i’ve heard it being done before . As the old adage goes , “ Dogs don’t bite the hand that feeds it ”. Make people correlate that they got Food , not money , from the gov’t .

More in tune with human instincts – animals fight over food. fight over women. Life’s pleasure. satisfying. Related to that ? Maybe a time limit . dogs need to learn why it got rewarded . Soon after.

omg ! how long have stamps existed and no one RE-thought this ! Flaws in your strategy + propaganda – FAN Windmills . Expensive LED’s.

Who says I’m correct ? Taking a “ swing ” at your strategies. “ Go ahead ”. It is encouraged by the gov’t . oK I took bread and game “ Tweaking ” swipes , internet swings . and now Shadow…

What is the cost of sound advice to our gov’t who spends on flawed Shadow gov’t instead ? Shadow questions both the Well – written constitution and Romans ( shortest , fastest roads to suppress uprisings ).

“ Go ahead ” Let you’re analysts analyze my strategic swings ! Best and brightest Strategy – I proved myself ? Hire me ! Babylon took into captivity .———————— 3rd letter

Lesson # 1 No one ever used fluoridated water or contaminated Food as a part of strategy . Not the Romans . Not china , even today . etc I have , for the longest time , doubted its Wisdom.

1. Taste and smell being 2 of the 5 senses people use to discern truth ( and lies ) . In this case , even sight – growth hormone rBST boobs grow prematurely.

2. Ingredients in Asia , Middle East not coherent with West. Stevia is used in Japan & Korea PUBLICLY, but the FDA + media are covering it up.

VERY POSSIBLE – Even when “ caught ”, FolKs tend to blame money interests , never the gov’t. There is no motive . Easier to Keep blaming $ . I once read on internet – significant portion of India believe iodized salt is a multinational conspiracy.

on Yahoo news , You once Said – blame the sugar lobby . Then you are blaming only one industry . one Food item. It’s better to blame the Whole .

Related : I Know about tainted unbranded gasoline – by owning a car in the past and reading things on the internet . It does not make sense to me. incoherent. Gas ? Has to do with Food ? You say depopulate . But gas ? 10W40 oil ? Additives ? ——————————————– 3rd letter

As I was at McDonald’s , it came to me. You can’t blame industry because there is gov’t complicity. FDA. Local municipalities . 1930’s. Blame lobby then. JFK – Public evidence exists. blame mob . No , there is media and gov’t complicity . create impression that the mob has influence ?

For only JFK ? could use as excuse for other mistaKes . Will this impression Fit others , or clash ? You already created the impression that the FBI is incompetent ( Oklahoma City ). Could this make people who watch movies think “ FBI Warning don’t matter ? ”

AMA is famous lobby. Build up AMA 1st ? Later , I thought – I prefer a Tag Team with other lobbies as various foods are tainted.

What about McDonald’s complicity ? Movie Supersize me. Attack ADM , Supermarket to the world ? Mid level employee blew the whistle ? or hope it Just “ blows over ”. Is it preferable not to “ blow the whistle ” & Just create the impression that certain lobbies have influence in DC India ( worldwide ) instead ? —————- I haven’t resolved this issue yet . All these ideas can be further refined.

Arafat was the sole survivor in a plane crash . In college class , I recall a student said , “ Yeah right ” People think …Mossad did it !

In booK ‘Disney Wars ’, people inside ( and outside ? ) of Disney think the fortunes for the company changed after Frank Well’s death…People watching this 1 company. Roy is seen as Protector of Legacy . Don’t Kill him. It matters not if he died of natural causes.

Lesson # 2 What matters is, “ Does it look SUSPICIOUS ? ” Was there a MOTIVE ? Sound believable ? He Kept Eisner’s power in check . They said on Wikipedia – that there was a motive for WTC also. War in Afghanistan , Iraq.

Lesson # 3 Eisner being Jewish did not help . It hurt. Rumors do exist. MANY Jews in Clinton Administration was – telling me to write to ADL , AIPAC .

Jesse Jackson accused the 3 Nixon Administration . 3 Rubin Greenspan Summers . 2 more at Disney . I’m sure others do the same . many Jews raises suspicions . Why do that ?

To me personally , book Media Bias written by a Jew , doesn’t help either. + Saul Steinstein ? Disney and Goldsmith Goodyear leads me to believe hostile corporate takeover is part of your strategy. I think.

Even if a problem doesn’t exist ( which it does ), can this ‘Jewish gov’t control’ rumors be WEAKened with a fabricated story ? off hand I can’t think of a story , but there is something I’ve been mulling – a Way to BLUNT.

My Circus Impression idea to explain media + gov’t . What’s that ? Put many chinese in our gov’t to explain trade deficit . Emphasize Paramount Japan – Hollywood control . Paramount + NAACP have history . To explain food corruption .

Many lobbies = adds up to chaos and leads to confusion . creating doubt is another strategy by the Way . NAACP to Explain S A + LA silence . Emphasize NAACP actions in the past – they threatened to boycott Hazel TV show. Explain 1970’s TV. latino lobby ? or blacks are lowest , so they would support “ Rainbow ” immigration.

Short term – global pharmaceutical lobby , NAACP in trouble , accusations . Leads to statement on newspapers – similar to Consumer Reports “ We accept no outside advertising dollars ”.

Long term plan – major crackdown . No more lobbies . big bang . All propaganda fixed .

What about Hollywood ? There’s no way around it ? Jews would still remain a force – You need loyal people to carry out your bidding . Name change ? —————————————3rd letter

When Milosevic was arrested , a lower level employee policeman gave him his Word – publicly . When he died , it was suspicious to me .

Almost as if you had broken your Word . When a lower level auto employee gambled with company money , the whole company was found liable . Sure we all croak at some time. Lesson – don’t break your public word . But he could escape . Statistically , the chances of a prison break are 1 in 1oooooooooooooooo

What happens when 2 goals conflict ? Related to racism and Publicity Strategy . Maybe related to immorality ( Lies ) agenda – both happened slowly at 1st.

Hoover never cared about the KKK ( SOCIAL ). He was interested with the communist party ( POLITICAL ). Albright said “ Militia is enemy ”. Same thing . But the KKK not Like this gov’ t also. But their interests , motives are social .

Lesson # 4 Sure it hurts the agenda of mingling seeds together . But helping minorities and women should NOT be the main concern to the gov’t . A word to the next puppet in a middle eastern country .

latinos in LA ? one paragraph in the Plain Dealer . and yet blacks are leaving LA. SA Farm Murders . one White supremacist got Killed . But it’s happening at random . The media paints this picture that only KKK get Killed .

It also leads to charges of MEDIA bias and silence . What is more important ? Helping minorities or media integrity ?

Come up with an excuse and talk ? ? ? “ ANC blackmailed … uranium ”. or something . LA – community leaders pleaded with media… Which leaders ?

CRITICAL STEP – attack excuses from every angle. it could get worse .

STEP 2 – if possible , outline a short and long range plan. Kind of Like what I did with Worm internet excuse.

Up to here , it’s clear to me. To be continued. X X X

3rd letter——————————————–

Is it better to try to let things “ blow over ” if time elapses too long ? I don’t Know. Related : If media uses same excuse , or excuses many times , could it also lead to – McDisney movies today – hero , girl , villain , comic relief same storyline .

Pre – viz long range implications ? Should you select certain past silences 1st ? on what criteria ? I am not about to tackle all this . Nor the amount of propaganda .

I think strategy is relative . Anti – christ is Master of Strategy , As opposed to novice or intermediate . The Golden Rule being – do the best you can do.

I think – if it sounds Like it may work , do it . Brainpower can be used on other things.———————————-3rd letter

continued. X X X or spread excuse rumors. Unofficial media leads to official story . chemtrails were a part of DOD Strategy… Threat to National Security at that time… so media complied ”.

So the media is partial ? Why the gap in time to report ? Every angle.

Why not other media companies ? But – people think there is choice from having many cable stations – another step to think about ? conglomerate 1st ?

Used to immunize people . could even be used in conjunction with Gulf War Syndrome . or frequently printed sentence-s. “ Rumors are circulating …

I didn’t Like Israel did not Know USS Liberty was American excuse . For hours ? ? ? + they hoisted a flag rumors . All we Know is Egypt was signaling rumors – better. Ambiguity then – I’m not sure what I mean by that . Something on board top secret, had to be destroyed . I heard about MLK’s death – a man named Raoul – led me to believe in – conspiracy.

Rumors of Rabin’s death also . Princess Diana Mossad rumors . Motive ? I read the same thing about the Lusitania . Bombs or something – VAGUE. conspiracy ? I don’t Know . Motive ?

In Liberty case , Way too much time expired ? Perhaps . No problems as long as there is not 200 scared witnesses released back into the population.

Note : There is no motive for chemtrails also. I personally guess , Like Food , to poison air supply . Milosevic – I guess you broke your word . I could be wrong. ———————————–3rd letter

I was grocery shopping, when it hit me – if it sounds Like it may succeed , do it……… I said before . I erred – long range implications ? criteria ? – should be tackled . More Specifically – time . The longer you wait to go public with a silence in the past , the harder it is to go public.———————————3rd letter

Pre – Viz or long word pre – visualization … Part of strategy ? I don’t Know. It’s Just something I thought of. So important to Lucas, he hired Speilberg For Pre-viz

This is what’s going to happen…” What did you think about Tony’s ideas ? ” I agree with sports and hobbies. I didn’t really think about mass technology part Yet , go with that first … I Like his gov’t food coupons …

When I generated my comic book idea , I hit a few dead ends . It became clearer and instead of continuing down the wrong path , I “ Re – started ” my computer.

What is the point of this letter ? So the gov’t made mistakes in the recent past . So what ?

Don’t do it again . YOU LEARNED a little , didn’t you ?

I’m not familiar with strategy concepts and teachings . I Just wrote and wrote – it came naturally to me ( and generated more ideas ). As a Job search .

I prefer to work freelance , but I’d also Like to be put on the company payroll – something to tell my family. “ I got a Job ”. But , I cannot generate ideas all the time . It comes and goes.

Do you Know how important good ideas or sound advice is ? Do you Know how much military money you could’ve saved by using my middle east strategy ( letter 1 ) in Iraq ?

Every idea I generate put a price tag on it . It saves you $ and motivates me . You want me to initiate ? No , I prefer the Ebay approach . Hint : I work for cheap.

Maybe I’ll buy an old Disney movie on Ebay – or…or…or…or

Homeland Defense – “ Look inward ”, Pres Bush said. Did you mean Focus ? I’ve never heard that before – as part of strategy . At least , I got you thinking about strategy ( GooD THING , also unappreciated ).

My internet final solution is pretty solid , isn’t it ? You had a little time to analyze . Not gonna change is it ? Re-create I mean . MAJOR Advice AFFECTING SO MANY.————————————- 3rd letter

I advise that a similar letter be read by many in the gov’t . or as it is immediately to top brass.

STEP 1 Re-type letters word For word . Make the font bigger . Double check accuracy is going too far , should be standard procedure . on hard disk too

STEP 2 Discuss my letters in the WH.

STEP 3 ? Implement some of my more solid ideas now.

STEP 4 ? Edit my letters . concise or hide sensitive info.

STEP 5 ? Widen the base outward . Simple matter of distributing my letters to “ Think Tanks ”. Fellow strategists.

Major – How to conquer the Middle East in letter 1.

State of Mind Theory in Letter 2 – certainly helps to unlock mysteries about the Middle East , Hezbollah , DOESN’T IT ? maybe ?

Major – Internet is important enough.

Analyze my analysis . Minor : Food Stamps – Food, not money . correct ? A Flaw ? consistently good ideas… Fans Assist AC . Look Like Windmills . big eco.

I proved that there is room for propaganda and strategy and maybe understanding growth ( THESE means gov’t should be concerned – big ones too ) and refinement . I wonder why it takes you so long to tackle the un-controlled internet in particular. or Fans …… Food stamps not too obvious.

I see and understand your efforts by your actions ( Shadow , Build plan . Ready ! ) . You Jews try hard. Try less hard and more brainpower.

You Jews are very cautious . Hollywood lied very slowly at 1st . + Seeds of men mingle Slowly at 1st . Sometimes I pity you. Not really ……. But in a “desperate” sort of Way

I’ve been away for awhile ( between letters 1 , 2 + the gap in time for this one # 3 ) writing strategy letters to the KKK. I may show you what I wrote to them – Later – Just to further prove my strategy skills to you .

You owe me FF Fans Food Stamp ? + others ( Sports ?, INTERNET, crank…). Show me a little. and I’ll show you more strategic ideas .

I saved the best for last . You might guess one of them , but I doubt the other. Maybe I’m bluffing . More ? Prepare to be blown away .

It’s not Fair but I learned at Triarc , you must trust the company because the company can’t trust you . But if I’m not compensated , I won’t think anymore than what I already thought up.

April 27, 2013 What good is it For me to Keep these strategic ideas ? Almost all were generated after my 1st letter dated August 5 , 2012.

My Fourth and last letter dated April 10, 2013. In between 1 – 4 , I’ve been busy writing strategic letters to the KKK and a Twilight Zone movie script Why mention that ? As a reference should you desire to try to get a clearer picture of me.

I was motivated to try to get a Job when I wrote to the gov’t . In doing so , I accidentally , over time , discovered that there is room for improvement in both the KKK and the gov’t’s strategies . Shame on both of you . ——————————– 4th letter

April 10, 2013 cc: CNN + Plain Dealer , Ad Council DC , NY , Atlanta , Chicago cc: WH, AIPAC DC, Homeland D , ADL OH , DC , NY , FBI DC, OH, EPA Sustain , DOE

To “ the government ”: This is my 4th letter , entitled “ Antichrist Letter ”. The following is not a coherent or developed strategic plan – s. Just Like yours.

How about a renovation at the strategic level ? Blatant mistakes were committed ( especially in the relatively recent ) past , some of which cannot be corrected in the future .

An anti – gov’t cancer exists in Saudi Arabia and because of internet . No amount of strategy can Kill it – unless you Kill everyone – I think .

Wrong strategy – Let cancer grow. Clean it up later With SWAT and prisons.

Let’s not forget the good – Seawolf sub plot , destroy a tank before China can get their hands on it , etc. etc. not just China . Yet , China itself , is a potential mistake waiting to happen . Why help in the 1st place ?

But as Bible says , “ He ( Anti – Christ ) will be a master of strategy . He will succeed in all that he does ”…I believe you will succeed in efforts to reconstruct strategy. Good luck

It tooK him time , but King David Knew one of his advisors was LiKe taking advice from God ”. He gave the correct advice ( go now ) , but someone secretly working for David gave the wrong advice ( WAIT ), and made a convincing argument . All the advisors bit !

Lesson – Just because correct advice is given , doesn’t mean it will be heeded . But how did David discern he was good ? He was a good Judge of character ?

Strategy # 1 Related : and also mind boggling . CAN UNDERSTANDING BE TAUGHT ? This understanding is something I Know little about. maybe funding some experiments at colleges could help you gain insight .

Again , according to the Bible – He ( Anti – Christ ) will understand darK sentences …I believe you will succeed once again . I don’t Know what dark sentences means.

Primarily sight and sound. Body language ? Tone and speed of voice . Playing offense – asking questions . Correct himself means he is lying . Inconsistencies ? Re-phrase the same question.

But if you teach them , they may get Wise to tactics . This understanding is something I haven’t thought about to any degree , but it could give you a Tactical EDGE , especially in DIPLOMACY.

Strategy # 2 A hierarchy. The one who makes that decision should be the best . She should Know how it all fits together. or a system. A meeting . Under certain criteria .

If ideas are too numerous , have staffers decide . A FILTER. or as you say “1st Responders”. How else are good ideas going to reach the WH ? Easy access. This letter can be an “ acid test ”. Training could help – identify.

Borrowing a Roman strategy , perhaps filters can be scared – Kill soldiers who fall asleep on watch duty. FBI will investigate. “ How would they Know ? ” the filter may think ? create doubt in his mind – post office checks mail from time to time.

When I worked at Triarc , Mistic Dark Teas was unknown to me. Hence, when I eventually generated an Arab bottle with a long sipping spout idea , it was too late to implement it – unlike propaganda , I am not familiar with your strategies . it impedes me from generating ideas.

Take propaganda for example – to help generate ideas , info would be required . Education , military , gay . Past examples help in the learning process. Doesn’t it destroy the purpose once tactics are understood ? Like understanding . You don’t want them to Know it is propaganda . We are being lied to by Hollywood.

Strategy # 3 Another idea – as I was freely writing , I thought it Would help if I could see more and more , Like how Wikipedia exploded – help me to see the big picture clearer. I Started the 3rd and 4th letter With a skeleton and added onto it later – FREELY.

Put it on-Line ? Keep adding to big STRATEGY PLAN ( Make a map ). Then subtract and edit . Growth and refinement. For now , I advise that you focus on growth ( Strategy Plan or training ? ), not so much Fine tuning ( hierarchy ). When you say growth do you mean Teaching or the Strategy Plan ? I don’t Know What I mean , but the Plan for sure.

You should Focus on this decentralized strategy first. OUTWARD, THEN IN – and out again and so Forth . After you do some things – Keep going outward for Awhile. Eventually to mid level , maybe all employees. In stages as things become clearer.

It leads to greater understanding . Knowledge builds on Knowledge . HE Fans Led to HE bulbs . Hand crank shredder Led to hand crank other . it took time for me to see more propaganda.

How do you balance the need for secrecy With the decentralized teaching approach ? Hmm ? I’m not familiar With your strategies.

SUPER STRATEGY # 4 TEACHING. PEOPLE CAN BE TAUGHT TO THINK STRATEGICALLY. Why would I give you an idea that could create more competition for me ? I Like this idea more than any other. it should allow you to tap ideas from your vast pool of human resources , and put me out of work. Not that I’m working for you .

INNER: those in the inner circle could be electronically connected. How WiKipedia exploded . I prefer the PLAN With HTML Links . I think communication among strategists would be important while growth occurs . How did WiKipedia start ?

Two prong approach – those powerful in the inner circle taught to think more strategically . Read my 3rd lessons letter – again . Sharpen their swords .

Who dares to bother the powers that be ? It can be taught , can’t it ? Rodney Dangerfield says “ Back to school ! ”

OUTER INNER: Who would that include ? Keep pushing out. How ? Less sensitive info ? I don’t Know. ALL: A continuing letter-s. other types of training – how to work with other agencies . Sharing info.

could Lie – NEA ( not gov’t ) promotes education. Any ideas ? one Way is to present it as a case example , Like I did at Akron University – Taking Words out and supplementing Them.

could tell the truth – Recently we changed Food Stamps . can you employees think of any Ways of improving gov’t programs ? Then there will be many silly ideas . Need filters.

Is there a Way to draw ideas from the general public ? Caribou coffee once had a contest. Why they Like it. Words from a Few people were printed on cups . Hold contests ? Maybe offer a reward if it leads to…

STRATEGY # 5 BEAUTY AS STRATEGY !

Hint : Irish Brit are beautiful. Roberta Pedon was not Latvian . She was Irish . Tina Small . BooBS

Joke – I heard the Mossad spends months – trying to figure out what the right bait is . Why not hire women with big boobs ? can’t Go wrong most of the time anyway.

LiKe in movie ThanK You For SmoKing – irish Type. World class Tits … Reporter trying to get privileged info is not relevant ?

Physical appearance matters – Clothes noble Wig , Race – blend in With enemy , Trojan Horse Paper Tiger . Strange – Anti – christ ? “ King of “ Fierce countenance ”.

oF all the ideas I have generated in my Life , I’d say this ( THESE ) strategic WH , or Triarc Gimmick contract ( Later Free Will , Free Choice , Free Stuff – Pepsi did – Fit perfectly ) was best.

When I initially came up With Triarc idea, it was Just a vague concept. CEO told me “Hmm… interesting ”. Long story , but he wanted it !

Another minor , but solid 1 for Triarc + my comic booK – not great , but consistently good enemies. In a competitive field – beverages and comics .

People can be taught to think strategically Was already written . Later , I came to the growing realization that I had stumbled ( accidentally ) upon People can be taught to understand. I Knew I had strucK gold !

Grand slams are rare ( TMNT , but not April o ’Neal , KC ) ( Spiderman 2, but not 3 ), but I hit 2. Star Wars , Empire Strikes BacK – bacK to bacK. Yet , consistent solid ideas is the Key to gauging a quarterback . basic Fans , Food stamps , etc .

I came up with almost all of these strategic ideas long ago , but not before my 1st letter . I admit I saved these teaching ones for last – I don’t want competition . I may generate more . Depends on whether I am compensated and how much you improve .

Remember how I began ( letters 1 – 3 ) ? I did not have to, but I proved that there is room for improvement . I am not familiar With your strategies , so I might switch back to propaganda in the future . It has some value at least , as long as it is related to sound strategy .

Put in a good word For me in the WH . And I’ll put in a word for my brother – he has a tiny advertising company also.

To the one who initially reads this , the critical “ 1st Responder ” as you say . Please see to it that this letter reaches the oval office – your boss . I sent out quite a Few.

……….I think the gov’t will LiKe this “ Antichrist ” letter – could even lead to fulfillment of end time prophecy. Sincerely , Tony

E n d——————————– E n d

More – edited – letters I Wrote in the past …

Imagine my surprise when 2 FBI agents visited me in early August 2013 – Is this what I get for trying to help the gov’t ?

Like I told them , if I thought my letters didn’t have potential , I wouldn’t be pursuing the matter and Keep mailing ( trying to reach the gov’t ) . Page 1 of 3

I want you to Know that I developed these pretty good ideas . Isn’t that what business people do in Life – try to get credit where credit is due . To me , the image is Worth a Few stamps . Did I explain ? I don’t want to be “ used ”.

As one of the agents advised me to try the DoE ( Fan idea ) , I told him I already did , but I’ll try again . Both nodded and agreed – it is a good idea . Page 2 of 3

………….. He wasn’t sure , but another thing I discussed with an FBI agent was my Food stamp Flaw . He told me the Romans threw silver out to people , but it didn’t Work very Well and that bread was distributed only in Rome .

………….. So , I’m sending this to the Dept of Agriculture also . I told the agents that I thought my letters had great potential . They were skeptical.

………….. The good thing is – Now I Know that someone is taking a serious Look at my letters , instead of the usual silent non-response ( and making me Wonder )

……… I am so sure that my Arab is a state of mind theory is correct that I Will *guarantee* it.

The bad thing is , the Men in Black visit scared me . Page 3 of 3 ———————————————————— August 1 , 2013 Dear Prime Minister To – Netanyahu , Peres Peace House , Jerusalem Post = Israel gov’t ? ———————————————————— August 19 , 2013 continued – Whites were not prepared and had to go back home and get their guns during Tulsa … After the blood donation scandal , Israeli police Were unprepared for violent demonstrations by the Ethiopian Jews .

I Read in Haaretz July 18 , 2013 – “ Public Security Minister warns against major protests over Bedouin relocation plans ”… A violent state of mind . Potentially dangerous.

Race crosses national boundaries . Blacks in Western Africa and America are proud of obama . Refugees from Somalia , Eritrea tried to Flee into Israel , even though they are not Jews . ———————————————————— President Bush once said , “ it is better to engage the enemy over here , rather than on our own home turf , backyard ”.

The purpose of strategy is to Win . current strategy places troops in Iraq and Afghanistan , Just Like Soviet occupation or Vietnam . A no-Win situation.

To – Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and Health , Isha L’ Isha also

E N D ————————————— E N D

I Wrote a TWilight Zone remake movie script . It is super duper long . I did not send it to anyone out of Fear they Will steal it . Nor completely finish it . Good ideas in it for TV . Anyone Who Wants to see it ? Will you give me a job ?

0 notes

tinasmal-blog · 6 years