Friday, February 26, 2010

"Protect"?

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/26/18638882.php


"Protect"?
by Ted Rudow III,MA
Friday Feb 26th, 2010
President Obama did not dramatically change at all the surveillance policies of his predecessor. This strategy has made it simpler for the US government to spy on every American and millions of others around the world, You would think that eight or nine years now after the 9/11 attacks, the government would have done a better job just getting management over the information it already had.

That's one more example of how laws designed to "protect" the public from crime or terrorism often wind up being used—or rather misused—against them, harming them rather than helping them. When petty bureaucrats are given such power over people's lives then they sometimes go hog-wild with it!
Oh, they'd tell you that everything they've done is for a good cause, and in their minds it is. But that still doesn't make it right.
It's a small example of the sort of thing that will be very common just as it was under Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and other tyrants of the past: Give people power over others, but remove or outlaw their religion or morality, and it's much easier to build a repressive, authoritarian society!
Ted Rudow III,MA

Thursday, February 25, 2010

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Home » News, Speakers & Events » Military, academia debate selective service

Military, academia debate selective service

Thursday, February 25th, 2010 | By Devin Banerjee
Before he was a general in the United States Marine Corps, fighting in Vietnam and earning a four-star service medal, Orlo Steele '55 was a strapping political science student at Stanford. And it was here where he came to oppose the draft.

The moon shone brightly on a spring night in 1951, and the men of Encina Hall were restless. Then, someone yelled the magic words down the halls: "panty raid."

"The juices were running," Steele recalled. Young men tripped over themselves as they rushed across campus to congregate outside Roble Hall, where, from the windows, the women of Stanford waived their lingerie at 650 pairs of panting eyes below.

"We were going to rush the place," Steele said, and not a policeman was in sight.

But in the Roble courtyard, standing in front of a floodlight and wielding only a megaphone, was a dean who knew exactly how to deter the wild pack. "Anybody who gets into Roble tonight will be classified 1-A tomorrow," the dean delivered a faux threat to the crowd. In other words, they would become eligible for the military draft.

And immediately, the crowd dispersed.

Wednesday evening, Steele joined Law School Dean Larry Kramer, emeritus history Prof. James Sheehan '58 and Hoover senior fellow Martin Anderson, for a roundtable discussion on the history and present feasibility of the military draft. CISAC consulting Prof. Phil Taubman '70 moderated.

Taubman, recalling his years covering Stanford for The Daily, said campuses across the country unraveled during the Vietnam War years because the draft lent "a kind of immediacy to people and their families and their friends." One night, students here lit the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) building on fire.

"There's no question the draft was a powerful engine that led people to think seriously about the war," Taubman said, "or, in many cases, oppose the war."

Sheehan, examining modern-day drafts, offered a comparative perspective. Germany's conscription model, he said, would be the most compatible with American society, if the United States were to implement selective service. German men are able to opt for civil service in medicine and other welfare agencies, and about half of them do so.

Kramer said he believes some kind of universal service - one that is not limited only to military service, but which also includes the option of civil service - should eventually be implemented in the United States.

Anderson, who said he, as director of research for Richard Nixon's 1968 presidential campaign, proposed an end to the draft even before Nixon was elected, reiterated on Wednesday his opposition to the draft.

"I didn't like the people who didn't want to be there," Anderson said bluntly of conscripted men drafted into war. "You want very strong people who know what they're doing."

Audience members of Wednesday's roundtable, who consisted of veterans and ROTC students, among others, eventually brought the discussion forward to the present day. Asked whether the use of predator drones in regions such as Afghanistan diminishes the need for a draft, Steele rejected any connection between the two.

"Whoever is running those robots probably has been under intensive training for a number of years," Steele said, "so I don't see a draft influencing that."

Steele further said a draft would be unnecessary if the United States opened a "third front" - that is, another war on top of those in Iraq and Afghanistan. "This last January, all military units met their recruiting goals," he said, acknowledging the likely role of a recessive economy and sluggish job market in that trend.

The retired general ended the discussion by suggesting a question to those Americans who favor a return of the draft: Is selective service intended to provide for common defense or for general welfare? That is, to actually defend the country or to instill certain values in the country's young men?

"I believe it's the latter," he said


Tags: CISAC, draft, James Sheehan, Larry Kramer, military, Phil Taubman



Emmanuel Ball says:
February 25, 2010
War is an addiction. It's a very unhealthy way to live. But it's not uncommon to firefighters, police, soldiers or war correspondents.The U.S. has less reason for fighting this war than any war they've ever fought! They have a hard time even thinking up excuses for it. Obama just wants to become ruler of the World now that the U.S. is the only real big power left. He figures if he can control the oil he can rule the World, no matter how many lives it costs or lives it upsets

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Sports is war

Wednesday | February 24, 2010



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Published: Wednesday | February 24, 2010 Comments 0




Sports is war



Did you know that the Nicaragua-El Salvador war, in which 20,000 people were killed, started over a football game? In fact, Ernest Hemingway, the world-famous writer, who spent so much of his time in Latin America and Spain, said you could eliminate most Latin American wars and their causes by simply banning football or soccer.

The ultimate fulfilment of sports is war. War is the ultimate fulfilment of the competitive spirit: the destruction of others for self-preservation. Sports are war in disguise, and the Olympics disguised all this under the totally false and contrary theme song of 'Peace'. That's their theme! Isn't that something? So they speak peace while war is in their hearts, and they talk peace while they prepare for war.

It's the spirit of competition and pride, proving you're better than the other guy. But the world just loves it. And even if they don't play the game themselves, they get into the same spirit by rooting for one team or the other. It's a thrill and high for them if their team wins, and a real low if their team loses. Just look at the results of some of these losses or delays or problems even with the broadcast of some of these sports events. People riot and get violent. Businesses close so they can watch the event on TV. It becomes big news.

It's just that spirit of winning and being the best, coming out on top and being better, and getting paid for it. Pride and money, success and fame - pretty powerful tools. But Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers ..."

Ted Rudow III,MA

Tedr77@aol.com

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Sports and war

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/21/18638312.php


Sports and war
by Ted Rudow III,MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com )
Sunday Feb 21st, 2010



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Sunday, February 21, 2010
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Sports and war



Did you know that the Nicaragua-El Salvador war, in which 20,000 people were killed, started over a football game? In fact, Ernest Hemingway, the world famous writer, who spent so much of his time in Latin America and Spain, said you could eliminate most Latin American wars and their causes by simply banning football or soccer. Those games get them so worked up into a frenzy against each other that nothing but a total all-out war can truly satisfy the spirit of it.


The ultimate fulfilment of sports is war. War is the ultimate fulfilment of the competitive spirit: the destruction of others for self-preservation. Sports are war in disguise, and the Olympics disguised all this under the totally false and contrary theme song of "Peace". That's their theme!--Isn't that something. So they speak peace while war is in their hearts, and they talk peace while they prepare for war--prepare their bodies for war.

It's the spirit of competition and pride, proving you're better than the other guy. But the world just loves it. And even if they don't play the game themselves, they get into the same spirit by rooting for one team or the other. It's a thrill and high for them if their team wins, and a real low if their team loses. Just look at the results of some of these losses or delays or problems even with the broadcast of some of these sports events. People riot and get violent. Businesses close so they can watch the event on TV. It becomes big news.

It's just that spirit of winning and being the best, coming out on top and being better, and getting paid for it. Pride and money, success and fame--pretty powerful tools. But Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers.."
Ted Rudow III,MA

Sports and war

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Sunday, February 21, 2010
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Sports and war



Ted Rudow III,MA , Menlo Park, CA 94026
Did you know that the Nicaragua-El Salvador war, in which 20,000 people were killed, started over a football game? In fact, Ernest Hemingway, the world famous writer, who spent so much of his time in Latin America and Spain, said you could eliminate most Latin American wars and their causes by simply banning football or soccer. Those games get them so worked up into a frenzy against each other that nothing but a total all-out war can truly satisfy the spirit of it.

The ultimate fulfilment of sports is war. War is the ultimate fulfilment of the competitive spirit: the destruction of others for self-preservation. Sports are war in disguise, and the Olympics disguised all this under the totally false and contrary theme song of "Peace". That's their theme!--Isn't that something. So they speak peace while war is in their hearts, and they talk peace while they prepare for war--prepare their bodies for war.

It's the spirit of competition and pride, proving you're better than the other guy. But the world just loves it. And even if they don't play the game themselves, they get into the same spirit by rooting for one team or the other. It's a thrill and high for them if their team wins, and a real low if their team loses. Just look at the results of some of these losses or delays or problems even with the broadcast of some of these sports events. People riot and get violent. Businesses close so they can watch the event on TV. It becomes big news.

It's just that spirit of winning and being the best, coming out on top and being better, and getting paid for it. Pride and money, success and fame--pretty powerful tools. But Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers.."

Friday, February 19, 2010

"Tooth fairy"?

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The Daily Star is pleased to provide a forum for debate on a range of subjects, from local cultural activities to international politics.
Dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of letters fall into the editor’s mailbox daily. In order to keep the letters timely, The Daily Star generally produces a special letters section. When the influx of letters is particularly large, extra space is made available accordingly.
If you would like to submit a letter for publication, please remember to include your full name (first and last) and address, including city. The Daily Star typically only publishes letters under 400 words, and these are subject to editing. The Daily Star will not acknowledge unsolicited submissions.




Allyn Fisher-Ilan
“Netanyahu aide dismisses ‘tooth fairy’ peace views”
February 18, 2010


The Israelis have got everything their way right now! They have got all of Israel and they have got all of Jerusalem and they want to keep it all and they don’t have any intention of sharing it with anybody. We don’t care if the whole world says were wrong; we know we’re right.
It doesn’t matter what we do to the Palestinians, it doesn’t matter how selfish we are with our land and Jerusalem, with the other religions, we know we’re right and we’re not going to back. Israel doesn’t like to do it; in fact, she wouldn’t do it if she weren’t forced to! And she never will do it until she is forced to! And the US will never force her to.”

Ted Rudow III, MA
Menlo Park, United States

The International Herald Tribune and The Daily Star are available every morning in: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman

Saturday, February 13, 2010

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The Daily Star is pleased to provide a forum for debate on a range of subjects, from local cultural activities to international politics.
Dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of letters fall into the editor’s mailbox daily. In order to keep the letters timely, The Daily Star generally produces a special letters section. When the influx of letters is particularly large, extra space is made available accordingly.
If you would like to submit a letter for publication, please remember to include your full name (first and last) and address, including city. The Daily Star typically only publishes letters under 400 words, and these are subject to editing. The Daily Star will not acknowledge unsolicited submissions.




Agence France Presse (AFP)
“World stock markets slump on fears over European debt levels”
February 6, 2010

The capitalistic financiers of Europe have got a whole lot invested in America, and they don’t want to lose it. They try to save her so they can save their investments, and they’re trying to get the rest of the world to do the same, so they can save her and continue to make a little money on her.
She thinks she’s their owner, but they’re her owner, and unless they rescue her, she’ll die. But they’re only trying to rescue her to save their own investments. So the quicker they cut her loose, the better. It’s totally artificial for them to support the dollar. If they’d just let the dollar sink down to where it belongs, America would sink with it.

Ted Rudow III, MA
California, United States

The International Herald Tribune and The Daily Star are available every morning in: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Palin

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02/11/2010

America has been living in luxury at the world's expense while other nations are starving. America has had high prices on everything and yet has refused to pay high prices for goods because other nations are so poor and they are glad to get anything.
The majority of the people won’t rise up until their sleep, their comfort, their security is actually threatened. Then when they do rise, it is to put their stamp of approval on rightism to protect their greed.
Ted Rudow III,MA

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02/11/2010

America has been living in luxury at the world's expense while other nations are starving. America has had high prices on everything and yet has refused to pay high prices for goods because other nations are so poor and they are glad to get anything.
The majority of the people won’t rise up until their sleep, their comfort, their security is actually threatened. Then when they do rise, it is to put their stamp of approval on rightism to protect their greed.
Ted Rudow III,MA

Things

http://www.indybay.org/newss/2010/02/11/18637493.php


Worship of things
by Ted Rudow III,MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com )
Thursday Feb 11th, 2010
This is one religion that rules the whole Earth--Materialism, the worship of things. What you worship, what you love above God and others, then it's your idol, it's your god, it's your religion In the Capitalistic Commercial System , its temples are banks. Its temples are office buildings to which its devotees and worshippers resort to worship eight hours a day from nine to five, five or six days a week!


That is the religion of the world! America has been living in luxury at the world's expense while other nations are starving. America has had high prices on everything and yet has refused to pay high prices for goods because other nations are so poor and they are glad to get anything.
The majority of the people won’t rise up until their sleep, their comfort, their security is actually threatened. Then when they do rise, it is to put their stamp of approval on rightism to protect their greed.
Ted Rudow III,MA

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

When will we ever learn?

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Peninsula readers' letters: Feb. 10




From Daily News Group readers

So much for a nuclear-free future

Dear Editor: As part of a record $3.8 trillion budget proposal, the Obama administration is asking Congress to increase spending on the U.S. nuclear arsenal by more than $7 billion over the next five years. Obama is seeking the extra money despite a pledge to cut the arsenal and seek a nuclear weapons-free world. The proposal includes large funding increases for a new plutonium production facility in Los Alamos, N.M.

Last year on April 5, Obama made a historic speech in Prague dedicating this country to the long-term national security goal of abolishing nuclear weapons. Well, the budget that was recently released is a big, big step backward.

Stanford physicist Sidney Drell has said: "More and more we hear of usable nuclear weapons, and of nuclear war fighting and winning. Where are we going? Do we even still remember what nuclear explosions do? Does the post-Hiroshima generation still appreciate the horror of nuclear weapons and the dangers posed by the prospect of a nuclear conflict?"

When will we ever learn!

Ted Rudow III,MA

Saturday, February 06, 2010

The dollar

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/06/18637175.php


The dollar
by Ted Rudow III,MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com )
Saturday Feb 6th, 2010
But the Capitalistic Financiers of Europe: They're all like a whole bunch of panders. They've got a whole lot invested in this America, and they don't want to lose it. So they try to save her so they can save their investments, and they're trying to get the rest of the world to, so they can save her and continue to make a little money on her.

She thinks she's their owner, but they're her owner, and unless they rescue her, she'll die; but they're trying to rescue her to save their own investments. So the quicker they cut her loose, the better. It's totally artificial for them to support the dollar. If they'd just let the dollar sink down to where it belongs, America would sink! But the whole trouble is, they each own too much of a share in the America, and they don't want to lose their investments.
The European money boys are left holding her bagful of worstless dollars. If they keep trying to support her, they're going to go bankrupt! What we’re seeing is a wave of panic selling,” said Francis Lun, general manager of Fulbright Securities. But public debt is projected to rise from 55.2 percent of gross domestic product in 2009 to 74.3 percent
Ted Rudow III,MA

Friday, February 05, 2010

We will we ever learn?

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/02/05/18637067.php


We will we ever learn?
by Ted Rudow III,MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com )
Friday Feb 5th, 2010
As part of a record $3.8 trillion budget proposal, the Obama administration is asking Congress to increase spending on the US nuclear arsenal by more than $7 billion over the next five years. Obama is seeking the extra money despite a pledge to cut the US arsenal and seek a nuclear weapons-free world. The proposal includes large funding increases for a new plutonium production facility in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

April 5th last year, the President, President Obama, made a historic speech in Prague dedicating this country to the long-term national security goal of abolishing nuclear weapons. Well, the budget that was released just yesterday is a big, big step backwards.
Stanford physicist, Sidney Drell, "More and more we hear of usable nuclear weapons, and of nuclear war fighting and winning. Where are we going?--Do we even still remember what nuclear explosions do? Does the post-Hiroshima generation still appreciate the horror of nuclear weapons and the dangers posed by the prospect of a nuclear conflict?"
When will we ever learn?
Ted Rudow III,MA

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Haiti

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ASSU execs look for Haiti ‘czar’



Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 | By The Daily News Staff
In the wake of the disastrous Jan. 12 Haiti earthquake, ASSU executives on campus are continuing their search to fill a newly-created paid position: “Haiti relief czar.”

The job, which would involve managing both on-campus and off-campus relief efforts, has so far had four student applicants. Currently scheduling interviews, the executives said they will likely appoint a student by next week.

The “czar” would receive a $500 stipend for 10 to 15 hours of work per week. Though the stipend will come out of Gobaud’s salary, some ASSU leaders last week questioned the decision to pay the czar.

“The idea that we’re paying someone to do a charity position just doesn’t go well with me,” said Adam Beber, a doctoral computer science student and member of the Graduate Student Council, at last week’s meeting. Other members supported the creation of the job.

ASSU President David Gobaud, a coterminal computer science student, has continued to push the job as a paid role.

“We believe that offering this stipend for what will be a full-time cabinet position is both fair and in keeping with our policy for other cabinet members [who are all paid],” wrote Gobaud in an e-mail to The Daily. He also pointed out that executives have created paid “czar” roles in the past.

Gobaud said that whoever fills the position will focus first and foremost on campus relief efforts.

“On campus, the HRC will work with individuals, dorms, [volunteer student organizations] and other organizations on events relating to Haiti relief,” Gobaud said. “This includes facilitating and collaboration among people with similar project ideas, planning and organizing events, coordinating with the ASSU, [and] acting as a liaison between students and administration.”

“The HRC will be able to use his/her experience with on-campus events to advise the group on the most successful strategies to raise money and awareness while working to get more students and colleges involved throughout the country,” Gobaud added.

As to the rationale for making the position a long-term job, Gobaud offered that “the thing to remember is there’s a lot more to rebuilding Haiti than money — it’ll take years.”

He said he will recommend that next year’s executives retain the czar job.

“At least through the end of our term — we would hope through at least the end of the year. We will recommend that they [the next administration] keep this person on their staff.”


Tags: ASSU, David Gobaud, Haiti, Haiti Relief Czar




February 3, 2010
It’s hard for poor nations to get a break from the rich ones. While the rich may offer foreign aid with one hand, the actions of the other hand more than negate that aid! So they’ve helped the poor to avoid starvation, but done nothing to help them with their long-term problem of producing their own food.
Not only that, but the IMF and other international lenders are often willing to provide loans to these poor countries to help their people—but part of the price is that these countries have to lower their import barriers and “liberalize” their economy. And the effect is usually that cheaper foreign food and goods (from the U.S. and other wealthy countries) flood into the poor country, meaning its own agriculture and industry have a very hard time getting off the ground.
So the poor survive on the “aid” of the rich, but just barely, while rich Western politicians make speeches about how much they’re trying to help the poor, but how little effect it seems to have and how their aid is wasted.

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Opposing Views: Obama is trying to do his best.

Abstract:
A lot has changed in a year.

Or has it?

We all remember the night Barack Obama was elected president.

The excitement in the air was almost palpable - people were dancing in the streets and TV stations were jammed with tearful interviews expressing disbelief and hope....

2/03/10
It's hard for poor nations to get a break from the rich ones. While the rich may offer foreign aid with one hand, the actions of the other hand more than negate that aid! So they've helped the poor to avoid starvation, but done nothing to help them with their long-term problem of producing their own food.
Not only that, but the IMF and other international lenders are often willing to provide loans to these poor countries to help their people--but part of the price is that these countries have to lower their import barriers and "liberalize" their economy. And the effect is usually that cheaper foreign food and goods (from the U.S. and other wealthy countries) flood into the poor country, meaning its own agriculture and industry have a very hard time getting off the ground.
So the poor survive on the "aid" of the rich, but just barely, while rich Western politicians make speeches about how much they're trying to help the poor, but how little effect it seems to have and how their aid is wasted. Well, some certainly is, but it's the entire system of "aid" that's the problem!
Ted Rudow III,MA
class of 1996

Peace

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Ted Rudow III, MA, PO Box 1222, Menlo Park, CA 94026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recently that Israel must have a presence in the West Bank even after a peace agreement is achieved, dealing a fresh blow to the visiting US Middle East envoy's effort to restart peace talks.

To settle the problem of Jerusalem and bring peace to the Mid-East--at least for a little while, it will take a miracle. There'll never be true peace. In the meanwhile, there's more turmoil to come in the region, sad to say. It's not caused by the Lord but by selfishness and by man's inhumanity to man, by lust and greed and pride, the same things that have always caused wars.

I'm afraid the poor Palestinians are going to suffer a while longer, along with many other refugees around the world. But blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.