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Feb 11 2007
Is the US a nation of laws, of conscience | Print |  E-mail
Op_ed
By Ben Tanosborn   

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Or of a new manifest destiny?

ImageSome Americans will proudly and faithfully proclaim that the United States is a nation of laws, of conscience and also of a divinely granted manifest destiny.  At times, in my politically pessimist days, I grow afraid that it may not be just some but most Americans that feel that way. It’s then when my faith in democracy is shaken a bit and I have to dig deep in search of greater strength. 

The recent trial – now a mistrial – of Lt. Ehren Watada brings to the forefront the fact that laws and conscience often coexist in disharmony, that society must of necessity find a way not to subordinate individual conscience to those laws; especially when they do not make allowances for relevant change.  While laws remain static, often after becoming inoperative, inappropriate or just plain obsolete, our conscience continuously evolves within us in search for answers by way of constantly newfound truths.

Lt. Watada was not a conscientious objector (CO), or he would not have volunteered.  Nor does he now claim to be one.  He simply objects to following orders which go against the dictates of his conscience; specifically, being part of an amoral, criminal war waged against a sovereign nation and people: Iraq.  However this case is resolved, it should be emphasized that this young man is not a conscientious objector, but an objector of conscience.  By so doing, he displayed an uncommon courage at par with the most valiant acts that can take place at any battlefront. 

Recently, after almost three decades, I renewed an acquaintanceship with a Spanish professor I met while he held a chair of International Law in a major university in South America.  Now he’s back in Spain, retired and, to my chagrin, profoundly apolitical.  But it’s his old political flame that I’d like to refer to.  It was our first conversation that left a major political imprint in me, one touching on the triad of law, conscience and manifest destiny.  Our conversation centered on Chile’s then military dictator Pinochet, and what an incredible mentor Franco had been to Allende’s deposer – redemption of the dictator stigma, and protection by the US, had only required an advocacy of anti-communism.

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the US is a nation of TOO MANY LAWS!

This may seem strange coming from somebody born in the USA, but America is nothing more than a nation of sheeple governed by a capitalistic and exploitive regime/mindset. The Americans who try and counter this vile entity and corrupt culture are always labeled as crazies, lunatics, or never given much thought or support by the blinded masses of US democracy $$$$! MORE...

Joseph W. Holness


In that first conversation, Jaume took me back to his childhood in Franco’s Spain during the 40’s and his formative education in a religious (Catholic) school; then the norm for a middle class which accounted for about one-fifth of the nation’s population. As mission statement for either the school or the system in which it operated, he vividly explained the visual display facing the students on the front wall of the study hall.  Large signs hanged, he explained, in what appeared as a descending order of importance reading… “God, Country, Franco… Piousness, Study, Action… Always do well and always strive to do better.”  That, Jaume told me was the mission, the rule of law, and the only frame of reference over which your conscience was expected to take shape during those pre-teen and early teen years.

As for the manifest destiny of those early days, Jaume humorously recalled how often the word empire became part of the lexicon; “Imperial Spain” being the term de rigueur thrown around during the weekly visits made by the Falange’s political indoctrinators.  Here was a make-believe empire, one which had ceased to be centuries before, being resuscitated via inoculation of a “wishful resurgence” serum, to mentally transport a post civil war devastated country to those glory days which never existed for the population at large, only for the nobility, the Church and the military.  According to Jaume, that was Fascist Spain’s own manifest destiny.

Are we, in the United States, being forced to become objectors of conscience to the laws of this nation as civilian counterparts to Lt. Watada?  It’s evident that our elected politicians, most loyal to the two pro-war parties, refuse to bring America’s involvement in Iraq to a halt.  Could it be that the problem is not one confronting law and conscience, but one that reaches much deeper than that?  Have the neocons with their false but assertive patriotism convinced Americans that their manifest destiny lies beyond the continental aspirations of almost seventeen decades ago?  Is there a new manifest destiny for an “Imperial America” to rule from pole to pole?  

Fascism can keep its core ideology intact throughout the ages, yet show itself dressed in the appropriate costume of the epoch.  Old Franco supporters and American neocons could be said to be distanced by half a century, yet read from the same liturgy-book: government-corporate centralized authority, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of opposition via fear and censorship, and above all a policy of belligerent nationalism and, yes, racism.  Only difference between Franco’s and Bush’s fascisms is that Franco had no choice but to keep the belligerence within domestic confines… while Bush’s sphere of operations extends beyond domestic economic pillaging to an arrogant stance around the world that makes it appear as if no nation in the planet can feel secure, or have its rights validated by respect for international law.

Have we in the United States forsaken laws and conscience in exchange for a new call, a new manifest destiny that allows us to rule the world?

Ben Tanosborn an editor of MWC News, after completing graduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), he set out for a career in international business that would take him to five continents, expose him to several cultures and make him realize the importance for any and all Americans to become goodwill ambassadors for the United States.


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1. 12-02-2007 19:19
iraw today others tommorw-lawlessness an
year--1997 
Irak is right in demanding ouster of anglo-saxon spies from hollowed Iraki's soil.In name of uno, and before that leage of friends ,and now Amnesty International, this heyena country called england has installed a lot bof speis all over World and has virtually hijacked Americans to do their domestic and foreign policies for furtherance of british (england's ) interest than even American 's interest. 
 
 
These days for last few years a lot of Kurdish refugees(who by the way are more aryans than all the europeans combined-though it is irrelevant here)are escaping from Turkey because of Turkish pressure. But nobody has ever stopped Turkey from having her air space nor has anyone bobed them. and why should anyone?Who has given right to a handfull of countries to be a policeman? Could they dare demand such thing at time of so called cold war? Every december,ever since gulf war there is a show of bullying tactics by anglo-saxons in middle east. There is really no ground but excuse is created because this race feels uplifted when others are insultated. Also there is a low cost exercise in bullying any other nation by military postures. Why should Iraq not have weapons as he desires?in 1981, when the israelis had bombed the iraqui nuclear reacto(a few days before going critical) it was britain)govt, and british media) who had vwhemently opposed Israeli daring action and did a lot of anti-jewish propaganda. Atleast Begin had a reason to fear from the arab enemy of israel. even in '82 Lebanon war it was britain which was most vociferous in criticizing Isreali militay action at the same time minimizing the Isreali Airforce's achievement in destroying Bacca's valley missiles through high tech method.In fact What americans did in gulf war was what Isreali had achieved way back in '82 in Lebanon war and America obtained that military know-how from Israelis after Lebanon war. But gulf war is justifiable on basis of military superirity but not Lebanon war. In fact when an american general said that america learned a lot from Israelis' achievement then the american defense minister Winnberg said that itAmerica learned not from Israeli but from British. Ofcourse we all know that Wnnberg was (awarded sir) more of anbritish defense minister than american one. He was pro-british and anti-jewish (and antirussian and all others aswell). In fact in lebanon war the american foreign secratary was changed because the british did not like Hague's attitude. This much britain exercises influence in american affairs. Now having installed all the stooges in Arab world britain has discarded her sham veil of Arabists and openly insults(through america ofcouse because on own britain is not even a fourh grade power)the arab world.Talking about the stooge, have you wondered why these days even Yeltsin's bad health no longer makes any headline news in anglosaxon world?Before any cold that Yeltsin had was niticed and still before that any peon from Russia had a headline news ' material. The reaon is simple. Britain has installed in Russia not only a mad man likes yelstin but also a second line of stooge successor to him. After Yelstin usefullness is over then he will be replaced by those second line of british stooge who at the moment are already controlling Russia and destroying her everyday. Democracy ,as understood today, basically means any system which gives free hand to britain to exploit other races. If their is one example of what an evil this so called capitalism is and what a saviour communism(britain does not dislike communism, she dislikes other's prosperity and independence whether it comes from communism, nationalism or what ever)is: this ruinous example of Russia is the real lesson. China is right to hold on to her nationalistic pursuit. It really is a war between anglo-saxons and the rest of the world. It is a race war.Sooner the rest of the world realizes that better it would be and this danger would be sorted out. 
 
You remember that at the height of cold war in mid 80's there was a lot of activities of C.N.D. You would expect that with so called cold war finished, this C.N.D. would be asking to the british peoples to leave the nuclear weopons given to her,out of pity and filiaty, by the United states. But exactly opposite happened. C.N.D. has been defunct since than. It is as if that was a front of the british govt. to show by way of propaganda that that country had some moral voice.In other words, C.N.D. was a sham created by the british to give them respectability. Ofcourse when a non-anglosaxon country aould perfect their nuclear weopon,as France rightly did, then there would be a lot of hue and cry by the anglo-saxons' media. France and china are right in strenghtening their independent military power. The real danger to world comes from england and her anglosaxons agents. France understand that and Germany was a fool in not supporting France in Nato meeting this Summer. Just as Cnd has been proved a sham of british propaganda, more so is the sham which goes by the name of amnesty international. It is interesting that as soon falkland war started, within a few weeks this amnesty international presented a dozier on Argentina. In the same way as soon gulf war started(soon after Iraqui's intervention in kuwait) the same amnesty international presented a dozier and report on Iraqui's atrocities. an fact many of the amnesty allegations were just a copy of what british media was saying and which later on proved to be fabrication and great big lies. But bthis did not dent the reputation of amnesty international. british propaganda ensured that. IN '88 when Dalia lama,at the height of Tibetan disturbances, visited west, the then british prime minister refused to meet Him. Later on with the demise of Russia and usefullness of China gone and with manipulation to keep power in Hongkong somehow intact, the same british media and government ,like dog, started barking at China. It is interesting that amnesty international selectively targets those very countries(as it did china after cold war) who are out of faviour(because they would not be a brtish sttoge)of the british media and govt. This is not surprizing as amnesty international is the creation of british govt, and british media. england with the most appaling record of human rights in last 200 years of her evil rule, needed some organisation to keep the others from chrging england off her past and current evil practices. In other words it went for aggresive posture in propaganda war so that others can be demoralized and stopped from ponting out the real evil which is england. That is why amnesty international is one armour of the british lies to exploit the rest of the world. Amnesty international must be ignored and an independent human watchdog (which england will simply ignore) created. One purpose of amnesty international is to create an atmosphere for hatred towards the would be vitims of british exploitation so that a victim could be blamed to have deserved the consequences. That is why ,now amnesty international sometimes threatens China, sometimes India and etc. India because india needs to be cowed down and also so that India does not make nuclear wepon and thus feel free from future american(read english and anglosaxon)aggression. This is all to create an atmoshphere of mis information. The other countries are also responsible(out of sheer inferority complex) for giving these instuments of british propaganda so much imporatance. If they simply ignore and then the british lies and then themselves go in offensive(they can do it-no problem)against british exploitation and propaganda then tose countries would not in such dire strait as they are now. Think, this deteriration has happened in only last 20 years(thogh the british have been at this game for a long time but they were not always succesful when others have been vigilant).Ignoring and fighting all this anglosaxons propaganda, the other races(yes it comes to that) must unite and support each other against this common enemy england. The other nations should also go nuclear and assemble as much arm as possible ,collaborate on it and ignoring this anglosaxon race they must be prepared for war which tjhen would be prevented otherwise it would come inevitably. The other nations need to arm themselves to protect themselves from anglo saxon race. Thinking any other way is simply kidding oneself. And it can be done and will be done. 
 
 
WE throw a challenge to these low lifes-if the English feel themselves  
ao powerful them let them attack and win even Irak(already weaken by u.n.sanctions)without the help of u.n.sanctioins(that means Irak would have same freedom to acquire arms and means and Arabs and Israeli had in thier war) 
and with out u.s.a. England is neither Isreal of today nor Sparta of yesterday.Let them be reminded that at height of thier empire in 1917, England was almost defeated  
by Germans when German army's 3/4 th division was concentrated on Eastern front. These english are that weak and coward people.But thir mouth will have to shut for ever 
when all the whites ,European and Thirld world unite against this english disese. 
There is no point in telling them truth, they understand only one thing which they will soon get-tatal beating physically-the only language these animals understand. Hitler,who these worship 
was wrong about the jews who were only british agents-what Hitler said about jews applied not to jews but to the english(anglo-saxons).race-pity he did not do the the british what should have been done instead. Well It is never too late. 
 
 
For all those who talk of globalization and protection of intellectual property right, a small news which was never in prominent place in any of english speaking papers or news but was very much reported in French media. In the last weeks of October 98 was reported in French papers that 4 different French members of European Parliament were going to raise the question of industrial espionage of some 100 each of French and German companies by england in collaboration with u.s.a. and other anglo-saxon countries like Autralia and new zealand. In other words they same countries who made a lot of hue and cry over Indias nuclear test and who are the ones pushing for intellectual property rights and globalization. Thier modus operandi? Checking all satellite bases communication(telephone, fax, internet,etc)with help of klistening devices in anglosaxon countries and spying ao all the talks and messages all over world.This illegal activity is cordinated in england. European countries are loosins billions of dollars each years through leak of confidential techiqe and discovery. Apart form the fact that for tea,china, spices and plants this thief country england never paid anything for others' intellectual property right(why does royal doulton or british tea company not pay royalty to China?) this thief country england has done theft of German technology like urea making ang consequently ammunition making. In fact Standarsd oil company of america made a lot of theft of BAAs. a Germany company and many of the bombs which fell on Germany came from german tech. stolen by anglosaxon thieves england and america. That is not counting stolen from germans the tech. to make nuclear bomb and rockets. With these stolen technology has this anglo-american race been able to bully the rest of the world. And it wants to freeze the DIFFERENCE between it and other races in stone-for ever so that it can rule others unhindered. By the same mechanism it destroyed japanes and other Asian econmis. That is why India and others need very badly neclear deterence against enemies of the rest of the world.And the rest of world wants to break from ythier cluthes but has no courage because most of thirld world is governed by the likes of traitors like manmohan singh and Ahulliavala and spineless people like Jaswant Singh and Gujral and Atal bihari Vajpaye types
avatar singh
2. 15-02-2007 02:06
iraw today others tommorw-lawlessness an
Some Americans will proudly and faithfully proclaim that the United States is a nation of laws, of conscience and also of a divinely granted manifest destiny then turn around and justify TREASON as a freedom of speech!
june

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