AN UTNE READER
Herman Newticks Speaks

by MJ Stephens
www.madjoy.biz

"Uncovering the Story" by Leif Utne
Utne, July/August 2003, p. 76

Issue: I want my BBC.

Why can't I have my BBC -- World News Service? Everyone else in the world has it: Europe, Asia, South America, even Africa, and we don't let Africa have anything. We've brought everything here, so they have to come to America to get even a little bit of what we've stolen from them. Shouldn't we know too what every one else knows? WE ARE GUILTY.

We are guilty of militarily and financially supporting violent, tyrannical, foreign thugs, like Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. Those two snakes in the grass are creatures of American policy and financial aid. We are guilty of greed (see Africa above). We are guilty of luxury on a scale unseen since the Roman Empire fell into decline.

Our guilt continues with this head-in-the-sand reaction to the causes of 9/11, coupled with our continuing policy of waging, what in the past seemed like "Campaigns of Error":

Korea in the 1950s. Viet Nam in the 1960s. Central America in the 1970s & '80s. Remember the CIA's overthrow of Allende in Chile? El Salvador (not just a movie), and Guatemala? And in the 1990s -- Iraq and Serbia. The first decade of the 21st century brings with it Afghanistan & an Iraq redux, "interventions" which are beginning to look more and more like flat out "Campaigns of Terror."

We just don't want to know the suffering we've caused with our greedy hogging of all the most useful resources. You see, Rolex watches are made out of things, gold or diamonds, that in the beginning, some poor sod who broke his back for a pittance had to retrieve from a dangerous mine. We wear them with a Marie Antoinette "Let-Them-Eat-Bullets" kind of indifference to the suffering that went into making an object whose principal purpose is to satisfy our most animal instinct for status display, the proverbial peacock tail on your wrist.

I want my BBC, so we can know too that a Rolex has a costly price tag.

* * * * *

"Winning the Frame Game" by Chris Mooney
Utne, July/August 2003, p.78

Issue: Discuss the Four Supports to Frame the New Earthling Community:

1. No Secrets.
2. Legalize Plants.
3. A Free Electronic Notebook in Every Pocket.
4. Healthy Air, Water, Land & Food for Every One.

Goal: Every child goes to bed every night safe, warm, well fed & cherished.

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