A Little News

Monday, December 3, 2007

How Do These Things Happen?

How did the Nazis ever gain power in 1930's Germany?

Preaching a message of German pride, Hitler cajoled and coddled his way into power, assuring everyone that his only concern was restoring the German nation.

V. Putin has followed A. Hitler's lead. With the press under state control, opposition candidates such as Gary Kasparov being arrested, voting irregularities that are usually seen only in certain Chicago wards - Mr. Putin's success was a foregone conclusion and utterly invalid. He will retain the power, even if he does step down and give the title to someone else. When you've been ruled by monarchs and communist dictators for hundreds of years, perhaps the the thought of democracy is too scary - like actually taking responsibility for yourself. If things don't go right, then the monarch or the state can be blamed - but not out loud.

Then we have Benito Jr. in Venezuela who has asked everyone to remain calm. Why not, he still has five more years before his term expires. If you think he's been beaten, you are sadly mistaken. You are only beaten when you stop trying, and Hugo will not stop trying. Congratulations to the people of Venezuela for their vote - just be aware that this was only a battle, not the war.

The biggest revelation of the day: the combined intelligence reports that indicate Iran stopped it's militarily sponsored program to develop a nuclear weapon in 2003. The general consensus now is that the 3,000 centrifuges could be used to develop weapons grade material, but are not currently being used in that fashion - at least as far as anyone knows.

I'm certain that our intelligence services have undergone a dramatic overhaul, and I'm willing to accept their assessment. They also concur that the sanctions have been effective, so we're in a position to consult with our allies and continue negotiations; never, ever taking anything off the table - TR's stick is still useful in the 21st century.

Even while Hitler was schmoozing Neville Chamberlain, the pages of Mein Kempf contained the blueprint for what was to come.

Ahmahdinejahd, denier of the holocaust, has stated repeatedly that Israel will be wiped from the face of the earth.

Nuclear weapons are the quickest way I know of to do that.

Trust with verification is still the order of the day.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Only A Pawn In Their Game

By Bob Dylan

A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Evers' blood.
A finger fired the trigger to his name.
A handle hid out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man's brain
But he can't be blamed
He's only a pawn in their game.

A South politician preaches to the poor white man,
"You got more than the blacks, don't complain.
You're better than them, you been born with white skin," they explain.
And the Negro's name
Is used it is plain
For the politician's gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game.

The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid,
And the marshals and cops get the same,
But the poor white man's used in the hands of them all like a tool.
He's taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
'Bout the shape that he's in
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game.

From the poverty shacks, he looks from the cracks to the tracks,
And the hoof beats pound in his brain.
And he's taught how to walk in a pack
Shoot in the back
With his fist in a clinch
To hang and to lynch
To hide 'neath the hood
To kill with no pain
Like a dog on a chain
He ain't got no name
But it ain't him to blame
He's only a pawn in their game.

Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught.
They lowered him down as a king.
But when the shadowy sun sets on the one
That fired the gun
He'll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain:
Only a pawn in their game.