A Killing Nation!
TRANSCEND MEMBERS, 16 May 2016
James Albertini – TRANSCEND Media Service
What Has America Become? Inside the U.S. Assassination Complex
4 Million Muslims Killed in U.S./NATO Wars
800,000 Iraqi Children Orphaned by Conflict since 2003
We could go on-and-on: $trillions spent on endless wars and militarism, a national security surveillance state that has bombed and conducted drone and Special Ops assassinations (even of American citizens) in 7 [or is it 8, 10, or 12 countries?] in the last 15 years. In addition, the U.S. plans to spend another trillion dollars to modernize its nuclear weapons over the next 3 decades.
A must read new book: The Assassination Complex: Inside the Government’s Secret Drone Warfare Program by Jeremy Scahill and the staff of The Intercept, with a foreword by Edward Snowden and afterword by Glenn Greenwald, published by Simon & Schuster. In short, it is a book about what America has become – not hope and change, but unrestrained power.
[Excerpts from the book here: Whistleblowing Is Not Just Leaking — It’s an Act of Political Resistance, by Edward Snowden]
It has become increasingly clear that the U.S. is not about the business of “freedom and democracy” but rather global domination that benefits an economic corporate elite at the expense of nearly everyone else and the earth itself. Of course, the domination is disguised and fueled by fear: war on terror, regime change, destroying Al Qaeda, ISIS, etc. but increasingly the world is seeing through the disguise.
So what are we to do? It is an illusion and a fraud to say we can bring real change and put an end to U.S. imperial wars through electoral politics controlled by the very people and money system of empire. The solution is not a Trump, Hillary or even a Bernie Sanders.
Any hope for real change must begin at a much deeper level. In the midst of empire, the task before us is to build communities, people’s movements, and take action of non-violent resistance for justice, peace, and the earth. Do it because it is the right thing to do and it needs to be done. Then, keep standing and keep acting. It will not be easy but never give up! As the late Father Dan Berrigan said, ”There is no peace because there are no peacemakers. There are no makers of peace because the making of peace is at least as costly as the making of war.”
The real question is – Are we willing to pay the price? To stop the violence, to stop the killing, the buck stops here!
U.S. Reaper Killer Drone
The Wars Stop Here! Live Aloha!
Ground the Drones! Say No to War!
- Mourn all victims of violence
- Reject war as a solution
- Defend civil liberties.
- Ground the Drones! Say No to War!
- Mourn all victims of violence
- Defend civil liberties
- Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
- Seek peace by peaceful means through justice in Hawai’i and around the world.
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (May 20, 2016 – 765th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
___________________________
James Albertini is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace, Development and Environment, and director of Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action – P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760. Phone (+ 808) 966-7622 Email: ja@malu-aina.org Website: http://www.malu-aina.org/
Go to Original – malu-aina.org
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
I couldn’t agree more with the accuracy of the data and perspective in this article. Thank you so much James Albertini for bringing my thoughts and feelings to the screen so clearly. May peace and harmony prevail among the nations of this earth. May peace also reach my heart and my favorite country on this God’s one and only blue marvel.
Sincerely,
Thomas Krogh