First regarding my Chomsky comment. In retrospect it was kind of foolish. In this post-election period of Left on Left cannibalism I really shouldn’t be adding anymore to this tension. Anyone who is interested can go over to Mickey Z’s archives and see a full on left-wing civil war going on in comments in the days after the election.

I guess my current issue with Chomsky is his stance on Obama which to me (and many others) was incredibly disappointing. Chomsky has always felt like a teacher to me and just like in real life when your favorite professor disappoints it can feel like betrayal. With both Petras and Chomsky as two of our (the Left’s) unofficial elder leaders I just happen find Petras’ stance on issues a little more provocative and more in line with my world view.

However, since I consider myself in the business of solidarity building my little comment does in fact chip away at my own credibility. What can I say, I’m freaking impulsive!

Now to go back to where all of this began: my original response to your comment. First of all it was not a personal attack or even an attack at all. In fact after reading it I considered writing a second comment explaining that. And not to kiss your ass or anything but I’ve checked out your website before this little spat and actually enjoyed it.

That said, I do take issue with your comment. Yes “errors exist” and I will go further: Petras is even more wrong in my opinion because I happen to believe that both Bush elections were stolen. Regardless, that is just a matter of perspective; meaning whether or not one believes the elections were stolen will determine how one interprets the polling data.

So yes he did make a minor error. My problem is that you seemed to use this one fact to dismiss the credibility of both Petras and his article. And while your criticism is accurate it doesn’t even address (or argue with) the basic thrust of the article. I agree that facts matter, but I’m sure plenty of other articles we read (and write) will have errors, but that doesn’t mean that we should smugly dismiss somebody else’s work based on that. I get the feeling that you are simply not a fan of Petras and (perhaps unknowingly) used a little sophistry to take a swing at his credibility. You could have saved yourself some time and just written, “I think Petras Sucks.”

If you would like to argue the merits of the article give me a jingle. I happen to think the subject he raised is long overdue. With the exception of Alexander Cockburn a while back, I can’t think of anybody else of his stature bringing it up.

Now for your more personal shots. I actually don’t own any guns (though I did try to buy a set of Chinese throwing stars in Greece but my wife wouldn’t let me!) The reason I don’t own guns isn’t because I have a problem with gun ownership; it’s because I’m a completely irresponsible spaz! I would probably shoot my freaking foot off or something. Of course, if we took inventory of my families’ guns, we would probably have enough fire power to start a fair sized militia. You probably got a “tough guy” impression from my (embarrassing) macho posturing during my comment combat with Danny. Again, I’m freaking impulsive!

However, your last comment seemed like an attempt to paint me as some violent “extremist” or something. Well I happen to hate violence. I want to wipe war off the planet (like most people whom congregate here) and I’m even something of a closet utopian! But violence exists. By stating that I’m not a pacifist I’m merely saying that I believe in self-defense in daily life and I see the legitimacy of armed struggle in national liberation movements. I also see the legitimacy of some ecotage and monkeywrenching; though I personally don’t consider these as violence.

As far as my “muck-filled mind” is concerned: I’ll give that one to you for free! I’ve got the attention span of a kitten and a mind and imagination pulsating with subversive and naughty, naughty dreams and aspirations. Muck-filled indeed! Peace.

Accodring to Nader, Jimmy Carter was denied to give speech at the democratic convension because Carter believes Israel is an apartheid state where has stolen Palestinian land through illegal settlements. Obama is a zionist puppet to protect Israel interest in order to become a ‘member.’ He has been supported by wall street corrupt forces and pro zionist war individuals such as Rahm Emmanuel, son of a terrorist and racist, to help Israel to establish ‘the greater Israel,’ where Palestinians are going to be forced out of their land into Jordan. They also want to deny Iran of her rights to enrichment to secure Israel as power of the region through zionist advisor, Dennis Ross, to break Iran’s back by imposing demands where can not be achieved , thus creating chaos by severe economic sanction to starve Iranian children to death, and break up the country, like Iraq where Martin Indyk, a zionist from AIPAC was responsible. Now, north of Iraq is called
‘kurdistan’ to give Kurds military training to send them to neighboring countries. The Kurds recently have been caught buying lots of arms from Bulgaria, which is against Iraq constitution. Partition of Iraq was designed by Leslie Gelb, and brought to the senate floor by a self declared zionist, Joe Biden and was supported by war criminals, Chalabi and Kennan Makiya who received a honorary PhD degree in Israel for his services. He attended MIT to stuy architecture, but no graduation date is given, yet he has been made ‘professor’ of middle east at Brandeis University.
Thanks to professor James Petras and people like him who are exposing the role of zionist agents and their puppets, black and white, to encourage unity against the common enemy, international zionism.

1. Petras describes himself as “an adviser to the landless and jobless in Brazil and Argentina.” Aside from the question of where these millions hold there advice-taking meetings, those are his words.

2. You can dismiss fundamental errors if you wish, but the error exists.

3. So, you’re saying it makes no difference to say that 62 of 200 or 300 — 31 percent of eligible voters or 16 percent of all citizens — voted for Bush and to say what Petras said? Why?

4. Chomsky would never, ever publish such a sloppy, erroneous, blanket condemnation of an entire nation. Quite the opposite. Chomsky would spend pages on explaining the difference and its extreme importance.

Good luck with your guns and your muck-filled mind.

Let’s just take one line promote the general Welfare. The amount of money so far funny money that the United States of America has given to the people in our society that lend to people at interest rates that the mob would think high and then that was not enough so played more funny games with all that funny money and now that the whole of this insanity has come to an end and heck the next best thing socialism for the very people who used the other system and ran it into the ground. This is all being done so they can lend more money and keep people in slavery. Those first three words We The People what can we do? “Think Frank”.

Frank who is Frank? That would be us. I sure hope that some of you out there are trying to get a few million people in front of the halls of power as so far from this new guy doesn’t look good. We could all change are name to Frank, think Frank. Yes a few million yell Frank at the same time. Do you think we could get an echo down those halls? “Think Frank”. $300 billion to Citigroup, “Hallelujah”

Now color me crazy but “Think Frank” could just work as a start. Frank communication with the public is essential and as we all know that doesn’t happen because the Frank communication needs to be about the very people who are in control of the communication. Yes it has come to this. We all used to read that this could happen well it has. “Think Frank”.

I don’t fault you for not understanding it. Seriously. Not even my wife got it. It was intended as something of a love song to the radical left, who tend to get thrown under the bus by the mainstream “left”during these “democracy” jubilees called elections. Above all it was meant to spread mischievous smiles not as an instruction manual.

If those genocidal freaks really did put an escape hatch in the constitution then by all means send me the blueprint! You didn’t mean voting did you?

For that last thingy there, as far as pimples are concerned: I usually say that I’m not even a pimple on Joe Bageant’s ass (I’ve really said that!) but whatever.

Don Hawkins, I have been searching for the answer for all life I am almost half way thru and I havn’t even got all the questions yet. And to you my friend “be well yourself”

I read your artical when you had it printed. I did not understand it then so I will not attempt to now.

And as you probely know the “slave -rapers” who wrote our constitution, left us a way to change it and if you feel strongly enough go ahead and change it.

Of course you could change it by fire and sword if you have the stones “which I don’t believeyou do ” go ahead and do it. But from the way you sound you ain’t a pimple on Vladimir Nikolayevich’s Ass

#1-Most of my family are actually rednecks. And many are in fact paranoid, delusional etc. Some are not. But, yes, in the HIGHLY unlikely chance that a foreign army were to storm the streets of Bethesda Md. I suspect that me and my christo-fascist neighbors would probably have to conspire together. But to be honest, I’m personally more afraid of the FBI than any overseas army; not to mention brown shirt minute men types that you probably adore.

#2-Well if you support racism, sexism, homophobia, ecocide and wage slavery etc. then you should in fact be afraid of what I “want to do to this country.” And if by “thugs” you are referring to petty drug offenders, innocent people of color and all of the activists swooped up in COINTELPRO, the war on drugs, crime terror [sic, sic, sic] all locked in cages, then yes, I want them all released.

#3-Yes, I’m into love and understanding, but I DO NOT love my enemies. And I’m personally not a pacifist. And as far as “an occupying force” I would take a clue from Don Hawkins above. Meaning you already live in a culture of occupation.

#4-I’m assuming when you write “you’ve told us for years…” you are referring to something you think of as the “Left’ or Democrats. Well hoss…I ain’t no Democrat! I’m speaking for myself here, not the left. You see, there is a world of difference between say Michael Moore and Ward Churchill!! You feel me? Of course you probably are a lunatic.

Did I mention I’m not a pacifist?

And since my tiny barely thought out comment provoked such a response from you, you should read what I read about the constitution you want to defend for me:

What is the Matrix? Control. The Matrix is a computer-generated dream world built to turn a human being into this. *Holds up a battery*

Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

Neo: What truth?

Morpheus: That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else you were born into bondage. Born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch. A prison for your mind. Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.

This is where you must think for yourself read between the lines. In the coming years no easy answers but answers if you look. Be well Danny.

Mr. Blackwell, please please tell me that the above was a joke.

Number one, after 30 years of being called the redneck lunatic Christian fringe, and we have been called Neanderthals, and told how we are paranoid, schizophrenic, delusion or all of the above. After 30 to 40 are even 50 years of being demonized by the left. You are going to tell me that you would run to my front door and asked me to help defend your rights.

Number two, you also have to understand that the prime reason the far right is armed so well is fear of you and what you want to do with this country. Not to mention Being armed to protect ourselves from the thugs that you people seem to want to let out of jail on a regular basis.

Number three, after 60 years of the far left preaching love and understanding and why can’t we all just get along maybe if an occupying army comes you should just wave a sign at them.

Number four, and finally to my favorite of these four, you’ve told us for years that we do not need guns or weapons of any kind that there will never be any reason for the people to rise up. And anybody who sees the need for an armed citizenry is a lunatic.

However, please know that if it ever does get to the point were the constitution is being totally undone, my ignorance lunatic Christian fringe brothers and I will be standing on the firing line, you will not have to knock on our door we will already be out. And as while we’re on the subject we might as well tell you having spent the last year reading this website I can say that I would welcome the help from the types whining slacker individuals I have come into contact with here.

Dawson, he’s not “advising” the worlds downtrodden, (they’re already acting in many places) he’s advising us. While you’re correct about the number of US voters, it’s more or less irrelevant to the general subject. What I mean is that anyone reading it would understand what he meant and therefore it does not take anything away from his argument.

And his argument is sound. Resistance movements are local and obviously reflect the local culture. In places like Iraq or Lebanon the resistance forces are primarily Muslim. Which is irrelevant! The point is that they’re fighting occupiers with whatever (and whomever) they’ve got.

To bring this home: if a foreign (or domestic!) army ever rolled into my neighborhood the first doors I would knock on would be my heavily armed Christian Republican neighbors. A resistance needs guns and people that are willing and able to use them. A people under occupation often find unlikely solidarity with one another.

We in the “west” should extend that solidarity ourselves to any movement that stands up for their sovereignty and aspirations by whatever means they deem necessary. Furthermore we should stop allowing our “leaders” to define who our “enemies” are.