You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train

Historian Howard Zinn, an inspiration for this blog, died January 27, 2010. I'll let his words speak for themselves.

UPDATE: More parts of this lecture are embedded after the jump.

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Really, People?!

I'm writing this week's Progressive Happy Hour email to make a statement on what we've got going on around here. Put things in perspective, if you will.

Seriously... I'm going to be serious here you guys... seriously. The cameras are on the US now, so no messing about.

What are we doing here? I mean, come on. I don't ask for much from you people out there in America. Just like the rest of you, I'm willing to look the other way on things. I'm willing to be disaffected by things that might not be in my back yard. I see you run that red light, I just look at my radio dial. When you take that extra slice of pizza even though you're only paying for two slices of the pie, I think, hey, you would do the same for me. When you can't remember the bullshit that happened during the Bush Administration, it's not because you're a corporate whore for the fringe right wing propaganda machine with absolutely no sense of integrity; it's because it was a trying time for the whole country and one we should move away from. You cheat on your gorgeous blond Scandinavian wife with some yucky cock-gobblers, I just say, 'hey, who hasn't written to Penthouse about that?' If you want to run for a major political office in your state that should be a lock, and decide to phone it in from your elitist enclave so that some trucknuts driving mimbo can get on national tv and pimp out his nubile daughters, who am I to judge your lack of enthusiasm to follow in the footsteps of social activists?

Y'know what, I don't even blame FOX News, Douche Limpprick or Pat Robertson for once. At least they are being true to their convictions of being intolerant ignorant racist douchebags. It's just who they are. And then there are those Americans that listen to the white noise coming out of that and say, sure, that's what we think and let's proclaim it on our Facedbooked pages so the internets can know we are a caring nation. Who am I to argue with your complete misguided understanding of being a Christian who wants to follow the socialist teachings of a poor carpenter that healed the sick, fed the poor, turned the other cheek, gave the earth to the meek? I barely go to church any more, so clearly I have a do not have the understanding of where Christ would stand on Health Care Reform or people donating to Haiti that Pat Robertson does.

But... Seriously?!?

Sean P. Diddy Combs bought his son a $360,000 car and all haiti got was his lousy $10,000?!?! Even Madonna gave $250,000. Do you think George Clooney and Halle Berry just donated their time on Friday to that telethon just so your kid can get a car (and driver!)?

If that's not insulting enough, Gupta and Cooper, WHAT THE FRAK are you dumbarses doing? You are *REPORTERS*, which means you are to report on the incident, NOT to partake in the news item. Gupta either be a doctor and TURN THE CAMERAS OFF, or be a reporter. It's not ethical to do both. And Cooper, we get it: you like to get in the frakus. But if that's the case, where were you and CNN when the democratically elected president of Haiti was overthrown not once but TWICE in the last decade with support from the US? It's like CNN just unearthed an island nation! Stop being part of the problem, getting in the way of real volunteers. Jaysis, Cooper, I heard there was crazy down there, I naturally assumed it was Geraldo. Oh, and FYI, New Orleans hasn't disappeared just because you're no longer knee deep in the water down there.

Really...


Here's the deal: Tonight, Progressive Happy Hour at Red Rock Tavern at 9:30pm Donnie buys a drink for the first person who arrives. I will add to your donations made to Haiti (or buy you a drink, you're choice). So, if you haven't already, please text HAITI to 90999 and show me the text (or do it tonight at PHH). Also, next week, I will be holding a benefit screening of the documentary THE AGRONOMIST about Haitian journalist Jean Dominique and the plight of Haiti in the 20th Century.  Mark your calendars: Tuesday February 2, at 7pm at La Paloma Sabanera.

"Pessimism leads to weakness; optimism to power."-- William James

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