The Progressive Mind is a collection of articles and annotated links to sites, articles, publications and editorials expressing progressive and humanistic viewpoints. The editor is an active supporter of efforts to uncover the truth about the horrible events on Sep 11, 2001
"Neither is it that US foreign policy is cruel because American leaders are cruel. It's that our leaders are cruel because only those willing to be inordinately cruel and remorseless can hold positions of leadership in the foreign policy establishment; it might as well be written into the job description. People capable of expressing a full human measure of compassion and empathy toward faraway powerless strangers - (let alone American soldiers - do not become president of the United States, or vice president, or secretary of state, or national security adviser or secretary of the treasury. Nor do they want to." From 'Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower' by William Blum
From "9-11, Six Years Later": "If one looks at the credentials of skeptics compared to the credentials of defenders of the official line, it is impossible to dismiss skeptics as kooks. There are many people with strong imaginations on the Internet, but serious skeptics stick to known facts, known violations of standard procedures and the laws of physics. The vast majority of the people who call skeptics "kooks" are themselves ignorant of physics and have little comprehension of the improbability that such an attack could succeed without either the complicity or complete failure of government agencies. "Paul Craig Roberts
"Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular? But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right." Martin Luther King, Jr.
In George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, the government had three slogans emblazoned on The Ministry of Truth building: war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength. True, the dystopian society depicted by Orwell existed only in his mind. Yet, the doublespeak that existed in that made-up society has increasingly been adopted by governments – our government.
It is a tragic thing that the U.S. government employs doublespeak to deceive the American people; it is even more tragic that most Americans accept government doublespeak as the gospel truth.
There is no greater instance of government doublespeak than when it comes to the military. Here are some examples:
Serving in the military: getting money for college from the taxpayers.
Deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan: occupying a sovereign country.
The global war on terrorism: a cash machine for privileged government contractors.
Conscription: slavery.
Stop-loss policy: backdoor draft.
Dress blues: government-issued costume.
Troop surge: escalation of a war we are losing.
Flying sorties: bombing civilians and their property.
Stationed overseas: helping to maintain the U.S. global empire of troops and bases.
Enhanced interrogation techniques: torture by the United States.
Extraordinary rendition: U.S. sanctioned torture by other countries.
Fighting terrorism: making terrorists.
Fighting our enemies: making more enemies.
Defending our freedoms: destroying our freedoms.
Insurgents: foreigners who resent having their country invaded or occupied.
Sanctions: killing children without bombs and bullets.
Military chaplain: trying to serve two masters.
Military appreciation service: idolatry.
Praying “God bless our troops”: blasphemy.
Supporting the troops: supporting foreign invasions and occupations.
Precision bombing: civilian killer.
Cluster bomb: child civilian killer.
Land mine: American IED.
Terrorist: someone who plants a bomb that doesn’t wear an Air Force uniform.
Enemies of the United States: countries that oppose U.S. hegemony.
Enemy combatant: someone turned over to U.S. troops in Afghanistan by someone eager to collect a bounty.
Axis of evil: countries with oppressive governments that our oppressive government doesn’t like.
Allies: countries with oppressive governments that our oppressive government likes.
Anti-Semite: someone who opposes U.S. military intervention in the Middle East.
Military recruiter: pimp for duped young men who want to sell their services to the government.
Bomber pilot: long-distance killer.
Persistent conflict: perpetual warfare.
U.S. interests: an excuse to police the world.
U.S. foreign policy: imperialism.
National security: national police state.
Collateral damage: the slaughter of unarmed civilians by American bullets and bombs.
Die for our freedoms: die for a lie.
War hawk: warmonger.
Regime change: meddling in the affairs of other countries.
Congressional supporters of large military budgets: pimps to hook up government and defense contractors.
Military spokesman: military propagandist.
Commander in chief: the chief war criminal.
I’m sure there are other words and terms that have been or will be devised or brought to bear to justify the actions of the U.S. military. Reject them, and denounce them for what they are: military doublespeak.
TuxGuitar: Free Open Source Multi-track Tablature Editor and Player
The Metafrets guitar chord and scale system is documented in a book, "Metafrets Major - The Essential Manual". Download the FREE book, lessons, chord charts and a chord dictionary.
Site Links
** Alter Net: Some progressive stuff, but too much "9/11 Gatekeeper" material.
**** Antiwar.com: Antiwar site by Justin Raimondo. Politics makes strange bedfellows on this one, as in many respects, I have troubles with Raimondo's libertarian views. Right-gatekeeper for sure, but he is almost admitting LIHOP now.
***** Architects and Engineers for 9 11 Truth: ... Architects & Engineers who have joined AE911Truth.org in calling upon Congress for a new truly independent investigation into the "collapses" of the WTC Twin Towers and Building 7 - requesting a specific examination for controlled demolition with explosives. ... Take a stand for Truth and join us!
**** Axis of Logic: Committed to publishing news and commentary that is often not presented in the major news outlets
**** Carolyn Baker - Speaking Truth To Power:... up-to-the-moment alternative reporting of U.S. and international news, articles containing information and opinion, and a venue of support and connection for awake individuals ...
**** Citizen's Circle for Accountability: Public accountability means the obligation of authorities to explain publicly, fully and fairly, before and after the fact, how they are carrying out responsibilities that affect the public in important ways. These explanations, publicly validated, would produce useful information for citizens affected by the intentions, and would produce a beneficial self-regulating influence on the conduct of authorities.
***** Civil Information Blog: The home of those 9/11 Truth Activists who practice the technique of Civil Informationing, as opposed to mass protests and confrontations with media / politicians. We advocate 'being the media', and acting responsibly and civilly (as individuals or in small groups) to inform our fellow citizens about what we have learned about 9/11, the war on terror, and closely related issues. We regard it as our civic duty, and view 60's style activism as outdated in the 'information age', and self-defeating
** Common Dreams: One of the most widely ready progressive sites. Pretty much left gatekeepers.
***** Complete 911 Timeline: This is the home page for the Complete 911 Timeline investigative project, one of several grassroots investigations being hosted on the History Commons website. The data published as part of this investigation has been collected, organized, and published by members of the public who are registered users of this website.
**** Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches: Investigative journalist Dahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatches - an unembedded journalist in IRAQ and a man of courage.
**** Desert Peace: Aiming to establish a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, while at the same time continue the struggle against racism and for peace throughout the world.
**** Fascism Anyone?: ... there is one archetypal political philosophy that is anathema to almost all of these principles. It is fascism. And fascism’s principles are wafting in the air today, surreptitiously masquerading as something else, challenging everything we stand for.
*** Green Left: Australian alterative media site - quite good.
** Guerrilla News Network: It seems at first glance to be a fine site, with links to lots of first rate progressive articles. However, there are some indications that the principle actors on the site are "left-gatekeepers" and agents of disinformation. Keep your eyes open.
***** Integrate This: Challenging the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America, the North American Union.
***** Journal of 911 Studies: The Journal of 9/11 Studies is a peer-reviewed, open-access, electronic-only journal covering the whole of research related to 9/11/2001. Our mission is to provide evidence-based, peer-reviewed research that furthers the cause of truth and justice.
**** Labour Start: Where trade unionists start their day on the net.
***** Mad Cow Morning News: Investigative journalist and author Daniel Hopsicker. A must read for understanding certain aspects of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
**** Media Lens : Media Lens is a response based on our conviction that mainstream newspapers and broadcasters provide a profoundly distorted picture of our world. We are convinced that the increasingly centralised, corporate nature of the media means that it acts as a de facto propaganda system for corporate and other establishment interests. The costs incurred as a result of this propaganda, in terms of human suffering and environmental degradation, are incalculable.
***** www.oilempire.us: A primary site for September 11, 2001 terrorist attack researchers. Has a good critique of some of the more suspect claims, and a good discussion of conspiracy denial amongst progressive authors.
***** Online Journal: Worth the visit. Amongst the best sites for progressive journalism.
***** Op Ed News : Amongst the best sites for progressive journalism. Will publish 9/11 Truth pieces.
***** Pilots for 9/11 Truth : An organization of aviation professionals and pilots throughout the globe commited to seeking the truth surrounding the events of the 11th of September 2001.
**** Richard C. Cook: There is no distinction between spirituality and economics. The economic life of a nation reflects its spiritual state, its spiritual attitudes.
**** Richard Heinberg: Learn about the The Oil Depletion Protocol, one of the world's best policy tools for addressing our societal dependence on fossil fuels. Click on the link below, and sign the Oil Depletion Procotol as an Individual Adopter. Be an example to your local, state, and national governments!
**** Stop the Lie: So let's get right to it: Is it really baseless idiocy that drives people to question the official account of 9/11? Are the millions of Americans (including Senators, FBI agents, Doctors, Lawyers, Professors, Scientists, Engineers, etc.) all paranoid loons for suggesting we need a truly independent investigation of 9/11? The government and media would have you think so. They'd also (to help maintain that perception) need to keep you diverted from the information you're about to read.
***** Scholars for 9/11 Truth & Justice : This is the new home for a restructured scholars group that welcomes scholars and all persons interested in exposing the truths of the 9/11/01 attack. Care is being taken to present the strongest, most credible research available, some of which is published on our sister site, the Journal of 9/11 Studies.
**** Source Watch: Alternative media site - was Disinfopedia - quite good
***** The 911 Agenda - September 11 and Our Political System: This website will be devoted to political history and the effects of the strategy of tension on our current political predicament. I hope that the articles listed on the Front Page will provide a good introduction.
**** The Authoritarians: "Altemeyer prepared a digest of his research for general readers, ..., which he has posted online for one and all to examine at no cost." John Dean
**** The Canadian Spectator : a single-handed protest at the Canadian Government's contemptible subservience to a corporate oligopoly that is allowed control over virtually all Canadian news outlets. Needless to say, this control serves the interests of plutocratic oligopolists, not those of ordinary Canadians.
**** The Council of Canadians - Nanaimo: We're making a 60 minute documentary about SPP (the Security Prosperity Partnership) and TILMA (Trade Investment Labour Mobility Agreement) and how trade agreements in general are driven by a secretive corporate agenda that excludes civil society, the labour and environmental movements. These agreements escape the scrutiny of our democratic processes, but may alter/remove regulations and institutions that have been put in place by decades of democratically elected representatives of the people.
*** The Independent Institute: Many articles from Ivan Eland and others. Right wing stuff generally, but there were some good anti-war views from Ivan Eland in the past.
*** True Blue Liberal: We’ve taken it upon ourselves to provide news, opinion, and information from off of the beaten path in an effort to keep you informed and up to date.
**** truthdig: Coverage of current affairs as well as a variety of thoughtful, provocative content assembled from a progressive point of view.Probable left gate-keepers.
**** Truth Move: TruthMove is an organization dedicated to personal and social change through the process of truth. We focus on education and direct action, and are actively seeking new allies and volunteers.
**** truthout, News Politics: Maintained by author William Rivers Pitt. Good stuff in general, but probably left gate-keepers.
**** Unknown News: "We believe in liberty and justice for all, so of course, we oppose many US government policies. ... It means we believe in freedom, as more than merely a cliche."
***** We Are Change: We recognize that the world does not function through a left/right paradigm, but a top/down hierarchy that threatens to destroy free society as we know it.
**** WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.COM: Right wing libertarian Michael Rivero has an interesting mix. I have to admit I visit this site first - even though he is way to the right of me. He supports the 9/11 truth initiative and has some good original articles.
**** Winter Patriot: These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. ... Thomas Paine, 1776
World Press: News and Views From Around the World - Read newspapers before they appear on the newstands.
**** World Socialist Web Site: The World Socialist Web Site features daily news and analysis written from a socialist perspective, and commentary on the arts, culture, history, ....
**** http://wtcdemolition.com/blog/: Our desired goal is a provocative and informative resource for those who feel that the issue of 9/11 merits serious and thought-provoking discussion and debate.
