Friday, May 05, 2006
A statement of universal values.
I was interested to read about a man in Powys, South Wales who was visited by the police last week.
Seems he sent an email to his local council protesting about plans to site a waste re-cycling facility near his house.
At the end of his email he included an historic quotation by a protestant pastor who was a peace activist and pacifist.
The point he was making was "...who will speak up for the ordinary man in the street".
Too subtle, maybe. Someone in the council took umbrage at his quote and complained to the police, who then paid an early morning visit to this chap and officially warned him of possible harassment charges if he repeated this "offence".
Just another tale of official heavy handed political correctness gone mad, you might think.
But, it seems to me, the quote he used (reproduced below) is entirely appropriate for these oppressive times.
Wake up people. We are sleep-walking into Orwell's 1984 as the Thought Police seek to control our precious civic freedoms.
A statement of universal values.
"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics, but I didn't speak up because I was a protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak for me."
written by Reverend Niemoeller, a German Lutheran pastor, was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Dachau in 1938.
He was freed by the allied forces in 1945. Rev. Niemoeller died in Wiesbaden on March 6, 1984.
Seems he sent an email to his local council protesting about plans to site a waste re-cycling facility near his house.
At the end of his email he included an historic quotation by a protestant pastor who was a peace activist and pacifist.
The point he was making was "...who will speak up for the ordinary man in the street".
Too subtle, maybe. Someone in the council took umbrage at his quote and complained to the police, who then paid an early morning visit to this chap and officially warned him of possible harassment charges if he repeated this "offence".
Just another tale of official heavy handed political correctness gone mad, you might think.
But, it seems to me, the quote he used (reproduced below) is entirely appropriate for these oppressive times.
Wake up people. We are sleep-walking into Orwell's 1984 as the Thought Police seek to control our precious civic freedoms.
A statement of universal values.
"In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics, but I didn't speak up because I was a protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak for me."
written by Reverend Niemoeller, a German Lutheran pastor, was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Dachau in 1938.
He was freed by the allied forces in 1945. Rev. Niemoeller died in Wiesbaden on March 6, 1984.
Comments:
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The American dream, once reached, ends up with a coveted place on the treadmill of materialism. The need to maintain position demands our all. The by-product is a state of being called “deep sleep” whilst still awake. This deep sleep restricts any possibility of protest or consciousness of propaganda and the concept of People power is given over to those who are still striving for the American Dream! Right now that is a large group of Immigrants who are apposed to federal attempts trying to make their presence a federal crime! They might want what we have but what we have we have paid a high price for. The thought police have been around for quite a while and are here to stay! Alan.
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4758
http://www.prwatch.org/node/4758
# posted by 
: 6/5/06 6:28 pm
: 6/5/06 6:28 pm
Can sleeping whilst awake contribute to major shifts in society values?
Recent employment and housing conditions here in the UK have created the possibility for BNP prospective councillors to sow the seed of aggression and fear.
In recent local elections the BNP Have won many new seats in local councils because of their ability to use dissatisfaction amongst local populations where employment and housing are an issue using these issues as ‘vote winners’.
Once BNP councillors have there place on local councils the issue of their position being ‘valid’ is on the one hand appropriate (from a democratic point of view) but nevertheless a complex one because the true BNP agenda is not made ‘explicit’ through their political manifesto.
Ok so now the BNP can be invited onto question time to give oxygen to their rhetoric? Council officers (who are also from ethnic groups) will be required to work and support the BNP agenda’s?
Sorry folks it’s to late … carry on sleeping!
Recent employment and housing conditions here in the UK have created the possibility for BNP prospective councillors to sow the seed of aggression and fear.
In recent local elections the BNP Have won many new seats in local councils because of their ability to use dissatisfaction amongst local populations where employment and housing are an issue using these issues as ‘vote winners’.
Once BNP councillors have there place on local councils the issue of their position being ‘valid’ is on the one hand appropriate (from a democratic point of view) but nevertheless a complex one because the true BNP agenda is not made ‘explicit’ through their political manifesto.
Ok so now the BNP can be invited onto question time to give oxygen to their rhetoric? Council officers (who are also from ethnic groups) will be required to work and support the BNP agenda’s?
Sorry folks it’s to late … carry on sleeping!
# posted by : 6/5/06 7:47 pm
: 6/5/06 7:47 pm
I don't think it's yet too late to give our current masters a good slap round the mush.
Smug gits, all!
Smug gits, all!
A slap around the mush eh Mr. d. It’s been a long time; I have lived in the states for donkey’s years, since I heard that threat! I would suggest “your and our” leaders have every reason to be atrabilious considering the uphill slog there dealing with. Although, the image of a good slap or three is very appealing, the misbegotten fools and idiots! Alan.
# posted by : 8/5/06 10:01 pm
: 8/5/06 10:01 pm
Atrabilious = a total blank = loss of memory = amnesia … why am I doing this!
# posted by : 10/5/06 7:28 pm
: 10/5/06 7:28 pm
Thanks, guys. You added both an American and a British dimension to this question of Govt. control over citizens.
Plus, I got to hear a new word *atrabilious* from Alan and its definition from Brian.
Oh, and a reminder from Brian that BNP councillors now represent a real challenge to Council officers who have to *service* a BNP agenda as well as the other political parties.
No wonder Mr.D. recommends a slap to our revered (hah!) leaders.
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Plus, I got to hear a new word *atrabilious* from Alan and its definition from Brian.
Oh, and a reminder from Brian that BNP councillors now represent a real challenge to Council officers who have to *service* a BNP agenda as well as the other political parties.
No wonder Mr.D. recommends a slap to our revered (hah!) leaders.
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