Off Topic: An open letter to my son at Columbia College.
Barak, son…
I posted this story on my facebook and two facebook groups as well as on Zohar’s page with the comment:
Bottom line: Don’t trust the MSM any more than the government. They tried to demonize Snowden, then attacked Greenwald as a co-conspirator. They have transformed themselves into tools for the new 21st century police state which calls itself “democracy.”
Link: http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2013/aug/19/edward-snowden-national-newspapers (via shareaholic.com)
I urge you to begin doing likewise, if you aren’t already doing so. With the MSM in full coverup mode, the only way to get the truth out is by spreading it as widely as each citizen’s contacts allows. I consider it an ethical obligation at this point to go proactive on the Amerikan police state.
I was heartbroken when the OWS movement died over the winter. The issue of the 99% is as valid today as then. (Even more so!) Now add to that the NSA’s spying on all US citizens and you have the grounds for a mass movement to arise that can actually turn the country around.
I know, I know… Call me a naive “optimist.” What other options are there?
Did you ever see the vid I edited when OWS started? I was alone in Tel Aviv when the movement began in NY. After the Brooklyn Bridge police action I decided to make it to encourage the movement to spread through the whole country.
Creative, non-violent resistance must be promoted at EVERY possible turn. I simply don’t believe the American people will go gently into that awful night of tyranny that is now clearly upon them. If we don’t turn things around, the US is on the straight and narrow to be the next USSR.
Amazing vid you sent me before we got cut off. I’ve subscribed to that outfits channel.
Please consider joining a small group I’ve started called “Snowden for President 2016.” He’s not old enough, I know. It’s the principal and the irony that I was after. If you like it, invite your whole FB contact list to join. Otherwise, invite them to join another group on the topic that you like.
Up till now, I’ve never pushed my ideas on people, merely presented them. Though it’s tacky and potentially annoying to people, we no longer have the luxury of adhering to our ideals of “politeness.” This message needs to be screamed at the top of our lungs to EVERYONE.
“Restore America to its citizens.”
Or some better slogan that captures the horrendous inequality of distribution of income as well as the overwhelming intrusion of the government into our lives via the NSA et al.
If it’s within your ability, get out in front on this, son. Your own self respect as well as the future of the free world is at stake. Nobody is too small to make some difference.
I’m actually jealous of your being at Columbia now. The strike I helped lead in 1972 was about horrible government policy that compared to today seems relatively small.
Please call and be with me whenever you think of it. I’ll always be happy if you do.
Godspeed…
Abba
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WarSclerotic 
August 19, 2013 at 7:53 PM
Not one comment? Am I so full of it that it’s beneath you all?
Is this letter an embarrassment to the site?
I need your feedback, my friends… Really.
August 19, 2013 at 8:23 PM
Thank-you for the unprecedented invitation into your personal life Joseph, a courageous move considering the plethora of contributors with antithetical understandings. Shalom.
August 19, 2013 at 8:46 PM
Hehe. Actually JW, I’m from the opposite side of the spectrum, though our concerns are pretty much the same when it comes to the government. “Don’t tread on me!” would be our banner.
-TB
August 19, 2013 at 9:07 PM
JW,
Loved your passion. Many of us feel it with you. You and I agree that the American political class is out of control; that the MSM has failed us; that the distribution of wealth is outrageous; and that resistance should be non-violent. Although there were passionate young people in the OWS movement who were expressing their opinion and I am glad that their thoughts and opinions were a national issue, there were way too many anarchists just looking for a fight. They’re were a large contingent pushing our police as hard as they could; blocking Broadway, sidewalks, cursing and spitting. I wanted them out of our park, off our sidewalks, and out of our streets. Lastly, their organization was being funded by organizations I did not agree with making the OWS movement into a Democratic political tool.
Otherwise, I am ready, willing and able to join a demonstration for the issues discussed above.
Shalom
August 19, 2013 at 9:37 PM
Sorry JW, I still prefer the Tea Party movement’s approach to change. While a lot did change in 2010 and 2012, there’s still a lot to come in 2014 and 2016. We should work within the framework of the constitution to effect this sort of change, even though our government seems to ignore the same. I always said the ‘beast’ that is the federal government must be put back in its ‘constitutional cage’.
Mark Levin recently spoke about some interesting methods in his new book calling for what he refers to as ‘liberty amendments’. Interesting approach, but that’s going to take a lot of state involvement and grassroots effort to force this sort of change on the federal government. Of course, no one said this would be easy.
Anyway, while the OWS folks shout, damage, and squat on public property, we’ll be working with our states to impose constitutional change on the feds in a peaceful, yet forceful manner.
Having your son on board in this movement would be an honor.
Sorry I didn’t respond earlier. Been real busy in the office lately and had the grandchildren all weekend. The little buggers wore me out.
August 19, 2013 at 10:41 PM
JW, I love your passion.
I’m very busy at the moment. That’s why I don’t have much time to comment.
You are outraged as everyone of us should be.
Though I differ on the OWS, I fully agree that something, anything must be done to stop this descend to tyranny.
Creative, non-violent resistance is traditionally used by the left.
Conservatives are reluctant to do this.
But at this point it is fully justified to use this method, any non-violent method to save your republic.
Also on the topic of spying and internet security I recommend everyone to visit this site:
https://www.grc.com/fingerprints.htm
This site helps you to find out, if anyone is spying on your SECURE connections.
August 19, 2013 at 11:08 PM
governments and the sis dont use those techniques to spy on you
August 19, 2013 at 11:11 PM
That may be true or not. But I’m equally pissed off by ANY spying on me.
August 19, 2013 at 10:56 PM
If that’s what you think then print it there in full view,i thought i was fighting for that ,the right to free thought and speech and democracy