tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post5548801454858799035..comments2024-03-20T10:19:56.838+01:00Comments on the beatroot: 10 years ago Poland and UK were a better place?beatroothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11242716221133886807noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-48266360133913585402007-05-15T17:24:00.000+02:002007-05-15T17:24:00.000+02:00Just for that we'll also bring in the Polish Littl...Just for that we'll also bring in the Polish Little League baseball team funded by Mrs. Paul's Fishsticks (a frozen foods company run by a Pol-Am, not a baseball team):<BR/><BR/>http://eteamz.active.com/llbeurope1/<BR/><BR/>And whatever happened to the Warsaw Sparks?<BR/><BR/>http://www.amazon.com/Warsaw-Sparks-Singular-American-Autobiography/dp/0877452768/ref=sr_1_1/102-3669712-5955325?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179242552&sr=1-1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-71475305587704440842007-05-14T22:05:00.000+02:002007-05-14T22:05:00.000+02:00If you stood around in baseball gear in downtown W...If you stood around in baseball gear in downtown Warsaw – which is for some reason, Edwardian in style – you would get arrested for breach of the PiS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-67370266682779427302007-05-14T14:22:00.000+02:002007-05-14T14:22:00.000+02:00Expect a picket line outside Radio Polonia!.Expect a picket line outside Radio Polonia!.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-72045892515501189202007-05-13T21:48:00.000+02:002007-05-13T21:48:00.000+02:00Baseball is a game for autistic cricketers.Baseball is a game for autistic cricketers.beatroothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11242716221133886807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-1693903462899752552007-05-13T01:11:00.000+02:002007-05-13T01:11:00.000+02:00I prefer baseball.I prefer baseball.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-46503832728027666282007-05-13T00:44:00.000+02:002007-05-13T00:44:00.000+02:00Geez Politics is not just about what politicians d...Geez<BR/><BR/> Politics is not just about what politicians do, or don’t do. Ideas, ideologies, movements, solidarity, do not come from elected politicians, they come from active participation by us all. That can take many forms. And these days participation has got a lot easier. The important thing is to not just wait for the next election. Politics is not like baseball – it’s not a spectator sport.beatroothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11242716221133886807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-19795905271626731862007-05-12T23:28:00.000+02:002007-05-12T23:28:00.000+02:00Geez,I still haven't sourced that comment I sugges...Geez,<BR/><BR/>I still haven't sourced that comment I suggested D Day made, that is, the church is a whore but she's my mother. Any CW's I know though tell me that they think she certainly did sya it in an interview. When I foind out for sure one way or the other I will let you know.Damien Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15814470741668910052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-78686282699303056082007-05-12T22:32:00.001+02:002007-05-12T22:32:00.001+02:00Cardinal Newman wisely commented once something al...Cardinal Newman wisely commented once something along the lines, you can never be certain - but you can always be sincere.<BR/><BR/>It is the sincerity of grassroots political struggle and its' actors, who are more than often very ordinary good folk rather than Marxist-Leninists, Liberation Theologians, or Bloggers (not that ya can't be a merger of some of the above), that motivates me to keep on keeping on or to use some Pauline discourse, to fight the good fight.<BR/><BR/>One of the gravest tragedies anyone can fall into is cynicism or resignation to the 'best of two evil self-interested candidates' syndrome, key pillars to ensuring the current system of shitology will continue to prevail. We may only score small victories that are unfortunately far too often short-lived, but they have very real consequences for very real people - whether it be for the agents of change in the '86 ousting of F. Marcos in the Phillipines, the East Timorese student movement decision to use NVDA against Indonesian violence (I've been privileged to have a friendship with one of the main student leaders who persuaded his fellow students to not take up arms).<BR/><BR/>There is a rich history of nonviolent resistance in the States. Have a look at Howard Zinn's 'People's History of the U.S.'. <BR/><BR/>Another good resource to keep abreast of nonviolent activists and their movements in and out of the courts, prisons, military bases, etc. can be found here <A HREF="http://www.peacenews.info/" REL="nofollow"> Peace News</A>. We should not always measure ourselves in terms of quantative success, though of course we should resign to be fatal defeatists either. It's important to continue being faithful to the ethical principles<BR/>that motivate us to keep giving a shit about those who are being crucifies everyday throughout the world and not accept the false democratic choices we find ourselves trapped in by our current political systems in the U.S., Poland, Ireland, etc. Republican or Democrat, Whig or Tory, PiS or PO, Fianna Fail or Fine Gael - no thanks!<BR/><BR/>By the way, Sub-Comanadante Marcos next book will be about Sex, not politics - inspiring indigenous revolutionary communities are there for us to learn fromDamien Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15814470741668910052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-71678813828988806792007-05-12T22:32:00.000+02:002007-05-12T22:32:00.000+02:00Or..."Don't vote; it only encourages them (the pol...Or...<BR/><BR/>"Don't vote; it only encourages them (the politrixians)."<BR/><BR/>I think D. Day may have said that.<BR/><BR/>So you're running for office, BR?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-37198126963256346582007-05-12T09:10:00.000+02:002007-05-12T09:10:00.000+02:00Just voting geez leaves politics up to the politic...Just voting geez leaves politics up to the politicians...not a very good idea at all...beatroothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11242716221133886807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-85495795844283198382007-05-12T03:45:00.000+02:002007-05-12T03:45:00.000+02:00But I'm not sure non-violent illegal or legal prot...But I'm not sure non-violent illegal or legal protest will change anything either. I've engaged in both. As Alvin Lee of Ten Years After once crooned, "I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do" ... beyond trying to figure out how to vote to make sure the lesser of two evils gets elected (if Hillary gets nominated as I predict, I don't know wtf I'm gonna do), trying not to be too much of a consuming pig, trying to be nice and helpful to people (no doubt my biggest failure), praying, and trying at least to be entertaining to God and others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-85247820921899667582007-05-12T00:59:00.000+02:002007-05-12T00:59:00.000+02:00Yip, I know about Kucinich and the others (as I sa...Yip, I know about Kucinich and the others (as I said in my comment, an admirable few). And for sure the Dems. would be better off wiht more of their ilk. But the essence of my comment stands: they do not stand for any real alternative to the current world order that is part and parcel of fucking up many parts of the planet.<BR/><BR/>I wish they did, but do not forecast they will in the near future.Damien Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15814470741668910052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-24371969793407285192007-05-11T17:52:00.000+02:002007-05-11T17:52:00.000+02:00Bill won the erection.Bill won the erection.beatroothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11242716221133886807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-38880708382411372822007-05-11T17:21:00.000+02:002007-05-11T17:21:00.000+02:00Damo wrote: Do the Democrats want to become an ef...Damo wrote: Do the Democrats want to become an effectice enough force? (hint, hint, they don't want to become one but rather want the continuation of U.S. military, political, cultural dominance throughout the world).<BR/><BR/><><<BR/><BR/>Not all Democrats. Certainly not the case with Dennis Kucinich and many but not enuff more. No doubt, Hillary will win the nomination. But I doubt that she will win the prez erection. Election? Never mind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-935749192175029512007-05-11T16:12:00.000+02:002007-05-11T16:12:00.000+02:00Of course Poland is richer than it was 10 years ag...Of course Poland is richer than it was 10 years ago. But that's not good enough because short of war, famine and plague countries get richer over time. When is the last time you read of a country not experiencing a huge crisis recording a <I>drop</I> (not just a slowdown in the rate of growth) in GDP? <BR/><BR/>Poles have every right to be discontent with small improvements - especially when they are so inequitably spread around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-39842214838039865132007-05-11T12:22:00.000+02:002007-05-11T12:22:00.000+02:00For what it is worth, what was wrong with the anti...For what it is worth, what was wrong with the anti-war ‘movement’ was that it didn’t really know what it wanted. And the democrats couldn't oppose it because that would mean opposing the ‘war against terror’ in general.<BR/><BR/>The anti-war movement was never anti-war. It was anti-war if the UN security council did not give its support. It was bad for Bush to bomb Iraqis but it was OK if Kofi Anan said so. And also the other aweful thing about the anti-war movement was that slogan – ‘Not in my name’. That is not a slogan of political engagement but one of disengagement. <BR/><BR/>Now...what’s Hilary’s phone number?beatroothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11242716221133886807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-23916816663323630582007-05-11T12:09:00.000+02:002007-05-11T12:09:00.000+02:00The first time in the history of the Anglican chur...The first time in the history of the Anglican church that they didn't support a war! All mainstream religions and their leaders condemning it as a unjust<BR/>war to wage.<BR/><BR/>Millions marching worldwide international demonstrations estimated by the BBC to have taken place in over 800 cities, in 60 countries, numbering 6-10 million people!<BR/><BR/>International lawyers in huge consensus, outside of the U.S. that is, of the illegality of the war!<BR/><BR/>What do the Democrats want to become an effectice enough force? (hint, hint, they don't want to become one but rather want the continuation of U.S. military, political, cultural dominance throughout the world).<BR/><BR/>Although an admirable display of resistance to the pre-emptive invasion by Blair and co. F15th was indeed too little, and this may have been due to the failure of the leadership of the anti-war movement who used it as a marketing opportunity to sell their political ideologies, headscarves, badges and t-shirts more than actually resisting the war and its' many components itself. <BR/><BR/>There were little or no attempts by the main organisers of these demo's to encourage people into effective direct nonviolent resistance as a short or long-term tactic, nor to ratchet up the tension against the warmongering states of the U.S., Britain, Spain, Italy, Poland et al. It was a missed opportunity. Church leaders and opposition politicians played their part in suppressing the righteous anger of the public which could have been facilitated in a nonviolently explosive mannner to blockade military bases, weapons factories, gvt. buildings, recruitment centres, etc. Am I dreaming? Maybe. But the war blessing U.S. Catholic church for one are a pure fucking disgrace<BR/>and could do with listening to their pope when it comes to the ethics of war.<BR/><BR/>For sure, the move into mass nonviolent cooperation may not have worked in the short or long-term, but at least it would have facilitated a more empowering experience for the individuals involved to become active particiapants in their social movement, and also would have had a better chance in intervening directly against the preparations for the war rather than making people feel completely disillusioned when the war did eventually break out. Also, not every one would have had to risk arrest, etc. All that was need was a minority to resist and the majority to stick by them as they journeyed through jail, court, financial losses etc. It's called 'solidarity'.<BR/><BR/><I>Molding the Democrats into a more effective force</I><BR/><BR/>The problem with the Democratic leadership - they were not against waging the war in the first place (bar an admirable few), just how it was subsequently blundered by the Republicans. Kerry, Clinton, Lieberman et al. are hawks in their own right.<BR/><BR/> There was no effective mainstream political opposition and it's hard to see how there could have been giving the state of the Democratic party. We should remember also, it took over 8 years, 2 million + dead, and a shit load of army intra-army resistance for the Vietnam war protests to help succeed in ending that war. Albeit, the moral cry was more about the American dead than the countless Vientamese that perished. The effect of the resistance in the west over the past couple of years is hard to measure but nevertheless there have been small and important victories for truth along the way.<BR/><BR/>The protests of the 20's and 30's in India were a necessary prerequisite for the success of the Indian Independance campaign - and likewise, to be an effective social movement the anti-war movement need to regroup, reempower, be more democratic, cut down on the marketing strategy focus and help facilitate a new generation of empowered nonviolent activists to tackle the future wars of Brown and ??? (Clinton, McCain). Holy fuck the future does not bode well!<BR/><BR/>Sorry for the length of this piece.Damien Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15814470741668910052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-14757868956338363902007-05-11T11:40:00.000+02:002007-05-11T11:40:00.000+02:00"Irish-English Libertarian activists in Poland wit..."Irish-English Libertarian activists in Poland with Polish girlfriends failed to mobilize sufficient world opinion to mold the Democrats in the US into a more effective force"<BR/><BR/>Why, Beat .... Oh, WHY did you fail (hysterical sobbing) WHY??????michael farrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10232229721381140090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-89233739765257229402007-05-11T02:54:00.000+02:002007-05-11T02:54:00.000+02:00No dude. Irish-English Libertarian activists in P...No dude. Irish-English Libertarian activists in Poland with Polish girlfriends failed to mobilize sufficient world opinion to mold the Democrats in the US into a more effective force.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-48243160165171334272007-05-10T19:18:00.000+02:002007-05-10T19:18:00.000+02:00No man. If democracts are so hopeless - and they a...No man. If democracts are so hopeless - and they are - then they deserve an arse like Bush. It's nobody elses fault.beatroothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11242716221133886807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-85959631647386859452007-05-10T11:50:00.000+02:002007-05-10T11:50:00.000+02:00So, by "staying" in the US, I've gotten the leader...So, by "staying" in the US, I've gotten the leader I deserve?<BR/><BR/>Even though he wasn't really elected?<BR/><BR/>Problem is, then, you deserve him, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-56928219966278033192007-05-10T11:16:00.000+02:002007-05-10T11:16:00.000+02:00Just realised that the G.W. Bush fan club have pre...Just realised that the G.W. Bush fan club have pretty much stolen the links from the above Zapatista link I gave. Check out this instead: <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapatista_Army_of_National_Liberation" REL="nofollow"> Zapatistas</A>Damien Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15814470741668910052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-2845107808418764332007-05-10T11:12:00.000+02:002007-05-10T11:12:00.000+02:00By no means I am advocating a 'get the fuck out' a...By no means I am advocating a 'get the fuck out' attitude and this type of analysis is a typical repsonse given to someone who determines parliamentary democracy (corpocracy) as a false choice. For sure the shittiest Republic is better than the most benign form of authoritarianism but it's still shitty and creates a spectator class who are not empowered to be active citizens.<BR/><BR/>I advocate what you put forward in point B, BR, though don't think it's fair to say we get the leaders we deserve - for example, in the light of Giertych and Lepper's pathetic mandate how can it be that Poles deserve their holding of high ministerial posts? Giertych is a rare breed - a minister who has pissed off teachers and students alike causing mass protests, and yet he remains in his job despite his many policy faux-pas.<BR/><BR/>Creating alternatives is as you correctly point out the only way to show the public that we shouldn't need to choose between different shades of shite which have the same stench. The <A HREF="http://www.zapatistas.org/" REL="nofollow"> Zapatistas</A> are a good example of what can be done autonomously by communities despite massive repression and marginalisation by State forces.Damien Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15814470741668910052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-2846997221263636422007-05-10T08:56:00.000+02:002007-05-10T08:56:00.000+02:00Poles are on a permanent holiday...what ya talking...Poles are on a permanent holiday...what ya talking about? I never been in a country that has so many days off. And people have more disposable income than ever before and they spend it.beatroothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11242716221133886807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13112593.post-23927812823397660922007-05-10T08:49:00.000+02:002007-05-10T08:49:00.000+02:00"people take more holidays"In 1997 71% of Polish s..."people take more holidays"<BR/><BR/>In 1997 71% of Polish society did not take at least one weeks holiday a year; by 2002 this had risen to 2004. <BR/>Not sure what the figures are now, and I'm sure more people are flying off on easyjet, etc. But huge areas of the nation can't even afford to take a holiday in Poland (80% cite lack of money as reason)<BR/>From CBOSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com