I have been out for a good part of the day and am back now. A wonderful sunny day. I hope my American friends are enjoying a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:33 (average 5:29). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes
The Nation — After 9/11, French President Jacques Chirac rejected the “war on terror” proposed by George W. Bush, urging the United States to treat terrorism as a form of criminality. His refusal to go along with Bush adviser Karl Rove’s Orwellian use of language is perhaps the only thing that Chirac will be remembered for, but in some ways it’s legacy enough. In contrast, after the November terrorist attacks on Paris, President François Hollande, a Socialist, made the grave error of announcing that France is now at war. Actual states should not grant such legitimacy to small bands of violent criminals, and the deployment of the language and techniques of war is the best way to lose a campaign against them.
The language of war elevates terrorists to the very status to which they aspire: that of legitimate combatants. The fevered hothouses of extremism, whether in Belgian slums or Saudi Wahhabi mosques, generate a narrative that serves as the pretext for violent action. A country like France is depicted as engaging in monstrous acts, killing defenseless children and women from the air. Gullible teenagers are challenged by a jihadi recruiter with the need to do something to halt the atrocities. They are groomed as heroes, as soldiers saving their people. War is, after all, the one social context in which heinous actions are permitted.
Jacques Chirac has a point. Daesh is nothing more than a criminal syndicate, so why are the US, the French and their allies giving Daesh legitimacy by calling it a 'state' and declaring war? Continue reading.
Truthout — Instead of following the White House tradition and "pardoning" a turkey destined for a holiday dinner table, Obama should extend that courtesy to some of the thousands of human beings caged up in America's federal prisons.
Leonard Peltier should be one of them.
Peltier was a Native American activist on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the 1970s. On June 26, 1975, two FBI agents went to Pine Ridge to look for a young man named Jimmy Eagle, who was wanted for robbery. Soon after they spotted his car, a shootout ensued.
Presidents have been pardoning turkeys yearly . . . it's a longstanding tradition. So why can't POTUS pardon Leonard Pelltier? Despite new evidence, Pelltier still sits in Florida, incarcerated for murders he did not commit. Click through for the remainder.
CBC — Canada has so far issued 928 permanent resident visas to Syrian refugees — but there is still no timeline for when they could start arriving.
Immigration Minister John McCallum blames red tape overseas for the delays.
"Not all of them yet have exit visas from Lebanon, and we are working really, really hard to expedite that so they can get those exit visas as soon as possible," McCallum said an interview with Chris Hall, host of CBC Radio's The House.
McCallum also said the first group of new refugees will be flown to Canada on a military plane — although the date for that flight has yet to be set because of the lack of exit visas.
Click through for the rest of the story. It has started. The Metro Vancouver South Asian community is lining up its ducks — 1 year free tuition at the Khalsa school for Syrian refugee children with the availability of Islamic teaching as well; clothing; household items; and many more things. Teachers in the provincial school districts are taking courses to assist with integration and how to recognise and deal with potential mental health issues. Here is another piece about a Syrian refugee family told Canada is next destination. The trauma that the refugee families endure, the choices they have to make. This is huge and we must ensure that we are prepared.
The Daily Beast — Long before Syrians fled ISIS and Jews fled the Nazis and Irish fled the famine, the Puritans fled persecution to become the original refugees to alight on our shores.
In gratitude for having found refuge and for the assistance they received from the Native Americans after landing at Plymouth Rock, the Puritans we call Pilgrims held what we know as the first Thanksgiving.
Just a thought on Thanksgiving from a modern refugee. Click through.
My Universe — h/t John Gray, Care2
I'm not buying one of these! It does not pick up the cat hair, it just moves it about!
10 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 26/11/2015”
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6:06 Probably less focused on this than on other things.
The Nation – Our leaders should realize we don't need their hyperbole to realize daesh is serious. We could use their restraint to avoid legitimizing it. That would at least not make things worse.
Truthout – I have signed numerous petitions for Leonard. If South Dakota had just one Democratic Senator we could go there, but, sigh, no.
CBC – Good work being done. Amazing what can be accomplished with real teamwork and attention to detail.
DBeast – John Olver quote – "There was only one time in American history when the fear of refugees wiping everyone out did actually come true, and we’ll all be sitting around a table celebrating it on Thursday.”
Universe – You'd deny your furbabies so much fun just because it's not actually constructive?
But JD, if they used restraint, they wouldn't be as able to stokes the fires of hatred of Islam and Muslims amongst their base. Oh the horrors of that restraint, says I dripping sarcasm from my lips.
The Nation: I think he has a very good point. The more we publicize them as a "state" the more influence they will gain with their followers.
Truthout: I have signed numerous petitions asking for Peltier's release. Don't understand why he has not all ready been released.
CBC: I wish Congress would follow Canada's example, but the fear mongoring that the current batch of Republican candidates is doing is clearly affecting theirs and the publics feelings.
The Daily Beast: And shortly after that first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims started trying to annihilate the Native Americans.
My Universe: Darn, I was thinking about buying one of those.
That's part of the reason that I now prefer the pejorative term "Daesh". We should not be bestowing a distinction on Daesh that it does not deserve. And it does not deserve to be called a state, nor is it legally a state.
The unmitigated hate that Rethuglicans have for Pres. Obama knows no bounds!
By a 27% margin (11% in favor v 38% OPPOSED), they are even against his traditional pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkeys!
I KID YOU NOT! [PDF]
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2015/PPP_Release_National_112315.pdf
I read, I think courtesy of JD, that the pardoning of the turkey was a construct started by George HW Bush. I guess the Republicans have forgotten their role.
I could do with some of your sunny weather, Lynn, it's been either raining here or about to rain.
The Nation: Excellent article by Jan Cole; there's little to add to his summary at the end of his article: "Demonizing immigrant Syrians, or all Muslims, as potential Daesh recruits may actually drive some into the arms of the extremists. Policy-makers who wish to address this crisis need to use the tools of public policy and enlightened police work rather than the blunt instruments of war. Above all, they need to stop buying into Daesh’s attempt to provoke a clash of civilizations." The French had started off well at the beginning of the year, refusing to call this self declared caliphate "ISIS" or "IS" as they themselves prefer, but by their derogatory name of Daesh/Da'esh, but unpopular Hollande thought it necessary to show he had balls and declared war on ISIS, soon followed by other equally nutless politicians in Europe who needed an excuse to start or increase bombing in Syria and for denying the Syrian refugees they had pledged to take in a safe haven after all. By being called by their "terrorist" and preferred name, by being declared war on and by refusing the fleeing Syrian refugees so loathed by Da'esh, these terrorists have gotten everything they wanted by a deadly yet clumsy, badly planned and thought out attack. They couldn't have asked for more.
Truthout: If republicans already have hostile feelings toward Obama for pardoning an innocent turkey, how would you think they'd react if he pardoned a Native American Activist?
CBC: Kudos to Canada for preparing so well to welcome the nearly 1,000 refugees. Europe has had little to no time to prepare when the floodgates opened and is doing all it can to just give them housing, food and clothing and fight a growing resistance to them at the same time. They could have seen the refugees coming, though and they've left it too late, intentionally I think
The Daily Beast: So good to see that there are people in almost all countries, that welcome the refugees with open arms and donations towards their welfare. Iceland, only a few years ago in dire financial problems itself, is a wonderful role model for other countries.
My Universe: cute, whatever they do.
Europe is much closer to the refuees physically, so that could, in some cases, have exasperated the problem. However, this civil war has gone on for over 4 years and more could have and should have been done earlier by everyone.
TruthOut: Mr. Peltier should have been released many years ago, I have signed many petitions for his release. The Innocence Project should look into his case. imho.
CBC: Wish the US would follow our Northern Neighbors, to permit refugees coming in to the US. The Repugs w/make sure that xenophobia is passed around the table with the gravy boat.
DB: The pilgrims came and took land, their winter foods storage, passed on diseases to the Natives, and killed many. h/t to Joanne, I agree.
My Universe: See them advertised, but don't know anything about them. Furbabies seemed to enjoy the ride, but it ran into one of the babies and two fell off.
I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but Dinner reminded me of singing "Hello" by Adele, to Uncle Texas. Rainy and cold weather coming in. Enjoy the rest of your day, Thanks, Lynn.
Thanks all!