The word "Homeland."

[Eric J in MN]

Remember when this country was called "America?"

It's bad enough when the Bush Administration calls this the "Homeland" but Al Franken does it when he talks about terrorism, too.

[bryant69]

1. Well it is our homeland

I'm not sure what's objectionable about the phrase.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Eric J in MN]

3. When people hear the word "America" hopefully they're

reminded that this supposed to be the Land of the Free.

When I hear the phrase "The Homaeland" I'm not reminded of freedom.

[bryant69]

15. I don't know

Hearing the phrase makes me think of this as my home, and wishing it didn't suck so much and feeling responsible to try to fix it.

Bryant

[tanyev]

4. Sent a shiver up my spine the first time I heard it,

and it does bother me that it is now so commonly, so unquestioningly used. The phrase for what happens inside our borders used to be "domestic". The word homeland always makes me think of the Nazi obsession with the Vaterland, the Heimland.

[6000eliot]

22. I always thought the same thing

It sounded like scary propaganda from the very first time I heard it.

[baldguy]

9. It's Orwellian newspeak - congers images of totalitarianism.

"America" was never meant to merely occupy a particular piece of land. It's the IDEA of individual freedom & liberty.

[RPM]

16. what's our awayland then

home land necessairly implies that we are in other places; since we have our 50 states that are the 'homeland' it suggests that we are an empire occupying other places; places that are occupied generally don't like it (see Iraq).

the term gives legitimacy to the PNAC vision of America as global empire.

thats why i dont lilke it.

[Eric J in MN]

20. Great point. America must also own an Awayland if we own

a Homeland.

Otherwise, they could just say in our "land."

Of course, I'm agaisnt empire and I'm agreeing with you about why the Neocons like the term.

[GreenPartyVoter]

31. Puerto Rico is one.

[Gatchaman]

2. Sarcasm?

I figure Franken is using the term to make a point about the nazi-like overtones of the word.

[Eric J in MN]

7. No, he says it wihout a sarcastic tone, nt

nt

[On the Road]

5. Sometime After this Administration is out of Power,

I really look forward to reading about who was responsible for that term and why it was chosen. It's a very odd choice.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

6. The first time I heard some politico say "homeland"

The first word that I thought of was: Fatherland

It still makes me nervous. I think the Bush administration picked the word "homeland" for a reason.

[laura888]

8. Exactly. Fatherland = Homeland

The reason is that they want to whip up nationalist feelings so they can do whatever the hell they want.

[BamaGirl]

25. Me too

It gives me the creeps. Someone says 'homeland' and I hear 'fatherland'. For a long time I thought it was just me, but my mom went on a tirade about it not too long ago, and I thought, "whew! I know she's sane! Ain't just me then! lol"

[SlavesandBulldozers]

10. it also indicates empire

Homeland as opposed to what? Hinterlands? Colonies on the other side of the globe?

[patdem]

13. That is exactly what I thought..unless we have a 'land' somewhere why

bother to describe this 'land' as 'Homeland'..should be the United States Security Department. America includes all of North America and South America, something we often forget! America is like Africa, it denotes the continent, not the country.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

17. I absolutely agree

and not only denotes "continent" like Africa, it's even less descriptive than that, "America" essentially describes the Western Hemisphere - some polar areas notwithstanding.

And "Homeland", is just downright scary. Can you for one moment imagine what would happen had Clenis come up with a department called the Department of Homeland Security (not that he would have dubbed it that - he would understand the horribleness of it but..)?

[JanMichael]

11. It has a creepy ring to it, eh

Fatherland, Motherland, Homeland...

[Jara sang]

12. Homeland Security and the Defense Department

You would think that these two cabinets were occupied with the same task. Per haps the Defense Department should change it's name to the Offense Department.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

18. goddamn. great post

or they could just change it back to "Department of War".

thank you for making it so simple.

[xxqqqzme]

29. couldn't agree more

The dept of defense doesn't defend anything. It is offensive in every meaning of the word.

[B Calm]

14. "The word "Homeland"

does have a NAZI ring to it!

[LibDemAlways]

19. What creeps me out is how easily

the term became part of the lexicon after 911. The BFEE began using it. It was repeated by the whores without comment and accepted by Dems without question. I've never heard a single elected official publically discuss it. And it most definitely has third reich overtones. I'm in my fifties and up until 911 the word "domestic" was used to discuss matters in the USA. I hope to live long enough to see that be the case once again.

[Straight Shooter]

21. I hate the word. I think it's psy ops on a mass level.

Don't ask me why, it's an instinctive revulsion. Maybe it's because America is my country, but my house is where my home is. There's a difference.

We didn't use the word "homeland" until bushco. That ought to tell you everything you need to know, right there.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. AKA "Der Vaterland". Has the same nationalistic ring to it.

[Richard Steele]

24. Calling the USA "The Homeland" came into vogue in the 1970's...

...among those LOVELY folks who comprise the so-called
"Christian Identity" movement.

Neo-Nazis, White Supremicists, etc...
Basically, the most HATEFUL and Reality-Challenged segment
of the 'Lunatic Fringe'.

[Gormy Cuss]

26. What is now being termed "Homeland" used to be called "Domestic"

I don't understand why the reframing happened, but Homeland always makes me think I just stepped into 1930s Germany. I suppose domestic security confused a few people, but it was an appropriate description and understood by most.

[Obamarama]

27. Whenever I hear "Homeland" I think of that scene in Cabaret....

Where the nationalistic, jingoistic young Nazis stand up and start singing "Tomorrow belongs to me." I suspect this might be a popular bed-time lullaby in American NeoCon/Republican/Christo-Faschist homes these days. I've updated the lyrics below:

The sun on the oilfields is summery warm.
The Rove in the White House runs free.
But gather together to greet the storm.
Tomorrow belongs to me.

The branch of the linden is leafy and Green,
The Euphrates gives its gold to the US of A.
But somewhere an Iraqi baby dies unseen.
Tomorrow belongs to me.

The babe in his cradle is closing his eyes
The blossom embraces the bee.
But soon, says a whisper;
"Arise, arise,
Tomorrow belongs to me"

[JohnyCanuck]

28. It reeks of Orwellian mind control BS.

When I first hear the term "homeland security," it was definitely one of those "WTF!!!???" type of moments for me.

I remember watching a CBC news report sometime after the phrase first began being bandied about and a Canadian CBC reporter was discussing terrorism and the threat it posed in the US and then he went on to talk about Canada's situation, and he made a reference to "our own homeland security." I was steamed when I heard that and immediately emailed the CBC and told them that it was unacceptable for Canadian journalists to be willy nilly adopting George Bush's Orwellian propaganda and mind control/brainwashing terminology in reference to Canadian security arrangements. I don't know how much of an impact my email had, but thankfully I have not heard the term "homeland security" applied to Canadian domestic security in the Canadian media since that one occurrence.

Brainwashing America by Dr. Norman Livergood

<snip>

In an earlier article, I reviewed the varied aspects of personality profiling and simulation. While serving as Head of the Artificial Intelligence Department at the U.S. Army War College, 1993-1995, I conducted studies on profiling, psychological programming, and brainwashing. I explored and developed personality simulation systems, an advanced technology used in military war games, FBI profiling, political campaigning, and advertising. Part of my discovery was that:

* unenlightened human minds are combinations of infantile beliefs and emotional patterns

* these patterns can be simulated in profiling systems

* these profiling systems can be used to program and control people

Personality simulation systems are being used to create political campaigns that apply voter profiles to control their voting behavior. TV commercials and programs use personality simulation to profile viewers to control their purchasing and viewing behaviors. And sophisticated propaganda and brainwashing techniques are being used by the Bush junta to keep American citizens under control. (emphasis added)

http://www.hermes-press.com/brainwash1.htm

[stepnw1f]

30. "Homeland" refers to Nazi Germany's "Fatherland"

Look it up. Catchy and effective just as it was leading up to WWIII.

Thom Hartman covers this pretty well on his show. Very interesting.

[Swamp Rat]

32. "Homeland" is for NAZIS

"America" is for Americans. :)

Go ahead and use the word "homeland" all you want, but I will think you are a NAZI. :P