The 'Struggle Against Extremism'

[madeline_con]

What the 'Struggle' Is All About

(snip)

Do you see the threat in all of this to centralized, institutionalized, command-and-control systems? If preserving established interests becomes a societal value, then anything that threatens the status quo is a danger to be opposed. Those who represent the change essential to any vibrant, productive society, must be marginalized before they can be destroyed. History is replete with examples of men and women being labeled “heretics,” ”seditionists,” “terrorists,” “radicals,” “counter-revolutionaries,” “possessed,” “traitors,” or “extremists,” and then being punished – or killed – for voicing opinions that deviated from a sacred center. Socrates, Jesus, Joan of Arc, Martin Luther, Copernicus, Galileo, Gandhi, and Wilhelm Reich, are just a few names that come to mind. Nor does this list contain the names of other “witches” and “heretics” hanged or burned at the stake for offending the established order of their day.

There is a decided shift in arbitrariness in moving from “terrorism” to “extremism” as targets of governmental action. Because most people relate “terror” to “violence,” it might be expected that a “War on Terror” would focus on coercive, intimidating, or otherwise destructive acts. But “extremism,” as I have pointed out, is a much more abstract concept. Like such constitutional phrases as “general welfare,” “common defense,” and “domestic tranquility,” “extremism” can become whatever those in power want it to become. This, I believe, is precisely the reason the word is now being introduced to give purpose to the further regimentation of society!

(snip)

http://www.lewrockwell.com/shaffer/shaffer115.html

[wli]

1. yep, Bushler's prepping his own little holocaust

i.e. I'm deader than ever.

[madeline_con]

2. "prepping his own little holocaust"

A few days back, there was a thread in which a lot of DUers basically had a laugh about the "name change". The change made me uncomfortable, but it was hard to articulate the feeling.

When I read this article, I saw the ominous overtones of the renaming issue from another person's perspective, and it helped me come to terms with my own fears.

It's a far broader scope than a "War on Terror", and once the WH lawyers twist it around, the meaning of 'extremism' will be anyone's guess.

[wli]

3. well, I think I'm pretty much stating those fears in explicit terms

And probably with a fair amount of justification.

[madeline_con]

4. Are you Muslim?

All Muslims will be the target.

For some RWers, they already are. The Freekers have a high ignorance rate that lends itself to that sort of thinking. The more twisted fringe of the neocons were all for "liberation", now they call for nuking Iraq. Geniuses, those guys! :sarcasm:

[wli]

5. no, I'm a lily white atheist (in fact unusually pale)

I'm expecting atheism and liberalism to be enough to get one "cleansed."

On a disturbing note related to the frothing-at-the-mouth Muslim hatred, I distinctly remember (shoddy silkscreen) "nuke Hussein" t-shirts mocking Nike or some similar sportswear ad campaign going around during Gulf War I.

[madeline_con]

6. atheism and liberalism ... "cleansed."

What? We can't convert at the point of a sword?! ;)

[wli]

7. you're assuming they'll bother asking

More likely they'll use the little FBI files they've been collecting on wheelchair-bound octogenarian grannies and the ACLU and you and me and not even bother asking.

[madeline_con]

8. But, but, they'll want to "save" us

from the eternal damnation of liberalism and/or atheism, right?

[wli]

9. I'm not bothering to get my hopes up over that one

The freepers seem to have a lot more interest in killing us than "saving" us, and I'll take that as representative of Bushler's POV since he's gone through the trouble of instilling them with such "lofty ideals."

[madeline_con]

13. Swamp Rat's wish is my command.

I'm off to bed... nighty night.

[Swamp Rat]

10. Go back to sleep! ... Obey.

We have always been at war with the muslim extremists.... sleeeeeeep.

[madeline_con]

11. The Muslims I know aren't very "extreme"

I'm sure the WH will drum up some sort of neocon evangelical rhetoric to justify the next round of slaughter. :(

[Swamp Rat]

14. ... and then nuke 'em...

... in the name of the "Lord."

[radfringe]

12. as any good advertiser knows

if a product isn't selling -- change the promo / image

this is just prep work for September -- when bush* returns from vacation we'll have a new product roll-out

[Disturbed]

15. The 'Struggle Against Extremism'

Yes, we are also in a 'Struggle Against Extremism'of the Neocons, Regressive RW and Fascist Fundies.

[madeline_con]

17. Dem candidates should pick up the standard...

and bear it to Wsashington in the next elections. In the name of being "true blue", we must fight the "extremists" who've hijacked the American government!

An Achilles heel, chink in the armor, way to beat them at their own game? It's something to think about.

[dbt]

16. Equal Opportunity Fascism.

As we all know, "terrorists" are universally dark-skinned. The beauty of this Paradigm Shift is that "extremists" can be white. Hence, the brand modification--now being tested in selected markets in preparation for a Labor Day rollout.

"There is no God but Mammon and bu$h is his Profit!"

[wli]

18. yep, he's prepping for mass imprisonment/executions of liberals