Originally written by Jacek K. on May 28, 2009 6:16 AM Have Liberals Learned to 'Love War'? With President Obama in office, some of the most vociferous antiwar organizations have become peculiarly complacent. * * *

Perhaps it is complacency, but I believe it is more "sick-and-tired-of-the-whole-bloody-mess", a fatigue that has been exacerbated by the current economic recession.  It ain't too easy to holler, scream and demonstrate if one is concerned about putting the proverbial loaf of bread on the proverbial table.  In addition to the foregoing, we also have the "I-really-couldn't-care-less"attitude prevalent among so many of our young adults, especially those of colleage (i.e., university) age, who unlike during the Vietnam war, do not face military conscription and the attendant possibility of returning from either Iraq or Afghanistan in a body bag, thereby curtailing all hopes of a promising career on Wall Street.

BB

Bernie,

Do you I detect a note of analogy with http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2009/06/unbelievable/65028.aspx?

Unbelievable

[snip] There is perhaps no statement more banal than this true statement about Poland's first partly free elections since the Second World War, which took place 20 years ago: ... Solidarity's electoral victory triggered a chain reaction that led to the collapse of the Soviet bloc in but a few months, as well as the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and Comecon, and, finally, the withdrawal of the Red Army east of the Curzon Line that it drew across the map of eastern Europe in 1919. ...

But back then, up close and personal, it was not so obvious that that would prove to be the case. In the 4 June elections, the turnout was only 60% and only 60% of those who showed up voted for Solidarity. In fact, then, only slightly more than one-third of adult Poles voted for a change of system.

That does not mean that two-thirds of us were pleased with the system. It merely means that very many Poles did not dare to believe that the system could be changed. The West was even more sceptical and cautious. Almost every day ....Western politicians, unionists and experts sought in unison to persuade us to limit ourselves, to be moderate, to be cautious. Even after the Berlin Wall had fallen, we would hear, almost on a daily basis, Western leaders urging us not to rush with full democracy, to leave Soviet troops alone, not to touch the Warsaw Pact and Comecon and – God forbid – not to mention accession to the EU, let alone to NATO.

It is now hard to believe how few people back then were ready to believe that what eventually proved possible was indeed possible. Communism with a human face was not unthinkable in central and eastern Europe – but, for most of us, an eastern Europe without a communist face was unimaginable. ...

Forty years ago, the imagination of a sizeable number of young Europeans was grabbed by the slogan “be realistic, demand the impossible”. Twenty years ago, the slogan justified itself in eastern Europe. Today, unfortunately, realism seems to be understood to mean not demanding even the possible. And for that reason, above all others, it is important to remember this twentieth anniversary.

Jacek Żakowski is a commentator with the Polish weekly Polityka.

Originally written by Jacek K. on June 3, 2009 10:44 AM Bernie, Do you I detect a note of analogy with http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2009/06/unbelievable/65028.aspx?

Hi, Jacek -

After reading Mr. Zakowski's piece, I would say, yes there is a note of analogy, but it certainly was not deliberate because of my own lack of in-depth familiarity with events in Poland of some 20 years ago.

Bernie

A bit more on tomorrow's anniversary of the transition: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/31/poland-communism-twentieth-anniversary

Originally written by Bernie Bierman on June 2, 2009 5:10 PM Originally written by Jacek K. on May 28, 2009 6:16 AM Have Liberals Learned to 'Love War'? With President Obama in office, some of the most vociferous antiwar organizations have become peculiarly complacent. Perhaps it is complacency, but I believe it is more "sick-and-tired-of-the-whole-bloody-mess", a fatigue that has been exacerbated by the current economic recession.  It ain't too easy to holler, scream and demonstrate if one is concerned about putting the proverbial loaf of bread on the proverbial table.  In addition to the foregoing, we also have the "I-really-couldn't-care-less"attitude prevalent among so many of our young adults, especially those of colleage (i.e., university) age, who unlike during the Vietnam war, do not face military conscription and the attendant possibility of returning from either Iraq or Afghanistan in a body bag, thereby curtailing all hopes of a promising career on Wall Street.

Fifteen hundred progressives--a thousand fewer than last year--gathered in Washington, D.C., for the America's Future Now conference (formerly known as the Take Back America conference), where activists lamented that liberals had lost their fervor. “Obama is making us stupid,” said Naomi Klein. “Love can make you stupid.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/03/AR2009060303173.html via Harper's Weekly Review)

Neo-Nazis are in the Army now

Why the U.S. military is ignoring its own regulations and permitting white supremacists to join its ranks

Since the launch of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. military has struggled to recruit and reenlist troops. As the conflicts have dragged on, the military has loosened regulations, issuing "moral waivers" in many cases, allowing even those with criminal records to join up. Veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder have been ordered back to the Middle East for second and third tours of duty.

The lax regulations have also opened the military's doors to neo-Nazis, white supremacists and gang members — with drastic consequences. Some neo-Nazis have been charged with crimes inside the military, and others have been linked to recruitment efforts for the white right. A recent Department of Homeland Security report, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," stated: "The willingness of a small percentage of military personnel to join extremist groups during the 1990s because they were disgruntled, disillusioned, or suffering from the psychological effects of war is being replicated today." Many white supremacists join the Army to secure training for, as they see it, a future domestic race war. Others claim to be shooting Iraqis not to pursue the military's strategic goals but because killing "hajjis" is their duty as white militants. ...

Next page: "White Supremacy will prevail! US Military leading the way!"

Where are alll the white supremacists? I have not seen one in real life. They are only shown on tv when something happens, unfortunately. Are there really many of them in the United States, or is it just another sort of propaganda?

I would think there are just isolated cases of white supremacy in the United States, which is bad too, but not as bad as portrayed.

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on June 16, 2009 12:57 PM Where are alll the white supremacists?

First, in Iraq, and now, in Afghanistan? (A joke, of course...)

Originally written by Jacek K. on June 16, 2009 1:08 PM Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on June 16, 2009 12:57 PM Where are alll the white supremacists? First, in Iraq, and now, in Afghanistan? (A joke, of course...)

Brussels? (Another joke, of course...)