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Mimesis and the State of US Democracy
GAITHER STEWART, The Greanville Post
And thusly we end up with pseudo leaders for a pseudo democracy, albeit one rammed down the throat of nations around the world with the benedictions of tens of millions of well-meaning but thoroughly brainwashed Americans.
(ROME) Standard dictionary definitions of the word of ancient Greek origin, mimesis, relate the word to imitation, representation, mimicry, similarity, the act of resembling and of expression. Today, mimesis has more to do with literary and societal functions.
I recently read a study of mimesis as a form of realism in the arts, Erich Auerbach’s Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature. Published in 1946, the book was written while Auerbach was in exile from Nazi Germany in Istanbul, which, for me, means that the writer of this magnificent work must have had also political objectives in mind.
How naturopaths can survive states criminalizing alternative medicine
By Rady Ananda
An amendment to North Carolina’s Unauthorized Practice of Medicine Act would have changed the original bill (SB 31) from making alternative medicine a felony to a Class 1 Misdemeanor. Violators would face jail time after a first conviction. However, on April 14, the amendment failed. The bill has gone back to committee for further clarification and possible redraft.
Section 90-19, Practicing without license; penalties of NC’s General Statutes provides a list of exemptions. The only section potentially relating to homeopaths, naturopaths, and herbalists, by my lay reading of it, is (c)(5), which exempts:
“The treatment of the sick or suffering by mental or spiritual means without the use of any drugs or other material means.”
According to Medicine.net, homeopaths use minute quantities of drugs; naturopaths use physical forces such as heat, water, light, air and massage, but may also recommend herbs or drugs; and herbalists use herbs to treat medical conditions. All of these constitute “material means” which will be criminalized in North Carolina’s code, if S.B. 31 passes in its current form.
Beyond ForeclosureGate - It Gets Uglier
Michael Collins
The ForeclosureGate scandal poses a threat to Wall Street, the big banks, and the political establishment. If the public ever gets a complete picture of the personal, financial, and legal assault on citizens at their most vulnerable, the outrage will be endless. (Image)
Foreclosure practices lift the veil on a broader set of interlocking efforts to exploit those hardest hit by the endless economic hard times, citizens who become financially desperate due medical conditions. A 2007 study found that medical expenses or income losses related to medical crises among bankruptcy filers or family members triggered 62% of bankruptcies. There is no underground conspiracy. The facts are in plain sight.
Welcome to the Masque of the Red Death?
by Jan Lundberg
We are in the presence of death when we see so many signs that our species' modern behavior is shockingly deficient in living up to our responsibility to protect life. The ongoing Fukushima disaster, visiting upon us all, is the supreme example, on top of deforestation and fossil foolery (e.g., coal burning and plastics proliferation). They all rage on as we vainly try to muddle through individualistically.
In the Masque of the Red Death, by Edgar Allan Poe, Death himself walks freely among the revelers of the masque ball held by Prince Prospero. They wanted the easy way out, to ignore the unspeakable threat of plague, just as we do today with our real-life drama fraught with avoidance and denial. The party goes on, whether it is held in a "plague-safe" Abbey, or in the real world in our deteriorating biosphere -- despite the growing presence of death more noticeable than ever.
The Masque of the Red Death is an apt parable for us today. Many pretend that risks of high certainty are not lethal, as they enter our food, air and water. We can lay much blame at the corporate media for much of the illusion generated to keep the status quo. The illusion amounts to a twisted message for mind control. Yet, our freedom and future are up to us, and there are more ways than participating in or blocking out media to improve general awareness and bring about wise action. The domination of our space by cars, asphalt and private buildings and fenced greenery presents just as much an impediment to letting go of the status quo as the corporate media. One day our imaginations and a stronger spirit of love and cooperation will help cure mass materialism and abuse of nature.
Egypt's revolution and the US: Mubarak’s fatal error
Eric Walberg
The fall of Egypt’s leader and his political party is because he learned the wrong lessons from his patrons. Will Americans learn something from Egyptians.
The Supreme Administrative Court order to disband the National Democratic Party and confiscate its properties last week was based on the NDP’s violation of the constitution; namely, monopolising power, preventing legitimate competition from other parties, and allowing corruption by the marriage of business and politics. As the only political force in control of the administration of the country, the NDP allowed powerful businessmen to rise through its ranks and then enact laws and run the country in their personal and corporate interests.
Israeli Intellectuals for Palestinian Independence
by Stephen Lendman
Several April 20 Haaretz reports explain efforts for Palestinian independence, including dozens of Israeli intellectuals and public figures endorsing it. On April 21 at 2PM, they'll read a statement in front of Tel Aviv's Independence Hall (where Ben-Gurion) declared Israel's statehood in May 1948) headlined:
"ISRAELI INTELLECTUALS WELCOME AND ENDORSE AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE NEXT TO ISRAEL"
In part, it states:
Israel and Palestine represent the birthplace of both peoples. This declaration expresses "commitment (for a) new state 'to ensure the complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex.' (Israel's) founding fathers extend(ed their) hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness..."
U.S. Military, State Department and White House Trapped in Bradley Manning Quagmire
Continued Prosecution of Manning Will Embarrass U.S. Foreign Policy Establishment
By Kevin Zeese
After months of pressure, the Obama administration is finally transferring PFC Bradley Manning to a military prison appropriately designed for pre-trial detention in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. While the transfer of Manning away from the abusive Quantico Marine Corps Brig may be a positive step, the U.S. government remains trapped in a Manning Quagmire. If they proceed their embarrassment will continue to grow as the truth about U.S. foreign policy is reviewed under a microscope.
The nine month-long abusive mistreatment of Manning in the brig at the Quantico Marine Corp. Base has put international attention on his case. The prosecution of Manning will result in the videos and documents he is accused of releasing being more closely examined. The war crimes and other misdeeds of military and foreign policy personnel will be highlighted to the world. People are already wondering why this young private has been so mistreated. What did he do to aggravate the Obama administration, U.S. military and foreign policy establishment?
Mission Creep in Libya
by Stephen Lendman
Escalated intervention keeps incrementally building toward sending combat troops against Gaddafi, French and UK leaders signaling what may, in fact, have been planned all along, perhaps including US marines. More on that below.
On April 16, New York Times writer Rod Nordland admitted what's already known headlining, "Libyan Rebels Say They're Being Sent Weapons," saying:
Interviewed by Al Arabiya on Saturday, rebel military leader General Abdel Gattah Younas said "his forces had received weapons supplies from unidentified nations that supported their uprising." National Transitional Council spokesman Mustafa Gheriani confirmed it without naming sources thought to be Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and NATO members directly.
HAPPY TAX DAY: The biggest bank in America paid no taxes, Sounds of Resistance Blasts Wall Street with People Powered Message
By Kevin Zeese
Who’s Economy? Its Our Economy!
On April 15th, a concert and protest against Bank of America was held in Union Square Park. This was the first event organized by Its Our Economy, and it was co-sponsored by 16 other groups concerned about hunger, health care, housing, economic justice and ending war. Big finance and giant corporate banks are a root cause of the collapse of the U.S. economy and the decay of our political system.
See video of protest here: http://youtu.be/LJmktBgvpB8
S & P's Downgrade Targets Entitlements
by Stephen Lendman
A previous article discussed the dirty game, accessed through the following link:
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2011/04/republican-plan-to-end-social-security.html
It explained bipartisan support for incrementally ending Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, no matter that:
-- Medicaid provides essential healthcare for low-income beneficiaries, jointly funded by the states and Washington, managed at the state level.
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