Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Part of the problem with working full-time while trying to keep up with the myriad horrors of our time is that you occasionally miss things. Like this, for example Can you believe the UN threw a blue curtain over Picasso's "Guernica" so it wouldn't embarass John Negroponte when he makes statements about the need to bomb Iraqi civilians into paste? Symbolically, this is as fitting as Ashcroft ordering the statue of Justice covered up for press conferences because it was "indecent." It's also a testament to the lasting power of Picasso's art; "Guernica" was painted 65 years ago to raise money for the Spanish Republican cause. It vividly depicts Picasso's horror at the terror bombing of the Basque city of Guernica by fascist forces. It's astonishing that it still has the power to make tyrants ashamed. - Consider Arms 10:38:57 AM    comment []

USA PATRIOT Act II: Extra-constitutional Boogaloo The story that will hopefully get some "traction" is the tale of the Justice Department's attempt to create a sequel to the USA PATRIOT Act.  The secret memo was leaked to the Center for Public Integrity last week, and it is a humdinger.  Among other things: U.S. citizens could be summarily stripped of their citizenship The government would create a "DNA bank" for suspected terrorists The Fourth Amendment and the presumption of innocence will not apply to suspected terrorists   This last one is a doozy, because the memo itself ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGES that people will no longer be innocent until proven guilty, but says that "(t)his presumption is warranted, because of the unparalleled magnitude of the danger to the United States and its people posed by acts of terrorism, and because terrorism is engaged in by groups -- many with international connections -- that are often in position to help their members flee or go into hiding."   Sweet! DOJ spokeshag Barbara Comstock actually told the press, "We make no apologies."   In addition to all the Big Brother stuff, there are (you guessed it) big fat rewards for Republican financial backers, including a revision of the Clean Air Act (stringent reporting guidelines create "roadmaps for terrorists") and a hilarious provision allowing corporations who violate national security laws to be exempt from lawsuits as long as they admit the violation.    This is so crazy that guys like Bob Barr are rushing forth to condemn it, and yet the DOJ refuses to disown the document ("We make no apologies").  "God, I love living in a democracy," as Cathal Coughlan sang in 1991.   Get Ready for the Bar Codes Stamped On Your Fucking Hands   - Consider Arms 9:53:53 AM    comment []

For anyone planning to attend the big anti-war rally in New York City this weekend, the AP reports today that a federal judge has upheld the city's refusal to permit a march by the demonstrators.   The judge, Barbara Jones, wrote in her opinion that this is not a restriction on free speech per se, merely a restriction on the way in which the speech is expressed.  Which is another way of saying, if I cut out your tongue you can still learn sign language.   It's too bad I'm not going, if only because right-wing hate sheet the New York Sun published an editorial recently calling for the prosecution of anti-war demonstrators for treason.  I would dearly love to hear a federal judge explain why that is perfectly constitutional.   - Consider Arms 9:39:20 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Marc Hatfield. Last update: 02/28/2003; 9:38:49 AM.