I just finished reading Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar. It's pretty funky. I'm really trying to put myself in the mindset where I could go along with any of that...dude is responsible for killing, deporting, torturing, imprisoning over 60 million people. Worse than Hitler. Allegedly in the name of "the state" where Communism was supposed to be the way, but then everyone in the upper ranks (where there was only the pretension of a collectivism in the beginning) were debauched murderers. It's been 50+ years and family members and other Russians still defend Uncle Joe & his brood. I just can't put my mindset there.

As I've been reading this book, I'm thinking...I know I'm a pacifist - that I would want a non-violent means to fix this as it was happening. But as I'm reading, seeing the workings from the inside, I can't see any other way to prevent the mass murdering, torture, rape, etc than assassination. Not just of Stalin, but Khrushchev, Beria, Molotov, et al. I can't see how else the other slaughter could have been avoided - from within the USSR. As for outside, would that have been a reason for the US to invade? Well, maybe, but at that time the circumstances wouldn't have permitted it. Two world wars followed by the threat of nuclear annihilation...

Man. It makes your head spin when you put yourself in that place. But transfer that to today. What do Bin Laden followers have in common with Stalin (or Hitler) followers? A Cult of Personality who spews out crap about fundamentalist religion or politics while there are inconsistencies in how they behave. They're able to use the hypocracies of modern Imperialism to get people who have no hope to do incredible things. What would make a person hijack a plane into the World Trade Center? To be a suicide bomber? We shake our heads and curse these people, but stop for a second and think. These people weren't born with this hatred; neither were you. How did it get this way? Aren't we just propogating it?

Our current government is heading down that same path while other people just look on when they could be doing something about it. Check out this article that compares where the US is now to other facist regimes from the past. And I can't vouch for the authenticity - we know how spotty the internet can be - but there's evidence linking Bush to Nazi Germany.

Here's the thing. I could get arrested for putting this stuff up here. It's true. Under the provisions of the Patriot Act and now the recently signed National Intelligence Reform Act, which is really Patriot Act II. There doesn't need to be just cause if the "powers that be" say it's for homeland security. I don't have rights if that is said. If I get the right judge I MAY get a lawyer.

The deal is, no one wants to believe this shit is happening. We were brought up as children believing this is the "land of the free & home of the brave." And in relative terms it is. But if this stuff is going down that is un-American...no...screw that...un-human, then we have an obligation to do something. We...that means me and you, not our so-called representatives...because they sure aren't representin' right now. (more on that soon)

It's getting worse, not better. Our Federal Government is unpatriotic. All the arugments, slogans, mantras they use are the exact opposite of what they're doing. I go back to my incredulousness with Stalin - what put Bush, Rove, Cheney, et al in the mindset that killing people for oil, ideology & personal power is OK? And like those in and out of government in the USSR who went along until it was too late, what are we going to do about it?

Are you afraid to be put on "a list"? What if it was your child or sister who was carted off in the name of Homeland Security? It doesn't seem plausible, but the framework of government is set up to do it. I'm not saying that there's going to be 60 million Americans (and others) killed, tortured, etc...but that's already happening to some. When is too many? And it's being done on your behalf by your representatives.

This isn't a call to hit the streets - yet. But you sure can put your money and computer where your mouth is. Stay tuned.