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As usual, Mumia sums up the situation perfectly.
Andrew
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'DEMOCRACY' OF ONE
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[Col. Writ. 11/22/02] Copyright 2002 Mumia Abu-Jamal
"We are a dictatorship of one; you might as well call him
King George -- We are no longer a democracy."
-- Scott Ritter, former UN Weapons Inspector (11/11/02)
(Speaking at Univ. of Md., College Park, Md.)
There is a feeling of the inevitable about the looming war in Iraq.
There is a sinking feeling that the War will come, come hell or high
water, no matter what the majority of Americans may think or feel.
It is the Will of the Elite. It is the Will of the Powerful. It is
the Will of the Wealthy.
It isn't the Will of 'the People.' For, it is a truism that in this
alleged democracy, the people don't matter. Does it matter that
perhaps 90% of the letters flowing into congressional mailrooms
oppose the War in Iraq? Does it matter that the basis for the War is
false and misleading? Does it matter that a War on Iraq, even if
arguably successful, will throw the entire area into a maelstrom of
Middle Eastern instability?
'Public Opinion' is largely manufactured by the media elites, who
are but echo chambers of the White House and defense industries on
the New York stock exchange.
In this alleged democracy, why is it even questionable that the
Commander-in-Chief should abide by the people's will, rather than the
people should obey the government?
What kind of democracy is this?
The late Dr. Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party,
a brilliant thinker, pointed to an invisible elite which controls
U.S. foreign policy in the People's name, but in their own interests.
Writing in 1974, Newton described them as "a group wielding
predominant power in the American polity." They care not one whit
for American ideals argues Newton, for they "impose [their] own
interpretation of the American tradition onto the framework of policy
making in the state."
Newton reasons this group, which he describes as "expansionist" and
"militaristic" explains the paradox at the heart of U.S. foreign
policy, which states one thing, yet does another. [See "The Huey
Newton Reader," 7 Stories Press, 2002, p. 297.]
Bush, with his business degree, is attuned to that class; he,
indeed, dances to their tune.
In 1974, Newton tagged the culprits as "the giant corporations and
financial institutions that dominate the American economy," [297]
which at that time were some 500 corporations, a small grouping of
which held the "highest concentration" of economic power known to
history. They exist still, just more powerful today than ever.
The War in Iraq isn't a war for democracy; it's a war for Raytheon,
for Boeing, for Lockheed-Martin, for Exxon, for Haarken Oil, and for
British Petroleum. It won't make the World 'safe for democracy' - it
won't even make the world safe!
Copyright 2002 Mumia Abu-Jamal
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MUMIA'S COLUMNS NEED TO BE PUBLISHED AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE TO
INSPIRE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT AND HELP CALL ATTENTION TO HIS CASE.
The campaign to kill Mumia is in full swing and we need you to
**please** contact as many publications and information outlets as
you possibly can to run Mumia's commentaries (on-line and
**especially off-line**)!!
These are VERY SERIOUS TIMES for political activists in this country
and around the world. Get full details and keep updated by reading
ACTION ALERTS!! at www.mumia.org and www.movenet.org.
========================================
To download Mp3's of Mumia's commentaries visit
www.prisonradio.org or www.fsrn.org
==============================================>
The Power of Truth is Final -- Free Mumia!
PLEASE CONTACT:
International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ
P.O. Box 19709
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180/ E-mail - icffmaj@aol.com
AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES!
Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at:
Mumia Abu-Jamal
AM 8335
SCI-Greene
175 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!!
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