[WSJ] A wildly off-base trend is medicalizing the armed forces as a group of victims, patients and predators.
Psychiatry as a tool to suppress dissent?
That's happened in history once or twice. But the trend amongst the Left in America is more about attacking the military -- the Left refuses to believe that military people would join the service, let alone stay in, with eyes open. So either they're children (didn't know what they were doing) or victims (e.g., poverty, racism, etc) or damaged (PTSD) or predators (wannabe Rambos). The Left simply won't credit our military people as being sensible adults. To borrow a phrase, it doesn't fit the narrative.
To be fair, there is a lot of medicalizing of civilians nowadays as well. Not long ago PTSD was diagnosed only in those who had fought in war, or lived through something rare and excruciating like genocide. Then rape and bad car accidents were added. Now it's pretty much any severe anxiety problem that can be traced to an event or a repeated kind of experience. The reason being, techniques invented to deal with the most severe forms of post-traumatic stress seem to work on the merely quite debilitating as well.
#1
To be honest, I see childhood sexual abuse being pretty much solid bases for civilian diagnosis for PTSD, since it often is buried until adulthood, and is a trauma that is inflicted repeatedly and over a period of time in most cases, with no perceived ability to alter the trauma or stress for the victim.
But as for the rest of it? Yeah, I;ve seen that program before. The left never learns that patriotism truly does exist in some of us, unlike those poor morally degraded wretches they surround themselves with. And the left loves using psychiatry as a weapon - anyone remember the Gulags and their use of psychiatric diagnoses? What the hell is wrong with the left?
#3
The biggest problem the Left has is the unwillingness to come to grips that much of its fundamental beliefs are founded on false pretenses. The economy isn't soaring. It must be saboteurs, it can't be because they don't understand basic economics. Over seven trillion dollars later and poverty is still here. The Left believes the poor remain poor because they're oppressed. It never enters their minds that the poor are co-conspirators to their own fate by the choices they freely make.
Part of the trap of believing you're operating from moral superiority, is the unwillingness to view the world from a different perspective. Talk about bigotry.
That's why in the end, when they start the fire, the outcome isn't going to be what they think it will be.
#4
The economy isn't soaring. It must be saboteurs, it can't be because they don't understand basic economics.
The left indeed does have an understanding of economics. A healthy or "soaring economy" creates independence. A lagging or stalled economy creates government dependence.
Government dependence, coupled with a program of economic redistribution [social justice] is the desired end state.
#5
That's not so much economics as a mean to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat which the 20th Century demonstrated as a failed system - well, failure with over 100 million dead.
One of the fundamental false economic precepts is that all workers are exploited. That carries over to their narrative that soldiers only enlist/are drafted because they have no other means or abilities. There can be no other explanation in their world.
#6
"The Left believes the poor remain poor because they're oppressed. It never enters their minds that the poor are co-conspirators to their own fate by the choices they freely make."
True, P2k.
I'd love to see someone on the Right challenge one of these clowns to make the same choices for a couple of months. First, they need to quit their cushy jobs because they would have dropped out of high school and never gotten that job in the first place (and wouldn't have parents with enough pull to buy them a job, either). Then, they'll need to live on welfare, so they'll have to move out of their cushy apartments and go live in Section 8 housing. Then they need to spend most of their welfare money on chips, liquor, tattoos, etc. If they try to apply for a new job, they need to list themselves as high school drop-outs. Etc. OR, just insist that the bleeding-heart Leftie must hire one of these poor, "oppressed" people to work for the Lefty - as, say, a personal assistant, for at least 2 months.
Heads would explode and hilarity would ensue.
(Yes, I know some people ended up in low-income housing thru divorce with no child support coming in, or a serious illness, etc., but too many people on welfare set themselves up for it with their choices, which is what P2k's talking about.)
When I was in the rescue squad, many's the time I went into low-income housing for a call where the "adults" apparently had plenty of money for chips, candy, liquor, beer, and the like, but there was no sight of any fruit or fresh vegetables. Also, the kid's clothes were very well worn, and they were still wearing tennis shoes in December, but Mama could afford artificial nails, new tattoos, etc. AND, they thought everybody else owed them everything. >:-(
Choices, indeed.
Posted by: Barbara ||
08/18/2013 10:52 Comments ||
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all the more surprising due to the source and site
MB is about a distorted theology that is based mainly on blaspheming and delegitimizing the other and the other, is simply everybody who is not MB
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/18/2013 16:23 ||
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Link ||
[11123 views]
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[Ynet] Analysis: Chaos in Egypt is in fact well planned strategy, on part of both Moslem Brüderbund, state; Brotherhood provokes security forces, uses high losses to gain public favor. US, EU pushing both sides to rein in talk, ignoring fact that Brotherhood not interested in compromise
What seems to be utter chaos in Egypt is in fact the result of planned strategies, both by the Moslem Brüderbund and by the army-backed interim government. Those currently setting the tone of the bloodshed are the Moslem Brüderbund, which is using tactics that started to crystallize as soon as security forces began forcibly removing Brotherhood members from lengthy Cairo sit-ins.
The new strategy is a war of attrition on the interim government and the defense forces, with violent festivities in dozens of places across the country.
The festivities in the streets often kick off as protests held by dozens or hundreds of people provoking police or attacking a cop shoppe, often with firearms. The army shoots, armed Moslem Brüderbund opponents shoot, resulting in deaths on both sides.
Clashes in many places are in fact wars of attrition, which grant the Moslem Brüderbund three distinct advantages:
Losses among Moslem Brüderbund members cause the people's support of the interim government and the army to decline.
Fatalities bring about increasing international pressure on the interim government and the army, which will force the regime, as the Brotherhood believes, to adhere to their demands.
The festivities increase bad turbans' motivation, as well as Brotherhood supporters' desire for Dire Revenge.
International sources, among them the US and Europe, are trying to pressure the Egyptian regime into compromising with the Brotherhood, according to an outline -- already devised by the US secretary of state -- which offers the Moslem Brüderbund the interim government's commitment to go to election and seek the Brotherhood's advice before any constitutional change, if the Brotherhood stops protests and strikes.
What the American diplomat is ignoring -- as is European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton -- is that the Moslem Brüderbund are not willing to compromise, and believe they can still reinstate Morsi and then dialogue with the political parties and the army. They will not settle for less than reinstatement at the moment.
This issue has great significance, as it stands in the way of a solution. The Moslem Brüderbund is motivated, armed and vastly supported by the people. Millions are singing praises of the General Guide Badie, who lost -- as did other leaders of the movement -- family members, which makes them further entrenched in their stance.
There is an argument being made that the Muslim Brotherhood's support by now is no more than the number who voted Morsi into the presidency, as I recall about five million or so -- the turnout was considerably lower than for the parliamentary elections -- or not much higher than actual MB membership, out of a country of 82 million.
Al-Sisi wants quick ending
Interior Minister Ibrahim and Defense Minister al-Sisi, who both run the battle against the Moslem Brüderbund, have also made some bad mistakes. International pressure makes them want to conclude the violent festivities as soon as possible.
They understand that every death decreases their support and increases international pressure, to which Egypt is extremely sensitive. They do not have any sophisticated or varied equipment to disperse the crowds other than teargas, which is why they fire. Not because coppers are in danger, but in order to wrap up quickly.
At the root of this tactic lies the assumption that an intense and short bloodbath is better than a war of attrition with the Moslem Brüderbund. A ruthless consideration, the success of which is doubtful seeing as losses on both sides just make everyone more combative and make circumstances increasingly similar to Syria's. Fatalities lead to more fatalities and more fighting.
Whoever is fighting in the streets of Egypt at the moment is not only the Moslem Brüderbund against the police and the army, but also Brotherhood opponents, who were the ones who began the process that led to Morsi's ouster, including several criminal sources who have taken advantage of the situation. Weapons have been coming in from Libya, and everyone is shooting at everyone. The number of deaths is reflective of the anarchy.
We too, of course, are part of this. The Tamarod movement, which was the driving force behind Morsi's ouster, suggested to the interim government and the army that they refuse American aid and cancel the peace accords with Israel. That is propaganda, which was allegedly meant to thwart US pressure on al-Sisi, with the help of Egyptian countermeasures.
The movement, much like many Egyptians, knows that the US needs the Egyptian army to allow it to transfer forces quickly through its airspace and via the Suez Canal. They also know that the peace accord is dear to Washington, and as far as they can see, the potential of its cancelation threatens Obama.
For now, this is no big deal, but rather spiteful propaganda, but if the interim government fails to bring about calm in the coming week, the war of attrition will continue and Egypt will continue to deteriorate. Seeing as this is a country of 82 million people, this could blow up in the face of the entire Mideast.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
08/18/2013 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[11123 views]
Top|| File under: Arab Spring
#1
Brotherhood provokes security forces, uses high losses to gain public favor. US, EU pushing both sides to rein in talk
#3
All this politics and they cannot grow enough food. They have the whole friggin Nile for water. Egypt is like the Humbolt Sink except it's money not water.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/18/2013 11:55 Comments ||
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#5
Iceland is doing pretty well. People there seem to have more of a sense of values, like we used to. At a visit at a good friend's home, she had the TV on to the forming of a new government. She was interested in what each individual member had to say. Very different from the disgust, contempt, and cynicism we in the US have for our paid for in cash elected leaders.
Iceland does also have a strict policy on immigration, unlike Sweden and Norway, which are reaping the whirlwind of their multiculturalism.
They are big into geothermal, but they do their homework before they start on a big new field.
The country is not utopia, but they are not stupid enough to give away their fiscal sovereignty to the EUniks.
So it was refreshing to get away from the US politics for a while....
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/18/2013 15:15 Comments ||
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#6
Interesting perspective. Always wanted to visit there. Thanks !
[PJM] The Bible Belt is collapsing, says Russell Moore. Oddly, the incoming president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission doesnt seem upset. In a recent visit to The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Moore explains that he thinks the Bible Belts decline may be bad for America, but its good for the church. So conversely, what is "bad for the church" is then "good" for America? My logic wheel just slipped a cog.
Why? Because we are no longer the moral majority. We are a prophetic minority. We are all now stateless desert wanderers or Amish.
The phrase is arresting coming from such a prominent religious leaderakin to a general who says the Army has shrunk to the point it can no longer fight two wars. A youthful 41, Mr. Moore is among the leaders of a new generation who think that evangelicals need to recognize that their values no longer define mainstream American culture the way they did 50 or even 20 years ago. Blinding flash....must have been the angel of Moore.
On gay marriage, abortion, even on basic religious affiliation, the culture has moved away. So evangelicals need a new way of thinkinga new strategy, if you willto attract and keep believers, as well as to influence American politics. Are everyone's views now "evolving" to fit modern-day political narratives ?
The easy days of mobilizing a ready-made majority are gone. By prophetic minority, he means that Christians must return to the days when they were a moral example and vanguarddefenders of belief in a larger unbelieving culture. He views this less as a defeat than as an opportunity. I see it as an admission. Returning to a moral example? Perhaps Mr. Moore has stumbled upon the problem.
#1
Maybe, instead of 'waiting' for your rewards and sitting on the sidelines, actually showing up and voting for the least odious candidate might have made a difference, rather than surrendering this world to the despoilers.
#3
Christianity is as much a sham as Islam, BOTH started Killing the Apostates, BOTH want you to believe "There's only one god (And mine is the one god, not yours)Both preach the essential same.
Why should I listen to either?
Neither have fulfilled the teachings, and BOTH are SUPREME.
(Odd each claim they're toe ONLY ONE and the other is fake, there have been thousands like them, all faded away to the same nothing these will.
Thee's no god, there's no devil either, just people acting as jerks.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/18/2013 13:32 Comments ||
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#4
just people acting as jerks.
hokay.....
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/18/2013 13:38 Comments ||
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#5
Thee's no god, there's no devil either, just people acting as jerks.
Well as you say RJ, jerks for damn sure. I'll take the 'pick three' and go with it. Sometimes I get tired of talking to myself, but that's must me. :-)
#6
Dogma for dogma's sake is programming, whether the so called followers of Mo, or the Church doing things in the name of Christ.
All Jesus offered was a way of life and salvation that would include everyone, Romans, Jews, just plain Joes. Then over the years, people went apesh*t with power and things got lost in translation. Fundamental problems in human nature......I would say.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
08/18/2013 15:04 Comments ||
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#7
they're all "equally bad" as RJ says. You remember the rampaging Episcopalian mobs, don't you?
RJ? You may be an atheist. I'm not. Call me a jerk? F*ck you. You're welcome to your little desperate world and I don't/won't begrudge you that. Have a nice atheist afterlife.
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/18/2013 15:06 Comments ||
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#8
Thee's no god, there's no devil either, just people acting as jerks.
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/18/2013 15:17 Comments ||
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#10
The history of Christianity has its dark sides, no doubt.
But we need to look at it as it is today.
Nobody forces you to believe in whatever the Bible says.
Islam however...
Posted by: European Conservative ||
08/18/2013 16:24 Comments ||
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#11
Well said AP. At the end of the day I want to believe, therefore I do. Its a little thing called faith and hope. It helps me get through this so called life. We have all seen enough and suffered enough to doubt or not believe, even though, I still get back to it and believe, because I want to. I never tie the church to my beliefs, the church is run by men, they fall victim to greed and all other human frailties, after all they are human. As for the non believers- I find it interesting as to where they go for solace when there is true darkness and evil presents itself. Maybe I'm just weak...
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
08/18/2013 21:07 Comments ||
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#12
as a practicing Christian, I have NEVER been taught/ felt the impulse/ understood that my way to an afterlife was extinguishing mine along with whatever "different" believers were unfortunately beside me at the time.
Jim - you have stepped past the stoopid line to ...
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/18/2013 21:35 Comments ||
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#13
Ar*s level. Enjoy
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/18/2013 21:37 Comments ||
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#14
RJ, I grew up in a culture of Haughty Atheism, and have to bring up a few points.
Anthropologically, religion serves very important services in regard to the nature of humanity. It is why one cannot discuss the history of a region without also considering the impact of religion.
It is a way of social interaction. People come together for events. It gives a language for people to describe what exactly is, for example, the work of the devil, doing good.
Without a clear cut goal of what human achievement should be, it is impossible to describe good or evil.
As far as the superstitious aspect, if other people do believe in God(s), if they do believe in afterlife consequences for behavior in the physical world, then their actions indirectly and directly involve your presence in this world.
Consider the construction prowess necessary for the construction of a cathedral, or the Athenian acropolis, Stonehenge, Mayan temples, Pyramids, Anghor Wat. Those were all made for the glory of each religion, why ever they were built. Those skills and resources came from years of those particular religions ability to bring people together.
Now I'm not bagging, but it has been my experience that individual Atheists can be interesting people, but in groups they bag on everyone else, like jerks. That is when I learned that the anti-theologians have their own little Liturgy.
[ForeignAffairs] Why Terror Masterminds Rely on Micro-Management
When al Qaeda's latest plot was disrupted because Ayman al-Zawahiri ... Formerly second in command of al-Qaeda, now the head cheese, occasionally described as the real brains of the outfit. Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's fatwa entitled World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders. Currently residing in the North Wazoo area. That is not a horn growing from the middle of his forehead, but a prayer bump, attesting to how devout he is... initiated a mundane conference call, it only hardened his reputation as an ineffective and intrusive micro-manager. But Zawahiri's critics have it wrong -- red tape can be a terrorist criminal mastermind's best friend.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Zawahiri
