nettime's overload manager on Tue, 18 Sep 2001 04:57:13 +0200 (CEST)


[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

<nettime> 7x Commentary and Analysis



Table of Contents:

   -> for the commentary section                                                   
     Pit Schultz <pit@klubradio.de>                                                  

   fwd: Afrika Bambataa                                                            
     Pit Schultz <pit@klubradio.de>                                                  

   Babylon                                                                         
     Newmedia@aol.com                                                                

   Re: <nettime> OPPOSITION TO WAR IN THE HEART OF TEXAS                           
     Peter Berenyi <berenyip@elender.hu>                                             

   Empire, before striking back                                                    
     "Ivo Skoric" <ivo@reporters.net>                                                

   terrorism is not a cause or an effect. It is a symptom                          
     "AnouK AnouK" <anoukre@hotmail.com>                                             

   The Dalai Lama's letter to the President of the United States of America        
     Phil Duncan <PDuncan@AggregateStudio.com>                                       



------------------------------

Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2001 02:43:53 +0200
From: Pit Schultz <pit@klubradio.de>
Subject: -> for the commentary section

all you people screaming for vengeance and bombs and war: do you not
realize that your bloodthirst is no better than that of the terrorists you
decry, that your desire for further death serves to do little more than
trivialize the tragedies that have already occurred? do you not remember
the outcry that took place after oklahoma city, and the nationality of the
man put to death for that crime four months ago? did you not feel disgust
when you saw the footage of street parties—do you not realize that your
war-wishes are the 'acceptable' american analogue of that twisted,
horrifying revelry? do you not realize that what is playing on your
television screens is not a miniseries? before you open your mouths,
please, i beg you, think. give the dead, the families and loved ones of
the dead, the people who lost co-workers and businesses and other
scraps—subway transfers and bank machines and quick lunches and trips to
the top to breathe the city in, the apex's own version of the smoke
break—of what used to constitute their day-to-day lives the courtesy of
silence.

http://www.maura.com


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 15:14:36 +0200
From: Pit Schultz <pit@klubradio.de>
Subject: fwd: Afrika Bambataa

X-Sieve: cmu-sieve 1.3
X-Authentication-Warning: einhorn.in-berlin.de: Host 
IDENT:root@ns.klubradio.de [212.40.161.253] claimed to be klubradio.de
X-Originating-IP: [212.121.155.18]
From: "Martina Dünkelmann" <suntune2000@hotmail.com>
To: tina@mellowvibes.de
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 19:03:49 +0000
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 14 Sep 2001 19:03:50.0222 (UTC) 
FILETIME=[FD2A8EE0:01C13D4F]

PRESSEMITTEILUNG
von Afrika Bambataa

THE WAKE UP CALL

In Times Of Tragedies
A Wake Up Call To All

First of all May THE SUPREME FORCE, WHO IS THE SOURCE, BLESS US ALL TO SEE
THE LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS OF IGNORANT THOUGHTS,EVIL THOUGHTS,AND RAISE
CONSCIOUSNESS THOUGHTS.

To make all Humans To be Thinkers and to Annualize everything that has
been taught to them as well as everything that has been brainwash into
their mind. It is tragedies that make Humans who at a time made be
Racist,forget about racism of any kind in times of tragedies like,
earthquakes,tornadoes,volcanoes,tidal waves,hurricanes,terrorist
attacks,etc. All that racism crap is out the door for those moments while
we all are in some type of tragedies. But let things start to get back
normal and we are back to foolishness of Human hate against each
other,religious hate against each other,self hate against each other and
so on. The terrorist attack on any place in the USA as well as anywhere on
our Great Planet Earth is a disgrace to so called suppose to be civilize
Human Beings. Cause when any one is attack and lives are lost,buildings
are destroyed,land is mess up,everyone forgets evil for the moment love
and helping each one comes in for the moment,cries and comfort comes in
for the moment. Then when things seems to get back in some type of order
again from the chaos that just happen,then Boom. Evil hits again Media
sets you to takes sides,people set you to take sides,everyone is looking
to whom to blame,but no one is be a thinker and no one is annualizing and
no one is seeking out the facts to get to the truths of what has happen.
What was the cause that gave these effects,what are the actions we take
now after we find out the cause,the effects to bring about justice. So now
the hate is back in after we all just went through our sorrows,so we back
to racism,evil hate the same crap from the last millennium in this
millennium. Negative energy grabbing at Humans to destroy
Humans,animals,lands Mother Earth. It's not nice to fool with Mother
Nature. All Humans should be taught in all schools of thoughts about the
acts of war,hate,evil,crimes against Humanity and especially on what war
and hate does in throwing our Great Planet Earth out of balance. Levels
like in World War 1 and World War 2 leading to World War 3, then Mother
Nature a Super Force would have to move on Humans under the command of The
Supreme Force,who is called by many names to make moves on all us Humans
on Earth. In the past World Wars since then there have been many sightings
(whether Your believe or not),of UFO's since then. There are many who do
not know that 2 weeks before this terrible tragedy that has happen in The
Great USA,there were sightings of UFO's on the east coast in New York in
Long Island as well as Newark NJ. What does it all means ,your guess is as
good as mine. For all that don't watch education TV shows there is talk of
a volcanoes in the Canary Islands on the coast of Africa,that numerous
scientist are saying that it can erupt any moment today,tomorrow or 50
years from now but it will happen and it will take 8 hours to get out of
the East Coast of the USA before a Tidal Wave a hundred times bigger than
the world trade center hit our shores. If that not enough California just
had a 4.2 earthquake in LA but everyone is waiting on Nostradamus
predictions to happen about the big one that will make California into
small Islands. As if the west coast do not have enough with mud slides and
fires. It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature. But Humans want to attack
Humans with acts of terrorism and wars. OK just some years ago in the last
millennium Turkey lost over 60,000 Humans in a Earthquake,Venezuela lost
over 30,000 Humans to a earthquake And our country India cause the whole
Earth is for all of us,India is still suffering like crazy losing hundreds
of thousands since last millennium and now to Earthquakes and Floods.
Europe in countries like Russia lost Humans to floods,wars all over Europe
and Africa. West Indies hit by Hurricanes, Humans Lost,Japan
earthquakes,floods more Human lives lost.  Parts of Asia internal wars and
earthquakes,more Human lives lost. Ireland religious internal wars,lives
lost,England Terrorist acts more lives lost,racism in England against
White Humans and Brown Indian Humans,more lives lost. Is there anybody out
there thinking on UNITY and what needs to be done to save our Great Planet
Earth. Have your forgot what our world wide scientist been telling us for
years about the Ozone, the Sun Rays,Cancer,Aids,Diseases,Hunger,Poverty or
did we forget that scientist say there is a Meteor heading towards Earth.
Are Humans prepare for the Pole Shift that is taking place on our planet.
Global Warming. That the ice in the Artic is melting causes all types Of
floods. And Humans want to do terrorist acts on other Humans,war with
other Humans,be racist with other Humans,hate and kill other Humans,kill
other Humans in The Name Of The Supreme Force or to even think foolishly
that we are all alone in the Super Great Universe (Universes). It's a wake
up call, each one teach one. It's not nice to FOOL with MOTHER NATURE LOVE
AND RESPECT LIFE MAY THE SUPREME FORCE BLESS ALL THE HUMANS WHO HAVE DIE
IN ACTS OF WAR OR ANY TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE HAPPEN ALL OVER EARTH. UNIVERSAL
ZULU NATION WORLDWIDE THE 5TH ELEMENT OF HIP HOP CULTURE KNOWLEDGE,
CULTURE, OVERSTANDING FACTOLOGY VS. BELIEFS


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 11:03:24 EDT
From: Newmedia@aol.com
Subject: Babylon


Folks:

I wonder what any and all of you might have been thinking about "Babylon?"

Babylon, an important historic city in the Tigris/Euphrates river-plain
(yes, in present day Iraq, which, in turn, was once known as Chaldea) is
also a name that has been "metaphorically" applied to a few other places .
. . like "New York" and "Hollywood," for instance . . . and, as an
archeological "reconstruction" the original site of the city is reputed to
be the largest (and current pet) project of Saddam Hussein, the
most-probable "author" of the recent WTC attack.

To get you started, here's what a few people have had to say about
"Babylon":

"This is Babylon.  This is the capital of the Beast.  And if you want to
do something about the Beast, this where you have to do it.  To the extent
that people want to slay dragons, New York is the obvious battlefield."

(Mark Stahlman, "Digitial Hustlers," Page 192, 2001)

"Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for *I*
will work a work in your days, *which* ye will not believe, though it be
told to *you*.

"For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, *that* bitter and nasty nation, which
shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwelling
places *that are* not theirs."

(Habakkuk, the Book of, King James Version, 1:5-6, written sometime
probably around 600 B.C., just before the sacking of Jerusalem by the
Babylonians in 586 B.C.)

Best,

Mark


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 19:03:23 +0200
From: Peter Berenyi <berenyip@elender.hu>
Subject: Re: <nettime> OPPOSITION TO WAR IN THE HEART OF TEXAS

Robert Simon wrote:

> Try to imagine 5000 deaths one at a time, a fireman, a secretary, an
> investment banker and a restaurant worker. Burned, blasted, crushed.
Not
> "the U.S." and "itself", but this person--did he or she bring it on
> "himself" or "herself"? And if so, how so? Sentimentality? I think
not.
>
> What are the relations between the barbaric acts of states and their
> citizens? Who's responsible, and who deserves what?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to
secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of
Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying
its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form,
as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should
not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all
experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while
evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to
which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to
reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty,
to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future
security."

The message is clear. If the People have got the Right to alter or abolish
their Government as soon as it becomes destructive of Life, Liberty or the
pursuit of Happiness, then failing to do so under said circumstances is
the sole responsibility of the People, who are also to be held responsible
for any consequences of this failure. On the other hand, if a People
doesn't actually have this Right, it can not be held responsible either.

Now you decide:

Are US citizens responsible for the deeds of their Government?
Are Afghani citizens responsible for the deeds of their Government?


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 13:52:57 -0400
From: "Ivo Skoric" <ivo@reporters.net>
Subject: Empire, before striking back

In past week of 24/7 news broadcasts on all networks and with no
advertisement we witnessed a nationalism/patriotism build-up in the U.S.
akin to that in former Yugoslav states of Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia
bracing for war with each other. The flags. The vigils.  The "make no
mistakes" speeches by the leaders. The heartbreaking stories.

The only things that are missing, it seems intentionally, are the pictures
and addresses of the 'enemy' population in the tabloid media, which
plagued post-Yugoslav societies. Another interesting thing is that
releases of violent movies are postponed. So, there is nationalism, but no
rage, and ideally there would be a support for America's actions at home
and abroad, but no vigillante killings of Arabs in the American cities. Of
course, what is ideal may not happen, but at least, it is encouraging that
the U.S. took that path consciously.

Still, if you are an Arab in the U.S. today you must feel uneasy.  And the
sooner the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks are brought to justice
the better for everybody, but particularly for Arabs in the U.S. Yesterday
I saw two young Arab men on NY subway.  They blend well into the
incredible diversity of NY population, but in the less diverse places they
may dengerously stick out. Inevitably, I thought whether those nice two
smiling young men could at one point take the box-cutter knives out of
their pockets and take over the train. Once we know that the terrorist
network is wiped out, such thoughts would, hopefully, vanish.

We already know that about 500 British citizens died in the attack.  Once
the death-toll will be complete, it would be interesting if NYC would be
able to give us the ethnic and racial breakdown of the victims - I bet we
will have members of hundreds of nations among the victims, making this
attack an attack on the world, on the humanity at large. It was far from
the desperate suicide bomber attack. The perpetrators lived and trained
for this very moment in the U.S. for years. And the alleged mastermind is
essentially an arrogant, rich, spoiled brat with the illusions of grandeur
complex.

Destruction of WTC was an overkill - hitting Pentagon would satisfy the
terrorist goal of showing America that it indeed is not all- powerful -
the WTC was done purely for his amusement. He even sold the re-insurance
on stocks, making profit of this tragedy. He is despised by most of the
mainstream Arab leaders, as he does Arab cause more harm than Zionism (did
anybody notice how Israel took over Jenin and Jericho, quietly, amidst all
the WTC hoopla?). He could have spent his fortune more wisely by helping
Taliban fight drought, disease and famine in Afghanistan. Also, other rich
people pick up less dangerous hobbies than setting up a world-wide
terrorist network. What, did he find golf too boring?

New York city bounced back to relative normalcy quite quickly - in less
than a week the downtown re-opened, except for now localized area around
the crash site. Subways are running and all but one bridge and two tunnels
are re-opened (the Battery Tunnel to Brooklyn I don't see re-opening very
soon since the WTC stood right on top of it). The smell is largely gone.
The fires don't burn any more. And tons of debris are slowly hauled away.
The pictures of missing are on all subway stations - the more downtown you
go, the more pictures you see. Some of them simply vaporized, so the
bodies might never be found. The undeclared martial law is becoming less
visible. Police removed the barricades and ID check- points. The homeless
are back on the streets begging - I have no idea where did they hide for
past five days. And New Yorkers are back to partying.

Still, the US might never be the same after this: there will be more
emphasis on security, on intelligence, on control. That's not something
that any of us welcomes. But since the alternative is grim, people are
ready to accept that. The infiltration of the terrorist network was so
deep and intractable, that citizens are apalled.  This could not happen in
any other society - both Germany and France control their immigrant
population much tighter, for example. Now that you can't carry any knife
on the airplane - passengers should think of what can they carry with them
to be able to overwhelm possible terrorists (so they have to try to
imagine what would the terrorists be armed with), before the F-16s have to
take down the plane. Air travel within the U.S. is becoming quite an
adrenaline thrill. And I can't possibly convince my mother to visit me - I
just succeeded after 8 years of trying - and now she says that she would
die a thousand deaths each minute on the airplane if she goes - she still
has nightmares from German bombing of Belgrade in 1941 when she was 12.

The other thing is that US might start to think about their 'allies' -
they build those comic-book anti-heroes around the world like Milosevic,
Thaci, Noriega, Hussein, Bin Laden, they nurture them while they need them
and then they just drop them. All those guys in the end become trouble for
the U.S. Former Soviet Union had similar habit of 'cultivating' pawns like
that - only when the SU didn't need them any more, two fat KGB guys would
terminate their contract with three bullets. Congress may allow for such
lay-off procedure in the future, given the overwhelming data supporting
such a decision.

A few days ago I was at the party where crowd was overwhelmingly Serbian,
from Belgrade. They were all really surprised with the event. They told me
that Americans hit the building of the communist party in Belgrade - a 20+
stories skyscraper - with two cruise missiles, and the building is still
standing. And those two 110 stories high-rises collapsed. Well, that just
testifies that cruise- missiles, while very precise, are far less
formiddable weapon than a passenger plane full of fuel. There is a general
feeling among people from Belgrade that Americans are not something
special, some unique and perfect snowflakes that can't possibly be hurt.  
But Belgrade citizens here resent that Yugoslav government decided not to
mourn the WTC tragedy with the rest of Europe (Belgrade was the only
capital in Europe with no organized mourning on Friday), because they
realize that now it would be much harder to claim for Belgrade that it is
a part of Europe.

ivo

ps - A young friend of mine from Sarajevo, who lost two ribs to a sniper
bullet, told me how he knew a pay-phone in the WTC plaza, that was broken
in a way that he could make calls anywhere in the world for free. He and
his family in Bosnia are definitely going to miss that phone, which is now
buried under tons of debris. I mean, this just illustrates that everybody
in New York lost something in this attack.


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 19:29:15 +0000
From: "AnouK AnouK" <anoukre@hotmail.com>
Subject: terrorism is not a cause or an effect. It is a symptom

One of the problems with current analysis of terrorist attack in the U.S.
is that observers (especially north-american media) tend to see it either
as a cause or as an effect. I suggest that a better way to look at these
events is as symptoms. Terrorism, and violence in general, are symptoms of
a greater and deeper problem: the division of the world in poor and rich
countries, the lack of opportunities for those who are unfortunate enough
to be born on the poor spectrum of the world, and the rich-world belief
that we should not take concrete actions about this problem, the market
will take care of it (unless of course, the poor countries are rich in
natural resources, in which case more serious action might be needed).

Until we start seriously analysing the problems that lie behind the use of
terrorism we will never get anywhere. Until we don't stop categorizing
current problems as a fight of 'good' and 'evil' we will never be able to
solve them, and start to use a rethoric that focuses less on 'war' and
more on reflection and understanding our problems will only get worse.

Best. Anoukre


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 22:35:49 +0100
From: Phil Duncan <PDuncan@AggregateStudio.com>
Subject: The Dalai Lama's letter to the President of the United States of America



With war seeming imminent from the sabre-rattling, modernist institutions
of America's power centers, I hope that through the haze of patriotic
frenzied bloodlust, the US realizes it is on the brink of encountering the
epitome of Post- Modern warfare with High-Modernist tools.

My fear is that 5,000 to 45,000 deaths will be cheapened by more slaughter
of the innocents, and our energies will be drained off in a draconian
cycle of violence like tears in the rain.

Perhaps the following will be a glimmer of hope, if it isn't too late
already - [T-minus 60 hours and counting...]

<quote>
  The Dalai Lama's letter to the President of the United States of America

Your Excellency,

I am deeply shocked by the terrorist attacks that took place involving
four apparently hijacked aircrafts and the immense devastation these
caused. It is a terrible tragedy that so many innocent lives have been
lost and it seems unbelievable that anyone would choose to target the
World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. We
are deeply saddened. On behalf of the Tibetan people I would like to
convey our deepest condolence and solidarity with the American people
during this painful time. Our prayers go out to the many who have lost
their lives, those who have been injured and the many more who have been
traumatized by this senseless act of violence. I am attending a special
prayer for the United States and its people at our main temple today.  I
am confident that the United States as a great and powerful nation will be
able to overcome this present tragedy. The American people have shown
their resilience, courage and determination when faced with such difficult
and sad situation.  It may seem presumptuous on my part, but I personally
believe we need to think seriously whether a violent action is the right
thing to do and in the greater interest of the nation and people in the
long run. I believe violence will only increase the cycle of violence. But
how do we deal with hatred and anger, which are often the root causes of
such senseless violence? This is a very difficult question, especially
when it concerns a nation and we have certain fixed conceptions of how to
deal with such attacks. I am sure that you will make the right decision.  
With my prayers and good wishes

The Dalai Lama   September 12, 2001

<end quote>

Peace,
Phil


------------------------------





#  distributed via <nettime>: no commercial use without permission
#  <nettime> is a moderated mailing list for net criticism,
#  collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets
#  more info: majordomo@bbs.thing.net and "info nettime-l" in the msg body
#  archive: http://www.nettime.org contact: nettime@bbs.thing.net