Allan Nairn - We Have The Right To Rebel - Democracy NOW!

[wundermaus]

Run time: 45:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBYXHdSCLB8   Posted on YouTube: December 29, 2010 By YouTube Member: ThisBoyTV Views on YouTube: 49   Posted on DU: December 30, 2010 By DU Member: wundermaus Views on DU: 2870

 
Full interview with Allan Nairn December 29, 2010. What is the role of the United States in the world today? From the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the cuts to social programs here at home, where is there emerging hope for change around the world? The complete interview with award-winning investigative journalist and activist Allan Nairn. "You vote for Democrat, you vote for Republican, you get the same thing on state murder, on preventable death. But we here have the right to rebel. We have to use it."

[niyad]

1. I caught part of that interview--will have to read the full transcript later.

[Can of Whoop-ass]

11. Read?

Whats... read?

[kgnu_fan]

15. Here is the link for transcript

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/29/allan_nairn_as_us_loses_its

[Paranoid Pessimist]

36. We have the "right," just not the power and weaponry. N/T

[defendandprotect]

2. K/R -- back later to read --

[Scottybeamer70]

3. WOW......

That's one of the most powerful and informative videos I
think I've ever seen. If that doesn't tell you what this
country is really all about, then I'm not sure what it would
take to wake people up to what is really going on. What
an intelligent man Alan Nairn is. Wonder if they will be
calling for his arrest next month?
Thank you for posting the video......much appreciated!!

[molly77]

4. Scottybeamer70

He does think outside the box , doesn't he? Democracy Now is getting more interesting every day.

[molly77]

18. Alan Nairn has a website

alannairn.com. I find this man incredible.

[EFerrari]

5. This is the reporter that Amy almost got killed with in East Timor.

They're both on their second life, at minimum.

[molly77]

7. Democracy Now is smoking

Today's show has Robert Meeropol, son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, talking about the dangers that WE are in right now as a country. The thin veneer of democracy is rapidly coming off.

Somebody needs to manufacture Julian Assange masks. His lawyers have heard a rumor that a grand jury has been convened in Va. If this is true, I would go down there from upper state ME , camp out and wear a mask .

[defendandprotect]

27. These masks are a fantastic political protest idea ....

Miniature ones could be made, as well, which could be carried and visible anywhere

on your person.

[kgnu_fan]

14. Yup, they have been talking about this for long time but now getting attention finally...

[EFerrari]

19. I didn't know East Timor existed before I heard this story. n/t

[dotymed]

6. "And a child (a young country?)

shall lead them."

[mudplanet]

8. Given the facts that are revealed in this post it's hard to imagine

something terrible happening to the US both at home and in foreign countries that wouldn't be richly deserved. And, in the long run, a service to humanity.

The policy of maintaining a continual state of tension and unofficial war is also being applied in the Israel/Palestine conflict. Resolution isn't even desired as it will remove the veneer of justification for continual criminal action designed to destabilize regions. Conflict IS resolution.

For the practitioners of "realpolitik" a constant state of war is acceptable if it gains you an advantage of keeping those you perceive as competitors for power and influence in a region from consolidating their positions and gaining an advantage politically or otherwise.

[defendandprotect]

29. +1 --

[nyc 4 Biden]

9. K&R, Great Interview.

This is why I visit DU.

[davidwparker]

10. K&R

[briteleaf]

12. KUDOS NPR!!!

Great interview! The ugly truth revealed about the control of America by the wealthy and it's dictated foreign policy. Thank you NPR and Amy. This is the news Americans need that we can't find in corporate-controlled media (media owned and controlled by the wealthy). Note how the great work of reporters is vilified by the popular media. Those reporters used to be referred to as "whistle-blowers" and are now being called "subversives who leak national secrets". Dirty little national secrets that involve violations of human rights around the globe. It's such a pity that the founding fathers could not foresee corporate control of America's media when they stipulated freedom of the press.
What a pity that America doesn't have a television news station providing us with news uncontrolled by wealthy, corporate interests. We have to listen to the radio to hear the truth.

[EFerrari]

17. This wasn't NPR. DemocracyNow! is the flagship of Pacifica Radio. n/t

[AsahinaKimi]

13. outstanding K&R

eom.

[mrfrapp]

16. K&R

Nairn's statement on China regarding the increase in wages and how it's "rippling" to neighbouring countries is interesting. If what he says is true then that should mean the world labour market becoming more equalised. If not in rights then in wages at least - which is a start.

[emilyg]

20. k/r

[Capn Sunshine]

21. Not for nuthin'......isn't this a RW meme?

You armchair revolutionaries should check out the militia sites in your neck of te woods. Looks like you have more in common that you may suspect.

[sabrina 1]

22. No, it's a democratic meme and it doesn't necessarily mean

armed Revolution. But it's interesting that you would say that. Would you have supported the American Revolution then, which was caused, in retrospect, by conditions of unfairness, by taxation without representation, in fact by conditions most Americans are living with today? Was it just a rightwing meme then?

Today, we can revolt the way the people of France and so many other countries in Europe are revolting. We can organize and go on strike eg. Stop watching State TV. Stop flying until our rights are restored etc. It would mean some sacrifice, but the original revolution mean sacrificing lives. We don't have to do that today, yet, it hasn't happened yet. But, throughout history, revolutions didn't happen until a pivotal moment was reached that spurred people on even to risk their lives and liberty. That might come here, eg, if they cut SS benefits or when enough people have lost their homes it reaches critical mass.

But, what we HAVE been doing isn't working, and that is his point. So, if we really want to change things, we have to change what we've been doing. DC won't change unless the people force them to.

[Capn Sunshine]

23. Hey, knock yourself out.

I LOVE revolutionary talk coming from a keyboard. Nothings going to change/happen ntil you all get offline. Therfore, nothings going to happen. But post away. I'm sure all those internet vibes will make things happen.

and please refrain from ridiculous historic comparisons of today to the 1770s. I'm just waiting for Godwin's law to kick in.

[sabrina 1]

26. The original American Revolution was spurred on by

that time's equivalent of a 'keyboard'.

Print culture and the American Revolution

A profound impact

Numerous eras throughout history have been defined through the use of print culture. The American Revolution was a major historical conflict fought after print culture brought the rise of literacy. Furthermore, print culture's ability to shape and guide society was a critical component before, during, and after the Revolution.
Pre-Revolution

Many different printed documents influenced the beginning of the revolution. The Magna Carta was an originally a scribal document of 1215, recording an oral transaction restricting the power of English kings and defining rights of subjects. It was revitalized by being printed in the 16th century and widely read by the increasingly literate English and colonial population thereafter. The Magna Carta was used as a basis for the development of English liberties by Sir Edward Coke and became a basis for writing the Declaration of Independence.

Additionally, during the 18th century, the production of printed newspapers in the colonies greatly increased. In 1775, more copies of newspapers were issued in Worcester, Massachusetts than were printed in all of New England in 1754, showing that the existence of the conflict developed a need for print culture. This onslaught of printed text was brought about by the anonymous writings of men such as Benjamin Franklin, who was noted for his many contributions to the newspapers, including the Pennsylvania Gazette. This increase was primarily due to the easing of the government's tight control of the press, and without the existence of a relatively free press, the American Revolution may have never taken place. The production of so many newspapers can mostly be attributed to the fact that newspapers had a huge demand; printing presses were writing the newspapers to complain about the policies of the British government, and how the British government was taking advantage of the colonists.
In 1775, Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet "Common Sense," a pamphlet that introduced many ideas of freedom to the Colonial citizens. Allegedly, half a million copies were produced during the pre-revolution era. This number of pamphlets produced is significant as there were only a couple million freed men in the colonies. However, "Common Sense" was not the only manuscript that influenced people and the tide of the revolution. Among the most influential were James Otis' "Rights of the British Colonies" and John Dickinson's "Farmer's Letters". Both of these played a key role in persuading the people and igniting the revolution.

Without the printing press would there have been an American Revolution? All those 'anonymous' writers, like Benjamin Franklin, communicating their thoughts through yesterday's version of the latest form of communication. I'm sure many people back then doubted the impact of the written word also.

[defendandprotect]

31. k/r -- Exactly ... internet may be yesterday's "pamphlets," etal .....

[defendandprotect]

30. US history is the violence of imperialism.... yet, we were taught it was democracy...

and that US/CIA violence and aggression continues on today all over the world.

Right wing propaganda does work -- it can make "up" into "down" -- and imo the

best way to respond to it is to pull the plug on it -- at your end.



AMY GOODMAN: What about President Obama?

ALLAN NAIRN: Well, as we said in the discussion last year at this time,

he has kept the machine set on "kill."

He’s continued backing for the dozens of repressive regimes. He’s upped the killings in Pakistan and Afghanistan. You know, when you compare the Democrats and the Republicans on core issues of preventing preventable death, shifting funds to stop hunger, of killing of civilians, there’s no difference.



:nuke:

[sabrina 1]

33. 'he has kept the machine set on "kill".

So sadly true and we thought we were voting for 'change'. Maybe we had to go through this whole cycle, the horrors of the Bush years, the hope that Democrats would make a difference, and now reality sets in. So, what do we do next?

[defendandprotect]

34. Question is, has full reality set in about what this all means?

Most here are in a post-Obama and post-Democratic Party mode ....

and unless something extraordinary happens, I think we all want to see an end

to these wars -- which are not only illegal, brutal and immoral -- but which

are bankrutping our Treasury and citizens.

"What do we do next?" should be a constant topic of discussion here and it doesn't

seem to be happening yet.

IMO, we need to draft someone from outside of the party to run on the Dem label --

I don't see any point in picking another pre-bribed and pre-owned Democrat to run.

We need someone like Bernie Sanders -- Tom Hayden -- whatever is left of democratic

leadership from outside the party. The party is completely contaminated by

corporate money as far as I can see.

[sabrina 1]

35. Yes, that is the question that needs to be asked now.

I think we have all the information we need to know that continuing to support this system will do nothing to change it.

'What do we do now'? I wish I knew. No good candidate will ever make it to the WH until they 'understand how things really are'. So, I don't think we should waste any time on the presidential election. Or money.

Congress is where we should focus all our efforts. If we can get enough decent Reps in Congress what the president wants or doesn't want, won't matter, Congress will keep the WH under control, IF they are working for the people.

[defendandprotect]

37. Read the text -- but this is the kind of reporting we need to be hearing all the time ... !!

Thank you! -- :)

[EFerrari]

28. Nairn has never been an armchair anything. n/t

[bbgrunt]

24. "I'm proud to be an American...." not.

[pam4water]

25. K&R

[sabrina 1]

32. That was an incredible interview.

He covered everything. On Manning, he's a hero. Yes, he is.

On Wikileaks and the government's persecution of Julian Assange 'then let them come and arrest me, because this is what I do also'.

And how sad that the mantra of the Indonesian Military is 'abandon all hope, Obama is on our side'.

We are always on the wrong side. Is it futile to bother with politicians at all? It seems even if they go to DC with good intentions, there is nothing they can do as the U.S. has policies that cannot be changed by elected officials, unless we could clear out Congress completely and elect a whole new, unpaid-for Congress and start from scratch.

I wish more people could see interviews like this.