Dear Senator Obama: please promise to retire the word "Homeland".

[elehhhhna]

Duers, please check in here if you agree...let's make it a petition!

[AlCzervik]

1. "Homeland"="Fatherland" which is just creepy and wronf.

[DinahMoeHum]

4. "Homeland" = "Motherland", too.

n/t

[JVS]

70. No. Homeland= Heimat

[Amy6627]

2. OH YES!!!!!! K&R n/t

[Initech]

3. Yes! Now that the Bushlers are no longer in power we must retire their terminology!

[ladjf]

5. I agree. It sounded like a 1930's Nazi term to me, i.e. "fatherland".

[Frustratedlady]

7. Get rid of FEMA while you're at it.

FEMA translates into failure.

[elehhhhna]

11. BUSH's fema's a failure. Do you mean change the name of fema to

disassociate ourselves from its recent past? Not a bad idea, but perhaps a slippery slope...lol...we may have to change the name of our whole country.

[ladjf]

13. No, the Country's name is OK. We just need to make sure that

BushCo gets punished for the high crimes against the United States and its people.

[Hekate]

59. Before Bush FEMA was a competent, professionally run organization. Bush wrecked it--MIHOP. nt

[bperci108]

85. Only since the Mammonites have been in charge...

Back when James Lee Witt ran it, it was quite good.


It's all in the management and funding.... ;)

[JDPriestly]

17. No. The German word is "heimat." Homeland.

Fatherland is Vaterland.

[ladjf]

20. I didn't mean the homeland meant fatherland. I just meant that it

was the same type word that sounded like the Nazis were fond of using.

[JDPriestly]

28. I agree. It has the same ring of fascism. I can't stand it.

I'm with you.

[ladjf]

45. You can read some of Hitler's speeches made during the late

30's and see that his philosophy has definitely permeated the Republican thinking. I'm sure you are aware that several prominent Nazi propagandists (I've forgotten their names) were first hired by
the U.S.Intelligence after WWII and then moved right into speech writing for the Republicans until the general public found out about it.

[Cronus Protagonist]

6. k&r

That was not one of Bush's things, but it came from a committee of national security people including Lieberman. IT's time for it to go... as should the "Department of Homeland Security" - that needs to be gone as well.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

8. "War on Terra" should leave the building, just like Elvis

I'm hoping that Obama has a complete list of "Bush-ims" that will be immediately retired upon his oath of office.

[HockeyMom]

10. Plus Freedom Anything

Including Fries and Towers

[rbixby]

34. Every time I see 'War on Terra"

I wonder, why do people hate terra cotta so much?


Particularly Reps

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Yes, please!!! I have always been disgusted by the term

[AspenRose]

12. Absolutely

:thumbsup:

[onenote]

14. I"ve never been a big fan of the term, but it has a long history

The word "homeland" has been used before and not just by the Germans. For example, as far back as 1917 with the Balfour declaration, there was discussion of the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. And the Palestinian National Covenant, adopted in 1968, specifically referred to Palestine as the "homeland" of the Palestinian Arab people.

And it was the Hart-Rudman Commission on National Security, created in 1998, recommended the creation of a "National Homeland Security Agency."

And then there was Presidential Directive 62, issued by Bill Clinton in 1998: "Protection Against Unconventional Threats to the Homeland and Americans Overseas". http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/blaw/general/pdd62.htm

I'm more interested in changing the policies, not the language.

[elehhhhna]

18. In the words of Cheney: So?

A jingoistic saying like "Love it or leave it" haa a history too but we don't need to adopt it as a slogan.

Language IS importamt.

[onenote]

22. So, while I am no fan of the word, I also know that its use doesn't make one a "nazi"

Unless, of course, both the Jews and the Palestinians are Nazis (and were nazis before the nazis since they used the term homeland earlier) and Gary Hart and Bill Clinton are nazis, which I don't happen to think is the case. (BTW, I'm not suggesting that you made the nazi/homeland association, but others in this thread have done so).

If the word goes away, cool. But if Obama made a big deal about changing the name of the Homeland Security Adminsitration --- to, say, the Domestic Security Administration -- it would be putting lipstick on a pig unless it was accompanied by actual reforms in what the agency does.

[kath]

15. Absolutely - that term gives me the creeps every time I hear it.

:scared: :scared:

[JDPriestly]

16. For those of us who speak German, that word has horrible associations.

I have kicked and recommended this thread mit Freude. :-) :-) :-) :-)

[magellan]

19. 100% in agreement, have hated "Homeland" from its first use

Not only because it always reminds me of Hitler's "Fatherland", but also because it reeks of the ethnocentrism at work in the agendas of some Americans (including Bush**) these days. "Homeland" is empty patriotism used to divide, nothing more.

[onenote]

21. and when was its first use?

[elehhhhna]

24. who cares? it's CREEPY. surely you understand that.

[magellan]

25. First *I* heard it used in reference to this country was by Bush**

Though I'm sure you're going to enlighten me. :eyes:

[onenote]

26. if you want to be enlightened:

Its use by chimpy actually was simply carrying forward the recommendation by the Hart-Rudman Commission of 1998 which proposed that Congress create a "National Homeland Security Agency" and the terminology used by the Clinton White House which in 1998 issued Presidential Directive 62 entitled:
"Protection Against Unconventional Threats to the Homeland and Americans Overseas".

Its use in reference to other countries doesn't seem to bother people as much -- the creation of Israel was the end result of a effort to create a Jewish "homeland" and 40 years ago the Palestinians promulgated the Palestinian National Covenant which referred to Palestine as the "Homeland" of Palestinian Arabs.

That being said, I will repeat that I'm not a fan of the word, but I'm even less of a fan of the agency that bears the name.

[magellan]

30. I was living outside the country in '98

If I'd heard this terminology used then I'd have felt the same about it. (In fact I may have heard it mentioned on the news but don't recall because it wasn't being used all the time, whereas BushCo has gone a long way to making it a household word.)

My family is German on both sides. My father's side in particular was extremely anti-Hitler so I grew up learning all about the politics of hate and the use of nationalistic propaganda to divide people. "Homeland" fits right in with that agenda and I don't like it; it's not what the USA is supposed to be about.

I take back my snark and thank you for the tidbit on Clinton...which, knowing what I do now about him, doesn't surprise me.

[David__77]

29. "Fatherland" is NOT a fascist or Nazi term.

Not at all. I oppose it being used here because that sort of nationalism is the last thing an imperialist country like the US needs. But in Latin America everyone talks about their "patria" - their "fatherland." The context is different for different countries.

[magellan]

31. I understand that

I was only talking about how *I* react to it, as an American who grew up with stories from parents and grandparents about WWII.

[David__77]

33. I understand. It's clear that the use of "homeland" was designed for ideological purposes.

It was not a part of US political vernacular. It was injected in order to add to the arsenal of images and other cultural symbols that reinforced the "9/11 changed everything" mantra that consumed US politics for several years. Luckily, that's all in the dustbin now. "Domestic" would be the politically appropriate word when contrasting with "overseas" or "foreign."

[onenote]

35. except it was first used by the Hart/Rudman Commission and by Bill CLinton before 9/11

in terms of recommending actions to protect the "Homeland". You may be right that its use was ideological, but it was a bi-partisan ideological viewpoint and it predated 9/11 by at least 3 years.

[David__77]

36. Oh, it was definitely bipartisan.

Democrats were almost totally complicit. The framework was indeed laid prior to 9/11/01.

[magellan]

37. I wonder if the Dems can find their integrity after this election

I really do. I'd be happy for that much. But I don't think integrity comes free.

[kath]

41. "that sort of nationalism is the last thing an imperialist country like the US needs"

Couldn't agree more. Nationalism, like religion, is a force all too often used for evil purposes...

[DCKit]

52. There you go: Nationalism = Patriotism for the ignorant masses.

They've destroyed the education system to bring us to this point. It's past time we fought back.

[DiehardLiberal]

87. I absolutely agree!

Have always thought "Homeland" was gratuitous patriotism at it's worst. Abolish the name and the department which only exists to instill fear.

[Extend a Hand]

23. yes! yes! yes!

'Homeland' creeps me out every time I hear it.

[tabasco]

27. Let's end the usage of "spreading democracy" as "waging unjhustified war" too.

[FiveGoodMen]

32. Abso-fuckin'-lutely!!!

Feel like I'm living in Nazi Germany every time I hear that goddamned word.

[warren pease]

38. I think it's really cool and it's helping me get in touch with my inner fascist...

In fact, I'm so completely into it these days that every time I hear the word, this uncontrollable reflex kicks in and I click my heels together, my right fist slams into my sternum and I start humming the Horst Wessel Song.

Then I slowly awaken from my hyper-patriotic trance, but not before I spend a couple of minutes talking bad about Obama's mother.

All this reminds me; my boots need polishing, my riding crop needs a little work and my dueling scar needs more abrasion so it'll never quite heal but, instead, serve as a blood-red reminder to all of my studliness in the face of mortal danger.

Plus which, those twin lightning bolts look really cool with my monocle.


Seig Heil!

wp

[kath]

39. Wow - that's DUzy material!

where does one go to recommend a DUzy?

thanks for giving me a laugh- I needed it.

My brain is too fried tonight, such that my irony meter has totally gone kerflewy, and I don't know you well enough to surmise if you're for or against the use of the word (could be you're mocking those of us who say it gives us the creeps), but it gave me a good laugh anyhow.

[warren pease]

48. I should use the "sarcasm" icon more often...

So, for the record...


:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:



wp

[kath]

62. I thought so. But, like I said, I was frazzled, so wasn't sure I could trust my instinct.

I later read some of your other posts, and then figured you were among those of us who are creeped out by the word. I also thought "Jeebus, can that guy WRITE!" I bow down to you... Do you have a whole garageful of DUzys? Are you a writer IRL?

[warren pease]

65. In real life...

... I'm a debt-slave to the gaping corporate maw of doom. I was a reporter back before the word became code for "incompetent tool." I went to the dark side back in the mid-'80s because journalism was becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Raygunism.

The dark side being corporate and agency media relations. And who better to relate to the media than somebody who was one of them -- although a traitorous turncoat by the standards of journalism's purists. Either way, we're all sluts. Some of us whore for the status quo-dependent elites by working in mass media and reinforcing the great American creation myth that insists the rich are rich because they're superior.

Others work directly for the corporatists, right inside the belly of the beast, and tell anybody who'll listen how our stuff is the bestest, most wonderfulest stuff this side of Orion's belt and -- by the way -- if you don't buy it you'll fall victim to the heartbreak of psoriasis, male pattern baldness and the latest made-for-TV disorder -- ED!! AndOhMyGodAnythingButThat...

Seven years of corporate shilling was more than enough. I quit real work in 1993 and started freelancing as a PR/marketing writer and media relations "expert." Fortunately, I had a lot of friends and acquaintances throughout the high-tech industry, so most of my contracts are by referral and I haven't had to do much self-marketing. Which is great because I'm truly terrible at it.

So that's the money side. The other side is payed at a rate considerably less than what I'd expect to get as a journeyman deep fat fryer attendant at the local Chez Maisson de la Casa House of du Burger Roi.

But that's the stuff I'm proud of. I've been a radical lefty for almost all my life, having been pushed in that direction early on by my socialist parents. I've been writing political and social criticism, essays and some satire for maybe 35 years.

But the fascist coup of 2000 and the installation of an entire phalanx of imperialist monsters representing the very worst humanity has to offer got my attention as nothing ever has before -- even Raygun, vile prick that he was.

So I've made it my personal responsibility to play a very tiny part in the tidal wave of outrage and fury that's -- if there is a dog -- going to sweep these sons of bitches right into an 8 X 10 rat-infested cell somewhere beyond the outer limits of the American gulag. And far beyond any hope of salvation or rescue.

For life; no possibility of parole; only the rats and roaches for company; orange jumpsuits and showers once a month...

You get the idea. Anyway, thanks for the kind words re my writing. You can google "warren pease" and all kinds of stuff comes up -- including some scribblings from an idiot who also uses that name but spends much time and effort bitching about Al Gore in prose that would embarrass a fifth grader.

There are also actual Warren Peases in the land, the unlucky children of sadistic parents who thought sticking a kid with a pun for a name would be really cool.

Anyway, that's the story and I'm stickin' to it -- unless I think of a better one. ;-)

wp

[Homer Wells]

40. AMEN!!!!

K&R

[Wcross]

42. I've hated that from day one. It makes me think of the Nazi term "Fatherland".

How about calling it the "FBI". It has worked in the past, why create a whole level of bureaucracy to do a job the FBI is well equipped to handle?

[paparush]

43. "The Homeland" - Every time Bush** says it,, my skin crawls..

[scarletwoman]

44. I totally agree. It's not only creepy, it's really rather inaccurate.

As a third generation descendent of Norwegian immigrants, I think of Norway as my "Homeland" -- that is, the place of my family's origin going back for thousands of years.

Wherever the origin of the people who we now call Native Americans, after a few millennia on this continent, they have earned the right to call this particular geographical location their "homeland", imho.

People of European descent, not so much. Same for the descendents of the African slaves that the Europeans hauled here.

All that aside, I still despise the word for the fascist/nationalistic frame it creates. Thank you for starting this thread.

sw

[aikoaiko]

46. I sort of liked it -- I like home

[Elidor]

47. Let's reform the "Security" part as well

America is not going to be saved by having Nazis harrass all travelers.

[DCKit]

49. And "Treasure" Too.

It's "Treasury" and "Lives" that they're spending, not some pirate loot.

[derby378]

50. Rename DHS the Department of Infrastructure Management

But not before separating FEMA from the Department and making it a Cabinet-level post.

[blondeatlast]

51. Absolutely. nt

[bdamomma]

53. definitely,

[treestar]

54. I've hated that since I first heard it

And even more the word "security" which conjures up the spector of "State Security Police"

[David Zephyr]

55. I agree. And thanks for working this issue.

I hope he will abolish the HDP and re-distribute the workers into smaller, more effective departments.

I don't want to see good men and women losing their jobs, I just would like to have a more decentralized and more effective approach at defending our country.

Mixing dealing with hurricanes and terrorism into one great big department was idiotic and a knee jerk reaction to the fearmongering generated by Bush and Cheney.

[LibDemAlways]

56. Couldn't agree more. I wish Obama would make a campaign

promise to rename the Dep. of Homeland Security, the Dept. of Domestic Security or Dept. of US National Security. Anything but the Nazi-like "Homeland" - a term I never heard before the Bush Crime Family took over - and way too easily accepted by the media whores and the public.

[SalviaBlue]

57. Hear Hear

That term has got to go!!

[Hekate]

58. If Obama's administration would just very quietly drop the term from everything I would be happy

It always sounded better in the original German anyway. "Heimat" -- an ethnically and racially charged term distinguishing those who "really belong here" and whose ancestors have been on location for a couple of thousand years, from more recent arrivals.

That works in other places, and is useful for whipping up a nationalistic froth. The problem is that the United States of America has always prided itself on being a nation of immigrants, of people who LEFT those other places and their attitudes behind. We are a nation.

The only folks who can rightfully call this their "homeland" are the Native Americans, imo.

Hekate

[Breeze54]

60. Hell YEAH!! I can get behind that!!

That term irks me to no end!! :grr:

:kick: & Recommended !!

[Miss Chybil]

61. I agree. "Homeland" is not the nomenclature we are used to

here in the United States of America. Where did we go that we have to refer back to the "homeland?"

[Stephanie]

69. Remember "national"? What was wrong with National Security?

etc.

[anonymous171]

63. K&R! "Homeland" reminds me of the Nazi's "fatherland."

Hate to use ultimate cliche but its true.

[Kablooie]

64. Yah Vol! Dumpen da Nazzi words!! Skol!

[tuckessee]

66. Not a chance of that happening.

In fact, I bet Homeland Security not only will continue but will get budget increases from Obama.

Appointment to head the Dept. will be a prize plum for some lucky supporter.

[CrispyQ]

67. I always get a few thumbsup when I sport this sticker in my truck window:

[Stephanie]

68. I was thinking the same thing! Let's drop the pseudo-Naziesque lingo, please.

God that shit is creepy.

[KG]

71. how 'bout he just dismantle the whole charade.

[ulysses]

82. true enough.

Much as "Homeland" makes me want to don a horned helmet and break out in song, he could rename it "Department of Joe's Security" and it'd still fulfill the same functions.

[Chulanowa]

72. While we're at it, let's ditch "heartland" too

Holy shit I can't stand "Heartland" - Nebraska is not the defining point of this nation.

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

73. Needs said!

And reiterated!

[Kablooie]

74. He should change it to Land o' Goshen Security.

[Zorra]

75. Yep. Icky fascist propaganda word. Good post. n/t

[bhikkhu]

76. Absolutely! It still makes my skin crawl after 7 years.

One of the more out-in-the-open nazifications we have had during the Bush years.

[hisownpetard]

77. YES!!!!!!! I've hated it from the first time I heard Bush use it. Great idea!

:hi: :thumbsup:

[JohnyCanuck]

78. It's a disgusting, Orwellian, fascist sounding word

that creeped me out the first time I heard it as well (and I still have not become accustomed to it). HATE IT, HATE IT, HATE IT!

[southern_belle]

79. k & r n/t

[liberal N proud]

80. Here, Here

[mckara]

81. What? You Don't Like Living In Bush's Reich?

n/t

[27inCali]

83. the term smacks of Nazism

all hail the fatherland. It's just a total dogwhistle for all the xenophobes who want to hate everyone and everything that's the slightest bit foreign to them.

[opihimoimoi]

84. GET RID IF IT.....its code for GOOPERSTAN......its all about Framing the dialogue

Homeland my ass...whad about AlohaLand? we feel left out here in Hawaii....

[mmm413]

86. YES!

It's so Germanic. Like "One world order."

[Tumbulu]

88. yes (nt)

[crim son]

89. Hell yeah.

The word has bothered me from the first time it was bantered about the the administration and the media. It isn't just a word, it's a paradigm and it bothers me to no end... more, even, than the term "freedom fries."

[ileen4justice]

90. BETTER: GET RID OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND PATRIOT ACT

Yes, I guess you all have noticed this term is by definition used to define a national ETHNIC group ala Nazis. But before we lose sight of the forest for the trees why don't we just get rid of the whole damn agency, the patriot act, well......let's just undo everything since the 2000 election to make it easier for Obama!!