Melinda
Melinda's Journal
Profile Information
Name: Melinda
Gender: Female
Hometown: Central California
Member since: 2002
Number of posts: 5,465
Gender: Female
Hometown: Central California
Member since: 2002
Number of posts: 5,465
Journal Archives
Hey Kids! It's time to take a trip in the DU 'Way Back Machine'! Hows about September, 2003?
On September 4, 2003, DU's own realFedUP posted this OP on the subject of Fascism. The author of the piece linked to shared a story he'd heard many years previously...
...reminiscing about a professor's midafternoon lecture:
When he was a young man, he told us, he served in the U.S. Army as part of the occupation forces in Germany after World War II. He was put to work gathering information for the military tribunal preparing to prosecute Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg. His job was to spend time in the villages adjacent to one concentration camp and talk to the residents about what they knew. The villagers, he said, knew about the camp, and watched daily as thousands of prisoners would arrive by rail car, herded like cattle into the camps. And they knew that none ever left, even though the camp never could have held the vast numbers of prisoners who were brought in. They also knew that the smokestack of the camp's crematorium belched a near-steady stream of smoke and ash. Yet the villagers chose to remain ignorant about what went on inside the camp. No one inquired, because no one wanted to know. "But every day," he said, "these people, in their neat Germanic way, would get out their feather dusters and go outside. And, never thinking about what it meant, they would sweep off the layer of ash that would settle on their windowsills overnight. Then they would return to their neat, clean lives and pretend not to notice what was happening next door. "When the camps were liberated and their contents were revealed, they all expressed surprise and horror at what had gone on inside," he said. "But they all had ash in their feather dusters." "That story neatly compresses the way fascism works: in a vacuum of denial" The above is derived from the essay "Rush, Newspeak and Fascism: An exegesis, by David Neiwert in collaboration by literally dozens of bloggers, published writers, Professors, and organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League. 10 years ago it was a fascinating study - today it's downright prescient and scary. "What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so complicated that the government had to act on information which the people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if the people could not understand it, it could not be released because of national security. And their sense of identification with Hitler, their trust in him, made it easier to widen this gap and reassured those who would otherwise have worried about it. And, if I may, one of the responses to this 2003 DU OP almost 10 years ago; thanks indepat (and thanks also to scarletwoman, DrBB and all others who posted on that thread - read this and let it sink in, really, really read this: indepat (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Sep-04-03 03:44 PM- indepat Apropos of where we find ourselves some 10 years later, isn't it? Prescient essay which, unfortunately, I am limited by copyright to posting. And so, I hope those reading these words will make the time to read Neiwert's essay so that we might more thoughtfully examine and discuss the rise of corporatism and its take-over of this country before its too late. ![]() |
Posted by Melinda | Tue Jun 25, 2013, 08:04 PM (23 replies)
I pray you find peace in this passing...
Please know that if there is anything, ANYTHING that we at DU can help to make things more comfortable for you, we will. I've seen it happen over these many years, and I'll be the first to step up and help in anyway possible.
My heart goes out to you and your loved ones... I've been fighting a similar fight for many years now, and I know. I know. May the Lord surround you with angels and bring you peace. All you need do is call out here, and DU angels will come running. ((((((SmileyRose)))))) you are loved - you are family. |
Posted by Melinda | Tue Apr 23, 2013, 09:58 PM (0 replies)
I'm from Newtown, and I have something to say to the world:
I don't care about karma, that's why I made this throwaway. Read full post and thread here To be clear - these are not my words, nor my experience. I am bringing them to DU from another site. I thought DU might like to read the heartbreaking perspective of one of Newton, CT young residents, as well as survivors of the VA Tech and Aurora killings. The thread is HUGE, but full of wisdom and insight and other things worth learning or even considering. There is much information there from friends of the Lanza family, especially friends of Ryan Lanza's. There is a link to an on-point video made by someone named Charlie Booker after a similar massacre in Germany back in 2009; the admonishment by a Psychiatrist is brilliant: Might we could all take a step back, and reflect. |
Posted by Melinda | Sat Dec 15, 2012, 01:49 PM (36 replies)
Good morning DU!!! Are you FEELING GOOD?
Akin is toast!! (my personal fav!!!)
The grown-ups remain in charge (yeah Obama!) SCOTUS is safe!! Healthcare remains intact!! (and looks like the PO may still be in play!) Democrats still control the Senate!! And Michele can cancel the movers!! Please, Duers, lets make music today! Please add your musical choice(s) and show why YOU are 'feeling good' this morning! For your enjoyment: ? ![]() |
Posted by Melinda | Wed Nov 7, 2012, 10:09 AM (9 replies)
ALLAN LOSES AGAIN!!! Later dayz Macaca man!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Melinda | Tue Nov 6, 2012, 10:56 PM (0 replies)
Confirmed installation of uncertified last minute election tabulation reporting software in Ohio
The Free Press confirms installation, secret justification of uncertified last minute election tabulation reporting software in Ohio FreePress.org Because, this is the PERFECT TIME to EXPERIMENT on the machines that count the votes!!!! ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Posted by Melinda | Fri Nov 2, 2012, 12:42 PM (15 replies)
Hi! I’m a rapist. I’m one of those men who likes to force myself on women without their consent.....
***Disclaimer*** While this is correctly deemed "satire", this open letter to conservatives may very likely 'trigger' deep emotional responses in women who have been raped, women who have become pregnant as a result of rape, and women who have given birth and raised the child born of the rape.
Women like me. I hope at some point to be able to put my life experiences into words, the incest at the hands of my grandfather, the several molestations and near molestations as a child, the first time I was raped at age 14, the suicide attempt immediately thereafter, the last time I was raped at age 17, and the subsequent pregnancy from this rape. The emotional damage I incurred over the first 18 years of my life lasts to this day. Triggers. Todd Akin triggered an emotional breakdown several months ago. And damn near every day I read something else proposed by the GOP that triggers me back yet again... I want to write of this, but I am terrified at the same time. I kept my baby and he is now a man who looks just like my rapist. I am 58 years old, but the trauma of these experiences have left me as broken and scared. The scars will never heal. I don't know why I just shared this, but I am going to post it and deal with the pain as it comes. The reason for this post: A Fan Letter to Certain Conservative Politicians
October 25, 2012 By John Scalzi WARNING: this post is going to be oh-so-very-triggery for victims of rape and sexual assault. I am not kidding. Dear certain conservative politicians: Hi! I’m a rapist. I’m one of those men who likes to force myself on women without their consent or desire and then batter them sexually. The details of how I do this are not particularly important at the moment — although I love when you try to make distinctions about “forcible rape” or “legitimate rape” because that gives me all sorts of wiggle room — but I will tell you one of the details about why I do it: I like to control women and, also and independently, I like to remind them how little control they have. There’s just something about making the point to a woman that her consent and her control of her own body is not relevant against the need for a man to possess that body and control it that just plain gets me off. A guy’s got needs, you know? And my need is for control. Sweet, sweet control. So I want to take time out of my schedule to thank you for supporting my right to control a woman’s life, not just when I’m raping her, but for all the rest of her life as well. Ah, I see by your surprised face that you at the very least claim to have no idea what I’m talking about. Well, here’s the thing. Every time you say “I oppose a woman’s right to abortion, even in cases of rape,” what you’re also saying is “I believe that a man who rapes a woman has more of a right to control a woman’s body and life than that woman does.” Oh, look. That surprised face again. All right, then. On the chance that you’re not giving me that surprised face just for the sake of public appearances, let me explain it to you, because it’s important for me that you know just how much I appreciate everything you’re doing for me. So, let’s say I’ve raped a woman, as I do, because it’s my thing. I’ve had my fun, reminding that woman where she stands on the whole “being able to control things about her life” thing. But wait! There’s more. Since I didn’t use a condom (maybe I’m confident I can get other people to believe it was consensual, you see, or maybe I just like it that way), one thing has led to another and I’ve gotten this woman pregnant. Full text of open letter |
Posted by Melinda | Tue Oct 30, 2012, 01:23 AM (37 replies)
**Satire Alert** BARACK OBAMA: PURE EVIL
*disclaimer: I am sharing a 2 min SATIRICAL political ad that may well have been created by The Rude Pundit's evil, pure evil, DEMOCRAT voting twin. Satire, funny stuff, NSFW 'cause the language is, well - rude punditry. Oh, don't let small children near the screen when viewing. Enjoy. ![]() <iframe width="560" height="315" src="?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> |
Posted by Melinda | Sat Oct 27, 2012, 05:25 PM (3 replies)
Employment meme I'm seeing all over the net today: Obama destroys jobs.
Really?
![]() |
Posted by Melinda | Sat Oct 27, 2012, 12:33 PM (3 replies)
Independent Contractor my ass... Guy arrested in VA for tossing ballots is employed by GOP!!
Look at his RESUME!!
I am not joking!!! LOOK at this mother fletcher!!!!!!!! Someone post the image, please? TTTIA!! |
Posted by Melinda | Fri Oct 19, 2012, 07:10 PM (18 replies)