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Fear stops here! (and spit on Blair's condolences)

Volunteer G (Indymedia Japan) | 07.07.2005 18:04 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | London

There won't be any terrorists on a dead planet anyway.

greetings from japan to london. I came to indymedia UK to get respite from fear-mongering. seeing hysteria even on the indymedia site, I have to say something....

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Want a cure from terror? It's easy, just be fearless!

I asked a meditation teacher once, "why should I try to transcend my ego?" He answered, "so you can stop being afraid. And when you're not afraid, others cannot control you anymore. But as long as you're afraid, anyone can take advantage of you by promising you security."

Remember- while you're busy being scared, your politicians have free reign.
Remember new york? how Bush got the Patriot Act got passed? See how politicians use 'war on terror' to get away with war, murder, human rights violations, surveillance, lies, environmental meyhem (just today Bush said, to general applause, he'll build more oil refineries)? The US has turned into a surveillance state because Americans allowed themselves to be terrified. The spiral of fear: terror--> 'war on terror' --> resistance against 'war on terror.' and then we're all involved in the terror agenda.

Better: Remember Madrid! - the people said- this war was not in our name to start with, and gave their war-mongering government the boot. So, let London be Madrid, not NY. The terrorists feed on your attention, pain and confusion. And so do the 'terror-hunters.' Refuse to feed them and they'll shrivel.

I just saw the news on NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster (not the BBC though, I tell you!). The only thing they cared about was if any Japanese were hurt, and how koizumi got his tie adjusted by putin. That's really what it's all about. Blairs, Bushes and Koizumis don't care how many Iraqis and Afghanis, soldiers and aidworkers die (at their hands!), or how many Africans die per minute because of exploitation and violence (that we are all complicit in). They support genocide (e.g. in Columbia against the Guambiana Indians) in the name of 'war against terror.' But if a couple of londoners or new yorkers get hurt, how quick they are to denounce violence and feel (feign?) sadness!

Tell them you spit on their condolences. That you want them to stop killing and scaring people. that the buck of fear stops here. and that they should get back to the issues- poverty and environmental degradation.

Tune out of the culture of fear. Turn off the TV. Ignore the newspapers and the excited chattering of the people around you. Ignore panic-stricken reports, even on Indymedia. Think about it- what's more likely? Dying from a terrorist attack or getting hit by a car?

Remember- this is a distraction. The real problems are global climate change, extinction of species, hunger and social injustices. we really don't have time to pay attention to this nonsense.

There won't be any terrorists on a dead planet anyway.

'nuff said.

Volunteer G (Indymedia Japan)
- e-mail: binemaya1(NOSPAM)mac(DOT)com
- Homepage: http://japan.indymedia.org

Comments

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fight fear and understand it

07.07.2005 19:34

Excellent article that manages to inject some much needed common sense into today's events.

I agree fully that fear has to be overcome so that we are able to free ourselves from the, all too inevitable, further erosion of our freedoms in the name of fighting terror.

However, I do believe that our fears can be used to help us connect with those who feel similar emotions, whether they be in Palestine, Iraq, Columbia or any one of the many other areas of the globe that are currently under the boot of the west.

What many Londeners are feeling today is what these people feel every day of their life. Blood is blood and it doesn't matter if the oppressor is the state or some other organisation - it is still terrorism.

If we can get this message across then we may be able to convince enough people that the only way to end terrorism and to rid ourselves of fear is to ensure that we hold our states accountable and ensure that our states stop participating in terrorist activities.

Steve