Bill Maher's Racist Remark on Afghanistan: "Maybe They're Not Ready For Freedom?"

On Real Time With Bill Maher, Maher just speculated that folks in Afghanistan are not ready for freedom. This wreaks of bizarre social Darwinism, racism, xenophobia, and cultural superiority. The idea that some people are better equipped for freedom, democracy, and human rights infuses so much of American Society. People here really think that the U.S. is superior. I'm disgusted by this attitude. With the U.S. rape rates exceedingly high, police violence rampant, the largest prison population in the world, a pathetic health care system, and a couple brutal wars (one on people in Afghanistan), the U.S. has clearly failed to be ready for Freedom.

But that's the government. That's the people in charge. People, every day folks, whether in Kandihar or Denver are longing to be free from the violence of the United States, imperialism, and brutality.

Kyrgyzstan Sticks it to U.S. Imperialism

According to the NY Times, when Kyrgyzstan's president Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced he planned on closing a U.S. military base critical to NATO's supply lines to Afghanistan, he lifted his fist, turned his hand, and raised his middle finger to U.S. military ambitions. As so-called "Anti-War" president Barack Obama prioritizes invading Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan's decision will be a major impediment to U.S. plans to murder more Afghan civilians. In 2005 Bakiyev claimed that Kyrgyzstan would not be a "place for the fulfillment of someone else's geopolitical interests."

Well, you go honey. Tell those Yankees what you think! And if it saves thousands of impoverished Afghan peaasants, hell, even I'd vote for you! Now, if the other hundreds of countries harboring U.S. bases would shut them down, U.S. military might finally be disrupted.

I Hope It's Warm Outside

It's nearly noon. I showered, sipped my first cup of coffee, and am leaving Hillary's to go too Barricuda's for more coffee and eggs. As we get ready to go, I'm centering myself, moving forward, and preparing to enjoy the day. The Senate is arguing over the economic stimulus package, Iraqis have finished at the polls, the U.S. military is leaving Iraq and entering an escallated era of occupation in Afghanistan. This morning, I'm happy, ready to ground myself in the movie I'm working on, the articles I'm writing, and the day-in-day-out work of programming TV. I hope it's warm outside, but even if not, I'm rekindling an inner warmth, a sense of joy and liberation, a desire to move beyond the chaos of the mundane towards the tranquility and possibility of radical renewal. I love so many people in the world and struggle to love so many others. I recommitt myself to try.

GROWWWWWLLLLLL!

The silhouette of the Front Range basks in creamcicle orange. T-Pain is blasting You Can Have Whatever You Like and I'm thinking about the future, wishing his words were true. Though it's great to have Bush out of office, I'm nervous about the Democrats in power. According to the ACLU, 50% of the Constitution is violated in The USA Patriot Act. Will the Dems violate the other 50? Will they finally close Guantanamo? Will they release all the children detained as "enemy combatants?" Will Afghanistan be destroyed, again, and again, and again? What about the Palestinian people? What about those rotting in prison?

So many people feel that Obama's election can repair our relations with the hundreds of countries we've destroyed and alienated. I fear the blow-back has yet to come from 8 years of Bush.

At a very basic level, I'm feeling cranky at the Left for its failures to stop the War in Iraq and its failures to stop the war against Afghanistan.

Growwwwwllllllllll!