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Published: Mon 12 Aug 2002 11:13 AM
In This Edition: The Worm that churned my stomach - A Complaint [Re: Firas Al-Atraqchi] - Aziz Choudry... - FW: Hoppeism and the Bailout - Proof Of CIA Infiltration Of The UN
The Worm that churned my stomach
Dear Scoop,
I just thought I'd give my opinion of the electoral worm. It is, in a nutshell, an insult to our intelligence. It is one of the most blatant cases of media manipulation that has ever been seen.
It's bad enough that for years we have been told when to laugh on a sit-com via canned laughter, but now we are being told when to approve or disapprove on what a politician is saying at any given moment.
Unfortunately with such dumbing down of television in the last several years, we now have a new generation of young voters who are basically braindead and are therefore easy gullible to this not-so-subtle power of suggestion of who to vote for.
Don't believe me? The ridiculous electoral results speak for themselves. Without the worm, maybe Peter Dunne's party might've been given a 1-2% based on his actual performance but to rise to 8% all at once?
What amazes me is that so many people don't even see how easily they are being told what to think, they even are led to believe that it is their own conclusions that allows them to "choose" who to vote for.
So, what happens if the worm goes up but I disapprove of the speaker? Am I now seen to be out of step with the real world, a blot on society? If the worm does down but I like what I am hearing, will I begin to doubt my own perception of reality and think I must be in error? After all, how could I believe one thing when the God-worm tells me something different?
Will it make me become so filled with guilt and remorse that I should dare have the audacity to disagree with it? Will I have to be taken away to be "fixed"? Will I only be "free" when l finally break down and "repent" and now follow whatever I am told like some zombie?
Do not underestimate the power of suggestion. Rigging an election has never been easier.
Russell Gray
***
A Complaint [Re: Firas Al-Atraqchi]
Dear Sir
I'm one of the Iraqis who migrated to New Zealand in 1996 and liked the people, country and the lifestyle.
I also enjoyed the freedom of speech the country gives to all of its citizens.
I recently came across an article written by one of the Iraqis, "Firas Al-Atraqchi" with regards to US senate hearing about Iraqi Weapon of Mass Destruction programme and a professor who was involved in that program. The article is on:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0208/S00013.htm
I have no problem with most of the contents in that article except the following quote;
"Hamza is also a Shiite. Let's dispense with the pleasantries; most Shiites in Iraq would love to see Saddam go and outside Iraq make no secret their hatred for Sunnis. A popular catch phrase repeated by Iraqi Shiites is "We will murder all you Sunnis while you sleep".
There is no catch phrase of this kind at all and accusing Iraqi Shiites of being murders is outrageous, sectorial and defaming. Publishing it on a high profile and a well respected New Zealand web site as yours is very distressing for hundreds or even thousands of Iraqi Kiwis.
I'm asking your kind attention to have a look at the article, wishing that there will be a consideration to re-write its content.
My best regards.
Zahir Alward
Auckland - 5/8/2002
***
Aziz Choudry...
Shame on you guys, for printing that article on the 'dietary waste' being 'dumped' on third world countries. (See… Killing Me Softly - US Plans Pacific Waste Dump) The author was 'fed takeaway food and soda' while on a trip to Pohnpei last year, while staring in the distance at all the wonderful fruit bearing trees, etc. What a load of crap. Did they hold the author down for this 'feeding?' or what?
And since when is diabetes the result of improper diet? We have confirmed proof all over that place that it is not. It is a genetically transferred disease. Diet is very important once the disease is confirmed, but that is it.
The biggest problem in third world countries is poor diet from low calorie intake. Simple. Dah! Forty percent of Coca Cola and Pepsi in Eastern African countries is consumed by children under the age of one.
It is the Enfamil of Africa. It has calories. It is sterile. It is cheap. So a mother, under such circumstance (malnourished mothers do not produce breast milk of sufficent richness to support life) does what a good mother will do, give the baby something to get by.
Do we blame Coca Cola and Pepsi for aggressively selling in that marketplace? Do we blame the mother for being so poor? (well, here in America we certainly would and do).
What about there in NZ? You guys seem to be just a bit more progressive when it comes to caring about the human condition (I mean the human condition of others outside of high politicians and CEO's, as we care about those ageing mean white men a whole lot here).
C'mon guys. I expect more from you than this crummy unresearched article. Live up to those expectations.
Most Sincerely,
Edmond Dantes
Director
***
FW: Hoppeism and the Bailout
Dear Editor,
I recommend this article be posted on your Scoop pages as a rebuttal to the "public property" worshipping Keith Rankin's incoherent socialist ranting:
Keith Rankin: Whither National? 8 August 2002
Have a read, it debunks all Rankin's contradictory ideas on public property/ownership/wealth/tax etc.
http://www.mises.org/fullstory.asp?control=1021
Barry Cole --
Proof Of CIA Infiltration Of The UN
Hello.
I read your Sludge Report #142: Richard Butler Is A CIA Asset. Then I remember reading a story over at unknownnews.net about swede Rolf Ekéus (chief of the weapons inspectors from 91-97) admitting that the CIA infiltrated the UnSCOM. The story is located at fis.pitas.com, but sometimes its not accessed due to heavy traffic.
Hope this helps.
Yours sincerely
Pierre Dembri
Scoop Feedback
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