Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
You know how some parents watch MTV in the hopes of gaining some insight into their kids?Well, music is the great uniter, and I’ve been spending some time watching the Country Music Channel in an effort to gain some insight into red America.
I think it’s working as well for me as for those desperate parents.Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
- Bad highlights on women and mullets on men are not only tolerated, but encouraged.
- The hat is a prop.Like bling on a rapper or big hair on an 80’s band.
- This is a good place to put a pickup truck commercial.
- It’s very, very white. Lily white. Pasty white. Dear lord, shield your eyes or you might go blind from the glare white.
- And "Redneck Woman" is a really, really popular song.
All this reminds me that stereotypes become stereotypes because there’s a grain (or more) of truth in them, and that TV is probably not the best way to get an education.Hey, at least I’m trying.Please don’t make me listen to Jesus rock.
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November 8, 2004 |
Anne Martens | Comments (12 so far)
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Comments
Posted by: John Dunagan | Nov 8, 2004 9:40:36 PM
Sometimes you just have to listen to the music and ignore the lyrics. I do that quite often when listening to Puffy.
Posted by: Tenskwatawa | Nov 9, 2004 1:45:01 AM
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By coincidence, beside you on the desktop is this. From DemocracyNow.org Which contains this:
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Thursday, November 4th, 2004
How the Far Right Built a Media Empire to Manufacture Consent
We [Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzalez] speak with veteran investigative journalist Robert Parry who writes in his latest article.
[Parry:] "So, you have a large number of Americans who have really reached that point that they believe the propaganda that they get from the conservative media. And that has changed American politics dramatically."
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Studying neuro realms it is clear that a person's brain is built in substance, or "remodeled and added-on," by the sensory stuff of existence, and experience. Which goes for our virtual TV diet, too: veritably, actually, truly, materially, factually, really brick-by-brick assembling walls of our brain in our brain.
Relating to the subject of my study: when the brain changes, how our politics changes.
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Posted by: Leslie | Nov 9, 2004 10:25:04 AM
Thanks for making me smile Anne. They are too few and far between these days.
Posted by: Tom Civiletti | Nov 9, 2004 10:51:23 AM
Web pieces on election system issues are being compiled at
www.pissedoffvotes.net and
http://stolenelection2004.com/
http://www.blackboxvoting.org/ is planning a massive FOIA study of election results to detect fraud.
Election theft and reform will be discussed on Tvset this Saturday, 8pm on PDX metro cable channel 11.
www.tvset.org
Posted by: karrie | Nov 9, 2004 10:51:51 AM
We should pay closer attention to those song lyrics. There are some values there that we as progressives share. For instance, this woman does not need brand names - her sexuality and beauty are all her own. Screw the brands that try and make her think she needs more stuff. That, my friend, is a value progressives can speak to. (Remember the anti-corporate globalization movement? Remember all our talk about how brands manipulate consumers? What about our calls to live a simpler life?) Okay, Wal-Mart is NOT a viable alternative. But do you see a place to start? Because I do. We can start with this: a shared value that our worth as human beings does not come from corporations.
I grew up in Iowa, and I was often called white trash as a kid. I remember my grandmother getting government cheese and sharing it with us. I remember my parents whispering at night about whether we had enough money for all the groceries, and how on earth they could pay the doctor bills.
Later, I was the first in my family to graduate from college, and then I was the first to earn a graduate degree. And you know what? As progressive and leftist and punk and non-country as I was, I NEVER fit in with the other students at my university. What I remember most strongly was an overwhelming sense of alienation. Everything about me stood out: my clothes, my hair, my 50+ hours per week of work (while all the other students partied and played. Later, I was able to get enough financial aid to work part-time, thank goodness.) Those other students could get help from Mom & Dad when they wanted to work a non-paid internship or travel abroad. I had nothing. There was a long period during which rent was 100% of my income. I had no phone, and I had to strategize to get heat in the winter. I lived on the one free meal my hotel housekeeping job provided, as well as leftovers and condiments from the bar downstairs.
Those other students claimed to understand class theories, but they could care less about a predicament like mine. They were too busy enjoying all their privilege - sipping expensive lattes and making plans for spring break. These students talked so confidently about issues like healthcare and the minimum wage. Inside, I was laughing. They had no clue.
If you take another look at that country song, it seems to be a defiant response to something - the criticisms that come down from elites, no doubt. Many people dig in and fight when insulted or attacked. Something to think about. This woman has perhaps been attacked for being a stay-at-home mom with a baby on her hip. Or for not having the fancier things. So she fights. I think the real way to understand her is empathy.
We progressives need to fight like hell. This dialog is a start. Reaching out to others is an even better start. Empathy and compassion will help us win.
Thanks for the post.
Posted by: karrie | Nov 9, 2004 11:05:08 AM
PS - Also, please remember that many people in the Midwest and other areas are facing the rapid destruction of their livelihoods, and inevitably, their local cultures. As family farms disappear, and as housing developments and shopping malls move into previously open spaces, people are fighting to preserve what they can.
This does not, of course, excuse the overwhelming votes to ban gay marriage (which, let's not forget, happened right here in Oregon, too. And if you look at all the statistics, there is no way Measure 36 could have won without some Democrats voting for it. That means that we Democrats need to realize that bigotry exists within our own ranks. How do we fight it?)
But you know, I think the moral issues (and terrorism issues) tapped into other fears - the fears of losing livelihood and lifestyle, culture and landscape. The Republicans knew they could tap into fear in general, and they did.
We have to appeal to something else. How about empathy? How about compassion?
One way to reach out is to take this music seriously as a cultural expression and really try to understand it (not necessarily agree, mind you). We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Posted by: BassBird | Nov 9, 2004 11:18:54 AM
Maybe try making an HONEST attempt at understanding rural americain folks. This is basiclly a list of the reasons you find them to be "Unrefined".
Posted by: John Dunagan | Nov 9, 2004 11:34:34 AM
That'd be easier, BassBird, if the true 'understanding' of rural America wasn't hidden under the twin layers of Country Music Megaindustry and Religio-Fascist Indoctrination.
Maybe rural folk can even do their part to help us understand them - for example, help me with this question:
You live where you live so that your community would be small, or so that you could have lots of land (thereby also putting acres and sometimes miles between you and your neighbors) for a constructive purpose like farming or ranching, yes or no?
So then, if gays want to get recognized as married (with all the rights that come with it), that affects YOU directly, how? From your front porch, can you see people "living in sin?"
Besides, Anne's post didn't constitute an 'understanding,' but rather an attempt at such, with observations. Those could have been construed as humorous. Your mileage may vary.
Posted by: JACK PEEK | Nov 9, 2004 8:39:54 PM
Dear ANNIE: Your post was an attempt at "humor" RIGHT?
The words were a real eye-opener as too why you "poor, now in the minority blues lost.
Tolerence, I hear that spouted all the time, GUESS YOU MISSED THAT.
Diversity, I really know you missed there too.
The AMERICAN COWBOY.... lets see, always faithful to his horse, his dog, (here's the good part) his wife, ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN, you know, not the prrrrrrogggresive view.
The AMERICAN COWBOY.TRUE TOO HIS NEIGHBORS, THE BEST FRIEND, THE HARDEST WORKER, (no entitlements) the first seeking justice without expectations of anything but a handshake to seal a deal, not fearful of "the John Edwards" of the world, because truth is a foundation, not a toliet too use.
You and people like you need to listen to another country song..HANK WILLIAMS JR. "ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!". But, your train left and you just don't get it.
Lastly, in 08 SOME FINAL WORDS, ON DEAN, KERRY, THE BUBBA CLINTON'S(talk about trailer trash).BRING UM ON!
Posted by: David H. Marshall | Jan 26, 2008 11:40:37 AM
MEDIA MISSED, CENSORED:
From: MAILER-DAEMON@n7.bullet.ukl.yahoo.com Subject: failure notice. Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:43:22 -0000 Sorry, we were unable to deliver your message.... Remote host said: 550 SC-001 Mail rejected by Windows Live Hotmail for policy reasons. Reasons for rejection may be related to content with spam-like characteristics or IP/domain reputation problems. And From: MAILER-DAEMON@n5.bullet.ukl.yahoo.com Sat, 12 Jan 2008 18:52:58 -0000 Subject: failure notice Sorry, we were unable to deliver your message to the following address. XXXX Remote host said: 554 The message was rejected because it contains prohibited virus or spam content [BODY].
THE "[BODY]" IS:
A MEDIA MISSED, CONGRESS IGNORED.
THE U. S. SENATE BACKGROUND.
In 2008, despite the efforts of some, the U.S. Congress still treats as an "incident to service" [1] the DOD "experiments that were designed to harm" [8]! "III. Findings and conclusions", "K. DOD and DVA have repeatedly failed to provide information and medical followup to those who participate in military research..." and "N. Participation in military research is rarely included in military medical records, making it impossible to support a veteran’s claim for service-connected disabilities from military research." Thereby, DOD & VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM to-date covered up are these experiments and prevented is treatment as documented by the 1994 U.S. Senate Report.[8] By their inaction Congress has approved the Report’s: "INTRODUCTION" A. "During the last 50 years, hundreds of thousands of military personnel have been involved in human experimentation and other intentional exposures conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD), often without a servicemember's knowledge or consent.", B. "most Americans would agree that the use of soldiers as unwitting guinea pigs in experiments that were designed to harm them, at least temporarily, is not ethical." And "FORWARD" C. " The findings and conclusions contained in this report are those of the majority staff and do not necessarily reflect the eviews of the members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs." Chairman. In 2008 continued is a version of the DOD Project 112 biological lessons learned, now on the general public.[9] This is by the 19 December 2006 established civilian "Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)".[11] Under the cover of its "NATIONAL SECURITY MISSIONS", as it is for military personnel, withheld from the civilian "guinea pigs" are the cause and effects of its Research and Development (R&D) Projects.
From 1953 the U.S. Senate "to harm" lessons learned were in direct disobedience of the DOD Secretary's TOP SECRET order. Forty one (41) years earlier it required the U.S. Senate’s 1994 "servicemember's knowledge" and "consent". [4] 1953 known by the Secretary's of all Services, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and their R&D Board. It was "UNCLASSIFIED" in 1975. Nineteen (19) years later, during the U.S. Senate’s reported past 50 years, most of the "to harm" service records were destroyed in a 1973 National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) fire. Those that survived had all witnesses censored by Congress’s 1974 Privacy Act! The "Veterans Right to Know Act" was proposed in the 2005 and H.R. 4259 [109th] 2006 Congress. It never became law. Underlying the DOD & VA U.S. Healthcare System Are Medically Unqualified Laymen Rejection of Physician Decisions, e.g., a from 1952 HOW IT IS DONE.
ALL IS IN THE RECORD!
Each Executive Branch (DOD, CIA & BARDA) Project completes the R&D process. The prior lessons learned are reviewed. The then Scope of Work defines what the experiment is "designed" to do. The how, where, when and who is identified. The conducted RESEARCHED cause and effects are closely followed. From the results are DEVELOPED safe production, use, the needed for treatment and protection, e.g., the DOD manufacturers handling of hazardous materials such as Depleted Uranium, Agent Orange, the biological agents of Project 112 [9] and the jet-engine noise levels of Project 7210 [2]. All is in the Executive Branch record! Under the cover of national security the revealing treatment evidence: 1. Is not cause identified in a subject’s Medical History, so that they never the wiser become. The deceived victim’s "to harm" effects are not Medical History recorded, therefore not addressed! Prevented is any follow up by independent civilian and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) physicians. And 2. For veterans’ the 64 years of experiment specific injuries are not in the VA "schedule of ratings for disabilities" [7]!
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT DID NOT KNOW?
The 1987 U.S. Supreme Court STANLEY decision [5] extends the coverage of their 1950 FERES Case that a death by a military barracks fire was an "incident to service" [1]. STANLEY treats the 1958 DOD "experiments...designed to harm" disobedience of the 1953 order [4] as also an "incident to service"! To-date not accomplished is the Senate Report’s, "IV. Recommendations. G. The Feres Doctrine should not be applied for military personnel who are harmed by inappropriate human experimentation when informed consent has not been given." Made certain was that the in the record revealing evidence will not be addressed. The year following STANLEY was the U.S. Congress’s few 1988 Veterans’ Judicial Review Act. Established was the Veteran’s Legislative severely restricted, Article I Court. "The court may not review the schedule of ratings for disabilities or the policies underlying the schedule.", i.e., the order ignored "to harm" R&D experimental effects and their causes! The Veterans Court Chief Judge's no teeth statement with his noted VA ignoring of the Court’s decisions! [7] The Secretary of the VA was given FINAL DECISION authority on these issues. [10] Included is the power of NO APPEAL to this LEGISLATIVE Veterans Court or to the independent U.S. Judicial Branch Courts. If allowed an APPEAL, it is not part of the record at the Article I Veterans Court. It’s also missing at the next appeal at the U.S. Judicial Branch Article III, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
HOW IT IS DONE.
A "DOCUMENTED IN HIS SERVICE RECORD" EXAMPLE!
A 1952-1956 USAF Jet Aircraft Mechanic. A picked "volunteer" member of a special F86-D Flight Test evaluation group. The prior to 1949 researched and developed ear muffs, flight line noise protection was not available. An exposure that resulted in an 8 day 1953 sick & dizzy (nausea & vertigo) hospitalization. During 1954 Aviation Cadet training was the USAF Physician's Cadet Wing Commander washout exam’s, "Had some trouble with hearing while working on warm-up crew for F86-D with very high noise levels." This is an unprotected, repeated exposure to its PROJECT 7210, J47 jet-engine, from a 60 decibel (dB.) normal hearing base, 158 dB. to over 176 dB. afterburner noise level. [2] An American Medical Association (A.M.A.) 87,381 to over 699,051 sound pressure multiple (X). [3] Reassigned back to the same base and Flight Test position. A USAF Physician's 6 months after the washout exam get him off the flight line memo! A year later also ignored 1955 USAF Physician's do not expose to "loud acoustic trauma". The 1956 Separation from Service recorded perfect health with the 1953, 8 days nausea & vertigo (sick & dizzy) as an in-hospital "4 DAY COLD".
In 1957 the local VA Office requested and stamped as received the 1952-1956 service record. Awarded was a VA Rating Board 10% hearing loss only. Their physician submitted the administrators overlooked in-service evidence to the USAF. This resulted in the to-date VA Administrator also overlooked, "MPerR PERMANENT" "SURGEON HQ ARRC JUN 25' 58 MEDICALLY DISQUALIFIED FOR MILITARY SERVICE"! After which is the physicians "disqualified" cancelled by the 1959 DOD Administrator "Honorable Discharge" with its "Recommended for reenlistment - Yes"!
Acting on the advice of HMO Physicians the veteran returned to the VA in 1991. Observed was that the VA Physician exam records were incomplete. In 1994 a VA Criminal Investigator noted as misplaced the original VA 1957 received records. Then a 1995 VA Laymen Adjudicator’s medical diagnosis that the 1957 award was an all in the mind "perceptive type hearing loss"! In 1995 a VA Hearing Officer "certified" the veterans retained copies as part of the disability file. Both the VA and veteran records survived the 1973 NPRC fire and Congress’s witness censoring 1974 Privacy Act. On 2/2/96 a VA Hospital Attending Physician determined in-service Menieres disease. A 6/27/96 Supplemental Statement Of Case Laymen Adjudicators medical decision of no "competent medical evidence"! Referenced was the 2/2/96 hospital physician’s in-service determination by, "It appears the examiner was relying on the veteran’s history to make this statement.", i.e., the "certified" copies of VA original, misplaced records. Included were two HMO Physician 1994 Menieres disease diagnosis and the 10 prior years of its symptoms. In 1999 the VA ENT Chief stated "the Veterans signs and symptoms of Meniere’s Disease clearly are documented in his" [USAF 1952-1956 "certified"] "service record" with his "A STRESS REACTION MAY PRECIPITATE AN EPISODE (OF MENIERES DISEASE) AND CYCLES MAY REPEAT ENDLESSLY"! For which "THERE IS NO RELIABLE TREATMENT". It is these in and after service "stress reaction" nausea and vertigo attacks that resulted in the loss of a third generation medical practice, business failures and unemployment. In 2005 the VA rediscovered their, withheld from medical personnel, original 1957 Medical History! In 2006 VA locally awarded was a 100% disability. Cited was the Social Security Administrative Law Judge 1996, VA "certified" records based, early "disability benefits solely as a result of his service connected condition." This is for the 50 years later continuing consequences of 1952-1956 "loud acoustic trauma"! Not known is the A.M.A. for each 6 dB. increase sound pressure doubles, beyond 699,051X (at 176 dB.) unprotected afterburner over pressurization!
MISPLACED?
Misplaced records prevent medical, administrative and judicial "ACTIVITIES" that "WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF...MISSION." This is by the still in 2008 reasoning of "IT WAS NECESSARY TO CONCEAL THESE ACTIVITIES FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IN GENERAL, BECAUSE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNETHICAL AND ILLICIT ACTIVITIES WOULD HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS IN POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC CIRCLES AND WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ITS MISSION." U.S. Supreme Court 1987 STANLEY Case; Footnote 4, Page 688 on its proven 1958 CIA experiment on U.S. Army personnel. [5]
"RIGHT TO KNOW".
There now is no 64 years later "Veterans Right to Know". After they complete Honorable Service despite the efforts of some Congress has not given back to veterans their rights. Revealed would be the few’s corrupt for the greater good of all. Accomplished by the end justifies the "designed to harm" means. Carried out under the cover of our nation’s wars! A few key members in Congress, have dishonored those that serve. Prevented is injury treatment and correction! Lost are those prior to service rights that convicted rapists and murderers keep! [6]
HOLD RESPONSIBLE.
NOW BARDA EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED ON YOU! PLEASE, HOLD YOUR MEMBERS IN THE U.S. CONGRESS ACCOUNTABLE! THESE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND U.S. SENATE DOCUMENTED FACTS ARE INTERNET CENSORED. PASSING THIS ON TO OTHERS SO THAT THEY MAY DO THE SAME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.
David H. Marshall
REFERENCES:
[1] U.S. Supreme Court, Feres v. United States, 340 U.S. 135, 146 (1950).
[2] USAF PROJECT 7210 "A COMPILATION OF TURBOJET NOISE DATA", BOLT BERANEK & NEWMAN, INC. CAMBRIDGE 38, MA. Sound pressure levels for all jet-engines in-service. Conducted at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) DAYTON, OHIO in 1952. 1954 logged in as the 401st report for that year published as REPORT 54-401 July 1956.
[3] American Medical Association (A.M.A.) Family Medical Guide Third Edition pages 364-366 with the for each 6 dB. increase sound pressure doubles and the 60 dB. Normal hearing level.
[4] DOD Secretary's 26 February 1953 NO non-consensual, human experiment’s Memo pages 343-345. George J. Annas and Michael A. Grodin, "The Nazi Doctors and the Nuremberg Code; Human Rights in Human Experimentation" (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992). In REFERENCE [8] as NOTES 72, 168 & 169.
[5] U.S. SUPREME COURT, JUNE 25, 1987, U.S. V. STANLEY, 107 S. CT. 3054 (VOLUME 483 U.S., SECTION 669, PAGES 699 TO 710). In REFERENCE [8] cited in NOTE 169.
[6] U.S. State Dept., "U.S. Report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights July 1994, Art. 7".
[7] CHIEF JUDGE FRANK Q. NEBEKER, STATE OF THE COURT FOR PRESENTATION TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF VETERANS APPEALS THIRD JUDICIAL CONFERENCE OCTOBER 17-18, 1994. In the Veterans Appeals Reporter. www.firebase. net/state_of_court_brief.htm Annual Judicial Conference Transcript. www.goodnet.com/~heads/nebeker
[8] U.S. Senate December 8, 1994 REPORT 103-97 "Is Military Research Hazardous to Veterans' Health? Lessons Spanning Half a Century." Hearings Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 103rd Congress 2nd Session. With NOTES 1 to 170. COMMITTEE PRINT - S. Print. 103-97.
[9] "Project 112 (Including Project SHAD) Home" chemical and biological experiments; www. 1.va.gov/shad/
[10] United States Code (USC) Title 38, 511. Decisions of the Secretary; finality. www.law.cornell.eduhttp://www.law.cornell.edu/
[11] "Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)" S-3678.
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Posted by: Notorious J.E.S. | Nov 8, 2004 9:19:58 PM
Amen, yall!