SEEKING CIVILIZATION

Text & Graphics by Richard W.Posner

A Matter of Humanity

hu•man•i•ty
n. pl. hu•man•i•ties
1. Humans considered as a group; the human race.
2. The condition or quality of being human.
3. The quality of being humane; benevolence.
4. A humane characteristic, attribute, or act. (emphasis mine)
5. humanities
a. The languages and literatures of ancient Greece and Rome; the classics.
b. Those branches of knowledge, such as philosophy, literature, and art, which are concerned with human thought and culture; the liberal arts.

Has a real human civilization ever existed? Were the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Incas or Mayans actually civilized? Can any of our modern cultures really be considered to be so?
Although many empires and societies from the past to the present can be said to meet the objective, dictionary definition of civilization, there are many criteria which are not addressed by such superficial analysis.

civ•i•li•za•tion
n.
1. An advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions.
2. The type of culture and society developed by a particular nation or region or in a particular epoch: Mayan civilization; the civilization of ancient Rome.
3. The act or process of civilizing or reaching a civilized state.
4. Cultural or intellectual refinement; good taste.
5. Modern society with its conveniences: returned to civilization after camping in the mountains.

Should a nation, however technologically advanced, which forces even a small segment of its population to live without shelter be considered civilized?
When any portion of a society, regardless of its modernity, is forced to live in abject poverty can this society be called civilized?
If the primary force driving the economy of a nation is greed and profit is given priority over the wellbeing of people, is this nation civilized?
Are laborers forced to work excessive hours, in unsafe conditions, for wages that keep them in or near poverty characteristic of a civilized people?
Does a civilization really require a prison population that includes one out of every hundred of its adult members?
When people cause wholesale destruction of their environment, knowing these actions condemn future generations to unimaginable suffering, are they to be accepted as civilized?
Does a civilized country characteristically invest nearly all of its wealth, resources and labor to create weapons of mass destruction in the interest of subjugating other nations?
Is it a civilized land that encourages belief in the false concept of racism?
I, for one, do not accept that any nation, society or empire which displays even one of these characteristics is worthy to be described as civilized and this is but a very short list of disqualifiers.

A civilized society must exist inclusive of, yet beyond the differences of, its members. Ultimately it must be recognized that all humans are fundamentally the same. We are all of one race, one species. That we speak different languages, follow different customs and even appear somewhat different outwardly in no way diminishes the fact that we are all genetic relatives and belong, literally, to the same family. Every human that has ever lived, is alive or ever will live shares the same parents. Whether you believe those parents were Adam and Eve or prehistoric primates in what is now Africa is irrelevant.

That such divergent schools of thought can exist simultaneously is one of the prerequisites for the existence of a society. That such differing viewpoints are able to coexist within the framework of a society is essential to its survival. A society without diversity will stagnate and die. A diverse society without tolerance will be consumed by conflict. Diversity without animosity is the key to civilization. Understanding, tolerance and, especially, rationality are the means by which animosity may be mitigated and ultimately eliminated.
Diversity is an asset that can be used to great advantage in the betterment of any society. It is a primary engine, which is currently stalled, of human evolution. It gives great impetus to progress. It is regrettably most often used as a weapon, by a very small cadre of deviant individuals, to create conflict and disunity among humanity at large. They blame their victims and, through propaganda, disinformation and obfuscation, convince them to blame each other. By distorting superficial differences and conflating those with whatever ills befall a nation at any given time, the inhumane ruling classes are able to deflect attention from themselves, who are in fact the source of virtually all the suffering, onto the diverse segments of the population.
Civilization does not necessarily require leaders, per se. It most certainly doesn’t need rulers.

What it does need is an educated, knowledgeable, healthy and rational populace working together for the common good.

PICTURE THIS

An Inauguration to Remember

Disclaimer

I expect there will be some people who will respond to this as if I were suggesting it could really happen. They’ll berate me as an idiot and tell me it’s legally impossible or just say it’s ridiculous, there’s no way.
Duh! I know! I’m just trying to make a point.
Please consider this my first purely fictional blog. It should be categorized as unbridled fantasy. If there are factual errors or omissions please disregard them.
Barring some very extraordinary events occurring very soon, this country and the rest of the world along with it is facing economic, humanitarian and, most significantly, ecological catastrophe of unimaginable dimensions. We have finally created a situation which gives the “end of the world” doomsayers a leg to stand on.
So please take this as it is intended, wishful thinking to the nth degree.

Of course, if you think the Bush cabal has been doing a dandy job you can always attack me on that point.

My Fondest Wish

Assuming Barack Obama is elected in November, if there is an election, the following scenario is the only thing that will convince me that his presidency will make a difference.

Chief Justice John Roberts has just heard Barack Obama complete the Oath of Office. As the observers applaud the new president steps to the microphones and makes his first statement as POTUS.

“As my first official act I wish to make the following announcement.”
“Arrest warrants have been issued for George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, John Ashcroft, Colin Powell and several other members of the Bush administration. United States Marshalls have been dispatched to take them into custody."
"They will be held at an undisclosed location until all available evidence has been secured. During this period, investigations will be conducted to determine which members of Congress, both Republican and Democrat, will be charged as accessories to the crimes of the Bush administration."
"When these investigations have been completed, all defendants will be transported to Peace Palace, The Hague, The Netherlands, to stand trial before the International Court of Justice for treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity and many other charges too numerous to be mentioned here.”
“Through these actions the United States intends to demonstrate to the world and any future would-be tyrants that crimes of this magnitude and depravity will not go unpunished regardless of the high station of the perpetrators.”
“America stands ready to join with all the nations of the world, to work in cooperation and unity toward the solution of the crises that threaten us all."
"I wish to offer, in my capacity as President and as a human being, my sincerest apologies to all those who have been devastated by the inexcusable actions of the United States during the last eight years. It is my intention to do everything in my power to see that those wrongs and many others shall be redressed."
"I pledge that America will use every asset and resource available to work toward a world which reflects the original ideals upon which this nation was founded. Freedom, Justice, Equality, Peace and Prosperity are not the exclusive domain of one nation. They are in fact qualities of life that should be equally available to all the people of Earth."
"I call upon all Americans, all citizens of Earth and all world leaders to finally put aside our petty differences and work together to bring these qualities, in equal measure, to every corner of the globe.”

This, or some similar event, is the only thing that will convince me that any change of substance will be possible. Only an action this extreme, this just, this radical, has any hope of changing the course of human events to an extent great enough to avoid the worst of a global extinction event that threatens our very existence.

http://www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/eldredge2.html
http://www.pnas.org/content/98/10/5466.full
http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html
http://www.earthplatform.com/extinction/event

SYMPHONY OF SORROW

Plutocracy in A minor
A Concerto for Avarice and Empire

The u.s. has been performing a very discordant symphony going on nearly three hundred years. It’s getting more dissonant every day now.
There is a particularly disturbing trend in amerikan foreign policy. Occasionally most of the nations of the world get together and come up with suggestions to improve some aspect of life on earth for everyone. In a dismaying number of instances only the united states, and sometimes a couple of sycophantic client states refuse to participate and force everyone else to abandon the plan, however beneficial it might have been. No matter how obviously positive and progressive the suggested actions may be, we give the world and its people the metaphorical finger. The amerikan attitude comes off something like this, “We’re America and we can do whatever the hell we please and if you don’t like it, tough shit! It would be inconvenient for us and cost us too much money! It would be bad for our “efficient” economy! You can take your do-gooder daydream and stick it where the sun don’t shine!”
I have actually heard quite a few individuals say things very similar to the italicized lines above.

We once liked to believe we had leaders in this country. That may or may not have been the case at any given time. But now there is no question that what we have are arrogant, contemptuous rulers who display a growing level of callous disregard and disdain for life that is both enraging and terrifying.

We are now a rogue nation and, as we become ever more isolated from the global community, we may soon find ourselves a lonely, new, third world country.
As the world grows ever smaller, tolerance, cooperation, mutual respect and understanding become ever more essential to survival. If we don’t learn how to get along, I don’t think we’ll be able to make it on our own.

Here is a recent example of the amerikan superiority complex.

UNITED NATIONS - Despite strong objections from the United States and some of its allies, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Thursday calling for the recognition of the world’s 370 million indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and control over their lands and resources
Those in opposition have said the Declaration is “flawed,” mainly because of its strong emphasis on the right to indigenous self-determination and full control over lands and resources. In their view, these clauses would hinder economic development efforts and undermine so-called “established democratic norms.” (emphasis mine)
In other words it will make it more difficult for giant American corporations to steal the resources and then sell them back to the people they rightfully belong to. Of course if you can’t afford the price we’ll just find someone who can! Buy or die.

Here are 30 years of vetoes by the United States. Look at the descriptions of the United Nations resolutions that America blocked. Unless you try very hard not to, you will see a certain pattern here.

1972-2002 Vetoes from the USA

Year ---Resolution VETOED by the USA

1972 Condemns Israel for killing hundreds of people in Syria and Lebanon in air raids.

1973 Affirms the rights of the Palestinians and calls on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories.

1976 Condemns Israel for attacking Lebanese civilians.1976 Condemns Israel for building settlements in the occupied territories.

1976 Calls for self determination for the Palestinians.

1976 Affirms the rights of the Palestinians.

1978 Urges the permanent members (USA, USSR, UK, France and China) to insure United Nations decisions on the maintenance of international peace and security.

1978 Criticizes the living conditions of the Palestinians.

1978 Condemns the Israeli human rights record in occupied territories.

1978 Calls for developed countries to increase the quantity and quality of development assistance to underdeveloped countries.

1979 Calls for an end to all military and nuclear collaboration with the apartheid South Africa.

1979 Strengthens the arms embargo against South Africa.

1979 Offers assistance to all the oppressed people of South Africa and their liberation movement.

1979 Concerns negotiations on disarmament and cessation of the nuclear arms race.

1979 Calls for the return of all inhabitants expelled by Israel.

1979 Demands that Israel desist from human rights violations.

1979 Requests a report on the living conditions of Palestinians in occupied Arab countries.

1979 Offers assistance to the Palestinian people.

1979 Discusses sovereignty over national resources in occupied Arab territories.

1979 Calls for protection of developing counties' exports.

1979 Calls for alternative approaches within the United Nations system for improving the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

1979 Opposes support for intervention in the internal or external affairs of states.

1979 For a United Nations Conference on Women.

1979 To include Palestinian women in the United Nations Conference on Women.

1979 Safeguards rights of developing countries in multinational trade negotiations.

1980 Requests Israel to return displaced persons.

1980 Condemns Israeli policy regarding the living conditions of the Palestinian people.

1980 Condemns Israeli human rights practices in occupied territories. 3 resolutions.

1980 Affirms the right of self determination for the Palestinians.

1980 Offers assistance to the oppressed people of South Africa and their national liberation movement.

1980 Attempts to establish a New International Economic Order to promote the growth of underdeveloped countries and international economic co-operation.

1980 Endorses the Program of Action for Second Half of United Nations Decade for Women.

1980 Declaration of non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.

1980 Emphasizes that the development of nations and individuals is a human right.

1980 Calls for the cessation of all nuclear test explosions.

1980 Calls for the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

1981 Promotes co-operative movements in developing countries.

1981 Affirms the right of every state to choose its economic and social system in accord with the will of its people, without outside interference regardless of the form it takes.

1981 Condemns activities of foreign economic interests in colonial territories.

1981 Calls for the cessation of all test explosions of nuclear weapons.

1981 Calls for action in support of measures to prevent nuclear war, curb the arms race and promote disarmament.

1981 Urges negotiations on prohibition of chemical and biological weapons.

1981 Declares that education, work, health care, proper nourishment, national development, etc are human rights.

1981 Condemns South Africa for attacks on neighboring states, condemns apartheid and attempts to strengthen sanctions. 7 resolutions.

1981 Condemns an attempted coup by South Africa on the Seychelles.

1981 Condemns Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, human rights policies, and the bombing of Iraq. 18 resolutions.

1982 Condemns the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. 6 resolutions (1982 to 1983).

1982 Condemns the shooting of 11 Muslims at a shrine in Jerusalem by an Israeli soldier.

1982 Calls on Israel to withdraw from the Golan Heights occupied in 1967.

1982 Condemns apartheid and calls for the cessation of economic aid to South Africa. 4 resolutions.

1982 Calls for the setting up of a World Charter for the protection of the ecology.

1982 Sets up a United Nations conference on succession of states in respect to state property, archives and debts.

1982 Nuclear test bans and negotiations and nuclear free outer space. 3 resolutions.

1982 Supports a new world information and communications order.

1982 Prohibition of chemical and bacteriological weapons.

1982 Development of international law.

1982 Protects against products harmful to health and the environment.

1982 Declares that education, work, health care, proper nourishment, national development are human rights.

1982 Protects against products harmful to health and the environment.

1982 Development of the energy resources of developing countries.

1983 Resolutions about apartheid, nuclear arms, economics, and international law. 15 resolutions.

1984 Condemns support of South Africa in its Namibian and other policies.

1984 International action to eliminate apartheid.

1984 Condemns Israel for occupying and attacking southern Lebanon.

1984 Resolutions about apartheid, nuclear arms, economics, and international law. 18 resolutions.

1985 Condemns Israel for occupying and attacking southern Lebanon.

1985 Condemns Israel for using excessive force in the occupied territories.

1985 Resolutions about cooperation, human rights, trade and development. 3 resolutions.

1985 Measures to be taken against Nazi, Fascist and neo-Fascist activities.

1986 Calls on all governments (including the USA) to observe international law.

1986 Imposes economic and military sanctions against South Africa.

1986 Condemns Israel for its actions against Lebanese civilians.

1986 Calls on Israel to respect Muslim holy places.

1986 Condemns Israel for sky-jacking a Libyan airliner.

1986 Resolutions about cooperation, security, human rights, trade, media bias, the environment and development. 8 resolutions.

1987 Calls on Israel to abide by the Geneva Conventions in its treatment of the Palestinians.

1987 Calls on Israel to stop deporting Palestinians.

1987 Condemns Israel for its actions in Lebanon. 2 resolutions.

1987 Calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon.

1987 Cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States.

1987 Calls for compliance in the International Court of Justice concerning military and paramilitary activities against Nicaragua and a call to end the trade embargo against Nicaragua. 2 resolutions.

1987 Measures to prevent international terrorism, study the underlying political and economic causes of terrorism, convene a conference to define terrorism and to differentiate it from the struggle of people from national liberation.

1987 Resolutions concerning journalism, international debt and trade. 3 resolutions.

1987 Opposition to the build up of weapons in space.

1987 Opposition to the development of new weapons of mass destruction.

1987 Opposition to nuclear testing. 2 resolutions.

1987 Proposal to set up South Atlantic "Zone of Peace".

1988 Condemns Israeli practices against Palestinians in the occupied territories. 5 resolutions (1988 and 1989).

1989 Condemns USA invasion of Panama.

1989 Condemns USA troops for ransacking the residence of the Nicaraguan ambassador in Panama.

1989 Condemns USA support for the Contra army in Nicaragua.

1989 Condemns illegal USA embargo of Nicaragua.

1989 Opposing the acquisition of territory by force.

1989 Calling for a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict based on earlier UN resolutions.

1990 To send three UN Security Council observers to the occupied territories.

1995 Affirms that land in East Jerusalem annexed by Israel is occupied territory.

1997 Calls on Israel to cease building settlements in East Jerusalem and other occupied territories. 2 resolutions.

1999 Calls on the USA to end its trade embargo on Cuba. 8 resolutions (1992 to 1999).

2001 To send unarmed monitors to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

2001 To set up the International Criminal Court.

2002 To renew the peace keeping mission in Bosnia.

The amerikan government has not signed, never ratified or broken at least the following 37 treaties. Although amerika is by no means the only nation that has not upheld some of these treaties it is by far the most significant offender.

1. Ottawa Treaty (the land-mine ban) 1997.
U.S. never signed. The Clinton administration is seeking nearly $50 million from Congress this year for a new type of artillery-fired land-mine system designed to blow up tanks and people, a weapon that would violate an international treaty that the president had pledged to support.
Translation: It wouldn’t be good for the American corporations that make most of their profit from death.

2. 1989 Treaty (Convention) on the Rights of the Child
The administration of President George W. Bush has explicitly stated its opposition to the treaty: "The Convention on the Rights of the Child may be a positive tool for promoting child welfare for those countries that have adopted it. But we believe the text goes too far when it asserts entitlements based on economic, social and cultural rights... The human rights-based approach... poses significant problems as used in this text."
In other words, it would be bad for our “economy”. The ultra wealthy 1% might have to give up some of their ill gotten gains so that starving children could eat; or children dying of treatable diseases could live. How crazy is that!? We believe in individual rights. Human rights are a myth.

3. Protocol to enforce the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention
(vote was 178-1, the US the only holdout) Washington's representative to the United Nations-sponsored talks in Geneva said the US was unable to support the draft accord -the result of years of debate - because it would not achieve its goals and would hurt American interests.
The same interests that would be “hurt” by the ban on land mines!

4. 1979. United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Signed by America 17 July, 1980 but never ratified.
Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966, entry into force 3 January 1976, in accordance with article 27.
United States of America
not a party to CEDAW convention.

5. Convention on Biological Diversity adopted in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992.
Opened for signature on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993. United States of America
Convention: Non Party
Protocol: Non Party

6. International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

7. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
United States of America signed 05/23/2001 never ratified.

8. International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings
9. International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism.
10. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
11. Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes Against Humanity
12. Forced Labor Convention
13. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention
14. Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention
15. Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age to Marriage and Registration of Marriages
16. Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
17. Convention on the International Right of Correction
18. International Criminal Court
19. Kyoto Accords (greenhouse gas reductions)
20. UN Convention on Biological Diversity (regulating genetic engineering)
21. UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
22. Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty [prohibiting programs like "Stars Wars"
23. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
24. Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
25. International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries
26. International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid
27. Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
28. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
29. Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers (prohibiting sale of arms to human rights violators & aggressors)
30. Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
31. Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, and Other Related Materials
32. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (bans toxic waste dumping, etc.)
33. UN Moon Treaty [declaring the moon part of the Common Heritage of Mankind]
34. Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
35. UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
36. Protocol to enforce the Convention Against Torture
37. United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime

I wonder what Earth would be like if amerika had spent most of its brief history working in cooperation and unity with the rest of the world rather than in constant, clandestine, illegal and immoral interventions in the service of fascist capitalism disguised as “democracy”.
http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Cards_Index.html
http://www.alternet.org/audits/39416/

I wonder what advances humanity might have made if the many social democracies amerika has overthrown and replaced with oppressive, brutal dictatorships had been allowed, even helped, to flourish in peace and become genuine civil societies.
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/US_Interventions_WBlumZ.html
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/William_Blum.html

Imagine if you can, what sort of society might exist here if the english had never taken root and the native tribes, the rightful occupants, had been given a chance to progress and evolve in their own unique way. What if the genocide in the name of white supremacy, eminent domain and christianity had never happened?
http://www.iearn.org/hgp/aeti/aeti-1997/native-americans.html
http://www.wicocomico-indian-nation.com/pages/genocide.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/genocide5.htm
The next is particularly revolting.
http://www.dickshovel.com/DeadIndians.html

I wonder if the extinction event we are entering now would have occurred had we done a little less “leading” and a little more following. Since it is the amerikan brand of “leadership” that has lured, pushed, dragged, bludgeoned and otherwise forced the cult of mindless consumption upon the people of Earth, it seems quite possible that the answer would be no. If fascist capitalism, compelled by greed, had not become the predominant force driving the human race to extinction maybe a more humane, sharing, social energy might be ensuring its survival.
Perhaps the so-called founding fathers of amerika actually believed they were creating something different when they broke from the empire of england. How can we ever know? Whether they believed it or not is irrelevant. They were english, wealthy, aristocratic and capitalists. By design or by chance, they were simply playing a variation on a theme, from Monarchy in E to Plutocracy in A minor. It seems that the crescendo is about to reach its climactic point.
The corporate states of amerika were built on genocide, slavery, deception and greed.
What will be the amerikan swan song, Global Nuclear Holocaust in B flat?