Illusionist Democracy

“They that can give up essential liberties to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin

From the depths of ground zero rose the Leviathan of retribution, enmity, and suspicion. Other than the 3000 or so victims of 9/11, Muslims and the Muslim world have paid and continue to pay the ultimate price. Not withstanding the crusade for the Caspian in Afghanistan, the illegal unilateral invasion of Iraq, the unfair isolation of the democratic government of Palestine, and the annihilation of modern-day Lebanon; Muslims are being made convenient scapegoats by the very societies that preach equality and justice.

Historically, democracy in the US has been absent when it has been needed most - in time of crises. What is shocking is not the government action facilitating the isolation and stigmatization of minorities (The American government is in the business of using tragedies as a vehicle for imperial pursuit), but the obsequious, robotic compliance of the masses it governs. Along with the US, the rise of neoconservative governments in Canada and Britain, in concert with sensationalistic fear propaganda repeatedly denting the human psyche has resulted in a level of conformity rivaled only by Nazi Germany.

Have we as a civilization succumbed to the media on such a level that we have accepted the illegal detention of Muslims (including Western born Muslims) in a modern day Gulag without access to lawyers? Was the only satisfaction we needed involve a pathetic play on semantics by refraining to give the detainees POW status, thereby allowing this farce to continue?

Have we as a civilization succumbed to the media on such a level by allowing them to suggest a separate Muslim line in airports during security checks? Why not then introduce Muslim identification badges similar to how the Nazi’s forced Jews to wear the Star of David?

Have we as a civilization succumbed to the media on such a level that we correlate wearing a T-shirt with Arabic script alongside its English translation “We Will Not Be Silent” in an airport, to wearing a shirt that says “I am a Robber” in a bank? Such was reported by American-born Iraqi peace activist Raed Jarrar on his trip back to the US.

Have we as a civilization succumbed to the media on such a level that we were unwilling to board a plane because it contained passengers who were alleged to have been speaking Arabic? “The extraordinary scenes happened after some of the 150 passengers on a Malaga-Manchester flight overheard two men of Asian appearance apparently talking Arabic. Passengers told cabin crew they feared for their safety and demanded police action. Some stormed off the Monarch Airlines Airbus […] minutes before it was due to leave the Costa del Sol at 3am. Others waiting for [another flight] in the departure lounge refused to board it [until the men speaking Arabic were taken off the plane].” www.democracynow.org

Have we as a civilization succumbed to the media on such a level that we have let a mindless drone do the thinking for us, thereby eliminating any opportunity for intellectual debate?

French philosopher Rene Descartes’ had once stated, “I think, therefore I am”. Following on that revolutionary premise, it would be logical to conclude that our current society has ceased to exist. It remains only as physical matter that is continually coerced into believing the government line whether it is regarding the "impure heathens" of Hawaii, the "radicals" of South America, or the "evil" Communists. With all other imperial interests satiated, it is only fitting that the next targets are "terrorist" Muslims.

Further examples of passive compliance include the NSA wiretapping of random public phone calls, our pliable agreement with the Patriot Act (named as such that going against it would imply treason) that allows the government to detain anyone based on suspicion alone, and supporting the invasion of foreign states based on lies. Mental coercion is no different than dictatorial oppression; the only difference with the imposition of subliminal prejudice is that the average person is unaware that they are the victim of manipulation.

When it comes to conflict, created entities such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) only serve to exacerbate the situation. An international institution cannot function effectively when a state is above the institution. The UNSC was created to prevent war, but it only legitimizes war because imperial states can use it to give the public the impression that they tried to hold back, but could not. The UNSC has just become another vehicle for public relations exercises.

Unfortunately, the US is not exclusive in such practices as now Canada and the UK are increasingly employing similar fear tactics to skew public discourse towards their neoconservative agenda. The timing of the “botched terror attacks” in both states came at times when the government was being criticized for its subservience to the US. Canada was being criticized for its occupation of Afghanistan and Britain for its pro-Israel policy during Israel’s recent invasion of Lebanon. Immediately, the attention shifted away from Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan and Britain's unconditional support for Israeli atrocities.

Ironically, it was Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who recently confirmed his agreement with the comparison of Hizbullah with that of the Nazi government. In his skewed version of reality, defending your land from foreign invasion constitutes Nazism, while supporting imperial powers is true democracy.

However, what we are seeing is the beginning of a new system of government. It is a system which espouses democratic values and ideals, but attempts to discourage dissent. It is a system which utilizes the same conformity techniques of past dictatorships, but through more subtle, covert sensationalistic media than outright propaganda. It is a system which advocates secularism, but is more theocratic than some of the states it condemns for the same reason. This system is called the Illusionist Democracy, one that hides behind the veil of freedom then strikes with the fangs of fascism. Until we realize this, our society will continue on a dreaded path to self-destruction.

Let the masses awake from their slumber!

Copyright Aurangzeb Qureshi 2006

Canadian casualties continue to mount

As the Israel-Lebanon conflict dominates the media, Canadian forces continue to take casualties in Afghanistan while our government continues to provide unstinting support to American imperial designs. Can somebody please tell me why we are still in Afghanistan? Did the Taliban attack us? Were they trying to impose their beliefs on us? The simple answer is – No.

If the roles were reversed and the Afghani army was here trying to occupy Canada under the pretext of “peace-keeping” (a Canadian legacy that now all but finished under the Harper government), I would expect no less than all Canadians rising up in arms to defend our land, our dignity, and our freedom.

Whatever happened to diplomacy? Instead of open combat with insurgents, Canada should be proactive in establishing a common understanding between the different ethnic groups in the Loya Jirga (Afghan parliament) and try to foster a sustainable democracy using peaceful means. Fighting a resistance only strengthens it as can be seen in Lebanon and Iraq.

So who exactly are we fighting for? A US-installed former UNOCAL official in Hamid Karzai who is laughingly referred to as the “Mayor of Kabul”? Or are we fighting for the US so they can leave one mess and attend to the one they have created in Iraq?

Harper always speaks of Canadian sovereignty and independence. I ask what kind of sovereignty and independence sees families grieving over their loved ones who have died in a conflict that does not even concern them? Canada should let the US solve its own self-inflicted problems and leave our soldiers for the defense of our own country.

copyright Aurangzeb Qureshi 2006