Foto: Sargasso achtergrond wereldbol

Reacties (6)

#1 Pietje

Weer eens iets anders dan Law Day (Ook 1 mei).

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/01/opinion/01tue4.html?ex=1335672000&en=8efcd6e18cea659f&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

“In keeping with tradition, President Bush has issued a proclamation inviting Americans today to “celebrate the Constitution and the laws that protect our rights and liberties.” It rings more than a little hollow, though, as he continues to trample on civil liberties in the war on terror, and stands by an attorney general who has politicized the Justice Department to a shocking degree.

The less committed a president is to the law, the more need there is for Law Day, which makes it a holiday whose time has come.”

  • Volgende discussie
#2 su

THE HAYMARKET MARTYRS

Eight were found guilty, and all but one was sentenced to die. Around the country and the world, masses of people protested against the injustice of the verdict.

Eventually, the governor of Illinois commuted two of the death sentences. But the employers wanted blood. On November 11, 1887, five of Haymarket Eight were killed–one committing suicide in his prison cell, the others hung.

As he was led to his death, August Spies called out: “There will come a time when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today!”

He was right. At first, the wave of repression halted the struggle for the eight-hour day and pushed unions back on the defensive. But Haymarket became a cornerstone of labor’s future struggles. Future revolutionaries like Eugene Debs cited the murder of the Haymarket Martyrs as a turning point in their political development.

This legacy survives to this day–as Spies predicted in his speech to the court after the eight were found guilty.

“If you think that by hanging us, you can stamp out the labor movement…the movement from which the downtrodden millions, the millions who toil in want and misery expect salvation–if this is your opinion, then hang us!” Spies said. “Here you will tread upon a spark, but there and there, behind you and in front of you, and everywhere, flames blaze up. It is a subterranean fire. You cannot put it out.”

  • Volgende discussie
  • Vorige discussie
#3 prometeus

Eng? Valt toch wel mee. Klinkt als een patriotistische versie van onze 4&5mei.

Wat het eng maakt is dat je weet wat voor andere beleidszaken (Quantanamo, afluisterprogramma’s, Irak-oorlog, de aanklagers-kwestie) Sjors dubbel-Joe al op zijn naam heeft staan. Dan wordt “patriotisme” al snel “nationalisme”, “rascisme” en “oorlogszucht”.

Bovendien maken diezelfde handelingen zijn betoog gewoonweg hypocriet, zoals de NYT, @1 geciteerd, ook al concludeert.

  • Volgende discussie
  • Vorige discussie
#4 Ouragan

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”

Is natuurlijk niet genoeg.

  • Volgende discussie
  • Vorige discussie
#5 GvK

@ prometeus

Law day = loyalty day. Natuurlijk allemaal hypocriet, maar ik krijg er in ieder geval toch ook wel een eng Nineteen Eighty-Four gevoel van.

Zeker binnen de context van het overheidsbeleid.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
en nu:
LAW IS LOYALTY

  • Volgende discussie
  • Vorige discussie
#6 mescaline

De nieuwe Loyalty Day komt linea recta uit Bush zijn onbewuste diepte. Veel Amerikanen zijn het spoor bijster en moeten weer loyaal worden aan hun land en aan hun president. Dat heeft hij nu toch maar op de rails gezet.

  • Vorige discussie