Boris Johnson's Olympic Welcome

Let's just say, I'm not his biggest fan,
still incredulous that people actually voted for him.

Radical writer Alexander Cockburn dead R.I.P ( 6/6/41 -21/7/12

Alexander Cockburn, the acerbic left-wing journalist and author who though born in Scotland thrived in the political and cultural battlegrounds of the United States, died on Saturday in Bad Salzhausen, Germany, where he had been recieving medical treatment, his family have said. He was 71, the cause was cancer said Jeffrey St Clair, a friend and colleague. Mr St Clair announced Mr Cockbrurns death on CounterPunch, the web site that the two men edited. Mr Cockburn had keept his illness a secret, Mr St Clair added, and continued writing until the end of his life. "His body was deteriorating, but his prose remainesd as sharp, lucid and deadly as ever," Mr St Clair wrote on the site. that Mr Cockburn had, at various times regular columns in ideologically disparate publications like the Nation and The Wall Street Journal and became known as an unapologetic leftist, condemning what he saw as the outrages of the right but also castigating the American liberal establishment when he thought it was to timid.
Born in Scotland, he grew up in Ireland, he began writing in about the U.S in 1973, he became a U.S citizen in 2009. He was vocally critical of Israels policies and treatment of Palestine. This led to accusations of ant-semticism by many, a claim he always denied, believing it was used as a method of intimidation for his criticism of Israel, so carried on speaking the truth as he saw fit. He was also highly critical of U.S foreign policy, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He remained a leftist on most issues, standing up for free speech and social justice, and the misuses of corporate power.He did however remain a skeptic about global warming and is also remembered now for his bitter falling out with his former friend, the late Christopher Hitchens.He had been secretely battling cancer for the last two years.
The world has been robbed of one of its most radical and uncompromising voices.

Jeffrey St Clair
writing in Counterpunch
about his friend Alexander Cockburn
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/07121/farewell-alex-my-friend/

"Alex lived a huge life and je lived it his way. He hated compromise in politics and he didn't tolerate it in his own life. Alex was my pal, my mentor, my comrade. "e joked, gossiped, argued and worked together nearly every day for the last twenty years. He leaves a huge void in our lives. But he taught at least two generations how to think, how to look at the world, how to live a life of resistance. So, the struggle continues, and we're goin to remain engaged. He wouldn't have it any other way."

" They keep telling us that in war, truth is the first casualty which is nonsence since it implies that in times of peace, truth stays out of the sick bay or the graveyard." - Alexander Cockburn

" The first law of Journalism is to confirm existing prejudice rather than contradict it." - Alexander Cockburn

Alexander Cockburn interviewd by Tao Ruspoli  Parts 1 & 2

John Berger (b 5/11/26) - The Poverty of our Century

Aldous Huxley (26/7/1894- 22/11/63) - The Ultimate Revolution (1962)

I started this months posts with a bit from Aldous Huxley,
http://teifidancer-teifidancer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/aldous-huxley-2671894-221163-devils-of.html
I never really get  tired of him so here's a little more, below he gives a now infamous speech at UC Berkeley in 1962, titled : The Ultimate Revolution.
In his presentation Huxley gave gives historical evidence and future predictions, how the New World Order would be achieved by the ruling Oligarchy via their use of State Sponsored Terrorism to implement their desired Lock Step Police State to control the proletariat (that's you and me) by the fear  of ever increasing terrorism as a pretext  to the citizens of Western society willingly sacrificing their essential freedom and liberties for the promise of temporary security.
The fist 45 minutes is the speech and the next is followed by questions raised by the public and reporters.

Only what a lot of people are saying.

Has any British Policeman ever been convicted of murder?

Does the camera actually Lie?

Then again he worked for the Justice system did he not?

10 allegations of wrongdoin made against him in his career.

6 made by his own colleagues.

Just some thougths....... he died AFTER he was hit and NOT before.

Perhaps somethings in life are after all, utterly predictable?

   

Barrington Levy - Murderer

Lest we forget.

Ian Tomlinson

7/2/62 - 1/4/09

http://www.iantomlinsonfamilycampaign.org.uk/

Transport for London Olympics 2012

MAGIC MIRROR ON THE WING

In the alchemy

of the world's dream

nothing to climb to

nothing to cling to

or hide behind

the thread of time

tenacious on its path

like a comma paused over apostrophe.

And the birdsong whispers in the breeze

everything is as it was in the beginning

there's no need to do anything but breathe,

and be, silencing shots

ringing across the world,

waters break, waters deep

poised above the shadow

leaving reflection,  like a magic

mirror on the wing.