### Apollo BBS Archive - December 17, 1988

    $tatus Club Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 4944
    Author: $ David Burkhart
    Category: Chit-Chat
    Subject: last
    Date: 12/17/88  Time: 14:06:21

    But it isn't a "wrong" feeling to want to kill someone (like Daryl, for
    example)?

    The outer COSmos Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 2461
    Author: $ David Burkhart
    Category: Cosmos-Chatter
    Subject: last
    Date: 12/17/88  Time: 14:10:50

    Nonsense.  It was Mark Adkins (at least the first time).

    Message: 2462
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Question ?
    Subject: David
    Date: 12/17/88  Time: 18:26:17

            So, you admit to the second time?

    Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 56064
    Author: $ Apro Poet
    Category: Politics
    Subject: Chomsky
    Date: 12/17/88  Time: 17:26:20

    5. The Crimes of Nicaragua

      On the same grounds, we can explain the rection of US
    elites to the Sandinista revolution.  The mood in Washington
    is conveyed by Representative William Alexander, who
    describes "the lust members ((of Congress)) feel to strike
    out against Communism."  It is, in fact, notable that even
    congressional and media critics of the war against Nicaragua
    fell obliged, with only the rarest of exceptions, to make
    clear that they have nothing good to say about the
    Sandinistas; their position, rather, is that US interests do
    not require such an attack, or that its means are
    inappropriate.  "Only the bravest will say a word for the
    Sandinistas or question the president's premise that he has a
    perfect right to practice unlimited 'behavior modification'
    in a small, peasant nation," Mary McGrory writes.
      What is the reason for this "lust," this mood reminiscent
    of Khomeinist frenzy (but more extreme, since Iranians had
    sound historical reasons for hatred of their "Great Satan")?
    The official claims can hardly be taken seriously; even if
    all minimally credible charges are accepted, the Sandinista
    record compares favorably with that of US clients in the
    region today, and in the past, and elsewhere, to put it
    rather mildly.  The conclusions that follow from comparisons
    within the region are too obvious for discussion among sane
    people, so let us consider the state that is by far the major
    recipient of US aid, asking how it would fare under the
    charges brought against the Sandinistas.  If the charges
    cannot withstand this test, then the level of hypocrisy is
    profound indeed.
      US propaganda regularly denounces the failure of the
    Sandinistas to meet their alleged "obligations" to the
    Organization of American States (OAS).  The President claimed
    in July 1983 that they had "literally made a contract to
    establish a true democracy" with the OAS before taking power
    in July 1979.  This claim is without foundation; Roy Gutman
    observes that this charge, constantly reiterated by
    apologists for US atrocities, was concocted as part of a
    "successful U.S. disinformation campaign...  According to the
    OAS, in a July 16, 1979, telex to then General Secretary
    Alejandro Orfila the Sandinistas said they planned to convoke
    'the first free elections in this century' but made no
    reference to timing and said nothing about creating a 'true
    democracy'."  But although the charge has no merit with
    regard to the Sandinistas, it does apply to Israel; with
    considerably more force, in fact.  Israel does have
    obligations, of a far more serious nature than those falsely
    attributed to the Sandinistas, which it has already rejected.
    Israel was admitted to the UN on the express condition that
    it would observe UN resolutions on return or compensation of
    refugees.  As would be expected in the age of Orwell, this
    charge against Nicaragua is featured prominantly in Israeli
    propaganda journals, such as the *New Republic*, which
    naturally remain silent on Israel's obligations.
      Another major charge against Nicaragua is censorship of
    *La Prensa*.  A State Department official commented that the
    Sandinistas "know the censorship is the worst thing they can
    do, from the American point of view."  Naturally if the US
    were being attacked by a state of unimaginable power, we
    would not impose censorship on a journal that offered them
    support and that received a $100,000 grant from the
    aggressor; that is, in fact, correct, since the editors and
    anyone remotely connected to them would be in concentration
    camps; recall the fate of Japanese during World War II.
      Censorship in Israel, however, is so severe that an Arab
    woman lecturing at the Hebrew University was denied
    permission even to publish an Arab language social and
    political journal.  The Arab press in East Jerusalem was
    seized by the authorities when it reported settler attacks
    against Arabs after a prisoner exchange.  An Arab bimonthly
    was shut down permanently in 1983, and the censor closed an
    Arab newspaper in Jerusalem for three days when it published
    an obituary of two young Arabs who died in a mysterious car
    explosion in 1985.  350 books are officially banned in the
    occupied territories, along with others known to him
    personally, Knesset member Matti Peled (an Arabist and
    retired general) reports, including Hebrew translations of
    Theodore Harzl's diaries, Isaac Deutscher's *Non-Jewish Jew*,
    books on Israeli military and political history, a
    translation of "To live with Arabs" by Elie Eliachar, the
    dovish president of the Council of the Sephardic Community in
    Israel, a book on the religious West Bank settlers (Gush
    Emunim) by the well-known Israeli journalist Danny
    Rubinstein, among others.  Art exhibitions are censored; a
    Palestinian artist was given a six-month jail sentence on the
    charge that the colors of the Palestinian flag appeared in
    the corner of a painting.  Arab plays have repeatedly been
    banned on political grounds, and a Hebrew play by an Israeli
    jailed for refusing military service was banned in September
    1985 "on purely political grounds," Dan Fisher reports.  The
    Hebrew press is also subjected to censorship - as well as
    extensive self-censorship.  Journalists are not permitted by
    the censor to publish abroad material that has appeared in
    the Hebrew press.  All outgoing mail and packages are subject
    to censorship, and may be opened freely by the 58 people
    assigned to this task.  Surveillance of telephone
    conversations is so extensive that the censor has intervened
    directly in telephone conversation, Knesset member Michael
    Bar-Zohar reports.
      But we hear no cries that the US must arm and direct
    terrorist forces to attack Israel.  Nor does the US Congress
    offer "humanitarian aid" (another Orwellism) to guerrilla
    forces resisting South African repression or opposing the
    illegal South African occupation of Namibia, or defending
    themselves against Israel occupation in southern Lebanon;
    rather they are all "terrorists," whose actions we deplore.
    The President, always quick to defend South Africa, even
    justified the murderous South African attack on Botswana on
    grounds that it may have been "retaliation" against the
    African National Congress (there is "no question," he said,
    about its "violence" and "murdering," but about South
    Africa we must withhold judgement).

    Rod, God & Bob Bulletin Board command:$C

    Message: 44
    Author: $ Apollo SYSOP
    Category: Rod's thoughts
    Subject: on Spanish
    Date: 12/17/88  Time: 16:33:59

            So what if it is a Spanish part of town...  Being Spanish does not
    make one a Christian.  Till it is a fact, why use it at all..... unless you
    are scaping the bottom of the barrel for ammo!  Is this how you gather all
    your facts?

    *=* SYSOP Cliff *=*

    Have a happy ....

    Message: 45
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Rod's thoughts
    Subject: Story...
    Date: 12/17/88  Time: 18:28:50

          Most people, from this country, profess to be of the Christian
    faith.  If only half of them were in fact real Christians, this
    country would be full of love, fairness and friendship.
          To be perfectly honest, I have never met a true Christian.  I
    have just met people who believe in the Rapture, Chapter & Verse and
    not chewing gum.  They who call themselves Christians believe that it
    only takes believing that Jesus was the son of God and they are
    Saved. This is pure bullshit.
          The entire meaning of the Story of Jesus can be summed up in one
    single sentence, "Love One Another", that is it.  If everyone
    followed that, we'd live in a good world.  We don't.
          For those of you who read 'Revelations' I defy you to give me
    one single meaning.  Yes, it can and has been interpreted by a few
    for the many.  But it is only a con-job on the sheep.  There is not
    one single paragraph in that book that makes any sense, none
    whatsoever.
          I guess what I was looking for when I decided to check out the
    Bible (Babel) was to find myself in a good world.  I didn't.  Cliff,
    why don't you and Sandy sell everything you have and give it to the
    poor.  Then you can follow Him.

          I believe that the Christian faith was started as a way to
    control the masses.  To promise them reward after death so they would
    be able to put up with the hardships brought about by the ruling class.
     Worship itself began with our early, ignorant, ancestors who did not
    know why it got cold and dark.  They thought our Sun, the giver of
    life, the warming body, was going away and they became afraid. Some
    early scholar noted that a point existed when the Sun would appear to
    come back and snow would melt and plants would grow.  The day the Sun
    reversed itself, so to speak, was called the Winter Solstice and this
    lent cause for party and celebration.  The people probably sacrificed
    different things to the gods, probably prayed and made prayer wheels in
    order to assure that the Sun would not continue going away, lest they
    froze to death.  This is the Christians Christmas or Mass for Christ.
          When plants would grow again, this was Spring, the begining of
    new life, or the Christians Easter or Resurrection.  It was all taken
    from the Pagans, who in turn, took it from our natural seasons.
          The early rulers, which were the largest clans, the ones with the
    most strength, claimed the land.  They probably claimed everything
    they could travel over on a horse in a day.  This land became their
    kingdom and for the peasants who resided in that area, a share of
    their crops or other valuable consideration was taken.  A tithe.

          Laws needed were made for control purposes and the King usually
    picked a son as Priest or maker of the laws.  The eldest King's son
    became a Prince and was to inherit the Throne upon the King's death so
    the Priest was chosen from a younger son, cousin or other suitable
    stock.  Someone who showed they could be both shrewd and vicious.
          Thus in the early days of our ancestors both State and Church
    were hand-in-hand, one in the same.  And they ruled and were in charge
    of all laws pertaining to the labor class, living and dead.  It was
    the High Priest's job to come up with suitable answers for all
    occasions.  To satisify the common people.
          In essence, organized religion came into being.  And there were
    many beliefs, usually one for each Kingdom.  Kingdom ate kingdom and
    they became leaders over larger areas.  As transportation and weapons
    developed so did takeovers.  One country borrowed from another their
    laws if they seemed to soothe the people and keep them working and
    allow their children to go into military service.
          The people who started the Christian religion were both strong
    and vicious as evidenced by its early start.  The Inquisitions caused
    some of the most inhuman treatment ever.  Christians tortured people
    for their beliefs and many died.  If the Christians said the earth was
    the center of the universe (and they did) and you disagreed, onto the
    rack you would go.  The only thing that could make it any better for
    you was the little wealth you had and this didn't always help.

          Read Noah Chomsky and get an idea of what little the working
    class are told and how a ruthless government operates.
          It doesn't matter if you believe in Jesus, Bhudda, Shiva, a
    pile of shit, no deity at all or Rom.  What is important in this world
    is that the ruling class, those who deal with other kingdoms, find it
    in their heart to create a good world, to set up a system that is fair
    and equitable to all.  The masses are being heavily taxed in order to
    pay for government frivolities. The average family requires both the
    husband and wife to work in order to pay their rent or 30 year
    mortgage payment.  Interest rates are overburdening the population.
    Repossession and foreclosures are happening at an alarming rate.
          But the masses have learned well to take this in stride because
    all they must do is believe that Jesus was the son of God and they
    will be assured their eternity in Heaven.  It's the Suffer Now, Play
    Later Plan.
          When they hear of wars or earthquakes (they happen every year
    since man first set foot on this planet) they feel justified because
    they have been taught the end is near, the great rapture, armageddon,
    their Savior is coming back, from the east on a great cloud.  He will
    smite the true believers enemies and comfort the hurt.
          This is why I say, "Fuck God".     to be continued.........

    Message: 49
    Author: $ Rod Williams
    Category: Shit-Chat
    Subject: Cliff/answer
    Date: 12/17/88  Time: 18:33:16

            The poorer and the less educated the class the more they cling to
    religion.  It is a poor Spanish neighborhood and I believe mostly they are
    of the Catholic faith.