Are we entering a new 'Dark Ages'

The Dark Ages were a period prior to the Renaissance when the European world imploded into brutish ignorance, losing any knowledge of the cultures and technological accomplishments of the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Egyptians, and many other civilizations of the ancient world. 'Might makes right' was the operating mode of the time and not much else other than this head-banging feudalism happened for centuries.

Consider this article by Justin Raimondo, and ask yourself whether our culture is headed down the same path to warrior-based stupidity:

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2011/10/23/the-return-of-barbarism/

Another Ho-Hum moment in Pax Americana ...

American citizenship is beginning to appear a little less desirable, if you thought it would afford you the "protections' mentioned in the American justice system. Consider this recent incident in the ongoing effort to protect " 'mericuns":

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/2176-family-values-the-roman-rigor-of-obamas-death-squad.html

For those of you with an interest in technology, drones of this sort are being developed all around the world, even by people who don't like the US and its activities.

Makes you wonder if the golden rule is going to followed by those foreign developers when they are ready to do test flights.

Glenn Greenwald also writes about this process and incident with startling clarity:

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/20/the_killing_of_awlakis_16_year_old_son/singleton/

Some basic constitutional concepts

This article frames the basic notion of the relation of the state versus its citizens quite well:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthony-gregory/obama-al-awlaki_b_998546.html

Note that in a traditional western democracy the state is constrained by its creators, the citizens. In dictatorships, the state constrains citizens. Which idea do you fall in line with?

Perhaps you might wish to re-think the situation surrounding the Awlaki murder to see where it fits in these paradigms.

Speaking of Death Panels, check this out!

How low can we go? The US seems to be going for a new record:

http://news.antiwar.com/2011/10/05/white-house-secret-panel-can-order-americans-assassinated/

Anyone still think that Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, Clifford Olson et al are the only bad guys out there?

Be very afraid. Given recent history, how long before Canada decides it also has to have a similar 'panel' to advise the PM?

A Lesson on Morality

There is a difference between 'legal' and 'moral'.

If you don't understand the jist of this article:

http://original.antiwar.com/charles-davis/2011/10/03/when-it-comes-to-state-sanctioned-murder-morality-matters-most/

you cannot claim to understand the difference between right and wrong.

Speaking of crimes, how about murder?

The Awlaki death needs discussing.

Here's what Chris Floyd has to say about things, as a starting point:

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2169-absence-of-evidence-the-progressive-policy-of-imperial-murder.html

I find this event very troubling because the defenders of the American killing of these men have manipulated the legal and moral discussion in so perverse a manner that it is now impossible to describe a situation in which anybody could not be subjected to a similar death sentence from America.

Basically, if the Americans think they are worried about you, you are dead. No trial, no notice, no charges, no evidence, no nothing! I cannot imagine the mafia allowing this sort of 'killing on a whim' to exist within their organizations. Why do we, the so-called free western democratic countries, allow this to happen?

As Floyd says at the end of his article:

" ... this is not just moral blindness: it is active, open, undeniable complicity with evil. "