Email 6

From J

Why so anti US in your view point?

_____

Steve's reply

I am not anti-America. I am anti-American policies and policymakers.

 

I feel like a child who was raised in a comfortable home with all the advantages. He believed he had the most wonderful family in the world, until one day he found out that his family was severely dysfunctional, that his parents were really leading a double life. In public they talked of fairness and tolerance, gave to charity, praised the Bill of Rights and the ideals of democracy, protested the suffering of the poor and disadvantaged.

But, in truth they were liars and hypocrites, expoiters of the poor and the weak, violators of democratic ideals, mass murderers.

He had a choice to make: he could say nothing and go along, or he could tell family, friends and neighbors the truth. He decided to talk.

Of course, most of the people he spoke to were horrified by his decision to air the family's dirty laundry in public; they saw his decision as misguided and wrong. They said he was unappreciative of all the things his parents had done for him; that his parents could not have done all those awful things, but even if they did, they must have good reasons for doing so; they must know things others do not.

Although his family had provided him with many advantages, he knew that what they were doing was wrong; they had to be stopped. He could not keep silent.

He exposed his parents' crimes, in order to stop them from committing more of them. He was condemned for his actions, because few people were willing to believe that his parents could do such horrible things. Of course, these people were wrong.

 

I know about the advantages I have enjoyed, but in the name of decency, I must do what I can to make Americans aware of the lies their government tells them daily and the crimes their government commits in their name.

***

From CL

Best site on the internet. Period. ... your work is having a profound effect, and young people I know, we're passing around the URL and site excerpts.

***

From AE

There are mistakes on your description of Francisco Franco.

(1) "Spain's first free elections in 1936".
The elections that brought the Second Spanish Republic where held in 1931 not 1936. And those were not the first free elections in Spain. The coalition of powers that conspired against the Republic were, the Catholic Church, the Oligarchy and the Military. Franco came into dominance of the rebellion by accident, after the death in an airplane crash in Portugal by the leader of the rebellion by General Mola.

(2)"1975, Spain became a democratic republic once again."
Spain became a Democratic Parliamentary Monarchy with Juan Carlos I as the king.

***

From AD
I stumbled across "thirdworldtraveler.com" while looking for references to, oh, it doesn't matter. But I'm puzzled. Every link I click on seems to be focused on (even
obsessed with!) the USA, and Americans' relationship to foreigners, and not to the third world as such. Am I just unlucky?

To be honest, the deeper I've gone into the left wing thing, the more it seems to relate the "third world" (whatever that is) with America. This mysterious third world doesn't seem to have any noble existence on its own.

I'd be much obliged if you could point me towards any references towards the third world that *doesn't mention* America or Americans on some page!

_____

Steve's reply
Europe shaped the world before World War I; the U.S. has shaped it since. The impact of our policies is enormous, and the lives of many third world peoples have been profoundly affected by us, most often to their detriment. In the name of democracy we have overthrown democratically elected governments and installed and supported militarily dictatorships and authoritarian regimes across the globe. In the name of freedom we have undermined it everywhere. We still do. Look up William Blum's Killing Hope (excerpted on this site) to begin to recognize the enormous damage we have done in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The mal-developed countries of the world have always been and still are valued by the first world as sources of cheap labor and raw materials, and as strategic military locations, little more.

Economically, the countries of the third world exist in the context of globalization and the hegemony of transnational corporations. For these corporations, the world is just one big mall, and they troll for bargains in every third world "shop". But their impact is not only on the third world. As neo-liberal policies increase their grip, the social structures of first world countries will continue to move in a third-world direction.

As a result, we will continue to see the "thirdworldization" of America: increased disparities in wealth, decreased support for the "have-nots", increased numbers of disposable people, the exportation of jobs to third world sweatshops, continued loss of economic power by the middle class, a growing prison-industrial complex and an escalating prison population, especially of minorities, climbing military budgets and militarization of the society, and corporate control of the politicians, the political process, the media, the culture, the country.

As corporate totalitarianism takes hold and a small elite of powerful corporate CEOs become the de facto government, America will become a democracy in name only. Following the model of "show-elections" in many U.S.- supported "democratic" third world countries, our elections even now allow only politicians to run for office who support the established structure of wealth and power and who are anointed by the ruling elites. And, our once-great country "of the people, for the people, and by the people" is gradually becoming a distant memory.

The only thing that can stop this process is an informed American populace. This website is my small attempt to get Americans to wake up before it is too late.

For references to third world countries, or the United States., unrelated to reality, try a travel agent.

***
From JW
Congratulations on a very well organized and comprehensive site. I have travelled extensively through S E Asia, Asia, Europe, Middle East and the US. The US presence throughout the world is obvious in its many forms no matter where you go, and has always been a source of great concern for me. For the last 12 months I have been searching for material about US foreign policy and the third world, since Sept 11 it has become a passion. One night my girlfriend and I were trying to define what 'third world' actually meant so we typed in "definition of third world" into Google, and up came your site. It was exactly what I have been looking for. Thanks for the amazing work you have put into it, it must be a passion for you too. One question, have you spent any time in third world countries and witnessed this stuff first hand.
___

Steve's reply
Thank you for your comments. I have traveled extensively in the Third World (I just got back from Mali in West Africa). I saw lots of Osama bin Laden t-shirts. Even though he is an international criminal, he is not considered an enemy there because many of the poor and disenfranchised in the world view the U.S. government as the "bad guy". Americans, however, are warmly received.

***
From PR
I was just looking at the front page of your website and noticed that you don't have anything from Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. Not only is it a classic consulted by Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., it fits your world view excellently.

In closing, I implore you not to engage in propaganda the way you purport the corporate structure does. A true sign of responsible media coverage is a balanced view in which the audience is allowed to discern their own opinion. Yes, Chomsky has his points, but doesn't also Microsoft have theirs? An educated populace is advantageous to our society, but "educated" does not (necessarily) denote "radical."
_____

Steve's reply
Thank you for our comments. I read Civil Disobedience a long time ago. It's time that I read it again.


propaganda

1. The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those people advocating such a doctrine or cause.
2. Material disseminated by the advocates of a doctrine or cause: the selected truths, exaggerations, and lies of wartime propaganda.

 

I do not suggest that the material I present on my website offers a balanced view of the world, because it does not. But, I'm not sure it should be considered propaganda, since I offer it only to those who visit the site. What I am trying to do is give an alternative point of view to balance the suffocating bias of the corporate media.

The misinformation that we are exposed to each hour of each day on every TV channel, on every radio station, and in every newspaper, could more accurately be called propaganda. It is truly the 'systemic propagation' to the American people, by government policymakers and their corporate press, of a world view that is, in my opinion, false, will ultimately lead the country to make war on many in the third world, and result in 'blowback' to America and Americans everywhere.

It is inaccurate for you to equate the influence of Noam Chomsky with that of Microsoft. Although, both have valid points of view, Microsoft has a forum in the corporate media (it owns major media) and Noam Chomsky does not. As far as 99% of the American people are concerned, Noam Chomsky does not exist, because of the consistent censorship of his views. Microsoft on the other hand has no such problem. So much for balance.

In my opinion, the present policy elite in this country are morally unwell people, and should be considered international war criminals. Yet, Americans accept their leaders' deranged decisions with little thought. Dr. Strangelove is alive and well.

Unquestioning acceptance of the policies of those in authority must end. Fascism is rearing its ugly head. As in Nazi Germany, where the leaders of the Third Reich were able, because of the silence of the German people, to commit their egregious crimes against humanity, only an informed and aroused American people can change the direction in which our political leaders are taking this country.

It will take persistent, intensive, non-violent efforts, to get Americans to wake up and see what their government is doing in their name. If radical is defined as fundamental, then I will accept that label, because only fundamental change in the way Americans see the world, will have an impact on the actions of our elected leaders. Henry David Thoreau, I think, would have approved.

***
From J

I just wanted to say thanks if you are the one who put up this website. I often cheek out thirdworldtraveler for all kinds of information, from the media to the military. What a wonderful job you have done putting so much information on a variety of extremely important topics, you could read for a year straight.

I've tried to get progressive books through the Rhode Island library system and found they have few to none. And I have little money to spend buying books, so your site has helped me to learn about a variety of subjects that would other wise been hard to access. I will continue to tell my friends about this site. keep up the great work.


***
From JW
Congratulations on a very well organized and comprehensive site. I have travelled extensively through S E Asia, Asia, Europe, Middle East and the US. The US presence throughout the world is obvious in its many forms no matter where you go, and has always been a source of great concern for me. For the last 12 months I have been searching for material about US foreign policy and the third world, since Sept 11 it has become a passion. One night my girlfriend and I were trying to define what 'third world' actually meant so we typed in "definition of third world" into Google, and up came your site. It was exactly what I have been looking for. Thanks for the amazing work you have put into it, it must be a passion for you too. One question, have you spent any time in third world countries and witnessed this stuff first hand.
___

Steve's reply
Thank you for your comments. I have traveled extensively in the Third World (I just got back from Mali in West Africa). I saw lots of Osama bin Laden t-shirts. Even though he is an international criminal, he is not considered an enemy there because many of the poor and disenfranchised in the world view the U.S. government as the "bad guy". Americans, however, are warmly received.

***
From SS
I love your web site. Not that I agree with everything published on your site, but it does give me a better perspective on our country. Do you have any material on South Africa? Apartheid is not dead - it is not even terminally ill. It seems to me that the only thing which has changed here is the colour of the people who sit in parliament. I have grave misgivings about the ability of our fledgling democracy to survive. White people still control most of the capital in this country, and most of the media is owned and controlled by "big business". White people are angry and hostile to the new government, although why they are so hostile and angry is beyond me -it is not black people who tortured and killed white people, but the other way around, and it is black people who have a right to be hostile and angry. White people also complain incessantly about how "bad" things are and about the dollar exchange rate and complain about every thing which does not really affect the lives of millions of people in South Africa, namely black people.; White people make fun about how black people speak and pronounce English and it never enters their minds that this not an English speaking country!! I could go on and on and on, but I won't - it is for these reasons that I ask whether you have any material about us.
____

Steve's reply

Thank you for your comments.

I have very little on South Africa, since my focus has been on the state of democracy in the US and the impact of US policies on third world countries.

However, your picture of South Africa is a description of the direction the United States is moving. The trend in the US today is to the right, and in favor of those with money. The concentration of wealth and power continues. Race is not the main issue, although it's presence in our society is a constant.

10-20% of the US population is doing well and the rest are either falling behind or were left in the dust long ago. Corporations control the wealth, and the politicians. The image of the United States as a haven from oppression and a land of opportunity is fading fast. Those in our society with advantages either do not see that they have advantages, or find excuses why they deserve them.

Racism has a long US history as well. Slavery, and the US government's role in supporting apartheid are not proud moments for most of us . And, if you have ever read Jonathan Kozol's books about inner-city education in the US, you will quickly see that 'de facto' apartheid is alive and well here. It is sad, but the country that proclaims itself the champion of freedom and justice, continues to deny them to many of its own citizens.

***
From RG
I have a question to you. Is it possible to get an autograph from Sir Henry Kissinger? I am a big fan from him, but I didn`t had that chance to met him. So It was not possible for me to get an autograph from him. I hope you can help me. Of course I will pay for it.
___

Steve's reply
Sorry, I don't have that information, since I haven't requested "Sir Henry's" autograph for myself. You might contact Augusto Pinochet in Chile, the Suharto family in Indonesia, or some of Pol Pot's relatives in Cambodia.

***
From SC
Hello! I am a ninth grade history teacher who has just been surfing and looking at the web site of the foremost America hater, Howard Zinn. I was wondering if there were any forums to exchange ideas with people who buy into the unrealistic thinking of a supposed historian like Zinn, and where I could get some arguments that are a little less off the wall. I am truly grateful that I live in a country where people who have such loathing for their own government can express their ideas, and also a little saddened that people hold onto dated beliefs about their own country. This is not the sixties where "my country right or wrong" was replaced by "my country always wrong". Where does your organization really stand on terrorism? Do you think that negotiating with savages like the PLO and Hamas will change things? Also, your boy Zinn's barely concealed anti-semitism could use some polishing. Do most Israelis believe giving up occupied territories to murderers will make them safe? Anyway, good luck in this climate getting people to hate themselves after the attacks we have been through.

___

Steve's reply
Howard Zinn does not hate America. He is dislikes immoral American government policies. He is a dissenter in a period of thoughtless obedience to authority; in an era of jingoism and war profiteering, while politicians and pundits scream for blood.. He criticizes the conformity of the media. And, he morns the silence of the American people, when their protest would be a more appropriate response to Washington's violations of international law, and its evisceration of the civil liberties of those who dissent, or who are different, in appearance, religion, or ideology.

The bombing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11th, was not a declaration of war. It was an international criminal act by an Islamic fundamentalist gangster organization. And, it should be treated as a criminal act, by seeking out those responsible and trying them in an International Criminal Court. Bombing an already devastated nation and its long-suffering people back beyond the stone age, has already resulted in many more deaths of innocent civilians than were suffered in New York. But, because they are - the other - not Americans, not Christian, not white, it seems not to matter. This is not a rational action of a caring and democratic people, but an act of state terror, another crime against humanity.

When there is no dissent allowed, state crimes usually result. In the absence of effective dissent, the Roman government killed Christians in the name of all Romans. In the absence of effective dissent, the German government killed Jews in the name of all Germans. In the absence of effective dissent the Russian government killed Poles, Czechs and Romanians in the name of all the Russian people. Now, in the absence of dissent, the American government is killing Afghanis, and Iraqis, and Palestinians, in the name of all Americans.

The problem is not Howard Zinn (or me). The problem is an atmosphere in this country where dissent is considered un-American; where anyone who questions the actions of our government is "abetting the enemy"; where the civil liberties upon which this country was founded are being taken away, and a new McCarthyism is raising its ugly head.

It is neither "My country right or wrong", nor "My country always wrong." It is "My country when right to support it, when wrong to make it right."


*
SC replies
I respect your right to dissent all you want. But please, have some dissent with a little
originality. The civilian deaths from the air war are not nearly as high as the terrorist acts, and I am sure that the families of the victims of the bombings would be horrified to hear you equating them.

Also, where the hell do you get your figures? You must be a big Chomsky fan. You put out numbers that cannot be proven. Anecdotal evidence does not fly, not even in your mythological International Court of Justice. Maybe we can get the Superfriends to sit on the jury. Wake up! The years of coddling these savages are over.

Lastly, the anti-semitism your boy continues to spout is alarming. We do not kill Palestinians, and the Israeli government is remarkably restrained considering the animals it is surrounded by. Do I have sympathy for the innocents who do not engage in violence? Of course. The sanctions against Iraq are barbaric. When innocents die, I grieve. But guess what? We just had 3,000 innocents of our own die. I have no problem hunting the perpetrators down and killing them. That is what you do to an animal who has gone bad. By the way, let me guess. You think Mumia is innocent also.

___


Steve's reply
I am Jewish, not an anti-semite; I am just "anti-Israel's polices". And yes, I think Mumia is innocent.

*
SC replies
What in the name of God do you read to get your information? He killed a cop in cold blood. He is as guilty as the day is long. Maybe you are not an anti-semite, but your boy Zinn certainly has no love for the jewish people, no matter how much he may protest that he loves everybody. What would you have Israel do? Give all the land back? The palestinians and arab nations have demonstrated through words and deeds that they care only for the complete destruction of Israel. Peace does not work with savages. That
may offend liberal ears, but Hamas, Yasser "Munich '72 murderer" Arafat and all the others care about killing Israelis, not living with them.

Let me start out by saying that the death penalty as it is employed is a mess. The only people getting executed are the poor. I believe in a death penalty, but not the one we have in place. As for mumia, the only thing that was thrown out was the sentence, there was no evidence to back his claims of innocence. i am well aware of the racism practiced by the police at the time, there is simply no evidence of his innocence. Sharon is not the murderer here. It is arafat and the Palestinian Authority that let's suicide bombers thrive. the arabs have stated and continue to state their unwillingness to let Israel exist. They worship Hitler and sided with him in Ww2. The other Arab countries have had ample opportunity to absorb the palestinians, but continue not to do that. Israel cannot be expected to cave in to the people that want them dead.

_____

Steve's reply
We agree on a few things: our justice system is unjust; Israel has a right to exist, secure, and free from threats to its existence; Arafat is no hero; the wealthy Arab countries in the Middle East should have both taken in Palestinains a long time ago and have helped Palestinians build a stronger economic system in the West Bank.

We disagree on some other things: Mumia Abu-Jamal may be innocent. Thousands of people around the world have come to believe that he was wrongly convicted and have demonstrated in support of a review of his murder conviction and the granting of a new trial with new evidence, and including a competent defense team.

All of the leaders of Israel, past and present, were "terrorists" when they fought to bring into existence the state of Israel (so were those who fought the British to found the USA). The British handed over land in Palestine to Zionist leaders. This act was unjust to the people who lived on the land, and they with their leaders, including Arafat, fought back with violence, and the Jews successfully responded in kind.

After a reality check some years ago, Arafat and the Palestinian Authority finally agreed to delete their call for the destruction of Israel. The Palestinans, who have essentially lived in a concentration camp for over 50 years, have the right to be a free people and to be able to offer a decent future to their children. But, Israel, under right-wing leaders, with the financial support of U.S. taxpayers, has decided it wants more than just Israel - it wants West Bank land and it wants Palestinian water. The Jewish settlements in the West Bank have essentially so divided up the area that Palestinians cannot have a viable state. The area is now a jigsaw puzzle, with the settlers and Israel holding most of the pieces.

Ariel Sharon is a war criminal and should be tried at The Hague for crimes against humanity for, among other things, the cold-blooded mass murder of Palestinian refugees in 1982. As Israeli Defense Minister, he allowed Israeli Defence Forces to stand by as Lebanese Maronite Christian militias under his control entered the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps in southern Lebanon killing 2,000 Palestianian refugees, including many women, children.

I don't know if the PLO supported Hitler's policies, but any list of Nazi-supporters would be a very long one indeed, and would have to include numerous political and business leaders from the United States and Europe. Hitler was a hero of Henry Ford, and the Ford Motor Company along with RCA, GM, Standard Oil (the Rockefeller family), Chase National Bank, Dupont, ITT and other businessmen and US-based corporations supported Hitler, provided him with war materials including telephone equipment, gasoline, trucks, etc., and made huge profits along the way. In addition, even when the US government knew what was happening to the Jews in Europe, the isolationist political climate in this country prevented the Roosevelt administration from allowing fleeing Jews to enter the US.

So, there are not many heros, on any side. We need to acknowledge that our history includes both good and bad acts by our government. Injustice prevails in the world and in our own country. Once we recognize that, we can begin the job of trying to make things right as best we can. The website is my attempt to do that.


***
From J
Hi. I'm a college student from Seattle going to school in Idaho. I've been overwhelmed by the variety of things there are to do here in the Potato State, so I've had a lot of free time on my hands. I'm in an International Politics class right now, and while I was studying for a research paper I came across your site. Since then I've spent hours browsing the articles you've compiled, and I can't believe how much new information I've gained. Your website is the most interesting thing online. The authors you have there are great. I bought Agee's book, "Inside the Company" and have enjoyed it. These issues are totally absent from the education of the average American citizen, and it is amazing and shocking to me that this information isn't more widely available. This material should be given as a requisite. I just wanted to thank you for providing this resource to me and other people, and I hope you can keep it up and running.


Email page

Home Page