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Interpreting the war through a small-town drama (AMERICAN WRITERS SILENCED BY U.S. GOVERNMENT ALERT)
Chicago Tribune ^ | April 1, 2007 | Jose Rivera

Posted on 04/01/2007 10:33:28 AM PDT by Chi-townChief

Radiant bombs fell on the sad, unlucky city of Baghdad the cool spring night I started writing my play "Massacre (Sing to Your Children)."

On CNN, the bombs exploded without sound, so the full measure of the terror they caused that night was unknowable to the many Americans who, like me, nevertheless watched appalled and impotent, nauseated and angry.

It amazed me that a nation that finally, on 9/11, felt the full fury and madness of a massive bombing on its own soil would so utterly fail to be sensitized by that terrifying violence. Knowing how horrible it was, how could we wish that horror on other people? Instead, like an angry child, we struck back at the nearest perceived enemy, completely lacking in compassion, completely unable to understand that the terror we felt that day would be equaled, then infinitely magnified, by the terror we were poised to unleash.

That spring night in 2003, I started to write. I felt it was necessary for me to channel the disgust and anger and sorrow I felt as we launched another unnecessary war on a distant people too feeble and poor to strike back. I wanted to capture something from that night of radiant bombs. What is it that really frightens us? What do we really know, as Americans, about the nature of mass violence? What do we know about revenge? What is it like to kill?

At the same time, I had been preoccupied with the resurgence of the Bush Dynasty. We on the (slight) left had, through Bill Clinton, gotten rid of the first Bush. Suddenly, though, like some kind of appalling lightning, the Bushes were back. We hadn't gotten rid of the influence of this political family.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: commies; leftyscumbags; liberals; waronterror
These "American" writers like Jose "Che" Rivera are so suppressed that their lefty rants appear on the front pages of editorial sections almost weekly.
1 posted on 04/01/2007 10:33:33 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
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To: Chi-townChief
What does this idiot know about the mass murder, rape and tortures routinely committed by the Al Qeda thugs he/she is so busy propagandizing for? Tell you what Jose Rivera, simply renounce your citizenship and emigrate. If living in this country is such a sad burden for ignorant political bigots like you, simply leave. There is the door, we neither want, nor need, your childish ignorant prattle and treasonous rantings. Just walk Loser.

I am sure Hati or Cuba or Venezuela will be MUCH more to your liking. Of course, write this sort of treasonous scumbag rant their and it doesn't get published rather the secret police come drag you kicking and screaming to a torture chamber but considering how utterly stupid you obviously are Jose Rivera perhaps a trip to a police state is the only thing that might penetrate the shield of invincible stupidity your sort of political bigot keep between yourself and all reality.

2 posted on 04/01/2007 10:42:09 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (If you will try being smarter, I will try being nicer.)
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To: Chi-townChief
The little peacenik pacifist cowards like this limp wristed waste of skin need to be relocated to Venezuela or some similar craphole and never be allowed to return.
3 posted on 04/01/2007 10:44:12 AM PDT by Pox (Just say NO to RINO Rudy!)
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To: MNJohnnie

He needs to tour South America by motorcycle like his hero.


4 posted on 04/01/2007 10:47:28 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
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To: Chi-townChief

What a self-important, 7th-grade drama queen. Almost every sentance it laughable.


5 posted on 04/01/2007 10:48:10 AM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (I'm holding out hope that at least the DEMOCRATS might accidentally nominate a conservative.)
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To: Chi-townChief
Under liberal MSM rules, apparently all you have to do to get a substantial block of editorial page space is bash Bush. How quaint.

The article is nothing more than a self-congratulatory promotion piece for his new play masquerading as an editorial.

6 posted on 04/01/2007 10:54:46 AM PDT by Captain Rhino ( Dollars spent in India help a friend; dollars spent in China arm an enemy.)
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To: Psycho_Bunny
You know you absolutely nailed it. I was too angry to think about it but now that you mention it, this really is pathetic drama queen teen girl angst fill garbage. This was written by what is a supposedly a professional writer?

Speaks very ill of the Publishing Business if THIS is what qualifies for publication these days.

7 posted on 04/01/2007 10:56:41 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (If you will try being smarter, I will try being nicer.)
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To: Chi-townChief

Can't say these people have any grasp of reality at all.


8 posted on 04/01/2007 10:57:57 AM PDT by spunkets ("Freedom is about authority", Rudy Giuliani, gun grabber)
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To: Chi-townChief

The OP's "Alert" made me think that the writer was claiming to have been suppressed, but as I read the article that's not the case.


9 posted on 04/01/2007 11:20:36 AM PDT by Eagle Forgotten
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To: Eagle Forgotten

All three columnists claim their rights were somehow damaged.


10 posted on 04/01/2007 1:07:13 PM PDT by Chi-townChief
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To: MNJohnnie

I propose that we all start a fund to patriate these poor suppressed people back to the Leftist country of their choice, but with one string attached...NEVER RETURN! I'd put a chip in them that if they attempted to return it would sound off. Heck, we could even track 'em! So far I haven't had one Commie take the offer, so we're pretty safe.


11 posted on 04/01/2007 6:42:47 PM PDT by oneamericanvoice (Support the Troops=Support for Freedom and Hope!)
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To: oneamericanvoice

I second!


12 posted on 04/02/2007 4:27:22 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (If you will try being smarter, I will try being nicer.)
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To: Psycho_Bunny
"What a self-important, 7th-grade drama queen. Almost every sentence it laughable."

You have my respect for your excellent and correct description of the whiners on the left.

13 posted on 04/02/2007 6:30:09 AM PDT by ohioman
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To: MNJohnnie

Maybe we should contact this moonbat and make the offer....wonder what he would do? It might be fun! What do you think?

Anyone know where can we get the implant done?


14 posted on 04/02/2007 3:09:31 PM PDT by oneamericanvoice (Support the Troops=Support for Freedom and Hope!)
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To: Chi-townChief

Note how much this has in common with basic advertising appeals. Both rely on the same irrational methodology of persuasion, vivid imagery, emotionalism, strawmen, and (most importantly) the author’s presumption and projection of authority.

The difference is that leftists, being amateurs and speaking to a more gullible audience, are much less skilled and their use of this of this methodology is therefore more obvious.

I think this mutual commitment to personal authoritarianism goes a long way toward explaining the affinity between the media-industrial complex (advertising, news, entertainment) and the political left.


15 posted on 04/02/2007 3:21:56 PM PDT by atomic conspiracy (Rousing the blog-rabble since 9-11-01)
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To: Chi-townChief

“Instead, like an angry child, we struck back at the nearest perceived enemy.....”

No, if that were the case, we would have bombed Berkeley, or at least Havana.


16 posted on 04/02/2007 3:31:49 PM PDT by atomic conspiracy (Rousing the blog-rabble since 9-11-01)
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