Comments on: Solzhenitsyn Dead

By: Bock

Bock — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:42:44 +0000

James -

Thank you for your contribution, which I know is sincere.

What is the difference between 500 prisoners in Gitmo and tens of millions in the gulags, from the point of view of the individual prisoner?

By: James Ashley

James Ashley — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:42:05 +0000

Not to defend Gitmo, but there is a difference between holding 500 hundred prisoners at Guantanamo and the tens of millions who went through the Gulag system, of whom, officially, 2.7 million died. Unless you subscribe to the notion that a few hundred prisoners is a tragedy, while tens of millions is a statistic.

Again, it isn’t that I approve of Guantanamo, particularly, but these sorts of thoughtless comparisons really diminish the magnitude of the evil of the Gulag system, and the heroism of Solzhenitsyn’s legacy — which purportedly is the point of your post.

James Ashley

By: km

km — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:08:04 +0000

Full disclosure: Irish citizen in America.
I criticize the Patriot Act and it’s powers. I argue over Gitmo but how much of a moral highhorse can we, as Irish people, be on when the Shannon issue remains?
I think we have a reluctance to put our money where our mouth is. Is there so much profit in the Shannon stopover, financially ? or is it all political profit?

I actually love living here. I enjoy the optimism and drive of the people around me. Your own post today re: tired sheds a small bit of light on how these situations can occur. I have said it before on Devin’s blog – here we are overworked, illinformed and over-jingoed.

Most people have 10 days vacation in the entire year that they often can’t use because there is noone to cover their job, we have to hope that our kids get scholarships because 160K per child is a lot to have to save up to pay for college and while saving for retirement. There are few safety nets here so its a bit like a hamster on a wheel sometimes. It seems that this is an ideal situation for those in power. The people will barely notice, I think is there motto. And truly it takes great effort to stay informed.
I think that’s why the Presidential election has sparked something in those who want to break out of this bleariness. Let’s hope that the fundamentalists Christians don’t carry the day once more or there will be more fire and brimstone for us all.

By: Cap'n P

Cap'n P — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:01:50 +0000

I found a way to deal with the Jehovah’s Witness/FBI people. When you see them coming, just sneak out the back door, and around behind them and pretend to be with them. Freaks em out big time. Other terrorist organisations include those salvation guys – they already have an army and aren’t afraid to tell anyone, the Samaritans – they know all your secrets, the Amish, Greenpeace and the Beatles. Good on you, America for intimidating these ruthless, murderous terrorists.

By: eliza

eliza — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:53:30 +0000

Rape some other countries economy….

By: Mr. Terwilliger

Mr. Terwilliger — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:10:56 +0000

Here in the US we do not have Gulags, we use “American Idol”, and “Dancing with the Stars” instead to numb the minds of the populace. Those that might resist are tasered or shot.

The good news for the rest of the world is that the current state of affairs can not last indefinately as we are for all practical purposes now bankrupt. Both financially and morally.

What will the mercenaries do when the paychecks stop coming?

By: fenson

fenson — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:08:32 +0000

Quaker terrorists? Dead right! Also, y’know those jehovah witness types that show up at your door? They’re actually F.B.I agents ! They work in pairs, so one guy can keep you busy with bullshit while the other tries to peer around you to see if you have anything anti-american lying around. Its True!!
The shirt, tie, and regulation haircut are a dead givaway. The bastards!!

By: Sniffle&Cry

Sniffle&Cry — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:18:17 +0000

Heresy and hearsay, how very dare you Bock. God bless Merika. What about the Waltons and the lill house on the Prairie and Beverly Hills Jetro and that Dukes gal. Stop raining on my parade. Sure wasnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t Sol Nixon only RichardÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s brother, a huge fucking conspiracy brewing here.

Could never get my head around the book and the politic, but you gotta respect the guyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s bravery and sacrifice.

Bock, you will of course go to hell for writing this.

By: tina

tina — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:24:18 +0000

great entry, Bock. Spot on!

By: Solzhenitsyn Dead - Spoke of Major Turning Point in our History |

Solzhenitsyn Dead - Spoke of Major Turning Point in our History | — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:28:56 +0000

[...] Solzhenitsyn Dead – After all, Solzhenitsyn was exposing a brutal system of repression where anti-government speech was forbidden and where people could be sentenced to internal exile or locked up in prison without the benefit of a fair trial if they so … [...]