cannabisnews.com: Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You





Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You
Posted by CN Staff on January 19, 2005 at 18:33:51 PT
By Travis Moe 
Source: LA Weekly
Pinocchio has been re-elected. He is on his way, finally, to becoming a real president. Now all he needs to do is lose the strings. The time has come, my liberal friends, not to complain about the election results (legitimate or not, he used our democratic system exactly as it is set up to work), but instead to start making some progressive changes in our game plan. See, whether the Republicans realize it or not, a social revolution is still on the way, and this time it will succeed. The difference now is that we will do something they never even considered doing: We are going to learn from history.
In the 1960s, there were campuswide protests across the country in an effort to change both the government’s agenda and the educational "conspiracy" of which the students felt they were victims. The government agenda they opposed was one of aggressive military endeavors and legislation that attempted to crush diversity (eerily similar to the current administration’s agenda, which I will outline for you later). The educational conspiracy that they were so opposed to had to do with the universities’ curricula. To them, it seemed as though the institutions were discouraging creativity/independent thought and attempting a nationwide robotification of the minds of the student body. This would, they claimed, train them to act as "bricks in the wall" of the corporate hierarchy, and make them easy to exploit so the CEOs could stuff their own wallets. So who were these students? Were they drugged out, paranoid, mindless slackers? Drugged out? Maybe. But mindless? Not even close. The students who led the protests (at schools such as Berkeley, Michigan, Cornell and NYU) were among the brightest members of their respective classes. These kids were well-read, thoughtful and decisive. They didn’t scream indiscernible moans but instead wrote articulate and insightful documents, such as the Port Huron Statement of 1962 in which members of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) advocated what they referred to as "participatory democracy."So the question is: If the cream of the crop of the country’s best schools were liberal and made such a powerful statement, then why is the country still so conservative, with such a skewed moral system, and what can the new generation of students do about it? Before I answer that, I will quickly explain what I mean by skewed.If all men deserve equal inalienable rights, then why are gays being stripped of theirs? Yes, I understand that marriage isn’t a constitutional right, but seriously, what do you win if you succeed in banning it? None of your Christian marriages are affected either way, and life is slightly worse for an entire demographic of citizens. I really can’t understand you bigoted fools. Next, it’s really easy to say that your tax cut saved Americans billions of dollars. What’s not so easy is explaining to the middle and lower economic brackets why they paid the same damn amount of money the years before and after the tax cut. Why is it economically beneficial to large corporations to pollute and outsource? Why is global warming less of a concern than what you can and can’t say on TV? Why are you so afraid of human nudity and language that you make a conscious effort to censor them, while war and violence are considered patriotic? Why don’t you give peace a chance? Why is marijuana illegal when tobacco kills tens of thousands times as many people per year? Why are campaigns no longer about how great a candidate is, but instead about how sketchy an opponent is? This one’s for both parties; you do realize that this approach leaves Americans nervous about their officials no matter who wins, right?So why did those students of the ’60s fall short if their message was right? Don’t get me wrong, because of their efforts, women, gays and minorities have made huge equality gains, and the environment is a vital part of any candidate’s platform, so they definitely made some worthwhile progress. Once again, though, the country is still right-leaning. Well, they fell short, because they focused too much on appealing to the policymakers and didn’t give enough credit to a long-term solution. Think about it, from the perspective of the adults of the time, you’ve got a bunch of seemingly ignorant kids chanting that everything you have ever worked for and believed in is wrong, providing no alternative to speak of. How would you react if you were presented with that? True, visionaries like Tom Hayden and Abbie Hoffman had a better solution than simply "peace," but the giant crowds didn’t come off as having one. No, the old white men whose entire fortunes and security could be derived from the "terrors" of capitalism were not going to listen, but the students persisted. They amassed and chanted and did drugs and sang to those same old white men for a decade, and when it didn’t go anywhere, they turned millitant, killed their credibility, and eventually gave up their optimism, many turning into those same old rich, white men that they had hated so viciously. If you can’t change your environment, adapt to it. That’s why they fell short.It’s time for all you Democrats and Republicans alike to pay close attention. I will now reveal the secret to our impending successful revolution. The atmosphere of the ’60s will return (except with techno music and cell phones). Students will once again be open-minded and willing to take risks (though probably less promiscuous due to STDs). Next, unlike our parents, we will not scream for immediate change. We will quietly educate and exist only as splinters under the fingernails of those in power. We understand that we can’t get those who possess the power to change, but the kids are a different story. If enough kids are willing to start thinking; if enough kids come to understand the importance of global success over personal wealth; and if the kids understand that we will soon inherit the world and run it how we choose, then they will join and they will act. It will be, by the standard definition, a guardian coup d’état. Without warning, we will simultaneously come of age, all with an understanding of why liberal policies are so vital to the future of the country and the world. We will, in a time span of less than five years, fill out Congress; then, like musical chairs, everything will suddenly shift. The power will transfer to us and we will have won. The time of bigotry and greed will be over and a better, more progressive world will result. So there you have it, that’s the plan. Try to act surprised when the time comes.On November 4, 2004, 17-year-old Travis Moe led a sleep-in at Boulder High to protest the policies and priorities of the Bush administration, military recruitment in school and disregard for the environment. See "Slumber Party" -- http://www.laweekly.com/ink/05/09/features-pelisek.php -- on this page for more on the kids. Complete Title: Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You: Using The Past To Perfect The FutureSource: LA Weekly (CA)Author: Travis Moe Published: January 21-27, 2005 Copyright: 2005 Los Angeles Weekly, Inc.Contact: letters laweekly.comWebsite: http://www.laweekly.com/CannabisNews Justice Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/justice.shtml
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on January 21, 2005 at 09:28:34 PT
afterburner
Thanks! What would do me a world of good is for Neil to announce a concert tour with a stop in our state. His music has a way of making all the troubles seem to go away. Heck I'd be happy with a new CD. No that's not true. LOL!
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Comment #26 posted by afterburner on January 21, 2005 at 09:06:10 PT
FoM, It's Time to Get Back to NORML
Good news from NORML, DPA, UK, Germany, Poland and Vancouver: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- January 20, 2005
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread20144.shtml
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on January 21, 2005 at 08:47:38 PT
Thanks For The Links
Yesterday was a day that I am glad is over. I always try to find something good even in bad situations. Mrs. Bush didn't use a Texas designer this year and she really looked stunning. That's my good comment about yesterday. I tried but couldn't think of anything else.
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Comment #24 posted by dongenero on January 21, 2005 at 06:54:57 PT
thanks mayan
I enjoyed reading those reports. 
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Comment #23 posted by mayan on January 21, 2005 at 04:24:55 PT
InaugBlog
Here's Will Pitt's blog on the inauguration. Some pretty good stuff here...http://truthout.org/fyi/
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Comment #22 posted by afterburner on January 21, 2005 at 02:08:39 PT
RE Comment #17 posted by FoM 
Some video of the protests:Netscape News http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/us.jsp?feature=newz_0105bush_inaugurationLook for link: Anti-War Protesters In D.C. 
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on January 20, 2005 at 17:01:29 PT
Deboche
You comment rings so true. 
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Comment #20 posted by FoM on January 20, 2005 at 15:38:45 PT
dongenero 
You're welcome. I thought they were good too.
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Comment #19 posted by global_warming on January 20, 2005 at 15:32:37 PT
Kali Yuga and Vaporizers
"It is the latter Age in which we now live, and which we account for in our histories. It is also believed by some, that the Kali Yuga is now ending -- or even that it has ended and we are now in a transition period called the “Twilight of the Kali Yuga.” Supposedly, in the Twilight of the Kali Yuga, the Prime Creator gathers its data-collecting vehicles (i.e. us) back into the Mind of God--- to make way for the next cycle, the coming new age."http://www.halexandria.org/dward030.htm"In its report, Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base, released earlier this year, the Institute of Medicine cited the dangers of smoking as a major drawback. The IOM stated, "Numerous studies suggest that marijuana smoke is an important risk factor in the development of respiratory disease... Because of the health risks associated with smoking, smoked marijuana should generally not be recommended for long-term medical use." The IOM suggested that researchers concentrate on isolating medically useful cannabinoids and developing "rapid-onset, nonsmoked cannabinoid delivery systems." Such systems might be similar to the inhalers used for certain asthma medicines...While some critics argue that the IOM overemphasized the dangers of marijuana smoke, all acknowledge that the smoke does indeed contain many of the same harmful substances as tobacco smoke, including tars and carbon monoxide. "Like tobacco, marijuana tars are rich in carcinogenic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons," wrote California NORML coordinator Dale Gieringer, Ph.D., in a 1996 article for the newsletter of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). "However, cannabinoids themselves are not carcinogenic. An obvious way to protect smokers' health is therefore to minimize the content of smoke tars relative to cannabinoids." Its odd that there is such scant information on this subject, has anybody seen specs on exactly what temperture the active substance is released at?http://www.aids.org/atn/a-327-02.htmlhttp://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Drugs/THC/Vaporize/simple.vaporizer.htmlhttp://www.e-herbalvaporizer.com/http://www.ukcia.org/research/CannabisVaporizer.pdfWe all are responsible victims in our choices and lack of action, we can make a difference, we can change bad laws, we can make this world a better world. -gw
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Comment #18 posted by dongenero on January 20, 2005 at 15:32:33 PT
great pics
Thanks for posting that link FoM
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on January 20, 2005 at 14:27:52 PT
Some Pictures from Today
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/ts/012005inaugprotests&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=&e=2&a=0&t=&prev=1
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Comment #16 posted by AgaetisByrjun on January 20, 2005 at 13:42:36 PT
Note to parade announcer:
com·prise (km-prz)
tr.v. com·prised, com·pris·ing, com·pris·es  1. To consist of; be composed of: “The French got... French Equatorial Africa, comprising several territories” (Alex Shoumatoff).
  2. To include; contain: “The word ‘politics’... comprises, in itself, a difficult study of no inconsiderable magnitude” (Charles Dickens). See Synonyms at include.
  3. Usage Problem. To compose; constitute: “Put together the slaughterhouses, the steel mills, the freight yards... that comprised the city” (Saul Bellow).That is, the U.S. comprises fifty states. The fifty states do not comprise the Union (or, the U.S. is not comprised of fifty states). You'd think with all this pagaentry, someone would at least open a dictionary, but I guess that just shows this administration's fact-checking...
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on January 20, 2005 at 10:08:32 PT
What a Day
I don't understand how he won. I'm more confused and concerned with our country then anything. What made people vote for him after he invaded a sovereign country that never hurt us? I will never understand what made people do it. If it is loyalty to a party that just makes me mind politics all the more.
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Comment #14 posted by dongenero on January 20, 2005 at 09:54:09 PT
reassuring
I find it reassuring to read something like this from a young man in high school.
It is great to see young people engaged and thinking about issues in this way.
More power to you Travis! 
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Comment #13 posted by Deboche on January 20, 2005 at 09:47:16 PT
fom - sorry for the troops?
Hell I feel sorry for everyone on Earth. more than half of the people in the most powerful country in the world voted for a man who calls himself a president of warWorse than that is that some of the people of that half have "republican beliefs" so they would probably vote for the republican candidate anyway. But the people who are democrats and voted for Bush because of the war are weak and stupid cowards. The Bush admin. wanted to scare the people into voting for him and succeededI sure hope americans don't find out my country has anything valuable like oil or anything else, cause they seem to be able to use excuses for anything. I feel sorry for the people in Iraq who were living their lives in a country that offers much worse conditions than the USA and got killed or lost someone just cause some powerful men wanted more moneyWe need a revolution, send Bush to Europe, we'll take care of it
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on January 20, 2005 at 09:43:19 PT
schmeff 
As soon as I posted my earlier comment I muted the tv and put on music. It does wonders for my mood!
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Comment #11 posted by schmeff on January 20, 2005 at 09:39:25 PT
Not One Damn Dime
Ooops! I guess that means I used profanity in my message, and it says, right above where I'm typing, in red, even, not to do that.It's nice to come to this forum and not pay any attention to the Ignorguration, and I'm yelling into the living room for Martha to just turn the %# **# TV off. I gave up the idea of paying any attention to the flatulent falderall when I see how much money is being spent on security so the most hated man in the world can walk down the street in his capital city. Imagine!So I have resolved to visit my friends here, and not spend one dime today. Maybe it's a feeble protest, but the system is corrupt, and it feeds off of our economic activity. The Not One Damn Dime Day is a great idea, and it rightly points out that the only thing the robber-barons understand is money. But the no damn dime concept isn't original. My friend Virgil suggested we employ the concept EVERYDAY: Have a thrifty meal.Virgil is in my thoughts today.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 20, 2005 at 08:52:50 PT
goneposthole
I wish there was news to post because at least I would be busy and wouldn't be paying attention. I think I will turn music on soon and mute the tv. It isn't sour grapes because Kerry didn't win either. I'm glad Kerry isn't being sworn in today because this is Bushes mess and he needs to be responsible for it. I just feel sorry for the troops that are dying for this war that Bush made.
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Comment #9 posted by goneposthole on January 20, 2005 at 08:44:17 PT
I knew Pinocchio 
George Bush is no Pinocchio. Uriah Heap or King Herod is closer to what George Bush might possibly be. The author slanders Pinocchio's good name.The war will one day end and the neocons will be condemned and villified, eventually leave the scene, and then condemned and villified some more. end of story. One more thing, though: The draftees will bring peace to Iraq and the entire Middle East by refusing orders to fight, i.e. massive mutiny. Much to the chagrin of those pesky neocons, and much like Viet Nam ended.Maybe the US gov will finally learn a lesson.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 20, 2005 at 08:37:56 PT
drfistusa 
Thank you for the link and mayan I agree the draft won't settle well when it comes back. Today is a day that I can't wait until it's over. This is so depressing to watch. When they played Hail to the Chief I think of John Kennedy and how good it made me feel when he was president.
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Comment #7 posted by mayan on January 20, 2005 at 07:57:49 PT
Get Active or Get Dead
A military draft won't go over very well...unless there is another "terror attack". The empire is building forts in Iraq along the borders of Jordan,Syria and Saudi Arabia. Iran already sits conveniently between Iraq and Afghanistan. All the neo-cons need is a "spark" to sell an invasion of Iran to skeptical Americans and the international community.U.S. Building Forts On Iraq Border:
http://kutv.com/topstories/topstories_story_018113151.htmlTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...9/11 Was an Inside Job - A Call to All True Patriots:
http://www.911sharethetruth.com/They did it once. They can do it again.
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Comment #6 posted by drfistusa on January 20, 2005 at 05:37:29 PT
maybe we need Buddahs Dharma (truth) try the link 
Correct link to S.Buddhist church site. in reality, therefore it is their own mind that causes the delusions of grief, lamentation, pain and agony.The whole world of delution is nothing but a shadow caused by the mind and yet, it is also from this same mind that the world of enlightenment appears.
Western Buddhism = Scythien Buddhism
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on January 20, 2005 at 04:55:54 PT:
No idle threat, either
Every generation, for better or worse, has been forced to grow up sooner than the previous one; change is coming so hard and fast, they have no choice. So each generation is being exposed to concepts and ideas that previously they took much longer to absorb.And part of that change is facing the (now) very real chance of personal extinction courtesy of this country's NeoCon/Chickenhawk inspired foreign policy adventures. The kids know that despite government statements to the contrary, they are now wearing what amounts to invisible draft board numbers on their T-Shirts.Things have taken on a hard, sharp edge, lately. The Bush Cabal, not satisfied with the rolling clusterf***s of Afghanistan and Iraq, are now setting their sights on Iran. The Reserves have been stretched to literal breaking points. "Stop-loss" (as if soldiers were shopliftable merchandise) being used as a means of 'back-door draft'. The military doesn't have the bodies it needs for that little Persian soiree. The draft boards are being quietly cranked up to churn out victims. And the smarter kids know it. Mr. Moe will have lots of company, soon...if only because, just as in the 1960's, the choice is rapidly evolving into apathy or possible death.The NeoCons believe that they have everything sewn up tight in this country. All three branches of government are under their control. Even the grossest of scandals are pooh-poohed and dismissed. Lie after lie is told, and no accountability for them is admitted. Even when those lies get us involved in no-win wars like Afghanistan and Iraq. So long as people's 'comfort zones' aren't breached, it's status quo.But let the draft boards begin their inductions, and watch how fast that illusion crumbles.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 19, 2005 at 20:15:50 PT
drfistusa
I tried your link but it didn't work for me. I'd like to see it though.
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Comment #3 posted by drfistusa on January 19, 2005 at 19:26:33 PT
maybe we need Buddahs Dharma (truth)
we are the cause and the solution to suffering. War is unthinkable! 
Western Buddhism = Scythien Buddhism
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on January 19, 2005 at 19:15:39 PT
More Colorado connection..
"...a social revolution is still on the way, and this time it will succeed."A spiritual revolution is still on its way.It seems... People that have a habit of saying they are a Christian and support war and killing will be a key part of this coming spiritual revolution. The "Sin of the Priests" WILL end; clergy will no longer say the table of the Lord is defiled or to be despised -see the last book of the Old, Malachi 1:6-14.It seems disobedient Christians are the problem.Disobedient Christian leaders would do well to quickly connect with the spirit of truth, exactly as it is writen in John 14-16 & 1 John.Because disobedient Christian leaders are a problem; not to Me but to Christ God Our Father who sent Me. Disobedient Christian leaders are why I Am here.Note; Iraqi's, muslums et al. etc. do not hate obedient Christians; THEY HATE disobedient Christians (wether they know it or not). And while they should know better than to hate, I understand their dislike of disobedient Christians.If You take a sack and put some brains in it along with some blood and teach it to kill; You've created a monster.Wasted blood.Poof.Lord, Christ God Our Father, We need You; Your spirit of truth.Come quick.With Love,
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 19, 2005 at 18:35:40 PT
Using The Past To Perfect The Future
I wish this young man the best of luck. 
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