The President is shocked, SHOCKED.

[shezan.livejournal.com]

Kinda Creepy... Red Dawn & Amerika

[zerorevenge.livejournal.com]

So... I was surfing Wikipedia about the Red Dawn movie remake, and I eventually found myself surfing about some old 80's miniseries called "Amerika" about a [then] Soviet take over of America.

Couldn't help but get a really creepy vibe from this section...
---
Amerika criticized American society in the 1980s, implying that apathy and an unwillingness to defend freedom on the part of many citizens made the Soviet takeover rather easy. At one point, a key Soviet official observes that their plans for conquering the United States succeeded far beyond their wildest dreams, because once the nation had been defeated, Americans turned inward, not caring about national issues, seeking only to retain a piece of the prosperity that had once been theirs. "It (the Soviet coup) worked because you lost your country before we ever got here," says the Soviet leader. "You had political freedom, but you lost your passion ... How could we not win?"

This theme is echoed by another character later in the film:

Nobody wanted to risk anything for anybody else. Everybody was afraid they were going to lose what they had. They knew it was bad. They were just afraid it'd get worse. That's all they lived for – for things not to get worse.

Another speech, by politician Peter Bradford (see below), lashes out at apathetic American attitudes:

Damn, I'm so tired of this "I'm an American" bull! Where was all that patriotism when it counted? Where was that willingness to sacrifice? Nobody wanted to join the damn army to defend the country unless they got paid well! Nobody wanted to give any time to public service unless they could make a career out of it! And I didn't notice a lot of us giving up our lives in the last 10 years!

An early scene shows schoolchildren in Chicago learning about Social Darwinism, which is characterized as the dominant philosophy in the old United States before the Soviet conquest and occupation, and a speech delivered by one child later in the series demonstrates the extent of Soviet indoctrination in the new America:

We are the voice of the new generation. We are the voice of the new people. The destructive ways of the past are gone. We will replace them with our vision of the future. The Party will lead us to the new age. There have been those who have tried to stop the new age. They are the corrupt reminder of the past. They have tried to confuse us with the idea that the old America was a good country. We know that lie. History teaches us that lie. We are grateful to our Soviet brothers who saved the world from destruction, and we can now join them in a world of socialist brotherhood. Everyone will go to school, everyone will have a job, everyone will be equal. No one will exploit or be exploited, and all those who oppose this wonderful vision will be crushed.

---
Now, I know a Soviet Invasion/successful coup is different than what we have happening here... sort of. But anyone else get a real weird vibe from this too?

PS: First time posting here...  apologies for this probably being stupid and pointless.

Totalitarianism doesn't need armies. It only needs to control a couple of things – the media, and the ability to dispense privilege to some, and to withhold it from others. Of course, a weak and divided people helps.

(no subject)

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

So this morning on my way to work (at Rose Garden & I-17, for you Phoenix-ers out there) I spotted an interesting little display someone had set-up at a bus shelter. It featured an inflatable tiger holding a sign that read:  "I VOTED FOR OBAMA, NOW LOOK AT ME" and some smaller text that I couldn't make out as I drove by.

I want to go back and get a picture later today but I doubt it'll last long. I'd also like to know the rest of what the sign said as well as the significance (if any) of the inflatable tiger (probably just something cheap and convenient to hold the sign).

Anyway, its stuck in my head and if I can get a picture I'll definitely share.



Edit: So yeah. The display (such as it was after someone knocked it down):



( Full pics under the cut. )

Have you seen anything like this where you live?

Rights Opponents

[arkadelos.livejournal.com]

http://michellemalkin.com/2010/03/26/npr-drops-pro-life-for-abortion-rights-opponents/

Malkin also gives some alternative phrases. I think "Self Defense Opponents" is better than "Gun Rights Opponents," though. And I am a bit confused over "Speech Rights Opponents"