Still Learning in Mid August of 2012

One of the revolutionary aspects of political thinking is for us to escape the Republican and Democrat camps. The Left/Right Paradigm has been exposed for what it is (a deception) than in any other time in human history. Now, people know about the errors of the GOP and their blatant extremism. I am not a Tea Party type of guy. Although, we have Bushbots years ago and others who worship the ground that the Democrats walked on too. Some try to justify every single policy of the current President no matter how wrong it is. These people forget that numerous progressives and independents don't follow some of the current administration's actions. Some of these supporters of the President legitimately critique the Bush/Cheney administration's neo-con agenda. Yet, they are silent when we have drone attacks in Pakistan or the allowance of Africom to organize neo-imperialist actions in the Motherland. Now, some Democrats are supporting the NATO aided terrorists causing havoc in Libya and presently in Syria. For a man (or Mr. President) to call our people mongrels and to ignore white supremacy, police brutality, and the War on Drugs; this man is truly disappointing. Barack Obama may ideologically disagree with Ronald Reagan, but he is enacting similar policies as Reagan (in support of civil liberty suppression, war & Empire, no radical solution to the housing crisis, etc.). Also, the current reality is that the black community is still suffering. Today, the supporters of the Democrats said that a vote for Romney/Ryan would be the cause of a ruination of society. I won't vote for the Romney/Ryan ticket, but the current President ought to have some accountability for his policies. When you think deeper, you realize something. Irrespective if the Obama/Biden ticket wins or the Romney/Ryan ticket wins, we will still have the Wall Street bankers plus the military industrial surveillance Security complex controlling society. When the President calls for long term cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and other social programs (via his sponsorship of the Bipartisan Economic Commission), he further inspires Paul Ryan to propose an even more radical austerity agenda. It is unjust for a man to say that an extrajudicial assassination against an American citizen is great, it is unjust for an administration to glamorize nuclear power, and it is unjust to ignore the discrimination of Africans in Israel. We know that many Republicans act like the wolves, but some Democrats are like the foxes (in that they may smile in your face, but they can be as devious and harmful as reactionaries are). Although, I am smart here. It's bigger than President Barack Obama. For example, we have a corporate media the permits the limits of political choices for us to vote for on the national level. You have the 1 percent dominating our economic, social, and religious infrastructures in the globe. See, life isn't about the philosophy of "get rich or die trying." It's about being real and never stop trying. We should never go into the route of blaming the President for every ill in the world. In the final analysis, we have a responsibility too not just the White House. Our responsibility is to help our families, help our neighbors, help our people, and help our communities via all legitimate means possible. We can offer legitimate criticism to the current administration, while at the same time offering respect for the President (and his family). We should always offer correction to the brother President Obama excluding fear mongering and hatred. That is why I am independent politically.



Hiroshima is the one of the most controversial events in WWII. It's probably the most controversial act of the U.S. military in human history. Today, we see a glorification of militarism and even a justification of the sick war crime called Hiroshima. 67 years have came after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Millions of Americans believe in the fairy tale that the bombing had to occur. There has been no questioning of the event massively among the collective consciousness of Americans. In our time, independent researchers found imperfections in the narrative of the bombing which were told by the victors. Many false information about the issue was orchestrated by militarists like General Doulas MacArthur. He imposed a censorship of the events at Ground Zero. The General even confiscated and destroyed all unpleasant photographic evidence that exposed the horrors of the atomic bombings. Even as late as 1995, reactionaries hated when the Simthsonian Institute promoted a fair explanation of the atrocities of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. New historians feel that the war could of have ended as early as the Spring of 1945 without the August atomic bombings. A three month bloody battle of Okinawa could of been avoided as well (when thousands of American Marines, Japanese, and other Okinawan civilian casaulties existed). The Japanese wanted an armstice, which could of ended the war, atomic weapons usages, or an American land invasion. There are the top secret intelligence data, declassified documents that were shown in the 1980's. It showed contignency plans for a 2 stage U.S. invasion of the mainland (which could come in November 1, 1945 and the Spring of 1946) inspite of the fact that bombings would be unnecessary. Japan was working on peace negotiations through its Moscow ambassador as early as April of 1945 when the battle of Okinawa was just starting. Harry Hopkins, President Truman’s close advisor, was aware of Japan’s desire for an armistice. He cabled the president from Moscow, saying: “Japan is doomed and the Japanese know it. Peace feelers are being put out by certain elements in Japan.” By this time, the U.S. knew all of the Japanese code. On July 13, 1945, Foreign Minister Togo said: "Unconditional surrender (giving up all sovereignty, thereby deposing Hirohito, the Emperor god) is the only obstacle to peace." Yet, Truman wanted an unconditional surrender. He didn't want a diplomatic cease fire, a negotiated peace settlement (and allow Hirohito to be just a figurehead in Japan). The 1943 Casablanca Conference between Roosevelt and Churchill promoted this unconditional surrender for Japan (including the Potsdam Conference from July 1945 between Truman, Churchill, and Stalin). Even General Douglas MacArthur didn't want an unconditional surrender. He wanted a peaceful end to the war, which could stop Hiroshima and Nagasaki to be bombed. William Manchester, in his biography of MacArthur, American Caesar, wrote: “Had the General’s advice been followed, the resort to atomic weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki might have been unnecessary.” Even Secretary of War Henry Stimson, said: “the true question was not whether surrender could have been achieved without the use of the bomb but whether a different diplomatic and military course would have led to an earlier surrender. A large segment of the Japanese cabinet was ready in the spring of 1945 to accept substantially the same terms as those finally agreed on.” In other words, Stimson felt that the US prolonged the war, including the battle for Okinawa, and could have made using the bombs unnecessary if it had engaged in honest negotiations. Admiral William Leahy is the top military aide to President Truman. He admitted in his war memoirs "I Was There" that the Japanese were on the verge of defeat. He further mentioned that they were ready to surrender with an effective allied sea blockade and the successful bombing with conventional weapons. General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited President Truman weeks before the bombings and told him not to do it. Eisenhower said: "It wasn’t necessary to hit them with that awful thing . . . to use the atomic bomb, to kill and terrorize civilians, without even attempting [negotiations], was a double crime." After the bombing, the world changed. Almost 200,000 died in the immediate aftermath of both bombs dropped in Japan. Even in August 9 died in the 75,000 victims died in the fireball at Nagasaki. The lesson is that we should promote humanity and peace. Real patriotism isn't about a lust for war, but a love for reconcilliation.




In Febrary of 1965, Operation Rolling Thunder was enacted. This was a program where LBJ issued sustained American bombing raids of North Vietnam. The air raids would continue for three years. The Marines would arrive in Danang in 1965 as well. This was the first American combat troops or the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade would arrive in Vietnam. Their mission primarily was to defend the U.S. airfield at Danang. There is some Vietcong gunfire reported, but no Marines are injured. The first conventional battle of the Vietnam War would occurred at the Ia Drang Valley in 1965 too. The U.S. forces clash with North Vietnamese units in the Ia Drang Valley. Later, the U.S. 1st Air Cavalry Division employs its newly enhanced technique of aerial reconnaissance to defeat the NVA. Still, heavy casaulties are reported on both sides. Troop levels rose to 200,000 in the middle of the 1960's. Anti-war protestors are famos for the Vietnam "Teach in" among the nation's universities. This policy of anti-war leaders going into colleges and universities becomes widespread. The teach ins at first would feature seminars, rallies, and speeches. It began in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in March. In May of 1965, there was a national broadcast of a teach in that reached students plus faculty in over 100 campuses. 1966 saw the futher escalation of the Vietnam War. In that year, B-52s bomb North Vietnam. This was done in an effort to disrupt the movement of VC along the Mugia Pass (or the main route used by the NVAto send personnel plus spplies through Laos into South Vietnam). This was the first time where American B-52s bomb North Vietnam for the first time. The South Vietnamese government troops take Hue and Danaag in 1966. In 1966, U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson meets with the South Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Cao Ky (and his military advisors) in Honolulu. LBJ wanted to support the South Vietnamese against North Vietnamese aggression. Yet, Johnson wanted the U.S. to monitor or watch South Vietnam in order for South Vietnam to improve economic condition and democracy in that nation. A great 1966 anti-war rally existed in NYC. Veterans from WWI, WWII, and the Korean War made up many of the protesters. Discharge and separation papers were burned in public as a means to protest the U.S. involvement in Vietnam. In 1966, we have the Congress of Racial Equality (or CORE) report. This report proved that the U.S. military draft places  "a heavy discriminatory burden on minority groups and the poor." The group also called for a withdrawal of all US troops from Vietnam. It is easy to see that African Americans play a huge role in the Vietnam War. A disapportionate amount of black Americans were drafted into that conflict. Even Whitney Young condemned the Vietnam War.


The Vikings had a long and interesting history. They are full of controversial and cultural dynamics. They are famous for their long explorations. They explored and settled in Europe, parts of Asia, and the North Atlantic islands from the 700's to the 1000's A.D. They were diverse. The Vikings existed as explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates. They go by many names. They are called Norsemen since most of them came from Scandanavia. The ancient Scandinavians organized large communities with chieftain and maritime warriors as well to trade and something plunder. Tim Osterholm  wrote an interesting article entitled, "A History of the Swedish people: Where did the Sedes come from?" It shows DNA, historical, and other interesting information on ancient Scandinavian history (especially as it pertains to the nation of Sweden). He makes the cases that the Swedes heavily came from the migratory Thracians. The ancient Latin writers and the Greeks called the land of Scandinavia Scandia. They were a critical part of the European medieval historical experience. Their voyages heavily consisted of long ships. Their destinations included places like Constantinople, Russia (along the Volga River), Iceland, Greenland, Al-Andaulus (in Spain), and as far west as Newfoundland). There is much debate on why the Vikings expanded their influence throughout the old world. Professor Rudolf Simek said that: "...it is not a coincidence if the early Viking activity occurred during the reign of Charlemagne..." In the period of the late 700's, Christianity finally penetrated Scandinavia. This caused conflict and division in Norway for almost a century. Some feel that the growth of the Norse population outgrown the agricultural potential of their Scandinavian homeland. So, people spread in order to get more resources in other lands. Divisions in Charlemagne's empire and in England cased the Vikings to easily conquer some of the lands in France plus England. Western Europe didn't have a great naval opposition to repel Viking influence. Trade was really low during the late 700's among Europe and Eurasia. The Vikings can and heavily profited from the international trade causing them to expand their traditional boundaries. There are tons of Viking figures in the world. Bagsecg was a Viking who invaded and pillaged in England during the year of 870. he was killed in 871 at the Battle of Ashdown. Cnut the Great was the Viking King of England, Denmark, and Norway (including some of Sweden). He is considered the greatest Viking king. Cnut the Great's father was Sweyn Forkbeard and Cnut was the grandson of Harold Bluetooth. Cnut the Great was a member of the dynasty that was key to the unification and Christianisation of Denmark. He has been called the Emperor of the North, because he possessed huge political power in Medieval Europe (as compared the the Holy Roman Empire in central & southern Europe). Al of folks already know about William the Conqueror's story. He was a famous Viking. He ruled Normandy (in northwest France) and won the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He was a Norman French speaking fifth generation descendant of the Viking war leader named Rollo. Rollow was the first Scandinavian ruler of Normandy. Norman historians like Dudo of St. Quentin still celebrated the old Norse heritage of the ducal dynasty. William's great great uncle was the great Danish king Cnut the Great. The Norman assertion of power in England can after the invasion of 1066. This saw the end of the Anglo-Saxon rule in England.


Today is the birthday of Marcus Garvey. What more can be said about Marcus Mosiah Garvery. He was one of the greatest leaders in human history. He inspired tons of people, especially  black people, to fight for truth, dignity, and liberty. He lived from August 17, 1887 to June 10, 1940. He was the leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (or the UNIA). He organized millions of black people for the cause of promoting African liberation. He admired the philosophies of Booker T. Washington and his ideas of self improvement for black Africans. Garvey's thinking was that black people the world over should connect more with their origin from Africa. He opposed the evils of European colonalism, so he wanted blacks globally to build a free and United Black Africa. His shipping company called the Black Star Line that dealt with his program in uplfiting the power of black people. The motto of the U.N.I.A. was "One God! One Aim! One Destiny." The Negro World was the U.N.I.A. weekly newspaper founded in 1918. It was published in French and Spanish as well as English. In it African history and heroes were glorified. The UNIA has been made up of leaders in the Niger, those folks from Ethiopia, people from Uganda, etc. not just black Africans from the Disapora. The federal government hated Garvey and indicted him on mail fraud. The feds used agents in trying to discredit him, but it failed. The power & wisdom from Marcus Garvey and other black people inspire all of us today in 2012. Yet, this UNIA still exists today. His inspiration and vision is still upon us. He influenced a lot of human beings like the following individuals: Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Henrietta Vinton Davis, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Alhaji Ahmed Sekou Toure, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Amy Jacques Garvey, Jomo Kenyatta, M. L. T. De Mena, Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, Steve Biko, Kwame Ture, Patrice Lumumba, Frantz Fanon, and so many other brothers and sisters. Marcus Garvey gave us as a people, one vital blueprint in solving our own issues. A lot of people know about his work, ideas, and literature. I do encourage people to read his words and look at his literature in order for folks to realize the great perspective of the man Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey is a representation of not only black manhood, but the strong power of black people in general.

By Timothy