What Ever Happened to Peace on Earth?
The 14 Defining Characteristics of Fascism
January 16, 2004
"What Ever Happened to Peace On Earth?"
Willie Nelson Pens Anti-War Protest Song
|
Country music legend Willie Nelson performs his new protest song at a Kucinich for President rally. ©Photo by John Dettling |
On December 30, country music legend Willie Nelson performed a new composition at Texas Roadhouse in Owensboro, Kentucky. "What Ever Happened to Peace on Earth?" is only the second protest song that Nelson has ever written and it directly challenges the Bush administration's rationale for preemptive war. The introductory news story is excerpted from The New Statesman.
AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 31, 2003) -- Willie Nelson woke up early Christmas morning and turned on the news. "There was nothing but bad news, and here it was Christmas Day," Nelson said. "I said, `There sure are a lot of babies dying and mothers crying,' and (his wife) Annie said, `That sounds like a song.' "
By the end of the day, Nelson had written the anti-war ballad, "What Ever Happened to Peace on Earth," which he will debut at Saturday's fund-raising concert for Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich at Austin Music Hall.
"That's only the second protest song I've ever written," Nelson said Tuesday from his tour bus in Tennessee, "but it just came pouring out."
Nelson often performed his anti-war composition "Jimmy's Road" at peace rallies during the 1991 Gulf War. It was released on 1992's "The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories?"
Asked if he's concerned that the new song -- which asks such biting questions as "How much oil is one human life worth?" and "How much is a liar's word worth?" -- might cause a backlash with conservative country music fans, Nelson said, "I sure hope so. I don't care if people say, `Who the hell does he think he is?' I know who I am."
Nelson said the reaction he's had from friends for whom he's played the song has been overwhelmingly positive.
"I haven't played it for Toby (Keith) yet," Nelson said with a laugh. Although the two are close friends, the sentiments of "What Ever Happened to Peace on Earth" are the polar opposite of Keith's angry-American anthem, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue."
"Toby wrote that song in reaction to 9/11, which was a totally different thing than watching US soldiers die in Iraq," Nelson said. "Toby's said he's not a Republican or a Democrat; he's a Christian. So we're coming from the same place."
Nelson said he became interested in endorsing Kucinich because of the Ohioan's support of family farmers. The four-term congressman from Cleveland has also been an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq. "I just like him because he tells the truth," Nelson said. "Whether he's electable or not, who knows? But when you've got a guy you can trust, you've got a good candidate.
www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/metro_state_f32f47573469912e1081.htm.
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
What Ever Happened To Peace on Earth?
Written and performed by Willie Nelson
There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth
We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us
So we gotta' kill them first
But I remember a commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do
(Repeat Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
Now you probably won't hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there's a time, and if you're ever so inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
But don't confuse caring for weakness
You can't put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free
(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
Listen In on Willie Nelson:
Listen to Willie Nelson's only other protest song, one he continues to sing today: www.smn.com/peace.
The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism
Dr. Lawrence Britt / Free Inquiry Magazine (Spring 2003)
|
The cover of the British edition of Krugman's book caused a dust-up when some viewers thought Dick Cheney's oily "milk moustache" evoked memories of Adolf Hitler. Now why would they think that? |
Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, studied the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile). He found the regimes all had shared 14 common "identifying characteristics of fascism."
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.
4. Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.
5. Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homo-sexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.
6. Controlled Mass Media
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.
7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)
For more information contact: