Counter Rally against R.A.I.D. Group in Modesto

Counter Rally against R.A.I.D. Group in Modesto Jan 9, 2006 21:31:21 GMT -5

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Post by DAAA Collective on Jan 9, 2006 21:31:21 GMT -5

Thoughts on ‘Islamofascism’ and the United American Committee (UAC):

On February 1st, a relatively new right wing group will be hitting the sidewalks of Sisk and Stratford, and will be rallying against what it calls “Islamofascism”, although they will be promoting the much larger platform and politics of the United American Committee (UAC). The UAC was formed in 2004 for the purpose of “waking up Washington”, to the very real danger that Islamic based extremists/terrorists play to the American public, government, and as they put it “our way of life”, (as if the modern capitalist landscape was arrived at by consensus).

Although the group calls on all “true” Americans to show up and support “their troops”, and their country, the background of the UAC, it’s goals, and it’s influences are all coming from the right wing, the Republican Party, and support for George W. Bush. Even the term ‘Islamofascism’, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamofascism_%28term%29#endnote_stille2003), is a right wing buzzword currently. Fascism, at least as I understand it, has been largely been seen as an ideology that represents an authoritarian militaristic and nationalist state, and generally some sort of connection and mediation between large bodies of capital, (corporations), and the state. While certainly many Middle Eastern countries are authoritarian, brutally repressive, religiously intolerant, and militaristic, they are not technically fascistic in terms of fitting into fascist ideology.

UAC is also being influenced and helped on their ideology by various segments of the right wing. Jesse Petrilla, in an online interview, states various people that were working with him, including the group Center for Security Policy. The group pushes for strong arm foreign policies, and has strong ties to GOP, supports George Bush, and generally “promotes peace”, through promoting American Imperialism. Their guiding motto is "peace through strength"; hence they advocate a stronger US military and further development nuclear and space weaponry. They also strongly support Israel. CSP is highly critical of the United Nations, non-proliferation treaties, peace organizations and anything that they deem to be an infringement upon US sovereignty. Basically, balls to the wall, full on 100% American Imperialism, no question.

This is the background to which the UAC is coming from, however, it’s more telling to hear the solutions that they propose. For instance, here’s what they say should happen in regards to those “committing acts of terrorism”, (taken from the UAC platform):

“Terrorist activities by those who wish to inflict injury of the common welfare of the United States and the American populace, who are captured while in the process of committing a terrorist attack as defined by the patriot act, shall not be allowed to continue spreading his/her ideology in any matter, but shall be dealt with by capital punishment, regardless of creed or race. For their accomplices, no parole shall ever be granted to those who have plotted or assisted in the plot against the common welfare of America and the American people.”

While many would agree that those that carry out acts of terrorism on any group of people should be punished, the problem with this framework that the UAC has promoted is that it is so vague. The Patriot Act in itself defines terrorism as any act that breaks the law in order to change the laws, or to influence the US government. This could range from things like civil disobedience, (getting arrested in front of a federal building to protest the Iraq war), to spray painting on an army recruiting station. In affect, non-violent acts, those which do not hurt or harm people in any way, that are political, can now fall into the guild lines of “terrorism”, by the US government. And now, according to the UAC, the solution to all caught “terrorists”, is to execute them!

They also endorse ideas much like those put forth by Ashcroft in his failed T.I.P.S. program, (which promoted the idea of Americans spying on their neighbors, and then reporting them to the government). They say in their platform, “Furthermore, it is the duty of every American to report to authorities any activities observed which may inflict harm upon the American people.” With a government currently that ignores memos that are received by intelligence agencies that read, “Osama bin Laden looking to attack the US”, it seems that we have more to fear from a pathetic and partisan bureaucracy, than our next door neighbors, (kind of like that old crimethinc slogan, ‘your leaders can’t protect you, but they can get you killed’). Furthermore, since the Patriot Act has been in place, largely few people have been arrested on terrorism charges that have amounted to the US government preventing the next 9/11. While anarchists, eco-defense activists, and others may be currently facing heat from the federal government, and facing “terrorism” charges, it is clear that this is a side benefit to the US government, in its drive to wipe out all anti-capitalist resistance, and not ensuring that Americans will be safer, and saved from the next possible 9/11.

While the UAC may present itself as even a “progressive” organization, which fights corrupt governments, wants to end our dependency on foreign oil, and also fight for Middle Eastern women’s rights, it also has various proposals in its platform which affect large communities of people. Here, the UAC lines out what is plans to do with immigrants from “terrorist” supporting countries:

“Those who reside in America who are aliens, whether documented or undocumented, and who are not citizens, who are from countries with governments which have known ties to Islamic extremism, shall not only be subject to American laws, but shall be subject to strict immigration laws. Current immigration laws must be enforced to the full, and must not be restricted. Any violation of these laws must be dealt with by immediate deportation.
Those coming from countries whose governments have known ties to Islamic extremism, wishing to gain entry to America shall be closely scrutinized, and access shall only be granted after a lengthy process of research and analysis of the individual case.”

Thus, the UAC wants to deport basically any person of Arab decent, if they “violate” immigration or US laws, or at the very least keep them under “close scrutiny”. The idea of watching those that come from “terrorist” supporting countries is also problematic, being that the US considers many brutal and authoritarian countries to be its ally, and changes these relationships all the time, (Iraq being a prime example. What the UAC is really talking about is what has been going on since 9/11 happened, they want to put every Arab person under lock and key, and if they step out of line ship them out of the country to a country of our choosing. Arrested at a pro-Palestine protest – deportation. Got caught helping someone get into US illegally – deportation. Checked out a book that we didn’t like from the library – increased surveillance. Etc. The UAC also calls for increased militarization of the US border, all the while continuing promotion of NAFTA, which causes economic refugees to go into the US looking for work, and leads to the death of many migrant workers. For a group that is interested in fighting fascism, they seem keen on expanding the strength of the American state, and not the people.

Don’t just hate – educate! The UAC also wants to revamp our countries schools – dizam! “Our educators shall not feel pressure to withhold vital information for fear of reprimand due to political correctness. Our youth are our nation's future. We must hold their education to the highest level of importance.” This of course is completely vague, but we can assume that this equates to children being shown a narrow picture of geo-politics, and US forgein policy.

Lastly, the UAC asks, “can’t we all just get along”?

“Our goal is to encourage Muslim Americans to embrace democratic ideals, and the American way of life. All citizens are equal and are entitled to the rights granted by the United States constitution. These rights may only be revoked when an individual, regardless of creed or race, commits an act against his/her fellow American or against the American populace, whether by action or intent. We encourage American Muslims to denounce the ideals of our extremist enemies, and to stand against our enemy's terrorist actions.”

What democratic ideals? Is it thousands of people in Chiapas arriving at consensus? Argentinean workers holding a workers council while at work? Anarchists in the US having a meeting discussing a project? No, we’re talking about top down, if we don’t like you we’ll bomb you democracy, which all the politicians you could want, from the city council to the President. The economy, which fills much more of public life than the state generally does is also left out of their picture, and looking at Iraq, which has been privatized by western corporations, the public faces extreme unemployment and homelessness, the rosy picture of “freedom”, under corporate capital looks pretty bleak.

Also, the UAC wants above all to have American Muslims living in this country to become “Americanized”, by all means. Many Muslims, (like the well spoken people featured on the show “30 Days”), feel that they own no apology for the acts of Osama bin Laden, and other Islamic terrorists, because they are Americans as well, just as white Christens weren’t begging for forgiveness after the Okalahoma City Bombing. Also, many Muslims and people of Middle Eastern descent have their own ideas and politics regarding the situation in the Middle East, and it often does not run with either the elites and heads of state in the mid east want, or what the elites in Washington want. What the UAC is trying to get across, is that they want Middle Eastern people in this country to accept US forgien policy as it is no questions, regardless of US actions in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, or other places.

The UAC wants to promote anti-Arab laws, increase surveillance over Middle Eastern people, promote an imperialist right wing agenda, (which will only further hatred aimed at Americans), and increase the penalty to death for those found committing acts of “terrorism”.

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Counter Rally against R.A.I.D. Group in Modesto

Post by dissidentaggresser on Jan 9, 2006 14:36:54 GMT -5

Post by DAAA Collective on Jan 9, 2006 21:31:21 GMT -5