Aber ihre Nachrichtenkonferenz, führen mit einem podium und einem viel der Fernsehapparatkameras, vorausgesetzt nicht besseres Verständnis von durch, was die Gruppe während demokratischen Nationalkonvent folgende Woche tun würde. Stattdessen swore die Lautsprecher, auf Sommerbruch von der Hochschule, nur daß ihre eigene Versammlung, die nordamerikanische Anarchistenkonferenz, die Freitag beginnt, ruhig sein würde. Für drei Tage glätten Hunderte, möglicherweise tausend, Anarchisten von über Amerika und Kanada sollen in Los Angeles treffen. Die zu besprechenden Themen - Ausbildung, Armut, menschliche Rechte - würden klingen mundane waren es nicht für einige catchy Titel wie ' ' '' Durch Mutation entstehende Variation Becomings und ' ' rassistisches Maskottchen. '' Auch auf dem Kalender: ' ' Pacifism als Pathologie. '' Die Tagesordnung hat die Stadtführer und -polizei, die betroffen werden, da mehr als einige der Anarchistenteilnehmer erwartet werden, um für die grosse Versammlung herum zu haften. Schließlich dauerte eine Anarchistengruppe Gutschrift für viel der Eigentumsbeschädigung verursachtes letztes Jahr in im Stadtzentrum gelegenem Seattle durch die jungen Leute, die Welthandel-Gründungsversammlungen protestieren. Und die Web site von mindestens einer Anarchistenorganisation regt seine Bruder an anzukommen bereit zu poltern. Aber der August zusammen, da das Dutzend oder so die Wirte des upcoming Konferenzanrufs selbst, beharrt sie keine von dem haben würden, mindestens nicht Innere, das ist wie-schon nicht identifizierte Position, in der sie zusammenkommen. Diese Anarchisten, well-mannered und gut-gesprochen, gesagt sind sie sogar soweit gegangen, Teilnehmer zu bitten, das Besprechen der spezifischen während demokratischen Nationalkonvent zu verwendenden Strategien zu nehmen. ' ' ist unsere Konferenz zugelassen und gesetzmaßig, und jede mögliche Polizeiunterdrückung ist lediglich wegen unseres politischen Glaubens, '' besagter Kelly Anne, ein Physikkursteilnehmer. Später fügte sie, ' ' keine hat alles, von uns.'' zu fürchten hinzu Aber durch ' ' uns, schien '' die fünf Mitglieder des Kollektiv Augustes wer bei der Nachrichtenkonferenz bei patriotischem Hall sprach, nur ihre Konferenz zu bedeuten. Nachdem es betont hatte, daß lokale Polizei und Politiker der den Glauben und Praxis Bewegung misrepresented, backpedaled 21-year-old Jeff Hendricks eine Spitze. ' ' ist es nicht unsere Position zum Erklären anderen Anarchisten was zu tun, '' besagtes Hendricks, das studiert, um ein Lehrer zu sein. Besagtes Brendan Crill, 27, das in Richtung zu seinem PhD in der Physik arbeitet: ' ' bin ich gewesen, also beschäftigt mit unserer Konferenz, habe ich nicht gleichmäßigen Gedanken über, was ich während des DNC tue. Aber es ist eine grosse Gelegenheit, mit dem Scheinwerfer auf LA. '' um haben Anarchisten aus diesem Scheinwerfer heraus zu halten, sagten Crill und die anderen, Los Angelespolizei überwacht und Bundesgesetzdurchführungbeamte ihre Tätigkeiten und sie manchmal harassing. Noch sagten sie, beabsichtigen sie, ihre Anzeige zu verbreiten. In einer Aussage, in der Gruppe definierte anarchy als ' ' Reduzierung der Hierarchie und der Berechtigung über unserem Leben'' und ' ' höchste Steigerung des persönlichen Freiheits. '' Aber es gibt kein amtliches Dogma in der wachsenden Anarchistengemeinschaft. Einige Anarchisten z.B. betrachten nicht Eigentumsbeschädigung, eine Form der Gewalttätigkeit zu sein. ' ' ist Anarchy eine sehr reiche politische Theorie. Leute nicht gerade tun diese Sachen, ohne an sie, ''kelly zu denken erklärt der Masse, der mit der Bewegung groß nicht vertraut war, bis verdeckte junge Leute Straßen Seattles schlugen. Mitglieder des Kollektiv Augustes jedoch würden nicht sagen, was sie an das Potential für Mühe während demokratischen Nationalkonvent dachten. Aber sie möchten nicht gebildet werden Scapegoats für Anarchisten oder andere Protesters, irgendein. Das ist, warum sie Tür zur Tür zum Sprechen mit Geschäftsinhabern im Bereich gingen, in dem sie erfassen. Kelly sagte, daß die Gruppe keine Proteste während der Anarchistenkonferenz versprach.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in toher radio show. Recently, she said that, as anobservant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.
The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in toher radio show. Recently, she said that, as anobservant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.
The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging. Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
It had been relatively easy to liquidate the small, weak nuclei of anarchists in the cities, but things were different in the Ukraine, where the peasant Nestor Makhno had built up a strong rural anarchist organization, both economic and military. Makhno was born of poor Ukrainian peasants and was twenty years old in 1919. As a child, he had seen the 1905 Revolution and later became an anarchist. The Tsarist regime sentenced him to death, commuted to eight years' imprisonment, which was spent, more often than not in irons, in Butyrki prison, the only school he was ever to attend. He filled at least some of the gaps in his education with the help of a fellow-prisoner, Peter Archinov.
Immediately after the October Revolution, Makhno took the initiative in organizing masses of peasants into an autonomous region, a roughly circular area 480 by 400 miles, with seven million inhabitants. Its southern end reached the Sea of Azov at the port of Berdyansk, and it was centered in Gulyai-Polye, a large town of 20,000 to 30,000 people. This was a traditionally rebellious region which had seen violent disturbances in 1905.
The story began when the German and Austrian armies of occupation imposed a right-wing regime which hastened to return to their former owners the lands which had been seized by revolutionary peasants. The land workers put up an armed defense of their new conquests. They resisted reaction but also the untimely intrusion of Bolshevik commissars, and their excessive levies. This vast jacquerie [1] was inspired by a "lover of justice," a sort of anarchist Robin Hood called "Father" Makhno by the peasants. His first feat of arms was the capture of Gulyai-Polye in mid-September 1918. The armistice of November 11, however, led to the withdrawal of the Austro-German occupation forces, and gave Makhno a unique opportunity to build up reserves of arms and supplies.
For the first time in history, the principles of libertarian communism were applied in the liberated Ukraine, and self-management was put into force as far as possible in the circumstances of the civil war. Peasants united in "communes" or "free-work soviets," and communally tilled the land for which they had fought with the former owners. These groups respected the principles of equality and fraternity. Each man, woman, or child had to work in proportion to his or her strength, and comrades elected to temporary managerial functions subsequently returned to their regular work alongside the other members of the communes.
Each soviet was simply the executive of the will of the peasants in the locality from which it had been elected. Production units were federated into districts, and districts into regions. The soviets were integrated into a general economic system based on social equality; they were to be independent of any political party. No politician was to dictate his will to them under cover of soviet power. Members had to be authentic workers at the service of the laboring masses.
When the Makhnovist partisans moved into an area they put up posters reading: "The freedom of the workers and peasants is their own, and not subject to any restriction. It is up to the workers and peasants themselves to act, to organize themselves, to agree among themselves in all aspects of their lives, as they themselves see fit and desire.... The Makhnovists can do no more than give aid and counsel.... In no circumstances can they, nor do they wish to, govern."
When, in 1920, Makhno's men were brought to negotiate with the Bolsheviks, they did so as their equals, and concluded an ephemeral agreement with them, to which they insisted that the following appendix be added: "In the area where the Makhnovist army is operating the worker and peasant population shall create its own free institutions for economic and political self-administration; these institutions shall be autonomous and linked federally by agreements with the governing organs of the Soviet Republics." The Bolshevik negotiators were staggered and separated the appendix from the agreement in order to refer it to Moscow where of course, it was, considered "absolutely inadmissible."
One of the relative weaknesses of the Makhnovist movement was its lack of libertarian intellectuals, but it did receive some intermittent aid from outside. This came first from Kharkov and Kursk where the anarchists, inspired by Voline, had in 1918 formed a union called Nabat (the tocsin). In 1919 they held a congress at which they declared themselves "categorically and definitely opposed to any form of participation in the soviets, which have become purely political bodies, organized on an authoritarian, centralized, statist basis." The Bolshevik government regarded this statement as a declaration of war and the Nabat was forced to give up all its activities. Later, in July, Voline got through to Makhno's headquarters and joined with Peter Archinoff to take charge of the cultural and educational side of the movement. He presided at the congress held in October at Alexandrovsk, where the "General Theses" setting out the doctrine of the "free soviets" were adopted.
Peasant and partisan delegates took part in these congresses. In fact, the civil organization was an extension of a peasant army of insurrection, practicing guerrilla tactics. This army was remarkably mobile, covering as much as 160 miles in a day, thanks not only to its cavalry but also to its infantry, which traveled in light horse-drawn carts with springs. This army was organized on a specifically libertarian, voluntary basis. The elective principle was applied at all levels and discipline freely agreed to: the rules of the latter were drawn up by commissions of partisans, then validated by general assemblies, and were strictly observed by all.
Makhno's franc-tireurs gave the White armies of intervention plenty of trouble. The units of Bolshevik Red Guards, for their part, were not very effective. They fought only along the railways and never went far from their armored trains, to which they withdrew at the first reverse, sometimes without taking on board all their own combatants. This did not give much confidence to the peasants who were short of arms and isolated in their villages and so would have been at the mercy of the counter-revolutionaries. Archinov, the historian of the Makhnovtchina, wrote that "the honor of destroying Denikin's counter-revolution in the autumn of 1919 is principally due to the anarchist insurgents."
But after the units of Red Guards had been absorbed into the Red Army, Makhno persisted in refusing to place his army under the supreme command of the Red Army chief, Trotsky. That great revolutionary therefore believed it necessary to turn upon the insurrectionary movement. On June 4, 1919, he drafted an order banning the forthcoming Makhnovist congress, accusing them of standing out against Soviet power in the Ukraine. He characterized participation in the congress as an act of "high treason" and called for the arrest of the delegates. He refused to give arms to Makhno's partisans, failing in his duty of assisting them, and subsequently accused them of "betrayal" and of allowing themselves to be beaten by the White troupe. The same procedure was followed eighteen years later by the Spanish Stalinists against the anarchist brigades.
The two armies, however, came to an agreement again, on two occasions, when the extreme danger caused by the intervention required them to act together. This occurred first in March 1919, against Denikin, the second during the summer and autumn of 1920, before the menace of the White forces of Wrangel which were finally destroyed by Makhno. But as soon as the supreme danger was past the Red Army returned to military operations against the partisans of Makhno, who returned blow for blow.
At the end of November 1920 those in power went so far as to prepare an ambush. The Bolsheviks invited the officers of the Crimean Makhnovist army to take part in a military council. There they were immediately arrested by the Cheka, the political police, and shot while their partisans were disarmed. At the same time a regular offensive was launched against Gulyai-Polye. The increasingly unequal struggle between libertarians and authoritarians continued for another nine months. In the end, however, overcome by more numerous and better equipped forces, Makhno had to give up the struggle. He managed to take refuge in Romania in August 1921, and later reached Paris, where he died much later of disease and poverty. This was the end of the epic story of the Makhnovtchina. According to Peter Archinov, it was the prototype of an independent movement of the working masses and hence a source of future inspiration for the workers of the world.
Note:
1. Jacquerie was the name given, to the French peasant revolt of 1358 (from Jacques, the nickname of the French peasant). [Translator's note.]
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE POOR FORMATTING OF THIS ARTICLE.
"The struggle of memory against oblivion is a struggle against authority. The reality of social struggles bursting against the state, beyond the desire of statistics to distort their meaning and deny their existence, is developing enduringly: many times they are violent and confrontational, multiform and uncompromising, reflecting through the passage of centuries the continual struggle of the inborn human tension for freedom, against any form of exploitation and enforcement. Social struggles never stop and continue to disappoint all those who want to distort human nature and enforce every form of authority and tyranny. Whatever masks they have worn so far, their substance is the same. Terror, suppression, violent repression of human feelings, needs. But they have never actually been able to ensure total social consent to their plans. Insurrections, present everywhere on our planet, inhibit their plans and declare the congruity of the human entity with disobedience and a lack of discipline. Authoritarians moved forward, to promote resignation, creating laws, rules, norms, frames of behavior suppressing free human creativity, exploiting and sucking our energy to empower their dominion, destroying our harmonic relation with nature. They continue committing their crimes against the herd masses by even more nightmarish plans (control of every form of life -- or "life" if you prefer -- of society, through the use of technological monsters and the effort to enthrall and brainwash the human entity and convert it into malleable clay). This effort is contributed to by the enervation and alienation created by the media, the sterilized and distorted knowledge taught in schools of every kind, the media being the sequel to the propaganda of the family and economy, withdrawing people from what they really need to know, together with all the useless information trafficking, urging people to be content surviving on paid slavery and consuming commodities and spectacles. What they baptize as history is one of the biggest lies, one that systematically conceals insurrections and moments of freedom and disobedience, presenting everything that happened so far as a consequence of compromise, politics and diplomacy."
- Awkwardly translated from a leaflet put out in September 2001 by the Greek anarchist group, "Back to the Streets."
It's probably accurate to say that the Greek anarchist movement is one of the most insurrectionary in the world, and by comparison most other regional movements (including here in the states) appear almost liberal and reformist. This makes sense for several reasons: one, the word "anarchist" is a Greek word, and indeed, the desire for true freedom seems deeply ingrained in the people's blood. Greece is also the birthplace of "democracy" and the modern state, which have historically proven to be two of the most effective forms of social control ever devised. Additionally, the origins of the monolithic techno-totality we call western civilization can be traced back to Greece, so it seems only natural that strong resistance movements would arise there to maintain the harmonic equilibrium of the life-force (chaos). The general political atmosphere in Greece, like that of most European countries, is quite different from that of the United States. Few people would look at you incredulously for espousing anarchism. That doesn't mean they would agree. Greeks come in as many political flavors as you can name, including anarchists, theocrats, Stalinists, social democrats and fascists. ItÕs just that the social apathy and self-centered individualism which is so pervasive in our own "non-culture" culture is much rarer in Greece, where you are expected to choose sides and have some kind of political identity. The ruling order in Greece is well aware of anarchism and it is seen as a very real threat to their power. The movement today in Greece is strongest in Athens and Thessalonika, where it is centered around a number of well-established squatted buildings used as social centers, one in Thessalonika, and three in Athens (of course, it's a bit of an over-simplification to say that the movement is centered around these physical locations: they merely serve as valuable organizing hubs. If the movement was really that centralized, it would be non- existent by now). Three alternative radio stations are currently operating in Athens, apparently quite well. Anarchist literature is easy to find in Greece. Books and pamphlets from the historical canon of anarchist writers (Kropotkin, Berkman, Malatesta) are printed by many of the myriad independent small-presses in Greece and hawked by street vendors all over the country. Finally, there is a plethora of anarchist and quasi-anarchist papers being regularly published in Greece; I'll list only a few. Exeyersi (Insurrection) is a monthly, anarcho-syndicalist leaning tabloid that is refreshingly pro-revolutionary violence. Ekto's Nom (Outside the Law) is a more heterogeneous anarchist monthly from Thessalonika. Alpha is a long-running weekly anarchist newspaper and "Pirate's tis Imiselinu" (The Pirates of the Half Moon) is a situationist-influenced monthly magazine (the writings of the situationists, especially Guy Debord, are quite popular in socialists and anarchist circles in Greece. After he killed himself in December of 1994, "Adio, Guy Debord: was inscribed in spray paint all over Athens). The emphasis of the struggle in Greece is definitely on the class or social war, but there is also a growing recognition of technology and civilization as instruments of class oppression. Historically, Greek anarchists had their heyday during the resistance to the German occupation of World War II. Thousands of anarchists were members of the left-wing coalition EAM-ELAS (National Popular Liberation Army), which was based mainly around cities and larger towns. The Germans were never really able to control inland Greece, and were content simply to keep the supply line open to troops in North Africa. EAM-ELAS had some notable military successes in disrupting this, the most famous of which is the blowing up of the railway viaduct at Gorgopotamos. The movement that began to develop in the 70's continuing up to the present day, was strongly influenced by both German and Italian autonomism, not to mention the armed struggle mystique of the Baader-Meinhof Group and Armed Cells of West Germany, and was shaped by the 1973 insurrection against the military junta that ruled Greece. The Anarchist Attack Groups formed in Athens in the mid-80's, specializing in petrol bombing police cars on a massive scale. On November 17th, 1985, when riot police chased anarchists to the traditional anarchist stronghold around Exarchia Square, fierce fighting took place resulting in the shooting in the back of a 15-year old anarchist, Michalis Kaltzas, by the cops. This sparked off further fighting and the occupation of the University of Chemistry, and then that of the Polytechnic, and riots and demonstrations in many other cities. At this point a new wave of repression began: Anarchists were arrested, brutally beaten, there were many house searches, anyone that looked "different" was violently detained during major police street sweeps. Alongside this was the development of armed anarchist groups that carried out a number of bank robberies and armed confrontations with the police. For example, the Anti-State Struggle Group shot dead the Public Prosecutor of Athens as retaliation for severe prison sentences being given to anarchists. In a subsequent gun-battle with the police in May 1985, in which three cops died, the anarchist Christos Tsoutosouvis was killed. From the beginning, 1998 was a fiery year for the Greek state, with about 70 arsons waged by different anarchist groups. Various events, like the arrest of Nikos Maziotis and the governmentÕs decisions concerning economic, labor and educational sectors provided a basis for many fiery nights. The Òcocktail partiesÓ began shortly after the morning of January 13th, when Nikos Maziotis, a 27 year old anarchist, was arrested in his home near Athens. Three handguns, ten kilos of explosives, detonators and bullets were all found in this house. In other raids in nine more houses in Athens, 15 more people were arrested. The whole police operation was presented as a major blow to Greek armed groups, as Maziotis was originally linked to Revolutionary People's Struggle", an armed group with a long history of bombing attacks and assassinations which had been idle since 1995, and the new "Militant Guerrilla Formation", a group that had claimed responsibility for several bombings carried out over the previous two years. The bombing attempt for which Maziotis was eventually charged was one that occurred at the Ministry of Industry and Development on December 6th, 1997. The bomb, which was placed at the entrance of the building, didn't explode because it was wrongly assembled. Police investigations had found Maziotis' fingerprint on the bomb. A group calling itself "Anarchist Urban Guerrillas" claimed responsibility for the action, in support of the villagers in Halkidiki, Northern Greece, who were opposing the installation of a gold processing unit owned by TVX Gold (a multinational corporation) near their villages. The police, after finding Maziotis' fingerprint, placed him under surveillance, in hope of finding more incriminating evidence. They chose to make the arrests three days after two bombing attacks against a taxation bureau and the Ministry of Finance data processing center. On February 13th, an extensive statement by Maziotis was published in a daily Greek newspaper in which he declared: "I am an anarchist and aim at the complete destruction of the state and the capitalist regime and its replacement by anti-authoritarian communes. The only charge I will accept is that of subversive activity, which honors me. If freedom is a crime in the eyes of my enemies, they yes, I agree that I am a criminal." He then went on to elucidate the difference between the three kinds of political violence: state terrorism (the most common and well-organized), revolutionary terrorism (employed by Marxist and Stalinist groups which reproduce in their prelatic organization the structures of the state) and liberating violence. Solidarity actions for Nikos Maziotis started almost immediately after his arrest. On January 27th, a group calling itself ÒRevolutionary WarÓ burnt two cars belonging to the Ministry of Public Works. "Freedom to Nikos Maziotis and all hostages held by the State", they said in a phone call to an Athens newspaper. Two days later, the "Incendiaries of Conscience" took responsibility for the burning of 40 cars between June 6th and January 25th. They pointed out that they burn only selected targets belonging to cops, big companies, diplomats, etc. The message concluded with the words: ÒHatred - Violence - Revenge. Perform your ratio of violence. Peace in the Aegean Sea, war in every suburb. Freedom to N. Maziotis, S. Dapergolas, R. Kalaremas, G. Viassopoulos and all prisoners. Revolutionary greetings to all malcontented." It was also in 1998 that the strategy of burning cars belonging to foreign politicians, diplomats and other servants of the state began to gain popularity amongst anarchist insurgents. It started on January 25th when two cars belonging to the Italian Embassy in Athens were torched. In March, "Anarchist Patrol on the Roads" took responsibility for the arson attack of two cars belonging to the Office of City Planning and Public Works. By years end, over two hundred cars had been firebombed in similar attacks. This method of operating has continued up to the present day in Greece. Alongside continued rioting and confrontations at demonstrations (most notably the anti-Clinton riots of 1999), where banks, government offices, car showrooms and luxury hotels are stoned and burnt down, is the presence of 30 armed anarchist groups., which carry out petrol and explosive bombings around the Athens area. The Greek anarchist movement is not hesistant to confront power head on, and doesn't waste its time targeting the tangential, indirect sources of oppression. Instead, what's most commonly attacked is state property, government offices, tax collection agencies, various appendages of the war machine, banks and luxury cars belonging to government officials and members of the ruling class. In fact, you might say that torching banks, luxury cars and other symbols of bourgeois decadence has become a recreational pastime for anarchists in Greece. One criticism that IÕve heard voiced about the movement in Greece (from someone who has lived there on and off most of their life) is that the militancy and intensity of the struggle there leads to a lot of premature burnout, and consequently, the demographic makeup of the movement there -- in terms of age -- is generally 17-25. But this is perhaps a good thing, for it keeps the resistance fluid and alive, the tactics remain bold and daring, and the movement stays infused with the urgency, anger and clarity of youth in genuine revolt. We have a lot to learn from the situation in Greece but it is vital that we not live out our dreams vicariously through the valiant actions of our Greek sisters and brothers. Rather, we should begin employing their tactics and strategies here, in the real belly of the beast, where we definitely need to intensify our resistance. Anyway, enough analysis, let's get on with the recent actions... Reprinted below is just a small sampling of some of the actions that have occurred in Greece in 2001. While far from complete, this short list should give our readers a good idea of how the anarchist revolution is being fought in Greece.
April 4, 2001: The automatic cash dispensers of the branch offices of the ABN AmbroBank and HSBC are set on fire in Holargos. Responsibility is claimed by the group "Anarhikes Omades Epithesis" ( Anarchist Attack Groups) who say that the arsons took place as a "welcoming to the conference being held by the magazine Economist and the visit of Bush in Athens". July 22-23, 2001: There were six separate arson attacks in Greece during this two day period of time, all in solidarity with slain Italian anarchist Carlo Giulliani- - Here are three actions that we just found out about and that didn't make it into previous issues of Green Anarchy: At Exarhia (the center of Athens) four luxury cars belonging to the Telephone Company are set on fire. In Galatsi (a suburb of Athens) a car belonging to the Italian Embassy is set on fire. In A.Paraskevi (a suburb of Athens) the agency of the Italian company FIAT is set on fire. Also, the agency of Alfa Romeo is set on fire, in the same area. Responsibility is taken, in a call to a newspaper, by the group "Pagosmiopieplemeni Antistasi" (Globalised Resistance), saying:"Honor to the dead of Genova, solidarity to the strugglers." In addition to these actions, the entrance to the central offices of PASOK (a government party) in Athens is set on fire. Responsibility is later taken by the group "Omada Anarchikon" (Group of Anarchists), saying Òthat this is the way we react to the murder of Carlo Giulliani in Genova.Ó July 25, 2001: The branch offices of the Alpha Bank in Petralona are set on fire. No group takes reponsibility for this action. That same night, in the city of Volos, an arson attempt is made against the branch offices of the Commercial Bank. Responsibility for this attempted arson is taken by the group "Autonomous Action" saying: The struggle against the state in every form continues, the cops are blamed in Genova.Ó July 27, 2001: The entrance to the offices of PASOK in Koukaki is set on fire. No group claims responsibility for this action. November 17, 2001: Anarchists March To Remember Military Junta Victims: Athens: Scuffles broke out between police and anarchist demonstrators on November 17th in Athens following a march on the U.S. embassy to mark the anniversary of a 1973 student uprising that helped bring down GreeceÕs military rulers. About 10,000 people took part in the annual march held to honor students killed in the 1973 revolt that resulted in the overthrow of the military junta the following year. (At least 23 people died and hundreds were injured in 1973 when tanks and soldiers poured into the Polytechnic University campus. The actual death toll has never been firmly established and some sources place it much higher.) This year's march - led by the Greek Communist Party - was quickly usurped by local anarchist groups who hurled stones and wooden clubs at hundred of cops standing outside the U.S. Embassy. Demonstrators also burned an American flag and chanted slogans against the U.S. military action in Afghanistan. The American Embassy is the focus of the march because of the U.S. backing of the junta, which took power in 1967. In a corresponding march in the city of Thessaloniki a group of people attack banks and government buildings. January 11-12, 2002: Massive Anarchist Demonstrations Rock Polytechnic School: Athens: Anarchist groups organized a demonstration at the Polytechnic School of Athens. The point of the demonstration was to take a stand against the new anti-"terrorist" laws, state repression, and the imperialist war in Afghanistan. Anarchists and other radicals marched to the school with banners reading: ÒDemonstration of Resistance and Solidarity,Ó ÒAgainst the Plundering of Our Lives - Solidarity to the Insurrection in Argentina,Ó ÒWe Are All Foreigners and Instructed,Ó and ÒCops - Pigs - Assassins.Ó Meanwhile, anarchist brochures and leaflets were handed out to the public. During the afternoon a movie was projected on the sidewalk of the school, which was followed by a theater play about the (now defunct) German urban guerrilla group, the Red Army Faction. The protest finished with music and dancing. Around 300 people participated in the first day of the protests. The following day around 800 people gathered outside the Polytechnic School with a banner reading: ÒWherever Order and Security Exists - It Smells of Human Meat Sabotage to the Social Consensus.Ó Due to the massive police presence the demonstrators chose to wear self-defense gear as they marched around the school chanting for class war, solidarity with the social insurrection in Argentina, solidarity to immigrants and against state repression. The demonstration finished peacefully at the entrance of the Polytechnic School. At midnight, anonymous radicals, armed with stones and petrol bombs, attacked a police van near the central offices of the PASOK (ruling party). That same night in Thessaloniki, the sub-capital of Greece, hooded activists threw petrol bombs at a bank.
Recommended Reading: A Brief History Of Anarchism In Greece (1848-1973) : A Pamphlet available from ÓNo God-No MasterÓ Anarchist Pamphlets P.O. Box 300, East Brunswick, Victoria 3057, Australia. Also available from GA for $1 pp. Plotino Rhodakanaty: The Actions Of A Greek Anarchist In Mexico: Thick 31-page pamphlet looking at the life of Plotino Rhodakanaty, a Greek anarchist scholar and revolutionary strongly influenced by Fourier and Proudhon, who helped found the Mexican anarchist movement in 1861. This pamphlet is available from the ÒNo God-No MasterÓ address listed above. A-News: Published in Greece, this is an invaluable paper that chronicles ongoing direct action and resistance in Greece. Copies can be ordered from the following address--ANews c/o Anarchist Intervention P.O. Box 30557-10033 Athens Greece
Well, Dangerous Journeys is now in the stores and I've had my first look at it. I did not buy a copy, but I had a long talk with the person demoing it in a game store Saturday. I think that I know enough to give an overview of the game. A detailed review will have to wait for someone who purchases it and has time to read it.
Dangerous Journeys, DJ, is Gary Gygax's new role playing game being produced by GDW. This games was to have been named Dangerous Dimensions, DD, but was changed due to a law suit by TSR. I guess that TSR felt that DD was too close to D&D. The name change was apparently very recent since I saw a couple of pamplets with the Dangerous Dimensions name amoung those with Dangerous Journeys.
DJ will in time be a multi-genre game much like GURPS. Initially only the fantasy setting will be available. The next setting will probably be Victorian horror. I saw two books in the store 'Dangerous Journeys, Mythus' and 'Dangerous Journeys, Mythus Magick'. They both are softbound with nice cover art. The interior artwork is also nice and both are quite long, about 400 pages each. The price for DJ, Mythus is $26 and DJ, Mythus Magick is $24 (prices are in American dollars).
DJ, Mythus has the rules for character creation, combat, skills, and a basic magic system. One could play the game with just this book, but most people, especially players with magic users, will want the other book with give the magic system in full detail. There seems to be a basic system for all aspects of the game with is covered in a small portion of the first book. Then there are many optional rules that add onto the basic game with form the rest of the book.
DJ used a points based character creation and a percential based skill system. In many ways it is more like GURPS than D&D. There is no alignment, armour class, or character classes. Though there is character professions which have an effect on the beginning attributes and skills of a character. Any character can have any skill so long as she has enough points to begin with or later gains enough experience points to buy that skill.
Characters have three main stats, physical, mental, and psyhic. Each of these is divided into two catagories. Mental for example is divided into memory and reason. The catagories are divided again into three parts, capacity, strength, and speed. Capacity is the maximum that the catagories speed and strength can reach, unless it is bought up later with experience points. Characters generated with the basic rules do not use the catagories or subdivisions.
The skill abilities are based on the stats, I believe that the stats determine the beginning value for the corresponding skills. The skills are represented by a value from 0 to 100. To successfully use a skills a d100 role must be made that is less than or equal to the skill value. Skills can have up to two specialties, for example dagger and spear in the hand to hand skill. The specialties start out with a value equal to that of the skill itself. Also a character and hyper-specialize in one of the two, in this case that one gets a higher value while the other is lowered.
Combat is done is three second rounds. With the basic rules there is one action per round for each character and initiative is determined by who rolls the lowest on a d10, rolls that tie indicate that the actions are simultaneious. A roll is made against the combat skill, i.e. weapon, being used. The opponent makes a roll to dodge or parry. If it is still a hit then a damage roll is made. The opponents's armour may absorb some or all of the damage.
There are many optional rules. There may be more than one action per round, initiative is effect by other factors such as the characters speed and weapon type, and there is an abstract hit location system. Rather than defining different areas of the body and making a roll to determine which is hit. A roll is made and one of four areas is hit. These areas are, non-vital, vital, ?, and extremly vital (i.e. the head). Sorry I can't remember the names. A hit in a non-vital area uses the damage as rolled, in a vital area the damage is doubled, in a ? area the damage is tripled, and in an extremly vital area the damage is quadrupled.
Magic is quite extensive, if one also buys the second book. There hunderds of spells and rules on creating new spells. Each spell sounds like it is a seperate skill. A magic user has some number of 'power' points. Each time an attempt to cast a spell is made power points are spent whether or not the spell works. Harder spells of course take more power to cast. If the roll for the spell is failed very badly there is a spell backfire, i.e. fumble, with results that can range from minor to deadly. Each spell has listed the time it takes to cast, which can range from three seconds to days.
Other things to be released for this game are 'The Epic of Aerth' a background setting for this game. It is 'the natural milieu for fantasy,... a world quite similar to our own, but in which technology and civilization remain at a Late Renaissance level, though magick is quite extensively developed." Much use is make of new spelling for ordinary name. Aerth for earth, magick for magic, Atlantl for Atlantas, Nylle for Nyle, Aegypt for Egypt, etc. I find this somewhat irratating. There is also included what is found underground, the "labyrinths" and the "hollow interior of the planet where ancient life forms still exist."
There will be a counter-world, "Phaeree, a world of wild magick, with its own outer, subterranean, and interior realms. These are the lands of the Faerie... or Goblin... and of Hobgoblin". Both Aerth and Phaeree are in one book, $22.
Of course there will be a gamemasters screen $9, an introductory adventure set in Aegypt $18 and a magazine called Journeys. They say that Journeys will cover other games and will first come out in August. I was surprised to see the names of Greg Staford and Steve Jackson listed as writing for this magizine.
Also in the works are books written by Gary Gygax in the DJ world, miniatures by Hobby Products GmbH (which look well done and different. There is an Egytian look to some of them. There is even video games in the works, "led by JVC" for home computers.
Well that is about all I know. It looks like it is well done, especially compared to D&D, but I saw very little that is new in this game. Personally I do not intent to buy the game. I look for either new and interesting game systems or a fasinating settling. This game does not have the former, and I'll reserve judgement of the latter until the world book is released. In the meantime I'll stick to RuneQuest (I still love the setting of Glorantha), Pendragon, and Ars Magica. All three have rule systems that work (though RuneQuest is not up to the level of the other two - it is quite old after all) and great settings that have depth, character and lots of room for roleplaying.
"TURKISH COMEDY": MRS. ÇILLER VISITS ATATURK'S TOMB TO COMPLAIN ABOUT PRESIDENT DEMIREL.
Turkey is, officially, a secular state, but in practice it is a theocracy whose Patron Divinity is called Ataturk, whose Temple is his Ankara mausoleum, of Mussolini styled architecture, whose religious principals are "the eternal principals of Ataturk, written into the preamble of the Constitution and taught in all the schools and barracks. The Temple guardians are the notorious "state institutions" - that is to say the Army, the political police, the State Security Courts and their extensions in the media, the Universities and the state parties. The official and compulsory Ataturk cult demands that all the key dates in the life of the "father of the Turks" (the anniversaries of his birth, his death and of his 'epic' life (23 April, 19 May, 30 August 31 October etc.) at each change of civil or military leaders, everyone goes in great pomp to Ataturk's mausoleum to pay their respects are pledge their faith to Him.
Visiting foreign Statesmen and Ambassadors appointed to Ankara must equally lend themselves to this obligatory charade. Mrs. Çiller, however, is giving this cult a new dimension by transforming Ataturk's mausoleum into a wailing wall. In fact, on 27 December, accompanied by a large delegation of M.P.s of her party (DYP) she visited Ataturks's tomb to complain about President Demirel's lapses in behaviour. According to her, by appointing as Prime Minister first B. Ecevit, leader of the country's largest fourth party, and then a simple independent M.P., Mr. Y. Erez, a defector from her DYP, "President Demirel has deviated from the Great Ataturk's path", she bitterly complained, begging His help...
Faced with this highly publicised national event, President Demirel had to reply publicly (Hurriyet of 25-12-1998) that "It is not enough to visit Ataturk to claim to be a true Ataturkist. She (Mrs. Çiller) should renew her faith and purify herself'
All this is a "modern" country, member of NATO, of the Council of Europe and "candidate for membership of the European Union".
Imagine a million search engines out there crawling the web. That would be a bit excessive. It would saturate the internet pretty bad, and implode the whole internet! You have to think about these things, YMMV. HAND!
The reverend he turned to me Without a tear in his eyes It's nothing new for him to see I didn't ask him why I will remember The love our souls had Sworn to make Now I watch the falling rain All my mind can see Now is your (face) Well I guess You took my youth I gave it all away Like the birth of a New-found joy This love would end in rage And when she died I couldn't cry The pride within my soul You left me incomplete Memories now unfold. Believe the word I will unlock my door And pass the Cemetery gates Sometimes when I'm alone I wonder aloud If you're watching over me Some place far abound I must reverse my life I can't live in the past Then set my soul free Belong to me at last Through all those Complex years I thought I was alone I didn't care to look around And make this world my own And when she died I should've cried and spared myself some pain... Left me incomplete All alone as the memories still remain The way we were The chance to save my soul And my concern is now in vain Believe the word I will unlock my door And pass the cemetery gates
One huge paragraph because of the stupid too few characters per line filter. Fucking slashbots.
Can't you see I'm easily bothered by persistence One step from lashing out at you... You want in to get under my skin And call yourself a friend I've got more friends like you What do I do?
(Pre) Is there no standard anymore? What it takes, who I am, where I've been Belong You can't be something you're not Be yourself, by yourself Stay away from me A lesson learned in life Known from the dawn of time
(Chorus) Respect, walk
Run your mouth when I'm not around It's easy to achieve You cry to weak friends that sympathize Can you hear the violins playing you song? Those same friends tell me your every word
Can you feel like a child? Can you see what I want? I wanna run through your wicked garden Heard that's the place to find ya But I'm alive So alive now I know the darkness blinds you
Can you see without eyes? Can you speak without lies? I wanna drink from you naked fountain I can drown your sorrows I'm gonna burn, burn you to life now Out of the chains that bind you
Can you see just like a child? Can you see just what I want? Can I bring you back to life? Are you scared of life?
Burn, burn, burn Burn your wicked garden down Burn, burn, burn Burn your wicked garden to the ground
Can you feel pain inside? Can you love? Can you cry? I wanna run through your wicked garden Heard that's the place to find you 'Cause I'm alive So alive now Out of the dark that blinds you
Can you see just like a child? Can you see just what I want? Can I bring you back to life? Are you scared of life?
Burn, burn, burn Burn your wicked garden down Burn, burn, burn Burn your wicked garden to the ground
Ooooooooooooooooooh Did you see the frightened ones Did you hear the falling bombs Did you ever wonder Why we had to run for shelter When the promise of a brave new world Unfouled beneath a clear blue sky Ooooooooooooooooooh Did you see the frightened ones Did you hear the falling bombs The flames are all long gone But the pain lingers on
Mother do you think they'll drop the bomb Mother do you think they'll like the song Mother do you think they'll try to break my balls Oooh ma, mother should I build a wall
Mother should I run for president Mother should I trust the government Mother will they put me in the firing line Oooh ma, is it just a wasted time Mother am I really dying
Hush now baby, baby don't you cry Mama's gonna make all of your nightmares come true Mama's gonna put all of her fears into you Mama's gonna keep you right here under her wing She won't let you fly but she might let you sing Mama's gonna keep baby cosy and warm Oooh babe Oooh babe Oooh babe Of course mama's gonna help build the wall
Mother do you think she's good enough for me Mother do you think she's dangerous tell me Mother will she make your little boy a toy Ooh ma, mother will she break my heart
Hush now baby, baby don't you cry Mama's gonna check out all of your girlfriends for you Mama won't let anyone dirty get through Mama's gonna wait up 'till you get in Mama will always find out where you've been Mama's gonna keep baby healthy and clean Oooh babe Oooh babe Oooh babe You'll always be a baby to me
Who would win this epic battle, this clash of titans? Well, lets make a comparative analysis and see who is the true leader of the free world.
Weight: Hands down, it is Mozilla. Godzilla may be a 5000pound beast, but to run Mozilla, you need at least 4 mainframes, with a terabyte of RAM. The current weight of the top of the line mainframe is 2000pounds, so therefore Mozilla wins.
Most Sequels: Godzilla is the true champion here. it seems like as if there is a new godzilla film everyyear (Lets not forget that great one of 1998- Godzilla vs the Teletubbues). Mozilla didnt even stand a chance, it hasnt even reached version one yet.
Enemies: I think this would be a draw. Both of them had to fight the 5000pound gorilla (king Kong and Microsoft for those who arent hip).
Worst Remakes: Hollywood's remake of Godzilla was a dismal failure, but not nearly as bad as Netscape's remake of Mozilla. Mozilla 1, Godzilla 0
Most Add-ons: Godzilla severly lacks in this department. Hell he doesnt even have a wang. Mozilla, on the other hand has every imaginable add-on, including Godzilla's wang. Once again, a clear win by Mozilla.
The final score: Well, it seems as if Mozilla is in the lead 4:1. Mozilla is the true champion, and shall remain so until Godzilla grows a wang and decides to rematch.
Slashdot Mirror
Is this nut job
The next to win a Darwin
I sure hope so
Is this nut job
The next to win a Darwin
I sure hope so
Aber ihre Nachrichtenkonferenz, führen mit einem podium und einem viel der Fernsehapparatkameras, vorausgesetzt nicht besseres Verständnis von durch, was die Gruppe während demokratischen Nationalkonvent folgende Woche tun würde. Stattdessen swore die Lautsprecher, auf Sommerbruch von der Hochschule, nur daß ihre eigene Versammlung, die nordamerikanische Anarchistenkonferenz, die Freitag beginnt, ruhig sein würde. Für drei Tage glätten Hunderte, möglicherweise tausend, Anarchisten von über Amerika und Kanada sollen in Los Angeles treffen. Die zu besprechenden Themen - Ausbildung, Armut, menschliche Rechte - würden klingen mundane waren es nicht für einige catchy Titel wie ' ' '' Durch Mutation entstehende Variation Becomings und ' ' rassistisches Maskottchen. '' Auch auf dem Kalender: ' ' Pacifism als Pathologie. '' Die Tagesordnung hat die Stadtführer und -polizei, die betroffen werden, da mehr als einige der Anarchistenteilnehmer erwartet werden, um für die grosse Versammlung herum zu haften. Schließlich dauerte eine Anarchistengruppe Gutschrift für viel der Eigentumsbeschädigung verursachtes letztes Jahr in im Stadtzentrum gelegenem Seattle durch die jungen Leute, die Welthandel-Gründungsversammlungen protestieren. Und die Web site von mindestens einer Anarchistenorganisation regt seine Bruder an anzukommen bereit zu poltern. Aber der August zusammen, da das Dutzend oder so die Wirte des upcoming Konferenzanrufs selbst, beharrt sie keine von dem haben würden, mindestens nicht Innere, das ist wie-schon nicht identifizierte Position, in der sie zusammenkommen. Diese Anarchisten, well-mannered und gut-gesprochen, gesagt sind sie sogar soweit gegangen, Teilnehmer zu bitten, das Besprechen der spezifischen während demokratischen Nationalkonvent zu verwendenden Strategien zu nehmen. ' ' ist unsere Konferenz zugelassen und gesetzmaßig, und jede mögliche Polizeiunterdrückung ist lediglich wegen unseres politischen Glaubens, '' besagter Kelly Anne, ein Physikkursteilnehmer. Später fügte sie, ' ' keine hat alles, von uns.'' zu fürchten hinzu Aber durch ' ' uns, schien '' die fünf Mitglieder des Kollektiv Augustes wer bei der Nachrichtenkonferenz bei patriotischem Hall sprach, nur ihre Konferenz zu bedeuten. Nachdem es betont hatte, daß lokale Polizei und Politiker der den Glauben und Praxis Bewegung misrepresented, backpedaled 21-year-old Jeff Hendricks eine Spitze. ' ' ist es nicht unsere Position zum Erklären anderen Anarchisten was zu tun, '' besagtes Hendricks, das studiert, um ein Lehrer zu sein. Besagtes Brendan Crill, 27, das in Richtung zu seinem PhD in der Physik arbeitet: ' ' bin ich gewesen, also beschäftigt mit unserer Konferenz, habe ich nicht gleichmäßigen Gedanken über, was ich während des DNC tue. Aber es ist eine grosse Gelegenheit, mit dem Scheinwerfer auf LA. '' um haben Anarchisten aus diesem Scheinwerfer heraus zu halten, sagten Crill und die anderen, Los Angelespolizei überwacht und Bundesgesetzdurchführungbeamte ihre Tätigkeiten und sie manchmal harassing. Noch sagten sie, beabsichtigen sie, ihre Anzeige zu verbreiten. In einer Aussage, in der Gruppe definierte anarchy als ' ' Reduzierung der Hierarchie und der Berechtigung über unserem Leben'' und ' ' höchste Steigerung des persönlichen Freiheits. '' Aber es gibt kein amtliches Dogma in der wachsenden Anarchistengemeinschaft. Einige Anarchisten z.B. betrachten nicht Eigentumsbeschädigung, eine Form der Gewalttätigkeit zu sein. ' ' ist Anarchy eine sehr reiche politische Theorie. Leute nicht gerade tun diese Sachen, ohne an sie, ''kelly zu denken erklärt der Masse, der mit der Bewegung groß nicht vertraut war, bis verdeckte junge Leute Straßen Seattles schlugen. Mitglieder des Kollektiv Augustes jedoch würden nicht sagen, was sie an das Potential für Mühe während demokratischen Nationalkonvent dachten. Aber sie möchten nicht gebildet werden Scapegoats für Anarchisten oder andere Protesters, irgendein. Das ist, warum sie Tür zur Tür zum Sprechen mit Geschäftsinhabern im Bereich gingen, in dem sie erfassen. Kelly sagte, daß die Gruppe keine Proteste während der Anarchistenkonferenz versprach.
Hey I was the one who submitted that to the troll library. You theif, give me credit.
Subject: Biblical Laws
Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to
people who call in toher radio show. Recently, she said that, as
anobservant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to
Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.
The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident,
which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge
with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual
lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly
states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other
specific laws and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They
claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price
for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend
of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you
clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2
clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill
him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I
don't agree. Can you settle this?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have
a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my
vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments
made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also
tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to
all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? -
Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family
affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws?
(Lev.20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you
can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and
unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
-Commienst
Subject: Biblical Laws
Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a US radio personality who dispenses advice to
people who call in toher radio show. Recently, she said that, as
anobservant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to
Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.
The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a US resident,
which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge
with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual
lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly
states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other
specific laws and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They
claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price
for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual cleanliness - Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend
of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you
clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2
clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill
him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I
don't agree. Can you settle this?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have
a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my
vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments
made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also
tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to
all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? -
Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family
affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws?
(Lev.20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you
can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and
unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
Jim
THE MAKHNOVTCHINA
.... The Makhnovists can do no more than give aid and counsel .... In no circumstances can they, nor do they wish to, govern."
by
Daniel Guérin
extract from "Anarchism: From Theory to Practice"
It had been relatively easy to liquidate the small, weak nuclei of anarchists in the cities, but things were different in the Ukraine, where the peasant Nestor Makhno had built up a strong rural anarchist organization, both economic and military. Makhno was born of poor Ukrainian peasants and was twenty years old in 1919. As a child, he had seen the 1905 Revolution and later became an anarchist. The Tsarist regime sentenced him to death, commuted to eight years' imprisonment, which was spent, more often than not in irons, in Butyrki prison, the only school he was ever to attend. He filled at least some of the gaps in his education with the help of a fellow-prisoner, Peter Archinov.
Immediately after the October Revolution, Makhno took the initiative in organizing masses of peasants into an autonomous region, a roughly circular area 480 by 400 miles, with seven million inhabitants. Its southern end reached the Sea of Azov at the port of Berdyansk, and it was centered in Gulyai-Polye, a large town of 20,000 to 30,000 people. This was a traditionally rebellious region which had seen violent disturbances in 1905.
The story began when the German and Austrian armies of occupation imposed a right-wing regime which hastened to return to their former owners the lands which had been seized by revolutionary peasants. The land workers put up an armed defense of their new conquests. They resisted reaction but also the untimely intrusion of Bolshevik commissars, and their excessive levies. This vast jacquerie [1] was inspired by a "lover of justice," a sort of anarchist Robin Hood called "Father" Makhno by the peasants. His first feat of arms was the capture of Gulyai-Polye in mid-September 1918. The armistice of November 11, however, led to the withdrawal of the Austro-German occupation forces, and gave Makhno a unique opportunity to build up reserves of arms and supplies.
For the first time in history, the principles of libertarian communism were applied in the liberated Ukraine, and self-management was put into force as far as possible in the circumstances of the civil war. Peasants united in "communes" or "free-work soviets," and communally tilled the land for which they had fought with the former owners. These groups respected the principles of equality and fraternity. Each man, woman, or child had to work in proportion to his or her strength, and comrades elected to temporary managerial functions subsequently returned to their regular work alongside the other members of the communes.
Each soviet was simply the executive of the will of the peasants in the locality from which it had been elected. Production units were federated into districts, and districts into regions. The soviets were integrated into a general economic system based on social equality; they were to be independent of any political party. No politician was to dictate his will to them under cover of soviet power. Members had to be authentic workers at the service of the laboring masses.
When the Makhnovist partisans moved into an area they put up posters reading: "The freedom of the workers and peasants is their own, and not subject to any restriction. It is up to the workers and peasants themselves to act, to organize themselves, to agree among themselves in all aspects of their lives, as they themselves see fit and desire
When, in 1920, Makhno's men were brought to negotiate with the Bolsheviks, they did so as their equals, and concluded an ephemeral agreement with them, to which they insisted that the following appendix be added: "In the area where the Makhnovist army is operating the worker and peasant population shall create its own free institutions for economic and political self-administration; these institutions shall be autonomous and linked federally by agreements with the governing organs of the Soviet Republics." The Bolshevik negotiators were staggered and separated the appendix from the agreement in order to refer it to Moscow where of course, it was, considered "absolutely inadmissible."
One of the relative weaknesses of the Makhnovist movement was its lack of libertarian intellectuals, but it did receive some intermittent aid from outside. This came first from Kharkov and Kursk where the anarchists, inspired by Voline, had in 1918 formed a union called Nabat (the tocsin). In 1919 they held a congress at which they declared themselves "categorically and definitely opposed to any form of participation in the soviets, which have become purely political bodies, organized on an authoritarian, centralized, statist basis." The Bolshevik government regarded this statement as a declaration of war and the Nabat was forced to give up all its activities. Later, in July, Voline got through to Makhno's headquarters and joined with Peter Archinoff to take charge of the cultural and educational side of the movement. He presided at the congress held in October at Alexandrovsk, where the "General Theses" setting out the doctrine of the "free soviets" were adopted.
Peasant and partisan delegates took part in these congresses. In fact, the civil organization was an extension of a peasant army of insurrection, practicing guerrilla tactics. This army was remarkably mobile, covering as much as 160 miles in a day, thanks not only to its cavalry but also to its infantry, which traveled in light horse-drawn carts with springs. This army was organized on a specifically libertarian, voluntary basis. The elective principle was applied at all levels and discipline freely agreed to: the rules of the latter were drawn up by commissions of partisans, then validated by general assemblies, and were strictly observed by all.
Makhno's franc-tireurs gave the White armies of intervention plenty of trouble. The units of Bolshevik Red Guards, for their part, were not very effective. They fought only along the railways and never went far from their armored trains, to which they withdrew at the first reverse, sometimes without taking on board all their own combatants. This did not give much confidence to the peasants who were short of arms and isolated in their villages and so would have been at the mercy of the counter-revolutionaries. Archinov, the historian of the Makhnovtchina, wrote that "the honor of destroying Denikin's counter-revolution in the autumn of 1919 is principally due to the anarchist insurgents."
But after the units of Red Guards had been absorbed into the Red Army, Makhno persisted in refusing to place his army under the supreme command of the Red Army chief, Trotsky. That great revolutionary therefore believed it necessary to turn upon the insurrectionary movement. On June 4, 1919, he drafted an order banning the forthcoming Makhnovist congress, accusing them of standing out against Soviet power in the Ukraine. He characterized participation in the congress as an act of "high treason" and called for the arrest of the delegates. He refused to give arms to Makhno's partisans, failing in his duty of assisting them, and subsequently accused them of "betrayal" and of allowing themselves to be beaten by the White troupe. The same procedure was followed eighteen years later by the Spanish Stalinists against the anarchist brigades.
The two armies, however, came to an agreement again, on two occasions, when the extreme danger caused by the intervention required them to act together. This occurred first in March 1919, against Denikin, the second during the summer and autumn of 1920, before the menace of the White forces of Wrangel which were finally destroyed by Makhno. But as soon as the supreme danger was past the Red Army returned to military operations against the partisans of Makhno, who returned blow for blow.
At the end of November 1920 those in power went so far as to prepare an ambush. The Bolsheviks invited the officers of the Crimean Makhnovist army to take part in a military council. There they were immediately arrested by the Cheka, the political police, and shot while their partisans were disarmed. At the same time a regular offensive was launched against Gulyai-Polye. The increasingly unequal struggle between libertarians and authoritarians continued for another nine months. In the end, however, overcome by more numerous and better equipped forces, Makhno had to give up the struggle. He managed to take refuge in Romania in August 1921, and later reached Paris, where he died much later of disease and poverty. This was the end of the epic story of the Makhnovtchina. According to Peter Archinov, it was the prototype of an independent movement of the working masses and hence a source of future inspiration for the workers of the world.
Note:
1. Jacquerie was the name given, to the French peasant revolt of 1358 (from Jacques, the nickname of the French peasant). [Translator's note.]
WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE POOR FORMATTING OF THIS ARTICLE.
... Reprinted below is just a small sampling of some of the actions that have occurred in Greece in 2001. While far from complete, this short list should give our readers a good idea of how the anarchist revolution is being fought in Greece.
"The struggle of memory against oblivion is a struggle against authority. The reality of social struggles bursting against the state, beyond the desire of statistics to distort their meaning and deny their existence, is developing enduringly: many times they are violent and confrontational, multiform and uncompromising, reflecting through the passage of centuries the continual struggle of the inborn human tension for freedom, against any form of exploitation and enforcement. Social struggles never stop and continue to disappoint all those who want to distort human nature and enforce every form of authority and tyranny. Whatever masks they have worn so far, their substance is the same. Terror, suppression, violent repression of human feelings, needs. But they have never actually been able to ensure total social consent to their plans. Insurrections, present everywhere on our planet, inhibit their plans and declare the congruity of the human entity with disobedience and a lack of discipline. Authoritarians moved forward, to promote resignation, creating laws, rules, norms, frames of behavior suppressing free human creativity, exploiting and sucking our energy to empower their dominion, destroying our harmonic relation with nature. They continue committing their crimes against the herd masses by even more nightmarish plans (control of every form of life -- or "life" if you prefer -- of society, through the use of technological monsters and the effort to enthrall and brainwash the human entity and convert it into malleable clay). This effort is contributed to by the enervation and alienation created by the media, the sterilized and distorted knowledge taught in schools of every kind, the media being the sequel to the propaganda of the family and economy, withdrawing people from what they really need to know, together with all the useless information trafficking, urging people to be content surviving on paid slavery and consuming commodities and spectacles. What they baptize as history is one of the biggest lies, one that systematically conceals insurrections and moments of freedom and disobedience, presenting everything that happened so far as a consequence of compromise, politics and diplomacy."
- Awkwardly translated from a leaflet put out in September 2001 by the Greek anarchist group, "Back to the Streets."
It's probably accurate to say that the Greek anarchist movement is one of the most insurrectionary in the world, and by comparison most other regional movements (including here in the states) appear almost liberal and reformist. This makes sense for several reasons: one, the word "anarchist" is a Greek word, and indeed, the desire for true freedom seems deeply ingrained in the people's blood. Greece is also the birthplace of "democracy" and the modern state, which have historically proven to be two of the most effective forms of social control ever devised. Additionally, the origins of the monolithic techno-totality we call western civilization can be traced back to Greece, so it seems only natural that strong resistance movements would arise there to maintain the harmonic equilibrium of the life-force (chaos). The general political atmosphere in Greece, like that of most European countries, is quite different from that of the United States. Few people would look at you incredulously for espousing anarchism. That doesn't mean they would agree. Greeks come in as many political flavors as you can name, including anarchists, theocrats, Stalinists, social democrats and fascists. ItÕs just that the social apathy and self-centered individualism which is so pervasive in our own "non-culture" culture is much rarer in Greece, where you are expected to choose sides and have some kind of political identity. The ruling order in Greece is well aware of anarchism and it is seen as a very real threat to their power. The movement today in Greece is strongest in Athens and Thessalonika, where it is centered around a number of well-established squatted buildings used as social centers, one in Thessalonika, and three in Athens (of course, it's a bit of an over-simplification to say that the movement is centered around these physical locations: they merely serve as valuable organizing hubs. If the movement was really that centralized, it would be non- existent by now). Three alternative radio stations are currently operating in Athens, apparently quite well. Anarchist literature is easy to find in Greece. Books and pamphlets from the historical canon of anarchist writers (Kropotkin, Berkman, Malatesta) are printed by many of the myriad independent small-presses in Greece and hawked by street vendors all over the country. Finally, there is a plethora of anarchist and quasi-anarchist papers being regularly published in Greece; I'll list only a few. Exeyersi (Insurrection) is a monthly, anarcho-syndicalist leaning tabloid that is refreshingly pro-revolutionary violence. Ekto's Nom (Outside the Law) is a more heterogeneous anarchist monthly from Thessalonika. Alpha is a long-running weekly anarchist newspaper and "Pirate's tis Imiselinu" (The Pirates of the Half Moon) is a situationist-influenced monthly magazine (the writings of the situationists, especially Guy Debord, are quite popular in socialists and anarchist circles in Greece. After he killed himself in December of 1994, "Adio, Guy Debord: was inscribed in spray paint all over Athens). The emphasis of the struggle in Greece is definitely on the class or social war, but there is also a growing recognition of technology and civilization as instruments of class oppression. Historically, Greek anarchists had their heyday during the resistance to the German occupation of World War II. Thousands of anarchists were members of the left-wing coalition EAM-ELAS (National Popular Liberation Army), which was based mainly around cities and larger towns. The Germans were never really able to control inland Greece, and were content simply to keep the supply line open to troops in North Africa. EAM-ELAS had some notable military successes in disrupting this, the most famous of which is the blowing up of the railway viaduct at Gorgopotamos. The movement that began to develop in the 70's continuing up to the present day, was strongly influenced by both German and Italian autonomism, not to mention the armed struggle mystique of the Baader-Meinhof Group and Armed Cells of West Germany, and was shaped by the 1973 insurrection against the military junta that ruled Greece. The Anarchist Attack Groups formed in Athens in the mid-80's, specializing in petrol bombing police cars on a massive scale. On November 17th, 1985, when riot police chased anarchists to the traditional anarchist stronghold around Exarchia Square, fierce fighting took place resulting in the shooting in the back of a 15-year old anarchist, Michalis Kaltzas, by the cops. This sparked off further fighting and the occupation of the University of Chemistry, and then that of the Polytechnic, and riots and demonstrations in many other cities. At this point a new wave of repression began: Anarchists were arrested, brutally beaten, there were many house searches, anyone that looked "different" was violently detained during major police street sweeps. Alongside this was the development of armed anarchist groups that carried out a number of bank robberies and armed confrontations with the police. For example, the Anti-State Struggle Group shot dead the Public Prosecutor of Athens as retaliation for severe prison sentences being given to anarchists. In a subsequent gun-battle with the police in May 1985, in which three cops died, the anarchist Christos Tsoutosouvis was killed. From the beginning, 1998 was a fiery year for the Greek state, with about 70 arsons waged by different anarchist groups. Various events, like the arrest of Nikos Maziotis and the governmentÕs decisions concerning economic, labor and educational sectors provided a basis for many fiery nights. The Òcocktail partiesÓ began shortly after the morning of January 13th, when Nikos Maziotis, a 27 year old anarchist, was arrested in his home near Athens. Three handguns, ten kilos of explosives, detonators and bullets were all found in this house. In other raids in nine more houses in Athens, 15 more people were arrested. The whole police operation was presented as a major blow to Greek armed groups, as Maziotis was originally linked to Revolutionary People's Struggle", an armed group with a long history of bombing attacks and assassinations which had been idle since 1995, and the new "Militant Guerrilla Formation", a group that had claimed responsibility for several bombings carried out over the previous two years. The bombing attempt for which Maziotis was eventually charged was one that occurred at the Ministry of Industry and Development on December 6th, 1997. The bomb, which was placed at the entrance of the building, didn't explode because it was wrongly assembled. Police investigations had found Maziotis' fingerprint on the bomb. A group calling itself "Anarchist Urban Guerrillas" claimed responsibility for the action, in support of the villagers in Halkidiki, Northern Greece, who were opposing the installation of a gold processing unit owned by TVX Gold (a multinational corporation) near their villages. The police, after finding Maziotis' fingerprint, placed him under surveillance, in hope of finding more incriminating evidence. They chose to make the arrests three days after two bombing attacks against a taxation bureau and the Ministry of Finance data processing center. On February 13th, an extensive statement by Maziotis was published in a daily Greek newspaper in which he declared: "I am an anarchist and aim at the complete destruction of the state and the capitalist regime and its replacement by anti-authoritarian communes. The only charge I will accept is that of subversive activity, which honors me. If freedom is a crime in the eyes of my enemies, they yes, I agree that I am a criminal." He then went on to elucidate the difference between the three kinds of political violence: state terrorism (the most common and well-organized), revolutionary terrorism (employed by Marxist and Stalinist groups which reproduce in their prelatic organization the structures of the state) and liberating violence. Solidarity actions for Nikos Maziotis started almost immediately after his arrest. On January 27th, a group calling itself ÒRevolutionary WarÓ burnt two cars belonging to the Ministry of Public Works. "Freedom to Nikos Maziotis and all hostages held by the State", they said in a phone call to an Athens newspaper. Two days later, the "Incendiaries of Conscience" took responsibility for the burning of 40 cars between June 6th and January 25th. They pointed out that they burn only selected targets belonging to cops, big companies, diplomats, etc. The message concluded with the words: ÒHatred - Violence - Revenge. Perform your ratio of violence. Peace in the Aegean Sea, war in every suburb. Freedom to N. Maziotis, S. Dapergolas, R. Kalaremas, G. Viassopoulos and all prisoners. Revolutionary greetings to all malcontented." It was also in 1998 that the strategy of burning cars belonging to foreign politicians, diplomats and other servants of the state began to gain popularity amongst anarchist insurgents. It started on January 25th when two cars belonging to the Italian Embassy in Athens were torched. In March, "Anarchist Patrol on the Roads" took responsibility for the arson attack of two cars belonging to the Office of City Planning and Public Works. By years end, over two hundred cars had been firebombed in similar attacks. This method of operating has continued up to the present day in Greece. Alongside continued rioting and confrontations at demonstrations (most notably the anti-Clinton riots of 1999), where banks, government offices, car showrooms and luxury hotels are stoned and burnt down, is the presence of 30 armed anarchist groups., which carry out petrol and explosive bombings around the Athens area. The Greek anarchist movement is not hesistant to confront power head on, and doesn't waste its time targeting the tangential, indirect sources of oppression. Instead, what's most commonly attacked is state property, government offices, tax collection agencies, various appendages of the war machine, banks and luxury cars belonging to government officials and members of the ruling class. In fact, you might say that torching banks, luxury cars and other symbols of bourgeois decadence has become a recreational pastime for anarchists in Greece. One criticism that IÕve heard voiced about the movement in Greece (from someone who has lived there on and off most of their life) is that the militancy and intensity of the struggle there leads to a lot of premature burnout, and consequently, the demographic makeup of the movement there -- in terms of age -- is generally 17-25. But this is perhaps a good thing, for it keeps the resistance fluid and alive, the tactics remain bold and daring, and the movement stays infused with the urgency, anger and clarity of youth in genuine revolt. We have a lot to learn from the situation in Greece but it is vital that we not live out our dreams vicariously through the valiant actions of our Greek sisters and brothers. Rather, we should begin employing their tactics and strategies here, in the real belly of the beast, where we definitely need to intensify our resistance. Anyway, enough analysis, let's get on with the recent actions
April 4, 2001: The automatic cash dispensers of the branch offices of the ABN AmbroBank and HSBC are set on fire in Holargos. Responsibility is claimed by the group "Anarhikes Omades Epithesis" ( Anarchist Attack Groups) who say that the arsons took place as a "welcoming to the conference being held by the magazine Economist and the visit of Bush in Athens". July 22-23, 2001: There were six separate arson attacks in Greece during this two day period of time, all in solidarity with slain Italian anarchist Carlo Giulliani- - Here are three actions that we just found out about and that didn't make it into previous issues of Green Anarchy: At Exarhia (the center of Athens) four luxury cars belonging to the Telephone Company are set on fire. In Galatsi (a suburb of Athens) a car belonging to the Italian Embassy is set on fire. In A.Paraskevi (a suburb of Athens) the agency of the Italian company FIAT is set on fire. Also, the agency of Alfa Romeo is set on fire, in the same area. Responsibility is taken, in a call to a newspaper, by the group "Pagosmiopieplemeni Antistasi" (Globalised Resistance), saying:"Honor to the dead of Genova, solidarity to the strugglers." In addition to these actions, the entrance to the central offices of PASOK (a government party) in Athens is set on fire. Responsibility is later taken by the group "Omada Anarchikon" (Group of Anarchists), saying Òthat this is the way we react to the murder of Carlo Giulliani in Genova.Ó July 25, 2001: The branch offices of the Alpha Bank in Petralona are set on fire. No group takes reponsibility for this action. That same night, in the city of Volos, an arson attempt is made against the branch offices of the Commercial Bank. Responsibility for this attempted arson is taken by the group "Autonomous Action" saying: The struggle against the state in every form continues, the cops are blamed in Genova.Ó July 27, 2001: The entrance to the offices of PASOK in Koukaki is set on fire. No group claims responsibility for this action. November 17, 2001: Anarchists March To Remember Military Junta Victims: Athens: Scuffles broke out between police and anarchist demonstrators on November 17th in Athens following a march on the U.S. embassy to mark the anniversary of a 1973 student uprising that helped bring down GreeceÕs military rulers. About 10,000 people took part in the annual march held to honor students killed in the 1973 revolt that resulted in the overthrow of the military junta the following year. (At least 23 people died and hundreds were injured in 1973 when tanks and soldiers poured into the Polytechnic University campus. The actual death toll has never been firmly established and some sources place it much higher.) This year's march - led by the Greek Communist Party - was quickly usurped by local anarchist groups who hurled stones and wooden clubs at hundred of cops standing outside the U.S. Embassy. Demonstrators also burned an American flag and chanted slogans against the U.S. military action in Afghanistan. The American Embassy is the focus of the march because of the U.S. backing of the junta, which took power in 1967. In a corresponding march in the city of Thessaloniki a group of people attack banks and government buildings. January 11-12, 2002: Massive Anarchist Demonstrations Rock Polytechnic School: Athens: Anarchist groups organized a demonstration at the Polytechnic School of Athens. The point of the demonstration was to take a stand against the new anti-"terrorist" laws, state repression, and the imperialist war in Afghanistan. Anarchists and other radicals marched to the school with banners reading: ÒDemonstration of Resistance and Solidarity,Ó ÒAgainst the Plundering of Our Lives - Solidarity to the Insurrection in Argentina,Ó ÒWe Are All Foreigners and Instructed,Ó and ÒCops - Pigs - Assassins.Ó Meanwhile, anarchist brochures and leaflets were handed out to the public. During the afternoon a movie was projected on the sidewalk of the school, which was followed by a theater play about the (now defunct) German urban guerrilla group, the Red Army Faction. The protest finished with music and dancing. Around 300 people participated in the first day of the protests. The following day around 800 people gathered outside the Polytechnic School with a banner reading: ÒWherever Order and Security Exists - It Smells of Human Meat Sabotage to the Social Consensus.Ó Due to the massive police presence the demonstrators chose to wear self-defense gear as they marched around the school chanting for class war, solidarity with the social insurrection in Argentina, solidarity to immigrants and against state repression. The demonstration finished peacefully at the entrance of the Polytechnic School. At midnight, anonymous radicals, armed with stones and petrol bombs, attacked a police van near the central offices of the PASOK (ruling party). That same night in Thessaloniki, the sub-capital of Greece, hooded activists threw petrol bombs at a bank.
Recommended Reading: A Brief History Of Anarchism In Greece (1848-1973) : A Pamphlet available from ÓNo God-No MasterÓ Anarchist Pamphlets P.O. Box 300, East Brunswick, Victoria 3057, Australia. Also available from GA for $1 pp. Plotino Rhodakanaty: The Actions Of A Greek Anarchist In Mexico: Thick 31-page pamphlet looking at the life of Plotino Rhodakanaty, a Greek anarchist scholar and revolutionary strongly influenced by Fourier and Proudhon, who helped found the Mexican anarchist movement in 1861. This pamphlet is available from the ÒNo God-No MasterÓ address listed above. A-News: Published in Greece, this is an invaluable paper that chronicles ongoing direct action and resistance in Greece. Copies can be ordered from the following address--ANews c/o Anarchist Intervention P.O. Box 30557-10033 Athens Greece
Well, Dangerous Journeys is now in the stores and I've had my first
... a world quite similar to our own, but in which technology
... or Goblin ... and of Hobgoblin". Both Aerth
look at it. I did not buy a copy, but I had a long talk with the person
demoing it in a game store Saturday. I think that I know enough to give
an overview of the game. A detailed review will have to wait for someone
who purchases it and has time to read it.
Dangerous Journeys, DJ, is Gary Gygax's new role playing game being
produced by GDW. This games was to have been named Dangerous Dimensions,
DD, but was changed due to a law suit by TSR. I guess that TSR felt that
DD was too close to D&D. The name change was apparently very recent since
I saw a couple of pamplets with the Dangerous Dimensions name amoung those
with Dangerous Journeys.
DJ will in time be a multi-genre game much like GURPS. Initially only
the fantasy setting will be available. The next setting will probably be
Victorian horror. I saw two books in the store 'Dangerous Journeys, Mythus'
and 'Dangerous Journeys, Mythus Magick'. They both are softbound with nice
cover art. The interior artwork is also nice and both are quite long,
about 400 pages each. The price for DJ, Mythus is $26 and DJ, Mythus Magick
is $24 (prices are in American dollars).
DJ, Mythus has the rules for character creation, combat, skills, and
a basic magic system. One could play the game with just this book, but
most people, especially players with magic users, will want the other book
with give the magic system in full detail. There seems to be a basic
system for all aspects of the game with is covered in a small portion
of the first book. Then there are many optional rules that add onto the
basic game with form the rest of the book.
DJ used a points based character creation and a percential based skill
system. In many ways it is more like GURPS than D&D. There is no
alignment, armour class, or character classes. Though there is character
professions which have an effect on the beginning attributes and skills
of a character. Any character can have any skill so long as she has
enough points to begin with or later gains enough experience points to
buy that skill.
Characters have three main stats, physical, mental, and psyhic. Each
of these is divided into two catagories. Mental for example is divided
into memory and reason. The catagories are divided again into three parts,
capacity, strength, and speed. Capacity is the maximum that the catagories
speed and strength can reach, unless it is bought up later with experience
points. Characters generated with the basic rules do not use the catagories
or subdivisions.
The skill abilities are based on the stats, I believe that the stats
determine the beginning value for the corresponding skills. The skills
are represented by a value from 0 to 100. To successfully use a skills
a d100 role must be made that is less than or equal to the skill value.
Skills can have up to two specialties, for example dagger and spear in
the hand to hand skill. The specialties start out with a value equal to
that of the skill itself. Also a character and hyper-specialize in one
of the two, in this case that one gets a higher value while the other is
lowered.
Combat is done is three second rounds. With the basic rules there
is one action per round for each character and initiative is determined
by who rolls the lowest on a d10, rolls that tie indicate that the actions
are simultaneious. A roll is made against the combat skill, i.e. weapon,
being used. The opponent makes a roll to dodge or parry. If it is still
a hit then a damage roll is made. The opponents's armour may absorb some
or all of the damage.
There are many optional rules. There may be more than one action per
round, initiative is effect by other factors such as the characters speed
and weapon type, and there is an abstract hit location system. Rather
than defining different areas of the body and making a roll to determine
which is hit. A roll is made and one of four areas is hit. These areas
are, non-vital, vital, ?, and extremly vital (i.e. the head). Sorry I
can't remember the names. A hit in a non-vital area uses the damage as
rolled, in a vital area the damage is doubled, in a ? area the damage
is tripled, and in an extremly vital area the damage is quadrupled.
Magic is quite extensive, if one also buys the second book. There
hunderds of spells and rules on creating new spells. Each spell sounds
like it is a seperate skill. A magic user has some number of 'power'
points. Each time an attempt to cast a spell is made power points are
spent whether or not the spell works. Harder spells of course take
more power to cast. If the roll for the spell is failed very badly
there is a spell backfire, i.e. fumble, with results that can range
from minor to deadly. Each spell has listed the time it takes to cast,
which can range from three seconds to days.
Other things to be released for this game are 'The Epic of Aerth'
a background setting for this game. It is 'the natural milieu for
fantasy,
and civilization remain at a Late Renaissance level, though magick is
quite extensively developed." Much use is make of new spelling for
ordinary name. Aerth for earth, magick for magic, Atlantl for Atlantas,
Nylle for Nyle, Aegypt for Egypt, etc. I find this somewhat irratating.
There is also included what is found underground, the "labyrinths" and
the "hollow interior of the planet where ancient life forms still exist."
There will be a counter-world, "Phaeree, a world of wild magick,
with its own outer, subterranean, and interior realms. These are the
lands of the Faerie
and Phaeree are in one book, $22.
Of course there will be a gamemasters screen $9, an introductory
adventure set in Aegypt $18 and a magazine called Journeys. They say
that Journeys will cover other games and will first come out in August.
I was surprised to see the names of Greg Staford and Steve Jackson
listed as writing for this magizine.
Also in the works are books written by Gary Gygax in the DJ world,
miniatures by Hobby Products GmbH (which look well done and different.
There is an Egytian look to some of them. There is even video games
in the works, "led by JVC" for home computers.
Well that is about all I know. It looks like it is well done,
especially compared to D&D, but I saw very little that is new in this
game. Personally I do not intent to buy the game. I look for either
new and interesting game systems or a fasinating settling. This game
does not have the former, and I'll reserve judgement of the latter until
the world book is released. In the meantime I'll stick to RuneQuest
(I still love the setting of Glorantha), Pendragon, and Ars Magica.
All three have rule systems that work (though RuneQuest is not up to
the level of the other two - it is quite old after all) and great settings
that have depth, character and lots of room for roleplaying.
Perdida modding himself up when logged in anonymous. How lame.
Read the fucking article.
"TURKISH COMEDY" :
MRS. ÇILLER VISITS ATATURK'S TOMB TO COMPLAIN ABOUT PRESIDENT DEMIREL.
Turkey is, officially, a secular state, but in practice it is a theocracy
whose Patron Divinity is called Ataturk, whose Temple is his Ankara
mausoleum, of Mussolini styled architecture, whose religious principals are
"the eternal principals of Ataturk, written into the preamble of the
Constitution and taught in all the schools and barracks. The Temple guardians
are the notorious "state institutions" - that is to say the Army, the
political police, the State Security Courts and their extensions in the
media, the Universities and the state parties. The official and compulsory
Ataturk cult demands that all the key dates in the life of the "father of the
Turks" (the anniversaries of his birth, his death and of his 'epic' life (23
April, 19 May, 30 August 31 October etc.) at each change of civil or military
leaders, everyone goes in great pomp to Ataturk's mausoleum to pay their
respects are pledge their faith to Him.
Visiting foreign Statesmen and Ambassadors appointed to Ankara must equally
lend themselves to this obligatory charade. Mrs. Çiller, however, is giving
this cult a new dimension by transforming Ataturk's mausoleum into a wailing
wall. In fact, on 27 December, accompanied by a large delegation of M.P.s of
her party (DYP) she visited Ataturks's tomb to complain about President
Demirel's lapses in behaviour. According to her, by appointing as Prime
Minister first B. Ecevit, leader of the country's largest fourth party, and
then a simple independent M.P., Mr. Y. Erez, a defector from her DYP,
"President Demirel has deviated from the Great Ataturk's path", she bitterly
complained, begging His help...
Faced with this highly publicised national event, President Demirel had to
reply publicly (Hurriyet of 25-12-1998) that "It is not enough to visit
Ataturk to claim to be a true Ataturkist. She (Mrs. Çiller) should renew her
faith and purify herself'
All this is a "modern" country, member of NATO, of the Council of Europe and
"candidate for membership of the European Union".
Nothing but it does not matter, perdida has people to mod him up.
Try this. Read the article first, then comment.
You totally feel for my troll. HOT GRITS!
Turn off the fucking teletype. TARD!
Imagine a million search engines out there crawling the web. That would be a bit excessive. It would saturate the internet pretty bad, and implode the whole internet! You have to think about these things, YMMV. HAND!
Read the fucking article first.
He is the real CmdrPaco!
Hmm... CmdrPaco is a good login name...
Dude! Have you ever heard of google? Song lyrics can be found so fucking fast there.
Band: Pantera
Song: Cemetary Gates
The reverend he turned to me
Without a tear in his eyes
It's nothing new for him to see
I didn't ask him why
I will remember
The love our souls had
Sworn to make
Now I watch the falling rain
All my mind can see
Now is your (face)
Well I guess
You took my youth
I gave it all away
Like the birth of a
New-found joy
This love would end in rage
And when she died
I couldn't cry
The pride within my soul
You left me incomplete
Memories now unfold.
Believe the word
I will unlock my door
And pass the
Cemetery gates
Sometimes when I'm alone
I wonder aloud
If you're watching over me
Some place far abound
I must reverse my life
I can't live in the past
Then set my soul free
Belong to me at last
Through all those
Complex years
I thought I was alone
I didn't care to look around
And make this world my own
And when she died
I should've cried and spared myself some pain...
Left me incomplete
All alone as the memories still remain
The way we were
The chance to save my soul
And my concern is now in vain
Believe the word
I will unlock my door
And pass the cemetery gates
One huge paragraph because of the stupid too few characters per line filter. Fucking slashbots.
Band: Pantera
Song: Walk
Can't you see I'm easily bothered by persistence
One step from lashing out at you...
You want in to get under my skin
And call yourself a friend
I've got more friends like you
What do I do?
(Pre) Is there no standard anymore?
What it takes, who I am, where I've been
Belong
You can't be something you're not
Be yourself, by yourself
Stay away from me
A lesson learned in life
Known from the dawn of time
(Chorus) Respect, walk
Run your mouth when I'm not around
It's easy to achieve
You cry to weak friends that sympathize
Can you hear the violins playing you song?
Those same friends tell me your every word
(Pre)
(Chorus)
Are you talking to me?
No way punk
Band: Stone Temple Pilots
Song: Wicked Garden
Can you feel like a child?
Can you see what I want?
I wanna run through your wicked garden
Heard that's the place to find ya
But I'm alive
So alive now
I know the darkness blinds you
Can you see without eyes?
Can you speak without lies?
I wanna drink from you naked fountain
I can drown your sorrows
I'm gonna burn, burn you to life now
Out of the chains that bind you
Can you see just like a child?
Can you see just what I want?
Can I bring you back to life?
Are you scared of life?
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden to the ground
Can you feel pain inside?
Can you love?
Can you cry?
I wanna run through your wicked garden
Heard that's the place to find you
'Cause I'm alive
So alive now
Out of the dark that blinds you
Can you see just like a child?
Can you see just what I want?
Can I bring you back to life?
Are you scared of life?
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden to the ground
Band: Pink Floyd
Song: Good Bye, Blue Sky
Ooooooooooooooooooh
Did you see the frightened ones
Did you hear the falling bombs
Did you ever wonder
Why we had to run for shelter
When the promise of a brave new world
Unfouled beneath a clear blue sky
Ooooooooooooooooooh
Did you see the frightened ones
Did you hear the falling bombs
The flames are all long gone
But the pain lingers on
Goodbye blue sky
Goodbye blue sky
Goodbye
Band: Pink Floyd
Song: Mother
Mother do you think they'll drop the bomb
Mother do you think they'll like the song
Mother do you think they'll try to break my balls
Oooh ma, mother should I build a wall
Mother should I run for president
Mother should I trust the government
Mother will they put me in the firing line
Oooh ma, is it just a wasted time
Mother am I really dying
Hush now baby, baby don't you cry
Mama's gonna make all of your nightmares come true
Mama's gonna put all of her fears into you
Mama's gonna keep you right here under her wing
She won't let you fly but she might let you sing
Mama's gonna keep baby cosy and warm
Oooh babe Oooh babe Oooh babe
Of course mama's gonna help build the wall
Mother do you think she's good enough for me
Mother do you think she's dangerous tell me
Mother will she make your little boy a toy
Ooh ma, mother will she break my heart
Hush now baby, baby don't you cry
Mama's gonna check out all of your girlfriends for you
Mama won't let anyone dirty get through
Mama's gonna wait up 'till you get in
Mama will always find out where you've been
Mama's gonna keep baby healthy and clean
Oooh babe Oooh babe Oooh babe
You'll always be a baby to me
Mother, did it need to be so high ?
Who would win this epic battle, this clash of titans? Well, lets make a comparative analysis and see who is the true leader of the free world.
Weight:
Hands down, it is Mozilla. Godzilla may be a 5000pound beast, but to run Mozilla, you need at least 4 mainframes, with a terabyte of RAM. The current weight of the top of the line mainframe is 2000pounds, so therefore Mozilla wins.
Most Sequels:
Godzilla is the true champion here. it seems like as if there is a new godzilla film everyyear (Lets not forget that great one of 1998- Godzilla vs the Teletubbues). Mozilla didnt even stand a chance, it hasnt even reached version one yet.
Enemies:
I think this would be a draw. Both of them had to fight the 5000pound gorilla (king Kong and Microsoft for those who arent hip).
Worst Remakes:
Hollywood's remake of Godzilla was a dismal failure, but not nearly as bad as Netscape's remake of Mozilla. Mozilla 1, Godzilla 0
Most Add-ons:
Godzilla severly lacks in this department. Hell he doesnt even have a wang. Mozilla, on the other hand has every imaginable add-on, including Godzilla's wang. Once again, a clear win by Mozilla.
The final score:
Well, it seems as if Mozilla is in the lead 4:1. Mozilla is the true champion, and shall remain so until Godzilla grows a wang and decides to rematch.