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Health life and living book one
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Every month, I will continue to do the best job that I can to make your reading experience enjoyable.
When Captain Jack Sparrow crossed paths with the enigmatic Angelica, he was not sure if it was love or if she was a ruthless con artist who was using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth.
The Film cast included: Johnny Depp, Keith Richards, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Kevin R. Todd Philips was back in the directing chair as he helmed his first franchise sequel of his seminal comedy smash, The Hangover. This film was set in the era before Professor Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr became mortal enemies as Professor X and Magneto, respectively, director Matthew Vaughna€™s X-Men: First Class followed the two former allies as they lead a powerful team of mutants on a mission to save the planet from nuclear annihilation. The this animated picture included the vocal talents of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Mr. This is the first chilling story-arc of the ongoing series, Hydrology picked up after the events of 2010a€™s Batwoman #0. 10.DC Universe Presents #1 is from the creative team of Paul Jenkins, Bernard Chang, and Ryan Sook.
13.Superboy is from the creative team of Scott Lobdell, RB Silva, Rob Lean and Eric Canete. 20.Batgirl #1 is from the creative team of Gail Simone, Adrian Syaf and Vincente Cifuentas. 24.The Hood and the Outlaws #1 is from the creative team of Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort. Left in a near-catatonic state following the events in Buffy Season 8, Angel would need a seriously rude awakening if he was to make amends for his ill-conceived deeds. Things are looking up for Tony Chu, the cibopathic federal agent with the ability to get psychic impressions from the things he eats.
This was the third story-arc of the ongoing series from the creative team of John Layman and Rob Guillory.
Recognized for his basketball talents, Dennis Rodman instead talked about his personal shortcomings. Jackson stood nearby as Rodmana€™s presenter, and Rodman approached his former coach a couple of times as he struggled to get his words out.
The enshrinement of the flamboyant rebounding and defensive specialist capped the enshrinement of the 10-member class of 2011. Back in the United States, on August 4th, Wall Street saw a a€?500-point drop.a€? This plunge was one of a few in a short period of time that saw Wall Street become the hub for the aftermath of any political and economic outcomes. On August 27th, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, who became the new number two in the Al Qaeda terrorist network, was killed in Pakistan.
The Wisconsin recall election took place during this month with six seats at play on Tuesday, August 9th. Amy Winehouse retrospective, tribute article, written by Melissa Maerz in the August 5th issue of Entertainment Weekly. Comedy Centrala€™s a€?early startinga€? shows for next-day encore episodes based on the on-screen guide. All compiled lists in this issue as well as any other issue are based on the opinion of David Massuda. This issue is dedicated to the loved ones who have suffered through the tragic losses around the world this past month. Also included is Lechuza's specially-formulated plant substrate, Lechuza-PON, which separates your potting soil from the water reservoir, aerates the roots, provides your plants with nutrition and helps regulate the supply of water to your plants along with a wick system. Here at SLOAN!, we think the Mini-Deltini not only makes the perfect stocking filler gift for Christmas but also is a wonderful little present at any time of the year. Please ensure the photo description is the same as the title you put on the press release form. Description:Feel free to add another image using the same uploader above, but please note we only accept 2 photos per press release, each photo not to exceed 64 MB. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment - opens in a new window or tab. Details about BARBIE BASICS Accessory Pack Look Collection No 2 02 002 2.0 a€? T7754 a€? RARE! This amount includes seller specified US shipping charges as well as applicable international shipping, handling, and other fees. By clicking Confirm bid, you commit to buy this item from the seller if you are the winning bidder. By clicking Confirm bid, you are committing to buy this item from the seller if you are the winning bidder and have read and agree to the Global Shipping Program terms and conditions - opens in a new window or tab. By clicking 1 Click Bid, you commit to buy this item from the seller if you're the winning bidder.
Launching on 9 February 2015, the new menu has been carefully developed by Head Chef Gary Durrant at Hunter 486, with Henrietta Green; food and hospitality consultant, award-winning food writer and broadcaster. The new menu is inspired by 'best of British' recipes, ingredients and produce, with hearty dishes featuring quality ingredients prepared honestly and simply.
Named after the 1950s dialling code for Marylebone, Hunter 486 has been designed with an air of nostalgic London glamour fused with contemporary touches. The scallops were beautifully cooked and the hot chilli jam was complemented by the cool mango salsa so this is definitely a dish for people who like the warm heat of chilli.
We ended the meal with the Sticky Toffee Pudding which interestingly was served with caramelised banana ice cream.
Topics cover the Super Committee, Rick Perry, Bachman, Pawlenty, President Obama, and the Wisconsin recall elections. Brenda Song, Jason Holley Zendaya, Tiffany Thornton, Megan Hilty each lend their vocal talents to the latest adventure starring Tinker Bell and her friends. This season guest stars include: Conan Oa€™Brien, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Bruno mars and Emma Stone. Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig star in this independent film opening on September 30th. The movie opening November 23rd, stars George Clooney, Matthew Lillard and Shailene Woodley. The movie featuring the ensemble cast that includes but is not limited to: Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Biel, Lea Michele, Josh Duhamel, Robert De Niro and Sarah Jessica Parker.
The title begins in May, 2012 and is a€?in continuity.a€? Neal Edwards will be the artist on this project.
It is from Dolce and a group of talented artists including: Daniel Leister, Michael Bencic, Jacob Newell, and Will Torres. Martin announced the sixth title of his Game of Thrones saga epic would be The Winds of Winter. Martin announced the seventh title of his Game of Thrones saga epic would be A Dream of Spring. When she forced him aboard the a€?Queen Annea€™s Revenge,a€? the ship of the legendary psychopathic, pirate Blackbeard, Jack found himself on an unexpected adventure in which he does not know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shared a mysterious past or a villain from his past that may now be an ally. This time around Thailand was the location of the wedding and Bangkok was the site of the most unusual set of hangover events. Charles (James McAvoy) and Erik (Michael Fassbender) were just young men when it began to appear as if the world was careening toward destruction. Batwoman faces bizarre new challenges in her war against the dark underworld of Gotha and new trails in her personal life as Kate Kane.
This arc collected Chew #11-15 of the most unique crime noir out in the graphic novel format.
This month was all things a€?culture.a€? The month ranged from Mother Nature to the VMA ceremony.
Five-time NBA Champion Dennis Rodman was among the 2011 class that also included Chris Mullen. Cable News network, MSNBC announced it would give a new primetime show to Reverent Al Sharpton.
This was prior to the big Presidential announcement he made during the Iowa Straw Poll weekend.
This was part of the Recall election that went down to these results: Jessica King (Democrat) picked up a senate seat from incumbent Republican Randy Hopper. Stephen Battaglio and Michael Schneider wrote this examination at the salaries of the top TV stars.
This versatile table top planter is perfect for petite blooming plants such as orchids and dwarf roses. Recommended for indoors use, the Mini-Deltini is outfitted with a special liner that can be lifted completely out of the planters so you can easily transport it to wash any dust off your plants or trim the roots. We love the self-watering system which guarantees that your plants will never be over watered again so is ideal for delicate houseplants like orchids.
Import charges previously quoted are subject to change if you increase you maximum bid amount.
Henrietta is also a well know advocate of the local food movement, and author of the much loved book 'A Food Lover's Guide to Britain'. We choose the Peppered Loin of Venison and the Roast Wild Sea Bass. We asked for the sea bass to come filleted and we were presented with a beautiful fish that was soft, succulent and bursting with the freshness of the ocean coupled with a mild orange flavour.
The chef's inspired menu was beautifully put together and the service was very friendly and knowledgeable.
This is a magazine that highlights key movements from pop culture, politics and other goodness. The New 52 include titles in September such as: Batwoman, Aquaman, The Flash, Action Comics, Batman, Detective Comics, Batgirl, Swamp Thing, All-Star Western, Resurrection Man, Teen Titans, Green Lantern, Red Lanterns, and Green Lantern Corps.
It was time to find out as the last season gave fans a long-awaited cliffhanger about what choice the two made when Walter was facing immediate death. This is an action-thriller centered on the threat posed by a deadly disease and an international team of doctors contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak. A little while after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand for Stua€™s wedding. Thompson, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker, Lauren Graham, Will Forte, Peter Siragusa, Angela V.
51 one titles begin in September, the 52nd was also the 1st of this patch, Justice League #1 opened a week before the massive DCU overhaul. Together they had full access to the Watcher files and opportunities to make amends for all they have done and all they will need to do. The class also included coaches Tara VanDerveer, who has led Stanford to two national championships and won more than 800 games, Tex Winter and Division II Philadelphia University coach Herb Magee, the career leader at the collegiate level with more than 900 wins.
The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have played their latest match-up, three games in Boston. The sound bites of the month included: President Obama, Rick Perry, pundits, economists, and Hurricane Irene.
The Taliban used a ground RPG to take down a team of highly trained American soldiers, which included Navy Seals. The 5.8 measured rocked the North East having minor effects in New York and the sounding areas.
Sarah Palin came with her bus tour to Iowa to enjoy the weekend while not making any announcements. Similar to other Lechuza planters, the Mini-Deltini comes equipped with a signature water reservoir that supplies water to your plants as needed. If you reside in an EU member state besides UK, import VAT on this purchase is not recoverable. It was impressive and refreshing to have such knowledgeable and friendly staff to looking after us.We started the evening with a cocktail each. The ensemble cast includes: Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Bryan Cranston, Gwyneth, Marion Cotillard, John Hawkes, Laurence Fishburne, Sanaa Lathan, Jennifer Ehle and Jude Law. Realizing they could use their unique powers to avert a global thermonuclear war during the Bay of Pigs crisis, the two powerful mutants launched an intense recruitment campaign with the support of Dr. The story of this poorly crafted comedy featured Nick who was a small town pizza delivery guy whose mundane life collided with the big plans of two wanna-be criminal masterminds. This story took place fives years in the a€?pasta€? that started to explain how the first superhero team formed. This Buffy: The Vampire Series spin-off title was a new ongoing series that landed Angel back at Dark Horse Comics. Eight-time NBA champion Tom a€?Satcha€? Sanders, big men Artis Gilmore and Arvydas Sabonis; the late Reece a€?Goosea€? Tatum of the Harlem Globetrotters, and womena€™s star Teresa Edwards, who won five Olympic medals also were honored. The best rivalry in sports began with the following results: August 5th a€" Yankees won 3-2.
Open Tennis Tournament just began the last Grand Slam of 2011 is the center of the New York sports club. The month started off with the down to the wire results of the debt ceiling deadline of August 2nd. When this was pointed out to the company, they admitted the numbers did not add up but that did not change its official stance of taking the Americaa€™s a€?AAAa€? ratings and lowered it to a€?AA+.a€? This was due to the countrya€™s Bond ratings along with the recent political aftermath of the debt crisis.
Not to be outdone, Hurricane Irene made landfall when it hit North Carolina on Saturday August 27th.
On Wednesday, August 24th, Apple CEO, Steve Jobs announced his resignation as the face of Apple.
The remaining 9 to be named include 3 Republican Senators, 3 Democratic HOR, and 3 Republican HOR. Users can easily monitor their water reservoir levels with the planter's water-level indicator, which shows when the reservoir needs to be refilled, taking the guesswork out of plant care and extending time between watering. The cocktail menu is given the Hunter 486 flare with a touch of imagination, leaving their signature style on every drink served.
The venison was served with beetroot puree which complemented the meat and tempered the pepper.
The volatile duo kidnapped Nick and forces him to rob a bank, with mere hours to pull off the impossible task. In a universe where superheroes are strange and new to the general population, Batman discovered a dark evil that required him to unite the Worlda€™s Great Heroes. This first issue was 40-pages and included the framework by executive-producer, Joss Whedon. But his ruthless ex-partner is still out there, operating outside of the law, intending to make good on his threats against Tony and everybody Tony cares about.
Choking up often during an emotional speech, Rodman was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
On August 1st, an agreement was announced and by August 2nd, the President signed off on the next phase of this man-made political stumping. Rebels took over his stronghold of Libya and continue to battle the Khaddafy family for the rights of the people.
The Category 1 Hurricane made a huge mess in its path as it worked its way up the east coast. It also came with a slice of turnip and potato gratin which was beautifully put together.After such generous portions we needed a small break but were determined to finish as it was so beautiful we had to have more. From the links of monkeys, international criminals, guns, to Mike Tyson, anything went in this raunchy follow-up film. Before long, Charles and Erik had assembled a crack team that included Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Banshee (Caleb Landry Jones), Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Angel (Zoe Kravitz), Havok (Lucas Till), and Darwin (Edi Gathegi). This issue showcased the super heroic talents of: Batman, Superman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Cyborg and Aquaman as they embarked on an adventure in this new title with new costumes and a new attitude. It is just a matter of time before their investigations collide; blood spills and inevitably body parts are chewed. Rodman arrived at Symphony Hall in a gray suit, feather-lined cowboy hat and giant white sunglasses, he changed into another outfit for his speech, a red scarf and black jacket commemorating the Pistons and Bulls, the teams he helped win five NBA championships. Looting had been taking place all over the country along with some journalists being held captive and not being allowed to go into the field and report on the latest events of the day. Treasury became the story of Wall Street as countries invested in that while it did not make economic sense. The best part was (besides the 30 second post-credit scene) was that the majority of the film was focused squarely on Captain Jack, as it needed to be at this juncture in a franchise four films old. The film starred: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Ken Jeong, Paul Giamitti, Jeffrey Tambor, Mason Lee, Jamie Chung, Sasha Barrese and Mike Tyson.
Meanwhile, the malevolent Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) plotted to plunge the world into war with the help of villainous mutants Riptide (Alex Gonzalez), Azazel (Jason Flemyng), and Emma Frost (January Jones). As the clock ticked, the two dealt with the police, hired assassins, flamethrowers, and their own tumultuous relationship.
He thanked Commissioner David Stern and the NBA community a€?to even just have me in the buildinga€? and saved his deepest appreciation for coaches Phil Jackson and Chuck Daly, Lakers owner Jerry Buss, and James Rich, whose family took Rodman in after his mother threw him out of the house. Anyone following the stock market in August would be dizzy with all the changes that occurred. Each earned a 7-episodes that each would guest star on throughout the third season of FOXa€™s Glee. Threats made against David Letterman in retaliation for his on-air jokes about Osama bin Laden. The new head of Apple was given to (at the time) Chief Operating Officer of Apple, Tim Cook. The sixth and final race was with Alberta Darling, the Republican kept her senate seat over Democratic challenger Sandy Pasch. Both cocktails were expertly mixed and the main cocktail ingredients really stood out providing the perfect fusion of tastes.
In the process of saving humanity, however, Charles and Erik clashed, which set the stage for Professor X to lead the X-Men in the fight for good as Magneto and the Brotherhood spread chaos and destruction on a global scale. Kate must continue to grieve over the drowning death of her sister, the super villain known as Alice. Rodman described them as a€?a mentor, a father, somebody you can look up to and call any time of daya€? who ignored his antics and a€?looked at an individual that had a good heart.a€? His own father left when he was young and they never reconciled. As the President and Congress announced the formation of a a€?Super Committee.a€? This soon-to-be formed group of elected officials would be made up of 12 members from the Hill.
Also in the mix were the other finalists, Lauren Pearce and Alex Newell who were announced by creator Ryan Murphy that would guest star on 2-episode apiece. These real threats against Letterman were probably not the least concerned about the jihadist death threat for mocking Osama bin Laden and Ilyas Kashmiri.
This was the perfect prelude to our evening meal.Hunter 486 has a good range of starters and sharing dishes.
He made that clear because by this move from Walter and Jesse he could no longer kill Jesse.
This re-launch of a classic franchise that was not that old to begin with, was fun from the get go. Six members would be from the senate (three Democrats and three Republicans); and six members would be from the House of Representatives (three Democrats and three Republicans). These events were spurred after an innocent Black man was shot to death during police stop on August 2nd.
Mayor Bloomberg of New York joined New Jersey, which were under a state of emergency for the weekend. It was a big night for special honors to Brittany Spears, Michael Jackson and recently lost English artist, Amy Whinehouse. Instead he stunned them and viewers when he brutally murdered his number two, but slitting his throat.
It was a heavy film that balanced historical facts, with the comic book fiction and the Easter Egg X-Universe movie mythos.
The purpose of this committee is to come to a new agreement about Americaa€™s future debt crisis by Thanksgiving. The MTA was suspended on Saturday August 27th at noon and airports were shut down in preparation for the potential hurricane that turned into a tropical storm. If the menu says it has seasoning rest assured your mouth will be suitably tantalised with that flavour. According to the Beltway media, now that this issue is closed (temporarily) it is time to get back to the number one hot topic, of a€?jobs.a€? During all of this commotion on the vote that took place on the Hill on August 1st, there was a bright spot between the bickering over policy. On August 13th, during an Indiana State fair 5 people died when the concert stage collapsed due to the oddity of the weather. But the aftermath did leave areas flooded including Atlantic City, Battery Park and Long Island.
While she may not have won the flashy awards, Adele went home with the most Moonmen from the ceremony. The first was incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Wirch beat out Republican challenger Jonathan Steitz for the state senate seat in the Wisconsin recall election on Tuesday August 16th.
An empowering moment was witnessed when for the importance of this vote, Democratic Representative of Arizona, Gabrielle Gifford made her miraculous return to D.C.
The media coverage of Hurricane Irene prior to making landfall in North Carolina was as if the world was going to end.
The second was incumbent Democratic Senator Jim Holperin beat out Republican challenger Kim Simac for the state senate seat in the Wisconsin recall election on Tuesday August 16th.
The crab cakes were beautifully constructed, delectable and light with the pickled cucumber and freshness of the crab only adding to the light fusion of flavours.
As she continues to recover from the tragedy of the Arizona shooting from earlier in the year, she was a sign of the strength and courage that she has come so far.
And the safety of innocent citizens are that much more lucky for the hurricane that became a tropical storm.
She went on to share the great news that she and husband, Jay-Z were expecting their first child together. Congrats to a€?Baby B.a€? With two parents at the top of their carriers this child will have plenty of music to listen to.
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• What is accountability?
• Types of Punishment
• Appropriate Punishment
• Who should be punished?
• Accountability Games
• Wild Justice
• Summary
Politix 101
1. Politix 101
2. Prerequisites
3. Politics
4. People & Organizations
5. You
6. Left vs Right
7. Political Compass
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This is arguably the most important article on this website. You could spend a lifetime studying politics, but what's the point if you aren't going to fix anything? And how can you fix anything without dealing with the evil people who corrupt things in the first place?
Accountability is generally associated with bad or evil. Yet it's a necessary thing, which makes it good. In fact, there can be no accountability without good and evil both.
One could complain about evil people all day, but what good would it do? There can be no justice without holding evil or corrupt people accountable for their crimes. That translates into punishment.
One of the most obvious signs of a corrupt political system is a double standard regarding justice or accountability. For example, the U.S. has the largest prison population in the world and the second-highest per-capita incarceration rate (exceeded only by Seychelles). Yet many of the people in U.S. prisons are guilty of very trivial crimes or completely innocent. At the same time, some of the world's biggest criminals are allowed to profit from their crimes while being shielded from justice. Examples include George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Obama, probably every member of Congress and Bill Gates.
Let's learn more about this two-edged sword called accountability.
What is accountability?
Merriam-Webster defines accountability as the quality or state of being accountable; especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions.
Thus, accountability ranges from simple transparency to punishment in cases where one's actions violate ethics, company rules or the law. In other words, accountability should apply to everyone. It's another way of saying we should all be responsible for our actions (or inaction).
Holding People Accountable
Venezuela's late firebrand president, Hugo Chavez, is a textbook example of accountability because of his honesty and transparency, most famously advertised in elections that were widely judged to be open and fair.
In the political arena, people often talk about holding other people accountable. For example, people often say things like to "Let's hold the Democrats (or Republicans) accountable in November" (by voting corrupt or incompetent politicians out of office).
The words hold accountable therefore generally refer to people who have acted irresponsibly, unethically or illegally. Telling someone you're going to hold them accountable is essentially a threat to punish them.
Ironically, voting them out of office isn't really much of a punishment. Corrupt politicians who have made millions of dollars may be only too happy to leave office and spend the rest of their lives making more money as corrupt lobbyists or advisors.
This article focuses on punishment, not transparency, which was discussed in the last article in this series, Good and Evil.
Accountability vs Punishment
It's interesting to note that the word punishment is commonly used in the political arena only in reference to people who are considered criminals, terrorists or threats by the ruling class. For example, the government and its media lapdogs often talk about punishing people who help Muslim terrorists (who may actually be freedom fighters). They also talk about punishing protesters and activists, who may also be described as terrorists. Former Washington State Governor Gary Locke even boasted about using the WASL (a standardized test) to punish students.
But people rarely openly talk about punishing even the most corrupt leaders of their respective countries. This is due largely to an army of propagandists who tirelessly preach the gospel of civility. If you speak out harshly against a corrupt politico, their defenders may point a finger at you, accusing you of being uncivil or even mentally unstable. Even your mood may be a target; people who are justifiably angry may be portrayed as volatile or unstable, even if they're very intelligent and in perfect control.
Purpose of Accountability
Accountability and punishment can perhaps best be put in perspective by understanding their purpose. In fact, accountability has two primary functions, deterrence and justice.
When we deter someone, we make them decide not to do something. For example, a man may decide against robbing a bank if he knows there's a good chance he'll get caught and spend years in prison.
Justice can be accomplished partly by compensating crime victims. For example, a man who assaults someone and breaks their legs might be forced to pay the victim thousands of dollars in restitution. Justice also includes the simple knowledge that people are being punished for their misdeeds. When people feel the government isn't holding bad people accountable, they may seek justice through revenge or vigilantism.
Yet another purpose of accountability is safety. People who are mentally unstable may pose a threat to society, even if they aren't literally corrupt or evil. Such people sometimes have to be monitored or even incarcerated for the public good. This might be loosely described as a form of accountability.
Anti-Accountability
When bad people (e.g. corrupt government officials) punish people, they aren't necessarily holding them accountable — especially if the people being punished have done nothing wrong. Rather, bad people often punish good people to deter them from doing good things. For example corrupt government officials and corporate executives don't like whistle-blowers, activists, protesters or anyone who might embarrass them or, worse, bring them to justice. That's why the FBI and police officers alike often harass, assault and even murder protesters and activists.
Police brutality, which is increasing around the world, is almost always an example of intimidation, not accountability.
In other words, corrupt people typically punish people to thwart justice.
Corrupt entities may also punish people to make them frightened, intimidated and confused. This makes people weaker and easier to control.
Punishing people in other countries may help destabilize those countries, perhaps leading to revolution, anarchy or a change in government. A country like the U.S. or Israel will then have more control over the weaker country. And if the weaker country has something of value, like gold or oil, the stronger country can more easily steal it.
Again, this is an example of punishment, not accountability. It is the stronger country (e.g. the U.S. or Israel) that needs to be held accountable for crimes against another country.
Types of Punishment
People have invented a dizzying and frankly scary variety of punishments. We might organize these punishments into four general categories — capital punishment, corporal or physical punishment, non-corporal punishment and incarceration.
1. capital punishment – punishment by death
2. corporal punishment – physical punishment
3. non-corporal punishment...
> financial punishment
> psychological punishment
4. incarceration (e.g. jail or prison)
If we think of crime and corporate-government tyranny as forms of punishment, then almost every U.S. citizen has been subjected to financial and psychological punishment. Many children are further subjected to corporal punishment in public schools, and some school programs can even be seen as a form of incarceration. That was especially true of the government schools Native American children were forced to attend after being virtually kidnapped from their homes and villages.
1. Capital Punishment
Capital punishment is generally synonymous with the terms death penalty and execution. Historically, execution was often preceded or even induced by other forms of punishment, including torture.
People have devised some frightening forms of execution, including crucifixion. The best known crucifixion by far was the alleged crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans. Today, a cross is probably the most familiar symbol of Christianity.
During the Middle Ages, Europeans invented a number of ghoulish torture contraptions that were often used to kill people. Most of these sinister machines faded out with the Middle Ages. The guillotine (left) — a device with a sharp blade that beheads people — is commonly associated with the French Revolution. Far more common were execution by firing squad and by hanging.
Long after the Chinese invented gunpowder, firing squads became a common form of execution in the military arena. For example, U.S. soldiers who deserted during World War I were executed. However, firing squads are no longer utilized by the U.S. government.
Hanging is especially associated with the American West during the last half of the nineteenth century. Hanging could be ordered by government officials, or it could be carried out by vigilantes.
Hanging was notably promoted in the movie Hang 'em High, in which an innocent man (played by Clint Eastwood) survives a lynching (hanging by vigilantes). The ritual even inspired a game called Hangman, along with the term "the hanging tree," which in turn inspired a song featured in the movie Hunger Games.
After freeing the slaves, President Abraham Lincoln presided over the biggest lynching in U.S. history, when thirty-eight Indians were hung on December 26, 1862. Black Americans were commonly lynched well into the twentieth century.
Lone Star Justice
In the U.S., Texas has become ground zero for capital punishment. A whopping 167 people were executed in Texas between 1976 (when the Supreme Court lifted its prohibition on the death penalty) and 1998. Next in rank was Virginia which executed 60 during the same period.
Unfortunately, Texas' killing spree represents the dark side. Texan public officials like to be portrayed as tough on crime because it helps them get elected and re-elected. At the same time, Texas laws make it relatively easy to sidestep justice and execute people who might not even be guilty.
In the U.S., hanging as an official form of punishment was replaced by the electric chair, which has in turn been largely replaced by lethal injection, which itself remains controversial. Beheading is a common form of capital punishment in Saudi Arabia.
Capital punishment can also be accomplished via assassination. Famous U.S. assassination victims include President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lennon and perhaps Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone and Representative Hale Boggs.
However, such politically motivated killings aren't usually described as capital punishment, especially if the victim committed no crimes that merited punishment.
People can also be punished in foreign countries. This was traditionally accomplished through warfare. However, the U.S. and Israel have pioneered many ways to punish people, including proxy warfare, wrecking national economies, destabilizing governments and hijacking and blowing up commercial airliners.
2. Corporal Punishment
The term corporal punishment describes physical punishment, ranging from spanking and hitting to torture.
In the U.S., corporal punishment — including spanking and caning — remains common in public schools. In 2014, it was still legal in nineteen states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming). Not surprisingly, Texas is the leader in corporal punishment in the classroom.
Locking people up in stocks was a common punishment in Victorian times (left). Slaves were commonly whipped (right).
Ironically, corporal punishment may be applied less frequently to adults, at least on an official basis.
Nevertheless, police officers routinely assault people with their fists and feet, as well as a variety of weapons, ranging from batons to rubber bullets, tasers and firearms. Police officers even beat and rape people who are incarcerated.
In some cases, rogue police officers may be assigned to attack specific political targets. (Undercover cops frequently infiltrate protests and other public events.) In other cases, police violence is imply used to send out the message that dissent will not be tolerated.
Torture has been commonly used as a form of punishment around the world and through the ages. The rack is one of the best known forms of torture used during the Medieval Period. However, it had a lot of competition from some truly ghoulish torture contraptions. And Europeans weren't the only people to experiment with torture.
Some forms of torture are so horrendous, merely thinking about them can make people uncomfortable. Torture, even more than murder, probes the outer limits of evil.
Though torture has largely fallen out of favor, it has been used covertly by many governments. Torture is now officially embraced by the U.S. military, which openly subjects prisoners to waterboarding at the infamous Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba. Even more sadistic forms of torture are utilized at an unknown number of secret torture sites around the world.
3. Non-Corporal Punishment
The term non-corporal punishment is used here as a catch-all for all forms of punishment other than capital punishment, corporal punishment and incarceration (e.g. jail or prison), which is discussed next.
The most common forms of non-corporal punishment can be classified as financial or psychological punishment.
Financial Punishment
Monetary fines are probably the most common form of official punishment in the U.S. and many other countries.
Citizens often pay predetermined fines for common offenses (e.g. $25 for jaywalking). However, people who are sued for criminal actions or even negligence may be forced to pay far bigger settlements.
For example, you could be sued for financial compensation if your dog mauls one of your neighbors, even if you tried to restrain the dog. If you celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and accidentally burn a neighbor's house down, you will likely be sued for damages.
Organizations (e.g. corporations) and countries may be similarly fined through international law. In other cases, they may be punished with economic sanctions. The U.S. has punished a number of countries with economic sanctions, including Cuba, Iran and Russia. However, these countries did nothing wrong; they simply stood up to the U.S. government's bullying and intimidation.
Psychological Punishment
Psychological punishment is far more common than most people realize. One of the most common forms is intimidation, which is widely practiced in the workplace (including schools), in the media, on the Internet and in public.
Supervisors who bully employees are so common they're almost a yawn. Ironically, some unions use intimidation to bully their own members. One of the best known examples is the Teamsters, a famously corrupt union commonly associated with physical as well as psychological violence.
A more recent form of intimidation revolves around the so-called social media, such as Facebook. In a classic conspiracy uniting the Internet, media and the corporate sector, the media occasionally air stories about people being fired because of things they posted on Facebook, Twitter or similar sites.
Exactly how common or legal this practice is isn't clear. But merely publicizing it can intimidate people into refraining from making political statements online; they're effectively cowed into silence, which equates with obedience.
Conformism (aka peer pressure) can be seen as a form of implied intimidation or even punishment. An example is standing for the national anthem at sports events. Even if attendees aren't literally ordered to stand, they're clearly expected to. Anyone who doesn't stand will likely be jeered or even assaulted by other spectators, the so-called "football patriots." People who don't stand for the national anthem are sometimes ejected from games. So much for free speech.
Students who refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance have also felt the system's wrath. In fact, school children could once be expelled for not saying the Pledge in school. The issue was resolved in the 1943 Supreme Court decision West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, which ruled that the right to not speak is equally protected under the First Amendment as the right to free speech. However, students and teachers alike are still pressured to say the Pledge in many schools.
Peer pressure is also a key player in the practice of making students wear dunce caps and sit in the corner or the room, where their classmates can laugh at them (left).
Psychological punishment can also take the form of character assassination through demonization or libel. For example, candidates for public office who genuinely champion reform are often ridiculed as unpatriotic or crazy.
Psychological torture is popular in part because it doesn't leave visible scars and it isn't as controversial as physical torture. Yet psychological torture can be every bit as excruciating, even driving people to commit suicide.
Blurring the line between psychological and corporal punishment are drugs that are used to induce mental anguish, anxiety or confusion. For example, the corporate media recently (2015) reported a new drug that makes people feel as if they've been locked up behind bars for a thousand years.
4. Incarceration
Sentencing people to jail or prison is one of the most common forms of punishment for criminal offenses. Sentences can range from one day to life, though sentences can often be commuted, or reduced. Prisoners are sometimes pardoned, especially if they have friends or supporters in positions of power.
Most people view incarceration as a step above torture or the death penalty. Yet incarceration itself can be a form of torture. This is especially true where people who are either innocent or guilty of trivial crimes are given lengthy sentences. One can scarcely comprehend the pain inflicted on innocent people who spend decades behind bars, dying a little bit every minute of every hour, every day for the rest of their ruined lives.
Though incarceration isn't generally classified as corporal punishment, it can devastate a prisoner's physical as well as mental health.
In the U.S., political prisoners are often placed in solitary confinement, which is an even more obvious form of torture. Many prisoners are also subject to beatings or rape, turning incarceration into a form of corporal punishment.
Prisoners may also be given drugs that impair their mental health. Some of Iris Chang's supporters believe the author of The Rape of Nanking was a victim of such abuse shortly before she committed suicide.
Appropriate Punishment
What constitutes appropriate punishment for a particular crime or misdeed? Opinions are all over the map.
For example, many people think the death penalty is absolutely indefensible. But other people ask what else would suffice in the case of a really heinous crime. Moreover, many people who are opposed to the death penalty actively support the troops who kill innocent people in other lands, a clear double standard.
This irony points out a key rule: No Double Standards allowed. (Does this remind you of the golden rule?)
If a bank robber who steals a million dollars is sentenced to five years in prison, then a politician who steals a million dollars from taxpayers should also get a five-year sentence. In fact, the politician might deserve an even harsher sentence, because 1) he abused the public trust, and 2) most corrupt politicians are cogs in what can be justly described as organized crime.
Yet politicians and corrupt corporate executives and lobbyists routinely bilk taxpayers out of billions of dollars a year, at the same time eroding their civil liberties and general quality of life. And most of these people will never spend a day behind bars. That is a spectacular double standard called injustice.
Maximum Punishment
Let's set some boundaries by defining a minimum and maximum punishment.
Actually, minimum punishment is a no-brainer. It could be as trivial as a warning: "Don't do that again!" But what should be the maximum punishment allowed by law? And what crimes deserve the maximum punishment?
Some people think the death penalty is obscene and should never be used. This attitude is prevalent in Europe. The logical alternative would be life in prison. Ironically, that could be crueler than execution. In fact, it is not uncommon for prisoners to commit suicide.
Governments sometimes declare martial law in the face of massive unrest or natural disasters. In this spirit, we could compromise and allow capital punishment only in emergency situations.
Rampant corruption led by corporate interests, the super rich and Jewarchists; global overpopulation; endless war and mass extinction; global warming and dying seas; genetically modified food and bioterror — the entire planet is in a state of emergency.
Torture?
Since presidents George W. Bush and Obama encouraged the military to torture prisoners, it seems only fair that they should be tortured in return. But most people would consider that far too barbaric. Yet many of those same people aren't bothered by the many people tortured by the U.S. military. And they may not be bothered by long prison sentences, which is a form of torture, especially when the people behind bars are innocent.
If George W. Bush and Obama were handed over to their victims, they would probably be killed on the spot without a trial, before they could be tortured. Would that be justice or revenge, and is there really a significant difference in this case?
Do unto others...
If people like Obama, Hillary Clinton, members of Congress, Benjamin Netanyahu and Bill Gates could be brought to justice, what punishment do you think they should receive? Should it be commensurate with their crimes, or would displaying the same cruelty make us just as evil as them?
Unfortunately, we'll probably never be faced with that choice, as none of the people mentioned above will likely ever be brought to justice. But if there was a revolution, the people won, and you wound up in charge, what punishment would you reserve for the people who have done so much to wreck the very planet we live on?
Who should be punished?
Some people think accountability is a concept that only applies to public officials and ordinary citizens who have committed crimes. In fact, accountability is linked to responsibility, which might be loosely described as duty. For example, citizens who live in a democracy have the right to vote.
But is the right to vote a privilege or a duty? That's a matter of opinion.
Vote for WHAT?
The best argument against voting is probably the complaint that there are no good candidates to vote for. That's generally true of national politics in the U.S., especially presidential campaigns, and it's also true of most state-level campaigns. Elections have become so corrupt and dysfunctional that even some local elections are nearly hopeless. Try finding a good candidate for any office in Seattle, for example.
The irony is that the system became corrupt because citizens allowed it to become corrupt, largely through not voting. It takes work to maintain a democracy, and it takes even more work to reform a democracy that has become corrupted.
If it's truly too late to vote in the U.S., then the only hope may be revolution.
But think about three housemates who take turns preparing meals, washing the dishes and taking out the garbage. Is taking out the garbage a privilege or a duty? It has to be done, and few people would consider it a privilege, so why should we consider voting a privilege if it also has to be done?
Using this logic, we can argue that the right to vote is a responsibility and therefore a personal duty. And if people don't vote, or if they don't vote intelligently, we might argue that they deserve to be held accountable, or punished.
You get the government you vote for.
Ironically, clueless voters and apathetic non-voters punish themselves by nurturing corrupt and incompetent government.
Speaking of non-voters, what about the people in Hiroshima, Japan whose lives were snuffed out by an atomic bomb near the end of World War II? Many right-wingers believe the Japanese people deserved to be held accountable for their government's crimes. That suggests the Japanese people were somehow responsible for their government's crimes. Perhaps they should have protested or revolted against their government.
Yet if U.S. citizens revolted against our corrupt government, right-wingers would be the first to urge a brutal government crackdown.
And what about the children who died in Hiroshima; could they really be blamed for corruption in the Japanese government and military?
Some people sidestep this argument with the claim that destroying Hiroshima and Nagasaki shortened the war. Using such logic, any innocent civilians who are injured or killed can simply be dismissed as collateral damage.
The U.S. military and government officials calmly brush off civilian casualties as "collateral damage." Yet there is no excuse for civilian casualties if a war or military action is unjust to begin with. Thus, there was zero collateral damage in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia or Syria. All there was was state-sanctioned murder.
But what if a team of Afghan freedom fighters attack a U.S. patrol and accidentally kill an innocent bystander? That would be an example of collateral damage.
If there's a revolution in the U.S. some day, there will probably be massive collateral damage. Yet the results of not revolting could be even worse.
Collateral damage might thus be seen as a grim mathematical formula. If we retaliate against the invading Americans, we will probably kill 200 civilians. But if we don't retaliate, they may stay here for ten more years, likely killing over 50,000 civilians.
It's important to remember that collateral damage isn't limited to military action. Every time an innocent person is murdered by rogue cops or sentenced to years in prison, that person's friends and relatives will also suffer. Families may be destroyed when a person is sentenced to prison, whether innocent or guilty.
That's a brutal fact of life that mature adults have to deal with, even if it takes the edge off idealism.
So exactly what are YOUR responsibilities? We might classify them into three broad categories — personal, civic and environmental.
Humans are social animals, and families cannot function without certain rules.
You probably learned early in life that your personal responsibilities include cleaning your room and occasionally helping wash the dishes and taking out the garbage. However, the rules vary between families; perhaps your parents never asked you to take out the garbage.
But if you had housemates when you attended college, you probably assumed new duties, like taking out the garbage.
People are generally held responsible for their behavior. Irresponsible behavior thus includes rudeness and threatening behavior, which can even be illegal.
We are also held responsible for personal hygiene. That includes bathing and brushing our teeth.
Responsibilities to ourselves are more complex.
Your parents may make you study, but many parents don't make their children exercise. So do you have a responsibility to maintain your physical and mental fitness? Do you have a responsibility to try and find a good job?
This is kind of a gray area. However, people who aren't fit physically or mentally can be a drain on society, as are people who are unemployed or marginally employed.
If you have a family, you have a definite obligation to provide for them. That means trying to find a good job, which may require a good education and mental fitness. If you're in really bad physical shape, you may have health problems which can burden your family. Alcoholism and drug abuse are a great prescription for ruining a family.
People have certain responsibilities to their neighborhood, community and country. In fact, many of these responsibilities are specified by law, though they vary between countries.
For example, school attendance and/or military service may be mandatory. Voting generally isn't mandatory, but it's commonly regarded as a civic duty.
People are obviously expected to obey local laws, which requires some knowledge of the law.
Almost no one would deny that we all have personal and civic responsibilities, but environmental responsibilities — seriously?
Yes, seriously.
In fact, people had a deep reverence for the environment long before the first cities were built. Long before the birth of Christianity, Islam and Judaism, most people practiced animism, which might be thought of as either a primitive, nature-oriented religion or a blend of religion and spirituality.
Cultures around the world worshiped the sun and moon, the sky, the sea and the plants and animals they depended on for survival. They weren't perfect environmentalists. In fact, human hunters were driving species to extinction thousands of years ago. But they impacted the environment to a far lesser extent than today's technologically advanced urbanites.
Many people around the world live as subsistence hunters, fishers or farmers even today. They hunt whales in the Arctic Ocean, gather medicinal plants in the Amazon and trek across the vastness of the Sahara Desert.
People who study science may rediscover the beauty and importance of Nature. They may come to regard soil as an incredibly complex mosaic of life that can take millions of years to evolve, rather than "dirt."
Under assault by a growing population, increasing pollution, global warming, genetically modified food and other problems, Earth is crying for help. Extinction, population crashes, drought and melting glaciers are among the warning signs. People who warn that the end is near are no longer universally derided as kooks. Many scientists openly debate the probability of the human race surviving into the next century.
But an army of corporate propagandists deride environmentalism and spirituality as kooky. And even if you see through their lies and want to be a good global citizen, how can you?
Most people have to work to survive, which usually means commuting by car or bus, which consumes fossil fuels. If you use electricity, you have an impact on the environment. The food you eat and the water you drink aren't created out of thin air. And how do you dispose of leftovers and food packaging? Do you recycle?
In short, environmental citizenship is similar to voting: it's a great idea, but it can be damn hard when the game is rigged.
Nevertheless, every living person has an environmental responsibility. It begins with understanding the environment and our relationship with it. That's one of the reasons you should support science education.
Accountability Games
People play many games in either dodging accountability or attempting to paint innocent people guilty.
The Scapegoat (1854-56) is a painting by William Holman Hunt which depicts the "scapegoat" described in the Book of Leviticus. On the Day of Atonement, a goat would have its horns wrapped with a red cloth — representing the sins of the community — and be driven off. Hunt began painting the picture on the shores of the Dead Sea.
Scapegoating is the practice of blaming one's crimes or problems on someone else (the scapegoat). For example, Muslims become scapegoats when they're blamed for terrorist attacks that were actually the work of people working for the U.S., Israel or their allies.
Scapegoating is very similar to passing the buck (aka buck passing), in which a guilty person simply assigns responsibility (and therefore guilt) to someone else. (However, the phrase can also describe innocent parties who simply shirk responsibility by "passing the buck.")
Passing the buck is popularly associated with large bureaucracies. It inspired the phrase "The buck stops here," which was popularized by President Harry Truman. Ironically, Truman gets to take the blame for ordering the military to drop atomic bombs on innocent civilians during World War II.
Passing the trash is a euphemism for the practice of dealing with corrupt individuals by giving them transfers, new job titles or even promotions. The phrase is perhaps most commonly applied to teachers who have sexually abused children. However, that may ironically indicate an even bigger instance of passing the trash — by focusing on bad teachers instead of the school officials and corporate executives who exploit and abuse children, teachers and parents on a far bigger scale.
In fact, school district superintendents have become notorious for getting nailed for incompetence or criminal actions, after which school boards buy out their contracts, allowing them to transfer to often higher-paid positions with school districts in other states. Some prominent examples include Stuart Berger and Al Jones.
By extension, it can also be applied to stinkers who jump from ship to ship, even though they may not be convicted of any crimes. Examples of "carpet-bagging superintendents" include Arlene Ackerman — who bounced from St. Louis, Missouri to Seattle, then to Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Philadelphia before dying in Arizona — and Rudy Crew, whose cross-country jaunt was temporarily interrupted when he was recruited by Bill Gates to head a short-lived K-12 "Leadership Institute."
Accountability Fallacies
Feigned Ignorance
Guilty people are often defended with the claim that "He (or she) was just naive" or "He didn't know what he was getting into."
For example, watch this video of Bernie Sanders "grilling" Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan. At about 0:27 Sanders says, "Because you're an honest person. . . . I think you just don't know what's going on in the real world."
That's an utterly absurd statement. Alan Greenspan is a brilliant (though corrupt) economist who served as Chairman of the Fed for many years. During that time, he was deeply involved in politics and was surely peppered with countless questions and complaints. He presumably read articles about himself and the Federal Reserve in magazines and newspapers as well. He was fully aware of what was going on.
Feigned Helplessness
Another popular excuse is "His hands were tied." For example, Obama's supporters blame his almost unbelievable failure to fulfill his campaign promises on Republicans, who they claim fought his efforts to reform government or right wrongs. Yet Obama never even made an honest effort to stop the torture at Guantanamo Bay (or other, more secret, torture centers) even when the Republicans (in Obama's own words) supported such a gesture. And Republicans didn't force Obama to invade still more countries, including Libya and Syria.
"They were only following orders" is still another lame excuse designed to evade accountability (by passing the buck). This phrase is perhaps most commonly applied to military personnel who are apparently expected to follow even unlawful orders without questioning their superiors. So if military personnel are one day ordered to open fire on civilians here in the U.S., who will bear the responsibility for their actions?
Similarly, Obama and other government power brokers are often said to be innocent because they're only following orders from the bankers and corporate interests that control the government.
Twisted Relativism
People often say that hating or punishing a bad person makes you worse than the bad person you punish.
We can best understand the illogic with some examples. For example, imagine if someone assassinated Obama because of his frightening crimes.
In the legal arena, one could say Obama's assassin acted outside the law and is therefore guilty of a felonious crime (murder). But how could assassinating one person possibly be worse than torturing and killing thousands of people and ruining the lives of millions, as Obama did? The comparison is simply absurd. In fact, millions of people around the world would celebrate Obama's assassin as a hero.
Saying a person who simply hates Obama and/or wishes for bad things to happen to Obama is worse than Obama is even more absurd.
Many of the people who use this twisted logic are simply brainwashed or not very intelligent. However, this logic is often employed by propagandists who want to protect corrupt individuals from accountability. When people justly criticize corrupt government officials, the propagandists simply shift the blame to the accusers, no matter how illogical the reverse accusations are.
Wild Justice
In the 19th century, government services were spread thin in the vast reaches of the western U.S. It was thus common for people living in the "Wild West" to deal with bad people themselves. For example, a man who stole someone's horse might be lynched (hung). Taking the law into one's own hands is called vigilantism.
People who think the government's justice department is corrupt or dysfunctional may become vigilantes even today. For example, people who are tired of being brutalized by rogue police officers may kill a cop in return.
revenge —noun: the act of hurting someone who hurt you, especially when done outside the law; verb: to avenge oneself, usually through retaliation
But is vigilantism a form of justice or revenge? Some people think each case should be judged on its own merits, while others believe citizens should never take the law into their own hands.
Revenge is best served cold.
origin uncertain
As governments become increasingly corrupt, growing numbers of people may agitate for what some call "wild justice" on an even bigger scale. They may engage in massive protests or violent riots, for example. In more extreme cases, angry people may even attempt to overthrow the government. If enough people get involved, the unrest could mushroom into a revolution or a civil war.
Similarly, millions of people around the world are tired of being tyrannized by foreign governments while the international justice system looks the other way. They may have no choice but fight back themselves. When defending their homelands, such people are commonly called insurgents or terrorists by the government and media.
blowback — an unexpected ill effect, result, or set of repercussions; commonly descriptive of retaliation against governments or powerful groups that have unfairly exploited or punished a country or group of people
In some cases, private citizens may even launch attacks in other countries. For example, citizens of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria or Libya who have lost their homes and families to U.S. bombs and missiles could launch a terrorist attack in the U.S. Such large-scale, international incidents of revenge are commonly labeled blowback.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks are still promoted as an example of blowback, though the evidence overwhelmingly frames the incident as a "false flag attack." In other words, the attacks were planned by the U.S. government and/or Israel and blamed on Muslim terrorists.
If revenge, vigilantism and blowback are too extreme for your taste, there's a much safer, though still courageous, way to make a difference. It's called defiance.
Refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or stand for the national anthem are examples of defiance. A labor leader named Eugene Debs who ran for president while in prison is another example of defiance. Senator Paul Wellstone, who dared to vote in opposition to other Demopublicans, was an example of defiance. Muhammad Ali risked his boxing career by refusing to enlist in the military during the war in Vietnam.
At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico, two U.S. athletes, both members of the Black Panther Party, shocked the world by giving the black power salute during the playing of the national anthem at an awards ceremony. (One of the men, Tommie Smith, describes it as a "human rights salute.") The men were shoeless but wore black socks to represent black poverty.
A third man — a white Australian — who appeared to be divorced from the protest was actually an unsung third hero who, like the U.S. athletes, was punished for his defiance. Yet he died a hero, unlike most Australians and Americans, who die on their hands and knees, in corporate servitude and often in poverty.
That man, Peter Norman, left us with these words of inspiration:
"I couldn't see why a black man couldn't drink the same water from a water fountain, take the same bus or go to the same school as a white man.
"There was a social injustice that I couldn't do anything about from where I was, but I certainly hated it.
"It has been said that sharing my silver medal with that incident on the victory dais detracted from my performance.
"On the contrary. I have to confess, I was rather proud to be part of it."
What does this have to do with accountability?
First, the Olympic protest seen round the world was an extraordinary embarrassment for many people, from Olympic Committee personnel to government officials to ordinary racist citizens. More than an embarrassment, it was a slap in the face.
At the same time, the three protesters fulfilled their responsibility as global citizens. Have you?
As you can see, the subject of accountability offers lots of food for thought. What do you think about vigilantism and revenge? Can they be seen as a form of justice? And if it was OK for U.S. citizens to rise up against the British government during the Revolutionary War, would it be OK for people living today to revolt against the U.S. government, which many fear is too corrupt to ever be reformed? And do you think a revolution is likely to happen when few people even have the courage to raise their fist in defiance?
As we've learned, accountability is a grim but essential task, similar to taking out the garbage. You should understand that accountability is closely linked with responsibility and ranges from transparency to punishment, without which there can be no justice or reform. You should understand the difference between capital punishment (execution), corporal or physical punishment and non-corporal punishment, including incarceration (e.g. jail or prison). Remember the huge double standard as corporate crooks get rich while innocent people are driven into poverty or even killed. You should remember some of the more common accountability games, like scapegoating, passing the buck, passing the trash and that baloney about only following orders. There are plenty of things that fall in a gray area, such as maximum punishment, collateral damage, revenge and vigilantism. Your attitude towards these issues will probably continue to evolve over time.
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Thought this was a clever construction trick. A street nearby my house had some construction work scheduled. During the construction, the normally two-way street would be made one-way for several weeks.
In order to communicate this quickly, the city put up "One way" signs but then covered them up with plastic bags at first. When they were ready to restrict traffic along the length of the street, they simply removed the plastic bags.
It made me think of commenting out lines of code – then uncommenting them when ready.