It's coming fast and furious now...
Letters to Woodward.
Breaking Through The News Blackout in the US
Grace Reid
May 13, 2005
Bob Woodward
Washington Post
- woodwardb@washpost.com
Dear Mr. Woodward,
The Washington Post received about 200 letters yesterday and it's all my fault. I wrote a piece that I'm including in a file, about how the ombudsman Michael Getler refused to address the lack of coverage the WaPo has given to this most important story. That wasn't like him. Finally, after three days of our campaign, there was a story today but it cautiously avoided the truth.
I have been giving it a lot of thought. Why does the US media have so much trouble reporting this story? First, because the proof - the Downing Street minutes, and the Goldsmith March 7, 2003 legal finding have been authenticated and released by Tony Blair. Second, because of the language.
One way to minimize the import of these documents is to call the two documents a memo. The US media calls it `a memo,' referring to the minutes of a meeting, and Goldsmith's opinion or finding – these cannot be minimized by calling them `memo.' A ‘memo’ gives the public the impression that these are casual notes. Minutes of a meeting, and the legal finding of the Attorney General cannot be so minimized – documents of this type carry a legal weight.
The US media and public are using this word because for almost a year now we have been reading memos from the likes of John Yoo, Bybee, Haynes and Gonzales. The language in Yoo and Bybee are nearly the very same as the language in the Goldsmith March 23, 2003 opinion, as far as liablility before the International Criminal Court, and trying to get around the Geneva Conventions.
It would make one have to ask – who actually wrote the Goldsmith March 7, 2003 opinion? With Gonzales and Ashcroft working Goldsmith over – what kind of force did the US apply to the UK to comply with and be complicit in criminality? We know that Gonzales convened a meeting on acceptable levels of torture, that included “water-boarding.” Did they use that on Goldsmith to make him recant his opinion that the invasion of Iraq was illegal?
The reason no one can properly write about these documents and their impact is there are no words allowed to tell the story with. This country has lost it's language to tell the truth with.
When you are at war and you take prisoners, they are called prisoners of war, or POWs. When you invade a country illegally and decimate their cities after you've been bombing them rotten for ten years, and they fight back, they're called resistance fighters. But we're getting cute out here, too. We know whenever we hear the words "regime change" it means violation of international law.
When you have documents released from the British Prime Minister consisting of minutes of a meeting of intelligence and defence department ministers, and the legal finding of the Attorney General submitted to the Prime Minister on the illegality of the war in Iraq – these documents cannot be dismissed by calling them “a memo.”
I'm well aware of how we lost our language, and who is to blame. The way to avoid criminal prosecution is to be the one who changes the meaning of words so the law is not the law any more. And I have to credit him for the word un-sign.
But I don't think the practice of writing should go extinct just because one's leadership doesn't know what words mean or how to use them.
So that's what I think is causing this news blackout. (As in pass out during a drunk and not remember where you were or what you did when you wake up.) The thing is the release of these materials have brought about the demise of Tony Blair. Ten members of Bereaved Families have brought charges against Tony Blair for war crimes before the International Criminal Court. And that bodes ill for Bush. (Source: Military Families Against the War; http://www.mfaw.org.uk/ )
I'll not take up any more of your time. I can only hope that you are writing this story, and I hope you enjoyed all the letters that were sent to you.
Sincerely yours,
Grace Reid
Source: (Letters to Woodward; http://www.dailykos.com)
Courtesy of Grace Reid
---Have you ever wondered what the term 'ring of truth ' actually, literally, means...? ANY cop, or investigator of any kind, will tell you there IS a difference in words that contain truth, they literally 'ring' in such a way as logic is satisfied. If you use words that subtly confuse the logic, even if some of it is true,(all lies are based on some truth) then you will be able to confuse the issue. I, too, have often reffered to those DOCUMENTS as a 'memo'. It never SEEMED right, but I did not really examine why. But as this article points out VERY well, it is NOT a small thing. The Downing St. Documents will bring both countries to thier knees. And as the TRUTH tears through us, the 'ring' of it will not leave ANY of us untouched.---
Breaking Through The News Blackout in the US
Grace Reid
May 13, 2005
Bob Woodward
Washington Post
- woodwardb@washpost.com
Dear Mr. Woodward,
The Washington Post received about 200 letters yesterday and it's all my fault. I wrote a piece that I'm including in a file, about how the ombudsman Michael Getler refused to address the lack of coverage the WaPo has given to this most important story. That wasn't like him. Finally, after three days of our campaign, there was a story today but it cautiously avoided the truth.
I have been giving it a lot of thought. Why does the US media have so much trouble reporting this story? First, because the proof - the Downing Street minutes, and the Goldsmith March 7, 2003 legal finding have been authenticated and released by Tony Blair. Second, because of the language.
One way to minimize the import of these documents is to call the two documents a memo. The US media calls it `a memo,' referring to the minutes of a meeting, and Goldsmith's opinion or finding – these cannot be minimized by calling them `memo.' A ‘memo’ gives the public the impression that these are casual notes. Minutes of a meeting, and the legal finding of the Attorney General cannot be so minimized – documents of this type carry a legal weight.
The US media and public are using this word because for almost a year now we have been reading memos from the likes of John Yoo, Bybee, Haynes and Gonzales. The language in Yoo and Bybee are nearly the very same as the language in the Goldsmith March 23, 2003 opinion, as far as liablility before the International Criminal Court, and trying to get around the Geneva Conventions.
It would make one have to ask – who actually wrote the Goldsmith March 7, 2003 opinion? With Gonzales and Ashcroft working Goldsmith over – what kind of force did the US apply to the UK to comply with and be complicit in criminality? We know that Gonzales convened a meeting on acceptable levels of torture, that included “water-boarding.” Did they use that on Goldsmith to make him recant his opinion that the invasion of Iraq was illegal?
The reason no one can properly write about these documents and their impact is there are no words allowed to tell the story with. This country has lost it's language to tell the truth with.
When you are at war and you take prisoners, they are called prisoners of war, or POWs. When you invade a country illegally and decimate their cities after you've been bombing them rotten for ten years, and they fight back, they're called resistance fighters. But we're getting cute out here, too. We know whenever we hear the words "regime change" it means violation of international law.
When you have documents released from the British Prime Minister consisting of minutes of a meeting of intelligence and defence department ministers, and the legal finding of the Attorney General submitted to the Prime Minister on the illegality of the war in Iraq – these documents cannot be dismissed by calling them “a memo.”
I'm well aware of how we lost our language, and who is to blame. The way to avoid criminal prosecution is to be the one who changes the meaning of words so the law is not the law any more. And I have to credit him for the word un-sign.
But I don't think the practice of writing should go extinct just because one's leadership doesn't know what words mean or how to use them.
So that's what I think is causing this news blackout. (As in pass out during a drunk and not remember where you were or what you did when you wake up.) The thing is the release of these materials have brought about the demise of Tony Blair. Ten members of Bereaved Families have brought charges against Tony Blair for war crimes before the International Criminal Court. And that bodes ill for Bush. (Source: Military Families Against the War; http://www.mfaw.org.uk/ )
I'll not take up any more of your time. I can only hope that you are writing this story, and I hope you enjoyed all the letters that were sent to you.
Sincerely yours,
Grace Reid
Source: (Letters to Woodward; http://www.dailykos.com)
Courtesy of Grace Reid
---Have you ever wondered what the term 'ring of truth ' actually, literally, means...? ANY cop, or investigator of any kind, will tell you there IS a difference in words that contain truth, they literally 'ring' in such a way as logic is satisfied. If you use words that subtly confuse the logic, even if some of it is true,(all lies are based on some truth) then you will be able to confuse the issue. I, too, have often reffered to those DOCUMENTS as a 'memo'. It never SEEMED right, but I did not really examine why. But as this article points out VERY well, it is NOT a small thing. The Downing St. Documents will bring both countries to thier knees. And as the TRUTH tears through us, the 'ring' of it will not leave ANY of us untouched.---
posted by Christy at 1:33 PM
5 Comments:
Dear Christy,
Bang on! I wrote the letter and it's getting some "legs" Google Letters to Woodward plus Orwell for the most interesting discussion of what's really happening. It started right after the war in Afghanistan. With the first time Bush & Powell used the term "illegal combatant"
Please help me. Language and literacy can save the whole sorry situation. Write letters to the editor. If they don't get printed in one paper, take it to another.
HAMMER THE MEDIA!!!
Thank you
Hammer the media...
Hell yes..
And darlin I am a poet, I too believe words and language can save the world.
I just went back and reread your letter and again I was struck by the phrase ring of truth.. It truely is a great letter.
You touched off a nerve in me with this. I am getting so sick of hearing 'deliberately misstated the facts' when the word LIED is so much more accurate. It can truely be infuriating. And I think you are right that this is HOW the blackout is being implimented on the most basic level.
I long for the day whan a spade is a spade and treason means treason again. While I was rereading it just now though it occurred to me that they will not get away with it much longer. People like you are catching them at it in the most minute of details that it seems to me they simply cannot fool all of the people all of the time.
I have already forwarded this letter to a few people but I will forward it some more again today. It really is a great letter, very articulate and right to the issue. I for one am grateful you pointed it out in such a way. Thank you.
And welcome to Reb Nation.
God bless you, Christy. The truth is the most dangerous thing of all. When it gets through it shakes up the corrupt organization. It causes people to ask questions. Thanks for giving me some encouragement.
Bless you too Censored. I am very glad to keep being reminded I am not alone. None of us are alone.
And welcome to Reb Nation.
Post a Comment
<< Home