Victor Hugo on equality
“Let us understand each other in regard to equality; for, if liberty is the summit, equality is the base. Equality, citizens, is not all vegetation on a level, a society of big spears of grass and little oaks; a neighbourhood of jealousies emasculating each other; it is, civilly, all aptitudes having equal opportunity; politically, all votes having equal weight; religiously, all consciences having equal rights.”
read moreVictor Hugo on war
Civil war? What does this mean? Is there any foreign war? Is not every war between men, war between brothers? War is modified only by its aim. There is neither foreign war, nor civil war; there is only unjust war and just war. Until the day when the great human concordat shall be concluded, war, that at least which is the struggle of the hurrying future against the lingering past, may be necessary. What reproach can be brought against such war! War becomes shame, the sword becomes a dagger, only when it assassinates right, progress, reason,...
read moreVictor Hugo on the plight of women
“She was satisfied after the manner of that Arab woman who, having received a blow from her husband, went to complain to her father, crying for vengeance and saying: “Father, you owe my husband affront for affront.” The father asked: “Upon which cheek did you receive the blow?” “Upon the left cheek.” The father struck the right cheek, and said: “Now you are satisfied. Go and tell your husband that he has struck my daughter, but that I have struck his wife.””
read moreVictor Hugo on revolutions
Every revolution, being a normal accomplishment, contains in itself its own legitimacy, which false revolutionists sometimes dishonour, but which persists, even when sullied, which survives, even when stained with blood. Revolutions spring, not from an accident, but from necessity. A revolution is a return from the factitious to the real. It is, because it must be.
read morePrecedent – The Subtle Enemy of Small Government
I have been trying to dig deep into the leaked memo justifying the targeting and killing of US citizens that hit the media this past week. I have transcribed and imported the document into wikipedia and am trying to link to all the source references in the original. you can view it here. Something that really is made clear when you read some of the prior opinions upon which the case for killings is made – the use of precedent rather than a direct appeal to the Constitution is a dangerous practice and constitutes a sort of subtle and hidden...
read moreHypocrisy in Action – Leaked Memo, Civilian Casualties and Geneva Conventions
The recently Leaked DOJ memo justifying the Obama administrations policy on targeted killing of US citizens in the war on terror cites commentaries on the Geneva Conventions to justify killing Americans without due process: …The Supreme Court has held that the military may constitutionally use force against a U.S. citizen who is a part of enemy forces. … Like the imposition of military detention, the use of lethal force against such enemy forces is an “important incident of war.” … International Committee of the...
read moreLeaked memo on extrajudicial killing of US citizens
The most important leak of the decade – a white paper laying out the rationale for killing US citizens suspected of involvement with al quieda contains some alarming statements: There is no authority for any judge or court to review this policy and assess its constitutionality. This is rule by fiat and executive immunity from any judicial oversight! There does not need to be a specific imminent attack planned – those suspected are assumed to be constantly planning attacks so they can be killed at any time and it is called...
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