Fraters Libertas

And You Want To Be My Resume Writer?

The mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison by U.S. military guards is disgusting and shameful. All of those who are responsible in any way for the actions, be they the guards themselves, their commanders, U.S. intelligence agents, or private contractors should be punished appropriately. While their conduct will no doubt damage Coalition efforts to provide security and stability to Iraq, it should in no way be seen to invalidate the reasons for the war. Nor should it influence U.S. decisions on the future course of the war.

Do the actions of a few bad cops mean that the noble efforts of the majority of the police force to fight crime was wrong? Would you then conclude that because of these inappropriate actions the police should completely abandon their efforts at fighting crime? Of course not. Only a fool would believe so.

A fool or Mark Gisleson. Loyal readers of Fraters Libertas might remember Gisleson as the winner in the category Blogger Most Likely to Be Visited by the Homeland Security Department (or a Psychiatric Team) in our 2003 Blogs of Distinction Awards for his revolutionary fervor:

In my heart, I still believe in revolution. In my heart, I still think I have the 'nads to put my life on the line for a cause. In my gut I think this is the only way we'll ever achieve our goals of economic and social justice. But in my head, I want to win the next election so we don't have to have a revolution.

At the time when Gisleson was waxing revolutionary, he was filling in for Steve Perry's Bush Wars and running the City Pages Babelogue. In January 2004, Gisleson resigned from his post at Babelogue, much to the dismay of Saint Paul. But he wasn't gone long and soon reemerged with his own blog called Norwegianity.

Where he continues to display the wit (he likes to refer to us as "farters libertas"-get it?) and emotional maturity of an eight year old. Witness his effort from May Day regarding the Abu Ghraid prison story, which he sneeringly titles Andersonville goes to Iraq.

(For a little historical perspective consider that at this point in the prisoner-abuse probe, it appears that just over twenty prisoners have died in U.S. military custody in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Two of the deaths were determined to be caused by the actions of U.S. military personnel, while the others are under investigation. The grave registry at Andersonville, the notorious Confederate prisoner of war camp, included the names of 12,910 Union soldiers who perished there. In Gisleson's world that's a perfectly legitimate comparison.)

Click on the link, print it out and mail copies to every wingnut war supporter you know. Don't let them off the hook. Everytime they tell you Bush is right, ask them if they read that article. People who wanted Bill Clinton assassinated over blow jobs don't have the right to refuse to discuss torture in the context of an illegal war conducted by an illegal president and his corrupt handlers.

"People who wanted Bill Clinton assassinated over blow jobs"? And just who would these people be? Gisleson loves to throw around charges like this without ever seeing fit to provide documentation. Now if I was going to say something similar like "people who call for violent revolution if George W. Bush is reelected", I at least would have the decency to provide a link to the source.

Gisleson continues with promises of a temper tantrum if Kerry doesn't win:

And if you're not wearing red, go back to the bedroom and change clothes. It helps remind 'the man' that this time around, it's not about Nader votes. Steal this election and you're going to be looking at general strikes, shutdowns, mass pickets and a lot of broken windows. One way or another we have to stop this before they replace the red, white and blue with one of those Scandinavian cross flags done up in baby blue.

The tough thing about trying to understand Gisleson is to determine what romanticized period of struggle he wishes to return to. At times when he trots out tired counter culture clichés like 'the man' you think he's keen to relive the late 60's early 70's glory days of the Weathermen and Black Panthers. But then he starts talking about strikes, shutdowns, and "a lot of broken windows" and you get the feeling that maybe he yearns for the labor strife of the 30's with the scabs, the Pinkertons, and singing Woody Guthrie songs around the fire barrel on picket duty.

I'm also not sure who Gisleson expects to stage these union walkouts that will bring the country to its knees. Government employees? The bus drivers? Newspaper workers?

If John Kerry happens to be elected president in November I won't be happy about it. But I won't break any windows or take to the streets in protest or call for a revolution. I'll go to work and lead my life in the same manner as I always have. Because when it comes down to it, the country is far more important to me than an political party or politician. If John Kerry is the President of the United States of America, it's still the United States of America. A country that I love, respect, and admire.

A parting word from Gisleson:

I'm sure wingnuts visiting this site will find all of this a bit over the top.

Actually considering his history (and his 'nads), this wing nut views it as par for the course.