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Good Morning Friends,
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today is June 5, 2009
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The picture above is me in 1967. That is the time period that I am focused on now in the main part of my blog. I just did a post of my teenage years in 1967 over there if you are interested. Now, this is the anniversary date of the Six Day War actually and that is why I had the post corresponding to this particular date.
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Now, somebody seems to think that Israel is the good guy here and that the Arabs are all evil and want to destroy Israel, etc. If you google the Six Day War videos you will get a propaganda parade of Israel during this time period. ... You have to remember that the state of Israel was created on Arab and Palestinian lands and is considered an intruder and occupier by many of the original local inhabitants. And, this is the source of much conflict in the region. But, Israel, its war policies and general intentions are other sources of division as well. Here is an article and interview with Norman Finkelstein which talks about things which you do not generally find in the main stream media or even on the internet. I would encourage you to listen and or read this important article in order to gain some perspective on this issue of war and peace in the Middle East. Article below:
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I notice that President Barack Obama just recently gave a speech in Cairo. Now, here is a man trying to reach out to the Arabs, and apparently in a genuine way. But, dear reader you have to put things into perspective. He has history and other forces working against him on this issue. Those forces are primarily those who want to continue the aggression into the Middle East, and even Israel itself as personified by the current Prime Minister, namely Benjamin Netanyahu. Rhetoric is fine, but the realities of the day will always take precedence over posturing and politics. That is why we have war to begin with, because somebody with greater power wants it to happen. So, keep these things in mind when you see something like the American president trying to do the right thing.
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Anyway, thanks for reading and don't forget that it is a racing day tomorrow out at Cloverdale. So, if you are popping into town don't be afraid to pop in and so hello or something like that. It was another really hot day out here on the West Coast let me tell you. But, I survived as you can see.
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Dear Friends, the tenor of the times was getting more sad in the mid-sixties. I think this shows up in the music especially. I have already mentioned the changes as evidenced by the onslaught of the Beatles in 1964 and with the British Invasion itself. Times they were a changing indeed. You have war raging on in Southeast Asia and Vietnam and now this Six Day War hits the scene in 1967. Drugs and rock and roll, the counter culture, hippies, war demonstrations, it was all happening now. And, there really was a different kind of music entering the scene. I would describe it as generally unhappy and a reflection of the times. I think the Doors and their music kind of told it like it is. I was not a Doors fan at all, but the music was everywhere and music like it.
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Light My Fire - The Doors
1967
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