Juxtapositions: When Words Have No Meaning and Silence Is a Wink at Tyranny and Repression--Bush and Saudi Arabia

This rory drawing deals with a lot of things, perhaps revealing some of my feelings about repression and the very fucked up industry built around infliction of destruction and suffering in the world today, as epitomized by Hallibushcheney Inc. The hypocrisy of Hallibushcheney "liberating" Iraq from tyranny while remaining asshole buddies with the House of Saud makes Rory want to scream. Instead of screaming, however, sometimes Rory draws. But then lo and behold, it seems like the drawings sometimes turn into silent frickin' screams:

link to gallery with a few more of rory's pieces priced absurdly high to discourage anyone entertaining thoughts of purchase and the opportunity to see the drawing a little better

Okay, rory, so much for your touchy-feeliness, much as it pleasures you. Friends, now for the set-up for the juxtapositions.
First the Statement of the President of the United States (this is Fact ... well, the fact is he said it and it is proudly displayed on the real White House Web site ... otherwise it is mostly fiction worthy of a tongue lashing on Oprah if not a real flogging in Saudi Arabia):

"President's Statement on United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

"On United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States reaffirms its commitment to the worldwide elimination of torture. Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right, and we are committed to building a world where human rights are respected and protected by the rule of law.

The United States is continuing to work to expand freedom and democracy throughout the world. We will seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, and we will help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way. Throughout the world, there are many who have been seeking to have their voices heard, to stand up for their right to freedom, and to break the chains of tyranny. Too many of those courageous women and men are paying a terrible price for their brave acts of dissent. Many have been detained, arrested, thrown in prison, and subjected to torture by regimes that fail to understand that their habits of control will not serve them well in the long-term. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies. All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you."

End of President's statement.

Juxtapositions:









A sampling of those whose oppression W ignores and whose oppressors he excuses despite his wankerous blather to the contrary:

A Saudi court sentenced a high school chemistry teacher to more than three years in prison and 750 lashes for talking to his pupils about his views on a number of current topics, such as Christianity, Judaism and the causes of terrorism.

teacher to be flogged

Based on one raid of a club, more than 100 men were sentenced to imprisonment and flogging for "acting like women." Some were sentenced to as many as 2000 lashs.

flogging for suspected homosexuality

The Saudi interior minister said women would not be allowed to vote in the country's municipal elections starting in February 2005. In response to a question about women's getting the vote, Prince Nayef bin Sultan said simply: "I don't think that women's participation is possible."

Women Vote?

A man was sentenced to having his eye gouged out for brawling.

eye gouging

Amnesty International sheds some light on the land of the hijackers, almost making one wonder whether hand-holding W idealizes the justice system they have:

Fear and secrecy permeate every aspect of the state in Saudi Arabia.
The fear is maintained by:
• the constant risk of arbitrary arrest;
• harsh punishments for anyone who dares to criticize official policies;
• the mutawa’een (religious police) who have, in practice, unfettered powers to harass and detain anyone they believe has breached the strict moral codes;
• the knowledge that anyone who is arrested will be denied access to their family, to a lawyer and to medical assistance, and might be tortured;
• a range of punishments, from long prison sentences to amputation, flogging and beheading, after trials that make a mockery of justice.