The Indian author of “The God of Small Things” faces possible arrest for sedition. Visit Democracy Now! for Amy Goodman’s recent interview with her that aired today. Click on the b&w photograph for a brief profile of Roy.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/27/acclaimed_indian_author_arundhati_roy_faces
Is there anything more terrifying than a person who speaks their mind to stand up to injustice? When did speaking truth become a crime? When did confronting reality become a criminal offence? Is the message of the leaders of this world: “Lie! Lie! Lie!”
From the insanity of oil spills to the tragedy of winter soldiers why is the truth so terrible to face? When did dishonesty become a virtue? When did “spin” become the religion of all politicians?
“Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds. Pity the nation that needs to quiet those who ask for justice, while communal killers, mass murderers, corporate scamsters, looters, rapists, and those who prey on the poorest of the poor roam free.”
Arundhati Roy
om mani padme hum jewel in the lotus wahupa qi prana universal life energy
47whitebuffalo's Blog 
artistatexit0 said,
November 3, 2010 at 3:41 am
Yes, the political parties are two sides of the same coin and those “better angels” that Lincoln spoke of are further away than ever.
artistatexit0 said,
November 3, 2010 at 1:42 am
I’m sitting here watching the midterm election results from my home state and it’s so depressing. People are accusing the Obama administration of running up this huge debt without considering where the blame for the first several trillion dollars came from…namely the costs of fighting two ill conceived wars by the Republicans. Forget the cost of the human misery of all of this as the wars’ advocates have. The rest of this immense debt was trying to staunch the bleeding caused by the Republican administration crashing the economy prior to Obama. Now we are electing officials to “take our government back” from what? One truth we know is that the government bloats when the Republicans take control…just look at the Department for Homeland Defense. Are we any safer? It is as you suggested, an immense bait and switch where the “average” American is played like a fiddle.
47whitebuffalo said,
November 3, 2010 at 2:57 am
Al, I have even darker thoughts about the last presidental election. From the start I could NOT believe the choice of Sarah Palin as a serious vice presidental candidate. Truly, I kept wondering what the heck was going on–NOW I suspect one of my conclusions was correct. Look at it this way—the Republicans and Democrats are in cahoots to the point of getting the entire show ‘their’ way. So–seeing how Mr. Obama has proceeded with all things—basically a Bush program continuation–the bait was the intelligent black man in a suit set up as a front for the whole game. Palin was brought in as a distraction and to throw the election to Obama. I mean–come on, sex appeal is not a good criteria for a vice president. In addition,the woman appears to be a complete ignoramous of anything except killing animals–a true PUPPET if there ever was one. So Americans vote for Change–without getting a contract for specifically what Change this entails. I am so sick of hearing people make excuses for the whole show. Obama’s picks for advisors and cabinet reminded me of Bush’s choices of Big Business Executives from Monsanto et al.
Safe? Ha–ask that with Orwell in mind.
artistatexit0 said,
October 31, 2010 at 2:16 am
In our country…do we really value the truth anymore? Generations of people conditioned to buy what they don’t need…don’t like to be reminded that they have been played for fools. If you repeat lies often enough, the people will believe them.
clegyrboia said,
November 1, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Yep if you repeat lies people will believe them.
they cover up and cover up deny and deny
just something i notice here: we had the wikileaks which showed what the war in Iraq is like and the silly killing of people it was in the news for a bit and now now we have the fear put in us about the potential bombs which was so they say to be placed on planes. WHEN do we learn that war knows only victims no victory.
47whitebuffalo said,
November 2, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Magda, I don’t know when we will learn that war victimizes everyone–the soldiers, the civilians, the environment. In the states people don’t even seem to want to know the truth of death. Al raises good points about the lies and people not wanting to be made fools–which many feel they’ve been made by the apparent bait and switch tactics of the last election. The hardest thing to face is the TRUTH–especially when lies have created such deep and dense illusions. Such is my thought. Anyone else have any ideas?
Tasneem R said,
October 30, 2010 at 11:58 am
People who have spoke the bitter truth are always made to shut up . So what’s happening with Arudhati Roy is no exception , it’s really very sad. Unless our ministers/leaders do not give up corruption ( in any form ) the country will have such writers and such suppression will continue.
Do I Lead or do I Follow?
Do you like taking command? Or do you prefer being led?
http://www.3smartcubes.com/pages/tests/leader/leader_instructions.asp
47whitebuffalo said,
October 30, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Yes, Truth is not a commodity most folks value.
incompletehistory said,
October 28, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Isn’t it amazing how a few carefully arranged words spoken aloud can be considered so “dangerous” that one could potentially be arrested merely for having thought them…
47whitebuffalo said,
October 30, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Amazing–and very scary, incompletehistory. Very scary indeed.
slpmartin said,
October 27, 2010 at 11:36 pm
I am reallly quite speechless…angry…and upset with my country and it leaders.
47whitebuffalo said,
October 30, 2010 at 8:38 pm
So sorry, Charles. But–take heart, there is ROY to believe in.
Artswebshow said,
October 27, 2010 at 11:31 pm
it’s a disgrace.
Censorship of the worst kind.
i hate to say it but these injustices will probably go on for as long as humans exist
47whitebuffalo said,
October 30, 2010 at 8:38 pm
We all have a choice as to how we behave.
roxie said,
October 27, 2010 at 10:14 pm
I remember Arundhati Roy when she began ‘speaking out’ in the 1990’s…very unpopular then, too bad it’s Déjà vu ~ but her persistance will change things…the only way change comes about! Thanks for your spotlight update, we need to be reminded 😦
47whitebuffalo said,
October 30, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Well the spotlight is a result of her current possible arrest for speaking out regarding Kashmir. Thanks for taking notice.