Disqus - Latest Comments for AliciaO

Re: Hate in the Tunnel at the University of Rochester

AliciaO — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:11:56 -0000

Wow. I can't believe the above poster totally missed the point of your article. At no point did you give any views on the crisis itself.

A question to smilidon: although you seem to be siding with Israel, don't you see how it was offensive to paint over peaceful tunnel graffiti? The people of Israel aren't the only ones afraid for their lives--have you been paying attention to the deaths in Gaza?

I don't see how this article is ignorant at all. Andrew simply discussed the issue and re-posted what the protesters asked for. The subject of this article is clearly the tunnel graffiti. If you don't have anything to say about the subject, I see your points as counter-productive.

Re: Fourth Plane Shot Down on 9/11

AliciaO — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:19:58 -0000

Also, you'll notice that I haven't commented on many of your claims stating things that I supposedly agree with. I don't really feel it necessary to tell you my specific and actual beliefs as I know that you will just project what you think I believe onto this site. The joke is really on you in the end, because you don't know who I am or what I believe. You've just taken two comments and the fact that I am here to create your own vision. I'd advise you not to do so.

Re: 7 Ideas for a Gray Day in Rochester

AliciaO — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:10:20 -0000

Off topic comments will be removed from this page.

Re: Fourth Plane Shot Down on 9/11

AliciaO — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:04:03 -0000

I'm not even going to address most of this, but I will say that you are calling me childish because you don't like the real definition of propaganda.

Re: Fourth Plane Shot Down on 9/11

AliciaO — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:37:08 -0000

Also, I've mentioned this before, but if you don't stop with the harassing comments about mental illness and murder I will personally make sure that you're comments do not appear on this site. It is purely uncalled for, but I realize that when people are uncomfortable with views different from their own they often have to resort to this tactic. As I mentioned before, I really don't want to engage in any conversation with you, because I think it just fuels your mission. Seriously though, I believe in free speech, but your comments are troubling and flat out creepy. I'm not interested in discussing 9/11 truth with you either. So, either politely state your differences and refute issues at hand, or be banned.

Re: Fourth Plane Shot Down on 9/11

AliciaO — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:29:54 -0000

In case you didn't know:

propaganda |ˌpräpəˈgandə|
noun
1 chiefly derogatory information, esp. of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view : he was charged with distributing enemy propaganda.
• the dissemination of such information as a political strategy : the party's leaders believed that a long period of education and propaganda would be necessary .
2 ( Propaganda) a committee of cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church responsible for foreign missions, founded in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV.
ORIGIN Italian, from modern Latin congregatio de propaganda fide ‘congregation for propagation of the faith’ ( see sense 2). Sense 1 dates from the early 20th cent.

In other words, it doesn't have to be put out by the government to be propaganda. Anyone making a film about a political event is entering into the conversation about that event and PROPOGATING a view about it. The dictionary happens to use examples that talk about large institutions like the Church and a political party, but as I said, others can put out propaganda too.

Clearly those who made this film knew that it would demonize Muslims and rally support for the War on Terror by using the emotions surrounding the United 93 incident.

Re: 7 Ideas for a Gray Day in Rochester

AliciaO — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 21:17:27 -0000

And I'm glad you wrote this one. I think when you originally started writing back this summer, you really wanted it to be a forum for all things Rochester. It's inspiring me to get into the drafts sections and revive some of my old stuff...I also think it's easy for people in Rochester to say that life here sucks when they don't take time to participate in the world around them. There's lots to see and do everyday.

About the coffee shop thing though, sometimes baristas are scary. Mostly they are cool though. And why leave the computer at home when you can get free (albeit shotty) wireless?

Another suggestion that you didn't write: check out other neighborhoods and walk around (like the Southwedge...) There's tons to do over there. And I think we also forgot the public library!!

Re: Are burping cows ruining our environment?

AliciaO — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:31:23 -0000

hmmm, poor cows. They shouldn't have to get mixed up in this because Al Gore is out to get them with a vengeance after a bad experience with Taco Bell beef.

But seriously...how about we just put all the cows on one big government farm....

Re: Private and Public Surveillance Cameras Fail to Deter Bank Robbery in Rochester

AliciaO — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:37:04 -0000

Good point. Cameras are lame.

Re: Why Won’t the Renaissance Square Idea Die Already?

AliciaO — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:32:23 -0000

I know Andrew--this project has bothered me since its inception. I like to call it the land version of the fast ferry. We clearly need some re-development projects, but who is Ren Square catering to? If we need a bus station, there are other ways to do it?

I think we should focus on smaller issues first, like housing. Rochester keeps getting things out of order and that's why we're not as successful as we could be. For instance, the soccer stadium was really unnecessary as an early redevelopment project. Maybe you or I can dig up that article that lists the steps to Urban Renewal. Do you remember it? Remember how stadiums and theatres were last on the list, and how housing was first? Developers are creating some great new housing, but I think if Ren Square somehow happens, many people will be disappointed and will flock to blame Duffy, when they should have been against it the whole time.

Urrggg

Re: Bin Laden Didn’t Blow Up the Projects

AliciaO — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:25:32 -0000

Enough is enough Denby. You've worn out your welcome.

"Bin Laden was not funded by the CIA. You've had many years (more than 7, actually) to demonstrate a link between the CIA and Bin Laden, and all you have for "evidence" is a hip hop video."
-Does Tim Osman mean anything to you? Why don't you try reading "Messages to the World" by OBL himself. I've read scores of other scholarly articles on the topic in a course entitled "Islam and the Third World." I figured maybe that would mean something to you since you have nothing better to do than attempt to discredit anyone who says something that you don't agree with. Osama Bin Laden has worked for the CIA. Period. Anyone who has worked for the CIA at any point in his or her life doesn't necessarily just stop working for them, and futhermore, aren't you aware of the U.S. flat out selling weapons to the Middle East that they currently use?

"In any event, this video goes along way in explaining why one of your fellow thinkers, Sean Fitzgerald, recently stabbed his father to death for not believing in Alex Jones crazy talk."
-Can you just stop writing stuff like this? No one on this site is going to kill anyone. Stop equating Andrew with this person.

About the Patriot Act: why would it exist if no arrests were being made? Don't you think that there have to be some people out there who have been wrongfully accused of being terrorists?

Last, in regards to your phrase, "the hate America first crowd." Really? Why is it hating America to point out that America has had questionable ties to dictators? Friends and foes change almost daily. I'm sure I can dig up some credible material on the question of chemical weapons and Hussein.

P.S. I'm probably just fueling the fire on this one, but I have to say it. How dare you call yourself one of the "normal people" in this world. What does that even mean? Feel free to think about that rather than answering. And don't be surprised if I never respond to you again.

Re: Conspiracy to Riot - Francis Sage

AliciaO — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:31:36 -0000

wow, from those lyrics you can tell Sage Francis "gets it."

You gotta love the cops running over the lady with their bike wheels at the end, too. The violence is simply unnecessary and sad.

Oh yeah, and what's up with that man in the scary skeleton outfit dancing around?

Re: The Wonderful Seasons of Rochester

AliciaO — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:26:17 -0000

This is somewhat of a departure from the heavier stuff, but a well needed one! Every so often we should pause and think about what is beautiful in our lives. I personally love late fall. I like the crisp, clean, colorful fall autumn days, but for some reason I also like the bleak, gray sky. Winter is cool, too. I like layering lots of clothing. I love how we get to experience all four seasons here in Roch.

Nice post Andrew!!

Re: Obama Wins, America Loses

AliciaO — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:19:48 -0000

Peace, eh?
Exactly Ethan, he doesn't necessarily disagree with the war itself inasmuch as its strategy (i.e. he thinks we need more troops in Afghanistan.) I guess adding troops to Afghanistan is peaceful, as long as you engage in "diplomatic talks" at the same time. And yes, those of you who will comment on this, I spent a great deal of time researching the platforms of all candidates, so don't twist the story.

The person I would want to be president is someone who could stand up and say that we have been lied to; that person would make moves on punishment for Bush and Co.

For a laugh, type in "Obama peace" into a Flickr.com search...
You get stuff like...http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennifer_tracy/3004589662/

He may have done drugs earlier in life, but Obama is certainly no hippie, lol.

Re: Barack Obama Will Divide Society

AliciaO — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:01:42 -0000

On one hand we have this historic event: the first black president of the United States of America, which is clearly something that many Americans never thought they would see. On the other hand, the media, as you say, perpetuated racial divisions throughout the presidential campaign. How can Americans feel united when the media, and the presidential campaign teams merely divided us all up into groups that they could market the candidates to? Third parties don't really engage in this type of division; then again, maybe that's why the media tries to shut them down--they refuse to be a part of the nonsense and try to get to the root of the issues.

Then, as you say, the first sentence uttered or written about the presidency was the fact that Obama is the first black President. To me, that emphasis seems to downplay other aspects of his political career, views, campaign and victory.

One thing that both interested me and shocked me were the amount of articles out there that either questioned Obama's "blackness," gave him credit for his "blackness" or talked about how he wasn't "black" enough. Well...I mean he has the experience of having an African father, American mother and living in the U.S. and abroad in the context of being bi-racial. I'm sure he's had an interesting experience and didn't really need the media to capitalize on his identity struggles. But they can never make up their minds (the media)....one minute he's too white, one minute he's too black.

Clearly there are racists in America. After all, there is no way to rid the country of the legacies of slavery and racist government policies overnight. I just don't want to have to rationalize myself to others and prove I'm not racist, sexist or phobic of any particular group when I criticize an aspect of someone's views or character that have nothing to do with their race.

Finally, you say:
"I don't think it even entered their minds that perhaps the American public wasn't thinking about race as any type of factor."

Well...while I think the media perpetuated many ideas and conflicts about race during this election, I also think that African-Americans and others in this country would have viewed Obama's presidency as symbolic regardless of the media stirring up the debate.

Oh, actually, finally...I wrote an article a while back on this issue of the media and race...
Back in the summer I wrote an article on this: http://riseuprochester.org/2008/08/18/the-media...

Re: Cheers as McCain Supporter Arrested

AliciaO — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:33:54 -0000

I can't watch this video right now, but I'm pretty sure no one said anything about white entitlement, Daisy.

Re: Obama Will Face “Imminent” Foreign Policy Problems

AliciaO — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:26:12 -0000

You know that I have been disagreeing with this idea for a while now.

I don't really get why Powell, Biden, and others would be creepy about it, but I have to agree with Ryan on the fact that Obama will clearly be facing imminent issues. He is coming into the role of President and inheriting some pretty bad problems, to say the least.

Re: 9/11 Truthers Are Not Holocaust Deniers

AliciaO — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:13:10 -0000

This is getting absolutely ridiculous. Andrew is absolutely not denying the Holocaust. But it seems that many of those commenting here wish he were so that they would have more fuel.

I don't always agree with Andrew, but I feel that this article was a clear effort to let you know that he is not in with the league of Holocause deniers.

If someone criticizes someone who happens to be Jewish, it doesn't mean that they hate Jews. If someone criticizes Condoleeza Rice, Barack Obama, or Colin Powell, it doesn't mean they hate blacks. I could go on here, but it seems that people on this post and others and just trying to make Andrew out to be some kind of bigot to make themselves feel better.

Are there other so-called conspiracy theorists out there who believe that 9/11 was an inside job and that the Holocaust didn't happen? I don't doubt it. In fact, while browsing the Infowars forum, you are likely to see some people spewing out some Zionist stuff or other stuff that Alex Jones has never even acknowledged as remotely true.

I think that that danger with figuring out governments or other entities in society are really malicious is that you become more likely to latch on to other theories which may be flat out nonsense. Once the mind becomes open to evidence of one conspiracy, it's likely that the individual's world view will change.