Get Cynical

The panoramas show the physical effects of a small (15 kiloton*) nuclear weapon on a city of 400,000. Japanese and English text in the photo border indicates significant landmarks

5) OOPS, MARIJUANA MAY PREVENT CANCER (PART I): Federal researchers implanted several types of cancer, including leukemia and lung cancers, in mice, then treated them with cannabinoids (unique, active components found in marijuana). THC and other cannabinoids shrank tumors and increased the mice’s lifespans. Munson, AE et al. Antineoplastic Activity of Cannabinoids. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Sept. 1975. p. 597-602.

Two years ago, according to this article in USA Today – Stewart finds controversy – Wal-Mart refused to distribute the #1 best-selling book “America”, by Jon Stewart. The reason cited was a nude photograph of the members of the Supreme Court. Wal-Mart felt that this photograph was obscene, so Wal-Mart chose not to distribute the book in its stores.

In Jon Stewart’s book, it is obvious that the intent is comedy. The Bible, on the other hand, is deadly serious and is frequently cited as an authoritative justification for discrimination and hatred. For example, the Bible was cited as an authoritative justification for slavery during the American Civil War. Readers of the Holy Bible act on its discriminatory statements every day. A book that openly demands the murder of millions of innocent Americans, that directly discriminates against women and that fully condones slavery and the beating of slaves is outrageously obscene. By Wal-Mart’s own obscenity standards, as well as by the standards of civilized society, a book such as the Holy Bible has no place on the shelves of any Wal-Mart store.

The Reichstag fire

On February 27, Hitler was enjoying supper at the Goebbels home when the telephone rang with an emergency message: “The Reichstag is on fire!” Hitler and Goebbels rushed to the fire, where they encountered Hermann Goering, who would later become Hitler’s air minister. Goering was shouting at the top of his lungs,

This is the beginning of the Communist revolution! We must not wait a minute. We will show no mercy. Every Communist official must be shot, where he is found. Every Communist deputy must this very day be strung up.

The day after the fire, the Prussian government announced that it had found communist publications stating,

Government buildings, museums, mansions and essential plants were to be burned down… . Women and children were to be sent in front of terrorist groups…. The burning of the Reichstag was to be the signal for a bloody insurrection and civil war…. It has been ascertained that today was to have seen throughout Germany terrorist acts against individual persons, against private property, and against the life and limb of the peaceful population, and also the beginning of general civil war.

So how was Goering so certain that the fire had been set by communist terrorists? Arrested on the spot was a Dutch communist named Marinus van der Lubbe. Most historians now believe that van der Lubbe was actually duped by the Nazis into setting the fire and probably was even assisted by them, without his realizing it.

Why would Hitler and his associates turn a blind eye to an impending terrorist attack on their national congressional building or actually assist with such a horrific deed? Because they knew what government officials have known throughout history — that during extreme national emergencies, people are most scared and thus much more willing to surrender their liberties in return for “security.” And that’s exactly what happened during the Reichstag terrorist crisis.