In case you haven’t heard, a man, Joe Stack, angry at the IRS crashed a plane into his local IRS chapter. I don’t have much to say about the issue itself. Obviously, I disagree with crashing airplanes, or other means of transportation, into buildings. I also disagree with violence in general. The man left behind a suicide note on his site (which the FBI promptly removed) that detailed his hardships with the government during his life and why he did what he did. I don’t agree with what he did, but, save the last page, I do agree with most of what he said.
I’m posting what’s left of the suicide note on here in the form of images (all that was left of it).
The part that struck me the most:
The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.
I’m posting this because I agree with what was said. I believe that America is a wasteland of deceit where gains are privatized, and losses are socialized.
Like I’ve said and believe firmly, violence never solves anything… it continues cyclically and endlessly. It’s important, though, to see why violence happens and not just pass it off as “terrorism.” Yes, terrorism exists, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a reason behind it, no matter how misguided.
My heart and thoughts go out to those who lost their lives as a result of this incident. Yes, they were part of this unjust, corrupt system, but isn’t everyone? They were obvious targets but we’re all in this together, and it’s not fair they should pay when everyone involved (everyone) is just as guilty as the politicians and corporations.
UPDATE – found the original text, linked on what used to be Joe Stack’s website.
Greed, wanting more, coveting others, vanity – it’s in our nature. Name a time when there wasn’t abuse of power, corruption, deceit.
It takes a strong moral compass to overcome these things – yet flying a plane into a building is no fucking answer.
So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river.
Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog’s back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.
“You fool!” croaked the frog, “Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?”
The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog’s back.
“I could not help myself. It is my nature.”
Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.
Not everyone is controlled by greed, but unfortunately anyone in any position of power generally wants more power, at any cost. It’s sad but that’s how it works. Killing people over it doesn’t make sense though…