[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 9 points 4 days ago

Reality tends to have an anti-conservative bias.

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 6 points 4 days ago

don't drink another drop of that wretched drink.

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 7 points 4 days ago

I'd like to add some context for people reading this comment.

This analysis by CHOICE was funded by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a Washington-based private non-profit that has served as a frontline actor of American soft power. NED has been funded by John M. Olin foundation and the Bradley foundation, both conservative organizations. While NED claims its interests lie in the spread of liberal democracy, it has come under fire by several people from both within and outside the US for paternalistic policies and meddling in other countries' affairs. Links to that here below: https://books.google.com/books?id=yLWOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA311#v=onepage&q=&f=false https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Endowment_for_Democracy#cite_note-61

According to sociologist William Robinson, NED funds during the Reagan years were "ultimately used for five overlapping pseudo-covert activities: leadership training for pro-American elites, promotion of pro-American educational systems and mass media, strengthening the 'institutions of democracy' by funding pro-American organizations in the target state, propaganda, and the development of transnational elite networks."

"those who spearheaded creation of NED have long acknowledged it was part of an effort to move from covert to overt efforts to foster democracy" and cited as evidence a 1991 interview in which then-NED president Allen Weinstein said, "A lot of what we do today was done covertly 25 years ago by the CIA."

Political scientist Lindsey A. O'Rourke writes that the Reagan-era NED played a key role in U.S. efforts "to promote democratic transitions in Chile, Haiti, Liberia, Nicaragua, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, and Suriname," but did so to promote the success of pro-U.S. parties, not just to promote democracy, and did not support communist or socialist opposition parties. The North American Congress on Latin America says that the NED engages in a "a very particular form of low-intensity democracy chained to pro-market economics--in countries from Nicaragua to the Philippines, Ukraine to Haiti, overturning unfriendly 'authoritarian' governments (many of which the United States had previously supported) and replacing them with handpicked pro-market allies.

NED is an instrument of American soft power that is mainly interested in promoting a US led world order that centers "liberal" democracy and pro-business policies. It has a bias, an agenda, and the means to carry them out. Having "democracy" in the name doesn't mean that they are altruistic in nature.

One thing that the analysis posted above does not show is the role of the American CPAC in supporting and rallying the European far right through CPAC Hungary, which has become a hub for parties like Vox and the Dutch Party for Freedom. https://www.cpac.org/post/cpac-will-return-to-hungary-for-third-year-in-2024

The analysis is made to place the blame for a rising European fascist wave on China, while it ignores key factors in the formation of these groups. Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, Pat Buchanan, and Richard Spencer are just some examples of American pundits and politicians that have been active in Europe, creating a ground floor for fascism to rise in the continent.

The US has all sorts of organizations that have been actively helping right wing movements around the globe for decades. From operation Gladio in Italy during the mid-20th century, to active organizations working to shape foreign policy in America's favor today. Hell, even the NRA has been involved in promoting right wing thought around the world. https://apnews.com/article/1c3d04173b6343bd8ffa45a3487c2e28 https://www.americasquarterly.org/fulltextarticle/the-nras-hemispheric-reach/ https://aoav.org.uk/2025/the-national-rifle-associations-international-funding-and-activities-examined/

Why isn't this shown in the "analysis"? because that's not an analysis at all. It's a puff piece designed place the finger on China, while whitewashing American influence abroad. This is not good journalism, and it certainly should not be a trusted source of information.

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 19 points 5 days ago

Gotta cut all trade with them.

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 25 points 6 days ago

Israel should absolutely, unequivocally be a pariah state on the world stage.

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 24 points 6 days ago

It's shameful. The recognition of Palestine should have taken place years ago. Israel has been committing terrorism on Gaza and the West Bank for ages. Europe should have ceased all relations with Israel the moment the IDF started indiscriminately bombing residential areas and refugee camps. Children were bombed to pieces, for God's sake. Europe –ALL of Europe has blood on its hands, and it will never wash away.

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 2 points 6 days ago

for a good second i had no idea what you were talking about. Good one!

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 5 points 6 days ago

Even more reason to boycott OpenAI and any American owned tech giant.

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submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by ga_so_art@piefed.social to c/open_christian@lemmy.ca

Hello Friends,

It's been very refreshing to see so many people walking the line between two seemingly opposing sects. I resonate with your experiences as a Pagan that's also very progressive.

I've been curious about approaches to Christian mysticism within your group since seeing this community. Does anyone here have any experience with or interest in Christian mystics like John of the Cross, Angela of Foligno, or Mechthild of Magdeburg? There have been lots of texts and mystical schools within the Christian tradition that make a lot of space for queerness and even what theological historians call "divine eroticism".

I've been interested in how progressive movements within religions approach theology in contrast to the more conservative ones. I'm super curious to see what you all have to say.

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!neoplatonism@piefed.social

I invite everyone from all walks and backgrounds to join! I'm trying to make an inclusive space that serves as a repository of academic resources on Neoplatonism. If you're interested in philosophy from late antiquity, want to see how science and philosophy intersect, or are spiritually curious, this community invites you to join!

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 5 points 6 days ago

A very small step forward. Germany, France, and the UK need to follow.

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 5 points 1 week ago

Drime is also an alternative to Google Drive

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[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 25 points 1 week ago

and the US is not a sketchy petro-state?

[-] ga_so_art@piefed.social 10 points 1 week ago
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ga_so_art

joined 1 week ago