[Marxism] Poppies, Afghanistan

[David Thorstad <binesi@xxxxxxxxx>]

Re: Shane Mage's post on Brzezinksi's advice to bribe poppy growers in 
Afghanistan: Mage accurately refers to the useful analgesic 
characteristics of the Afghan poppy (e.g., zahir poppy and perhaps other 
varieties). Although it seems contradictory for Muslims to grow a plant 
that can evolve into heroin (or opium) for the drug market, mostly in 
the decadent West, even as their own religion condemns it, and while 
Afghan farmers are clearly motivated by economic concerns to do so, I 
find it encouraging whenever people act in conflict with their own 
religious beliefs and proscriptions handed down by their sky pilot 
muckymucks. As a modest kind of solidarity, I myself have occasionally 
grown zahir poppies, for their lovely lavender/purplish color, and 
because they make a beautiful arrangement as dried poppy heads (seeds 
can be legally purchased from many seed catalogs). I can testify to the 
fact that a mere smidgen of the sap will numb the lips and tongue. Every 
time I see a photo in the /New York Times/ of Afghan poppy fields, I 
feel a sense of brotherhood with those farmers. I also feel profound 
outrage at efforts by the imperialist pig soldiers to destroy these 
crops. For shame. If Obama wins the election and copies Bush's surge 
tactic in Afghanistan, I pray to the Poppy Spirit that his troops meet 
their demise in those beautiful poppy fields. Instead of "Bring the 
troops home now," let the invader pigs get what they deserve in the 
Afghan gardens--sans any side analgesic pleasures.
David

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