Ken O'Keefe's Personal Section


Note; Ken O'Keefe legally changed his name from Ken Nichols to Ken O'Keefe in 1999, thus reflecting his Irish roots, as a result some documents within this web-site still use the name Ken Nichols.

Quotes * In the Media (English) * International Notice * Auto-Biography (short version) * America's Son turned "Enemy Combatant" * Gulf War Human Guinea Pig * Burning Passport Baghdad *



"Why don't you just tone it down?"
by Ken O'Keefe

I have all to often be told, by people I know and love , "if only you just toned down your message", "adjust your way of writing or speaking", you would "reach more people." And as P10K evolves I know the call for me to dilute my message with a more "sensitive", "diplomatic" approach will increase from the liberal, left, anti-war elements of western society.

So I shall respond to these calls right now by saying this; I will calm down, tone it down, but not a moment before the genocides, the mass murders and the crimes against humanity carried out in our name, with our taxes end, full stop.

It is all too easy for those of us who come from comparatively luxurious and safe environments in the west to be "diplomatic", but for the victims of humanities greatest crimes, diplomacy is tantamount to collaboration and/or complicity with these crimes. I offend one hell of a lot of people in the west with my language, no doubt about it; but it is instructive to note just how inoffensive my language is in the so-called "Third World." I cite this fact as partial proof that it is not my language, it is the policies of our so-called democracies that needs changing.

Aside from that, in a fair and public forum I will debate on any subject I speak, with anyone on this planet, no matter how high and mighty their "credentials." In fact, the more "credible" the "expert" the better. While I am at it, I hereby challenge Jonah Goldberg, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, Kofi Annan, Tony Blair, George W. Bush (boy would that be fun) and whoever else who might be "offended" by my conclusions. I do realise however that none of the above ever enters into a genuine debate or forum, that might expose their shamlessly criminal policies; but one can always dream.

Furthermore, I have been honoured in my life to earn the respect of many great souls including white, western brothers and sisters who fight for non-human and ecological rights, including a living legend in Paul Watson; freedom fighters of African, Hawaiian (kanaka maoli) and Native American descent within my birth nation of the United States; and freedom fighters
from New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Iraq and Palestine along with my most well known comrade of all, Noam Chomsky... and you know what? I have never once been told or even hinted at to tone it down by any of these individuals. I cite this fact as proof that those who truly fight for freedom and justice understand my righteous indignation and therefore my language is not offensive, it is justifiable and often inspiring, as are their words and deeds for me.

I want to work with all those who find the reality of our world offensive, not my words. I am wise enough to know my role in the fight for a better world; my first job is to ignite, to inspire action. My means of achieving this is through the incendiary but truthful language I choose. And I know I hold but one role in a myriad of roles that once united, can and have changed the world in the most profound of ways.

I honour my brother and sister warriors for justice both past and present, most of whom whose names we will never know, by fighting as I do without compromise. Those who risked everything precious, including their own lives, to secure what freedom we enjoy today. Without them we would all be absolute slaves; instead of the partial slaves which most have unwittingly become. We owe those who fought for justice and peace a monumental debt of gratitude, and these are the people I most respect.

Call it idealism, call it arrogance, call it whatever the hell you like but I demand a better world; a world where the inherent human rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are honoured 100%.

A world where the Truth is revered; where Justice prevails; where Peace is no longer a dream, but our reality.

Ken O'Keefe - World Citizen (#321831)