As a word of warning, this post errs on the side of dithyrambic. There's a lot of tension building up everywhere, and this is where I've started to finally boil over.
"remarkably sensible blueprint" has already shown up now in five newspapers at the time of this writing. What is this from? Nothing more than the latest canned letters from the GOP to their zombies to send in as letters to the editors disguised under the concept of opinion.
Speaking of the GOP, I'm now deciding it's time to just start calling them fascists. Why not? They're calling the Dixie Chicks "Communists" for saying they're ashamed George Bush is from Texas. Here's a little beauty from good ol' boy Rush:
I've changed my mind on this boycott stuff. Don't buy the music of the Dixie Chicks. To heck with them - to heck with all these people who rise to great heights thanks to the freedom and opportunity in the United States, then join those who hate us overseas in denying that same freedom to the people of Iraq. Band member Natalie Maines said at a performance in London: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." ["Boycott the Shameful Dixie Chicks", Rush Limbaugh]It's a bit of a brain twister at times, until you remember that he's not impeding on their right to criticize or even dislike the President. But it's the attitude that's frightening. The "You're with us or you're against us" cry from Charlie Daniels echoes similar sentiments. And some of the AM talk radio spew that I've heard lately is that "if you're not out there waving a flag and jumping up and down with joy at every show of our military might, you're the enemy", when in fact many of our enemies coerce their people into watching big parades showing how great and strong their military is. Government supplied phrase books for helping you speak North Korean are often filled with delicious phrases "look how strong and beautiful this country is! Imagine how much better it would be if America got their asses out of here so that Korea can be united!". Everyone is expected to tow that line. So to hear these radio "personalities" (also from the same fascist cloning factory - there, I said it again!) basically vomiting the same propaganda with incendiary underfire (that little undercurrent you can feel saying "if they're not with us, go beat those little peace loving communists up!") makes me really wonder what it is we're fighting for. While our government and the bill of rights give us an amazing amount of freedom, you can feel this great undercurrent swelling in this country of these old dogs marching with this old guard that's in power (a guard that even George H. W. Bush didn't fully agree with) trying desperately to hold on to that power in fear of real progress. The continuing marches for true democratization of access challenges their power and their wealth, so they lock themselves up in their own cells of secret societies and old-boy networks which thrive to this day to keep themselves entrenched. Now they have far too strong of a grip on things, while the progressives that try to fight the good fight are left with little support as many of our supposed liberals buckle under the tide with their weak spines.
One claim that I loved recently was that "Homeland security works great! We haven't had a single terrorist attack since September 11th!" (a Fox News anchor made this claim - not these exact words - on Bill Maher's new show recently). Well, guess what? In the ten years between the first World Trade Center bombing and now, there have been exactly two large scale terrorist attacks, and only one of them came from the outside world. There were many plans and attempts - on the Holland Tunnel, on Bridges, plans for New Years 2000 attacks - that were all thwarted. And they were thwarted without the stomach wrenching Patriot Act. Yes, a big huge and terrible terrible terrible attack got through the nets. But thinking that the fact there have been no new attacks on American soil is a product of these continued acts and resolutions passed by our government that threaten our very liberties in the name of safety (and well all remember what Benjamin Franklin said) reminds me of this (always prescient) bit of satirical comedy:
“There’s not a single bear in sight—the ‘Bear Patrol’ is working like a charm”.As Tom Tomorrow once said: "Satire cannot keep up with reality these days, and it's pretty disturbing."
“That’s specious reasoning,” Lisa retorts.
“Thanks, honey,” Homer says to her, adoringly.
“According to your logic,” she says, picking up a stone from their lawn, “this rock keeps tigers away”.
“Hmmm. How does it work?”
“It doesn’t.”
“How so?” Homer asks further.
“It’s just a rock,” she says. “But I don’t see a tiger, anywhere.”
“Lisa,” concludes Homer, while pulling out his wallet, “I want to buy your rock.”
["Much Apu About Nothing", The Simpsons, episode 0723]
Ultimately, the time has come for more progressives to start barking back at all of these barking heads. And, if necessary, leave a bite wound here or there. Or maybe we could let them have their way for a few years to get the country in the state that they want it, then revolt, and ultimately participate in a good old fashioned Mussolini Head Kick!
By the way - what's next? Do we have to start calling "Chinese Take-out" "Freedom Take-out"? How many people in the house are eating "Freedom Fries" and still driving their Mercedes, I wonder? Stupid stupid stupid. Oh, and watch out for that evil Natalie Maines! Those Dixie Chicks endanger us all! And if you believe that, I have a high ranking government seat AND a war profiteering board seat to sell you. Shit. I guess I'm going to be boycotted now.
And a further by-the-way: I love this country. I've descended from blood that spilt for it. But even my Grandpa, who served in the Pacific theater in World War II, was ready to move us all to Canada if war with Iraq happened (sadly, we lost him this past October - I still miss you Red!). There's just something about the concept of the United States invading someone else because they might do something bad that does NOT sit right with me. This war is obviously not about human rights (as bad as Iraq is, there are many worse countries), this is not joining an interminable conflict with many dead on both sides as an effort to close it, this is not even our own classic holy war against Communism. And I'm not one who believes that this is all about the oil either (but there ARE a lot of high ranking officials who would happen to benefit from the oil). And this is not an act against an invading army (neither on our soil nor an ally's soil). This preemptive strategy does not sit well in my stomach. And it's not helping the war on terror any: our post-war record in Afghanistan leaves much to be desired. Following that record, I have no great hopes for any great success in post-war Iraq (especially considering that our last regime change in the region paved the way for this one), and so many of the other puppet regimes we've helped set up over the years have worked out almost as well. So what the fuck are we doing there? Let the inspections work and spare the lives of Americans, Iraqis, and people world wide who may suffer from war's repercussions. I have sent my letter in to Mr. Bush and others with a long personal statement reflecting my voice in this matter. Because, hell, if the GOP's going to come up with clever little editorials for people to send into their paper, why can't I sign onto a mass statement that I don't agree with the direction this country is taking? I did add on a rather long personal section to the letter. Will it make a difference? I doubt it. The big wheels keep on turning regardless. But something has to be done to stand out from all of these flag wavers who give more time to mob mentality than to individual thought.