March 22, 2003

  • Soon I’ll go to bed and sleep, and I dread this, because it means I’ll wake up tomorrow and need to figure out how to distract myself from the fact that I’m witnessing a fundamental change in the character of our nation, and it’s the wrong change. It’s the one so many have tried to prevent, that I’ve tried, in my own small way, to prevent.

    And here it is.

    I’m picturing myself in the ballot booth with my number 2 pencil marking in the bubbles on the scan-tron sheet. That’s how powerful I feel. I get to vote, and even that doesn’t matter because the Supreme Court is in the pockets of the crime lords currently in power.

    Think about all the work done to bring about peace. Think about everyone you’ve ever heard talking about a peaceful America. Think about the loyalty to the ideal of America as the peaceful giant, woe unto he who awakens it. The loyalty of military people and civilians alike toward creating peace in the world.

    That’s all gone. Erased by what amounts to unilateral action by the US to invade a country that didn’t attack it.

    The US is the aggressor nation in this conflict.

    The US has never been the aggressor nation. The US has a long tradition of developing a defensive military. But that tradition, that history is gone. Dwight D. Eisenhower is spinning in his grave. The wisdom of every President who stayed his hand and didn’t call for an attack is betrayed.

    Everything good about US might is perverted. Everything bad about US might is confirmed and redoubled. We are the frat-boy nation.

    And don’t talk to me about the cheering Iraqis lining the streets. They’d have cheered for anyone. Progressives were talking about the atrocities of Hussein, and about how we shouldn’t be dealing with him, even as Donald Rumsfeld went over there and shook his hand and gave him money and weapons and chemical and biological weapon precursors. Dare to say, “I told you so…” and you’re accused of being a tin-foil hat wearing conspiracy kook.

    And don’t tell me about how much better Afghanistan is now. Sheesh. Bush forgot to put the aid money in the budget! Afghani-Wha? Afghanistan, where, again, progressives were decrying the oppressive Taliban regime while George W. Bush was busy signing checks to send to them.

    It’s a huge fucking flim-flam. The hugest ever. It’s 1984 meets Starship Troopers. All we need now is a story about genetically modified super soldiers in underground bases in Montana. It wouldn’t seem out of place.

    Protest: Meaningless. Politics: Meaningless. What’s left?

Comments (4)

  • what’s left: sit patiently and wait until the next election.

    i agree–not much can be done at this point. just kind of wish people had a longer-term view of situations–then support for the war might not be so strong.

  • By the time the next election rolls around, our world might well be GONE.

    I, like you, feel very HELPLESS.

  • Sorry to depress you further, but Eisenhower has his fair share of skeletons too. Politics are a dirty business and the more power, the more dirt.

  • did you read starship troopers or just watch the movie?
    there’s some major (HUGE) differences….

    give me a real election next year. that’s all i’m hoping for at this point.

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