Posts filed under '9/11/01'
The audacity of politicians, the media that sensationalizes it, and civilian complacency.
It is astonishing how effective the White House is when they roll out the spin machine. I wonder if the current administration has a savant hidden in the basement. Someone they keep under lock and key that they use every time they need a “get out of jail free” card. The spin machine is not a new invention (watch “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” starring Jimmy Stewart) and every president in history has utilized its power when cornered. Who knew the spin machine could operate 24/7. Maybe there is a new spin machine… in the basement with the savant perhaps. I can only conclude there is a political genius at the White House that upon demand can provide a catchy phrase that will linger in the civilian subconscious far longer than any tedious facts will.
There has to be a list somewhere of the audacity of the current regime. No matter what you believe about the Clinton/Lewinski scandal, the personal nature of Clinton’s guffaws cannot be compared to the constant barrage of bureaucratic BS we now deal with constantly. With the price of gas, college, and the state of the job market these days it is easy to be complacent with political agenda’s. Our everyday lives get in the way of our social and ethical responsibilities as a citizen of the United States. Part of the problem has to be that there is so much going on, it is hard to choose where to start. Let’s start at the beginning.
HEADLINE: FLORIDA GIVES VICTORY TO GORE BUSH!
We were shocked to see the media trump the free (cough) election process. We were awed by the audacity of politicians that refused to sign a petition for a recount. The spin machine worked overtime to “unify” the nation and move on with everyday business (it’s only four years). Then we as a “unified” nation succumbed to tyranny.
HEADLINE: TERRORIST STRIKE THE US - PATRIOT ACT NEEDED!
Shocking attacks from a country few citizens could point to on a map. At the height of raw emotions, the savant in the White House basement whispered the fatal blow to the constitution, and the PATRIOT Act was born. While I don’t think the administration has used the PATRIOT Act to its fullest potential, the threat is there: we are no longer protected by the Constitution. We were awed by the political audacity that rendered any one that opposes the PATRIOT Act as – how clever is this – “unpatriotic.” The media smoothed things over with the idea that this would only affect terrorists. And “we the people” willingly and without a fight, walked into a virtual prison (security without freedom).
I won’t take the time to discuss the events of September 11, 2001. That would take several articles and I will save that for another time, possibly closer to its 5th anniversary.
HEADLINE: IRAQ HAS WMD A TYRANT IN CHARGE!
Seething with anger at the lack of retaliation for the September 11 attacks, our military is unleashed on a sovereign nation that has never threatened the United States. The audacity of our government to use the military as personal oil mercenaries stuns us all. The media is quick to change the tune: “MISSION: FREE ELECTIONS IN IRAQ.” Astonishing considering that over 60% of eligible voters in the US do not think voting worthy of their time, yet we will enforce this idealistic convention on other sovereign nations and rid them of their evil dictators. No, not every nation with an evil dictator - just those with oil. The media is there to placate us with the idea that if we leave Iraq now, we will leave the country worse than when we first arrived. The general public does not dwell on the idea that we have destabilized a sovereign nation. Apathy abounds.
These are just the highlights up to March 20, 2003. Stay tuned for more “Shock and Awe” which will digest the US Security Alert System, the 2004 election, Cindy Sheenan, Katrina, the 9/11 widows, big brother and our treasonous media.
Technorati tags: apathy, Shock and Awe, Vote, Security, September 11, Patriot Act, Mission Accomplished, Iraq+War
July 19th, 2006
We all realize after 9/11 that terrorists hold the citizens of the United States responsible for the hardships they claim to have endured at the hands of Americans. Most Americans can not point to Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Israel, or Pakistan on a map, let alone have any idea what is going on there that involves the U.S. So why target civilians? Why not just the pentagon? Answer: Those at the Pentagon are the direct result of the good ol’ fashioned election process. Political leaders are elected here in America and they represent us at a global level whether you vote or stand by and watch the carnage unfold, you, as a citizen of the United States and as an individual in the world, are responsible for the actions of the elected officials.
This goes way beyond red states and blue states, liberal and conservative… There is more to it than Roe v. Wade or homo v hetero. This is not about rich and poor, black and white, good and evil. It’s a deeper issue than just Bush and Clinton, or federal v. state and Iraq and 9/11.
This is about America. The melting pot of ideas, and beliefs and values. America is not just the land of the free, home of the brave, pie in the sky dream it is declared to be.
America is an idea that has never been proven. There have been moments of greatness, and there are also moments of truth. Katrina is a mirror into the soul of America. The part no one wants to see or deal with on a personal level.
There is a price to be paid for all of our “rights.” The price is that you must share those rights with those that do not believe the same things you do. The principles of freedom are not guaranteed to bring wealth or happiness.
Katrina has brought a face to the very complex and sometimes awful reality of America. The citizens are responsible for electing the people they think can protect the right to pursue happiness. The fact that over half of all eligible voters did not vote is part of the failure that the media is broadcasting far and wide.
The majority of America had no say in the leaders in the government. The majority of America will continue to sit by and watch the horrors unfold before them. Humans have always thought of themselves as compassionate by nature. How can compassion co-exist with lack of action?
Technorati tags: Katrina, September 11, voting, citizens, America, freedom, American Dream, Bush, Clinton
July 17th, 2006
How can anyone consider the ACLU liberal? The sole purpose of the ACLU is to conserve the constitution. The label of liberal seems to be at the same level nigger was in the 60’s. Liberal insinuates a desire for change. Conservative connotates lack of change. The ACLU does not want to see the original purpose of the Constitution changed. How can those that want to change the constitution claim to be conservative? Here’s how: The religious right is altering the understanding of the term “liberal” in a self righteous effort to justify enforcing their beliefs on others. The ACLU is considered liberal for supporting separation of Church and State. I guess since it is not a Christian coalition, it must be liberal.
Separation of church and state was created with a dual purpose. One was to protect each citizens right to believe and practice their religion. The other was to protect the government from having to enforce any religious beliefs on the citizens. The reason Christianity comes up in legal battles all of the time is because Christians continue to try to force their beliefs into law. Restrictions on the legality of homosexual marraige is a perfect example of a Christian belief being enforced through law in direct violation of separation of church and state. How is this any different than Islamic extremists enforcing their beliefs through the legal system?
The idea that homosexual marraige will ruin the institution is laughable. The institution was ruined long ago. If we are to save the institution of marraige we should make sex out of wedlock a prison punishable crime. In fact, the sin of fornication is condemed countless more times in the bible than homosexuality but I don’t see conservative “Christians” trying to make a law out of that.
The abortion issue is another “Christian” crusade. There are scientific reasons to believe that an unborn child should be considered a citizen of the United States and thereby protected bylaw but instead, it becomes a religious morality issue. The fact is, the bible has so many punishable sins that I wonder how they come up with picking and choosing which ones should be enforced by law. It is hillarious that the so called “Christians” are stirring up all of this political debate while claiming to live according to the example Jesus set forth. Jesus himself believed that politics and religion should be separate: “Give back Ceasar’s things to Ceasar and God’s things to God” (Luke 20:25).
Those that want to have a religious government should go to the Middle East. You will not find a “liberal” ACLU in the way of morality. There are plenty religious fanatics there that actually are proving to be more like Christ than most so called “Christians”; they are willing to die for their beliefs. How’s that for conservative? Here’s another word for the modern conservative: fundamentalist.
Technorati tags: ACLU, liberal, fundamentalist, conservative, extremist, homosexuality, Christian, religion
July 12th, 2006
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