Tired
Today, I must admit, I'm tired.
I'm tired of the President's endless repetition of the same talking points about Iraq and its link to the supposed "War on Terror." Tired of the predictable way in which reaction to Mr. Bush's non-plan remains split along strict party lines. Tired that critics of this unprovoked, pre-emptive act of aggression are still labeled as "defeatists" and, in some cases, "traitors."
I'm tired of discussing Iraq at all. Tired of trying to digest the knowledge that we got involved in this mess to begin with, that we somehow allowed our grief over 9/11 to enable the war dreams of this Administration to become a reality. Tired of the guilt I feel, knowing full well that my own knee-jerk desire for revenge after watching friends die in the Twin Towers helped fuel the militaristic mindset in America, from which there now seems to be no escape.
I'm tired of the very phrase "War on Terror" which we've bought into like mindless sheep, instead of questioning from the outset. Tired of the contention that this is a "war" in any conventional sense of the word, of favorable comparisons to the events and truly great statesmen of World War II. Tired of our refusal to see that by calling this a "war" we are actually strengthening and legitimizing what is in reality a ragtag group of international criminals, and not a nation state or an efficiently organized global movement - well, at least not until our President's reckless military adventures helped make it so.
I'm tired of the consequences of having not challenged that phrase vigorously enough, of our tendency over the past four years to excuse every governmental assault on our civil liberties with a weary shrug and the moronic response, "Well, we're at war, you know." Tired of the seeming disappearance of our national common sense, of our tacit approval of the expansion of Executive "war" powers, of our belief that as long as we affix magnetic ribbons to the trunks of our SUV's we're soldiers in that "war", of our ignorant assumption that international terrorism can be eliminated through invasion, occupation, and nation-building.
I'm tired of this Administration's defiant refusal to become a willing participant in the global community. Tired of our arrogant rejection of the Kyoto Accords, of the World Court and the Geneva Conventions, as if the U.S. is above such petty, limp-wristed, "liberal" ideas and organizations. Tired of our decision to begin the 21st Century with a cowboy attitude brilliantly summarized in the Parker/Stone film Team America: World Police, and it's theme song, "America - F#%k Yeah!"
I'm tired of hearing that the economy is either "recovering" or "booming", when every day hundreds of thousands of displaced, "downsized", middle aged, "overqualified" workers search desperately for ways to simply make ends meet, all the while feeling betrayed by the broken promises made to them by corporate America. Tired of a government so singularly focused on its global belligerence that vital issues of health care, women's rights, disaster preparedness, the environment, and domestic security go unaddressed and unsolved.
I'm tired of no-bid contracts, and unpunished Congressional financial scandals, and self-serving legislation designed to fatten the coffers of the oil, pharmaceutical, and credit card industries. Tired of watching the rich grow richer at the expense of the poor and the middle class, who've only lost ground since the Bushies seized power.
I'm tired of the fact that even with constant revelations that clearly indicate this Administration's unworthiness to govern, there is still no serious discussion among our elected representatives of removing the entire Bush machine from office. Tired of reading and writing the same litany of White House misstatements, flip-flops, and outright lies, over and over and over, and seeing no resultant action being demanded or taken to hold the Bushies accountable for their calumny. Tired, and terrified, at the thought of three more years of ineptitude under the "guidance" of these same leaders, with no apparent recourse other than gripping the metaphorical ledge just a little tighter, and hoping not to fall into the abyss below.
Just read today's headlines and top stories, and I'm sure you, too, will be as tired as I am. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta take a nap.
I'm tired of the President's endless repetition of the same talking points about Iraq and its link to the supposed "War on Terror." Tired of the predictable way in which reaction to Mr. Bush's non-plan remains split along strict party lines. Tired that critics of this unprovoked, pre-emptive act of aggression are still labeled as "defeatists" and, in some cases, "traitors."
I'm tired of discussing Iraq at all. Tired of trying to digest the knowledge that we got involved in this mess to begin with, that we somehow allowed our grief over 9/11 to enable the war dreams of this Administration to become a reality. Tired of the guilt I feel, knowing full well that my own knee-jerk desire for revenge after watching friends die in the Twin Towers helped fuel the militaristic mindset in America, from which there now seems to be no escape.
I'm tired of the very phrase "War on Terror" which we've bought into like mindless sheep, instead of questioning from the outset. Tired of the contention that this is a "war" in any conventional sense of the word, of favorable comparisons to the events and truly great statesmen of World War II. Tired of our refusal to see that by calling this a "war" we are actually strengthening and legitimizing what is in reality a ragtag group of international criminals, and not a nation state or an efficiently organized global movement - well, at least not until our President's reckless military adventures helped make it so.
I'm tired of the consequences of having not challenged that phrase vigorously enough, of our tendency over the past four years to excuse every governmental assault on our civil liberties with a weary shrug and the moronic response, "Well, we're at war, you know." Tired of the seeming disappearance of our national common sense, of our tacit approval of the expansion of Executive "war" powers, of our belief that as long as we affix magnetic ribbons to the trunks of our SUV's we're soldiers in that "war", of our ignorant assumption that international terrorism can be eliminated through invasion, occupation, and nation-building.
I'm tired of this Administration's defiant refusal to become a willing participant in the global community. Tired of our arrogant rejection of the Kyoto Accords, of the World Court and the Geneva Conventions, as if the U.S. is above such petty, limp-wristed, "liberal" ideas and organizations. Tired of our decision to begin the 21st Century with a cowboy attitude brilliantly summarized in the Parker/Stone film Team America: World Police, and it's theme song, "America - F#%k Yeah!"
I'm tired of hearing that the economy is either "recovering" or "booming", when every day hundreds of thousands of displaced, "downsized", middle aged, "overqualified" workers search desperately for ways to simply make ends meet, all the while feeling betrayed by the broken promises made to them by corporate America. Tired of a government so singularly focused on its global belligerence that vital issues of health care, women's rights, disaster preparedness, the environment, and domestic security go unaddressed and unsolved.
I'm tired of no-bid contracts, and unpunished Congressional financial scandals, and self-serving legislation designed to fatten the coffers of the oil, pharmaceutical, and credit card industries. Tired of watching the rich grow richer at the expense of the poor and the middle class, who've only lost ground since the Bushies seized power.
I'm tired of the fact that even with constant revelations that clearly indicate this Administration's unworthiness to govern, there is still no serious discussion among our elected representatives of removing the entire Bush machine from office. Tired of reading and writing the same litany of White House misstatements, flip-flops, and outright lies, over and over and over, and seeing no resultant action being demanded or taken to hold the Bushies accountable for their calumny. Tired, and terrified, at the thought of three more years of ineptitude under the "guidance" of these same leaders, with no apparent recourse other than gripping the metaphorical ledge just a little tighter, and hoping not to fall into the abyss below.
Just read today's headlines and top stories, and I'm sure you, too, will be as tired as I am. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta take a nap.
posted by Bob P @ 1:15 PM
1 Comments:
Yeah... I'd say exhausted, not just tired.
And then we read more stories like this: Paper says legislation benefits Bush fund-raisers.
Wow, can this country survive three more years... on any front?
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