Words have become weapons in a political arena that is feathered in impropriety.
Freedom
Liberty
Democracy
They are thrown around these days along with the image of our flag. It's a very attractive flag as well. Red. White. Stripes. Blue field. White stars. The colors are that of royalty. Red carpets and the like. Back in the day it wasn't a simple or an inexpensive task to color cloth and sew a flag. It wasn't as simple as going to the local strip mall and buying a flag with a pole to display on the Fourth of July. To display the flag when the country was young was a show of 'commitment' in a way that was a status symbol. A sacrifice. It was a proven expression that the flag having thirteen strips and thirteen stars was the country these settlers finally achieved. It came with deep meaning. Sacrifice. Longing.
The United States of America was conceived out of oppression. People came with great peril to a country of uncertainty. They came as people in need of a life away from the oppression of a monarchy. The land they settled on would come to be the United States of America. It was once a reward to Dukes and Lords for whatever purpose they deemed appropriate. There was a great deal of wealth. As a matter of relieving Britain of it's prison burden, George Oglethorpe, founded a prison colony on the land that would become Georgia.
Each one of those words. The. United. States. Of. America. Each one was an expression of what the country was then. It wasn't fancy. It wasn't elaborate. They were five simple words chosen by simple men and women to give a name to the 'union' of the will of the people of that land. Thirteen colonies became states. They united. They were on the American continent. Hence, "The United States of America." Even geography was important. It's a rather powerful name. For other monarchies or merchants that might come to the shores and ports of this land it was designated that a military supported the idea of 'United.' It was that military that would be challenged many times in the history of this country and it would be that 'United' military that would keep the sovereignty of the country intact.
Freedom
Liberty
Democracy
They aren't just words in a commercial. Or a speech. The flag is not just a backdrop to a news program. Or a hierarchical symbol of authority. Those concepts are sacred. In my opinion they have been demeaned. Trivialized. Used for political volley or perhaps better said, 'political volume.'
We have been a very fortunate group of people. We have come to understand the essence of life. A 40 hour workweek. Time for recreation. Reflection. Appreciation. Growing an economy out of leisure as well as labor. When I think of the appreciation we have for our way of life and lifestyles, I strongly feel as though we don't have the same "American Spirit" that the founders of this nation had.
The United States of America has never been about oppression. It has been true to the ancestors of this country in that every form of it has been beaten back with a stick. Not only that but we longed for a world at peace with itself. A world protected from the ravages of war, death, disease, starvation, thirst and abandonment. As our country has become plush with leisure, strong with insight and open minded with sophistication, each member was allowed more and more personal space to claim their uniqueness. Their talents. Their passions. The expression of all that was each of us.
Freedom
Liberty
Democracy
They aren't words. They aren't commodities. They aren't to be toyed with because they are the very essence of life. The enchantment of living a life of fulfillment and purpose is the strength of this nation. Under this administration we have witnessed a diminished essence of our lives. Those in government would like to say it is necessary to secure our nation, yet, with all the sacrifice of relinquishing personal freedoms to allow the government more and more authority in our lives we are not any safer today than we were in the year 2001.
Extraordinary Rendition
Spying on Americans
The Patriot Act
Demeaning our federal intelligence agencies by outing their very members based on a document that Bush modified himself to 'suit' the occasion and promote personal political gain.
Invading a disarmed country with no plan to secure that country but only to secure it's oil.
Wildly dealt debt in the name of cronies and corrupt politics.
Seeking intimidation through 'Overwhelming Force' as a matter of policy in the State Department. Causing political backlash globally with rouge countries seeking nuclear weapons to insure their existence. Backlash in the way of the retreat of democratic principles in countries like Russia and Iran. The very beginnings of democracy was breaking out in Iran when Bush invaded Iraq. He never cared about the people that were making headway toward a balanced government in Iran. He only considered the oil that was guaranteed to Cheney's Halliburton. Do you honestly believe Saddam Hussein would have not been toppled anyway? With military forces in Afghanistan, Hamid Karzi extended a welcome to the USA to join with him to become partners with Iran in securing the area. Did Bush do that? Not for a hot second. He had plans. He had designs on Iraqi oil. We didn't know it. Karzi didn't know it. But Bush and Cheney knew it.
So, instead of 'uniting' the Middle East in peace and destroying al Qaeda; Bush left his responsibility in Afghanistan and moved on to the lucrative business dealings of Iraq.
Halliburton
Bechtel
Carlyle
… and any other military contractor one can possibly imagine along the way.
I have to laugh about the incredible communication quality there is between Iraq, Afghanistan and the USA. The troops have internet access to family, phone cards and all kinds of 'niceties' one would hardly consider appropriate to a war zone. Of course, Carlyle is a telecommunications corporation as well as a asset liquidity company. Very flexible outfit and they never seem to run into any operational issues, but, considering they are backed by Arabian money compliments of George H. W. Bush, why should they. What astounds me about this relationship is the fact there is so much pandering in a diplomatic fashion between high ranking government officials representing Carlyle. Not any other American Company that deals with liquid assets and communications but only Carlyle. That is a conflict of interest and a violation of ethics at the highest level. Members of the bin Laden family have maintained close ties with Osama regardless of their public statements. They have attended weddings of Osama's children. Osama's children. If that doesn't send a chill down the spine.
Freedom
Liberty
Democracy
They aren't just words. They aren't just symbols. They are people. They are people from the past. They are people from the present and they are the very essence of life.
I propose this. If an administration, corrupt majority Senate and House can turn their backs on the ethics they dictate on a piece of paper then they have no respect for the process laid out by the US Constitution. They have no respect for the country itself. They have no respect for themselves. All they do have respect for comes in the way of money. Money buys power. Power in this instance returns lots and lots of foreign money, especially from the Middle East. Do to the cultural differences in other countries patrolling our ports providing security is a different understanding than Americans would bring. The interconnected relationship men in power have with adverse investors, the arrangement we have today to protect our nation is tarnished by the simple fact we are compromised by association. We don't have to have any other proof. We don't have to require loyalty or proof of intent. We only need to understand there are elements at work here that places the USA on the 'gaming board' of millionaires and as a consequence the people of this country suffer.
We need people to secure this nation with substantial interest in this country without cultural differences. We need people of integrity that believe in ethics and practice them.
We need a change in leadership that does not compromise the interest of the USA because they get a 'feel good feeling' having their favorite affiliations at their side. Their favorite affiliations should come in the form of the American people and what they want as security. It should not take a lawsuit by a union of Long Shoreman to bring attention to the dangers we face. The dangers should be realized by Legislators that receive letters of concern. People no different than those of the original 13 colonies deserved peace of mind when they close their shutters every night. We don't have that. We are being asked to take the word of the corrupt and the foreign.
Not anymore.
Not on my watch.
