another comment

on the september eleventh stuff - this from a friend bruce, aimed at Kevin...

I've reflected, Kevin.

I've reflected upon the innocent victims of this day, five years ago. I've reflected upon the 2,798 victims who were killed in the twin towers.

I've reflected upon the firefighters, and the police, all of whom responded to the bell, and over 300 of whom failed to return to the house.

I've reflected upon the survivors- those who could have died, and didn't, and are now saddled with guilt, instead of joy, over their apparent escape from death on that day.

I've reflected upon the families- those who woke up on September 12th, and every day from that day forward, and were missing a loved one who was murdered, or killed that day.

And after all of that reflection, what I'm left with, is rage.

I'm enraged that people who don't respect our values, or human life in general, perpetrated this act.

I'm enraged that terrorists feel that violence against the US will cause us to surrender or change our policies.

I'm enraged that five years later- longer than our involvement in World War II- that we're no closer to "winning" this war than when we started.

I'm enraged that five years later, we haven't caught or killed OBL. I'm really enraged that up until two weeks ago, we had virtually ignored him from January of 2002 until last month.

I'm enraged that our commander in chief, who tonight described this war as the war that defines western civilization in the 21st century- a challenge never before faced by America- refuses to commit the resources needed to win this war. I'm enraged that there is no draft. I'm enraged that America is not on war time footing. I'm enraged that there has been no tax increase to support the war effort. I'm enraged that we're attempting to fight a battle in Iraq- a country the size of California- with an armed force of 135,000 troops. I'm enraged that there's no national program to immediately curtail and reduce our use of foreign oil.

I'm enraged that we fight in Iraq, as if it's central to our battle on terror, when the terrorists aren't there at all. I'm enraged that we label our enemies as terrorists, just as the Germans in WWI referred to all French as sabotuers- and executed any and all for firing on innocent "soldiers." i'm enraged that we haven't fully eliminated the taliban and AQ in Afghanistan. I'm enraged that we ignored other opinions and intelligence that may have shown that sanctions were working in Iraq, and that Iraq had NO connection to AQ and OBL.

I'm enraged that we continue to stay in Iraq, when it's clear that the Iraqi people are not interested in Western democracy, but would prefer the country to be broken up into sectarian sectors. I'm enraged that we can't begin to describe when and how our troops will go home.

I'm enraged when the CIC describes this war in near bibilical, epic terms- and does nothing to support it at that level. I'm enraged that he continually puts our volunteer force at risk for the wrong battle, in the wrong war.

I'm enraged when my opinions about this war, and this administration, are labelled as defeatist, and disloyal. I'm enraged when speaking out against a government policy is labeled as un-American- when it was the willingness to speak out and question the government that led to the creation of this nation to begin with.

So ask me to reflect, and I do. But don't ask me to not react to the emotion that comes from those reflections. For I am not a reflecting pool, nor a mirror, but a human being with a soul. When the Commander In Chief describes the war on terror as a war against those who would destroy western values- but puts nothing against it more than convenient rhetoric- well, I own the right to be critical of a chicken-hawk leader of a chicken-hawk government. Especially on 9-11. Especially because so many who died this day, have not yet found justice. And have not yet found redemption for their sacrifice.

I reflect on the losses of this day. And I scream, because all of those screams from that day are seemingly lost in the empty promises of a failed government.

God bless this country, and those who work every day to remind us of what liberty means to us. God bless those who have paid that price. And God look out for the mad dogs, fools, and neo-cons who haven't a clue about how to guide us through these dark days.
_________________
- Bruce