Rant Time

[vaxjedi]

This set is a bit political. They aren't particularly moderate. So you will probably find something in there that sets you off.



I'm in a bit of a quandry.

You see, the politics of our nation worry me a bit. Yet at the same time, I know that the politics of our nation really don't mean that much.

I look at what is happening in our nation and our world. And i see the same thing that has been happening in our nation and in our world since the beginning of both.

Yes, our government is lying to us. Yes, our government is using propaganda against us. For instance, the statement of Bush's that there was a report that Hussein would have nuclear weapons in 6 months. He said "what else do you need?" The truth would be nice. The agency he quoted with that report didn't issue the report. As a matter of fact, they have never issued a report on the subject. Of course the 'liberal media' that is supposed to be the bane and hinderence to conservative politics didn't find out about the 'error'. It was a staunchly conservative newspaper that pointed it out - three months after Bush made the statement.

Yes, our government is pushing us. The WTC was taken out by Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Ladin. But how many times was the evil Osama Bin Ladin mentioned in Mr. President's State of the Union speech? Zero. Nada. Not a sausage. It was about all about Iraq.

But there is more to this. We live in a world where conventional military defense is inadequite. Bush's pet project before 9/11 was the Missile Shield. But we found out that we couldn't stop lunatics in a plane. You can't stop a small group of individuals bent on destruction with no regard for consequences and nothing to lose. The attack against Afghanistan, and next Iraq isn't about retribution. They are about fear. Not just the American fear of the rest of the world, but teaching the rest of the world to fear America. What the government is trying to teach the world is that you cannot allow attacks against America, otherwise the American fist will rain down on you or your neighbors. And if you've pissed off the American fist, then it might not stop until it's gone after the next few annoyances on it's shit-list.

Isn't that what the war with Iraq is about? Why the sudden vehemence against Iraq that signals the need for all out war? Because we had the ball rolling. Notice how Bush hadn't made a comment about Iraq until 9/11. Iraq is as far now from complying with UN sanctions as it was a year and a half ago. But the war fever has struck. Like Ed Guberman of the Frantics song Boot to the Head, the American people want to 'beat people up'. Osama bin Ladin? We can't find him, so we'll make some distateful Shockwave animations about him. Al Qaeda, we can't root them out, so we'll find who we can beat like a red-headed stepchild. Afghanistan? Bombing them back to the stone age just wasn't satisfying - there's not a challenge in beating down a nation whose greatest weapon seems to be poor sanitation.

And I won't go into the fact that the naton in the world that seems the most dangerous to me - North Korea, who already has nuclear weapons and seems to be significantly more aggressive about its policies and positions - gets a lot less press attention.

And who can blame the countries in Europe? They aren't just resorting to appeasement. They are between us and Iraq. No wonder a lot of them are pissed off. The fights gonna end up in their backyard a lot quicker than ours. The nations of Europe know war better than we do. It's been on their front door time and time again.

But...

Despite my dim view of my government's motives and policies... I find myself not sure about what I would suggest the world community do. According to the reports I've seen (if I can believe them), the UN inspectors say Iraq is not complying. When a nation balks the rule of the World Government, what DO you do?

If the UN says that Iraq is a clear and present danger, what do I think then? I'd have to side with the war hawks at that point. The UN is a lot more moderate than George W. Bush, and represents most of the world's nations.

If the UN Security council says military response is best... I don't know. I'd be caught.

But I digress.

Yes, we are being herded. We are being lied to. We are being manipulated.

We've always been.

Our government has always done this. All governments have always done this. Iraq is hiding arms. Well, duh. So is North Korea. And Britian. And France. And China. And the good ol' U.S. of A.

In the end, there will always be war. And deception. And propaganda. And needless death. And stupidity.

We as a nation, a people and a species will always strive for better. But we will never all agree. And even if we do, there will always be lows. The problem of evil cannot be solved. Only struggled against.

And that leaves me. Little ol' me.

What do I do?

The avalanche has started. How does a pebble vote?

What about the avalanche that has always been going on? The struggle people so blithely write off as human nature?

Spider Robinson spoke of a counteracting force to terrorists. Those who commit ecstasies, instead of atrocities. Those who do not deal in terror, but in rapture. Rapturists. Great idea, if it can be done.

Tragedy gets so much better press. We see the news, full of kidnappings, murders, scandals. Are there really more happening now, or are they just better entertainment now? It's boring to hear about charities. Or people doing good things for each other. Partially because it makes us feel like we aren't doing anything to change the world.

My friend said that we were all ready to change the world in college. Aren't all college students? Activism seems to be a priviledge for the rich, the sheltered, the idle and the desperate.

How can I be an activist when I have the tragedies of my own life to deal with? Two broken kids, a broken family and no resources to provide my family with the home it will need to survive. Nothing compared to nuclear weapons, or inner city gang violence, or starving people in Africa of course. But no one else is gonna solve these problems.

I am a pebble, with pebble-sized tragedies. But to me, they are bolders.

How do I be an activist? I can't think of how I can make a difference, except one person at a time. But that seems weak. Almost a cop out. But what else can one do? I doubt I'll ever be a hero. Or a champion of causes. Or a world-shaker. Hell, I'm not even sure I can be a good father or a good employee.

A professor in Grinnell once told me she thought Grinnell students were too conservative, not activists. (not like the protests and student government resolutions at Grinnell ever did anything anyway) She asked me why Grinnell students always got angry when she said that.

All I could tell her is that just being who I am is a dangerous thing - it can get me killed in the wrong places of the country. I'm open practioner of 'alternative lifestyles', some that many people find disgusting and wrong. I told her that me existing openly put me on the line as much as any activist.

Sometimes what is more radical than taking about those who are different is being someone different.

So, I doubt I'll be winning any Nobel peace prizes.

Comments

[rhiawolf.livejournal.com]

Your words always fill me with admiration somehow. I think you're an extremely old soul.
-R

[xiombarg.livejournal.com]

Rapture doesn't need media attention, because word of it will spead on its own, with little or no help form the media. Look at the drug culture, both on its positive and negative ends.