blogging where i am

i am not a political blogger per se- i mean i certainly have blogged political issues for years but mostly, i try to blog around where i am at at any given time. at present, i am tapped out. i suspect many of us feel that way after living through the last 8 years. frankly, i don't know that any of us ever really recovered from 9/11/01. no, i am not pulling a giuliani- whether it be foreign terrorists- or domestic as i believe, the attacks damaged the american psyche. having said that, i have seen the american spirit be 'misunderestimated' by the neocons time and again- and i won't be sorry to see them out of positions of power come january. gone but not forgotten.

but as life intrudes on politics- i find myself overwhelmed by it. the crushing worry and loss is really taking its toll on me spiritually- and as supportive as my friends are- it's much to handle. i won't go into blow by blow- but finances and personal loss in the family recently- leaves a hole. being the sole support system for my family has emotionally wiped me out. sigh.

and then, i started thinking about all of the families in iraq and gaza and afghanistan and lebanon- displaced and homeless in many cases with loved ones missing or dead or wounded- and i thought how lucky i am to have such things in my life to worry about. apples and oranges i am sure- but human beings are all the same underneath. we all feel the same types of emotions- we all love our families (or hate them), we bleed red, and our hearts break or swell with joy. we are all people and we all share the same planet. and as hopeless and helpless as many american situations are- we have created so much more for those folks.

i haven't written too much about the atrocities in gaza. mainly due to feeling the same white hot anger at the israeli government that i have felt towards the bushco cabal. i had to pick a battle and i chose to deal with the issues i felt i could have the most (little to none) control over the outcome. i guess i don't really care that the israelis believe that israel was given to them by god. i guess i don't care that they demand the right to exist as a jewish state. you see, they lost their credibility the moment that they stopped fighting terrorists and started wholesale genocide against the palestinians. there was a time when hamas and the palestinians committed terrorist acts against civilians in israel- and they were roundly condemned for that.

but that time is over. now, the israeli government- against the wishes of many israelis- have rounded the palestinians up and put them behind walls so that access is limited to them. that way, you see, folks in the outside world can't see the forced starvation and horrible living conditions the arabic folks are living through. only the names of the 'palestinian areas' in israel are different- but forcing people to starve and go without basic necessities of life such as medical help and water/sanitation, etc. and walling them in- well, sounds an awful lot like a detention facility for thousands. forcing these people to only travel in certain areas with identification and under the careful guns of the army- sounds familiar also. yes- i am comparing it to the forced roundups of jews in europe during world war 2. the single biggest reason that so many jews returned to palestine to start with. within a generation- everything that they had lost and learned-- had been lost again. they learned nothing.

so, while i continue to try and quiet the sadness and soothe my psyche- i have the luxury of food to eat, water to drink and wash with, garbage pickup, emergency rooms, bandaids, antibiotics, getting in my car and going where i want with no repercussions- or just staying home in my quiet neighborhood in my quiet home with those who love me and good friends. and i continue to marvel at the ugliness that can be human nature.

reality bites

i have been on a hiatus until recently- life has a way of getting its own way- and consequently, have been out of the loop. and, i have been a bit tired of late and not always on the top of my game- but even i honed in on this one:

associated press demands bloggers cease using excerpts

bush and brown dine with rupert murdoch

rupert murdoch appointed to ap board

if that doesn't spell out where freedom of the press went, i really don't know what does.

father's day was this past weekend- and i want to go on record as saying i hate all holidays. no, i am not a killjoy- but every single holiday comes with a gift attached. it isn't about celebrating- it's about spending. i am beyond angry with my inlaws right now because they made a point to tell my sister-in-law that they didn't think my husband was going to call for father's day. why? why would he be such a horrible son? i have no idea but i think it's because their card is late. i say tough sh**. my husband calls them for every single occasion and event and we send them something for every occasion and event. he goes and visits them once a year and they come here once a year. he talks to them weekly. beyond moving to florida, there isn't much else he can do to share and be there. because it all boils down to an american holiday that morphed into yet another profit making venture.

meanwhile, i suppose it never occurred to my inlaws that there are thousands of dead fathers killed by american bombs and bullets. i am sure it never occurred to them that there are thousands of fathers- many innocent men locked away in the various secret prisons that are paid for by american tax dollars. i am positive they never gave it a thought that probably thousands of fathers are being tortured on a daily basis in the middle east at the directive of american orders. they were pretty lucky to have an over all healthy son who had some birth defects that were fixed when he was young. there are fathers who have buried children or have had to watch their children suffer the aftereffects of dirty bombs- used by american forces.

so, i am a bit angry that these typical, middle class americans spent the day canoing with their other child and her family after having ruined my husband's day- all because of a capitalistic society who ruined what was supposed to be a day to honor the nation's fathers. like many americans, they are content to not think too deeply or pay attention too closely- so as not to mar their fantasy of what life is supposed to be like. i don't have that luxury. someone has to pay attention and think deeply. i look out into my new back yard with the wildflowers blowing in the breeze and the birds chirping like mad while a big fat bunny hops into the windbreak- and i have the luxury of peace. those millions of displaced fathers and mothers and families- those millions dead or maimed for life- they don't have that luxury. and i don't take it for granted. but millions in this country, like my inlaws,- do.

Poppycock!

(Washington Post Foreign Service Wednesday, June 11, 2008; Page A01)

BAGHDAD, June 10 -- High-level negotiations over the future role of the U.S. military in Iraq have turned into an increasingly acrimonious public debate, with Iraqi politicians denouncing what they say are U.S. demands to maintain nearly 60 bases in their country indefinitely.

Top Iraqi officials are calling for a radical reduction of the U.S. military's role here after the U.N. mandate authorizing its presence expires at the end of this year. Encouraged by recent Iraqi military successes, government officials have said that the United States should agree to confine American troops to military bases unless the Iraqis ask for their assistance, with some saying Iraq might be better off without them.

"The Americans are making demands that would lead to the colonization of Iraq," said Sami al-Askari, a senior Shiite politician on parliament's foreign relations committee who is close to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "If we can't reach a fair agreement, many people think we should say, 'Goodbye, U.S. troops. We don't need you here anymore.' "

~

“Unwanted”.
Oh!. But it is a hard thing to hear and an even harder thing for many to accept. But we need, we must embrace it! Accept it as the reality on the ground, so to speak. While a great number of Iraqis did not desire our invasion before we made our now infamous shock and awe landfall, even more do not desire our continued presence after the ruddy fact!

The occupation of Iraq was and is framed by our own global interests and, no, I am not talking about the spreading of some absurdly idyllic Democracy. (As if it was no more than buttering toast in the damned morning!) Since we have been unable, or unwilling, to admit publicly that this was the only intention of the top concocters of our corpse strewn incursion to begin with, we will soon be forced to admit that it is the sole reason for our eventual ousting.

Of course some will say, “The Iraqis just don’t have an appreciation for democracy or The West!”

Poppycock!

Some will say, “If we had known that they would treat their Christian liberators as such we would never have helped the godless bastards in the first place!”

Poppycock!

Others will breathlessly utter, “It was a mishandled war and given another planner or a smarter president everything would have gone fine and dandy!”

Poppycock!

Others still, “If Bush had listened to the pre-war assessments and sent more troops the Iraqis would be living in a bustling democracy and we could be proud of our achievement and bold vision!”

Oh! For the love of Mike! Poppycock!

It wouldn’t have mattered if 300,000 troops were being led by Patton himself over the sand dunes of Mesopotamia, an invasion and occupation of Iraq would never have worked!

Sure, if we had had a smarter, more thoughtful, well spoken president things may have gone smoother for us. Perhaps all would have looked and felt flashier, think "Star Wars" instead of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", and with fewer casualties (on both sides), but make no mistake about it, it would have ended the same. Undemocratized and horribly broken.

The Iraqi people have suffered greatly and paid a horrifyingly steep price at the hands of our hegemony.

~

George W. Bush, as most of you know, has said many inane, lowly, and idiotic things on a good number of topics in his lifetime and during his tenure as Head Liar of the United States of America, but the most egregious line came at the expense of the Iraqi people. What offensive line do I speak of besides when he raised his hand and winked, “I do solemnly swear to uphold the constitution”?

How about, “The Iraqis owe us a huge debt of gratitude.”

Gratitude? Gratitude? Gratitude?!

Poppycock!

“But, poetryman, we did liberate the Iraqis from an evil tyrant. They owe us a thanks for that, at least!”

Poppycock!

The Iraqis owe us no favors! They owe no allegiance to the US empire! What they owe us is a complete ass kickin’!

I’m sorry, but to anyone who thinks otherwise, I've one thing to say...

Is 2008 the Year Democrats Finally Realize Iraq Is An Occupation?

The topic below was originally posted on my blog, the Intrepid Liberal Journal, as well as the Independent Bloggers Alliance, the Peace Tree, the Out of Iraq Bloggers Caucus, the Wild Wild Left and Worldwide Sawdust.

In 2007, the Democratic Party was a self-gelding machine of ineptitude. Activists such as myself worked feverishly in 2006 to retake congress and end America’s occupation of Iraq. Instead the Bush Administration implemented a “surge” as Democrats retreated from flexing their constitutional muscle. They continued to fund military operations, never invoked the War Powers Act and impeachment was taken off the table.

Remarkable considering how unpopular both the Iraq occupation and President Bush had become. Cracks even appeared in the façade of GOP unity as their Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell warned the Bush Administration that congressional Republicans would not allow Iraq to harm their electoral prospects in 2008. Indeed, on June 26th the Washington Post quoted McConnell as saying,

“I anticipate that we'll probably be going in a different direction in some way in Iraq. And it'll be interesting to see what the administration chooses to do."

McConell was anticipating the September testimony of Army General David H. Petraues. Yet as 2007 ends there is no denying that the unpopular Bush Administration successfully thwarted both the Democratic majority and the will of the people. How did this happen?

One can offer all sorts of explanations. Among them is that sixty-votes are required in the Senate and a thin Democratic majority had no real shot of making a difference. Others may prefer to scapegoat Moveon.org for their controversial “Betray Us” advertisement prior to the testimony of the highly decorated General Petraeus. Finally, some may simply contend that the surge worked and the rationale for withdrawal no longer applies.

Personally, I believe Democrats never truly wanted to end our occupation in Iraq. Iraq had sapped Bush’s popularity into oblivion, debased the Republican brand and helped fill Democratic coffers. Hence, both Reid and Pelosi were content to pursue the politics of symbolism without truly forcing the Administration’s hand.

Casting symbolic votes about timetables appeared safe and had the added advantage of keeping congressional Republicans on the defensive for supporting an unpopular war. It seemed a sure way to enhance their congressional majority as well as retake the White House but changed nothing on the ground. As a result, 2007 ends with congressional Democrats appearing impotent and unprincipled. Is it any wonder their poll ratings are so low?

Tragically, Democrats failed to realize that the American public opposed the war because we were perceived as losing rather than believing toppling Saddam’s government was wrong. Furthermore, even Americans who opposed the war from the beginning are instinctively repulsed at the notion of “losing” a war. Culturally, Americans don’t accept losing a war gracefully. Most countries don’t. For example, the Vietnam War was unpopular at the end yet liberals were easily stigmatized as weak defeatists for opposing it. Hence, once the so-called surge helped establish superficial conditions of stability, casting symbolic votes about withdrawal deadlines ceased to be effective.

It is therefore imperative that in 2008 Democrats stop referring to Iraq as a war but an occupation instead. The war in Iraq was both ill conceived and immoral. Many citizens including myself took to the streets and protested in 2002-2003. We didn’t protest because we feared losing. Rather we didn’t accept the rationale for the war and feared the occupation to follow.

The war as we all know ended when President Bush declared “Mission Accomplished.” Saddam’s regime was easily toppled and weapons of mass destruction were never found. The military did its job. The war was wrong but it happened and we won. We have been sustaining a brutal occupation since its conclusion. Occupations typically result in the wholesale deaths and torture of civilians. Maintaining an occupation is corrupting to the “victor.” Numerous people including bloggers and thinkers far more intelligent and eloquent than myself already reached that conclusion and the folly of buying into Bush’s framing the Iraq debate as a “war.”

As George Lakoff wrote on July 5, 2006,

“In an occupation, there are pragmatic issues: Are we welcome? Are we doing the Iraqis more harm than good? How badly are we being hurt? The question is not whether to withdraw, but when and how? What to say? You might prefer ‘End the occupation now’ or ‘End the occupation by the end of the year’ or ‘End the occupation within a year,’ but certainly Congress and most Americans should be able to agree on ‘End the occupation soon.’ In an occupation, not a war, should the president still have war powers? How, if at all, is the Supreme Court decision on military tribunals at Guantanamo affected if we are in an occupation, not a war? What high-handed actions by the President, if any, are ruled out if we are no longer at war?”

If Democrats at long last get their heads out of their ass the “surge” can be looked upon in its appropriate context. Yes, the surge reduced deaths of American GIs. Tactically it’s been a success. To deny that is to ignore reality. Even more significant are the Iraqi Sunnis resisting al Quaeda themselves. But what does any of that have to do with ending America’s immoral occupation, facilitating a political settlement inside Iraq and earning a measure of diplomatic good will in the Muslim world? As long as this occupation has a white Christian face we’ve condemned ourselves to walking on a toxic treadmill. The occupation is not beneficial to America or Iraq.

On December 4th, I interviewed talk radio’s Thom Hartmann, about his new book Cracking The Code: How To Win Hearts, Change Minds, and Restore America's Original Vision. Hartmann eloquently echoes Lakoff about framing Iraq as an occupation instead of a war in his book. He noted during our interview that immediately after he and Lakoff suggested the “occupation” frame in 2006, Democrats took their advice. But they soon reverted to talking about Iraq as a war. Hartmann further observed that the corporatist media finds the war frame too profitable. Writing and broadcasting about an “occupation” doesn’t sell as well or profit companies such as General Electric who have a financial stake in the media as well as military operations. The media is not going to describe Iraq as an occupation any time soon.

So it’s up to the reality based community of citizen journalists, bloggers, activists and just plain regular people to set the record straight. Many progressive bloggers reading this thread properly realized this long ago. But as we head into 2008 a reminder is in order. I for one plead guilty of too often playing into the hands of predatory conservatives and describing Iraq as a war.

So no matter what presidential candidate you’re supporting in 2008, please let their campaigns know you want Iraqi policy referred to as an “occupation” and be assertive about it. Please telephone and write your representatives in congress as well (click here and here ). And on your blogs refer to Iraq as an occupation every time you post about it. Any street protests should also reinforce the message that we're opposing an occupation. Our 2008 New Years resolution should be to once and for all shift the terms of debate about Iraq from being a “war” to an “occupation.” At stake is the blood of our GIs, innocent Iraqi civilians and ending America’s estrangement from the civilized world.

THAW - Theatres Against War

Back in 2004 THAW had the honor of being awarded an OBIE which included a grant of $3300. For several reasons - the fact that we have an entirely volunteer staff, the goodness of attendees at our free THAW events over the years that have been so generous when the hat is passed around for donations, and the low overhead that we try to maintain in all of our work, among other things – almost all of our OBIE money has remained in our bank account. A few months ago members of the Steering Committee met, and thinking the money could be of better use in the hands of theatre artists in war zones, it was decided that a THAW “scholarship” would be established using a portion of the money. In the amount of $1000, this “scholarship” will be given to an artist or group of artists making theatre in conflict or “post-conflict” areas. In order to decide where the money goes we are reaching out to THAW members, asking them to nominate potential recipients. These nominees may come from anywhere in the world that you feel is in conflict, be it military, racial, economic, etc. Once the nominations have been received, the Steering Committee will then meet to decide on the recipient. It is our hope that this modest financial award will be of great aid to artists struggling in adverse conditions. To nominate an individual or group, please send an email to thawaction@yahoo.com with the following information (and please write scholarship in the subject line):

1.Your Name:

2.Your Theatre/Organizational Affiliation (if any):

3.Your Contact Info (Email/Phone):

4.Nominee’s Name (specify if individual or group):

5.Country the Nominee lives/works:

6.Nominee’s Contact Info (Website if available):

7.Your relationship to the Nominee (or how you became familiar with their work):

8.Briefly describe why you think this person(s) should receive the THAW Scholarship and how the money might be spent?:

9.Are there any obstacles to the nominee receiving the funds? If so, how will the money get to them?

10: Please add any other info you find relevant (links to articles, personal story, etc.):

Please submit nominations by June 30th.

In solidarity,

THAW Steering Committee

peace now! and this is why

An Iraqi boy hides behind a U.S. soldier on Monday amid gunfire after a car bomb in Central Baghdad killed 24 people

tuesday post for peace

"more foreign soldiers have now been killed in Iraq than were killed in the 9/11 attacks. While there are obvious distinctions in the manner of death and status of the dead (civilian vs. military), the fact remains that each dead person leaves a gaping and torturous hole in the world of the people they leave behind.
Could you imagine politicians leveling the same rhetoric against the Iraq War that was leveled against 9/11?
Do you feel that those responsible for perpetrating the war have any sense of this responsibility they bear?"

one million blogs for peace

the short answer is no and no. the folks who got us into the iraq war had their own agenda that had nothing to do with 9/11. in fact, they used 9/11 as a catalyst to move forward to go into iraq- and now, we are in a nightmarish quagmire that is bankrupting the country financially and 'leaving a gaping and torturous hole' where the many civilians and military personnel have been killed.

as far as feeling a sense of responsibility, no. the architects of this war feel nothing for anyone. how else to explain why they are unresponsive and flat out ignore the will of the very people they are supposed to represent. they continue to operate in secrecy against the best interest of america and the rest of the world- to push forward their own secret agenda. they are out to further their own interests at the expense of the iraqis and the american people.

these people, and many of their rank and file followers in america and worldwide, don't really think about nor care about the people being killed so regularly. they are 'collateral damage' and since it is necessary to further their agenda, unavoidable. the talent, creativity, and all out brain drain created by the killing, wounding, maiming, and mental wounding of thousands of people in both parts of the world- will be felt for generations. to be the cause of that- as a nation- is not something i live with easily.

cross posted at life's journey and the peace train

SHEEP GOVERNED BY JACKALS

The Jackal The ancient Egyptians believed a jackal-headed god, Anubis, guided the dead to those who judged their souls. Such beliefs were probably encouraged by the jackal's cleverness, nocturnal habits, eerie howling and scavenging.

(Tete Primitive by Ben Heine - Cartoons)

LIKE SHEEP GOVERNED BY JACKALS

In the color of awakening our eyes glimpse frontward;
The still picture of life choosing our strange development.
Only as god-headed Anubis rises do we begin to sit up.
Does our blood not run with its unique being until shadow?
Our choices aren’t merely life, but its dancing nourishment
Of wish, yet we seem content in our slack jawed living,
Startled, like sheep governed by jackals.

Now is the occasion of our most hallowed sanctuary;
We are stirring the untamed humility of a new province
And we should, we must, see the angels motioning to us
From their silver-lined occurrence.
We’re tasting an account of empire that is infected
And has begun to sketch our days in thickened blood.
The hope of kindness is being spent in fees of silence,
Slain, like sheep governed by jackals.

War and theft are now boarders in our homes,
Sharing a bed and smacking their greedy lips at our table.
Accounts seem lost to these events in the steady drum,
The throb of liberty and speech blasted thickly in it.
Are we awake? Are we alive? Are we beckoning to it?
We see, we smell, we hear it, must we suffer it, too?
If we’re dead how might we then change course;
Voiceless, like sheep governed by jackals.

The jackal’s eerie howling and scavenging senses
Are most suitable for our dank and willful gloom,
Picking over the carcass of our living, dying and dead.
The leopard, hyena and eagle dare not answer
For they know they too have lost the spirit to fight.
Does our blood not run in our being until shadow?
Are our ideals dead? We’ve no more yearning than this?
You can rest assured that the jackal does.

Copyright © 2007 mrp / thepoetryman

Ben Heine - Cartoons

Tell your representative to put an end to the occupation of Iraq