Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 20, 2006 15:10:03 GMT -5
In world arena, being American is embarrassing
I'm writing for the voice of reason. It appears so few others are willing
to speak for sanity over insanity, for patience over violence, and for
love over hate.
I've witnessed firsthand the debilitating effects of the past 5 years on a
new generation. Many Americans, young and old, who dare to speak up for
peace over war, for rehabilitation over the death penalty, cannot put into
words "why." Their conscience tells them they're right, but the present
sociopolitical climate deprives too many of the ability to make solid
arguments for sanity.
I am not capable of making those arguments or of creating change on the
scale that's presently required, but I do hope to encourage those more
able than myself to speak out to their neighbors, to their newspapers and
to their representatives, for we are on the brink of a worldwide religious
war. We cannot afford to remain silent, for, as Edmund Burke said, "All
that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
On Sept. 11, prime time cable aired a special hosted by Ted Koppel that
explored the fine balance between security and liberty, and "The Path to
9/11" and "In the Footsteps of bin Laden" were broadcast. Our
representatives support openly profiling all Muslims as potential
terrorists. Many are pushing legislation that would legalize torture -
including "water boarding," a technique that resulted in our now
admittedly falsified justification for the present war in Iraq - in the
name of security.
After months of denial, our president admitted that there were (and are
and will continue to be) CIA secret prisons, and suggested that the war on
terrorism is a "global war" (he's now eyeing Iran and Syria).
Our great nation is becoming everything we hate. We're beginning to
produce a generation that feels "an eye for an eye" is justified, despite
the growing recognition that by severing the Hydra's head of anti-western
sentiment wherever it surfaces, we only create more terrorists in the long
term.
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the world sympathized with the United
States. Now, we have lost the confidence and backing of many of our
historical allies. I'm afraid to take my kids on an international
vacation!
Never before in my short 30 years have I felt so despised as an American.
Our president's doctrine of preemptive war does not help.
Nor does the growing worldwide impression that we are a country bent on
economic and political strong-arming; that our lawmakers are beholden to
the "offense" industry (seen "Lord of War"?); or that as the world's
largest polluter, we exempt ourselves from the Kyoto Protocol - which 160
other countries have signed - aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.
And finally the true tragedy: The world sees Americans as too obese and
apathetic to change their country's direction.
We need action now. We need people to speak up for peace, diplomacy and
sustainability. The oil industry and its CEOs have made enough money, as
has the "offense industry" that supports it.
Our subsidies and energies need to be redirected to domestic concerns:
reducing health care costs (not subsidizing the pharmaceutical industry),
eliminating poverty (as opposed to accepting the growing gap between rich
and poor), educating our kids (not forcing them to all think the same),
and reforming campaign finance laws so that the poor but insightful may
represent their people and their country nobly.
Please don't be content to leave the fate of our country (and perhaps the
world) in the hands of a corrupt few. Help promote America as the great
nation it is: accepting of all who come to contribute and better
themselves, and thus the country; forgiving of those who trespass against
us; and steadfastly compassionate toward all who suffer the world over.
(source: Opinion, The Amarillo Globe-News -- Eric Folks is a resident of
Canyon)
I'm writing for the voice of reason. It appears so few others are willing
to speak for sanity over insanity, for patience over violence, and for
love over hate.
I've witnessed firsthand the debilitating effects of the past 5 years on a
new generation. Many Americans, young and old, who dare to speak up for
peace over war, for rehabilitation over the death penalty, cannot put into
words "why." Their conscience tells them they're right, but the present
sociopolitical climate deprives too many of the ability to make solid
arguments for sanity.
I am not capable of making those arguments or of creating change on the
scale that's presently required, but I do hope to encourage those more
able than myself to speak out to their neighbors, to their newspapers and
to their representatives, for we are on the brink of a worldwide religious
war. We cannot afford to remain silent, for, as Edmund Burke said, "All
that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
On Sept. 11, prime time cable aired a special hosted by Ted Koppel that
explored the fine balance between security and liberty, and "The Path to
9/11" and "In the Footsteps of bin Laden" were broadcast. Our
representatives support openly profiling all Muslims as potential
terrorists. Many are pushing legislation that would legalize torture -
including "water boarding," a technique that resulted in our now
admittedly falsified justification for the present war in Iraq - in the
name of security.
After months of denial, our president admitted that there were (and are
and will continue to be) CIA secret prisons, and suggested that the war on
terrorism is a "global war" (he's now eyeing Iran and Syria).
Our great nation is becoming everything we hate. We're beginning to
produce a generation that feels "an eye for an eye" is justified, despite
the growing recognition that by severing the Hydra's head of anti-western
sentiment wherever it surfaces, we only create more terrorists in the long
term.
In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the world sympathized with the United
States. Now, we have lost the confidence and backing of many of our
historical allies. I'm afraid to take my kids on an international
vacation!
Never before in my short 30 years have I felt so despised as an American.
Our president's doctrine of preemptive war does not help.
Nor does the growing worldwide impression that we are a country bent on
economic and political strong-arming; that our lawmakers are beholden to
the "offense" industry (seen "Lord of War"?); or that as the world's
largest polluter, we exempt ourselves from the Kyoto Protocol - which 160
other countries have signed - aimed at reducing greenhouse gases.
And finally the true tragedy: The world sees Americans as too obese and
apathetic to change their country's direction.
We need action now. We need people to speak up for peace, diplomacy and
sustainability. The oil industry and its CEOs have made enough money, as
has the "offense industry" that supports it.
Our subsidies and energies need to be redirected to domestic concerns:
reducing health care costs (not subsidizing the pharmaceutical industry),
eliminating poverty (as opposed to accepting the growing gap between rich
and poor), educating our kids (not forcing them to all think the same),
and reforming campaign finance laws so that the poor but insightful may
represent their people and their country nobly.
Please don't be content to leave the fate of our country (and perhaps the
world) in the hands of a corrupt few. Help promote America as the great
nation it is: accepting of all who come to contribute and better
themselves, and thus the country; forgiving of those who trespass against
us; and steadfastly compassionate toward all who suffer the world over.
(source: Opinion, The Amarillo Globe-News -- Eric Folks is a resident of
Canyon)