The Hot Month of August
The most exciting day of the year has come. Cindy Sheehan is everywhere you turn. Everyone is talking about her and people are joining the voices of Americans who are ready for accountability in the White House. I go between raging madness and simple silence on the subject of Iraq, the Dept of Defense Budget, being an American, the Energy Bill and life in general. (Being a Midwesterner I always feel guilty if I don't mention "WORK") -...And yes, my work. Ok.
Cindy spoke here, in San Luis Obispo. Mother, Father and I had a chance to speak to her at the rally on April 16th, 2005. She gave her best that day, as she has every day since she started coming to conclusions about Casey's death and her role as his Mother. She was straight forward, sincere and sad. Nation magazine covered her early on, before our event in April. It was clear that prior to the moment of his death, Cindy was a law abiding, generally all for the red, white and blue American. Typical of many citizens...not really knowing enough to say anything, yet steadfast in the belief that what our country does is in the "best interest" of our country. That has changed forever for Cindy and appears to be changing for many Americans.
When one starts to pull the veneer off the shiny finish, one may find alot of disturbing blemishes. These are both fresh marks and old scars. Not all bad scars - we can learn from them.
Some may say that people like me, critical and skeptical of U.S. policies are "america haters" ...angry, frustrated, left wingers who hate to lose. Well, that certainly would be part of the story. If you are not angry and frustrated at what is going on, there is something wrong.
Let me say, I can understand many peoples reaction of just "turning if off" as a protection mechanism...because one can do internal damage from the stress of not being able to, what feels like, make a difference.
Some how I like to suffer and rant and try to take on the impossible. What good does it do? I think very little really. But what it says is this: I believe in the foundation of the United States and that it is worth fighting for indeed. I believe in sharing of powers, checks and balances, separation of church and state, personal responsibility, the good of the "commons", public education, to help those in need to be able to help themselves, fair and equal taxation, compromise and that just because we are a good country, doesn't mean we are perfect. Obviously, none of us, nor any country "knows it all".
As my friend Mik used to say, America is like the wild teenager, who is smart and strong, but often bold and brash and occassionally out of control. It takes a long time to become a grandfather. And right now, our country is out of control and offending alot of fellow humans.
Back to Cindy...Wow. Her questions are valid - what noble cause did my son die for? That is what she wants to know...Filling Dickless Cheney's pockets? We believe this maybe one of them. World domination for Rummy and his old friends? This reason does have merit in the eyes of your every day neo-con.
Did Mick Jagger really write a song about these sons of guns? Now that rocks my boat. I was wondering how anyone, in their right mind can support this national suicide mission. And darn it, my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents didn't work their butts off and give us a better life so a bunch lying thieves could take it all away- as we go backwards into the future with Bush and Company.
But with Cindy out there, let a new day of going forward into the future begin.
Cindy spoke here, in San Luis Obispo. Mother, Father and I had a chance to speak to her at the rally on April 16th, 2005. She gave her best that day, as she has every day since she started coming to conclusions about Casey's death and her role as his Mother. She was straight forward, sincere and sad. Nation magazine covered her early on, before our event in April. It was clear that prior to the moment of his death, Cindy was a law abiding, generally all for the red, white and blue American. Typical of many citizens...not really knowing enough to say anything, yet steadfast in the belief that what our country does is in the "best interest" of our country. That has changed forever for Cindy and appears to be changing for many Americans.
When one starts to pull the veneer off the shiny finish, one may find alot of disturbing blemishes. These are both fresh marks and old scars. Not all bad scars - we can learn from them.
Some may say that people like me, critical and skeptical of U.S. policies are "america haters" ...angry, frustrated, left wingers who hate to lose. Well, that certainly would be part of the story. If you are not angry and frustrated at what is going on, there is something wrong.
Let me say, I can understand many peoples reaction of just "turning if off" as a protection mechanism...because one can do internal damage from the stress of not being able to, what feels like, make a difference.
Some how I like to suffer and rant and try to take on the impossible. What good does it do? I think very little really. But what it says is this: I believe in the foundation of the United States and that it is worth fighting for indeed. I believe in sharing of powers, checks and balances, separation of church and state, personal responsibility, the good of the "commons", public education, to help those in need to be able to help themselves, fair and equal taxation, compromise and that just because we are a good country, doesn't mean we are perfect. Obviously, none of us, nor any country "knows it all".
As my friend Mik used to say, America is like the wild teenager, who is smart and strong, but often bold and brash and occassionally out of control. It takes a long time to become a grandfather. And right now, our country is out of control and offending alot of fellow humans.
Back to Cindy...Wow. Her questions are valid - what noble cause did my son die for? That is what she wants to know...Filling Dickless Cheney's pockets? We believe this maybe one of them. World domination for Rummy and his old friends? This reason does have merit in the eyes of your every day neo-con.
Did Mick Jagger really write a song about these sons of guns? Now that rocks my boat. I was wondering how anyone, in their right mind can support this national suicide mission. And darn it, my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents didn't work their butts off and give us a better life so a bunch lying thieves could take it all away- as we go backwards into the future with Bush and Company.
But with Cindy out there, let a new day of going forward into the future begin.
posted by Leggs Ortiz at 8:27 PM
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