We are living out George Orwell’s wettest dream
Most people know that I try to maintain an almost pollyannish aura of optimism towards our government. It’s a survival strategy. I see the slow march of democratic progress in almost economic terms. History has shown that bad times come and bad times go1. This too will pass. But lately I have to say I’ve been feeling especially sickened by the cumulative actions of Congress, the President, and the military.
The problem is, at the moment I don’t know how to fight back—except by NEVER VOTING FOR A REPUBLICAN EVER (even John McCain), which is not much of a change from the present. But alone that seems like a really passive approach to contributing to the overall well-being of humanity. So I’m looking for other options.
This is the kind of thing that raises my ire:
In this new era of threats, where the stark and sober reality is that America must confront international terrorists committed to the destruction of our way of life, this bill is absolutely necessary. —Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga, referring to HR 6166, the “Military Commissions Act of 2006″
I can imagine NO ONE who is “committed to the destruction of our way of life” who isn’t also STARK RAVING MAD. As a country and a culture, the United States has many flaws, but we have so many indescribable benefits that I’m astonished by the extent to which Congress cowtows to an infintesimal minority of (largely imagined) extremists.
What has happened, I am absolutely sure, is that given the potential for bad things to happen, the people currently charged with “leading” our country, in the wake of September 11th, have begun to see the potential for evil in the world as actual evil. George Bush, Dick Cheney, and apparently every Republican in Congress are overcompensating for their failure to prevent the incomprehensible act of people flying three passenger aircrafts into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. If only Robin Williams could corner them in a room and repeat “It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.” Well, not exactly.
If I were a psychologist, I would call this “me against the world” syndrome. Keeping them in office for a second term may have been the single most sadistic and masochistic thing we Americans have collectively accomplished. In essence we’re subjecting our elected officials to a global environment they cease to comprehend, and we’re subjecting ourselves (and the rest of the world) to their utter failings. How it came to pass that we elected the least capable person for such an important role I’m sure will fill volumes in the annals of history.
I’m not sure how I feel about Hugo Chávez generally, but some of his words in a recent address to the United Nations surely resonate:
The president of the United States, yesterday, said to us, right here, in this room, and I’m quoting, “Anywhere you look, you hear extremists telling you can escape from poverty and recover your dignity through violence, terror and martyrdom.”
Wherever he looks, he sees extremists. And you, my brother — he looks at your color, and he says, oh, there’s an extremist. Evo Morales, the worthy president of Bolivia, looks like an extremist to him.
The imperialists see extremists everywhere. It’s not that we are extremists. It’s that the world is waking up. It’s waking up all over. And people are standing up.
I have the feeling, dear world dictator, that you are going to live the rest of your days as a nightmare because the rest of us are standing up, all those who are rising up against American imperialism, who are shouting for equality, for respect, for the sovereignty of nations.
(via Brian R)
1 When my parents were my age, the ten year long Vietnam War had just ended. I wonder how they felt.
it’s a tricky thing to go around quoting chavez these days–he says some powerful and true things, but then he says some really stupid things too–stupid politically, and diplomatically, and every other way. I like this quote, however. I wonder how many people see my sweet, innocent, loving Hispanic students and want to call the cops on them.