Waking up in a new world: Part I

George Weigel is a theologian and political analyst who I find writes rather thought-provoking opinion columns. In one, several months ago, he opines that America is divided into two groups. Those who believe that America can return to the world of September 10, 2001, and those who realize we can't. Count me in the latter group.

September 11, 2001 was a watershed moment in my life. In the world of September 10, 2001, my world consisted of trying to keep my sucky-ass job, working for a crappy manager, hoping I could hang on long enough for him to get promoted, fired, moved, hit by a bus, or maybe just piss of someone with a little less self-restraint than I possessed. The world that emerged the morning of September 11, 2001 changed all that. Gone were my petty moanings about how tough life was, how unfair it was to me, how I deserved better. It was replaced with images of burning and falling buildings, people jumping one hundred plus stories in a vain hope that God would catch them. Though I've never been an overly narcissistic person, on September 12, 2001, that was all gone. America was at war with something. I might not have been completely sure with what, but someone was going to get the shit kicked out of them. That much I knew for sure.

I've been following the current political debate concerning "lies", "false hoods", "manipulated intelligence", "mismanagement" and such, since it's impossible to avoid it. So I've taken finger-to-keyboard to remind some of us just what the world was like back in 2001, 2002 and 2003, when the decision - and vote - to invade Iraq took place. I'm planning on going back considerably further than that, so if you need to grab another beer, now is the time. Don't worry, I'll wait. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....
Back now? Good. Let's begin.

I'm going to begin with the morning of September 12, 2001, since I believe most of 9/11 was consumed by complete lack of coherence. Too many images, too much information, too much emotion. I don't blame George Bush for sitting in the elementary school for five or ten minutes digesting the news that the American homeland had been attacked on his watch and New York was burning. I must say, I was dazed for a lot longer than ten minutes. John Kerry stated in an interview that he and some of his colleagues were stunned into silence by the news of the attacks on New York City, and remained so until they were roused from their thoughts by the explosion at the Pentagon. I believe that was approximately 45 minutes. I do not begrudge him that period of contemplation, but I do think it's bad taste to use Bush's stunned minutes as a campaign issue considering Kerry's admitted lack of action.

As the clean up commenced, as the fires were doused, as the body parts began to be collected, identified and buried, America was in an entirely different mood than the one that permeates today's political world. In the dark days following 9/11, America was concerned with three things: the clean up, rebuilding and the burying of the dead; making sure we could plug whatever security holes these human scum (I was going to say 'dogs', but dogs deserve better than the comparison) used to enter America and pull this act off; and finding out who did it, and how we were going to crush them. Hence the Patriot Act was passed with huge bipartisan support. I mention that because the left believes the Patriot Act is a worthy club to beat Bush over the head with. But Bush did not write the Patriot Act, Congress did. Congress also passed it. That means Democrats and Republicans alike.

Correctly, America concluded bin Loser and Al Qaeda were the brains behind the operation. America demanded Afghanistan turn him over - or else. Afghanistan responded by stating that if America had any proof, they'd be glad to look at it, but unless they were overwhelmingly convinced, no one was getting turned over to any one. You know, the word Taliban translates, roughly to 'student.' I guess they didn't study American history.

Once America was in control of Afghanistan, the question turned to 'what next?' Could America build a democracy in Afghanistan, one of the least democratic countries in the history of the world? If I'm not mistaken, Afghans had never held a democratic election before. But America bent itself to the task at hand. Now, I'm only speaking for myself, I can't say what the powers that be in Washington were thinking, but it occurred to me, foreign nations do not have an impressive track record of occupying Afghanistan. Check with the Brits and the Ruskies on that issue. I could practically hear the retired mujahadeen breaking out their old AK-47's and RPG's while finalizing travel plans on Yahoo!. America had just created the world's largest terrorist magnet - and in a land of their choosing. Not a good proposition. So the questions then moves to: what next?

The facts were so real, so huge, so plain, laid out on the table for all to see. The violent, seamy, under-belly of Islamic fundamentalism had shown its ugly head, and America was their target. They had proved, beyond a shadow of doubt, they had the will, they had the means, and they had the guts to attack, and they promised to continue until every non-muslim in America was dead and crushed into the dirt. They proclaimed we stood no chance, since they love death more than we love life. They stated, we would die, they would rule, and they would win. So, we waited for the other shoe to fall.

And the question remained. What to do next. If America concentrated only on Afghanistan, what would we do about the rest of the Muslim world? Remember, on 9/11, Muslims were dancing in the streets in Gaza, the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and I'm sure many other places. Dancing at the river of American blood spilled because, we - not being Muslims - were destined to die horribly in the perverted name of their God. But it's not their God. There is no God, but God. It is our God too.

So America looked around and assessed the state of the Muslim world. When I say America, I don't mean all of us united, America is seldom united in anything - though on 9/12 we were united. The question then became, who's most likely to lead, follow, assist, help, or cover-up the next terrorist attack on our country. Throughout the entire middle east, one name continued to pop up.

Saddam Hussein.

More to Come....

Politics as Sport

Saddam had weapons of mass destruction when Bill Clinton occupied the Oval Office (and he apparently occupied a tad more than just the office).
Saddam never had weapons of mass destruction when George Bush occupies the Oval Office.

John Kerry voted for the $87 billion, before he voted against it.

Ted Kennedy preaches morality from the floor of the US Senate.
Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment.

The Bush administration not only promotes torture, they revel in it.
Extraordinary Rendition, the program of carting off uncooperative prisoners to third world countries was initiated under the Clinton administration.

Saddam was a threat to the stability of the Middle East (talk about your oxymoronic phrases).
Saddam kept the trains running on time.

John Kerry ran for the Presidency in 2004 loudly claiming the inexcusably high unemployment rate was proof that Bush was incompetent as the President.
Unemployment rates were higher when Bill Clinton ran for re-election in 1996 on a platform that included low unemployment rates.

If it sounds like I'm picking on democrats, its because I am. I'll pick on the republicans later, there's plenty of material there too.

What can we learn from the above statements? Well, obviously, it's that politicians lie. But that's a forgone conclusion. Look deeper, what's there? It's that facts mean nothing. Proof means nothing. Evidence means nothing. Nothing means anything, when it comes to politicians. That's because, at its core, at its basest level, politics in America isn't about issues. It ain't about truth. It isn't even about what's best for America and humanity. (And let me state for the record, I believe America's existence and growth benefits all of humanity. Not always, but comparing the state of western society to the third world, hell, even the first world - France leaps to mind - there can be no doubt that the wealth America generates benefits all people, through the inventions and medical and scientific breakthroughs that would not be possible without America's wealth.) Politics is all about the fight.

My editor (that's right, I have an editor - do you?) once compared the state of partisan politics in modern America to that of the Yankees and the Red Sox. It's really irrelevant which ball team you root for, you choose one for what ever reason, and they are the team, and every one else sucks. Why? Well, it's sports, and that's how sports work. Pick a team, watch the game, yell, cheer, boo, get drunk, and in general, have a great time. But that's sports, it's not politics.

Politics is all about the fight. It's deceptively cloaked in the appearance that the politicians and parties we support, are up-right citizens of good standing who care only for the well being of the poor and downtrodden (or if they are your enemy, only care about the rich and well off). But how can anyone with even a semblance of a brain cell (I grew up in the 1970's, I know there are a few out there with nothing left) buy into this kind of misinformation?

How could a reasonable, rational, adult believe that Saddam didn't have WMDs, when the Reagan/Bush administrations either gave them to him, sold them to him, or at the very least, looked the other way while Saddam got them on his own, now believe, that since a Republican is in the White House, that it never happened? How does one so easily loose touch with reality? Think about that. When Saddam was using WMDs on his fellow Iraqis, they existed and it was the Republican's fault. Now that a Republican President pointed that out, they never existed. How can that be reconciled?

Easy, the fight. We're good, you're bad. We rule, you drool. We're awesome, you suck.

Looking back, I believe the flippant remark from my editor was spot on right. Politics is nothing more than one team cheering for their own people, while the other team cheers for their own. You know where that takes you? It gives you elected leaders who are no better than Terrell Owens. Ask the residents of Brooklyn what they think of the Los Angles (Trolley) Dodgers. Ask the footballs fans in Los Angles what they think of the St. Louis Rams. Are there really any Cardinals in Phoenix besides on the playing field?

It gives you the type of politicians that we currently refer to as leaders. Wake up and smell the coffee people. Pay attention.

Anchors away!

I must confess, I'm a science fiction/fantasy fanatic. Not so much as I used to be. Back when I was a teenager I could give a synopsis of just about every Star Trek episode ever made. Not all the new ones Hollywood keeps cranking out, but the original series. "To BOLDLY GO WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE!" That was a great show. My favorite character was the Starship Enterprise itself. The technology, the wonders, beaming from planet to planet, shooting through the universe, both known and unknown at warp speed. Probably my favorite episode was written by Harlan Elision. Its called "City on the Edge of Forever". In it, Kirk and Spock go back in time to depression era earth to find Bones, who had time traveled and somehow managed to change the course of history which caused the Federation to never have existed. Time travel. What a concept.

I guess you could say I'm a fan of Sci-Fi that deals with time travel. I find the subject fascinating. For one thing, despite what the most brilliant minds of our time say, is it even possible? Does time actually exist or is it just a human invention to keep the trains moving on time? I mean, before the first human felt his stomach grumble and asked himself 'I wonder if its lunch time yet?' did time exist? Does time exist to trees? How about clouds? Does time mean anything to an ocean?

Actually, time does exist. I have perfected a method of time travel that I offer free to anyone who wishes to use it. All I ask is for 50% of what ever money they make off it. Want to know what it is? Go look in a mirror. You are looking into the past. It took a finite amount of time for the light to bounce off you, reach the mirror and then return to your eyes. Granted, the amount of time you can look back into is imperceptibly small, but its still seeing into the past. Now you know why I don't hold much hope of getting rich off it.

I tend to think of time as a river. Huge, moving, constantly in a state of flux. I imagine each of us, in our own little rafts, flowing with the current, bouncing off each other and rocks and such, from the moment we're born, to the moment we die. We can try and paddle our way along, try to fight the current, try to steer, but more or less we're at the mercy of it. Some of us tie our little rafts together to help on the journey - family, friends, religious communities. And it does indeed help.

I was watching a Sienfeld rerun the other day, and Jerry had a pretty comical - and insightful - observation. He posits that you can tell the year a male hit his stride because he stops changing. His sense of style is set for the rest of his life. First got lucky in the 1960's? You're wearing jeans, sneakers and tie-dye for the rest of your life. As I pondered his thought, I looked at what I was wearing, and I had to admit, he's right.

And that brings us to today's thought. Us, in our little rafts, bouncing on this river, and people tossing out anchors to moor themselves to a certain point in their journey. You know what I'm talking about, that one point in your life where you finally believe you are on top, you have it right, you understand everything, 'splash' goes the anchor. No more change.

We may think we have it all under control, all figured out, but we don't. We may think we're standing in one place, but we're not. Even though we appear still, time, life, and every one else is floating on by us. Constant change, constant flux. I've often thought one of life's biggest ironies is that as humans, we are surrounded by change. Yet we strive for stability, which we can never attain. In other words, the only thing constant in our lives (and constant, stable is what we search for) is change itself. The only thing we can take to the bank that is 100% rock solid guaranteed is nothing is 100% rock solid. Everything changes. We can try and fight it, we can ignore it, we can pretend we don't see it, but it changes. Trust me on this one.

A couple of weeks ago I was listening to an interview on NPR radio with Spike Lee. He's making a documentary in New Orleans about the storm and flooding, and its affects on the city's population. During the interview the subject of Louis Farrakhan came up and his outrageous contention that the federal government blew up the levees in order to scatter the poor African American Democrat voters around the nation, diluting their political voice. Spike Lee said he considered it a possibility, and for evidence he points to the Tuskegee Experiment. For those unfamiliar with this dark time in American history, white physicians decided to use poor African Americans as a control group in studying the long term effects of venereal diseases. In other words, they went to the Tuskegee Institute for medication for their diseases, and the white physicians gave them placebos, and then watched the disease progress over decades. A truly shameful event in America's history. We Americans must do everything we can, not only to compensate those who suffered, but revamp the entire medical profession so that nothing like this ever, ever, ever happens again to our fellow Americans.

When Spike Lee first mentioned he wouldn't count out a 'white' plot, I shook my head in disgust. When he mentioned Tuskegee, I had to admit, he had a point. It wasn't all that long ago that African Americans were oppressed in this country by law. It was before my time. I was just a little kid when the Civil Rights Act and the Voter Rights Act were passed. My Uncle married an African American woman, and they had several kids, who I grew up with. So to me, I've never understood the concept of racism. I can't fathom why someone would think someone else is a lesser human based on something as ridiculous as skin color. I just can't get my mind around it. I know it exists, and I've seen evidence of it myself. But my brain just doesn't work that way.

There was a time when it was more or less illegal to be black in America. That was a long time ago. But you wouldn't know it by listening to some of the Civil Rights activists on the democratic side of the aisle. To hear Rev. Al Sharpton, or Rev Jesse Jackson (where's the separation of Church and State when you need it?), and others, you would think blacks are still being lynched in the streets. Congressman Charlie Rangel of NYC says the President is "our Bull Conner." In case you don't know who Bull Conner is, he's probably one of the greatest (anti) heroes of the Civil Rights area. How could a white sheriff, bent on destroying the Civil Rights movement, be considered a hero? Because he was stupid enough to do it in front of news cameras. Footage of him siccing dogs on peaceful demonstrators and using high pressure fire hoses to disperse the crowds, flooded the TV screens of middle America. That one moment in time changed America forever. And for the better. Now I'm not exactly sure how one could compare those images to the current President and come up with anything. The current President has appointed African Americans to the highest positions of power in government they've ever attained. Yet, when its time to compare him, they reach back in time to one of the most despicable individuals in our history. Why?

The obvious answer is money. I attend a Roman Catholic Church, and I must say I've never seen any of our clergy wearing $1,000 Armani suits. But more importantly than their pay checks, why use that image? Why use any image at all? I contend it's because they are trying to appeal to people who've tossed out the anchor on their little rafts, back in the era of Civil Rights protests.

For those who toss their anchor out on the journey of life, nothing changes. They are locked into a certain view, a certain set of circumstances, and that never changes. For some, that means, despite all the obvious changes in America since the Tuskegee Experiments, we're still no further along with race relations. And let me state perfectly clear, this is not limited to African Americans, or to Civil Rights. I merely use that as an example since it was Spike Lee's comments that sparked this train of thought. For an even better example, look to Archie Bunker. Even though the world was marching right past Archie, he was stuck in the 1950's, where everything was coming his way. That's actually the premise of the comedy 'All In The Family.' The contrast - and resulting humor - of Archie facing a changing world, while refusing to budge.

Feel free to go to Google some time and do a search on 'Breasts Not Bombs.' I'd advise you to do it before lunch, as I'm sure these women were much better looking forty years ago. But time marches on, and gravity can not be repealed. It ain't pretty. For many people on the left, the war in Iraq is nothing more than a copy cat of Vietnam. They hit their stride during the protests of the 1960's and 70's, and that where they tossed their anchor. I caught about 15 or so Grateful Dead concerts back in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Talk about an example of people tossing their anchors. An entire army of tie-dyed shirts, bandanas, Birkenstocks, listening to the same songs over and over for 30 years. Not that I'm picking on them, I saw some great shows and met some wonderful people. But for the hardcore Dead Heads, it will be the 1960's and 1970's forever. And that means all the baggage that comes with it.

As for me, I can't say if anyone who's tossed an anchor is wrong, or that I'm right. That's for each individual to decide for themselves. For me, I've pulled my anchor back in and I'm going with the flow. That means accepting the fact that whatever I know to be absolutely true, could very well turn out to be absolutely wrong. It means accepting not only new ideas and concepts, but it means accepting that life will continue to change, and to be ready for it. I occasionally toss my anchor out once in a while, I just make a point to remember to pull it back in, and get on with life. An anchor can be a wonderful thing, it can give you some perspective, it can give you a chance to catch your breath, it can give you the opportunity to hold on to something for a little longer than we normally would. But it also can be a hindrance. It can prevent us from trying new things, from seeing old things in a new light. It can allow us to freeze our opinions, our knowledge, our ideas, and not even notice the Tuskegee Experiment is getting to be a long time ago. It can prevent us from realizing that most of those white physicians are probably long dead, and their children and grandchildren would never even think of doing such an heinous act. Life marches on, even if we choose not to march with it. It can prevent us from realizing how the world is changing, and where its headed. And that is not good.

As I said, I've pulled up my anchor. I've set sail. I've got a few small and a few large rafts that I've tied myself to. But I'm heading on down that river. There are good times ahead, just as there are bad ones. But I don't fear the bad anymore than I intend hold on to the good ones longer than I should. Sure there's storms down river. But they're sometimes followed by rainbows. As Bob Dylan once sang, he not busy being born is busy dying. Anchors away!

Happy Election Day 2005!

"A chicken in every pot."

"Tippecanoe and Tyler too."

"Happy days are here again."

"Don't stop thinking about tomorrow."

"Camelot."

"Help is on the way."

"If nominated, I will not run. If elected I will not serve."

Greetings, my fellow Americans! Today is a glorious day for America. Today is election day! Election day is a strange day in America. It's full of dichotomies, ironies, sarcasm and good old-fashioned, bare-knuckle politics. For weeks, in some cases months, we've been hit with a barrage of political mud, campaign smears, screaming, yelling, downright thievery. And all in the name of the grand old Red, White and Blue! You have to love it.

Locally, the big mayor's race has been splattered with anonymous mailings, stolen lawn signs, unsupported attacks, and charges of gross misconduct. Heck, after the PR blast I've been lambasted with, you'd think the FBI, the CIA, the ATF and the black helicopters would have already descended upon this quiet, upstate New York city. Why, one candidate for mayor even had the nerve, nay - the gall, to work in the public defender's office. How could I possibly even entertain the thought of voting for some one who's devoted their life to letting criminals get off free? Surely, upon the moment he would assume office, the city lockup would be emptied and the police department closed.

Its an exasperating time of year, no doubt. There's so much mud thrown around, that it is impossible to discuss any real issues or ideas. Many people get so turned off they won't even vote. I have a secret. I like it. I enjoy all the hubris that comes with election day. When I was younger, I used to campaign for politicians. It was a win-win deal. There's always a big party election night, and we either get to drown our sorrows, or celebrate our victories. Either way, it's free beer and food. I love America.

I guess what I'm so fond of us is two things. First off, I love the enthusiasm. Granted I believe 49.9% of the voters are complete idiots, for no other reason than they vote the other way. But still, it takes stamina, fortitude, and effort to last through marathon campaigns. These people, our fellow Americans, are passionate about their views. And they put that passion into their efforts, year after year, after year. Its not easy, I know. But still, there's a "Senior Day" from high school kind of carnival fun. Get out and work. Drop off flyers, knock on doors, man the phone banks.

But what I truly appreciate about all this effort is - we don't fight. Certainly some do, but those are very few incidents, and they usually occur in the big money races, not in local hometown politics. Here, about as bad as it gets is the occasional stolen lawn sign. And after the election is history, for the most part, we all go back to being neighbors. To think, that America, the most powerful nation in the history of the world can peacefully transfer power always amazes me. Every time I hear terms like "The People's Democratic Republic of North Korea", or "President For Life", I thank the good Lord for the blessing of being born in America. For all our problems - and there are many - we are still the freest nation on the face of this planet. And when we refuse to pick up guns, knives, clubs, and instead reach for petitions, flyers, and bumper stickers, a great thing indeed has happened once again. Absolute, irrefutable proof, that people of differing views can come together, hash it out, and then agree to live by the decision of the common man (and woman). Far too many of us don't realize what a great gift that is.

Secondly what I like about election day, is what it represents about America, American history, and humanity in general. We can get along - sort of. America wasn't the first democracy. I believe the first representative form of government belongs to the ancient Greeks in Athens. (Please excuse my public school education.) But that didn't last very long. The second was in Poland in the 1500's. That bit of information was related to me during a Polish Heritage Day Mass at my local Church. The Priest, who is from Poland, went on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on, and on (I think that's the first time I ever heard a gentle, old Grandmother say in Church "Jesus Christ - is he ever going to shut up?") Poland toyed with the idea of democracy, and was promptly rewarded with having their entire nation partitioned between the neighboring kingdoms. Can't have the unwashed masses thinking they don't need kings to guide them through life.

But America is different. Here we don't despise the common man, we trust him. Recently I read 1776 by David McCullough, and I've learned just what was required of the common man in that year, so many decades ago. The common man rose up to defend his property, his family, himself, and his nation. And I might add, in 1776, the common man in America got his ass handed to him with a side of 'slaw by the King's army. Eventually, the common man, under the charge of General George Washington - and a host of other capable leaders and soldiers - won independence from Great Britain. And, what they won is so monumentally important, that only these words can begin to comprehend what we've won: "We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal, and they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Those are powerful words. They don't just lay on the page like Dear Abby. They jump off the page, they grab you by the soul, and they burn in your heart. We don't need no stinking kings, or queens, or dictators, or military junta, or presidents for life to govern over us. We can do it ourselves. You, me, the nice lady next door, the directors of the funeral home whose garage is adjacent to my back yard (they are nice neighbors, very quiet). You, me, we, and all of us in this land can be trusted to determine for ourselves, what is best for us.

To me, many nations around the world don't seem to understand America very well. The answer is obvious. When Saddam ruled Iraq, whatever Iraq did was directly attributed to the despot. His will was law. In America it doesn't work that way. To me, America appears to be this lumbering giant, bouncing off the items in the world's china shop, banging off this, lurching into that. But the key is, it's not attributed to one person, because in America, it's not one person, it is all of us. (I bet Saddam still wonders why Bush just didn't pull out a pistol and shoot John Kerry during the first debate.) America doesn't appear rational, because 280,000,000 people aren't rational. But, to use Saddam as an example again, one person isn't necessarily rational either.

So in conclusion, enjoy the day. Celebrate it even. It was a dreadfully hard-fought right, to have a hand in choosing one's own destiny. The right has been defended many times, by many people, over many wars, over many decades. The decisions of America have hardly been always right. But they are the decisions of the common people, the ones who don't need a king, chosen by God, to rule over us. They are our decisions. And apparently, they've been right more times than wrong, or else we'd be ruled by a king, which we are not. So make sure today you vote and then go hoist a cold one (I'm talking beer, get your mind out of the gutter) and give a thanks to the common man who gave us this country, this opportunity. We are all the common man (and woman). And remember - all men (and women) are created equal. And they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.....