Shame

By: J.G. Schwam

It is not my style to write in first person. I do not feel comfortable writing my as if my words are mine alone. I try to write about facts not just my own opinions. But today I find myself unable to avoid doing so. I have read so much about the horrific actions of the Bush government that I must speak out for my own sake. This government is one that despite the rhetorical games and spin they foist off on us as truth is one that has condoned and created for their own purposes what is probably the most corrupt and self serving governments in the history of the United States. I do not have to read it. I can see it.

Their actions speak for themselves.

I will not ever say I am ashamed to have been born in this great country. But I cannot shake the sense of shame that through their actions in what is presumably my name these evil liars in the White House have forced into my heart. I am ashamed at what they have reduced our country, once the greatest and most righteous in the world to. In the eyes of the world we have become a band of petty, self serving, and greedy warmongers. It will be years before we can take a stand on human rights abuses without being laughed at.

Many of our brethren have become so angry and blinded by hate and misinformation that they are willing to accept inflicting hellacious suffering on a people who have already suffered so much simply because generations ago their land was seized by an evil and corrupt dictator. The Iraqi people are not guilty of any crime other than being oppressed. We cannot blame the Iraqi people for not overthrowing Saddam Hussein. Modern weaponry makes it virtually impossible for a scantily armed, hungry, and ragtag army to overthrow a modern and reasonably well equipped army. If we argue that the Mujahadeen did it against the Soviets in Afghanistan then we must look at the price they paid. We cannot ask the Iraqi people to pay that price.

Their once rich country has been decimated by famine that has been created by both their government and sanctions. Whether their sanitary, electrical, and healthcare infrastructure has been destroyed solely by U.S. bombs and sanctions or remains that way because their morally bankrupt dictator would rather build himself another palace is not the issue. The issue is, is inflicting further suffering and raining more death upon a non-complicit beaten down people the only way we can be proud to say we liberated them from Saddam and their suffering?

I cannot believe that there is a man or women alive that supports Saddam save those in his regime as evil and morally bankrupt as he is that take the money he steals from his people to do so.

It is disgusting that simpletons like Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and the others of their ilk allege that those who do not support this war support Saddam by not supporting our own morally bankrupt bunch of thugs, Bush, Condeleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perl, Karl Rove, and Dick Cheney.

We are not required as Americans to support the actions of our government. Blind complicity in what we see as evil and wrong actions of our government that require compromising ones beliefs to do so is not what our constitution requires us to do. Might I remind the above blowhards that, that is what Saddam requires of those that do not want to be executed in Iraq.

I support the men and women of the United States of the America's armed forces unequivocally. I believe that every one of the millions of Americans that joined me in the demonstrations across our land does so as well. It is not these brave young Americans that joined our armed forces with pride in their hearts that have chosen this war. Their pride, born of their great fortune to have been born in this land of the free and home of the brave is what drove them to choose to defend the ideals of freedom that our great nation has instilled in them and all of us since birth.

It is not these brave and proud young men and women that have chosen to suborn the Armed Forces of our nation from one that defends our American ideals of freedom and truth into an army of imperialism. They will lay down their lives because that is what they have sworn to do. They have sworn to defend our honor and freedom, not to kill innocents in our name. It is our own band of evil doers that have seized our once righteous government that will ask them to do this in our name. I support them and pray that in battle they will do everything they can to do their duty and come safely home. I know that they can be proud that they did their duty and will do their best to uphold their honor and that of our nation.

I am not ashamed to be an American or to speak out against the current government. Nor will any talking head, evil Attorney General, or anyone else ever convince me that by my opposition to an unjust, unnecessary war I should be. Any student of history knows that it is part of every Americans obligation as a free citizen protected by the Bill of Rights to speak out against the government if they do not agree with its policies or actions. It is as far from being un-American or treasonous as anything could be. It is our right and our obligation. America is a nation founded and upheld by dissent. It is our right to do so that has held our nation together longer than any other democracy in modern history.

I am ashamed to see the blatant, disgraceful demonizing of this right and obligation by the Bush White House and their media apologists. They are attempting to paint true patriots, those that stand up and speak up with their brethren for what they believe is right and truly American in the face of their hateful, bigoted words and deeds as treasonous. It is these actions, their hate speak and their attempts to demonize dissenting opinion as un-American that is treasonous. It is such actions that are in themselves seditious.

I am ashamed that despite hundreds and hundreds of thousands of e-mails, faxes, and letters there is but virtually one Representative or Senator that has the personal constitution to speak in the name of people that elected him. None but that one of all of our 535 Representatives and Senators are willing to speak for their constituents that are against the unbelievable, arrogant, and disdainfully un-American actions of the Bush White House.

I am ashamed that our news media which was once the most admired, open, and independent in the world has reduced themselves to nothing more than a group of propagandists for a morally bankrupt band of thugs that backhands the true will of American people every day. The Bush White house and their GOP supplicants have stolen our government and reduced it to nothing more than a board of directors for the interests of few ultra rich corporations, lobbyists, and near fascist think tanks.

I am not ashamed to speak out. I could not be more proud to be able and willing to fight with my pen against those that should truly be ashamed at what they attempt to do in our name.

No American that opposes the Bush regime should be either. Speak out, say what you believe is right and take it to the streets. It is your right and your obligation. Do not let those that choose to blind themselves to the true motives of the Bush administration cow you into believing your actions are un-American. If you do not stand up and speak your mind and fight for what you believe you are then un-American not if you do not.

Do not be silent and complicit. Speak out against those whose actions and lack of action through their blindness is truly treasonous.

Bush's supporters among the non-ultra rich are mere dupes who sorrowfully believe that by aligning themselves with these power brokers they will someday share in their wealth. They have not yet realized that if they live off of a paycheck and not a trust, massive mounds of cash, warrants, or dividends they are but chattel to the White House. It is these Americans that should and will one day realize they should have been ashamed of their blindness.

Do not ever be ashamed to do or say what you know is right. That is what it means to be American.