Sunday, February 12, 2006

Cheney's Shot a Genuine Metaphor

I can't think of a better example of the callousness of the administration than Dick Cheney's accidental shooting of his hunting buddy. That's such an appropriate metaphor for the actions of this administration. It's not that they're deliberately evil. I believe Cheney wasn't trying to shoot his friend. But he was so self-absorbed, so into what he was doing, so greedy - trying to get one more bird, as if he hasn't killed enough of the poor things in his lifetime, that he ended up wounding someone who presumably meant something to him.

That's exactly what they're doing to America. They're not deliberately ruining the country. They just truly don't have a clue. The people they meet all kiss their feet. The protestors are kept down the road. They are ruining the planet with their energy and deforestation policies. They are dismantling our civilization. And all for a fast buck, because they can. They're just following the quail and firing, irregardless of the consequences.

How do you reach people who have no connection to reality? Who think they have earned everything they have, rather than acknowledging that they were born to luxury? Who think other people are expendable, who send young Americans to die for oil in a foreign land that has never attacked us, that doesn't want freedom at such a horrible cost. If someone said to you, you could have the job of your dreams, you could have the income you've always wanted, but we'll have to kill 20 of your friends and family to get you there - would you sign that faustian bargain? That's the "freedom" we've offered Iraq. I imagine the numbers are much worse than my simple example.

And what about those of us with a conscience, who want to save our country without having to take up arms, what is our option? We don't want to fly up and become the target to be shot down. We don't dare be a friend sneaking up from behind - we might still be shot down. I guess we need to do what wasn't done - to yell, shout, wave our arms, seek attention for our concerns. There's no other way to do it.

I hope you'll join me in a little shouting today. And the next. And the next. Until they hear us. Until they act on our concerns. Our voice is about all we have left.

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