It's been a while since I last wrote.
I felt very distressed by the lies and crimes and thievery and betrayal of the Bush-Cheney administration. I felt hopeful - but still deeply concerned - when this country finally rejected neocon fascism and turned again towards our American ideals by electing Barack Obama.
But I felt extremely sick and disgusted by the return of Congress to the Republicans.
This country had a opportunity to be great. If we had not allowed the election of 2000 to be stolen by political toadies in the state of Florida and on the bench of the Supreme Court, we could have had the sane and effective leadership of Al Gore. There would have been no 9/11, because Richard Clarke would have remained on the Security Council and Al-Qaeda would have remained a top defense priority. There would have been no invasion of Iraq, because Gore would not have been in league with oil companies and the military-industrial complex. And there would have been no economic meltdown in 2008, because the federal government would not have failed in its obligation to regulate economic activities to protect the public interest, would not have taken the position that national economic policy should be set by the greediest, most corrupt and irresponsible sleazeballs in the private sector.
This country may yet succeed in living up to its inspiring ideals, that governments derive power from the consent of the governed, that individual rights of conscience and expression and faith are supreme to every government authority, that freedom and tolerance will prevail.
But many in this generation have failed their test. In response to warmongering and fearmongering and propaganda and scapegoating these Americans fell into line and followed their leaders into darkness and destruction. They are the dark side of the American dream, the ones who use Christian language to don hoods and burn crosses and to murder the innocent. They are the fifth column of American politics, who smile as our Constitutional rights are shredded by the right wing and stockpile guns, ammunition, and paranoid delusions when Their Fuhrer loses an election. They are born Americans, but they are the most dangerous enemies of America.
I thought today, I would try to start writing again, that I would start with a blank page.
But there is no blank page.
Our present is the product of our past, and this country has been badly damaged by the viciousness of these un-American Americans. For my children's sake, I hope the wounds are not fatal.
But every day, I see the powerful becoming more powerful and reckless. I see the future of our country being sacrificed to the greed and delusions of divisive private interests. I see the tenor and truth of our national discourse sinking into oblivion.
Sometimes it seems hopeless.
Today is Memorial Day. It is a day when we honor those who died for our country, and all veterans who served and stood ready to make the same sacrifice. Many of them marched forward into hopeless battles and did not retreat. Their example can inspire us - or shame us - into facing our own national enemies, our enemies from within.
And today I will rededicate myself to that end.
To telling the truth as I see it when the liars and thieves bray their calls to the unwary.
I don't suppose it will make any difference or that anyone will listen.
I will be a small voice in a tempest.
But I will honor the memory of those who created this country, who gave us this noble heritage.
Perhaps we can not escape the past, and start each day with a blank page and unlimited hope.
But we can imagine an America that cherishes and defends its ideals.
And each day we can take one step more into that bright future.
It's worth a try anyway.
OK. Here we go again.
