It is time to gain perspective. The biggest murderers and war criminals in the world are the leaders of the United States government. These leaders also happend to be illegitimate - they did not gain power in a manner that could be defined as democratic. Their intentions have nothing to do with any humane or legal objectives. They and their predecessors have and continue to support brutal governments and dictators throughout the world, and have directly and indirectly cause multiple times more death and oppression than the dictator of Iraq ever could. For them, war is merely a game, political instrument and business scheme. The motives are clearly apparent upon any critical bservation: oil, Israel, weapons industry, and distraction the domestic populace from the pillaging of the country for the wealthiest of the wealthy.
This atrocity may cause the deaths of thousands of young Americans, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and destroy a whole country. If this action "succeeds," i.e. does not kill as many people, it will say nothing about being right, but it will just be about might. And it will be about the fact that government deliberately only gets into battles with countries that it knows are too weak to seriously resist. (Noam Chomsky compared this contest to a boxing match between a champion and a kindergartener). This will also encourage our illegitimate government to continue to invade other countries for games, political diversions and business schemes. There is no reason to identify with this government or their actions. There is every reason and ethical duty to actively oppose actions of this government in every way practical. Unfortunately there are not many avenues for effective opposition to a government that is not chosen democratically and does not act democratically, and has at is service, a few multinational corporations that control the sources of information or propoganda relied on by most of the population. For the sake of morality defined in any sane way, and for the sake of bringing back freedom and creating democracy in our country, we must grasp the reality of what is happening and use whatever abilities we have to inform others. Any ideas are welcome. Meanwhile, I know there is a demonstration tomorrow, March 20, at 4:30 pm, at the federal courthouse building in downtown Minneapolis, on 4th Street South between 3rd and 4th Avenues. (Is this enough to make this post Minneapolis-specific?) Lets show that this government does not represent the people! Jordan Kushner TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
