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On Hate and Politics
So Cindy Sheehan has given up her fight against the war due to her perfectly understandable emotional, physical and financial exhaustion. She also cited the lack of the Democrats ability to do anything about bringing the war to an end. Well, they haven't accomplished much of anything else either and I predicted this was what would happen the day they took the house. I have always felt sympathy for Sheehans loss. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child, but railing against the government, no matter which party holds the majority, to do anything about it is an exercise in futility. The promises made to clean up government and do something about the right's "culture of corruption" by the democrats in their campaigns have yet to be fulfilled. Oh, there are little concessions here and there to give the ragers on the left food for blogging, but nothing of real substance has come from the new kids on the block. It's so easy to make promises when you know exactly what people want to hear(and not just in politics) and you can actually get them to believe you if you use the right words and tone of voice, but keeping those promises is a much harder thing to do especially if you never intended to keep them in the first place. Most of the new guys had no real intention of doing anything but getting elected so they could start sucking the teat of the government perk sow, and those who did want change were quicly herded into the appropriate holding pens until they could be brought around. Some are still there, I suppose. You can cite vetos and threats all you like, but the fact is, especially where the war is concerned, that nothing was going to change and it wont change in 2008 either. Cindy Sheehan has finally come to understand this the hard way. Most of those disillusioned by the campaign promises have lost nothing but their faith in those they elected to bring about changes, Sheehan lost considerably more on her trip to the reality of the political machine. It is a machine that has little consideration for the voice of the one, and most cases, the voice of the many. It's really not the fault of the politicians themselves, the fault lies with the American people who continue to tolerate this behavior. We have become a society of haters and ragers rather than one of movers and shakers. Ending the war on terror(that's right! People are dying in places other than Iraq) would not end teh war in Washington, and as long as that war continues to be fought with such passion, nothing will really get done there by either side. We have become so used to vilifying those with whom we disagree that those we elect figure that as long as they just keep doing the same thing we wont notice when they don't do what we elected them to do. As long as there is hate and discontent, the pork barrels can continue to be filled to overflowing. The "Culture of Corruption" doesn't lie with one party or the other. It's not a thing exclusive to Washington or politicians at state and local levels. The blame for this issue lies with the American people, and until we ALL start checking ourselves, until we ALL start exploring our motives before voting and untill we ALL start reining in those we elected and take them to task at every turn, nothing will change. Cindy Sheehan is still pissed and fired off a 1,200 word letter of hatefilled venom as she exited the public eye. She may understand the futility of her fight, but she has yet to understand the futilty of hate. It is a wasted emotion and until those who would continue to use it to motivate a voting base or dispute an issue learn that, it will continue to be the driving force in politics and will ensure that nothing ever really gets done. 31 comments from 11 users
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posted by
randomfactor
on May 29, 2007 at 09:29 AM
There are people who were in the initial phases of the Iraq Occupation who are no longer fighting the battle. Some 3400 are dead. Many, many thousands more are maimed, stressed beyond their abilities to cope. A lucky few have put in their time and are just done with it. . Cindy Sheehan is all of the above. She has given up as much as the other Iraq War veterans she's been fighting to bring home. She did her part, and I agree with her that the progress in battling this insane war has been too slow. I seethe over what the Democratic leadership in Congress is allowing Bush to do. As to her 1200-word letter, the "hatefulled venom" in it is in quotations from the other side. From the enemy. You can read it *HERE*: http://www.dailykos.com/sto... Cindy Sheehan deserves whatever rest she can find at this point. She has been hated by people who don't--won't--can't listen to her. She has been hated by an industry which uses hate as a raw material and an end product. The right-wing noise machine, particularly talk radio, is a breeder reactor of hate. . And she's hated because she's correct. Her son's death *WAS* useless. Those whom we elected to stop this insane war *HAVE* failed us. .But... George W. Bush has been losing the war in Iraq for nearly 1500 days now. Democrats have only about 150 days since taking office. Which has shown more progress? . You know what? If the Democrats turn out to be as greedy as Republicans were but they end the war, that's enough. If the Democrats look at ending the war as a politicial tactic but the end the war, that's enough. If the Democrats use partisan politics to stop Bush from further damaging my country--and they end the war--that's enough. posted by
motopoet
on May 29, 2007 at 09:41 AM
Blah, blah..the fact is that they WONT end the war. Either WE win or the TERRORISTS win. There will be no middle ground. In any case, my point was that hate will fix nothing and you make my point by reviling Bush instead of putting forth constructive ideas on what should be done. Simply electing another power hungry candidate will change nothing in the long run. I'm not just talking about the war. I am talking about everything in politics. Drop the hate, pick up the flag and let's move on!
posted by
anonymous
on May 29, 2007 at 09:43 AM
She is absolutely correct, she gave up her son for nothing but the machismo of an egomaniac. But so have a lot of others past present and future in this oil madness.
The real tragedy is that conservative republicans continue to blame the victims and the dissenter for the error of their ways and the apologists while losing steam, still cannot get it in their mind that the war was lost the same day as shock and awe hit Iraq and installing a puppet government will not put Iraq back together again. We can kill Saddam and all the other Saddam's and Al Sadr's , but as much as we dilute ourselves, we cannot make them love us or even like us or tolerate us, we have just killed to many of them and essentially given the death touch to every Iraqi family in Baghdad. Our hands are stained with their blood and any whitewashing by Conservative hawks at home will not change that. posted by
randomfactor
on May 29, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Mark, we've already lost. You, me, Cindy Sheehan. Bush. . Lost. When you can come to accept that, and stop hating people like Cindy Sheehan who figured it out long ago, we can move on. .
posted by
anonymous
on May 29, 2007 at 09:48 AM
As for the terrorists, the fear card is a terrible thing to waste for this administration. If it was up to the administration and its supporters no one could speak a word against this fiasco, and everyone would live in fear for the next decade or until the Republicans turn off the fear faucet.
posted by
TomW
on May 29, 2007 at 10:11 AM
Here's the problem: Iraq is not a war. It is an occupation. There is no such thing as an insurgent in a war. In Iraq, we have the land, we have the power, we have the government. We don't have the people and you can't win the people without making the trains run on time. There is no way to "win" an occupation. If all the Iraqis laid don their weapons tomorrow, would that be a win? How long would there have to be peace before you'd have a win? There is no central office for the terrorists. They are essentially like gangs in the US.We can't get anywhere near making progress until we understand these things. posted by
antiextremism
on May 29, 2007 at 10:16 AM
I think the Dems are just giving Bush a little more rope to complete his suicide. If we don't have a handle on this by the fall, given that the Prez has received the funding he wanted, what will be the next step? What excuse will they give to keep it going till Bush's departure? Bush and his cohorts know that you can't fight somebody else's civil war. They know this is an unwinnable situation. They are only posturing themselves into a position of blaming the democrats. George was probably really disappointed that they did vote for support. He lost a get out of jail card there. But I agree with you Mark, that the dems are posturing themselves too. It's a sad state of affairs when getting re-elected is more important than American lives. I'd like to run the whole lot of 'em outta Washington. But as long as politicans need lobbyists and special interest to survive, you're gonna get the biggest whores in office. posted by
adampayne
on May 29, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Props on a fine post, Mr. Motopoet. The shell game of deception to divide and conquer always sees a day of reckoning, eventually. People finally recognize there is nothing underneath any of the shells. The coin has always been in the trickster's pocket. The shells of faith, alternative lifestyles, immigration and culture are the con's tools to prevent people solutions to health care, jobs, education and peaceful coexistence. Many times there are lightning rods, like a Cindy Sheehan, who can galvanize a movement and help expose to a greater number of people the falsehood of the game. However sad or bitter she may be at the snail's pace of change today, she also accomplished, as one person, a new dialog and perspective on this exercise of greed. The nation has had enough of this oil war, which disguised under many names and causes is still a war for profit for a handful of rich bastards who continue to oppress the overwhelming majority of inhabitants on the planet. The idea that our auto manufacturers cannot build cars with higher CAFE standards to the American public is outrageous, and false. The idea that American ingenuity to harness alternative energy sources has not happened over the past forty years is the cruel reality of the oil cartel, which also continues to push the lowest MPG and highest polluting vehicles on the US consumer. The Iraq war will come to an end. I'm betting well before the 2008 election, because no Republican wants to be associated with continual failure. Democratic leadership has pushed to the extent they could to put a time line of our occupation. In reality, the time line is already set up due to our election cycle. The military needs the funding, war or not. When the war does end Cindy Sheehan joins the long line of Daniel Ellsbergs, Jane Fondas and John Lennons who stood up to be counted and took the heat. It is a terrible price to pay when you are right, and become the target of the conman revenge. posted by
mattloch
on May 29, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Where was her "hate", moto? I heard a lot of shame coming from her (directed at the officials who launched this disastrous occupation), and a lot of (futile) hope, but no hate. While I would agree that the Democrats haven't had many of their (promised) bills signed into law, they have passed quite a few of them (Remember their 100 Hour promise? You know, the one they kept). But overcoming a Presidential veto proved too tough a challenge for the Republicans, who would rather keep the "culture of corruption". The Democrats passed the war timetable bill, remember? But the Republicans showed their true colors by refusing to override the veto. So when people like you blame the Democrats for not doing more, you show your ignorance of the record, and of reality. But that's ok, why would you start giving either one their fair shake now? I agree that either party is free from corruption. However, it seems as though only one party has any outrage about it. And pointing fingers at the other side and saying "they're not outraged at so-and-so" (Jefferson) doesn't work if that side has been calling for an overdue indictment or dropping of charges (but again, why would the record and reality intrude on a good-sounding argument?). Moto, how do you "win" an occupation? If you're talking about terrorism, perhaps you haven't noticed but it is the Democrats calling for more troops in Afghanistan, not the Republicans (and certainly not the President). You know, the place where bin Laden still resides to this day, because our Commander-in-Chief called off the hunt for him (hell, he doesn't even think about him anymore, remember?). The only time he even shows an interest is when he needs to scare the populous (or perhaps just a few uppity reporters) into siding with him on an issue. You keep mentioning "hate". I do not think that means what you think that means. You see "hate" where others have mistrust, or an intolerance for failure. Is it "hate" to call a liar a "liar"? Is it "hate" to call someone who is wrong, "wrong"? People such as yourself keep saying the "left" (or "liberals" or perhaps just all Democrats in general) "hate" Bush, or are criticizing him for "partisan" reasons. If Bush had done nothing wrong, I would agree with you. If he was being blamed for something that wasn't his fault, I'd be right there with you. But the litany of wrongs, lies, or outright failures perpetrated by this Administration are far longer than their "successes" (even the ones with the moving goal-posts). Perhaps you only see "hate" because that's all you look for, or all that you understand. If it isn't love or support, it must be "hate". I'd like for you to prove me wrong, if you can; but I doubt you'll be able to do so without using strawman arguments or false generalizations. Good luck! posted by
sfinboston52
on May 29, 2007 at 10:46 AM
let's not forget that over 600,000 civilians have been killed during the war process and over 4 million forced out of their homes and cities.
posted by
randomfactor
on May 29, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Mattloch, Cindy Sheehan is a Rorshach test. That tells you where the perception of hate is coming from. . Cindy Sheehan is now at "acceptance." Mark (and, alas, about a third of the nation) is at "denial." posted by
dusty1215
on May 29, 2007 at 10:56 AM
What is winning and losing in the War on Terror? Terrorism is a tactic that is used by individuals to gain what they want through fear and intimidation. The key word there is individuals. We will never win the War on Terror because we fail to address the reasons that people turn to groups like AlQaeda. Unless and until we do, there will always be terrorists. As for a 'hate-filled' diatribe, I read her letter numerous times yesterday and did not see much hate, just plenty of explaining of how things have changed for her and her pov about the political partys and the left's fractious and tenuous alliances. Care to quote the parts you see has hate Motopoet? The right has hated on Sheehan since she came to the forefront of the anti-war movement. She was a lightening rod for those that want to call us in the anti-war movement traitors and terrorist lovers. She took more heat for her beliefs than I could ever endure. For that I tip my hat to her. posted by
randomfactor
on May 29, 2007 at 11:01 AM
At the moment, "losing" is staying in Iraq.
posted by
dusty1215
on May 29, 2007 at 11:03 AM
George Bush has been AlQaeda's recruiter of the year for going on 5 years now.
posted by
mattloch
on May 29, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Sheehan didn't "hate" Bush, she just wanted to shame him. Too bad he's a sociopath who cannot empathize with the less-fortunate or downtrodden. He refuses to take responsibility for even his gravest of failures and errors, and that is replicated a thousand times over by almost everyone in his Administration. If people can't see him for what he is now, they never will. The revisionists haven't waited for him to die like they did with Nixon, or for him to disappear into senility like Reagan. At least they're easily identifiable with their "W" stickers and yellow ribbons on the rear windows of their SUVs and pickups... posted by
randomfactor
on May 29, 2007 at 11:06 AM
I don't hate Shrub. It's just that my background in writing leads me to envision neat, tidy resolutions of stories. Real life is seldom like that, alas. posted by
sagefever
on May 29, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Great Post Motopoet!!! The shell and pea game must stop,one by one ,each of us must stop using rhetoric and pick up the flag ,as you say.It is not the politicians,it is not the terrorist(A tactic,not a country) but the use of personal destruction "politics"(it is anything but politics)will bring down this country faster than anything!Those are the old ways,it is high past time we realize that the "other", an American either left,right,or in between is just another Human Being!We want the same things,we bleed the same..we cry and die the same.
posted by
sagefever
on May 29, 2007 at 11:32 AM
P.S>~ from what I read she intends to,after some R&R,do humanitarian work.Stooping the hate is going to be very hard~Sorry Mike but you illustrate that by "hate filled" statement..she is hurt,and I can tell you still out of her mind by her loss,but to regroup and do humanitarian work can not be construed as hate..I still struggle with finding my voice~death eats at a parent in so many ways,and Still I am not "up to snuff",may never be,I have given myself time,something she may have done,but to enter in such a visible way into the world~I can not tell you how much respect I have for her,how hard that must have been~and how she may feel now.We must try very hard to resist that last snarky statement in us all..we all will fail at times but intent is half way there.
posted by
dusty1215
on May 29, 2007 at 11:33 AM
I think Ms. Sheehan was spot on when she wrote this:"Casey died for a country which cares more about who will be the next American Idol than how many people will be killed in the next few months while Democrats and Republicans play politics with human lives." posted by
randomfactor
on May 29, 2007 at 11:41 AM
Dusty, the best news show on television right now is Countdown. I'll bet *KEITH'S* devoted more time to American Idol than to the Iraq fiasco over the past six months.
posted by
dusty1215
on May 29, 2007 at 11:44 AM
KO hasn't been very happy about it either Random. He has voiced that on several occasions, plus the fact that more people vote for American freaking Idol contestants than vote for our elected leaders.
posted by
anonymous
on May 29, 2007 at 11:59 AM
While the young and old US military die in Iraq the rich get richer over the running up of the artificial shortage in oil, and the poor get poorer as result of policies designed to keep them that way by paying exorbitant prices for a commodity they need..
But that is OK, just mention 9/11 and terror in the same sentence and you get instant sheep, who willing send their son's and daughter to slaughter not to mention the Iraqis whose life under Saddam now seems like a day in the park. But as gullible as we are we still believe in WMD, and Nuclear Iraq and now fighting them over there so we do not fight them at home. Perhaps we should fight them at home if we knew who they are, as there are more Muslims around the wold than any other religion. Where do "we" fight them next, Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, the Philippines, England, France, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya Algeria or the Sudan and Darfur? Naw,this civil war in Iraq has nothing to do with our phantom war on terror anymore than our war against terror. The fact is that Bush fell into a good thing when he discovered the war on terror, and he is going to use for everything from obscuring the Constitution to increasing the military and spreading Christianity in a new version of the Crusades. posted by
sumo211
on May 29, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Can somebody explain to me what picking up the 'flag' is going to do to help anyone? It 's a piece of cloth folks...not a magic one at that. I know it represents something...these days...I don't think it represents what is was supposed to in its inception. It's got stars...it's got stripes. Will it get us out of war? I DON'T THINK SO! It's going to take resolve and sanity...things sorely lacking in our lawmakers that recently let the American people down with the Iraq War Fund bill. We have may symbols in our country...Cindy Sheehan was one of them...a symbol for good by the way. Something precious in her life was abruptly taken from her...she reacted in a way she had the right to react...she's a mother! She carried her flag until the lawmakers showed her it did no good. Eventually someone comes up against a wall...and simply knows when enough is enough.Right now on the news we are seeing on a continuous loop Miss America falling on her butt. Lindsay Lohan and her drinking and drugs problems...they need to get her butt off the streets...really! This is a numb society for the most part. Otherwise it WOULD make the war its priority...the priority of getting the heck out of there and stopping the bloodshed. Yeah...picking up the red, white and blue is going to do that alright. Hey...let's ask those flag draped coffins what they think about carrying the flag to victory eh??? posted by
sagefever
on May 29, 2007 at 12:27 PM
I do not know what Moto meant but I am sure you have heard of metaphor? I mean by that that we all need to realize we are all Americans~not calling names etc~By the way Sumo I am for Peace and an end to the war..but the original post was,more or less about not keeping up the hate. Sorry but that is something I can agree with.By the way you do understand metaphors I see..coffins are symbols too,but they each contain a cherished thing: a human being
posted by
sumo211
on May 29, 2007 at 12:38 PM
I knew it was a metaphor...and it wasn't directed at you certainly. I've just heard so much...everywhere about the flag...that I get sensitive about it. The flag wraps many things...and they aren't all good things. I'm just so sick of this war and death to innocent people caught up in the crossfire that I know I focus on the weird stuff sometimes. Also...our own leaders don't see 'us' as Americans...we're just tax payers and a number...a way to a means to bleed us dry for their own gain. They are knee deep in the oil business...and THEY take that very seriously. This little war has divided this country in a way that I don't think even the leadership thought possible. I don't see them trying to hold us together in any way. One has to wonder if they have a reason for liking that division...in my honest opinion.
posted by
motopoet
on May 29, 2007 at 01:31 PM
HATE..I know what that word means and I have only applied to one person in my entire life. Cindy Sheehan hates the President and has never really made any bones about it. Is her hatred justified?..That's not for me to say. There are hordes of people out there who toss that word around as easliy as they do "love". The two most powerful emotions humans possess. You'd think people would pay more attention to what they say and how they say it. My post was not about the war, occupation, massacare, bloodletting, reckoning, business proposition, ad nauseum, in Iraq. It wasn't about Cindy Sheehan. It wasn't about anything but this country's citizens inability to see anything clearly because of the blind rage that seems to have taken over on even the most trivial of issues. It doesn't matter what or where something is going on, before it's all over it's all about fingerpointing, namecalling, accusations and slander. These are manifestatons of hate and the anger that goes with it. It causes people to stop listening to anyone but those who agree with them. Everyone else is "stupid" or myriad other terms of discontent and midslinging. As I read through the comments, it became clear that only a couple of people really got what I was trying to say. All the rest decided to stick to their anger and attack the war, the president, me, whoever they could level their guns at, while missing(or ignoring the real point). I don't like the war either. I think Bush has lost his mind in the last couple of years. He has deserted the conservatives to buttress up the republican party line. He has waffled like a Clinton protoge` on issues I was certain he would never do so. But I dont hate him for it. As I said, one person in the world I hate and that person has nothing to do with politics. Where do I see hatred? From both sides, the Republicans just don't yell and scream. You don't have to do that to incite hatred from a populace ripe for that type of emotional turmoil. I will say it agin and really hope everyone gets it this time. It's about getting together to make the country strong for teh future. Losing the war on terror will effectively end planetary progress for the average human being and if we don't stop letting hate and discontent rule our decisions(espcially at the polls)we are doomed as a society. Not just here, but globally. If WE don't stop this, the rest of the world has already proved that they won't. The enemy is across the ocean, not across the aisle or street. I guess if you really feel the urge to hate someone, to blame someone for what is happening there, blame the real enemy, not your fellow citizen. I have no idea what would cause someone to say I am in denial of anything. No matter what happened in 2003, here we are today, let's deal with that now and leave the recriminations for later. Hate is a destructive force. It is divisive and addicting and difficult to overcome. It feels good..like a drug..like sex..something you want more of, and next thing you know, your neighbor is your enemy and it won't be soon enough that he is run out of town on a rail. This is not a left or right thing, it is a human thing. here is a poem I once wrote about how hate affected me: HATE IS A HOLE hate is a hole augered by evil widened by ego deep,dark and terrible a place where fear finds refuge where pain is a welcome guest the light of love unable to penetrate its enormity vanquishing hope and happiness to a place unseen from its chasm the boiling liquid of rage found churning in its bottomless cauldron on the ever deepening floor a sip now and again from the ladle of deceit to fan the flames of contempt and keep the auger turning hate is a painful thing vastly more intense than a love lost more frightening than confronting evil more consuming than any conscious thought more distracting than a mortal wound more difficult to surmount than the tallest mountain for the climb to the light is farther because hate is a hole mark....march 2002 posted by
dusty1215
on May 29, 2007 at 01:39 PM
Motopoet that is a very powerful poem about hate. But I don't believe she hates Bush as much as she hates his actions.
posted by
mattloch
on May 29, 2007 at 01:45 PM
Well Dusty, to be fair, when Bush has gone to great lengths to make it abundantly clear that he is "the Decider", and that he does nothing that he doesn't agree personally with, that line gets pretty blurry.... Bush can't be accused of doing anything for political expediency, or because of popular opinion.
posted by
sagefever
on May 29, 2007 at 03:06 PM
still a great post Moto! sumo ~sorry, my friend just died and I am a little wacky,bad excuse but it's all i got!
posted by
sumo211
on May 29, 2007 at 03:12 PM
Well...I'll just say it...I hate him...there! He's shredded the Constitution...repealed some of our civil rights...LIED and continued to LIE about things...oh...something...as important as going to war on false pretenses. We don't need to go into the death details...we all are aware of them. But their spin has no end. The people in positions who are completely unqualified performing (supposedly) in a high functional capacity...what a joke! We not only are the laughing stock of the world...we are so derided by other nations that we may never get back on track. The other nations dislike us (is hate too strong?) for meddling in their countries for our own self-interest by the way. May goodness help any new nations that discover they have oil...because the US will be there in a flash leaving smoke behind them. See...THEY don't want China to get their hands on Iran's oil...or anyone elses either. So they are looking for Israel to help the US poke a stick at Iran so they can blam them into the stoneage...and thus...the oil rich fields shall be theirs. THAT's what the Dark One (Cheney) is so interested in. Now...my 'hate' doesn't run to anything but rhetoric mind you...I'm not looking for the guys at the top to get iced or anything. I have the right to dissent their decisions...and I do in spades!
posted by
sumo211
on May 29, 2007 at 03:14 PM
Sagefever...soooooo sorry! You take care...no offense taken.
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