American Fear

Hello Bloggers - As many of you already know, I've been on the "Save American Justice" bandwagon lately hoping for leading Democrats and Obama to take a strong position against the Bush lawbreakers since the inauguration. Unfortunately, I may be giving up on convincing our Republican friends based on numerous recent debates.

To be blunt, I'm having trouble meeting ANY Republicans - yes, I mean ANY - that are willing to admit that Bush went too far. They always defend Bush as honest at first, but when pressed with the facts they always turn to a "laws and the Constitution be damned" response. The "he kept us safe" and "that's all that matters" argument always prevails. Many finish with "the ends justify the means" even if they don't always realize they're saying it.

No matter what I say to them, our nation's founding principles of justice, humanity, and fair play during wartime mean very little to today's frightened Republican minority. They are completely uninterested in fair play these days. They seem almost brainwashed.

Our nation's "rules of engagement" have been pretty much the same since George Washington fought the British. Our founding father was a great example of fair play, despite the atrocities committed at that time. A few Americans have been charged with war crimes during past wars, but so far America has been considered a role model on how to act during times of crisis. American presidents have been pretty great leaders, representing our higher ideals during conflict, by and large.

America helped create the international conventions that guide civilized modern conflict. We always fought to protect civilians and war prisoners on all sides for decades. We didn't waiver on our principles in the past despite enemy atrocities and crimes. We always took the high road, hoping to serve as a good example of what is right in the world. Until Bush and his sheep-like Republicans, we were a shining example of good in the world - that "shining city on a hill" that Reagan liked so much.

The Republicans I've been talking to recently all seem willing to do "whatever it takes" to keep us safe. They all seem unconcerned with past rules of engagement. They seem to feel that "everything has changed in the world." I'm sure our forefathers would disagree with them if they could share some of their horror stories. I don't care what you say, but this nation has faced horrible enemies for over two centuries, and I'm sure we can handle a few thousand religious, pirate-like zealots, without abandoning our principles.

Bush and Cheney somehow brainwashed a large part of America into profoundly changing their national mindset. "9/11 changed everything" is a phrase they use far too often, and one that should be eliminated from our national debate. Their "war on terror" is also counterproductive.

The conservatives I've debated seem perfectly comfortable with the idea of torture ("on Americans if necessary" was said), eavesdropping ("on AMERICANS too" was mentioned), open-ended suspension of habeus corpus, soldiers on our streets, detention camps, neighborhood informants, private armies, and even genocide against those who they say "threaten our existence." It's very black and white with them. There is a rancid, ugly fear out there today, and it's mostly coming from Republicans. Let's hope our democracy holds; a potential dictator could have a field-day with today's Republican minority.

Bush, Cheney and the irresponsible right-wing media have helped turn a large chunk of Americans into pathetic, frightened cowards. Yes, if that applies to you, that's what I consider you - a COWARD! Yes, I said it, a COWARD!

That's what I've been calling my Republican friends who espouse undermining our national principles out of fear. You see, I would rather we risk our lives, and remain brave Americans, than sacrifice the best of what this nation is about - justice and human decency - out of fear. YES, I said it, and I mean it. OUR LIVES, ALL OUR LIVES, EVEN YOURS! For God's sake Republicans, grow a pair! Trust me, I'll feel the same way if we're attacked again. Being attacked will change NOTHING! NOTHING!

Just like our soldiers, we need to stand-up for what we believe in. Our nation needs to be an example for good in this world. No matter how bad they get, we need to stay above it. We need to always treat our enemies as human beings. Justice should not be sacrificed at the alter of fear. I will never stop fighting to preserve our national honor and system of justice. We need to fight to remain a just and honorable nation.

Michael Boh

Papamoka's Left Coast Contributor

from Our Rants & Raves Blog

California Prop 8 and Marriage

It seems ironic to me that anyone would begrudge the partnership of a committed relationship between two people in America. This is after all the land of the free, the home of the brave, and the nation that fights for freedom and against oppression on all shores across the world. We are a nation of acceptance of all nationalities, all nations, all immigrants. So why is Gay Marriage a threat to anyone?

If my neighbor or friend that is gay or lesbian, has a long term relationship, and they are happy together, then who am I or anyone else to tell them that they can not have a legally binding marriage? When did it become acceptable for Joe Six pack or Jane Decanter to insert their opinions into your heterosexual relationship lives? And if they did I’m certain it did not have any basis as to the relationship you had or have with your spouse. If it did, then you did not have a lifetime of thought and commitment to the other person in your relationship. Politics and propositions on the ballot have no place in our state or national elections. The bedrooms of America are off limits and none of your damn business on the ballot.

Prop 8 in California is all about making sure that Gay and Lesbian people can never have a “Marriage” so to speak. It is not demanding that all religions have to marry same sex couples by any means. Changing California’s state constitution to literally ban same sex marriage is not by any means from a thinking persons point of view. What it is really about is fear and misunderstanding of our fellow citizens in America. I’ll get into that later but this is what Ballot Pedia has for legal language on the proposition…

Proposition 8 is a proposed amendment to the California constitution which if passed into law would be known as the California Marriage Protection Act. This California ballot proposition will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot along with eleven other statewide propositions. Proposition 8 is one of four ballot measures which propose to amend the California state constitution and appears on the ballot titled as Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry.

If it passes, it will amend the state constitution to say "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California".[1]
The electoral contest over Prop. 8 is attracting passionate interest and attention from around the country (and even the world)[2] as it enters its last week. - BallotPedia.org

This issue really isn’t what the fear mongers are selling to the people of California. Having a Gay or Lesbian married couple living next door is not intruding on your bedroom. Voting for Prop 8 would in fact be invading into everyone’s bedroom. What is next on the proposition voter initiatives questions? You can’t hold hands with your wife in a public square? How about throwing a burkah over your wife and daughters? Any deviant sexual positions not authorized by the state you could be arrested for an imprisoned for. Would Peeping Tom's be sanctioned by Homeland Security? Even if you were two consenting adults.

Gay marriage is not a threat to traditional marriage in any logical terms unless you think you or your spouse may be gay or lesbian. Then that is an issue that you and your spouse need to discuss or hire a damn good lawyer for. Speaking of that, if gay people want to get married then let them, in America today just over 50% of long term relationships break up and the legal community could use the economic benefit. We are after all in an economic recession.

My wife and I have been married (Catholic) for over 14 years and we have had our good times and our bad times. We have survived to date by having one another through a traditional marriage. I lean on her and she on I on a daily basis. Nothing less than that and either one of us could have just said “Screw it!” and walked away. We have been blessed from God above with five baby girls and they do play a major part in our relationship and love for one another. Not once in our 14 years of marriage have we ever feared our gay or lesbian friends influence on our children or our marriage. There has never been reason to do so! It’s simply irrelevant of our personal commitment to one another as a “Married” couple. So why is Gay marriage a threat to anyone else’s relationship as a married couple? This isn’t about invading anyone’s faith, demanding churches wed them because the state constitution says you have too! It does not work that way when our nation has separation of church and state. That is in the United States Constitution. You can’t trump that legal document.

Proposition 8 in California is a disaster and has no bearing on your relationship with your wife or husband. Massachusetts passed a gay marriage law and we have not fallen off the face of the Earth. Matter of fact, it hasn’t changed anything other than the fact that two people can make a lifetime commitment to one another. And yes, the divorce rate is on par with the rest of us that are married in churches and temples and what have you. If anything, we should let the gay community across America see how frustrating or rewarding a true marriage of two people can be. Misery loves company so to speak.

Till death do us part can have many interpretations and if the two people that exchange that vow mean it, then God bless them both for it. Man and woman, or same sex participants in one relationship that joins two together for life.

Common sense has to prevail where fear is used to subjugate your fellow Americans. This is not an issue for states to vote on! This is a human rights issue where people need to see that love sometimes comes in forms that you as an individual do not understand but it is still love between two people. How is this relevant to real issues our states and our nation need to face? It isn’t. Prop 8 should go down in defeat just as all racist legislation should. Enough is enough!

Papamoka