Response/Answer to WTF is Wrong With This Country

Sectarian Attack Is Worst in Baghdad Since Invasion(NYT November 24,06)






RE: [CCJP-discuss] WTF is Wrong With This Country???
Standard Header|Hide Pane
ViewWednesday, November 22, 2006 7:06:07 PM
To:terry >peezfulmindz@yahoo.com>
Cc:CCJP-discuss@yahoogroups.com


Good laundry list. And the list is getting longer. Yet I’m one who hopes, for an end of tyrants and better building of a culture that can socialize bullies before they become tyrants. I hope we don’t have to collapse and completely rebuild. But I always wonder when we, not just you but we, condemn the victims.

All that’s part of why I spent decades in education, only to get distracted with efficiency in education, which is more a tyrant’s agenda than peoples’. As things got worse or better, I would become or less involved, while also thinking about roots of our problems, like a good little scholar.

At the center of all these issues are the leaders who decide and how they deal with the people. Our early visits to Reps is one good idea. And at the center of leaders is how we elect them. How do we elect the thoughtful legislators that we always imagined, rather than the salesmen we have too many of? And not to say we don’t need some salesmen, always, or dynamic leaders at times. Churchill was right for his war, but not before or after. (I won’t dwell on the roots of that war, here.) Everyone, not just activists, wants to be heard, if not appreciated, when we have an idea. How can we do more to improve the dialog with our leaders, especially with our candidates?

And yes, bringing more people in, and connecting them with leaders and candidates is the center of Civic Satisfaction. But still only one of the many ideas we get to pursue as activists and citizens.

And when we have two parties with one voice, and major frustration on our part, do recall, that small step is in a better direction. And look at the progress of the last few hundred years. We have more rights, even without full rights to accusations and trial. Family violence is no longer normal, the mean of Shakespear and Dickens' day, but something we are rooting out. Most of the world hates our wars, but not us. I won’t produce another laundry list, as important as they are.

And remember Confucius and Greening of America: easy on the rate of change. Too much change, even good ideas, destabilize the whole and create it’s own chaos, which really sours people on a good idea. So too remember the ancient sages’ talk of the activity rest cycle. We need activity and rest. And we need different types of activity or rest. So video games in balance are fun and can be cathartic. Often, violent fantasies mean your muscles are calling for some exercise, or, "it’s a tricky day for you," not necessarily a social crisis.

So if the steps are small at the end of the pendulum swing, they are the steps the body politic can handle and somewhat in the right direction. And it’s a long journey. And as goals are merely the mean of life, we’ll always have great challenges.

And so use your anger and frustration to focus, but don’t forget to play whatever you do play, and to relax. And you know that anger and frustration are not good for your heart. So take heart, the American people are moving, growing, learning. But some ideas must be re-taught and rethought every generation.

Wgxxxxx

Answer:

Interesting points. My question would be which group we tell to expect slow progression of history to address their needs?

Certainly we've put the black community on hold for far too long. We seem to be regressing in the treatment and acceptance of the Latin@, Hispanic, Chicano and Mexican population.

I would have difficulty facing the mothers of Iraqi veterans on their second or third tour with the information the war needs time to wind down. Congress has already said that in their lack of urgency to address the withdrawal of troops.

The children and innocents of Darfur have already been waiting for a genocide too long. It's unconscionable to ask another generation to wait as the progress of history develops.

From the many reports about the state of the planet's environment it seems clear we've already passed the tipping point of irrevocably changing it. I have one enviromentalist friend who tells me we are on the brink of extinction in the near future. I hate to portray her as an alarmist given her long history in the environmental movement.

We face the threat of depleted uranium but given the half life we will have plenty of time to work on that one. The issue of combat PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) for returning veterans can be put on hold since the budget won't allow for effective treatment anyway. And historically, the veterans have always been lied to about what they would receive on return from war. Why change the history at this point.

Many changes at once may be characterized as revolution by some even though Confucious may disagree. Some may say the government of this country only changes when the threat of revolution looms as the alternative.

While history may show the progress over the generations has been evolving with positive change, I'm not reassured by the history of social change. My children and grandchildren are living in the here and now.

The implications of nuclear weapons poised at full alert all throughout the Midwest of the U.S. certainly makes this a different period in history. The environmental changes wrought by the willful and criminal polluting of corporations focused on greed and power seem to indicate the "chickens will come home to roost" sooner rather than later.

We all have our own ways of coping with these possibilities. I choose to be outraged and angry by the insanity of the time. I guess it comes from my background as a combat vet. That experience outraged me.The continuation of such madness continues to do so.

Having said that, it would be presumptious to think outrage and anger can't be balanced with rest and enjoyable activity.

I've often joked with my non-activist friends the idea of humor or fun is difficult to express in any peace and justice organization. There is a decided lack of humor or willingness to have fun while immersed in the seriousness of the movement, unfortunately.

I do refuse to accept violent video games are a healthy catharsis for young children. One study I've read shows these games do help children in being prepared to operate the tools of war, however. Recruiters are encouraged by this study, I'm sure.

Sadly, the warning, television is a vast wasteland, is more than true. It's not only that but it's a tool for operant conditioning of the masses. The repetitive showings of violence has desensitized and normalized formative minds to violence. Since the late 1950's the level and frequency of violence on televison has increased to a point most children have witnessed hundreds or thousands of acts of violence by the time they reach adolescence.

The one time freedom of going out to play ball in an empty lot without a parent interfering is just an old-timer's memory for most kids today. In a country all about being number one, failing to win is not acceptable. For many kids not athletic enough to be on the team what does it leave them? Do they become the "losers" if they just happen to be mediocre in sports and academics?

There are many pockets of hope all over this nation. I've met young and old in the past few years who gave me great hope. I've seen the undying spirit of Katrina survivors. I've been blessed to be with Iraq vets who are speaking out with great passion and in greater numbers. I've listened to slam poets and hip hop artists that made my spine tingle with the messages they sent out to their audiences.

I've been blessed to meet Ardeth Platte, Jackie Hudson and Carol Gilbert. I've been blessed to see Kathy Kelly and have been inspired by her mission and her tenacity. I stumbled upon Cindy Sheehan while going to join veteran friends that asked me to come to Crawford. I've been honored to witness the quiet dignity and integrity of Abdul Henderson, my friend.

Locally there are so many heroic figures waging the good struggle against injustice and violence. Carolyn B, Mag and Ken S, Cheryl D, Claire R, Rich and Ellen A, Dahlia W, Kelly D, Jeff E, Joe H, Sarah B, Andy B, Sarah G, Erin D, Larry H, Shareef A, Nita G, Allen G, Paula B, Karen T, Hannah H, Kate G, Cynda C, Tom K, Frank B, Charles E, Mary Ellen and Paul G ....and so many more are the forgotten heroes who work tirelessly for change and expect it to happen.

And so do I.

William Terry Leichner, RN

USMC combat vet

Denver VVAW member

(Unfortunately due to spying by government agencies I didn't want to provide an neat list to them by using the last names of the locals mentioned. But you know who you are)