What part of Obama's speech in Cairo should give us hope for a new relationship with the Islamic world? Rhetoric is just rhetoric when actions contradict. Obama has become the new salesman for the American royalty of rich power brokers and entitled elitists.
The significance of Obama's journey to the Middle East to give a polished speech he began writing before his election is window dressing and disingenuous. His destinations of Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the cues to his lack of sincerity toward the Muslim world. He chose the two most repressive regimes of the region to curry favor with the long misunderstood and vilified people of Islamic faith. He spoke eloquently about peace in Palestine and even dared to challenge Israel but his failure to speak of the repression of Egypt's Mubarak and the Saudi royal family makes his words hollow and hypocritical.
Progressives and liberals may want us to give Obama time but families sending their sons and daughters off to the quagmires of Iraq and Afghanistan war wonder when enough is enough after multiple deployments of their loved ones. Yes, there is still two wars being waged in the name of this nation and billions each month is being spent to fund them. Billions that could be spent to "bail-out" the millions who have lost jobs due to the handling of the phony economic crisis.
What goodwill is being gained by this nation when we continue to wage illegal and immoral wars in nations of large Islamic populations? And how do we stem the hatred toward Americans when we send drones into Pakistan and make multiple mistakes in bombing the homes of innocent civilians instead of the alleged enemy?
As expected the new deal of Obama has turned out to be the same old deal of oligarchy, imperialism and nationalistic insanity. As expected Obama has sold out to the self appointed "royalty" of America. The richest families and multi-national corporations continue to wield the greatest influence and power in this alleged democracy. Locally and nationally special interests buy the elected political prostitutes while the poor and diminishing middle class go begging for table scraps of the great American dream.
While Obama speaks with a charisma not heard since JFK, like JFK he is merely a tool of a corrupted system never meant to be about "we, the people".
Wm. Terry Leichner, RN
Denver VVAW member
Walking the Continental Divide near Loveland Pass in Colorado on July 5, 08
Terry in Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park
On Flattop Trail May 2008
About Me
- Terry
- I'm a 71 year old Marine combat veteran of Vietnam ('67-'69). I was 18 when I went to war and returned as a CPL at age 19. I co-founded VVAW Denver chapter in '71 with national organizer Brian Adams and a third vet. It was the second rendition of VVAW in Denver. I've worked since my time in combat to end the insanity of war that kills our young. Ending war and bringing peace is only the first step. We also need justice for the poor and excluded.
Visions of Peace: A Combat Vet's Dream
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Spearhead
Listen to: Crime to Be Broke in America
Green Parrots by Gino Strada, MD
EMERGENCY is a NGO led by Dr. Gino Strada that deserves our help...he and others establish surgical units in war zones no else will touch
Other Lands Have Dreams by Kathy Kelly
War is A Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges
Losing Moses on the Freeway
American Fascists
Ludlow Massacre Monument
Ludlow, Colorado
1 comment:
Thank you, Terry, for that reality check. Too many progessives have been lulled into silence by the silver-tongued "change" fairy. They need to recall the French proverb, “Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.” [The more things change, the more they remain the same.] It is up to the people to point out that the new emperor is (un)clad in the same imperialist regalia as the old one.
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