The War Dogs...

The disappearance of many native Americans tribal cultures,
provides stark evidence of genocides which have
occurred in the short history of American culture.

We may not have had ovens... but we did have death marches
and an "open season" on Native Americans which did destroy whole
cultures.

Our young nation's groping for adulthood has been steeped in
Genocide, Slavery, Arrogance, and Intolerance. But when the
chips are down, revolutionary spirits have risen to the task
of challenging these forces as contrary to our most sacred
trusts..

Martin reminded us to protect our constitution and Bill of Rights.
While the ugly genocide perpetrated against native Americans and
overt slavery are both "behind us," this does not mean they have
disappeared.

They are baggage we carry. And as long as we remember the lessons
learned, we can move forward to more progressive and compassionate
ground. Denial of this mixed legacy serves no useful purpose. The
current right-wing fringe which controls our nation seems obsessed
witih denial.

~The war in Iraq is "going well," in spite of 700 thousand dead,
hundreds of billions wasted, millions of refugees dispossessed,|
and the loss of our reputation, credibility, and honor.

~Our economy is "doing just fine," in spite of having been crippled
debt for the next half century, while we see net job losses, lower
pay, reduced benefits, raids on pensions, rampant corruption, no-bid
cost-plus contracts on our people, and attacks on unions and working
people which are beyond the pale.

~We are "winning," by surrendering to using our troops as mercenaries
to enforce a corporate occupation and exploitation of Iraq. We should
"support" our troops by abandoning them as targets in an ill-conceived
neo-colonialist corporate agenda for occupation.

War is not Peace. Crippling Debt is not prosperity. Subversion of the
constitution is not necessary. And toture, murder, rape, and rendition
should be roundly condemed. Facts remain.

Tim

The Issues of the Day: Fear-Mongering and its consequences

It is a sad day when the United States of America has to officially dispel rumors that it might invade a neighbor simply because its leader is ill. But after six years of fear-mongering, aggression, and diplomatic blunders... this is where we are.

Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, had to reassure the Cuban people that the United States does not intend to invade. Now that the United States has established a precedent of invading non-aggressive nations at will, our nation is seen as a bully state which may "preemptively" invade any sovereign nation... at any time. While George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Don Rumsfeld see this fear-mongering as useful to our security, many Americans feel that this stance is crude, counterproductive, and beyond the pale.

The United States is no longer seen as a beacon of freedom. We are now perceived as a nation whose behavior can be unpredictable, arbitrary, and sometimes... irresponsible. This administration has abrogated signed treaties. This means we have no credibility as a partner, and our commitment is seen as an empty gesture. In addition to this breach of trust... now that our military is overextended in corporate adventurism abroad, we cannot be counted on as a partner for our friends or as a counterbalance to the forces of our enemies.

Many Americans are disturbed by these developments. Seven of ten Americans reject the arrogant overreach of this administration and their shorts-sighted social, fiscal, and military blunders. Since this rogue band of corporate CEOs seem only concerned with the interests and concerns of two tenths of one percent of America.... it is time for the other 99.8% of America to remind these lawless pretenders about civil law, constitutional protocal, and American values.

It is time for accountability. Whether it be through ignorance or incompetence, the current administration has been unable to provide leadership, security, or peace. As a result, our international reputation has been sullied and our nation is in decline. We can do better and
we deserve better. It is wake-up time in America.

best regards, Tim Flanagan

sent Monday Morning, from the St. Louis Bread Company coffeeshop on Olive Street Road, in St. Louis County, Missouri.