No
Hero's Welcome?
September
25, 2003
By Vincent L. Guarisco
"Americans have been taught that their nation is civilized
and humane. But, too often, U.S. actions have been uncivilized
and inhumane." - Howard Zinn, historian and author
Did Uncle Sam always have such a cold, black heart? Or did
Sammy's heartstrings lose their chromatic charm and warmth
when the Bush cartel dipped it into an oozing barrel of Texas
Tea imported from the Middle East?
I know many of you are still wrapped in the flag, but can
you at least pull it down past your eyes and ears for minute?
The mouth area on down can remain star-spangled and entwined.
I appreciate your cooperation. I need your quiet, patriotic
attention.
Notice anything missing in the news media since all this
war business started? Where is all the media attention for
the more than 300 fallen military servicemen who have been
killed in Iraq and shipped back home? I ask again - has anyone
heard the trumpets blaring or seen cameras clicking in patriotic
fever as the body bags arrive and unload from military cargo
planes? While I'm on the subject - has anyone seen any televised
funerals or heard any interviews with relatives of the deceased
who are not happy campers? Hardly anything? Hmmmm, go figure.
I apologize for asking such disturbing questions, but duty
calls in the wake of duplicity, and simply waving the flag
is not enough, in fact it's not even close. If we want to
call ourselves true American patriots, it's our duty to "ask
questions," and lots of them. When considering all the brave
souls who have given their lives for country and cartel, perhaps
asking questions and demanding honest answers will be the
true battle cry of our times.
Listen up. For the record - it's not my intention or desire
to disrespect or dishonor our soldiers by calling the Bush
administration a "cartel." Let me make one thing perfectly
clear; our soldiers are our nation's bravest treasure - unlike
the cheap flyboy who stole his way to power and the expensive
administrative white-collar "suits" who needlessly send our
brothers and sisters into harm's way over an oil-well of cultivated
lies.
Our society is purposely shielded from such upsetting details
of homebound fatalities because the Makers of War want us
to have a more pleasant, picturesque impression of war without
the imagery of loss and death. It's a full-blown media blackout
which acts as a nerve-block for the masses. Like they say
- out of sight, out of mind.
There are several layers of skin to this war business -
more than most Americans will ever imagine: The Project for
a New American Century (PNAC) did not blink an eye when fabricating
terrorist scarecrows for our peaceful garden for the sole
purpose of germinating a conflict, another Pearl Harbor event
was complementary to their goal and of public record. Most
of us who dissent already understand the matrix. For those
of you who are now beginning to awaken - welcome to the PNAC
Era of Bloody Oz. We welcome you with open arms for your involvement
in helping us restore order to our traumatized nation.
The Bush regime proved it can successfully market high-tech
wars to those watching on the sidelines - TV clips of successful
flight missions with bombers lighting off missiles on the
horizon... Old Glory flying on tanks and Bradley vehicles
rolling over distant sand dunes. Sprinkle a little homegrown-footage
showing clear-channel pro-war attendees chanting and performing
body waves and - voila! - it goes down the gullet like mother's
milk. For those of you who attended these rallies, we hold
no grudge. We are happy to have you on our side of the aisle
marching now for peace instead of war.
This following will help our mission for peace. Televising
dead or mutilated sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, friends
and those not mentioned arriving home in gift-wrapped body
bags has a reverse effect - it quickly diminishes the flavor
of the anticipated selling points of war and hostile occupation.
Don't be fooled by the terminology - war, hostile occupation,
covert action, nation-building or whatever name you choose
to give it is a deadly commodity manufactured, packaged and
sold to the American consumer by elites who stand to gain
immensely.
Make no mistake, such slaughter is engineered and carried
into play from a safe distance at no risk to those who desire
acquiring all the world's natural resources. Unlike the rest
of us poor souls who are forced to engage in battle, it's
cut and dried; we're all considered expendable. I'm sure those
who died would not mind being exploited for peace - after
all, it was a falsely propagated war that killed them in the
first place.
It takes a shrewd, sickened mind coupled with a hardened
soul to plan such bloody pilferage, but this is the reality
we all must face. These 21st Century power brokers have no
remorse and will sacrifice innocent lives for their selfish
gain. Our loss is very real, and so it seems - becoming a
casualty of war is not the last sacrifice. A final paragraph
is written for the fallen in disappearing ink, a final insult
before closing the last cryptic page - a dead handshake, a
zipper bag and a silent homecoming so as not to scare away
future recruiting efforts and replacements. If there is a
God, I'm sure He has a special place for those who do these
horrible things.
The Bush cartel leaves no stone unturned, aside from the
dead they have the living to manipulate. They fully understand
that virtually every soldier who serves in Iraq is being exposed
to high amounts of radiation from the massive amounts of depleted-uranium
munitions that were exploded and handled during the war, including
many other deadly toxins and carcinogens (this includes munitions
dropped in 1991).
I suspect not long ago a baby vulture must have landed on
Bush's shoulder and whispered into his ear that the VA Risk
Management boys projected several hundred thousand medical
illnesses will quickly arise, thus creating several hundred
thousand medical claims to come flying through the VA system
in the aftermath of all this. I'm sure that evil birdie also
informed him of the astronomical genetic birth defects that
will surely affect their children for generations to come.
Yep, the good 'ol boys really know how to prioritize risk
management.
Being a man of action Bush rose for the occasion and immediately
slashed VA benefits and healthcare. Be advised - he made these
cuts while soldiers were engaged in combat.
Bottom line - America deserves better! This is the overpowering
inspirational cry that transmits commentary such as this onto
your computer screen, a beckoning desire for a kinder, caring
establishment that reflects our best interest and good will.
Like a majority of Americans, I did not vote for the idiot
son of a defense contractor who's making a killing at our
expense.
We don't have to be governed by fear and deception. A wise
leader is a musical sharpshooter who orchestrates a poetic
song for our peaceful prosperity, a gentle administrator who
establishes a rhythmic expression that harmonizes a dance
for everyone's joyful theatrical score. A true leader is a
visionary who will aim softly, pull graciously, and deliver
compassionately our target of transitory dreams. A leadership
so marveled that it births an envious fellowship that is mimicked
by the neighboring spectators around us.
For that dream and for the memory of those who fell to keep
the American dream alive I demand we make them all accountable
for their actions.
I admit I hold very little respect for today's politicians;
even for the ones within my own Democratic Party, for most
have forgotten whom they serve. But if I could ask for one
small concession - one little request - it would be that every
official who voted in favor of going to war be required to
unzip each body bag that returns home and view the contents
inside. After doing so, they must attend each funeral within
their home states, and then look into the eyes of each family
member whose life was destroyed and confess if they made the
right decision in authorizing such wanton destruction.
I would also ask that each American who takes a pro-war
position to take a pilgrimage to Arlington Cemetery in Virginia,
and while they're at it visit the Vietnam Memorial in DC.
If anyone can do all that and still wrap himself in the American
flag while shouting for war, then perhaps we really do have
a valid enemy who threatens our safety. But as it stands right
now, our own worst enemy is within.
Vincent L Guarisco is a freelance writer from Bullhead
City, Arizona, a contributing editor for Axis of Logic and
a lifetime member of the Alliance of Atomic Veterans.
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