When harm has been done

When harm has been done in return for good deeds,
Ever. then it is to be answered by great compassion.
The excellent beings of this world
Return a good deed for an evil one. (Buddhist)



The death toll for American troops killed in Iraq, now stands at 2900. Soon it will pass the 3,000 mark and when that occurs in about 4 to 6 weeks, it will briefly make headlines.

There is a present media framing strategy that we are hearing coming from those who are attempting to minimize the damage caused by the Bush Administration. They are saying words to the effect that the amount of loss from the Iraq occupation is not so great and is relatively tiny.

When I hear this, I get pretty angry. It is part of a devaluing of human life and dismissing the misery caused by the death of a loved one. Its cold, its one of the essential problems that we are faced with and it comes from these power hungry insiders. I personally know 4 families who have sons in Iraq. I live in a relatively small community. One of those sons was killed in Iraq, another two were wounded.

My present sense of this larger mess indicates that Bush is becoming more and more isolated in his view to stay the course. Soon the Iraq Study Group will put out its Bush face saving recommendations. Most major news related magazines are all over the story.

I recall protesting the beginning of this war. If you were up on the information, you knew it was all based on nonsense and lies. So you went out and made a small attempt to stop it. The war had only one possible trajectory, the steady movement to utter failure.

I am now of the opinion that the way to stop the crazed authoritarian personality is with stronger power. When you are shouted at, shout back louder. When you are told to be quiet, make the loudest noise you can make. When you are told that dissent is wrong, make dissent your continuous purpose. I don't believe it is compassionate to lay down for the authoritarian personality, to try to win them by reason or with skill or with the truth.

Its time for the progressives in this country to get assertive and forceful and confrontational. I'm sick of swift boaters, sick of lying pundits. We need a break. Send the authoritarians out hard and on the seat of their pants. As you might assume, I want to see Bush impeached, and I want to see him indicted for war crimes along with the whole swarm of neocons. This would be a good step.