"Let me give you a word of the philosophy of reform. The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims, have been born of earnest struggle. The conflict has been exciting, agitating, all-absorbing, and for the time being, putting all other tumults to silence. It must do this or it does nothing. If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters."
"This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. [emphasis added] It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted...."
Keeping Frederick Douglas' words in mind, let's turn to the issue of the Iraq War. I feel it is the most pressing issue since the Iraq War was the prime reason given for the Democrats gaining control of the Congress. And since this Saturday many of us will be taking part in yet another mass demonstration to end the war in Iraq that we begged our Congresspersons and Senators not to vote for in the first place.
Where do our Democratic Congresspersons and Senators start from on the issue of the Iraq War? Let's look at my local representatives. Congressman Israel voted for war in Iraq. Congressman Bishop voted for war in Iraq. Congresswoman McCarthy voted for war in Iraq. Senator Schumer voted for war in Iraq. Senator Clinton voted for War in Iraq. (We remember well that Senator Clinton told us that she was going to vote for the Iraq War despite the 10,000 emails she received opposing it.)
Turning to Frederick Douglas' words what is our demand?
Leave Iraq. Now.
No quibbling over so-called troop surges like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. No timetables or excuses. Enough Americans have died. Enough Iraqis have died. When we threw off the mantle of England's rule, the French didn't insist on staying here to tell us how to run our country, the French didn't build huge military bases here, and the French didn't take our natural resources to pay themselves for it. Yes we had rebellions here, and the articles of confederation totally failed after 10 years. Not to mention that the second governing document, the Constitution, affirmed the evil institution of slavery. And thereby set the stage for an immensely bloody civil war. Sounds just like we've accomplished by invading Iraq, and trying to run it. Stay or go, a nation must find its way. Since staying has not improved the process, we must leave Iraq now.
Let's talk about what ideas the Democratic majority has put before Congress. There are several bills that are primarily focused on the distraction of the troop surge, which is actually means returning the troops to last year's level. There are also several bills that actually talk about leaving Iraq. All of them are disappointingly "time-table" bills. There is no bill before congress to get us out of Iraq immediately. The most popular of the timetable bills is the so-called "The Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act" (H.R. 508) which requires SIX MONTHS to get out of Iraq. This bill is being pushed by all the Move-On type organizations and has the most co-sponsors. But don't get excited. In addition to it's sponsor California Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, there are a paltry 16 congresspersons co-sponsoring. The majority of them are the usual suspects that have been in Congress forever: (Barbara Lee, Maxine Waters, Diane Watson, James McGovern, Raul Grijalva, Dennis Kucinich, Barney Frank, Maurice Hinchey, John Conyers, Jerrold Nadler, Chaka Fattah, Bob Filner, William "Lacy" Clay, Donald Payne, Steve Cohen and Sheila Jackson Lee.)
I understand the the Progressive Democrats of America just started seeking support for the same Congressman Jim McGovern is reintroducing the so-called ""Safe and Orderly Withdrawal Act" (HR 4232). This is also a six month timetable bill. When it was introduced last year it had a paltry eleven sponsors: John Lewis, Ms. Jan Schakowsky, Jose Serrano, Nydia Velasquez, Mr. Pete Stark, Carolyn Kilpatrick, and the same Barney Frank, Lynn Woolsey, Maxine Waters, Dennis Kucinich, Donald Payne, and Barbara Lee.
Where are all the new Congresspersons like New York's John Hall that were supposedly elected in opposition to Iraq? Where are our congresspersons Bishop, McCarthy, & Israel?
I know the answers. They fear being called unpatriotic and cowardly. The answer to them lies in the speech Dr. King gave announcing his opposition to the Viet Nam War. It was given exactly one year before he was murdered. In that speech Dr King quoted the Buddhist monk and teacher Thich Nhat Hanh who is still exiled from his homeland of Viet Nam for opposition to the Viet Nam War. Dr. King had previously nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize. Here are the words Dr. King quoted:
Each day the war goes on the hatred increases in the heart of the Vietnamese and in the hearts of those of humanitarian instinct. The Americans are forcing even their friends into becoming their enemies. It is curious that the Americans, who calculate so carefully on the possibilities of military victory, do not realize that in the process they are incurring deep psychological and political defeat. The image of America will never again be the image of revolution, freedom and democracy, but the image of violence and militarism.
This speech by Dr. King so beautifully lays out a vision of "making America again" that I was tempted to lay my own writing aside and just read his, so I ask you to indulge me as I turn again to Dr. King's speech. In its opening paragraphs he illuminates the paths that we, and our leaders, must take. Dr. King reiterates his host's statement on the Viet Nam War:
"A time comes when silence is betrayal."
He went on to state that:
The truth of these words is beyond doubt but the mission to which they call us is a most difficult one. Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government's policy, especially in time of war. Nor does the human spirit move without great difficulty against all the apathy of conformist thought within one's own bosom and in the surrounding world.
Moreover when the issues at hand seem as perplexed as they often do in the case of this dreadful conflict we are always on the verge of being mesmerized by uncertainty; but we must move on.
The Wilder's life has always veered between art and politics. When they got together in the late 1990's, Kimberly and Ian ratcheted up their activities. Together, Ian and Kimberly Wilder published chapbooks; gave dozens of poetry readings; published poetry; wrote newspaper articles; and hosted events.
Ian has performed spoken word as a part of the near-mythic folk groovin' band Nylon & Steel, and was co-founding lyricist for the duo Spiritwalkers. His work with Nylon & Steel can be found on the album "Slip Behind the Molecule".
With Nader's 2000 presidential campaign, the Wilders were drawn back into politics. Within four years they had co-founded the Babylon Greens at their kitchen table; run the first full ticket of Greens in their town's history; got Kimberly twice elected to the Executive Committee of Green Party of New York State; and then Ian to the position of GPNYS State Party Co-chair.
In 2006 , Ian stepped back from state politics after retaining the right to enroll Green in NY by successfully getting Malachy McCourt on the ballot for Governor , and Kimberly returned to the Executive Committee for a third term.
you make several rather excellent points regarding the way our current politics system works, or rather fails to work for the good of the community, instead focussing on the welfare of the wealthy few and the selfish interests and needs of those who need to raise monies for reelection campaigns. I am certain that, as a professed Green yourself, you understand to large degree how this single facet warps the entire process of governance.
I have come to understand that, no matter the eloquence of the campaigner, no matter the promises made to the voter, once elected the lawmaker turns that allegiance to those who can ensure or deny reelection. Do you really expect these sold souls to actually consider real election reform when they have flourished under the current and crooked system? Do you think them capable of banning lobbyists when they, themselves, hunger for a retirement job paying a large six figure annual stipend. Never mind that they once spoke with passion about ending corruption, war and poverty, there just isnt any money in that crap.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Monday, February 5, 2007 at 11:08:32 AM
1 comments
How would you rate this?
You must be logged in (if signed up) to do ratings.
It's free to signup! And easy. And takes just a minute or two....
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
