There is something distinctly perverse and morally depraved in celebrating the recent blows to habeas corpus and the Bill of Rights, suggesting the re-implementation of slavery, and stating that the Native American genocide was justified by the end results. Yet Gould did so. And frankly, it is difficult to imagine many of his peers amongst the ruling elite (like Dick Cheney for instance) disagreeing with him, in private at least. Even if some yielded to the dictates of reason and conscience by taking exception to Gould’s praise for torture and genocide, it is infinitely more difficult to imagine them breaking a sweat to pursue justice for the victims. 

Gould stated he was “speaking out for Bush’s ‘Silent Minority.’” I do give him credit for his brutal honesty. Gould’s jeremiad affirmed that the United States has devolved into a militaristic and belligerent state, an empire, a brutal oppressor, a white patriarchy (with an occasional token minority or woman slipping through a crack in the marble ceiling), a corporatocracy, and most importantly, a nation of the rich, by the rich and for the rich. 

What Jay Gould III and his opulent cohorts need to realize is that they are destined to fail in their hubristic and avaricious quest to perpetually subjugate and exploit those whom they perceive to be their “inferiors”. Those of us who draw our inspiration from the Abolitionists, the Women Suffragists, labor organizers, civil rights activists, environmentalists, and anti-war activists are a determined lot. Our “base” is much larger than that of the likes of George Bush—despite the fact that many amongst the poor and working class have been deluded into aligning themselves with their oppressors. Most importantly, our moral right will ultimately vanquish their monetary and military might.  

My good friend Patrice Greanville, editor of Cyrano’s Journal Online(6), recently reminded me that “patience is more important to a sincere revolutionist than courage or even intelligence.” It is only a matter of time before our efforts bear fruit, and I am prepared to strive tenaciously until the pendulum swings toward equality and justice.  

Your beloved empire is crumbling, Mr. Gould. Enjoy your affluence while you and your fellow patricians still can.  

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