When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Thursday, May 08, 2003
Looking at potential presidential candidates, three have potential: former Illinois Sen. Carol Mosely Braun, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, and possibly former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. I plan to check them out over the next few weeks and will present what I find in this space.
Mosely-Braun is against Bush's warmongering (and has said so publicly) and argues for repeal of the so-called Patriot Act.
Here is a selection from her speech to the California Democratic Convention this spring:
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Carol Mosely-Braun
Looking at potential presidential candidates, three have potential: former Illinois Sen. Carol Mosely Braun, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, and possibly former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. I plan to check them out over the next few weeks and will present what I find in this space.
Mosely-Braun is against Bush's warmongering (and has said so publicly) and argues for repeal of the so-called Patriot Act.
Here is a selection from her speech to the California Democratic Convention this spring:
We want an America as good as it is mighty, and we will not be intimidated by the disparaging of our allies, the threatened destruction of our international institutions, such as NATO and the United Nations or by popular folly that renames French fries.
My friends, this rush to war does not benefit the American people. Invading Iraq may benefit the energy conglomerates and defense contractors, but for ordinary Americans, there are no benefits – only costs.
They won’t tell us what this war will cost the American people, but we can begin to make a list:[We Are the Patriots, California Democratic Party Convention, March 16, 2003]
- We know it has cost us the worldwide sympathy, support and solidarity against terrorism that we had after 9/11;
- We know they have disclosed costs of between $60 and $200 billion dollars if military action is short, but that estimate does not include the $27 billion they’ve tried to pay Turkey or the $25 million they’re promised Pakistan. We may not know for a long time how many payments have been made to purchase a coalition for this war.
- We know the costs to our domestic security. Not a single hijacker on September 11th was Iraqi. The administration’s treatment of prisoners, their targeting of immigrants from selected countries, their coded language of “Good and Evil” has only increased worldwide resentment against us, and probably impaired our ability to work with others in a global fight against terrorism;
- The cost can be measured in the assault on our fundamental freedoms. The Attorney General has decided that the Patriot Act is not enough; he is proposing a Patriot II that is even worse. This Administration had the audacity to propose a comprehensive program called Total Information Awareness to monitor ordinary Americans and tap phones and email at will. This is not science fiction. This is government policy.
- The cost is measured in the risk – God forbid – to human life. Our leaders seem to have forgotten what war really means. Perhaps that is because the rich and the privileged rarely come face to face with it.
Palema
5:36 AM
Comments:
Post a Comment
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
|
|