Random Thoughts and America

A former U.S. Navy Vietnam Veteran, has sent us the following "random thoughts on this great country that was once called America." The war in Iraq, working-class people in the military, and the bombings in the U.K. are part of these thoughts and are worth noting here on the Rising Hegemon.

This submission touches on the broader relationship between social class, the military, and nationalism. For working-class young men (and now women), joining the military is often seen as a respectable career path, a backdoor to the 'American Dream.' Reflecting the disillusionment of many Vietnam veterans, this commentator observes the false illogic of linking violence and warfare with the notions of freedom and prosperity. At minimum, it's worth a read.

Monsters Fighting Monsters

The only thing I am sure of is that we are caught in the middle of two equally guilty monsters that kill large numbers of people in the name of their god. I hate the Islamic zealots coming out of Arabia to kill innocent human beings; I also hate what the administration is doing to Iraq. When Bush talks about evil, he has to tuck his tail in before someone sees it. When Blair tells the Brits they are standing up for freedom around the world, he too must hide his horns. The longer we stay in Iraq the worse this is going to get, we will kill more and more innocents and say---sorry we did not intentionally kill you.

Americans are just waking up to the sad story that everything they believe in is gone, we have few freedoms left, and in the coming months and years we will lose more. We have been caught red-handed torturing human beings, we have bombed cities to the point of killing hundreds of women and children and we don't even bother to count the dead. The Islamic zealots are not better than we are, they are just weaker. The thing that should scare the hell out of you is that we have not been attacked again.

Our borders are easy to go across, our trains and buses are almost totally vulnerable, our ports are wide open and our air traffic security is a joke. We spend billions on checking little old ladies and almost nothing on the cargo that goes on the plane. What a mess. All these items have been on the news, yet still nothing gets done, we can react and that's all folks.

We now have high-level administration officials outing CIA undercover operatives. Has anyone asked the question, why anyone would want to go undercover for this government knowing that they could be made not by the bad guys but by the good guys. Rove should be arrested and tried for treason. Just random thoughts on this great country that was once called America.

And this person voted for Bush in the past election; wow, things must be falling apart among Bush supporters. Or at least, one can hope.