Wednesday, March 12, 2003

 

Guest Column

Tonight we turn this page over to Brahma's World group member, Bum's Rush.....

From: bum's rush (Original Message) Sent: 3/11/2003 10:27 PM
I don't get it. I saw Bush push the regime change line a week or so ago; we've heard it countless times now, the U.S. makes short work of sadaam and his army, the Iraqi people cheer us like we were marching into paris, and they quickly take to the democratic utopia we give them, modeled after something like our own. Just like we did Germany and Japan after those joyous years of world war. Happiness prevails. Sentimenal journey, "Kiss me once and kiss me twice, and kiss me once again, its been a long long time"

Now, I must not have eaten properly when young, because I have a nagging feeling that something doesn't fit. I try to think of an instance since 1947 where we have implemented such a scenario. With the hundreds where this country has meddled in the politics of other countries, which country did we leave in anything remotely looking like the rosey picture Bush paints. Viet Nam? Chile? Nicaragua? Columbia? Indonesia? Zaire? Cambodia? Laos? Phillipines? Saudi Arabia? Greece? South Korea? Florida and the U.S.? The list goes on, every continent, perhaps every country; these are the higlights of overt and covert policies of assasination, internal political manipulation, external political coercion, armed conflict, economic pressure. Where has there been a rise of democracy in any tangible sense? Unless you measure it by hours spent working in off-shore factories for 10 cents an hour, eating fast food, watching t.v. Cynical as this sounds, it seems the real cynics are the ones who think the same old is the only way - conviently ignoring that these are to ways that have enabled the U.S. to use 60% of the world's resources. The "same old" we have heard about for too long: maybe we need to face up to the fact that much of the world connects the U.S. with unnecessary starvation (1 child every 7 seconds), refusal to adequately assist with world-wide AIDS and disease at epidemic levels, a constant state of war between nations (Bush sr. sits on the board of the Carlye Group - the largest weapons broker in the world).

My highest has had nothing to do with fighting (although I will make an exception - Ali vs. Forman on the radio - draft dodger vs. flag waver, artist vs. machine). I know that Bush Inc. have no conception of the beauty of the sounds I, you, each of us hold dear - these notes are a communication of morality We can suffocate under the cowboy/oilman aesthetics of "shock and awe" or we can realize it is possible to smoke out hatred through a hookah and the music of the cosmos. Is there anyone out there who finds anything about Bush, Ashcroft, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, interesting and inspiring? Like Zappa, JB, Muddy, Howling wolf, Coltrane, Bloomfield, Blind_______, Hank (sr.), Rumi, Sun Ra, Hazel, Scratch, Fela, and each other?

What if this is our last chance to show the old testament fire and storm god that we are worthy of continued existence (with all the bliblical references - MOAB bomb today just one more - Ezekial something or other- why not consider this possiblity)? Do we really think bombing this particular petty murderous dictator that we armed and supported will win us points with the divine Mr. G., or might the creator shake her/his/its head and bid us good night and good riddance?

the Brahma's partial response...

From: The Brahma in response to Message 1 Sent: 3/12/2003 2:21 AM
Bum's Rush returns with a vengeance...making more sense than Chaney & Co make dollars. Germany and Japan changed for the better, but with considerable different circumstance. Both countries were populated by essentially one nationality (especially Germany after WW2, yes?), unlike Iraq that is comprised of many different peoples. The only reason they're even in the same country is that England set the borders for them. I would also suggest that if we had a regime change here in the U.S., the reception of cheering and flag waving you described would be seen in our own streets!

Then again, look what we did for Hawaii. After we took it as a spoil of war, we got those peacefully ignorant coconut eaters to wise up and build 20 story mega hotels right on the beach and start cooking up some pig-in-a pit.

posted by ~Brahma 2:35 AM