Back To The Drawing Board

During the time off, I have had a lot to think about. First, there was the news of comedian Michael Richards' insults to some of his patrons during his show. And then, there was the fifty gunshots to a bridegroom in New York on the eve of his wedding. Of course, we cannot forget the utter denial that is taking place by Mr. Bush and his colleagues regarding whether or not there is a "civil war" taking place in Iraq. The rest of the world (and part of the MSM) thinks so. But he doesn't. And, he continues to say so in his policy speeches across the globe. It seems while we are embarking into this season of Christmas cheer, the same old game is being played.

The old hawks in government refuse to see the light of the mess that they made. And at home on the domestic front, the chickens have come home to roost.

Sigh. Did they not learn from the mid-term elections that the people do not want to take this mess anymore?

Hell no. It's business as usual. As the GOP continues to flail in the political game trying to save face, there are the hard core supporters who blindly believe that we are doing the right thing overseas when the rest of the world sees things as they are.

Reality is rather hard to take. And the pain that comes from the discovery of reality is much harder, due to the fact that the writing is on the wall.

A lot of people have had plenty to say about what Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D.-NY) proclaimed as a call back to the draft. I respect Mr. Rangel on many counts. When I first heard what he had said, I had to think to myself whether he had taken the fork in the road toward the most hawkish of the war supporters. Come on, now. A draft!?!

However, I have a different take on his comments. Although I am clearly against any draft, I think that he makes a few valid points. When a draft is made (taking from the example of Vietnam), the first people that were sent off to war were the Middle Class and the Poor. The rich, somehow (and not immune to our President) got their children off to serve in "safer" ways or with deferrments.

Mr. Rangel's point of view is that with a draft,the rich as well as the poor would have to serve, with no exceptions. It was quite interesting how all of these politicians who had blindly believed in the Iraqi War turned tail against him and started to denounce his call for a draft. Pretty ironic, especially if it is your kid (deep within the bowels of private school) being pulled out to be cannon fodder for the "insurgents". Wow. The only way to protect the offspring of the rich would be to say that Mr. Rangel's words were either posturing or crazy talk. But, if it wasn't their child serving and in the offspring's place a poor kid had to go overseas, I guess to the rich the draft would be all right. It would satiate their need to slowly eliminate welfare to those who need it while preserving their birthright of class and money. After all, with those in lower income groups serving and dying in a war of no discernable reason there would be no need to complain about the "begging for a social handout from the government".

And so the rich and the conservative would hope.

But, that might be perceived as crazy talk too. After all, who really wants a draft to be embarked upon? Ask anyone. I'd be hard pressed to see a raising of hands.

With all of these things, the current news uncomfortably raises issues related to class, culture and diversity. During Thanksgiving, the talks that I've had stemmed on such subject matter when it has to do with America after 9/11. I know I keep harping on this fact entry to entry, but I truly do believe that there had been a deficit in gentility, respect and civility after 9/11. Not only has these things affected the way we talk about politics currently; they also affect how people refer and treat each other on the basis of conscience and kindness.

We have been given novacaine the last five years because the drama that continues to ensue on the national and world stage has been quite hard to take. Now we don't know who is the enemy. And, we have been taught to fear each other due to the fact that almost anyone could be a "terrorist". This trickles down to the epipthets, the discussions and the way we perceive how world events are going. The notion of togetherness is not talked about anymore. It is only "Us vs. Them".

The problem with this is the fact that I think that a lot people know that these things are happening, but are unwilling to take the time to discuss why. It is easier to wave the flag and nod yes everytime the government tells us something new. But if it were your son sent off to war against his will, or your son being shot fifty times by the police, what would you say then? Would you continue to wave the flag? Or would you start to wonder what kind of society are we in?

Tough questions, with no easy answers.

That is why this is a time of reflection concerning the course our country has to go. Although Christmas is an altruistic time that brings out the warmth in a whole lot of people, it is also important to ponder what this year brought to us. It is also time to think about what next year will bring in terms of social, national and international progress.

We took a large leap during the mid-term elections. Now, we have to take that leap of faith and continue the push toward progress that helps not only ourselves, but our fellow people in the cause of the just. After all, the time of denial is over. Now we must began to assess the damage and then move positively toward healing.

How will you take that first step toward progress?