The World Can't Wait...

What has history taught us about impeachable offenses? What have we learned about the power of our representatives to hold the person occupying the office of the presidency accountable for "high crimes and misdemeanors"? It seems taking a conservative stance on the reunification process when those very representatives seek a much more radical approach is at least questionable enough behavior to warrant the question. We all assume that taking an active role in politically motivated burglary and the ensuing coverup most likely qualified. We know that a question of perjury warrants a vote. What about acts that qualify as "international terrorism" under the United States Code and implementing, supporting and furthering a regime of "torture" as defined by that same body of domestic law? What about instigating preventive warfare, that which the American prosecutor at Nuremberg calls deplorable and inexcusable? What about aggressive war, what that same tribunal, representing the very basic ideals of the "civilized world," declared the greatest crime against humanity imaginable? What if all of this is done while abusing the trust the American people have placed in the office of the Presidency? What if all of this is done at the cost of thousands of American lives, and tens of thousands of innocent lives in other lands? If simple burglary is impeachable, how is unconstitutional, illegal and un-American waging of war not?

This administration has abandoned true American ideals in favor of a fundamentalist exceptionalism the world has not seen since Rome descended into barbaric chaos. They have instituted and supported a regime that turns American service members into war criminals, and then fall guys as they avoid all culpability. They responded to the deaths of 3,000 people on September 11th with the un-American traits of hatred, vengeance and violence. They have ignored the demands of the very Constitution and laws they were sworn to uphold. They have brought the United States to a point where, rather than holding true to the very ideals we demand others adhere to, those serving our country are placed in a position where there is doubt whether or not they are acting in accordance with basic human rights recognized in domestic and international law.

The American people do not support such action, but they want to act as though you do not matter. They want to ignore you because they know they cannot respond to your demands. They seek to sweep you under the rug because their actions are deplorable and not defendable. They label you un-American in hopes that you will be scared into silence, as if being a warmongering, untruthful, law-dodging, simplistic fundamentalist is American. No, it is they who are un-American. It is they who have raped the very basic American ideals to attempt to rationalize their irrational drive to unnecessary war. An unnecessary war that has now sent thousands of America's sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, neighbors and friends home in boxes draped in the flag with tens of thousands more returning horribly maimed, physically and emotionally. An unnecessary war that is now responsible for the violent deaths of Iraqi civilians at the rate of over 3,000 each month. An unnecessary war that has undone decades of work by the global community in avoiding the deplorable death and destruction that represents the most base elements of human nature unless it is absolutely necessary and all other channels of dispute resolution have been utterly exhausted. An unnecessary war that ignores that in this day and age, with weaponry capable of extinguishing the human race, setting such a precedent is suicide. An unnecessary war with those pulling the strings insisting on it being waged with inhuman brutality. Those who would lead this nation into such a war must be held accountable for their actions.

On October 5th people across this nation will stand up and demand accountability for those responsible for soiling the legacy of America as one of a steady march towards expanded freedom and democracy for all. They will march in solidarity to reclaim their rightful title of true American. True Americans, those that believe in the rule of law rather than the rule of the sword. Those that understand there cannot be democracy within nations unless there is democracy among nations. Those that understand that the innocent are those with the most to fear when constitutional protections are brushed aside. Those that believe torture is wrong, always. Those that understand that the Beacon on the Hill was never meant to become the flashpoint of a muzzle.

Stand with your fellow Americans and be counted. Demand recognition of American ideals and accountability from those that pillage them. October 5th, 9:00 a.m., the corner of University and Central. The World Can't Wait.