by M. Reed

Created on: September 08, 2008

Sorry, fellow citizens. But we have only ourselves to blame. Yes, we have only ourselves to blame for the insanity of this war and the arrogance with which it is waged. I'm not talking about the tired old claims about the West's responsibility for the colonial exploitation of the Arab world, though God knows there's been plenty. I'm not talking about our notorious insolence in the face of Arab cultural tradition; though God knows the Arab world is entitled to its rage. I'm talking about the responsibility we bear, as a people, for allowing this bunch of arrogant bigots to ascend to the presidency in the first place.

We stood by and watched. Yes, we stood by and watched while a bunch of wild-eyed thugs brow beat Florida election officials, and later the Bush family cronies on the Supreme Court, until Mini-George could be shoved through the White House back door. Then, out of our own fear and weakness, we sent the clown back. Yes, we sent the clown back. Now we watch him, backed by his posse of hucksters and sloganeers, strut his way into infamy while a complicit press continues to present his case as if there were a shred of evidence he is worthy of a hearing, let alone serious consideration.

Ah yes, the press. On FOX, we watch Hannity model his bumper sticker patriotism while O'Reilly tries to act like a real journalist. Meanwhile, CNN, NBC, CBS and ABC cower in the corner, all the while looking for ways to be less offensive to the sensibilities of savages who smear us with excrement, then expect us to be grateful for their attempts to shield us from the flies.

When we object, pointing out the odor and who was responsible for it in the first place, they act like we're morons for not accepting our fate, a fate they doomed us to in the first place. They say they will hunt Osama bin Laden to the ends of the earth, then they spend a quarter of a million dollars a minute killing as many innocents as they kill enemies in Iraq, as if all Arabs are the same, as if their inherent bigotry weren't on display all the while. Meanwhile, bin Laden patiently files his nails somewhere in Pakistan while fresh fields of poppies bloom and the Taliban takes new hostages. And he doesn't even need to remind the world we are fulfilling his prophecies; they already know it.

As an American, I'm embarrassed to think of all the good will we've squandered among our oldest and most trusted allies, allies who stood by us when we were most in need and have even offered to shed their own blood in our stead while we grieved. I'm humiliated as the world watches strutting monkeys we call leaders continue to act outside our own laws, and even their own professed faith.

As a parent, I'm perhaps most fearful of what the future holds for our six kids when the country I want them to love is being dragged into oblivion by cowards and bullies who couldn't bring themselves to serve their country with the same courage and honor they demand of the children.

As a human being, I'm heartbroken at the images of torture and humiliation our own leadership cannot see will be our downfall. I'm worn out by the never-ending lies of willfully ignorant bigots. And I'm fearful of what will come if we allow this outrage to continue. But I guess it's my own fault. I stood by and watched.

Learn more about this author, M. Reed.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.