Truth and reconciliation are all well and good, but without some forceful repudiation of the crimes for which Bush/Cheney are responsible, then the premise that we are a nation of laws is revealed to be myth. If Bush & Co. can utterly ignore domestic law, treaties, and the Constitution, flout the most basic principles which the peoples of all civilized nations hold dear, and leave office unrebuked, then our Constitution is a collection of worthless ink splotches on parchment—the Chief Executive’s own personal Rorschach test to be interpreted as he sees fit. It’s not enough for the next president to change course and follow the Law. A pernicious precedent has been set. If we allow it to stand than our laws become subject to the whim of the president to follow, modify or ignore. And who’s to say that some future occupant of the White House will not decide that term limits are optional? or perhaps even elections? This isn’t really about Bush—it’s about nothing less than the preservation of our Democracy. Those of us who believe it’s worth defending must demand that the poison of lawlessness be purged with the emetic of Justice. As Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson wrote: “Men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the executive be under the law.” It’s time to place the executive back under that restraint—and reconciliation alone will not succeed in accomplishing this feat.

Truth and reconciliation are all well and good, but without some forceful repudiation of the crimes for which Bush/Cheney are responsible, then the premise that we are a nation of laws is revealed to be myth. If Bush & Co. can utterly ignore domestic law, treaties, and the Constitution, flout the most basic principles which the peoples of all civilized nations hold dear, and leave office unrebuked, then our Constitution is a collection of worthless ink splotches on parchment—the Chief Executive’s own personal Rorschach test to be interpreted as he sees fit. It’s not enough for the next president to change course and follow the Law. A pernicious precedent has been set. If we allow it to stand than our laws become subject to the whim of the president to follow, modify or ignore. And who’s to say that some future occupant of the White House will not decide that term limits are optional? or perhaps even elections? This isn’t really about Bush—it’s about nothing less than the preservation of our Democracy. Those of us who believe it’s worth defending must demand that the poison of lawlessness be purged with the emetic of Justice. As Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson wrote: “Men have discovered no technique for long preserving free government except that the executive be under the law.” It’s time to place the executive back under that restraint—and reconciliation alone will not succeed in accomplishing this feat.

On my long journey of self-discovery, I have come to the conclusion that loneliness is a condition that stems from our childhood. I know, the idea that our parents are to "blame" for everything seems too easy and more than a bit passé, but our childhoods are clearly the foundation for all that comes after. If some of the stones are mislaid, than anything built on this creaky footing will be less secure. If humiliation, spankings, and guilt trips were an integral part of our up-bringing, than we are going to find it difficult to really accept ourselves as individuals worthy of love. Without that self-acceptance--not the self-protective bombast but a deep and abiding sense of security about who we are (something that grows from unconditional love and nurturance)--we are unable to allow others in, afraid that what they will find will be abhorrent. We all need to feel accepted, but if we were denied this as children it will be very difficult to feel this acceptance, or even to allow others the chance to accept us as adults. Overcoming this early conditioning that leads to loneliness is far from easy, but it really isn't about "blaming" ones parents so much as it is understanding the dynamics of our early years and coming to grips with the painful feelings we repressed as children as a means to survive. Anyone who feels disaffected toward themselves, and/or chronically lonely could do worse than to read Alice Miller's "For Your Own Good: Hidden Cruelty in Child-Rearing and the Roots of Violence," or her "Prisoners of Childhood." Neither is an easy read, but both are potentially life-changing.