Letters to the Editor
KevinHayden
Published Letters: 26
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It's not just the neocons and press deserving critique
[Read the article: The Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch frauds]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The actions of military commanders involved in the deceits and coverup also deserve harsh criticism. And they've even added insult to injury.
Someone I know, who went to boot camp in 2005, related to me what the drill sergeant was telling his young recruits. He said 'Jessica Lynch is actually a coward. She was hiding under her truck when captured.'
He uses her as an object lesson to tell soldiers how not to act when under fire. The woman was wounded, abused, held captive. They lied about her then and still lie about her now.
To them, she's just another piece of meat for the meatgrinder. To me, she's a courageous soldier who served her country. And there's many military leaders who are just as complicit as liars whose lies continue to fail to serve our nation.
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Freedom from cultpolitik would be a greater point of achievement
[Read the article: A genuine political sea change?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thank you, Glenn. And thanks to so many thoughtful commenters.
Yes, the tide changes. Thankfully. But let us not forget that shorelines erode or are built up by deposits from every fresh wave.
Just as we grant too little time to mourning hundreds of thousands of lives lost too soon, we must not be made drunk on any victory, for every real enemy of humanity works in the shadows against any weakening of their own still very real power.
I, too, am tempted to conclude that a Greater One awaits to lead us from the dank swamp. I find it essential to fight that, for it is in the expectation that we can rest - as a champion comes forward to lead the forces of government - where every society is inevitably betrayed.
Eternal vigilance should not be just a military catchphrase, but the obligation we agree to as the price for a free society. Great democracies have inevitably fallen by such internal weakening more than by the work of foreign operatives.
Pogo was right about the real enemy.
There is no Next President to serve as Saviour. Your heaven suspiciously bears little resemblance to mine and that will always be so. National introspection is healthy but healthier when coupled with personal introspection: how can we remove our cultural and experiential blinders and think beyond the conventional? What are the vital lessons to retain while looking with the eyes of Cady Stanton and Einstein and Hawking and Berners-Lee to expand the future beyond the past (and present) constricts?
First on my list is to end the cult of celebrity in elective politics.
Yes, I see a growing conscience in John Edwards that's mindful of the evolution of RFK. Yes, I see that it's well past time for a woman president or a non-white president, so much so that it can supersede other issues to those within those demographics. Yes, I fear why so many shrink from the Kucinich impeachment proposal and wonder why the obvious need is not more obviously met. And I see how the media marginalizes (and self-professed progressives are surprised by the words of) Mike Gravel. How many have gone so far as to read his wikipedia bio before concluding 'he can't win'?
Old habits are hard to break. New alliances are hard to build.
Be assured, however, that old alliances are working overtime to prevent the new from achieving institutional reform that might threaten their hold on capital and power. They never go gently into any bad old night or better new day.
Envision a world where masses of Americans communicate with masses of Iranians. And North Koreans. And Sudanese. Can peoples agree online to not buy into their governments' predatory and parochial aims, to refuse to fight each other when their leaders say 'jump'? In Afghanistan and Africa, tribal rivalries stand in the way. In Iraq, it's sects. In the US it's political parties and long memories of old regional conflicts.
In these divisions, powerful exploiters promote the widening of chasms. It's up to us to evade their predation.
There is more than one sea needing change.
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The MSM gets 'Lucyed'
[Read the article: Major troop reductions imminent -- again]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I understand why the average, non-political-junkie citizen gets confused and misled. Ignorance accounts for some of it, but some ignorance is pragmatic. Bombarded with conflicting media reports political and consumerist propaganda, it's not uncommon that folks just grow skeptical of every source, including science because of the pseudo-science barrage.
But the greater problem remains the failure of the MSM to ask the hard questions and point out the inconsistencies and lies, as Glenn has here. Folks are busy and don't always look past the intro, or think deeply about this stuff.
For example, when I saw the NY Times story, I thought: "of course, they'll end the slaughter to save their political hides." Which displays my cynicism. But Glenn's reminded me that it's more likely that they're just selling another lie and the slaughter's likely to continue.
I believe the public shares my cynicism, but without staying alert - and lacking a MSM that provides alerts - a lot of stuff just escapes broad public notice.
The press works effectively when it takes an antagonistic approach to government. And democracy works best with a well-informed citizenry. Which is hard to achieve when the MSM fails so miserably.
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'Lucyed'
[Read the article: Major troop reductions imminent -- again]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I forgot to mention that my comment title refers to the way the White House holds the football - like Lucy Van Pelt- and the MSM keeps trying to kick it, like Charlie Brown.... they fall for it - unquestioningly - every time.
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Very well put Little Brother
[Read the article: Major troop reductions imminent -- again]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As he commonly does, Little Brother's comment is spot on. Like Glenn, he gets to the essential quickly and well.