WHERE DO YOU STAND?

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

By Peter Fredson

July 10, 2005

Let me try to sort-out Americans. They are said to be divided beyond reconciliation. Evidently many people believe that George W. Bush is a hero, an “evil-smasher”, a fighter for democracy and civil rights, an all-around Good Guy, chosen by God Himself. Others believe he is a smirking, swaggering, petulant, irresponsible, impulsive, impatient and aggressive bully who is a front for the many Neoconservatives and True Believer Christians that wish to dominate the world.

So, let’s try an experiment in standing on either right or left, because there does not seem to be any middle ground.

If you believe that GWB is in full command of his faculties, is compassionate, diplomatic, patient and willing to listen to criticism, please stand on the right. If you believe GWB is impatient, undiplomatic, and unwilling to accept any criticism, please stand on the left.

If you believe that GWB served honorably in the Air Force, attended all drill, fulfilled all requirements, stand on the right. If you believe that GWB took many short cuts, went AWOL, failed to fulfill all requirements, stand on the left.

If you believe that GWB did right to land on a carrier in flight suit and post signs MISSION ACCOMPLISHED go right. Those who believe GWB was a stupid belligerent ass to swagger as if he had done something heroic, go left.

If you believe that GWB did everything possible to save us from terrorism on 9/11 go right. If you believe that GWB went on vacation too much in Crawford, Texas, neglecting all signs of terrorism, go left.

If you believe that the Bush family and their sponsors had nothing to do with inciting terrorism, selling arms and biological weapons to Saddam, desecrating Muslim lands, and that Muslims simply are too sensitive about religion, go right. If you believe that the Bush family and their cohorts did indeed, by arrogance and bullying, arouse the wrath of some Muslims to seek redress by violence, go left.

If you believe that Saddam Hussein had immense Weapons of Mass Destruction and was imminently planning attacks on the U.S., go right.
If you believe that GWB and associates had planned to go to war with Saddam regardless of any facts in order to seize Iraqi oil, go left.

If you believe that GWB went to war after full planning for equipment, armor, soldiers, and had an entrance strategy other than brute preemptive attack, go right. If you believe GWB switched from trying to find Osama bin Laden to getting the oil of Iraq, go left.

If you believe that GWB partners, like Millennium Corporation, are honest, and need no oversight, go right. If you believe that GWB corporate sponsors are corrupt, and need to be jailed, go left.

If you believe that GWB has greatly helped the domestic economy of the U.S., with full employment, burgeoning industry, favorable trade balance, and fine pension plans, go right. If you believe that GWB has no idea how to govern the U.S., is destroying our safety nets for health, pensions, and old age, go left.

If you believe that GWB is fully protecting our environment go right. If you believe that the main interest of GWB is to make a profit from the environment, regardless of any damage he might cause, go left.

If, after 5 years, you still believe GWB is a “compassionate conservative” go right. If you believe that GWB is ruthless, incapable of pity for the poor, go left.

If after 5 years, you still believe GWB was a “uniter, not a divider” go right. If you believe GWB has divided our country with emotional tirades against gays, considered criticism as treason, acting unilaterally against all advice, stubbornly attempted to change our Constitution, and made Congress an appendage of his Oval Office, go left.

If you believe that GWB brought freedom and democracy to Iraq, go right. If you believe that GWB killed many thousands of Iraqis by his lies, destroyed their homes and livelihoods, seized their oil, and brought terror to Iraq, go left.

If you believe that GWB has done everything possible to reduce the costs of food, medicine, gasoline, housing, etc., go right. If you believe GWB cares more about his corporate sponsor’s welfare and wealth than about public welfare and poverty, go left.

Actually, does anyone straddle the fence, stand in the middle? Can anyone objectively live in the U.S. without having to worry about crime, drugs, AIDS, bankruptcy, True Believers, terrorism, poverty, health, taxes, deficits, the environment, war drum beating, cabinet members, senate loonies, corporate greed, outsourcing, religious attacks on our Constitution, emotional distractions from national problems, civil rights, World War III, our dead soldiers, our injured veterans, presidential arrogance?

I’m not sure that just asking where you stand can accomplish any accommodation, merging, melding, integration, assimilation or consolidation of Americans. We may have to wait a few years until Saint George leaves office. His followers seem to be unconditional, are unable to find anything wrong, live in a Neverland. As long as GWB is swaggering and smirking there will be no peaceful resolution. Arrogance does not permit acceptance of responsibility, or recognition of fault.