Tipping Point
Aug. 25th, 2011 10:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thisnewday[The following is my comment on a recent article in the online Syracuse Post-Standard titled, "Fort Drum Soldier, Captured in Photo with Baby in March, Killed in Afghanistan." The photo was of Lt. Timothy Steele kissing his infant daughter goodbye shortly before his deployment with the Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.]
During the '60s and '70s we marched on Washington and campaigned door to door to get our politicians to end a wasteful and pointless war in Southeast Asia. The cynics said that the tipping point would come when enough children of the white middle class were brought home in body bags and maybe, at that time in our history, there was some truth in that.
But the years have passed, we've been through 9/11, and we seem to have accepted the notion that we can support our brave young soldiers--like Lt. Steele, like Skealoha's son, like my nephew Erik--even if we disagree with the mission. And like so many others I thought it would be enough, that our voices would be heard, if we voted for change in our most recent national election.
Mr. President, members of Congress, fellow citizens, sending Predator drones into Pakistan and cruise missles into Lybia, while maintaining what is seen by others as an army of occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan, is NOT the change we voted for.
Many of us have complained about the widespread corruption which our tax dollars seem to be funding in such places as Iraq and Afghanistan. But the worst betrayal by far is right here at home where politicians argue endlessly about our ruined economy while doing nothing to end the daily loss of our families' and our nation's most precious and irreplaceable treasure.
Mr. President and members of Congress, we have empowered you to end this. Another day of honor guards and folded flags and medals, given in recognition of duties faithfully performed, is another day in which you have not done yours. The tipping point is here and now.
LPK
LiveJournal
8.25.2011 (a)
During the '60s and '70s we marched on Washington and campaigned door to door to get our politicians to end a wasteful and pointless war in Southeast Asia. The cynics said that the tipping point would come when enough children of the white middle class were brought home in body bags and maybe, at that time in our history, there was some truth in that.
But the years have passed, we've been through 9/11, and we seem to have accepted the notion that we can support our brave young soldiers--like Lt. Steele, like Skealoha's son, like my nephew Erik--even if we disagree with the mission. And like so many others I thought it would be enough, that our voices would be heard, if we voted for change in our most recent national election.
Mr. President, members of Congress, fellow citizens, sending Predator drones into Pakistan and cruise missles into Lybia, while maintaining what is seen by others as an army of occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan, is NOT the change we voted for.
Many of us have complained about the widespread corruption which our tax dollars seem to be funding in such places as Iraq and Afghanistan. But the worst betrayal by far is right here at home where politicians argue endlessly about our ruined economy while doing nothing to end the daily loss of our families' and our nation's most precious and irreplaceable treasure.
Mr. President and members of Congress, we have empowered you to end this. Another day of honor guards and folded flags and medals, given in recognition of duties faithfully performed, is another day in which you have not done yours. The tipping point is here and now.
LPK
LiveJournal
8.25.2011 (a)
