Administration Imitates Art

It seems that we are constantly being reminded of the similarity between “art” and reality… at least in this current administration. For example, the events of September 2001 were horrific, but what we heard from the administration officials, who were incapable it seems not only of imagination but also of speaking the truth, was incredulity that this could happen. How many times did we hear someone from the in-crowd say “who could have imagined that someone would take airplanes and use them to fly into buildings!” Tom Clancy foresaw that eventuality in not one but two novels - Debt of Honor, 1994 and Executive Orders, 1996. But that’s old news to those who follow the news. Someone in one agency I heard had hired film and TV writers to help come up with potential scenarios for training purposes – I don’t know whatever became of that but at least they chose people who have some imaginative competence.

But again, I find myself seeing similarity between “art” and reality. Many years ago, there was a Star Trek the Next Generation episode where a man and some of his fellow prisoners escaped from a prison colony. He was brought on board the Enterprise and it eventually came out that he and his fellow prisoners had been trained and genetically modified to be optimum warriors. These warriors fought the society’s wars and when it was time to go home, there was no place for them. Those that created them did not want to take the time or devote the resources to healing them, making it so they could fit back into society without being a danger to themselves and everyone else because of their extraordinary modifications, training, experiences . . . So society’s leaders rationalized it was all for the best and put them in a colony where they dealt only with each other. That was their reward – not welcome back heroes, but thanks now go away where we don’t have to be reminded.

Perhaps it is not as closely analogous, yet listening to and reading the articles written by Dana Priest in the Washington Post about the horrendous conditions our wounded are placed in for rehabilitation and convalescence, horrified me and brought back the lessons from that long ago Star Trek episode. You see, we have improved medical techniques, battlefield triage, wounded evacuation, to such a degree that deaths are way below what they would have been one or two wars ago like say Viet Nam, but our wounded have increased ten fold. The facilities are overwhelmed with injuries that are not only horrendous, both psychologically and physically, but require complex and comprehensive long term care. There are more coming everyday, forcing those that aren’t ready to go home into another facility for rehab.

One such facility was detailed in this article… affiliated with the renowned Walter Reed Medical Center, it’s an old hotel across the street where they are currently housing 700 convalescent wounded soldiers. This building known as Building 18 is infested with rats and cockroaches; there is mould in the rooms; there is dry wall peeling off the ceilings and walls; showers are rotting to the degree you can see the bathtub in the room above when you take a shower. And NONE of this was being addressed until this story hit the stands – then crews started going in and cleaning it up and repairing the drywall. Why did none of the vaunted visitors, senators, cabinet secretaries, White House officials, et al see these conditions?

This administration in an effort to at least partially pay for the debacle that is Iraq is cutting back on VA funds, talking about closing bases that are medical facilities around the country, leaving so many of our wounded untended, and incapable of getting to a facility for the help/treatment they require. It was left to private donations to build a hospital in Texas – the government wouldn’t do it. It feels like if they can’t be patched up well enough to be cycled back in… then they take what they get.

The story is worse than what I have detailed above; there is so much more wrong being perpetrated on our wounded – but we are told we must support our troops! Tell me, where is the support from the administration – from those that created the situation that caused the wounds – that continues to perpetuate it?

Is this how we repay those who gave their best along with time out of their lives, psychological well-being, arms, legs, arms, etc.? Is this the way this administration thinks you should treat your heroes! Is this supporting the troops???

What about Over Here?

So – how many of us remember the old westerns where the cavalry is in an outpost protecting the settlers. All seems relatively safe; the troopers relax and socialize with the community, with a relaxed sentry posted on the walls. Then along comes a scout or an old west neocon saying the Indians are massing for an attack. The green commander then orders his troops, virtually all but the impaired and incapable, out to the field to combat this supposed threat. And of course, while they are gone, guess who attacks the fort! This same scenario plays out in different venues portrayed in many movies as well as in real life – think the French Foreign Legion as just one example. The question here is, who is minding the store? Who is here protecting the home front?

This question arises in response to the obvious evidence that our nation, our home soil, the “over here” W talks about is left largely unprotected from terrorists, national disasters, et al because most of the National Guard (National Guard – guard the nation!) has been deployed to Iraq along with their equipment. Last year with Hurricane Katrina we saw a shortage of personnel to go to New Orleans among other affected areas, and an even more severe shortage of equipment to use for rescue work.

At least once a week a mainstream media source exposes chemical plants, nuclear facilities, and trains, among so many other potential targets that have been left vulnerable – lacking procedures for security – and where is the National Guard? They departed, without even the fanfare accorded Custer’s cavalry, for “over there” while the folks “over there” are working hard to come create mischief “over here”.

There was a story this morning reported by several world media outlets that an Al Qaida group in Saudi Arabia is calling for attacks on oil resources world-wide, including Mexico, Venezuela, and Canada, to stop or severely curtail the flow of oil to the United States. Sadly, if they did that, not only would it be horrible for any who were harmed during those attacks, but who do you think would lose out on the oil? I bet the oil remaining would be sent to Iraq while those struggling to heat their homes this winter would be forced to pay exorbitant rates, if they could even find product to purchase. Meanwhile I am sure Exxon Mobile will continue to post record profits.

And spring is coming. The Shrub (thank you Molly) spoke today saying the Spring thaw in Afghanistan is expected to bring a large surge of Taliban fighters trying to re-establish their position in that country. But alas, like Custer, W has split his forces and hasn’t got enough in either place to do the job. It is interesting to note that Custer thought before his final battle at Little Big Horn that the Native American force, even though they had superior numbers and were on their home turf, would run away from the U.S. Cavalry. I wonder if he also thought they would greet him with flowers and gratitude.

Trust us - the wolf is at the door

I guess I am dating myself when I say that I remember a time in the not too distant past when you could believe it if the government said it. It was like – well … money in the bank. Back in the days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, I was a kid and remember well hearing JFK on TV telling us the situation, and how he was sending war ships to Cuba to blockade the ports literally daring the Russian Bear to challenge our position. He said that he had every confidence that things would work out fine – and we believed it! Sure we were a little scared but we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this man, our president, wouldn’t lie to us and if he had confidence it would be all right, then we should too. Here was an example of a leader who could lead in a positive way and bring along we the people to understand and believe that he was doing his best and all would be fine.

As an adult I know that politicians don’t always tell the truth, and blind faith can be a problem under any circumstance, but when your government has never openly given you reason to disbelieve their good intentions, has never overtly lied and dared you to tell them they haven’t been honest, has done things in a way that makes you proud to be a member of we the people, you believe them and are glad to know they are there as your representative and leader.

We are currently being ‘led’ by the wolf is at the door administration. A group that flies in the face of all the positive we have come to expect, all the comfort and sense of fair play we believed was part and parcel of our country. They have taken all that shepherded us through the dark times and turned it into worry and often despair.

FDR said there is nothing to fear but fear itself… BushCo says, be afraid -- be VERY afraid. Fear is their battle cry, their MO, their means to control the sheep they should be shepherding instead of leading to slaughter. We have seen color coded fear; we have heard veiled threats of what might be happening to cause fear; we have heard that we are unpatriotic if we question this fear; and on and on and on. Yet each time it appears that the ones of whom we should be afraid are the very ones who should be protecting us from that which we fear.

How well I remember the hype that led us into the debacle that is Iraq – the mushroom cloud image, the WMD of every possible variety from poison gas to nuclear warheads; the imminent threat posed to our homeland, our homes, us! We are now seeing from sources and studies, so numerous they appear to be falling out of the sky, about the inaccuracy of the touted threats, the cooked intelligence, the skewed logic, the arrogant certitude, that led us into a war of choice – the deaths of over 3100 of our brave fighting forces, uncounted thousands of Iraqis, many thousands moreAmericans and Iraqi civilians wounded with life altering physical injuries, a full blown civil war that deteriorates minute by minute to the tune of billions of dollars and blood.

And now the wolf at the door has a new name – Iran. Do you recognize the hype and the accusations? Iran’s government is giving weapons to Iraqi insurgents… but wait the insurgents are Sunni and Iranians are Shi’a. Iran’s government has said show us the proof you have that we are giving weapons to Iraqis because it is against our foreign policy. But no, the administration won’t show them the proof. Could it be because they don’t have it? Or is it the schoolyard logic of being unwilling to talk to evil doers.

Another Roosevelt, a Republican, said “Speak softly and carry a big stick” . . . the stick (our military might) is getting smaller and smaller while the voice is strident and loud – saying nothing and endangering everyone.

Famous Values

Recently we have experienced the passing of some who were noteworthy, famous, somewhat famous, and infamous. All their passings were noted by the country and media to lesser or greater degrees but not necessarily equivalent to their contributions to society, the world, the country, the emotions of the people.

Two touched me more than the others. One was Molly Ivins – a remarkably talented journalist who told it like it is no matter who agreed or disagreed with her. She lost her long battle with breast cancer and went down fighting, writing one of her signature progressive columns only a short time before she died. The other that touched me was Barbaro… I have always loved horses and this one was a winner all the way both on and off the track. He fought the good fight as hard as he could and finally couldn’t defeat the injury that ended his racing career. He was a happy horse to the end according to all who were with him – and his loss is very sad, at least to me.

Others who left this world recently were singers Frankie Lane and James Brown whose talents contributed to the entertainment and culture of generations. Whether their style was compatible with your style doesn’t matter, they still contributed to the culture of the times and were part of a distinctly American form.

And then there was Anna Nicole Smith, a woman whose childhood and life were tragic and sad creating a sad figure who managed to parlay her face and figure into a multi- million dollar fortune. She was famous for being famous, not for any accomplishment or talent or contribution other than to the salacious appetites of the country at large. That is its own commentary on this country which is perhaps even more tragic and sad.

That Anna Nicole Smith’s death has received the volume of media attention that it has when the others were mentioned, given a story or two on the evening news, more in passing than in depth, to my mind is truly a condemnation of our values. Yes, it is tragic that someone 39 years old died, leaving a 5 month old baby who cannot even claim clear paternity; that she may well have died because of her own addiction is even more tragic and sad; that the country and people around her were more into profiting from her rather than really helping her is the worst tragedy of all. But does that deserve hours of coverage on cable news stations, main stream media networks, print media, etc.?

Watching that spectacle makes me understand more what is going on in our government. It is not the positive that is celebrated but the negative; it is not the good of the people but the special interests that matter; it is not the real moral values that are prized but the superficial ones that act as hot buttons for fanatics.

What does it say about an administration that wants to build more bombs while cutting funding to the arts? An administration that cuts back on health care for the uninsured but gives tax breaks to impossibly profitable oil companies? An administration that cares about your morals but not their own? An administration that doesn’t care who suffers and dies as long as it’s not them or one of their own?

And what does it say about we the people who allow this to continue, sitting back and watching while our elected representatives seem reluctant to see the message we tried to send in November – that we are fed up and want CHANGE!!!!