"So long as we live among men, let us cherish humanity." Andre Gide 1869-1951

I read this email today about Sen. Obama and am baffled to say the least. Baffled, because we live in a country which was built upon certain principles including, freedoms of speech and religion, non-discrimination, and others which can be found in the handwriting of our forefathers. I find it difficult to believe that our nation, which has overcome so many hurdles since 1776, remains unable to transcend bigotry and intolerance on the basis of a person's name, upbringing, religious beliefs, and family history regardless of their patriotism, leadership, and desire to stand up for a nation in peril.

Our parents, and possibly some of you who are reading this, have seen times in our history that were so dark, it must have seemed like America would never recover. We are, unfortunately, experiencing one of those times. Why is it so difficult for some to look past things like i mentioned before, name, creed, etc., and see a man for who he is. This is not only my feeling toward Sen Oabma, but all who call themselves American. It saddens me to think that our nation has become not a haven for rights, freedom, and liberty, but for racism, sexism, and multiple other forms of discrimination.

I don't care who you are going to vote for. I don't care what you say. I don't care what you believe, who you sleep with, or who you pray to. What I do care about is the way we look at eachother. It is my desire that finally we can stand up and see an American for an American, human for a human, and nothing else.

below, you will find a copy of the email:

I FIND THIS INTERESTING INFORMATION. ONE PICTURE OF HIM SHOWED HE WAS NOT PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. HMMMM !
Who is Barack Obama? Probable U. S. presidential candidate, Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii , to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel , Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white Athiest from Wichita , Kansas .
Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii . When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father returned to Kenya . His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia . When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia . Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta He also spent two years in a Catholic school. Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school." Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that he is not a radical.
Obama's introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was temporary at best. In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce, and never again had any direct influence over his son's education. Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, introduced his stepson to Islam. Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta . Wahabism is the RADICAL ISLAMIC teaching that is followed by the Muslim Terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States , Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background. ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Koran.
Barack Hussein Obama will NOT recite the Pledge of Allegience nor will he show any reverence for our flag. While others place their hands over their hearts, Obama turns his back to the flag and slouches.
Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential candidacy. The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the President of the United States , one of their own!!!!
Please forward to everyone you know. Would you want this man leading our country?...... NOT ME!!!

'Redacted'

"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always evil and never good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children."
- Jimmy Carter.

i am back once again from yet another blogging hiatus, and i think this post is long overdue.

i just finished watching an indy film titled 'Redacted'. it's a fictional story that revolves around actual events. if you don't follow, stop reading. it is about a small unit of marines serving in iraq, one of which is creating a video war journal to use to get in to film school when he gets home.

spoiler alert! - he dies.

and he dies because this fictional story, and fictional group of soldiers revolves around the rape and murder of a 15 year old girl, along with her mother, grandfather, and baby sister (that's the true part). now, i haven't posted much about the war here (ha, like i've really posted much about anything here lately), and i can't say that this is what i had imagined to be my latest subject. i will post regardess, though, because it's better than staring at the wall.

it is not the movie that bothers me most. it's not the smaller stories intertwined there. what hit me was the pictures; the realism in the filming, the real pictures from the war in the slideshow before the credits.

now, don't get me wrong, i do support our troops. i wish for the safe return of each and every one. i understand their job is difficult and mentally draining. i know many of the ones who came back and told me of the things they saw. in addition, i have no interest in, how do the neocons put it(?), aiding the ememy? yeah i think i got that right. but i do have support for the innocent lives that are being taken, and taken advantage of, because some 19 year old with a big gun has a thought that he/she can do whatever he/she wants based on the patch on their sleeve. i would like to know how a toddler, not much older than my own children, must be slaughtered in front of the parents' bodies? i mean, my kids are really smart, but there is no way they could fathom why something as gruesome as what these pictures and stories reveal would happen. i don't understand seeing a woman mourning her daughter rendered lifeless because she 'looked suspicious'.

it makes me question: what ever happened to the 'rules of engagement'? didn't these principles talk about things like not shooting until shot at yourself? weren't they about helping to make sure the life you are taking is actually a threat before you decide to blow their brains out? maybe i'm wrong. maybe things have changed in the way our military practices its duties. but if i am wrong, and this kind of savagery is presently acceptable by our leaders, i am left with nothing but to be ashamed that we live in a place in which people can get away with terrible things under executive order. again, i support our troops. the vast majority of them are simply following orders rather than be locked up in military prison, or killed accidentally. what i am against are the ones who know that these acts have gone on, and are still going on; yet, they do nothing. i blame our leaders. on both sides of the aisle who have done nothing for a bit of political gain.

but most of all, i blame us. we, who allowed this so called administration to be reelected so that they may continue to desecrate eveything that makes this country great. we, who have not made our voices heard. we, who stare blankly at our television and hear reports of nothing but death. we, who have the power to stand up to make a change. i can only hope that one day we will finally be great once more. we have the potential, and the means. now, we need the minds.