2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures bomb books budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal portland mayor president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes television terrorism theater third parties timber payments transportation union university of oregon violence washington water wildfire women

 I try not to get emotionally involve in matters of politics because I would be breaking the basic rule, "don't take it personal, it's just politics." But how in the world can one not feel anything when your stomach tightens when you hear that the president you gave your vote too, is about to send more troops to what seems an endless invasion (aka war) to a remote place! I just can't imagine why our government would continue on the legacy of the previous corrupt administration!

As I heard Obama's speech today on my way home, many things ran through my mind, but more so flashbacks on what it seems repetitive rhetoric on why we must continue military operations on a country that has been ravaged by occupations--from the British, Soviet Union, and now the US. He was careful however, not to mention the British as invaders at one point, but fast to highlight the Russians as occupiers in Afghanistan---pretty bias if you ask me. 

The other part of his speech that made my forehead wrinkled in anger was, his announcement that the people of Afghanistan are in danger of extremisms and Taliban expansion in regions across their country, and that our intervention would bring peace, security, freedom, and opportunities for the advancement of the Afghan people. Now...I don't mean to be cynical on this, but my concern on this part of his speech is that for months, the people of Afghanistan have been the victims of brutal and vicious bombardments from unmanned drones that scout the skies of their country; and as a result, many innocent people have died due to these cowardly operations done from abroad with our tax dollars! Now, how in the world can the allies and our country bring security to Afghanistan when we continue to bomb the hell out of them resulting in increased numbers of deaths of children, women and men who could otherwise, have taken part of the political process to lay the foundation for Democracy? NO WONDER THEY SEE US AS MURDERERS.

For politicians to take our most precious investment, our young men and women, and put them in harms way for what seems to be more and more a political stunt, and corporate requests to access foreign natural resources in the name of "Freedom" and "Democracy," it's one of the most despicable, and inhumane thing in my book, our country can have as a legacy.  I hope our children look back at this and condemn what has happened in the last eight years.

posted 3 years, 6 months ago
view in context