All this death in Iraq is getting to me.

[democrank]

Juxtapose a pile of corpses in Iraq with a mascara commercial here at home. See what I mean? Reality can be such an ugly thing, enough to shock me right out of the joy over my bee balm poking up through the ground. It`s becoming harder and harder for me to pretend all is well in my world with Bush`s despicable policies causing such mayhem. It`s bloody awful.

Even though I`ve put up a barrier between me and corporate media, I can`t escape the truth. I know full well that as I`m trying to live this simple, peaceful Vermont life, the president of my country is raining death and destruction on another land. Little children are losing limbs. Ancient buildings are reduced to rubble. Treasured manuscripts are going up in flames. Emergency rooms are bulging with misery.

Some kid from the projects has been convinced that his despair will be transformed by a uniform, not understanding the nanosecond`s difference between life and death. And in Iraq another young man has been convinced that his family`s honor lies at the bottom of the twisted pile of scrap. Perhaps they won`t meet.

This war has saddened me like the Vietnam War saddened me. I wish the days of innocence could be called back like some soothing lullaby. Trouble is, George W. Bush and the people who support him are dropping bombs...cluster bombs, E-bombs, bunker-busting bombs. A splatter screen the size of Yankee Stadium won`t protect Iraqis or our own soldiers from our madness. This is all very sad. I swear I don`t care if I`m the only person on the street corner, I`m going to continue to speak out against this war. Eventually, Americans will have to say "STOP THIS" or "HERE. TAKE MY CHILD." Those in power can`t ignore millions of us in the streets. That`s what it`s going to take.

[Poiuyt]

1. I don't like it because my nephew is over there

I know that is a selfish reason, but there it is.

[blogbear]

2. I agree and it 'gets to me' also.. and not to be morbid but I believe..

that this 'should' get to all of us..I'm not so sure that those in power, however, won't ignore mass protests when they put themselves above public scrutiny and sacrifice..Haven't they shown us already about how much they in reality can ignore?

[democrank]

3. Protests worked during the Vietnam War.

There were so many people out in the streets, the government couldn`t pretend otherwise. We have much better communications now, so if they could do it, so can we.

[blogbear]

4. you're right! I was here and remember and am glad you reminded me!

[Willie Stark]

5. All this death ....

Agree with you 100%. My only other comment would be: it won't really come crashing down on W until the military and military families have "had enough." But while they continue to vote for him and (at least publicly) support him, I'm afraid its more of the same.

I think a reinstatement of the Draft would get "regular peoples" attention, but thats exactly why They won't go that far.

I really worry. I worry about the troops that are there, and what they will be like when they come home. I'm sure they've seen some horrible stuff we won't hear about for years.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi Willie Stark!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jokinomx]

16. Welcome to the Democratic Underground Willie Stark!

I hope you enjoy your time here. There are great people and the site is an endless source of great insights and information.

:toast:

[G_j]

6. great but appropriately disturbing post (nominated)

and guess what, There are millions of people around the world who are terribly disturbed by this and share your feelings.

Bush has traumatized the planet by dragging us into war at the beginning of this 'new millennium', when humankind should be putting war behind us and evolving peaceful means to dealing with challenges.

And how about the children!! Bush is a child abuser on a global scale,
filling children's heads with images of death and violence, not to mention blowing thousands of children to pieces in Iraq!

I tell ya Democrank, you are NOT ALONE.
I know many, many people who share these feelings of disgust, outrage and terrible despair. It is a horrible situation and one that has left so many of us feeling almost helpless. One thing I know for sure is that we will never forget these Bush crimes, and though politicians may tell us to move on and get over it, it ain't gonna happen.

[understandinglife]

7. MissionNOTAcccomplished - May 2 2005 is just the beginning of our....

....www.missionnotaccomplished.us

[hector459]

9. Me too. But worse is the fact that few in the MSM seem to care and among

the American public they are even ashamed to admit that it's happening.
How do we take our country and conscience back in the face of stampeding sheeple?

[Malva Zebrina]

10. Me too

We have killed an estimated 100,000 innocent people. Think of it. One hundred thousand,-- half of them women and children--think of it--they had names, they were dressed in the morning by their moms, their dads were proud of them and cared for them--they had names,they were loved and cherished, they were innocenht human beings and we know not ONE name of any of them. NOT ONE NAME

Our country,under the leadership of a dolt, of a shallow, non thinking, Christian man, has committed this crime against humanity and has done it in our name. With abject lies.

AND HE DID IT WITH LIES AND HE DID IT FOR GREED and he will not be punished for his crimes and he knows it and he continues to do it, while he and his vacant wife, celebrate and laugh, and dress in glitter and gold in Washington.

It has been forgotten--his lies. It is buried -- his lies We see no pictures of any of the "action" while we watch the History channel and see over and over the battles during WWII, the record of the fight captured on film, and we know what we were doing and what we were fighting for in that war. Isn't it strange that we have those pictures, those films and have NOTHING to see about the slaughter in Iraq?

We have been kept from any seeing at all of the crimes we have committed against humanity in Iraq and all for nothing.

The screen is blank as if it is not happening at all.

We hear no reports that are not scripted by our government.

They, the dead, the children dead and wounded and burned and those with amputations, had names. We do not know ONE name of those we slaughtered.

And yet--in order to clinch the deal--we are told that we must stay there and stablize that which we have mercilessly shattered, on lies and greed.

With what? Halliburton? With what--corporations that are making huge profits there?

They have names--all those who we slaughtered--and we do not know ONE name.

[ananda]

11. still suffering from SARS II

SARS II (Smirking American Rahrah Syndrome) is still infecting the members of the USA government, who caught it from the master smirker at the top. Even Katty Kay has it.

Sue

[G_j]

12. if Bush had sent 100,000 people to deaths camps

what would be the difference? The difference would be that the military the media and many Americans wouldn't be able to write them off as "collateral damage". Still they would be just as dead.

to add to this, child malnutrition in Iraq has doubled since the invasion.

[democrank]

13. Who in this administration

is going to worry about child malnutrition in Iraq? They don`t even care enough about Iraqis to count the ones they`ve killed. It`s disturbing, I tell you. Disturbing beyond words.

[G_j]

14. actually they do count some

(here is a story I posted recently)

Balancing the Iraq Equation (April 22, 2005)

The death of Marla Ruzicka, campaigner for recognition of and compensation for civilian Iraqi victims of US military attacks, has cast a spotlight on the issue of Iraqi civilians killed by US forces. While the Pentagon does not officially keep track of civilian deaths, Ruzicka discovered that "standard operating procedure" requires US troops to file a report when a noncombatant is shot. But the US media, which avoids criticizing the Iraq war, did not mention the details of Ruzicka's work amid the many tributes to her.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3570578

[gordianot]

15. Iraq is not only the only theatre.

Bush policies are putting us our sons and daughters in the military in danger in many other potential flash points. I am convinced he is starting a new Cold war where the world may be trying (out of need) to contain the United States.