Why the truth was never spoken
This is not just Bush’s war. The Democrats, including Kerry, complain only that the criminal war has been badly managed. Kerry’s program was to bring in other imperialist countries, give them a share of the contracts (also known as the loot) and share the burden of aggression and occupation with others.
For people to learn the truth and accept the fact that the government that they pledged allegiance to is really a bunch of lying criminals takes a process. It requires people who know the truth to tell it and to speak plainly so that there is no misunderstanding.
Instead of stating clearly that Bush was lying, instead of telling the people that this was a war of aggression for the power and enrichment of Corporate America, Kerry voted for the war, agreed that he would do it all over again, and then asked people to vote for him because he had a “better plan” to win the war.
How could anyone think that such a confused and disingenuous position could appeal to traditionally Republican voters who are, in fact, deeply worried about the escalating war in Iraq? Kerry decided instead to wrap himself in the flag, tout his war record in Vietnam, dress up in fatigues and go duck hunting for a day. Only a rich liberal aristocrat and his Democratic Party operatives could believe that working people are going to find this convincing.
Indeed, Kerry, instead of concentrating on traditional Democratic themes like jobs, unions,racial equality, and the working class, choose instead, in a deeply stupid ploy, to try to out-macho Bush on the war, saying he had a better plan to exterminate Iraqis. But his “plan” was to involve more countries in the slaughter, something those other countries have no intention of doing. By avoiding talking about anything even slightly controversial, Kerry hoped to grab the center, a Mini-Me tactic which has only resulted, since 1994, in the Democratic Party hemmorrhaging votes nationwide.
What is the perspective of the antiwar movement in the face of the growing escalation of war in Iraq and repression at home? Are we supposed to now just hang our heads, lament the victory of the right, wallow in despair, and proclaim “we are too weak,” in the face of the triumph of Bush?
We do not have the luxury of taking a break for despondency and despair.
I was at a meeting last night in Los Angeles, co-sponsored by Pacificia radio station KPFK, focused on current direction of the antiwar movement, with speakers from numerous coalitions. The place was packed, 500 or more, and these were the hardcore activists. People were pissed, vocal, and all the groups are mobilizing in a big way.There was no despondency or despair. Don’t mourn, organize, was the unspoken theme. ANSWER has multiple streets demos and initiatives planned for the coming months. The Coalition for World Peace is focusing on convincing undecided moderates on the madness of the war. ICUJP, a religious coalition, is mobilizing to get their religious message out to communities of faith. Margaret Prescod of Global Women’s Strike brought down the house with a fiery speech linking the war abroad with racism at home, saying we need to link these issues, a call echoed by the International Action Center. Ain’t no one rolling over and playing dead here!
This global movement is strengthened not by looking up to the corporations that fund the two primary U.S. parties to raise up a leader to offer mild reforms, but from people standing side by side and engaging in collective action around positions of principle. This is the true democracy, and the only source for hope for our collective future.
Get in the streets
January 20, 2005
Counter-Inaugural Demonstration
in Washington DC. Also in L.A., S.F. and elsewhere.
initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
March 19/20, 2005
Global Day of Coordinated Actions
on the 2nd Anniversary of the “Shock and Awe” Invasion of Iraq
initiated by antiwar organizations worldwide
including the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition in the United States