Philip A. Farruggio: Happy New Year...The Clock is Ticking

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from AfterDowningStreet.org:

Happy New Year... The Clock is Ticking
Submitted by danielifearn on Sun, 2006-12-31 04:58. General Discussion
By Philip A. Farruggio

Herman Goring, Hitler's right hand man during the reign of the Nazi regime, was interviewed by a psychologist while awaiting the Nuremberg trial. He was asked how Hitler and the Nazis were able to get the German people to go along so easily with their policies of war and aggression. Goring's answer was startling, yet pointedly concise and ominous. " Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war? But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy. The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. All you have to do is tell them they're being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism. It works the same in every country."

Whenever I see a friend or neighbor who is on one of those low carb diets, and how remarkably they are losing 20, 30 or even 50 pounds in seemingly so brief a time period, I begin to wonder. Are they doing this to perhaps remind themselves of how the Afghans, Iraqis or Palestinians are losing weight due to lack of proper nutrition. How years of economic sanctions took weight off of Iraqis, or years of ghettoizing the Palestinians did likewise? Then, of course, the shock and awe campaign that destroyed most of Afghan and Iraqi infrastructure- no healthy drinking water, little agriculture, electricity.... you get my drift. Thus, are these diets really followed to set some sort of example for the rest of us?

The New Year is upon us, and really, where are we as a culture? America, during the holiday season, revealed itself for what it is: a consumer driven society with little self realization. All that mattered to the millions with little in savings, inferior health coverage ( or none at all), no job security, and rising property taxes, was what was on sale and what else to buy for the little ones. No reflection on the soon to be 3000 American families destroyed, and the perhaps 100,000 Iraqi ones, by a phony war and occupation of a sovereign nation, whose only crime was in having too much oil. Yet, Soccer mom and Nascar dad still drive by me on the street corner where I stand in protest, and find time to throw me the middle finger and nasty look or filthy words. Are they on their way to Wal-Mart for another bargain on Chinese merchandise- subsidizing cheap labor that one day may even replace their job?

What is the answer? Is it to sit back and await the shining knight of the Democratic party? History tells us that only when the people, the public, stands outside of the halls of power and shouts " Listen to us ", will any viable change occur. Vietnam ended, prematurely, as far as the Military contractors were concerned, because Main Street Americans joined with the college kids and " peaceniks " on the street corners and thoroughfares. The politicians, perhaps 90% of them, really only care about being reelected. They use their political weather vanes to check out the proper climate , and act accordingly. It really is that simple. Thus, we need not wait for things to reach the critical mass they assuredly will, economically and socially. All it takes is for those who agree with our dissent to park their cars, walk over and stand with us. Here in my town, its simply one hour a week. Wouldn't that be a great start to this new year?

12/30/06
Philip A Farruggio is a free lance columnist, small businessman and activist leader. The son and grandson of Brooklyn, N.Y longshoreman, he is a graduate of Brooklyn College ( '74) He can be reached at [e-mail]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16817