Are we ready for the days ahead?

[Greenbeard]

By now we have all had a chance to listen to the inaugaration speech today and digest the path that Bush plans to lead us down in the next four years. Were any of us really surprised?

Many of us have felt these days approaching and now they are upon us. Hopefully we are prepared because from the sound of the speech today this plan will be put into action as quickly as possible. Bush clearly stated the path he plans to take us down in the name of "freedom" and "liberty".

It sure is saddening that those once hopeful words have become so tainted. They are powerful words. Americans want to believe in them and all they stand for. They are, after all, words that were once used to describe a great nation. Bush knows that and realizes that few will stand up to attack those concepts and even more will wrap themselves in the flag and attack anyone who speaks against his plan as traitors to both freedom and liberty.

Luckily there are those of us that see through the hypocrisy and are willing to call others out who use beautiful concepts and ideals to wage wars and gain power. Freedom and liberty have nothing to do with power and if we really believed in those ideals we would confront the degradation of those ideals at home.

If Bush really believed in freedom and liberty he would have our support as well as the support of the rest of the world. To claim that others are simply nieve to the reality of the situation we face today in the world and that only a handful of Americans grasp the true meaning of peace is the height of arrogance.

The whole world desires peace. Dare I say it (oh why not); even the Iraqi insurgents desire peace. However, they probably feel in their heart of hearts that true peace will not come to them by way of a war waged upon their soil to force them to accept way we feel is better. The days of forcing people to accept your culture by way of warfare are coming to end. Who would have ever thought that the United States of America would be one of the last nations on the planet to understand this change that is taking place?

So where do we go from here? We must do something. We all know we must do something. We could simply sit back and wait for this way of thinking to implode in upon itself but the consequences of waiting to long could leave us with a world that will be difficult to mend or perhaps other nations across the planet will decide that the United States must be stopped at all costs. Both outcomes will leave us in a horrible situation.

Therefore we must attack this hypocrisy being dealt to us on a daily basis. Many of us are not in the position to speak to the masses from a national stage so this pendulum shift has to start in our own backyards. Talk to those that have been hypnotised by the lies and false promises of this administration. It will be long and difficult and many will not listen. Do not give up. Try and try again and again as if your life and the lives of all the citizens of the world depend upon your words.

Spread the message of real hope. For those of you that are religious it may be the easiest. The way this administration and it's followers have corrupted the words of the philosphers (or prophets; you choose)is disgusting. These false messages can be thrown right back at them. Bush went so far as to reference the Sermon on the Mount today. If that is not a kick in the face to the christians out there then I don't know what is.

So get out there in whatever capacity you can and start speaking truthfully. Do your research (as most DU'ers seem to do very well) and confront these lies. Try not to exaggerate too much. It will take away from our message. Lets also try not to lose our tempers. That will also take away from our message. It is time to take the higher ground and lead by example to promote the true ideals of freedom, liberty, and peace that we all strive to achieve.

I know this was long but I just couldn't stop. Best of luck in the days ahead.

Greenbeard

[Dez]

1. I spoke truth

before the election. I tried to get people I know, to register to vote. They wouldn't even register! I feel I have done all I could. I think people here in America are basically complacent. They just want to go to the mall, watch a movie ZONE OUT! No, the shit is really going to hit the fan for these people to wake up. Another war? Perhaps, TWO more wars?? Perhaps.. can we have Two or three wars all being fought at the same time? Well.. let's see.. there's the war on terror, the war on drugs, the war in Afghanistan.. sure! they can start a few more wars.. we're AMERIKANS! Can do anything we want!

[Greenbeard]

2. chances are there will be more wars

....and soon. But will that even be enough to wake people up?

Most people I speak with are also very complacent and as soon as politics or philosophy are spoken people tune out. This will be extremely hard work as most things of consequence are.

[freeandbrave]

14. Top 7 Reasons Condi Will Start Bush's Wars

As the new Sec of State, Condi will have no problem instigating new Bush Wars. In fact, it is was her undying loyalty to Bush that was a prime driver in her promotion...but if you really want to know the whole truth, then you should check out the Top 7 Reasons Bush HAD to make Condi Secretary of State. Hilarious!

In particular, you have to check out the picture of the "Condoleezza Rice" Oil Tanker. Even though the picture is probably a fake, there really was an oil tanker named after her...but then renamed for obvious political reasons.

[bliss_eternal]

27. When their children start to come home from

war in body bags--some will wake up. When their children, even the ones in college--especially the ones pursuing medical degrees get drafted--they will wake up.

When another terrorist attack occurs--and they are touched by it(in their city/state, someone they know and love dies or is injured, etc.)--they will wake up.

When they start to lose things that matter to them--way of life, money, etc. they will wake up.

There is no one else to blame. No liberals in office for the past four years. They will have no one to blame but themselves.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. I'm ready!

I've been ready since 2000. Fuck 'em. I'll fight for my country. They'll have to haul my ass off before I give up.

[shadowknows69]

4. I think the # of protesters who showed up today

was a very good sign. There are willing soldiers in the coming fights (figure of speech of course).

[ashmanonar]

16. how sure are you that it's figure of speech?

O.o

while i don't think a war is certain, i think there's some possibility. and in that war, we WOULD need all the soldiers we can get.

just being the devil's advocate.

[shadowknows69]

26. and I was just trying to protect my ass

from a visit by my Uncle Fed. I feel you though.

[ashmanonar]

30. heh.

yea, i've come to not caring. if they hadn't come for me already, they're not gonna. besides, "a little revolution every now and then is a good thing."

[shadowknows69]

31. I like you ash. we need to talk. n/t

[Oversea Visitor]

5. Very Historical events

Lets see what come out of this. Whatever will be will be. Once the road is chosen history will be written. I dont have any doubts what so ever who the victors will be. No empires in this world have ever survive. Well you got two latest new states Afghanistan and Iraq, planning to add Iran or more to it. Haha well pay the price and you shall have it. Send in your children to defend it with their lives. I am sure with the high tech weapon US has you can kill 100 for every one dead.

Oh yes the world will bow to Chimp Almighty. I can see the rest of the world trembling in fear of the mighty US. We will just all turn to face and look at the flag of freedom that flies on high in US. Oh no we are all very scare we wont dare to turn our back on US. We will turn and watch it course it need watching.

Make you move Chimp, we getting a bit tired of this War on Terror. Oh wait, its a new theme now, its War on Freedom now. Act 1 is over, now for Act2 Scene 2. Me wonder how the UN will respond to this new War on Freedom. Me wonder what the EU will say, Me wonder what the Russia,China,India and Brazil pact will say. Me wonder what the East Asia Nations will say. Me wonder what the South America Nations will say.

Any Republicans Senator want to take a guess? Oh yes go on confirm your SoS who believe that the insurgents in Iraq are Jihadists or on a Jihad. Do some homework and try to figure out what it means. Then look at the numbers of Muslim in this world 1.3 billion. Funny how Muslims religious leader keep saying that Iraq insurgent are not Jihadist or on a Jihad. They must be wrong your SoS must be right. I mean how the voice piece of Chimp the Emperor is wrong.

Strange isn't it that under the glorious leadership of Chimp the Emperor the Republican Party has gain so much support around the world. Gee you guys must be right. Don't worry I believe time will prove you so, haha. I also believe that the Republican Party with this glorious theme of War on Terror and now War on Freedom will gain the heart, soul and support of the Americans people. How cant they when you yourself believe its so. I meant seriously as elected representatives you are the representation of the people. The elite elected for your staunch stand to protect the Flag of this country with your wisdom. Tick, tick, tick,tick, hmmm the clock is ticking away time is passing.

[Lerkfish]

6. "winter is coming"...something I wrote immediately after Nov. 2.

Winter is coming…

Do not be fooled….this election was a referendum on evil. And a majority of Americans have chosen in favor of it.
Electing Bush means a victory for war. A victory for torture. A victory for the slaughter of innocents, a victory for intolerance, fear, and hatred. A victory for lies and half-truths. A trumping of good by arrogance, hubris and self-entitlement.Winning the day has been fear and arrogance. Homophobics have throttled democracy to remain comfortable in their bigoted skins.

Winter is coming…

Do not be surprised. Now there is not even the fetter of re-election hopes to temper Bush and his cronies. They are free to commit crimes against the Geneva Convetion, against the international community, against those who dissent, against the American people….and the republican congress will dissolve any present investigations into outings of CIA agents, of Halliburton sweetheart deals, of Abu Ghraib hierarchy, of falsified intelligence, of incompetence at the highest levels. All will evaporate. Those who sought to hold the administration’s feet to the fire will find themselves shutout, harassed and shut down. The loudest voices will be stilled. The most persistent critics will be disappeared.

Winter is coming…

Do not be complicit. Whatever it takes, whatever you must sacrifice, do not contribute or assent to the coming soldiers of fascism. Do not agree with the disappearing of journalists, do not remain silent when protestors are shot and killed by police. Do not turn the channel when the authorities celebrate another protesor eliminated. Watch. Remember. We must always remember.

Winter is coming…

Do not agree to be the food for their war. Do not easily give in to the bloodlust for innocents. Do not buy into the lie of patriotism to further the goals of Corporate Greed. Remember that first you are Americans. Remember that first you are defenders of freedom, You are not accountants that dole out tiny portions of freedom according to your own stingy budget.
When in the mouth of war, remember that you are human. When in the belly of the beast, remember that God made you to live. Survive. Return to us, whole or broken, but return to us and teach us of the folly of war from the tears in your eyes, from the scars of your wounds, from the breaking of your heart.

Winter is coming…

Do not let worship of the administration pass your lips. Do not pretend to agree with insane policies to keep peace with others. Do not agree to the descending march of loss liberty. Do not go silent when you are taken. Do not be afraid to speak for others like you. Do not be afraid to wall up your houses and make hiding places. Do not fear to face evil, whose power derives from darkness. Shine a light instead and shove it in the face of evil. Expose it for what it is.

Winter is coming…

Time to prepare. Time to split the wood. Time to can the food. Time to insulate the shelters. Time to count what you hold dear and keep it close to you. Time to wear stronger coverings. Time to be like the snow fox and blend in when necessary. Your duty is to survive. This evil hopes to eliminate the sane. Do not be in the places they look. But always be looking for places they gather. Become agile. Become wary. Become cautious. Be resolved that your own survival is worth more than their defeat.

Winter is coming…

And the times will be hard. But we need you to survive.
Even if the antichrist should fool the elect, be not likewise deceived. God is not mocked, whatsoever you sow, that shall you also reap. Sow goodness, sow resolve, sow strength,. Winter is coming, but in the spring, that which you’ve sown will arise.

May God Bless America, in spite of itself. May God protect the rest of the world from what American has become.

Lerkfish

[Oversea Visitor]

7. And

May God protect Americans form the backlash that sure to follow by the rest of the world.

[Greenbeard]

9. Well said Lerkfish

I especially like the ending

"Winter is coming, but in the spring, that which you’ve sown will arise".

[shadowknows69]

12. excellent

with your permissions lerk I'm printing this and hanging it above my comp.

[Lerkfish]

13. absolutely. I'd be honored.

[leesa]

8. The draft is next...and that may be his Waterloo. They will sell it with

an "unavoidable" need to invade Iran for some trumped up nonsense reason. The Republican dolts will buy it...until they realize it is THEM needing to go this time.

[PassingFair]

10. I, too, am beyond furious..

...that he has turned the word FREEDOM into a euphemism for
"naked aggression".
Damn him and his.

[Lerkfish]

11. Its Orwellian. Freedom is Slavery, War is Peace, Ignorance is strenghth

I swear to god, they are using "1984" against us, and the idiots are falling for it.

[greyXstar]

15. Bogus wars, the draft, national bankruptcy...

none of it will matter. Bush, Cheney, or however in the administration could give any bullshit excuse for anything and most people will buy it, no questions asked. People WANT to believe it, so they do, no matter how ridiculous. And the reality is, we could turn 100% of the population against the PNAC bullshit thats going on, and Dimson would STILL foist it on everyone. I'm not saying we should give up and keep quiet, but I honestly think it's too late to save America. It's been said before, but we truly have become the land of Mordor. Those in charge are completely evil, and their quest for global domination won't be ruined until we're all nuked.

[ashmanonar]

17. while i can't doubt the sincerity of your words

the attitude of despair doesn't help us any. to despair is to die, to lose all that we have managed to keep. we must not despair, or we really WILL have lost. i'd prefer to think we're the land of gondor, under attack on all sides, in our decline, but not quite gone. with the arrival of a powerful leader to unite all us who dissent, we may yet win.


think on this...we have some of the parts of a successful mass movement, but not all of them. we have our morally appealing rally call, our social organizations, our critical event (theft of both elections, war on iraq, war on afghanistan, mysterious deaths and disbarrings of reporters and political figures), etc...but we don't have our inspirational leader yet. when that comes, we'll know by that person's very presence. and once we have that person to lead us, we will have to take the initiative.

may freedom and honor prevail!

[greyXstar]

18. You're right about lack of leadership

The protests yesterday were a prime example. It was so inspiring and encouraging to see it, but the message was very unfocused. We need orginisation and focus, but there also needs to leaders who actually listen to us. How many times have we bombarded congressmembers to take certain stances, only to see them do the opposite of what we want? I realise they're not robots for us, but it seems as though they never listen to us. That's what discourages me the most. I hope that more strong people like Senator Boxer and Governor Dean make their voices heard. We need them.

Peace

[ashmanonar]

19. i think dean and boxer might be our hope

if either one or both realizes that to really inspire everyone, that they really can't compromise...which is the difference between an inspirational leader and just the head of a political group.

[Colorado Blue]

20. I can't believe that the business community

isn't shuddering in their boots right now. I doubt that's what they had in mind when they lobbied for * to be their mouth.

Same thing for responsible, patriotic Republicans and true Conservatives. This is NOT the soothing language of unification, getting people to work hard, invest in the market, start new businesses, and so forth - I truly fail to see how this can lead to prosperity or any kind of national security.

Actually, it's asking for an attack - on us. I understand that the European Union and Russia have signed a non-aggression pact and other alliances are springing up around the world. People are already seeking to form counterweights to Bush Administration aggression.

Therefore, I think - I HOPE! - cooler heads will prevail and keep these fools in line. It seemed that even people watching the speech were shocked and applause was muted - or is that just my hopeful spirit speaking?

Truthfully I am AGHAST. My German in-laws remember Hitler and the 1930's well - they say this all looks and sounds terribly familiar.

Peace to all!

[greyXstar]

24. I hope they agree with us

and are willing to fight the good fight as long as it takes. I think they are.

Peace

[ashmanonar]

25. seems like it so far

and if we want them to, we need to encourage them.

does anyone have an email for dean?

[Ezlivin]

21. The most frustrating thing is that they believe they are untouchable

And I'm coming to believe that, short of a full-blown revolution, they are right.

If the vote is rigged, the districts gerrymandered and the media controlled, how is our voice ever going to be heard?

What if someone had absolute, bullet-proof evidence that the OK City bombing was done by elements in our government?

What if someone had absolute, bullet-proof evidence that 9/11 was done by elements of our own government?

It would mean nothing. Even evidence means nothing when you own the judges.

[ashmanonar]

22. i wouldn't say that there's bullet-proof evidence of either bombing...

bc 911 was cleaned up before there was a CHANCE to investigate, and OK city bombing probably handled in teh same way (i don't really remember, so i could be wrong)

but i think the visual evidence is compelling, considering the explosion of the twin towers and the almost perfect fall right into their own footprints...i have a feeling that explosives experts were watching their tv's saying "wow, that was a good demolition". computer projections of the alleged events come nowhere near to explaining the fall of either tower, taking into account the kinetic energy of the airplanes, the potential heat energy of the fuel, and such.

i think everyone has that feeling of "there's something not right here" whenever they think about it.

the OK city bombing is a little less obviously wrong-seeming, but probably some of the same feeling is there. (again, i honestly don't remember, i was 10 when it happened)

for an indepth description, go to here

[ashmanonar]

23. and of course, i totally missed the rest of your post...

heh.

i think if there was some bullet-proof evidence that the media couldn't contain, the sheeple still would trust their "leader". barring a greater move against our rights, i don't foresee a revolution. a mass movement would be nice, but doubtful considering the iron control they hold now.

but we can't give up hope. viva la revolucion!

[SammyWinstonJack]

28. From what I have read here on DU

It appears some Countries might just be able to take us down economically before the Stupid Chimp is able to force "freedom" upon the World. Either way, the future doesn't look real bright. Thanks a bunch , you ignorant "Value Voters" :argh:

[Just Me]

29. Beautifully expressed. I agree that the conversation MUST continue.

Although I get quite bombastic on this blog, I am grateful to engage in conversations with all those about whom we express our greatest frustrations (except the truly extremist types which are rare). I know for a fact that most people are willing to "think" if they are simply invited to do so in a non-combative manner by asking questions (challenging their presumptions) and offering "knowledge" and "facts" (which also challenges their presumptions).

On the other hand, I have become quite combative with those who are crafty and manipulative,...those like the neoCONimperialists.

Although I know the future will bring unnecessary hardships, I also firmly believe that the pendulum will swing back to center.

[hail ripley]

32. Next stop - Iran

There's already a bill before Congress: HR 282 Jan6, 05

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.282:">To hold the current regime in Iran accountable for its threatening behavior and to support a transition to democracy in Iran

It's called the "Iran Freedom Support Act"

How many more troops will we support to death?