Once Upon A Time In America

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

By Dick Kazan (posted with permission)
http://saneramblings.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=193&sid=f5d8664d946d35d463141b786852e01e

America has often fallen far short of its ideals, having committed numerous atrocities, particularly in its brutal treatment of its minorities and women and in its support of totalitarian regimes.

But America has also been the envy of the world as people with little education or money arrived and found freedom and opportunity. They prospered and built wonderful lives for themselves and most of them took pride in being called "an American."

And unlike many of the lands they had left, American political leaders used restraint and prudent exercise of power.

Once upon a time in America, George Washington refused additional powers offered him and he left office by his choice after two terms.

Once upon a time in America, during the extreme crisis of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln could have claimed extraordinary powers but out of respect for the Constitution and the nation he was trying to save, largely chose not to do so.

When once upon a time in America in the 1960's and 70's, as the U.S. sacrificed thousands of its soldiers to ravage Vietnam and then Laos and Cambodia, Americans by the millions took to the streets in protest. They wrote letters to Congress and to the President, who at first didn't listen and they wrote letters to their newspapers calling for an end to the war.

Their voices were so loud and continuous, that Congress finally acted and cut-off the war's funding, bringing it to a conclusion in 1975.

Once upon a time in America a President tried to fix the presidential election. In response to the Watergate scandal, Americans raised their voices and Congress acted to impeach the President and prepared to conduct his trial. To avoid an impeachment and trial, this President in 1974 chose to resign in disgrace.

Once upon a time in America in the 1990's, a President lied under oath about his extra-marital affair, and Congress impeached him. Although they did not convict him. it showed they took the rule of law seriously, for no-one was above the law, not even a President.

In America, "with justice for all" meant everyone was equal under the law and president or pauper, each would receive a fair trial.

Once upon a time in America, the Constitution was a revered document, and the supreme law of our land. It served as a model to the world and some of its provisions have been copied by many nations. Adopted on September 17, 1787 many people maintain it is history's oldest democratic constitution.

This Constitution contains no provisions to allow a President to suspend any part of it for it protects the people from government excesses and threats to their liberty. It cannot be suspened even if a President declares a "war on terror."

Nor is there a provision declaring a President "the decider." In the Constitution, the people are the deciders and the government is answerable to them.

Once upon a time in America, "Support our Troops" didn't mean to place them in harms way by deceiving the American people and to keep them in harm's way rather than acknowledge a colossal mistake. This happened in Vietnam and one would have hoped that lesson was learned and that it would never have happened again.

Once upon a time in America, during wartime when a President would term U.S. soldiers killed or severely wounded, "heroes," it would have been considered a disgrace to sneak them back home and forbid the media from photographing them.

Once upon a time in America, a President didn't allow corporations to make enormous wartime profits off the blood of others. Profiteering was a prosecutable offense, not a financial windfall.

Once upon a time, "God Bless America" was not a battle cry but a statement of pride Americans held in their nation.

These are but a few indications of how far America has fallen since 9/11, just 6-years-ago. But there is good news. We can honor the Constitution created by our forefathers and we can learn from the Vietnam War protests and take to the streets and to the power of the pen again.

There is no substitute for making a cause visible and when large numbers of people didn't act, I did, as I hold very public candlelight vigils. You can act as well for no-one is stopping you. Listen to that voice from your inner-being, the one that compels you to care for mankind and to act with love and compassion for others. Let it guide you.

Once upon a time in America, compassionate people took action. Whether it was for civil rights, womens' rights, workers' rights or the rights of other oppressed peoples, or to end wars and save lives. It is what helped to make this nation great.

http://saneramblings.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=193&sid=f5d8664d946d35d463141b786852e01e

Dick

[wyldwolf]

1. Dick Kazan is obviously a dick

Once upon a time in America in the 1990's, a President lied under oath about his extra-marital affair, and Congress impeached him. Although they did not convict him. it showed they took the rule of law seriously, for no-one was above the law, not even a President.

Once upon a time in America in the 1990's, the GOP thought they had a lock on the presidency for a generation. So enraged that a Democrat won, they set out to destroy him and spent over $50 million in tax payer money and god knows how much more in private funds to do it. In the end, after investigating William Jefferson Clinton more than any one person had ever been investigated, they got him on one thing - lying about a consensual affair.

They took the rule of law seriously? Then why did they not convict him? Because they themselves were guilty of the same behavior. And they later admitted the whole Clinton witch hunt was in retaliation for the near-impeachment of a REAL criminal Richard Nixon.

And why did "Dick" stop short of speaking of the actions of George W. Bush?

[Mythsaje]

2. Did you not read the last ten paragraphs?

You, my friend, baffle me.

[wyldwolf]

3. do you agree with what this guy wrote 100%

Aside from rightwing spin on the Clinton impeachment joke...

Once upon a time in America, during the extreme crisis of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln could have claimed extraordinary powers but out of respect for the Constitution and the nation he was trying to save, largely chose not to do so.

Does suspending Habeas Corpus not once but twice meet your definition of "respect for the constitution?"

[Mythsaje]

4. Oh, I don't necessarily agree with the whole thing

but what YOU said was that he didn't address what Bush had done. A little hard to reconcile with the fact that the last ten paragraphs more or less covered that.

[wyldwolf]

5. well, there are two things I spotted that aren't at all accurate right from the start.

And, yeah, I did skim the end and missed the gist of the last 10 paragraphs, but wow! Was this guy ever way off on Lincoln and Clinton!

[Mythsaje]

6. Lincoln's the President who began the expansion of Federal power...

Which, in some ways, is a good thing but, in others, isn't quite so much. And, yeah, he did make some flagrantly Unconstitutional moves. However, one might argue, the union was in the greatest peril then than it had ever been and he might well have seen it as a necessity to preserve it. Hard to say.

Clinton DID lie to Congress. No way around that. Not a huge crime in my book in the first place, because I'm sure they all lie to one another on a regular basis, but if the idea is "rule of law" I suppose the argument he proposes has some merit. Rather meaningless in the end, since all of Bush's lies haven't ever been presented as a case for impeachment by anyone with any influence.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

7. No He's Not! And by your rude comment, you insult me, for posting it...

...by proxy.

Did you know that Dick Kazan has (alone) held 85 weekly candlelight vigils, honoring those who have been killed or wounded, both Americans and Iraqis in this terrible war we have started. There is a commentary on each vigil that has held:

http://saneramblings.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=2

Dick holds a sign each week that reads, "My candle is lit in memory of all who have died or been seriously wounded in the War in Iraq. It is also lit in consideration of the pain and loss felt by their families."

Here is a sample, from two of the vigil's...

"It is imperialism gone mad," said the 75 ish man with anger in his voice referring to the Iraq war. Then he stood silent for a moment, shook his head in frustration and walked away.

A little later, a 45 ish man called to me from his car. "I was in Lebanon and in Grenada," he said proudly. "I was three-years in the U.S. Navy," he added as he gave me a thumbs up in support of the sign's message.

Further into the vigil, a 35 ish woman in a black sedan with a solemn look in her eyes, lit her lighter and held it up for all to see, in support of my candle and the sign's message.

Near the end of the vigil, a teenage girl made an unusual remark. She looked at the sign and as she slowly walked by, she hung her head down and said in a soft guilt ridden voice, "I wish I would join you."

As I write this summary, it's the next morning and her words continue to haunt me. Her conscience is bothering her about the war for reasons I can only speculate.

But I wonder how many people are there like her, who probably don't act to stop the war or offer their support to the families of the war dead or help the seriously wounded, and yet they do care.

This seeming indifference to the suffering of others by many people is not for me to judge. But because they don't express themselves doesn't mean they don't care.

I'm glad people don't often judge me for my numerous shortcomings. And to some, it may appear that I don't care sufficiently for what they feel are vital issues.

On Wednesdays I hold up my candle, display my sign and appeal to the consciences and to the best instincts in others. What meaning it will have to them is beyond my control but I'm thankful for the opportunity to reach out to them in memory of the many who paid so dear a price."

And here is another:

" doesn't get it does he," said the tall distinguished looking man in a dress shirt and tie, who I last saw five weeks ago. "I'm waiting for Congress to cutoff the money. That's how we're going to stop this war."

His words touched me this morning as I read about the U.S. Senate coming closer to a "non-binding" meaningless resolution stating that the Senate "disagrees" with the U.S. military escalation in Iraq while at the same time, it opposes any cutoff of funds.

It's simply a "symbolic vote," that doesn't even address the issue of the war itself. Nor does it compel any action, as Congress has the power to do under the U.S. Constitution, by cutting off the funding for the war.

"We didn't vote 'symbolically.' The people wanted a change in policy," said my wife Anne about last November's election. "The voters gave Congress a mandate for action. The Congress by their lack of action has nullified the will of the people and nullified their vote.

"All Congress is saying about President Bush escalating the Iraq war is, 'we don't like it.' The President already knows the public doesn't like it."

I agree with Anne. The U.S. and allied soldiers stand-up to the extreme danger caused by the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq and the Iraqi people are living a nightmare to which they have no choice but to face.

And during each vigil on that busy street corner, I stand-up for my ideas and my ideals. Now we as a people must ask Congress what it stands for. And if Congress stands for the will of the people and the sanctity of human life, we must insist upon them finding the courage to act."


Still think poorly of him?