A Weekend of Walking Pt. II

Yes, a lot of walking and a lot of sore legs. I've been traveling and unable to update Apt on Post; however, I most definitely haven’t been short of ideas. Alas, the time has swallowed me up and I’m struggling to find a moment to sit down and put thoughts to paper. But really, isn’t it more like, “typing on plastic keys?” (This is probably a more accurate description of my life.)

Although, I would love for it to be a more romantic activity, something that conjures up thoughts of burning candles and me toiling over an old desk, deep in thought, while I’m furrowing my brow and stroking my temple. I would really be tortured over the demented stories and narratives that would be running through my mind. Are you still with me?

That’s how I feel now as I see headlines of more US and Iraq casualties from this war. I’ve been doing my best to keep tabs on the updates and whatnot, but it’s difficult for me given the gluttony of the US Economy and how I find myself a willing victim of it. I’m sleeping at the wheel, just like most of my friends, and I’m letting a group of businessmen make major decisions about my life.

While we as a society are enjoying our collective economic statuses on weekends, and sometimes during the week for the uber-cool of our populace, we willingly turn a BLIND EYE to the global realities of our generation. We’re so sedated with information that we’re selective with our time. How fortunate that we’re able to live in a modern age where television tells us what we need to know.

We luckily have hundreds of channels and advertisements. Thank modern science that we don’t have to expend too much effort looking for a “niche culture” that fits within our fantasized ideas of who we are. But, none of us know what we’re doing or what’s really happening around us. Our perceptions are floating around in the air and they never confirm their existences. We’re meant to believe that we’re really alive because we feel though our bodies – these hosts that hold our imaginations and dreams.

My body is but a vessel to my passion for equality and equity for our society’s most challenged constituents.

With that said, here are a few quotes that I found in a recent book acquisition from Borders New Jersey (sorry for ridiculous language and choice of words here, but I need to somehow transition into a more casual voice, yaddamien?!?).

These quotes relate to the Iraq War and IMHO, conclusively incriminate a majority of our current Bush Administration key decision makers. We need to ACT NOW! So you, please vote, advocate, recycle, stop fighting and killing…do something for the greater good, please! I’m confident that we can overcome this contemporary morass we find ourselves in. Let’s grab some O2 in this murky swamp that pulls us in with its shiny allure and enticing little toys.

Quotes taken from Hell in a Handbasket by Tom Tomorrow, Penguin Group, 2006, pg. 107.

“I believe demolishing Hussein’s military power and liberating Iraq would be a cakewalk.” – Defense Policy Board Member, Ken Adelman, 2/13/02.

Ed. Note: While he was right in predicting that “demolishing Hussein’s military power” being a “cakewalk” (Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction!), how wrong Adelman was when stating his thoughts in “liberating Iraq”. I ask you, who are we liberating Iraq from, and to what end for whom? Is this liberation so sectarian violence can run rampant through the streets of Baghdad? If so, then yeah, good job on that one.

“Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction.” – Vice President Dick Cheney, 8/26/02.

“It is not knowable how long that conflict would last. It could last, you know, six days, six weeks, I doubt six months.” – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 2/7/03.

“My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators.” – Vice President Dick Cheney, 3/16/03. (This one is unfathomable!)

“We know where (the weapons) are. They’re in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, north and south somewhat.” – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 3/30/03.

“Major combat operations have ended.” – President George W. Bush, 5/1/03.