I went away to Maine this weekend to get engaged to my former girlfriend, now fiance. Being there we were able, for a weekend, to stick our heads in the sand and avoid all the increasingly worse news from Bush's Folly.
Even so we became aware of the Al Rasheed attack and returned last night late to the news of the Red Cross attack and this morning's multi car bombings.
Its the first time since 9/11 that I've hid from the news for more than a day. Its a nice place to go temporarily. BUT what it made plainly clear for me is that what we have now, due to BUSHco, is a national malaise far worse than anything Carter suggested. To my mind there is a palpable sadness and fear rampant in this country. ALL of it is due to Bush's NeoCon dreams, cynicism, stupidity, and incompetence. To use his terms, what he has done is "evil". He has ruined four years of our country's life, for sure, and unfortunately probably many more years than that.
I felt immense anger towards the 9/11 plotters and hijackers. Obviously I was angry about the death and destruction they brought upon us. But as a New Yorker, my anger also came from a place that felt these terrorists have NO idea what a place like New York symbolizes. They thought it symbolizes finance and US power, and it does. But more importantly, what it symbolizes is the way that one of the most diverse societies on this planet can thrive and live in relative harmony, while remaining something of a world capitol. Those plotters, in my opinion, don't understand us, the people that populate this city.
Very soon after 9/11 and certainly now, my anger has been transferred towards this administration. They understand us, New Yorkers and the citizens of this country, even less than our Al Qaeda enemies. They do not understand us, they do not appreciate and respect what we as citizens hold dear; they have nothing but disdain for the people they claim to lead and protect.
Thus, we are in a malaise. Our enemies may hate us, but our supposed leaders hate us even more.
Turn off your computer, take a trip to Maine or somewhere like it, and it will serve as stark contrast to the daily horrors and lies foisted upon us by this illegitimate Administration. It leaves you very sad about what could have been in contrast to what is, due to this Administration. After your trip, come back and fight like hell for it's removal, regardless of who your favorite Dem candidate is.