I have some shit to say.
To introduce: I'm sure none of you recognize my handle. I used to sign in and comment, but nowadays, I just read the front page, the recs, & some of the most recent diaries. I was going to start a running diary on military issues, but time constraints are a bitch, plus I don't have a computer where I live so my ability to post a diary on a regular basis is nonexistent.
Here's the deal - I'll be in Iraq soon. Like within a week soon. I'm in the Army. And again, like my first diary, I have some shit to get off my chest.
I'll number my issues so that the ramblings that follow have some coherent structure.
1.) I'll go where I'm told
I'm going to Iraq because I'm told. I'll go to Afghanistan/ Iran/ Syria/ Any other Middle Eastern country/ Any non-Middle Eastern country because I'm told. I will live my loyalty not only to my fellow soldiers or other military members, not only to my country, but to Americans in every mission. That's not some bullshit motto we get taught; that's an honest commitment I make to you, the reader. If I get orders tomorrow to deploy to Canada, I'm leaving tomorrow to go to Canada. Is it blind loyalty? Maybe. But I trust America. I trust the system. I trust the people. Have we failed ourselves with the administration we have? Twice. But this is the reality. I'll be in the Army when the next President is elected, and I'll probably be in uniform when he/she steps down. I'm not loyal to a President; I'm loyal to the people who put that President in power. You have a say in my fate. Scary, yeah?
2.) 90% of the media is bullshit
I don't need to harp on Fox, right-wing radio, or the individuals who get called out here on a daily basis. Y'all know they're bullshit. I'm talking about CNN, MSNBC, and the large majority of newspapers and radio. Stories about Anna Nicole or Imus draw viewers/listeners and thus money. Fine. But why spend so much time and resources on it? Why not debunk the thousands of lies and distortions told by politicans in both parties (though the ratio seems to be about 50 Republican lies for every Dem one)? Why not try a journalistic approach to journalism? I know, it seems crazy, but it might do some good, insert jackass besides Cafferty with job for CNN here.
3.) What the hell happened to caring about New Orleans?
My family's from Louisiana, as in southeast, Creole, dirty dirt-poor Louisiana. That's right, even the dirt is dirtier. My biggest beef with the whole Imus shit? This makes people trigger their anti-racism mechanism. How about the greatest tragedy heaped upon African-Americans in the last 25 years? The inequity of the system makes me sick, and the fact that people can abide by it because it's "too hard to fix" is not a good reason. Especially when insulting a top-notch women's basketball team takes precedence. (Not to denigrate the Rutger's women's team. They can play. Kia Vaughn can hoop.)
4.) Alberto Gonzo? Really?!
This is where people draw the line?! Of all the shit this administration has pulled, this is where people say "oh, this is too much."?! (totally mis-punctuated. Sorry, teacherken.) This is a group of people who politicize EVERYTHING, and have no respect for America or themselves. Again, I don't understand how this trumps so much of the other bullshit people pull these days. By people, I don't just mean Cheney, I mean everyone else who is less powerful/influential/evil doing everything I would expect Kossacks know of.
and lastly
5.) What is the plan?
This is for either side, because as a soldier, it's pretty fucking annoying not to have any sense of your future. For either party, what is the plan? No not for Iraq; BushCo screwed that country up about 2.5 years ago. I mean after. We have ~26k soldiers in Afghanistan compared to the 150k+ in Iraq. How many do we need in Afghanistan? Are we comitted enough to the GWOT... sorry that doesn't exist any more, the fight on terroristic peoples that we go into every country that harbors terrorism? Al-Qaeda just claimed responsibility for the bombings in Algeria. That's right, Algeria. Haven't seen that country on the ticker on tv have you? How about Morocco, because they claimed attacks there too. So, are we going to inflitrate every country from NW Africa all the way into SE Asia? What about Great Britain? They have a serious growing problem with radical Muslim clerics who are vocally advocating violence. (As a note, aside from the tragedy of such a situation, I would find the irony of an American invasion into England absolutely hilarious. Until I got deployed.) What is the fucking plan? I know we need to get out of Iraq. Then what? Here's a query, if I may. Does anybody give a shit about Osama? We found Saddam in a hole in the ground. I would guess Osama's not in a hole in the ground. I would appreciate if we found him. In fact, I hereby volunteer to be tasked to find Osama, but given my quasi-Catholic morals, I wouldn't want to hang him. Fuck it, put him in the Mag (7th ward in New Orleans). He'd ask to be hung.
I know this is a serious rant, but I might not get to post anything for quite a while, and I just would like some of this to filter its' way into the community.
I know, there's a personal tone to it. I'm a soldier. I'm leaving a woman I love who loves me for a good while to go to war. My mom volunteers for the USO. I have a stake in the future of the country I love and the region I love (Texas/Louisiana), because I'm going back when I'm allowed.
I know, we can't fix the media rectum (and it is a rectum) anytime soon, but it is ruining America. I honestly believe that.
I know, we can't remake New Orleans like it was. We can make it better. It takes effort. Honety and effort, and those are rare in the public arena.
I know our current government is ass backwards. So do you.
I know our future is blank. That could be a good thing. I hope you, the reader, you, an American (no offense Jerome. J'espere que les problemes des Etats-Unis disparaitre bientot. Yeah, I speak French, motherfucker.), you a human being understand the significance of our present reality. We have an ability, and therefore the responsibility, to fix shit. So fix it.