Eyes Open? What Then?

How deep is the garbage? How long does it take for people to open their eyes and to see things the way they are? To see though the deceptions being piled up? To demand change? To stop corruption? To not accept hate speeches? Are you willing to silently accept that Iran may be next on the agenda of Cheney and Bush? Another unwarranted invasion? More deaths and injuries of our men and women in our military?

If you now have your eyes open, it is time to demand change. The arrogance and defiance of Cheney and GW, their distortion of facts, their "deafness" to what citizens want, their dismissal of 9-11 Commission findings and suggestions, their ineptness of Katrina recovery, allowing Libby to be the fall-guy for apparent actions by Cheney, the inadequate care for thousands of veterans maimed by this war, the daily increasing military deaths, and the list goes on and on. Add to that, the inaction of Congress to solve or follow-up on the many committee investigations that have taken place.

Do you want to bet that GW will pardon Libby as his last act of "freedom" as president?

Then there is Ann Coulter, supposed best-selling author, columnist, conservative Republican who calls herself a Christian. She spews toxic waste again and again, and continuous to receive support. She’s a disgrace and an insult to our political system, and to the foundation of Christianity–love and compassion. Her vulgar, crude, rude, and non-intelligent comments continue to put her in the spotlight. I noticed lately she has not been such a frequent guest on the cable news show. Thank goodness. I would have thought she would have been ignored by even the Republican party and book-buyers after her awful comments about the 9-11 widows ("New Jersey girls"). But she continues her venom by indicating John Edwards is a "faggot," during her recent appearance at the CPAC Conference. That comment goes along with her previous statements such as her regret that "Timothy McVeigh did not go to the New York Times building;" referring to Al Gore as a "total fag;" said Clinton "shows some level of latent homosexuality;" and various comments that women should carry guns but not be allowed vote; to name only a few of her "hate" comments. Funny? Hardly. I saw today the CPAC organization has comments on their website about Coulter and her latest John Edwards’ putdown. I quote: "Ann Coulter is known for comments that can be both provocative and outrageous. That was certainly the case in her 2007 CPAC appearance and previous ones as well. But as a clarification, let me make it clear that ACU and CPAC do not condone or endorse the use of hate speech. ~ David A. Keene, ACU Chairman." I’d suggest they consider not allowing her to speak at their conferences because it is highly unlikely she will keep hate out of her speeches.

Today I welcomed news of justice taking place. Young Jessica Lunsford’s killer, John Couey was convicted on four counts: first-degree murder, kidnaping, sexual battery on a child under 12 years of age, and burglary. Whether Couey is given the death sentence or not next week, he will never see the light of day again and will never harm another child. I applaud Mark Lunsford for his strength in being able to use the tragic loss of his little girl to change sex offender laws in Florida and many other states and to lobby Congress for Federal money to enforce the child predator laws. He is not giving up his fight, nor are a few other parents of child victims such as John Walsh, Mark Klaas, and Ed Smart.

It is time to demand changes and no longer be blinded to the injustices taking place. The garbage needs to be thrown out and the sooner the better for our country–and for the world.

~Linda