What's All the Fuss

"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001? Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?

And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet? Well, I don't. I don't care at all!

I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia.

I'll care when Abu Musab al-Zarqawi tells the world he is sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling, slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.

When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college hazing incident, rest assured that I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank that I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts that I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and — you guessed it — I don't care!"

This Is All the Fuss

The Al Qaida working for Osama bin Laden attacked New York on September 11th, 2001. Osama bin Laden attacked us for our support of Israel, our military bases in the Saudi Arabian Islamic Holyland, and our ties to the Saudi Royal Family. I think that because he said that. He did not attack us because he hates our freedoms and our religions.

I think we should find Osama bin Laden, bring him to trial and kill him. In order to do that, I think we should have more than one fifth the amount of military in Iraq used in Afghanistan. Our president may be right in thinking that the war on terrorism is more than finding one man in a cave, but I also think that finding that specific man and capturing him is a good start. Even Sun Szu would think that cutting off the head of a snake is the best way to stop its body.

I care that some people insist on acting on irrelevant verses of the Bible and I respect their right to do so - just so long as it does not interfere with my beliefs or practices as I will not interfere with theirs. Be it the Koran, the Bible, the Torah, the works of the Buddha, the works of Confuscius or any other religious doctrine - because that's the American way.

I care that our government felt it necessary to lie to all of us (as well as to Congress) that the September 11th attack had anything to do with the Iraq War.

I care that the reputation of our country is so bad that I feel it's better to pose as a Canadian whenever I should travel abroad.

I'll care when we actually bring Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz for not only failing to bring the warnings of Richard Clarke to his boss Donald Rumsfeld and purpetuating the myth that Iraq had anything to do with 9-11, to justice.

I'll care when we FIRE Condoleeza Rice for allowing the worst attack on our soil ever and stating that the air shortly after the attack was safe. I still have friends coughing black stuff out of their lungs.

I care that the Disney corporation which once stood for an optimistic EPCOT future should corrupt its reputation with the sponsoring a production of "The Path to 9-11" - a movie that planted right wing neo conservative propagandistic lies that blamed a previous administration for the incompetence of the current one and had the audacity to say that it was based on the 9-11 Commission Report.

I'll care when they show me this president is serious on the "war on terror" by bringing Osama bin Laden to justice and then maybe I'll rethink my position on Iraq. Right now, the "war on terror" is as valid as "the war on the color blue".

I'll care when non military people rethink the practicality of strapping on a gun and walking into another man's country for corporate profit and then act shocked when they are caught by hostiles and killed.

I'll care when this country recognizes that the insurgent tactics were identical to those we took in our own revolutionary war.

I care that somehow we think that an armed marine is brave when he roughs up an unarmed prisoner to get unreliable information by waterboarding.

I'll care when we recognize that a mindless zealot can be defined as either a brainwashed child of Islam or a six year old that went to "Jesus Camp".

I'll care when people in this country become intelligent enough to know that Nirvana is a Hindu and Buddhist concept and not a Muslim one.

I'll care when our president knows EXACTLY what human dignity means and not that "it's a little vague."

I'll care when the media STOPS reminding us of our right to free speech because it will mean another of our rights in the Constitution have been taken away or suspended by a group of neo cons that have hijacked this country to totalitarianism.

I care when I see the attrocities in Abu Garib.  It means we are now no better than Nazi prison guards.  The only difference is that they had ovens in the back.

I care that the people of this country are duped into thinking that anyone who might even look Arabic might be a terrorist just because they aren't wearing a shirt that says "I am a terrorist".

I care because I'm am not one of "them". I care because if I'm not one of "you", eventually I will be one of "them" and may be next to be a detainee simply for no other reason than because I disagree.

I care because I'm what we should be.