The year isn't over yet

Well, Coz decided to end the blog for the year, so my other post will have to wait until Tuesday. However, since I started this post before Coz's was posted, I will still post this.

A revolution is coming - a revolution which will be peaceful if we are wise enough; compassionate if we care enough; successful if we are fortunate enough - but a revolution which is coming whether we will it or not. We can affect its character, we cannot alter its inevitability.
~ John F. Kennedy

The war in Iraq should have ended on May 1st 2003, but it didn't. Instead of a mission accomplished, this travesty has trudged on for days, weeks and years. And now this occupation of Iraq has surpassed the terror attacks of September 11th in the taking of American lives.

These death were unnecessary. We did not need to invade Iraq and we no longer need to be there. John McCain and several other Republicans, including Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and President Bush, are pushing for an escalation of our troop levels in Iraq, although they call it a surge. There is nothing good that can come of this escalation. Nothing good can come from more deaths in Iraq and it's time to bring the troops home.

This process to end this war, to end all war, starts with faith. Faith that humanity is good and can get along with each other and from this faith we derive our ideals. We can defeat our enemies without firing a shot by showing them our ideal that each person, regardless of race religion or creed, can and will prosper, and that each person is equal to every other person.

These thoughts come from my love of this country and what we stand for. This love I have is not about blind loyalty to a group leader, but a love that forces me to try and change things to make it better. I firmly believe that the way to win the war on terror is to truly become "a shining city on a hill," a beacon of light to other nations, showing that our way of life and our culture is superior.

One pissed off liberal wrote:

Like Dr. King, I dream of an America that finally does live up to it’s creed, an America that really is the land of the free and the home of the brave, the shining city on the hill where there truly is liberty and justice for all.

I dream of an America where equality, democracy, and social justice are more than just buzz words, but are woven throughout the fabric of society.

I dream of an America where greed, hatred, and bigotry are restrained and discouraged rather than exploited and left to run rampant.

I dream of an America where healthcare, shelter and basic sustenance are guaranteed rights, an America where people take care of each other and help each other.

I dream of an America that forbids the torture and mistreatment of helpless prisoners and that leads the world towards compassion, humanity, and respect for human rights.

I dream of an America that will help the world find a path to peace, brotherhood, and international cooperation.

I dream of a just and good and true America like the one I was taught to believe in as a child.

The dreams are just the starting point.

To begin takes inspiration
To continue takes endurance
To Finish takes character.
(Me, but it is a knock-off of someone else's)

With this new year we need to continue to push forward, to make the world a better place. Make no mistake, there are people in this country who think the status quo is fine and acceptable, even great. They will do everything they can to prevent things that seem logical, such as allowing everyone to get the medical attention, the education and the opportunity they deserve.

Mark Twain wrote a prayer that I think sums up this fight for peace and justice.

"O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth in battle -- be Thou near them! With them —in spirit— we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe.

O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it -- for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet!

We ask it, in the spirit of love, of He, who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen."

Have a happy new year.