For Shame
April 21, 2007
This week’s media spectacles have been unnerving, to say the least. First the torrent of national weeping over the VTech tragedy, accompanied by hysterical finger-pointing at the university administration and law enforcement—with barely a whisper on anyone’s part about the two main culprits in that sad affair: mental health care, and gun control.
Where is the politician who will step up and say what needs to be said about the inadequate mental health care in this country, which becomes even more dangerous with the easy availability of weapons?
And while we were busy holding candlelight vigils for the 32 innocents who died unnecessarily in their dorms and classrooms, another 171 innocent civilians—that’s one hundred and seventy-one—died in a single bombing in Iraq, followed in quick staccato by another ten one day, fifteen the next, and on and on, interminably.
Where are our tears for the tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians who have been killed in this unnecessary war? For the tens of thousands who have been displaced and impoverished and grievously wounded? Where are our tears and vigils for the thousands of Americans who have been needlessly tossed into the maw of war by the same politicians who are now silent on gun control at home?
The truth is that there is so much to cry over in this world, which is why Americans probably leap with such passion on any nationally sanctioned excuse to grieve—we need the catharsis, especially in our Prozac nation of false cheer.
If we weren’t so busy crying this week, maybe we’d find our way to that other wonderful cathartic release: ANGER! Where is our outrage? How much do we have to endure of platitudes and inaction, before we stagger out of our media-induced stupor and remind ourselves that the politicians work for us? When will we remember that it’s time to our let our government (by the people, for the people) know, in no uncertain terms, what needs to be done!
Gun control
Universal, single-payer health coverage
Get out of Iraq, and stop the military build-up
Invest in renewable energy, bigtime and fast
Use the tax code to close the inequality gap
Invest in education at home and abroad
Ensure justice and democracy for all, not just for the privileged
There is nothing new or radical on this list, it’s plain common sense that has been on the agenda of every thinking person for many years. What’s needed is a mass movement to make it happen. Are you ready? I am!
***
And just one more note: the sight and sound of Alberto Gonzalez sniveling and groveling before the Senate this week was truly sickening. I feel sorry for the poor guy, obviously loyal to his masters, and willing to go through any humiliation to safeguard their lies and manipulations from public scrutiny. Alberto, that was truly ignominious, and that’s a word I don’t think I’ve ever had call to use before. Shame on you. If we suspected before that you were a political lackey who had no business being Attorney General, well, after your performance on Capitol Hill this week, now we’re sure of it.
