Opinion Editorials, September 2007
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ccun.org, September 17, 2007
Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice to Deceive
The Power of the Truth and the Power of the People are Synergistic
Below is the speech given by Kevin Zeese at the September 15th peace
demonstration in Washington, DC.
Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave When
First We Practice to Deceive
This war started on a pack of lies
and continues with more lies piled on. To end this war we must break the
tangled web of deceit with the truth.
The lies of Petraeus are so obvious
as we see the failure in
President Bush is perhaps the
boldest deceiver – calling a country we are occupying our “ally,” and
claiming the draw down of troops is due to success, rather than admitting it
is to relieve an exhausted military that is fighting a failed occupation.
Bush’s lies have gotten bolder and
bolder as Congress fails to exercise their constitutional duty to impeach
this president who defines ‘high crimes and misdemeanors.’
But let’s talk about some more
difficult truths – about the situation we face as a country, as a peace
movement and as citizens.
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What is it in our culture and
politics that makes Bush possible?
What is it that makes Hillary
Clinton the front runner – despite being wrong on the war and deeply
indebted to the corporate powers and the right wing pro-Israel lobby that
wanted this war and wants a war with
What is it that makes Barak Obama a
peace candidate to some – even though he voted to fund this war, would
consider a military attack on
My fellow Americans, we are living
in a manipulated democracy where corporate-militarists rule. We must
remember the role Halliburton and the oil industry play in making occupation
pay for war profiteers.
But, we are not powerless.
Those in power know they lack the support of the American people and are
forced to manipulate elections and the media to keep control. They are
forced to use the power of police and the courts to try and suppress
demonstrations like these. Is everyone aware that a SWAT team was used
to arrest those posting flyers for this rally? And $35,000 in fines
have been levied for legally placed posters? The establishment shows they
fear the power of the people. Their actions demonstrate that we do have the
power to end this war.
How can we use the power we have, to
stand and face our situation – one of life and death – for our country
and our world?
Let’s make the truth viral.
Stay fully informed. Visit DemocracyRising.US and get our weekly newsletter
to stay aware of the latest news from our nation’s capital and from
Let’s use our economic power –
to support peace groups that stand strong on war and peace.
Let’s use our economic power to
create a new economy one that is not oil-based, but green and sustainable;
when we do we will weaken the military industrial complex and no longer
fight wars for oil.
Let’s use our economic power to
boycott those who profit from or support war.
Use our economic power for mass
walk-outs from work – for an hour, or a day, or longer.
And, our political power.
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Yes, the system is stacked against
us but we have power - more power than we realize because it is mostly
untapped.
Our political power is not just in
voting, the peace movement has the power to shut down this Congress, to shut
down this city – the modern
As voters we must first organize as
peace voters. Sign the voters pledge at Voters For Peace.US – say
you will only support peace candidates by signing the peace pledge at
VotersForPeace.US.
We cannot compromise on the issue of
life and death, war and peace or the survival of our planet. These are
issues of no compromise.
Those who recognize the importance
of peace cannot use their votes for those who compromise on these life and
death issues.
Not only should peace voters refuse
to give their vote to war wafflers, we cannot give our money or our time to
them. Indeed, we should give our money and time to insurgents who
challenge the corporate-militarist parties from within and more importantly
to greens, libertarians and independents who oppose the corporate-militarist
parties.
If we want to end militarism we must
use our electoral power to end militarism.
If the people want to take back
their government it begins with us – us insisting on what we want.
In the next election, you cannot waste your vote on candidates who disagree
with you on the fundamental issue of war and peace. Voting for war wafflers
is a crime of democracy – because you have been manipulated to vote for
what you don’t want.
Recognize your power, do not fear
your power, use your power – when we use our power than power will return
to the people, the government will return to the people and war will become
an embarrassment of history.
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