George Bush's address to the fodder units

This weekend was filled with things that really matter: dear friends, enlightened conversation, wonderful food, self-made entertainment and large quantities of red wine.

Unforuntately it all had to come to an end and about 70 miles short of San Francisco we made ourselves suffer while listening to GWBs address to the nation. It would nice if we could say we got some enjoyment from hurling abuse at the radio as his drivel reached our ears. Unfortunately it was such mindless BS that after the first half dozen untruths repeated as the truth, and the one hundredth mention of the war on terrorism I just plain fell asleep. I awoke in time to hear some hapless souls that NPR had called up for comment after the speech. I was rather disappointed that not a single one of them gave the response Colonel Potter from M*A*S*H would have - horse hooey. Unfortunately it was just mindless plattitudes like "yeah, he really answered all the questions I had, I feel much better now knowing we're doing the right thing". I just wonder, did IQs really did drop sharply while we were away, or has everyone really been brainwashed?

The thing that struck me the most was how everything he said was purely subjective. If you hadn't engaged the American "we're only 1 in 20 of the worlds population but we can kick yer ass if you don't kiss our ass" perspective, then most, if not all of what he said would seem completely laughable. I'm awaiting some objective commentary from overseas, but I'm sure they haven't finished laughing their asses off yet. I'll give a great example this which was quoted by the BBC:

"Enemies of freedom are making a desperate stand there, and there they must be defeated. This will take time, and require sacrifice"

That had me screaming at the radio - to me its as if he's reading a statement by Osama bin Laden, or Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi people are the ones making a desperate stand. You really have to believe that America was right to even have a chance of seeing this as an objective statement. How about:

"The terrorists became convinced that free nations were decadent and weak."

I'm sorry, but its quite clear that the influences on our governments are decadent, and by their very nature have begat decadent rulers, and are supported by voters who, if they do not already have it, aspire to decadence. The utopian dream portrayed by Western media for all to aspire to is the epitomy of decadence. When those portrayed as terrorists speak of the US as weak then never mean physically weak, or weak in military might, however they mean weak of resolve and weak in that they cannot see their error in pursuing a happiness defined by their own love of manna instead of their own love of life and people. Then there was:

"The terrorists thrive on the support of tyrants and the resentments of oppressed peoples. When tyrants fall and resentment gives way to hope, men and women in every culture reject the ideologies of terror and turn to the pursuits of peace. Everywhere that freedom takes hold, terror will retreat."

So why has and does terrorism still persist in many of the "free" countries of the world? Ask the Basque Separatists, the IRA, people of Palestine, the religious cults, the Branch Davidians, and many other groups throughout the "free" world that are commiting acts labeled as terrorism? Why does the USA itself habor persons who are so disenfranchised by the government and society as a whole they also resort to random acts of violence? I remain unconvinced that there is any evidence that Bush's particular brand decadent greed based freedom could ever erradicate terrorism, more likely it will inspire a whole new cult of domestic terrorism in all countries it encompasses.

To me the very idea that terrorism is caused by just a few crazy people who can be erradicated is a tired and historically foolish notion. Terrorism is the extreme manifestation of rebellion exhibited people who identify with a point of view that they believe has made them disenfranchised from the rest of society. So people killing abortion doctors because that's what they want and society had better give it to them - or else - is just as much terrorism as people flying planes into buildings, or governments pre-emptively marching armies into remote contries because they need to be freed from themselves - or else. Over and over governments attempt to "erradicate" and "destroy" terrorism by attempting to erradicate and destroy terrorists. However you simply cannot do that without eliminating that entire point of view, or integrating it into society in some way.

One could go on, dissecting every sentence of Bush's speech for the propoganda it is. I won't bother because I know that others will better my efforts. Overall the contempt I hold for GWB couldn't be higher right now. The disrespect he shows for the worlds intelligence, their lack of knowledge of history, and the utter disregard for loss of human life he has inflicted, and wishes to continue inflicting is shameful. Remember, when GWB attempts to appease the American civilians, and those in the military who are tired of fighting and just want to come home for pizza, beer and Monday-night football; he is addressing the very same men, women and children that his father branded as OFU - one fooder unit. Can we really expect GWB and those of his ilk to hold us in any higher regard?

Just how can a country ever pretend to bring peace and freedom to the world when it regards even its own people as just a collection of indistinguishable tax paying disposable fodder units with a finite $ value attached to each? Remember, with George Bush and his corporate cronies in charge, the correct answer to the question: "What price freedom?" is "How much have you got 'cause we'll take it all!". Its no wonder terrorists label us decadent and weak. As a tax paying fodder unit I formally raise my hand and wish to be counted as one who would like to displace the decadent and weak who are running the show. They don't speak for me, they don't speak for the majority of my friends, colleagues and associates and nor do we wish them to.

Hey leaders, leave us fodder units alone!