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TechnoratiIt's about time Americans faced the truth.
Today a Marine not only convicted of conspiring to commit kidnapping, larceny, and making false statements; but the murder - MURDER - of an innocent Iraqi man, was given his sentence. He is to receive a reduction in rank and a bad conduct discharge.
THIS is what America has become.
It is now considered "bad conduct" to murder an unarmed man, knowingly return to the scene to fabricate the appearance of self-defense and hide the facts after the fact.
Murdering an innocent Iraqi is now considered "Bad Conduct."
In 2004 my husband, a ten-year US Army veteran, made a conscious decision to no longer participate in war - he spoke openly of the bad conduct of his commanders in giving orders to soldiers in his unit which not only jeopardized the lives of innocent Iraqis, and children, but also those of the soldiers he served with.
For his decision to no longer be part of the destruction, wanton killing, and unjust, immoral action this war has shown itself to be, my husband was accused of being a deserter, faced trumped up, fabricated charges of intentionally missing his unit's movement, and when the first court-martial attempt failed, was handed additional trumped up charges of larceny for combat pay his command erroneously placed in his paycheck. During a second court-martial attempt he was found guilty of missing movement or not getting on a plane and was sentenced to 15 months in prison, loss of all pay, reduction in rank and a dishonorable discharge.
A veteran with ten years of honorable service, who took a stand to no longer participate in an action in which murdering innocents is acceptable is now considered "Dishonorable."
How low do you intend to go, America ?
How far are you going to let your values dip before you stop the slide?
We don't need to see the documents "executive privilege" is denying us the right to see. Their content is evident in the actions of our military courts - Justice in America no longer has a conscience, and the travesty continues as Americans sleep through the reality of what it is they are about to lose.
The United States Congress spent an entire night - wasted an entire night - in a public display of ridiculous bantering over a war which has now caused the deaths of almost 4000 US military personnel and hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians - CHILDREN are dying every day in Iraq because of what this country has allowed to happen, and our Congress has the foresight to remember to place cots in the Senate chambers in case one of the illustrious elite might grow weary of their repetitious "pillow talk" and need a rest.
I am weary of the talk - the Iraqis are weary of the talk - and I know for a fact that American soldiers are weary of the talk.
There are some who, while wearing our nation's uniform, have committed horrendous crimes in this war, and in a great many instances have received little more than a slap on the hand for their actions. Hundreds of thousands more soldiers have served honorably under the most horrendous conditions, fighting against their instincts for survival to maintain morality in their actions in the most difficult circumstances. They deserve better than to see those who cannot control themselves face so little consequence for their lack of character.
The administration that sent our military to war has become nothing more than a dictatorship in emperor's clothing and our congress is clearly displaying how little backbone they have when it comes to defending the truth in the hallowed halls within which our Constitution is supposed to still matter.
The American people seem to live in a stupor as our soldiers continue to be sent to war - our congress can't seem to find it in themselves to get up off their cots and realize that our military needs a rest too, as do the Iraqi citizens who have seen their country devastated beyond recognition by the maniacal whims of an administration that is lost in its love for self-aggrandizement and its need for public recognition regardless of whether its behavior is even remotely recognizable as human.
Where is America's Conscience?
This country has become such a nation of followers, addicted to letting someone, anyone else make their decisions for them as long as they can continue on in their hazy stupor, wrapped in the illusion of living a celebrated life, carefree and requiring no responsibility for their actions.
Why is this administration still allowed a shred of credibility?
Why are we still acknowledging any of the members of our congress as being capable of representing any truth in their actions?
The truth is that none of our government officials are willing to admit to a mistake. None of our government officials are willing to take a stand to acknowledge that their role in sending our soldiers to war was instrumental in the greatest mistake imaginable. Our government officials continue to hope that a "surge and a prayer" will bring victory
to the glittery false promises they so boldly made as they sought to assure a fearful nation to put their trust in leaders who have yet to come to terms with the true meaning of responsibility; and the war drags on as more soldiers die and more families face their loss in the heart of a nation whose beat yields a very hollow sound.
Our soldiers and their families deserve better and it is past time for American citizens to take a stand to defend the laws they have expected our soldiers to fight for in their name.
Our government leadership stands with their hands over their hearts crying crocodile tears as they tell story after story of the "brave soldiers and families" who continue to sacrifice so greatly in this country's name - doing so with all the feeling of the new robot baby introduced as the latest "must have toy" soon to be all the rage in every American household.
Our military families stand with their hands empty and their hearts heavy as they struggle to make it through a memorial service trying to find meaning in the cause for which their loved one died -grasping at believing the words of the politicians when they are told this sacrifice has been worth the loss, simply because they don't want to believe they lost their loved one for nothing.
America doesn't know their loss - America knows talk. America knows drama. America knows politics.
America hasn't the first clue about loss - and so Americans continue to lose, and soldiers continue to die while the games of politicians are acted out on the nightly news in dramatic displays of understanding with the depth of a two inch mud puddle.
Americans haven't the first idea what it means to sacrifice - and Americans don't care whether there was a reason for our soldiers to die or not, as long as they are not the ones who must look in the mirror and face what they have become -a nation without a conscience.
I watched soldiers board buses in the middle of the night, somber and teary eyed, even in their strength, as they left to invade a country in a war which even then made little sense. I watched them hold their heads high as families stood in the distance until the buses were no longer in view, and felt the emptiness of the darkness we were left with, wondering whether one of those men would be the first to die in a war whose cause has still not been defined.
I have walked across the sidewalks lined with almost 400 trees now, in the middle of Fort Stewart's parade grounds; trees planted to remember lives lost. I'm sorry but I don't see that to be an equal exchange and the memory of a lone soldier kneeling beside the base of one tree to leave a note for someone who had been so much more than a friend represents a loss this country can't seem to comprehend.
Our soldiers deserve better than a congress that is willing to spend an entire night in a debate of futility.
Our soldiers deserve better than an administration that cares more about defending its right to hide its incompetence from us than it cares about even its own humanity, as it orders our soldiers to a war that has become nothing more than another act of covering the tracks of a leadership that has clearly demonstrated its inability to lead.
Our soldiers have been stranded in a country that is now decimated and in danger of becoming lawless because American citizens have sat idly by and allowed themselves to be led toward becoming a nation of lawlessness, and there is no end in sight unless American citizens step up and defend the laws which have given them their freedom for over two hundred years.
Where is your conscience, America?
Monica is the wife of Sgt. Kevin Benderman, a ten-year Army veteran who served a combat tour in Iraq and a year in prison for his public protest of war and the destruction it causes to civilians and to American military personnel. Please visit their website, www.BendermanDefense.org to learn more.
Monica and Kevin may be reached at mdawnb@coastalnow.net
51 Comments so far
Show AllAs a point of closure -
I find it interesting that a forum designated as progressives working toward justice, in which I post an article about the lack of justice in two cases involving killing and not killing, becomes a discussion of grammatical correctness.
Who gives a flying fig about how the truth is told as long as it is the truth? We have covered truth with a gilt lined veil for far too long.
BUT - in truth - the grammar is not incorrect. None refers to "officials" not "official" -- and therefore is plural -
I hope the truth is remembered one day - for all that the truth is, and for all we stand to lose if it is forgotten.
Monica Benderman
On the string Cindy Sheehan wrote, someone reports she has been arrested.
Excuse my Freudian slip brave Bendermans.
dutch1949: Can it dutchboy. You impugn Benderman’s bravery based on when he joined the service? How dare you. For your information more Dutch immigrants now want to return to The Netherlands than want to come here. Check it out. Their number one choice is Canada. The US is hated as much here as it is abroad. I am also a Dutch immigrant and I lived during Hitler’s occupation of my native country. Bomb shelters are nothing compared to your comfortable research life in Chicago, trust me on that. My father escaped with his life despite his ‘underground’ anti-Nazi activities. Would you have had him join the occupation forces? The side you chose in battle DOES matter. There is only one just side, not ‘right, left and in the middle’. Thank YOU Bendermans for using your hearts!
Ummm Dutch, what does the subject of torture, have to do with the subject matter that one of our troops murdered an innocent man and recieved minor punishment for that and other crimes?
That murder was not a movie, it was real life. You write you cannot believe us people. Well, I don't understnd your reasoning, nor do I care to.
I can't believe you people. I wonder what your response to 9/11 would have been? What, do the Clinton thing? Lob over a few cruise misiles and call it a day? Oh yeah, let's go back to isolationism, just like pre-Pearl Harbor. At that time Europe was embroiled in a war, but Americans had their heads in the sand. War will find us. We are going to get hit, and get hit hard; you can take that to the bank. Hillary will probably be our next president(may God help us). Islamofascism will spread. Pakistan will fall, Iran is there already, Saudi Arabia will become more radical, and on and on. Oh wait, Clinton gave us Kosovo. They have already destroyed over 110 churches in Kosovo. Now the Islamofascists have a base deep in Europe. We will repeat the errors of pre WW2.
On the atrocity thing. How many have seen Patriot Games? Remember when Harrison Ford shot the guy in the leg and threatened the same to the other leg? Torture isn't it? I wonder though when your or your family's life is at stake what you would do? I don't condone torture as a matter of routine, but under severe circumstances I can understand it.
I really do wish all of you well.
Dutch
"If we believe absurdities, we will commit atrocities." --Voltaire
Facing the Truth by Monica Benderman
Please support Cindy Sheehan
Courtesy Democrats.com
“Call Congress Today for Impeachmentâ€
“On Monday, July 23rd, the fifth anniversary of the meeting that produced the Downing Street Minutes, Cindy Sheehan, Ray McGovern, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Ann Wright, Debra Sweet, Dave Lindorff, David Swanson, Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin, Kevin Zeese, and Tina Richards will lead a march to Chairman Conyers office and not leave until he agrees to begin impeachment proceedings.
If you cannot be there, you can take two minutes on Monday and do two things: phone and email Chairman Conyers at 202-225-5126, John.Conyers@mail.house.gov and ask him to start the impeachment of Dick Cheney; and phone your own Congress Member at 202-224-3121, www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml and ask them to immediately call Conyers’ office to express their support for impeachment. Your Congress Member might be one of the three needed, not just to keep impeachment activists out of jail but to keep this nation from devolving into dictatorship.
Also email your Representatives:
www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/73 “
“We’ve reached the impeachment moment for Vice President Dick Cheney. We’ve pushed the cosponsor list for H. Res. 333 up to 14. Chairman John Conyers says that if we get 3 more he’ll begin the impeachment proceedings.
And many Congress Members must be recognizing that there is no other path available. Cheney and Bush have repeatedly refused to comply with subpoenas, ordered former staffers not to comply, and announced that the Justice Department will not enforce contempt citations from Congress. When a special prosecutor attempted to hold this administration accountable, Cheney’s chief of staff obstructed justice, and Cheney persuaded Bush to commute his sentence. There is no course left for Congress but Impeachment.â€
Also consider contacting Nancy Pelosi.
Constituents can contact Nancy Pelosi via her regular U.S. Representative website: www.house.gov/pelosi/ or via this email address: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov.
Non-constituents can contact Nancy Pelosi via her House Speaker website: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/ or via this email address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
Of course you can always just call Pelosi or use the US Postal Service:
Office of the Speaker
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100
I did not want to mention it, but since it now has has been I will. If anyone has been to Iraq, or Afgan, they are contaminated with DU. How much is the question. Not very much is too much. I don't know why all of our troops don't refuse to go there.
guliper--
You read it in John Greenleaf Whittier's poem, "Maude Muller."
Here's the link:
http://www.poetry-archive.com/w/maud_muller.html
Your quote is towards the end of the poem.
Dear ms Benderman,
yes: all of us know that the military machine lures very young people to "become all you can be".
Promises of college-tuition, et cetera, are, literally, food for the poor (and/or un-informed).
If everyone would stay out of, and stay away from, the military, and if everyone would search for other ways to obtain a college degree, then my credo:
IF little Johnny (and now also, regrettably, Mary) did not go to war, there would not/could not be a war,
would no longer have relevance.
Wake up, people, and understand that, once in the military, you are seen only as replaceable cannon-fodder.
The "history" of these u.S. of N.A. has been, and still is, one of wars, assassinations, conquering and invading other people's countries, and so on.
It is up to all the people to change and end this despiccable record...
Remember this: we are more, in quantity, than all the warmongers and "law-makers" combined.
BTW: I do hope that your husband has not been contaminated with D.U.
Thank you.
RB.
We, the people, have not DEMANDED enough from our "so-called lawmakers". They do exactly as the Lemming in Chief tells them to do. To really CHANGE, they likely would not be reelected, so I am guessing that is why. I would support ANYONE who acted out of integrity rather than greed. What do I know? I don't think we are at war. W is at war with the world. This is tasteless, however, here goes. "Too bad Daddy Bu$h didn't pull out 60 or so years ago." Then we wouldn't have this national disaster, that, for the life of me, I see no end in sight. It all looks bad anyway you spin it. Touche, Karl Rove and Deadeye Dick!"
Thank you for the hug.
And (cracken up), great post, love your humor. I also never had any problem understnding Monica's prose or her message.
There are unfortunately too many people who take dutch1949's view of war and retroactive justification. Surely we could find a reason ex post facto to have invaded Mexico? As long as there are views like dutch1949 we're in big trouble.
Wait jess a minit! Let us consider BigmouthKate's quibble one more time; first she quotes Ms Benderman accurately:
"The truth is that none of our government officials are willing to admit to a mistake. None of our government officials are willing to take a stand to acknowledge that their role in sending our soldiers to war was instrumental in the greatest mistake imaginable."
"Truth" is a singular noun, so the Present Indicative "is" is in perfect agreement with it re "number".
"Officials" is plural so "are" is the correct verb to use when describing an action by or condition of same.
Where's the beef? ROTFL at all these schoolteachers who bought the djaiv misquote Kate follows with:
"Ms. Benderman, make a choice:
…none of our government officials is willing
or
…our government officials are not willing."
But Ms B. never SAID "none of our government officials is..."; she said the TRUTH is.
Duh.
Sincerely,
Cracken up in Sactomato:)
Evelyn Smith,
Yes we do, and we all are here for you too, my friend.
I believe your posts are excellent Claudius, I'm having a bad day, the message in this article is very dpressing for me, except for the deep hurt and inner wisdom the author displays.___ She needs a hug.___maybe we all do.
Evelyn Smith,
Thank you for your posts and insights.
Thank you for the lesson Claudius, now I understand.
Evelyn Smith,
The first step is admitting it, which is difficult for many troops to do. The next step is installing sensible and responsible leadership in this country that realizes war is not the answer to the world's problems, and in fact, will only exacerbate and ameliorate them. That is why, as we all know, Bush, Cheney & Co., need to be removed from office, now.
Marctileston,
Well-stated and articulated. I too will make a conscientious effort to better articulate my writing. I will admit that it is my Achilles heel, and I agonize over it. But I at least will try to improve the quality of my posts, but more importantly, look for the messages in others' posts. Thank you.
Claudius
Normally, I don't read the comments except when the piece is truly provocative. The depth of feeling that was shown by this writer is inspiring. There is every reason to believe that her husband's decision not to further add to the chaos and death that is now Iraq came from moral insight and not fear of bullets flying overhead. Brave acts have come from countless sources throughout this debacle. That is not what will change the course of this war. Brave acts along with moral fiber may. I applaud both you and your husband.
Very good Marctileston.
Actually, unless I missed someting, the article was written with the intent of opening some eyes to the facts, that some of our militay personnel are murdering, and or raping or commiting other serious crimes against innocent people in Iraq. Then, if some are charged with a serious crime, they suffer little or no consequences.
To illustrate that fact, the author told of her and her husband's sad experience for an example, of how our country's moral standards are in a decline.
I am ashamed, for I am an American and a disabled vet, and I do not understand how such crimes can be committed by any of our troops, and if they are, why aren't the guilty justly punished.
That is what I got from the very fine and well written article, one which should make any decent person do some serious thinking, of what we are becoming and how to help to reverse it.
I applaud the Bendermans for taking a stand on the illegal and immoral assault on the people of Iraq.
For a soldier to speak out against the "authorities" is very threatening to the military-industrial complex. This is the worst kind of dissent, in that the soldiers who become bullseyes, are generally "proud" to serve and as such are a large part of the justification for and perpetuation of, war for profit.
Frankly, I'm surprised that he lived to tell his tale. But certainly not surprised that he would be courtmartialed and discharged and imprisoned.
The bunch of plantation owners that run our country obviously have no reluctance to stop dissent. The whole Valerie Plame/Joseph Wilson situation illuminates this fact.
Further, to have a soldier imprisoned for carrying out basically what the entire military is doing (murder), would be counter productive in regards to morale and recruitment. Murder one and you're a killer, murder thousands and you're a gubmint official doesn't play well here, because potential future soldiers may be compelled to consider their government's stance on the soldier who WAS penalized for murder. So, again, not sruprised.
As always, both decisions were made to protect or promote the insane government's policy and position. And as always, without consideration of justice, truth, logic, karma or anything else except their own agenda.
The author's last question was "Where's your conscience America?" I contend that for many Americans, it is in the exact same place the author's was before her husband became a victim. Much like the Bendermans, most of the country had not experienced the atrocities of war nor were they capable of imagining or predicting it's realities. Unfortunatley, the missing American conscience has not had, or has not taken, the opportunity to see the crimes in Iraq for what they are. Prior to finding himself in the mix, Mr Benderman obviously had no aversion to the thought of killing some brown people in the name of America. Only when he became a part of the tragedy did he begin to think. Was it empathy or self preservation, one will never know, perhaps not even the soldier himself.
The author concludes that Americans have no idea what it is to sacrifice and for the most part I agree. This generation has not been called upon to fight for anything. Not to end segregation, not for women's rights, certainly not to end slavery, or even be subject to a military draft. But I am conflicted by the fact that the Bendermans were in the same proverbial boat. He willfully signed the contract to go be a part of these atrocities. Only after he actually made the sacrifices did he feel compelled to speak out. Was his sacrifice enlisting in the first place? I think not. I believe his sacrifice was learning that there was nothing necessary about the murder he was being asked to carry out. Same as it was before he got there. Only when it began to disturb HIS mind did he desert. Or for the sake of arguement, only after the first bullett whizzzed by his head as another poster suggested, did he really know sacrifice.
So cheers, for finding your senses and taking a stand, in the end. A hero you are not, a victim you are, right along with everyone else in the world who is not of the elite bloodlines.
My two cents on the cordial banter regarding the proper use of language... It would be very cool if we all knew how to express ourselves a little better. For the most part, that is done with words. To use grammar and puncuation and verbage and semmantics properly aid us in this endeavor. However, instead of criticizing others for mistakes, perhaps we'd be better off trying to understand one another a little better. Often, these days, words are used to hide the truth, to cloud an issue, rather than to enlighten. Spend your time discerning the true meaning of words, what the writer is saying, or even trying not to say, and you won't have the need to edit so damned much. But for the love of Gawd, if you're absolutely inclined to proofread and complain, don't follow it up with...
"Take heart that your husband’s villiafication at the whim of villians may lesson, if not eradicate, the karmic dept incurred previously in the service of the same."
our resident spellchecker meant to say...villaification, villains, lessen, and debt.
If you live in a glass house...
Well Ron and BigNoseKate, there you have it, the common dreams police wants you in an asylum with drugs and maybe shock treatment therapy. The audacity of criticizing spelling and belittling astrology or Karma-man, you guys are bad.
How American, the subject of the posting was MURDER and injustice and the discussion quickly degenerated to comments about the use of words and placement of comma's. (Which I will put any damn place I feel like!) Small wonder that positive change never happens, we that would make a change keep getting lost in our own petty issues and take our eye off the origional question. I wonder how the woman who's husband spent 15 months in jail for OUR country feels about the discussion points posted under her editorial.
PS: Unless Ron dated a woman who told him he was "Born under a bad sign" as the song goes, and he's never forgiven the castigation since????
CEE MIRACLES: Great points made as an educator. I took a similar course in seeking to instill in my students a LOVE of reading. The strategy being that the more they read, the more I felt they would subliminally absorb the "rules" of grammar, and enhance their vocabularies.
Thanks to Evelyn Smith and others for once again holding a mirror up to RON who thinks it is enlightened to use any and every opportunity to attack me and my belief in astrology. He has no understanding of the efficacy of this field as studied and practiced by an intelligent, educated individual (i.e. me). He puts me in the category of terrorist, and it begs the question why he finds this subject matter--a portrait of the heavens as inspired blueprint for our world (The Logos stated simply: "As above, so below") so threatening? He is the ONLY one in this forum who repeatedly attacks me, and far more other individuals thank me for expressing a view otherwise everywhere else marginalized. It is NOT coincidental that the rightwing take over of media that's marginalized progressive voices, also has pushed estoeric topics from conversation. I share sentiments on the basis of more than 30 years of research into arcane traditions and esoteric practices. I believe Ron's soul harbors some really wounded memories of actions he has taken against people who espouse beliefs such as my own, and this is what tortures him. My statements re-enact this tortured aspect of his own past that he cannot accept, so it's far easier to toss barbs my way. I have asked him to just let this go, but he cannot. Thus the explanation. To those who are not afraid to look up and consider meanings and congruences that ordinary linear studies (logic, the subjects deemed fit by the same academe that ultimately emerged from the church-state) I will continue to share my insights as they are prompted by the varied discussions in this most excellent forum. Good day.
Cee Miracles has it right. You have to do some reading for message not grammar. (Even though, like CM and BNK, I am a fan of correct grammar and usage.)
BigNoseKate, I've read too many of your writings here at Commondreams.org to be totally put off by your writing on this, something that is obviously a pet peeve.
So can we all forgive each other our humanity and get on with the main fight?
I would recommend going to the Bill Moyer's web site for his Journal program and listening to his piece on Impeachment on the Table. The main gist of that story is that this president and vice-president have created too many precedents for presidents to ignore the rule of law in the future. NO CANDIDATES for this presidential election are standing up and saying, "I promise I won't do that." For the integrity of our constitution we need impeachment. The tone that has been set at the top by the president is creating a culture of ignominy, as stated by Monica Benderman, in the military but also in many other brances of government.
Citizens must stop this. Upon this we can unite.
War is ugly, war has always been ugly. If you are in the army, and that army is in a war, but you decide that the war is unjust so you decide not to fight, you are a deserter. Why did your husband join the Army? Oh, it was in peacetime. I propose that as soon as a bullet zipped past your husband he decided the war was unjust. Funny thing is that there many soldiers who have signed on for additional time in Iraq. There are always two sides to a story. I read bloggs right, left and in the middle. Was entering Iraq the right thing to do? I believe so because of the hundreds of thousands of people killed under The Butcher of Baghdad's rule. His willingness to take over neighboring countries, and yes the very real possibility of WMDs.
To the other commentators about the US being hated, I agree. I am from Holland, but live near Chicago. I visit Europe regularly and know how much The US is hated. They hate us for our wealth, they hate us for our cultural influence, we are easliy hated for the same reasons people hate the occupiers of the biggest house on the block. America produces more medicine, more scientific breakthroughs than any other country. Scientists are still emmigrating to America for the best research opportunities.
America is far from perfect, there is much work to do, but it's people are the most generous, albeit a bit spoiled. Every year 200,000 Dutch are leaving Holland for mostly Canada, New Zealand, and Australia - The wait to enter America is just too long for them.
Monica, most of us feel your terrible pain and frustration for the way your husband was treated for having the courage to stand for what he felt was right. If only we had many more with that amount of courage things could be different for all of us.It seems that we have become a nation where good is bad, bad is good, and we have a backward spin put on almost everything. Sadly, too many people simply cannot figure that out until it is too late to recover our once great country that we were so proud to be a part of. We just have to keep trying and no one knows what may finally turn things around.
BigNoseKate: Don't let the members of the CD herd get you down. They love to gang up on anyone one who criticizes moronic thinking or poor grammar. My pet peeve is the common use of the apostrophe in the word "it's" when they don't mean to say it is. Of course this is not a grammar forum but for the posters to criticize you for making the point that poor writing devalues the content of the writing is uncalled for. This is a speak-your-mind forum and the thought police can buzz off. Please continue to speak your mind; don't let them intimidate you. Several of the posters here have formed a clique and they descend in swarms when one of their number is criticized. They love to dish out criticism, but they can't take it. I was called a fool, a charleton (sp?), an insane person, etc., when I pointed out that a certain poster was an idiot for analyzing the current political situation with astrology. If we are not free to say that astrologers are idiots, or that poor writing detracts from the message, what good is this forum? Is it just another place where control freaks try to run off anyone who speaks freely?
Mrs. Benderman,
I can somewhat relate to what you are saying, since I lost one of my students to this war. I never supported the war in the first place and Alex's death jaded me even more. Prior to that point, I was an armchair activist at best, and attended a protest march or two. But it clearly was not enough. I am far more active now than I was in the past.
You do raise a very good point, in that many Americans know that this war is wrong and has gotten worse, but they directly have not had to feel the pain enough to act. Maybe once it begins to affect their pocketbook, they might act a little more earnestly. That is not to deny the fact that the overwhelming majority of people in this country would like to see the war end as many of us do, now. But I would not give up all hope that Americans will act. They will, and it just might take them more time.
As far as this grammar stuff goes. I have been a teacher for more than five years now in higher education. I have graded hundreds of research papers and essay exams. And the stuff my students submitted blew me away too. There were a few grammatical mistakes here and there, but the content far outweighed those errors. BigNoseKate does have a point that when one publishes an article for public reading, the editor should make an attempt to ensure that it is grammatically and syntactically correct. But as many others point out, the content and message are far more important. BigNoseKate, I find myself doing the same thing, and it can be frustrating. Of course, I too have posted messages that are gramatically incorrect. But let's appreciate the articles for what they are. I appreciate them, and I appreciate the messages all of you post. I learn from them too, even if they are grammatically incorrect.
Where have are our souls gone, when a heart felt appeal to justice and a call to decency, is reduced to a comment about grammar. I don't often reread an article but I did this woman's speaking the truth to her fellow americans about an honorable and brave man. There are those who speak truth to power and those who speak of grammar to their own vanity and ego. A matter of honor or of grammar, fellow americans? Which could you you relate to? Who are we anymore, this good woman asks? We are less and less whom we always thought we were. The American spirit becomes the Grammarican spirit? I feel fortunate that I could have the chance to read her words at all these days. Her words have courage, strength, honor, love and even anger, for an America that we are fast losing touch with. Nope cee miracles, it wasn't about her grammar at all. It was all about OUR hearts though.
I will comment now after reading all of the blogs. Big Nose Kate, you are jerk, or is it a big mouth jerk, or is it a .... never mind. Didn't you get any of the true message this good woman wrote? Dot the i's and cross the tease.
Take a pill big nose,__take a bunch of pills.
I have no words to answer her honest questions, or to reply to the truth of her words.
Cee Miracles, I'm giving you an A+ for your comment.
"CHILDREN are dying every day in Iraq because of what this country has allowed to happen."
children are dying every day in America because of what this country has allowed to happen. as americans, we are divided. one love.
BIG NOSE KATE - Get a life, sweetie.
If you wanted to correct Monica Benderman's minor subject-verb mistake, you could have written to the e-mail address provided and tactfully and helpfully told her about the error.
Yes, as a published writer and some time editor and English teacher, I too am bothered by the quality of proofreading in magazines such as NEWSWEEK and TIME and many others, and in fast-track published paperbacks or hard-cover books.
Increasingly, incorrect spelling, omitted or incorrect word usage, incorrect grammar and punctuation, screwball syntax and obtuse sentences abound. Where are the copy editors?
However, Monica Benderson's message is what's important here. She is not buckin' for the Pulitzer Prize. Maybe later on. And if she is publishing regularly, that's where the editor and proofreader come in.
When I was an English teacher, I'd tell my students to write their hearts out, and not to worry about punctuation, perfect sentence structure, spelling ... The important thing was their passion, their unique voices, their unfettered ideas and thoughts. I told them all the rest could be corrected later.
My students turned in incredible poetry, stories, and essays that blew me out of the water. Yes, corrections were necessary, but because what they'd written was so well-received and truly appreciated, it was a pleasure then for my students to polish their work. They learned much more about their own spoken and written language this way. Gone was the sterility and stiffness in their written expression that so often comes from grammar / spelling / punctuation first and ideas second.
They were used to getting big RED D's and C's with errors marked in red swirls and cryptic comments in the margins or across their papers. By giving them the freedom from fear, these kids really wrote up a storm. Deep feelings and amazingly deep concepts and wisdoms were the norm rather than the exception. And that particular class I taught was the "School Group," which everyone knew meant slow and stupid.
I have belabored this some, BIG NOSE KATE, and I might have written you privately if your e-mail address was available. But what I really want to convey here is for us too listen and read with our hearts and respond with our hearts to this wife's anguished journey at the side of her courageous husband.
That's what's really important here.
You might want to apply at The White House to be King George W.'s loyal-royal grammarian. You could change the course of history by just changing a few words and fooling with the punctuation and sentence structure a bit.
In the meantime, let's concentrate on the shadowy kinds of justice and injustice so many of our citizens and soldiers are facing, and try to do something about these things.
As Winston Churchill once stated, tongue-in-cheek, when he was chided about ending sentences with prepositions: "Yes," he said, "I'll be careful." With a twinkle in his eye, he thunderingly delivered the line: "This is a dire state of affairs ... UP WITH WHICH WE WILL NOT PUT!"
Life is full of exceptions.
BigNoseKate - Perhaps you should refrain from name calling, and pay some attention to your spelling skills.
I admit to making a mistake:
I meant to write, "I agree with the author's comments."
My bad.
I would like to add that I agree even more with Siouxrose's observations. The only acceptable excuse for taking a life is in the defense of life and that cannot be done "pre-emptively."
Take heart that your husband's villiafication at the whim of villians may lesson, if not eradicate, the karmic dept incurred previously in the service of the same.
Peace in promotes peace out.
Dear Monica,
Siouxrose said it most eloquently above...I add a few of my own thoughts below.
Take heart, sister--all over this nation good folks are laboring in small ways (remember Mother Teresa's phrase?) to stop the madness. Some are adopting Iraqi orphans, many are harrying their representatives in Congress to sign on to impeachment and defund the war, even more are unlinking themselves from the corporate economy, and the word is spreading..."we be many and they be few." Peace....
I agree with the authors comments. However, I deplore her illiteracy. It has become entirely too common among the "literary" classes.
The truth is that none of our government officials are willing to admit to a mistake. None of our government officials are willing to take a stand to acknowledge that their role in sending our soldiers to war was instrumental in the greatest mistake imaginable.
Ms. Benderman, make a choice:
...none of our government officials is willing
or
...our government officials are not willing.
These basic rules concerning subject/verb agreement must be mastered in order to graduate primary school, and yet, I can't turn on the television or read the essays on the internet without wincing at the gross incompetence of our "professional" talking/writing heads. If the fairly low level of abstract thought required to master the rules of language are beyond the skills of our "educated" class, then what hope is there that the lessor educated among us can grasp the far more elusive abstraction of "the common good?"
So, Ms. Benderman, are you willing to admit a mistake or two?
MONICA: I admire and salute your husband's courage to stand up to the military machine, and it's evident the tests to both your spirits are inspiring your development as a writer of conscience. Good can come out of evil in the most unexpected of ways. Still, the US military machine has become an agent of mostly evil, and I feel sorry for those seduced into "serving." I'm sure you heard the quote about America's forces being the muscle to support the notion, "there could be no McDonalds without MacDonnell Douglas." Or how about J. Perkin's telling Confessions of a Hit Man and expose of the CIA in undermining sovereign nations whose policies interfered with US "trade." Now with NAFTA and its own tribunal to ever-rule with profit over people, you'd think the need for marching armies into foreign turf would reduce. Yet with the inevitable scarcity of resources, beginning with fossil fuel, the US military is being USED to get the last of a dying share, sadly when OTHER (renewable) options not only exist, but might point the path to new prosperity, healthy jobs and less aggression (how about cooperation instead?) among nations as ALl face the tests sure to come with global warming weather anomalies. Keep writing... it's good for the soul. And think of it this way, your husband neutralized his karma. If he hung around to kill innocents it might not mean squat in the court of Bush, but the lords of karma keep track... there IS a much higher justice than that masquerading as robed travesty in this land of the not very free.
Assuming "America" ever actually had a conscience. From the slaughter of Native Americans to slavery to segregation to our litany of illegal invasions and government interventions, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, our death penalty, our energy gluttony and catastrophic pollution... maybe it's time those of who still have a conscience accept that most have given up hope that an "American" administration will ever do anything for "We the People" ever again.
"Life's sharpest sorrow is for what might have been."
Where have I read that?
Some of "our boys" we have to accept committed horrible acts making us the bad guys.
To many americans, it appears that Iraqis are not really human beings worthy of respect for their lives. They are just collateral for the great american war machine. There is no accountability...for outright murder. Yet, americans have been so liberal in there use of the death penalty and condemnation of murderers here at home. How can an injust people judge and condemn anyone? The hypocrisy just overflows in rivers of blood. No wonder the US has become so hated in much of the world. We haven't the slightest clue on how to respect and treat other people. We just figure our money and our power will overcome everything. A totally morally corrupt nation. If we the people don't rise up against this and change ourselves, we can expect the worst.
Actually, I just reread Evelyn Smith's entry (Kem Patrick?), who seems to have adopted the Ron case personally and shows great sympathy. Now I feel like a sod for kicking you (but not enough to delete my post ;-) ). I tend to agree with Evelyn Smith -- Ron, a person your age shouldn't be "where you're at." See a therapist, and for God's sake get happy.
Ron is just using the Big Nose affair to "act out" again. So you're a cynic too? -- as well as being a fraud and charlatan. There is no such thing as Karma, a notion as unscientific as anything astrology could ever hope to deliver. Karmic debt? Can you cite me a page in Feynman where I can read about it? Oh, go sit on a zafu.
Thank you Kernel and Diane, for writing what I could not find the words to write.
Ron, the lady is not an establihed author or writng a thesis for a doctorate in English lit. She wrote a wonderful piece about her own experience, and gave us reson for deep thought into our own hearts and souls.
It was published by Common Dreams for our pleasure and learning experience. And someone criticized her minor grammer errors, and then asks the lady if she would care to admit her mistakes, instead of praising her for baring her soul to us and to the world.
Then along comes you Ron__ and you bare your pitiful soul and exhibit your utter lack of sensitivity and decency as a human being. Why do you sooften do that, do you not see yourself for what you actually are? Everyone else does.
You must be so sad__ and yet you deny that. Seek professional help Ron, there is always time, but first you must admit it, you must be aware. We all know what is in our own heart and in our deepest thoughts. Perhaps you are afraid of what you see in yourself; I fear you should be. You at tmes show such decency and intellect, it is like a Dorian Gray personality. __Try having a Big Mac with cheese and some fries. Then just sit back and enjoy it and relax for awhile and attempt to think ___of what you really are.