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Our Arrogance Will be the End of Us
"At first, I thought 'How dare you say that about my America,' she said looking at me through squinted eyes, "but then I saw it, our arrogance will be the end of us."
Aug 28, 2005
"At first, I thought 'How dare you say that about my America,' she said looking at me through squinted eyes, "but then I saw it, our arrogance will be the end of us."
She explained to me how she and her husband voted for Bush. She said they were conservative and watched Fox News regularly; however, something touched her in seeing and hearing everyday people from around the world talk about her beloved country as a bully; a hypocrite. Something touched her when faced with the sobering charge of War Crimes and the images of torture at the hands of Americans under orders from the US Government. Something touched her that day that made her think about what she thought she knew.
This woman said these things to me after watching a test screening of a new documentary called Internationally Speaking.
I've been doing this, political activism, a short time, relatively; but it never ceases to amaze me how much people care. How one instant, one piece of information can open a person's mind to something they didn't see before.
More and more American citizens are losing support for Bush and losing support for this war in Iraq. They are learning certain things, with increasing speed. These things the activist community knew before the war started: that we were opening a dangerous can of worms by attacking Iraq.
Cindy Sheehan knows how one instant can change your life forever. Other Mothers who have lost sons know. Now Mothers and Fathers and Sisters and Brothers are learning this before it's too late. Still there are those who think their voice is futile.
Last week at the post office I was speaking with a Postal worker about Camp Casey. "I respect what she's doing," the woman had said to me, "but he'll never talk to her. He can't, because then he'll have to talk to everyone."
I said. "Exactly. Cindy Sheehan deserves answers. This country deserves answers."
"I have three sons in Iraq," the woman told me, "one of them - it's his third time over."
"You should go to Crawford!" I replied.
"Well, my sons aren't dead... yet"
I told her that was the best time to go - before they died. It's getting to that point, folks. People are starting to wake up and speak up before it hits their little box of reality.
As Cindy said, "If you fall on the side that is pro-George and pro-war, you get your ass over to Iraq, and take the place of somebody who wants to come home. And if you fall on the side that is against this war and against George Bush, stand up and speak out."
It's far passed time to speak out, America - stand up in solidarity with Cindy. Speak out in your local communities. Write letters to the editor. Let's generate a sound heard around the world - "America says NO to this war. America says NO to torture and abuse. America says NO to occupation. America says NOT ONE MORE PERSON WILL DIE because of this war."
Speak up, America. Stand up. Let's roll.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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Christine Rose
Christine Rose is an activist and filmmaker. Her films include Liberty Bound (www.libertybound.com) & Internationally Speaking (www.internationally-speaking.com). She can be reached at bluemoosefilms@hotmail.com.
"At first, I thought 'How dare you say that about my America,' she said looking at me through squinted eyes, "but then I saw it, our arrogance will be the end of us."
She explained to me how she and her husband voted for Bush. She said they were conservative and watched Fox News regularly; however, something touched her in seeing and hearing everyday people from around the world talk about her beloved country as a bully; a hypocrite. Something touched her when faced with the sobering charge of War Crimes and the images of torture at the hands of Americans under orders from the US Government. Something touched her that day that made her think about what she thought she knew.
This woman said these things to me after watching a test screening of a new documentary called Internationally Speaking.
I've been doing this, political activism, a short time, relatively; but it never ceases to amaze me how much people care. How one instant, one piece of information can open a person's mind to something they didn't see before.
More and more American citizens are losing support for Bush and losing support for this war in Iraq. They are learning certain things, with increasing speed. These things the activist community knew before the war started: that we were opening a dangerous can of worms by attacking Iraq.
Cindy Sheehan knows how one instant can change your life forever. Other Mothers who have lost sons know. Now Mothers and Fathers and Sisters and Brothers are learning this before it's too late. Still there are those who think their voice is futile.
Last week at the post office I was speaking with a Postal worker about Camp Casey. "I respect what she's doing," the woman had said to me, "but he'll never talk to her. He can't, because then he'll have to talk to everyone."
I said. "Exactly. Cindy Sheehan deserves answers. This country deserves answers."
"I have three sons in Iraq," the woman told me, "one of them - it's his third time over."
"You should go to Crawford!" I replied.
"Well, my sons aren't dead... yet"
I told her that was the best time to go - before they died. It's getting to that point, folks. People are starting to wake up and speak up before it hits their little box of reality.
As Cindy said, "If you fall on the side that is pro-George and pro-war, you get your ass over to Iraq, and take the place of somebody who wants to come home. And if you fall on the side that is against this war and against George Bush, stand up and speak out."
It's far passed time to speak out, America - stand up in solidarity with Cindy. Speak out in your local communities. Write letters to the editor. Let's generate a sound heard around the world - "America says NO to this war. America says NO to torture and abuse. America says NO to occupation. America says NOT ONE MORE PERSON WILL DIE because of this war."
Speak up, America. Stand up. Let's roll.
Christine Rose
Christine Rose is an activist and filmmaker. Her films include Liberty Bound (www.libertybound.com) & Internationally Speaking (www.internationally-speaking.com). She can be reached at bluemoosefilms@hotmail.com.
"At first, I thought 'How dare you say that about my America,' she said looking at me through squinted eyes, "but then I saw it, our arrogance will be the end of us."
She explained to me how she and her husband voted for Bush. She said they were conservative and watched Fox News regularly; however, something touched her in seeing and hearing everyday people from around the world talk about her beloved country as a bully; a hypocrite. Something touched her when faced with the sobering charge of War Crimes and the images of torture at the hands of Americans under orders from the US Government. Something touched her that day that made her think about what she thought she knew.
This woman said these things to me after watching a test screening of a new documentary called Internationally Speaking.
I've been doing this, political activism, a short time, relatively; but it never ceases to amaze me how much people care. How one instant, one piece of information can open a person's mind to something they didn't see before.
More and more American citizens are losing support for Bush and losing support for this war in Iraq. They are learning certain things, with increasing speed. These things the activist community knew before the war started: that we were opening a dangerous can of worms by attacking Iraq.
Cindy Sheehan knows how one instant can change your life forever. Other Mothers who have lost sons know. Now Mothers and Fathers and Sisters and Brothers are learning this before it's too late. Still there are those who think their voice is futile.
Last week at the post office I was speaking with a Postal worker about Camp Casey. "I respect what she's doing," the woman had said to me, "but he'll never talk to her. He can't, because then he'll have to talk to everyone."
I said. "Exactly. Cindy Sheehan deserves answers. This country deserves answers."
"I have three sons in Iraq," the woman told me, "one of them - it's his third time over."
"You should go to Crawford!" I replied.
"Well, my sons aren't dead... yet"
I told her that was the best time to go - before they died. It's getting to that point, folks. People are starting to wake up and speak up before it hits their little box of reality.
As Cindy said, "If you fall on the side that is pro-George and pro-war, you get your ass over to Iraq, and take the place of somebody who wants to come home. And if you fall on the side that is against this war and against George Bush, stand up and speak out."
It's far passed time to speak out, America - stand up in solidarity with Cindy. Speak out in your local communities. Write letters to the editor. Let's generate a sound heard around the world - "America says NO to this war. America says NO to torture and abuse. America says NO to occupation. America says NOT ONE MORE PERSON WILL DIE because of this war."
Speak up, America. Stand up. Let's roll.
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