Inauguration and Liberty

The Washington Post's Colbert I. King re-published a 2001 column yesterday. One that did nothing but tug on America's "apple-pie" heartstrings. It was a reprint of a column that offered, at its original best, a possible entry point into important issue: the future of liberty in a land now ruled by fear.

Too bad he fell short then.
Too bad he falls short now.


Comment on "Another Parade, Another Time":

Mr. King,

Normally a fan - I must critique your regurgitation of old column.

Yes, the sentiment is as poignant now as it was in 2001. Yes, you did have something to say. But that was then, this is... (well you know) NOW!

If you insist on republishing old columns - can you not at least make an effort to bring something new to the page as well?

How about a discussion of how 2009's security plan for "Inauguration Day" says a lot about America's lived reality. You know, the one driven by the sinking realization that only stressed Empires ever need to take such precautions to protect their head of state, their nation's voice, so to speak. Or, the fact that so great is the the need for security on Jan. 20th that a para-military regimen is required to safeguard the world's most widely recognized example of a non-violent transition of political power?

'Sad', that is the word you should have added to your column. 'Sad', is the word that describes how the armed logistics behind the most hallowed affirmation of US democratic values and FREEDOM gives lie to the promise of LIBERTY.

Surely, the preservation of a nation that increasingly resembles a Police-State out of necessity to keep its leaders alive should be cause for concern. No?

As an old Afghan farmer once remarked - "I'll know Liberty when I see no more guns needed to ensure my country continues in peace."

Amen!

Gaza: Just Words.

Reflecting on the week's events one is struck by how wrong (right?) some of the words spoken over Gaza this past decade have been. Links are here - but direct attribution seems, in light of developments, somewhat meaningless. After all, nothing ever seems to change no matter who says what when; these professed hopes, desires, and warnings mean little when the bullets begin to fly.

Hatred is hatred, war is war, people are dying and (for the most part) these samples of the words from the past have done little to help either side avoid today's horror.

“It is in everybody's interest that the model of Gaza will work ,”

“If Palestinian attacks from Gaza continue after our withdrawal, Israel's response will be very harsh, very painful, ... This is not a threat. It is a statement.”

“By reserving itself the ability to invade the Gaza Strip and by maintaining control over Palestinian airspace, territorial waters and most importantly its borders, Israel will continue its military rule over Palestinians,”

“The United States welcomes today the completion of Israel 's disengagement from Gaza,”

“It convinced us that Gaza was not worth holding on to and awakened us to the demographic danger. It took two intifadas for a majority of Israelis to decide that Gaza is not worth it.”

“I hope that with the disappearance of occupation from Gaza, hope will be revived in the minds of Palestinians and Israelis, that instead of military locations, Israel will one day have an embassy in the state of Palestine, and Palestine will have an embassy in the state of Israel.”

“We agreed a cool-down with Palestinian factions to give negotiation a chance and one of the results is that the Gaza Strip is going to be emptied of settlers and soldiers.”

“On Monday the 12th of the month no Israeli army soldier will remain in the boundaries of the Gaza Strip.”

“After 38 years, we are leaving Gaza in order to enable the Palestinians to run their own lives...Now it is their turn to show they can run a normal life, a normal economy, have a new beginning.”

“We will declare an end to military rule in Gaza, ... We do not want to have any responsibility over Gaza.”

“The Jews are leaving the settlement in the Gaza Strip,”

“This is the time for all Muslim and Arab countries to reconsider their relations with Israel. We think it will be a very positive signal to Israeli and Palestinian public opinion that there are some fruits from this withdrawal from Gaza.”

“The Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip will be good for all students. There will be no more obstacles, no more checkpoints,”

“Although the retreat of the Zionist regime from Gaza is short of Palestinian rights and demands, it is however a big victory that shows the inability of the occupier regime of Qods (Jerusalem),”

“The role of the Quartet is significant to make Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip a success.”

“The evacuation of the settlements from the Gaza Strip is not just a struggle over the question of the fate of the territories. Fundamentally, it is the first great battle over the question of religion and state.”

“I hope Israel is not going to use the fact it has done something right in withdrawing from Gaza in order to do a lot wrong regarding settlement activities, the wall and other matters. I hope they will use this to stay the course and to return to negotiations.”

“The people of Gaza must see improvement in their lives after the withdrawal. They must be able to believe in themselves and see hope for this important development,”

“We hope this operation will not affect the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the efforts to ensure the cooldown.”

“Since Israel finished its evacuation of settlers, President Bush should make sure that Gaza will not be first and last through the precise implementation of the road map.”

“The Jewish settlers of Gaza and in the West Bank have a dream for the future of Israel.... The settlers' dream is to create a 'Greater Israel' with Jewish settlements wall-to-wall.... In such a state, democracy will have to bow to the rabbis. The Knesset, the government, the Supreme Court, will be allowed to continue to exist, provided that the rabbis approve of their decisions.... If we, secular Israelis, erase our own existence, the settlers will shower us with brotherly love. But if we insist that we have a different vision for Israel, we immediately become traitors, Arab-lovers or even Nazis.”

“We made a huge breakthrough today..., ... This is the appropriate time for all the Muslim and Arab countries to reconsider their relations with Israel. We think it will be a very positive signal to Israeli and Palestinian public opinion that there are some fruits from this withdrawal from Gaza.”

Jeremiah 47:5 "Baldness has come upon Gaza; ..."

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Thus says the LORD, "For three transgressions of Gaza and for four I will not revoke its punishment,..."

Zephaniah 2:4 For Gaza will be abandoned ...

And on, and on, it goes.... futility indeed!

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