Coping in the Dark

So Keith Olbermann delivered another compelling critique on this administration's blatant lies.

Okay, I'm sold. Here's a brief excerpt of Olbermann's address to President Bush (but I urge you to check out the video):

You have dishonored your party, sir — you have dishonored your supporters — you have dishonored yourself.

But tonight the stark question we must face is - why?

Why has the ferocity of your venom against the Democrats now exceeded the ferocity of your venom against the terrorists?

Why have you chosen to go down in history as the President who made things up?

In less than one month you have gone from a flawed call to unity, to this clarion call to hatred of Americans, by Americans.

If this is not simply the most shameless example of the rhetoric of political hackery, then it would have to be the cry of a leader crumbling under the weight of his own lies.

We have, of course, survived all manner of political hackery, of every shape, size, and party.

We will have to suffer it, for as long as the Republic stands.

But the premise of a President who comes across as a compulsive liar — is nothing less than terrifying.

A President who since 9/11 will not listen, is not listening — and thanks to Bob Woodward's most recent account — evidently has never listened.

A President who since 9/11 so hates or fears other Americans, that he accuses them of advocating deliberate inaction in the face of the enemy.

A President who since 9/11 has savaged the very freedoms he claims to be protecting from attack. Attack by terrorists, or by Democrats, or by both — it is now impossible to find a consistent thread of logic as to who Mr. Bush believes the enemy is.

Yes. He lied. They all lied. To us. We no longer live in a democratic country. We are (artificially?) divided, divisive. Torture is A-Okay, any of us can be whisked away to secret prisons. Elections can be rigged. The ends justify the means. We are poisoned and used and influenced and manipulated by people far more rich and powerful than we are.

I get all that.

What I don't get is: How am I supposed to cope with this information?

I don't watch TV. I don't smoke pot. I do drink some times, but not enough to black it all out. I am busy and distracted, but again, there's a limit. I am not good at being cynical, not with this. I have a spiritual life, to a degree, but that provides no palatable answers. I can wax philosophical, and talk about pendulum swings, and how we're just at the extreme right now, how our country will balance and right itself, as it always has. But there's something lacking.

We can get caught up in informational debates - consider the minutiae, the details, the subtleties, the politics, the context. Yeah, but  . . . there is such a thing as right and wrong. There is such a thing as (call me corny) a democratic ideal. Freedom, equality, justice, fairness. These comprise our birthright, what our forefathers and mothers fought and died for.

When I hear information this disturbing, this cumulative, it permeates me. Saturated in a dirty bath of injustice, my coping mechanism is to act. To cleanse. To set things right. This may be futile. It may seem rash. But what did Thomas Paine and his ideological brethren do when confronted with an unworkable British tyranny? The only common sense thing to do. What did many Americans do upon learning about the genocide in Europe during WWII?

I don't think they watched a re-run of Friends.

Jesus. I look around at our country and Constitution being so . . . cavalierly  . . . disregarded. And I look at so much of our citizenry being so . . . colossally . . . disinterested.

The jabs, the satire, the shoulder shrugging, the ire, the denial, the avoidance. I get that. We all have to cope our own ways. I just feel pretty alone these days. Dirty, sitting in a fetid pile of injustice, waiting for the rain.

And believe me, I know - it's not "cool" to be sincere, direct, emotional and honest. Why is that? Who are the 'coolmakers' and how do they stand to profit from our slick, shielded flippancy?

(. . . And how was your day?)

Comments

[SBW]

I feel you. I want to change things but I wonder "how"? The bill that was just signed permits people to be kept in prison even after they have been found not guilty of a crime. I wonder what is the point of the trial if you can continue to keep them imprisoned? I'll vote, but what good will it do? The majority of the Democrats in the Senate voted for the terror/torture bill.

These are definitely dark days for the Republic.

[Todd Elliott]

Yeah, I hear you. The biggest reason for my inaction is time. I usually shy away from political debates. It seems like the extremeists on either side hype it up to such a point that the majority of us feel like the other side is dead wrong.

There really isn't that much difference between the two parties, until you look at some key issues, but those issues are usually quite flammable.

Yes, we live in a world where we impeach a president for getting some head, and keep a guy in office who lies, goes to war, etc. But the problem is, just about half the country is behind him, and half isn't. It scares me to think about all the terrified, xenophobic, racist people out there.

What terrifies me more than that are the people that just vote along party lines. Or vote what their parents vote. Or beleive what they read in the paper. It goes on.

[The Pilot]

Speaking of rain, its nice to see that a journalist with some actual integrity has finally stepped up to continue the legacy of Edward R. Murrow. Kieth Olberman is great, and it appears that more are beginning to listen, and agree, with what he says.

[Jayne]

SBW: Yeah, this post certainly wasn't "the Democrats will save us all!" I just want to see accountability. Fairness and justice (or at least a semblance of that) restored - as it pertains to everyone (our so-called enemies, this administration, detainees, etc.) The current administration must go, though, as they do not act on behalf of a majority of the nation.

Todd: Yes, I think we can discuss most of the issues in a non-partisan way. I am not saying the current administration has to go because they are Republicans, but because they have lied and killed and tortured without satisfactory justification. I also get frustrated by how blindly people vote. Yes, half the world is scared and apathetic, but I believe it's up to each of us to tip the balance.

El Piloto: Yes, Olbermann is refreshing! But (speaking of Murrow) I am a bit annoyed that he uses Murrow's "Good night, and good luck" tagline/signoff. Can't he come up with his own? Like, "Good night, and get those fuckers out of office."?

[Mark]

Y'all could come to Canada...we'd take you in. However, we do have a right wing PM of our own at the moment. But he is in a minority situation and his popularity is stagnant...if he continues down his current path he will be ousted in the next election. He has even had the audacity to cut adult literacy programs.

[timethief]

I'm a canuck too and everyone I know here is absolutely scared shitless of Bush the liar and the double-tongued rightwing fanatics that are in power in your huge, powerful and controlling country where the population just reached 300 million.
(1) imprisonment without charges and trials = facist state in contravention of the Geneva agreement and conducting a uni-lateral war without UN sanction
(2) government propaganda designed to delude, deceive and deny truth = brainwashing
(3) weapons of mass destruction = armed forces under the control of right wing nutcase administrations upheld by complacent masses
(4) complacent, consumptive masses, blindly pursuing the american capitalist dream while killing the planet and it's dependent lifeforms = planetary destruction
This may hurt you too hear it so as a friend I'll be one to deliver it - many Canadians believe the real terrorists of today are Bush and his administration. Yes, we are afraid that the american populace will continue to elect pugilistic fundamentalists, who will do anything to maintain power and control over the earth's resources while wrapping themselves in the shroud of christianity's Dominion theology, and that together they will be responsible for destroying this planet.

Enough said ...

[Larry Jones]

Tomorrow's another day, Jayne. It's you who must keep the flame alive, and I know you will.

[Pearl]

People fatigue of agitation without focus. It seems to be a higher than normal level of politician is bad mindset. What I don't get is if so many people believe BUsh should be impeached, where's the organized pressure on congress to get things underway? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeach#United_States

[Jayne]

Mark: It's too cold up there for us and we have work to do here, but thanks so much for the offer! I have loved the time I spent in Canada (just Victoria--a lot when we were living in Washington state--Vancouver, Whistler) good luck with your PM . . .

Timethief: "This may hurt you too hear it so as a friend I'll be one to deliver it - many Canadians believe the real terrorists of today are Bush and his administration." . . . and here I thought you actually read my blog now and again ; ) it doesn't hurt me to hear this, believe me, many of us Americans feel the same way, my dear. We will and must persevere.

Larry: Well thank you, Mr. Jones. Likewise. We must, if only for our own sanity!

Pearl: Yes, fatiguing, indeed. When I managed employees, I'd always encourage them to please "turn complaints into specific requests." I guess you missed my impeachment post earlier in the year http://happy.blogs.com/jayne_says/2006/01/impeach_bush_bl.html ; ) but until we have a more balanced Congress, many of us are spinning our wheels, waiting for next month's election. Then, assuming democrats regain Congress, the focus will become aparant. I hope!

[Shephard]

My response to it was similar. And yet I was so happy to actually hear someone verbally lambaste the president. At least while that liberty is still ours. I always try to remember that no matter what the upward or downward spiral appears to be, it can change in a heartbeat. Gandhi is right. Tyrants always fall. But I was just so glad to actually hear the words "Liar" and "Bush" together by a credible journalist ...on TV!! Eat that, FOX!
~S :)

[jules]

Yes, what timethief said. The question is not what to do to cope with this information, but what we can do to change the situation we all find ourselves in now. It seems that there are not too many honest for the people by the people folks left in Washington. How can we, I, you, one person, make a change? Who do we trust for our information? Mainstream Media? Ha, right. The candidates themselves? Again, right. Where can we go for honest reporting of the news, not their opinion, honest reporting of what a candidate REALLY will do, not just what they say they will so we'll vote for them?
All I have is questions and more questions. No one seems to have too many answers.