New Year
Tonight, I heard a Gold Star Mother on NPR talking about how in her tight little community, not far from a base in San Antonio, everybody had somebody serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. She complained that it felt like America had already forgotten about the war, that everybody was ‘at the mall.’
And I thought. ‘God I sure haven’t’. Frankly, this is looking to be about the worse year for this nation I’ve seen in my adult lifetime. I’m not celebrating. We are at war. Life really sucks for too many people in this country and Iraq, not to mention Sudan, Somalia, Haiti and way too many others.
It doesn’t feel right to celebrate this year.
Let this year be about to the basics, about what it really takes to be a great nation.
A great nation does not need to be the greatest, and possesses the humility to never claim to be.
A great nation holds the greatness of its society above its power.
A great nation holds its enemies closely and patiently.
A great nation guards transparency more jealously than its government guards secrecy.
A great nation’s freedom liberties cannot be threatened by any external forces if they firmly entrenched.
A great nation holds its fearful in disrepute.
A great nation refuses to kill other humans ever, for any reason.
A great nation respects all people equally.
A great nation has no poverty.
…
January 1st, 2007 at 7:25 am
You forgot clemency. That is the most notable mark of nations or empires that have truly been great.
January 1st, 2007 at 8:40 am
So, by definition, the U.S. ain’t such a ‘great nation’? I suppose we’ll all be working on that in 2007.
January 1st, 2007 at 11:09 am
Cliff,
I agree with several of your points. For example, a great nation is “transparent”, and its “liberties cannot be threatened…if they [remain] firmly entrenched.” These two statements indicate that we have a ways to go toward becoming a great nation.
By the way. Congratulations on being un-banned from ASP! As an attempt at a New-Year reconciliation, you are invited to contribute again over there.
I kind of agree that it doesn’t feel right to celebrate this year, but I am optimistic for the future. Over on Serving Iraq, I have discussed the hope and the grounds for which I think New Year’s day, 2008 can be cause for great celebration, regardless of politics.
January 1st, 2007 at 11:57 am
If the neo-cons get their escalation (the real meaning of the sanitized word ’surge’ that fox news keeps using) of this war then there better be a draft so every single person in the country will feel the impact of this war instead of just a select few like the Gold Star Mothers. It is easy to support a broken policy when it doesn’t impact you. It is time that shared sacrifice means something if we, as a nation, are going to continue down this endless road.
January 1st, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Marshall, what say we don’t ‘follow this road’? We just follow the leader. From one fund-raiser to another and back-and-forth to Wacko.
January 1st, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Cliff! Happy fuckin’ New Year’s……By the way we have held Jim captive…against his will but he’s enjoying very minute of it.
January 1st, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Cliff,
Well Said! From your lips to God’s ears.
January 1st, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Cliff
I agree with some of the points you mentioned, but given your definition of a “Great Nation” you would have to say there has never been a great nation in the history of the world.
January 1st, 2007 at 11:33 pm
2007 will be a great year for the fact it will be Saddam free. forgive me if you think I am trying to impose happiness on you, but Happy New Year anway. (c8
January 2nd, 2007 at 1:04 am
Ken,
The world will be missing several others in 2007. How is Saddam free going to change anything this year, or shoud it?
January 2nd, 2007 at 9:58 am
Getting rid of Saddam only cost us 25,000 casualties and $400 billion. Not to mention four years of ignoring real threats to our national security. But a win is a win, right?