Pay Attention if You Please

I was saddened to hear of yesterday’s execution of Saddam. As an American it fills me with shame. I don’t like the fact that we’re waving our ignorant machismo aggressive killing power in everyone’s face.

I don’t like 24-hour coverage on the news of his death. Where’s the coverage on the following atrocities:

US Military Deaths (Iraq): 2,997
US Military Wounded (Iraq): 22,235
Iraqi Civilian Deaths (Minimum): 52,139
Excess Iraqi Deaths: 655,000

(Source: michaelmoore.com)

For a great visual representation of these numbers go here:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/takeaction/deaths.php

here:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/takeaction/wounded.php

and here:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/takeaction/iraqi_deaths.php

To all the naysayers, I urge you, “Don’t be afraid of the truth.”

It’s painful, I know, but we cannot continue to deny who and what we are. We have to accept our history. We have to accept our present and we have to ask ourselves, “Haven’t we evolved pass this?”

I don’t like living in a country that invents wars for profit. I don’t like being part of the global corporate empire. I don’t like living in one of the top technologically advanced countries, yet none of it matters when we can’t even hold valid elections. I mean, really, could it be any more ironic that we’re the ones trying to ‘spread democracy’?

Along with ensuring secure elections (sorry Diebold) how about tossing out for-profit Health Care and for-profit Continuing Education?

How about instead of spending billions on death and destruction, we educate ourselves? How about setting up a system that guarantees health care for everyone (even infants and the elderly!)?

How about following Presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich’s lead and establishing a Department of Peace? (Please, I beg of you, check out: www.kucinich.us)

What if the US federal government decided to play with the other boys and girls and sign onto the Kyoto Protocol? Hell, then they could even play with the 353 mayors representing 54 million Americans that have taken Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels lead and agreed to take local action to help reduce global warming. (cityofseattle.gov/mayor/climate)

How about reigning in the pharmaceutical industry, the auto industry and mega-agribusiness and implementing more holistic health care and mass transit across the board? What if all Americans had affordable access to healthy organic food?

I made a pact with myself when I decided to start blogging that I wouldn’t be overtly angry politically. I know that I have a tendency to wear my political frustrations on my sleeve and my intent is to communicate, not turn people off with my rants.

I know that it’s easier to look the other way.
I know it feels better to inform less and consume more.

But I’ve decided that I have to continuously work towards finding a way to communicate effectively and inspire others to take an active interest.

Yesterday an ice shelf the size of Manhattan (41 square miles) broke off of an island in the Canadian Arctic.

Where is this news story? Not in the mainstream news media, that’s for damn sure.

Good thing Saddam was executed on the very same day. Funny how coincidences like that occur, isn’t it? The death of a politically decapitated and non-threatening ex-leader far exceeds the importance of undeniable evidence that global warming is in full effect.

It’s such a great show and we’ve all got the best seats. We watch as the pot of chaos boils over: climate change, war, corporate greed, and the battle over diminishing resources.

We haven’t seen anything yet.

Wait until the weather patterns lock up. Wait until the major ice caps start melting and flood the planet.

We’re fools if we think evolution isn’t going to force us into harmony.

Unfortunately the oligarchy is going to fight and resist as hard and long as they possibly can.

The clock is ticking boys, so go ahead: scavenge as much as you possibly can.

Thing is, you haven’t got much time left. The wheels of a major shift in the collective consciousness are a spinning and not even your power can match it.