The Conscience of America
by Brian Bogart
In the opinion of this citizen, America has been adversely affected by the
events of September 11, 2001, and we and our leadership would be wise to
consider a quote from our first president, George Washington: "Labor to keep
alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience."
Since 9/11, taxpayers have spent countless billions pursuing a course that
does nothing to address the root causes of that tragedy, instead funding
policies guaranteed to provoke more terrorism, and a homeland defense
program that has attacked our freedoms while failing to produce greater
security.
Indeed, 9/11 has provided an excuse for a plethora of policies that project
a deadly arrogance instead of the wisdom of a great nation. Looking beyond
our borders, one sees that we are not so much defending ourselves as
offending the rest of the world. Rather than promote an America for peace,
liberty, and justice for all, we thumb our noses at international law and
prepare to shed more blood and dollars in an illegal attack--without just
cause--on a nation not linked to the tragedy of 9/11.
In his book "No More Vietnams," former President Richard Nixon emphasized
that America could not and should not go to war without the support of its
people and its Congress. Today we have a president so obsessed with a
grudge, it's as if Osama bin Laden never existed. Attacking Iraq without
incitement or evidence is not defense.
We cannot afford to become a nation without a conscience. Americans of all
ages lack medicine and treatment, schools are shutting down, corrupt big
businesses are robbing employees, small businesses and transportation
systems are going under, the surplus is gone, and our planet's environment
is severely threatened. At a time when a visionary leader would show
compassion and attempt to initiate an era of global peace and justice for a
truly secure future, our leader speaks in terms of hundreds of thousands of
innocent people as expendable for his own political ends.
A likely outcome of an invasion of Iraq is an Iraqi attack on Israel that
will trigger a nuclear conflagration. A certain outcome is the loss of
innocent civilian lives. All this to unseat one man? Discussing an
invasion so thoroughly, so publicly, is a dangerous provocation in itself,
and displays a disturbing lack of conscience on the part of our president.
It's no wonder the rest of the world thinks we have a screw loose in the
department of priorities.
This nation has a unique potential, and with it the highest obligation to
serve a compassionate vision to the world. We have not earned a right to
dominate; we've acquired the ability, and thereby the opportunity, to create
a crowning legacy by uniting civilization in a quest for a prosperous and
permanent peace in this unforgiving century. We must earn the respect of
the world by embracing it with our finest principles. Anything less is
self-destructive, for if we fail to promote a sensible and inclusive
approach to the future, we will selfishly squander a tremendous wealth and
potential that humankind may never again possess, and in so doing, forever
tarnish the magnificence of America.
The task has fallen to us, a nation of good people, yet it is evident that
the lessons of the 20th century have been overlooked by our leaders, even
hijacked for the purposes of further greed and bloodshed. Rather than seek
disarmament of the entire Middle East region and beyond, our country
strongly promotes the perpetual pollution and weaponization of the world.
Leaders are consciously choosing the methods of Hitler over those of Gandhi,
and nothing could be more dangerous to all of humankind. Truly, then,
grassroots American activism in pursuit of a peaceful global community is
the noblest kind of patriotism, and represents nothing less than the
conscience of a civilization striving to evolve beyond the hopeless path of
violence. A patriotism that embraces all nations displays the healthiest
political wisdom to the world, but unless we demand such wisdom in
leadership, America will neither succeed economically nor find security in
the long term.
For the good of our society, Americans have determined that diversity must
be honored and cherished at the community level. Surely, then, we also
recognize that the same dedication to tolerance and inclusiveness must be
applied globally to successfully navigate the future of a multicultural
world. If we learn anything from 9/11, let it be the importance of acting
wisely--and with foresight--in our responses to the challenge of great
tragedy.
Today's Americans did not inherit a finished product. We inherited a work
in progress, founded by activists and built by a multicultural populace.
Consider me not, therefore, anti-American, but as one who is following
George Washington's "spark of celestial fire" on an intellectual quest for
freedom that began with the birth of our nation.
Some may say speaking out is unpatriotic, but, according to our forefathers,
quite the opposite is true: it is incumbent upon citizens to speak out and
act wisely. Because of America's blatantly careless and belligerent
attitude, September 11th has brought me back to graduate school at the age
of 46. I'll be focusing on Peace Studies. And I'll save a seat for
President Bush.
When towers fall, open your hearts to make the world safe for towers to rise
proud and tall.
by courtesy & © 2002 Brian Bogartby the same author:
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