...I'm okay with being REALITY-based.




Thursday, September 18, 2003
      ( 11:37 AM )
 
Dissenters Taking the Stage?

Max Cleland gets the one-two punch in:

Welcome to Vietnam, Mr. President. Sorry you
didn't go when you had the chance.

It looks like a major change is taking place in the psyche of America right now. I think it's even spread to the press a little (hopefully to catch on even more). It's the new attitude that dissent is okay, appropriate...and dare I say it: responsible. It's the new thing! It's sweeping the nation! Come on, join in!

I find it unfortunate that it has taken Bush's falling poll numbers for opposition party leaders to speak up in...opposition. Or even just to clarify to voters what the real issues are. If a president and his dirty-tricks advisors can so threaten the leadership of this country and our elected representatives, not to mention stifle dissent and threaten those who do utter a word against them, then we have created for ourselves a fascist government.

From the dictionary: Fascism: 1. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism. 2. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government. 3. Oppressive, dictatorial control.

But lately, one can see that everyone from regular folks on the street to veterans to presidential candidates to reporters are losing their fear of the suppression and dirty tricks and are forging ahead with the truth. I am heartened by this change in attitude. It would be very bad for this country if we had ultimately given into the tactics that were being waged by the Bush administration on free speech and dissent. It is far better to have voices speak out than to have them silenced. No matter who is in leadership, it cannot be a viable or valid democratic leadership unless it truly hears the other side.

I have a feeling the other side will make itself well heard come November 2004.

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