The cowardly trio

"This is a time, I believe, of great inner turmoil for the majority of the American people. There is a new morality coming out of this administration -- fundamentalist religious views; a holier-than-thou attitude towards the rest of the world -- that is not classically American. I don't think Americans felt holier-than-thou in the twentieth century. We were happy and successful, with a great lifestyle. But something else is going on now." -- Neil Young, Rolling Stone, Aug. 21, 2003


Yeah Neil, what could be going on now? Hmmm, let’s see, swarthy men… Just be patient it’ll come… Ummm, wait, something about planes, I think… Yeah, I can’t think of it, but it will come back to me, it’s on the tip of my tongue…

What is it about these peace folks? No matter how hard we get hit, we mustn’t ever respond vigorously because then we’d be as bad as the terrorists. Yeah, I don’t think so either.

I am a musician living in Chicago, a city known for its nutty Liberal ways. A city only surpassed in Cerulean splendor by Malibu and Manhattan. Please pity me for I have had to be in the same room with people who hold these views and I’ll tell you what.

It’s all about cowardice.

I know it’s not nice, but that doesn’t make it untrue.

And to the cowardly list I would like to nominate the press and the Liberals. Peace protesters, the press and liberals. Such a lovely grouping, willing to sell us down the river into slavery or worse due to the delicate state of their consciences. No matter that about half the world would cheerfully kill you or I for no other reason than mere existence. No, we musn’t disturb the little darlings as they lay sleeping, mumbling into their jumpers about sugar plums and fairies.

In a way the press is the worst of all. ALL WARS ARE BAD!! The headlines blare. WE CANNOT WIN is the usual follow up. No fact remains untwisted in their craven desire to see the US bow before any and all enemies.

To these sissified purveyors of surrender, the enemy always shines brightly in their estimation. The valiant US army is always the criminal and the American people must be stopped at all costs. I mean, my god, what if the American people got their way and made this nation strong and free?

Can’t have that, can we?

As to the liberals. We will always be unprepared for any war, no matter how just. The enemy will always deserve more understanding than our own people, no matter how heinous the crime. Any amount of money is too much to stop those who would cheerfully destroy us and our way of life.

To these pusillanimous prophets of doom we musn’t even try. Due to their own uncanny ability to start and lose wars we are all imputed to be as worthless as they when it comes to the manly arts. Let us feed the parasites among us rather than waste money on making ourselves strong and free.

Sound familiar?

Finally we come to the poor, misunderstood peace protester. You see, they should be allowed to say any nasty, treasonous thing that enters their pea sized excuse for a brain. And god help us if we call the precious darlings on it. Of course the fact that their positions are wildly inconsistent (Casey Sheehan died for Israel? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?). How dare we insensitive louts question the patriotism of these proud Americans?

"I think war is based in greed and there are huge karmic retributions that will follow. I think war is never the answer to solving any problems. The best way to solve problems is to not have enemies."
Sheryl Crow

"In a situation like this, of course you identify with everyone who's suffering. [But we must also think about] the terrorists who are creating such horrible future lives for themselves because of the negativity of this karma. It's all of our jobs too keep our minds as expansive as possible. If you can see [the terrorists] as a relative who's dangerously sick and we have to give them medicine, and the medicine is love and compassion. There's nothing better."
Richard Gere

John Cusak "The war and repression that has been loosed on the world by the Bush administration"

Barbara Streisand “How could such a destructive man be so popular with the American people?"

Michael Moore Waging battle to smear Pres. Bush “the (9-11) passengers were scaredy-cats because they were mostly white"

Kevin Spacey "If we did what [Bush] is talking about doing, we'd go down a road from which we would never recover and which would start a chain reaction around the world. I live in the hope that it won't happen."

Jennifer Aniston "Bush is a f#cking idiot" (nice Jen, thanks for sharing)

Jeananne Garafalo "Our country is founded on a sham"

Eric Roberts considers the president "fascist" and a co-conspirator (with Osama bin Laden)

"Where is the acknowledgment that this was not a 'cowardly' attack on 'civilization' or 'liberty' or 'humanity' or 'the free world' but an attack on the world's self-proclaimed superpower, undertaken as a consequence of specific American alliances and actions... [I]f the word "cowardly" is to be used, it might be more aptly applied to those who kill from beyond the range of retaliation, high in the sky, than to those willing to die themselves in order to kill others. In the matter of courage (a morally neutral virtue): Whatever may be said of the perpetrators of Tuesday's slaughter, they were not cowards."
Susan Sontag

Now, don’t get me wrong. I like stupid people as much as the next guy. They are loads of fun at parties. You know that person, the one in the middle of a serious conversation who suddenly begins braying about how Bush is a Nazi? Everyone tries to keep talking around them out of politeness, but no. They keep on as if they were saying something of substance. Yeah, you know those people.

But this, this is simply amazing in the depth and breadth of ignorance on display. Simpering celebrities dancing on the charred ruins of 9-11. Way to go guys, nice job! What’s next? Taking a dump on a soldiers grave?

I would particularly like to focus on Mrs. Sontag’s vile spew. I would like to comment on the bravery of the rapist. He faces jail time for his crime after all. Shall we celebrate his courage under fire as he performs admirably knowing the danger he faces.

How about the selfless heroics of the serial killer. Coolly dispatching his victims, knowing full well peole won’t understand his motivation. I’m moved to tears, really.

Yep, cowardice. Cowardice drives these folks as suely as bravery drives our men and women protecting all we hold dear. Cowardice has never won a war, defeated evil, overcome anything.

Yet these folks want us to celebrate the mindless rot that pours from them like bilge from a leaky yacht.

Nope, sorry. Can’t do it. Won’t do it. I have too much respect for my country.