Here's yet another story that makes me proud to be an American. These proud moments, albeit rare, are worth pondering. Zimbabwe is experiencing political turmoil. The current president, Robert Mugabe, is refusing to relinquish power despite polling results that show he lost to the opposition. Now, there is a standstill with vote counts and Mugabe loyalists are terrorizing opposition supporters in the streets.
People are fleeing to bordering South Africa. Those brave enough to run are subjected to hot desert heat, barbed wire fences and South African border authorities.
Meanwhile in Happyland, we're arguing between which slice of white bread is better. There are Democrats who claim they will stay home or even vote for McCain if Hillary Clinton were to secure the Dem nom. How stupid are we in our privilege? How quiet are we in our complacency? When Bush won his second term (and there is no question in my mind that he won the second time - people were that stupid to vote for him), I just waited for the street riots to start and there was nothing. People went back to their routine, privileged lives and look at where our silence has gotten us.
Now we have the fortune to have two people who are qualified to start fixing what the Bush regime broke and we're calling one "shrill" and the other "elitist". Whatever. Hoes are dyin in Zimbabwe just trying to exercise basic human rights. At least Bush doesn't block you from getting food at your grocery store and at least Obama supporters aren't beating McCain backers in the street (though at times I wish they would).
Reading the ongoing stories about countries like Zimbabwe makes all the stupid in-fighting of American politics seem a bit of a trifle. Just think about it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment