Death and racism - the Republican legacy
The New York Times > Opinion > Op-Ed Columnist: Days of Shame
Bob Herbert's column in the NYT this morning should make every American hang his head - but particularly the supporters of Geroge Bush. And it should make the true Conservatives and Republicans want to regain control of their party - not to mention true Christians who should want to regain control of their faith which has been hijacked by people filled with fear and hate who deny with their every action the Prince of Peace they claim to be following.
The core issues are the report that we have killled 100,000 Iraqi civilians and the various reports coming in from all over of the country of how the Republicans are trying to scare black voters away form the polls.
Most of the widespread violent deaths, the scientists reported, were attributed to coalition forces. "Most individuals reportedly killed by coalition forces," the report said, "were women and children."
That people are dying by the tens of thousands in a war that did not have to be fought - a war that was launched by the United States - is mind-boggling.
Also mind-boggling is the attempt by Republican Party elements to return the U.S. to the wretched days of the mid-20th century when many black Americans faced harassment, intimidation and worse for daring to exercise their fundamental right to vote. A flier circulating extensively in black neighborhoods in Wisconsin carries the heading "Milwaukee Black Voters League." It asserts that people are not eligible to vote if they have voted in any previous election this year; if they have ever been found guilty of anything, even a traffic violation; or if anyone in their family has ever been found guilty of anything.
"If you violate any of these laws," the flier says, "you can get ten years in prison and your children will get taken away from you."
So here we are - killing women and chidlren while following a Bible-spouting demagogue out of fear of another faith-based charlatan. And here we are, talking sweet words of freedom and democracy in the Middle East while doing our best to kill same in our own country.
