Time to look forward now.

Posted By: Zanubiyah
Posted on: Nov. 13, 2006 at 7:22 PM

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OK, you all might not like what I am going to write, but I am going to write it anyway.

We have been blessed with a new chance to turn our government back to the way the founding fathers intended. A government elected by the people, for the people. We (the democrats) have voted and elected a change in direction. Now that the shock, and shininess of our new way is over, it is time to get busy.

I think it is time now not to give so much attention to the past, except to expose it to the American people in the way of oversight, and holding all of those accountable for our close call to something much less than what our founders intended. Let the American people see how close we were to loosing our democracy all together. Let us come out of our shelters from fear of our own making. Let us no longer be subject to make decisions based on irrational people. Let us not make up enemies, or make enemies out of those who are not like us. Let us go after the real terrorists instead of using antedotal examples to vilify a whole people.

It is time now to reverse the taking away of our constitutional rights and freedoms and privacy. It is time to build bridges, and understand that the biggest asset our nation has is it's diversity and our right to let all voices be heard, regardless of how minor thier power be. We have the greatest potencial for innovation and progress by hearing all who want to speak.

However, it is time now to let those who will not accept the reality of this new day, or those who are bitter because if it bask in the reality that will consume them if they don't. Remind them only that they must face it, and not get drawn into the divisive, partisan tactics that hinder us from using this oppurtunity to really make a lasting change that benefits everyone.

It is time to ignore those who continue to bicker and find fault. Time to move forward and not waste the blessing to again try and get it right. As you can see, restoring the true meaning of patriotism and democracy is hard work, and we have no time to get caught up in the partisanship and division that caused the problem in the first place.

Let us now use this forum as a gathering of ideas rather than a continuation of something that is no longer relivant.

Peace Be Unto You All...

Zanubiyah

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Comments:

indie616

Nov. 13, 2006 at 08:37:15 PM

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Zan,
You have made a great transition from an oppressed Arab immigrant whose second language is English to writing interesting and provocative articles on this site. Good for you!

I love that this site is all-inclusive. You have written about your Muslim faith and the fact that voting in your native country consisted of a piece of paper with only one name.

If you feel free to do so, could you elaborate on your past? How long have you been in the USA? Where is your former home? Have you been shunned because of your Muslim faith? Have you found a mosque to your liking?

I like your article Zan. I truly believe that you have become the average American! Welcome to America!

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Kevin Zahn

Nov. 14, 2006 at 06:32:53 PM

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Z: I hope you are right, that things will change, or that we, they, all of us, would engage in critical thinking and reasoned debate, in order to do what is best for the country, or the majority of Americans, etc. But don't bet on it. I am reading Vice, about Cheney, and his stripes have never changed in his lifetime . . . his buddy, Rumsfeld, has not either, but at least he might be out of power (I say might because you never know who talks to whom . . . i.e., when did we know that W and Cheney were talking to Henry Kissinger, who was or perhaps still is, telling them to stick with it and not change course? In understanding the background of say, just Cheney, I would never expect him to cooperate on any damn thing. He needs to be thwarted and opposed, to be kind (but not to be kind to him), especially by Congress, whose power he has always opposed in favor of more executive authority (yes, even when he was in Congress).

My inclination is to identify those in power and out, who are beyond reach, discussion, hope if you will and ignore them, bypass them, or oppose them. Two, to work on the next generation, they will grow up one way or the other anyway . . . in between there are the ones who don't vote to talk to, perhaps why some of us engage in debate of a sort here. . . to draw them into the process and convince them that they had better damn well get involved, and that all elected people are not the same, etc.

As far as looking forward in general, I would agree with the priviso that we should learn and understand the past. For example, the book, Saving General Washington, by J.R. Norton,is an excellent read to see what the oft-misquoted Founding Fathers actually did say, or believe. A second is Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change From Hawaii to Iraq, by Stephen Kinzer. This will give you a clear understanding of the danger of too much corporate influence in foreign policy and warfare, etc. I could list others, but so could we all.

Too many people don't read any more, but rely on sound-bites and cathy phrases for their political direction, and, Heaven forfend, movies to understand our history. Write on.

--KZ

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