I don't care about the politics of petroleum. No. That's not it. I care, but I also look at it pragmatically: war or no war, the oil will be there, if not obtained through convoluted military operations to fight UN sanctions, then through legitimate business dealing, probably from where we've always gotten it: Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia.
I don't care much for universal loving and hand-holding. Some Greek once said that peace is the interruption of war, and while I prefer the Romans, I do appreciate that slice of wisdom. Who needs peace, anyway? Peace doesn't sell newspapers. People go stir-crazy. If the hoi polloi isn't out advertising its positions, it's got nothing to do. It starts to get Ideas, starts to think up stupid shit to sell or televise. War, in other words, keeps people busy, and I'm all for that.
Lastly, these reactionary monikers such as "Axis of Evil" make me chuckle more than they frighten me. "Axis of Evil"? What is this, 1941? And are we so obsessed with our security as to think that every other country (notice "other") in the world with theocratic inclinations is going to send nuclear warheads into Yellowstone National Park? Don't make me laugh. In today's world, leaders are willing to do anything to reclaim the power they lost to multinational corporations, international organizations, and the US government. And you expect me to believe that nuclear build-up is anything more than an attempt to latch on to a little bit of national sovereignty? Honestly, Chucky, what do you take me for?
So, why am I against the war in Iraq? There are several reasons.
Number one, I live in the Bay Area. For you outsiders, we here really take our First Amendment right to peaceful assembly very seriously. What this translates into is hours of traffic caused by Good Americans who march in the streets and wave signs. This is also why I'm against the new House of Representatives immigration bill. Last week, a fifteen-minute trip home in my car turned into forty-five minutes, because pedestrians kept jumping out into my lane. I think that if protests start causing the indifferent population problems, they should be shut down. If you want to go and put up your "clever" posters with your "original" ideas, go do that in a park where there are no roads and drivers don't run the risk of forcing a kiss between your head and their bumpers. So, free Mumia not, unless you get the hell off the road.
Number two, ever since this war began, there has been nothing else on the news. Members of the press: there are other things happening in the world besides Iraq. And while you may think that covering the war is important, I'd like to issue a Breaking News message of my own: nobody cares! We all know it's going badly. Why spend uber-expensive air minutes dissecting all the minutiae, but without actually saying anything? The information the administration provides us with is superficial at best. Why regurgitate it for hours on end?
Lastly, I'm sick of all this bullshit nationalism. If I will be told one more time, via bumper sticker, human being, or television advertisement, to support "our" troops, I am going to start beating people. All this "These colors don't run" rubbish is offensively irritating. Please stop. You're only reiterating successful marketing slogans. That's akin to shouting "Have it your way" to all uninvolved persons if Burger King and McDonalds were engaged in warfare.
The bottom line is, I want this war to be over so that we can move on to something else. Let's all face the fact that no freedom is being fought for and that the situation will not improve. Pack and go home, Mr. President, because I already suffer convulsions every time I see/hear the name "Iraq."
