daben’s posterous

I remember back in the first few days of Walt Whitman High School in
2001, my first few days as a sophomore after returning from my year at
St. Anthony's. I believe I was sitting in Global History II with Mr.
Eliot Nirenberg. No, that can't be right. I just can't completely
remember the schedule. It was second period when we were notified over
loud speaker that the first tower was hit, but were uncertain whether
it was an aeronautical error or a deliberate attack. Some time later,
we were notified of the second strike, and so it began. While in
Nirenberg's class, we spoke about terrorism, al Queda, and Osama bin
Laden.

These acts of terror, the constant videos, audio clips, and news
flashes covering the television screen. A smoke filled sky, people
jumping from skyscrapers. The planes, the footage running again and
again, countless hours. The collapse, debris everywhere. The quest for
survivors, digging hours after hours. The phrase "let's roll." I
remember spending hours working at a factory with Red Cross,
organizing and packaging up pallet after pallet with donated goods,
ready to be shipped off to manhattan.

George Bush declaring a war on terror. A nation, completely confident
in our leader, leading us into the endless battle against terror. Huge
support, and we needed a leader to act in such times of crisis.

Some 7 years later, I still clearly remember that first day. I see now
how the media manipulated me. I remember verbally striking out at a
friend that was Afghan. I remember the hatred, as the news showed
middle easterners dancing, clapping, and smiling in the streets. And I
was completely prepared to support whatever was necessary to make
these people suffer.

I was young, 15, hitting puberty. I wasn't capable of thinking on my
own. At this age, we are easily manipulated by what we see (and maybe
we still have this at all ages, except I try to overcome it). But
these most influential people; our parents, our teachers, the
president, these intelligent news reporters... how can you really
stand out and even consider that we are being manipulated? How did we
enter Iraq, the reason why we are still there? Spreading democracy? I
dont think we entered Iraq for that reason. OH, weapons of mass
destruction. that's right. Why now? Why not when Saddam poisoned and
killed 5000 kurds?

I completely support our troops. And today, I remember those few
thousand people, be it working in the twin towers, on the planes, in
the pentagon, etc. Also, those individuals that sacrificed their lives
by entering to save others, doing whatever they could to save a life.
I think of the families, friends, so on, that have lost someone they
loved. I wish our troops the best of luck, and want them to know my
heart is with each and every one of them. I hope for their protection,
be it granted by whatever power (or however you wish to call It- God,
Yahweh, Allah) you wish.

I must say, I am on the fence about blatantly saying I hate George
Bush. Those individuals that are knowingly making ridiculous amounts
of money off of this war, the oil industry, financial investors. Also,
those that are becoming uber rich at the expense of the lower middle
class and lower class. There will be a time when these lower people
will rise.

So I have been trying to find death tolls from Afghans, but am having
trouble. Google quite easily spits out the data for Coalition and
American troops that have been killed though. Go figure.

Anyway, there have been 30,000 American casualties in Iraq (Iraq only,
not Afghanistan) since the beginning (March 19, 2003). Compared to
1.255 MILLION Iraqi DEATHS. The difference between casualties and
deaths? Casualties include any war related injuries, be it a missing
arm or PTSD, and also, deaths. The Iraqi DEATHS are simply deaths, and
does not include casualties. So let's say the technology preserves the
lives of the Americans. Either way, the number of casualties of US
compared to Iraqi DEATHS is a 40x difference, an enormous amount.



WE MUST TAKE CONTROL OF OUR COUNTRY
WE CANNOT BE WALKED ON
ACT AGAINST A TYRANNIC GOVERNMENT

Until Next time.

Peace.

daben.