THE OLYMPICS OF THUGGERY

For eight decades now the International Olympic Committee has been awarding the Games to nations that practice thuggery.

Back in 1936, the Games were inexplicably awarded to Nazi Germany. Instead of ameliorating their totalitarian excesses, Germany planned the festivities to showcase Aryan superiority as a prelude to conquest of Europe and the demise of European Jewry. They didn’t plan on America’s “Black Auxiliaries”, as Hitler called the likes of Jesse Owens and future Chicago alderman and Congressman Ralph Metcalf, who punctured Hitler’s vision of grandeur before the entire world with their world class speed and humanity.

Somehow, the totalitarian Soviet Union landed the 1980 Olympic Games before invading the pitiful country of Afghanistan in 1979. With a million Afghans dead and another two million fled to Iran and Pakistan, the United States did the correct and noble thing and led a boycott that pulled 62 countries from the games, again denting the host country’s expected propaganda boost from it.

Now, twenty-eight years later we see the Olympic Torch being doused and spirited away from protesters along its ceremonious route to the 2008 Games in, yes, the thug nation of China.

What exactly has China done to deserve such disrespect? For starters, China continues its decade’s long suppression of freedom for Tibet, resulting in the killing and injury to hundreds of protesters in recent weeks. China is enabling the Sudanese genocide in its Durfer area as part of its lust for oil resources there. China has an abysmal record on human rights and freedom of the press within its own borders. And once again we hear apologists for China's hosting the Games pretend that being the host nation will move China toward decent governance. Hogwash. China gets the Bronze if not the Silver Metal for thuggery.

But the Gold is reserved for the Olympic host hopeful that spends hundreds of billions yearly to invade and then occupy two peaceful Middle East nations as it threatens a third with more trumped up charges to justify unjust war.

Sorry, Chicago. Unless America does a 180 from its descent into the madness of made up, pre-emptive war, your chances of getting the 2016 Games should be summed up in one word: FAGEDABOUTIT.

Originally published in Glen Ellyn Sun and Wheaton Sun, April 11, 2008
Also published in Chicago Tribune, April 12, 2008
Also published in USA Today, April 14, 2008
Also published in Glen Ellyn News, May 13, 2008

TRUTH & RECONCILIATION ANYONE?

History teaches that for America, launching unprovoked wars of choice means never having to say you’re sorry.

Whether in the victorious Mexican American War of 1846 and the Spanish American War of 1898, or the failed Viet Nam War which ended in 1975, America has never taken responsibility for willfully and foolishly waging destruction on its neighbors both near and far.

This refusal partially explains the arrogant and self destructive mindset that blundered America into our current military quagmire in Iraq. Neoconservative political leaders, historians and pundits still seething over our Vietnam humiliation, used the Iraq war as a way to avenge that humiliation. Instead, they have set themselves up to be judged by history as ordinary war criminals for a war that has created millions of dead, injured and displaced Iraqis, destroyed our moral standing in the world, and is contributing to worst economic crisis in America since the Great Depression.

America should borrow a page from South Africa which stunned the world in 1995 by first, renouncing Apartheid, and then establishing a Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to expiate the horrendous suffering done to South Africa’s black majority by the white minority. A key component of the TRC process allowed perpetrators of violence and wrongdoing to give testimony and seek amnesty.

America must come to terms to the enormity of the lies and deception which brought about this ruinous war. In return for complete amnesty, at least in this life, the primary architects should resign from office, if still serving, and agree to provide full disclosure of the process and strategy used to drag America into a war without purpose and without end.

This action will allow America to finally know the truth, begin to regain its soul and hopefully prevent such self destructive military actions from ever occurring again.

Who knows? Maybe even President Bush, Vice President Cheney, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will be heard to utter the two most neglected words in the English language: “I’m sorry”.

Originally pulished in Glen Ellyn News, April 9, 2008