Reading notes

Bob writes powerfully today —

Overseas, our troops are being mauled in the long dark night of Iraq — a war with no end in sight that has already claimed the lives of more than 1,100 American troops and thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of innocent Iraqis.

At home, the party of the sitting president is systematically stomping on the right of black Americans to vote, a vile and racist practice that makes a mockery of the president’s claim to favor real democracy anywhere.

This will never be seen as a shining moment in U.S. history. …

Indeed. But if we choose well tomorrow, this may be seen as a turning point in U.S. history. Have we hit bottom? Will we dwell here? Or will we turn our eyes toward the distant daylight and begin the long climb back toward it? I think if we turn, even in this time of grave darkness, this moment will be seen as the beginning of our redemption.

The death toll for Iraqis, which the U.S. government has tried mightily to keep from the American people, is flat out horrifying. … A survey conducted by scientists from Johns Hopkins University, Columbia University and Al Mustansiriya University in Baghdad compared the death rates of Iraqis before and after the American invasion. They estimated that 100,000 more Iraqis have died in the 18 months since the invasion than would have been expected based on Iraqi death rates before the war.

The scientists acknowledged that the survey was difficult to compile and that their findings represent a rough estimate. But even if they were off by as many as 20,000 or 40,000 deaths, their findings would still be chilling.

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.

On that note, why would I vote for Mr. Bush because of, say, abortion concerns, when doing so (1) simultaneously endorses this violent killing of 10,000s men, women, and children, and (2) rewards the actual increase in abortion rate during his administration?

Wouldn’t any “pro-life” claim I might make be thereby rendered moot by such a vote? Given the killing of innocents in war, the increased abortion rate attributable in part to increased joblessness and hopelessness, the abandonment of millions to unaffordable health care, the push of millions into poverty, the manipulation of the populace by fear and threat of annihilation, in what way can I assess “the fruit by which I know this administration” as anything other than pro-death across the board?

I see “pro-life” and “pro-Bush” as a seriously mixed message.

On a different note, here’s evidence, in my mind, of people “loving the darkness“ —

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.” …

What credibility does any nation have promoting democracy and freedom while suppressing the vote of its own citizens? What worldview so unable to stand on its own merits that it must prevent voting to stay in power deserves to stay in power?

These are days of shame for the United States. No one writing a civics text for American high school students would recommend this kind of behavior for a great and mighty nation. We have to figure out a way to extricate ourselves from Iraq and rebuild a truly representative democracy here at home.

Deciding well in the voting booth is crucial: a poor decision — which I account as deciding for the unjust deaths of 10,000s men, women, and children, for undermining democracy by suppressing citizens’ voices, for profligate spending of our grandchildrens’ inheritance, for exploiting God’s creation, for savaging the poor — is a decision that will haunt to the end of one’s days.

OTOH, a well-made decision that opposes these shameful acts will be cause for lasting joy.

[via Melanie]