Tannishblog

The US Supreme Court upheld the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act passed by Congress in 2003. By a decision of 5 to 4, with President Bush’s recent appointees’ support, the court extended its power over the uteruses of America. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg boldly read a statement explaining her dissent, but the good-old-boy majority still clings to the illusion of patriarchal privilege in forcing their will on millions of women’s private parts.

To further insult the masses, vacuous crowing ensued from the White House:

Bush said in a statement that the decision "affirms that the Constitution does not stand in the way of the people’s representatives enacting laws reflecting the compassion and humanity of America."

He added: "The Supreme Court’s decision is an affirmation of the progress we have made over the past six years in protecting human dignity and upholding the sanctity of life."

Sadly, the American people are getting their fill of "the Constitution does not stand in the way" in regards to the pursuit of happiness and health of current and future Americans. In fact, the Constitution is becoming less relevant in the decisions of the Embattled War Elephant Brigade.

As for "reflecting the compassion and humanity of America." Reinterpreting the Geneva Conventions in order to torture selected people goes far to reflect the compassion and humanity of America. So does the Iraqi war. Or the failure to provide for our idealistic, young, and fully indoctrinated soldiery the necessary equipment to their safety, or the failure to provide clean hospital facilities for the injured, or the failure to support the families of the fallen. Very compassionate, that fabled American humanity.

The above paragraph speaks also to the "progress we have made over the past six years in protecting human dignity and upholding the sanctity of life." Lying our way into an unnecessary, un-winnable war. Turning victims of friendly fire incidents into virtual Rambo’s to boost flagging recruitment quotas. Lying to the American public about the motivation for the war, about the progress of this war, about the consequences of this war: forbidding photos of returning coffins, under-reporting the numbers of casualties, injuries, psychiatric evaluations. The list is interminable.

Perhaps he should have said this:

"The Supreme Court’s decision affirms that the Constitution does not stand in the way of the people’s representatives enacting laws. Reflecting the compassion and humanity of America is an affirmation of the progress we have made over the past six years  in (undermining) human dignity and (devaluing) the sanctity of life."

But that would be the first honest thing he ever said since stealing the presidency in 2000. Why start now?

I offer my heartfelt sympathy for the families affected by the Virginia Tech tragedy. It isn’t much - in fact it’s nothing at all. But I give it all the same, as well as my guilt for abetting a society that produces people who do such things.

If ever there are opportunities to ponder what needs fixing in our poor excuse for a civilization, this is one. But laying blame is as easy as it is pointless. Too many factors converge to produce such heinous actions. If one was to lay blame with any attempt at accuracy, then all factors should be accounted for. If all factors are accounted for, then by the grace of all things and all people being interconnected, every American is partially guilty of this crime.

I feel guilty. For ignoring the cracks in the fragile construct of polite society, for going about my life with blinders on to better focus on my own needs and wants. I feel guilty for not taking to the streets in righteous rage at the prevalence of violence and the absence of compassion in America. My heart is sickened by my own selfish inaction. For this and much more, I am as guilty of this slaughter as anyone. Although there are no excuses for my inaction, please forgive me.

I hang my head, not in mock mourning as our president will surely do, but in sorrow at the loss of future potential these young people had, and the further loss of innocence the campus, the town of Blacksburg, the State of Virginia and the whole nation must endure. I hang my head because I did nothing to correct the broken priorities of a nation that proclaims the sanctity of life while engaging in war, prides itself in equality while not allocating enough resources to help troubled kids in need.

Cho’s classmates knew he was disturbed. They read some of his plays in class and were troubled by the graphic and obscene imagery. His teacher was worried enough to hire a security guard for a time. A local counselor had seen Cho, and knew he was troubled, but for a variety of reasons, he received no help. Last December, a magistrate ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The next day, a report concluded that he may be a danger to himself due to mental illness.

Was he treated? The hospital has yet to comment. Hospitals are businesses, and decisions are too often influenced by a patient’s ability to pay for services. Since recent societal trends don’t allow for the caring of its members through governmental assistance, the needy are often left without services, or are cut short.

For that, too, I am at fault. Guilty by living in America and not helping her to better herself, I have neglected my civic duty and my fellows. And for that neglect, 32 people died.