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Where the buck stops- Responsibility
By farrind on 2009-10-30 22:13:54
I've wondered a lot about "the power of Words". That's the category I assigned my last posting. Now, tonight is my VERY
last posting. I'm assigned to Waging Peace till October runs out, and here it HAS run out, and this is my last chance to have
this audience! So I've wondered: do the things I have written, roughly 2200 words make any impact in moving the human
family towards peace? America is at war with Afghanistan. Seems simple: we want to win, right? But given only one
paragraph, how would you describe the purpose of having our army there? What made us go there? Thank you to ANYone
who comments: I promise your answer will be read! But now I want to continue, writing to all those who DON'T reply to
my question "Why are we there?" Because I expect some of the answers will include our goal Over There is to bring the
Afghan People democracy. Fine- but that sounds like democracy is something you could box up, load on a ship or plane, and
deliver... and of course, saying we can do that means we "have democracy" now! Otherwise we could not "send" it to a
nation. The power of words?! Next question, then, What IS Democracy? Is it Government of the people, by the people....like
here in America? Then, are ALL citizens, all voters the government? In a democracy, yes, we all make the decisions. If we
vote, and work- for work defines who pays income tax...we each are part of the government. And that's where responsibility
comes in. For if you pay income tax, you are responsible, you pay for the army. Each of you, if I get the meaning of "by the
people" has taken the responsibility for: 1. Sending thousands of soldiers to Afghanistan 2. sending them where they get
killed 3. their injuries- yes, even damage that may last the entire time the soldier has left to live 4. the longing of their
parents, wives or partners who miss them while they are in Afghanistan 5. the scarring by weapons and missiles of
Afghanistan itself. Believe me, these are harsh ideas and I expect some scathing replies. Please send comments! But try to
address WHAT is our purpose in sending our military there. More important do you think taxpayers are responsible for those
5 things? If not taxpayers- and I mean you and me, for I certainly feel responsible- then who IS responsible? When defining
"mature" I require that a person say "the buck stops here". She or he must own up to what they are responsible for. The
power of words, again- but there has to be a definition of "adult" and to me, taking responsibility is part of that. My tax
dollars paid our army to do things, and if some of that is Abu Ghraib, well...in some measure I am responsible for that, too.
American soldiers couldn't stay in Afghanistan without my tax dollars. And that is one reason I blog, so that my voice gets
heard. At least, till Halloween! So let us hear your voice, too...and thanks for listening! Good bye, Farrind
