More Opinions Columnists

• V.B. Price: Preserving our water is greatest challenge the city, state faces
• Jeffry Gardner: End of The Trib is part of the demise of serious journalism
• Katherine Augustine: Time with friends from Japan provides treasured memories

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

America is at war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now there is chatter about Iran and North Korea joining the bloody party.

America bombed the bejabbers out of the Afghans without capturing Osama bin Laden. Then President Bush cooked up a story about Saddam Hussein and his supposedly deadly eye on the United States.

Bush barged into Iraq, declaring the United States the savior to those oppressed by a vicious dictator - one culture damning another, without regard to who's right or wrong. Our leader deems the other is a dictator - but on what terms? By whose definition?

Americans now are split, with both sides pointing fingers at our government, which sends innocent men and women to death in the name of freedom.

But whose freedom are we fighting for? Who are these people we are supposed to be helping? Does Bush understand their culture enough to see who is oppressed and downtrodden? Or is it for their oil that he sees the need to free them?

The founding fathers thought they were giving freedom to the oppressed. But they also put to death native peoples who wanted to be left alone, to live in their homes undisturbed, to be free. American Indians were not allowed to argue for their continued existence, nor were they given credit for being thinking, feeling humans worthy of life.

Branded as heathens, the people who owned this land were thrust into battles beyond their comprehension or desire. How God-like were these invaders, who decided who should live and who should die - including the innocents among them? It was an irony of freedom.

Hitler deemed that millions deserved to be wiped out, because they were sub-human. Jews, homosexuals, the disabled, elderly, the poor and people who sympathized with these outcasts were killed. This idea of human perfectionism is a dream that lives in the minds of many who fail to see its futility, who kill randomly, strategically and without remorse.

Leaders chant that without bloodshed there can be no freedom. How ridiculous this sounds - but millions believe it. Many who writhe in agony over the fate of the oppressed and downtrodden believe they fit the ideal of the good human. But fate is fickle, and the good ones today may be the oppressed and downtrodden tomorrow. Will they fight back, spilling more blood? Or will they submit to the oppressor, in the hope of being spared death, only to live a life of oppression?

Those who wage war in the name of freedom claim they want the world to be harmonious, peaceful and flourishing. They are unable to see that the killing of those who don't fit in is not harmonious or peaceful and does not contribute to the flourishing of life.

Throughout history, war makes fools of many. Be careful when you vote on Nov. 7. Our country's future is at stake.

McKee, a wheelchair user, is a freelance writer and producer. You can e-mail her at chairgrrl@chairgrrl.com.