BUSH TO WORLD: "DROP DEAD!"

by Mumia Abu-Jamal

[Col. Writ. 3/4/03

 "Why of course the people don't want war... But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship... Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they're being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger." -- Hermann Goering (Gestapo/Nazi leader),   Nuremberg, 1946

 The world has witnessed the most massive anti-war demonstrations in global history, and the Bush Administration proposes to treat them as non-events. Incredible!

 This administration has, from its earliest days, acted with barely concealed contempt for the wishes of the world. The evisceration of the ABM treaty was one measure. The rejection of the International Criminal Court. The insults against German leaders who don't bow sufficiently when Americans stride in the neighborhood. The rampant Francophobia. The negation of the will of the United Nations.... These are but variant strains of an underlying theme: The United States, the Great, Mighty bastion of democracy, could care less what the majority of the world wants, not to mention what the majority of Americans want. War is dictated by the military-industrial-complex, and... so be it.

 When a million people turn out in the capital of the country of America's "closest ally" to oppose his policies, and the U.S. still loosens the reins of the mouth-foaming dogs of war, then 'ally' is just a synonym for 'servant', for surely, it cannot mean anything remotely like 'friend.' The beleaguered British Prime Minister, Tony Blair is facing an intraparty battle that threatens to topple its hold on power. What a queer duck this 'democracy' is! It allows those in power to virtually ignore what the majority of the people (that they supposedly 'represent') wants! Yet, Herr Bush, in truest dictatorial fashion, gives the nod to the army, and virtually promises to ignore whatever the UN does -- unless they genuflect before His Imperial Majesty, King George II (or is it III?).

 The Turkish Parliament boldly votes against the U.S. Empire's wishes to use its land as a planning table for massacre and war, and the Americans insist that they vote again! (Again -- isn't this kind of, well, anti-democratic?)

 "The Empire Strikes -- First!" -- and threatens to rip the world in half, unless all adore the Empire -- New Babylon -- and surrender before her all that she wishes.

 We are all at the very brink of war, one which will not soon end. Truth be told, we are on the precipice of World War, if just a few small things go disastrously wrong.

 Hundreds of cities, on all six continents, from Kuala Lumpur to Ramallah, from Seoul to Seattle, from London to Leningrad, and beyond, the message went forth in a din that was deafening in its simplicity: "NO WAR!" But the White House is soundproof (except for the sound of coins jangling in the pockets of arms merchants or defense lobbyists) and the President of the United States is deaf. The government that Lincoln once claimed, "of the people, by the people, and for the people," won't hear the people -- because they aren't saying what they want to hear.

 What will it take?

 What is clear is that it will take more than what has happened thus far.

 Demonstrations are powerful indicators of popular consciousness, but is it enough when the State is profoundly undemocratic, and driven by other forces?

 The answer may lie in that little-used social resource of union power. The recent statement of the AFL-CIO (a federation of trade unions in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Panama and U.S. territories) against the war, while quite remarkable, was all but dismissed by the Bush Regime. What would happen, however, if a general strike were called among all member unions, against this imminent war?

 It may take such measures to begin to put the dogs of war back in their cages, before, as Dr. Nelson Mandela suggested, a modern-day "holocaust" is unleashed upon the world.

© copyright 2003 by Mumia Abu-Jamal.
All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission of the author.

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