Time travel

Photo of art piece depicting a giant surveillance gadget at Centre Pompidou, Paris by Jordana Shalhoub.

As a child growing up in the American South, we were subject to typical Cold War propaganda that infected most Americans, via television, in the schools and in the churches. It was the same sort of fear-mongering tactics George W. Bush likes to use, when he doesn't get his way.

This poem for the Writers Island prompt "time travel" refers to the U.S. House of Representatives' strong principled stand against Bush's latest fear-mongering speeches regarding the expiration of the FISA surveillance bill. For further information about the FISA fight, go here and especially here.

Shame on the senators who on Tuesday caved in to Republican pressure and passed a bill providing immunity for the telecoms. Sen. Barack Obama voted against the measure; Sen. Hillary Clinton didn't bother to vote.

As Richard A. Clarke, former head of counter-terrorism at the National Security Council recently noted in an op-ed piece for The Philadelphia Inquirer:

"... Our ability to track and monitor terrorists overseas would not cease should the Protect America Act expire... All surveillance currently occurring would continue, even after legislative provisions lapsed because authorizations issued under the act are in effect up to a full year. ...With FISA, he (Bush) is attempting to rattle Congress into hastily expanding his own executive powers at the expense of civil liberties and constitutional protections."

"The Russians are coming!"
we were told years ago
in that small Baptist church.
Better memorize our Bible verses
and be ready for the day they'd burn our books.

"The terrorists are coming!"
George W. Bush shouts,
his face in a grimace, his false claims transparent;
his concern not for protecting our country,
but immunity for the telecoms

who broke the law
at the president's own urging;
now trying to escape prosecution,
aided by lobbyists and political pressure.
But the House has stood firm;

refusing to bow
to the president's fear-mongering;
insisting on the rule of law;
showing strength in unity,
after the Senate caved.

No crisis here:
just manufactured lies,
designed to keep the status quo
and make a mockery of the Constitution
and those who swore to protect it.

Comments

[pepektheassassin]

Unfortunately we do not vote one by one. I wish we did. Those whose votes really count are the delegates and the (now) superdelegates. In my state, my vote doesn't count. Never does.
Dubya Bush wouldn't have been elected a second time if every vote counted, one for one, nationwide.

I remember those desk drills at school, too. I remember getting up at dawn to watch the cloud from the atomic bomb test in Nevada rise up over our California mountains. Too many of the people of southern Utah ended up as "Downwinders," and died from those tests. The government didn't really care. They had other priorities.

[Myrtle Beached Whale]

I was a child of the cold war. We had drills where we got under our desks awaiting the attack. Every town in America believed they were the primary target for Russian missiles. I believe all politicians are basically the same. Nothing being done now is nearly as frightening as Eisenhower's policy of mutually assured destruction. Google that sometime if you want a chill.

[LittleWing]

and the united states constitution goes to the highest bidder... hmm... we hold those truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal... one by one we vote our future...

[Scout]

Interesting interpretation. I think this is what is so wonderful about these prompts. They stir something different in each of us.

Nicely done!

[Jeques]

I remember one marketing strategy we used when I was still working in the sales field: In order to sell a new product one must create a demand for that product. I see that fear-mongering tactics work the same way, a politician creates fear and he has a solution ready in hand as an answer. But often, with an ulterior motive.

The Philippines, my homeland, was under the Spanish colony for 333 years and as we look at history, one reason for that long oppresion was the fear-mongering tactics that the spaniards used to manipulate our people for their benefits.

It's sad, it's very sad how the people we entrusted the power to govern us use that power to oppress us.

I wish you well.

~ Jeques

[Susan Helene Gottfried]

That's quite the take on the prompt; I really like it.

[Preethi]

Powerful... loved it ...Its such a mess isn't it?

[Selma]

Very powerful piece highlighting how difficult it is to keep the faith these days. Sometimes I am rendered speechless by political acts. All I can do is throw my hands up and mouth :" I can't believe it.'

[gautami tripathy]

Your post says so much. I am not going to comment on the US Political system. That's because I tend to go off on a tangent.

[UL]

oh yes. it's all lies, lies and more lies. And you say it so well, more people should read this post....nice to see you again on WI, Tara.

[ratanaong]

By passing meaningful discussion will not help fine tune any bill. You're very focus on the arguments. Good work!

[Cricket's Hearth]

Yes, as a child in the 50's and 60's I remember well the fear of the Russions. And I am completely fed up with all politicians of today. I truly believe we have evolved from the land of opportunity to a nation of opportunists.

[Tumblewords]

Excellent piece! I can hardly wait to see the end of this creepy bunch. Wondering how long it will take to clean up the mess. So much damage...

[Just Jen]

interesting...and very true!
thanking my lucky stars I'm canadian, nobody wants us...hehe

[keith hillman]

Another excellent post. I too know little of American politics, but that did nothing to spoil my enjoyment whilst reading you piece.

[Anthony North]

It is a simple fact of politics that when ideology doesn't seem to be keeping people together, 'fear' will be invented. After all, they have to manipulate and control somehow.

[Di Overton]

Our lot collect our information then lose the CDs :(

[marita]

i do remember the fuss about cold war blabla back in the '50-'60, russian were coming, building a large gray concrete iron wall. i did not understand the iron word in it, imagining a wall draped in iron curtains :((
making us children afraid of what was propaganda against all that did not sound western.
wondering all over why is this still possible today?

[tinker]

Powerful post, Tara~xOx

[Gillian]

Uh oh! My favourite candidate just lost some points I'm afraid. :(
Why didn't she vote on that?
Anyhoo, hope your Valentines went well, hope you were spoiled rotten as you do deserve and enjoy your weekend, okay???
xoxo
Gillian

[paisley]

i think your blog spammed my comment.... oops... nope ,,, there it is now.......

[paisley]

as we approach the ensuing 1984 of orwells imagination,, we have only our own fear and reluctance to think for ourselves to balm... very nice collaboration....

[Gemma]

Always love travelling here! It is such a beautiful place. Even though I am not au fait with American politics, I totally loved the whole experience of your post. Always interesting!

Smiles and Light

[Karen DeGroot Carter]

Tara, it's funny that your reference to the Constitution is the second reference I've heard in the past 24 hours or so. Hmmmm! K.

p.s. love the story of how you and your sweetie met and married. Hope you all had a lovely day...and Jordana and her sweetie, too. K.

[yolanda]

I really liked this post . As always I love coming here.