America's Soul Sickness & Permanent War: Obama's Rude Awakening

[Joanne98]

by Roberto Rodriguez

Obama's first challenge will not be the unresolved Middle East crisis. Nor will it be Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo or the economy. His primary challenge will come in coming face to face with the Bush/Cheney doctrine of permanent worldwide war. Unless Obama renounces it on inauguration day, this doctrine will continue to be U.S. policy.

Beyond that, an even larger challenge - one which he may not ever be able to meet - is healing a nation that for too long has been sickened by what American Indian historian, Jack Forbes terms in Columbus and other Cannibals: soul-sickness. It is a disease that historically has allowed a majority of EuroAmericans to believe that God has chosen them lead the rest of the world into the light, permitting the United States to employ massive military might in achieving that so-called mandate.

Over the past eight years, it is the Bush-Cheney doctrine that has drawn the particular ire of the entire world - because it permits the United States to unilaterally attack any nation with massive force or to attack any target within any nation, regardless of civilian casualties. This doctrine has also permitted this outgoing administration to assert and amass extraordinary powers that have virtually rendered the U.S. Constitution meaningless. This doctrine includes the assertion that the executive branch and its extraordinary powers can not be questioned or hindered by Congress or the courts during times of war, thus the assertion of permanent war (the war on terror).

Yet, even if Obama were to reject this Bush-Cheney doctrine, the soul sickness would remain.

That notwithstanding, the president's first order of business has to be the rejection of the Bush-Cheney doctrine. Failure to do so immediately, will cause the promise of change to fall on deaf ears.

It will not be enough to wind down the Iraq War if it means that the president will simply shift resources to broaden the war in Afghanistan and to also continue the Bush-Cheney endless worldwide war against undefined enemies into the foreseeable future.

Eradicating that soul-sickness is probably not possible; it is what sustains the myths of this nation. It is what defines this nation. The secular equivalent of believing that God has chosen the United States for a special mission is the belief that being a superpower is an elected position and that with that title, the United States and its allies are entitled to invade, topple or occupy any nation they see fit. And it is not something that began with Bush and Cheney.

It can be no irony that those that initiated the invasion and occupation of Iraq - in defiance of the UN - were the United States, Britain & Spain... on Portuguese territory. In the past 500 years, these are the world's leading imperialists and colonialist nations. Essentially, they have been the world's architects of the policies of dehumanization - feeling entitled by God and blinded by greed to trample over the lands, bodies and rights of peoples worldwide.

Despite this imperial club, there's a reason the U.S. government is particularly despised by most of the world. It isn't just the Bush-Cheney regime, though they have certainly put a face to the "ugly American." It's that smug soul-sickness that permits Americans to believe that they indeed know what's best for the rest of the world.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/01-4

[I Have A Dream]

1. So true. There really is a soul-sickness. nt

[Time for change]

2. Rodriquez has it right

It is crucially important that Obama do something about this.

The biggest problem I have with Obama is that he seems so reluctant to make waves of any kind. That kind of attitude will not help us to move forward, and it certainly will not help to heal the soul sickness that Rodriquez talks about.

It will take a great President to make significant progress in healing that soul sickness. "Reaching across the isle" will not suffice for that.

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. How is Obama reluctant to make waves?

Am reserving opinion about his term in office and actions he takes until he actually takes over as POTUS. Unfortunately, until that moment, it's still the BushCo/PNAC game.

[newtothegame]

4. Unfortuneatly, all that's changed in the White House is the color of the residents...

even more unfortuneatly, that's all that was important to many DU'ers; a "historic" election. I could have done with less pictures of Obama in his sunglasses and crying African-American children huggin him and more rallies and door-to-door efforts against Prop 8.

Not Obama's fault, just the reality of power in this world; the candidates may look different, but it's essentially the same ruling oligarchy behind them.

ed for sp

[Gregorian]

5. I'm afraid this is the case. I've also been thinking a lot about this.

I watched King Kong last night. It has significance in many ways. In 1933 our air force was little fabric covered biplanes with a gun. Look how far we've come. In the wrong direction. We've turned war into a business. And vice versa. The gun toting Americans who land on that island and start filming a sacred ritual. And when the first thing starts to go wrong, get the guns.

And as for the Near East, well Obama is just some guy in the White House. I am less than optimistic.

I'm more hopeful than I ever have been. But there is a reality which is far far greater than Obama. Unless he's the second coming. Which isn't the case.


No, we've learned how, and evolved into, a monster consuming machine. Anything that is in our way is killed. Native Americans to the planet.

It all translates to an illness. One that isn't going to stop voluntarily.

I have been watching this since I was able to get around. About 1972. I've been in a state of shock since the moment I saw it. There aren't many of us around. Most people are simply too busy, or too involved in the act, to see or care.

Oddly though, I am comforted by the fact that finally I am seeing company.

[OneBlueSky]

6. I'd love to see an Inauguration Day statement from Obama renouncing war . . .

and pledging that the U.S. will lead a worldwide effort to outlaw war as a way of addressing human differences . . .

just because the world outlaws war, of course, won't make it go away . . . just as outlawing slavery hasn't made slavery go away . . . but as with slavery, outlawing war would articulate a common objective for all nations to strive toward . . . the alternative is more of the same, with bigger and badder weapons distributed more widely across the planet . . .

some day someone is going to use some of those nukes on someone else, and all hell will break loose . . . outlawing war would at least be a start in reducing the probability that that will happen . . .

[Demeter]

7. Eternal War Abroad AND at Home!

Enough, already! Send all the soldiers home, wherever they are.