terror, liberty and foreign policy (weighing in on the "debate")

So, I actually sat through at least forty minutes of the "debate" between Kerry and Bush. It seemed a bit repetitive, what with Bush answering almost every point Kerry made with "We can't have a commander in chief who is going to say that this is the wrong war at the wrong time" or "we must show the enemy we will not waiver" blah blah blah. That said, Kerry also slipped a bit into the whole let me repeat what was just said to me crap. I am a bit happy though to have heard Kerry at least TRY to make some legitimate critiques of the Bushites on foreign policy, particularly with reference to going after Saddam and forgetting about bin Laden. I tried to count how many times Bush said the words "strong" and "tough" when referring to America and how many times the words "our enemy" or "the enemy" were mentioned when refering to the Other. I lost count. I can only take so long of staring at his goofy expression before I start to laugh and totally lose count of how often he repeats himself. Okay, jokes aside, one theme kept being repeated that I think needs to be unpacked further. How does terror equal liberty?
Today, (neither candidate mentioned this) bombing in Iraq killed according to AP, 25 children.
So what the hell were those smart weapons aiming for, a school? I would like to know how you can bring peace and democracy and liberty to a country by bombing the shit out of it? Yes, I suppose you could completely decimate it and then no one can challenge you but other than that, I don't see how bombing campaigns (that even our media reported) resulting in the deaths of children can "win the peace" or convince the Iraqi people that you, the bomber, you the occupier, you the arms supplier really really want to give them liberty. According to news reports, the death of these children was a result of a car bombing by insurgents. But what fuels the "insurgents"? Bombing. Terror.

I was happy to hear Kerry speak about the real conditions our troops are facing and how underfunded they are and yet, to hear him speak of continuing this war is sad. I flinched every time he said he would "hunt down and kill the terrorists." I'm sorry to say it John, but Rambo was fiction. How about trying to stop creating the conditions of desparation and despair that brings people to the point of considering terrorism? How about ensuring real faith in the democratic process by retracting imperialism and providing food, shelter, clothing and a working infrastructure to Iraq and Afghanistan. I liked to hear Kerry speak about using diplomacy, building working and respectable alliances and bringing our troops home. Most of Bush's speech was reacting to Kerry and repeating phrases (see above) just as he has done ever since he first decided to run for that office. I had to laugh when Kerry mentioned Florida because for a small moment in time, I thought he might actually bring up the Floridians who were disenfranchised, who couldn't practice democracy in THIS country, who were denied their LEGAL RIGHT to vote for president in 2000. But he was actually talking about the hurricane victims. I find it immensely interesting that they can talk about bringing liberty, fighting terror and strengthening democracy all over the Middle East but neither wanted to mention the denial of liberty (that the courts have since deemed unconstitutional) thanks to the Patriot Act, of suspected terrorists in Guatanamo Bay. Neither spoke of the previously mentioned denial of democracy to the Floridians (whose crime was trying to vote while being African American).
Well, there are still a few debates left and so maybe they are waiting for that moment.
I am hopeful. I am patriotic. I will vote, not for "security" (see the current depiction of the soccer moms for Bush circulating the internet) but for a greater vision of America, one that is a champion of human rights not hegemony. They spoke of America leading the world but neither really mentioned how, where, and into what. Maybe we should send the Howard Zinn quote to them and ask them to reflect upon his words and how our "greatness" could be truly great and visionary. Then let them debate on how to go about transforming this nation into a power for Human Rights NOT hegemony.

Last disclaimer: Thich Nhat Hahn writes alot about sending politicians letters of love and kind encouragement to try to get them to do their best, rather than acting in anger and hatred.
So perhaps we should flood the offices of Kerry and Bush with love letters and kind encouragement. What do you think? How/Do you think they would respond?

peace!

"Our hero is trapped reliving the traumas of Sept. 11, 2001...
Unbeknownst to him, brigands suffering from war fever have
since hijacked those tragic events...
His memories swirl and events fade but he still
sees that glowing tower when he closes his eyes,
Meanwhile, an anniversary came and went...
Many happy returns! (Amazing how time flies while it stands still)."--Art Spiegelman
"In the shadow of no towers" pg. 4