Glass Houses

'People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!'

You've all heard the old adage, and probably even used it yourself on occasion, but did you ever think of applying it nationally? Apparently the leaders of this nation haven't! If they had, we probably wouldn't be trying, for nearly two centuries now, to be the world's police force!

'But the world needs a police force', you might say. Looking at all the evil out there that occurs on a daily basis, all the injustices that are perpetrated on the 'innocent'; one might be inclined to agree! With all the 'boogey-men' at large in the world today, is it not wise & honorable for US to have taken it upon ourselves to 'heal the nations' and lift up the down-trodden by giving them the 'gift' of democracy?

There are several ways in which this issue could be approached. In a manner of speaking, we in America DO have it better than many other nations ( those not ruled by a democracy-hey wait; I thought we were supposed to be a Republic! ), but just because it's working SO WELL for US, doesn't mean that's the way it should be for everyone!

( I hope my readers noted a BIT of sarcasm there! )

If the U.S.Inc. was truly trying to 'make the world a better place' by spreading 'freedom & democracy, they might warrant a bit of praise ( maybe even some good ole' back-slappin' ), but I believe that WE know better! On the surface, it may seem ( Uncle Sam's Misguided Children may not be a mis-nomer ) that there are noble intentions & aspirations behind all the policing and warring that has been perpetrated by the U.S.Inc., but you may rest assured that behind every exercise of strength & power lay a selfish, even evil purpose!

Now, I know that there are many military and ex-military personnel out there who would beg to disagree ( some of whom I know personally ), even vociferously, and who might even respond verbally! They would most definitely be within their rights to do so, and in fact, I would expect no less from them! The Military Complex is just a big business, run by a big corporation ( U.S.Inc. ). It has been so for so long ( time immemorial ) that it might be hard to nail down when it began!

As an example of why the old adage above can & should be applied nationally; I would ask you to remember the events of September 11th, 2001! Horrible, horrible events! The world is still reeling from its effects. Some countries have since declared bankruptcy, while others have had an economic crisis of some sort or another, and there have been large-scale riots, revolutions & coups from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe!

These dastardly events were 'justly' perpetrated, purportedly by a people that the U.S.Inc. ( no thanks to the Christian Right ) has thrown stones at for years! Whether you believe all the paranoia about 9-11 or not, it was people from a foreign nation, and subscribing to some form of Islam who carried out these attacks, and WE have been at war ever since; it's good business!

This is just one example; more could no doubt be given!

Now, right is right and wrong is wrong, right?! Is it right to unjustly take ( steal ) from one person to give to another ( I believe that's called 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' )? Stupid question, right? Yet this is what is being done in order to 'make the world safe for democracy'! I don't want to go into a history of the Income Tax, but if you ask anyone who has to pay it, it's highway robbery! ( now if they willingly gave a percentage of their earnings, that would be a different matter )

Is it right to do wrong in order to do right? Again, 'what a stupid question'; it's never right to do wrong, no matter how 'right' the end result! The U.S.Inc. has perpetrated so many atrocities in the name of justice & world peace that it's not funny ( I'm not laughing ) If the U.S.Inc. had kept their nose out of the Middle East, would the 9-11 attacks have occurred? No one can know for sure, but we can say for sure that our nationalistic policy of preemptive strikes & unjust war have no doubt angered a lot of people in that region of the world, and brought a lot of unwanted attention to our hallowed shores!

One more thing; The U.S.Inc. IS ruled by a democracy, but that in itself is where WE have gone wrong! Our fore-fathers shaped a Republic out of wood, hay, stone & stubble! It was supposed to be a government 'by the people, of the people, and for the people', but it has come to be, especially in recent times, a socialist oligarchy, where rule & power are determined by wealth & status!

What about 'glass houses'? We have seen, in many different areas & contexts, where'throwing stones' has gotten us. If we continue to 'throw stones', we should expect our 'house' to come crashing down on us, and most likely impaling us in turn with the shards that remain!

Is there any way that such a catastrophe can be avoided? Some would say no, 'it's too late; we've gone too far too turn back now'! I would tend to agree!

However, our Father is the God of Miracles!

Charles Haddon Shank