nullius in verba

From my earliest writings of the past thrity odd years to now, the careful reader would be able to discern my disparagement for politics, politicians and the aggregated affect such nuance has had on the folks not fortunate enough to use conquest to be on top of others. Most likely it is the thinker, the scientist in me that mandates the preference for the belief “nullius in verba” – take no ones word for anything.

The more I read and observe what is happening within the beltway, especially as it pertains to other nations; either the blatant disrespect of sovereignty by war and occupation, or the feculent avoidance of barbarism and human mistreatment by nations our government consider our friends, the more it is obvious that our legacy as a per supposedly western nation is one of shame, deceit and brutality. laws do not change, just their names, for action and inaction alike has the same consequence historically.

Not to beat a dead horse, but this Libya example is almost comical. The reasons proffered for intervention are even more fanatical, when we look at and examine the desire to protect the innocent. Maybe the innocent dwellers of lands endeared with oil reserves, but not solely the innocent. By that logic, worthy locations would have our attention. The Sudan where millions are having been displaced and tens of thousands butchered. The Ivory Coast, where more than 500,000 have been displaced and a civil war looms.

It reminds me of the Monroe Doctrine which in 1823 gave the United States to use military force anywhere in our immediate region if we felt such was necessary. Not for the sake of nobility or civility, but rather, whim and fortune. The same approach we use now, similar to when we sent more than 20,000 troops to the Dominican Republic to keep the murderous and torturous regime of the Trujillo family in power over democratic change in the 60's. Just as we supported the Duvalier’s in Haiti for years and their practice of regular and seeming ritual practice of mass executions.

But what should the astute historian expect form a nation with a similar history? It is as if we get off on supporting the immoral and persecuting the good. President Franklin Pierce, who even with signed and crooked treaties with Indians desired the extermination of the people on the land before them is a reflection this belief orientation. Even thepronounced President Roosvelt was of the same vein, afterall he unfaltering made the choice to drop atomic bombs on Japan when they had already surrendered – an action that was unnessary and only demonstrated the action of a tyrant.

I am only writing this to assert my fear of what we have become as a public. All to quick to settle for convience and to lazy to question what we are confronted with whether or not it comes ffrom our elected figure heads or what is spouted on television. If we do not return to what makes us as individuals both powerful and great – being self informed, well read and unwilling to accept without query – we may as well start digging our own graves.