Be-Think [Please visit BeThink.org]

Tortured

copyright © 2009 Betsy L. Angert. BeThink.org 

Never for a moment in my life have I been "in love." I do not believe in the notion. Fireworks have not filled my heart. Flames of a fiery passion do not burn within me. Indeed, my soul has not been ablaze. Thoughts of a hot-blooded devotion seem illogical to me. Such sentiments always have. Fondness too fertile is but torture for me. I admire many, and adore none. For me, the affection I feel for another is born out of sincere and profound appreciation. To like another means more to me than to love or be loved. Excitement, an emotional reaction to another, rises up within me when I experience an empathetic exchange with someone who has glorious gray matter.

Today, it happened. I felt an a twinge that startled me. I stood still as he entered the room. I expected nothing out of the ordinary, or at least nothing other than what has become his recently adopted, more avoidant, routine. Although long ago, I had become accustomed to his face, his voice, and his demeanor, for I have known the man for more than a few years. In the last few weeks, while essentially he is who he always was, some of his stances have changed. Possibly, Barry has felt a need to compromise his positions, but I wonder, what of his principles.

Confessions of Dick Cheney

Dick Cheney Interview ABC News Cheney Aware of Gitmo Waterboarding

copyright © 2008 Betsy L. Angert.  BeThink.org There was a break in the news.  On Cable News Network Wolf Blitzer was noticeably moved.  He excitedly reported; Dick Cheney confessed.  Broadcaster Blitzer's words were a bit more tempered.  He said, "This just coming into The Situation Room.??The Vice President, Dick Cheney, has given ABC News an interview and confirming now publicly that the Bush administration did engage in the very controversial interrogation tactic of waterboarding."  The Commentator then asked America to listen to the clip.?  ABC? News Correspondent Jonathan Karl inquired of the outgoing high-level government official, "Did you authorize the tactics that were used against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed?"  Without hesitation, the Vice President responded.? ?"I was aware of the program, certainly, and involved in helping get the -- the process cleared, as the agency, in effect, came in and wanted to know what they could and couldn't do.  . . .  (T)hey talked to me, as well as others, to explain what they wanted to do.  And I supported it.   Viewers vented.  Some shifted nervously in their seats.  However, The Judicial Watch was not amused.  Nor were they elated.  The answer was not the one this Conservative organization, hoped for, groped for, and searched for though the courts, for all these many years.  Vice President Cheney did not confess to sins conceived long before September 11, 2001.  He told said nothing of the maps and charts of Iraqi oil fields.  Foreign suitors for Iraqi oilfield contracts were not discussed as they had been in March 5, 2001, six months and six days before the infamous September 11 attacks.

Taxi To The Dark Side; Tales of Psychological and Physical Torture

"Taxi To The Dark Side" – Trailer

copyright © 2007 Betsy L. Angert. BeThink.org

Americans each have taxied to the dark side in recent years. Vice President Cheney, with the blessings of George W. Bush, was our guide. We were the followers. Citizens of the United States claim to care. Yet, collectively, we allow an Administration to torture detainees in Guantanamo Bay and at Abu Ghraib prison. Our fellow countrymen once honored the Rules of the Geneva Convention. This standards are now thought quaint. Americans no longer subscribe to the theory that intentional physical and psychological torment is a abhorrent. Violations of human dignity are accepted, even endorsed.

Peace Protester Meets Military Men; Perceptions or Promise

copyright © 2007 Betsy L. Angert. BeThink.org

This morning, as I approached the peace corner, two of my fellow demonstrators made mention of the soldiers across the street. Weekly, a throng of Iraq war dissenters stands and pickets on the south side of the street. I position myself on the North end of the avenue. I stand alone. On this afternoon, two young men dressed in Army fatigues, soldiers, situated themselves on the median, yards from where I position myself. They carried plastic bins; patriotic banners were pasted onto these containers. American flags and pamphlets graced their station. The military men collected money from passers-by. They distributed literature. They did their work from the same side of the street I favor.

Support the Troops; Stop Escalation

© copyright 2007 Betsy L. Angert

Please view this glorious presentation. Support the troops. Stop Escalation

Dear Reader . . .

Tonight I saw a presentation that spoke to me. I share this message in hopes that you too are affected. I have long believed that to support the troops, we must ensure their safety. Placing soldiers in harms way hurts us as a nation. A country that cares for its people does not condone combat. Were I the Commander-In-Chief, I would do all that I could to sustain every life. I would not wish to take a young man or woman far from home and family. Subjecting an individual to undue stress is, in my mind, not just. I do not think a person of any age need endure the conditions of war.

Military Man, Senator Jim Webb Rebuts State of the Union Speech ©

It is official, Jim Webb, a novice Senator, a Vietnam veteran, a former Republican, and an advocate against the Iraq war is expected to deliver the Democratic rebuttal to the President's carefully crafted speech, The State of the Union.

Thus far, the newer members of Congress, and as always, the incumbents under whelm my sensibility. Jim Webb is no exception. Senator Webb has a lifelong history of military achievements. While impressive to some, these cause me to wonder. Is he truly antiwar, or only against this battle. Acknowledging that he was once a solid Republican and remained stalwart for a long time, I have reasons to doubt that Jim Webb will speak for me. Nevertheless, for most of America, he is better than Bush, though who is not.

Iraq Study Group Asks, "When Will We Ever Learn To Talk?" ©

Please Click to View, Iraq Report Recommends Policy Shift The document was delivered and the debate begins. It is not a "discussion" or a "dialogue" that we are witnessing. It is as the Iraqi war was and still is, combative. Persons participating in the parsing do not desire diplomacy. Had they ever expressed such a desire, war would not have been an option. The exchanges we hear are attempts to win favor. As we read, we realize each individual and group wishes to be victorious. We are watching another war, the war of words.

Words are bantered about. Definitive statements of opinion are posed as news.

Israel. Lebanon. Morality in an Immoral War. ©

Moments ago, I received an interesting electronic communiqué. I was asked to read an article written by Ze'ev Maoz, a Professor of Political Science at Tel Aviv University. The title of this rendition is, “Morality is not on our side.” I was intrigued. I read with bated breath. I thought the sentiment excellent. Therefore, I present it to you with this proviso.