Yuram Almanfi's Blog | This Is My Country?

Comments and thoughts of an American Muslim on US Foreign policy in the Middle East and the so-called War on Terror,examining the contradictions from a perspective of justice, fairness and human rights.

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This Is My Country?

28 June, 2007

Recently, my son graduated from high school and I had the pleasure of being with him for the entire ceremony. The event started off with the requisite singing of the “Star Spangled Banner,” the US national anthem, and for the first time in my life, I found the courage to sit in protest. Why? Because I’m deeply disturbed by what the flag of United States has come to symbolize to me personally and to other nations in the international community. I’m appalled and disgusted by the hypocrisy the United States displays by violating both domestic and international law,[1] such as by wiretapping without warrants, using torture on prisoners of war and denying a speedy trial to those imprisoned in the name of the “War on Terror,” while lauding itself as the champion of democracy and defender of human rights. After the “Star Spangled Banner,” the choir sang “This is My Country.” I had to ask myself, “Is this my country?”

This is a country, the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world,[2] that always seems to find ample resources to invade and occupy other countries or engage in covert operations to destabilize their governments, but fails to find sufficient funds to care for its own people. The US is the only industrialized nation without a national health care system, with the number of uninsured exceeding 45 million and worse than that is the fact that the uninsured are charged more for their health care than those with insurance. In a recent report by the Commonwealth Fund, the US ranked 6th in overall healthcare behind the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Additionally, US citizens pay more than twice as much per capita for their inferior care as do the citizens of health care leader the UK.[3]

This is a country that sees violence and warfare as solutions-of-choice for conflicts, which can be seen in a recent report by Vision of Humanity, where the US placed among the 25 least peaceful nations, ranking 96 out of 121, with war-torn Iraq at the bottom of the list. This extremely low peace rating resulted from the United States’ very high level of military spending combined with military actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and elsewhere. In addition, the US peace rating was lowered by the fact that it has the highest jailed population out of the 121 nations rated in the report as well as a relatively high homicide rate.[4]

This is a country headed by an arrogant, myopic administration whose hypocrisy is well illustrated by its “extraordinary rendition” program, in which foreign citizens are kidnapped off the streets of their cities and then sent to other countries for interrogation, where it is well-known that torture will be used.[5] These nations are compelled to cooperate with the US under the guise of the “War on Terror,” while the Bush administration openly condemns the very same countries for human rights abuses.

This is a country whose administration bleats “Support the Troops” but only allows them two years, which will be increased to 5 years if HR 612 passes, of health care after their discharge.[6] The undersecretary of personnel and readiness has said that too much money is being spent on veterans’ benefits and that is taking away from the nation’s ability to defend itself.[7] In some cases, the army can’t supply its soldiers with enough bandages to prevent the wounded from bleeding to death while being transported to medical facilities.[8] In place of increased health care funding for Veterans, the administration is seeking an additional $142 billion in war funding, a amount almost 4 times the proposed budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs.[9]

This is a country that still has some 8,000 nuclear warheads,[10] has failed to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty past its 5 December 2009 expiration[11] and cooperates with or at least looks the other way while Pakistan, India and Israel develop their nuclear arsenals. None of these nations are signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but are afforded special treatment because they are perceived as allies in the US “War on Terror.” At the same time, the US is threatening Iran, a signatory to the NNPT under inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency, with economic sanctions, covert operations and military force, which may include launching a nuclear strike.

This is a country that first supported Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, furnished him with VX nerve gas and later accused him of using it against the Kurds.[12] The US supplied Saddam Hussein with weapons and intelligence throughout his bloody, 8 year war with Iran,[13] then launched a global war against him after he occupied Kuwait. The US was complicit in the deaths of over half a million Iraqi children as a result of 12 long years of economic sanctions.[14] The US then invaded and has occupied Iraq, killing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis[15] and causing two million refugees[16] to flee for their lives.

This is a country whose government funnels money through Saudi Arabia and other US satellite states to extremist Sunni groups in a misguided effort to counteract what they perceive as the increasing regional influence of the Shi’a, no doubt used here as a code word for Iran.[17] In fact, my son’s graduation ceremony took place on the same day that Bush asserted the right of the Lebanese government to shell Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp, in order to rout out members of Fatah al-Islam,[18] a group of Sunni extremists that may have been funded by the US through the Lebanese ruling coalition as a counter force in opposition to Hezbollah.[19]

This is a country that lauds unquestioning patriotism and glorifies military service. The valedictorian did exactly that, beginning her speech by declaring how proud she was to be an American and praising those members of the graduating class who had already enlisted in the US armed forces and were now “proudly and honorably serving their country.” I thought about those young men and women in my son’s high school class who had already enlisted in the military and wondered what will become of them if they have to go to Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia or wherever “War President” Bush is planning the next campaign to fight the “Global Insurgency of Al Qaeda.”[20]

This is a country that isn’t my country any more. I don’t recognize it at all. It’s been taken over by someone or something else. Frankly, I’m ashamed to be an American. It’s time for all people of good conscience to join forces and take it back.

Yuram Abdullah Weiler

2007-06-26

[1] Cohn, Marjorie, "United States Violation of International Law in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq" . CHALLENGES OF MULTI-LEVEL CONSTITUTIONALISM, Joakim Nergelius, Pasquale Policastro & Kenji Urata, eds., Polpress Publisher, pp. 233-249, 2004 http://ssrn.com/abstract=787985 (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[2] Anup Shaw, US and Foreign Aid Assistance, Sustainable Development, Global Issues, 7 April 2007 http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[3] Karen Davis etal., Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: An International Update on the Comparative Performance of American Health Care, Commonwealth Fund, 15 May 2007 http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_id=482678 (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[4] Steve Killelea etal, Global Peace Index, Methodology, Results and Findings, Vision of Humanity, May 2007, http://www.visionofhumanity.com/artman/uploads/1/EIU_Report.pdf (Accessed 21 June 2007)

[5] Khalid El-Masri, Sataement, American Civil Liberties Union, http://www.aclu.org/safefree/extraordinaryrendition/22201res20051206.html (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[6] H.R. 612: Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007, http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-612 (Accessed 21 June 2007)

[7] Greg Jaffe, Balancing Act – As Benefits For Veterans Climb, Military Spending Feels Squeeze, The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones WebReprint Service, 25 January 2005 http://webreprints.djreprints.com/1156160669825.html (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[8] Martin C. Evans, Local Leaders React to Army Supply Deficit, Newsday, 9 June 2006 http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-liband094774599jun09,0,7763266.story (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[9] Deborah Burger, Walter Reed not the Issue, Sun-Sentinal, 9 April 2007 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-12forum34apr09,0,7660932.story?coll=sfla-news-opinion (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[10] Sidney D. Drell, The Future of Nuclear Weapons: The Weapons Complex and the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW), Transcript, Arms Control Association, 19 April 2007 http://www.armscontrol.org/events/20070419_transcript_rrw.asp (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[11] Wade Boese, Arms Control Today: US, Russia Exploring Post-START Options, Arms Control Association, May 2007 http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2007_05/PostSTART.asp (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[12] Wayne Madsen, The US Shipped VX Nerve Gas to Saddam Hussein in 1988 and 1989, Environmentalists Against War, 20 November 2005 http://www.envirosagainstwar.org/know/read.php?itemid=3441 (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[13] Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988, Iran Chamber Society, http://www.iranchamber.com/history/iran_iraq_war/iran_iraq_war1.php (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[14] Sanctions on Iraq: Background Information, Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq, http://www.casi.org.uk/halliday/backg.html (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[15] Gilbert Burnham etal., Mortality After the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, A Cross-Section Cluster Sampling Survey, The Lancet, 11 October 2006 http://www.thelancet.com/webfiles/images/journals/lancet/s0140673606694919.pdf (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[16] Refugees International, Congress Increases Resettlement of Iraqi Allies, Relief Web, 22 May 2007 http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/TKAI-73G7J2?OpenDocument (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[17] Seymour Hersch, The Redirection, Is the Administration’s New Policy Benefitting Our Enemies in the War on Terrorism, New Yorker, 5 March 2007 http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/05/070305fa_fact_hersh (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[18] Al Jazeera, Lebanon Army Shells Fighters, Al Jazeera English News, 22 May 2007 http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F8215F19-3394-48E2-94F1-0818FC727437.htm (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[19] Challiss McDonough, Thousands Flee Lebanon’s Nahr al-Bared Camp as Fragile Truce Holds, Outlook Series, 23 May 2007 http://www.outlookseries.com/news/Security/3658.htm (Accessed 26 May 2007)

[20] Chapter 1, Country Reports on Terrorism, Office of the Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism, 30 April 2007 http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2006/82727.htm (Accessed 26 May 2007)

Posted by yuram 12:53 | United States | Comment(19) | Permalink

Comments

Frankly, I’m ashamed to be an American. It’s time for all people of good conscience to join forces and take it back. Of course, under a Islamic "republic". This is the desired goal of CAIR, Ibrahim Hooper,etal. So this begs a question...what about the other people(maybe your son as well) who differ from this? Are they still good people? If your good people who try to "take back the country" are resisted by them...what then? Are they no longer "good" people, but now an enemy? OK, maybe these people who do not feel the way you do are the great unwashed and need to be re-educated(shades of Pol Pot and the Taliban come to mind). But what if they presist and state you and others who are like are wrong?
Finally, shame on Yuram for turning his son's time, his graduation into a political statement/football. Funny, he does mention what was his son's reaction or others to this at all.
One wonders if Yuram makes everything into a politcal statement, like going to work, shopping or

even going to the bathroom?

Joe | 02/07/2007, 21:36 [ Reply ]

even going to the bathroom?

joe | 02/07/2007, 23:55 [ Reply ]

The second sentence from the bottom should read "does not mention what his son's reaction..."

joe | 02/07/2007, 23:58 [ Reply ]

"This is my country"? I think the song is This land is my land, this land is your land...and so on. Have not heard of the version that you listened to. But then again. I have not been to a graduation ceremony in many years.

Mark | 03/07/2007, 07:46 [ Reply ]

Good!
I got a reaction. Now, ladies and gentlemen, our leader, President Bush has commuted the sentence of Scooter Libby, in direct contradiction of the minimum sentecing laws hat he advocates. This doesn't bother you?

Funny isn't it, no one wants to discuss the long list of military interventions and regime changes that the US has sponsored. Instead, people trot out the "Islamic Republic" hot button, since any intelligent discussion of the current system of government here in America would risk exposing its shortcomings for all to see.

And you know what, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to think that if people became more involved in their government that maybe, just maybe, we could get democracy back track.

Finally, my son is now a grown man, fully capable of adding his own opinion, if he so chooses.

Yuram | 03/07/2007, 09:08 [ Reply ]

Yuram,

You are right about one thing. The United States needs to start worrying about our own people. We have homeless people, orghans and just as many other problems as these countries we keep invading. I think we should leave these countries to there own problems quit giving them money and wasting our money on them and start using that money to help out our own country. If the Iraqis what freedom then they need to do their own dirty work. Why should our soldiers be over there dieing and leaving their families without a mother, father, or child. If the tables were turned the Iraqis sure wouldnt be over here fighting for our freedom. One more thing, a soldier or a few soldiers have been adopting orghaned Iraqi children, what about the children in our country that dont have a family. I dont see anyone fighting to find them a home.

concerned citizen | 15/07/2007, 11:09 [ Reply ]

In-re your point about Libby...whether you like it not...the commutation of Libby's sentence is legal according to Article 2 of the Constitution:
Section. 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
So it is not illegal...maybe not good judgement politically...but not sinister or the like.

joe | 17/07/2007, 09:13 [ Reply ]

Anyone who's ever read my posts here already know how I feel about the land of my birth.

I can't even tell I'm in the same country anymore. Most people feel something is wrong but they don't care enough to do anything about it. Too caught up in the stupor of materialism.

The title of "Great Satan" suddenly fits us to a tee. And let's not forget Israel, who whispers sweet nothings into his ear.

The rest of the world should worry.

xexon | 19/07/2007, 18:04 [ Reply ]

Agreed, Xexon, "Shaitan-e bozorg" as they say in Iran. Incidently, for those out who are unclear on why, as our illustrious president Bush says, "They hate us because of..." please read Steven Kinzer's "All The Shah's Men" and it will become clear that, were it NOT for US intervention in Iran, perhaps it would be a true democracy today.

Yuram | 20/07/2007, 08:52 [ Reply ]

xexon, you are right "The title of "Great Satan" suddenly fits us to a tee. And let's not forget Israel, who whispers sweet nothings into his ear."...those evil Jews control everything. Damn it, I havn't received my ZOG,Elders of Zion, etc royalty statements from all the control we have. Shame on you Yuram for egging him on in your reply...why don't you become a "noncombant" and fight in Pakistan? Oh, I forget you are too old for this...better to sit back and write and egg others on

schmaltz | 26/07/2007, 10:35 [ Reply ]

Who would I fight in Pakistan? Idealistic young American men and women? My issue is not with them, rather it is with those who forced them to be there in the first place.

Yuram | 26/07/2007, 17:10 [ Reply ]

Yuram, the military of the US is on a volunteer basis. Men and women serving know that there is always a possiblity of war(unless they are complete dolts) and that war,use of military force, etc is an extension of national policy(and that is not neocon speak, it is Clausewitz and even before from time immemorial). They are not forced to be there. Your post mentions "Frankly, I’m ashamed to be an American. It’s time for all people of good conscience to join forces and take it back." Like one of first responses to this asked how would you do it? Since you are ashamed to be an American, logically this rules out voting since you do not like the government. Do you and your leftist pals support revolution? How are CAIR and Ibrahim Hooper who openly states they want an Islamic republic in the US...how will other leftist and their ilk who support people like you feel that if you are successful they will be under Islamic rule and not a Socialist/Communist/Anarchist one? Be a bit of a surprise for them. Also, why is it that many of converts to Islam end up in places supporting so called freedom movements or trying to obtain materials for a dirty bomb(Padilla) or selling computers and the like to the Taliban? I understand you are old...but according to Clausewitz in war, one who tends a farm, works in a factory or in your case, one who writes anti American, etc drivel is the same as a soldier in the field. Finally, all nations at one time or another intervenes in the affairs of another...either for resources, nationalism, to assert their power in that area and so one...all nations do this. It is not the exclusive domain of the US, Neocons,Bush, etc, etc. Islam did this when it conquered large parts of Africa, Indonesia, and so on...they would have done it in Europe but was defeated in the Battle of Tours.
Yuram, get off your high horse, stop the pretend crying of the plight of humanity and admit that you really want all the world to be Muslim by any means necessary. Also, if you so ashamed to be an American, disavow your citizenship...it is quite easy.

schmaltz | 02/08/2007, 08:27 [ Reply ]

"Since you are ashamed to be an American, logically this rules out voting since you do not like the government."
This is a non sequitur. If I don't vote, it guarantees that I have to voice in the government.

Thomas Jefferson, one of my "Leftist Pals" who supported revolution, wrote in 1776:
"--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government."
"But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security"
Excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. I think the latter excerpt is particularly applicable to the Bush administration, don't you agree?

It might be worthwhile to investigate the works of the Jewish Scholar Shlomo Dov Goitein. Christians, Jews and Muslims can co-exist in peace.
Finally, by Clausewitz, you and I and every other American are guilty of murder of innocents, at least in the eyes of those who have seen their loved ones, relatives and friends killed by American bullets and bombs.

Yuram | 02/08/2007, 09:27 [ Reply ]

I agree with you on Jefferson...however the founding fathers(unlike you) had a clear idea of what of system should be in place. You, a Muslim, logically would want an Islamic republic. The leftist's like American Socialists and so on...I think have a different view of how a revolution would be accomplished, etc and what system would replace the overthrown system. Now, would you then support an American Intifada? Would you join ranks with Glenn Morris and Russell Means who would like to see the white man out of the America's(which includes you)? Would you support the tactics of Neo Nazi's and their ilk...because they(like you)see the US dominated, owned, etc by Zionists, Jews and the like...and now rally with the various garden variety leftists, pro palestine movments etc? Oh, yes and let us not forget the Muslims pandering to the Mexican American community with slogans "Atzlan is Palestine"...are you going to join forces to liberate Atzlan? Lastly voting is considered a responbility. Not doing it is either out of laziness or a politcal act of rejection of the system. But I think you vote for Muslim candidates if they are running in your area...after all, according to CAIR and other Muslim groups...they want to gain control of the country and make it an Islamic Republic.

schmaltz | 02/08/2007, 09:54 [ Reply ]

"You, a Muslim, logically would want an Islamic republic." Really? Your writing has a very familiar ring to it.
"Schmaltz," may I infer from your name that you would prefer a kingdom of the descendents of David under halacha?
Or may I assume that you are an American in full agreement with the direction in which our country is headed? Do you have health insurance? Can you afford to use it? Are you satisfied with a government that is bringing us endless wars which the "volunteers" you speak of will be compelled to fight? Does supplying 35% of the world's weapons over the last 30 years sound to you like the actions of a peace-loving nation? http://www.sipri.org/contents/armstrad/TIV_IMP_TOP20_77-06.pdf/download
I'm NOT happy with the situation and I intend to continue my efforts by writing, speaking and educating at every opportunity.

Yuram | 02/08/2007, 13:34 [ Reply ]

Yuram, you never really answer a question. This and most any other responses to your posts that challenge you. Unless of course, they take the same party line with you. Oh comon, Yuram what a stretch of total illogic...because I use the name "schmaltz" which I understand to be Yiddish for fat from a a chicken or meat...that I want a Jewish king with Jewish law?! I took the word "schmaltz" from a beer company that took made a pun with the beer company name schlitz. Hmm, Jews are taking over the world with beer now...OK, of course being a Muslim any alcholic beverage is not OK. Do I agree with the way the nation is going...of course not. But I am "ashamed" of being an American(who, by the way helped save the world from Nazi Germany...oh I forget, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem being a pal of Hitler and going into the Balkans to recruit Muslim for Germany, peace loving religion Islam is, right. And lest we not forget the plans of the Arabs to turn over Jews to the Germans in case of victory, or the auschwitz sytle camp plans near Nablus for Jews...and how could we forget pro Nazi arabs (the bathists) who lauched a coup in Iraq during WW2). But I digress. I asked in my earlier response if you would support an american intifada with like minded individuals...silence on your end Yuram. Many other questions people ask and they get a leftist/muslim jig from you. Do I have health insurance, yes, is too much, yeah...so I shop around. Do I think healthcare should be available to all people, yes. As I said before, the military of the US is "volunteer"...people who join up know what they are getting into...if they do not think they might end up in a place fighting some war...then those people are idiots and should be in the military in the first place. Are all soldiers fighting in Iraq, etc...I imagine not, some are, some not. But they do it because it is duty...if not, they can desert, etc and face the consequences of such actions. BTW, you seem to make a distinction between soliders "compelled" to fight and the your angst against the goverment of the US. How come you do not afford Jews(children, old people, non soldiers...but you more than likley think that all Jews are in the their army...are legit targets of Arab liberation/murderous angst) the same courtesty. Oh yeah, they are theives and it is OK to kill them...so why not say the same of american soldiers who are "invaders", "infidels", etc, etc? Also, the US supplying weapons...what about the Russians who now and in the Soviet days supplying many arab nations(who by the way in their own papers said and stil say "murder the Jews" (amongst others)...but that is OK?
OK, you are not happy...you write etc, and I and others will write and in our way fight back. Oh, great quote from palestineremembered.com "In hopes that Al-Naqba will never be forgotten and that the resistance will succeed, insha'Allah."
So by that quote, you do support killing of Jews and others/

schmaltz | 02/08/2007, 23:28 [ Reply ]

In my last post...it should read not "ashamed" of being an american. I thought I better correct it before Yuram ran off with it and made something out of it. Wait, Yuram, I could not be Jewish or anything close...schmaltz is a Yiddish word as I understand it, which came from Jews of Eastern European descent...but according to Arab/Muslim/Neo Nazi/etc,etc "academics they are not really Jews because of the Khazar issue.

schmaltz | 02/08/2007, 23:34 [ Reply ]

You certainly have a lot to say, Schmaltz. Thank you for your comments.

Yuram | 03/08/2007, 08:52 [ Reply ]

Well, thank you. It would be nice to get answers to questions I pose to you. But I get the impression you do not want to, because it would reveal the true nature of what you really believe...that and hell freezing over. But in retrospect I have done this all wrong. I should have posed as someone with a like mind, similar, maybe a Muslim and through our mutual admiration society, slowly expose you for the fake you really are. In other posts on other sites, you call for resistance in Israel by Arabs...but you seem as Thomas Paine put a sunshine patriot for them. Good to goad them on...but not willing, it seems to go there and join them(at least the ISM movement does that...as odious as they are). Yes, you educate...the education of the worst kind, closet/classic anti Jewish dribble, all the ills of the worlds are because of corporations and the right wing, but the left is pure and unsullied(tell that to Ayn Rand who witnessed the Russian Revolution and many others), conspiracies, etc, etc. This is the education of the small minded, the ones who need someone else to blame, the ones who see cabal's and other bogey men under their bed. You, like Joseph McCarthy and others cannot like a cockroach stand light. Funny thing...you chastied another poster for this article for not addressing your points...but when I and others ask direct questions, you dance your jig. Typical leftist and typical Muslim attitude. Rehortic is all that matters. I look foward to your next article...because in a country you are so ashamed of being a citizen in, etc. I can respond and be a pain in the butt to you as much as I want. That is freedom of speech and of course, you have the freedom to dance your jig or say nothing literally or figurtavely.

schmaltz | 03/08/2007, 09:21 [ Reply ]