"People who treat other people as less than human, must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes floating back to them, poisoned."
James Baldwin
The first statement in the title was a part of what Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' brother-in-law, Cmdr Scott Kelly had to say from aboard the International Space Station. The second, is from Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton. "How can somebody hate that much?" was an Arizona woman's comment a few minutes ago on BBC News America.
What all three statements seem to have in common, is the fact that they all seem totally out-of-touch with the reality that is, and always has been America. Apparently, those who spoke those words have rarely, if ever, been the victim of that reality.
America is NOT - "better than this." Just ask any of the many "Others" upon whom such havoc has been wreaked over the course of this country's existence. I know she's the Secretary of State, with all the attendant requirements of lying about our "exceptionalism" and all - but Hilary Clinton should be ashamed to have uttered such an untruth. And there's also something opportunistically shameful to me about her using this tragedy as some sort of diplomatic lever during her meeting in Abu Dahbi - but that's just me.
THAT, Mme. Secretary - is exactly who America is, has been and will continue to be as long as this kind of non-owning, double-talking, politically expedient revisionist history continues.
And the beat goes on...
(P.S.Guess it's not just me. In her new post over at Freedom Rider, the ever-vigilant Margaret Kimberley points out the most shameful opportunist of them all!).
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